Bedford & New Canaan

DARIEN • RIDGEFIELD

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

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WE MAIL B&NC MAG TO THE 25,000 MOST AFFLUENT HOMES IN

NEW CANAAN, DARIEN & RIDGEFIELD, CT

ARMONK, BEDFORD, BEDFORD HILLS, KATONAH, MT KISCO, NORTH SALEM, PLEASANTVILLE, POUND RIDGE, SOUTH SALEM, and WACCABUC, NY

and we’re most pleased that our B&NC Mag readers spend an average of one hour and twenty minutes devoted to each issue! Bedford & New Canaan Magazine is published by Chancellor Livingston LLC. © All Rights Reserved.

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PUBLISHER: MICHAEL J KAPLAN

PRESIDENT: CASEY KAPLAN

ART DIRECTION: EMMA ARTHUR

SENIOR DESIGNER: LAURA HARRIS

BRLATrails

Marsh Sanctuary

Cross River Reservoir

Katonah Museum of Art

Muscoot Farm

Leonard Park

Bedford Village Green

King Cone

Westmoreland Sanctuary

Jacob Burns Film Center

John Jay Homestead

The Bedford Oak

Vista

Lake Waccabuc

The Glass House

Weed Beach

LongNeckPoint

Long Island Sound

The best. The most.

first. The Spa at Casa de Campo, has set a new precedent as the ultimate luxury wellness destination spa with cutting-edge technology and the first Forbes Four-Star Spa ever to be built in the Dominican Republic.

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Summer is my favorite time around here! And this Summer seems especially bountiful!

Maybe it was our spectacular Spring…a season of particularly fun - and fruitful - charity galas… with the Yankees looking strong…lots to celebrate about covid being in our rearview mirror…and the ‘pocketful of sunshine’ I got from Natasha Bedingfield when we were working on her May/June Cover Feature. We were particularly proud to have this Spring highlighted the environmental achievements of Bedford2030 and Planet New Canaan, and Harbor School and Billion Oyster Project Founder - Murray Fisher, and to have featured the Mianus River Gorge Preserve as one of the outstanding natural resources in the B&NC MAG area.

Or maybe it’s simply the way our area looks and feels in Summer, and particularly this Summer! This Summer our Hydrangeas and Alliums are in full bloom and the Hosta are so plentiful as to sustain their groundhog attackers! …And there are Goldfinches and Bluebirds going all-about around me as I enjoy another sunny Summer day by the pool, writing this letter to you.

Or maybe it’s all the things I’ve got on my Calendar to do around here this Summer! Starting with exploring Bedford’s ‘new’ Buxton Gorge Preserve - which we’ve featured in this issue. And then including some Summer events, like all the July 4th celebrations, taking-in an outdoor concert at Caramoor, attending the Annual Bernie Williams Softball game at the Ridgefield Playhouse on July 27, and stopping by the Darien Sidewalk Sales July 11-13, to name just a few. …You can see a complete list of local events on our websitewhich has become the largest amalgamated calendar in the region: BedfordNewCanaanMag.com.

Or maybe it’s because I just love doing our Special Homes Issue, and this Summer we’ve got you in to see Paul Bluhdorn and Anni de Saint Phalle’s Blue Meadows 100+ acre estate in Bedford, Jordan and Andrew Terner’s 1772 farmhouse in New Canaan, and some other absolutely fabulous homes in the B&NC area!

Or maybe it’s getting to spend more time with all of our friends at Summer pool parties or catching up on the golf course, or just breathing-in the warm summer air and enjoying the especially blue sky.

Fact is, it’s Summer in the B&NC MAG area, and I’m feeling particularly grateful!

Casey Kaplan B&NC MAG PRESIDENT

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32. TO THE NINES IN NEW CANAAN. JORDAN & ANDREW TERNER

These New Canaanites live in a restored 1772 farmhouse...together with a menagerie of pets ...and much more! Living life in New Canaan ...To The Nines!

49. UNIQUE NEW YORK…STONEWARE

Will and Lyn Reardon have opened a retail store called New York Stoneware to showcase Will’s unique work, located at 11 Court Street in Bedford. To celebrate, Will’s done a series featuring the Bedford Oak.

60. THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN EXQUISITE ESTATE

This Country Estate, completed in 2007, has the timeless feeling of a cottage in the Cotswold’s and the stately presence of a made-for-today American mansion. The owners recently called-in Rob Rizzo to decorate the living room, the breezeway, and the patio areas.

70. 2024 CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS SERIES: BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE AT THE MATHER HOMESTEAD

Of the 65 nationally registered historic landmarks in Connecticut, only one resides in Darien—a 1778 colonial home, now known as the Mather Homestead.

78. LUXE AT THE LAKE

Architect and Interior Designer Carol Kurth was honored when decades-long clients reached-out to say they wanted to design a guest house on their serene lakefront property in Bedford…

90. BEDFORD

ROYALTY

PAUL BLUHDORN & ANNI DE SAINT PHALLE

Paul Bluhdorn and Anni de Saint Phalle are something of a throwback to the European nobility of the 18th and 19th Centuries. To be sure, Paul and Anni are Bedford royalty!

110. HOUSATONIC HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

“Our mission is to find, build, or help improve a place that people in our community can call home. It seems so fundamental…” says Kristen Keil, Housatonic Habitat’s Executive Director.

119. BESPOKE BUILDER JASON DRAKE

Jason Drake doesn’t do ordinary. Just bespoke. He builds dreams. Whether it’s taking a new-build residence from start to move-in, or doing an interior renovation.

129. PHENOMENAL FINDS FOR THE HOME…AND WHERE TO FIND THEM!

The B&NC MAG 2024 Homes Issue guide to sourcing phenomenal finds for the home.

140. BEDFORD’S ‘NEW’ BUXTON GORGE PRESERVE

After many years and the participation of many community partners, the Town of Bedford, under the leadership of Town Supervisor Ellen Calves, has completed the acquisition and assemblage of 86.55 acres of rich and diverse forest surrounding a spectacular natural gorgelocated right in the middle of Bedford Hills.

173.

NEXT LEVEL - NEXT DOOR NEW CANAAN FOREIGN CAR

Excellence sets New Canaan Foreign Car apart. It may sound like a platitude, but at this local auto repair shop …it’s the reality.

148. OUT & ABOUT

Peek inside of the areas hottest events and gatherings this season

166. CALENDAR HIGHLIGHT

Stay on top of what’s happening this summer with B&NC Mag - the largest amalgamated calendar in the region. Here’s a highlight!

Jordan and Andrew Terner are delightful. They’re entertaining and enjoyable, familyfocused, and fun. They moved into their fabulous farmhouse, across the street from the Glass House, in 2017. And their daughter, Cybil, was born in 2023. …They are an ‘it’ couple in New Canaan these days!

TO THE NINES IN NEW CANAAN TO THE NINES IN NEW CANAAN

JORDAN & ANDREW TERNER

LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREA CERASO / HOMES PHOTOGRAPHY: NICHOLAS VENEZIA

ANDREW ENTERTAINS

WHILE JORDAN DANCES WITH CYBIL IN THE LIVING ROOM

They have an ebullience about the world, each other, and their life in New Canaan.

Jordan, 40, is a soughtafter Park Avenue plastic surgeon in a prestigious private practice called Manhattan Plastic Surgery. “Of course I can’t name names,” he says, “...except for Amy Schumer, who talks about me in her routine! I do primarily cosmetic surgery, including mostly breasts and tummies, as well as a lot of injectables - where I teach new approaches and techniques.” Jordan is friendly and funny, confident but not conceited, bold but not brash, and obviously quite smart. His family moved from Manhattan to a horsey community called Smokerise near Kinnelon, New Jersey when he was a kid…and, as one result, Jordan played Polo for Cornell. He was then selected for early admission to the prestigious Humanities and Medicine Program at Mount Sinai Medical School. He also completed a two-year Doris Duke Research Fellowship at Yale in Craniofacial Surgery and Pediatric Plastic Surgery, and then more training at Albert Einstein, before joining the renowned Dr. Anthony LaBruna in private practice.

Andrew, 37, works in asset management. He’s a bit more reserved than Jordan, but just as warm and welcoming, and Andrew is clearly Jordan’s intellectual partner. He also started-out in Manhattan and his family moved to Bronxville, New York where he attended Bronxville School. He went to UC Berkeley for his undergraduate studies, and on to work in asset management at Goldman Sachs - for two years in San Francisco, then eight in New York…during which time he also earned an MBA from Columbia. He joined Blackstone in 2019, and will be joining Bain Capital in the fall.

Though they are in many ways the prototypically staid New Canaan power couple, they have an ebullience about the world, each other, and their life in New Canaan that feels particularly young, energetic, and fresh. “So if you want to know,” Jordan starts, “I picked-up Andrew! We met in 2011 at a charity event for young professionals at the Gay and Lesbian Center in the West Village. I’d just come out. Andrew ignored my Facebook messages for about six months, then I finally convinced him to go on a first date at The Raines Law Room. I drove up in a British Racing Green Porsche 911…and so we got started immediately talking about our mutual passion for cars. …Not too long thereafter, I started to renovate my apartment and needed a place to stay ‘for a few weeks’ - along with my Golden Retriever, Chase, and my St. Bernard, Max. We moved-into Andrew’s one bedroom downtown - and Andrew already had a roommate at the time, a guy named Peter, who definitely wasn’t expecting me and two huge dogs to move in! My renovation took 6 months -not a few weeks! - and by the time that was over Andrew and I moved back to my apartment as a couple - or as a family if you count the dogs, like we do!”

“After that, but before we were married in 2015, we bought an apartment on Horatio Street in the West Village, and renovated it. Then we bought a house in East Hampton near the Buckskill Tennis Club,” Andrew adds, “but it wasn’t enough for us to just have a weekend place. We were looking for something that felt more stable and residential, and more country than suburban. New Canaan is the ideal! It’s so wonderfully…conventional!”

…Maybe so…but everything about the way Jordan and Andrew live seems pretty extraordinary!

For starters, they’ve turned their home into something like a kid’s petting zoo…they have 2 Miniature Horses, 9 Peacocks - 2 White and the rest India Blues, a 40-year old African Gray Parrot named Lucky inherited from a family friend, Koi, 3 Golden Retrievers, and 3 Cats, including 2 peculiarly large Mainecoons - all under the care of Chris, the house manager.

They have an outstanding collection of cars, storing most in a garage they have in Norwalk. “Mostly green cars, we love the color green” Jordan explains the couple’s eccentric passion. “We’ve both been really into cars since we were little kids. Andrew even wrote his undergraduate admissions essay about automotive design. My dad died when I was 15, but he was really into cars, especially American muscle cars, and he used to take us to these ‘doo-wop’ style car shows around New Jersey. Our taste is a bit different… and we like to drive them! As part of what I would describe as an eclectic collection, we have a ‘59 Citroen concept car, a ‘94 Lamborghini Diablo, a number of Jags including a ‘94 XJ220 and ’67 E-Type, several ‘90s and ‘00s Mercedes, a big old Rolls Corniche Convertible, and a ‘60 Cadillac Series 62 - which is black, with a red interior, and a white convertible top, to name a few.”

And then there’s the Veeshum 50 Classic that Jordan and Andrew keep at a marina in Rowayton. Andrew smiles just thinking about it…“We’re on the water just 20 minutes from home and it’s easy to take the boat to Sag Harbor or Rhode Island even just for the day.”

…Still, it’s the Terner’s home that’s most exceptional!

With bones dating back to 1772, the completely modernized American Farmhouse and Barn is picture-perfect inside and out. Andrew says, “For us it doesn’t feel old, but it doesn’t feel new either. We feel like we’re on vacation when we’re only an hour commute from Manhattan. We had over 150 friends and family for Cybil’s First Birthday, and intend to use the house and the property for many more celebrations to come.”

A large outdoor patio and a particularly welcoming and cozy front porch are outdoor spaces that are clearly well-used, but also pristinely maintained, and feel more like true additional rooms of the house than ancillary outdoor spaces.

The indoor pool house is spectacular, and the half-sunken pool provides a clear centerpiece for the ethereal space, decked-out with flawlessly situated greenery. Surrounding sitting areas are Adirondack-inspired - and reminiscent of Saranac Lake, where Jordan and Andrew were engaged, and Lake Placid, where the couple were married. It’s playful and yet flawless and collected. A giant antler chandelier, an antique canoe hanging over the center of the pool, a taxidermy bear at the edge of the pool, and other adornments make the whole space unique and memorable.

The interior decorating looks like the Polo Bar or a window at Ralph Lauren’s flagship store in the Rhinelander mansion on Madison Avenue, on steroids…and Jordan takes that comparison as a high compliment. “I did all the decorating. As they used to say, ‘down to the ashtrays’. We shopped together for all the antiques and items like the saddlery resting on the bannister in the den, but the rest was my doing,” Jordan says with obvious satisfaction. “Ralph Lauren has been a big inspiration for a long time. And not just when it comes to my style of decorating, or actually having horses in the barn…I mean it in a much more general way. I buy-in to the whole idea of creating your own lifestyle. The way everything looks and feels really does shape your experience. …We like who we are in this place.”

And the entire house flows seamlessly, tied together by beautiful old wooden beams, deep rich colors, and layers of unified patterns and textures, art, books, and special collections. Jordan shares, “The scalloped murano bowl in the entry foyer was our wedding gift from Andrew’s brother, who’s passed away. It was really important to us that it be a focal point in our house and something that we could look at to remember him by every day.” Each room is delightfully revealed past a long hallway or through a thick wooden archway, and each room has its own personality, theme, and palette, while they’re all in keeping with the historical nature of the house and the overarching decorating scheme.

The dining room is situated in the original 1772 structure, and the wall still displays an original handpainted mural, with a map of the area as it was then.

The mural is continued up in what will become Cybil’s room when she graduates from the nursery, and shows a depiction of God’s Acre in New Canaan - and it looks remarkably similar to the way it looks today.”

The formal living room is connected through the center hall, which is complete with a wet bar.

Lacquered ceilings give the feeling of additional height, and turquoise walls give the otherwise formal space a rather playful aesthetic. Jordan loves to collect antique rugs and a large Chinese art deco rug anchors the room. The two mustard velvet sofas were

I did all the decorating. As they used to say, ‘down to the ashtrays’

one of the first things purchased for the house and are one of the few new things the couple owns. A side door reveals a hidden screened-in porch - the ideal place to curl up with a book and hide away.

Upstairs, the hallway is a focal point and defining room unto its own with plenty of places to relax or take in the splendor. A curtained nook original to the design of the house has a builtin daybed. The original master bedroom is repurposed as a guest suite, and the primary suite sits at the end of the hall in a new wing of the house, renovated with double height vaulted ceilings and generous square footage.

“On a typical Saturday or Sunday morning,”

Andrew describes,

“our routine is to take one of our special cars out to breakfast, maybe stop in our garage in Norwalk to swap for the one car we want to drive that day, and then take a drive up to Kent or into the Hudson Valley. In summer, we’ll drive over to the boat and go out for at least a few hours. Then there’s often a party or a dinner engagement. We feel like we’ve met a great crowd here. The lifestyle is wonderful! We love New Canaan so much we convinced Jordan’s sister to move here! She and her husband and their two kids bought a great house on West Road, and having all the kids growing-up together and family living right here in town is so extra-special!”

LAWN

Do not forget to extend your images and background to the red bleed line

UNIQUE NEW YORK… STONEWARE UNIQUE NEW YORK… STONEWARE

While humans have been making pottery since beginning to roam the earth…and have been making stoneware for about the last 4,000 years…on rare occasion, the craft is performed with such beauty and excellence and iconic reference that it is elevated to high art.

…Will Reardon’s stoneware is all that! The shapes are elegant. The red, green, and blue hues are rich. The fine craftsmanship is evident. And each piece seems to embody a combination of historic and worldly influences. While the practical items like the mugs are meant to be used - and even thrown in the dishwasher, there’s no mistaking that Will Reardon’s work is worthy of any art collector’s attention.

PHOTOS: ANDREA CERASO

“Fortuitously, at about the same time we were moving into our house on Guard Hill late last Summer, Lyn’s childhood friend from grade school at Brearley in Manhattan, Brett Cameron, who co-owns La Maison Fête, mentioned that the retail store right next to hers, on Court Street in Bedford, was available…and we opened New York Stoneware in November!” Will explains.

“Being in Bedford, and being able to own and operate a retail store right here in town, is actually beyond my best dreams! Our kids, Lola and Jack, are both really happy at Rippowam Cisqua, and having the store, and having my work to offer, has helped us to feel more established and less like newcomers in this great community. And professionally, while I’ve been selling my stoneware online and through galleries and wholesalers across the country for over a decade, it feels more personal and more immediate and somehow more gratifying to meet the customers, and to connect with the people buying my work… and I feel like I’m finally living the life of an artist! I love having the space to show series of my work, and seeing people’s reaction to my work when I’m in the store is rewarding!” Will proclaims.

I FEEL LIKE I’M FINALLY LIVING THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST!”

“We’re both New York City kids,” Lyn says, “and for many years I ran my own womenswear business, Lyn Devon, based on 66th Street in Manhattan. But trading-in that life for our new country life in Bedford was the right thing to do for our kids…and for Will…and for me. And our first year here has been more than I could have ever imagined! I walk to the shop to work every day! It all feels right, and I feel so lucky! I’ve always run the business side of New York Stoneware, and now I manage the store and the retail operation as well. And our kids like to come by the shop after school to help out, and sometimes even bring friends by. It’s a family business through and through, and that’s a good feeling!”

“Funny thing is,” Will begins to describe his artistic journey, “…until our new reality in Bedford came about, I couldn’t quite visualize what being an artist looked like, and in the alternative I’ve devoted a lot of time to other interests, including music, woodworking, printmaking, and architecture. My dad fancied me becoming a portrait painter, and used to take me around the City to museums and galleries and art auctions, so I gained an appreciation for art at an early age. And I went to a private all-boys elementary school called St. Davids, which was a culturally nurturing school with a liberal arts bent. In 5th grade at St Davids, a fabulously motivated and smart woman, named Mary Minor, first taught me how to work with clay, and was very encouraging, and first made me feel at home as an artist. …But I was mostly into music. And Mary Minor was also my first guitar teacher. I played in every band I could in high school, and my last-minute decision to go to the Art Institute of Chicago,

“I WALK TO THE SHOP TO WORK EVERY DAY! IT ALL FEELS RIGHT, AND I FEEL SO LUCKY!”

instead of Boulder, was based more on where my girlfriend at the time was going than on any particular interest in applied art. I started-out thinking ‘maybe architecture’, but that got tedious, quickly. I kept asking, ‘when do we learn about making buildings’? …And then I took an elective in ceramics…and got the bug! All of a sudden, it just clicked! I had some great teachers, and I really liked how making ceramics is so craft and material based, and honest and straight-forward, and completely satisfying! I began to study art, and learned as much about putting conceptual meaning into things as about the how-to’s of making applied art. A teacher named Charlie Jahn taught me a ton about the history of craftsmanship and fine ceramic makers. I became focused on the idea of communicating through art. It gave art more weight for me. …I graduated with a degree in Ceramics, and returned to New York in 2008.”

“Back in the City, I met Lyn, and we were married in 2013,” Will continues. “For our wedding, I made all of the wedding cake plates and bud vases, stamped with our initials, for every guest. While I’d gotten back into the music business working in recording studios and working for the great guitarist Jim Campilongo, I wasn’t performing, and I focused more and more on making fine stoneware. I studied art pottery and the studio pottery movement, and became engrossed in the work and teachings of Bernard Leach and his Japanese friend Hamada Shoji, who was a major factor in the renewed interest in ceramic crafts in the mid-20th Century. With those models, I’ve tried to develop my own design language and style, make my work my own, and add my own pieces to the broader conversation.”

Will’s claybody is made with a unique red stoneware clay baked in a two-step 48-hour bisque firing and cooling process, and then fired again to oxidize a glaze at an extreme heat called Cone ^6 or 2168 Fahrenheit. Will has developed unique glaze recipes that combine mixes of clays, minerals and oxides, yielding a glassy finish with an almost translucent quality. While the pieces are remarkably light for stoneware, and comfortable in the hand, Will’s stoneware is quite durable, and can go in the oven - a real ‘melting pot’- and in the dishwasher.

“I’d describe my work as both traditional and contemporary, clean and sophisticated, and focused on form and line,” Will says. “I try to both accentuate and simplify elements of traditional design, and I take a lot from architectural principles in terms of proportion and weight. I’m incorporating Japanese, Greek, Scandinavian, English, and American - even specifically New York-based, influences. For me to say my work is refined sounds pretentious, but I’m working hard at producing an elegant homage to traditional pottery from around the world.”

“To celebrate Bedford, and to reflect how happy we are to be here, I’ve etched an image of the famous 500 year old Bedford Oak onto a series of blue and amber stoneware. For me, it evokes an American tradition. I hope my work becomes seen as a part of the fiber of the community,” Will aspires. “We have already worked on collaborations with three amazing local shops. We’ve created candles with La Maison Fete, custom pitchers with Ohho - marked with their new beautiful floral logo, and our

bud vases decorate the tables at LMNOP! And now that I’m becoming comfortable with the idea that I really am an artist, I’m also getting back to spending more time playing music for pure pleasure! We’re all big music freaks in our house. Lola is blaring Taylor Swift on vinyl on the stereo, and we listen to everything from Zappa to Sly to all sorts of ‘Roots’ inspired music. I even run a Podcast called the Fretboard Journal. My son, Jack, who’s 8, plays guitar, and just did a deep dive into Elton John and Michael Jackson. He’s really creative, verbal, funny and loving. And my daughter, Lola, who’s 10, sings freely at the piano and is a dancer. They’re blossoming in the Bedford environment!

I hope they feel as nurtured as I did …it’s wonderful to be supported as a kid!”

Escape to this secluded Nantucket.style waterfront oasis on Blue Heron Lake. Enjoy breathtaking views, private gardens, a heated Gunite pool with pool house and exclusive access to a serene, 45.acre spring.fed lake. With spacious interiors perfect for entertaining, top.notch amenities, and easy access to NYC and local attractions, this home offers the ultimate retreat for relaxation and recreation.

Offered at $5,995,000

VILLAGE

The Transformation of an

Exquisite

EXQUISITE ESTATE

This Country Estate, completed in 2007, has the timeless feeling of a cottage in the Cotswolds and the stately presence of a made-for-today American mansion. The approach to the whitewashed exterior, up a long gravel gardenbordered drive, is dramatic. And the house is set majestically among rolling hills and lush greenery, giving the residence and property a feeling of tranquility. A welcoming committee of horses and a half-dozen exuberant dogs adds to the warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s a place where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors blur, creating a seamless connection with nature.

PHOTOS: STACY BASS

he owners recently called-in Rob Rizzo to decorate the living room, the breezeway, and the patio areas. Rob recalls, “In the oversized living room, the owners wanted to incorporate their extensive antique furniture collection, including two wellloved sofas in particular, while making sure the room felt fresh and elegant. I created three separate seating areas within the massive space of the living area, to invent a sophisticated space that was still family and animal friendly, and with plenty of spots for everyone to get comfortable.”

Rob Rizzo is a Partner at Cobble Court Interiors, an internationally renowned firm, located in New Canaan. Steven March is the Partner at Cobble Court Interiors responsible for everything outside of the design itself, from customizing to ordering, and bringing in the very best skilled laborers for every task. And longtime Ridgefield designer, Stacey Schibli, recently joined Cobble Court Interiors to focus on projects in the local area emanating from the studio shop at Cobble Court.

“All of my projects come together nicely with a mix of old and new pieces layered throughout a space, creating the opportunity for durability and beauty, and function and form to be intertwined,” Rob explains. “The most important thing for me is creating a space where my clients really feel at homeand that often means incorporating pieces that are meaningful or important to their family and their story. This particular client had many treasured items that we were able to include – giving the room the authentic feeling that it’s been collected over time … because it indeed has been! As an example, in this house we sourced a Donald Sultan black and white oil painting entitled ‘Mimosa’, which hangs above the fireplace, and the pair of metal wire horse statues by artist Peter Busby, once used as prototypes for life-sized outdoor sculptures, which sit on a console table which serves as a centerpiece for the room.”

Entertain

“These are people that love to entertain!”

Steven March, Rob’s partner at Cobble Court Interiors, explains. Rob was obsessed with creating the atmosphere and vibe that the clients wanted, not just designing a room or a space but creating an atmosphere to imbue entertaining!

“We used grays, blues, and whites to unite the different seating areas in the living room,” Rob explains. “The result is a very rich and textured room, with lots of detail, and plenty to look at. It’s more an interesting and pleasant experience than just a place to sit down.”

“We also decorated the breathtaking breezeway that leads from the living room to the fabulous and functional 3-season stone patio - where the owners spend most of their time during the summer - and designed the patio as well. I selected simple white wrought-iron furniture by Janus et Cie that’s minimal and lightweight. All outdoor furniture should be practical. And then I added pops of color with whimsical Flower Power pillows.”

Imagine a sunset gathering, with views from the living room and patio of the historic horse barn, and the pool, a romantic pergola that’s covered by Wisteria, and rolling hills as the backdrop.

End of a journey, but the start of a lifetime...

The following is a list of the secondary schools that our graduating ninth graders and departing eighth graders will be attending in September 2024.

Avon Old Farms School

Berkshire School

Blair Academy

Brunswick School

Choate Rosemary Hall

Fox Lane High School

Frederick Gunn School

Greens Farms Academy

Greenwich Academy

Hackley School

Harvey School

Hotchkiss School

Iona Preparatory School

John Jay High School

Kent School

King School

Loomis Chaffee School

Masters School

Greenwich Country Day SchoolMillbrook School

Pomfret School

Sacred Heart Greenwich

School of the Holy Child

Sleepy Hollow High School

St. George’s School

St. Luke’s School

Summit High School (CO)

Taft School

Bringing History to Life

at the Mather Homestead

By Kimberly Devine

Of the 65 nationally registered historic landmarks in Connecticut, only one resides in Darien—a 1778 colonial home, now known as the Mather Homestead. One of the finest examples of 18th-century architecture in Darien, and home to six generations of the Mather family, with each generation enriching the home’s tapestry of stories, Executive Director Heather Raker describes the Mather Homestead as a “treasure that captures the unique history of Darien.”

Photography Nicholas Venezia

Famously raided by the Tories during the Revolutionary War, the Mather home has been witness to many significant historical events. The major contribution to its landmark status, however, is the legacy of Stephen Tyng Mather, a noble conservationist, who inherited the home in 1906. Stephen Mather left his mark on American history as the father of our modern national park system and the first Director of the National Park Service.

After the last Mather living in the house passed away, the property remained vacant for over a decade. The Mather Homestead Foundation was established in 2016, includes the home and acres of land donated by the family, and is now dedicated to preserving the Colonial and sharing its rich history.

Today, driven by a commitment to education, the Mather Homestead has surpassed the family’s vision. A variety of engaging and distinctive events attract Darienites and the wider community to its historic grounds. During ‘Mather Tavern’ evenings, guests savor tavern food and wine, accompanied by tunes of fiddle music, while immersing themselves in historical lectures.

The Springtime Garden Tea Luncheon...

“There is nothing else like it!”

Homesteading workshops provide handson experiences in activities cherished by the Mathers themselves, such as embroidery, knitting, and the art of flower arranging. Continually expanding ‘Kids at Mather’ programs include tailored opportunities for children and student groups to tour the home, enjoy tea parties and scavenger hunts, and gain insights into conservation while embracing the role of junior rangers.

The Foundation’s largest annual event, the springtime Garden Tea Luncheon, welcomes 130 local women for education and enjoyment. As Raker attests, “There is nothing else like it!”

Now in its fourth year, the Garden Tea continues to grow in popularity and success—raising funds through sponsorships, ticket sales, and a raffle. In addition to traditional tea sandwiches and sweet treats, the 2024 event featured a talk by Pieter Estersohn, author of Back to the Land: A New Way of Life in the Country, about farmstead living.

“Through our programming, we bring history to life every day on this spectacular property,” Raker says.

As a non-profit sustained entirely by donations and events, support has both enabled the growth of programming and funded significant restoration and preservation projects. The generosity of donors is evident in the property’s recent expansions. In 2020, a new education center was constructed to replace a dilapidated barn. Named for former New Canaan resident and historical preservationist Elizabeth Chilton, the center still resembles an 18th century dairy barn on the exterior. On the interior, its open layout now holds up to 130 people, providing necessary space for lectures, school groups, art exhibits, and other large gatherings.

“Watching the Homestead’s expansion has been so exciting,” Raker shares. “We started as a sleepy old house giving occasional tours and are now a vibrant place of learning bringing thousands of people to the property every year.”

“We bring history

to life”

The Foundation is actively preparing for its future as a beacon of historical education. Recent initiatives, including a Condition Assessment of the buildings and a Cultural Landscape Report, have provided valuable insight into the property’s history and informed a broader master plan. Current beautification and preservation projects aim to create a serene, park-like setting for community enjoyment. In doing so, the Foundation is ensuring that the legacy of the Mather family endures - and continuing the open invitation to surrounding communities to come experience the Mather Homestead…and step into history firsthand.

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Luxe at the Lake

Architect and Interior Designer Carol Kurth was honored when decades-long clients reached-out to say they wanted to design a guest house on their serene lakefront property in Bedford - with the primary purpose of having a fun and functional place for their children and grandchildren to come and stay. “I’ve known this family for many years and have worked with them on multiple projects of theirs,” Carol shares. “I actually had originally advised them on acquiring this very private, lush, wooded, lakeside property, when they were relocating to Bedford in 2017.”

PHOTOS: STEFAN RADTKE

After enjoying their home for several years, they turned to Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors to reimagine an existing out building on the site. “The family had young children when I first met them, and those kids now have families of their own…and my clients wanted to create a welcoming environment for their grown kids and grandkids to want to hang-out at The Lake House. They were particularly focused on having a space that would be comfortable for several families to be together for weeks, but with enough privacy so adult couples could enjoy a vacation. The functionality of the home was fundamental to the success of the project. I was excited to be brought on as the Architect and Interior Designer.”

Though it’s technically a guest house, this stunning structure

is as state-of-the-art, and definitely as nice as any full-time residence.

It honors the architecture of the main residence, while evoking a more relaxed feeling of life on the lake. All materials were carefully selected for performance and to accentuate a connection to the natural surroundings. Kurth explains, “We had a very serene and casual theme, drawing from hues that coordinated to the colors of the surrounding forest and lake, with a thoughtful approach to the silhouette of the architecture. And we worked with Luppino Builders - who did an incredible job executing our vision seamlessly.”

Distinctive linear sconces in the entry foyer highlight the stone wall and are moveable and adjustable so they can be pivoted to redirect light throughout the space as desired.

The entry affords a view through the house to the lake, and the two defining walls at the entry, one stone and one a lake blue ribbed composition, quite literally bring the outside in - as they each extend from the outside to the inside of the house. The house is designed around a central openconcept gathering space, which includes a great room and a fully equipped kitchen, breakfast nook, and lounge. Large sliding doors lead to an expansive patio perfect for group gatherings or a private retreat.

The bedrooms are built around a large playroom, stocked with every game and puzzle a growing family could use to build the Monopoly-memories and Stratego-stories that will last forever. Each of the ensuite guest bedrooms is designed for tranquil privacy, and each is decorated in keeping with the theme of nature, down to the riverstone tiles in each of the bathroom showers.

And then there’s the great bunkroom, designed as a very special getaway for all the cousins to have a magical home-away-from-home together. It’s the ultimate cozy cove for the cousins’ conclave! Thoughtfully designed window placement provides an abundance of daylight and makes the space feel ample and bright. A large mirror gives the illusion of a second exterior window between the two sets of bunks. White beadboard planking enveloping the bunk beds and prominently placed hand-painted ores are obvious nautical nods. Each bunk is outfitted with recessed niches for bedside favorites, and concealed storage drawers in the steps between the bunks.

In addition to nickel-gap shiplap horizontal planking on the walls, Kurth sourced custom-painted oars to emphasize the playfulness of the space and tie-in the lakeside theme. Black is used as a subtle punctuation point throughout the room, including on the ladders, on the lighting, and on hardware custom-designed for this home.

Phillip-Jeffries wallpaper in the laundry room is very textural. The washer / dryer are integrated into custom cabinets with plenty of storage, a fold-down ironing board, and large baskets for sandals - all hidden behind a ribbed-glass sliding door.

Then there’s a laundry room fit for the family! Carol says, “I know it seems a bit funny to say, but the laundry room was a real priority for my clients. As anyone who’s got a pool or lake knows… all those towels from a day of splashing around need to be washed! We made the space highly utilitarian, serving as a mudroom as well, and positioned the laundry so that it felt accessible for every guest, yet separate enough to keep the noise away from bedrooms.”

Plank Vinyl Flooring is functional and makes sense for a lake house filled with companyand it looks and feels like real wood!

“Details such as a clean and unifying kitchen design with concealed storage from LEICHT create a minimalist statement.

We customized the nauticallyinspired rope loop lamp in the kitchen to accent the island, and serve as a compelling centerpiece for the main living space. We integrated a planter into the island to bring life into and soften the space. A built-in banquette allows for gathering with an expandable table for myriad seating configurations. A chalkboard barn door conceals the mechanical room so guests can leave a shopping list or a message they’ve Gone Fishin’ , and a giant Scrabble game hangs on the wall in the kitchen area.

“The beauty of the project is that it creates a harmonious balance between an existing home and newly conceived guest house - as an architectural and interior design firm in Bedford we are focused on creating architecture as a backdrop for living and interiors as an inspiration for lifestyle,” Carol smiles, “It’s been exciting to see this special family spend their summer enjoying the space.”

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Paul Bluhdorn & Anni de Saint Phalle...

BEDFORD Royalty

Paul Bluhdorn and Anni de Saint Phalle are something of a throwback to the European nobility of the 18th and 19th Centuries. Popular amongst the Martha Stewart set, but relatively unknownuntil now - by most others, they live in a residence ‘fit for a king’, and queen, on one of Bedford’s finest estates, called Blue Meadows. Paul is the son of famed Gulf + Western CEO Charlie Bluhdorn, and the brother of Dominique Bluhdorn - who has more than renovated the former William Louis-Dreyfus estate and was the Cover Feature in the 2023 Homes Issue of B&NC MAG. And Anni actually is from a very old aristocratic French family. To be sure, Paul and Anni are Bedford royalty!

While The Life and Times of Paul Bluhdorn is yet to be written, such a tomb would include one stupendous story after another about what it was like when his dad was running Paramount and making The Godfather, Ordinary People, and Terms of Endearment, and developing Casa de Campo, and building the Gulf & Western conglomerate to include holdings such as Simon & Schuster and Madison Square Garden. Telling one such story Paul recalls, “Like the time I accompanied my father on the corporate jet from the D.R. to Havana to meet Fidel Castro – with special permission from Cyrus Vance, then United States Secretary of State, and a family friend. My father’s greeting to Castro was something like: ‘I am pleased to meet you, but I must tell you I hate communism.’ …And with that established they got on famously, discussing sugar production, prices and quotas.”

On display: ‘Best Picture’ Oscars for Ordinary People and The Godfather!

Paul grew up in Manhattan, attending the Trinity School, and spent weekends and summers on what he describes as his parent’s “idyllic” estate in Ridgefield. “I understood that we had exceptional circumstances and that we were getting to experience things, like our trips to the south of France with the likes of Baron Edmond de Rothschild and Sir Richard Attenborough, that were unusual to say the least. My dad used to have these hibachi barbeque banquets up at the house in Ridgefield and invite folks like Kirk Douglas, Costa-Gavras, Milos Forman, and Henry Kissinger. But my father did everything he could to make sure we inherited no arrogance of wealth. When my dad was on the ‘Millionaires Under 40’ December 3, 1965 cover of Time magazine, he didn’t show it to me or tell me about it. After the kids at school showed me a copy, my dad said he didn’t want me getting the idea we were rich or, worse, privileged.”

BLUE MEADOWS IN BEDFORD

Paul describes that, “I was a teenager when my dad was starting to really go strong, and when he was developing Casa de Campo. When I decided to go to Harvard and to major in History and Economics, my dad thought it more a folly than a feat. He had no use for academia, and thought business was life and life was business. He did attend Columbia, where he was exposed to the value investing concepts of professors Benjamin Graham and David Dodd, but after that he had no more use for routine courses and was off on his investing career. While he was still in school, he was so successful that professors would ask him for stock tips! I did inherit my father’s ‘Don’t Ever Allow Anyone To Pass You’ work ethic, and went to work after college at Goldman Sachs, trading options. My dad died when he was only 56, in February 1983, and, despite that I’d done some work for him, including overseeing production on Terms of Endearment, I think he would have laughed to find out that I ended up having a decades-long career at Paramount and then as an investor in independent films.”

Anni grew up on an estate in Armonk, the youngest of six children, “...in the days before 684 existed and when you could still get a hot donut from Schultz’s Cider Mill on Sunday mornings,” she describes. “My love for gardening blossomed when I was really young, on crisp spring days sowing vegetable and flower seeds with my mother and grandmother. Each day I would visit the garden to see what was happening and what had changed. I’ve always loved watching plants grow! …And I’ve been in love with everything equine since I was a toddler. My first ride was sitting on a pony with my older sister at a county fair…and that was it for me! From the very first ride, I only wanted to be on a horse. When I was 8, my mother introduced me to a friend’s Shetland Pony named Zippy, and I was immediately smitten. On the weekends and during summer break I would walk about a mile through the woods to collect Zippy and ride him back to our house, where I would spend all day riding and playing with him. It was a great time to be a kid! I was free, and felt safe and happy making those walks in the woods all alone.”

BLUE MEADOWS IN BEDFORD

“I met Paul in 1986, when he’d moved back to New York from Los Angeles,” Anni recalls. “We really hit it off and had so much fun together! We were – and still are – kindred spirits. I remember meeting his mom, Yvette, in this very house. She was elegant and beautiful and warm and welcoming. We got along, and shared our love of horses and dogs. I would make these big flower arrangements for her entry hall. She was always delighted, and had this sparkle in her blue eyes.”

But Paul and Anni’s love story is one of patience and timing…as Anni explains, “When we met, our eight year age difference felt too big. I was in my 20’s and Paul was in his 30’s. I wasn’t ready for a relationship. We remained close friends over the years. Fast forward to my 50’s and the eight year difference meant nothing. We married in 2019, after living together for several years, and we’re still having a great time and laughing a lot.”

It was built in 1929 for Hobart Lewis, the Editor of Reader’s Digest, and I’ve always loved the property.

I wanted the house to be French, like me

Paul and Anni took over Blue Meadows in 2014. Telling the history of the house, Paul says, “My mom sold the Wetmore Estate on Pea Pond Road and purchased this house just after my father died. This house was much smaller then. It was built in 1929 for Hobart Lewis, the Editor of Reader’s Digest, and I’ve always loved the property. Lewis was a great friend of Richard Nixon and part of the provenance of the house was that Nixon would land his helicopter on the grounds when he came to visit and boys from Rippowam were invited over to come watch the spectacle. My mother put-on a 10,000 square foot addition in 2000 to make room for my sister Dominique and her family to spend the summers, up from the Dominican Republic. After my mother’s death in 2006, the house sat empty for several years, and was in need of some serious tender loving care.”

That’s when Anni took over! “I was happy to take on the project of making renovations to the house and gardens, and delighted to decorate!” Anni says. “When I was fourteen, my French grandmother, Jacqueline, took me to spend the summer with her in France, and I spent a lot of time visiting the fabulous chateaus that had been in my family for centuries. I was mesmerized by the architecture, the furniture, the fabrics, the paintings, and of course the gardens. We spent time with my aunt, Niki de Saint Phalle, who designed the fountain in front of the Pompidou Center in Paris. I could not believe how many de Saint Phalle’s I met and I was really impressed by the fact that we were all part of this one big family. …That’s when I developed my love of French style.”

BLUE MEADOWS IN BEDFORD

Anni continues, “The renovations have been a challenge but I’ve loved every minute of itI I taught myself how to use SketchUp, a program for creating 3D rendering, so I could put all the plans together for our carpenter. And with respect to the decorating, I had the advantage of living in the space before making changes. I believe, if you take your time, a house tells you what needs to be done.”

“My vision was to make the separate wings of the house more cohesive, while giving each room its own personality,” Anni explains. “I guess you could say the style is French Empire, but with a focus on functionality and comfortability.” Much of the grand residence’s decorating features the couple’s astounding collection of art. Paul is a student of art and art history and has been a collector his entire adult life, and Anni has a keen eye and an encyclopedic knowledge of their collection and the artist who did each piece. About all the art work, Paul says, “My dad was a big collector and I bought a bunch of his paintings from the estate, like the Dufy hanging over the mantle in the front sitting room. I’ve added continually over time. I love the Hudson River School and am particularly proud of a couple of William Louis Sonntag works and Hermann Herzog’s Nature’s Majesty that I have hanging in the front hall. And I love the Fauvists. I also used to collect alongside a business partner of mine who was the President of the Getty Museum for a while, who had a great eye for Modern art. …Let’s put it this way, they know me at Christie’s.”

Let’s put it this way, they know me at Christie’s

BLUE MEADOWS IN BEDFORD

…And then there are the gardens and grounds! As Paul reports, “We’ve acquired some adjacent properties as they’ve become available, and the total estate now measures over 100 acres. Even Martha Stewart says this place looks more and more like Versailles every time she comes over!” The main residence is surrounded by a checkerboard of courtyards and formal gardens, staff quarters, a gardening center with a multiplex of vegetable beds, a large greenhouse, a pool, hot tub, and pool house, a couple of gazebos, an absolutely exquisite fountain and reflecting pool with four large tropical plants dramatically potted in the pool, and a newly installed fountain in the East courtyard - meant to outdo the fountain already located in the West courtyard - that’s fenced-in for their 4 dogs, Beanie, Sophia, Sassafras, and their new puppy Winston, after Churchill of course.

Anni is a master gardener and horticulturist,

and takes a personal hand in every aspect of the landscape and floral design, and in maintaining the extraordinary formal and informal gardens. While looking out over tumbling blossoms of roses, she says, “The gardens are ever-changing, they are living, growing things. And I’ve felt Yvette looking over my shoulder throughout the whole process, which is a very nice feeling.”

As over-the-top as the whole thing is, Anni has the esteemed botanist and grower Max Apton, who formerly held the prestigious post of Vegetable Field Manager at Blue Hill Stone Barns, and is the new owner of Bedford Farms - the gardening center located at 235 Greenwich Road in Bedford, overseeing the vegetable and other growing gardens. Apton comments, “There’s simply no one with higher standards than Anni…and no one nicer!” …And none other than the Executive Chairman of Sav-A-Tree, Daniel van Starrenburg, who’s a neighbor, has served as arborist for the property since Yvette acquired it in the ‘80s. Daniel comments, “I used to personally tend to that property and can tell you it has one of the most spectacular collections of specimen trees in the area. Anni maintains the entire property in impeccable condition!”

There’s simply no one with higher standards than Anni...

BLUE MEADOWS IN BEDFORD

“Quite frankly, keeping the house looking the way it does is a little like Sisyphus pushing the rock uphill, or the way they never stop painting the Golden Gate Bridge. We’ve just limewashed the entire exterior of the main residence! But, bottom line, no matter how spectacular this property is,” Anni remarks, “it’s being in Bedford that makes it really great! The community is thriving, and we really appreciate what seems to be a real environmental conscientiousness in the area! We have lots of old friends here…and plenty of new ones too! …Even if we decide to sell-off the existing residences and the bulk of the property, as it all simply and inevitably becomes just too much for us to manage, we’ll keep some choice acreage and build ourselves a French Chateau…and we’ll be Bedfordites forever!”

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HOUSATONIC HABITAT HOUSING AND MORE

“The American Dream of 2.5 kids, a car in the driveway, and a white picket fence is a fundamental vision many of us still hold…but for some, no matter how hard they work, they are never quite able to get off the hamster wheel and attain that reality,” Housatonic Habitat for Humanity’s Executive Director, Kristen Keil shares.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in the early 1970s with the mission of helping hard-working folks in need access housing within their communities. Habitat for Humanity was first popularized through the involvement of public figures such as President Carter, and gained further notoriety after stepping-up and stepping-in after Hurricane Katrina and other large scale national disasters. Habitat for Humanity is now organized in Regional Chapters - each serving a unique community with a unique set of circumstances and needs. Housatonic Habitat for Humanity, which is self-funded, is the Regional Chapter of Habitat for Humanity that serves Fairfield County, with a headquarters in Danbury, right on the Ridgefield border.

“Our mission is to find, build, or help improve a place that people in our community can call home. It seems so fundamental, and it is… but the reality is that hardworking families and members of our community are often priced right out of the market. Our teachers, transit workers, firefighters, police officers, shopkeepers - who are all vital members of our community - should have the opportunity to live within it,” Kristin declares. “We believe in homeownership because it leads towards family wealth and increased multigenerational opportunities. The typical Habitat family is one that’s been working, where one or two breadwinners have a good job, but they still can’t afford to live amongst us. Though it’s not always the case, it’s typically families – and there are usually kids involved. Our program serves families whose income is between 30-80% of the area median income. We serve a population that’s often overlooked. There are a lot of people that are taken care of via food or homeless shelters and the like on the extreme end of the spectrum… but Habitat is helping hardworking people that just need a hand up – not a hand out.”

Kristen Keil was appointed as the Executive Director of the Housatonic Habitat last August. She shares, “I grew up here and worked in the area in banking my whole career. I’d always done volunteer work, including as the VP of Cheer for the Newtown Youth Football and Cheer organization and as the Chairwoman of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce and with the Rotary Club, but had come to realize I wanted to do something new with my life that somehow felt more meaningful and impactful. Two people I knew who served on the Housatonic Habitat Board reached out to see if I’d ever consider working fulltime in the nonprofit space...and I took the leap!”

“Habitat for Humanity follows a unique and effective housing model that focuses on community involvement and affordability,” Kristen explains.

“Habitat starts by purchasing land or existing houses at an affordable price - sometimes property will be donated to Habitat which is even better. This step is crucial to keeping the overall project cost manageable. Once the property is secured, Habitat brings the community together to help reduce the cost of building the house. This is achieved through donations of products and services, volunteer labor, and monetary contributions specifically dedicated to the build.

“Next, Habitat identifies a hardworking family within the community who is in need of affordable housing. This family is selected based on their need for a decent and affordable home, their ability to repay a mortgage, and their willingness to partner with Habitat. The selected family will end up with a mortgage, but this mortgage will be more affordable compared to conventional options. Habitat’s efforts to reduce building costs through community support allow for a lower mortgage amount, making homeownership more accessible for families in need.”

In essence, Habitat for Humanity’s model leverages community resources and volunteerism to create affordable housing opportunities, enabling families to achieve homeownership with a manageable mortgage, and thereby strengthening the entire community. Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program is based on the concept of partnership. Our commitment to that partnership is to build or renovate simple, decent homes and sell them to qualified working families at below-market prices.”

Kristen continues, “Habitat families are required to partner with us and complete 250 hours of ‘Sweat Equity’ prior to purchasing their home. This includes completing at least 50 hours of financial literacy and homeownership courses. We have volunteer financial advisors who work with families, sometimes for months, to pay down debt, budget, and plan so they can be long-term successful homeowners. …And our financial literacy program is not just for homeowners! We offer regular workshops for people interested in becoming first-time home buyers to help them learn about the process and the steps they can take to become successful homeowners for the long term.”

Cindy Sherman, Housatonic Habitat’s Director of Marketing, shares, “We had a young couple come to us that wasn’t able to get ahead of their student loans. They started out in one of the financial literacy trainings, and in a year and a half they paid off all their credit cards and consolidated their student debt, and they were able to develop a budget and stick to it –they are going to be Habitat Homeowners this year!”

And, although Habitat for Humanity is best known for its builds, Housatonic Habitat runs an array of additional initiatives and a brick-and-mortar thrift shop, called the ‘ReStore’, that’s really more like a discount warehouse, and available as a resource to the entire community. The ReStore is managed by dynamo, April Van der Noll, who takes great pride in the curated inventory and high-end merchandise. The shop sells new and gently used donated furniture and other household items and decor at a highly discounted sticker price. The ReStore also sells paint - at a fraction of the cost of a hardware store, and has tools, hardware, and other odds-and-ends that might be necessary for some home repair or fixups in the home or garden. “We even do pickups!” Kristen exclaims.

Jade met her husband Nordio while volunteering with the Peace Crops in Timor-Leste, and together they moved to the United States in 2020, where they were living with Jade’s parents in Washington, Connecticut. Jade shares, “Nordio’s Green Card was taking a long time to be approved because of Covid, and we were living above my parents garage with our newborn son - needing to be close to my family for the support system and built-in childcare, so we could both work. We were doing everything we could to save money for a downpayment on a first home… but if it wasn’t for Habitat, we couldn’t get it done!” In January 2024, Housatonic Habitat was able to place the family in a neighborhood not far from Jade’s parents.

Erica Valentine-Brown was a single mother of two, working hard to make ends meet and living paycheck to paycheck in an expensive rental. Erica shares, “This home has given me and my family a sense of stability and security. We’ve been able to settle into our community and start building roots, which has been amazing for my kids. They’ve been able to make friends and participate in extracurricular activities, which has boosted their confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, owning a home has given me a sense of pride and accomplishment, which has been a game-changer for my mental health. I’ve also been able to start saving for college funds and other long-term goals. Overall, owning a Habitat home has helped me achieve my goal of providing a stable and secure environment for my family, and has given me a sense of pride and accomplishment that I never thought was possible.”

Synthia is a cancer survivor with 2 sons, who was stuck in a renting cycle after a divorce. Mounting medical bills set her back years in the timeline of being able to afford a forever home… but then Synthia came across some Habitat information while she was shopping for furniture at the ReStore. She’s now the proud owner of a Habitat home!

Photo: Michael Tomassi

Another of Housatonic Habitat’s major initiatives is the very popular

Aging in Place.

The purpose of this program is to help seniors age safely in their homes -by implementing small but effective changes to make the house functional based on unique needs and uses,” Kristen explains. “We recently helped a veteran in Danbury who’s only bathroom was just in terrible shape and actually unsafe given her physical condition, as the floor had rotted from water damage. Our volunteers re-did the bathroom making it safe and functional and actually made it look really nice too! Most of our critical home repairs are simple fixes like grab bars and raised toilets, and other things to prevent slipand-falls, but we have also worked with community partners on larger projects, like the Jesse Lee Church in Ridgefield, to install wheelchair ramps. This past spring we sent out a teams of volunteers to help with spring clean-ups on over 25 homes owned by seniors in our community - 9 of whom were Veterans. ” Housatonic Habitat provides our Aging in Place services at no cost to low income seniors and veterans in our community. However, the average cost of an Aging in Place project is around $1,500, and most are implemented by

skilled volunteers - with a plumber and electrician donating their time and expertise to the team. Some funding comes from ReStore profits, some from grants, and the rest from donations.

Some other Housatonic Habitat programs include Cars for Homes, a donation program for used cars that gets a nice big write-off for the donor and brings in a profit for Habitat, and a Green initiative that’s been recently kicked off, working in tandem with climate organizations to put solar panels and heat pumps in Habitat homes and homes of folks who need a bit more stabilization on their energy bills.

“We have a lot going on - and it’s a ton of work… but we help so many people every year!” Kristen smiles, “Right now Housatonic Habitat is working on a build on donated land in New Preston, where we are developing 8 free-standing homes on one street. We’ve already matched a few of the homes with perfect-fit homeowners, and are working through applications for remaining residences. One of the homes will be an ADA home, which we’re really excited about, and we’re looking for the perfect family with ADA requirements. …We couldn’t do any of this without volunteers, or support from the community.”

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Our talented, knowledgeable team offers a full range of services, including lighting design, landscape lighting, pool lighting, indoor lighting, artwork lighting, and generator installation and service.

BESPOKE BUILDER

Jason Drake doesn’t do ordinary. Just bespoke. He builds dreams. Whether it’s taking a new-build residence from start to move-in, or doing an interior renovation, Jason’s work is, quite simply, superior. And when it comes to executing on a client’s vision, he’s known for fulfilling fantasies.

PHOTOS: SERAP DERIRCANLI AND ANDREA CERASO

Jason’s family moved from Long Island to South Salem when he was in 9th Grade and Jason went to John Jay before heading off to Roanoke College. He started out as working as a laborer, then worked as a framer, and has been doing custom general contracting - and nothing but custom general contracting - for two decades now. He started Drake Builders six years ago, and as a measure of his professionalism and ability to deliver quality, a majority of Drake Builders’ work in Westchester and Fairfield Counties is performed as the selected general contractor for a few top architects and construction management firms, rather than for end-users. He lives in Bedford, with his wife Grace, who grew up in Ridgefield, and their three daughters, 6 year old Poppy, 4 year old Georgia, and 2 year old Roma.

“I love what I get to do for a living,”

Jason says, “...but if you want to know who I am, it’s the dad already totally involved in coaching his daughter’s Fox Lane Youth Lacrosse kindergarten team. I majored in Physical Education and Health and played on the Top20 Lacrosse Team at Roanoke…and getting to see my little girls get started in sports is just pure joy! I’m 52, and didn’t get married until I was 42, so everything about my family seems just that much more extra-special to me!”

Before moving to Bedford, Jason and Grace gut-renovated the house they had in South Salem, where Jason also served for five years as an EMT with the Lewisboro Ambulance Corp. “I was inspired by the way people responded in 9/11, and really wanted to do service in my community,” Jason explains. “I felt like if something happened to me or my family…well I would want a guy like me to show up! I’m a little OCD, when I say I’m going to get it done I get it done…and I don’t give up!”

“My mom was an interior decorator, and I think that kind of informs the way I go about working as a general contractor with my residential building clients - I’m working on making my client’s dream come true. That means the way the room or the house looks, and feels, and functions when the job is complete, not just putting in components to meet the specifications,” Jason describes. “I really love the process of working with my residential clients. When I’m done in a house, I like to boast about what a great job the client has done!”

Chad Weiss is Jason’s right-handman at Drake Builders.

He handles the company’s contracting, administration and marketing. He grew up in Bedford, and went to Fox Lane before going to University of Massachusetts for a degree in Communications. More recently, while working for Drake, Chad graduated from Pace Law School and is now admitted to the Bar of the State of New York. “I’m just the numbers guy - it’s Jason that makes the magic happen! He’s thrilled by a challenge, and we build some pretty insane things! He has hands-on quality control of every single detail on every job, every single day a job is in progress. And he treats every project as if it’s his only project.”

Drake turned this home’s original kitchen into an oversized pub room with custom wine wall refrigerators, John Yarema floors, a leather-clad bar, and bronze-clad fireplace...

and then turned the three car garage and two upstairs bedrooms into a giant lofted double-height kitchen, complete with double islands, wood beams and paneling, and bone inlay floors made from reclaimed French White Oak - laser cut to mimic peacock feathers. The kitchen won a HOBI award in 2014.

“We brought in over 45 slabs of marble from Opustone in Florida to outfit these three bathrooms. Then we worked with local fabricator, Precision Stone & Marble to do all of the book matching, and a backlighting company, GPI International to get everything exactly right - every piece of stone is different so you need experts that know what they’re doing on a job like this,” Jason shares.

The top-end architect/developer Rich Granoff, who is the CEO of Granoff Architects in Greenwich, Connecticut, which is one of Drake Builders’ biggest clients, says about Drake: “They’re not just quality builders, they’re quality guys. I’ve been working with Jason long enough that he’s built houses for me where we’ve now been called back together - more than a decade later, by new owners - to do additions or renovations…and built another house for the original owners! Jason only works with the best subcontractors and can accomplish as high a standard of finish as anyone around.”

“Plain and simple,” Jason says in his straightforward way, “I think my work speaks for itself!”

PHENOMENAL

... and where to find them! for the home

Throughout each of the carefully curated homes in our July/August HOMES issue, across a plethora of styles and design preferences, one constant is true: the most fabulous homes are complete with layered details that provide texture and color, evoke fond memories, and inspire conversation. Having all of those pieces come together to create a cohesive vibe is a talent, but maybe even more difficult is sourcing the perfect components in a way that is thoughtful and inspired, giving-off that ‘collected’ aesthetic. From the perfect handknit rug that ties everything together, to an interesting antique, a vase that provides the ideal pop of color, vintage lamps that give the room some oomph, or art that creates a necessary focal point… they are the items that bring a space from mundane functionality to a delightful respite. And it’s those phenomenal finds that simply can’t be found at mass market, that are the treasures we see at homes like the Bluhdorns and the Terners, that inspire us to look beyond!…

Modern Day Auctions1.

Modern Day Auctions takes estate sales to a whole new level! Started in 2010 by local Kelly Daniel, Modern Day Auctions & Estates has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the estate sale auction format with the launch of a new online auction platform, Modern Day Bids, in 2018 that serves as an amalgamator for premier auctions from a variety of sources, and shifts the paradigm of estate sales, allowing buyers from near and far to participate. Kelly also makes her warehouse at the SoNo Collection available for previews by appointment. Modern Day Auctions specializes in whole homes, but will also take small lots of really unique pieces or items by high-end designers. The online sales currently have some really fantastic outdoor furniture from designers like Kingsley Bait, Brown Jordan, and Gloster, and there are plenty of eyecatching decor items from Jonathan Adler and Simon Pearce, and original art and custom furniture coming too. Keep an eye out for a sale launching soon filled with Restoration Hardware finds!

The Clark 2.

The Clark is the new design store in Pound Ridge that’s filled with everything from hostess tchotchkes to high-end antiques, with items in every price range. The store is brimming with decorative items, art, and furniture - and is set to expand into the adjoining space this month.

The Clark’s Owner, Jared Clark, who’s been Senior Design Director at Ralph Lauren and VP of Creative for the Tommy Hilfiger Homes Collection, and a buyer in the Bergdorf Goodman homes collection, has been scouring antique stores in America and sourcing specialty items in Europe for decadesand always has one-of-a-kind pieces for sale. The Clark also offers upholstery and refinishing services, and Jared prides himself on upcycling older pieces with good bones, and breathing fresh life and a modern sensibility into furniture that can be enjoyed again, making shopping more sustainable and accessible for all customers.

Fairfield County Antique & Design Center 3.

Fairfield County Antique & Design Center is a longtime secret source for interior designers, set designers, stagers, and industry veterans in the tri-state area. It’s a multi-dealer center with more than 45 different ‘booths’ across over 16,000+ square feet of space. The market has all styles of furnishings, rugs, art, jewelry, vintage clothing, and accessories… so there’s something for everyone with inventory changing every day! The avid antique collector, the professional designer, and the weekend hobbyist alike can all take advantage of the aspirational decor at a value-focused pricepoint. Paintings and prints, heirloom furniture, Chinese ware, 19th Century French majolica, oversized poufs and upholstered ottomans, Italian glazed terracotta figurines, mid century lounge chairs, and shabby chic linens…can all be found on a fun jaunt or a serious mission. With so much to see, and so many phenomenal finds, it’s an easy place to spend a summer afternoon.

The Jill Rae Design Store 4.

The Jill Rae Design Store is the eponymous headquarters for Ridgefield Interior Designer Jill Rae, who specializes in luxury home builds, renovations, and staging. With staging especially, Jill and her team are constantly on the hunt for fabulous pieces that could compliment any color scheme, work across styles, and give the feeling of completing a room in a way that felt purposeful... and lucky are the sophisticated shoppers who seize the supply of her curated and desirable pieces, now available to shoppers as well as clients by popular demand!

5.

Backcountry Mercantile

Backcountry Mercantile celebrates and indulges the art of entertaining. Founder Amanda Gaudelet is the wife of a restaurateur and classically trained French Chef, so for her, an elegant table is a requirement. Amanda is always on the hunt for heirloom treasures, antiquing from Greenwich to Palm Beach to Paris, and assembling collections of glassware, cutlery, teacups, linens, and other hostingware. Backcountry Mercantile is particularly well known for custom designed maiolica from Deruta, Italy, and exceptional handpainted porcelain from Limoges, France. Backcountry Mercantile is based in Backcountry Greenwich, with a storeroom by appointment only and the majority of business happening online!

Blithewold Home6.

Blithewold Home, located in Mt Kisco, is an eclectic collection of antiques and home and garden furnishings. Most of the phenomenal finds come out of exceptional estate sales that Blithewold’s owner, Sandra Saiger, has been excavating for over 40 years. The shop is chock full of high end prizes like a Chinese porcelain toad censer, a Murano palm leaf chandelier, an antique Japanese apothecary folsom, and a bunch of 1930s Babar the elephant prints… and there’s always something new!

Cobble Court 7.

Cobble Court Interiors is the newly opened retail design store on South Avenue in New Canaan, that’s the extension of the renowned design firm of the same name, owned and run by Steven March and Rob Rizzo. With Ridgefield designer Stacy Schibli managing the new retail operation, Cobble Court is the perfect place to find expertly selected fabrics, wallpapers, and rugs, with the benefit of guidance from the Cobble Court team. The store also has great large-format wall art, and lots of the finishing touches that every well-loved home needs; cashmere throw blankets, velvet pillows, and deliciously scented candles.

The ReStore 8.

The ReStore in Danbury is last, but not least. We promised a mix of luxury and accessible… and this place is both! The ReStore is run by Housatonic Habitat for Humanity and powered completely by donation, so it garners furniture, finishings, decor, china, dishware, cabinetry, tools, appliances, and even the kitchen sink, from both typical and titanic homes around the region. Which means that there’s something for every shopper and every kind of home…and at a crazy good price! There’s even art and antiques. There will be a vintage and art sale happening on August 22, and then there’s a huge Christmas sale that takes place in November, and an outdoor furniture sale every spring. And, all of the proceeds go towards supporting a good cause!

Cobble Court Interiors, Inc is a

design firm & retail Studio Shop based in New Canaan, Connecticut. Our story began over 25 years ago in a charming old carriage house called “Cobble Court”. Today, our wonderful clients span far and wide, with residential and hospitality projects throughout the United States and Europe.

Our focus has always been simple; to create spaces for our clients that are as beautiful as they are functional; balancing creativity with practicality, while continually striving to exceed our client’s needs and expectations.

Come visit us at our retail Studio Shop or schedule your design consultation on-line at CobbleCourt.com.

The New

CUTTING BuxtonPreserveGorge

RIBBON

JULY 24, 2024 at 11.00 a.m. 160 Bedford Center Road to be followed by

LUNCHEON CEREMONY AT NOON

at the GlenArbor Golf Club 234 Bedford Center Road All Are Welcome!

After many years and the participation of many community partners, the Town of Bedford, under the leadership of Town Supervisor Ellen Calves, has completed the acquisition and assemblage of 86.55 acres of rich and diverse forest surrounding a spectacular natural gorge - located right in the middle of Bedford Hills. The new ‘Buxton Gorge Preserve’ will serve as one of the community’s environmental jewels - and it’s located adjacent to one of Bedford’s most densely-populated neighborhoods!

In 2000, an open space levy was approved via referendum by the Town of Bedford providing critical funding to support high priority open space acquisitions. The Town established an Open Space Acquisition Committee, which included founding members Sam Pryor, George Bianco, Oliver Hazzard, Rosemary Lee and Tina Foster, which began to develop a list of priority properties, evaluating ecological and natural resource protection value as well as passive recreational opportunities. According to former Chair of the Committee George Bianco, “While walking near the gorge at that time, the group happened upon a baby bear - a sighting that had not occurred in Bedford in many years.” Inspired by the sighting and the richness of the natural environment in the gorge and the property around it, the Committee put the property atop its priority list.

As it happened, W. Grant Gregory’s Lakeover Development Company had just acquired what was the old estate of Alexander Morse White, who had

been the co-founder of the prominent investment banking firm White Weld & Co. before his death in 1929. Gregory was developing what is now GlenArbor Golf Club on the part of the estate that lies East of Route 684 and immediately North of Bedford Center Road - but the gorge and the property around it are located on the part of the White Weld estate that lies West of Route 684 - and thus cut-off from use as a contiguous part of GlenArbor. Grant Gregory is a titan of industry who devotes what seems like more-than-full-time attention to his philanthropyand he is a noted Conservationist. He was Chairman of the Board at what is now known as Deloitte, and a founder of DoubleClick Inc, and serves on a list of prestigious corporate boards and advisory councils. And, relating to the environment, Gregory is an expert in ornithology and forestry, and notably serves as the Chairman Emeritus of the National Forest Foundation - which owns and manages more than 10% of all the land in America! - and is a Director Emeritus of the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation.

PHOTOS: ANDREA CERASO

“When you walk through the gorge you can hear dozens of different birds singing! The forest is primitive and untouched!”

THE BUXTON GORGE

Reminiscent of when the legendary environmentalist John Muir took President Theodore Roosevelt to see Yosemite on the camping trip that changed America - but on the local level - Sam Pryor took Grant Gregory for a walk to see the ‘Buxton Gorge’ and to reveal his and the Open Space Committee’s vision for Buxton’s preservation. Sam Pryor was a Partner at the prestigious law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, but it seemed his fulltime occupation was as a Conservationist, and particularly when it came to anything having to do with his beloved town of Bedford. Pryor served as the Chairman of the Westchester Land Trust and the Town of Bedford Open Space Acquisition Committee, and as a Director of the Land Trust Alliance, Scenic Hudson, New York Audubon, the National Forest Foundation, and the League of Conservation Voters, nationally and in New York State. He was well known for his key role in protecting and preserving important lands, including Sterling Forest and the Shawangunk Gateway Campground, and in his lifetime received the New York Governor’s Award for Parks and Preservation, the Land Trust Alliance’s President’s Award, and the Open Space Institute’s Conservation Award.

and numerous other trees, flora and fauna, spotted some Trout in the Broad Brook up near the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, and explained how the water was running through the gorge - and directly into the Croton water supply. When you walk through the gorge you can hear dozens of different birds singing! The forest is primitive and untouched! It’s a lifetime learning center for kids and adults - and Pryor had impressed

that the Town should own the classroom. From that point forward, I was committed to seeing the Buxton Gorge set aside for conservation, and started to work with the Town, our good neighbors at the Bedford Community Church, and all the other stakeholders, in an effort to achieve the vision of preserving the property for time immemorial.”

As Gregory now recalls, “When we acquired the property I really didn’t know the gorge was there, and certainly didn’t understand the importance of the land and the gorge as a natural resource…until Sam and I took our walk in the woods that day! He pointed out the ancient and rare grove of Hemlocks,

Gregory continues,

“This was a complicated project.

We donated a 5 acre parcel to get the Town vested in the project, and I called on Robert Griffin, who’s known as Grif, who’s one of the six Elders at the Bedford Community Church, to get the Church’s cooperation.”

The Bedford Community Church was started by seven families from Armonk and has been located on the West side of Buxton Road for 50 years. A part of the Christian Missionary Alliance, the Bedford Community Church’s particular bent is, as its name indicates, bringing the word of Jesus and life saving salvation to its community. The Church agreed to allow BRLA riders to park their trailers and walk their horses onto the Buxton Gorge trails, and for the Church’s lot to be available for any overflow from the lot the Town has constructed within the Buxton property. And in 2004, the Bedford Community Church granted a conservation easement to the Westchester Land Trust over 4 acres, on property adjacent to the property owned by Lakeover, for the purpose of providing a buffer to the Broad Brook and woodlands, and to provide the right to construct riding trails and a footpath over to the Lakeover property. In addition, the Church stands ready to formalize their agreement to allow the Town use of some of their facilities, including bathrooms and classrooms, in connection with activities at the Buxton Gorge Preserve. As Grif explains, “Cooperating with our neighbors and serving our community is fundamental to our mission, and working to make the Buxton Gorge a sanctuary for the community fits perfectly as a part of our work.”

Then, as a critical piece of the puzzle, the Bedford Riding Lanes Association agreed to maintain trails on the property at no cost to the Town. Bedford Riding Lanes Association’s President, Wendy Belzberg, states “The BRLA was proud to partner with the Town to makeand keep - the walking and riding trails available to the entire community.” With a deep interest in land conservation, Wendy now serves as co-chair of the Open Space Acquisition Committee, and is currently leading the charge to increase town funds for land acquisition.

The Open Space Acquisition Committee and the Bedford Town Board have accomplished the acquisition of the Tom Burke Preserve 7.5 acres in Bedford Hills, the Leatherman’s Ridge 33.95 acres in Bedford Hills, the Zema Farm 9.5 acres in Katonah, the Vernon Hills 3.3 acres in Bedford Hills, the Ridge Road 17 acres in Katonah, and the Twin Lakes 22 acres in Bedford.

THE BUXTON GORGE

With all that development and infrastructure accomplished, the first 56.5 acre parcel was conveyed to the Town under the leadership of Supervisor Chris Burdick in 2020, using open space acquisition funds to acquire the parcels around the gorge from Lakeover. Then, in 2022, Supervisor Calves and George Bianco began conversations with Gregory and real estate broker Dan Ginnel regarding the purchase of the remaining Lakeover parcels, and in 2024 the acquisition and transfer of 30 more acres was completed. In addition to expanding the overall scale of the Buxton Gorge Preserve, this particular parcel provided the linchpin to local community access insofar as this parcel connected the previous parcels directly to the adjoining neighborhoods, making all 86.55 acres available to the community by foot. Additionally, the acquisition of the new parcel will provide a small gravel parking area to enable parking for hikers.”

“It’s incredible to see the path and the progress that has been made through proactive use of legislative tools, committed community volunteers, and the patience to stay the course in pursuit of these parcels,” said George Bianco. Bianco added, “I would love to see a trail head with a conservation kiosk, and the establishment of a ‘Friends of Buxton Gorge’.”

Supervisor Calves declares, “We are thrilled to have finally completed the entire acquisition and to form the Buxton Gorge Preserve. The long-term benefits will serve thousands of Bedford residents for years to come. Our prioritizing targeted open space acquisitions underscores the value we place on the environment and adds to Bedford being an incredibly desirable town to live in.”

Calves continues, “We’re excited to now move into our community engagement phase. Recreation and Parks Superintendent Chris Soi, who is an outdoor education expert, has already had our Parks team develop a 1.25 mile trail that loops around the gorge. This moderate to easy trail is family-friendly and will provide observation opportunities to view the gorge, nature, and wildlife. My hope is to have generations of hikers, explorers, student field trips, horse trots, and outdoor field work available to every resident, of every background. I’m particularly pleased that the Buxton Gorge will be a natural resource in close proximity to one of our most densely populated communities.”

Calves entreats, “Buxton Gorge is Bedford’s backyard preserve. All are welcome and invited to use this treasured space. We’re excited about the Ribbon Cutting on July 24, 2024, as it will mark the historic importance of our Town making this material addition to our open space, and give us a moment to celebrate all the volunteers and community partners who have made this possible.”

Embrace The Joys Of Summer!

Sunny days, warm nights. Sizzling backyard barbecues. Cold beers on a hot afternoon. Gathering with loved ones for a meal outdoors. The Market can help make it all happen.

Start with grill-ready cuts of chicken, beef, pork or fresh seafood fillets to sear and serve. Complete your meals with the freshest local fruits and vegetables, and a sumptuous, just-baked dessert from our Bakery.

Stock your fridge from our wide selection of craft beers, locally-produced microbrews and sparkling hard seltzers.

Great summer food and fun start with a trip to The Market!

Your Gourmet Grocery Store & So Much More!

About Out &

A highlight of recent events in our community ACT OF CONNECTICUT ANNUAL GALA

RIDGEFIELD INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

GOO GOO DOLLS – 13TH ANNUAL SUMMER FUNDRAISER AT RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE

01. Riff Board Members Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell (left) & Pamme Jones (right) with filmmaker, Karen Thorsen (center) 02. Filmmaker, Brian Russell and wife Lisa 03. A.C.T. of CT Annual Season Announcement Gala - Gala Committee 04. Bryan Perri, Erin Craig, Daniel C. Levine, Katie Diamond, Sara Brians 05. Jared Shahid, Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls Guitarist), Shannon Krause, Michael Kaplan, Casey Kaplan, Sam Hollander, John Rzeznik (Lead Singer) 06. Ashley Paltauf, Jared Shahid, Allison Stockel

MATHER HOMESTEAD GARDEN TEA LUNCHEON

01. Tracey Riccardi, Tiffany Van Elslander, Jennifer Foster 02. Julie Genovese, Kesti Aysseh, Amy Benedict 03. Jenny Tarleton, Reedie Karl, Meredith Edwards, Stacey Smith 04. Sally Houlihan, Stephanie Kramer, Lauren Swenson, Jessica Merrill, Tasha Blair, Ania Janis 05. Maureen Chilton, Maeve McGovern, Julie Murphy, Lexie Maruszsewski, Michelle Mauboussin bottom row: Author Pieter Estersohn, Kathy Swanson, Sebele Stewart 06. Back row: Christa McNamara, Susan Marks, Jill McCammon, Jayme Stevenson, Sara Helsi Front Row: Lynn Villency Cohen, Lisa Washburn, Terrie Wood

About Out &

GRACE FARMS DINNER WITH A PURPOSE

01. Karen Kariuki, Sharon Prince (CEO and Founder, Grace Farms), Lauren Bush Lauren, David Lauren

02. Michael Lieberman, Haley Lieberman, Adam Zipkin, Becca Zipkin, Vani Birnbaum, and Seth Birnbaum

03. Kristiana Tarnuzzer, Robyn Arias, Julie Toal, Joan Kuhl, Kristin Hartofilis, Melissa Crandall, Dena Savage, Emily Candee 04. Lauren Matison, Emily Altman, Noelle Kenny, Sarah Kaplan, Emily Malagisi, Michelle Deane

05. Alice Courtright, Doni Ivanov, Jacqueline Basralian, Manju Curry, Jocelyn Kaoutzanis, Marilyn Jackson

La Maison Fête is a full-scale event planning and design company. From weddings, dinner parties, luncheons, birthdays and more, we make every gathering memorable. Visit our shop in Bedford to explore the world of entertaining through a curated collection of beautifully crafted home and fashion goods. Follow us on Instagram for news and upcoming store events @lamaisonfete

La Maison Fête

13 Court Rd, Bedford New York 914.234.8627 www.lamaisonfete.com

01. Martha Stewart and Casey Kaplan 02. Christina Munger, Christie and Bobby Tonnessen 03. Honorees Bob Perkins, Joni Evans and host Lesley Stahl, Photo Credits: Peter T Michaelis 04. Katie Boiano, Jon Ruti, Miles Thorson, Brett Klein, Kristina Boiano, Michael Kelly, Jett Thorson 05. Hon. Stephen G. Breyer and Hannelore Kaplan 06. Taylor Febus, Paul Viscontini, Chris Irwin, and Edmund Dee 07. Emily & Pen Fisher brave the river on the loop! 08. Casey Carter, Chair of the Katonah Chamber of Commerce, Kate Galligan, James McHugh Jr. - scholarship recipient, and Anne Hanley

Sutton foster owls rhiannon giddens richard goode, piano jazz festival sphinx virtuosi mark morris dance group

Matthew Whitaker

HORIZONS AT NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL GREATEST HITS BENEFIT

TATA HARPER - THE WIE SUITE AT GRAYBARNS COBBLE COURT OPENING

TYLER BOE SPRING EVENT FOR HORIZONS

01. Laura Saverin, Brian Williams, Lorna Smith, Monica Lamontagne, Macy Stockton, Daniel Hochbaum Front row seated: Jane Williams, Ken Saverin, Ray Lamontagne 02. The Casey Family: Sarah, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Hannah, Alec 03. Tata Harper, Dee Poku, Maya Faucher 04. Stacey Schibli, Sharon McCymonds 05. Heather Ryder, Dorothy Kostek, Robert Rizzo, Jessica Kenney, Lauren Cooke 06. (Photos by Sydney Sheehan Photography) Megan Schinella, Kristin Kennedy, Tyler Boe Drexler, Karol Boe, Diana Spier.

01. Holy Smokers: Jeff Lewis, Mark, Grzymski, David Kalal, Joe Hladick, Keith Roscoe, photo: Savannah Gonzalez

02. Spotted: Mariah Carey 03. Shelley Savoca, Carol Graham, David Graham, Ken Savoca, Dionna Carlson

04. Dan Spinner, Byrne Pozzi, Harris Falk, Liz Falk 05. John and Lisa Chambers, Hannelore and Casey Kaplan

06. Back Row Left to Right: Michael Karpilow, Lisa Nakamura, Yoko Araki, Kathy Edwards, Fiona Hallinan, Yuan Wang, Darwin Shen Front Row Left to Right: Elizabeth Drugge Hobbs, Rita Lapcevic, Sandra Shaw Murphy, Maureen Deboo, Madeleine Walker, Yuki Yamaguchi

01. Jayni and Chevy Chase, Molly Friedrich 02. Emily Fisher with event co-chairs: Sarah Douglis and Casey Kaplan

03. Lauren Bush Hager and event honoree, Murray Fisher 04. Rich Handler, Doug Jacob, Matt Teich

05. Emily Fisher, Warren and Steph Haynes 06. Libby Wildes, Willie Geist, Kevin Wildes, Christina Geist

01. Shannon Cohen. Gilian Klein. Sherri Owles. Kelli Szluka. Ellen Cohen Photo: Storey Owles 02. Lily Geiger Kast, Rachel Patino, Alex Padden, Kelley Kelly 03. Dennis Leary, Ann Leary, Lee Woodruff, Photo: Peter Michaelis 04. David Oliver Cohen, David Crescenzi, Ariel Flores, Kim Baranowski, Liz Rini, Jessica Crescenzi, Christi Andrews Cohen, Julie Cooper, Brett Cooper,

Photos: Rhonda Spevak 05. Alyzza Ozer (CEO), Grace Gerosa (BGCNW 2024 Youth of the Year and NYS Finalist), P. Daniel Hollis, III. Esq. (John Beach Award), Erika Pierce, Muffin Dowdle (Honoree) 06. Skip & Michaela Beitzel, Jamie Edgar, Kim & Ian Bickley, Robbie Morell, Judy Edgar

About Out &

JOHN JAY HOMESTEAD ON THE FARM DINNER - KATONAH

01. Payson Murray, Beth Crowell, Bryce O’Brien, Jen Meyers, Samantha O’Brien 02. Jennifer Indig, Christy Cohen, Jessica Crescenzi, Emily Fisher, Ariel Flores 03. Tim Evnin, Dan Ryan, Char Ryan, Gerardo Mendez, Rod Christie 04. Murray Fisher and Jayni Chase 05. Wendy Belzberg, Casey Kaplan, John Needham 06. Gucci Westman, Shelton Smith, Sara Hamblet, Kathryn Fay, Dorothy Lanier, Keelin McCormack 07. Dave Schwartz, Miles Cameron, Harry Grand 08. Jared Clark, Shay Gipson, Hazel Jane Lyons, Sandra, Kristin Noel Raniola

JJ On the Farm Photos: Rhonda Spevak

MRG Wingding Photos: JENNIFER MULLOWNEY

About Out &

COFFEE & CARS

01. Clinton and Michael Kelly, Kristina Boiano, Casey Kaplan, Katie Boiano, Jon Ruti 02. Dicky Riegel and Brian Beni

03. Chris Bishop, Nat Mundy, Liam Bishop 04. Event organizers: Casey Kaplan, Jordan Vogel, Nicola and James Stephenson

05. Sarah and Hudson Bergin, Jess, Judah and Bear Heckerling, Elizabeth Fortune 06. Juliana Oliaro, Lisa Beels, Suzane Nastasi

07. Sophia Germano and Brooks Harrington ready to compete! 08. Paige DeLeo, Shari Soward, Juliette Faust, Michelle St. John, Robin Kozak 09. Dave Feureisen, Caroline Tobey, Cindy Feureisen, Lindsey Tobey, Marilyn Tremblay, Rhys Moore

July 29 @ 6pm 24TH ANNUAL FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

99 Elmwood Rd, South Salem

June 29 @ 4pm FIREWORKS CELEBRATION

Town Park Fields, Pound Ridge

July 4 @ 8pm POPS, PATRIOTS, & FIREWORKS

Caramoor Center, Katonah

July 6 @ 5pm FAMILY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION

Waveny Park, New Canaan

July 6 @ 6pm RIDGEFIELD ANNUAL FAMILY FIREWORKS

Ridgefield Highschool, Ridgefield

July 12 @ 6:30pm DARIEN’S JULY FIREWORKS

Darien High School, Darien

June 30 - July 14th

NEW CANAAN LAND TRUST: PEAK SEASON

FIREFLY VIEWING

New Canaan Land Trust

JULY

July 1 @ 7-9am SAWMILL RIVER

AUDUBON BIRD WALK

Muscoot Farm, Katonah

July 2 @ 6-9pm MUSICAL APPETIZERS 2024

Wolf Conservation Center

July 6 @7:30-9:30pm CONCERT ON THE LAWN KIKI VALERA Y SU SON CUBANO

Caramoor, Katonah

July 10, 17, 24, 31

August 7, 14, 21, 28 @ 7:30-9:30pm WAVENY FREE CONCERT SERIES

Waveny, New Canaan

July 11 - August 29 SOUNDS OF SUMMER SERIES

Jacob Burns Film Center

July 11,12 & 13 DARIEN SIDEWALK SALE

Darien

July 12 @ 7-9pm ‘WINE DIVINE’ WITH SOMMELIER JILLIAN FONTANA

Lounsbury House, Ridgefield

July 13 @ 8pm PAULA POUNDSTONE - COMEDY NIGHT

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

July 13 @ 4-6pm NEW EXHIBIT OPENING

At Yellow Studio in Cross River

July 13 @ 8-10pm THE MANHATTAN PROJECT’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Carriage Barn Arts Center, New Canaan

July 13, 2024

PLEASANTVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Summit Music Institute, Pleasantville

July 14 @ 12-1pm ARTISTS IN CONVERSATION: JONATHAN BECKER AND MARK HOLBORN

Katonah Museum of Art, 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!

July 14 @ 5pm MUSIC AT THE MANSION: RSO STEEL DRUM TRIO

Lounsbury House, Ridgefield

July 16 @10am BREAKFAST CLUB

At Yellow Studio in Cross River

July 18 @ 6-7pm ARTIST TALK: ELIZABETH ENGLANDER AND EDUARDO ANDRES ALFONSO

Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield

July 18 @ 7-9pm CONCERT ON THE LAWN MUSIC AND LIFE OF HARRY BELAFONTE IN COLLABORATION WITH JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER. Caramoor, Katonah

July 18 @ 8pm AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

July 18 @ 6:30-8pm EVENING HOWL FOR ADULTS ONLY

Wolf Conservation Center

July 19 @ 6pm LHA SUMMER

SOCIAL AND BBQ

Echo Farm, Lewisboro

July 19 @ 5-9pm POUND RIDGE FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS

Scotts Corner, Pound Ridge

July 19 & 20

NEW CANAAN SIDEWALK SALE

New Canaan

July 20

FREE SATURDAY AT THE ALDRICH MUSEUM

Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield

July 20 @ 8pm

JIM MESSINA

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

July 24 @ 12:55pm METROPOLITAN

OPERA ENCORE IN HD LA BOHEME (PUCCINI)

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

July 24

BUXTON PRESERVE RIBON CUTTING AND OPENING

Bedford

July 26 @ 6pm-9pm THE BOB BUTTON BIG BAND: DARIEN SUMMER SERIES

Tilley Pond Park, Darien

July 27 @ 12-3pm JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER HEADLINER: MATTHEW WHITAKER

Caramoor, Katonah

July 27 @ 10am-3pm 2024 SUMMERFEST

Lounsbury House, Ridgefield

July 27 @ 7-9pm FAMILY NIGHTTIME EXPLORATION

Mianus River Gorge, Bedford

July 27 @ 1pm 8TH ANNUAL BERNIE WILLIAMS DAY

JULY 27 @ 1PM

July 28 @ 8am-4pm WELLNESS FOR CANCER AT BA SKIN LAB

BA Skin Lab, New Canaan

July 28 @ 5-9pm SUMMER SUNDAYS IN POUND RIDGE

Scotts Corner, Pound Ridge

AUGUST

Aug 1 @ 6-8pm SUMMER SOCIAL

Yellow Studio, Cross River

Aug 1 @ 6-9pm THE DOO DAH’S: DARIEN SUMMER SERIES

Tilley Pond Park, Darien

Aug 3 @ 7:30-9:30pm RHIANNON GIDDENS

Caramoor, Katonah

Aug 3 @ 8pm KING BACH - COMEDY

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

August 5-9

MATHER KIDS: WRITERS WORKSHOP

Mather Homestead, Darien

Aug 6 @ 7:30pm THE CONCERTA TRIBUTE TO ABBA

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

August 8 - September 1 BROADWAY BOUND THEATRE FESTIVAL

The Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park, New Canaan

Aug 11 @ 5pm BROADWAY IN BEDFORD: WEST END HITS

Bedford Playhouse, Beford

Aug 11 @ 3-4pm CHEF’S PALATE | CRAFTING TEA-BASED MOCKTAILS

Grace Farms, New Canaan

Aug 14 @ 12.55pm METROPOLITAN OPERA ENCORE IN HD PORGY AND BESS (GERSHWIN)

Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

Aug 16 @ 6-9pm DIGGITY: DARIEN SUMMER SERIES

Tilley Pond Park, Darien

Aug 17 @ 10:30am-12pm MOVE WITH GRACE FARMS X LULULEMON | BARRE WITH DANIELLE AVIEZER

Grace Farms, New Canaan

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!

Aug 21 @ 7-8pm

SUMMER MUSIC SERIES WITH GIL HAREL: “THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA,” INSIDE THE STORY OF ONE OF BROADWAY’S MOST ENDURING SHOWS

Darien Library, Darien

Aug 17 @ 11-12pm GARDEN WORKSHOP | GARDEN HARVEST FOR DONATION

Grace Farms, New Canaan

Aug 23 @ 5-9pm POUND RIDGE FOOD

TRUCK FRIDAYS

Scotts Corner, Pound Ridge

Aug 25 @ 5-9pm SUMMER SUNDAYS IN POUND RIDGE

Scotts Corner, Pound Ridge

August 31 - Sept 1 1-TWO DAY

REGIONAL/LEVEL 1

Old Salem Farm, North Salem

SAVE THE DATE: BEDFORD COFFEE & CARS SEPTEMBER 15, 8:30am

FARMERS MARKETS

Wednesdays @ 11-3pm GOODWIVES SHOPPING CENTER

Darien

Saturdays @ 10-2pm LUMBER YARD LOT

New Canaan

Every other Saturday @ 10-2pm JESSE LEE GREENS

Ridgefield

Saturdays @ 8:30-1pm 10 MEMORIAL PLAZA

Pleasantville

2nd Saturdays @ 9-2pm BACK STREET, CROTON FALLS

North Salem

Friday, Saturday, Sunday POUND RIDGE ORGANICS

Pound Ridge

Saturdays @ 9-1pm GOSSETT’S FARMERS MARKET

South Salem

Sundays @ 11-3pm MT KISCO TRAIN STATION

Mt Kisco

Wednesday - Sunday @ 9-5pm ROCHAMBEAU FARM

Bedford

Sundays @ 9:30-2:30pm MUSCOOT FARM

Katonah

Saturday @ 9-2pm JOHN JAY HOMESTEAD

Katonah

NEXT LEVEL - NEXT DOOR

NEW CANAAN FOREIGN CAR

Foreign Car apart. It may sound like a platitude, but at this local auto repair shop…it’s the reality.

NCFC’s slogan is ‘The Best Care for The Best Cars!’, and their mission is to ‘Provide the best possible service to the community every day!’ And as proof of performance, NCFC received the CARFAX Top-Rated Service Center Award in 2022 and 2023!

the best of the best car repair shops in the nation. For many years, NCFC has been affiliated with a national company called DRIVE, which provides independent car repair shops with invaluable business coaching, training workshops, and a comprehensive suite of software apps that help repair shops operate like sophisticated data-driven corporations. All policies and procedures are written and continually improved to provide standardized training to all employees. After much hard work implementing best practices, New Canaan Foreign Car is top-ranked among the hundreds of DRIVE affiliates, having achieved their Master Elite award.

NCFC is owned by Mark and Lucia Bagg. Mark is a Connecticut gentleman farmer and former stock broker. “In high school, I started out doing the most menial tasks at a Toyota dealer and eventually learned the automotive business. In college I got a business degree while working part time at a dealer. I bought New Canaan Foreign Car in 1990 from the original owner, a master mechanic from Germany named Guenter, who started NCFC in 1964. Guenter was willing to sell me the business because he was a good friend of my dad, and my dad bravely re-mortgaged his house so I could buy NCFC,” Mark explains NCFC’s history. “I have to say, with no personal experience owning an automobile repair business, there was a steep learning curve. I met Lucia in 1992 and she helped organize the finance department. We really struggled until we joined DRIVE in 1998.”

“Over the past year, we built a new corporate structure to improve operations,” Mark continues. “Mark Goncalves was promoted to General Manager, and he has really stepped up in a big way. Candice Slatt was promoted to Service Manager, and she now manages the 2 Service Advisers and the parts department. Most recently, lead technician Frank McCarty was promoted to Shop Foreman to lead the technicians in the production department. Now I feel like we’re firing on all cylinders! I come into the shop a few times a week, but really just to give moral support.

We are grateful for the support of our customers, family, and employees, who have allowed us to stay in business for the past 33 years.”

New Canaan Foreign Car

has five expert technicians diligently working the five service bays, and the team is led by Master Technician and Shop Foreman, Frank McCarty, who oversees all work done in the shop and all quality control. Frank says proudly, “We don’t just stand behind our work, we treat every car like we’re the client driving it out of the shop. We understand how critical it is that every part of the work we do is done right, and we know we have to earn our customers’ trust and confidence with everything we do. When we do a service, a repair, or a customization, it’s got my personal seal of approval. We’ve earned our reputation being responsive to our clients and staying focused on providing best-inclass service - one car at a time.”

And because real customer service and satisfaction involves even more than getting a repair job done right, NCFC has two Service Advisors, Dylan Kalin and Catherine Cimbalo, who do an excellent job of communicating the problem and the scope of the work required, and keeping clients aware of the progress if it’s a multiday repair. As Dylan says, “No surprises! We let you know exactly what needs to be done to your car and what it will cost, and we advise you of any items that could use attention. And then I’m in touch so the client never has to wonder. I’m like a concierge for your car repair! We even offer pick-up and drop-off to the client’s home!”

“We

specialize in European cars,

yet work on every kind of car, foreign and domestic - despite our name,” Bagg explains. “We have the latest equipment so that we are able to diagnose and repair cars with the newest technology, including hybrid and electric cars. Oftentimes, we are able to repair cars that dealers and other repair shops cannot. For antique and classic cars, we have the necessary rare expertise. Very few dealers or repair shops are willing to take on old cars. Technicians at the dealerships just don’t know how to repair parts like carburetors that are not used in new cars. We take the time to find hard-to-source parts through our extensive global network of suppliers.”

Bagg continues, “We don’t do total restorations, but we repair antiques so they can be driven safely and reliably. We do all kinds of customization on classics and antiques. We’re the go-to shop if you want to put air conditioning or GPS or touchscreen technology into your ‘48 Chevy Pickup or your ‘58 Benz. We’ll spend the time that’s necessary to study an old wiring diagram and get the Lucas electronics repaired in your British sports car.”

“We also buy and sell cars.” says Phil Brous, Sales Manager, who runs this arm of NCFC. “We are very much unlike most other used car dealers, where the buyer must take a risk. At New Canaan Foreign Car, we won’t sell a car until we’ve thoroughly inspected it and either repaired any problem or at least made the buyer aware. We specialize in European cars, but we take on American cars as well, and have done quite a few Jeeps lately.”

“It’s all about customer service and satisfaction,”

Mark Bagg declares. “We go far and beyond to make sure each person who brings us their car is going to be happy and safe. We achieve this by providing the best friendly customer service and by doing only top-quality work. Honest work at a fair price - with peace of mind in the service performed. It’s how we’ve been successful in New Canaan all these years, and it’s the standard we honor every day. I’m really proud of the work we do, and the way we run New Canaan Foreign Car!”

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