“When summer opens, I see how fast it matures, and fear it will be short; but after the heats of July and August, I am reconciled, like one who has had his swing, to the cool of autumn.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
There really needs to be a name for the moment in time when you are staring at the blinking curser to when you actually reach to the keyboard . Seems we all have a lot to say these days.
I remember a comedian who once had this bit where he put a name on that exact moment when you’re closing the door to your car, see your keys, and then close the door anyway. He named that moment an “ignesecond” (ignorant second.) It’s like, “boy it I sure would suck if that happened” and then do it anyway. Apractical analogy for the human condition.
Well,“may you live in interesting times...” and let me tell you this, it is tough to write about the weather, in August of 2024. It seems that we may need to remind ourselves that right now we’re living in and subsequently writing our own real history. Speaking for myself, I love the country of my birth in the same way as my favorite jeans with well-earned holes in them. It has never been perfect but it’s mine. It is what I know as GenX. One thing for certain is that the creative spirit is built into each of us and in many different ways. The puzzle is equal to the sum if it’s parts. Almost certainly we are going to need our local neighbors and to be good ones ourselves.
I tend to live my life as if the power went out. It’s cozy.
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Imna Arroyo, Eleggua - Balance of the World, metal scale ready-made balance, wood, paper and board, 2022. Image courtesy of Celeste Acevedo Fuster.
Pandemonium Rainforest Project
Allison Sloan and the Lifetime Vision of Giving Back… Rescuing Animals and the Community
By Rona Mann/Photographs by David Bridges
ast Halloween Allison Sloane dressed up as Dr. Doolittle.
Last Halloween no one who knew her was the least bit surprised.
Allison Sloane is one of the most unique persons you may ever meet if you are indeed fortunate enough to meet her. She thrives on pandemonium, yet she is extremely organized. She lives in the midst of screeches, howls, barks, purrs, and other audible sounds for which vocabulary has not yet been assigned. Yet, she is calm, laid back, and understands every one of those sounds, returning the communication with hugs on fur and feathers, kisses on beaks and speckled throats, and hugs, scratches, cuddles, and pats from head to tail.
Allison Sloane will drop everything to rescue an endangered animal... from anywhere and at any cost. Details be damned! Affordability? Practicality? She’ll worry about all that later. The animal is about the NOW, and there is nothing else in Allison Sloane’s world that is more important. That’s why she created Pandemonium and wants to welcome you into her world. But first, some history...some of the backstory that got Allison, and hopefully, will power you as well to this place.
It all began 23 years ago when Sloane rescued a snake from a disgusting excuse for a pet shop in Virginia. The reptile was living under
deplorable conditions in a store that had no idea how to properly care for animals and had no business being in business, so Allison got her out and brought her back to Connecticut. At the time, neither the rescued snake now named Moe with her name tattooed on Sloane’s clavicle extending around her neck, nor Allison knew that this was the beginning of something very special; she just knew that a place was sorely needed for animals that no one cared about anymore like reptiles and exotic birds. In many cases, these animals were simply thrown away because their humans were moving, downsizing, or had no use for them any longer. In other cases, it was more deliberate and awful like abuse, pure and simple. Whatever the reason, it hardly mattered to Sloane. She only knew that a place for them was needed; a place not just of sanctuary, but of education.
Before she donned her Dr. Doolittle top hat, Sloane earned her chops in Connecticut as an award-winning florist in a shop she named Ashleigh’s Garden, for her only daughter. Specializing in English garden design and with over 40 years of wedding experience, Ashleigh’s Garden is still going strong. Its enormous success, not just in wedding design but in flowers and plants for every occasion, has contributed to the Pandemonium Rainforest Project, a dream shot from a canon and made into reality.
Yes, Allison Sloane created her own rainforest as a gift to exotic animals and to the community at large. It has become a “destination” not only in Connecticut but has brought to Deep River the curious, the animal lovers, and travelers from all over New England and beyond. This is the third time that Ink Magazine has chosen to feature Allison’s dream come true, and each time, more
and travelers from all over New England and beyond. This is the third time that Ink Magazine has chosen to feature Allison’s dream come true, and each time, more and more has been added. For example, we just found out that Sloane is a member of The Colonial Dames of America, an unincorporated association with more than 15,000 members who promote appreciation for the people, places, and events that led to the formation of our country. Not bad for a rainforest chick covered in tattoos!
In 2022, Sloane moved Ashleigh’s Garden, the thrift store that stood adjacent whose profits had in the beginning underwritten the Pandemonium Rainforest Project, along with her reptiles, parrots, dogs, cats, and a Salcata tortoise (the third largest in the world) into an historic factory building on West Elm Street in Deep River. It had once been one of the last places where ivory was cut
“I do not understand the human race. It has so little love for creatures with a different face. Treating animals like people is no madness or disgrace, I do not understand the human race.”
Dr. Doolittle
and manufactured but had laid dormant for 70 years. Ever the “rescuer,” Sloane and her partner, Kim Olson decided to buy the building and preserve it to honor its contributions and place in Connecticut history.
The Pandemonium Rainforest is open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, and is spread throughout a six-and-a-half acre campus. The gorgeous flower shop, Ashleigh’s Garden, is situated just as the visitor drives in. Parking is generous, and there are allowances throughout for handicapped access. The R3 Thrift Shop (recycle, reuse, repurpose) is a major attraction occupying 12,000 square feet, two floors, and was recently rated the #1 thrift shop statewide. Do not think you can blow by this in just minutes because it is a destination unto itself chockablock with jewelry, kitchenware and household goods, electronics, clothing, art, crafts, sporting goods, pet items, furniture, tools, hardware...all clean, without musty odor or mold, and watched over carefully by Tom and Jerry, two cats Sloane “raised from babies,” who walk throughout, lie on the counters, and allow visitors to pet them, although they are aloof. Hey, what do you expect? They’re cats!
Explore every alcove including the Antiquarian Book space where you may find first editions, out-of-print volumes, and
beautiful tomes that are not valued strictly for their content. Amazingly, each of these volumes is priced at only $5., so you may encounter a real “find”, or just sit awhile and read, no need to buy.
The book space leads to Ella’s Cafe where breakfast, lunch, and light fare are always on the menu along with hot coffee, handcrafted drinks, pastries, and public WiFi. Now satiated, it’s time to go into the rainforest (the animal sanctuary). Inside this beautifully built home which currently inhabits 93 animals, you’ll
meet reptiles, all manner of parrots, tortoises, amphibians, and cockatoos, and each comes with a history. Some have stories you may not want to hear, but you should rejoice that all have been saved and are here in their forever home with plenty of toys, with employees who love them, and with a name and identity known to all. Allison points out a bearded dragon she named “Stubby” after she rescued him and found that his tail had developed necrotic tissue. Knowing that left untreated, a serious infection could spread throughout his body, she had his tail amputated which in no way affects his life or movement. The surgery cost $1000., but Allison didn’t worry about that. She knew somehow the money would come. Her only concern was Stubby who is now flourishing in the animal sanctuary and according to Sloane, “blooming like a flower.”
Outside once again, the visitor now strolls past a small playground that Allison and husband, Grayson purchased and set up for their “kids,” four goats named Delilah, Sampson, Oliver, and Tiny Tim. “Goats are very smart,” Sloane informs. “Within ten minutes of our putting it together, they had mastered the slide. It’s great watching them climb up and then fly down the slide.”
Next to the playground is the Lauren Beebe Memorial Geo Dome, a peaceful, quiet, well-appointed space that immediately gives off a feeling of total serenity. Although it is not yet in use, plans are being made for yoga classes, meditation, and healing groups led by a professional geared to those who have suffered psychological and/ or sexual abuse.
There is also an amphitheater where local musicians come to perform for whoever is there, visitors wanting to take some time out of the crazy world to commune with nature and the animals and just have simple enjoyment. Allison Sloane welcomes everyone in. Her employees, more than 30 part-timers, are all family. It’s not just words, it’s how she is wired. She makes no judgment nor nod to gender or special needs (“Everyone has special needs.”) She cares only that they care...for the animals and for each other. It’s very real because even during off-hours or on Mondays when the Pandemonium Project is closed, the staff simply enjoys being together away from work. “Hi ‘Mom!” calls out Bailee, as she comes into the main room just off the Thrift Shop. The two women embrace and Bailey gives Allison a kiss. “She’s my work Mom,” Bailey announces, then adds, “I work in a magical place.”
Ian, the historian of the group who gives well-informed, thoughtful tours of the property both inside and out, comes forth to show Allison some hand-painted plates that have been donated to the thrift shop, but he’s going to do some research as his background knowledge seems to indicate these are not dime store dishes, but something far more valuable.
Everyone works together here. Along with Allison and her husband, Grayson, Allison’s “wusband” (work husband), David, is a valued member of this staff family. “He was always my best friend, and we all get along,” Sloane says to no one in particular.
Sam, the 130-lb. Akita who rides in Sloane’s convertible wearing a pair of sunglasses, is sleeping on the floor while Morgan, a skittish Meyers parrot whom Allison constantly pets and kisses, runs around the large conference table.
The future? Sloane currently does educational programs for children and adults, but wants to add more and also have more music, more lectures, and more tours for the local community as well as all her visitors. She remains ever mindful that maintaining this takes ongoing donations, grants, and profits from The 3R Thrift Store. But first and always, come the animals. She is here for them, the Rainforest Project was built for them, and her promise to them is that the abuse, the neglect, and the depression are over. This is now their safe home...FOREVER.
Zufar Bikbov, Just Passing By, Oil, 18 x 24”
Kyle Stuckey, A Day in Paris, Oil, 16 x 25”
Jeanne Rosier Smith, Early Whisper, Pastel, 12 x 24” Laura Westlake, Call the Plumber, Oil, 8 x 6”
“Children are the
legacy
we
leave behind for the age we will not live to see” Aristotle
To fully understand, first, you must embrace. Infinity. It is both a concept and a symbol.
It has no beginning, it has no end, it is everlasting representing a limitless something that will go on forever and speaks forever. It hints at perpetuity and suggests an unending nature transcending time and space.
In 2023, preeminent Connecticut artist, Renee Rhodes created a Marquette (a three-dimensional scale model of a planned full-size work of art) of a bronze sculpture, “Infinity” as a continuation of her passionate commitment to public art. Previously, Rhodes had created “Athena Stands Watch” which was installed on Eugene O’Neill Drive, and “Gaia,” an homage to the Greek Goddess considered the “Mother” goddess who gave birth to earth and became a popular fixture in the Hygienic Art Park.
“Infinity,” a project of Infinite Possibilities, will soar more than 30 feet in the air and ultimately is to be installed right on Ocean Beach, fully visible from the mouth of the Thames River and Long Island Sound, as well as all along the shore. For those 1.5 million who traverse the waters or visit New London to enjoy the beach annually, “Infinite Possibilities” will serve as both image and beacon with its towering illuminated infinity symbol serving as a reminder of the limitless potential of human imagination and the power of light as a spiritual force. It is truly magnificent, but…
by Rona Mann Photographs Courtesy of Project Inspire
...but it was somehow not enough for Renee Rhodes, the artist with an unstoppable passion for public art and a strong pull to reach out to those who will view the work and consider the Infinite Possibilities that are before them every day.
Scuptor Renee Rhodes with Project Inspire Students 2024
That, coupled with the artist’s uncontrollable urge to touch the human spirit, is why in 2023 she created what will be a soaring magnificent bronze sculpture that in a very short time has grabbed more than attention. It has grabbed the hearts, minds, and passions of those who have viewed it not just as a piece of sculpture but as an experience, but Rhodes felt there had to be something more. There needed to be community outreach to awaken what is inside each person, but how and where might it begin?
Alec Asten, producer and director at Firesite Films, an award-winning documentary company feted for its work locally and nationally, saw beyond the cameras to faces, to unbottled energy, and to the unfiltered laughter and spirit of children. Children who are always dreaming dreams, seeking new vistas, and finding joy in new adventures. Asten realized they would be the perfect ambassadors of a public art initiative and might thereby reach others with their infectious curiosity and enthusiasm. But, where to begin?
Big dreams call for big leaders, people in the know who don’t just sit in a meeting and talk, but get out of the meeting room, into the streets, into people’s heads and hearts, and get things done. People like Janet Farquhar, Director of the Pathways Program for the New London Magnet Schools. Pathways are programs geared for elementary through high school where ideas are brought to fruition as reality. Magnet schools already have a unique curriculum, and the Bennie Dover Middle School seemed to be a perfect fit for this public art program motivated by pre-teens. So, with Farquhar at the helm, she amassed a team of educators who willingly saw the potential benefits and came aboard, excited about this program called Project Inspire.
Photograph Courtesy of David Marchi
Hilary Klebis teaches reading at Bennie Dover, but Farquhar knew Klebis also had a strong arts background as well as a personal passion for art. The team also included Principal Chris Vamvakides who jumped on board from the start saying, “My own kids will grow with this sculpture. Even if they leave someday each time they come back, it will be a welcome sign that tells them they’re home.” Efrain Dominguez, a social studies teacher at Bennie Dover and cheerleader for this initiative, called the project, “A perfect fit for the school.”
Project Inspire lived up to its name inspiring intense collaboration as the educators at Bennie Dover worked in concert with the public art project’s board of directors and a sense of joyful anticipation quickly emerged. Dominguez added, “From the beginning, it was all about the kids,” so the school in tandem with the leaders of the project was careful to always put them first every step of the way. Just like an artist who begins to sculpt, a very special plan was carefully carved out for an after-school art program targeted at filtering awareness and appreciation for the rich public art tradition in New London. It was hoped that through the involvement of the children, community involvement would be identified and elevated so that there might be total immersion in public art.
Teachers at the middle school selected 20 students they felt would benefit the most from participation in the project. Happily, 16 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders accepted the invitation indicating their wish to be involved. Being certain to get full permission and cooperation from the parents, the eight-week pilot program under the direction of Janet Farquhar began this year on April 30th when the participants were initially taken on a one-hour walking tour of downtown New London’s public art. Many of the students had never noticed any of this before, and while some began taking notes, others just walked up and touched a piece for the first time. Following this, they were interviewed on camera by Firesite Films to discuss what they saw, with many just giving one-word responses like UNITY – HOPE – COURAGE – IMAGINATION – FAITH -PEACE –BEAUTY -VISION. These words later resurfaced to impact their personal choices in creating their art projects.
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Two days later, the students were given a choice of selecting their individual pathway to produce their work of art. Divided
ter, the stud Firesite Film one AGI words later the s were give interv saw, w HOP BEAUT persona days individualpathwaytoproducet
Alec Asten,Producer and Director at Firesite Films and Artist David Marchi
into separate workshops they chose to write, sing, paint, compose, or dance about their own hopes and dreams and were directed by teams of teachers supported by a choreographer, published poet, professional painter, and a professional composer. Three weeks in, the students were finally shown pictures of “Infinity,” the proposed public art sculpture Renee Rhodes had created and asked to now use the same artistic outlet they had chosen for their work to guide them in enhancing the piece.
Throughout the eight weeks, the recording of personal interviews continued as the students were now deep into their projects, collaborating with the teachers and mentors as they worked feverishly creating their unique works of art.
Almost one month to the day when they took that first waking tour, the same group now took a second public art walking tour in downtown New London looking with fresh eyes at what they had previously seen. The results were spectacular, and once again, Firesite Films was there to capture more interviews from the students who had grown in their vision and creativity exponentially. “I learned don’t give up,” “Art is the language everybody speaks,” and, “There is help out there” were just a few of the many recorded comments.
When this portion of the project was complete, a celebratory picnic was held at Ocean Beach with the students, their families, and other community members in attendance. There were performances of original music and dance that the students had created, poetry was read, and the paintings exhibited, all in the shadow of where the “Infinity” sculpture will one day be installed.
You cannot teach nor pigeon-hole inspiration into an eightweek schedule. That is a very personal something that must be individually developed and sown within each person, but you can show them a pathway, and then it is up to that young person to open their eyes wide to the possibilities that lie ahead and develop their appreciation and find their voice.
Project Inspire is off to a wonderful start. It has all the elements for success and continuation. It has young ambassadors filled with energy and excitement, and it has awareness of the magnificent public art that surrounds them. Alec Asten was indeed correct when he so wisely commented, “This is not a one-off.” The originators of the project hope to give it legs and wings so other communities, schools, and young people can open their eyes to the utter joy of public art.
This project has no timeline for success because like Renee Rhodes’ soaring masterpiece this holds high above all our heads the promise of infinity. Sculptors like Rhodes have four main phases in sculpting that turn ideas into works of art. First, they carve from a solid material to reveal a shape; next, they assemble, gathering and joining different materials. Then they model by building and shaping soft material to create a form. Lastly, they cast, taking a material that is melted down and then poured into a mold.
Such was the process of reaching out to the students at Bennie Dover, carving them from a single mass, assembling them, and showing them that art is real and right in front of them wherever they walk. They were anxious from the outset to get excited about public art, to realize what it was, and to create a desire to replicate it into their personal work of art. Next, they were given the freedom to choose their media, to model their imagination and dreams into something tangible; and lastly to cast that into a mold and produce something of which they could be proud, something that was 100% their own creation.
City Council President Efrain Dominquez Jr., Mayor Mike Passero, Benni Dover Jackson students from Project Inspire and their families at future Infinite Possibilities Site
And so, like the infinity symbol held high above Renee Rhodes’ “Infinity” sculpture that soon will be an integral part of the New London vista, these young ambassadors soar as they march headlong into the future fueled by limitless possibilities of their own.
Public art in New London has come alive and left something in its wake.
Something inspired.
For further information or to make a donation, www.infinityct.org
Mayor Michael Passero hands out award at Ocean Beach
What is Greg Drinking?
In these most polarizing times, it can be tempting to approach any topic for which one has a great deal of passion from a place that assumes you are the one in the know. Whether it is baseball statistics or the best place for brunch in your town, if you feel strongly enough about something to speak about it in front of people, you are probably confident in your base knowledge.
With wine, there can be no greater folly than to think yourself the subject matter expert on all varieties of varietals. This is in part what landed me here, in the sweltering humidity of midsummer, typing about the practice of creating skin-contact wines. By sheer luck and curiosity, I captured a red wine offshoot from one of the pioneers of the practice: Radikon RS20.
Radikon is an Italian organic wine powerhouse that boldly takes on the practice of long skin maceration with grapes grown organically on the slopes of Oslavia, Italy. They have been long famous for their orange wines, produced with painstaking care and concern for the practice. When I finally get around to reviewing an orange wine, it could well be from this same vineyard. This is a Merlot, but let us dispel some of the baggage that grape has carried around for too long. This Merlot is not the bane of the movie Sideways. This is not your grandmother’s holiday glass of Josh or Duckhorn (no offense to the matriarchs still sipping on those classics). This is something else entirely, a red that served with a chill, is as ready to greet your steak tacos and grilled corn with bright bursts of raspberry and pomegranate. The sips are active on your tongue, giving way from those fruit notes to a more lasting tomato and basil herbal delight that is even better with a chill to it. There is a 25% component of pignolo grapes that adds dexterity and salinity to the acids that light up your tongue. Towards the end, you get a little honeysuckle, which ties in with the mint and cherry in the bouquet, a combination that is as inviting as the taste. This
is a wine that is destined for your grillables. Whether they be zucchini and portobello in balsamic vinaigrette or barbeque chicken, this wine is the way to romance your food pairings with a red that will highlight the best of what summer cuisine is destined to be without making you feel like you need to take a nap in the hammock.
I mentioned before that this wine is a rarity for this vineyard. There is a little compelling backstory that explains why. RS stands for Rosso Sasa, homage to the late head of the family Stanko Raikon’s son Sasa. The cuvee is only produced in certain years when the harvest conditions are right. At whatever wine store you trust the most, they are lucky if they received a half dozen. If you have been a good customer for the last few years, it is worth asking about this vintage to get a sense of whether or not the admiration is mutual! At the base of the Swiss Alps, these red grapes endure a two-week maceration (basically the leaching of all of the flavorful and coloring aspects of the skins into the grape must after harvest), followed by a two-year stint in the vats, finally being bottled without filtering. The result is a red that brings the heat but not the humidity, like a beach day graced with a strong cool Atlantic breeze. The soil is a history lesson in itself consisting of marls formed during the Eocene period, so hopefully you like salinity and minerality that have had forty or so million years to develop!
This month, as the summer is flying by with alarming speed, I beg you to take the time you need to savor these days. Soon enough everything from football to elections will take your attention away from the fact that the days are getting shorter, the leaves getting ready to fall, and the like. Instead of getting engrossed in the art of telling everyone you know how they should feel about something, choose instead to open a bottle and your mind to the possibility that we all have a lot to learn, and that is a journey best done over a few great glasses with the people we care about the most.
Radikon RS20
Gallery Exhibit
Barn for Artistic Youth
of Youth, Visions of the
May 23 - August 23
250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook, CT 06498 860-358-6200 + info@midhosp.org + MiddlesexHealth.org Visit the gallery at the Shoreline Medical Center
The Barn for Artistic Youth (BAY) opened in 2003 with the mission to provide quality art education to elementary through high school aged emerging artists who live in southeastern Connecticut.
For more information, visit MiddlesexHealth.org/BAY
Estelle Filardi, APopofColor,acrylic (detail)
Many can identify with the moniker. Hundreds of thousands of children have grown up and naturally followed their father, mother, or other relatives into what is known as “the family business.” Often it’s one of the trades or insurance; perhaps law or the restaurant business. In other families, it might be a legacy in education or the next generation in retail. On TV’s “Blue Bloods,” it’s police work, and in “The Godfather,” it was a sketchier kind of family business altogether. But rarely do you find a family thoroughly invested in carving, sculpting, painting, gilding, lovingly restoring, and installing carousel horses.
Meet the Andersons of Stonington, Connecticut, where making exquisite art in all genres reigns supreme, where the carousel horse and all its glorious history is revered, and where you never know as you go from room to room in their sprawling country home if you might find a horse’s head perched on a table, a pair of beautiful German glass eyes meeting yours, a wobbly equine leg that needs some care, or a series of horsehair tails awaiting a spa-like treatment of conditioner gently administered by daughter, Beth Anderson.
The patriarch of this crazy-quilt “stable” is Gary Anderson. He is aided and abetted in the art of carousel horse stewardship by Beth, and son, Ben. Gary’s wife, Ellen, who has a rich background in the arts and once worked and sailed on the ill-fated schooner, Pride of Baltimore, has just accepted a position as Director of Development at the Mystic Seaport having previously held similar positions at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and Connecticut College. This, then, is the family who acts as curators, stewards, and indeed the watchful eyes and protectors of the 20 carousel horses that make up the historic Flying Horse Carousel in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
Gary Anderson says, “The Watch Hill Fire District along with the Improvement Society owns the carousel which is currently managed by Jim and DeeDee Buffum, but we are the ones who maintain it for them.”
Profile by Rona Mann Photographs courtesy of Gary Anderson
How Anderson came to be involved starts way back in childhood. He and his sister, Lynn Anderson, the well-known Noank artist previously profiled in Ink Magazine (December 2023) were born in Nyack, New York. Gary had no idea growing up that he would one day be artistically involved in curating an historic stable of carved horses in his own home! Back then he wanted to be a pilot and realized that dream by eventually owning a small plane.
Later on, he followed the lead of his parents and sister and moved to Connecticut, finding a job at the Mystic Seaport shipyard. “It was there that I learned how to work with wood, and I took to it easily.” Additionally, the young man joined his father and sister in their studio carving signs for local businesses. It would be a while until he met the Flying Horses.
This carousel, built circa 1876 by the Charles W. Dare Company of New York is the oldest operating carousel in the United States. Back then, the equines were rocking horses run on a wooden turntable mounted on a spinning platform, but now they have been changed into spring horses suspended by chains from sweeps radiating out from the center of the carousel under the canopy. Gary calls them, “the missing link in the world of carousels” and takes pride in the fact that all of the horses that are there now he hand-carved from a single block of wood. The carousel was originally part of a traveling carnival until 1879 when it was abandoned in Watch Hill. Power was provided by water, and the carousel was not electrified until 1914. Sadly, as had occurred in many other parts of New England, the deadly Hurricane of 1938 extensively damaged the carousel with horses strewn throughout the sand dunes, but they were restored.
During the late 19th century, a local Watch Hill resident, Harriet Moore, fell in love with the merry-go-round and championed it for more than 40 years of her life. According to Gary Anderson, she actively started saving it in 1949 when carousels around the country were not being saved. Moore did research, found the right people to repair it, talked to historians, and was instrumental in having it placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and declared an historic landmark in 1987. On Moore’s deathbed, she begged local businessman, Bob Richins, to take up the torch, find someone to restore the horses, and keep it going.
She had always seen value that no one else did. That someone who could restore the horses was Gary Anderson who responded to Bob Richins’ request to fix just one wobbly leg on just one horse. Before long, Anderson had a family business! His children, Beth and Ben started to work at the carousel summers while still in school. “We’d put the kids on and off the horses,” said Beth, “and we also sold tickets.”
Ben made certain the kids weren’t rough with the horses, kicking or pulling on the manes.
“The worst part about working there every day all summer,” said Ben with a laugh, “was the music. The carousel music that played over and over and over again. We couldn’t get it out of our brains.”
“I swear, Ellen and I could hear it coming out of their heads when they came home each night for dinner,” Gary laughed.
Today, however, that sound has changed. It’s been replaced with the recognizable music of sometime Watch Hill resident, Taylor Swift, who maintains a home just up the hill from the flying horses.
All the rounding-board paintings on the carousel itself that not only lend ambiance but serve to mask the mechanicals, were
also created by Gary. Beth continued the family’s artistic path majoring in art at Connecticut College and holds a degree in ceramic sculpture, while Ben got his degree in 3-D Animation from the University of Connecticut. However, a third son, Dylan, is a scientist and has no connection whatsoever to the carousel or the horses...his choice!
Because the carousel opens Memorial weekend and runs through mid-September, people naturally assume that once the horses are properly installed for the season, the Andersons can kick back and relax for a few months. Not at all! This is an ongoing job, but it’s also a personal labor of love. Their home is a stable of art and a testament to their commitment to the history, to the legacy of Harriet Moore, and to the love of children who clamor excitedly to the carousel every summer, every day, multiple times a day. “There are 6000 kids a week, every week, who ride those horses,” Gary informs. “That’s a lot of wear and tear on 150-year-old horses who are also subject to hot days and damp nights. So Ben, Beth, and I stop every week at the carousel to grease the bearings, check the motor, and tighten the clutch. There are also safety inspections conducted every year by the state, the town, and the insurance company.”
Regardless of the task, Gary is always accompanied by both Beth and Ben. They are a team! Recently, the trio was summoned to New York’s Central Park to do maintenance work on the horses of that popular carousel. During all of the Anderson children’s growing-up years, family vacations were taken in areas dictated by horses and other pieces of art they had to deliver to customers scattered throughout the United States. Gary would come home and say, “Family vacation! We’re going to Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C. but first we have to make a delivery.” He adds, “Right now, there’s a Coney Island horse, circa 1908, in the garage that we need to restore for a collector.”
“We went cross country once,” added Beth, “because Dad had to bring a horse to a customer in Oregon. We really got to see a lot.”
So how exactly do they get the 20 horses to Watch Hill each spring for installation? “We all have identical Volvos,” says Ben, “and each one can fit four horses,” so the family makes
a curious picture indeed driving the 12 miles from their home in Stonington to the carousel in Watch Hill.
The enemies of these antique steeds still remain the salty air, the wind, the sand, and overenthusiastic children. “Heat causes cracks,” says Beth, while Gary adds, “We take a full Dixie Cup of sand out of each horse, and every year there’s repainting to be done.”
There’s much to learn in this family business...machinery, carving, painting, gilding, the properties of wood and leather, decoration, but this family is all in and each possesses not just years of work and experience, but a keen and deep love and respect for every horse they touch in any way.
When there’s free time, Gary is frequently commissioned to hand-carve signs for boats and businesses. He also carved and gold-leafed the eagle figurehead on the schooner, Amistad as well as the one on the Charles W. Morgan, both in Connecticut, while son, Ben is a Lego sculpture master! He is so accomplished that he’s involved in worldwide competitions with a loyal following and is somewhat of a celebrity in Italy for his exacting work and acuity.
through September, and from one generation to another, 6000 sets of little legs mount a flying horse, reach for the brass ring, and have an indelible experience they will never forget as they fly round and round.
Harriet Moore can rest happily.
Ah yes, there is definitely something to be said about DNA. Especially in this family, the remarkable and insanely talented Andersons who practice the art of preservation every single day to keep future generations coming to Watch Hill filled with childish excitement and anticipation. For each week, from May
For more information, log onto: www.merrygoroundbeach.com
Profile By Laurencia Ciprius Photographs Courtesy of Shelly Carter
helly Carter dreamed, dared – and with unflagging determination – achieved a firestorm of unimaginable firsts. Following her inner voice, recent achievements unfolded in quick succession. A year after joining the ranks in 2022, Carter made history as the fire chief of the Southbury Training School – officially the first Black female chief in New England. There were other milestones in 2024. Drawn to the Hamden, Connecticut Fire Department, she applied and was sworn in as assistant chief in April – the first female to hold this position in the history of the company.
This hero’s journey has been unlikely, long – and at times – admittedly daunting. An unapologetic ‘girly girl’, Shelly’s candor and infectious warmth are rare, against the grit required for success in public service.
“There were moments of doubt, and many tears shed over the years. This is extremely challenging work –complicated by, the ongoing challenges confronting women. “I failed more than once along the
way, regrouped, and tried again.” Knowing Carter personally, there is a strong foundation of faith and family bolstering her journey. She didn’t do this for fame or accolades. Instead, it was to answer a higher calling of purpose, place, and service. It was a colossal peak to summit. In 2020, only 9% of all firefighters were female. Of the 22,316 chiefs in the nation, only 6% were females in that leadership role. Carter closed her eyes and jumped.
Shelly’s sister Rene submitted her name to the 2024 “Good Morning America’s 25th Annual Breakfast in Bed Mother’s Day Celebration”. Out of 2000 submissions, this mother of four boys, plus three more she calls her own, was ambushed by the live GMA film crew: setting up camp – complete with family, friends, colleagues – and a bed – at the Hamden firehouse. Grab some Kleenex, and
It was a remarkable childhood, beginning with life lessons in social dexterity, as the first decade of Shelly’s life began in a predominately white neighborhood in Philadelphia. Carter’s Black family was the minority, yet the atmosphere felt natural and familiar. She does recall the Ku Klux Klan making intimidating drive-by loops in the neighborhood; Black children scattering for safety when they circled past. Moving to Hartford’s North End was a culture shock. Raised with her family’s high standards of dress and decorum, Carter and her sister were standouts against high tops and sweats. There were police raids in this new neighborhood and the transition into this city life, was an exercise in resilience.
Fast forward to a 28-yearold Carter. She had a degree in Communications, was married and a mother. “I was walking my son down the street in a stroller. He was three and so excited
watch the antics unfold through the link provided at the end.
“GMA was absolutely the shock of my life...something I never dreamed of in a million years. It completely took my breath away. I was stunned by all of the generous gifts bestowed upon the station, to my Girl’s Future Fire Fighters Camp, and to my family – along with the mayor officially proclaiming Shelley Carter Day in Hamden on May 10th.” Her father, Norman Perkins, Jr indeed, smiled down on his daughter that day – the voice that lovingly guided her toward leadership since childhood.
passing the fire house. He wanted to see the truck. The guys motioned us over and showed it to us.” It equally struck a chord with Shelly. A young firefighter mentioned that they were hiring; urged her to take the entrance exam. “I can’t do this. I can’t run into a burning building.” There was pushback on the home front, but her sister – who worked for the police department – encouraged her. Shelly tested for both Police and Fire – studying intensely for the police exam. Without any studying, she surprisingly exceled on the fire test, and became a firefighter.
Hurdles loomed for a green recruit – physically and mentally daunting. Instructors screamed and berated her; employing intimidation tactics to weed out any possible liabilities. “I was black and blue and exhausted...and still a mother with responsibilities!” She didn’t quit. This job was going to support her child.
Some firefighters knew that she was always trying to catch up and supported her. “I was sent to a slow (fire)house out of recruit school...working with the old guys.” Some of her cohorts scoffed at her being shipped off, but she got to work with seasoned men who had two decades on the job. In the process, honing her skills there.
As a rookie, Carter watched her classmates promoted to drivers. “My whole life was a challenge and I had to figure out how to ascend.” I took a test but didn’t succeed I also had a second child and had to figure it all out. I took classes outside of the area – Litchfield and Torrington – knocking on the door asking about the officer’s test. They closed the door on me because I didn’t look like a firefighter. They should be
any shape, size, color, gender, any background, because its exactly who we serve. If all you see are 6’ strapping white men in firefighting, it isn’t doing its job. Took the test and became a driver. I had a wonderful mentor who helped me learn the truck.” He was the strong instructor and push she needed.
“I loved driving but faced new challenges: learning to navigate the streets, and to push past the resistance of the men on
the force... 96% male – 4% female. My goal is to inspire young ladies who look like me to become officers. Then the balance will shift.” After about 12 years on the street, Carter wanted to be a training Chief. “I tested to become a fire marshal and learn the inner workings of fire service from another angle. I had to learn another language...of fire codes, books and law.” It was a huge adjustment. Carter passed fire investigation but failed the other part of the exam. Threatened with demotion, she was undaunted. “I went back to the class and passed – failure not an option – and became a fire marshal in Hartford.” Carter thrived. Her message rings out to young women coming up in the ranks “Women: if you fail, its ok. Fail, brush your knees off, and do it again.” Five years later, Shelly raised the stakes. “I wanted the captain’s test for all positions: Line, Training, Marshal. I wanted back on the line. I had been an Instructor for CT Fire Academy and trained across the country. I ran a fire fighter camp. I wound up as Captain of Engine 5 – my first day, running 24 calls in 24 hours.”
In 2022, Carter became Operations and Training Manager for the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. “God had a plan for me. There was a fire chief’s job down the street from my home and my husband supported the decision.” Shelly Carter became the first Black female fire chief in New England in this role. She remained with DDS until securing her current position as assistant chief in Hamden.
Always a striving for the next level, education was her mechanism: BA in Fire Administration, MA in Public Administration, and Doctorate in Critical Infrastructure and Emergency Management. “The Doctorate was for me. The myriads of certifications were only necessities.” During an onair interview Shelly touched on the critical issue of Imposter Syndrome. “Many people have it, but Black women have it to a much greater level. The seat at the table is often there, but the chair is not pulled out for me. In order for me to enter the space, I have to be on point – as educated as I can be so there is no question about my position in this space.”
Running parallel to her rise in a stellar career, Carter founded the Girl’s Future Fire Fighter Camp. Since 2016, it empowers young ladies – some as young as 13 – to challenge themselves. “When girls come to camp, they are taught to stand up with their own agency.” Carter’s camp offers an intensive hands-on introduction on a professional level, to what an actual career in both EMS and fire safety is about – something she personally entered into without similar advantages.
“I cried, fought, and faced so many challenges and resistance. I am the first – hopefully, I’m not the last. My goal is for young women to understand that they can achieve this as well.” Whether or not they pursue a career in public safety, these tools position them for success. “When you are afforded the opportunity to be in a space, it’s not because you’re a girl, it’s because you have worked hard to get what you have strived for.”
This year, Girl’s Future Fire Fighter Camp added a session focusing on EMS training. CESI, the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation at Hartford Hospital provided an opportunity to learn actual state-of-the-art medical protocols. Girls toured an ambulance at First Approach, a training facility in East Windsor. “Firefighting is only a small percentage of what we do. We’re trained in search and rescue – including water emergencies, helping injured hikers off mountains, and a myriad of crises.”
Her sustaining message: “Know who you are and get that support. Find someone who can help you mine for the inner fortitude that bolsters you up. I love the sense of service.”
Link for GMA show featuring Shelly’s Mother’s Day Celebration. https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/gma-surprisesmom-4-fire-chief-25th-breakfast-110102644
OUR HOUSE: THE MUSIC OF CSNY
THURSDAY, 08.15.24 | 7:30 PM
Prepare for an unparalleled musical experience as “OUR HOUSE: The Music of CSNY” assembles to perform the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young repertoire with an extraordinary ensemble of FAMILY & FRIENDS.
HARRY CHAPIN’S GREATEST STORIES LIVE
FEATURING THE CHAPIN FAMILY
FRIDAY, 09.13.24 | 8:00 PM
The Chapin Family performs Harry Chapin’s timeless hits from Taxi to Cat’s in the Cradle. To honor Harry’s commitment to fighting hunger, we will have a Food Drive in connection with the concert to benefit the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center. Sponsored by: Attorney Linda Mariani & Attorney David Neusner
THE MACHINE PERFORMS PINK FLOYD
SATURDAY, 09.14.24 | 8:00 PM
The Machine has forged a 30+ year reputation of extending the legacy of Pink Floyd. The New York-based quartet performs a diverse mix of The Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, complete with faithful renditions of popular hits as well as obscure gems.
DON MCLEAN: STARRY STARRY NIGHT TOUR
FRIDAY, 09.20.24 | 8:00 PM
Platinum selling, Songwriters’ Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Don McLean brings his classic hits including “American Pie” and “Vincent” to the Garde!
YES...EPICS & CLASSICS
FEATURING JON ANDERSON AND THE BAND GEEKS
WEDNESDAY, 09.25.24 | 7:30 PM
Legendary YES vocalist/songwriter JON ANDERSON touring with The Band Geeks performing classic YES tracks including “And You and I,” “Starship Trooper,” “Heart of the Sunrise” and epic works like “Close To The Edge,” “The Gates of Delirium,” “Awaken” and others!
THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE
FRIDAY, 09.27.24 | 8:00 PM
A NEW SPIN ON WINNINGI THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE™ is the hit interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to hear their names called and “Come On Down” to win. veer Gallery
Sponsored by: Thames Riv
PAULA POUNDSTONE
FRIDAY, 10.04.24 | 8:00 PM
Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. She regularly plays theaters across the country and is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me.
MANHATTAN SHORT
SUNDAY, 10.06.24 | 3:00 PM
MANHATTAN SHORT is the only film festival of its kind where you are the judge with audiences around the world during a one-week period choosing the Best Short Film and Best Actor awards. These are movies you can only see on the giant screen!
The original production from the zany and creative mind of Summer Orlando!!! A full length theatrical musical parody production based on the cult classic Disney film. A tribute production like no other filled with hilarious comedy, special effects, live singing, magic and surprises.
DIONNE WARWICK
THURSDAY, 11.14.24 | 7:30 PM
JUSTANNOUANNOUNCED!
Dionne Warwick is a six-time Grammy Award-winning music legend who has earned more than 75 charted hit songs, sold over 100 million records, and recorded 18 consecutive Top 100 singles.
THE ULTIMATE ELVIS CONCERT
FRIDAY, 11.15.24 | 7:00 PM
The Ultimate Elvis Concert is an unrivaled multimedia production of The King of Rock n’ Roll’s Career! Starring Internationally Acclaimed Ultimate Elvis Champion Cote Deonath backed by The Infinit-E Tribute Band.
THE LAST WALTZ CELEBRATION
FEATURING THE “THE BAND” BAND & SPECIAL GUESTS
SUNDAY, 11.24.24 | 7:30 PM
The THE BAND Band presents a celebration of The Last Waltz, bringing to life one of the most historic concerts of the rock era.
WIZARDS OF WINTER
FRIDAY, 11.29.24 | 8:00 PM
Join the Wizards of Winter on a mesmerizing journey through original compositions, accompanied by world-class talents, as they spread the Spirit of Christmas far and wide.
INDIGO GIRLS
SATURDAY, 12.07.24 | 7:30 PM
JUSTANNOUANNOUNCED!
Over a 35-year career that began in clubs around their native Atlanta, Georgia, the multi-Grammy-winning duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray has recorded 16 studio albums, sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following across the globe.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND TO PURCHASE TICKETS
THE EASTERN
The Cheesemonger
Deana Simmon, The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook
A Mid-Summer Night’s Cheese
I’m currently having a love affair with Greece and the rich culinary heritage that forms a significant part of the mediterranean diet. But I’m quickly finding cheese from Greece is incredibly difficult to find. So, while I research to get you the best Greece has to offer, I th ought I’d scootch over to Italy and talk Mozzarella.
Our days are now hot and humid, (let’s not complain, someone told me there are only 24 Fridays till Christmas) we’re looking for ways to stay out of the kitchen and our gardens are beginning to give us what we waited all year for… tomatoes. And, I must agree, there’s no better accompaniment to locally (or home grown) tomatoes than fresh Mozzarella or a variant of.
There’s so much more to this fresh, milky, soft, flavorful cheese than you may think. So, let’s travel back to 12th century Italy to a small region around Naples called Campania to learn more. I’m going out on a limb by saying, I’m pretty sure most of us are familiar with cow’s milk Mozzarella, but the truth is mozzarella was, and still is traditionally made with water buffalo milk.
Why water buffalo and not cow’s milk? For starters, water buffalo are more common than cows in certain regions of Italy making it a natural choice for cheese making. It also has a higher fat content. With 4 percent higher fat content over cow’s milk, buffalo mozzarella it’s richer, creamier with a more pronounced tangy flavor. Higher fat also contributes to the cheese’s elasticity and melting properties. And let’s not forget tradition and heritage. Mozzarella, especially Mozzarella di Bufala Campania, has a long history and is deeply rooted in Italian culinary tradition. In 1996 Mozzarella di Bufala Campania received its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. It ensures that only Mozzarella produced in specific regions of Italy, following traditional methods, can be labeled as Mozzarella di Bufalo Campania.
The exact origin mozzarella is a little fuzzy and is not attributed to one individual, but rather a collective effort of cheesemakers in Southern Italy’s Campania region. The earliest records date back to the 12th century, with the name “mozzarella” deriving from the Italian word “mozzare” which means to cut and referrers to the process of cutting the curds during cheese making. Monks from the San Lorenzo di Capua monastery is often credited with early production.
Cow’s milk Mozzarella along with Burrata are the new kids on the block when it comes to cheese. Both variations rose to popularity in the 20th century. With the end of World War 2, industrialization and improvements to dairy farming made cow’s milk widely available and affordable. And the rise of Italian cuisine, especially pizza, mozzarella made with cow’s milk was easier and less expensive to produce than buffalo mozzarella.
Cow’s milk mozzarella has a mild, delicate flavor with a hint of sweetness and a subtle saltiness, unlike its cousin Burrata which has a mild and fresh flavor with a luxurious texture and a more pronounced creamy richness due to its filling. Many may think the inside of a Burrata is fil led with ricotta but in fact it's a mixture of Stracciatella (Stracciatella are small shreds of fresh Mozzarella) and cream. For this reason, both are used in many dishes for their ability to not overpower. And let’s be honest, they are both simply delicious.
Here's a recipe I love with burrata or mozzarella when peaches and tomatoes are at their best.
Summer Peach, Tomato & Burrata Salad
4 Ripe peaches, sliced
2 Ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
8 ounces burrata or fresh mozzarella cheese (cow or buffalo milk)
• In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, raspberry balsamic vinegar, honey, lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, set aside.
• Cut Sourdough bread into small bite size chunks. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. place under the broiler for 5 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.
• In a large salad bowl, combine the arugula or mixed greens with the torn basil and mint leaves – drizzle the dressing over the top and mix to coat all the greens.
• Arrange the sliced peaches and tomatoes on top of the greens. Tear the burrata into chunks and lay that on top of the peaches and tomatoes. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and croutons then season with additional salt & pepper if desired.
