INK MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2021 by Ink Publications

Vol 16 Issue 182

Our exper t s have direc t access to the world’s leading medical knowledge and clinical trials . Because we’re Connec ticut ’s connec tion to the pres tigi g ous Mayo Clinic Carre Network . MiddlesexHeal th .org/Mayo

February 2021

Vol. 16 Issue 182

Feature Stories

Departments

Of Beauty and Chao

Artist Vito Bonanno

Practicing Feng Shui

Everything in it’s Right Place

The Obsessed Potter

The Handshakes & Mugs of Brian R. Jones

Dreaming of a Different Past

Hobbomock

The Legend of Holly Claus - Love Conquers Time Ask Ashley - Love it, Hate it, Valentines Day is Here! Crusty Old Diver - Cabin Fever Cabin Cured Music Mirth & Mojo - New London’s Daniel Rodriguez The Cheesemonger - Not all Cheeses is created equal On the Vine - Médoc, France Hopping around CT - New England Brewing Co.

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We’re back! In December of 2020 while watching the direction that the pandemic was headed we decided to hold off on putting out an issue in January. We believe it was a sensible choice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the many people who’s lives have been impacted by this virus. In the face of these challenges here at INK we are plotting a course forward and heading towards higher ground. We believe that 2021 has the potential to become a hopeful year. There are some big developments with us on the near horizon that we cannot wait to announce. We would like to thank all the people who subscribed to INK in 2020. It’s amazing and it really helps validate the efforts of all on our team. We also want to offer our deepest appreciation to the people who have stuck by us and continued to promote their unique businesses on our pages. Shop local! It’s the lifeblood of your community. Help your neighbor when you can. It is the one thing that you can do and that makes the biggest difference. Jeffery Lilly founder / publisher

Contributors Voynich Manuscript

The Book with No Bottom

Ashley Alt - ask ashley Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography Alison Kaufman - music mirth & mojo Jim Lalumiere - hopping around ct Art LiPuma - on the vine Rona Mann - editorial Daniel Lev Shkolnik - editorial

Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design Paul Partica - the cheesemonger Vincent Scarano - photography John Tolmie - crusty old diver Kate Tolmie - photography Jan Tormay - editorial Joe Urso - design

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On the Cover: Illustration by Laurel Long / Legend of Holly Claus Last month: Cover sculpture was by Ron Bence / Hygienic Art Park

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Of Beauty y and Chaos

Artist V Viito Bonanno Gives Us All ll a Piece of His Mind! by Rona Mann / Images courtesy Leo Feroleto and V Viito Bonanno In another time, another place, and with different parents, it might haave been different. Ve Ve ry Vito Bonanno could haavve been different indeed.Vi discarded as just another unfortunate child diagnosed with PDD/Autism before his 4th birthdaay, but his mother was not content to let that happen...and so, it did not. Because Vito was language delaayyed, but had high visual acuityy, his teachers and family utilized storyboards to relay academic and social information, encouraging him to likewise draw aw in the same format to express his feelings. Although trapped for a few years in his own mind, this format helped free him, allowing his thoughts, feelings, and images to come spilling out onto the can nvas, and when they did, the whole him. h l world ld opened d up to hi

Cindy Wa Watson, Vito’s motherr,, knew from the beginning that her son had so much inside him to offer. It just needed to be let out. Dreams should neever be deferred, passion should alway ays be unleashed, and she knew her little bo oyy had something to saay to the world, he just didn’t know how to saay it. Thanks to Cind dyy’s dogged determination, coupled with the unerring belief she had in her son, Vi Vito Bonanno is now high functioning, quite verbal, and saayying a whole lot to the world through his art. His images, his use of multi-laayers of colorr,, his exuberance fairly fly off the can nvas straight into the faces of those who are keen obserrvers and aficionados of art. In 2009, Cindy was in New Yo Yo rk City and happened by an outdoor art fair. There she picked being i k d up a caard d iinforming f i off a contest b i

sponsored byVo Volkswagen an nd produced by the VSA Emerging Yo Young Artistts Program, a Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability D Program that amplifies the voices off emerging artists with career development and professional empowerment. This nationaal juried exhibition seeks demonstrates the k artwork k that h d h excellence ll

and important perspectives of artists with disabilities, and Cindy felt this might be an avenue for people like Vito who had been constantly drawing since the age of 14, inspired by his beloved South Park comics. He also loved his art classes at Coginchaug High School in Durham which had inspired and empowered him even further. So, unbeknownst to him, Cindy entered some of Vito’s work in the VSA competition, and next thing they knew, they were on their way to Washington, D.C. and the Kennedy Center where he accepted his award as one of 15 emerging young artists with disabilities and where his work, “Ghost Town on Davenport Avenue” hung for a time in the Smithsonian before going on a two-year nationwide tour of university and independent galleries. A professional artist was born!

Ask Vito exactly what his art is, and one finds it is tantamount to asking Vito, “how was your day?” For his work is, “a true example of who I was and what I was feeling during those days that any one piece was created.” According to his mother, “Vito works in layers. He does not work in any one medium, but he uses a combination of acrylics, oils, India ink, and oil sticks. And he loves crayons.”His colors belie the mere word“vibrant;”he loves big color, bold color – every color – all coming together in chaotic patterns, speeding in every direction and landing smack on his canvas. Sometimes his instructors have asked him to stop, to slow down, or to not add anything further, but that is when Vito naughtily adds just a little more because his mind is racing, and as he says in his artist statement, “images,

thoughts, and words float around in a bumpercar world, crashing and speeding in all directions.” Like trying to stop a train speeding down the track without danger of derailment, those who work with Vito and guide him also allow him to add layer after layer to his work. The result is the actual images themselves seem to shout for attention as though Vito himself were shouting, “This is me! I am autistic! This noise and chaos live within me, but by getting it out on canvas I can show you and the world that is not just my challenge, but my gift.” For many years, Bonanno was represented both in Connecticut and New York by veteran NYC Art Dealer and co-owner of New York Citybased Umbrella Arts Gallery, Margaret Bodell who encouraged him to collaborate with“mainstream” artists to give balance to his work through additional artistic mediums and

11 in the opportunity and the attention he derives from it all. Every artist fixates on something, and Bonanno is no exception. He is fascinated by toilets and by traffic lights, frequently including them as part of any canvas on which he’s presently working. “He uses happy things to ward off scary things,” Cindy Watson adds. “Everything’s in his head, but it’s the many repeated images that serve as his protectors when things bother or frighten him.”

experiences. This opened up new vistas for the young artist who then went on to enjoy exhibitions in New Haven, at Art Basel in Miami, in Willimantic, and in New York among others. Groups exhibitions since 2010 number 54 to date, spanning nearly every region of the United States, and he is still much in demand. Beginning this month, and extending into the middle of March, Vito Bonanno will be a featured artist along with Samantha Smith at Six Summit Gallery in Westbrook in a show called “Of Beauty and Chaos.” Smith, who says she takes her inspiration “from nature and my dreams,” holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Pratt and also attended the Lyme Academy. She now teaches full time, and her enviable body of work encompasses both the natural and the surreal. She has worked with Vito, guiding him in the past and influenced his work saying,“He’s very much an expressionist.” Ask the 39- year - old Bonanno what his goals are, and he quickly answers, “I want to keep doing what I’m doing, and I want to go back to Miami. I love it there. I also like to write in my journals, and I really like to do installations.” Well, why not? When you’re the solo act with these pieces of your mind taking up every square inch of exhibit space in a well-attended gallery, it’s pretty heady stuff, and Vito delights

“Like the aerosol building in Milford,” Vito adds with a decided scowl on his face. He is referring to an abandoned building that both bothers and frightens his sensibilities. Then he pauses for a moment and says,“When I’m making my art, I’m thinking about people, and that makes me happy.” Makes a lot of keen observers of his art and collectors happy as well. At the present time, Vito Bonanno lives in Westbrook, but his ever-changing art lives in his mind, his images, colors, and layers constantly swirling around trapped in a prison of gray matter until Vito lets them go, frees them. It is then, and only then, that he truly comes alive when the work comes alive. It is only then

that the toilets with the constant swirling of water, moving fast in circles, and the traffic lights constantly blinking and changing colors, become one. It is only then that Vito Bonanno, the little boy who had been trapped in his own mind by autism so many years ago, becomes Vito Bonanno, the man, the artist, the success – and, he is free. “Of Beauty and Chaos,” an exciting new show featuring the work of Vito Bonanno and Samantha Smith runs February 7-March 15th at Six Summit Gallery in the Westbrook Outlets. 314 Flat Rock Place in Westbrook. OPENING RECEPTION SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6th 1-5 PM (860) 581-8332 www.sixsummitgallery.com

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Valentine Gems

February 2 to 28, 2021

Kelly Birkenruth Laughs with a Squeeze of Lemon Oil 12 x 16”

Del-Bourree Bach Starlight, Starbright Acrylic 8 x 8”

Anne McGrory Winter Cardinal Pastel & gold leaf 5 x 5⅛”

Susan Powell Fine Art

679 Boston Post Road Madison, CT 203 . 318 . 0616 www.susanpowellfineart.com

Jeanne Rosier Smith New Beginnings Pastel 8 x 16”

Cindy Procious A Lustrous Vantage Point Oil on gold leaf panel 12 x 9”

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Everything in it’s Right Place

The Practice of Feng Shui

by Jan Tormay

Most of us struggle with relationship, prosperity or job issues at some point during our lifetimes; howeve, in the midst of the pandemic, many of us are dealing with two or three of these issues at the same time. Feng Shui Coach and Psychotherapist, Elaine Bentley Baughn, who wears both “hats” simultaneously, says there is much we can do to help ourselves. “Change comes about in your home partly because you are ready for it,” Bentley Baughn said during a December telephone interview. “The same thing happens in psychotherapy. You do it because you are uncomfortable with some part of your life in some way, and you want a shift.

The way your home and business are arranged can also be a major contributing factor to one’s lack of success in many areas of your life,” the New England School of Feng Shui graduate said.“Feng shui is a Chinese art which is based on the belief that the way you arrange things within a building, and within the rooms of that building, can affect aspects of your life such as how happy and successful you are,”according to Collins Dictionary. Bentley Baughn’s “cures” sometimes involve clearing clutter, replacing artwork, building a walkway, or painting a room. Utilizing three feng shui tools, the Norwich, Connecticut resident said the exteriors and interiors of

Elaine Bentley Baughn

buildings should have a balance of yin (receptive) energy and yang (penetrating) energy. Also, Bentley Baughn said, “The bagua is a map through which we can understand which areas of our spaces affect which areas of our lives.” Additionally, the Kentucky native uses the elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, which she said, “are not material as

Facing page: Vines/wood energy Photo by Elaine Bentley Baughn Above: Yantic Falls in Norwich photo by Jennifer Yakey-Ault, water is a soft energy that has great power.

Rainbows are a symbol of possibilities

landscape and geographical features. “This has proven “invaluable and has saved me from making some investment mistakes!” Karen said in an email. She added that Bentley Baughn also worked with her on a new business’s floor plans and “was able to move forward with confidence on the layout, design and décor aspects of the building and the business.”

much as they are a demonstration of how energy moves.” For example, Water is sinuous or wavelike. Elements can be represented by the literal thing such as a plant represents Wood, an image such as a picture of an ocean (Water), a shape such as a pyramid or flame-like design (Fire) or color of earth tones (Earth). When looking at “real-estate offerings,” longtime client, Karen of Middlesex County, said that she sometimes asks Bentley Baughn’s feng shui advice about “a particular building’s position on the lot, the influence of neighboring buildings, and the potential problems with

the toilet seat should be closed. It’s the biggest drain in the house.” If a client is not meeting potential partners, Bentley Baughn said she would look at the bedroom, because that space is tied to relationships. “What is going on in your relationship corner of your home and what’s going on in your life choices? Where are you going? What have you

To increase abundance, Bentley Baughn recommends freeing up space in your Prosperity area and bringing something of a living Wood energy into it. “Think about what would represent prosperity to you.” She offers an example of a past trip to Hawaii and hanging up a picture of it that includes palm trees and the ocean. “So you’re bringing your joy of fulfilling that dream into that corner. You’re bringing the Wood energy; and by the way, there’s some Water to feed the Wood.” Sometimes, one’s Prosperity corner is the bathroom, which isn’t a good idea, Bentley Baughn said. “Your finances are down the toilet. The number one rule in feng shui is that

Forsythia bush, Wood Element with Earth color

21 tried in terms of meeting someone? What is it that you’re looking for in terms of who you want to meet? You can meet somebody, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to have a relationship with them. Are you looking for a hookup? What language are you using to define the problem? ‘I want to meet someone’ is not a fully-formed idea of what you probably really want.” Even though Karen was dating a man who was “crazy” about her, she said Bentley Baughn helped her figure out why she felt like she needed “a few glasses of wine to enjoy being with him,” that some people might be “toxic,” and that it is important to set boundaries.“I feel more grounded now and trust my intuition and don’t feel panic about having to rush into the next situation in my life. I think I enjoy more honest and meaningful relationships. To paraphrase one of my Feng Shui notes, “When one is in flow with the powerful energies of nature, balance, and harmony bless one’s life.”

said we can achieve by walking barefoot in the backyard (maybe the basement during the winter) and hugging trees, which makes you immediately feel better. Another way is to hug people, which is difficult to do during the pandemic. Bentley Baughn explained that it’s important that people discharge the positive electrons in their bodies, which is why moving water coming towards us from ocean waves, a waterfall or shower feels so good (it brings negative ions). As explained in the documentary, “Earthing,” she said electromagnetic fields around us are causing health issues. “So if we can ground ourselves, we can reduce the inflammation in our bodies.” These issues, as well as feng shui, are considered “woo-woo” to many

Feng Shui altar attracting wealth and prosperity

People often complain of feeling exhausted in their homes, Bentley Baughn said.“The number one cause of low energy is that there is too much stuff in your way for you to be able to dream. It’s too burdensome. Obviously, it can be electromagnetic. It can be relational. It can be biological. It could be you’re pregnant. It could be any number of things. I try to lose the word ‘always’ and any of the absolute words, because very little in life is big enough to fit every situation, so I talk about trends and tendencies.”

Your thoughts can also be affected by your childhood, according to Bentley Baughn, author of the book, 5 Rules for Drama-Free Living. “If you had a parent who had a series of broken marriages, you may have a ‘men always leave story’ and therefore you’re hesitant to open your heart fully to a partner. So by challenging that story, whether it be with psychotherapy, an educational approach, feng shui, or all of the above, you need to let go of that story if you’re ever going to be successful in that relationship.” It’s also important to be grounded, which she Water and Metal Elements

people, but there is a significant amount of research being done that supports their validity, she added.

Color and motion bringing Chi to an area.

If you have a great-paying job, but hate it Bentley Baughn said one or more of the other eight boxes on the bagua could be out of kilter. “Sometimes you approach it by enhancing the one that is specifically related. Sometimes you look at what is out of whack.”

Clutter includes that which you can see, as well as everything hidden in closets and tucked away on shelves and in drawers, she said, “because it is still in your head and it limits what you can do with what is out The other space is tied up, so you can’t necessarily put something away.” As a precaution, Bentley Baughn urges everyone to seek out other causes for their lethargy, including possible underlying health conditions. Sometimes, situations are more complicated, and transcendental shifts need to be made to bring the energy around.“That’s a secret. That’s part of the magic because there are hundreds of transcendental interventions, but you only do them if the person is a serious querent asking.” Elaine Bentley Baughn is a feng shui coach, psychotherapist, author, blogger, and speaker. She may be contacted by phone at 860-892-4088, or by email at ebentleybaughn@aol.com.

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Brian R. Jones in his studio throwing a pot.

The Handshakes& & Mugs Mugs of The Handshakes ofBrian BrianR.R.Jones Jones

The The

Obsessed Potter Profile & studio images by Caryn B. Davis

Human beings have been playing in the mud for thousands of years. Clay objects like the Venus of Dolní Vestonice statue dating back to 29,000–25,000 BCE were discovered in the Czech Republic, while pre-Neolithic artifacts have been unearthed in South America, Japan, Sub-Sahara Africa, Russia, the Far East, and the Middle East. While some of these found objects were ornamental, many had a practical use. As nomadic tribes began farming more and hunting less, the need to develop a vessel that could carry water to keep thirsty crops satiated became vital. Clay was an obvious choice in which to craft these jugs because of its abundance and pliability. It was also inexpensive so if a container broke, another could easily be made. While most early vases, pitchers, pots, and tableware were quite plain and used for utilitarian purposes, the Greeks thought to decorate them with mythological characters, and experimented with color by adding ochre and potash to the clay. Around 600 A.D., Chinese potters during the Han Dynasty started integrating porcelain into their designs by mixing white kaolin clay with ground granite. From this, glazes were invented by other cultures in an attempt to replicate costly china. With the addition of this glassy coating placed decisively upon bare terracotta, the earthenware became not only waterproof, but also decorative, as glazes developed in color and intricacy. Our obsession with the creation of clay items may have been born out of necessity, but it has steadily evolved into an aesthetic aspiration. Today, pottery is highly regarded as an art form, and each region of the world boasts their own specialties, along with individual artists who have carved out their own distinctive styles. One such artist is Brian R. Jones from Guilford, Connecticut. He has been a successful potter for two decades. For many years, his

forte was earthenware and low-fired ceramic surfaces, but for the past five years, he has been working more with porcelain clay. Jones came to pottery slowly but had always been absorbed in the arts. He studied printmaking, painting, video, and drawing while attending Alfred University in upstate New York, but during his sophomore year, he discovered pottery and later turned his passion into a profession. “I was very fortunate to have brilliant instructors in college and beyond who presented ceramics and pottery making as a vigorous, intellectual exercise tied very deeply to craft and history,” says Jones. “Making pots connects me to the 30,000-year history of humankind working with clay. My work cannot, of course, fit all of that time into itself, but there is something there in my mugs, bowls, and candle holders.” After earning a BFA degree in 2001, and an MFA degree from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas in 2007, Jones did an apprenticeship with renowned potter Silvie Granatelli at her studio in Virginia. “Silvie used to tell me ‘it takes years.’ I would laugh at that, but over time I notice I am able to make decisions and form ideas that would not have been possible for me when I was younger. I didn’t have the life experience, especially in regards to making pots, to do certain technical things and I didn’t know myself as well as a craftsperson as I do now,” Jones says. While living in Virginia, Jones met his future wife Melissa Weimer, who is now a physician at Yale New Haven Hospital. The couple married and relocated to Portland, Oregon, where Jones set up shop for the next 10 years. But in 2010 he began questioning his choice of becoming an artist. 1/26/21 9:56 AM

1/26/21 9:56 AM

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was unhappy with how my sales were doing and feeling isolated in my studio, but simultaneously unwilling to leave that space and get out into the world,â&#x20AC;? he recalls. Seeking inspiration, he started listening to comedic podcasts and came across Marc Maronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WTF show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I instantly became hooked on Marcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s openness about his life, his ability to get his guests to open up in a deep way, and especially the conversations between professionals about craft, lineage, and finding oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice,â&#x20AC;? Jones says.Â So when Maron came to Portland for a weekend of standup comedy performances, Jones not only went to see him, but he also brought him a gift to express his appreciation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought I would make him a mug with his face and his catsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faces. He drank a lot of coffee at that time. Afterwards, he gave me a thank you and a plug on his next show,â&#x20AC;? Jones says. It just so happened Maron was looking for a keepsake of sorts to give to his guests, so he started buying Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mugs and the two formed a business relationship. Now, whenever Jones has mugs to sell, Maron informs his listening audience, and when Maron has had guests such as Iggy Pop, former President Barack Obama, John Hamm, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, and hundreds more, they all receive a WTF mug.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Making pots connects me to the 30,000-year history of humankind working with clay.

into itself, but there is something there in my mugs, bowls, and candle holders.â&#x20AC;?

Above: left to right tools of the trade, bats for throwing a pot., raw clay slabs ready to be kneaded , Carvers for turning your clay on a wheel.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people who buy them have not bought handmade objects before from an individual artist so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good education. People love them and come back again and again. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay stagnant. I change them monthly to keep my own interests piqued,â&#x20AC;? Jones says. Since the pandemic, Jones has struggled to find time to be in his studio especially now that his children are home more, and his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job has become increasingly more demanding. His priority is to make sure she is well rested and fed so she can continue to care for her patients. Additionally, he does all the cooking, cleaning, food shopping, and caring for their children. Still, with all that, Jones has found a way to give back to his community by donating a portion from the mug sales to the Connecticut Food Bank. Thus far, he has raised approximately $10,000, which includes matching donations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The food bank is a good thing. It feels like I am making some kind of difference peripherally. I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to people who need it, but there is so much more I want to do.â&#x20AC;? Jones says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am trying to build a relationship with the Food Bank to

Above: Brian R. Jones in his studio. Below: left to right Brian throwing a pot on a wheel, closeup, raw thrown bowls.

Above: left to right Mark Maron and Brian Jones, Group Housing - Butter plates, Tumbler.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I instantly became hooked on Marcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s openness about his life, his ability to get his guests to open up in a deep way, and especially the conversations between professionals about craft, lineage, and

do other fundraisers. Within the world of ceramics, a functional pot like a bowl or a plate can lead its way to a meal almost instantaneously, so how can I make that happen?â&#x20AC;? Although Covid has changed the way we interact, gather, and find comfort, Jones sees pottery as a vehicle that can offer some reliability and relief. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is the potential for deep human contact through a handmade object, and pottery for me has the tactile warmth of a handshake or a hug. I make work with the intention that it can be counted on day after day, year after year,â&#x20AC;? says Jones. For more information, and for post-Covid home sales and workshops, log onto brianrjones.com.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is the potential for deep human contact through a handmade object, and pottery for me has the tactile warmth of a handshake or a hug. I make work with the intention that it can be counted on day after day, year after year,â&#x20AC;?

Above: left to right The Mark Maron WTF Mugs Collection, Candle-holder.

Ask Ashley

Love it or Hate it, Valentine’s Day is Here

The dark history behind V-Day, plus 7 creative ways to spend it

alking about how Valentine’s Day will “look different this year” seemed redundant and just plain boring. In place of giving everyone a depressing reminder that we will be spending yet another holiday in the confines of our homes, I thought a less predictable piece was more suitable. That said, what is the history behind this Hallmark holiday, anyway? Where did Valentine’s Day come from, why is it celebrated on February 14th, and does America care enough about it to fork out $75 on a few long-stemmed roses?

How it Began Valentine’s Day began as an ancient agriculture and human fertility festival. Weird, right? The Roman festival, called the festival of Lupercalia, celebrated the coming of Spring, plus the pairing off of women with men by lottery. The mid-February commemoration was a sightly display of drunk men running through the streets naked while women were (willingly) catcalled by them, whipped with animal hide, and smeared in animal blood. Not so fun fact: This is where the term,“getting hit on,” came about. According to various historians, the women didn’t mind this animalistic (and seriously degrading) ritual because they believed it would make them fertile. That was the point of this festival, afterall.

At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day, which came to be celebrated as a day of romance from the 14th century on. Fast forward to modern day, and the holiday is now reserved for the romantics at heart (or those pretending to be) to express their affection for special someones with gifts, ﬂowers, and love affair greetings. So, now that you’ve got the rundown on Valentine’s Day’s strange origins, here are some ideas to spend the holiday that has come to recognize the importance of beauty and love in inﬁnite ways far beyond fertility rites.

7 Ways To Spend Valentine’s Day This Year, No Matter Who You’re Spending it With If you are spending it solo. Depending on your mood, pick a movie (sappy love story or terrible rom com) and really indulge in the moment. Turn your phone off, hit the lights, and have your favorite movie snacks handy to enjoy the simple pleasure of watching a ﬂick sans distractions or interruptions. If you’re spending it with your partner. Instead of buying crappy chocolates from Walgreens, set up a chocolate tasting for you and your signiﬁcant other to enjoy in your kitchen, setting the scene with mood music and candles. Head to your local sweet shop and pick up some gourmet chocolates to taste test. Or, if you’re really feeling this idea,

chef-like cooking skills. Make it special by breaking out the fancy dishware.

Another partner to-do. Slip into silky PJs, order delicious Italian (or French or Japanese) takeout, and watch an old romantic movie together. Pop a bottle of champagne and put your phones in another room. Better yet, turn your phones off. Spend this moment really soaking in one another’s company, taking time to appreciate your love for one another.

Another friend to-do. If you’re a craft beer person, organize your own craft beer tasting, complete with hot pretzels and beer cheese. There are plenty of options out there for various craft beer gift boxes, baskets and other sampling clubs and services to choose from. And, maybe you will have so much fun doing this that it becomes your monthly excuse to hang out with friends. Not a bad idea in my book. If you’re spending it with your kids. Show the love to your kiddos by engaging in a new-to-them activity. If they’re into baking, make a big deal about it. Set up a wafﬂe bar complete with strawberries, Nutella, walnuts, apples and powdered sugar, and have everyone vote on their favorite topping. If they are feeling crafty, give them a cool art project to work on, like heart shaped cutouts or ﬁngerpaint photo frames they can proudly display in their rooms.

Takeaway No matter what you decide to celebrate on this day, and who you decide to celebrate with, make sure you really take the time to celebrate it. No texting, no work emails. Just you, your favorite people, and a guilt-free night of delicious treats and indulgences.

If you’re spending it with your friends. How does a wine bar crawl sound? If you’re comfortable going to a winery or restaurant, conduct your own wine crawl with friends. The frequent change in scenery and ambiance can be quite exhilarating, not to mention, just plain fun. If you’d rather spend it hosting at home, have each friend bring a good bottle of wine over and discover which foods pair best with which wines. Another friend to-do. Again, if you feel comfortable, snag a reservation at a highly-rated restaurant in your area. Bonus points if it’s a tapas style place so you can (safely) share different appetizers and entrees with your group, and critique accordingly. The alternative to going out? Dust off the cookbook that’s been hiding in the corner of your kitchen, pick a recipe you’ve never tried before, and wow your friends with your

Another tip: Use this day as an excuse to give your quarantine sets a rest, and put on something fancy instead. May you have a fun and memorable day celebrating all the love around you. If you want to keep with Ashley, sign up for her happiness hacks newsletter, Take a Sip, at https://ashleyalt.substack.com/.

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Drea ming Dreaming of a o Diff f rent nt fere P st Past t

by Dan niel Lev Shkolnik Photos Courtesy Sleeping Giiant Pa ark Associatio on

Illustration froom The Legend of Hobbomock the Sleeping Giant

According to anth hropologist William S. Simmons, Ho obbomock was “the the princ principal ipal deity wh ho appeared t to human ns in visions and a dreams.”

a trickster with a meerrccu curial a te temper pe that t at local oca medicine ed c e people could invokee for aid. At one point he was summoned to dispattch the Great Beaverr,, which was consuming the fish in the Conneccticut River and—when the fish ra an out—devouring people. W Wiith a large stake, Hobbomock killed thee beaverr.. Its body became the Pocu umtuck Range in Massachusetts; itts head landed nearby and became Mt. Sugarloaf.

Above: Postcard of Sleeping Giant MT T.. Carmel Connecticut pre-quarry. Bookend Illustration from The Legend of Hobbomock, the Sleeping Giant.

But there came a time when Ho obbomock himself grew dangerous. o mock When the people were not worshipping him properly y,, Hobbom became enraged. He stamped his h foot, diverting the course of tthe Connecticut River near what is now Middletown and causing havoc. He was sedated by the creator spirit Keihtan with a feasst of laced oysters which put him into an everlasting slumber. W Wiitth time, Hobbomock’s body hardened into the ridge now known aas Sleeping Giant, a prominent and beloved feature of the Conneccticut landscape that resembles a giant man in repose.

That’s the myth associated with h Sleeping Giant. That’s the mytth the Sleeping Giant Park Associaation has on its website. That’s the t myth retold, with some variatio on, in most articles written abou ut the ridge. And that’s the myth that t serves as the inspiration forr the illustrated children’s book The Legend L g of Hobbomock: The Sleep p ping g Giant. But that myth may not bee real. To T o say a myth is a “real myth” sounds like an oxymoron. Geologists know that Sleeping Giant, or Mount Carmel as it’s also a known, k is i a 170 million illi year old ld d trap rock k ridge id fformed db by volc lcanic i eruptions and subsequent fracturing. What’s in question isn’t the genesis of the ridge but of the myth. There’s reason to believe itt may not be genuine. The legend with which I began this article is my attempt to assemble multiple versions of the myth, none of which have definitive historical credibility y.. It seems most if not all articles o on the subject rely on the Sleeping Giant Park Association’s history y page p g as their source. The SGPA PA A in turn cites Nancy Davis Sachsse’s book, Born Among the Hills: The Sleeping Giant Story (1997) for itts version of the myth myth. But after contacting c the SGP PA A they inform A, informed med me that “the story of Hobomocck [sic] is a bit more complicated and nuanced than the one we’v ve been telling for years.” The SGP PA A archives are stored in the Histo ory Room at the Hamden Public Library (currently closed to the p public). In those archives, I was told,

Above: Illustration from The Legen nd of Hobbomock the Sleeping Giant Below: MT T.. Carmel Connecticut, view v of Sleeping Giant 1974

there are “a series of nottecards rd that tell that [same] story y,,” ” of Ho ob bbomock’s transform mation, but it’s unclear if Sachsee wrote them or used them. Dead en nd. But there’s another thrread to the Hobbomock myth: hiis showdown with the Great Beaver. Gary Sanderson of the Recorderr traces this story y back to the 1870ss when Deacon Phinehas Field in ncluded it on

“A A lot lot can happ pen to a leg gend in two hundred h ye ears.”

page 59 of History and Proceediings of the Pocumtuck V Vaalley Memorial Association. That seem ms promising. Howeverr,, Sanderson points out a cruciall problem with a fish- and human-eating g beaver: beaverss are herbivorous. “But what does biology matter?” yo ou might ask. “Mythology doesn’t obey the laws of naturre.” That’s true, but strangely g y enough g , we don’t perceive all mythical creatures as equally real. For example, a ghost feeels more believable than a centaur; ghosts have stood thee test of time, centaurs have not. A A story about a half-believ vable beaverr,, Sanderson arvived as a serious, deep-time, gues, “would never have surv lesson-teaching creation tale eexplaining a sacred, ceremonial landscape.” If the details of Hobbomock versus the Great Beaver are in question it doesn’t question, doesn t mean the eentire myth is false. false Neither does it discredit the rest of thee Hobbomock legend. But it does reveals the murkiness of mythological memory y.. bbomock existed—at least What we do know is that Hob ding to anthropologist in the minds of native tribes. Accor A mock was “the principal deity William S. Simmons, Hobbom Wi and dreams.” He was who appeared to humans in visions v also known as Cheepi (Chepi,, Chepian), a name related to “words for death, the deceaased, and the cold northeast wind.” Early English explorerrs seized upon the figure of Hobbomock and equated him m to the devil in Christian q tradition. Though as independ dent historian Mary Ellen Lepionka p points out, “there w was no ‘Evil One’ in Algonquian metaphysics. Most spiriits were capable of evil if not treated right.”

41 Fabricated myths about indigenous people are nothing new. According to the Smithsonian magazine g , the thanksgiving legend evolved from a puritan practice into a tourist ploy into a natio onal unity myth in 1863 during the Civil Wa War. This coincided with the t tapering i end d off the th A American i In Indian di W Wa ars, when h fear f off Native N ti Americans (and their power) w was on the decline. There’s reason to suspect the Sleeping Giant mytth may have emerged from a similar historical redux. The original European name fo or the ridge was Blue Hills, not Sleeping Giant. In 1888, John H H. Dickerman opened Blue Hills Park where, according to the SGP PA A, residents could travel a carriage road “to a pavilion on the fourtth ridge for a ‘basket picnic’ which included ice cream.” Shortly affterr,, the ridge was renamed “Sleeping Giant.” This later-day rechristen ning of the ridge to coincide with the opening of a for-profit attractio on is suspicious. Especially when you consider this was the era of Buffalo Bill’s Wild Wi We West which begaan in 1883 and proliferated and profited from romanticized or fiction nal portrayals of Native Americans and their cultures. None of this proves the myth of Sleeping Giant is fabricated, bu ut it should raise eyebrows. Dickerman had incentive to rename and a romanticize the ridge to attract and entertain tourists. Though judging from the fact that Deacon Phinehas Field wrote about Hobbomock vs. the Great Beaver in the previous decade, the leg gend may have existed as popular folklore among Anglo-Europeans who settled the area since the 1730s. That’s over a century before m th was recorded by b Field d, but a centur century after first contacct. ct A the myth wo hundred years. lot can happen to a legend in tw An added difficulty is that even n among native tribes who acknowledged Hobbomock, there may not have been consensus aabout his mythology y.. These tribes shaared a similar but not identical langu uage and likely developed similar bu ut not identical traditions. An onliine exchange I had with the SGP PA A sums it up well: “COULD [sic] the story that Nancy [Davis Sachse] tells and SGPA PA A repeats be ONE of the many stories told about our beloved Giant? In all likelihood. Is there ONE story that any one group told. That’s lost to time.” According to one modern retelling of the legend, Hobbomock was believed to contain the spirits of the dead. It’s unclear if this is an accurate depiction of native beliefs, but as a metaphorr,, it may be more true today than it ever was before. Beneath this fallen giant’s name lie unknown heroes, healers, chiefs and clan mothers. In a sense, Hobbomock, and the ridge associated with him, has become the mummy of a largely destroyed culture. When we see the file of the trap rock ridge in Hamden we know about Hobbomock and his people, we might considerr all those stories we certainly don’t.

Opposite page Photo: Giants Chin Sleeepping Giant, Illustrraattiion off H Hoobbomock. Above: Giant To Tower on top ooff Sleeepping Giant. HOBBOMOCK The Childrens book.

Cabin Cured Cabin Fever By John Tolmie / Photos by Kate Tolmie

The majority of Nutmegger’s concur that midwinter in Connecticut is universally loathed and branded as the state’s least favored time of year. Currently, in winter’s moody grip, cabin fever has taken hold and summoned the curse of the dreaded Annual “Let’s Try Not to Get Divorced” challenge. Even for truly devoted and loving couples, thunderous boredom, skeletal trees, angry skies, invisible black ice, salty grey slush, and the increasing consumption of opinion juice, have all weakened sensible patience, prudence, and restraint. Across the state, the wisest of tongues have atypically turned coat and currently bark with sporadic and uncharacteristic irritations. Admittedly, the Crusty Old Diver and his long-suffering bride endure this seasonal malady alongside our neighbors. With dive gear stowed and ﬁshing gear asleep in the rafters, a spontaneous escape to Mother Ocean’s embrace still lay months away. This psychologically seasonal allergy appealed for immediate environmental change. With the Jetta packed and rubber grabbing road, this couple was off in search of

new things and to honor an unforgotten pledge with friends under the snowpeaked mountains of New Hampshire. Just two hours north, the Town of Dublin lay at the base of famed Mount Monadnock. With its reﬂection forever shimmering across Dublin Lake, the scene engenders instant peace and serenity. The majestic pinnacle is the most-hiked crag in New England as evident by the thousands who arrive en masse in warmer months. At its base and less than a mile in diameter, Dublin Lake attracts anglers, SCUBA divers, and water sports enthusiasts to its calm

and mysterious waters. It is clear and deep and retains a rare myriad of lake trout and other prized northern species. Aside from alluring truths, local lore unashamedly boasts of a scaled cryptid prowling beneath the waves. Dublin Lake Monster is accused of unaccounted divers, swallowed by its lair of subaquatic caverns. The fact does yield some credence, when years ago, a freediver believed to be drowned, had been discovered days later, stark naked, and incessantly babbling of strange horrors lurking below. This trip would in fact include happenstance with a mysterious creature but of the terrestrial and hairy variety. Josh, the drummer for beloved Granite State rock-band “Scuzzy Yeti”, is well over six feet in stature, adorned with untamed ebony locks, and complimenting lumberjack beard, presenting the quintessential New Hampshire Hillbilly“Live Free or Die”stereotype.

Yet, his welcoming countenance supersedes his formidable presence, washing perceived intimidations warmly down the drain. Before the pandemic and the ensuing demise of all things fun, we had crossed paths as drummers. Playing alongside one another by chance across New England, we had instantly become chums. The connection further deepened with the rare benefit that social media can still afford. An infant burgeoning bro-ship had begun. Where it would lead was still unknown. However, escaping the present seasonal maladies was a must. True, midwinter was maddening, and a distraction was mandatory to quench marital tensions and hopefully solidify a growing kinship. Reluctant trust had been surrendered and Waze guided northward. For over an hour the radio thumped traveling music as the manicured highway hummed beneath. Suddenly, a right turn replaced the thoroughfare doldrums with miles of picturesque New England backroads. Time and its passing quickened in cadence to the dwindling population. With every advance north, the forest consumed what man had carved. An unbroken cloak of evergreens lazily took command and assured tranquility and peace at the impending destination. Again, the A.I. politely advised a right turn as nibble treads unexpectedly experienced a new and aggressive terrain. Asphalt was replaced as dirt grumbled in rebellion, creating anxiety for travelers as the pampered suspension gyrated in protest. Yet, the sensible German automobile reluctantly succumbed and embraced its ďŹ nal turn into the untamed woods on the outskirts of Dublin. Opinions and advice ďŹ&#x201A;ew from the cautious lips of driver and passenger alike as the brutish serpentine trail begged forth into the unfamiliar snow-laden woodland. The rustic trail demanded they go uphill, then down, then left, then right, and up again. Mud, stone, and frozen pools greeted their unaccustomed nerves as the narrow route continued its advance. When the duo thought the ancient

path would never end, a rustic shanty wonderfully and unexpectedly appeared. In the clearing, blue smoke swirled overhead. Snow-covered logs hewn by force over a hundred years ago, lay atop one another forming a bye-gone hovel that exuded hospitable and long-forgotten simplicity. Life and its complexity seemed to fade with every advance as the Jetta rolled to a stop. The diesel engine coughed into silence with the turn of a key, allowing the stillness of the forest to embrace our troubled hearts. Here there is no electricity, no Wi-Fi, no running water, and utterly free of modern responsibilities. A few oil lamps, a

wood stove, and an outhouse would be the only amenities. Yet burdens and stress melt away, keenly aware that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complications are far, far removed. The air is crisp refreshing and freedom replaces the worries of modern life. In climactic response, the cabin door swings wide. Josh emerges and spreads his arms in a gesture that exudes a welcoming that has been long-awaited. This moment was needed more than can be realized.Yet gratitude and enlightenment will assuredly arrive in the few days that lay ahead. Keep it simple my friends and get away from it all.

Photo by Caryn B. Davis

BOOK

WITH NO

BOTTOM

by Daniel Lev Shkolnik manuscript images courtesy of the Beinecke Library

S 408 may be the closest humanity has come to creating a black hole. Over the past five centuries, it’s sucked in cryptographers, linguists, Jesuits, and alchemists, taken years of their lives, and given nearly nothing in return. For the moment, it remains a pit with no bottom. Despite what its moniker might suggest, MS 408 is not a celestial object. In fact, it’s not clear what it is. Put simply, it’s a book. More precisely, it’s a series of medieval folios ordered into a manuscript that sits locked away in the Beinecke Rare Books Collection at Yale University. The tricky part is that it has no name, no known author, and no living readers—and maybe never did. Researchers often refer to this nameless work by its call number at the Beinecke: MS 408. But to the world, it’s more commonly known as the Voynich manuscript. Carbon dating estimates the manuscript was created between 1404 and 1438 A.D., but it first appeared in written history at the court of King Rudolf II, who ruled both Italy and Germany between 1576 and 1612. Over the next three centuries it’s believed to have passed between alchemists, doctors, and multiple Jesuit libraries before it was rediscovered in 1912 by Wilfred Voynich, a Polish book dealer. He found the book’s 250 pages filled with an unknown language, images of unidentified plants, astrological

Photo by Caryn B. Davis

signs, and naked women bathing in green ooze. For years, Wilfred Voynich tried to track down the origins of the manuscript and entice academic interest in translating the strange script. Interest came, but definitive answers didn’t. Even the famed WWII cryptographer, William F. Friedman, who’d been in charge of cracking Japan’s “Purple” cipher, attempted to decode the manuscript. After three decades of on-and-

off attempts, he declared it uncrackable. To this day, this five-hundred year old riddle continues to entangle seekers in its blackbriar script. Researchers are doing new work on the Voynich with computer, X-ray, and chemical analysis. While our best technology has allowed us to make headway, the book has kept most of its secrets.

Voynich scholars have staked out two major camps regarding the manuscript—let’s call one side the “believers” and the other the “skeptics.” Believers believe MS 408 contains an authentic message. It may, for example, be a herbal manuscript written in a protoRomance language, an extinct Germanic dialect, or an early European attempt to transliterate an eastern language. Another theory—one with many variations—is that it’s an encrypted text meant to hide secret knowledge from the Catholic church. By the same logic, MS 408 may have either been the ciphered notebook of an occultist or a proto-scientist. (One of my favorite theories proposes the Voynich is the work of some botanical Galileo, a heretical investigator who filled its pages with early microscopic observations of plants.) The skeptics, on the other hand, believe MS 408 has no message. The prevailing view in this camp is that the manuscript is a hoax. One version of the hoax theory is that the occultist Edward Kelly created it to deceive King Rudolph II—a collector of esoterica. Another hypothesis proposes it was made by a “medieval quack” to impress their clients. Alternatively, some skeptics hold the book may not be a hoax, but still has no message. For example: it may be the product of glossolalia (speaking in tongues), an example of outsider art, or the product of a mental disorder. Both the believers and the skeptics raise convincing arguments, counterarguments, and counter-counterarguments. Believers point out a manuscript like this was not cheap to create and would have taken over a year to pen. Skeptics point to its

average craftsmanship and sloppy coloring as possible evidence of a huckster. Even now, the debate goes on in cryptography journals like Cryptologia. Every few years, a newspaper headline announces someone has “cracked” the Voynich. So far, every breakthrough has been a false one. Likewise, every attempt to nail it as a hoax has failed. According to British Voynich researcher Gordon Rugg, “there is currently no way of telling whether the text is the most difficult code to crack in the history of humanity, or a clever fake designed to frustrate all those gripped by its spell.” On online forums, the more fanciful Voynich enthusiasts imagine MS 408 contains an answer to the mystery of existence. That’s doubtful. But looking into the Voynich is in some ways like looking out at the cosmos. We don’t know who made it. We don’t know what it means. Our sciences can analyze it, but they give no definitive answer. Skeptics and believers continue to debate whether the patterns conceal an intelligible message or if all this structure arose by chance. I believe the debate continues, both about the universe and the Voynich, because there’s a genuine debate to be had. Dismissing the mystery as meaningless is too hasty, but presuming its answers: too foolish. How do we deal with the inscrutable Voynich manuscript? The question has everything to do with how we deal with the open but beguiling book of existence. Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem, who often wrote about inscrutable mysteries, observed that when we encounter something truly alien, we project ourselves onto it.

We anthropomorphize our pets, believing (or preferring to believe) that they think and feel like us. We can project sentience onto trees, stone idols, and the forces of nature. Beneath this habit is an anthropocentric presumption that the world—however mysterious—is pretty much like us. Though that might not be true. Our reflection may be hidden in the world we perceive. Like with a dark pond or a car window, we can see a little of what’s within; we can also see a little of ourselves. We don’t know what’s at the bottom of the Voynich manuscript—a very dark pond—but in looking at it, we can catch the reflection of a curious species peering into its waters, enthralled with the secret powers of plants and words. We might also glimpse a dogged species, endlessly debating one another to whittle down an ever-narrowing perimeter around the truth. If we ever reach the bottom of the Voynich, we’re unlikely to discover hidden secrets about the universe. But even if the mystery remains impenetrable and our efforts fruitless, we can gaze into its darkened surface and, in looking, catch a dim reflection of ourselves.

Photo by Caryn B. Davis

51 T h e

P r e m i e r

R e s o u r c e

t o

t h e

C o n n e c t i c u t

A r t i s a n

Merritt Farm

By John Tolmie Photos by Kate Tolmie

HOW THE WERE WON F

or over a half-century, Haley Farm has been an oasis of respite for the Eastern Connecticut community. However, this amazing preserve came tragically close to becoming a condominium development. Yet a select few eco-warriors were determined to save the precious coastal habitat. Haley Farm would be the first of several outdoor spaces that would be secured and protected for generations to come.

The story unfolds from the lips of Joan Smith, the current President of Groton Open Space Association (GOSA). Dry leaves crunch underfoot in the crisp morning air as the bright winter sun paints the silent forest. A blue jay announces his displeasure with a screech, breaking the stillness, causing a smile to appear on Joan’s kind face. A facemask conceals her grin, but keen blue eyes reveal solace and satisfaction to the surrounding forest she had been determined to save. “The condominium development at Haley Farm was imminent, but a small group of concerned citizens, championed by Mrs. Sidney Van Zandt, gathered together intending to save the habitat from being wiped away,” Joan explains, “In 1967 the ‘Save the Haley Farm Committee’ was formed and were ultimately successful.” With no funding or experience, the committee gained the attention of local celebrity citizens who convinced the Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection to hike and view the entire property. “They were given three months to raise fifty thousand dollars, which in today’s dollars would be well over three hundred thousand,” Recalls Joan, “Fortunately our local famed Boston Marathon winners John Kelly and Amby Burfoot, stepped up and organized a rock concert which put the fund-raiser over the top and ultimately saved Haley Farm.”

“Fortunately our local famed Boston Marathon winners John Kelly and Amby Burfoot, stepped up and organized a rock concert which put the fund-raiser over the top and ultimately saved Haley Farm.” With its first acquisition in place, the foundation for GOSA had been formed and within five years Haley Farm’s adjacent property, Bluff Point State Park, would be next on the list for preservation. “Bluff Point was also under intense development pressure in 1972, so GOSA members, local citizen groups, and government representatives joined together and began the arduous process of fighting the land development.” Explains Joan, “Ultimately they convinced the State of Connecticut that the highest and best use of the land would be granted as a conservation area.” Bluff Point is the last remaining significant portion of undeveloped shoreline in Connecticut. The result of their efforts was another preservation victory. The public would now and forever enjoy its quintessential granite New England bluffs, native ecology, unique fauna, and scenic qualities with undisturbed integrity. The efforts of GOSA and the surrounding community had assured Bluff Point State Park to be granted the highest possible protection under the laws of Connecticut’s state park system. Though members of GOSA and the community fought for the land, the state of Connecticut would ultimately take ownership of Haley Farm and Bluff Point. However, the state shared the management of the properties with GOSA who hired local farmers to mow the grasslands while volunteers groomed trails, built bridges, and cleared fallen trees. “We are a very small group of people and we are all volunteers.” Joan Chuckle’s, “The majority of us are retirees. It would be nice to see some young faces volunteering more. It is an enormous amount of work maintaining all of our properties, not to mention the constant clerical and accounting duties.” The intricate collaboration of GOSA and other public land trusts have formed a symbiotic conglomerate of joined properties creating an unbroken ‘Green Belt’ from the Mystic coastline north to the lush forests of Ledyard. “The Merritt Farm property was a keystone connecter for the Green Belt, especially for wildlife trails

Lee Brook

GREY FARM SUBDIVISION

214 Tom Allyn Brook

Lee Brook

Great Brook

Williams Brook

BURTON PROPERTY

Williams Brook

COLONEL LEDYARD PARK Pine Swamp Brook

Great Brook

117

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THE NATURE CONSERVANCY PIKE MARSHALL PRESERVE

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NE AR DY L LE Y D HW

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Great Brook

WILLIAM & JANET GIBB S PRESER VE

Culver Brook

DEERFIELD

Haleys Brook

LA MPASONA

Haleys Brook

MERIDYTH HILL

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CHARLES BARNUM SCHOOL

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BLANC HE & GEORGE ROCH ELEAU AZALEA PRESERVE

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MARY MORRISON SCHOOL

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Above clockwise: Mushroom at Haley Farm, Beebe Pond, Town of Groton Open Space Map Opposite Page Clockwise: Merritt Farm, Mushrooms Haley Farm, Foot Bridge Sheep Farm.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The majority of us are retirees. It would be nice to see some young

Legend

Disclaimer: The planimetric and topographic information depicted on this map was compiled by The Sanborn Map Company based on an aerial flight performed in April 2009. The parcel and property line information depicted on this map has been compiled from recorded deeds, maps, assessor records, and other sources of information in the Town of Groton. The intent of this map is to depict a graphical repres entation of real property information relative to the planimetric features for the Town of Groton and is subject to change as a more accurate survey may disclose. The Town of Groton and the mapping companies assume no legal responsibility for the information contained in this data. THIS MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY. Horizontal Datum: Connecticut State Plane Coordinates, North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83 Feet).

FILE: G:\depts\ParksandRec\projects\ArcGIS\Open Space Map - For GOSA11x17.mxd

X-Town Trail Easements Town of Groton Open Space State Owned City of Groton Open Space

Vertical Datum: North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).

November 17, 2017

Recreation Trails

2,000

4,000

Feet 8,000

Public Access Open Space Avalonia Land Conservancy. Inc Groton Open Space Association, Inc The Nature Conservancy, & Peace Sanctuary

Closed To The Public Sportsmans Club Town of Ledyard Owned Open Space Groton Inland Wetlands

faces volunteering more.

“Most of us grew up playing in the woods and were told by our parents to be home by supper. I think what we need now is a ‘No Child Left Inside’ mindset.”

and the preservation of its freshwater streams,” Joan explains as her voice raises an octave. A boisterous waterfall appears and gushes over mossy granite into a myriad of pools that empty into a clear bubbling stream. Joan chose The Sheep Farm as the setting for our interview, it is her favorite property managed by GOSA. “This is Fort Hill Brook, and the waterfall gives us an incredibly unique ecological anomaly. Native brook trout live here as well as a healthy population of catadromous American eel. Unlike the anadromous trout, American eels spawn at sea and feed in freshwater, whereas trout spawn in fresh water and venture to the sea to feed.” The American Eel is the only fish able to climb up the falls and Joan reveals the uniqueness of the result. “There are several amphibian vernal pools upstream. Vernal pools are always free of predatory fish so that frogs and salamanders can spawn without the threat of predation. However, the American eel is present in the pools which gave us some concern at first. However, we consulted with the Department of Environmental Protection experts to conduct a study which thankfully revealed a healthy balance between the amphibian population and the eels. So, we just let them be.” GOSA’s top priority is to acquire as much land that can be managed by the small and resourceful volunteer group. The Green Belt is fostering a rejuvenation of indigenous wildlife who can access unbroken swaths of varying ecosystems that have been isolated for many years. Currently, GOSA owns five properties covering over 530 acres. “We are currently in the process of acquiring another hundred and four acres of the Sheep Farm South which will connect the Merritt Farm by trail. Soon we will have an unbroken trail system moving northward.” Though GOSA owns only five of the local eight land trusts, they have been instrumental in coaxing the State of Connecticut to purchase other preserves where townships were hesitant to forego tax revenues from private development. “We had a purchase and sale agreement to acquire Candlewood Ridge Wildlife Management Area, but we did not get an endorsement from the town, so we went to the state to see if there was another avenue to save this special property. We raised fifteen percent of the purchase, which was a hundred seventeen thousand dollars, with the State then contributing the rest of the Above clockwise: Merritt Farm, Beebe Pond, Joan Smith at Sheep Farm, Opposite Page Clockwise: Joan Smith hiking Sheep Farm Trail, Beebe Cove Respite Spot. Sheep Farm Fauna, Merritt Farm.

“It’s times like this that we all need the wilderness. Here you can socially distance in a setting that is safe and peaceful.” funding.” Joan laughs and raises a triumphant fist, “So we take credit for saving Candlewood. It is home to a pitch pine forest which is one of Connecticut’s most imperiled ecosystems. It’s a stunning property with ridgetops and views like you would see at Acadia National Park in Maine.” These precious lands had long been viewed as simple revenue streams for local municipalities. The pro-development mindset has faltered in recent years and the true value of these outdoor spaces is now being measured with conservancy rather than money. “Most of us grew up playing in the woods and were told by our parents to be home by supper. I think what we need now is a ‘No Child Left Inside’ mindset. We bring kids out here from summer camps and the wonders that they experience really change them.” Joan says as she points to a hill, “Here you can see the original Colonial boundaries. There are also other manmade structures throughout this area. We have invited archaeologists from UConn who have uncovered remnants of the Pequot Indian War that raged through Mystic. There really is an amazing amount of history right here where we stand.” Between the eight and soon to be nine land-trusts, every natural setting that Connecticut has to offer can be experienced and relished by the public. Dense leafy forests, rocky Atlantic shorelines, calm briny coves, wide-open grasslands, buzzing vernal pools, moss-laden wetlands, bubbling waterfalls, and bold-faced granite cliffs can all be witnessed firsthand while blazing the miles of winding and well-marked trails. Joan emphasizes this by saying, “It’s times like this that we all need the wilderness. Here you can socially distance in a setting that is safe and peaceful. We have had a huge increase in visitors and new members due to the pandemic. It’s an unnerving time for sure, but It is also a delight to have a whole new focus and purpose to preserve these incredible properties.” Joan invites all Nutmeggers to volunteer, donate, or simply visit, relax and enjoy the great outdoors. For more information, please visit GOSAonline.org

New London native, Daniel Rodriguez, is going places…while staying, that is. By Ali Kaufman As a founding member of the widely acclaimed band, Elephant Revival, Daniel spent more than 10 years touring, making music, and championing earth-friendly causes. The Colorado based band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2018 after playing their farewell show at Red Rocks. It wasn’t long before Rodriguez debuted a collection of songs,Your Heart, The Stars,The Milky Way, an EP(extended play mini-album) in February of 2019.This past August he released his full length debut album, Sojourn of a Burning Sun, on sub-label, BMG’s Renew Records. Not the easiest thing to do in the midst of the pandemic when the scheduled tour opening for The Lumineers, playing 20,000 capacity venues was now canceled. He may not have been able to tour the album, but people were and are listening to this offering of 12 original songs. Rolling Stone made mention, and then came the honor of being in the first round balloting as

a con-tender for the Grammy in the category of Best Americana Record. It’s hard not to like all the songs on Sojourn of a Burning Sun. Standouts like “As I Am” and “Dying Just to Live” are soothing with a hypnotic groove that builds to a cheerful hook that will have you pressing “play” over and over. Colorado and Brother John have accompanying videos that are so engaging, the latter felt like watching a mini movie. Daniel said that “taking 10 Covid-free friends and making some videos,” was a great way to share the new music and stay connected to fans in a time when options are limited. Regarding this surreal time in which we find ourselves, Daniel commented on the silver lining of having time off after being on the road for years.“At first it was like a

forced unpaid vacation, downtime to do things there was never time for, but then it stretched on…you want to be safe, but also you want to do what you were born to do.” Some of his time has been spent writing an entirely new album that will come out in the future, so stay tuned! Fans of Elephant Revival will recognize Darren Garvey, the band’s drummer whom Daniel brought onboard, now plays with him on this new rec-ord. Daniel holds down the vocals as well as being multi-instrumental, playing acoustic guitar, banjo, and also has bass, piano, and violin in his bag of tricks. In addition, special guests Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange and Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass add to making this offering something you would be happy to unwrap

or give this holiday season. While you can download digital copies or order CDs, you also have the option of an actual record.“Vinyl is such a fun way to listen to music,” Dan-iel quipped, and I concurred. This album especially lends itself to the turn-table, played loud so you can sway and dance around your house with the people in your bubble.

If we ever needed comfort and joy, this is the year, and this album deliv-ers. Whether you are familiar with Daniel’s career or new to him, listening feels like comfort food for the soul with a side of hope…and who couldn’t use a big old platter of that? Daniel Rodriguez’s website is where you can find his videos, connect to his streaming plat-

forms, and link to purchase physical copies. drodri-guezmusic.com. It never hurts to check your local record store either if you are looking for vinyl! PS. As this year comes to a close, (phew!) I want to thank all our readers for taking the time to search out INK and allow us to share with you. It’s a privilege that I am grateful for, and my wish is that we will all move for-ward into 2021 hopeful, healthy, and ready to discover 12 brand new months of adventures and art!

The

Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Not All Cheeses Are Created Equal Often times, a customer tastes a cheese and falls in love with it. But a problem can arise when that same customer tries to buy that same cheese again. The new purchase simply may not taste the same. The reason for this could be a standard one. Either the cheese was not cared for properly or it was not wrapped correctly. It could also not have been of good quality to begin with. These issues are of course avoided by purchasing at a quality shop that handles cheese properly. Precautions include proper ripening methods, proper wrapping and cleaning, and refacing cheeses to be clean and free of new surface mold when needed. Another reason is, you may not be buying and asking for the right cheese. Below, I cover a few of the most common examples of mistaken identity when it comes to cheese.

Spanish Manchego I find that many people will ask for Spanish Manchego without further defining it. Most people are not aware that this cheese is available in both raw milk and pasteurized versions. In addition, it is available in three-month, six-month, one-year, and even older ages. If you were to compare a threemonth pasteurized sample verses a one-year raw milk sample, you would discover a world of difference in taste - a new cheese altogether, in fact. When it comes to Spanish Manchego, we usually carry an eight-month aged version. We feel this varietal has far more flavor than the one-year pasteurized version. And it is much more popular, by the way.

Swiss Emmentaler Everyone knows Swiss cheese… or do they? There are many imitation versions produced in many countries of the world, but there is only one true Emmentaler (also known as Switzerland Swiss). The true nutty flavor of this cheese has made it a popular favorite for centuries. Emmentaler is a great eating cheese, but it also melts well, is often a key ingredient in fondue, and it keeps very well. Emmentaler, however, is another cheese that is available in many different ages: six-month, nine-month, one-year and even various older ages. Obviously, the taste of each age will vary dramatically, and this difference will also be noticeable when used in cooking. For example, a fondue made with a young cheese will likely turn out bland compared to a fondue made with an aged one. What did you buy last time?

Swiss Gruyere and French Comte These two very similar cheeses share the same problem. They will vary from six months to eighteen months in age, therefore creating a vast difference in taste. Many will say they favor one cheese over the other, but are they comparing age or the cheese itself? An eighteen-month cheese from one country cannot be properly compared to a six-month cheese from another country. Unless the country you buy from is important to you, it would be best to taste the difference for yourself rather than to choose by name.

Cheddar Is a four-year aged Vermont cheddar better than a six-month Wisconsin? One could write a book on this topic. You will find all kinds of cheddars, ranging from six months to fifteen years old or older. It would be more important to know how the cheese was made, the time of year it was made, how it was aged, etc. in making a choice. I personally would not buy a cheddar merely because it comes from a specific state.

Brie vs. Camembert From my experience, most people assume that camembert is stronger in taste than brie. Technically, both brie and camembert share the same exact recipe; the only difference is age and location where made. Aging will make one stronger than the other. There are also many different manufacturers of both varietals and they can vary dramatically. You may find either of these cheeses ranging in price from $4.00 to $20 per cheese, based on quality and age. Some are modeled after French raw milk cheeses, even though raw milk cheeses of this name are not actually allowed in the United States. These cheeses are more pungent than the others.

Dutch Goudas Very similar to cheddars, this family of cheeses will vary by age, ranging from a few months to as old as 12 years. Be aware of very old varietals; they can be just too hard in texture and lack the added value of a deeper taste.

A Solution The answer to finding that exact same cheese involves more than just knowing the name of it. When ordering, I advise to not only remember the name, but also the age and type of milk used to produce it. This is the best way to ensure you land on the very same cheese you enjoyed last time. It is also worth a moment of your time to jot down the details of a cheese you love. I suggest that knowing the name of a cheese is perhaps less significant; taste is what is truly important in the end. Also bear in mind that not all cheese retailers carry the same selection. Better questions to ask might be something like the following: “I like aged cheddars around three to four years old and I’m familiar with Vermont cheddars. What do you have in stock that I might like?” or, “I’m making French onion soup and I like a well-aged Gruyere. What similar cheeses do you carry in this category?” If you ask only for the name of a cheese you may not end up with the flavor you really wanted. Know more than just the name. And as I always say, try before you buy. Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

By Art LiPuma, General Manager SeaSide Wine & Spirits, Old Saybrook

Médoc, France Médoc is one of the pristine areas in Bordeaux, an area residing on the northwest of Boredaux also known as the“Left Bank,”and home to some of the best wine growing areas or Appellations of Médoc; including Bas-Médoc , St. Estèphe, Paulliac, St. Julien, Listrac-Médoc, Moulis, Margaux, Haut Médoc, Pessac Léognan, Graves, and Sauternes. Generally, the reds wines are made up of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a few exceptions and then blended with amounts of any of the following grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot. The area of St-Estèphe, one of the northern appellations of Mèdoc, is known to have gravel soils producing excellent Cabernet Sauvignons in their Bordeaux blends. With the slightly cooler climate, the area is also producing some great Merlot and is great for aging. One of the famous vineyards from this appellation is Cos D’Estournel, which is an outstanding wine for its longevity for aging with high amounts of Merlot in the blend. St. Julien is one of the areas in Medoc producing more elegant but balanced red wines. Some of the big producers include Ch teau Léoville-Barton and Ch teau Ducru-Beaucaillou. In the north corner of Médoc is an area once called Bas-Medoc (now just known as Médoc), part of the “Medoc” appellations producing rustic and earthy wines, however, using more Merlot in the blend to soften the wine. These wines are of great value being a little less expensive than their counterparts. Pauillac is a classic example of Medoc wines with its gravelly soils and slightly warm growing season. This makes it ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, which, of course, is the predominant grape grown here. Some of the top producers here are well known throughout the world; a great example of this is Chateau Mouton-Rothchilds which has been classified as a first growth producer since 1973,(first growth or premier cru is a classification of being some of the most pristine vineyards in the region). This vineyard is also noted for creating the artist series label. Since 1945 they have had a different artist create a label for each vintage. Other famous wineries are Chateau Lynch-Bages and Chateau Pichon-Longueville. Right in the heart of Medoc resides Margaux, this area has the famous namesake vineyard Ch teau Margaux which is made of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a fair portion of Petit Verdot. This vineyard covers approximately 198 acres producing Grand Crus and a slightly less quality“second label”wine called Pavillon Rouge which in its own right is outstanding. There is also a Pavillon Blanc which is made only from Sauvignon Blanc. Just south of Margaux is Haut-Medoc. These wines are also grown from the limestone gravel soils which makes the growing of Cabernet Sauvignon top of the list. Although this area has the capability of producing some high quality wines slightly less expensive wines than those of their neighbors. The area of Moulis has similar characteristics as that of Haut-Medoc. Parts of this smaller area of Medoc draw in some cooler weather to grow some great Merlot which gives the wine a softer slightly fruitier structure. Listrac-Médoc is a region that is not the typical of Medoc, where Merlot is grown more than Cabernet Sauvignon. This is due to the later change of weather from cold to warm, enabling the winemaker to make a more rich, softer wine by adding more Merlot to it. Pessac-Léognan is an appellation that has another winery considered by most to be one of the highest quality vineyards in Bordeaux, if not the world and known for Chateau Haut Brion. This wine is a full flavor red with lots of richness to it, due to the plentiful Merlot added to the Cabernet dominant blend. Pessac-Léognan is also known for the oldest wine-growing area in Boredeaux which produces reds and small amounts of whites. Graves, the most southern region producing red and white wines, grows the typical five grapes of Bordeaux. The whites are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle. Generally, the wines are of good quality with a lower price tag than that of their neighbors. Sauternes lies at the lower end of Graves, produced here are some of the best dessert wines in the world. White grapes are the only kind grown here, which form Botrytis a fungal spore, reduces the quantity of water in the grape, leaving it with more sugar. These are wines that have their own category, considered dessert wines due to the intense richness and sweetness. The most famous dessert wine comes from this area, Château Yquem, a rich full intense sweet wine that can be aged for many years. Medoc is filled with some of the best vineyards of Bordeaux, if not the world. There are many to try from the very inexpensive to the extremely expensive, so enjoy the experimentation! Cheers! Art LiPuma

opping Hopping Around CT.

Photos & proﬁle by Jim Lalumiere

Beer’d Brewing Company

brewed in “a nondescript factory in an industrial park, but could be brewed at home on your kitchen stove.”He, like many professional brewers, caught the “home-brew bug” and started experimenting. Brewing bad beers eventually gave way to brewing good beers and soon Aaren found himself volunteering at Cottrell Brewery in Pawcatuck. Armed with his degree and newfound brewing knowledge, he put together a business plan for a pretty sizable brewery, which was then shot down by his wife and business partner Precious Putnam. He went back to the drawing board and planned something a little smaller, which became the 3-barrel Beer’d Brewing Company in Stonington that pumped out 100 barrels of beer in their ﬁrst year, 2012.

For Aaren Simoncini, a degree in ﬁnance from Rochester Institute of Technology was a safe, dependable future. That is until he opted for a “Beers of the World” tasting course instead of another math elective. Sampling new beers every Friday opened up Aaren’s mind and palate and made him realize that beers weren’t just

The Velvet Mill in Stonington is not the ﬁrst vision you have when you picture a top-notch craft brewery. What started out as a derelict warehouse became a mecca of like-minded artists, crafters, bakers, and brewers where art supports art. “Come in for a beer and leave with a canvas painting”as Aaren puts it. Beer’d

Don’t Stand Out in the Crowd… Stand Somewhere Else!

quickly became the cornerstone of this tightknit artistic biome, bringing beer drinkers into one of Connecticut’s ﬁrst taprooms. Originally, because of Connecticut’s laws, Beer’d had to sample people on their beers, hoping they would buy growlers to go. Luckily, those laws soon changed, and beer started ﬂowing from the taps into glasses, cans and even more growlers. The front tasting area has a bar and a couple high-top tables where people can enjoy a few pints and grab some merch, while the brewery operation is situated in the back of the building.

Not content with having only one brewery, Aaren and crew opened their second location dubbed The Silo in 2019. Nestled in a Groton industrial park, The Silo brewed a majority of the 6,498 barrels of beer Beer’d made last year, missing their projected brewing total by just two barrels of beer! An industrial strength taproom crafted by Livingstone Concrete was built earlier this year and ﬁts 60 people comfortably. A highspeed canning line recently went in, capable of ﬁlling and labeling 100 cans per minute. When they eventually reopen to the public, guests will be able to pair their beers with cheese from the Mystic Cheese Company, who has a café next door. What is better than beer and cheese…? Honestly, nothing.

Beer’d’s strong suit has always been IPAs and IIPAs, which account for a large portion of the brewery’s portfolio. They were making hazy IPAs before the haze-game bum rush. Aaren loves the science behind making a quality hazy IPA, stating that “it’s not just having a bunch of yeast in suspension or adding oak ﬂakes to the beer.”Dogs & Boats is a perfect example of a hazy IPA that isn’t a juice bomb and is Beer’d’s best selling beer. A new batch of Dogs & Boats is brewed every Monday at The Silo, pumping 500 cases of fresh 9.1% IIPA into the market weekly. Besides Dogs, some other IIPAs Beer’d makes is Hobbit Juice, Riff, and You Like ‘A Da Juice. They recently released their collaboration with Pipeworks Brewing Company called Dogs vs. Shinobi which blended both breweries favorite brands and added a guava puree, making for a juicy, tropical and decidedly delicious IPA. Setting themselves apart in the CT craft beer scene, Beer’d decided on their Whisker’d Wit as their ﬂagship beer. Instead of an IPA, as most breweries go with, Whisker’d Wit is an easy drinking Belgian White Ale, with hints of orange and coriander.“We chose this not just for the sake of being different, but because it’s really good!” Aaren expounds. Rounding out their portfolio, Beer’d also makes stouts such as the roasty Midnight Oil, and has even branched into the pilsner world a bit with their crisp Connecticut Casual.

Owner/Brewer Aaren Simoncini, Victoria Gunderson, Justin Sally

Until recently, Aaren was the mastermind behind most of Beer’d’s beers, but now with a

strong team of 7 brewers, more people are getting involved with recipe development. There is now a two-keg experimental program in place so any brewer can formulate new brews. Having a good team behind him helps Aaren sleep at night and he sees them as the future of Beer’d. It’s their dedication to consistent, high-quality beers that makes Beer’d do much more than just stand out in the crowd. Beer’d Brewing Company (The Mill) 22 Bayview Ave, Stonington Hours: Monday/Tuesday – Closed Wednesday-Friday – 4:00-9:00 Saturday – Noon-8:00 Sunday – 1:00-5:00

Beer’d Brewing Company (The Silo) 225 Leonard Drive, Groton Temporarily Closed Jim Lalumiere, lover of all that is hoppy, malty and sour.

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