2018 Summer West Hartford Magazine

WEDDINGS•GARDEN •FOOD • FINANCE

Terrific Teens

Eighth Annual Salute to Local Teens!

Sunglasses Locals Make a Fashion Statement

Travel

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Beaches, Turks and Caicos

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contents

Vol. 8, No. 2

2018

DEPARTMENTS

26 FINANCE: How Much Do I Need to Save?

8 FROM THE PUBLISHER

Happy Summer!

FEATURES 15

TERRIFIC TEENS Story by CONTRIBUTORS

Once again we salute the graduating class of 2018.

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32 FOOD: Twin Tasters loved INDIA “To Go”

10 WEDDINGS

Colello & Nixon

Cunningham & Bohn

34 GARDEN: House Plants

TRAVEL: BEACHES, TURKS & CAICOS

by LISA MARTIN Even Second-Best Took My Breath Away!

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FASHION: SUNGLASSES photos by TODD FAIRCHILD

Interns sport the latest trends in sunglasses.

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Celebrate inStyle!

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Voting Now Open!

Look for the voting link on:

Connecticut Jewish Ledger West Hartford LIFE West Hartford Magazine West Hartford Press WH Squared We-Ha.com Watch for the 4th Annual Best of West Hartford Awards Event in the fall! #wehaevents

Publisher Thomas P. Hickey, II tomh@westhartfordmagazine.com Creative Services Joy B. Taylor joyt@westhartfordmagazine.com Contributing Writers & Columnists Whitney F. Burr, Karla A. Dalley, Ronni Newton, Lisa Martin Photography Director Todd Fairchild/Shutterbug CT Contributing Photographers Ronni Newton, Amy Melvin, Luke Wayne Videography David Chmielewski/DirectLine Media Interns Dylan Carneiro, Maddie Geerlof, Blake Greenslade, Hunter Marotto, Ryley McGinnis Proofreader Barbara Gordon Publishing Advisor Jonathan Moffly Print Advisor Bob Carr Website: We-Ha.com Mike Roy/Roy Web Design Principals Thomas P. Hickey, II, Joy B. Taylor, James H. Gould, III

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ADVERTISING: 860-508-4032. ©2018 WHMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without express permission of the publisher. West Hartford Magazine is a registered trademark owned by WHMedia, Inc. The opinions expressed by writers published by West Hartford Magazine are not necessarily those of the magazine.

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I’m thrilled to be at William Raveis, whose focus is Marketing and Technology with a connection to a great International Network Robin and Raveis ... what a great combination!

Obituaries on We-Ha.com

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PUBLISHER HAPPY SUMMER! As you may know Joy Taylor, Creative Director (and my business partner) has been working with Roxanne Stachelek, executive director of the West Hartford Art League, to feature local art on every cover. Of course we are so proud to be the only magazine in every room at Delamar that we welcome our exclusive artsy look … worthy of a corner on every coffee table.

The artwork on this cover is by an outstanding teen artist Daisy Li, a recent Hall High graduate.

She created the digital painting of “Aileen” with a stylus on an iPad. This particular piece was included in a portfolio of work that earned her the Louis Pollock Scholarship from the West Hartford Art League.

TERRIFIC TEENS Speaking of Terrific Teens, this is our eighth year of this feature. Typically we do this in the fall but we’ve moved it up this year so the teens can be around to celebrate with all of us. By design, we select one male and one female graduate from Conard, Hall, Hebrew High School of New England, Kingswood Oxford and Northwest Catholic to be featured. (Beginning on page 15) Congratulations to each teen and their families because behind every great teen is a West Hartford family which has played an important role in making them who they are today. It’s important to note that these teens are selected by us because they are ‘good kids’ and best represent West Hartford, in our opinion. We have been keeping a watchful eye on some of these teens for years, hoping to feature them once they came of age. I always suggest to family and friends to have your younger teens sit down and read all about these students … they are inspirational! (in print, or online at We-Ha.com) FEATURES & COLUMNS As always, our special columns delight all of us with Weddings beginning on page 10 featuring Kathy Colello and Mark Nixon and turn the page to see Brooke Cunningham and Jake Bohn. We love this feature and our readers do too! (I’m looking forward to an extra special wedding section coming up next issue, featuring my son Garrett and new wife Heather Modenese.) n Our awesome interns are featured in fashionable sunglasses, starting on page 24 n Shout out to Todd Fairchild Photography, WHMedia’s photography partner.

Tom Hickey.

n Travel with us to Beaches, Turks and Caicos by Lisa Martin, page 28. n Financial advice by Whitney Burr, Valerie Thomas & Associates. n Gardening indoors … read Karla Dalley’s column to learn about this “growing” trend.

#WEHAEVENTS We are in full swing of our #wehaevents and we are so excited to bring them to you. The 4th Annual BEST OF WEST HARTFORD VOTING starts with the launch of this issue! Make sure you cast your vote for your favorite people, places, events and businesses in West Hartford.

New this year are the We-HaHA! Comedy Nights, taking place the last Tuesday of every month at World of Beer. None of this would have possible without the continued support of Blue Back Square (thanks Robyn Rifkin, general manager and welcome Amy Cholawa, marketing director) and our host sponsor Dr. Steven Fischman and promoter Paul Gregory.

WAIT, THERE’S MORE Our first products for the We-Ha Vineyard Vines private label clothing line for West Hartford are still on sale at nearly 50% off (while supplies last). So check out our products on We-Ha.com/ store or stop in to Lux Bond and Green in The Center. Follow Facebook for special pop-ups.

Facebook: Twitter: Instagram:

Thomas P. Hickey II Publisher tomh@westhartfordmagazine.com

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WEDDINGS

Kathy Colello & Mark Nixon photos by Luke Wayne, www.lukewayne.com Kathy Colello and Mark Nixon met on the golf course in 2008 when Mark spontaneously shared his golf clubs with Kathy for her very first lesson, and the rest is history. (See the NYTimes’ “Mini Vows” section for more of their story).

Seven years after they met, Mark surprised Kathy with a proposal at her favorite spot in Newport, RI. The couple was married at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford and it is the first marriage for Kathy and Mark’s second.

Kathy says the “most important part” of their wedding story is “that Mark and I adore each other and truly are best friends and soul mates. We feel very blessed to have found each other at this stage in life…”

Kathy works at Holy Family as a marketing and development specialist. Kathy and Mark were married by the retreat center director and dear friend, Fr. David Cinquegrani, in the center’s chapel.

Mark is the owner of the Stark’s Express trucking company in East Hartford.

During the ceremony, soloists Kevin Hadyka and Jennifer Serpliss sang a moving tribute to Kathy’s late parents and Mark’s late father, as well as to Kathy’s late sister-in-law, Aileen Colello, who had passed away one year before the wedding. They sang Josh Groban’s “To Where You Are” and were accompanied by Kathleen Schiano, cellist, and Alex Belair, organist.

For their honeymoon, the couple traveled to Riviera Maya, Mexico. They live in West Hartford. n Poodle-pumpkin cake topper for the couple’s endearing nicknames for each other. .

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Visit we-ha.com for more photos and other WEDDINGS.

WEDDINGS brought to you by Oscars Tux and Argelia Novias

Kathy’s longtime media pals from Channel 3 and 30 – Elizabeth McGuire, Christine Negroni, Mary Meggie, Shelley Solomon, and Joanne Nesti – performed a special song at the reception, sung to the theme from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Kathy is a former producer at WFSB. The wedding party included Matron of Honor Dr. Lauren Hoogewerff (Kathy’s niece); Bridesmaid Nicole Nixon (Mark’s daughter); Best Man Mark Nixon, Jr. (Mark’s son); Groomsman Joseph Colello (Kathy’s nephew); and Dave Hoogewerff served as an usher.

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WEDDINGS brought to you by Oscars Tux and Argelia Novias

WEDDINGS

Brooke Cunningham & Jake Bohn photos by Luke Wayne, www.lukewayne.com

Although Brooke Cunningham and Jake Bohn went through King Philip and Hall High together, it wasn’t until high school that they became friends, and they were dating by senior prom!

Their courtship endured nine years of long distance, including one year of living in separate countries, while Brooke studied abroad in Leon, Spain during college.

The proposal came the day after Brooke took her USMLE Step 1 exam for medical school, when, while on a beautiful hike together, suddenly Jake got down on one knee, and after convincing a shocked Brooke that it wasn’t a joke, she said yes!

The wedding ceremony took place in Brooke’s home church, St. Peter Claver..

A highlight of the ceremony was when their close friend, Joseph Fierberg, sang “The Prayer” by David Foster. There was not a dry eye in the entire church.

En route to the reception at The Riverview In Simsbury, the bridal party took a detour to take photographs at Elizabeth Park, and enjoy some ice cream as well!

The couple combined their love of travel and pasta and wine to honeymoon in Italy.

Bride’s parents Kevin and Sharon Cunningham, and the groom’s folks Mary and Bill Bohn are all West Hartford residents, and now the newlyweds are back in town also. n Wedding Party: Maid of Honor: Brittany Cunningham (Bride’s sister). Bridesmaids: Elizabeth Bohn (Groom’s sister), Lauren Kuehn, Michelle Driffill, Kaitlin Magsarili, Kristen Desrosiers, and Katelyn Desrosiers. Best Man: Christian Bohn (Groom’s brother). Groomsmen: Connor Cunningham (Bride’s brother), Cam Green, Russell Gee, Tom Merullo, Anthony DeAngelis, and Ryan Rivard. Below: Groom’s parents William Bohn and Mary Bohn with Jake and Brooke and Brooke’s parents Kevin and Sharon Cunningham.

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Visit we-ha.com for more photos and other WEDDINGS.

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WEDDINGS brought to you by Oscars Tux and Argelia Novias

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Thank You #wehaevents Sponsors

Thank you #wehaevents partners and supporters: PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD

Connecticut Jewish Ledger, Direct Line Media, Eat in Connecticut, FLOW, Merchant Solutions, Roy Web Design, SnapSeat Photo Booths, T&T Sound, Taylor Rental Party Plus, Todd Fairchild/Shutter Bug CT, West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, West Hartford Press, West Hartford LIFE, West Hartford Magazine, West Hartford-Town of, WH Squared.

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nce again we salute the graduating class of 2018. This annual celebration of our “terrific teens” puts the spotlight on a handful of teens who have worked very hard to make it to that graduation stage. Finding just two students from each high school each year is a challenge we love, but we do mean challenge since the options are seemingly endless. Some are kids we’ve watched mature from childhood, and some were just recently brought to our attention. We wish we could spotlight more great and deserving kids, but we only have so much room in our pages.

This year, we wanted our teens to shine in a new way. For the interview process we built a questionnaire for the young adults to fill out in their own time and place, and we’re so pleased with their candor! With the exception of some editing for space constraints, most of what you’ll read here are their own words.

Our teen photo days have brought us from studios, to parks, to shopping centers. And this year we visited West Hartford’s public golf course, Rockledge Golf Club, for some fun photo opportunities.

We hope you enjoy “meeting them” as much as we did. Remember, in the coming weeks, you can also read about these kids online at We-Ha.com.

Terrific Teens

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD

Class of 2018 Eighth Annual Salute to Local Teens to Watch!

*Each year, with input from our editorial board, the “Terrific Teens” section puts the spotlight on one boy and one girl from each of the public and private high schools in West Hartford. The only requirement to become a featured teen is that the student lives in town.

Unfortunately, two of our Terrific Teens Brandon Beecher and Jordan Oberstein, weren’t able to meet the magazine’s publication deadline, but look for them to be featured online later this summer on We-Ha.com.

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Grace Andrews Conard High School

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests? This can be sports, books, art. Give some examples of your favorite things.

GRACE: I enjoy traveling because we only have one life time on this earth, and why would I not want to see every part of it? Traveling is education, as our eyes open to new food, culture, language, beliefs, etc.

Our world is home to so many amazing and unique experiences- I want to see it all!

WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year?

GRACE: I am looking forward to a new adventure in a new part of my country. I also cannot wait to dive into new courses and expand intellectually.

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

GRACE: I will be attending Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO. I chose this school because it offers everything I want: amazing nature, education, and people. I can’t wait to start in August.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF GRACE ANDREWS.

n Editor’s note and thank you to Grace Andrews for responding to this Q&A while on vacation in Spain!

WHM: If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

GRACE: Get more involved. Contributing to your community is the best way to improve yourself, create connections and friendships, and learn about who you are,

while progressing the community.

WHM: Who inspires you and why?

Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

GRACE: My grandparents inspire me every day. Mis abuelos immigrated into the United States in the 1960s after their marriage in Bolivia. Their wisdom and strength resonate with me.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself.

GRACE: I was elected to be the Board of Education representative for Conard High School, and this experience was super cool.

It was a great opportunity to explore municipal politics and public education, while representing my peers. I was sitting right at the table of change every night and I had the honor of voicing the student perspective.

I also enjoy my summer time job! I work as an instructor at Westmoor Park Farm and Nature Camp. Best job EVER. n

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Dalia Bruce Hebrew High School of New England

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alia Bruce may think we picked her because her father, Rabbi Jeremy Bruce, is the former head of the Hebrew High School of New England, but we picked her because she is a great West Hartford young woman!

WHM: If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

DALIA: Lots of crazy things happen in high school but it’s important to realize that they are all part of your growing experience, and you would not be yourself without them.

WHM: Who inspires you and why? Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

DALIA: My English teacher inspires me due to his vast knowledge and passion of the subject. He has a completely unique way of viewing literature and taught me how to think about the world in a new light.

He not only taught me how to analyze books and poems, but he taught me how to relate these lessons to myself, my future, and the way I relate to other people.

His classes were enthusiastic and supportive, and he was always so invested in every student’s thoughts and ideas.

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests? This can be sports, books, art. Give some examples of your favorite things.

DALIA: I love playing goalie for soccer and playing ultimate frisbee. I love cooking and baking. I am interested and involved in politics (I’m currently working on Chris Murphy’s Senatorial campaign) and social justice.

WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year.

DALIA: Meeting new kinds of people in a completely different setting.

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

DALIA: I will be attending the University of Maryland, College Park. I chose this school because of the location near to DC and its criminal justice program.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DALIA BRUCE.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself?

DALIA: A fun fact is that I own a pet snake called Burrito. n

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Haley Carangelo

Kingswood Oxford

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WHM: If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

HALEY: Looking back on freshman year, I wish I would have known to not be intimidated (especially of the older kids haha), and to just be myself.

I think, at times, I was pretty shy. It took me a while to feel comfortable with myself as a freshman walking through the high school halls, not caring about other people around me... As a senior this past year, I wanted to be a leader for the underclassmen and become friends with them. It’s exactly what the seniors did for me when I was a freshman, and I really appreciated it.

WHM: Who inspires you and why? Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

HALEY: My parents are truly the people that inspire me the most. My dad works so hard for our family to provide opportunities for me and my siblings. He teaches us every day that hard work pays off and to never give up on your passions in life. My mom teaches me to be kind, humble, and to love yourself and the life you’ve been given. I don’t know where I’d be without them.

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests? This can be sports, books, art. Give some examples of your favorite things.

HALEY: I would say my top two hobbies are sports and music. I’ve always loved playing lacrosse since I picked up a stick in third grade. It’s been my go to sport. It’s played in the best season, you make friends for life, and create bonds with teammates that you will never forget.

Off the field, I have a passion for music. I’ve known how to play the piano since I was in second grade, and I’ve been teaching myself how to play the guitar this past year, but I mainly love to sing. I’ve performed at all the coffee houses we’ve had at KO since my sophomore year, and it’s one of my favorite experiences I’ve had in high school.

WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year.

HALEY: I’ve been going to the same school for 7 years, so it’s definitely time for something new. I’ve been asked this question many times, and I honestly say the same thing every time. I’m so excited for new experiences, meeting new people, and making new memories. It’s time that I live a different routine. I’m going to learn so much about myself in the next 4 years!

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

HALEY: On August 24th, I will be moving into my dorm room at Elon University. I always knew I wanted to go somewhere south. I want to experience the warm weather and the laid-back atmosphere, but obviously I want a good education as well.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself.

HALEY: This summer I’ve been working at SPoT Coffee in the center which is really good! Other interests: I care deeply about the environment and the lives of wild animals and I hope to make an impact on the world (whether small or big) in the years to come. n

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

aley Carangelo says she “can’t wait” to see what the next four years bring after spending the recent seven years at KO. Best wishes Haley!

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Colby Lytle

Northwest Catholic High School

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PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

olby Lytle says that baseball has been his main “thing” for most of his life, but when he goes to college in the fall, he’ll pursue new interests.

WHM: If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

COLBY: One thing I would tell myself is that you don’t know who someone is till you give them a chance. The high school experience is made up by the people you meet and the connections you make with them.

WHM: Who inspires you and why? Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

COLBY: My priest at St. James’s Episcopal Church, Bob Hooper, has been an inspiration to me. He consistently sets an example for people, and there is generally no better person than him. He has been a mentor to me and has really directed me in the right direction and path. He has been one of the most influential people in my life.

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests?

COLBY: If I’m not playing baseball then I’ll either be hanging out with my friends or at work. Baseball has been my life since I was little, and I owe a lot of who I am to my friends.

WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year.

COLBY: I’m looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my life, and being able to have a direct impact on my future. Also, I’m really looking forward to meeting new people from all over.

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

COLBY: I’ll be attending UConn next year and majoring in business. When you live in Connecticut you bleed blue, and there’s nothing better than the Huskies in March Madness. I wanted to continue bleeding blue for the next four years.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself?

COLBY: Some of the jobs I’ve held over my time in high school have been at everyone’s favorite breakfast place, Blue Plate Kitchen, and working for CUTCO. Each job has taught me something about myself I didn’t know. Another fun fact is that I am a diehard Green Bay Packers fan. n

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Roy Mulhado Conard High School

by JOY TAYLOR ith a pencil behind his ear, and another one in his hand, Roy Mulhado presented as a no-nonsense, serious student when we met in a classroom at Conard High School this summer. But within minutes, the serious-minded, and somewhat modest and shy guy turned into the smilie Roy that many have a fondness for.

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“We’ll miss him” said Margaret Book, Roy’s math teacher.

Coach V. (teacher Tommy Verrengia) warned me that although he may be a little nervous, I would love Roy’s sense of humor, and he was right.

Roy completed high school in the spring, along with the rest of the class of 2018, but he is enrolled in the summer school program to continue his transition to the Post-School program.

Roy is the kid that everyone knows. And we mean everyone. He was the “voice of Conard” as he led the school in the Pledge of Allegiance every morning over the P.A. System. His signature sign off “Roy Out” was a welcome start to every school day, and it was the send off he gave to the whole class on graduation day, along with a real mic drop moment.

Roy is looking forward to what the future will bring, with a practical sense of himself and shy confidence.

Editor’s note, special thanks to Tommy Verrengia who helped us track down Roy, and due to the lack of a functioning email address, an in person interview was best. n

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

When asked to reflect back to how he felt in his freshman year versus today, Roy said “I was nervous, but I knew I could do it!”

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Sharif Mutasim

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests? This can be sports, books, art. Give some examples of your favorite things.

SHARIF: I enjoy learning about space and modes of transportation, and my artistic side is drawn towards singing, acting, and designing/programming games.

Kingswood Oxford

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his tennis player, student, and self-proclaimed “big fan of space” Sharif Mutasim is eagerly moving on from high school and is relocating to the West coast with his family.

WHM:If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

SHARIF: Try out new things, because my hesitance is what held me back from reaching my full potential or discovering new interests.

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

WHM: Who inspires you and why? Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

SHARIF: My father inspires me because his success as a student has gotten him to America and allowed me to study at a great school. He proves to me that anything is possible with the help of motivation.

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WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year.

SHARIF: I am extremely excited to go into a new environment, meet new people, try new things, and learn a lot more. College offers high level courses that I am more interested in, so I should enjoy it greatly.

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

SHARIF: I am attending Purdue University as an engineer. I chose Purdue because not only is the community very welcoming but also because they have great job preparedness. With opportunities like co-ops and internships, I plan on being able to get a job I enjoy after college.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself.

SHARIF: As a kid I was so convinced that Pluto had life on it (I don’t remember my reasoning, but it had to do with it having 5 moons) that I even made a bet about it, but then in 2015 when New Horizons flew by, I lost my hope and 20 bucks. n

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Maddy Pliskin Hall High School

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

M

adeline Pliskin, who prefers to go by Maddy, is smart, eager, and ready to make a difference in the world. We think she already has. Go Maddy!

WHM: If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

MADDY: If I could tell my freshman year self just one thing about high school, I would tell myself to get involved earlier. Joining the student government and ultimately becoming the Board of Ed Rep provided me with a feeling of belonging and pride in working to better Hall as a whole. Also, I would tell myself not to take everything so seriously.

WHM: Who inspires you and why? Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

MADDY: My junior and senior year English teacher Ms. Blejwas, voted most inspirational by my graduating class, is an inspiration of mine. She teaches unconventionally, creating a writing space that breeds confidence and helps students find themselves through writing.

She finds the good in every student of hers and is the most trustworthy reader I have ever and will ever have.

My wonderful twin sister Hannah inspires me every single day. Her kindness, compassion, and selflessness make me strive to be a better human being. She always thinks of everyone else’s feelings before her own.

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests? This can be sports, books, art. Give some examples of your favorite things.

MADDY: I am very passionate about human rights activism, especially girls’ right to education. I love being outside, travelling, going to concerts, and reading poetry. I also like spending time with friends and family. My favorite poem is “Somewhere a Carpenter” by Andrea Gibson because it reminds me of my Grandma Minnie.

WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year.

MADDY: I am most looking forward to the new community I will be entering when I begin college. I am excited to be surrounded by new diverse thoughts, beliefs, and ideas that will make me question my own. I am also excited to study subjects which I feel passionately about, biology in particular. I am also excited for the academic rigor and creating close relationships with my professors.

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

I will be attending Brandeis University next year and I chose to attend Brandeis because of its environment which fosters academic and personal growth; an environment unmatched by any other university I visited.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself?

MADDY: When I am older, I want to become a fertility specialist.

Last June the Hartford Courant published my op-ed about President Trump defunding Michelle Obama’s Let Girls Learn initiative which helped girls in underdeveloped countries to access education. n

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Northwest Catholic High School

K

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

PHOTO BY TODD FAIRCHILD.

Kathryn Shea athryn Shea is happy that running will always be part of her life and even on the hot day of our photo session with her, she had already been on a jog.

WHM: If you could tell your freshman year self just one thing about high school, what would it be?

KATHRYN: If I could tell my freshman year self one thing about high school it would be that life does not go as planned. Ever since I was little and would make my mom her “to do” lists every weekend, I have been a very avid planner. Yes, being a planner is good at the right times in life, but one of the hardest things to come to terms with is that every aspect of life cannot be planned out. I have definitely had my ups and downs throughout high school that I would have never expected to happen to me. When I reflect back on my high school career, I am not just grateful for all of the ups, I am also equally grateful for the downs. When I tell people that I am grateful for the lows in my life they usually get confused because they think what good can come from low points that would ever make anyone grateful for those hard times. Well to me the answer is that a lot of good things come from low points.

WHM: Who inspires you and why? Think of a special teacher, parent, sibling, or other friend and share a story of what makes this relationship special.

KATHRYN: My high school cross country and track coach is very inspiring to me. He shows me what it is like to be a good, organized leader. Coach Pat pushes me the right amount in my sport without ever allowing me to be in a position where I would crumble under the pressure. Ever since I told him I wanted to run in college he has done everything in his power to help me accomplish that goal. Without him I would not have fulfilled my dream of running Division 1 at an amazing college.

WHM: What are some of your hobbies and interests? This can be sports, books, art. Give some examples of your favorite things.

KATHRYN: I love to hang out with my friends, get ice cream, hike, travel, and go on runs. Running helps clear my mind and allows for me to have nice alone time with myself and my thoughts.

WHM: It’s your first summer after high school ...Tell us what you are looking forward to most about the coming year.

KATHRYN: I’ve always wondered what my summer going into college would feel like. Would I be nervous? Would I be excited?

Would I be scared? Now that the time is finally here I can surely say that I am definitely feeling all three of those emotions. College is a huge transition in a person’s lifetime. This is when people my age start getting a taste of what full independence from our families feels like. I am excited to continue to grow into my own self and develop myself through different life challenges. College will for sure be a challenge, but it is a challenge that I know will only

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make me stronger and more independent. I am excited to have more freedom and to see how I function with that freedom. As long as one is open to self-growth and self-reflection, college will help one realize so much more about oneself. I am looking forward to getting to know myself better through these realizations about myself that come about in these different life situations and environment.

WHM: If you’ll be attending college, tell us where and why you chose this school?

KATHRYN: I will be attending the University of Richmond in the fall. I’ve always wanted to go down south for college, so I visited many schools down south such as William and Mary, Duke, Wake Forest, UNC, University of Virginia and finally the University of Richmond. Richmond was by far the best fit for me.

When I visited University of Richmond in my spring of junior year in high school it seemed like my dream college. Richmond had a great business school with high success rates, a beautiful campus, a cute town walking distance away where I will definitely be shopping in a lot next year, the city is only 10 minutes away and last but not least I have the opportunity to run on their Division 1 cross country and track team which I had been dreaming about doing in college since middle school.

WHM: Any other anecdotes or fun facts about yourself?

KATHRYN: I’ve worked at a snack shack at a country club and as a hostess. I love baby-sitting and taking care of kids. n

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FASHION

Sunglasses Locals Make a Fashion Statement

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CHILD

DD FAIR

by TO photos

lasses eira sung ter. rton Perr est Hartford Cen : a ft B le e r th fa g in W lasses , rt g a From o n c u ti sp S ayfarer ntral Op ated) is Blake (se rtier). $590 at Ce e Ray Ban New W eated) is fashth ou y (s (MOD. C relaxed in ack Square. Ryle l Optica, nding) is at Centra eB Dylan (sta glasses.com, Blu s by GUCCI. $305 eye sse . $140 at in sungla d at ease n a le b ELSEA a ion nter.

– the CH rtford Ce ors look K l e a h West Ha ic . uare the M ying out e Back Sq nding) tr com, Blu Perreira Ryley (sta at at eyeglasses. e Barton rd 6 th 8 $ in s. s e u ss o st Hartfo gla more seri ntral Optica, We g in k o lo e nding) is urtier). $590 at C Blake (sta Co s (MOD. e ss y Ban sungla in the Ra fortably m ck o a c B g e Center. in is smil om, Blu the pool) 0 at eyeglasses.c in d n a w 14 .$ elo Dylan (b farer Sunglasses y New Wa Square

Meet the interns of West Hartford Magazine, We-Ha.com and WHMedia.

As you can see by their willingness to model for our fun-in-the-sun fashion section, they are good sports when it comes to taking all sorts of assignments with grace, and Dylan even got wet for it (above)! We love that they took this task in stride, but their real talents and aspirations lie elsewhere: Ryley McGinnis will be a senior at UConn this fall, where she is majoring in Journal- ism and Human Rights. She has had some impressive bylines and photo credits online at We-Ha.com, as well as in the Connecticut Jewish Ledger.

Dylan Carneiro, a senior at Colby-Sawyer for graphic design with a minor in business, is becoming a familiar face at West Hartford Magazine as he has jumped in to help at past We-Ha Vineyard Vines Pop-Up stores and other #wehaevents while interning three times. His favorite internship duty, so far, was the photo assignment at the annual Concorso Ferrari & Friends in West Hartford Center but his portfolio is bursting due to his Photoshop and graphic design projects.

Blake Greenslade is in his Junior year at Assumption College and is majoring in Marketing, with a minor Management. We were pleased to welcome Blake this season and thrilled that our in- ternship program came highly recommended from Dylan’s family. You may havemet Blake at a We-Ha-HA! Comedy Night or other #wehaevents.

Maddie Geerlof (unavailable for the photo) will be a senior this fall at UConn where she is majoring in Journalism. She’s taken on some complicated stories for We-ha.com.

Hunter Marotto (unavailable for the photo) is a rising sophomore at Conard High School, and a photographer who has a natural gift for capturing extraordinary moments. Although he’s away at photography camp for the summer, he will rejoin We-Ha.com as an intern in late August. n

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FINANCE

How Much Do I Need to Save?

by Whitney F. Burr, Investment Consultant Valerie E. Thomas & Associates, LLC

M

any Americans realize the importance of saving for retirement but knowing exactly how much they need to save is another issue altogether. With all the information available about retirement, it is sometimes difficult to decipher what is appropriate for your specific situation.

One rule of thumb is that retirees will need approximately 80% of their pre-retirement salaries to maintain their lifestyles in retirement. However, depending on your own situation and the type of retirement you hope to have, that number may be higher or lower.

Here are some factors to consider when determining a retirement savings goal.

RETIREMENT AGE The first factor to consider is the age at which you expect to retire. In reality, many people anticipate that they will retire later than they actually do; unexpected issues, such as health problems or workplace changes (downsizing, etc.), tend to stand in their way. Of course, the earlier you retire, the more money you will need to last throughout retirement. It’s important to prepare for unanticipated occurrences that could force you into an early retirement.

LIFE EXPECTANCY Although you can’t know what the duration of your life will be, there are a few factors that may give you a hint. You should take into account your family history — how long your relatives have lived and diseases that are common in your family — as well as your own past and present health issues. Also consider that life spans are increasing with recent medical developments. More people will be living to age 100, or perhaps even longer. When calculating how much you need to save, you should factor in the number of years you expect to spend in retirement.

FUTURE HEALTH-CARE NEEDS Another factor to consider is the cost of health care. Health-care costs have been rising much faster than general inflation, and fewer employers are offering health benefits to retirees. Long-term care is another consideration. These costs could severely dip into your savings and even result in your filing for bankruptcy if the need for care is prolonged.

LIFESTYLE Another important consideration is your desired retirement lifestyle. Do you want to travel? Are you planning to be involved in philanthropic endeavors? Will you have an expensive country club membership? Are there any hobbies you would like to pursue?

The answers to these questions can help you decide what additional costs your ideal retirement will require.

Many baby boomers expect that they will work part-time in retirement. However, if this is your intention and you find that working longer becomes impossible, you will still need the appropriate funds to support your retirement lifestyle.

INFLATION If you think you have accounted for every possibility when constructing a savings goal but forget this vital component, your savings could be far from sufficient. Inflation has the potential to lower the value of your savings from year to year, significantly reducing your purchasing power over time.

It is important for your savings to keep pace with or exceed inflation.

SOCIAL SECURITY Many retirees believe that they can rely on their future Social Security benefits.

However, this may not be true for you. The Social Security system is under increasing strain as more baby boomers are retiring and fewer workers are available to pay their benefits. And the reality is that Social Security currently provides about 40% of the total income of Americans aged 65 and older with at least $47,731 in annual household income.1 That leaves about 60% to be covered in other ways.

AND THE TOTAL IS… After considering all these factors, you should have a much better idea of how much you need to save for retirement.

For example, let’s assume you will retire when you are 65 and spend a total of 20 years in retirement, living to age 85. Your annual income is currently $80,000, and you think that 75% of your pre-retirement income ($60,000) will be enough to cover the costs of your ideal retirement, including some travel you intend to do and potential health-care expenses. After factoring in the $16,000* annual Social Security benefit you expect to receive, a $10,000 annual pension from your employer, and 4% potential inflation, you end up with a total retirement savings amount of about $800,000. (For your own situation, you can use a retirement savings calculator from your retirement plan provider or from a financial site on the Internet.) This hypo-

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thetical example is used for illustrative purposes only and does not represent the performance of any specific investment.

The estimated total for this hypothetical example may seem daunting. But after determining your retirement savings goal and factoring in how much you have saved already, you may be able to determine how much you need to save each year to reach your destination. The important thing is to come up with a goal and then develop a strategy to pursue it. You don’t want to spend your retirement years wishing you had planned ahead when you had the time. The sooner you start saving and investing to reach your goal, the closer you will be to realizing your retirement dreams. n For a complimentary consultation to review your specific estate planning, retirement planning and income and investment needs, call Whitney Burr and Karyn Lancaster at our office located in West Hartford at 860-678-6260. Visit our website at www.valeriethomas.com * Social Security Fact Sheet, 2017 estimated average annual Social Security benefit payable in January 2017.

Source: 1) Social Security Administration, 2016 The information in this column is not intended as tax, legal, investment, or retirement advice or recommendations, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented, nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions. © 2018 Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA & SIPC.

See Yourself @ CCSU

VOTING NOW OPEN! Look for the voting link on:

Connecticut Jewish Ledger West Hartford LIFE West Hartford Magazine West Hartford Press WH Squared We-Ha.com Watch for the 4th Annual Best of West Hartford Awards Event in the fall! #wehaevents

Join the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce!

Good for your business, good for the community.

For membership information, please contact Barbara or Morgan at (860) 521-2300 or e-mail membership@whchamber.com.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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TRAVEL

Even “Second-Best” Took My Breath Away

A

story and photos by Lisa Martin

s a travel agent, I kept hearing about Beaches, Turks and Caicos – why?

Because it had the best beach.

I know that there are beach lovers, mountain lovers, river and ocean lovers. I never really thought about what it took to appeal to someone in the beach lovers category, even though my childhood experiences made me a life-long beach lover. I grew up spending summers at the ocean. We lived close enough that my mom would drive us their several times a week.

We had town passes and enjoyed the waves,

digging in the light tan sand and meeting new kids throughout the summer. When I got older I drove to the state beach, which was longer and wider and had waves that were 2-3 times taller than at the smaller town beach. The sand was fine grained and pale, and if you dug a little bit, you would find purple ribbons of sand, too. If you were where the waves lapped up onto the sand, you could find small holes where sand crabs would hide, and if you walked further down the beach where there were fewer people, you could see sandpipers and later in the day a fisherman or two. That is my basis for what makes a good beach.

Three months ago, I had the opportunity to visit Beaches, Turks and Caicos. I wanted to go “research” it on behalf of my clients; parents who wanted to bring their family to this beautiful island to experience this sand; and families that want to learn to SCUBA in the world’s second largest reef. I wanted to experience first-hand what is considered

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“When you can finally pull yourself out of the water you find yourself walking on sand so fine it is almost powdery...”

Children on a beach at Beaches, Turks and Caicos.

the best sand beach surrounded by the second-best reef in the world.

Beaches is a beautiful property with distinct villages and activities. The Seaside Suites are some of the closest to the water, and the Caribbean Village is near many activities for families with young children. Beaches, Turks and Caicos is affiliated with Sesame Street. The children’s area was nicely laid out and occupied by happy children. I saw a group of 3 and 4-year-olds in the Italian-themed restaurant busily eating and chatting with one another.

They were so well-behaved, it was clear they were busy enjoying new friends and that there must have been a perfect balance of play and rest.

Beaches, Turks and Caicos is also the first Caribbean resort that reaches out to the autism community. Childcare professionals are Autism Certified and Sesame Street’s Julia (a character who is a 4-year-old girl with autism) are there for families so that all family members can enjoy a top-notch family vacation.

If your family wants to take a break from the beach, there is Pirate Island Waterpark for big and small kids near the Italian and French Villages. Along with all the slides, there is a surf simulator and a lazy river – pick your speed!

The recently remodeled French Village, with a big pool, is set back from the ocean and has an open-air stage which, on different nights, hosts a local jazz singer; an adaptation of a children’s play; a tribute to Reggae, and more. The Italian Village is in front of the French Village and is where all the action is during the day. The recently acquired Key West Village, blends a luxurious laid-back beach vibe into the mix.

The first day of my visit I had a beautiful breakfast on the rooftop

Breakfast at Sky Restaurant .

Silky, sandy beaches at Beaches, Turks and Caicos.

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Beaches, Turks and Caicos.

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restaurant Sky, a Key West Restaurant. It was the perfect place to spend my first morning with an amazing view looking over the ocean. I also tried the breakfast at the Caribbean Village and the buffet had everything you would expect including an omelet station. Le Petit Chateau also had delicious food, and I was extremely pleased with this award-winning restaurant. I tried the conch soup at Schooner’s Restaurant and was most pleasantly surprised at how hot and tender it came out. As I sat overlooking the water at an outside table at Schooner’s, watching people enjoy all types of water sports, a colorful Caribbean parade marched by with musicians, dancers, and beautiful costumes. Anyone concerned about food allergies will be happy to know that the staff has had six weeks of food allergy training. Before you go and when you arrive you can arrange for a meeting to discuss any food allergies requirements you have.

How does all this compare with the beautiful beaches I grew up with? Well, here goes: the water at Beaches is turquoise, and when you float in the water you feel like you are in a giant spa inside the coral reef. The sand under the water is clean and soft, the waves are slight. When you can finally pull yourself out of the water you find yourself walking on sand so fine it is almost powdery. I can only tell you that when I sat on a lounge chair and dug my feet into the sand, it felt like marshmallows. To sum it up: the turquoise waters were breathtaking; we walked on the softest sand you can imagine; there is fun for your whole family, and we certainly found opportunities to breathe deeply and relax. n Lisa Martin Travel Advisor, Luxury Cruise Specialist, ACC for Cruise Planners, Your Land and Cruise Experts.

860-929-0708, lisa.martin@cruiseplanners.com www.totaltraveltoday.com

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FOOD

Blue Back Square: INDIA “To Go”!

Story & photos by ‘TWIN TASTERS’ JOY TAYLOR & AMY MELVIN

H

ow often has “Kale” been the most popular dish at a gathering?

Never! But that was before INDIA’s Crispy Baby Kale salad with tomatoes, tamarind, mint and green chili chutney. By far this gluten free and vegan dish was the hit of the picnic when we had the opportunity to try take out from this Blue Back Square establishment, just in time for West Hartford’s Latanya Farrell’s concert in Elizabeth Park.

Manager AJ thoughtfully packed our food-to-go and explained that the chutney, with optional chopped onion, was to be added to the tasty baby kale right before consuming it.

The rest of the menu was just as flavorful and complimentary and included: Vegetable Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala made with larger than expected chunks of chicken; Saag Paneer which had a delicate garlic flavor was more tasty than is typical; and Garlic Naan was baked to perfection.

54 Memorial Road, Open 7 Days, including Happier Hour 7 Days from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook. n

More photos online at we-ha.com

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GARDEN

House Plants Millennials Spearheading the Trend

O

by Karla A. Dalley

ur theme this issue is “Terrific Teens.” And while it might not seem as if teens and gardening have much in common, the generation known as “millennials” has taken gardening over and embraced it. What trends have emerged and what can the rest of us learn from these younger gardeners?

The biggest trend is house plants. Just this year, articles have appeared in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post about young people’s love of house plants! And they’re not shy about sharing that love! They blog about it, Instagram it and post on Pinterest.

Stores devoted to nothing but house plants have opened up – some of them in our area. Why is this trend important? First, “house” plants are badly named. Many of them are tropical plants that are perennials in a warmer climate. That means that we can bring them in and out (if we so choose) from year to year. We can make them container plants—or part of our container plantings—and then repurpose them as “house” plants again in the fall.

What sort of plants are we talking about?

Common plants like begonias and vining plants like philodendron, Swedish ivy, regular ivy, plectranthus, creeping fig—all of those make great “spillers” (as creeping plants are known) for your containers--and then can come into the house in the fall.

For “thrillers” (or dramatic upright plants), try something like

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a croton or a snake plant. Surround the snake plant with succulents and you have a water-wise arrangement that you can repurpose indoors (so long as you have a bright window in winter).

Our “terrific teens” can even take these house plants with them to their dorms and apartments. Many house plants are known to help purify the air—and that’s something that might be useful in dorm living.

Edible Plants The next “trend” (if you want to call it that—this is much bigger than a trend really) is edibles. Millennials like to grow their own, whether it’s food, herbs, hops for brewing or specialized items in “cocktail” gardens.

There are many reasons for this trend.

One is that millennials (and many other folks) want fresh, safe, healthy food. One of the best ways to get that is to grow it. Without too much effort—and without any land (more in a moment) you can grow a reasonable amount of what you might like to eat, even in our relatively cool climate.

If you’d like to do a bit more and add a cold frame to extend your gardening season, or some lights so that you can grow indoors in an unused room or basement, now the options are expanded even more.

There are even tabletop kits that allow you to grow herbs or lettuce under lights right in the kitchen so that you always have a few healthy greens right at your fingertips. This is a “trend” that isn’t going away any time soon particularly with the continuing food health scares in the news.

This is also something our teens can take away with them to supplement some of their meal plans.

Smaller is Better The final thing that we can learn from the millennials is that bigger is not always bet-

ter. Just as they are embracing urban areas, they are embracing rooftop gardens, tiny backyard gardens, and other small spaces.

So, if you don’t have a large garden—or perhaps you live in a condo and just have a balcony—there are whole books that have been written about gardening in such spaces now.

In one of my college apartments, I gardened through a window, in containers, on a rooftop. I grew a tomato and a rose in flower pots. The exposure was east and as I recall, the rose did well, the tomato not so much (probably because the pot was too small). But I gardened.

I have pretty much gardened everywhere I have lived (I am sure this comes as no surprise, since I write this column). When I lived in Hartford, I had a sunny balcony that was 48 square feet. I had a Japanese maple in a pot and I planted grass beneath it. I regularly planted tomatoes, but I also planted lettuce and green beans! I had miniature roses, and all sorts of other things— hibiscus trees that I would bring in for the winter, orchids that I would put out for the summer—I think I counted 96 plants around the perimeter of the balcony.

So small is no obstacle to planting. It can be a delight and an obsession.

Let’s take lessons from the trends that the millennials are helping to popularize and let’s get out and garden! n Karla Dalley is a garden writer and speaker from West Hartford. kdalley@comcast.net. gardendaze.wordpress.com

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