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HARMONIOUS LIVING
BEDFORD VILLAGE | OFFERED AT $2,750,000 Wonderful, classic 4-bedroom family house sits nestled on 6.9 gorgeous, open acres on a great country road - a prime location just minutes to the village and transportation. Graciously-proportioned rooms with great family space that takes full advantage of views of the outdoors. Take the nearby BRLA trails down to the Beaver Dam River and walk for miles. Sparkling heated pool, 3-stall Barn, fenced paddocks and detached 2-car garage. Enjoy Bedford at its best!
634 OLD POST ROAD | BEDFORD, NY 10506 www.renwickrealestateny.com
Live the Celebrated St. Regis Lifestyle in Westchester
INDOOR POOL
The St. Regis Residences, Rye presents 25,000 square feet of modern amenities, coupled with uncompromising and bespoke services that only St. Regis can offer. Embrace the opportunity to own this unprecedented lifestyle for those 55 and better today.
Occupancy Late 2020 Sales Gallery Open for In-Person Presentations NOW LOCATED AT 38 PURCHASE STREET, RYE, NY
To arrange your private appointment, please call +1 914 305 1882 or visit srresidencesrye.com Virtual Presentations Also Available 120 OLD POST ROAD, RYE NY Financing by
PER LOCAL ZONING REGULATIONS, ONE RESIDENT PER CONDOMINIUM MUST BE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OF AGE, AND NO RESIDENT MAY BE UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
The St. Regis Residences, Rye are not owned, developed or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Marriott”). OPRA III, LLC uses the St. Regis marks under a license from Marriott, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein. All of the services, amenities, benefits and discounts made available to residential owners at The St. Regis Residences, Rye are as currently scheduled and are subject to change, replacement, modification or discontinuance. Fees may apply. The complete offering terms are in an Offering Plan available from Sponsor File No. CD18-0365. Additional details are available in the Offering Plan. All artist renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change without notification.
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Casey Kaplan, President 6
BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN
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A NOTE
FROM O U R PUBL IS HER
ALWAYS LOCAL. ALWAYS POSITIVE.
That’s what made Bedford Magazine a must read and a coffee table staple for the last 16 years, for families in Armonk, Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, Lewisboro, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Waccabuc. As a writer for the magazine over the last three years, I was often recognized by people I didn’t know, who would tell me how much they liked the biographic features I was doing, confirming the magazine’s dedicated readership. So, despite Covid, in May, I jumped at the chance to purchase the venerable publication. I have print publishing experience, and I convinced my daughter, Casey, who adds digital and social media expertise, to leave her position at a large tech company to be the magazine’s President. Casey is a Tulane Business School grad, and is the top Instagram food influencer in New Orleans @nolagourmand. Relaunching as Bedford & New Canaan Magazine, we’ve more than doubled the direct mail distribution in our New York towns (now including 100% of Armonk as an example) and expanded our reach to include New Canaan. Being residents of Pound Ridge for 20+ years, we understand that the State border does not divide our community, and that folks from New York eat and shop in New Canaan, and visa versa. We’ve also — as we hope you’ve already noticed — more than doubled the number of pages, increased paper and cover weight and print and ink quality, and re-designed the look and feel of the magazine. Our mission will remain the same…Always local…Always positive. We aim to keep the coveted spot on your coffee table, and hope to even increase the hour-plus each of you enjoys reading each issue. And we’ve launched bedfordnewcanaanmag.com and @bedfordnewcanaanmag to supplement the print publication and provide you with updates, highlights and bonus content and a connection to our media partners network. We’re a luxury lifestyle publication. We will get you in to the most spectacular homes in our area. We will introduce you to our famous and notable neighbors. We will highlight the careers, charity and achievements of our residents. We will feature wholesome activities and all things ‘green’ going on in our community. We will focus on your passions, whether they be in decorating, gardening, fashion, or as equestrians, golfers, hikers, bikers, skiers, or in other pursuits. And we will explore the places where you travel, vacation and spend your weekends and summers. PEASE ENJOY THE READ, AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE AND INSTAGRAM.
Truly yours,
MICHAEL KAPLAN
Publisher
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E DITO RS
We’ve partnered with influential experts to identify and curate our local content
Homes Editor is an artist, entrepreneur, and seasoned interior design blogger, who loves to provide her readers with up-to-date home decor and fashion advice. She is a former Pound Ridger and a long-term New Canaanite. Founded in 2009, The Zhush (thezhush.com and @Zhush) now attracts thousands of daily readers eager for updates and inspiration on interior design, fashion, beauty, art, and so much more.
SUE DE CHIARA
Green Editor is a sustainability advocate with several facets. She became Bedford 2030 Board President in June after five years as Treasurer. She is also CEO of TBM Designs, LLC (whose patented InVert™ self-shading window system saves energy). Karen is a former managing director of BlackRock, having been president of their mutual fund division. She is an avid beekeeper, living in Katonah with her husband, actor, Bruce Sabath. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law.
KAREN SABATH
Fashion Editor has had a long and successful career reporting on style. She started as a fashion writer at Vogue and Italian Vogue, was Art Editor for ELLE, served as Deputy Editor at the Sunday Times Magazine UK, and most recently, has been Editor-at-Large and Chief Copywriter at Marie Claire. She lives in Bedford with her husband and son, is a contributor to The Record Review, and serves on the Board of Trustees for the John Jay Homestead.
JOYCE CORRIGAN
Legal Editor is a 25+ year resident of New Canaan, where he lives with his wife and daughter, and runs The Matthew Maddox Law Firm, LLC and The Connecticut Auto Accident Law Group. He has been a Connecticut trial lawyer for 30 years and is passionate about volunteering his time in substance abuse prevention, and joyfully helps adolescents and their families learn about healthy routines and living. MATTHEW MADDOX
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TH E PAXTON COLLECTION
©2020 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Franchises independently owned and operated.
Flawless functionality. Superior craftsmanship. Exclusive design.
From simple to intricate designs, California Closets systems are custom designed specifically for you and the way you live. Call or visit us online today to arrange for a complimentary virtual design consultation.
californiaclosets.com WESTCHESTER 16 Saw Mill River Rd, Hawthorne 914.592.1001 SHELTON 7 Progress Dr, Shelton 203.924.8444
E DITO RS Music Editor DREW BORDEAUX was a COO of a business planning and analytics firm prior to focusing full-time on creative pursuits. Drew is a musician, who plays 8 instruments, including guitar and violin, and performs over 100 shows per year. Drew is a photographer, recently featured in Vogue, and a writer, with pop culture articles appearing in Sports Illustrated, College Humor, and Maxim. Drew is a Fox Lane and Harvard graduate, and lives locally with his wife, Tammy.
Floral Editor is the founder of flowerpowerdaily.com, the first daily floral news site. Jill has been Editor-in-Chief of Avenue, Travel Savvy and Show Circuit magazines, a CNN correspondent, and a Post columnist. She is the author of “Don’t Let Death Ruin Your Life” and “The Need to Say No” as well as the play “What’s Eating You?”. She and her husband, Gary, and son, Parker, have a flower and vegetable farm in Bedford.
JILL BROOKE
Buy Local!
Clockwise from top left: Antonio Jacobsen (1850–1921), The Yacht Race, 1874. Oil on board, 9 ½ x 14 ¼ in. (detail) Charles Courtney Curran (1861–1942), An Afternoon Respite, 1894. Oil on canvas, 9 x 12 in. (detail) Thomas W. Marshall (1850–1874), Hudson River Near Hastings, 1872. Oil on canvas, 18 x 36 in. (detail) Hermann Dudley Murphy (1867–1945), Iris, 1929. Oil on canvas, 30 x 25 in. (detail)
We are Westchester and Fairfield County’s source for fine American Art of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Open every day by appointment.
Godel &Co., Inc. 26 Village Green, Suite 2, Bedford, NY 10506 914-205-3695 www.godelfineart.com
AUTH ORS
CAROLINE MCCOWN 26, is a Management Consultant based in Philadelphia. She graduated with honors from Johns Hopkins University and The Hotchkiss School. Prior to that, she attended St. Luke’s, Pound Ridge Elementary, and Pound Ridge Montessori. Her roots go deep into the Bedford/New Canaan community.
is retired from a 30+ year career in compensation consulting, including as a Managing Director of Towers Watson, and of MGMC, and as COO of McLagan Partners. He’s completed a masters in military history and written about Native Americans in the French and Indian War. Mike has long served ABC of New Canaan, having been its President from 2013 to 2016, and has served as a Trustee of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and Regis High School in Manhattan.
was raised in Pound Ridge, attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Somers, then went to Yale. The Major League Baseball Detroit Tigers drafted Griffin to play first base in the 23rd round of the 2019 draft. An injury and Covid have Griffin waiting to restart the dream.
ROB LABRITZ is Director of Golf at the GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills. Rob’s been a pro since 1991, and a member of the PGA of America since 1999. He lives in Pound Ridge with his wife Kerry, son Matthias, and daughter Ryan. Rob’s wife is expecting their third child in January 2021.
MIKE CURRAN
is a Communications Consultant. She is a former Director of Public Affairs for a Fortune 500 corporation and the recipient of several awards for excellence in communication. She has served on the Boards of the Pound Ridge Library and St. Luke’s School.
KATHLEEN MCCOWN
GRIFFIN DEY
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MEGAN SCHINELLA is the founder of Camp by MaMa, a creative motherhood blog with a substantial Instagram following @campbymama. She married her college sweetheart, Joseph, worked in the fashion industry with Camuto Group and Nine West Group, and is now a stayat-home mother of three (Ava, age 10, Gianna, age 7, and Nico, age 3), living in New Canaan.
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CONTE N TS
19 The New Hamptons B&NC Mag reports on the wave of summer rentals, home buying, and home and garden improvement.
36 Home Sweet Home A mother-daughter duo write about about being home - in Pound Ridge - for Covid.
54 Grace Farms Fights COVID-19 (Cover Story) In response to the pandemic Grace Farms sprung into action and has delivered 2M pieces of PPE to local area hospitals and provided meals for over 20,000 people.
67 Cross-Border Buds B&NC Mag interviews our two Congressmen, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY 18) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT 4).
77 Major League Locals Pound Ridge local, drafted by the Detroit Tigers, waits at home during Covid to re-start the dream. He writes about his experience and how 3 other local baseball stars are handling the pandemic.
99 @ The 2020 PGA Championship GlenArbor golf pro and 2-time PGA Championship club pro winner diaries his trip to compete in the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco in August. Bedford & New Canaan Magazine is published by Chancellor Livingston LLC. © All Rights Reserved. 14
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Virtual Visits mean there’s a doctor wherever you are Get the care you need virtually anywhere Your place. Your time. Your peace of mind. Connecting to a primary care, urgent care or specialty doctor or clinician has never been easier. Whether you have allergies, cold/flu symptoms or need a follow-up appointment, Virtual Visits are a convenient way to get the care you need, wherever you are. It’s just one more way we’re here for you. New and existing patients can start at
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Health Quest Medical Practice | The Heart Center | Western Connecticut Medical Group
SEPT/OC T CO N TEN TS 48 A COVID Hero
85 Camp By Mama
Mosolino Builders sponsors our Covid Hero, Debbie Matarazzo, and our other Covid Heroes on the B&NC Mag blog: bedfordnewcanaanmag.com and @bedfordnewcanaanmag
A New Canaan mommy blogger gives tips on fun Fall activities for the kids.
92 Artsy Sounds B&NC Mag’s Music Editor checks out the new sound art installation, “In C”, by Trimpin, at Caramoor.
88 Planting In the Pandemic
64 Going Green(er) Bedford 2030’s new Board President provides an update on the big things happening at what is now known as Bedford 2030 (previously Bedford 2020).
Our B&NC Mag Floral Editor reports on the surge in gardening interest and gives some planting tips.
DESIG N T E A M
Art Director MAY PARSEY is the new Art Director for Bedford & New Canaan Magazine and http://bedfordnewcanaanmag.com. She graduated from Pratt Institute, and has experience designing print and online media, including as the Art Director for a 4.8M circulation magazine. May posts highlights on her work on her Instagram @maymayparsey.
CTO JACK MCCOWN is a Sr. Software Engineer for a fintech company based in Manhattan. He graduated from the coding bootcamp App Academy, Colgate University, and Hotchkiss School. Jack grew up in Pound Ridge, attended Pound Ridge Elementary School and St. Luke’s. He enjoys coming up to Pound Ridge to see family and friends, and to give his city dog, Taz, time to run in the country.
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CONNECTING THE MOST INTERESTING BUYERS WITH TRULY EXCEPTIONAL PROPERTIES FOR OVER 70 YEARS.
000 BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN FOLLOW THE ACTION @GINNELREALESTATE
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A REPORT ON THE WAVE OF SUMMER RENTALS,HOME BUYING, AND HOME AND GARDEN IMPROVEMENT
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888 Old Post Road Bedford, NY, Ginnel:Frank Geiger Rented for $50k/month and now back on the market, see page 28!
FUELED BY an ever-increasing wealthy population in Manhattan and relatively low interest rates, the real estate market in the Hamptons has been on fire for the last forty years. The days of the summer sharehouse have mostly passed, and in the last two decades summer rentals have gone for more a month than houses cost to purchase in other parts of the country. Lots with water views or on the beach sell for tens of millions. Although the 2008 recession slowed things down for a year or two, hedge funders have continued to drive prices through the roof over the last decade. Now, Bedford and New Canaan are the new Hamptons! The extremely high cost of housing and education in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the relatively low and stagnant price of houses in leafy suburbs, started a demographic shift which has been catapulted by Covid. Families are fleeing the City for safer environs. Some looking for summer rentals, thinking it would be safe to return to New York in the Fall and that schools would be operational. More looking for a permanent change, whether seeking a weekend and summer retreat or a full-time residence and living solution.
agents looking for rentals to start ASAP and last ‘at least until the end of the Summer’. Some summer rental business has always been a thing, as local residents earned some money on houses left behind while summering elsewhere. But with Covid, 2020 was wholly different. One critical requirement...does it have a pool? While most in the U.S. have been singularly occupied with Covid, the Town of New Canaan Building Department reports that pool building permits are up by a third. The new Hamptons summer renter has Slim Aarons on the mind. And, because the traditional walk-through had all sorts of Covid complications, about half the renters at the start, and almost all the desperate ones in mid-May as all available supply was exhausted, were willing to rent based only on an online tour and no physical visit to the property. But, most impressive, rental prices for a nice family home with air conditioning, a yard and a pool, seemed to start at a new floor of about $25,000 or $30,000 per month. Bidding on choice rentals was Hamptonesque in terms of bidding increments and speed of closing. A rental offered in Pound Ridge at $30,000 per month for the Summer received an offer of $40,000 per month for as long as 8 months. An out-of-state owner of a $6M+ house on Lukes Wood in New Canaan rented to a just-before-Covid tenant for $30,000 a month, only to receive an offer from a too-late bidder of $50,000 per month 21 days later.
FIRST CAME THE WAVE OF SUMMER RENT-
ERS. In full swing by mid-March, Manhattan and Brooklynites were calling local
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888 Old Post Road
the new hamptons
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2020 SUMMER RENTALS
1. 295 Crow Hill
MT KISCO, NY GINNEL: MUFFIN DOWDLE • Renovated 1931 5-bedroom Tudor with a pool
2. 55 St Johns Place NEW CANAAN, CT HANNELORE & CO.
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• 6-bedroom, 5,000+ sq ft, with a pool • Rented for $25,000/month for 7 mos. • Back on market for sale December 2020
3. Tanrackin Farm 270 GUARD HILL ROAD, BEDFORD, NY GINNEL: MUFFIN DOWDLE Rented for almost $40,000 a month… a steal given the offering: • 50 acres (on 4 separate lots), 12,000 sq ft, 6 beds, 6 baths, 2 half baths. • Includes a 30 stall equestrian facility and direct access to the BRLA trails
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THE TIME IS RIGHT Vintage Patek Philippe timepieces have never been in such high demand. Do you have a Patek Philippe to sell or are you in the market to buy one? Speak to the experts at Collectability: John Reardon
Tania Edwards
john@collectability.com
tania@collectability.com
w w w. c o l l e c t a b i l i t y. c o m 22
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Sold! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME, IT’S A SELLER’S MARKET!
There’s been a dramatic increase in the number of sales and the median prices of houses sold and, by Summer, the pre-existing glut in long-time-on-market supply was absorbed. In early August, a top Armonk agent was ‘shouting out’ on her Instagram about having 5 buyers between $800,000 and $2.4M and no listings to show, posting “Need Inventory!”. The mood in the market has shifted. Even if a relatively small percentage of wealthy Manhattanites has now determined that a single family house, with separation from neighbors, and rooms to work-fromhome, and some property, and a private pool, etc., seems all-of-a-sudden more attractive than their city dwelling, that’s more than enough families on the demand side of the curve to overwhelm the supply in our area. Armonk has about 1,500 houses, Katonah 650, Waccabuc only 350, and Bedford and New Canaan have only about 13,000 combined. 45 Ogden Road in New Canaan, went to contract in less than a week, and closed in July, only 36 days from listing. This resort-like 2 acre property, 6 bedroom house, with a pool and spa, went to a NYC all-cash buyer looking for a Covid-retreat and weekend home, for $2.7M. In what may be an extreme example of Covid-crazed and virus-impacted buying, but one which is no longer unheard of, 45 Heather Drive in New Canaan, sold in August for $2.12M, to a buyer who had only toured the house virtually! In New Canaan, there were 79 sales in June/July 2020, compared with 28 in June/July 2019. There were 10 sales at $3M+ in March through July 2020, and only 3 in the same period in 2019. The median sale price at the end of July 2020 was $1,730,000, up more than 20% over a year before. And, at the end of July 2020, there were 25% fewer houses on the market than at the same time in 2019. At the end of July 2020, the median price in Armonk is up almost 40%, and the inventory is down 35%, over 2019! Bedford’s median price is up almost 20% and inventory is down 36%! Katonah’s inventory is down 40%. In North Salem and in Pound Ridge, there were more than twice as many sales in July 2020 as in July 2019. For the first time in a while, there are a half-dozen sales pending in the Bedford area at or above $3M.
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45 Ogden Road, New Canaan, CT Hannelore & Co SOLD July 2020: $2,700,000
300 Mt Holly Road, Katonah, NY Renwick: Cynthia Mas Ask: $3,750,000, closing at the end of September for well over ask
45 Heather Drive, New Canaan, CT Hannelore & Co. SOLD August 2020: $2,120,000
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For Sale 63 Lyndel Road POUND RIDGE, NY GINNEL: MUFFIN DOWDLE • $12,000,000 • 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 29 acre park-like property
“We could not be more pleased to see the tremendous influx of young families choosing to move to our area. Their energy will not only revitalize the real estate market but the area in general!” - DAN GINNEL S E P T / O C T
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“ In a hot market like this, an agent’s relative experience can make all the difference for buyers in finding the right home, getting the right price and managing the purchasing process. For sellers, savvy digital marketing and a powerful presentation are a must.” - HANNELORE KAPLAN, HANNELORE & CO.
13 Woodridge Circle NEW CANAAN, CT HANNELORE & CO. • $2,895,000 • 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
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181 Mead Street WACCABUC, NY GINNEL: LAURIE MOSELLO • $9,950,000 • 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 10+ acres on Lake Waccabuc
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888 Old Post Road BEDFORD, NY GINNEL: FRANK GEIGER • $7,495,000 • 75 Acres, 12,000 sqft, 6 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 2 half baths
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“ It’s really basic. We have low inventory and high demand. This is the strongest real estate market we’ve seen in decades, and it’s only going up.” - JIM RENWICK
209 Bedford Banksville Road
BEDFORD, NY RENWICK: MISSY RENWICK & TINA FOSTER • $6,400,000 • 10.3 acres, 6 bedrooms, 10.5 full baths
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Home &
Gardens
in home and garden renovation, repair, design, decorating, upgrade, improvement and additions. As interior designer Rona Chowenhill of RC Interiors by Design said: “In addition to the mass exodus from cities to more rural locales, sheltering in place has everyone reinventing their homes. Multi-functionality has become a necessity, and there’s a true craving for comfort. Dedicated spaces for home- office, gym, ‘school’, sanctuary, and even camp are being incorporated. Renovations and projects previously on the back-burner have become top priority.” Wealthy new buyers and existing home owners are looking for every opportunity to add or upgrade luxury amenities, and the sky’s the limit. California Closets’ Director of IT and Marketing, Masha Alimova, offers: “Working from home has become a fact of life. Although that used to mean working on the couch or on your bed, now people want to define a proper workstation. We’re building small office spaces, multi-purpose areas, and larger dedicated offices. People are more productive when they’re clutter-free and feel good about their workspace.” With what now seems like fortuitous timing, the Adirondack Store moved forward through Covid to anyway open its new store on Elm Street
THERE’S A BOOM
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in New Canaan. Owners Stephen Dori Shin and Christopher English, who are as much art and antique dealers as they are a home furnishings store, have returned to New Canaan, and this version is quite impressive! The new store showcases their rustic style home furnishings and makes it easy to connect for their decorating services. Christopher English remarked: “We’re thrilled to be back in New Canaan. The response has been tremendous. Old customers welcoming us back, and lots of new customers coming in - with masks on - to see what we have to offer.” Like 20 years ago in the Hamptons, young couples are stalking the area and new builds and renovations are once again in play. Jeffrey White of the firm Ecology Architecture Urbanism (EAU) was hired by a couple from the city who just purchased a four-structure compound in Pound Ridge. White recounts: “Overlooking the largest of the three lakes on the property, the focus of renovating the 1950’s Lake House was to create a seamless connection to the outdoors and lake from this guest house / entertaining space. In addition to the unobstructed views of the spectacular property that can be enjoyed fireside in the winters, the simple introduction of openness brings the outside in.”
the new hamptons
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FARM TO FACE, FROM VERMONT TO YOU Discover 100% natural skincare — contact us at 1-877-321-8282 or consultation@tataharper.com to book a skincare consultation and receive $100 towards your new Fall regimen.*
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Room to grow. Space to thrive. Our stunning 75-acre campus provides ample indoor and outdoor space for students to create, question, experiment and explore.
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GO BOLDLY. 635 Frogtown Rd, New Canaan, CT (203) 801-5608 • www.countryschool.net
New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent, day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9 living in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Our graduates excel at top day, boarding and public secondary schools and go on to lead lives of impact and purpose.
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520 West Avenue 203.939.9771
70 Beaver Street 203.792.8700
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t e e sw H O ME
HOME
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In time, the Covid crisis will pass. Life will find a new rhythm. But we will never forget the fear, the isolation, the loss. We will never forget ventilators, face masks, hand sanitizers, frontline heroes, Andrew Cuomo’s briefings that became must see tv. We will always remember staying in, to stay out of the hospital. BY KATHLEEN AND CAROLINE MCCOWN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPENCER FRANKSTON
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COMING HOME Kathleen
Not long after becoming aware of the virus in Wuhan, I felt the familiar pull of Pound Ridge. From my sister Deb’s winter get-away in Palm Beach, my husband, John, my sister, and I followed news reports of increasing concern. I mostly resisted the urge to call my 26-year old son, Jack, and my 25-year old daughter, Caroline, to give them a parental ‘Pay Attention’, ‘Take Care’. After all, they’re adults, and I try not to be too involved. Jack is a successful software engineer, lives and works in Murray Hill walking distance from everything, and doesn’t need me to tell him what to do. Caroline is a management consultant based in Philadelphia, reveling in the richness of her young adult life from her perch on Rittenhouse Square. They live in their own worlds of energy and optimism, blown by youth and good fortune. Their worlds are anyways impenetrable to my cautionary texts and calls. But I wasn’t going to just sit quietly forever. When my kids’ employers mandated that they work remotely, I saw my opening. I honestly couldn’t wait to have them under wing and in the nest. Although our family has had different residences over the years – a mountain retreat, a beach house, a mid-town apartment – our nest has always been at Miller Road in Pound Ridge. My husband, my sister, and I packed our bags and started the drive back home from Florida, and I texted the kids and suggested that it would be fun to meet up in Pound Ridge… and held my breath!
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Kathleen & Caroline McCown in front of their Pound Ridge home
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Caroline
“COME HOME!” my mom texted, shouty caps telegraphing her insistence. After a week-long drumbeat of calls and texts from her, it was a mandate, not a suggestion. My knee jerk reaction was, “No!” I was happy with my full plate of work and play, living in Philadelphia and on assignment in Manhattan. I like meeting friends, any time and all the time, for drinks, for dinners, for parties, for shows. I like morning runs and evening walks, and hanging-out in the City with my brother, Jack, and his Aussie, Taz (the favorite McCown). Would responding “Yes” to my mom’s text be saying “No” to all of that? But, as much as I didn’t want to acknowledge it, the tomorrow I had planned for myself wasn’t happening. It was early March and the impact of coronavirus had hit. My consulting firm suspended all travel to my client site,
and the aisles of my local Trader Joes were alarmingly empty. The Pure Barre Rittenhouse studio I frequented was closed (bye bye for now, toned tush). Friends postponed plans in rushed retreats back to their families. ‘Social distancing’ was cementing itself into the common vernacular. At first, my mom’s demand seemed characteristically hyperbolic. Was a move home reeeally necessary? When I thought about it, staying alone in my apartment didn’t seem quite as comfortable as being home in Pound Ridge – a place I love, with people I love, and who love me. I figured I’d be back in Philly at the end of the month to reunite with my boyfriend! The prospect of what I thought would be a couple of weeks in Pound Ridge, with a pool, made some sense. So, I answered, “Yes” to my mom’s clarion call, and headed home to chez McCown to do some hunkering.
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Kathleen
Living together again has been a once-in-a-lifetime gift. When else would my millennial children settle back into the rooms of their childhood for more than a weekend or brief holiday visit? Covid returned all of us to the comfort and safety of Pound Ridge. We picked up from where we left off, before the children departed home. It was this mother’s dream. Our home is open-armed in accommodating our needs – space for working, for working out and vegging out, for reading and writing, for cooking with and for each other. Space to Zoom. Space for Jack’s wonderful dog, Taz, to run free. Most important, the house holds us close. Days are filled with work commitments, home projects, checking in on family and friends, keeping up with Covid news. In the evenings we come together for dinners that last longer than the meal. We indulge in every dinner table talk taboo. We argue about politics and religion. We are presumptive and pepper each other with personal questions. We laugh with and, yes, at each other. While the world closed down to Covid, in Pound Ridge nature opened up. ‘Going out’ once meant enjoying a cappuccino at Kitchen Table, dining at The Inn at Pound Ridge, shopping on Elm Street in New Canaan, catching a film at The Bedford Playhouse, racing to the City. Now, ‘going out’ means a walk or a drive. First the forsythia woke up, then the daffodils, finally the deciduous trees. Black branches against gray skies receded behind masses of green against blue. The two lane roads that tie Westchester and Fairfield towns together in our neck of the woods, invited us to come out. And so we did. We rode by old haunts, walked familiar trails, discovered new ones. From the horse farms of Bedford and the openness of Pound Ridge to the more cultivated streets of New Canaan, all roads boast beauty. Without the usual demands of time and commitments we traverse those roads slowly, thoughtfully. We feel them as they curve, arch upward and relax down. Surprises reward us.
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“Look – a fox!” “Did you see the hawk?” “Turkeys!” “I never noticed that cottage tucked back by the pond.” “I never noticed the pond!” By looking outward, we looked inward. So much of what we see – how each of us looks at the world, how each of us determines what’s of value – is through the lense of living here. Appreciation of nature, community, family – all largely honed by our life in Pound Ridge. Covid has taken many of the world’s freedoms, but at home it gives us time. Time for my husband and me to be with our newly adult children before they’re absorbed by families of their own. Time to see them as grown-ups against vivid recollections of them at home growing up. Time to appreciate all of it.
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And most of all, pre-Covid, staying in touch with family meant texts and calls to catch up on each other’s news. In the omnipresence of Covid confinement, my family’s news is my news too, and visa versa. For a long time, we saw only each other in person, everyone else on screen. MY LIFE AT HOME IS: • Laughing at my dad’s corny jokes: “Can’t have the usual people help us out with the property for a while, so I’m stepping in. Your mother is now sleeping with the pool boy.” • Watching my dad respond to my brother’s progressive political ideas and poke fun at his newly grown facial hair:“What have we here, son? The new Karl Marx?”
Caroline
Months later...still stuck in Pound Ridge. No trips back to Philly. Travel entails exposure to potential infection that could put my virus-vulnerable family at risk. A long weekend in Philly, disregarding expert advice to stay put, could mean weeks of solitary confinement. So, for the sake of my sanity, frontline workers, Dr. Fauci, and my mom, I remain at home, and learn to live a new life of Covid confinement. Pre-Covid, my morning routine consisted of ‘getting cute’ (cue: blow drying hair; applying mascara and gloss; dressing in whatever imbued my psyche with confidence) before buying an overpriced oat milk latte and embarking on a walking commute from my hotel to my client’s offices. Now, at home, my morning routine consists of brushing my teeth (always), brushing my hair (usually), changing into non-sleeping sweatpants (sometimes), and descending the stairs to drink Keurig coffee and watch Morning Joe with my pajama clad dad (always). Pre-Covid, socializing consisted of going out with friends to explore the cities that we were lucky to share. In Covid confinement, socializing consists of Zoom, Facetime, jackbox.tv, and joint NYTimes crossword sessions.
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• Cozying up around the firepit at night and listening to stories about what life was like for my parents before we were a family: “You and Dad did what?!?” • Sharing long walks together. • And the very necessary freedom of running alone, far, through all that sweet, fresh, Pound Ridge air.
I only half-joke that it can be sometimes suffocating. The reality is that coming home to my family in Pound Ridge is some kind of wonderful. One activity I’ll never forget is enduring a 9+ hour Godfather movie marathon in one protracted sitting to satisfy my mom’s desire for me and my brother to be sufficiently versed in cinema classics. When the final closing credits rolled, my mom looked at me and asked, “Ladybug, wouldn’t you like some buttered noodles?” She gave me a hug and every bit of my twenty-six-year-old independence melted in her embrace. I couldn’t help thinking – ‘just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in’.
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Kathleen
Covid hit pause on our lives and I’ve been happy to freeze in place. My appetite for lapping up my son’s humor and my daughter’s brightness is insatiable. I may never tire of watching my husband teach Jack how to master the outdoor pizza oven. I will never stop looking forward to Caroline’s s’mores at the firepit after sundown. And all the 24/7 tech support! Yet, I am aware that what nourishes my maternal leanings, starves my children of continued independence needed for growth. As twenty-somethings, their professional and social development had been on warp speed. As Covid has slammed the brakes on their lives, I wonder what the long term effects of the resulting whiplash will be. Zooming is better than nothing when a boyfriend is missed or a friend’s birthday calls for celebration. But a screen is not a person. Will existing relationships survive? Will some that normally should have waned, be cemented for lack of alternatives? What will the full cost of Covid be on my kids’ lives and for all of us? Only time will tell. All I know for sure is what Covid confinement with my family means to me. It means everything.
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Caroline
It’s impossible to know now what the cost of being pulled back will be. When the virus ripped through the fabric of life, I was extremely fortunate that my family pulled me back, to be all together, in Pound Ridge. Our home is perfect for shelter-in-place. I know I’ll be forever thankful for all of it. I also know that I can’t wait to get back to the life I put on hold. I can’t wait to say “Yes” again...but not to my mom...to my life – the one I was just beginning.
Taz entertains - Jack, Deb, John, Kathleen, and Caroline
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KEITH HARING Icons, 1990 Lithographs on Arches cover paper 21 x 25 in. Portfolio of 5 prints WM Advisory Pound Ridge, NY walkermanzke@gmail.com
(646)533-1222 46
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WM Advisory is pleased to offer these iconic works by Keith Haring. This set of five embossings bear the image of a single symbol rendered in a simple linear style that define the artists works.
WM Advisory specializes in Contemporary and Pop Art and features such artists as Andy Warhol, Basquiat, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and many others.
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1967 FERRARI 275GTB 4 NART SPYDER, Silver/burgundy, matching numbers, rebuilt engine and driveline. New paint, leather and top. Outstanding mechanical & cosmetic condition. Ready for show or rally circuit.
1972 FIAT DINO 2400 SPIDER, Silver blue metallic / black. A rare, stunning roadster, one of 424 produced, powered by Ferrari’s four-cam V6, 5-speed Getrag, independent rear suspension, recent paint, interior, top and engine rebuild. A sensational rally or event car, ready to be driven and shown. POA
1961 FIAT OSCA 1500S PININFARINA CABRIOLET, Red/black leather, rare twin cam 4-cylinder Maserati OSCA engine, JUST REBUILT! Weber downdraft carburetor, 4-speed transmission, high performance brakes. Spectacular older restoration. $75k USD
1953 AUSTIN HEALEY 100-4 BN1, Black/red, complete, ground-up restoration by Marque expert, 4-sp w/OD, alloy cylinder head, Venolia pistons, billet crank, Carrillo rods, 2”SUs, louvered hood, front-disc brakes, built for rallies and all road & track events. Better than new condition through-out. $125k USD.
1965 PORSCHE 356SC CABRIOLET, Red/black, matching #s, rebuilt eng, new top/headliner, seats & tires, flawless paint, sound underpinnings, 69k mi, documented ownership. Outstanding cosmetic & mechanical condition. Ready for rally or show! POA.
1974 JAGUAR XKE SERIES III ROADSTER, Burgundy/ black, matching #s, 4-sp, AC, PS, PB, and wire wheels. 35,000 miles. Two tops. Recent full engine service. Outstanding mechanical & cosmetic condition. Runs & drives as new. Zero rust, zero leaks. $79k USD.
CONSIGNMENTS WELCOME
350 ADAMS STREET, BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10507 Tel 914-997-9133 Fax 914-997-9136 sales@motorclassiccorp.com S E P T / O C T
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www.motorclassiccorp.com
shout out
COVID Hero DEBBIE MATARAZZO is a Bedford local and a retired nurse and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, who worked for 30 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering, mostly administering anesthesia to severely ill pediatric patients. When the pandemic hit, she began looking for ways to help. Debbie has been an active volunteer with The Community Center of Northern Westchester for the past year and a half, but wanted to find a way to put her medical background to good use. Hearing the news about Bedford’s effort to make testing more readily available, Debbie sprung into action to volunteer. She said, “This is in my backyard, I have to help!” Debbie spent the next few months at the Bedford Hills train station as a volunteer multiple days a week, decked out in full PPE head-to-toe, alongside paid practitioners, helping to administer tests to our community… and all the while with a big smile (behind her mask) and a spunky attitude. She even wrote her name on her jumpsuit in Sharpie to make the experience a bit more personal for the often fearful folks coming to get tested. “The need was huge. I’m over 60 and I retired just a few years ago, but this is my home and I felt like I had to do something.” The Bedford Hills train station testing shut down at the end of July, but Debbie says, “If they open anywhere else nearby I would be happy to come back and do it again!”
For more local COVID Heroes sponsored by Mosolino Builders, see the Bedford & New Canaan Magazine website bedfordnewcanaanmag.com and Instagram @bedfordnewcanaanmag 48
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shout out
Pound Ridge Since March, when the world started to count Covid cases and deaths, the Town of Pound Ridge has consistently ranked as the municipality with the lowest numbers in Westchester.
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY!
The Market at Pound Ridge Square has been central to Pound Ridge’s success. Even during the primal scare at the beginning of the pandemic, with an almost total shutdown of everything but essential services such as food, Market owner Billy Fortin never missed a beat. Billy and his staff of 110 worked tirelessly to keep the Market open for regular business hours and doing double and triple shifts to help fill curbside orders for the next day. With Pound Ridge Chief of Staff, Nicole Engel, coordinating the volunteer list, scores of townsfolk have helped out. Notable among these volunteers has been: Pound Ridge Police Chief David Ryan; Police Sargeant Mike Armistead; Members of the Pound Ridge Fire Department and Ambulance Corps, including Justin and Deborah Friedland and Tammy Rainford; longtime Pound Ridger Melinda Velez, who found the volunteer work to be so rewarding she’s taken a permanent position at the Market focusing on food delivery to some of the Market’s senior and more vulnerable customers, and; several residents who made helping at the Market virtually a full-time job, including Todd Sullivan, Lisa Zaino, and Colette Dow. The Town assigned volunteers to deliver groceries to all seniors requesting the help. Always humbly focusing the spotlight on others, Fortin says: “I couldn’t be prouder of my staff. They’ve worked as a team, night and day, without a single complaint, on a mission to keep our shelves stocked, adhere to a whole new set of safeguards to protect against the virus, and continue the regular flow and delivery of groceries to our customers. I feel personally responsible to ensure a steady flow, and not just for everyone in Pound Ridge, but for the neighboring towns, too…we have as many customers coming from Connecticut as from New York. We’re pleased to be doing our part keeping Pound Ridge as safe and normal as possible.” In the first 5 months of the pandemic, The Market at Pound Ridge Square packaged over 30,000 curbside pick-ups and served a total of over 152,000 customers. Also key to Pound Ridge’s survivalist success is the special group of teachers at the Pound Ridge Elementary School. Amy Fishkin, Principal, stepped-up as soon as possible coordinating the shift to technology-based distanced learning and doing things such as distributing Chromebooks to make sure every student has access. And kudos go out to Town Supervisor, Kevin Hansen, who, among other things, worked with The Pound Ridge Land Conservancy to keep the local preserves and reservation open. For many in Town, the ability to go for a serene socially-distanced walk has been a saving grace. And for everyone else who has volunteered in the effort…you know who you are… the Town applauds your charity, and thanks you for your service to the community! IT’S POUND RIDGERS THAT MAKE POUND RIDGE SO GREAT!
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@newcanaanhousehunter hannelore.kaplan@raveis.com S E P T / O C T
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85 Lukes Wood Rd New Canaan, CT $6,395,000 Listing Agent Hannelore Kaplan Hannelore & Co 914-450-3880
727 Smith Ridge Rd New Canaan, CT $6,800,000 Listing Agent Hannelore Kaplan Hannelore & Co 914-450-3880
Grace Farms FIGHTS COVID-19
BY MIKE CURRAN
Grace Farms Foundation confronts some of the most pressing humanitarian crises around the world. So, when the acute statewide need for life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE) and food relief emerged during COVID-19 pandemic, Sharon Prince, CEO and Founder of Grace Farms Foundation, and long-time New Canaan resident, quickly pivoted to address the needs of her own community.
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This page: Sharon Prince (photo: Ryan Slack), Grace Farms CEO and Founder. The GF Commons Opposite: Basketball court and GF garden.
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race Farms’ uniquely blended goal is to serve G ‘as a peaceful respite and porous platform for people to experience nature, encounter the arts,
pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith’. It’s been doing just that since opening in 2015, the vision being enabled by generous contributors and corporate and nonprofit partners, implemented by a highly qualified staff, and produced with the help of numerous volunteers. The Grace Farms property in New Canaan, features a complex of five structures that wind across the landscape, and are aptly named the ‘River’. This award-winning building, designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning Japan-based architectural firm SANAA, include a sanctuary, library, dining/meeting space known as the ‘Commons’, with state-of-the-art catering kitchen, a pavilion, and an indoor basketball court and gym. Outside, nature trails lace the 80-acre property, and its gardens, ponds, and natural terrain. The entire experience is all about nature, as the River’s glass walls allow light to stream into every space and bring nature into view at every turn, and because the out-of-doors beckons with welcome. But it’s actually the programming that Sharon and her team have delivered in their first five years of operation that have earned Grace Farms the embrace from, and a lead role in the community. Grace Farms is regularly open to the public! For free! With healthy and delectable food available for lunch, the basketball court available for play, the library available for study or contemplation, and scheduled nature programming, led by the local, expert naturalist Mark Fowler. The Foundation is now known for its ability to develop collaborations with diverse organizations and world-class experts. In five years, Grace Farms has hosted over 1,000 programs and events and welcomed an astounding 100,000 visitors a year. First, Grace Farms determined to address the need for personal protective equipment (PPE). Sharon Prince explains, “I was on a zoom call about the pandemic on March 17, with John Engel of the New Canaan Town Council and Emergency Director Mike Handler. They were sounding the alarm about the crucial need for PPE, and I volunteered the Foundation to help answer the call.” The Grace Farms executive team, mostly working from their homes, put to use their knowledge of the global supply chain and customs regulations, gained through Foundation work on their Justice initiative to combat forced labor. Since domestic suppliers were swamped, they focused on international sources.
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Without delay, the Foundation called upon the resources of one of its partners, Hamilton Beach Brands, and began immediately to identify PPE suppliers. Through Foundation connections in China, including the Shandong Province Provincial Government, the Foundation was able to identify trustworthy suppliers when shortages were most critical. Hamilton Beach’s network of inspectors in China confirmed the equipment’s quality. Within a week of Grace Farms’ placing the initial PPE order and taking the unorthodox step of funding the order in full - initial supplies were received at Grace Farms, with staff and volunteers working to unpack, sort, repackage and begin distribution. With the New Canaan Fire Department volunteering to deliver
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the PPE to area hospitals, the first PPE deliveries rolled-out on March 31, only two weeks after Grace Farms undertook the task. In only three months, Grace Farms Foundation distributed a remarkable 1,900,000 pieces of PPE, including a half-million N95 respirators delivered to front line health care workers in area hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities and testing centers, and over a million surgical and disposable masks, face shields, gloves, caps, and goggles delivered to 55 different organizations, including 17 hospitals and 26 municipalities. But that’s not all. While the Foundation’s work sourcing and supplying PPE would be enough for any organization to have taken-on during Covid, Grace Farms determined to address the food insecurity in the region that was immediately exacerbated by the virus’ onset. With Grace Farms’ community gardens produce as a part of its food supply, the Commons staff, under the direction of Neena Perez, has been carefully prepping meals for 12 different local not-for-profit organizations. For some of these organizations, such as Inspirica in Stamford, and Staying Put in New Canaan, the emphasis is on delivering meals. For others, such as the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk, the need is for pantry items. For organizations such as Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, and Food Rescue US, it’s both food supplies and meals. In only three months (the same three months they delivered 1.9M pieces of PPE), Grace Farms has served meals to over 20,000 people!
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“Food insecurity is not going away, and the need will continue even after the Covid crisis is resolved. Perez notes, ‘It’s a passion of mine to make sure that we are thinking of the person as a whole. That’s our mission, to do good in the world.’ Beyond its regular service to the community, Grace Farms has proven to be a real friend-in-need in these tough times. Sharon Prince commented, “Our interdisciplinary approach combined with an entrepreneurial mindset allowed us to pivot quickly. We’re able to leverage our networks and expertise in diverse fields, such as Justice and Nature. This crisis has really brought Grace Farms together with our neighbors.” Five seemingly separate initiatives: Nature, Arts, Justice, Community, and Faith; but one vision to bring about real change, drive new outcomes, and move the needle on some of today’s most pressing causes. Covid tests us all, but Grace Farms has excelled. Grace Farms is a Covid Hero...and a Community Champion!
“ It’s a passion of mine to make sure that we are thinking of the person as a whole. That’s our mission, to do good in the world.”
- NINA PEREZ S E P T / O C T
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Opposite: GF and Dept. of Homeland Security sign partnership, Nurse Allison Gorlo in PPE provided by GF, New Canaan Volunteer Fire Dept. loads PPE at GF This page: GF delivers meals to over 20,000 people
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IF YOU ARE THINKING OF A NEW HOME, MAKE IT THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS. DISCOVER DUTCHESS COUNTY AND ALL IT HAS TO OFFER YOU. DISTINCTIVE HOMES AND COUNTRY RESIDENCES LUXURY COLLECTION HOMES AND ESTATES FARMS AND EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES URBAN MODERNIST DESIGNS | VILLAGE CHARMERS ACREAGE AND NEW CONSTRUCTION
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GOING GREEN(ER) BEDFORD 2020 GOING BEDFORD 2030
BY KAREN SABATH
Green Editor
fter meeting and surpassing A impressive environmental goals in its first decade, Bedford 2020 is
changing its name to Bedford 2030, adding the new tagline “Climate Action Now”, and setting new goals for climate action in the decade to come. The organization has been the driving force in driving down greenhouse gas emissions in the Town of Bedford by 44% since its inception, through the Town’s participation in Community Choice Aggregation for renewable energy and greater energy efficiency. Bedford 2030 has vowed to reduce emissions and fight for clean, healthy air, water and land and the newly stated goal is to deliver 80% emissions reductions in the Town of Bedford in the next decade, from more locally generated renewable energy, electrification of buildings and homes and converting more drivers to electric vehicles. And in doing so, Bedford 2030 will continue as an example and mentor for other communities. Community participation will be at the center of the effort. Getting everyone to commit to buying green power, use new energy efficient air source heat pumps, make their homes more energy efficient, and making their next car an electric one will have a substantial impact. Bedford 2030’s Executive Director, Midge Iorio, promises, “Bedford 2030 will
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provide tools, programs, and campaigns to embrace renewable energy, get off fossil fuels to power our buildings and cars, reduce waste, capture carbon, and advocate for local and regional policies that advance these goals. Everyone will be able to make a difference.” There’s an immediate opportunity to get started. Climate Week is September 21st-27th and will include educational and action-oriented activities for everyone. Bedford 2030 will host an Energy Tour and Electric Vehicle Car parade. The ‘Take it or Leave it Shed’ and ‘Repair Cafe’ will be open with special waste reduction tips. Local libraries and bookstores will host a climate book read and discussions and the Bedford Playhouse will offer a virtual film screening and discussion. Partner organizations will offer walks at area preserves, volunteer opportunities, and family activities. A full schedule of activities is on the Bedford 2030 website. While 2020 will be remembered for the impact that COVID-19 has had on all of our lives, the pandemic may also be seen as a tipping point for socioenvironmental change that will usher in a new decade of aggressive and widespread climate actions. At the local level, and as an example for other communities, Bedford 2030 will make the call and lead the charge for ‘Climate Action Now’!
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Cross — Border
BUDS Bedford & New Canaan Magazine interviews incumbent Congressmen Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY 18) and Jim Himes (D-CT 4), seen here together in front of the U.S. Capitol
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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN MAGAZINE (B&NC):
Sean, you represent New York’s 18th congressional district, including all of Bedford, Katonah, Pound Ridge, South Salem & Waccabuc, and Jim you represent Connecticut’s 4th congressional district, including New Canaan. So you’re from different State delegations, but we understand you guys have a friendship that crosses over the State line? CONGRESSMAN SEAN PATRICK MALONEY - NY18 (MALONEY): Well, Jim is smarter and better
looking, so it’s not easy to be around him, but yes we’re good friends, and he has an amazing family. We serve on the Intelligence Committee together, so we spend a lot of time in some wild, undisclosed locations around the world and, when in DC, working down there in the SCIF (“Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility”). Our districts share a lot of common interests too, so he’s a great ally for helping our region.
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Above: Sean Patrick Maloney, Jim Himes Opposite: Jim and Sean on Intelligence Committee assignment
CONGRESSMAN JIM HIMES CT-4 (HIMES): That’s right, except for the ‘better looking’ part. We see things similarly. We’ve both spent most of our careers outside of elected office, including in the private sector, and we both flipped Republican districts and have managed to keep winning. That makes us a little different from most of our colleagues. We have no choice but to listen to and respect different perspectives and to handle disagreements in a civil and constructive way. And I’d like to think we both have well-above-average senses of humor. That’s important when you’re standing on the Venezuelan border or driving through a Peshawar chicken market together.
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B&NC: Yeah, so you both serve on the Intelligence
Committee. Tell me about that.
HIMES: Sorry we can’t do that. MALONEY: Well, we could, but then, you know, we’d have to kill you. HIMES: In all seriousness. It’s a huge responsibility.
The country is spending some $80 billion a year on intelligence activities, including things that are hugely controversial like surveillance and lethal activities, and they’re pretty much all secret. So we’re two of a handful of people who are asked to keep an eye on that stuff so that it stays consistent with the law and with our values.
B&NC: How have you responded to COVID? MALONEY: My office has a simple, three-word mission statement: “We help people.” When this virus first hit New York, we were calling every hospital, every school district, and every health center in the Hudson Valley to make sure they had what they needed to meet the height of this crisis. Another key element of our effort has been helping families and small business owners who
are struggling. For example, we helped one local business recover $20,000 in lost income from a canceled trip to Costa Rica by getting United Airlines to refund their tickets. We also helped them get an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. That’s pretty typical. I want to remind everyone in NY-18, call my office (845.561.1259) if you need help. We’ll do our best to get your problem solved. HIMES: We’re both really about getting things done
rather than talking about getting things done, or demanding that things get done, or complaining about why things don’t get done, which is too much of politics these days. We’re both in the orbit of New York City, so we had no choice but to go to work 24/7 solving everything from shortages of PPE to financial aid for the people and businesses in our districts. Because so many people stepped up to do the right thing, our districts are in much better shape than they were in March. But March and April really were tough.
B&NC: You’ve both focused on the environment as
a critical issue for everyone. But we know you also work to protect our local environment. Can you give us some specifics?
MALONEY: We have so much work to do, which is why I support the Green New Deal and a refundable tax on carbon. In addition, protecting our drinking water and preserving the Hudson River are top priorities. I’m about to pass legislation that will permanently prevent the Coast Guard’s proposal to locate 43 new oil barge anchoring sites between Yonkers and Kingston on the Hudson River. We are stewards of this national treasure and I intend to protect it. HIMES: My district is bisected by the Merritt
Parkway and 95. Open space is increasingly rare. We have dirty decaying industrial sites that hold real promise for redevelopment. The Long Island Sound is critical to my district. One of my hobbies is harvesting oysters, clams and mussels from the Sound. So being a strong environmentalist is critical and personal to me. I make a point of leading wherever I can on conservation, responsible reuse of land and sustainable practices from our agriculture to our transportation.
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B&NC: That’s good stuff. What else should we know
about how your Congressional offices are having a direct impact in and on our community?
MALONEY: I think a lot of folks don’t know that their congressperson is there to help them. There is no problem to little or too big for us. We exist to serve you, and if you come to us with an issue that isn’t in our jurisdiction, we’re going to connect you with folks who can help. So never hesitate to call. HIMES: Those resources are also available to my New
Canaan constituents, through my website at himes. house.gov or by calling my office at 203-333-6600 and speaking with a staff member. And, as far as direct impact in the community, it’s Federal dollars that have improved the beaches, protected the Long Island Sound, kept the MTA running, and supported the phenomenal New Canaan public school district, to name a few things.
B&NC: When you get local in our area, what do you
like to do?
MALONEY: When I’m home in the District, I’m often holding town halls, community meetings, business walks, and press conferences – in-person, socially distanced and virtual. We even had an in-person town hall at drive-in theaters, where folks texted me their questions, and I answered them on a sound system connected to their car radios. We’ll keep trying new ways of talking to our constituents. Just the other week I checked in on newly reopened small business owners in Bedford. About 11,000 businesses in my congressional district who employ about 100,000 workers have received small business loans, under the federal programs. So, I wanted to find out how that’s working for people and what else they need from Congress. These business tours allow me to bring the voices of Hudson Valley’s small business owners - including places right here like Jewel Corner, Inc., Bedford Village Hair Design, the Bedford Playhouse, and School of Rock Bedford - down to Washington with me, so we can make sure places like Bedford come back stronger and better in the wake of this pandemic.
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HIMES: Covid has dramatically increased the urgency
of problem-solving and local communication. I’ve been hosting frequent Facebook Live conversations and Q&A talks, meeting with business owners, and explaining federal aid and resources. We’re still working very hard. In my free time, I like to shake off stress outdoors. I love to run, ride and hike around Fairfield County, and am kind of a hobby farmer with a vegetable garden, a couple of beehives. And, as I mentioned before, I like to shellfish in season. If you haven’t had an oyster 30 minutes out of the Sound, you haven’t really lived.
B&NC: Is there any one message you have
for our readers?
MALONEY: Yes – get out there and vote! Exercise your sacred right. We’re working hard in Congress to make sure mail-in ballots are available everywhere this November. People need to be able to participate in our democracy without sacrificing their health.
…AND STAY SAFE! The virus is still with us. Wear a mask. HIMES: We’re living in really difficult political times. I see President Trump as a real danger to our democracy. But a significant number of Americans support him, some strongly. We need to grapple with that. It is not OK to call the President’s supporters deplorable or to dismiss them. They’re coming from somewhere, and we all need to work harder to understand where each of us is coming from. The way we fix our poisoned politics is to have some humility about our own beliefs and some desire to walk in the other guy’s shoes. If all of us do that, we can convert destructive tribalism into constructive debate, worthy of our country. B&NC: What do you miss most about
pre-pandemic times?
MALONEY: Besides crowded bars? Everything. HIMES: Amen, buddy.
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DEFENDING TRUTH, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY TAKES COURAGE RE-ELECT STATE SENATOR
Alex Kasser
First Democrat since 1930 and first woman ever to represent New Canaan, Greenwich & Stamford.
ALEX K A S S E R S TAT E S E N AT E 3 6
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VOTE November 3rd or by Absentee Ballot To learn more, visit A L E X 4 C T. C O M BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN
Paid for by Alex4CT, Nichola Samponaro, Treasurer. Approved by Alex Kasser.
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MAJOR LEAGUE LOCALS GRIFFIN DEY , Pound Ridge local, Kennedy Catholic ’15/Yale University ’19, Detroit Tigers 2019 Draft Pick, writes about chasing the dream… along with, Curt Casali, New Canaan local and Cincinnati Reds Catcher, Richard Slenker, Pound Ridge local and former Houston Astros draft pick, and Henry Davis, Fox Lane alum, current Louisville slugger, and pro prospect.
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Left: Griffin Dey at bat for the Yale Bulldogs, Opposite: Griffin with his parents, Vickie and Bruce, pitching for Bedford Pound Ridge Baseball,and at camp for the Tigers
would have imagined that I would be living Ientirenever at my childhood home in Pound Ridge for the first half of 2020, without having competed
in a single baseball game over that time. After graduating from Yale University in May 2019, I was on my way to begin my professional baseball career as the Detroit Tigers’ 23rd Round Draft Pick. Life couldn’t have been better – I had a one-way ticket to pursue my lifelong dream. Being drafted by a Major League organization was the culmination of over a decade’s worth of work. Academics and athletics were the centerpiece of my entire upbringing, as I developed in both capacities at Kennedy Catholic and eventually made my way to Yale University to study Political Science and Economics and play first-base. Only two weeks after signing with the Tigers and only two games as a Minor Leaguer, I tore my ACL and my professional career came to a grinding halt. That same one-way ticket to the world of professional baseball quickly turned into a one-way
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ticket back to my childhood home. I spent the following eight months working with the New York Yankees’ team of doctors and rehab specialists to regain the strength and mobility that had slipped away in an instant, all while looking forward to the day that I could retake the field for the Tigers. March 2020, I finally, and somewhat triumphantly, returned to the Detroit Tigers’ Spring Training complex in Lakeland, Florida, to begin what was supposed to be my first full season of professional baseball. Not even two weeks later, and barely settled into new living arrangements, all Major and Minor League players were sent home as the start of the 2020 season was suspended indefinitely due to COVID-19. I packed up my belongings and again, headed back to Pound Ridge, with another oneway ticket in hand.
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I couldn’t help but feel anger and frustration towards the second abrupt and unexpected delay to my professional baseball career... although this time, every player’s career, at every level, was also on hold. I am aware of the fact that competing in professional baseball is a one-in-amillion opportunity that many strive towards but few achieve. Amazingly, I am in great company around the local area. Curt Casali, Richard Slenker, Henry Davis, and myself all shared the dream of becoming Major League Baseball players while growing up playing Little League in New Canaan, Bedford, and Pound Ridge. It is incredible that having grown up in such close proximity to one another, three out of the four of us have already had the experience of playing for a Major League organization, and Henry is on his way.
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was a standout catcher at New
CURT CASALI Canaan High School (as well
as quarterback of the State Champion football team and a star on the basketball team), and went on to play baseball for Vanderbilt University. After an injury, Curt played some first base, but was back at catcher as Vanderbilt made it to the 2011 College World Series. During his four years at Vanderbilt, Curt had a .316 batting average, a .430 on-base percentage, a .502 slugging percentage, 27 home runs, and 167 runs batted in. After several years in the Minors, Curt debuted in the Major Leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014. Like every hungry professional player, however, Curt realizes the stark difference between reaching the Major Leagues and becoming a consistent player at that level; debuting is only the beginning for the less than one-fifth of drafted players who make a single appearance in a Major League game. For the last five years, Curt has been a consistent presence in the Major Leagues and, over the last two seasons, has been a reliable performer behind the plate for the Cincinnati Reds (in Johnny Bench’s spot!).
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is beginning his
HENRY DAVIS junior year at The
Richard Slenker makes a play for the Fox Lane Foxes
University of Louisville. He was a top prospect from Fox Lane High School, and a two-time All-State Baseball selection. In roughly one and a half seasons at Louisville, Henry cemented himself as the team’s everyday catcher, and most recently was leading the team in three major offensive categories when the 2020 season was cut short after only 17 games. For Henry and other talented collegiate players who haven’t yet entered the realm of professional baseball, the cancellation of spring and summer seasons precludes them from showcasing their skills in front of professional scouts until March 2021, placing greater emphasis on their limited time window of performance prior to the draft in June 2021. Nevertheless, given Henry’s work ethic and impressive statistics against the country’s best talents in the Atlantic Coast Conference, he is already highly regarded by Major League scouts.
a great friend and
RICHARD SLENKER, Yale teammate, also
hails from Pound Ridge. Richard was the captain of the Yale Baseball team in 2017, one of the most successful hitters in Ivy League baseball history, and was drafted as a third baseman by the Houston Astros in 2017. Despite strong performances in his first six months in professional baseball, a series of knee and quad injuries coupled with an opportunity to pursue a career in the world of business led Slenker to retire from the game of baseball. Reflecting on his career and the factors that precipitated his success, Richard explained, “I owe all of the opportunities afforded to me through baseball to the countless people who pushed me as I grew up in the game. Behind every accomplishment and opportunity earned from the game are lessons learned from family, coaches, and teammates who gave all that extra time and effort to make me into the player I was and person I am today.”
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Henry Davis, pro prospect
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“ It’s the longest layoff without baseball I’ve ever had in my life” - CURT CASALI, CINCINNATI REDS
Whether or not this is the case for all MLB players, the four of us have come to realize over the years that in order for our dreams to materialize, they had to be shared and embraced by those in our support systems. Though each of us has worked tirelessly on a personal basis from Little League to our college and professional careers, it is undeniable that we each owe a large majority of our success to the unwavering support, encouragement, and constructive criticism of our parents, siblings and coaches. Being there in the cheering section of our Little League games and nation-wide recruiting circuits that replaced summer vacations, and living through our demanding collegiate seasons and the unpredictable nature of playing for a Major League organization, our families have been the rock and foundation of our lives. “My family really put me in a great position going into college,” said Curt, “my mom was the one who played catch with me when my dad was out of town on business, and my dad was the one throwing whiffle balls to me in our basement when it was too cold to go outside in Connecticut.” What’s truly special, is that our parents gave us every opportunity to chase our childhood dream. My childhood home, my parents and sisters, and the town of Pound Ridge have been comforting sources of reliability as I face the unfortunate
reality of another suspension to my professional career due to COVID-19. Life over the past couple of months has been uncharacteristically slow for all baseball players since the absence of competition in the spring and summer seasons is an unprecedented reality. “It’s the longest layoff without baseball I’ve ever had in my life,” said Curt. When asked how he has been coping with the time off, he explained that the delay has been difficult, but he has managed to find various silver linings, which include spending quality time with his wife, his golf clubs, and his Peloton bike. Major League Baseball’s 60-game season for 2020 meant a return to baseball for Curt and 750 other Major League players… even though it won’t be without significant changes, namely empty stadiums and increased restrictions to safeguard players, coaches, and administrators. The reality for Minor League Baseball isn’t as promising, however, as the entire 2020 Minor League season has been cancelled, leaving more than 7,500 players sidelined until March 2021. Despite a full calendar year without baseball, this period away from the game offers players at all levels the perspective to appreciate our support systems and the time to prepare for the day when we are able to retake the field for our respective teams. For me, despite the fact that life since graduating from Yale has been anything but expected, I feel extremely fortunate for the continued opportunity to pursue my dream, and for my home and family in Pound Ridge.
Griffin Dey, Tiger Draft Pick, and Tiger little leaguer! 82
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CAMP BY MAMA As the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to change color, it’s time to start thinking about what this Fall season has to offer. Fall activities are a great way to introduce a new season, a season of change, and all the fun that comes with it. Here are seven incredibly awesome local Fall activities for toddlers, couples, friends, and the entire family. BY A MOM WHO BLOGS, MEGAN SCHINELLA
1. Visit an apple orchard HARVEST MOON FARM & ORCHARD, 130 HARDSCRABBLE ROAD, NORTH SALEM, NY
This is an old school autumn classic. Harvest Moon sells bushels of apples or, better yet, pick your own. Appointment for self-picking is recommended, so call ahead.
2. Go on a nature hike to view and admire Fall foliage WARD POUND RIDGE RESERVATION RESERVATION RD, POUND RIDGE, NY
Megan, a New Canaan-based Mommy Blogger, gives B&NC Mag tips on what to do this Fall
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The 4,315-acre park makes Ward Pound Ridge Reservation the County’s largest park. Enjoy the varied terrain, stunning landscapes and miles of wooded trails.
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3. Shop the local Farmers Market NEW CANAAN FARMERS MARKET, SOUTH AVENUE/MAPLE STREET/MAIN STREET, NEW CANAAN, CT
The New Canaan Farmers Market offers a wide variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables and flowers, breads, jams, baked goods, cheeses, oils and more. All straight from the farm. Pre-registration is required for the first hour (10:00am11:00am). Pre-ordering is available, but not required. Runs until Thanksgiving.
4. Walk the trails at the Nature Center NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER 144 OENOKE RIDGE, ROUTE 124, NEW CANAAN, CT
The New Canaan Nature Center is a seasoned botanical garden, beautiful arboretum, and very pretty nature preserve. Trails are open through Covid.
5. Go horseback riding LIMELIGHT FARM, 550 GUARD HILL ROAD, BEDFORD, NY
Work on your equestrian skills or book a ride through a local stable. Or join the Bedford Riding Lanes Association for only $175 a year and enjoy.
6. Pick out a pumpkin or gourd POUND RIDGE NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER, 6 POUND RIDGE ROAD, POUND RIDGE, NY
Pumpkins and Gourds come in a variety of sizes, colors and flavors. Each is unique.
7. Sign up for community solar (NY FAMILIES)
Sign up to enable locally generated solar energy and get 10% off your electric bill. Use the opportunity to teach kids about how they can have an impact on the environment. Find out more at sustainablewestchester.org/solar
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PLANTING IN THE PANDEMIC BY JILL BROOKE
Floral Editor NATURE HAS PRESSED THE PAUSE BUTTON.
As a result of spending so much time at home, many have started to take a keener interest in what’s outside our doors. It’s as though folks can finally appreciate artist Georgia O’Keefe’s prescient words: “Most people rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. To see takes time.” During the first four months of Covid, more than 16 million new gardeners discovered the joy of planting vegetables and flowers, and seeing a garden grow. Nurseries have had record sales, as curiosity and desire to garden has been activated - and this megatrend will continue to bloom. As any veteran gardener knows, gardening teaches lessons about patience, perspective, serendipity, resilience, delicacy, and finesse. Most important - it will reward. Growing food feels primally fortifying at a time when feeling in
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control of anything is very much appreciated. Try lettuce as an easy first-timer foray. And seeing a kaleidoscope of color as flowers peek up with purpose, never ceases to delight. FALL IS PRIME TIME TO PLANT THE MOST GLORIOUS FLOWERS.
Siberian Iris, feathery fringed tulips, a dainty crocus, dreamy lavender alliums and canary-yellow daffodils require fall planting. Some flowers, such as tulips, are like dulce de lece for deer and other critters, so if the garden is not fenced-in, consider planting daffodils, hyacinth and alliums. Vegetables and lettuce plants can go back into the earth with cooler temperatures, and a crop of quickmaturing fall vegetables includes: broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, spinach, arugula, kale and beets. As soon as plants have passed their prime and are about to bolt, pull them out with abandon and then replant a different crop in that space. Rotating crops is healthy for the soil and not only helps avoid diseases, but adds new beneficial nutrients. Another advantage to fall and cooler temperatures is that it’s an ideal time to plant shrubs and trees (before the first frost). Perennials such as hydrangeas do much better planted in the fall, after the summer’s heat, and just in time to hibernate before spring’s re-awakening and growth. And think of something new. Each garden addition is a part of life’s adventure and a suggestion that the best is yet to come.
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Music Editor
aramoor Center for Music and Arts is C synonymous with top-notch musicians and amazing performances, tranquil gardens and beautiful
landscapes, stunning architecture and compelling artifacts. While many of us in the area have visited to see a performance, taken a tour of the historic Rosen House, or even attended a graduation, one of the most exciting aspects of the venue is their growing commitment to sound art installations. Caramoor’s annual series Sonic Innovations serves as one of the largest displays of sound art in the nation and is overseen by Chicago-based curator and Northwestern University professor Stephan Moore. To commemorate their 75th Anniversary, Caramoor has unveiled a permanent commissioned work by Trimpin,a majestic sound art sculpture entitled In “C”. Trimpin, an internationally acclaimed composer, musician, visual artist, inventor and MacArthur foundation “Genius” award recipient, created the 16-foot high double letter C as an “interactive and kinetic” structure that will welcome guests as they arrive. The steel sculpture has 24 tuned metal bell chimes suspended from the top of the “C,” which are activated by a motion sensor and can be played by a push-button that triggers pre-composed pieces. In “C” also features an education mode, which will allow it to be played by a digital keyboard, with each key playing a different chime. We were eager to speak with both Trimpin and Moore to discuss sound art, this unique flagship sculpture and also about what it means to create and provide access to sound art during these unique times. Moore, an accomplished composer and sound artist in his own right, helped explain what sound art is: “Sound art is music organized in space [and] the experience of sound that goes outside of the concert hall. [It] thinks about sound in a context where the context itself is subject to artist creation and
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manipulation.” Moore is on a mission to help make Caramoor the “Storm King of sound art.” In 2014, Caramoor launched their first major sound art exhibition, In the Garden of Sonic Delights. Moore shared that, “Sound art at Caramoor wouldn’t exist without Trimpin.” While the venue has featured numerous works by many artists, Trimpin is a visionary and pioneer in the field, whose relationship with Caramoor dates back to that first exhibition, where he shared an installation entitled “The Pianohouse” - a work which included six upright piano frameworks configured in the shape of a house, that played as visitors approached. Trimpin spoke highly about how the grounds shaped his thinking and inspiration for In “C”. “Through Stephan, I’ve had the opportunity several times to do work at Caramoor. It was always this magical place where nature is totally around...where you can listen to the birds and the environment. It’s quite a ways from the traffic and other industrial noises, so it’s really a magical place in terms of what you can do with sound art in this space.” Sound art is a complex multidisciplinary field, where each piece can pose brand new challenges and opportunities. Trimpin outlined the unique considerations for the construction of In “C”, which included careful work with structural engineers to ensure the safety of the piece for the public and the selection of materials that provided both long term durability as well proper sonic resonance. Important compromises are made in the design of such outdoor structures to ensure it’s less likely for animals like squirrels to be attracted or for birds to nest in the installation. Interestingly, while the structure is complete, as of the writing of this article, the compositions that will be played by the push-button have not yet been written. Both Moore and Trimpin explained that because of the amount of variables that impact the final sound of an installation, it’s not uncommon to save this part of the process until after the “instrument” is built. When asked about the role of sound art at Caramoor as our community and nation deal with the pandemic, Moore shared, “No matter what happens to the concert programming, people are going to be able to come in small groups, experience the work here, and do that in a way that is safe.” He continued, “We are still going to exist, we’re still going to be putting forward an offering. It’s a difficult moment for all of us in so many ways, but whatever small way it adds to people’s lives... to be
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Trimpin with new “In C” installation at Caramoor
able to come out of the house, to come to a beautiful spot to experience some art and have a destination… Every organization and everyone has their role to play in this, and if we can play that role for some people and offer some possibility in this difficult year, that’s what we have that we can do.” When asked about the various configurations of notes from the chimes, and if he had any concerns over how the chimes could be played by others, Trimpin shared a valuable insight which holds an interesting lesson for all of us right now:
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“ Dissonance doesn’t exist in nature. You don’t complain when birds are singing because they are singing completely out of tune. You don’t complain because they are in nature singing and suddenly it sounds beautiful.”
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The GlenArbor Golf Academy and Membership Salute Rob Labritz on his 7th Major Championship! 2002 – Hazeltine National 2003 – Oak Hill 2010 – Whistling Straits – Low Club Professional 2013 – Oak Hill 2016 – Baltusrol 2019 – Bethpage – Low Club Professional 2020 – Harding Park
Local GlenArbor golf pro, Rob Labritz, diaries his experience competing in his seventh major championship
PGA COMPETING AT THE
CHAMPIONSHIP
BY ROB LABRITZ S E P T / O C T
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DARREN CARROLL, BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN 9 PGA OF9 AMERICA
Sunday, July 26th, 2020 PRO PREP
The preparation never stops in my life. Anytime my golf game can lead me to an opportunity, I will be ready. For the last 3 weeks I’ve been preparing for the first major golf championship of this Covid-impacted 2020 season, the PGA Championship, at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California. This will be my 7th PGA Championship appearance. A feat that has not been done by many at all. Especially as a PGA club professional, rather than as a touring pro. And I’ve been the lowest scoring club pro at the PGA Championship twice! In 2010 at Whistling Straits in Koehler, Wisconsin, and last year, 2019, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. They call that ‘Winning Club Pro’; I call it a tie for 64th and and a tie for 60th place in the tournament. I work out daily to take care of my body. It’s my tool to compete on the world’s biggest golf stage. It will pay dividends. I turn 50 in 2021, and have access as a ‘Senior’ to the Champions Tour, Senior PGA Championship, Senior US Open, and Senior British Open. I know I’m going to be able to compete at the pro level as a Senior, and if I didn’t think I could win, I wouldn’t be doing it…period. They say age is just a number and I for one do not feel at all like I’m going to hit the half-a-century mark in my life next year. As a matter of fact, my beautiful wife, Kerry, is pregnant with our third child. They are calling that a quarantine pregnancy. I’m calling it a bonus baby. And by the way, I still feel like I’m in my 20’s. Sunday, August 2, 2020 - Travel Day POUND RIDGE TO SAN FRANCISCO
I’ve never experienced packing for a tournament in the manner that I did Saturday night. Making sure I have enough antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, face masks (with the copper n95 inserts) were just a few things that I added to my packing experience. I’m heading out to this tournament alone. My caddy, Todd Luigi, arrived in San Francisco yesterday, so he could get the Covid test he needs to be allowed on the golf course property. I will have to go through daily Covid tests as well. One when I first arrive, and then daily temperature checks and questions to protect all the players and the caddies that are on property. We are not allowed to bring any family members. I was allowed to travel with two coaches
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and one trainer, but my two coaches, Bill Davis and Tom Willson, are both in their 70’s, and I couldn’t see them accompanying me to this event given the Covid risk. So, if I need any help, it will have to be via Zoom. Still, I feel prepared for battle. There will be no crowds or spectators allowed at all - on any of the four days of the tournament. No crowds is going to be a very odd feeling. To not hear a roar when you roll in a birdie putt, to not have thousands of eyes on your every shot, to not sign thousands of autographs, to not have the extra energy around the entire event. It’s a new experience for a major championship. But that gets me thinking, it’s just like the local events I play in, like the Lenox Advisors New York State Open, that Tiger and the gang haven’t seen for a while. Maybe the Covid impact on the PGA Championship can work to my advantage?! I haven’t traveled since early March and am flying JetBlue Mint out to San Francisco. It is mandatory to wear your mask at all times and I have more hand sanitizer and masks than I do golf balls. The PGA Championship is usually the highlight of my golfing year. It means the world to me. In just four rounds, your path as a golfer can be forever changed. I always go into a tournament to win, and the PGA Championship is no different. To win this one would be amazing, to say the least. It’s one of the biggest purses in professional sports, with $1,950,000 going to the winner! I visualize myself hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy daily as part of my preparation… and have to admit to at least a couple of those visualizations on this flight. Just landed in a pretty empty airport in San Francisco. Grabbed my courtesy Cadillac - with
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only 14 miles on it! - and drove directly to the Covid testing area, where I’m pretty sure they just took a brain culture through my right nostril. Wow! Now, off to the one place that I always hit at least one time every time I’m on the west coast: In-N-Out. I think the two Double-Doubles with everything, and a chocolate shake, should be enough food for me while I wait for my test results. Just don’t tell my trainer, Curtis Jackson. Negative!!! A quick change of clothes and I’m off to the golf course to start preparing for the week. Mark Twain said that thing about the coldest winter being a summer in San Francisco, and this summer is proving him right. I played eight holes on the front nine, starting on #2, and called it a day. I want to avoid jet lag. The course is long and tight and the rough is extremely long, but it’s right in front of you. The bunkers are really firm, and I already had Titleist make me some wedges with a little less bounce to dig through the sand a little easier. Time to get to bed. Much work to be done tomorrow. Monday, August 3, 2020 SETTLING IN
5:30 a.m. alarm woke me up this morning, and I felt like my head had just hit the pillow. A quick hour work-out and stretch to get my body online is just what the doctor ordered. A nice warm up on the short game area and a few hours of range work to get my distances dialed-in. I played the back 9 holes with another club pro, David Muttit, from New Mexico. I felt like I was prepared and ready for battle, and I hit a few practice drives on each hole to get used to the lines off the tee. I practiced out of the most severe areas of rough on the course that I could find, to see what troubles the course has to offer. If my plan goes well, I won’t see any of those areas during competition. A little lunch and a few more hours of work on my short game and at the range. Back to the hotel for another work-out and a long stretch. The air is cold and my body needs the extra time to loosen up in the colder weather. I’m forcing myself to stay up tonight until 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, so I get acclimated to the time change. I have a practice round planned with old friend Rich Beem, Tommy Fleetwood, and Bernd Weisberger at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2020 FULL DAY OF PRACTICE
5:30 a.m. alarm gave me enough time to get up, do my one hour work-out and stretching routine, get dressed, get to the course, eat breakfast, warm up, and get to the tee by 8:30 a.m. for my first full 18hole practice round. The course is long and the rough is up, so driving the ball in the fairway is paramount. My practice round went well. I’ve got a great feel for the course and understand where to attack and where to be a little more conservative. The new equipment feels great. After the round I had to shoot a tip for Michael Breed’s show ‘Course Record’ that will air during the Championship. Then an interview with ESPN’s Sten Verret and Neil Everet. After that was an hour-long interview with the Associated Press about my past finishes in the PGA Championship and being the two-time and defending low PGA club professional. Then back to the short game area to work on chipping and putting, before some time at the range for some swing work. Boom. Dialed in. Back to the room for some stretching and dinner and a long overdue FaceTime with my family. Isaias hit Pound Ridge and GlenArbor pretty hard, there
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to hear, but my task at hand is to hoist that Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. Nice dinner at the hotel with Todd, my only company. We’re confined to the golf course and the hotel. What a weird time we are in. After dinner, quick work-out and stretch, and off to bed. Thursday, August 6, 2020 FIRST DAY OF TOURNAMENT
are a lot of downed trees blocking roads, and power is out, but Kerry texted me to say they’re O.K. It’s a lot on my mind as I prepare for my seventh major championship. Off to bed now. I have a practice round with Webb Simpson tomorrow. Wednesday, August 5, 2020 ANTICIPATION
You try to sleep. You breathe. You calm your mind… and it just won’t happen. The time change is tough. That was last night. Only four hours of sleep. What a bummer. I have to be at the course today at 7:30 for a photo shoot that includes the 20 PGA club professionals that qualified for the event. Then another Zoom call with the professionals on the Golf Business Network. My practice round with Webb Simpson was at 11:15, so I was able to catch a 30-minute power nap before we played, which was totally needed. It was a nice surprise when Dustin Johnson joined us for a few holes. I’m getting very used to this difficult course. If you drive the ball well, you will have chances to control your ball into the greens. If you miss the fairways your opportunity to do that is taken away due to the length of the grass and how thick it is in places. After playing, I worked on my short game and swing for a few hours. I’m feeling great about my swing and ball control. My length is right there with the top players in the world. Todd Luigi, my caddie, always reminds me of that. He tells me the other tour pros and caddies don’t believe that I’m actually 49. I have started to get a few “Labritz, you’re going to clean up on that Senior Circuit” comments from guys around the PGA. It’s nice
PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY DARREN CARROLL / PGA OF AMERICA
7 a.m. wake-up for my ‘late’ tee time at 12:52 p.m. Had a nice stretch and work-out to get my body online and ready to go. My trainer, Curtis Jackson, has given me the greatest warm up routine in the business and my body feels like a 20 year old. I used the ‘extra’ time this morning to get caught-up on emails and texts. I had hundreds of texts and emails of support, for which I am forever grateful. My daughter, Ryan, made me a video with a large poster board she made with the words “PGA Champion” on it, and my son, Matthias, sent me a voicemail with some great words of encouragement. Went to the course, had a great lunch and a sound warm up. It was very odd to have no gallery. This is definitely a story that I’ll be able to tell to my grandchildren (so they say). We have to wear a mask while we are anywhere ‘outside the ropes’ on the property - which means everywhere except the course and the range. Even in the locker room, masks are mandatory. It’s hard to recognize anyone, but we all nod to each other as we walk by. It’s so odd. You can only tell who people are by the logos and sponsors on their shirts and hats. When we eat and drink we can take the mask off, but even that happens only in designated eating and drinking areas. The wind blew and it was cold, but I played pretty solid today. I was paired with Jim Hermann, a former club pro turned touring professional, who has two wins on the PGA Tour. We have the same coach, Bill Davis, which is cool. The other player was Shaun Norris, a big strong South African. The one thing I want to do is drive the ball in the first fairway, but I hit a little draw which ended up in the left rough. Even though I had a wedge in my hand for the second shot, I couldn’t reach the tucked flagstick on the right side of the green. A nice chip to nine feet, and my par putt just slid by the left side of the hole. Crap. Not the start that I wanted. I refocused my energy and ripped it off
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was the last player on the practice facility when I left the course at 9 p.m. I have to get back to the hotel to eat, stretch and get straight to bed - I have an ‘early’ 7:27 a.m. tee time. Friday, August 7, 2020 NO WANAMKER…THIS TIME!
the 2nd hole, cut a little 5 iron into the back right hole position to three feet, and calmly rolled the putt in for birdie. That’s better. The next hole was a par 3 which I ripped 6 iron to five feet, just below the cup, birdie. Now we’re talking! I parred the next par 5, and birdied the next par 4 with a 35 foot birdie putt! I saw my name pop up on the leaderboard. Now we’re moving in the right direction. Then I took a few bogeys, including on #8 and #9, which were playing very tough in the wind. Eight consecutive pars on the back nine and no converted birdies. I had my chances but none of them were able to find the bottom of the cup. A solid 309 yard drive on the last hole, and 155 yards left to the pin. I was deciding to hit 9 iron or wedge and settled on the 9, but just pushed it a yard and missed the green two feet to the right into some nasty grass. I didn’t convert the up and down and, there you have it, a 1 over 71. An o.k. score for the field, but not in my eyes. I played much better than 71. 71, which was one over par, and about the highest that I could have shot. That left me in a tie for 48th. Disappointed, but still right in the thick of things. The wind was howling for a good portion of the round and I controlled my ball pretty well. I hit many fairways and greens and was a shot better than the field for that. My length was ranked as 41st in the field - not bad for a 49 year old club pro. My fairways and greens hit ranked in the top 20. Did I mention the wind was blowing? I had a few interviews to do with CBS, PGA Tour radio, and the New York Post. Then off to practice. I
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5 a.m. alarm. Get up, get the coffee, warm up my body with some dynamic exercises, and off to the course to get a quick bite to eat. The ’late-early’ tee times are the toughest. The day started with a birdie, but didn’t turn out to be one of my best. I started on #10 and my iron play just wasn’t crisp. When the wind is blowing, and you’re not hitting the ball in the exact center of the club face, it becomes very difficult to control your distance and trajectory. Sometimes this happens when you’re out there. I can’t explain it, but it happens. I will go to the television tape to see what my swing looked like during the round. Something was just a bit off. I battled on every shot. I never give up, and have trained myself over the years to only focus on one shot at a time. This is something that every golfer should master. You must always stay in the present and never dwell on the past or try to predict the future. I managed to knock-out a par-par finish after some great shots into the very difficult 8th and 9th holes. But I shot 76 and finished the 36 holes at 7 over par…below the cut line…an early ticket home. A few quick interviews and I’m off to change my flight to get home a few days early - sans the Wanamaker Trophy. Definitely not the result that I wanted but like all missed cuts, you reflect, learn, and move on, taking all the tidbits from the week, and applying them to the ever-improving process. At the hotel, waiting for some dinner, and packing up…so I can get up early, stretch, do a Sirius XM PGA Tour radio show at 7:10am, and catch my 8 a.m. flight home. It never stops, but when you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work. I know one thing for sure, my wife and family will be there at the airport waiting for me, to give me hugs and kisses like they always do, no matter how I play. I don’t carry missed cuts with me, and definitely don’t dwell on the negatives. It’s all just a learning experience that will make me a better player in the long run. Back to being Director of Golf at GlenArbor… after I quarantine…and training for the next tournament.
PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY DARREN CARROLL / PGA OF AMERICA
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