The HOME Monthly North/South Edition by HAN Network

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

The

HOME Monthly

FEATURES Ushered in by fairies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5 Allure of Arts & Crafts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13 Thinking of growing your own? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15 Whim and Fancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-29 Mothers’ helpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36-37 The Hickok-Rounds House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-41 Powering up for 50 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46-47 DEPARTMENTS Shopping with Fran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7 Away from Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11 Into the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17 Homebodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Home Moaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20-21 Window on Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-23 Home of the Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26-27 Cookbook Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Racking One’s Brain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44-45 Cover: Home of the Month in Redding.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

LIBERTY ARRIVES

Ushered in by fairies by Adele M. Annesi Morning light glitters in a mossy glade, where wood nymphs await the infant’s homecoming. This is the ethereal scene depicted in a fairy-box keepsake created by actress and illustrator Liz Otto of Ridgefield to celebrate the birth of Liberty Helena Shannon Fritz. “I wanted to commemorate the baby’s harrowing entry into this life, but added fairy dust to the tale to lighten it up,” Liz said. Liberty’s was a premature birth – she came into the world in January 2006 weighing a scant two pounds, four ounces. Two long months would pass before she could leave Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for a trip home to Santa Monica with her mom and dad, Liz’s goddaughter April Fritz and her husband, Cort. “It was touch and go for a while,” Liz said. Once Liberty began to thrive, her grandmother, a longtime friend from Liz’s acting days in San Francisco, asked her to create a special keepsake. “She asked for something with fairies for the baby’s room,” Liz said. So, it was with flights of fancy and strokes of wit that the actress/illustrator began The Fairy Project. As with all good productions, this one began with a script – the tale of Liberty’s homecoming. Liz, who has illustrated two children’s books, fashioned

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Adele M. Annesi

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Actress and illustrator Liz Otto welcomed her goddaughter as a proper godmother should, with fairy dust and the fairies themselves.

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July 2008

the fable as a hand-painted watercolor booklet, each diminutive page glimmering with drawings and prose. According to Liz’s lore, three garden fairies – Fern, Rose and Sage – along with the Fritzs’s cats, Savannah and Prudence, ushered in Liberty’s homecoming with the spring. Then, just as quickly, the fairies were gone, “... vanished in a glittery swirl of fairy dust,” Liz says. With a dash of set design experience from her undergrad days at the University of Florida, a fanciful imagination and a more than a mite of moxie, the actress donned the mantle of casting director. Working from her loft overlooking Ridgefield’s Lake Wataba, Liz started with the main characters. She began fashioning the fairies of poster board. “But I didn’t like how they looked – too one-dimensional,” she said. Next, she tried Sculpey modeling clay, but that wasn’t quite right, so she decided to make the fairies herself. “When you do something without a template, it takes a long time because it’s trial and error,” she said. Trial and error is a concept she knows well from her beginning days in acting. “I waited tables and tabulated questionnaires – lots of questionnaires,” she said. Then she took a career-changing summer class with Feodor Chaliapin (the grandfather in the film Moonstruck) and auditioned for method-acting pioneer Lee Strasburg. From there she went on to stage and commercial acting. “In the same way writers teach, I did television to make a living,” she said. The actor’s chameleon-like quality served her well for the fairy box, where she took on the role of costume designer to make the fairy’s wings – first from salad shells. “We were going through a lot of salad,” she said. She wasn’t pleased with how the wings looked, too stand-out for covert garden fairies. “I wanted them to ... blend and be camouflaged,” she said. She scoured dollar-store bins and thrift shops to find feathers already trimmed and colored, then began cutting leaf shapes out of ribbon and gluing them over the feathers. The more she labored and combed craft stores, the more ideas came, too. She located more props for the fairy-box backdrop. See Liberty page 8

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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SHOPPING I WITH I FRAN ■

Pandora jewelry: This year’s ‘poker hot’ gift by Fran Sikorski Here we are, right in the middle of one of the busiest gift-giving seasons for engagements, weddings and birthdays, and we have a major gas crunch. What to do? To save on gas, plan a direction and shop stores near each other. I tried it recently in Bethel, and found wonderful gifts on the same block. Here are some shopping suggestions that may help diminish your list as well. Owner Joan Craybas is celebrating 17 years in business, and I’ve never seen her so excited about one of her jewelry lines – Pandora – a unique collection of create-your-own charm bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings she describes as the No. 1 “poker hot” gift this season. Just like Pandora’s Box, the jewelry opens up many opportunities to express your style and memorable moments. “Every story has a bead,” Joan said. Born of traditional Danish design, each piece of Pandora jewelry is handcrafted in 14K gold and sterling silver, murano glass or trollbeads, and the designs are romantic, modern and reflections of timeless symbols of love. Now that she carries the entire line, Joan said she has to expand the Pandora show room. Men, too, enjoy customizing jewelry for special occasions, selecting a bracelet and the charms to adorn it. During my visit, I watched a grandmother purchase two bracelets, each with a charm to commemorate a kindergarten graduation and a birthday celebration, and she plans to add charms for each special occasion. There’s also a Vera Bradley room with handbags and other accessories in all the popular color designs. New patterns are Yellow Bird, Mesa Red, Java Blue and

Signature Black, which are also available in matching luggage sets guaranteed for life. There are many gift items throughout the shop, and also a special wedding section. Personal service and lovely complimentary gift wrap are available. The shop is a family affair, as both her son, Robert, and daughter, Terry Cardile, are involved, and her husband, Larry, does a fabulous job with the outdoor flowers and landscaping.

The Gift Cottage 154 Greenwood Avenue Bethel, 203-730-1000 10 to 6 Monday to Wednesday 10 to 8 Thursday 10 to 5 Saturday 10 to 4 Sunday

Fran Sikorski photos

The Gift Cottage, customized Pandora jewelry.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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If you’re looking to surprise a sports enthusiast, how about Hauser Chocolatier golf balls and tees, Hauser Chocolatier ties, toolboxes, and cigars – hazelnut mousse rolled 137 Greenwood Avenue in a cookie, dipped in chocolate and powdered. Bethel, 203-794-1861 8:30 to 5 Monday to Friday There are tins filled with a choice of 28 flavored Thursday to 7 truffles – the newest flavor is blueberry port wine 10 to 4 Saturday – almond bark, chocolate-covered coffee beans, Closed Sunday and that delicious indulgence, Chocolate Lace. The Also at: Bethel company was bought by owners Ruedi and 59 Tom Harvey Road Westerly, RI, 800-289-8783 Lucille Hauser three years ago. 10 to 5 Monday to Friday Large cakes, $27.50 (the newest, Chocolate Lace Mousse) are available in the freezer. A half-size cake, Chocolate Utopia, is $15. The Hausers established their candy business more than 20 years ago, and now their son, Ruedi Jr., is president of the company and based at the Westerly manufacturing plant and store. Tours on the “history and mystery” of chocolate are conducted there. Hauser chocolates are shipped all over the world. Chocolate may be shipped safely by standard delivery during cool weather to temperate climates. During warmer weather, a special insulating wrap and ice packing is applied at no extra charge.

Express Yourself, create your own scrapbook.

With a studio arts and graphics background, Amy Bender of Bethel is the new owner of Express Yourself, whose goal is to help others create original scrapbooks, whether the subject is children, pets or vacations. The spacious studio is well stocked with supplies for crafters, and ready-to-assemble kits are available for this hobby that is No. 1 in crafts. Although each crafter works independently, there’s a sense of community, and, according to Amy, men, too, have been creating scrapbooks. “It becomes quite a social gathering,” she said. Gift certificates are also available. A 12-hour workshop is offered the first Saturday of every month with lunch and dinner provided. Amy and her husband, Christian, and children, Gavin, 5 1/2, and Elizabeth, 2, relocated to Bethel a year ago from Jamaica, a small town in Vermont. “We enjoy smalltown living and found it was easier to make the adjustment here,” said Amy, who plans to attend the Craft and Hobby Association annual conference in Illinois this year. Have a shopping tip? E-mail it to frananjoes@aol.com, or call 203-743-6572. ■ Express Yourself Scrapbook Arts 137 Greenwood Avenue Bethel, 203-791-8842 Closed Monday Tuesday noon to 9 Wednesday noon to 5 Thursday, Friday 10-5 Saturday 10-6 Sunday 1-5

Hauser Chocolatier, edible golf balls and tool kits.

AMAZING SPACES, LLC: July 2008

914.239.3725

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Liberty continued from page 5 Such inspiration and improvisation are staples of Liz’s repertoire. Among her many commercial credits is an impromptu moment that became a classic for Ban deodorant. “I ad-libbed the line, ‘How dry I am,’ which became the slogan for subsequent commercials – for which I got zilch recognition by the client,” Liz said. She went on to do ads for Duncan Hines, Bayer, Coca-Cola and a series of Avon spots as the “Ding-Dong Lady.” An actress who knows what it takes to command a stage (she played Lola in a San Francisco production of Damn Yankees), she wanted the right style box to showcase the fairy scene. “Most cupboards open on one side, like a medicine cabinet,” she said, which didn’t accord with her vision. Again, she decided to make the box herself. She measured the dimensions and set off for Home Depot. “I found an eight-foot board, though they didn’t cut it right. In case you’re wondering, an eight-foot plank is less than eight feet,” she explained. In a supporting role, under the fairy box, is a wood shelf that also holds the booklet, a scroll and other items. Liz initially tried baskets, but they didn’t quite work, not the right weight for the substantial fairy box. “I went to Expect Discounts and found the shelf,” Liz said. She added handmade knobs and accents from the Christmas Tree Shop, whose seasonal decorations were just right for what she had in mind. “I hit pay dirt with what they had for the Fourth of July,” she said. For the top of the box, she found a sign that said Liberty. “I was in creation mode,” she added.

The fairy-bower look of the box is enhanced by a Napa Valley-inspired grape leaf motif. “I had the idea from going to wine country,” Liz said. It was in California that she first met actor and writer Jack Schmidt. They reconnected in New York some years later, when Jack was doing a Broadway murder-mystery musical Something’s Afoot, and eventually married. “He’s a delight and still my best friend after 30-plus years of togetherness,” Liz said. He’s also an inspiration, as she is his muse. The two have collaborated on entries in The Bad Hemingway contest. “We won two years in a row, and the sponsors won’t let us play anymore,” Liz said. The competitions weren’t a loss, though. “We did get two great trips to Italy as prizes,” she added. Whether in acting or writing, timing is everything. As Liz painstakingly created each piece for the fairy box, she put each aside, waiting until all was done to glue everything in place. “I wanted it all to be just right,” she said. After nearly a year of labor, it was show time. “I had just the right amount of stuff,” she said. Once the fairy box was complete, Liz and Jack prepared to drive it out to California. “We couldn’t trust it otherwise; it’s too fragile,” Liz said. Via personal delivery, the fairy box made its way West, where the couple met Liberty Helena Shannon Fritz for the first time. With such an evocative name, she has a lot to live up to, as Liz well knows. She had in mind a quote by John Podhoretz when she began the project. “He once said, ‘To be an American is to hold your own life, your own future and your own possibilities in your own hands.’ That’s what I want Liberty to remember.” ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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HOME

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

AWAY I FROM I HOME ■

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Topnotch Resort and Spa by Fran Sikorski A stay at Topnotch Resort and Spa, which is close by Mount Mansfield, puts you in the lap of luxury. Built in 1958, and with a $100-million renovation and expansion underway, the resort is reinventing itself to meet current expectations of vacationers, such as how to provide snow cover through the spring-skiing season when nature doesn’t cooperate. Topnotch, a resort for all reasons and seasons – weddings, honeymoons, family vacations, reunions, corporate events, and “just couples” – has become a model of sophisticated rusticity, offering endless recreational pursuits in a thoroughly luxurious atmosphere. Very glamorous is the 35,000-square-foot, full-service European-style spa, which brings together the country ambiance of New England, state-of-the-art fitness stu-

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dios and equipment and a talented staff specializing in a range of 120 personal rejuvenating and exotic treatments in 30 handsomely appointment treatment rooms. Among my favorites were the Vermont River Rocks Treatment, a deep therapeutic massage using both heated and chilled stones and a wood-spice oil, and an aromaplasty double-mask facial that is customized to skin type and offers a doubleaction mask to restore and rejuvenate your skin. Custom formulas are created from Vermont-grown herbs and spices, and all treatments offer relaxation, rejuvenation and renewal. If you want a massage with a view of the mountains, book it in the solarium next to the cascading waterfall whirlpool, and then lounge next to a 60-foot indoor, heated lap pool and coed sauna, while taking in the magnificent view of the Green Mountains. A fitness center showcases state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Programs are flexible, enabling guests to set their own goals and go at their own pace. Men feel right at home with treatments and fitness programs just for them – facials, sports massages, sport-specific personal training and hiking. Personalized hairstyling and coloring, complete nail care and waxing services, makeup consultation and application are also available. Access to all spa facilities and the fitness center is included in the room rate, but there is a charge for spa services. A Medi-Spa at Topnotch, run by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mitchell Schwartz, offers cosmetic consultations and advanced dermatology treatments. A nutritionist and stress-management consultants are also available. The spa offers an intimate side-by-side setting for couples to have treatments together. Lounges are furnished with a fireplace, lockers, steam room, whirlpool, sauna, and dressing area, with all the necessary amenities and an attendant. There is a kid’s adventure program offered throughout the summer season at additional cost, and the resort’s Nordic Barn Recreational Center provides rental

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

equipment for all resort activities, including downhill and cross-country skiing, cycling, mountain biking, snow shoeing, in-line skating, canoeing, and fly fishing. The Equestrian Center offers private and group horseback-riding lessons in addition to guided English and Western trail rides. Three swimming pools include a heated indoor one and two outdoors, one heated for year-round enjoyment. Topnotch rooms and suites are dressed in European country-manor style with contemporary amenities, and there are 40 luxurious resort homes, each with its own personality and full resort privileges. Norma’s, the resort’s new signature restaurant offering an innovative menu featuring locally grown organic provisions, is named after owner Steven Cummings’

mother, Norma Cummings, an artist who enjoys all the activities of her son’s resort. Its comfortable, contemporary styling in natural earth tones creates a casual atmosphere, and diners enjoy a view of the open kitchen and seasonal mountain views at the same time. Executive chef Doug Barg comes across like his food – energetic, creative and well-prepared. He stands firm on procuring and showcasing the best possible ingredients – if he bakes a cherry pie, it will be from fresh cherries. Creative specialties include jumbo lump crab cakes with roasted corn and red pepper relish and Yukon Gold potato gnocchi for appetizers; grilled filet of beef, with potato lasagna, layered with Grafton cheese; grilled vegetables, mitaki mushrooms and mapleshire demiglace; seared sea bass with eggplant tapenade, and avocado, tomato and cucumber salad; and cous cous chorizo risotto for entrées. Pets are also welcome at Topnotch with a special Aero Paws inflatable dog bed wrapped in a soft fleece cover, a welcome basket with treats, bottled water and keepsake water bowl, and pet turn-down service. There is also a special Rover Reiki massage service available in the room. At Topnotch, there is so much to do without stepping off the property – your needs are always anticipated. If you do stray, there are more than 40 restaurants in Stowe and 70 different shops – no mall. A vibrant arts scene includes art galleries with work by local and regional artists, museums, theater guilds, performing arts spaces, and a Mozart music festival. The Stowe Performing Arts Center offers music concerts from May to Labor day. The Little River Hotglass Studio, specializing in the production of fine quality handblown glass, is a “must,” and there’s not one traffic light in town. If you’re back at the resort in the afternoon, don’t miss those delicious, huge, homebaked cookies served in the living room, and a meet and greet with other guests. Topnotch is about a five-hour drive from Fairfield County. There is an Amtrak train station 10 miles from the resort, and Burlington International Airport (45minute drive) offers national non-stop service. Reservations, 800-451-8686 or 802-253-8585; Web site, www.topnotchresort.com.

Three swimming pools include a heated indoor one and two outdoors, one heated for year-round enjoyment.

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Ridgefield Farmers Market ��

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For more information visit: ridgefieldfarmersmarket.org

Give Your Home A New Look ~ MURALS ~ ~ TROMPE L’OEIL ~ ~ WALL TECHNIQUES ~ ~ FAUX FINISHES ~

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This center kitchen island was a DRAB WHITE before being DECORATIVELY PAINTED by:

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LIOTTA STUDIOS

203-938-3302

Fine Decorative Painting

LLC

Visit us at our website at www.LiottaStudios.com and get a glimpse of what Liotta Studios is all about Liotta Studios is a Green company... Doing what we can to help the environment.

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Allure of Arts & Crafts SIMPLE YET SOPHISTICATED by Jane K. Dove

Set serenely atop a gentle rise on Elmwood Road in South Salem, the new Arts and Craftsstyle home, designed and constructed by Ridgeview Designer Builders Inc., provides a striking contrast to the Colonial-style architecture that dominates our area. The Arts and Crafts style grew out of a movement that influenced both British and American architecture and was inspired by the idealization of the craftsman. The term is often used to denote a style of architecture, interior design and decorative arts that flourished alongside Art Nouveau, from about 1880 to 1920. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The style originally sprang out a reaction to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution,â&#x20AC;? said Eric Moss, president of the

The Arts and Crafts style, which relates to architecture, interior design and the decorative arts, flourished alongside Art Nouveau from about 1880 to 1920. It originated as a rebellion to the mass production of the Industrial Revolution.

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

Pound Ridge-based company. “People involved in the movement turned to the handcraft of artisans to construct homes that employed their varied skills and the use of quality natural materials.” Because there are so many Arts and Crafts-style homes in the western part of America, the style has become intermingled with and is sometimes called Mission style.

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Simplicity And Sophistication

Today’s Arts and Crafts-style homes combine the use of natural materials with timeless, often Asian-influenced design elements, Eric said. A beautiful, natural setting, like the Elmwood Road site, is also prized. Eric and his wife and partner, Susan Haft, an interior designer and graduate

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of the Parsons School of Design, became interested in Arts and Crafts-style homes after building a number of traditional center-hall Colonials. “I was a native of southern California, where there are a lot of Arts and Crafts-style homes,” Susan said. “There are a lot of them in the Pasadena area, and the style is somewhat reminiscent of the well-known Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Houses, which Eric always admired.” The Elmwood Road house takes its inspiration from the famous Gambel House, one of the many elegant Arts and Crafts homes designed by famed California architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene.

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See Arts and Crafts page 30 July 2008

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Thinking of growing your own? A ‘GENTLEMAN’S FARM’ AWAITS YOU by Janis Gibson

Inside and out, this is a home to treasure, distinctive in its diversity and charm.

It is not a house for everyone, owner Ahme Erickson readily admits, but “we have loved living here.” When they first visited the 4,800-square-foot home set on a picturesque 3.2 acres in Redding, it was not love at first sight for either her or her husband, Alan. After pulling into the driveway, more than seven years ago, Alan refused to get out of the car. “It needed a lot of TLC,” Ahme acknowledges. But the property – the gently rolling, lush land of a “gentleman’s farm” with twostory red barn, horse paddock and old stone wall rambling along in front – called them back. Upon examination, Alan could see the possibilities that were readily apparent to Ahme on their first visit, and the couple has since completely refurbished, updated and further expanded the house, continuing in the spirit of previous owners. It is a house with character, with lots of interesting areas and nooks – “Not predictable,” says Ahme – that provide an ideal setting for anyone who wants to “go green,” or be more self-sustaining. The original Cape Cod-style house was built around 1920 by Frank Stolle on land that can be traced back to a grant from the English Crown in 1646. Shortly after the Ericksons moved in, Mr. Stolle’s daughter stopped by to give the new owners some early pictures of the house, as well provide some history and tell stories about what it was like to grow up in Redding decades ago. When Dorothy Wilmot purchased the then six-and-a-half-acre property in 1948, she named it Home Fires, and raised sheep and other animals. The 20-by-35-foot barn with stone foundation had a greenhouse, which has not been restored, and she kept guinea hens and pheasants as part of her menagerie.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

She also constructed some outbuildings and expanded the house in 1965, adding, among other things, a bedroom over the original garage, which has beautiful wood floors and two skylights in the peaked ceiling. “The grandkids love this room,” Ahme notes. At some point, Ms. Wilmot also split the property, giving half to her niece as a wedding gift. The property is still zoned for five sheep and two or three horses; the Ericksons, however, have chosen to raise only bees. In addition to refurbishing the unseen services and utilities (new electric, septic, plumbing, energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning), they added a new cedar roof and expanded the home’s living space. A slate porch adjacent to the kitchen was enclosed, incorporating the stone foundation, and a turret-shaped sunroom, which overlooks the front and side yards with a door leading out, was added. This was done, in part, to supplement the kitchen – which has been updated with a six-burner Viking gas stove, a Viking refrigerator, a Bosch dishwasher, and granite countertops – without having to extend the back of the house. “We wanted to preserve the more than 100-year-old umbrella pine tree outside the kitchen window,” Ahme said, “which would have had to be cut down if we bumped out the kitchen. I love looking out the window and watching the activity of the birds in the tree.” Pine and birds are also visible from a window in the A former garage now houses a laundry area, storage for crafts and welcoming spot for reading or visiting. hallway leading to the upstairs master bedroom, which has windows on three sides, storage and “intense angles.” The other major change was to convert the existing garage into what Ahme calls �� the “puttering room,” and to build a three-car garage with office space and a full bath above for Alan. “It’s like being in a big treehouse up there,” she said. “You can see the whole property.” �� As to the inviting space she created for herself from a former garage, it now �� houses the laundry area, a large countertop, and storage for crafts and other proj�� ects, as well as providing an area for knitting, reading or visiting with friends. The �� garage doors have been replaced with a wall of windows. �� Early on, the couple fell in love with the living room – its wood-burning fire�� place and shallow built-ins alongside – and adjoining dining room. Located on the far side of the house, the room originally was a porch. A previous owner enclosed it, but there are two window walls. “In the winter,” said Ahme, “it’s great to eat here and watch the snow fall.” Visit our New Showroom: The only room in the house that was Create a Plan with left as it was is the cozy library with its our Designers fireplace and built-in shelves. There was as much work to do outOrganize your Home with side as there was inside, but Ahme, who Style and Ease “was in 4-H most of my life,” was up to the task. Old sheep fences were pulled up, and the neglected barn, which was filled with small cages when the Ericksons moved in, has been thoroughly cleaned Let Us Design Your: out, the stones scrubbed down, and the • Custom GARAGE windows replaced. An old ledger was • Closets found in a pull-down desk, and remains in the barn. Ahme also dug away dirt • Pantry and Mudrooms * Bring in this Ad to the Showroom. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 7/31/08. outside to reveal the stone foundation, • Home Office and, in the process, found a set of stone • Custom Poly Resin Flooring steps. She notes the area behind the barn would be a great place for a vegetable � garden. Also in need of significant repair was & the outdoor pool. It was replaced with a

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INTO I THE I GARDEN ■

July 19 ... your chance to visit Donna and her garden by Donna Clark

Donna Clark photos

Have you been to your local farmers’ market yet? This year Ridgefield has one, and Linda, Pam and I stopped by on opening day. There were so many people there that they had sold most of the favored veggies. I bought some small white turnips and a bunch of radishes. They were of excellent quality and taste. The product most wanted was strawberries. The market will be here Fridays from 3 to 6 throughout the summer. If you know Ridgefield, it is in the parking lot by the Early Bird Café on Route 35. Even though I grow most of my own vegetables, I did not have radishes (a problem with a wireworm), and I forgot to grow turnips. Next year. My Celsiana rose was just covered with flowers this year. This is the rose that is 300 years old, and you can order it from the garden clubs for spring 2009. A grower in South Carolina is producing this rose just for Ridgefield

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3001 River Reach $890,000 Striking transitional home on Bennett’s �� Pond offers elegance, fine attention to �� detail and an open floor plan for today’s �� living. The dramatic Great Room with �� stunning fireplace, soaring ceiling, and skylights is the�� focal point of the entire house.��

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3091 Nathaniels Green $1,739,000 Elegant 6,746 sq. ft. 3-story brick Georgian �� overlooking the 5th green and 6th tee �� of the Two Rivers golf course. Built by �� one of the area’s ﬁnest builders, and the quality of�� materials and exacting attention �� to detail reﬂect true craftsmanship.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

gardens. You can still order it from Susan McGowan at susan.mcgowan@gmail.com. This is a light pink, old-fashioned rose with fragrance that will bring back memories to most of us. It grows to five feet and blooms in June. I watched it closely this year since I wanted to write about it. It is a rose that everyone in this area should have. It doesn’t need to be in a garden, since 300 years ago they just planted roses in the middle of the yard. I think their gardens were mostly for growing food. We are working on a garden at the old cobbler’s house on Rockwell Road, and, as we were finishing our day, I glanced around and there was a deep pink rose in the middle of the yard. Pam went over to have a smell. Wow! It was wonderful. This poor rose had been neglected for years and still survived. We will give it our special attention from here on. Although the English have always had these vintage roses in their gardens, when the American gardeners turned to roses, they chose the hybrid tea rose. That was our mistake. I, for one, am now planting shrub roses to give our gardens that English charm. This spring I planted Easy Elegance roses in several gardens, including my own. These roses were hybridized by Ping Lim for their natural disease resistance and hardiness. They continue to bloom throughout the season. The

Easy Elegance roses are disease-resistant and hardy.

See Into the Garden page 24

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

HOMEBODIES ■

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Time is on my side by G. Lisa Sullivan No one who knows me would ever accuse me of being patient. In fact, I am the complete and utter opposite. It’s an unfortunate trait I inherited from my father (sorry, Dad!). Just as my father detests long lines, plane delays (I should know, I flew with Dad to Ohio a few years back) and slow computers, I too, prefer to get where I’m going quickly, and not waste time waiting. Nothing frustrates me more than sitting on the highway in traffic when I could be somewhere else, doing something productive (like watching HGTV or fixing myself a snack).

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My penchant for impatience extends to my home as well. Recently, for instance, I was chatting about gardening with the mother of one of my daughter’s classmates, when she asked me if I planted bulbs in the fall. Obviously, the woman doesn’t know me very well. “Bulbs in the fall?” I asked incredulously. “Are you kidding me? Then I’d have to wait at least six months to see the fruits of my labor! Planting bulbs goes against every fiber of my being, against everything that I am. No, I definitely don’t plant bulbs in the fall.” See Homebodies page 50

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“I sell barnwood very reasonably. Call me for a price quote.” • FLOORING in rare chestnut, wide-board white pine, oak, heart pine, hemlock, cherry, walnut & more • Random widths from 3" to 20" • Barnsiding in different natural colors, faded red, silver gray, and brown • Large Quantities available • Deliveries throughout the USA • HAND-HEWN BEAMS up to 13" wide, random -lengths

HOME Monthly

Vol.XII, Number 7 is a special section to: Greenwich Post, The Darien Times, New Canaan Advertiser, The Ridgefield Press, The Wilton Bulletin, The Redding Pilot and The Weston Forum in Connecticut, and The Lewisboro Ledger in New York • 52,000 copies published monthly • Jackie Perry, editor Jessica Perlinski, designer • Thomas B. Nash, publisher • For advertising information, call 203-438-6544 • For information on editorial submissions, call 203-894-3380 E-mail: home@acorn-online.com • Extra copies are available free at the Hersam Acorn office, 16 Bailey Avenue, Ridgefield, Conn. (behind the town hall) Copyright 2008, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

Box 1019 Ridgefield, Conn 06877 203-438-6544 July 2008

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July 2008

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�� The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

HOME I MOANER ■

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Pomp, circumstance and candle wax by Ben Guerrero Eyes bloodshot, temples throbbing, we all passed the final exam. Some more than others, but the magic equation was C=RN, so 54 students – threadbare and dog-eared – gathered in a walnut bar, mid-May, to celebrate the end of nursing school. Now that it’s over, I’m experiencing a bit of culture shock. Suddenly the alarm clock does not go off and there is nothing left to study. There is no clinical rotation for which to prepare. There is a huge void ... empty of syllabi, medications to look up and lectures to endure. Mostly though, it is the faces – the tired, familiar faces that have helped each other push that boulder up a hill for two solid years – that have retreated and vanished as if there had been a bus crash. So, for about a week we rekindled the fires and relationships of our former lives. My kids had grown. One was off at college. Several neighbors had moved away and others had moved in. There were two years’ worth of “New Yorker” magazines to pretend to read, two years’ worth of dust bunnies in the corners, and then there was the matter of the woman who lives in my house on Rusty Hinge Road – what was her name again? It was a scary feeling. What were we supposed to do? Well, here’s what we were supposed to do. Get jobs as nurses and study for our nursing boards, but first, we had to sit through one last requirement of nursing school: the pinning ceremony.

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Job schmob, don’t you know there is nursing shortage? Exam schmxam, almost everybody passes that on the first try. But the pinning ceremony ... what was that exactly? It is built on generations of nursing tradition, and, probably, like everything else, devised by Florence Nightingale – the Florence Henderson of the sitcom that was the prehensile Brady Bunch of nursing practice – it was she who sort of brought my new profession, which appears to have some genesis in the world’s oldest profession, out of the dark ages and into the 19th Century. Most instructors, while mentioning her with respectful solemnity, are quick to point out that not all that much has changed in nursing practices since old Flo transformed it into a science, which it truly is. But we were talking about the pinning ceremony, and here’s what it is. Sometime in the darkest, most insecure, shakiest part of the last semester of nursing school, when you are convinced you are crazy and wonder why you had ever decided to pursue such a lofty ambition, a little man showed up at class and collected checks for our “pins.” These gold (toned) circular lapel jobbies are custom-enameled with the emblem of our alma mater with the graduate’s initials engraved (crookedly) on the back. Assuming one gets to the end, it is this pin with which one is pinned at the pinning ceremony. It is cheaper and far less painful than a tattoo. Other traditions: Everyone wears white, which is great if you are a bride or suffer from chronic dandruff. But these days, nurses don’t wear all white most of the time, we

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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July 2008

wear scrubs that have Hannah Montana’s image impregnated in the polyester. So there’s the next item on the “to do” list: Buy white nursing outfit. Another part of the ceremony involves a lamp and open flame, which goes back once again to Florence’s tenure (having to do with her sobriquet, the “Lady with the Lamp”). My class voted to be cheap and went with candles rather than shell out another 12 bucks a head for official imitation Crimean War-style porcelain lamps. In any event, word got around that the Fire Marshal wasn’t too pleased. Fortunately for him, we were

Ben Guerrero

all almost nurses, and even though we were not much use when it came to putting out burning buildings, we were all about tending to burn victims. So, a week after the final exam, we all arrived at the place of the pinning – scrubbed and shiny. The women had had their hair done so as to render them unrecognizable, and the men looked like ice cream vendors. But as we all came together one last time, and we were rested and the hangovers were gone, we realized the good news along with the bad. The good news, it was over at last; the bad news, it was over for us. That’s when the waterworks started. Tears of joy at first, then the gulping, shattering realization that we were all going our separate ways and that even though we promised not to stray too far, we’d already begun to drift apart. They queued us up in the back hall and checked us for alphabetization and made sure we were all properly free of crumbs and lint. We pulsed with energy as the friends and family members we all had not seen much of for 24 months assembled in their seats with bouquets, flash cameras and possibly a thousand restless, noisy kids. We marched down the aisle to the thunder of their applause and on to the stage, filled with carefully arranged chairs under the hot stage lights. More than a century of tradition poured over the audience for the next hour or so, as we waited in our whites, gleaming from the glow within and the lights without, and finally from the slim candles we all held aloft while we mumbled our way through the Nursing Pledge, and then, one by one, our instructors pinned us. A final happy finish. A coup de grâce, delivered by the very folks who, for the past two years, had held our futures in their hands, and we marched back down and through the aisle to the rhythmic foot stomps and claps and into the night where nothing bad could possibly happen on this day that took so long to arrive. It’s summer now, for real. Waves of heat warp the sight-line over the highway, and we hold fresh résumés in our carefully washed hands to find out just how desperate the need is for new nurses. Jobs are out there, hiding in the bushes, but before we are secure in our new careers, the boards must be taken and passed. The books wait, but not for long, in the silence of long overdue sleep, at last. This might pinch a bit. ben.guerrero@sbcglobal.net. ■

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July 2008

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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WINDOW I ON I REAL I ESTATE ■

Privacy glass: lets in light, keeps prying eyes at bay by Jane K. Dove If you have ever coveted a flood of natural and unobstructed light in your bathroom or wanted a kitchen skylight without the full intensity of the sun’s rays, welcome to the new world of privacy glass. “Privacy glass is the newest innovation in glass design, balancing privacy with the unobstructed flow of light at the flick of a switch,” says John Petchonka, coowner of Ridgefield Glass.

John says his first experience with privacy glass was about two years ago with a builder who wanted it installed for his personal conference room. “Since them, I have done residential installations, working with local contractors,” he said. “At this point in time, we are using a supplier based in Massachusetts. This is still a fairly new technology and is not as popular here in the Northeast as it is in southern and western areas of the country. But I expect it to catch on as it becomes more widely used.”

Sleek Look

John has done installations in both residential and commercial settings and expects the demand to grow as more architects and designers become familiar with the new product. “Privacy glass removes the visual clutter of blinds, curtains and shades,” he says. “It’s a great way to preserve one’s privacy without losing light, and since no window treatments are needed, spaces look larger.” Privacy glass changes from clear to translucent via a sheet of liquid crystal molecules permanently bonded between two layers of glass. In a non-energized state, the molecules disperse light. When voltage is applied, the molecules are rearranged to permit parallel light to pass through the glass while preventing anyone outside from seeing in. When connected to a timer or computer, privacy glass can be programmed to go from clear to translucent, even when homeowners are away.

Demand Will Grow

John says that until privacy glass was invented, the only other option for blocking views was reflective glass, which doesn’t work at night. “Privacy glass does a much better and more complete job,” he said. “The most popular uses are bathrooms, where it floods the room with light while offering privacy to those inside; kitchens, where a privacy glass skylight can cut down on the intensity of the sun without losing warmth or brightness; and offices, where it can create a confidential setting for meetings. John says privacy glass is ideally suited to modern architecture, which is now making a comeback. “It lends itself perfectly to contemporary design, which uses clean, spare, uninterrupted lines,” he said. “It’s also great for artist’s studios and for any area of the house where privacy is desired.” John says privacy glass is more expensive than traditional glass depending on the application. “And you also have to factor in the electrical costs associated

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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July 2008

with installation,” he said. “The glass itself can also be costly, coming it at about four times the cost of regular glass.” John says he expects the cost of privacy glass to come down substantially once the original patents expire in a few years. “Like any other new technology, the more people want it and buy it, the less expensive it becomes over time. As demand increases, prices start to fall.” As of now, privacy glass is used in new construction only. “Architects have to specify privacy glass early in the design process,” he said. “It does not lend itself to retrofitting. More and more architects now know about it, and are suggesting it to builders and owners. It’s a product that is set to come into its own.” For additional information, visit ridgefieldglass.com, or call 203-4383105. ■

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Into the Garden continued from page 17 bloom has an old rose look, but the bush stays a manageable height, from two to four feet, depending on the rose. We planted Kiss Me, Superhero, Yellow Submarine, and Centennial. We love them all, but Kiss Me is our favorite. I’ll let you know if they continue to do well through the summer.

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The fragrant Celsiana rose originated 300 years ago.

�� Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Herbs, Berries, Apples, Peaches, Greens and Other Vegetables Throughout the Season!

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

A old-fashioned perennial that has been around for years is Centaurea Montana; the common name is bachelor’s button. You need to stake an established plant in May since the height will be at least two feet, and unfortunately the stems don’t support the flowers. If you deadhead and stake Centaurea, it will continue to bloom through mid-July with deep-blue flowers. It seems all the gardening columns are reporting a large increase in vegetable gardening. It’s not just vegetables, but fruit trees, blueberries, raspberries, and grapes. We see fences going up – some very fancy and some not so. The seed companies are reporting sell-outs. They are also predicting that many of the new gardeners will not go beyond one year. Let’s prove them wrong. We visited one new vegetable garden this week on Hermit Road. This garden was designed by the homeowner, Linda. It is in the front of the house and is as elegant a vegetable garden as I have seen. It is on a ledge with raised beds, deer-fenced and just very interesting. Yes, she now needs to get more experience in what to grow and how to do it. That is part of the fun. I’ve stopped harvesting the asparagus and will let it grow up and leaf out to help the roots store energy for next year. With the cool weather, my lettuce was really good this year, but when those four days of 90 degrees arrived, I harvested it all (nine bags of it) and gave it to friends – but kept lots for myself. If you don’t wash it, you can keep it for a couple of weeks. We’ve had a few baby carrots for dinner, and I thinned the Swiss chard to make a tasty dish. The next vegetable is peas. We have peas for stir-fry and for shelling. This last weekend, I weeded the entire vegetable garden, including hilling up the potatoes. We’ve had an inch of rain this week, so I pushed on and covered the garden with straw. What a relief to have that done – lots of sweat and dirt, but it looks great. Remember, Saturday, July 19, my garden is on the Garden Conservancy Tour. I have several new annuals and perennials and, of course, all those roses. I’ll try to have it in good shape for the day. Questions or comments: donnaclark@ix. netcom.com. ■ July 2008

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� �� The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Majest Hilltop E

Home of the M

July 2008

LOCATION: Situated high on a hill i has an outstanding panoramic view. PROPERTY: Nicely landscaped, and w acres, there’s plenty of room for all kin space for a pool and horses. HOUSE: Built in 2005, the house has as nine-foot ceilings, hardwood floors A two-story foyer opens out into a form dining room, gourmet kitchen, family on the main level. The master suite on a sitting room, dual closets and a marb rooms, five and a half baths and a full the picture. GARAGE: Three-car attached. PRICE: $1,995,000. REALTY: Pandolfi Properties Inc. Agent: Barbara Sivba, The Sivba Grou 203-667-4336. Photography: David Ames.

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Whim and Fancy AMONG GARDEN BEDS, ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER by Jeannette Ross

Autumn Moon Japanese maple, above; dappled willow, below.

Katie Ross photos

hen it comes to gardening, Frances Lenich doesn’t let much stand in her way. Not the deer, not the weather, not working more or less by herself during the last 12 years to transform a two-acre property into a Wilton Eden. Frances, her husband, and her children moved into their home 13 years ago, and she has spent the last 12 carving out vast swaths from their backyard and turning them into undulating, colorful perennial beds. The garden, at 5 Spruce Meadow Court, will be open to visitors on Saturday, July 19, from 10 to 4 as part of The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. The $5 admission will be donated to Longue Vue House & Garden (longuevue.com) in Metarie, La., one of The Garden Conservancy’s preservation projects. It is a National Historic Landmark that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. For details on the Open Days program, call 845-265-5384 or visit gardenconservancy.org. Frances has designed her garden in two sections. The front of the house, being more formal with its circular drive, has a more formal garden. The front door is flanked by holly bushes and hornbeam trees. Flowering shrubs and perennials offer only white blooms. Towering white pines and tall deciduous trees, preserved during the construction process, add a certain dignity to the front yard. Once you pass through the gate to the spacious backyard, things change. “I’m not a formal person,” Frances said, and so the back is more casual. With five dogs that have the run of the back, it’s a wise choice. The beds have all been designed to offer color from early spring through November, when the Japanese maples send up an explosion of color just before winter. For the tour, visitors will find in bloom many daylilies, hydrangeas, hostas, spirea, yarrow, lythrum, phlox, oriental lilies, roses, and butterfly bushes, as well as an abundance of annuals along with some pretty containers. There will be plenty of other things to see. Dappled willow is a tall, ample, flowing shrub that from a distance looks as if it is covered in blos-

Two acres of space became two acres of Eden, and it’s here in Wilton for you to enjoy during The Nature Conservancy’s open-day program.

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008

soms. Get up close, however, and you will find it is the foliage itself, slender willowy leaves that are pink and yellow. Later in the season it changes to green and white variegated foliage. Frances is also a big fan of Japanese maples, and she has many different varieties, including a small specimen called Autumn Moon. It has yellow leaves tinged with red, offering a nice contrast with the greenery that is all around it. Then there’s Shishigashira, also known as Lion’s Head, with its deep green crinkled leaves. There are also the more common red and green Japanese maples, lending their distinctive profiles to the garden. Even something as simple as an evergreen screen takes on a certain interest as blue and green spruces rub shoulders with Cryptomeria, also known as Japanese cedar, and Hanoki cypress. Except for some of the landscaping around the pool – the pool, patio and sitting wall were designed by an architect and built 12 years ago – Frances has designed

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See Whim and Fancy page 34

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Arts and Crafts continued from page 13 Their firm, Greene & Greene, produced more than 25 California Arts and Crafts masterpieces, dating from the turn of the century to the ’20s. The Gambel House in Pasadena has projecting beams and broad overhangs, elements that are echoed in the broad porch and front entrance to the Elmwood Road house. Interior elements call to mind the simplicity and sophistication of Asian design and architecture that influenced the Greenes. “We wanted to keep the interior of the house light and bright while still interpreting the Arts and Crafts style, which traditionally uses a lot of interior wood,” Eric said. “We reduced the use of interior wood, while maintaining other elements of the style, including many large windows with rectangular wooden grills in the Mission style. The window elements help link all of the rooms together in a harmonious fashion.” Eric said reaction to the 4,400-square-foot home has been very positive. “People express various déjà vu feelings when they come to look at it. It seems to send out an aura of comfort and familiarity to a lot of people.” Sue said she and her husband build about one house a year, and their goal is to do something special. “This is our second Arts & Crafts home, and even our later

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Colonials were not totally in the cookie-cutter McMansion mode. We have been fortunate in finding buyers that are independent thinkers and often in creative fields.” Eric agreed. “When we do a project, we want to produce the very highest quality while stimulating people’s imaginations,” he said. Sue said, “We don’t want our homes to look like every other one on the street or on the market. Our homes appeal to people who are open-minded and may be interested in exploring a different type of architecture. Arts and Crafts Detail

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July 2008

The home has four bedrooms, five and a half baths, living room, dining room, family room, and kitchen. An oversized two-car garage is tucked beneath, and the home is situated high on three-and-a-half private acres. A large fully finished walk-out basement provides a lot of well-lit additional space. The kitchen features large windows and Mission-inspired cabinets with simple lines. A large marble center island blends with the granite counters and all the latest luxury appliances, including a six-burner gas stove with convection double oven. Sliding glass doors open to a spacious and sturdy timber-frame deck that overlooks a private backyard. The adjacent family room features tall casement windows and a raised-hearth fireplace with a classic wood mantel trimmed with reproduction Batchelder tiles. The generous living room shares the fireplace with the family room and features a wall of windows with pastoral views. A large dining room and an au pair or guest room complete the first floor. A Craftsman-style staircase leads to the second floor, where there is a large In the luxurious master bathroom, there’s a magnificent view from the soaking tub. windowed landing that is a living space unto itself. A master suite offers a sitting room, two large walk-in closets and a luxury bath with limestone floor, marble counters, double sinks, and a large walk-in shower. A three-paneled window behind the soaking tub provides yet another view of the magnificent property. Each family bedroom has its own FROM DESIGN TO INSTALLATION marble and granite en-suite bath and walk-in closet. KITCHENS, LIBRARIES, FAMILY ROOMS The fully finished 1,400-square25 YEARS OF LOCAL EXPERIENCE foot walk-out lower level is filled with light to the point where it cannot be described as a basement. It features wood and quartz-tile floors, a large bathroom, closets and its own exterior entrance. “All of the stone used for the house came from the site, including the large granite slabs that form the steps up to the front porch,” Eric said. “We feel the house is true to the Arts and Crafts goals of fine craftsmanship, use of natu�� ral materials and harmony with nature. �� We believe the right buyer will come �� along and are pleased to offer a home built with meticulous craftsmanship and attention to innovative architecture and detail.” Ridgeview Design Builders was founded in 1996 and specializes in residential construction. Eric and Sue also own ESM Landscape Development Inc., which focuses on site work and excavation. The Elmwood Road home is listed at $1,695,000 with Mary Anne Condon of Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, 914764-1800. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Fire bright, green delight! by Priscilla Whitley

Imagine getting cozy on your porch during one of those long, cool summer evenings. After the heat of the day, as the darkness of night chills the air, how lovely it would be to have an efficient and attractive wood-burning stove to warm not only the body but the mind as well. Turning the lights down low and letting the glow of the fire soothe the weariness of a busy day sounds like a perfect way to extend the joy of being outdoors before easing into a restful sleep. The question these days, though, is what is the effect on our environment of burning wood? As the 21st Century began, so did our increased understanding of the fragility of our relatively small world. Rais stoves, developed in Denmark in 1970, have made their mark here with their high-performance, EPA-certified wood- and gas-burning efficiency. To make them even more attractive, they come in an array of models with a design to suit every home and enhance the decor. As awareness of green products and green living grows, many buyers are becoming more conscientious with each new purchase, whether it is a car or a product for the lawn. In the not-so-distant past, many people did not realize that burning wood wasn’t an environmentally sound decision. But with new knowledge and more companies committed to preserving the planet, our lives can be enhanced while we are still mindful of our responsibilities. And the best part is we are not giving up anything, but instead enjoying the small comforts that may have been forgotten in the midst of busy lives.

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Efficiency, function and design are the three primary qualities Rais has developed within its wide range of stoves. The company has managed to incorporate all of these parameters while expanding its line and lowering emissions. The greenhouse effect came to the forefront in Denmark because of its frigid winters and the vast number of residents burning wood. Effective fireplaces, ones that not only give off substantial heat but also eliminate excess particle pollution, were a necessity for a country located in the north. All the stoves now sold in North America have either an EPA certificate or an EPA exemption (because of their use as a cooking stove). And the company has recently introduced a line whose particle-emissions standard is even more stringent than that of Washington state, which is one of the strictest in the country. The double-chambered burning compartments work with an adjustable air flow, ensuring that the wood burns clean. The efficiencies range from 71% to 74% compared to about 10% for the average household fireplace. A baffle system controls the mixture of air and smoke gasses, to almost eliminate, through a secondary burning, any excess particles that are pollutants. Simply put, a Rais stove is CO2 neutral, meaning emissions from this wood-burning stove are equal to the volume of CO2 given off if the wood were left to decompose in its natural state. These elegantly crafted stoves come in array of sizes and designs and can be incorporated into any part of the home. There is a sleek, classic Scandinavianstyle free-standing model to complement a contemporary decor. Handsomely

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designed in black, gray or stainless steel, the stove can also be produced with the smooth look of soapstone, giving it the air of an object d’art wherever it is placed. The insert model can be fitted to a fireplace, and it fits in snugly. It is ideal for a kitchen corner or a bedroom, with the warm glow of a fire to add sparkle. The wide glass door gives a full frame of the fire, and can be installed to open on either the right or the left. The Rais cube, which comes in a few artful designs, can be used as an outdoor fireplace or a grill, or it can stand alone as a garden sculpture. Made of Cor-Ten steel, it can be outside year-round, and, for versatility, it can be installed on a turntable. The outdoor Gizeh style is named for the Giza pyramids in Egypt and offers a unique design that rises gradually to a classic pyramid peak. Standing just over six feet, the grill offers function and a form to delight the eye. The handles on all the models are made of non-corrosive stainless steel, which doesn’t retain heat the way blue steel does. And since they are hollow, they remain cool even when the fire is fully burning. Whether a gas- or a wood-burning unit best suits your home, a Rais stove will enhance your decor while preserving the environment. Dealers carrying Rais stoves are The Trading Post, 314 Kent Rd., Rte. 7 North, New Milford, 860-354-3276, e-mail, tpostnmct@aol.com; and The Trading Post, 618 Main St., Rte. 25, Monroe, 203-261-0618, e-mail, info@trading-post-ct.com. ■

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Whim and Fancy continued from page 29 all the landscaping herself, and she is not afraid to get down and dirty planting and transplanting. Until recently, she had no formal horticultural education, but as some of the original plantings in the pool area started to outgrow their spaces, she took on the task of enlarging her garden with great enjoyment and satisfaction. While she does not design her beds on paper, she does design them in her head. “I fly by the seat of my pants,” Frances said. “I don’t sit down and draw it out. I look at the space, I walk the space, I sit in the space for hours to think about what I want to see and what I want others to see.” She is also flexible, accepting the changes that each season brings. Pointing out where lost spruce trees once stood, she said, “Every loss you have in a garden opens up a space for something else.” In the same vein, as some of the trees grow taller, there are changes in the understory. One thing that’s hard to believe is that until two or three years ago, Frances did all this without any deer fencing. “I used to use Bobbex,” she said, referring to a popular deer repellent. But it was a chore. She would go through two backpacks’

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worth for one application. “If you didn’t do it every 11 days, the deer would be back,” she added. “I liked seeing the deer,” she continued, “but after you wait for your daylilies and then, just before they’re about to bloom, they get chomped.” Well, everyone has their limits. The front garden, she noted, is not fenced, and Frances sticks to plants the deer do not find appealing. “I feed them apples in the front,” she said, almost in apology to her four-legged diners. Equally impressive is that the back garden is all organic. “I use no (synthetic) fertilizers or weed control in the beds, except for pulling them,” Frances said. She does use a commercial brand of organic chicken manure called Cock a Doodle Do. She also uses no pesticides, preferring instead to plant insect-repelling herbs like tansy and santolina. There is also a bat house for the mosquito patrol. If you visit Frances’ garden, which is called Whim & Fancy, and you still haven’t a good idea how it all evolved, consider this. The long bed with the dappled willow did not exist seven years ago, and the beds at the back of the house were built only four years ago. As she worked her backyard magic, Frances decided to get a more formal garden education, so she enrolled in classes at the New York Botanical Garden, earning a certificate in gardening. She is considering pursuing certification in landscape design. For the past three years she has had a small landscape-design business, but she has no Web site. Her excuse is she’s too busy working in the garden to work on the computer. If you want to find out more, you’ll have to visit on Open Day. She’ll be there to answer any questions about Whim & Fancy. ■

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Gentleman’s Farm continued from page 15 salt-water model, and a cabana/pool house was built from what had been a chicken coop. As for the grounds, in addition to planting 10 dogwood and other specimen trees, Ahme has reorganized some of the plants (a prior owner was a passionate gardener), which provide blooms throughout the season. The stone patios and walls off the back were there, but the Ericksons extended the stairwells. “Bringing the house and property back has been such a pleasure,” says Ahme, but she and Alan now want to move closer to their families in Michigan. “This is a good space to go green, and we know there are other people who will appreciate and love the home as much as we do.” For more information, call Mary Lou Bourque of Coldwell Banker at 203-470-5633 or 203-544-9591, or visit marchantrd.com. ■

The new pool is a salt-water model, and a former chicken coop has become a cabana/pool house.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Mothers’ helpers by G. Lisa Sullivan

I’ve never been to Brookfield, but, all of a sudden, I have a burning desire to move there. I’ve never seen the town, the houses, the neighborhoods, the schools, the parks, or even the residents ... all I know is, there’s a Young Chefs Academy there and I want to join! I know, I know, I’m not a chef, and I’m certainly not young, at least not by the school’s standards, where students range from 2 to 18. The franchise owner, Jessely Pineda, speaks with such passion about the program, however, that I’m thinking about disguising myself as an 18-year-old and signing up. “Actually, I’m planning to add adult classes in the fall,” Jessely explains, so maybe there’s hope for me after all. In the meantime, I’m going to take a drive up there one weekend this summer and investigate. (Am I too old for the Young Chefs Academy summer camp?) Kids Can Cook!

Jessely, a Brooklyn native, has always had a passion for cooking. As the second oldest of seven children, she helped raise her six siblings while her parents, both from the Dominican Republic, worked. “I often took care of my brothers

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Eventually, Jessely earned her master’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology and then began work as a manager for Starbucks. It was while Jessely’s daughter Brianna was in preschool that she had to rethink her cooking strategies. “Brianna kept getting sick, and didn’t gain weight,” she says. “I had to leave my job at Starbucks to figure out what was wrong with my daughter.” Food For Thought

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and sisters, and I experimented with different foods and spices in order to get them to eat,” she says. Relying on her innate creativity, Jessely concocted casseroles, cold pizza strips with ketchup dipping sauce, and anything else she thought would appeal to the other children in her family. “Kids love dipping foods into sauces,” she says, “and I’ve found that it’s not generally about the taste but the act of dipping that they like.” It was while pursuing a college degree in international business that Jessely completed an internship at the food and fun center at the Contemporary Resort in Disney World. Later, she lived in London for a semester, where she further expanded her palate. “I visited all kinds of restaurants in London, and then Scotland,” she says. “I recall one Moroccan place where the food was so wonderful, so different from anything here in the States, that I didn’t want to leave!”

Eventually, Brianna was diagnosed with a dairy allergy, and Jessely put her on a soy diet. Ironically, Jessely’s younger daughter, Olivia, would be diagnosed with a soy allergy. “My daughters’ food allergies required a lot of self-education and reading, and now they’re healthier than they’ve ever been. I love cooking and, as a parent, I have become a passionate teacher. This, combined with my business background, is what inspired me to open a cooking school for kids.” Having read a magazine article about the founders of Young Chefs Academy, and having talked to many parents of picky eaters, Jessely believed that a Fairfield County-based children’s cooking school would appeal to a broad range of families. She chose Brookfield, since it was close to Danbury, Newtown, New Milford, and Kent, as the site for her business. The company, which comprises 180 locations across the United States and Canada, offers memberships, after-school and weekend cooking classes, private classes for home-schooling groups or field trips, summer and holiday camps, scout troop meetings, and quality cooking merchandise, according to Jessely. “There was nothing like Young Chefs Academy in Connecticut,” she says. “I first looked into opening in lower Fairfield County, but the rents were too prohibitive. Brookfield, with approximately 16,000 residents, including many young families, was an ideal choice for the business.” Dream Kitchen

Located at 18 Old Route 7, not far from Stew Leonard’s and Home Depot, Jessely’s shop, which opened in June 2007, draws lots of local traffic. “Everyone here in Brookfield knows each other, and people hear about us mostly through word of mouth,” she says. See Mothers’ Helpers page 49

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OUTDOOR LIVING

The stuff of memories by Jane Speroff

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The line between indoors and outdoors continues to blur as many of us want to take our indoor comforts and solitude outdoors. This concept is becoming more realistic as many manufacturers of home products develop more and more appliances, furniture, lighting and accessories that can be used indoors or out. People are driven to find peaceful sanctuaries as a prescription for our stressful lives. Outdoor patios and porches are becoming more sophisticated and refined, a true extension of our indoor space. Three-season indoor spaces are also making a comeback. Creating or renovating an outdoor space has many elements. Landscape design, stonework and carpentry are all critical components of designing your outdoor haven. Outdoor furnishings, lighting and accessories are also an essential element in your overall plan. As you begin the process and consider space planning and design be sure to include the entire family. You will be amazed at the wish list that you come up with. Your outdoor space should accommodate all your needs throughout the year. Do you entertain outdoors? Make sure that there will be enough seating for your larger parties. Do you spend time outdoors in the evenings and at night? Make sure you have adequate lighting and bug control included in your plan. Is the outdoor grill seasonal or year-round? Where you place the grill and whether it has a protective roof will make a difference depending on how you use it. Do you plan to have your

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family meals outdoors often? If so, make sure your dining area comfortably accommodates your family and then some. Outdoor furniture has greatly evolved from the folding, vinyl-strap versions of the past to beautiful pieces made of teak, steel, rattan, and wicker. Many pieces look just like indoor furniture but are constructed and designed to stand up to Northeastern weather. Fabrics are being manufactured to resist fading from ultraviolet rays, to resist mildew from damp conditions and to resist odor absorption. These types of fabrics are a must for any upholstery or drapery that will be used outdoors or in a screened-in location.

Lighting is also an important aspect in creating an inviting outdoor space. Be sure you incorporate various types of lighting just as you would indoors. Landscape lighting, overhead lighting, ceiling fans or decorative side lighting are good ideas. Torches or tiki lighting can also be charming and functional. Remember to create a space that is perfect for you and your needs. This is a space where memories will be made, so consider it an important investment. I like to call an investment like this an emotional anchor – a space where your family gathers, shares and remembers forever. Jane Speroff, interior design, 203-638-5108 or decdens.com/janesperoff. ■

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The Hickok-Rounds House A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE by G. Lisa Sullivan

Period details that span two centuries were not lost when this house was updated with today’s amenities.

For me, one of the best parts about living in New England is the region’s abundance of historic homes, colonials in particular. Exposed ceiling beams, antique wood floors and large open hearths with beehive ovens are just part of their charm. I also enjoy the sense of history that these dwellings impart. It’s hard not to imagine some 1800s mother in long skirt and apron kneading dough for bread in the kitchen, or the family gathered in the parlor by the fire after dinner. While historic homes are a great place to visit, they are, however, notoriously famous for their lack of modern amenities. Many potential home buyers (namely me) wouldn’t even consider a house without central air conditioning, updated plumbing or stainless-steel kitchen appliances. So what do you do when you want an old house with all the comforts of a new home? The answer? You look for a historic home that has already been updated, marrying the old with the new. A perfect example is the Hickok-Rounds House, a circa 1800s colonial at 109 Cannon Road in Wilton, which is now for sale. Steeped In History

The Hickok-Rounds House, which is said to have been built circa 1750, was originally owned by Jesse Gregory, who sold the dwelling, with 9 acres, to Nathaniel

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Sterling in 1805, according to town records. “This appears to be the main section of the 109 Cannon Road house, but its history prior to 1805 is obscured in the records and one can only deduce that the house was built in the late 1700s,” the records state. The property then passed rapidly from Nathaniel to William Sterling in 1808 (perhaps Nathaniel was longing for central air and granite countertops?), to Matthew Marvin and George Cannon in 1811, and then to John Hickok also in 1811. John first leased the property to Abigail and Sarah Hurlbutt for the rest of their natural lives at 20 cents per year, and then apparently lived there himself until his death in 1864. The property then passed to his son, William Hickok. William died in 1883, and his widow, Huldah Hickok, next transferred it to their daughter, Mary Wakeman, in 1899. The following information was researched and written by Al Wood. “The Hickok ownership ended in 1903 when Mary sold the home to Doretta K. Fearn, who, with her husband, Col. W.R. Fearn of New York City, purchased the property as a summer home. Ralph and Mary Rounds bought the home in 1911, and in 1951, the house was sold to David M. Keiser; in 1956, to Jhan and June Robbins; to Richard and Ann Lindgren in 1968; to Reginald and Lucille Stack in 1975; to Roger and Janice Johnson during 1981; to Western Digital Corp. in 1983; and finally to Stephen and Laura Kreter, the current owners, in 1983. Throughout the years, the Hickok-Rounds House has undergone a number of renovations, both large and small. In the early 1900s, the house took on a Victorian look, with the addition of verandas, dormers and bay windows. Prior to 1927, a large wing was added to the northeast side, and the original structure was reworked in a Colonial Revival style. Later, the kitchen was updated and central air conditioning was added to part of the home. One-Stop Shopping

Laura and Stephen Kreter had always been drawn to old houses, and when the couple was looking for a home 25 years ago, it was love at first sight. “My husband, Stephen, visited the house before me, and he almost signed the deal without me seeing it!” Laura recalls. Today, the 13-room yellow clapboard home with dark green shutters, just a stone’s throw from historic Cannondale Village, sits on 2.12 acres, and includes six bedrooms, four full and two half baths and nine fireplaces. “The main house, which was originally Federal style, is a 5,541 sq. ft. two story, Colonial Revival with the original structure dating back to the 18th century,” explains July 2008

Ann Nash, long-time friend of the Kreters and a real estate agent with Realty Seven, the listing firm for the home. “The home, which is listed at $2,950,000, is quite spectacular with extraordinary period details spanning two centuries.” The house features a large formal living room and a banquet-size dining room. The gourmet kitchen has top-of-the-line appliances, an island, granite counters and woodburning fireplace. The master suite with fireplace has a new bath with whirlpool tub, separate shower and double vanity. There are hardwood floors throughout and many built-ins, and the three-season sunroom has a brick floor. Outdoors, there’s a slate patio, Gunite pool, a bocce court, stone walls, gardens, mature trees and plantings. The stone basement has extra storage, and there’s a 2,500 sq. ft. detached four-car barn/garage with a main room on the first floor and two separate lofts on the second. Central air was added to the home’s entire second floor and the first-floor family room. The Kreters, having raised seven children here, are now looking to downsize, and have mixed emotions about the move. “We have so many wonderful memories of living in this house, and have had our family, friends and our children’s friends here so often over the years that it was a hard decision to sell,” Laura says. “People sometimes drive by and stop to say, ‘I used to play here as a kid ... I have such great memories of this house.’ We’ll probably do the same after we move out!” For further information, call Ann Nash at 203-856-8927, or send an e-mail to nash@realtyseven.com. ■

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�� The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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COOKBOOK I REVIEW ■

Spanish cuisine with a global flair by Susan Miller When high airfares prevent travel to Spain, we can still enjoy the food with a book of post-modern Spanish cuisine from the Culinary Institute of America – Spain and the World Table, with text by Martha Rose Shulman (DK Publishing, $35, hc, illustrated). Spain is no longer stereotyped by paella, gazpacho and sangria. The cutting edge of today’s chefs practice “molecular gastronomy,” armed with nitrogen chargers for savory or sweet “foams,” improbable olives made with “spherified” juice, methylcellulose films, and other concocPADRÓN PEPPERS PAN FRIED WITH SERRANO HAM 15 to 20 Padrón peppers*, depending on size 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 pound Serrano ham, cut into 1/2” dice 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt or sea salt, or as needed Place peppers in a colander and rinse under cold water. Dry thoroughly. Heat the oil in a large, heavy sauté pan until it is sizzling. Add the ham and sauté for 40 seconds, or until surface has darkened, the fat has turned golden brown and begun to crisp, and the meat smells fragrant. Add the peppers and cook, stirring, until they are blistered and softened but have not turned brown, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to an attractive serving platter, sprinkle with sea salt and serve immediately. Serves 8. * The small, sometimes spicy Padrón peppers are available at tienda.com/ food, or perhaps one could grow them. excerpted from Spain and the World Table, Martha Rose Shulman, DK Publishing, recipe by Maricel E. Presilla

tions that look like a kid gone wild in a chemistry lab. Food snobs flock to Ferran Adria’s Catalonian El Bulli restaurant, a gastronomic shrine. Adria and other avant-garde chefs use ingredients and tools unavailable to the home cook. Fortunately, Spain and the World Table takes a more conservative route, while including a few overwrought read-only recipes – better to sample these on site. The idea was to showcase the influence of Spain on world cuisine, but it also shows the opposite – how contemporary Spanish cooking (mostly high-end restaurant) has been vastly changed by world cuisine. There’s nothing typically Spanish about a very Japanese Seaweed and Tuna Toro Salad, where Toro is the tuna type, not the bull. Even paella is affected. In addition to a very good, very traditional Paella Valenciana with rabbit and chicken, there’s a sushi paella and a vegetarian version, because, we read, tourists have been requesting it. Chefs from both Spain and America contributed the recipes, and most are quite doable by a competent home cook, except for those that demand items like suckling pig cheeks, white anchovies, or octopus “shavings.” The Salmorejo Soup, a sort of protogazpacho, looks inviting until you realize it calls for two cups of olive oil to serve eight – that’s a quarter cup per person. Is it a typo or a celebration of Spanish olive oil? Instead, try the fat-free but filling, beautifully spiced Seven Vegetable Soup, or a very un-Spanish New York Strip Steak with a Spanish sweet and sour sauce, plus most of the desserts. These remain traditional in spirit but fresh and greatly updated. Some winners are Spiced Almond Brittle, Paparajotes (a lemony fritter), Oranges with Saffron, and a killer Hot Chocolate with Churros (fried doughnuts). A nice tapa is Manchego Croquettes, similar to upscale Tater Tots, served with a quince sauce, not ketchup. The description of many available Spanish cheeses and an excellent glossary and list of online sources are fine features. ■

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July 2008

Living the ‘green’ way by Isabelle Ghaneh It’s easy being green, at least as far as Matt McCullough, founder of Green Insulation Company, is concerned. Kermit the Frog aside, Matt loves being green, and he built his soy-based, spray-foam insulation company on that principle. Matt, who has been in the building and construction business for more than five years, started his new business in January 2008. Deciding he no longer wanted to use petroleum-based foam, he started looking for a greener product. “ I did research and found a company called Biobased, in Arkansas, that is recognized by the United States government as producing a green building product. Biobased had no distributors here in Fairfield or Westchester County, so I went down to Arkansas and talked with them directly. After that, I decided to work with them and use their foam. I am now a certified dealer for this area,” Matt explained. Matt’s company uses soy-oil-based foam, and his commitment to building green is shown in his choice of company name – Green Insulation. He pumps the foam from two 55-gallon drums, which passes through several machines before being sprayed onto the walls as insulation for heating and cooling. It is used in place of fiberglass. Soy-oil foam is better than fiberglass, he says. It can save 30% on electric bills and up to 50% on heating bills by better maintaining a home’s internal temperature. Since he needs to needs to apply the foam before the Sheetrock goes up, Matt works mainly on new construction and new additions, although he can apply the foam to attics and basements in existing houses. Matt’s interest in being green started in childhood. “I was raised to be conscious of the environment,” he said. He and his brother, Adam, who is also his partner, were raised in Darien. Matt’s dad, a lawyer, was involved in buying houses, refurbishing them, and then selling them. “My brother and I grew up around building,” Matt said. “I went to Lehigh University, and my brother went to Boston University. After college, I worked for an Internet company based in Norwalk for about five years. The company was bought out, and I decided I wanted to try something different, so I went into real estate, and that has been my profession for the past five years,” he said. Matt rediscovered a love of construction after being in the business world for a while. “I enjoy hands-on work,” he said, “and I really wanted to do what made me happy. I also wanted to give back to the community. “I knew a lot about refurbishing houses because my dad did a lot of the work himself on the houses he fixed up. My brother and I decided to follow in his footsteps and buy houses and refurbish them and sell them. We gradually began to

put on additions to houses, and then we started to build spec houses. We still buy houses and fix them up, although most of the work we do now is new construction. We build as green a house as physically possible,” he added. Matt and his brother run the MTM Renovation and Construction Company, along with the Green Insulation Company. “My brother and I try to be as environmentally responsible as possible. We reduce a house’s footprint which reduces the amount of fossil fuel used, so we are actually saving the new homeowner money,” Matt explained. At the same time, they are improvingg the environment. Matt said that by buying his houses, homeowners not only help the environment but they save themselves money, since it costs half as much to run a green house as one that doesn’t have energy-saving products and applications. All of Matt’s houses use efficient water-saving and energy-saving devices. “Banks are relieved if you build a green house since they are cheaper to run. They feel more secure lending money to the buyer of a green house. A new homeowner also has a better chance of getting a loan, since now there are green mortgages you can apply for. Google the term green mortgage and you will see for yourself that the rates are much cheaper, and it’s a more user friendly mortgage. It’s a new policy with banks and has only been around for the past year or two,” Matt said. Matt’s belief in himself, instilled in him by his parents, enabled him to make a career switch early on in his working life. “My college background and marketing experiences come in very handy when I run my business. I give presentations on soy-based foam to area architects, because architects are the first people homeowners speak to. It’s a trickle-down effect.” The Green Insulation Company is at 1465 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, and may be reached at 203-253-4883, or on the Web at thegreeninsulationco.com. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

RACKING I ONE’S I BRAIN ■

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Oy vey! Studies show pessimists have even more to worry about by Tim Murphy The phone rings. It’s the doctor, calling with your test results. Positive that it won’t be anything serious, you calmly await his update, eager to get on with the rest of the day. The phone rings. It’s the doctor, calling with your test results. Certain that it is going to be something serious, you nervously await his update, wondering how you will spend the final few months of your life. If the scenarios above played out like that, with the optimist in the first one receiving good news and the pessimist in the second one a death sentence, it might not be surprising. According to several studies, superior physical health is a benefit of optimism. Pessimism, by contrast, has been linked to an increased risk for infectious disease, poor health and early mortality. Worrying that something may be wrong with you is apparently a good way to provoke that thought into action. For optimists, superior physical health is just one of many plusses. Better emotional health is another. Increased longevity, too. And greater achievement, persistence, better coping skills, and more satisfying relationships. The list is so impressive

that anyone on the verge of a negative thought should perish it immediately, or suffer the consequences. Until recently, the world always had room for both optimists and pessimists. When one person believed his rain dance for the gods would result in an appreciative, crop-saving thunderstorm, another was there thinking this is never going to work, we’re all going to die, and that guy really needs to learn some new moves. The two groups balanced each other. Optimists believed anything was possible, pessimists reminded them not to get overconfident. The necessary co-existence was not lost on British author G.B. Stern. “Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society,” wrote Stern. “The optimist invents the airplane, the pessimist the parachute.” But then along came positive psychology. Described as a scientific study of the strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities thrive, positive psychology took root in 1998 when Dr. Martin Seligman used it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Seligman has gone on to write numerous books on

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July 2008

partly because pessimists tend to aim for perfection while optimists vow to do better next time. If positive psychology had been around to entice a pre-teen Woody Allen, we could now be down about six classics. Dr. Seligman himself agrees that unbridled optimism is not always the best tack, suggesting that flexible, or nuanced optimism, works better. In certain situations, it’s preferable to be pessimistic, or at least cautious. Pessimists make safer choices when it comes to gambling, and most airplane passengers would prefer a pilot who opts to investigate a slight burning smell rather than think “it’s probably nothing” before taking off. Besides, as a survival mechanism, pessimism has been just as effective as risk taking. Pessimists may be at risk for early mortality, but sometimes they live longer than optimists. If the Trojans had been a little more wary, worried and woe-is-us, they would have looked inside that horse. ■

CORRECTION

Alexander Lindner

the subject and is currently the director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has been involved in several of the field’s most cited studies, including one that showed Metropolitan Life sales personnel who scored high on optimism tests sold 37% more life insurance in their first two years than peers who tested high for pessimism. Those results, however, should come as no surprise since pessimists would naturally be more interested in buying life insurance than selling it. Buoyed by the prospect of studying what made people happy rather than the long-standing focus on what made them mentally ill, many psychologists jumped on Dr. Seligman’s branch, leading to even more books and more studies. Stroll down the self-help section of any bookstore and you’ll see the results. Instead of being confined to a psychological caste system, it’s now considered possible to shift frames of mind, transforming from disillusioned downer to hopeful extrovert. It just might cost you $11.95 to get started. As expected, it’s not easy switching one thought pattern for another. Your mind is not as accommodating as the exchange counter at Macy’s. But Dr. Seligman and his compatriots believe it can be done through cognitive restructuring, or, in less frightening terms, learned optimism. The premise is to replace pessimistic thinking with optimistic thinking. To do so, imagine placing an aggressive attorney (working pro bono, of course) inside your mind in order to immediately dispute and challenge pessimistic thoughts whenever they arise. Then, replace that negative thought with a positive one. There are other suggested methods: avoiding negative environments and people; focusing outside yourself; cultivating spontaneity; celebrating your strengths; managing or ignoring what you can’t change; rearranging your vocabulary and outlook; learning to look for hidden positives in negative situations. As the movement’s growth and book sales have shown, there are a lot of pessimists hoping to become optimists – or, if that doesn’t work, at least make it to realist, the rational middle section in the outlook trilogy. You can’t blame them. Study after study shows the benefits of thinking positively, from less stress to more friends. And naturally it’s preferable to spend your day looking forward to the next one rather than worrying it might be your last. It’s all well and good except for one thing: If positive psychology were to succeed in wiping out pessimism, creativity would be part of the collateral damage. The world relies on brooding, neurotic, morose types to create much of its great art, from paintings to novels to films to black-light posters. Tortured souls have produced far more interesting and memorable work than their happy-go-lucky peers,

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LUCCI ELECTRIC

Powering up for 50 Years by Isabelle Ghaneh Fifty is nifty could be the heading of a birthday card for a new member of the half-century club, but it also expresses how Chris Raab, the owner of Lucci Electric, feels about his company’s upcoming 50th anniversary. On July 21, 1958, Lucci Electric sent out its first invoice, and Chris decided it was the perfect date for a company celebration. All are welcome to the anni-

versary barbecue, which will be held at the Wilton YMCA pavilion at 5:30 on July 21. Chris is holding the birthday bash as a way of saying thank you to the community at large, since he benefited from the help and support of many people throughout his life, especially from his dad and Mike Lucci, the original owner. “My dad was an electrician at Danbury Hospital, and he used to take me to work with him from time to time. He and my mom instilled great work and life ethics in me. My dad passed away in 1980, and I started to work as an apprentice in the electrical field for Mike Lucci. After 10 years, an opportunity presented itself for me to take over the business, and I have been the owner since 1990. Mike was a great mentor to me until he died in 2007, so I am honoring the memories of both my dad and Mike in the celebration,” Chris said. Chris views his employees as his teammates. Each one brings his or her own special knowledge and expertise to the company, and Lucci Electric has grown and benefited as a result. “Dawn Mele came on board five years ago as office manager, and she is the voice of Lucci Electric. She turned our administrative procedures around and transformed them. Dawn was instrumental in helping us establish our program to bring on apprentice electricians, and she works closely with the technical schools in the area, especially with Lincoln Technical in Shelton. She and Jim Acerbo, our vice president, put on presentations at the schools. Jim has been here 19 years, and he is someone I trust implicitly,” Chris said. While he was an apprentice electrician with Mike Lucci, Chris went to Henry Abbott Technical School at night, but he knows that 99.9% of the knowledge an electrician has comes from working in the field. After four years of working on a day-to-day basis as an apprentice, he or she is then able to sit for the State Board of Exams.

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July 2008

“You need to combine both technical training and education. Once you establish 8,000 hours of working experience, you can test to become a journeyman electrician. After that, you continue to work for two more years and then you can become a master electrician. You take another all-day exam, and then you are allowed to be in the business as a contractor,” Chris said. An apprentice electrician is always supervised by a licensed electrician, and works closely under his tutelage. This fall, a few of Lucci’s apprentice electricians will sit for the state exams. It makes Chris very proud to know that he had a hand in developing their skills, and fulfills his desire to give back to the community, as does his sponsorship of several Little League teams in Wilton. Both Chris’s dad and Mike Lucci died of cancer, and Chris participates in the Relay for Life sponsored by the American Cancer Society in their memory. “I learned how important it is to give back early on in life. Customer service comes first for us here at Lucci, and we get to know our customers very well. For us it’s more than just ‘call the electrician,’ it’s ‘Jenny’s plug needs work’ or ‘Brian’s lights need to be fixed’. We are all team members and we work together, that’s one of the reasons we have been in business for so long,” Chris said. “Bob Monroe is in his 14th year with the company, and is the project manager. Many of the younger electricians are very computer savvy, and they have helped us along in the computer end of the business.

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“We currently sell and install the Lutron Light Control System, which is controlled by a computer. The system shrinks lighting needs to one keyboard of roughly six buttons. If you are coming home from work and you have a regular routine of putting on your porch light, then your kitchen light, and then the light in your living room, we can program all that to take place on just one button. “It gives you the convenience of linking any lights you want, so you don’t have to run around. You can have a good-night button where all the lights you want turned off at night are linked together,” he said. Another product Lucci Electric offers is an automatic generator. As anyone who lives in Fairfield or Westchester County knows, unpredictable and wild weather can arise throughout the year. Depending on the severity of the storm, power can be out for several hours, several days, or longer. Peace of mind comes with a generator. Chris is very aware of his customers’ needs since he has lived in the area all his life. His youngest daughter, Lena, is a member of the Weston girls softball league, and Chris coaches her team. “My focus is on kids, and I try to instill in them the same great values I learned when I was a kid. That’s why I’m where I am today,” Chris said. Lucci Electric is at 681 Danbury Rd., Wilton, 203-762-7013. ■ ��

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

HOW TO BE A SMART SHOPPER by Dawn Zimmerer It seems everyone’s feeling the pinch of today’s tight economy. Although prices on certain grocery items have slightly increased to reflect the rising cost of fuel, there are ways to save money at the market. The most important rule to remember is to have a shopping strategy. Here are some other helpful tips: • Read your weekly flyer. Plan your meals around the items on sale. You’d be surprised how much you can save by spending a few minutes making a shopping list based on the weekly circular. • Avoid impulse buying. Focus on the items on your list, and stick with staples. • Choose local items. In general, produce grown closer to you will cost less and be fresher because it has traveled less.

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• Shop fresh. Generally, the more processed the food, the more it costs, and, often, the less healthy it is. • Buy items in season. Produce is most flavorful and economical when it’s in season. • Try frozen or canned fruits. Frozen produce is preserved at its nutritional peak, and is very economical. Read the labels to avoid fruits packed in heavy syrup or veggies soaked in sodium. • Look at the shelves at every level, not just eye-level. • Buy generic brands of staple items, such as flour, salt and sugar. • Marinate meat; it tenderizes and adds flavor to less expensive cuts. • Slice leftover chicken or meat and add to salads, soups or stews. • Ask for assistance. Staff should be readily available to help you choose the best items at the best prices or offer tips on how to prepare a delicious and economical meal. Dawn Zimmerer is manager of customer service at Ancona’s Market in Ridgefield. ■

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July 2008

Mothers’ Helpers continued from page 37 With 1,500 square feet – including two kitchens, purple counters, royal-blue walls, and cabinets in hues of fuchsia, yellow, lime-green, purple, and blue, the school was designed with kids in mind. “Cooking is a lifelong skill, and at some point, everyone has to cook for themselves,” Jessely says. “Therefore, our classes begin at age 2 with the Big Chef/Little Chef program, in which young children perform simple cooking tasks with their parents. Next, Kindercooks, a one-hour class for 4- to 5-year-olds, teaches children how to make banana splits, watermelon salad, and to dice and chop using special safety knives and plastic pizza cutters. Mini chefs for 6- to 7-year-olds, Junior Chefs for 8- to 12- year-olds, and Senior Chefs for kids age 13 to 18, helps young cooks become independent, a little at a time.” Classes are divided monthly into themes, with last April, for example, designated as Cakewalk. “The first week, we taught children the basics of baking a cake,” Jessely says. “The second, we showed them the difference between a box cake mix and homemade (and they preferred homemade!). The third week, we taught them to marbleize, and the fourth was devoted to learning how to ice.” May focused on Celebrity Chefs, with kids learning about their favorite Food Network TV stars. “Many of the students watch these shows with their parents, and then come to class full of ideas,” Jessely says.

before they taste a food, and have such preconceived notions of food,” Jessely explains. “I don’t want them deciding they won’t like a food before they actually try it.” For further information, call 203-740-8878, or visit the company’s Web site, Youngchefsacademy.com/brookfield. ■

Busy Bodies

Young Chefs Academy also offers birthday parties. For school breaks and during the summer, the school schedules mini camps, such as a Survivor Week, during spring break, where the kids used muffin tins to make healthy foods, like brown rice with lemon and sweet rice salad. “I often won’t tell the children what they’re making before they make it, as they tend to eat with their eyes

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Young Chefs Academy also offers birthday parties and mini camps during school breaks and the summer.

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Homebodies continued from page 18 I think she got the point, as she politely and quickly removed herself from the vicinity. To compound my lack of patience, I am an inveterate planner, and am ridiculously organized (thanks again, Dad!). I prefer to leave nothing to chance, which consequently results in a complete lack of spontaneity in my life. There’s nothing like being early to every party, every recital, every meeting, every everything! I’m embarrassed to be the first one everywhere, but I simply can’t help myself. People must think I have no life, or that I’m compulsive (Who, me?). Good luck to anyone who ever tries to throw a surprise party for me (except for my husband, who’s almost pulled it off twice). Never Late Is Better

My mother, who is notoriously tardy, keeps all the clocks in her house set ahead, affording her some extra time. At one point, out of desperation, I took the opposite route, and began setting my clock behind so that at least I’d have a small chance of arriving on time ... rather than half an hour early. After only a few days, however, that strategy invariably fell by the wayside, and I eventually returned to my old, hyper-punctual ways. Why should people be late, anyway? I consider it to be selfish and inconsiderate, and latecomers at the movie theater are one of my biggest pet peeves. My husband and I prefer to get to the theater about 30 minutes early (it’s one of the reasons I married him), so we can get popcorn and a Diet Coke, and find exactly the seats we want. There’s nothing more annoying than the film beginning and a bunch of thoughtless dolts arriving late and in search of seats. It’s very distracting as they whisper loudly and stand right on top of us, looking for

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

12 seats together. Somehow, they always choose the empty ones right in front of us, and I end up craning my neck and sighing with exasperation the entire time (I can’t imagine it’s one of the reasons my husband married me!). While I find latecomers annoying, I can only imagine how they in turn perceive me. For example, my good friend Miss Moneybags must find it maddening, rushing to meet me for our weekly lunch date, only to find me already seated and having ordered our usual salad pizza (this happens every time). Granted, Miss Moneybags is coming to lunch from work, fighting traffic and the pull of the office, whereas I’m just driving from my house up the road. I’m sure she’s busy closing mega-deals and hobnobbing with the other business tycoons on the phone as she attempts to leave the office, while I’m at home trying to decide which pair of jeans to put on. Miss Moneybags has good reason to arrive after me, but still, it must be a little annoying to have me for a friend. Party Girl

Occasionally, my punctuality and preparedness work to my advantage. Over the years, for instance, I have gotten the art of entertaining down to a science. Whether I’m planning a dinner party for six, Thanksgiving for 12 or a New Year’s Eve bash for 24, I have everything ready ahead of time – all the dishes, glasses, napkins, and cutlery are gathered, the table is set, and I’ve usually planned a menu that allows for as much advance food preparation as possible. I always write out a menu, which I tape to my kitchen cabinet, and to which I refer before and during the event. Prior to the meal, I slip a scrap of paper in each serving dish, naming the item with which it is to be filled. I realize most people aren’t quite as well organized (except for Martha Stewart, maybe), but it’s hard not to be a little critical of others less prepared. For example, we were invited for dinner at another couple’s house a few years ago. Arriving promptly (of course!) at 6, we had nothing to eat until about 9, when the hostess, who had been busy sipping the cooking sherry, remembered the hors d’oeuvres in the fridge. At another dinner party, we actually showed up a few minutes late, only to be greeted at the door by the wife, obviously just out of the shower, with wet hair and wearing an old sweat suit and slippers, a portable phone glued to her ear. “Uh, are we early?” I asked. “Oh, no, you’re right on time!” she whispered, as she waved us in and continued the telephone conversation with her mother. I thought the dinner – dry, unseasoned roasted broccoli, a table complete with dirty cloth napkins, the hostess in her sloppy clothes and further telephone conversation – would never end. Needless to say, we haven’t seen the couple since. I apologize if I sound judgmental or overly critical of people who are perpetually late or unprepared, but I’m afraid I can’t help myself ... it’s just the way I am. Only this time, I can’t even blame it on my father! ■

July 2008

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

July 2008