September/October 2024 Homes Issue

DARIEN • RIDGEFIELD • KATONAH • ARMONK • POUND RIDGE • N&S SALEM • WACCABUC

Realizing Wealth’s Potential

Realizing Wealth’s Potential

Realizing Wealth’s Potential

At Rockefeller Global Family Office, we provide world-class solutions to individuals and families at every stage of wealth. Our services include guidance across the full range of their financial needs including family office services, generational wealth planning and lifestyle advisory solutions. We embrace the same standards established by the Rockefeller family legacy and the guardians who have so skillfully helped it thrive throughout seven generations and counting.

At Rockefeller Global Family Office, we provide world-class solutions to individuals and families at every stage of wealth. Our services include guidance across the full range of their financial needs including family office services, generational wealth planning and lifestyle advisory solutions. We embrace the same standards established by the Rockefeller family legacy and the guardians who have so skillfully helped it thrive throughout seven generations and counting.

At Rockefeller Global Family Office, we provide world-class solutions to individuals and families at every stage of wealth. Our services include guidance across the full range of their financial needs including family office services, generational wealth planning and lifestyle advisory solutions. We embrace the same standards established by the Rockefeller family legacy and the guardians who have so skillfully helped it thrive throughout seven generations and counting.

Uncommon opportunities await. Scan the QR code to learn more.

Uncommon opportunities await. Scan the QR code to learn more.

Uncommon opportunities await. Scan the QR code to learn more.

NEW CANAAN, DARIEN & RIDGEFIELD, CT ARMONK, BEDFORD, BEDFORD HILLS, KATONAH, MT KISCO, NORTH SALEM, PLEASANTVILLE, POUND RIDGE, SOUTH SALEM, and WACCABUC, NY and

GET IN TOUCH

info@bedfordnewcanaanmag.com

www.BedfordNewCanaanMag.com @BedfordNewCanaanMag WE

Embrace the Bounty of the Season

Autumn is the perfect time to shop The Market’s generous selection of ripe local produce. Enjoy a feast of fresh flavors – juicy red tomatoes, orchard‑fresh pears and apples, or a platter of grilled zucchini, squash and eggplant.

Ready to warm yourself with heartier soups and stews? You’ll find the all the best ingredients at The Market – prime meats, fresh seafood and savory cheeses – to cook up something comforting and delicious.

Pair your meal with a robust IPA or refreshing hard seltzer chosen our from our abundant variety. Followed, of course, by a delicious fresh from the oven treat from our Bakery! From appetizers to desserts, The Market has everything you need for great seasonal meals! 55 Westchester

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Happy Anniversary…to the B&NC Community!

This September/October 2024 Issue of Bedford & New Canaan Magazine marks the beginning of our fifth year publishing this ‘Always Local / Always Positive’ luxury lifestyle magazine.

We’re proud to have tripled the distribution of the magazine from when we acquired the venerable Bedford Magazine title. We now mail to the 25,000 most affluent homes in Armonk, Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, North Salem, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, South Salem, and Wacabuc..as well as across the border, in New Canaan, Darien, and, added this year, Ridgefield. We’re not just Bedford and New Canaan! Our B&NC Map (on the next page) illustrates the area and the community we serve.

…And we’re extremely grateful to have your attention!

Study after study shows us that you’re spending more time reading Bedford & New Canaan Magazine than any other popular print publication, and that B&NC MAG is out on your coffee table right now! Our Calendar of Local Events at bedfordnewcanaanmag.com is the #1 local calendar in the area! And our @bedfordnewcanaanmag is the largest locally-focused Instagram in the area!

We’re pleased to have this past year introduced you to our Cover Features: Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold; Jean-Georges Vongerichten; Nicole Bloom; Chevy and Jayni Chase; Natasha Bedingfield, and; Paul Bluhdorn and Anni de Saint Phalle. And we feel privileged to

be in the position to highlight most worthy local charities, most spectacular local points of interests, and most interesting local cultural institutions in the B&NC area. Just this past year we were able to bring attention to Woman to Woman, The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, Bedford 2030, Planet New Canaan, 13 Hands Equine Rescue, The Mianus River Gorge, The Buxton Gorge, The Inclusive Initiative, and Housatonic Habitat For Humanity, among many others… and in our Cultural Institution Series feature The Ridgefield Playhouse, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, A Contemporary Theater in Ridgefield, The Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, and the Mather Homestead in Darien.

And we’re excited about the line-up for the year to come! We feel like starting the year off with our September/October 2024 Cover Feature on Warren and Stefani Haynes…is a little like having the Allman Brothers as the opener at your concert! (Speaking of, tune in live on the B&NC Mag Instagram on September 7 to watch a livestream of Warren’s concert to benefit Rippowam Cisqua.)

An ‘official guide to anniversary gifts’ I Googled says that the proper gift to celebrate a fourth anniversary is flowers symbolizing a blossoming and fruitful association. …I feel like B&NC MAG is still growing, and getting better with every issue! …And I favor Peonies and Dahlias…

Casey Kaplan

Grace Farms

Vista

TheRidge Playhouseeld

Old Salem Farm

Wolf Conservation Center

Marsh Sanctuary

Cross River Reservoir

Katonah Museum of Art

Muscoot Farm

Titicus Reservoir

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Lake Waccabuc

Leonard Park BRLATrails

Bedford Village Green

King Cone

The Glass House

Westmoreland Sanctuary

Jacob Burns Film Center

John Jay Homestead

The Bedford Oak

Schedule a consultation now for JRD to handle all of your home holiday decorating needs.

P. 36: OUT & ABOUT

64: CULTURAL INSTITUTION HIGHLIGHT

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield Important and accessible art for the whole community.

BANDON DUNES

A Holy Pilgrimage for

the

Avid Golfer

Come with us to Oregon’s most spectacular Pacific bluffs as we continue to tour the top golf destinations around the world. Set on top of 100+ft cliffs overlooking miles of beachfront, Bandon Dunes’ five links courses are the ultimate!

P. 108: THE TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGIN'

The Evolution of Home Comfort

“In the long term, heating and cooling your home with oil is going the way of the dinosaur,” says David Singer... He ought to know!

BABYBLOOM…

Born in New Canaan!

When Annie Laster had her son Noah in 2023, she realized there was no one to guide her through the process of what to buy, who to hire, where to go, or any of the other things involved in having a baby. …And that’s when Babybloom was born.

RIVAY

Elevated Men’s Clothes, Right in Town

One year ago, Jon Ruti and Katie Boiano opened Rivay, selling their own ‘small-batch’ men’s clothing designs out of their boutique at 633 Old Post Road, in the Bedford Playhouse Building.

Warren Haynes is most famous for being a member of the Allman Brothers, playing with The Dead, leading his band Gov’t Mule, and a whole lot of other collaborative and solo work…but around the B&NC MAG area, Warren and his wife, Stefani, and their son Hudson, are just…proud B&NC locals!

WARREN & STEFANI

HAYNES, at Home in Bedford

P. 54: WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Ali Cohen & Sam Fisher are Wed

P.

Old Town Barns

EDUCATION SECTION

P. 137: A NEW AGE OF STARGAZING

The Dome at the New Canaan High School

The Dome is the New Canaan Public Schools’ new and revolutionary teaching tool, developed with a new Evans & Sullivan Digistar 7 system in the shell of the High School’s former ‘starball’-style planetarium…and it’s the dawning of a new age in New Canaan!

P. 150: THE OTHER GLOVE

Mother/daughter team Monica and Abigail Berg have authored a second children’s book. The first, The Gift Of Being Different was centered on Abigail’s message that what makes her different - her dyslexia - is actually her strength. The new book, The Other Glove published by Spiritually Hungry Publishing and soon to be available in local bookstores and on Amazon, provides a message of empathy.

B&NC Mag's 5th Annual

18 UNDER 18

THE WESTMORELAND

SANCTUARY

Acquire, Enrich, Preserve, Educate

The Westmoreland Sanctuary is a 669-acre nature preserve located in between 684 and Bedford Road, off Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford.

P. 156

B&NC’s fifth annual 18 Under 18 selection is always the highlight of our September/ October Education Issue… and every year we are more and more impressed with the incredible achievements and accomplishments of the 18 selected students and of the hundreds of nominees! Congrats to this year’s B&NC 18 Under 18!

Out & About

A highlight of recent events in our community

CARAMOOR GALA AND SEASON OPENER

NEIGHBORS LINK GALA

01. Wendy Reingold, Carola Otero Bracco, Sandy Kaufman 02. Zach Viders, Fred Allatt, Jack Oestreicher, Dan Ellison

03. Gina Lodolini & Neil Capolongo 04. Richard Zinman, Leslie Attwood, Audrey Zinman, Jim Attwood

05. Leslie Williams, Lisa Welch, Nancy Offit 06. Michael and Nina Stanton 07. Peter Kend, Ed Lewis, Casey Kaplan 08. Wynton Marsalis, Martha Stewart, Wyntons Daughter Oni

HOMESTEAD SUMMER SOLSTICE DINNER

01. Stephanie Trotta and Tiere Hessert 02. Amanda Mintz, Jen Scherr, Ella Barnette, Kristin Kennedy, Stephanie Tucker, Ashley Hebert, Jessica Merrill, Britt Brennan, Ali Luddy, Cory Zablow, Amy Daswani, Danielle Gaglio, Alexis Faust 03. Ania Janis, Kate Piselli, Lauren Frank, Jessica Merrill, Sarah Henderson, Caitlin Griswold, Allison Arneill, (Bottom row) Stephanie Kramer, Tasha Blair, Lauren Swenson, Sally Houlihan 04. Jane and Greg Baecher 05. Sara Brown and Mordechai Rubinstein

Guests enjoyed cocktails in the sunken garden of Darien’s 1778 Homestead followed by a farm inspired dining experience amidst the grasses by Arden’s Rowayton. Local vendors included: Floral by Longfield Farm, Stationery by The Frisky Penguin, Linens by Sophie Williamson Design, Bar provided by Walter Stewart’s Market, Pure Joy Rose, D’Augustino Wine and Two Roads Brewing.

01. Loli and Falaguerra families 02. Jenn Streicher, Jonny Cournoyer, Heather Grey, Steve Schwartz, Re Jin Lee

03. Alicia Bohn, Daniela Parker Bowles, Kristen Childs 04. Vincenzo Onorati, Patrick Wilson, Luke Parker Bowles, Andy Childs, Brandon Jones 05. Greg Reilly, Luke Parker Bowles, Dionna Carlson, Anne Kelly-Lenz, Bill Oestmann, Kevin Moynihan, Tucker Murphy, Tiger Mann, Jeremiah Mann 06. Photo Credit: Lynda Shenkman – David Seligman, Derek Anderson and Beata Mastalerz 07. Photo Credit: Steve Caputo – Dave Harmon, Chris Herrmann, Sue Harmon

drive hours to the best slopes. So why not take a short drive to Hickory & Tweed in Armonk to choose the best ski and snowboard equipment and fashions.

u Save 15% on ski and snowboard leasing equipment: Get first dibs on our best gear for the entire family, now thru Sept. 30. No deposit required.

u Make an appointment for ski leasing or equipment fitting: Visit www.hickoryandtweed.com and take your pick of appointments. Walk-ins are welcome, but when you have an appointment, you can avoid wait times

u Check out our ski apparel and fashions: Choose from Amundsen, Bogner, Helly Hansen, Kjus, Marmot, Obermeyer, Parajumper, Patagonia, Rossignol, Spyder and more.

laSt SeaSon’S SkiS, boardS and Skiwear.

01. Alex Thrane, Fred Donner, Jorge Doblado, Paul Eisenberg 02. Jayeeta Lakhani, Kiera Gannan, Corrie Butcher, Natasha Rutherford, Chloe Gasiorowski, Blakely Lowry, Christy Counts, Allison Heilman 03. Michaela Babuskova, Cydney Chase, Casey Kaplan, Emily Fisher 04. Danielle Vadai, Lisa Reid, Martha Stewart, Steven Gambrell, Anni de Saint Phalle 05. Kim Handler, Isa Kriegeskotte, Brett Cameron, Deanna Marano, Lindsay Hearon, Elizabeth Fortune

‘GREEN CARS ONLY’ A CAR SHOW SHOWCASING

GREEN AUTOS

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• #1 Family-Owned Real Estate Company in the Northeast, Florida, and South Carolina

• #1 Luxury Brokerage by Luxury Portfolio International, 2018

• Winner Best Luxury Real Estate Agency 2023 & 2022, by Luxury Lifestyle Awards

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• Over $4 million donated to cancer research

Out & About

BERNIE WILLIAMS DAY - RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE

BUXTON PRESERVE RIBBON CUTTING AND OPENING WOODPILE SCREENING - BEDFORD

01. Grant Gregory, George Bianco, Reese Gregory, Wendy Belzberg, Ellen Calves, Stephanie McCaine, Chris Burdick

02. Andy Yu, Casey Kaplan, Maria Colacao, Kara Hartigan Whelan 03. Chris Burdick, George Bianco, Ellen Calves, Grant Gregory 04. David Griff, Jennifer Saine, Sam Griff, Harry Griff 05. Rory Lubin, Phil Green, Lisa Green, Judith Frantz, Phyllis Stone, Melissa Lubin, Diana Binger 06. Casey Kaplan, Nicky Cass, Sam Ring 07. Ashley Paltauf, Bernie Williams, Jodi Simon Stewart, Jared Shahid, Nick Donofrio 08. Top Row Left to Right: Sponsor Player, John Starks Bernie Williams, Jeff Nelson, Mark Feinsand, Ryan Morris, Nelson Braff. Bottom row Left to Right: Crystal Morris, Vicky Biello, Nicky Cass, JR Jackson, Sponsor Bat Boy 03

DARIEN SIDEWALK SALES NEW CANAAN SIDEWALK SALE

01. Oliver and Lyz Richards, Alec Behrendt, Royce Richards, Bart and Adam Swider 02. Jill Rae, Allison Meyler, Kim Harper, Lily Meyler, Emily Christel 03. Laura and Hannah Sullivan 04. Dana Grunow, Ali Von Kennel, Lisa Primmer, Sara Parent, Amy Nelson 05. Talia Suskauer, Dan Micciche, Delaney Westfall, Sam Gravitte 06. Amanda Chin, Pam Chin, Barb Shaw, Jen Van DeGraaf 07. Alissa Golden, Lucie Golden, Kate Mcgee, Alex Mcgee, Jamie Mcgee, Casey Mcgee, Teddy Mcgee

01. Jack West, Andy Yu, Martha Stewart, Cassie Arison 02. Cassie Arison and Amir Arison 03. Nir Hod, Nili Lotan, James S. Snyder 04. Marsha Hecker, Mary Genco, Kathy Rider 05. Elisabeth Drew, Susan Graham, Fiona Leonard, Kim Adams, Erin Noonan, Liza Smith, Liane Hamilton

MICHAEL WINTER

01. Sunny Hostin and Melissa Haizlip 02. Producer Jamey Heath, JBFC Senior Film Programmer Monica Castillo, and Actor/Director Justin Baldoni. 03. Series host Addie Morfoot, actor Renée Elise Goldsberry, director and JBFC Board Member Melissa Haizlip, producer Leonard Joseph 04. Producer Leonard Joseph , actor Renée Elise Goldsberry series host Addie Morfoot , director and JBFC Board Member Melissa Haizlip 05. Ben Stiller & Christine Taylor 06. Mary Jo Ziesel, Martin Scorsese, Janet Maslin. 07. Matt Munisteri, Pat O ’ Leary, Jon - Erik Kellso, John Pizzarelli, Scott Robinson 08. John Pizzarelli, Mike Karn, Isaiah J. Thompson (J.P. Trio)

Obsessively Better Built

At Carbon, we build luxury homes better. How?

We work with leading architects to build the ideal modern, custom home – stronger, safer, more comfortable, luxurious, beautiful, and exceedingly efficient.

In fact, some call us obsessive about home building.

Ali Cohen and Sam Fisher are

Ali Cohen, the daughter of Shannon and Wayne Cohen, grew up in Bedford. Sam Fisher approached Ali at a party when the two were freshmen at the University of Michigan with the line ‘What’s a girl like you doing standing alone?’ ...and the two have been together ever since.

“Sam is from Ashburn, Virginia, had only been to New York twice in his life, and thought it was the worst place in the world because he’d been to Times Square,” Ali exclaims. “But I convinced him to try it after we graduated from college…and we've loved every minute of it! We did the whole New York thing, including living with friends in crowded apartments. …And then when Covid hit, we escaped Manhattan together, first coming to my parents in Bedford for a while, and then going to Sam’s parents’ in Ashburn. In 2021, we got our own apartment in the West Village. Sam proposed to me on May 27, 2023, on the most beautiful blue sky day on the Westside Highway, on the pier closest to our first apartment.”

“WE CHOSE The Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn for the wedding,” Ali explains, “because we liked the raw beauty of the spaces that would allow us - and when I say us I really mean the amazing team from La Maison Fête - to create the feeling of a fabulously intimate dinner party for all of our closest family and friends.”

Deanna Marano from La Maison Fête shared, “I absolutely loved working with Ali on her wedding! I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Cohen family on events over the years, making it all the more meaningful to plan Ali's wedding. She had a unique vision for using red as the central color, which brought an unexpected vibrancy and elegance to every detail. It was both a fun and inspiring choice that made her wedding truly stand out, creating a stunning atmosphere that was both bold and beautiful.”

5

The startedevening

outside in the courtyard, adorned with light colored whimsical florals to create the feeling of being in a rose garden. Ali walked down the aisle wearing her Mom’s wedding dress, which had been given a new life by talented Bedford tailor, Isa Kriegeskotte, and her best friend’s veil as the ‘something borrowed’. Ali had three maids-of-honor: her younger sister, Sofia; Abigail Shepard, a best friend from back in Bedford Village Elementary, and; Anna Fiolek, a friend from college. Another Bedford native, Anabel Bannon, served as one of Ali’s six bridesmaids. Sam had Ali’s little brother, Max Cohen, and his best friend from Michigan, Nick Kost, as his best men, and the couple were married by Jason Blumhardt, who was one of Sam’s fraternity brothers and is one of Sam and Ali’s best friends. Ali’s older brother, Mike, and Sam’s older sister, Amanda, stood by their sides as they were married.

Significance

Ali wore diamond earrings created from her late biological mother’s ring, and Sam wore a wedding band made from his late grandfather’s wedding ring.

The evening transitioned to the indoor space with lots of exposed brick, filled with deep red florals, and the tables were embellished with beautiful custom menus, escort cards and table numbers created by Bedfordite, Happy Menocal. A lively sit-down dinner was accompanied by a DJ, and highlighted with a beautiful raspberry-covered cake and some incredible speeches from siblings and each of Ali’s and Sam’s dads.

The couple shared their first dance to the acoustic version of Sam Smith's Latch, which immediately transitioned into the EDM version, welcoming friends and family to join!

“We wanted the night to center around great people and great music. We used this amazing DJ called Shaun Pazel, who was a friend-of-a-friend, who really lived up to his billing as the ‘anti-wedding DJ’. We had a two-hour long dinner with him prior to the wedding to make sure that he really understood our vibe, and he absolutely nailed it!”

Sam shared. The couple took dance lessons to prepare for their first dance to the acoustic version of Sam Smith’s Latch…before transitioning into the EDM version and kicking off a vibrant night of dancing.

“Sam’s biggest request for the whole wedding was that he wanted to be out partying all night with our friends, so the after-party was also critical,” Ali smiles.

“We brought all our friends to El Nico for more drinks and dancing…and then, at 3 A.M. we went back with our respective wedding parties to a giant suite at the hotel where we were staying, and kept the party going until the sunrise!”

The couple spent a long weekend right after the wedding mini-mooning at the Inness resort in upstate New York, and are planning their honeymoon in South Africa this December. They still live in the West Village… but Ali says Bedford is where the couple would like to raise a family!

Elaflowersco@gmail.com www.ela-flowers.com 73 Westchester Ave Pound Ridge NY

THE ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM

IN RIDGEFIELD

IMPORTANT AND ACCESSIBLE

Ready to celebrate its 60th Anniversary on April 20, 2025, the Aldrich, at 258 Main Street in Ridgefield, is a museum that is at one time both important and accessible.

The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum was founded by Larry Aldrich, the child of immigrants from Eastern Europe, who grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and made his fortune producing a line of women’s professional workwear. He had a weekend residence on the current site of the Museum, and owned another property in downtown Ridgefield. What is now the Administrative Office for the Museum was once a General Store and then a Christian Science Church. In or around 1964, Aldrich met the artist Robert Indiana - who credits Aldrich as an inspiration for his work - and quickly became so interested and focused on young artists of his time, that he sold his collection of Impressionists and determined to open and operate The Aldrich Museum to display Contemporary Art.

When Aldrich died, in 1999, he’d been collecting for over 50 years and, in order to fulfill Aldrich’s vision, The Aldrich began a process of culling the collection in order to refine the focus on Contemporary Art, selling many of the other works to museums such as the Whitney and the Museum of Modern Art, and returning some works to their artists. Utilizing the proceeds from such sales, funds left by Aldrich, and monies from important supporters, like the Henry and Irma Lier Foundation - Henry and Irma were good friends of Aldrich - The Aldrich managed to construct the 20,000 square foot museum building that was opened in 2004.

It was most important to Aldrich that the Museum be accessible for the community.

His vision of being able to stop by a firstclass art exhibition while walking the dog or on a stroll into town…is now reality!

THE ALDRICH

Amy Smith-Stewart is The Aldrich’s Chief Curator. She lives in Katonah and joined The Aldrich in 2013, having had significant curatorial experience at the MoMA PS1. She was appointed Chief Curator at The Aldrich in 2022. She explains, “While we usually have three or four or five separate exhibitions going on at The Aldrich at any given time, each exhibition represents a years-long process of discovering, researching, and understanding each artist, and planning and then presenting each collection of work. We stay at arms length from the commercial sector, preferring to independently identify and value artists to be exhibited, and then we work very closely with each artist to ensure that their work is displayed as they intend it to be seen by our viewers.”

“It’s really quite amazing,” says Cybele Maylone, who’s been The Aldrich’s Executive Director since 2018. She’s from Evanston, Illinois, and majored in Art History at Earlham College. She lives in Ridgefield with her husband, Steven Seltz, who teaches Economics at Ridgefield High School, and their two children, Marina and Amalia, who both attend Ridgefield public schools. “Larry Aldrich would be proud! We produce a steady diet of exhibitions featuring an array of artists, including a large number who are young or under-recognized in life or death. Though there is no one style, it’s all ‘contemporary’ - meaning new and au currant. And our indoor and outdoor exhibits are totally accessible. We’re not trying to be the MOMA, but we are a ‘big-city museum’ that just happens to be located in a leafy suburb. I’d like to think we’re on a level with contemporary art museums in big cities like Boston or Houston. When Aldrich was alive, artists like Frank Stella exhibited here. We believe we’re continuing in the same tradition…and that tomorrow’s Stella is on exhibit at The Aldrich today.”

Amy continues, “Each of our artists has a unique story and each artist’s work requires particular attention. One of our primary objectives is to showcase and expose great contemporary artists:

After including Loie Hollowell’s work in a large group exhibition that The Aldrich presented in 2021 titled 52 Artists: A Feminist Milestone, we determined to present the 2024 exhibition of Space Between: A Survey of Ten Years, which explores Hollowell’s work over time. We’re pleased that the exhibition is now on view at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, where it will be on view through 2025.

In 2023, we presented the first solo museum show of large-scale textile works by Hangama Amiri, an Afghan-Canadian artist whose work has been shown around the world.

Now a household name, The Aldrich presented the artist KAWS first museum exhibition in 2010.

KAWS

Elizabeth Englander

Loie Hollowell

Hangama Amiri

52 Artists: A Feminist Milestone

Photo: JASON MANDELLA

Photo : ANDREA CERASO

KAWS (installation view), The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, June 27, 2010 to January 2, 2011. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Chad Kleitsch

THE ALDRICH

And, of course, The Aldrich is proud to continue its tradition of presenting some of the most famous contemporary artists of our time. As The Aldrich was one of the first museums to exhibit the work of Frank Stella we were particularly thrilled to present Frank Stella’s Stars, A Survey, a focused exhibition that looked at the star form as an enduring motif in his work over time…Stella’s last significant exhibition before his death earlier this year.”

The Aldrich is, indeed, quite popular!

The Aldrich has a robust Membership Program, a staff of about twenty, plus a group of Museum Educators and a group of Museum Attendants, and is governed by a Board of Directors with 18 Members, at least two of whom are themselves artists. The Museum is a part of Connecticut’s designated State Cultural Area in Ridgefield and does receive grant funding from the State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and has other important sponsors, but the Museum nevertheless depends on private philanthropy in order to continue to flourish.

Most exciting, The Aldrich broke ground this Summer on a total redevelopment of their three acre outdoor space and Sculpture Garden on the back section of the Museum property. With an anticipated re-opening in November, the Sculpture Garden will surely be a favorite daily respite for locals and the highlight of a weekend art tour for out-of-town enthusiasts.

Attendance was strong as soon as The Aldrich opened back up after closing as required for Covid, and has been increasing steadily ever since. The vast majority of visits are on weekends, but there’s a steady flow of visitors on weekdays as well, and Summer is high season. The Aldrich hosts a lot of school visits, including a broad list of Title I schools, and has regular and special programs for Seniors and Charitable Associations. The Museum is only closed on Tuesdays, and while there is a regular charge of $15 for admission for Adults - it’s free to visit on the 3rd Saturday of each month, and Children are always free.

Frank Stella

Photos JASON MANDELLA

B i t t l S S t u a r t Ya n k e l @ g m a l c o m

Y k l l

Ya n k e l l L e g a c y G a l e r y c o m

BABYBLOOM… Born in NewCanaan

Annie Laster and her husband, Nick, bought their house in New Canaan three years ago, with the intention of putting down roots and raising a family in the New Canaan community. According to plan, Annie and Nick welcomed their son, Noah, into the world as a native New Canaanite in 2023. But, despite Annie’s substantial professional background in Event Planning and Interior Design, she found planning for the most important event of allNoah’s birth - to be difficult, if not overwhelming.

“There are just too many companies hawking too many products and services, all claiming theirs is the best for baby… and - until Babybloom,” Annie smiles,” ...no professional planner or reliable guide to help the expecting mother through the process, no less design the entire experience. …And I was sick a lot during my pregnancy… and I certainly didn’t plan for that!", Annie exclaims.

Helping you preparebuildingwhen a family

“Babybloom is a comprehensive support system for expecting and new parents, offering help navigating every aspect of the pregnancy and assisting new parents with the newborn and young baby,” Annie explains.

“Everything from selecting and assembling baby gear, to designing the nursery and making the home safe, to planning the gender reveal, baby shower, welcome home, bris, christening, or baptism, or even the ‘babymoon’, and the photographer to capture it all... it’s a lot of work and a lot of decision making, and the only new phase of life that we don’t have experts to consult,” Annie describes.

“And I love to design nurseries! I want to make the entire process of having your new baby seamless, stress-free…and the joy it should be! …And help with your bringing home baby safely, comfortably…and in style!”, Annie declares.

I love to design nurseries!

Annie continues, “I start with a consultation so I can really understand each client’s personal needs and tastes. From the beginning of the process there is an inundation of choices, and I’m instrumental to expecting parents in honing the options to fit their budget and lifestyle. I’m happy to just help with product recommendations and practical solutions, but there’s really so much more if a client wants more help.”

1

Some Tips & Tricks

Washing bottles is one of the most dreaded tasks for new moms. There are so many parts that need to be sterilized and dried. Brezza Bottle Washer Pro washes, sterilizes, and dries all in one. It is AMAZING and saves so much time. I recommend it for every new parent.

2

Keeping your changing table EASY to clean is important. You don’t want to be constantly washing covers or pads. Peek-a-boo pads are key if using a padded changing table for easy cleanup or a wipeable changing table like Keekaroo Peanut or Hatch Digital Grow make diaper changes so much easier.

3

Slumberpod for travel - whether a vacation or an overnight at grandma’s, this pops over ANY crib, pack n play, etc and keeps a dark comfortable environment to keep babies on their ‘at-home’ sleep schedule... it's a MUST when on the go!

4

Playtime comes sooner than you thinkgreat to be equipped with subscription toy companies like Lovevery, which delivers a box of educational toys tailored to age appropriate milestones for your baby, and takes the guess work and research out of the equation!

“We emphasize the importance of mommy’s self-care, and can provide recommendations for prenatal massages, yoga, doulas, and other wellbeing providers,” Annie says. “We also provide recommendations for baby nurses and nannies.”

“Another area where I can help,” Annie offers, “...is getting mom out of the house as soon as possible. And we can recommend a range of local activities for mom alone and for mom-and-baby, and -particularly in and around New Canaanprovide some guidance relating to online and inperson moms groups.”

“I’m so passionate about this,

I wish there was a way for me to offer this kind of a very personal and customized approach to baby planning to absolutely every expecting mom and dad,” Annie proclaims. “Like I want you to know that you simply have to get a Brezza Bottle Washer Pro to wash, sterilize and dry all the bottles all-in-one, even if you don’t want me to help with your stationary, design your layette…or suggest a private vacation with your spouse during pregnancy to share the anticipation and maybe get some pics of mom before or with the bump…or tell dad where to find the push present you’re thinking about. Most of all… I’m excited to be helping people through a phase that I found to be so incredibly fun and rewarding, but also extremely scary and confusing. There are consultants for everything else...why not have help having your baby!?!

Put Angela’s market expertise to work for you. Reach out today to start the conversation. SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELA’S EXPERTISE,

AKessel@houlihanlawrence.com angelakessel.com angelakesselhomes

ON ACHIEVING THE INCREDIBLE MILESTONE OF

Pound Ridge Unwind

Unwind in the peaceful Village Green at the center of Town. Enjoy concerts, holiday events and impromptu fun, or head to Silver Spring Wellness, Veronika Aesthetics, Bedford Massage and Classy Nails.

The Town is home to great shopping: Toney Toni & the Gang with its beautiful selection of women's apparel, Ela Flowers, Booksy Galore, Jacob Allen Salon, and more. Pound Ridge offers so many ways

DesignDestination

Long known as a mecca for design, antiquing, and unique home finds, Pound Ridge features Avante Garden, Design Solutions, The Huntress and more. There's something for everyone!

Necessities

Inside Market Square, you'll find everything you need for your daily errands. Pick up your groceries at the Market and get your prescriptions filled at the Pharmacy next door. There's also Pound Ridge Organics down the street and Chubby's Hardware just up the street.

Visitors come from near and far to visit Breads N' Bakes for their amazing pastries, DiNardo’s for classic Italian food, Blind Charlies for classic diner fare, Kitchen Table for a casual bite, 123 Dough for some of the best bread in the region, Asia Hamachi for tasty Chinese food, and North Star for great food and great tunes!

TCM can effectively treat pain, sports injuries, headaches, digestive imbalances, fertility, woman’s health in all stages, stress, insomnia, skin rejuvenation, overall rebalancing of all systems in the body using:

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RIVAY RIVAY

ELEVATED MEN’S CLOTHES, RIGHT IN TOWN

RIVAY is a brand of men’s clothes, furnishings and accessories that’s the lifework of Bedford-native Jon Ruti and now also the shared mission of his wife, Katie Boiano. Jon established the brand a decade ago in Manhattan, selling his men’s collection out of the back of an English military trailer hitched to an old Land Rover Defender on the streets of Tribeca…and Rivay’s flagship retail store, located at 633 Old Post Road in Bedford, right next to the Bedford Playhouse, is now celebrating its first anniversary!

Rivay is a welcome oasis in a world with precious little for the discerning guy. The clothes look cool and feel elevated. Everything is a ‘small-batch’ Rivay design. Like haute couture, but for everyday wear.

Photos: JENNA JONES

Jon grew up in Bedford. “I had an eye toward fashion but, following in my father’s footsteps, I became a lawyer, and did a stint as a Prosecutor in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office,” Jon recalls. “After a while at that, I determined I needed to follow my passion, and go out on my own to create my own clothing brand. … at the same time I was making the life-changing move, I met Katie, who was a really big menswear designer with a fancy degree in Design from the University of Cincinnati. Although she couldn’t work on Rivay while she was working at brands like J. Crew and Bonobos, her enthusiasm and support were critical for me in getting started and in developing the Rivay brand.”

“Right from the start, I designed and manufactured all the clothing, from scratch. We’ve always sourced the finest fabrics from Italy and Japan, and in the beginning I produced everything in the Garment District in Manhattan,” Jon explains about first getting Rivay from design to reality. “I was having all the fabric delivered to our apartment and then taking the subway to deliver it, bolt by bolt, to have two dozen shirts or a few dozen pairs of pants made.”

“Guys saw the quality…and bought my designs!”

“In 2015, I began selling the line out of the back of a vintage Land Rover, and then I hooked up an old English military trailer in order to ‘expand capacity’. We called it ‘The Mobile Unit’, Jon smiles.

“I would go out at 5 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday morning to get my parking spot on Duane Street in Tribeca, then go back at 8 to start selling. There were plenty of cold and rainy days that weren’t too much fun, but the whole experience was validating.

Guys saw the quality…and wanted to have these pieces! I think the customers understood that the clothes are exceptional, but that they also liked the unusual experience of talking with the founder while standing on the street behind the vintage Land Rover! We have lots of customers today who were customers of the Mobile Unit. I didn’t

do any advertising, and bootstrapped the entire business by plowing all the money from sales into making the next batch of clothes.”

“I had to ‘park’ the business during Covid,” Jon continues, “and Katie left her corporate job. We used the pandemic to revamp Rivay. We moved all of our manufacturing to Portugal, we worked - together! - on new developments and design improvements, and we planned for how we would display and sell our men’s clothes once the world returned to normal and we could open a retail store. When the space in the Bedford Playhouse Building became available we knew it was right. I was raised in this community and Katie and I live in South Salem, so I feel like I know my customer. Our clothes work. Our niche is rugged but sophisticated. We carry pants sized 30 through 36 and shirts from S through XXL. And we have a heavily curated collection of furnishings and accessories like Rivay baseball hats, Alden shoes, Helio Ascari leather goods, vintage collectibles, and books to round-out the offering.”

Katie adds, “Our store is only 200 square feet, but it’s working! We feel like there’s a real energy, and that things are happening in Bedford! We’re friends with Jenn from Duchess, and James and Nic from Ohho, and Lyn and Will Reardon from New York Stoneware, and like being a part of Bedford’s vibrant boutique retail community. …And Jon doesn’t have to stand outside in the rain behind The Mobile Unit to sell clothes!”

“Our designs evoke images of someone like the most interesting man in the world sitting in a bistro in Paris, driving across the Moroccan desert, or checking out an art gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico…or maybe hanging out at the Bedford Post or the Inn at Pound Ridge,” Katie continues.

“Think Ernest Hemingway, Paul Newman, or Steve McQueen. We borrow from classic American uniforms and workwear in creating a lot of our designs.

There’s nothing new about a Chambray shirt, but Rivay’s Italian Chambray is something special. Everything about Rivay is timeless and familiar!”

“It’s kind of poetic for me that Rivay is practically in the shadows of Ralph Lauren’s home,” Jon reveals. “I’ve always admired his American style, and the way he got men thinking about how clothes make them feel. My mom bought some of Ralph Lauren’s first ties for my dad because she thought the wide design would work with his tall frame. …I’d like to find some of Ralph’s success, but at least for now my personal and everyday hands-on involvement with the brand and with my customers is critical! I still feel an attachment to every customer who wears Rivay!”

TIMELESS & FAMILIAR

BANDON DUNES PURE GOLF

BANDON DUNES

It’s a holy pilgrimage for the avid golfer. Resting on Oregon’s most spectacular Pacific bluffs, Bandon Dunes is a collection of five outstanding 18-hole championship golf courses, two really fun par-three courses, and a practice facility that’s as big as golf heaven!

BY: MICHAEL KAPLAN

The whole place is the brainchild of Mike Keiser, who made a fortune utilizing recycled materials in greeting cards, and who must now be considered one of golf’s greatest developers. While it seems almost apocryphal, Keiser acquired the first 1,215 acres of what is now a more than 2,000 acre property in 1991 for only $2.4M, and immediately went to work, sparing no expense, making this golf mecca.

Though playing each of the courses can be humbling for even the lowest handicapper, the stupendous views in every direction are a panacea. The Bandon Dunes property sits on cliffs rising a hundred feet and more from a five-mile long beach, with giant black rock stacks dotting the shore, and giant pieces of seaworn timber strewn all about. Whales are frequently spotted, Seals are abundant, and Bald Eagles watch over the golf courses as if they were enjoying the folly. Bandon Dunes is a bit more man-over-nature than the more rugged Pacific Dunes; Old Macdonald replicates the intrigue of the great course designer C.B. Macdonald; Sheeps Ranch may be the most traditionally ‘links’ style course of the group, and; Bandon Trails winds through the freshwater dunes and the massive forest lying just inland. All of the courses are meticulously maintained, with especially tight fairways and, because of the speed, grain, undulation and wind... particularly diabolical greens. It rarely gets above 70, with a pretty constant gust out of the North in the Summer and up from the South in the Winter, and it’s a lucky foursome that gets through a few days without at least one round in a heavy fog…or an outright downpour. The walk up, down, and around the rolling, fescue and grouse covered, sandy dunes, in a fresh ocean mist, and a surprisingly strong sun, is simply ‘golf perfect’ - even if you are looking at the Pacific Ocean because your ball just went in!

It’s a pure golf experience! Starting with: walking only - no ‘buggies’; caddies highly recommended. …Without our caddy, Kyle Leduc, we’d probably still be out there trying to find our way. Kyle is a 40year old from Riverside, California, who’s kind of a cross between Bagger Vance and Damon Runyon. He seemed to know everything about our golfing abilities on the First Tee, he was as much our golf psychologist and coach as course guide; he was forthcoming with a few golf tips when asked, and he was comfortable participating just the right amount in any conversation. He owns and operates a successful tee shirt business based in Riverside and coaches a high school golf team there as well, but devotes four months each year to looping at Bandon Dunes. He’s about a 2+ - which, for any nongolfer still reading this piece, means his average round is approximately 2 under par; he played in college at California Baptist University, where he majored in U.S. History, and; he’s caddied for David Gazzolo, and Lee Lopez on the LPGA. As Kyle says, “Bandon Dunes is the best collective offering of links golf in the United States, and maybe the World! It’s golf as it was meant to be!”

BANDON DUNES Bandon Dunes

Though Keiser could have called upon Dye, Jones, or any other of the biggest names in golf course design, Keiser entrusted a 26-year old Scottsman named David McLay Kidd to build the first course, named for its location on the Bandon Dunes, just north of the beachtown of Bandon. As Kyle describes the resort’s namesake course, “It’s 7,100 yards from the tips, the landscape is covered with gorse, it features large fairways with undulations that can send the ball careening to one side or the other, and large accepting greens, it’s free of artificial water hazards, and it’s dotted with penalizing bunkers. It starts at the hotel and works its way out to the ocean for Holes 4, 5, and 6, before heading back inland for 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Turning back again to face the ocean, the spectacular Par 3 12th was the first hole constructed on property. You’re usually encountering 30 mile per hour sidewinds, and there’s a giant dune on the right side of the green, a menacing bunker left, and long is the ocean. 13 is a downwind Par 5, 14 is said to be Kidd’s favorite hole, and 15 is a long Par 3 straight into the wind that played more than a stroke over par in the 2022 Junior Amateur. And if you get off 15 unscathed, 16, which may be the most picturesque hole on the entire property, is one of the greatest risk-reward propositions in golf. With the Pacific on the right, the green on this short Par 4 is perched on a cliff 100 feet above the beach, and there are challenging bunkers on almost any line to a landing spot. After snapping the obligatory group photo on the tee, most caddies will urge good players to try to fly your tee shot 246 yards to the front of the green…and putt for eagle! The links experience ends with a half-mile walk down 17 and 18, leading back to the clubhouse alongside Cut Creek, where tens of thousands of balls are buried in the deep gorse - along with any remnants of the gold that was panned here in the 1850s! They’ve played the Curtis Cup, Walker Cup, and Men’s and Women’s U.S. Amateur on this outstanding course…and it’s a guaranteed unforgettable experience for everyone and anyone from the high handicapper to the top touring pro.”

PACIFIC DUNES Pacific Dunes

Kyle continues, “Pacific Dunes, or ‘Pac’ as the caddies call it, completed in 2001, is a Tom Doak masterpiece that’s consistently rated one of the U.S.’s best courses available to the public. The great course architect Alister MacKenzie once said that “The chief object of every golf course architect (worth his salt) is to imitate the beauties of nature so closely as to make his work indistinguishable from nature itself.” And Pacific Dunes is revered as a citadel of that ethos. Sitting on 400 acres of pristine dunesland, many of the Holes, like 7, 13, and 16, look today almost as Doak found them, and with others, such as 5, 11, and 18, Doak moved whatever earth was necessary to create the illusion that the whole place was untouched. As an example, the picturesque oceanside Par 3 11th, which features the smallest green on property, had to be cut out of a 30-foot dune… and all that sand was then moved to fill a 20-foot valley on the Par 3 5th. Quite plainly, Pac sits on the best stretch of land at Bandon Dunes, and the only knock on the course is that it’s just too darn hard. Where wayward shots at Bandon Dunes lead to bogeys, the errant shot at Pac can lead to a quadruple. Doak’s bunkering at Pac makes McLay Kidd’s bunkers on Bandon look like sandboxes. If you find the 25-foot deep sandtrap on 6… you may end up throwing the ball out. And as if the bunkers weren’t enough, Doak had his right-hand man, Jim Urbina, create greens with double breaks that simply require an experienced caddie to interpret. Although quirky, Hole 9 has two greens, Holes 10 and 11 are back-to-back Par 3s, and there are four Par 3s on the back nine holes. Last Summer, a guy I caddy for regularly - who shall remain nameless, but who’s a solid 14 - shot a 138! It’s no joke that I might have to rake more than two-dozen bunkers a round. …To paraphrase Nicklaus, by the end of the day, Pacific Dunes could have you lookin’ for your fishing pole!”

BANDON TRAILSBandon Trails

“Bandon Trails, the third treasure and only inland course on property, was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and winds its way over 375 acres from the dunes, through the meadow, and up fantastically into the forest, before ending in the dunes again,” Kyle explains. “It’s ranked just behind Bandon and Pac at #11 public course in the U.S., but if you ask the caddies, at least half would say it’s their favorite to play. With wide fairways and large greens, and shelter from much of the wind, this course is a treat. The course features an impressive array of different plants and trees, and wild turkey, deer, and even some porcupine call the course home. The signature 14th, on the highest spot on the property, is a driveable par 4, with 150 feet of downhill and the fastest green on the course sitting on top of a hill protected by a deep bunker - short, left, right, and long are not options. And 16 is a 500 yarder which requires Driver off the tee... and then maybe two more Drivers off the deck to reach! I caddied for a bigwig from Taylormade last summer, who’s played everywhere in the world, and when we walked-off, he declared ‘Bandon Trails might be the greatest course in America!’.”

OLD MACDONALDOld Macdonald

“Old MacDonald is an homage, by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina, to the first great American golf course architect, C.B. Macdonald, famous for courses including National in Southampton, N.Y., Waccabuc, Whippoorwill, Yale, Chicago Golf Club, and, posthumously, the famed Lido he built in Lido Beach, N.Y. in 1917,” Kyle waxes. “Macdonald had signature hole templates that imitated some of the great courses of Scotland, including Redan, Road, Eden, Bottle, and Punchbowl, and Doak and Urbina employed the same templates building this gem. I think ‘Old Mac’ is the most fun to play. Trust your caddie and you’ll have some scoring opportunities on the front, but the 3,500-yard back is the toughest test on the resort, with the 10, 11, 12 stretch of Bottle, Road, and Redan being easily the hardest combination on the property. …If it’s possible to be ranked #13 in the United States and still be underrated… it’s Old Macdonald!”

SHEEP RANCH Sheep Ranch

As Kyle walks through the 5th course constructed at Bandon Dunes, he describes, “The Sheep Ranch, opened in 2020, is Coore & Crenshaw’s second masterpiece on property. They transformed what was a wind farm in the 1970’s and 1980’s into a seaside links course with 9 greens on the water…and the wind, of course, is still whipping! There are no sand bunkers on ‘The Sheep’, because after a few attempts it was determined they’d never be able to keep all the sand from being blown out. If Carnoustie and Kapalua got together and had a child, it would be the Sheep Ranch. It’s the most western course in the continental United States, and sits on a footprint almost one-third the size of Bandon Trails. Each hole, be it the playing to the ocean on 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 15, or over the ocean on 6, 16, and 17, will have you triple guessing the wind’s effect on your ball. If your caddie lays down the bags so they don’t blow over while you’re hitting - it’s probably a three-club wind. The 11th, one of the few holes not along the ocean, and reputed to be Crenshaw’s favorite, called the ‘Volcano’, is a 500 yard Par 5 that plays uphill to a green that sits 50 feet above the fairway - giving the illusion of a lava spewing volcano - is a treat. And 18 is a 436 yard Par 5 with the wind, thankfully, at your back. It was originally designed as a Par 4, but everyone concerned decided it best to give each resort guest a shot at birdie, or even the occasional eagle, to end a usually wind-weary walk. Architect Bill Coore described Sheep Ranch saying ‘It’s unlike any other course at Bandon Dunes, but it’s a compliment to all of them.’ And as my golfers review their days at Bandon Dunes over drinks in McKee’s Pub, they usually go round and round debating which of the five courses is best…concluding almost always that each of the five was somehow their favorite!”

While everything about the Bandon Dunes resort, including the friendly and professional service, is first rate, the accommodations at Bandon Dunes are, quite intentionally, more spartan than sumptuous. There are some rooms in the main hotel at the Bandon Dunes course, and then a half-dozen ‘camps’ with multi-bedroom cabins meant to accommodate golf groups of any size. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and each suite has shared sitting areas for lounging and eating. Outside the resort, however, there are no first-class hotel accommodations close enough to be convenient - although there is a widespread offering of on-the-beach private residence rentals available on each of the big sites.

The food at the hotel, including an All-American buffet breakfast, and an Irish pub, an Italian restaurant, and a popular Continental option with a sophisticated wine cellar and an outstanding offering of Scotch and Bourbon, is all quite good. The new standalone Ghost Tree Grill, located at the Old Macdonald course and named after the iconic ghost tree on Hole 3, is superb. The Northwest inspired offering of steak and fish fresh from the Pacific combined with the expansive soaring woodand-glass Oregonian architecture, make Ghost Tree a contender for at least a couple of dinners in any stay.

The scenic route down the Oregon coast on Route 101 from the Portland Airport to Bandon Dunes is about a five hour drive - not including a stop for In-N-Out, or at any of the cannabis dispensaries that dot each beach town and boast America’s best marijuana. No matter what your taste, the views available at any of the dozens of State Parks and Scenic Vistas along the way are astonishing. With giant natural forests and lumber plantations extending right to the coast, freshwater lakes just inland of the dunes, and soaring cliffs descending to mile after mile of wide sand beaches, much of this stretch of the Oregon coast makes Big Sur look like the Jersey Shore in comparison!

Pure golf, in a spectacular location, no frills. ‘Golf perfect’, and it’s a winning formula! So much so, that the only problem with Bandon Dunes… is getting a reservation to stay and play! The place is almost always booked-out a year in advance, and groups of golfers reserve spots for their annual trips in perpetuity.

…For the golf purist who can’t get a reservation at Bandon Dunes, or just can’t wait…Keiser and his Dream Golf have already established Sand Valley in Nekoosa, Wisconsin as another of America’s best golf resorts, and are presently developing Rodeo Dunes, an hour outside of Denver, Colorado, and Wild Spring Dunes, in Rusk County ‘in the heart of Texas’, to meet the same standard. With courses designed by Doak, Coore & Crenshaw, and David McLay Kidd, these newer Keiser resorts may be ‘second-best’…but only to Bandon Dunes!

Eccentrica Diablo

$195,000

Mercedes-Benz G500 Cabriolet

Restored G-Wagen cabriolets available in several color configurations. Air conditioning, Apple Carplay, surround sound, and more. Delivered to your beach house for $88,950.

Mercedes-Benz 230GE by HK G-Cabrio

Freshly rebuilt motor by PMNA. Several desirable customizations and recently serviced by Speedsport Tuning of Danbury, CT. Call for pricing.

MEDICARE

Dreams Built Here

PREMIER COMFORT'S

DAVE SINGER & VICTOR TONNDORF

THE TIMES,

THEY ARE A CHANGIN' THE TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGIN'

THE EVOLUTION OF HOME COMFORT

“In the long term, heating and cooling your home with oil is going the way of the dinosaur,” says David Singer. He ought to know! David spent the last three decades at the helm of Robison, which he and his brother grew into the largest home heating oil business in Westchester.

“Electric air source heat pump technology has advanced to the point where they’re now fully capable of heating and cooling a New England residence - at a cost far below that of operating an oil based system. Installing an an air source heat pump heat pump in your home, alone or in conjunction with geothermal, solar or other renewable solutions, or even as a hybrid with an existing oil system, is now a no brainer!”

PHOTO: NICHOLAS VENEZIA

“I’m all in!”, Singer declares. “I’ve sold my interest in Robison…and I’ve partnered with my old friend, Victor Tonndorf, at Premier Comfort. Over the same three decades I was building Robison into an organization known for its reliable and friendly service, with operations including HVAC, electric, plumbing, and other residential systems maintenance, Victor built Premier Comfort into a giant in the design and installation of commercial and residential energy systems, and is a particular expert in air and water source heat pumps and renewable energy design and installation. …Together, we intend to grow Premier Comfort’s residential installation business, and to now also build Premier Comfort into a leading service provider for air and water source heat pumps and other renewable energies.”

“Forgive the humorous analogy,” Singer smiles, “...but the last time a Singer touted this revolutionary of a new machine and technology, it was the Singer Sewing Machine! The electric heat pump really is revolutionary! It's clear that electric heat pumps will replace oil as oil replaced coal.”

“Besides,” Singer continues enthusiastically, “...if your air handler and condenser are using the old R22 coolant, or anyway past their prime, it’s time you consider converting to an air source heat pump or at least supplementing your existing system with a hybrid solution. And I really want to emphasize the point that, even if you have an updated system, leaving your existing oil system as a back-up or to service a particular zone of your house, could result in a savings of as much as 70% of your oil bill. That's a great return on investment!

...And I don't see oil prices coming down.”

“We’re going to visit your home, take a look at what’s advisable for your particular requirements, give you the best and most cost effective solution, and then stand behind whatever we do!”

“I’m thrilled that David has come over from the dark side,” Victor jokes. “I’ve always admired his ability to build and manage a large service operation. We know how to design and build systems, and will be able to expand our residential sales with the quality service component in place. For any homeowner, a system is only as good as how it’s working on the coldest winter night or the hottest summer afternoon, and having the availability of ready and reliable repair is critical. … And, for our sales, it probably doesn’t hurt that David has lived in Northern Westchester for the last 30 years, coached his kids baseball teams, served on the Board at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, and been an all around contributing member of the community.”

Victor boasts, “We’re a Mitsubishi Diamond installer, which means we uniquely offer a 12 year

“

warranty on Mitsubishi equipment, but we also work with Trane, American Standard, Daikin, and other leading electric air source heat pump manufacturers. And we’re building-out a really cool mobile display, in the back of a truck, so we can pull-up right in front of your house and demonstrate how air source heat pumps work. And we install Water Furnace and ClimateMaster water source heat pump systems when geothermal is a part of the equation.”

WE JUST DID THE NEW SYSTEM FOR MAST MARKET ON COURT STREET IN BEDFORD, AND ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ON RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS, BUT WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON RESIDENTIAL DESIGN, INSTALLATION, AND SERVICE.

“ “

“

“We just did the new system for Mast Market on Court Street in Bedford, and are happy to take on retail and commercial customers,” Victor explains. “But we’re really focused on residential design, installation, and service. This makes ‘dollars and sense’ for big and small houses alike!”

“ “

David remarks, “THE WHOLE FEELING OF 'HOME SWEET HOME' IS REALLY DEPENDENT ON YOUR HOME BEING WARMED AND COOLED TO THE TEMPERATURE THAT MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE. SYSTEM EFFICIENCY IS ABOUT GETTING OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST. RELIABILITY, OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND SYSTEM MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR, IS EVERYTHING!”

Spectacular Country Estate

c:

After a half-century of rockin’ and rollin’, Warren Haynes is still filling arenas playing with his band, Gov’t Mule, and still selling a whole lot of solo and collaborative work! He’s a grand ‘ole dude among the guitar g.o.a.t.s, having most famously played for a quarter-Century with the Allman Brothers Band. And while he looks every bit the part of a down-home rock n’ roller, complete with a bit of a Southern drawl - and by all outward appearances seems totally incongruous as a suburban dad, no less a New Yorker! - Warren and his wife of 26 years, Stefani Scamardo, and their now teenage son, Hudson, have been proud B&NC MAG locals since 2011!

WARREN & STEFANI HAYNES

Born in 1960 in Asheville, in western North Carolina, Warren grew up in humble circumstances, raised by a single father after his parents divorced when he was 8. “I guess I started singing in my bedroom, and then I was singing all the time with my two older brothers. We had a record player and we used to listen to a lot of Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, the Temptations, Clapton, and then Stevie Wonder. My dad got me an acoustic guitar when I was 11, and I’ve never stopped being infatuated. I got my first electric for my 12th Birthday. My dad was working a double-shift, but he could tell I was serious about playing, and he would upgrade me every year with a better guitar or a better amp,” Warren recalls. “My dad was a super-sweet person. Everybody loved my dad. He passed during Covid. He seemed to understand that music was going to be my thing, and supported that. He taught me everything about morality and duty, and not to lose sight of what’s important in your life. He had a bad opinion of people who look down on other people - and I feel the same way. And he used to say it was ‘better not to meet your heroes because they might not be who you expect’, but I feel like I’ve met more good people than bad in my life.”

UP CLOSE, AT HOME IN BEDFORD

“There was a kind of underground club scene in Asheville when I was a kid - that’s now pretty vibrant, and I started sneaking into places when I was about 14…first to listen…but then I was also invited to play. I got hooked on the feeling of performing!”, Warren tells about his start as a professional musician. “When I was 16, my band and I built-out an old school bus with some living room furniture and a generator, and started touring the Southeast, driving the bus to play wherever We could find an audience. I moved to Nashville when I was 23 and was getting a lot of good session work. When I was 26, Dickey Betts, who was already famous for being a founding member, guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the Allman Brothers, asked me to sing background on an album for him. He called me back after we did the recording and said ‘I’m really not happy with that album, but how’d you like to get together with me to start a band?’ I toured with Dickey for two or three years and then, in January 1989, when Dickey and the guys were reforming the Allman Brothers, they asked me to join, for what we thought was going to be a ‘one year anniversary tour’…and that was my main gig until the band ended in 2014.”

Photos: ANDREA CERASO Hair & Makeup: EVA SCRIVO

“Some people may t hink of Warren as an ALLMAN BROTHER, but he is an overall

ROCK & ROLL LEGEND.”

Modest even about his musical accomplishments, Warren doesn’t describe or project himself as a rock star. He doesn’t talk about himself unless you ask, and when he says the Allman Brothers was his ‘main gig’, he doesn’t get into how big the Allman Brothers were or are, and he doesn’t mention that he also toured with The Dead from 2003 through 2009, or that he continues to play as a regular guest with Phil Lesh and Friends. As Pete Shapiro, the legendary impresario, friend of the Grateful Dead, and owner of the Allman’s and Dead’s favorite Capitol Theater in Port Chester, and the Brooklyn Bowls around the U.S., says about Warren: “Some people may think of Warren as an Allman Brother, but he is an overall Rock & Roll legend. I feel fortunate that Warren and I go back to when I was running the Wetlands in Manhattan in the

90’s and he would come in and play with his own band and be a very special guest for a number of the top bands coming through. He’s an iconic performer - renowned for both his easily identifiable voice and his guitar shredding. He really is the consummate professional, and he’s always super kind and a pleasure to be around. I feel lucky every single time I get to see Warren perform!”

Indeed, Warren has played with just about everyone and in a variety of musical genres, including appearances and recordings with the Dave Matthews Band, Peter Frampton, Chris Stapleton, Coheed and Cambria, Dave Grohl, Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, to name just a few.

Gov't Mule

weeks in a row without at least a week of time at home. I think the band sounds better than ever - I certainly hope so! We released two new Gov’t Mule albums in the last 3 years, including a Blues record that was nominated for a Grammy. It still feels fresh, I still get a charge, and the 3 hours I spend on stage are always the most fun part of the day!”

Warren is also the longtime leader of Gov’t Mule, about which he says, “The Mule has been a rewarding musical journey for me, and we’ve been blessed to have a large and loyal Gov’t Mule audience along for that journey. We’ve been known to do 100 to 150 performances a year and I still appreciate doing it. We’re extremely comfortable together, and improvisation and experimentation is a big part of our musical experience. It’s fun to do different things depending on the situation. We feel an energy from our audience when we’re performing live, and that energy inspires us to achieve greater heights. It’s the same thing that got me so excited performing as a teenager. The touring part of my life - all the constant traveling and different hotels - is the hard work. But I usually don’t have to be on the road for more than three

And then there’s the half-dozen albums and the performing Warren has done solo or as the Warren Haynes Band. “From the beginning, I’ve always been into writing music. And I love being able to write, sing, and perform my own tunes. I’ve got a lot of creative energy,” Warren smiles. “I’m always working on something, and I’ve got a new solo album called Million Voices Whisper being released this Fall.”

"No matter how big a rock star Warren is...he's one of the most down-to-earth, soft-spoken, thoughtful, and kind guys in town," says Sam Hollander - a famous and multi-Platinum songwriter, who grew up in Bedford Hills and, after selling a bunch of his songs for a big bundle, moved back to his hometown. “Early on, Warren played a big role in my decision to follow my songwriting passion,” Sam declares. “When I was 19, my late pal Jaik Miller befriended Stefani and Warren and we were invited to a rooftop party at their apartment on the lower east side of NYC. Man, I was totally starstruck. Warren was the first guitar god I’d ever met in person! After a few drinks, I dared to talk to him and, far from just giving me a signature and moving on, he was just the sweetest, most gracious guy ever. The night ended with Warren gifting us tickets to watch the Allman Brothers at the PNC Center in New Jersey the following evening.

24 hours later, I was literally sitting on the stage watching the band’s masterful set from 10 feet away while staring out at the 15,000 folks in the crowd. What an incredible introduction to the music business! It was one of those first, pivotal moments that lit the proverbial match for me. Later in my career, Warren guested on an album I was cutting. Just watching this legend do his thing was mind-blowing. I think he nailed the tune within two takes!”

Still, maybe more than anything else, WARREN IS A FAMILY MAN .

…He met Stefani in 1989, when she was invited backstage with a girlfriend after an Allman Brothers show in Baltimore. As Kirk West, who was the Tour Manager for the Allman Brothers from ‘89 to ‘09, recalls, “I remember when Stef showed up. She was a Deadhead, cute and energetic, and lots of fun. The Allmans used to love to have a lot of their guests on stage with them, sometimes swelling to a hundred or more, and then those folks and others were always pressing to get backstage…and I was supposed to be kind of both the maître d’ and the cop at the door at the same time. Warren was and is always charming and gracious. He understands he’s been given a gift with his music and he’s really humble and grateful about it…and he looked like D’Artagnian back in the day! But Warren wasn’t a loose guy, he wasn’t out to get girls, like Allen Woody, or to participate in any of the Allman’s heavy party scenealthough most of that had anyway subsided by the time the Allmans reformed as a group in ‘89. In fact, while Warren was always trying to be accommodating, we had this ‘secret code’ for when Warren had just enough of a backstage fan but didn’t want to in any way offend them, where he would outof-nowhere scratch his left elbow …and I knew it was time to pull Warren away!”

She’s been running every aspect of my life in the music business ever since ‘97

West continues, “Warren was raised-up right by his father, Ed Haynes, who was a thoughtful, inquisitive, confident, and most genuinely good example to Warren. Warren and Stef hit it off immediately. They liked the same music and food, and they both liked to go to clubs to see this kind of music or that kind of music, and they’re both really regular kind of people. …My wife, Kirsten, and I bought ‘The Big House’ in Macon, where the Allman Brothers had gotten their start back in the ‘70s, when we moved down from Chicago in ‘93, and Warren and the Gov’t Mule moved-in in ‘94. My wife and I have been dear old friends with Warren and Stef for a long time. Stef is a stabilizing force for Warren, and they’re both always very giving and thoughtful. Warren played my last Birthday Party! We’ve been up to their beautiful place in Bedford lots of times and love it up there, and although we’d love for Warren and Stef to live closer to us, you have to understand that Warren has a weakness for our peach cobbler and the fried chicken at the H&H that might be dangerous if he was to come to Macon for much more than a visit!”

“You understand that I was much younger than Warren…when we met,” Stef jokes. “I grew up in Northern Virginia and went to the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. I’ve always been into sports and music. Growing up, I played four sports - soccer, basketball, softball, and track & field - and played the drums, collected records, and went to a lot of concerts. I ended up pursuing soccer and played Division I for George Washington University. When I graduated, I moved straight to New York City. I couldn’t get here fast enough! I had majored in Psychology and Sociology and had always thought I would ‘save the world’, but then couldn’t find the right career path to make that happen. My dad encouraged me to ‘do what you’re into’...and that was always music! I took a course in Music Engineering at The New School to learn how to make a record, and got an Internship within two weeks of that at Island Records, where I worked in the A&R department for many years. While at Island, I formed my management company,

Hard Head, and my record label, Evil Teen Records. I was just breaking into the music business when I met Warren.” Warren interrupts, “She was already really good. The truth is that, by ‘97, all the members of Gov’t Mule were telling me we had to have Stef as our manager…and she’s been running every aspect of my life in the music business ever since! Stef oversees all our touring, recording, production, marketing and day-to-day business. Stef is also a DJ, and was the face of Sirius XM’s Jam On for sixteen years, co-founded Mountain Jam, one of the country’s premier music festivals in Hunter, NY, and will soon be debuting a new talk show and podcast. Through Hard Head Management, Stef has managed a bunch of other artists, including Tyler Ramsey, DJ Logic, Living Colour, Chris Robinson, and Soulive, and is known for her ear for talent and ability to develop young and unknown artists, like The Revivalists, and Marcus King…and all at the same time she manages to be the best mother in the world to our son, Hudson.”

The HAYNES FAMILY

Clearly their mutual pride and joy, Hudson excels at Rippowam Cisqua, and has already distinguished himself on the drums. Warren comments, “He’s been drumming on everything around the house ever since he was really little and could keep a beat right from the start. He’s already had two bands, the Gigachads and the Riptides. But if you ask me if I’d like to see him make playing music his profession, well, I probably wouldn’t recommend it. The last job I had was at 15, and the pressure of making a living as a musician, and all of the ups and downs in the music business, make me think it might be best to try it as a hobby for five or ten years and see if you’re really passionate enough about it.”

“And though I understand I may look and sound a little like a duck out of water around here,” Warren admits, “this area is a great place to raise a family.” Stef adds, “It feels like home to both of us - even with Warren being from North Carolina and me from Virginia. It’s actually pretty similar aesthetically to my family’s farm in Upperville, Virginia. We’re proud New Yorkers! We’re Knicks and Rangers fans. And, heck, we named our only child Hudson! …Although, we also feel like when it comes down to it, no matter where you live, it's about community! We support a bunch of the vibrant and important charities in this community, including Bedford2030, Endeavor, and the John Jay Homestead.

Two years ago, Warren gave a private show in their backyard to benefit Rippowam Cisqua, and the hundred tickets available sold out to Ripp families in minutes. Renewing the Haynes’ commitment to Ripp, on September 7, 2024, Warren will again be performing in their backyard to benefit the school …this time with an audience of 150!

“And neither Warren nor Stef will bring it up,” Kirk West reminds, “but what they’ve done with the Asheville Christmas Jam is nothing short of a Christmas miracle! Warren and Stef have been the driving force in turning the Christmas Jam into a fabulous 501(c)(3) annual event that yields significant contributions for Habitat for Humanity and to support the Asheville community.” Stef remarks, “It’s the spirit of the Christmas Jam we’re so proud of! Asheville is very important to Warren…and now it’s the longest running charity concert in the country! This year will be our 33rd event and over those

years, we’ve raised nearly $3 million for Asheville Area Habitat For Humanity, constructing over 50 homes across thousands of acres. We’ve also recently partnered with another local charity, BeLoved Asheville, who are boots on the ground helping with immediate needs for homelessness, hunger and the elderly. Christmas Jam is one of our greatest achievements.”

About music generally, Warren philosophizes, “It’s important to think you’re good, but be a bit scared you’re not. Never get cocky, Nervousness is a part of the overall thing. It makes your voice more vulnerable. It’s important to stay in good physical condition. And I think it’s important for musicians to listen to instruments other than the one they play, and to study the phrasing of great vocalists. I’m most influenced by the sax. And I like to listen when other artists cover and rephrase my songs …even if a couple of them have screwed up…in my opinion!”

“It’s important to think you’re good, but be a bit scared you’re not. NEVER GET COCKY. ”

Finally, asked about who he would get together for an all-time dead-or-alive jam, Warren somewhat surprisingly revealed, “Well, if you’re talking about for-old-times-sake, it’d be my buddies. But if you’re talking about my all-time favorites, it would start with Charlie Parker on sax, Miles Davis on trumpet, Hendrix on guitar, Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Art Blakey or John Bonham on drums. Although I was

never really happy with the ‘Southern Rock’ tag I inherited playing with the Allmans because I think that’s way too narrow, I have to admit that I’ve never really thought I’ve been that great at playing Jazz. I feel like the great Jazz artists were innovative in a way that really changed the world!”

$2,249,000 | 3 bed, 4 bath Web# 24033009

THE DOME

The Dome is the New Canaan Public Schools’ new and revolutionary teaching tool, developed in the shell of the High School’s former ‘starball’-style planetarium. The new Evans & Sullivan Digistar 7 system, which incorporates a series of coordinated projections, guided by a massive database, onto a 30-foot seamless aluminum dome, provides astrological capabilities almost equal to anything at the Hayden Planetarium - in addition to being a vehicle for active and practical applications in subjects like art and design, a great theater for the presentation of almost any subject matter…and even an ideal entertainment venue! The Dome is the dawning of a new age in New Canaan!

Dr. Bryan Luizzi, the Superintendent of New Canaan Public Schools, says with obvious pride when showingoff the new asset, “The old starball wasn’t serviceable anymore, and the 50+ year old spherical roof needed to be replaced. Serious discussions about refurbishing started in 2016, and then there was a pause during Covid, but when we returned from Covid, this solution emerged as the clear winner for what to do with the space…and then the Town and a cadre of private supporters contributed the $800,000 or so required to get it done. I think there’s a modern-day parallel to when the people of New Canaan, enthralled by NASA’s Moon landing and other achievements, put funding together and opened what used to be the planetarium back in 1971.”

Luizzi continues, “Our aim is to develop a varied curriculum utilizing the unique capabilities of the Digistar system, and for students throughout the New Canaan School System to have access to the opportunity and benefits of learning ‘in The Dome’. It may even have special applications in teaching students with special visual and auditory learning requirements. We opened in January of 2024, and we’ve already integrated The Dome into our high school Astronomy class and parts of the curriculum in some of our other high school departments, and have hosted almost 1200 students from our Elementary, Intermediate, and Middle Schools, for some fantastic collective virtual learning experiences!”

It can really transport you to a different place! It can really transport you to a different place!

Director of Innovation for New Canaan Public Schools, Melinda Meyers, says about The Dome, “It can really transport you to a different place! When it comes to understanding and exploring local, national, and world geography, the universe, the stratosphere, and even deep space, The Dome is invaluable. The astronomical database includes all publicly-available NASA data, including all of the pictures generated by the James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes. You can ‘takeoff’ from your plush seat inside The Dome and visit the Sun, or follow in the orbit of the International Space Station, or ‘go where no man has gone’!”

Jeff Brentson is a Science Teacher at NCHS and teaches both the elective in Astronomy and supervises the extracurricular clubs using The Dome for various

THE DOME

projects and purposes. “It’s not just dots on the ceiling anymore!”, Jeff says enthusiastically. “Where the old system could do little more than relate the night sky and illustrate elliptical and latitudinal lines, we can now project the actual sky and atmosphere, in daylight or night, or watch a hurricane or the eruption of sunspots in real time, or explore the unseen world of the oceans! Students can send ‘cubes’, which are like virtual observational balloons, up into space to explore electromagnetic radiation, black holes, or the origin of stars. I have students using The Dome for astrophotography. …And, if you can create it…you can project it! Students can create content and project it on The Dome, and that

goes for everything from making movies and rendering them in The Dome, to projecting multi-dimensional presentations in classes including Math, Science, History, and Art and Design! …And we can just show movies, including an ever-expanding library of content, created by universities, museums, and others, specifically intended for this medium!”

Superintendent Luizzi remarks, “We’re even looking at the possibility of private use of The Dome, so groups could come for educational purposes or for some really fun events…and the school district could thereby raise additional funds for expanded platform training for teachers, ongoing curriculum integration, and the expansion of The Dome’s content library. Imagine directing your own spaceship to the craters of the Moon or the rings of Saturn!

…Beam me up!”

• 350-car inventory

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the westmoreland sanctuary

The westmoreland sanctuary

is a 669-acre nature preserve located in between 684 and Bedford Road, off Chestnut Ridge Road in Bedford.

In 1957, Helen Clay Frick, who was the daughter of the steel magnate Henry Frick, dedicated 306 acres of her estate to create Westmoreland and established the open space preserve with the direction to ‘Acquire, Enrich, Preserve, and Educate’, the requirement that Westmoreland be maintained ‘for the free use and enjoyment of the public’, and the mission of inspiring a deeper care for the environment through experience and education.

“What sets The Westmoreland Sanctuary apart is not just the outstanding ecodiversity and raw natural beauty of our vast property, it’s also how we’re utilizing the preserve to provide education for the public. We’ve been growing steadily and now have over 11,000 kids, adults, and seniors visiting Westmoreland each year!”, declares Ann Paul, Westmoreland’s long-time Executive Director.

“Our property is extensive and is used as the cornerstone for teaching conservation,” Ann explains. “Steve Ricker, who’s been with Westmoreland for more than thirty years, is our Director of Conservation, and manages the other educators on our staff. Back in the early ‘70s, Westmoreland was a pioneer in the region in introducing environmental education through bringing school classes for field trips. We’ve worked hard to train our teachers in New York State’s Next Generation Science Standards and to maintain an accredited curriculum.

We host K through 12 school classes from every local town in addition to parts of New York City and the Bronx and have a robust high school and college internship program that provides academic credit. As part of our adult programming we provide nature walks and bird watching and banding and floral design. We have pre-K programming, a summer camp, orienteering meets, trail races, and even some outdoor summer theater. …And Westmoreland is a fantastic place to just come for a walk! We have rare specimens of American Elm trees and GoldenSeal flowers, and a tremendous variety of birds, and seven separate ‘habitat islands’ to observe those distinct biodiverse ecosystems! …The Preserve is open to the public, 7 days a week all year long, dawn ‘til dusk - and it’s free!”

WE’VE BEEN GROWING STEADILY AND NOW HAVE OVER 11,000 KIDS, ADULTS, AND SENIORS VISITING WESTMORELAND EACH YEAR!

Ann shares, “I grew up on Bayberry Lane and used to play in the adjacent woods and fields that have since become a part of Westmoreland, I met Helen Clay Frick and was friends with her grand niece and great grandniece, Helen Clay, and my dad was President for three years and helped to run Westmoreland. In 1973, the organization purchased a meetinghouse church that had been built in 1780, and re-erected it at Westmoreland - and it now serves as our Museum, open 9 to 5 every day for free. In 2001 Helen Clay asked me to join the Board of Directors and in 2016 the Board asked me to become the full-time Executive Director. I’d worked in Trusts and Estates at Chemical and then JP Morgan, and so besides for my very personal love for the Westmoreland property and mission, I had

experience in the kind of fiduciary and organizational management that Westmoreland needed. …We’re now organized not just as a 501(c)(3), but as a ‘public charity’ rather than a ‘foundation’. We continue with acquisition to expand Westmoreland’s acreage, having most recently completed the acquisition of a key 28.8 parcel - including the highest point in Bedford at 815 feet above sea level - and allowing for the addition of almost a mile of new trails, called ‘Raptor Ridge’. And in Summer 2024 we opened the Environmental Education Center to facilitate growth in school visits and other programming. Among other things, the EEC showcases education-driven examples of geothermal technology, rain gardens, and greenhouses.”

we can always use additional funding,” Ann implores. “We’re not a park, and aside from a relatively small amount of grant funding we’re awarded from New York State, we receive no public funding. We rely heavily on private donations!”

“I’m proud of how we’re living up to Helen Clay Frick’s original direction and purpose! The Westmoreland Preserve is a tremendous educational resource - with no barrier to entry!”, Ann declares. “I invite everyone to come over, put your phone away, get outside, have a great time, learn something, and find some joy!”

Words rarely used to describe vegetable gardens. Words frequently used to describe ours. Your property is an extension and reflection of your lifestyle and impeccable taste. Homefront Farmers understands this. The organic gardens we design, build, and maintain are works of art that blend seamlessly into your landscape. Our expert farmers take loving care of your ‘homestead’ to produce exceptional tasting vegetables, fruit, flowers, and honey, all season long for your family. Delight in the joy and satisfaction of growing your own food at home… effortlessly.

Ann Paul, Westmoreland Exec Director

CREATING HOMES TO FALL

Mother/Daughter Authors

Monica and

Abigail

BERG

THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN WE FIND IT TEMPTING

TO TURN A BLIND EYE to something that upsets us. As a New Yorker, I’m no stranger to seeing human suffering. As I navigate the crowded sidewalks of my city, it’s a daily occurrence to encounter someone who doesn’t quite fit in, someone who isn’t hustling to and from appointments with the urgency of everyone else, someone without a fancy outfit or nice things. Rather, they are adorned in torn rags with a dirty face, a cardboard sign, and worn-out shoes (if they have any at all). It’s easy to feel helpless in these moments, uncertain how to extend meaningful assistance. This is the impetus behind The Tale of the Other Glove, a story that follows our young heroine, Abigail, on her discovery that sometimes those who seem the most unlike us, in many ways, aren’t so different after all. This book is written in the hopes of awakening readers, young and old, to see someone struggling as an opportunity to offer understanding and support, no matter how insignificant it may feel to you. This is a tale of a glove, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about empathy even when it’s not the obvious choice, doing the kind thing even when you really don’t feel like it, and not accepting that you are powerless. While one person cannot address the suffering of the entire unhoused populace, each one of us has something to give, and to share, and the power to make someone’s life better. Change always starts with one person. And one by one, we can inspire others to do the same.

Monica and Abigail Berg are a motherdaughter team who’ve authored Gift Of Being Different and are about to release The Tale Of The Other Glove two children's books in an intended series of ten, each focused on a relatable and positive message. These two books are written through the eyes of a seven-yearold Abigail, who is now 11, and the narrative may shift to that of an older Abigail for later books in the series.

Berg • Berg • Possentini

Monica and her husband, Michael, run The Kabbalah Centre, and have each authored books of their own on spiritual topics, and setting forth their inspiring message of consciousness. They have a house in New Canaan, and Abigail is the youngest of their four children. Abigail is in 6th grade at Windward.

The Tale of the Other Glove

Abigail Berg

TheTale

“I HAVE DYSLEXIA, IT’S MY SUPERPOWER!”

“I have dyslexia,” Abigail declares unabashedly, “...it’s my superpower! At first when the teachers and doctors were telling my mother about how I just wasn’t learning the same as the rest of the class, I thought maybe something was wrong with me, or that I was stupid, and asked if I needed extra help. But my mom reframed it for me. She explained that Steven Spielberg is dyslexic, and that Einstein and Picasso were dyslexic as well. I realized that the special way each one of those people saw the world and accomplished what they did was because of, not in spite of their special dyslexia. I learn differently than most kids and reading is hard for me, although I’ve definitely gotten more confident reading and reading out loud at Windward. But sometimes I notice things that other people don’t notice, and sometimes I can see different solutions to problems, like how to fix something or how to make things fit. My difference is my superpower!”

“And that’s why we wrote our first book, The Gift Of Being Different,“ Abigail says with a mix of timidity and sparkle. “It’s really my true story, and we wrote it so other kids can realize that their differences can actually be their strengths!”

“When we write,” Monica explains, “...we discuss ideas about how to tell the story, we ask each other’s opinion, we go back and forth, and the book comes out of our conversation. I’m pretty structured and will often start off in one direction, and Abigail sees things in a different way…and that’s where the magic comes in.”

And Abigail adds, “We really try to hear each other and that’s why we’re so great together!”

“Our second book… the book we’re about to release,” Abigail says in as businesslike a way as any 11 year old can muster, “...is called The Tale Of The Other Glove, and it’s also based on a true story. My babysitter dropped a glove when she was standing on a subway platform and an unhoused person snatched it. When my mom and I talked about it, we wondered why the man would have taken the glove. My mom said that maybe the man was happier with one glove than no glove, or that maybe he would put it to some other use. But the more we talked about it, and about the unhoused, the more I thought the best solution for my babysitter - since she wasn’t getting the one glove back without a fight, and the one glove she still had would be useless to her - would have been to give the unhoused man her other glove!”

Monica adds, “Like each of the ten books we’re writing in this series, The Tale Of The Other Glove focuses on a global issue and provides a spiritual remedy. In this case the issue is the unhoused, and the remedy is empathy. These books are great teaching tools for children to gain a better understanding and a deep appreciation for concepts like generosity, goodness, and paying it forward. We believe in the power of consciousness, and an ability to change the world.”

The Gift Of Being Different has already been recognized by educators as a top tool for teaching differences - and earned Abigail some notoriety amongst her peers! “My school has The Gift Of Being Different in the Library and the kids who know about it think it’s really cool!”, Abigail smiles. “And one of my best friends in school is a girl whose mom read her the book when it first came out and my friend said ‘mom, this girl is just like me’ and they realized from reading the book that my friend has dyslexia - and that started a new way of looking at life for her - but my friend didn’t realize I was the girl in the book until about halfway through our first school year together!”

“I LOVE WRITING,” Abigail declares. “I really like getting the finished product when we get the first few copies of the book, and it’s fun seeing the book in bookstores. AND I REALLY LOVE THAT I GET TO DO THIS WITH MY MOM!”

18 UNDER 18

Bedford & New Canaan Magazine's fifth annual 18 Under 18 section is always the highlight of our September/October Education Issue… and every year we are more and more impressed with the achievements of the 18 selected students - and with the quality of the hundreds of nominees entered. We have an incredibly difficult time narrowing down the list because of the intriguing paths that so many different students have selected.

From Singers and Dancers to a Mountain Climber, Engineers and Cctivists, a Filmmaker, and even a Speed Cuber... we are particularly excited by this class!

Congrats to this year’s B&NC 18 Under 18! We hope you'll enjoy the well-earned plaudits of the community.

1. Ava Gunthel

2. Sam Griff

3. Thomas Carney

4. Eleanor Murphy

5. Dakota Cameron

6. Kiran Rao

7. Quinn Maloney

8. Zoe Guerrero

9. Aidan Garcia

10. Annabel Smith

11. Eva Holleran

12. Madison Lagares

13. Will Baldwin

14. Kaylin Hedges

15. Bobby Callagy

16. Jack Harrington

17. Erik Johnson

18. Ashley Stangel

1 2

Ava Gunthel Sam Griff

HOCKEY, LINGUISTICS, SERVICE… and BAGPIPES, TOO!

HOMETOWN: RIDGEFIELD

SCHOOL: KING SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Ava Gunthel started playing Hockey when she was 7, growing up in Ridgefield, and has been playing on club, travel, and school teams ever since. She currently plays with the Florida Alliance, one of the best girls’ teams in the U.S., and for Draftday Regional Gold, a Canadian hockey team that competes internationally. Ava is also playing on King’s Boys’ Varsity Hockey Team.

“I couldn’t do it if it weren’t for King!”, Ava declares. “I feel like my teachers, the entire faculty, and even the entire student body are supporting my pursuits as a student-athlete. When I do miss a Thursday and Friday, the teachers always make themselves available to help me on that Monday or Tuesday when I come back. They’re making the difficult, possible!”

Ava also plays #1 Singles for King’s Junior Varsity Girls’ Tennis Team. Though she made the Varsity Team, she simply couldn’t make that schedule mesh.

Ava’s main academic focus is in foreign affairs and world languages. She is fluent in Spanish, proficient in French, is currently learning Russian, German, and Mandarin… and hopes to pick-up Arabic further down the road! …And she hopes to eventually utilize her skillset working for a certain government agency based in Langley.

Ava also volunteers with a program called ENGin, where she helps Ukrainian students over Zoom with extra tutoring in English. She is also a Peer Tutor at King, which means that any student can go to her for help with questions, homework, or understanding a certain concept.

…And one more thing, she plays the bagpipes, too! At age 9, she was inspired when she heard them played at her uncle's funeral, and played for the first time in front of a large audience in elementary school. She hopes to compete in her first Highland Games in the next year!

CINEMATOGRAPHER

HOMETOWN: BEDFORD

SCHOOL: LAFAYETTE UNIVERSITY, FRESHMAN FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL '24

AGE: 18

Sam Griff says, “It started with making ski videos on my iphone in 7th grade with a group of friends. I’d put them into iMovie and chop them up and send them back to the group as short clips, and I was having a lot of fun with it. Then during Covid in the summer of 2020, friends and I were building mountain biking trails in my backyard and I started to film some of the stuff we were doing back there. My 8th grade graduation present was a Sony a6100 - nothing crazy, but something I could get started on. I started learning photography and videography by taking mountain biking photos and videos, mostly of my friend Ewan MacDonald. I worked at Bicycle World in Mt. Kisco to save money for equipment, and began shooting projects for others as a commercial endeavor during my sophomore year of high school. I got work starting with family videos, then creating social media content for a Katonahbased dog trainer, and eventually creating highlight reels for athletes and sports teams. I reinvested most of the money I made in my ‘kit’ in order to enhance and expand my business and capabilities.”

“I made my first movie for myself, Define Your Adventure a short film about mountain biking, in 9th grade, and it won a national award. And then another short film, Equilibrium that’s up on my YouTube channel.”

When Sam determined to take it further, and Fox Lane didn’t offer a class, Sam wrote up a proposal, found a teacher, and got the school to approve self-directed course work…which culminated in what’s now known as The Woodpile an 80 minute documentary film that follows the stories of five historically significant homes in Bedford - all originally owned by the Wood family. The documentary includes interviews with current owners, tours of the homes, and an interview with the town historian, and it premiered at the Bedford Playhouse in July to a completely sold-out 160 person audience. “It was surreal having a giant room full of people all watching something I’d created. And although some folks were family friends, there were tons of people we didn’t even know, who were just interested and curious!”

Thomas Carney 3

SQUASH STAR

HOMETOWN: NEW CANAAN

SCHOOL: BRUNSWICK SCHOOL, 11TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Thomas Carney has a spot on Brunswick’s prestigious nationally ranked squash team, and was ranked #13 nationally in the Under 17 age group. Playing ‘up’ into the Under 19 age group, Thomas earned the U19 title at the Atlanta Junior Gold Tournament this summer.

“I have some pretty big sneakers to fill,” Thomas smiles. “My sister was a squash star at Greenwich Academy and Harvard, and my two older brothers both played for Brunswick and then for Yale. My dad got me started when I was 6, and they’ve all been training me ever since. …And they never just let me win in order to make me feel good…it’s always been pretty inspiring and motivating!”

“My favorite thing about Brunswick is the community,” Thomas says. “It takes countless hours to get good and become great at Squash — or anything, for that matter — and the bonds I’ve formed and the love I feel for my teammates at Brunswick makes the task of practice feel like joyful playtime.”

Academically, Thomas is interested in STEM, with a focus in Engineering. For his Brunswick Science Research class, Thomas focused on “a more efficient way to fly in the air with different propeller models,” earning two Special Awards with monetary prizes at the Connecticut Science Fair.

Eleanor

Murphy 4

BALLERINA

HOMETOWN: RIDGEFIELD

SCHOOL: RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY, 6TH GRADE

AGE: 11

Elle Murphy was first inspired to start ballet after seeing a performance of the New York City Ballet Nutcracker with her mom and grandma at three years old. Years later, watching the Disney+ show, On Pointe which features dancers from the New York City Ballet and at the affiliated School of American Ballet… Elle decided she wanted to follow in those footsteps, and after a rigorous selection process, is now enrolled at SAB and performing with the New York City Ballet!

“I love the techniques involved in ballet, especially George Balanchine’s techniques, which I’m studying, which are slightly faster and a more athletic style,” Elle shares. She adds, “I think ballet is fun because while you’re working hard at it, you’re also hanging-out with your friends, and performing on stage … performing at Lincoln Center, I’m excited every time I walk on stage! Making thousands of people happy all at once is a pretty amazing feeling!”

Elle has already performed in the New York City Ballet’s productions of A Midsummer’s Night Dream and The Nutcracker, and will be performing in Coppelia which opens at Lincoln Center this fall.

Elle commutes into the city four days a week for class at SAB, and more if she’s rehearsing for a show or performing, and doesn’t get back home until around 10pm. Elle’s school, Ridgefield Academy, has accommodated Elle’s busy ballet schedule by allowing her to attend classes online during performance periods, and with some specially tailored programming and guidance.

“I’m privileged getting to work directly with the older principals at the New York City Ballet, including Indiana Woodward, who’s an idol for me. She actually gave me a pair of her pointe shoes …and, someday, I’d like to dance like her…and be like her,” Elle declares. Elle’s not-too-small dreams include joining the New York City Ballet as an apprentice, then becoming a corps de ballet, and ultimately a principal ballerina…and marrying a New York Yankee all-star!

Dakota Cameron 5

INSPIRED INVENTOR

HOMETOWN: KATONAH

SCHOOL: JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Dakota Cameron is determined to find solutions to sustainability problems and focus her efforts on environmental causes.

“In Science Research at John Jay, I read about a team that was taking used face masks from the pandemic and putting them into concrete to help reduce waste, and make the concrete more sustainable. Cement used to make concrete, it turns out, is the source of 8% of global carbon emissions!”, Dakota relates.

“I found a Professor at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute who was an expert in making concrete, and I worked with him on the novel idea of creating concrete samples that contained plastic fibers that were disposed of by the fast fashion industry. Encasing the plastic in the concrete prevents the plastic waste from spreading in the environment, and adding another material to the concrete reduces the cement concentration, decreasing its carbon footprint proportionately.”

Last year, Dakota displayed parts of her project at at NYU's WEST Fest Science and Engineering Symposium, and received the Visionary Engineer Award. This year, after two years of data collection on her concrete products, Dakota will present her findings to Regeneron’s Science Talent Search, and at the Symposia, a symposium involving top Science Research teams from schools around the country.

Dakota plans to major in Engineering and Material Sciences in college, and more generally she ‘has concrete plans’ to create eco-friendly products and materials to better help and preserve the environment!

Kiran Rao 6

EMERGING ENGINEER

HOMETOWN: RIDGEFIELD

SCHOOL: KING SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Kiran Rao has never seen a problem he doesn’t want to fix …including saving the environment! A pioneer in STEM at the King School, Kiran’s main passion is Engineering, which he pursues as the Leader of the STEM Club and Robotics Club, as well as a member of the Math Team. “I’ve always been inclined towards numbers and quantitative issues,” Kiran says, “and I’ve always known that physics and math are the skills I can use to help stop the climate crisis, explore and improve renewable energy sources, and work towards wildlife conservation. I intend to focus my research in college trying to answer the questions: ‘How do we conserve water?’, ‘How do we generate clean water?’, and ‘How do we collect water and store it?’ ”

Kiran is Student Body President at King and, in addition to responsibilities like leading the Student Council and promoting King’s sports teams and social events, his main project for the year is starting a Sustainability Committee, charged with pushing the conversation about sustainability with the upper administration and creating a new space for those topics of conversation to happen. With a perfect 4.0 GPA at King, Kiran is in the running for Class Valedictorian.

Kiran is also one of the Captains of King’s Varsity Soccer Team, and plays outside of school with the JA Elite Soccer Team in Stamford. Kiran is also a Snowboarder, and works winter weekends as an Instructor for younger kids at Mohawk Mountain.

“At King, I have the space and the support and the resources to flourish,” Kiran declares. “All of my electives have been in that STEM space, including Computer Science, Engineering, and Design Thinking, and we have something called the Innovation Lab at King, which is basically like our ‘maker space’, that’s really just a super fun place to play around. King is great at allowing each student to pursue their own unique interests!”

Quinn Maloney 7

SPEED-CUBER

HOMETOWN: RIDGEFIELD

SCHOOL: RIDGEFIELD ACADEMY, 8TH GRADE

AGE: 13

Quinn Maloney taught himself how to solve a Rubik’s Cube when he was 11, and he’s been hooked on speed-cubing ever since. “I spend hours every day trying to get better and right now, on the 3x3, my average time is about 8 seconds. When I started it was like 3 minutes, so I’m super happy with how I’ve gotten better over time.”

Quinn competes in different puzzles and events at competitions with cubes from 2x2 to 7x7, the pyramid-shaped Pyraminx cube, one-handed and blindfolded competitions, and various other speed puzzles, including Quinn’s favorite, the Rubik’s Clock. Quinn’s best event is the 2x2 Rubik’s Cube, in which he was the 2023 New England Champion with an average solve time of 1.8044 seconds. Quinn is the #23 best 2x2 cuber in the United States, and #26 in all of North America. In July, Quinn competed in Minneapolis at the WCA North American Championships, where he placed 9th out of 770 competitors for the 2x2 cube, and came in 13th and 22nd for Skewb and Pyraminx, respectively. Since his start in January 2023, Quinn has competed in 26 events and has 1,343 official solves.

Last Spring, Quinn hosted an official competition at his own school, Ridgefield Academy, which featured over 150 competitors coming from as far as the Midwest just to compete. And at the Ridgefield Public Library, Quinn hosts monthly meetings to teach younger kids how to solve Rubik’s Cubes and how to improve their times.

Quinn also has a YouTube channel with upwards of 243,000 views in total, where he showcases his fast solves, and recreates events from competitions to see if he can beat his original times.

Other extracurriculars for Quinn include playing with a travel basketball team in Ridgefield at the Power Forward position, as well as studying Violin for the past seven years at the Ridgefield Suzuki School and playing in the Norwalk Youth Symphony.

Zoe Guerrero 8

U.S. TEAM SNOWBOARDER

HOMETOWN: RIDGEFIELD

SCHOOL: RIDGEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

11TH GRADE

AGE: 16

Zoe Guerrero is currently ranked #20 in the World in Halfpipe Snowboarding by the World Snowboard Federation, a list that includes professional snowboarders of all ages, including Olympians.

She got started snowboarding competitively in Halfpipe at age 7 - which is considered late for this sport… and became National Champion at her first Nationals at age 9. She spent several years focused in Vermont with the Okemo Snowboard Team, then began to train more intensively as part of an elite team at Copper Mountain. “I was still at a bit of a disadvantage being an East-coaster, because there’s actually no full-sized half pipe on the East coast…so for the last several years I’ve been spending about 6 weeks each winter out at Copper Mountain in Colorado working with a top snowboarding coach. I’ll also be going to Switzerland for three weeks this fall to train with the US Snowboarding Team!”, Zoe says with a big smile.

In May, Zoe was nominated as one of three girls for the US Snowboard Rookie Team for Halfpipe - which serves as a feeder for the US Olympic Team. In August, Zoe qualified for the Junior World Championship, and she’s been invited to two US World Cups. She took Third Place in the US Revolution Tour, and Fourth Place overall in the NorAm Cup…competing against international Halfpipe riders! …And she’s sponsored by Monster Energy!

“My goal is to compete at X Games in Aspen!”, Zoe declares.

On top of a fierce training and competition schedule, Zoe maintains a 4.0 GPA! And, to stay active outside of snow season, she also plays soccer on the Ridgefield High School team!

Aidan Garcia 9

FAST TRACK

HOMETOWN: MT. KISCO

SCHOOL: THE HARVEY SCHOOL, 10TH GRADE

AGE: 15

Aidan Garcia started running in 7th grade, and scored a spot on the Harvey School’s Varsity Track Team in 8th grade. He runs the Mile and the 800, making it to the Nationals competition last summer, and only missing-out on the prestigious competition this year due to an injury.

“I love to run long distances. It’s a great way to clear my mind and to express my energy,” Aidan explains when asked why track has become so special to him. He runs for the Harvey team during the school year and on his own time over the summer. “In track, each athlete’s performance is their own, and each athlete is competing against all the others, and I like that. But, at least with my Track Team at Harvey, there’s also a great community and a real sense of camaraderie. We have a mix of long distance, mid-distance, and sprinters, and not everyone is on the same level, so you’ll be pushing harder to beat the person faster than you, and then you’ll have the people behind you who are trying to push to be near you. Overall, your teammates help you go faster.”

Aidan has already racked-up multiple awards and titles, and broken some records. Last year, the Hudson Valley Athletic League, consisting of 10 top private schools in the region, awarded Aidan with HVAL All-League and All-New England Honors for Cross Country, including All-HVAL Honors for his top finish at the HVAL Championship meet, with a time of 18:13 in the 5k. Additionally, during the indoor track season, Aidan set the Harvey record in the 600m run at 1:34.40, breaking the previous record by over 10 seconds!

In addition to being a track star, Aidan spends time working on his own business, a T-shirt company called TRAVL, which uses positive messaging to promote the importance of travel and adventure in life. Aidan also devotes significant time volunteering with HeadStart as a guest speaker and reader for younger children in the Bronx, and volunteering locally helping seniors with using their technology.

Annabel Smith 10

SWIM CHAMPION

HOMETOWN: BEDFORD

SCHOOL: FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE RIPPOWAM CISQUA '21

AGE: 17

Annabel Smith is a four-year Varsity Swimmer at Fox Lane High School, and one of the top swimmers on The Marlinsthe year-round competitive team run by the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester. The 100m breaststroke is her best event. Last year, she won States with a time of 1:03.7, aced the Senior Mets race with a time of 1:01.71, and qualified for the US Open Swimming Championships!

Annabel has been in the pool and competing on one team or another since she was 6 years old. “When I’m in the pool,” she explains, “I feel like I can just turn my brain off and enjoy being And I love a super hard workout! It’s very rewarding!” Annabel swims every day - sometimes twice a day, and is determined to continue swimming competitively in college; she’s already being recruited by top D1 programs. She also has her eyes set on the 2028 Olympic trials.

According to Annabel, the most difficult part of swimming at such a high level is avoiding burnout, and balancing academics and athletics. She says, “Balancing swim and school is definitely really difficult. I’m in the pool 8+ times a week, often at 5:30am, and race training is exhausting. But we really support each other, and I feel like swimming and being on a swim team have made me a lot more outgoing.”

In the classroom, Annabel is most interested in Biology, and hopes to major in Biomedical Engineering when she gets to college. “But before I go off to college,” Annabel declares, “I’ve got a year of ripping it up in the 100m Breast at the States and at some National events to take care of!”

BE WHO YOU ARE. BECOME WHO YOU WANT TO BE. Grades 6–12 with 5-day boarding for 9–12 in Katonah, NY harveyschool.org/openhouse

Discover the Power of

King School, we nurture curious students who aren’t afraid to ask questions, to try something new, or to get it wrong before they get it right.

Because real engagement comes from doing and doing leads to deeper learning. OPEN HOUSE - Sunday, October 6 kingschoolct.org/open-house

Her Future

Eva Holleran 11

THESPIAN

HOMETOWN: RIDGEFIELD

SCHOOL: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, FRESHMAN

RIDGEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

AGE: 18

Eva Holleran started working in theater at The Klein in Bridgeport when she was in middle school, and was then selected by A Better Chance to transfer from Bridgeville High School in order to attend Ridgefield High School, which opened up the opportunity to get involved in the theater program at both Ridgefield High School and at ACT of CT. With ACT of CT, Eva started out working as an usher, worked on stage management, lighting, and sound, then began acting in the spring and summer conservatory, and finished doing her senior internship.

Eva’s background is in singing, and she’s played Cinderella’s Stepmother in the musical Into the Woods Aunt March in the musical Little Women, and then Florence Collymore in The Play that Goes Wrong - and was nominated for a prestigious Halo Award for Best Female Standout Performance in an Ensemble Production for that performance!

“My favorite plays are somewhat mysterious, like the story of the fading Hollywood movie star in Sunset Boulevard,” Eva says. “Because theater is almost by definition a very social thing, I’ve learned a lot about communication, how to talk to people, and how to build relationships. Theater has helped me build confidence and learn how to be comfortable even out of my comfort zone.”

When not actively part of a theater production, you can find Eva playing the Guitar or teaching herself to play the Ukulele, or volunteering at an animal shelter. At American University she plans to major in Musical Theater and to be actively involved in AU’s six productions each year.

Madison Lagares 12

SHOWSTOPPER

HOMETOWN: POUND RIDGE

SCHOOL: CHRISTIAN HERITAGE SCHOOL

12TH GRADE

AGE: 16

Madison Lagares was just six years old when she was booked for a role alongside Liam Neeson in A Walk Among the Tombstones She went on to play the daughter of Adrian Brody (another B&NC MAG local!) and Jennifer Beals in Manhattan Night. Her most recent and most popular role was as Fran “Frenchie” Facciano in the television show Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies. “She was my favorite character in Grease, so playing that role in particular, was a dream come true!”, Madison shares. “DiDi Conn herself, who was the original Frenchie in Grease reached out to me and said how well I did playing her…so I’m just super proud of that work.”

Madison has also had success on the stage, with multiple Broadway performances under her belt. She played the role of young Gloria Estafan in On Your Feet - using her big voice to land that part when she was only 9, even though it was intended for a young teen. Madison says with a smile, “After getting the callback, Gloria Estefan herself said that out of all the tapes and auditions, she handpicked me because of how much I reminded her of herself.” For several years, Madison also played the part of Shonelle, and an understudy for Tomika, in School of Rock “Right now I’m working with casts on two original Broadway shows that are awaiting the green light for production,” Madison informs.

Madison is also a talented singer-songwriter, and has multiple singles and EPs out that can be streamed across all major platforms.

Madison is Senior Class Representative at Christian Heritage, organizing events and managing class activities and leading worship for the school, and has also created a high school mentorship program that pairs senior volunteers with freshmen in need of advice or guidance as they navigate their first year of high school. She plans to study Drama and Musical Theater at college.

Will Baldwin 13

ALTRUISTIC ATHLETE

HOMETOWN: DARIEN

SCHOOL: BREWSTER ACADEMY, 11TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Will Baldwin can do it all. He started playing Lacrosse when he was five, playing catch with his dad, who played lacrosse for the University of Florida. Will played for Darien High School before transferring to Brewster Academy and making the Varsity Lacrosse Team in his freshman year. In 2022, he was Nationally ranked at #553 and #13 in the State. “I think I’m most proud that I made Varsity Lacrosse three years in a row,” Will says, “and I feel like I’ve been able to hold my number with guys that are older than me and guys that are a lot better than I am. Lacrosse has taught me a lot about teamwork, and I’ve really taken that into my dorm life at Brewster Academy too.”

Will is also a Golfer, and plays on the Brewster Academy Golf Team as well as competing in the Connecticut State Golf Association. “Golf has taught me a lot about personal challenges and competing with yourself to be better,” Will reveals. His handicap is currently a 4.2.

He’s also an avid Snowboarder, and competes on the Brewster Academy team. “Boarding with buddies is the ultimate release!”, he declares. “But I feel like there’s a stigma of athletes being jocks and only doing sports. You should be well-rounded, and athletes should do more than only their sport. Go study, get into college, go do community service, spend time with your family…and then go do that sport.”

Will is a volunteer at both the Sugar Hill Club, a retirement home where he helps the residents with any problems that arise and talks to them about their lives, and with the End 68 Hours of Hunger program, which helps students in need get breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Friday night to Monday morning. “So we’ll go to the food bank and we’ll pack breakfast, lunch, and dinners for the whole weekend,” Will explains, “and then…we’ll go through and give out the lunches. It’s simple, but very meaningful.”

An outstanding student at Brewster Academy, Will was last year elected Sophomore Class Leader, and is this year serving as an RA, supervising younger classmates in his dorm.

Will’s goal is to play Lacrosse or Golf at the college level, ideally in the South-Eastern Conference, and as an ultimate dream, at his dad’s alma mater, the University of Florida.

Kaylin Hedges 14

AMERICAN IDOL

HOMETOWN: MOUNT KISCO

SCHOOL: FOX LANE HIGH SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Kaylin Hedges says, “I basically came out of the womb singing! I started auditioning for shows when I was seven. We moved to New York when I was nine, and I’ve been taking advantage of all the great theater in New York City ever since. I sing, and play the guitar, and write my own songs. …My dream is to become an EGOT - someone who wins an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony!”

By eleven, Kaylin scored the role of Annie in a 4-week production that filled the Hollywood Bowl’s 20,000 seats. She has performed in multiple professional productions of off-Broadway shows, and performed at the old Globe Theatre in San Diego - working directly with singer-songwriter, Clint Black. She’s in the Fox Lane Chamber Choir, and scored the role of Wednesday Addams in Fox Lane’s production of The Addams Family as a sophomore, and then played Shakespeare in Something Rotten! And she has her own YouTube channel!

At 15, Kaylin was encouraged by a producer of American Idol to try out! “I went through six rounds of auditions and was selected to do the try-out in front of the panel of judges in Nashville. There were lots of early mornings and rehearsals, and for the big audition, they didn’t tell me I was going dead last in Nashville…so I’d been sitting there all day waiting… and I was definitely nervous about performing live for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan! But the second I started singing everything else melted away,” Kaylin beams. …Kaylin received the only Platinum Ticket from the famous judges, indicating a particularly impressive performance, and meaning that she skipped right to the Third Round of the National Finals. …And to top it all off, Kaylin’s dad, Jeffrey, a Sergeant First Class in the Army, who had been stationed in Hawaii for the six months prior to the show, surprised Kaylin by showing-up on the Idol stage for a reunion!

About the three week Idol experience, Kaylin shares, “I’ve been a fan of the show since I was a kid, so it was really incredible to get to be part of it! And I had so much fun and really learned a lot about myself and defining my own unique style.” Upon her return home, Kaylin was gifted with a commemorative award from the State Senator. She’s considering a return to Idol this year, and she recently released a song that’s streaming on all major streaming platforms, titled Let History Repeat …And now she’s applying to college, “I’d really like to go to a music conservatory, and ideally focus on composition and production. I’m just beginning!”

Bobby Callagy 15

POLITICAL ADVOCATE

HOMETOWN: DARIEN

SCHOOL: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, FRESHMAN MASTERS SCHOOL '24

AGE: 18

Bobby Callagy is loud and proud about his political advocacy, supporting and uplifting local causes, organizations, and other activists. While environmentalism is a major focus for Bobby, he also advocates for many other causes, including student voter registration, mental health awareness, minority rights, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

As a freshman at Masters, Bobby co-founded an organization called Voices of Gen-Z, which has registered over 10,000 students to vote over the last two years! “Getting our youth civically engaged is critical!” Bobby exclaims.

“During my sophomore and junior years at Masters, I worked on creating two pieces of environmental legislation for introduction before the Connecticut State legislature. One involved labeling in the recycling process and the other called on the Governor to announce a climate emergency. Although neither bill passed, I believe political advocacy is all about introducing new topics to the governing system and opening up conversations about those issues. I believe I’ve already opened up a lot of conversations surrounding recycling practices in Connecticut, and that I’ve now got the ear of the Governor when it comes to making recycling an easier process for the average person. It’s important to be civically engaged.”

In addition to Bobby’s exceptional advocacy, he is the Founder and President of an entrepreneurial business called Make Change. “We market a specific product, like a wallet, and donate a percentage of the proceeds to a specific non-profit. It’s basically trying to enact social change through product sales.”

Jack Harrington 16

BAGPIPING BOY SCOUT

HOMETOWN: NEW CANAAN

SCHOOL: NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL '23 ST LUKES, 12TH GRADE AGE: 15

Jack Harrington tells the story with a laugh, saying “I have a very specific memory of noticing a ghost playing the bagpipes when I was watching an episode of Scooby Doo with my dad when I was really little…and I’ve been hooked on the sound ever since. When I was 9, one of my teachers at New Canaan Country School introduced me to his father, who was a pipe teacher. Although it seemed unique when I got started, I found a community of pipers in the area, and I joined the Greenwich Pipe Band, which has about 20 bagpipers and a group of drummers. I also play the guitar. The New Canaan Country School was really an incubator for me as a musician. At NCCS I learned how to read music, how to play several musical instruments, and how to be confident in, and experiment with, my music.”

Jack is also a member of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts honor society, and serves as a Senior Patrol Leader, helping to organize meetings and campouts as well as assist and teach the younger Scouts with the skills and techniques they need. “I've made a ton of friends along the way,” Jack says about the Boy Scouts. “I’ve met a lot of people who I otherwise wouldn’t have met because they go to other schools or come from much different backgrounds. Some older and some younger than I am. In the Boy Scouts…we’re all just good friends!”

Jack is an honor student and plays baseball at St. Lukes, and enjoys skiing whenever he can get to go.

Erik Johnson 17

CLIMBER

HOMETOWN: NEW CANAAN

SCHOOL: NEW CANAAN HIGH SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Erik Johnson is in it for the experience! This past summer, he summited the 19,341 foot peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro - nine days in total, seven up and two to go down. “I think that most people think that the summit is the best part, but really the best part is being able to be completely immersed in nature, and totally off the grid, the entire time,” Erik says. “I’m always basically having an experience that possibly no one else in the world has experienced in the exact same way.” Erik’s previous ascents include Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.

In part to train for climbing, Erik is also a Rower, competing for the Maritime Rowing Club. He earned a spot to compete in the prestigious U.S. Rowing National Championships in 2022 and 2023, and has won multiple awards for his excellent rowing performances, including a Silver at the Northeast Regional Championships in 2023, and a Bronze at the San Diego Crew Classic.

“I’m working on starting an Outing Club in school this year, because I want to turn other kids on to hiking and climbing and just getting way outdoors,” Erik says. “If I can be a guide, I want everyone to appreciate the moment and their surroundings. I feel like climbing gives you a new perspective on the world each time you do it. I intend to keep climbing in college …and my ultimate goal is to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents, called the Seven Summits!”

Ashley Stangel 18

AMAZING ADVOCATE

HOMETOWN: ARMONK

SCHOOL: BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, 12TH GRADE

AGE: 17

Ashley Stangel is passionate…about a lot of things! “I’ve always been involved and outspoken, and what I really love is helping others,” Ashley declares. “I’m always looking out for those who need help, and standing up for what’s right. There are so many issues that I care about and feel are important. Whatever I’ve done so far…is just the beginning!”

Ashley was selected for the prestigious Global Scholars course at Byram Hills, with a curriculum based on tangible ways to make the world better by 2030. “I used my time in the course to focus on literary freedom. As I began to understand how students are losing access to booksI knew I had to do something,” Ashley says. She started Do What’s Write, which has its own Instagram @dowhats_write and website, and has worked with the President of the American Library Association, Emily Drabinsky, to put on assemblies and other awareness campaigns around what she calls the ‘banned book epidemic’. Most recently, Ashley’s work won first place, and some funding, at the international Changemaker competition, and an award from the New York State Senate. Ashley has worked closely in this effort with the Eleanor Roosevelt Center, and is also creating a line of branded tote bags to sell and raise money for the ERC.

Ashley is the President of the Byram Hills Alzheimer's Association, Editor-in-Chief of the Byram Hills literary magazine, and has had the Lead Witness role on the Byram Hills award-winning Mock Trial Team. She’s also done volunteer work helping to fight antisemitism with the UJA, and spent this past summer as the only high schooler selected to Intern in State Senator Shelley Mayer’s Office. She relates, “I got to be on the phone every day just helping people with their issues - big and small! I’m enthralled at the way government can operate to help people! …You know how most girls my age cry at a Taylor Swift concert? Well I cried like that when I saw the Declaration of Independence!”

The ideal high school should offer programs tailored to each student’s unique learning style, interests, strengths, and challenges. It should prepare those students to craft a life of meaning and purpose. Its teachers should inspire joy, curiosity, and a love of learning. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

Our campus is directly on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, so students can walk to town center, with its ice cream stands, galleries, cafes, and shops! Our unique team-centered approach to learning includes the chance to explore the world through immersive study abroad experiences. Brewster welcomes and celebrates diverse ideas and cultures, so students feel safe pushing themselves to new levels of achievement.

September 1 @ 7-9pm

BLUEGRASS, BEER & BBQ

CALENDAR of LOCAL EVENTS

Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard, North Salem

September 1 RACE LIKE A WOLF 2024

Wolf Conservation Center, North Salem

September 4 @ 7:30-9:30pm WAVENY CONCERT

SERIES: THE SHORT BUS BAND Waveny Park, New Canaan

September 4 & 5

DARIEN DEPOT’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL

ICE CREAM PARTIES

Darien Depot

September 5 @ 6:30-9pm GREENWICH INT'L

FILM FESTIVAL: GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS

Bedford Playhouse

SEPT

September 8 @ 4-7pm ENDEAVOR FAMILY PARTY

Mt Kisco

September 8 @ 3-4pm CHEF’S PALATE: THE SCIENCE BEHIND FALL FLAVORS

Grace Farms, New Canaan

September 8 @ 3-4:30pm FALL KICK OFF: ICE CREAM CELEBRATION The Mather Homestead, Darien

September 8 @ 2-3:30pm NEW CANAAN LAND

TRUST: BRISTOW BIRD

SANCTUARY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

New Canaan

September 8

BRLA HUNTER PACE

The John Jay Homestead, Katonah

September 9 @ 8pm CAT POWER SINGS

DYLAN: THE 1966 ROYAL ALBERT HALL CONCERT

Ridgefield Playhouse

September 10 @ 7-9pm GLASS CEILING

BREAKERS FILM FESTIVAL

Bedford Playhouse

September 12 @ 6:30pm THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW

Darien Community Association

September 13 @ 5pm POUND RIDGE FOOD

TRUCK FRIDAY

Downtown Pound Ridge

September 14 @ 10am-4pm 73RD ANNUAL HERB

FAIR & MARKET

Caramoor, Katonah

September 14 @ 6-9pm RIDGEFIELD GUILD OF ARTISTS’ 50TH ANNIV

BIRTHDAY BASH

Ridgefield Guild of Artists

September 14 @ 5-10pm

BARN DANCE

John Jay, Katonah

A sampling of what can be found online at: www.BedfordNewCanaanMag.com

... the largest amalgamated calendar in the region - and your free resource for all things local! Be sure to subscribe for free to our emails as well to receive regular highlights in your inbox on what’s happening in the community that you don’t want to miss!

September 14 @ 9am-4pm POUND RIDGE CAR SHOW

Pound Ridge Park

September 15 @ 8:30-11am NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: WILD WOLVES OF YELLOWSTONE WITH DOUG SMITH

Ridgefield Playhouse

September 15 @ 8:30-11am COFFEE & CARS

Village Green Road, Bedford

September 17 @ 8:30-11am LEADER CHAT: BOSS BEAUTY WITH LIVEGIRL AND AUTHOR LISA MAYER

New Canaan Library

September 18 @ 6:30pm MT KISCO ARTS COUNCIL SUMMER

CONCERT: DAN BLAKE & THE DIGGING

Fountain Park

September 18 @ 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT

Bedford Playhouse

September 18 & 19 @ 8pm ANDY GRAMMERGREATER THANA ONE MAN SHOW

Ridgefield Playhouse

September 19 @ 6:30-8:30pm CREATING ABSTRACT

ART WITH THE JOY OF FALL PALETTES WORKSHOP WITH TRICIA CARACAPPA

Yellow Studio, Cross River

September 19 @ 8-11apm CAFFEINE & CARBURETORS

Wavney Park, New Canaan

September 21 & October 19 FALL ART WALK

Katonah

September 21 @ 10am-5pm FREE SATURDAY AT THE ALDRICH MUSEUM

Ridgefield

September 21 @ 11am-12pm GARDENING

WORKSHOP:

FLORAL BOUQUETS

Grace Farms, New Canaan

September 21 @ 5:30pm 20TH ANNUAL 'FEED ME FRESH' Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC)

September 21 @ 11am-3pm CIDER SATURDAY 2024 New Canaan Nature Center

September 21 @ 3:30-8pm BEDFORD'S TRI-FESTA 2024

Bedford Hills Memorial Park

September 21 @ 7pm BEST OF THE 70S Ridgefield Playhouse

September 22 @ 9:15am ARMONK CIDER & DONUT FESTIVAL 5K RUN FOR LOVE & PRE-SCHOOL CARNIVAL Wampus Brook Park

September 22 @ 1pm WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE WITH JULIE SATOW AUTHOR TALK Bedford Playhouse

CALENDAR of LOCAL EVENTS

September 22 @ 2-5pm

ANNUAL NOD HILL

OYSTER FEST

Ridgefield

September 22

RIDGEFIELD'S 12TH ANNUAL GIANT

PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF FESTIVAL 2024

Ballard Park

September 26 @ 10am-12pm

RIDGEFIELD'S HALLOWEEN

WALK 2024

Town of Ridgefield

September 26 - November 2

BETSY EBY EXHIBITION

Heather Gaudio Art Studio, Greenwich

September 26 @ 7-9pm

PLANET NEW CANAAN'S GREEN GALA AT THE CARRIAGE BARNS

ARTS CENTER

New Canaan

September 27 @ 7-10pm COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTHERN WESTCHESTER ANNUAL BENEFIT

Bedford Hills

Community House

September 28 @ 3pm PLAYHOUSE LAWN

SUMMER STAGE: NOT DEAD YET

Bedford Playhouse

September 27 & 28 LOBSTERFEST

New Canaan Rotary

September 28 & 29 ARMONK OUTDOOR ART SHOW

Armonk

September 28 @ 7-10pm POP PARTY AT THE ALDRICH

Ridgefield

September 28 @ 6-9pm RIDGEBURY RIDER’S THIRD ANNUAL FARM FETE

Ridgebury Rider’s, Ridgefield

September 28 @ 1pm THE REEL GOOD FEEL GOOD FILM FESTIVAL 2024

The Prospector Theater, Ridgefield

September 29 @ 3pm PEOPLE OF EARTH

Caramoor, Katonah

September 29 @ 3pm THE BRLA 10K!

BRLA, Bedford

September 29 @ 5pm

RIDGEFIELD

SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA IN CONCERT

Ridgefield Playhouse

October 5 @ 6-11:30pm

DARIEN CHAMBER

JAM PRESENTS

OKTOBERFEST

The Gardener’s Center

October 5 @ 7-10pm

HARVEST FESTIVAL

New Canaan Nature Center

October 6 @ 3pm

MARC-ANDRÉ

HAMELIN, PIANO

Caramoor, Katonah

October 6

MUSHROOM FORAGING

WITH TARO IETAKA BRLA, Bedford

A sampling of what can be found online at: www.BedfordNewCanaanMag.com

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October 10 @ 5:30-7pm DAY OF THE GIRL

LiveGirl, Stamford

October 10 @ 6:30-9:30pm HOUSATONIC HABITAT FOR HUMANITY GALA

Housatonic Habitat for Humanity

October 13

2ND ANNUAL DUCK

DERBY DOWN THE STONE HILL RIVER

BRLA, Bedford

October 7 - November 10

JERSEY BOYS

ACT of Connecticut, Ridgefield

October 19 @ 4-6pm

OPENING RECEPTION: THRESHOLDS

Yellow Studio, Cross River

October 19 @ 6-9pm

SPCA WESTCHESTER

TAILS OF HOPE

RESCUE GALA

SPCA, Briarcliff Manor

October 20 @ 3pm LE CONSORT

Caramoor, Katonah

October 21 @ 6pm GRACE FARMS 9TH

ANNIV BENEFIT & CONCERT WITH LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Grace Farms, New Canaan

October 24 @ 7pm NATURE & SUSTAINABILITY

CLUB X OUR SWAP

SHOPPE: SWAP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Yellow Studio, Cross River

October 25 @ 7:30pm

JULIE BENKO

CABARET IN THE MUSIC ROOM

A BENEFIT CONCERT

Caramoor, Katonah

October 25 @ 4-7pm FALL FESTIVAL

Ridgebury Farm, Ridgefield

October 26 @ 11am-2pm FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

Mather Homestead, Darien

October 26 @ 7-11pm

HOWL-O-WEEN

DANCE AND COSTUME PARTY FUNDRAISER

Women's Wolfpack, Pound Ridge

October 27

HALLOWEEN

BLOCK PARTY

New Canaan Chamber of Commerce

October 29 @ 6-9pm

INTERWOVEN

EXPRESSIONS

A JOURNEY THROUGH POETRY AND PAINTING WORKSHOP

Yellow Studio, Cross River

October 31 @ 2pm HALLOWEEN ON MAIN PARADE

Armonk Chamber of Commerce

Star of Broadway’s Tina: The Tina Turner Musical