”Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.”
– 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
It should come as no surprise that love is our focus this month. So many flavors of this precious emotion are woven into our editorial features this February with romantic love being just one of them.
Our first feature this month focuses on Chariho Furniture and their pure love of the game. 30 years in business only happens with a dedication to supplying their customers with unrivaled quality. The pride they have in the product lines they carry is immediately apparent. This is not just a furniture store. Everything they offer their clients stands the test of time. They are in the legacy business.
Our romantic feature this month focuses on real stories of how people came together and what that meeting has meant to the lucky few that have spent their lives together.
The love Larry Hunter provides is larger than the man himself. His passion for the careworn old monuments that he restores is an obvious outward representation of his feelings towards the ones who came before him and what their sacrifices means to him.
Marc Douglas Berardo expresses his deep connection with song writing and performing. Having once been a musician myself, I understand what it takes to remain active in that field. It takes a lot of love and commitment.
Most of all, we hope you love this issue!
On the Cover: Saybrook Point Marina, photo by Elizabeth S. Mitchell
Jeffery Lilly founder / publisher
Laura Westlake, Dream’n of You, Oil, 6 x 6”
Kathy Anderson, White Anemones with Nasturtiums, Oil, 10 x 14”Jeanne Rosier Smith, Pont de Sully, Pastel, 12 x 12”
Cozy Afternoon, Oil, 10 x 8”
Last Light, Oil, 30 x 40”
By Rona Mann
n 1987, then-President, Ronald Reagan traveled to West Berlin giving a speech that would echo throughout the world and go down in history as a highlight of his presidency. It ended with the famous demand, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
1987 also marked the October 19th stock market crash known as “Black Monday,” that represented the largest one day decline in history and heralded the first global financial crisis.
All that was followed just a few months later when Rhode Island experienced a banking crisis and the closure of some 45 banks and credit unions.
It was a tumultuous time, and also the year that a young man newly married and with little more than a high school education and no real money to speak of, bought a couple of pieces of furniture, made a paper sign, and opened a tiny store in rural Richmond, Rhode Island, the only business on that side of Interstate 95 at the time. Ed Smith took three things: with his wife’s blessing he took the small amount of wedding money they had been gifted, he took a home equity loan on his parents’ property, and he took a risk...a big risk that eventually paid off in spades, because for the next 37 years, Smith never compromised his ethics, his commitment to quality, nor his commitment to service. This was the beginning of Chariho Furniture, destined
Photo Courtesy of Chariho
to become a legacy in New England, and 37 years later this is still Chariho Furniture the little store that grew into 25,000 square feet and three floors, and in so doing, became a legacy in the furniture industry nationwide.
“We’re old school,” says Stephanie Hackley, Chief Operating Officer of Chariho Furniture.
“We still do paper sales,” she continued, smiling. “Because everything we offer is customizable, there are simply too many options to write up a standard sale on an iPad.”
The theme of old school is carried throughout the store both in philosophy and in operation. Now in its 38th year, everyone at Chariho Furniture knows and does every job, right down to keeping the place immaculate. No cleaning service?
“No!” Hackley answers firmly. “We all wear multiple hats. We all clean, we all do sales, and Brenda is not only one of our design consultants but also does all our accounting.” Sales manager, Jess Sullivan adds, “At the end of the day, we are always a team.”
In addition to Sullivan, the team includes Sandy Gulino, Brenda Faubert, Todd Mueller, Sherry Adams, and
Kathleen Brand, all of whom are well-schooled in interior design and well experienced in working with customers who love the idea of customizing their own furniture. Any of these decorators or consultants is available to make a personal visit to a client’s home or office space to help their clients better get an idea of what is possible.
Recently, there has been a new President at the helm, Neil Roy, but that is the only change. There is no change whatsoever in the way Chariho Furniture does business. It’s still old school and will remain that way, “or else I’m walking out the door,” Stephanie says with a laugh, but the lady is serious. She and her staff are also deadly serious about the constants in their business:
Photo Courtesy of Chariho
Photo Courtesy of Chariho
Photo by Jeffery Lilly
•Everything at Chariho Furniture is made in North America.
•Everything at Chariho Furniture is crafted of solid wood and is one-of-a-kind.
• Every supplier to Chariho Furniture crafts only the highest quality.
• Chariho Furniture owns all its own inventory.
• Every member of the sales force is either an interior designer or involved in education to get to that goal.
• Everything must be customizable thus enabling the customer to have thousands of choices right down to the choice of wood species, finish, and hardware.
Amish furniture has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years and many furniture stores throughout New England
advertise that they carry Amish furniture Most of them, however, have just three or four lines and a good deal of it is imported. Hackley proudly states that Chariho Furniture works with more than 35 different Amish companies and is the only store in New England featuring all American-made products.
Some of the names they carry you may recognize as being top of the line, best in the business: Thayer Coggin, Bradington Young, American Leather, C.R. Laine, Henkel Harris, Gat Creek, McKinley Leather, to name just a few; and while many stores will boast that they are known by the companies they
Photo by Jeffery Lilly
Photo Courtesy of CharihoPhoto Courtesy of Chariho
Photo Courtesy of Chariho
keep, Chariho Furniture is known not only for keeping the best but maintaining an ongoing relationship with these companies so they can always deliver the best to their customers. This is furniture that will last for years, that is passed down through the generations within families, and that is a legacy in itself.
Hackley also singles out the large variety of mattresses available at Chariho Furniture in a wide range of style and price and made solely for this store by a Connecticut company that features two-sided construction so you can flip the mattress!
Chariho Furniture is not just about the living room, bedroom, dining room, or media room. Visitors to the store will find furniture and accessories for both home and commercial offices, professional spaces, and outdoor living. As mentioned earlier, members of the design team will also come to your space, look at what you have, listen to what you want and need, and help craft a partial or total design plan. Unlike many furniture stores that seem to have showrooms filled with just gray, black, and white, Chariho Furniture also has colors that make an entire space pop, accent other pieces, and warm up and enliven a room. So whether you want a traditional, conservative grouping or something bright and new, it’s here, it’s customizable, and there are literally thousands of options from upholstery to hardware from which to choose.
Customers who visit the store always enjoy touring the magnificent showroom floors, meeting the consultants and designers, and are thoroughly amazed by the depth and breadth of available options, but rarely does anyone see the warehouse which in many ways is the very heart of the Chariho Furniture operation. The warehouse is constantly being curated, not unlike art in a gallery, by warehouse manager, Rick Caswell who has been at the job more than 20 years...a true legacy himself! Caswell is responsible for
Photo by Jeffery Lilly
Photo Courtesy of Chariho
Photo Courtesy of Chariho
inventory management which encompasses a multitude of disciplines: storage, retrieval, safety, security, shipping, and literally has the very delicate job of “moving” the merchandise every single day.
A true legacy begins when someone starts taking consistent actions that positively impact others, when a lasting impression is created, when influence is passed on, and is continued to be remembered for years to come. This can be accomplished through that individual’s work, leadership, mentorship, and values. In the case of Chariho Furniture, it represents 38 years of setting an example for others to follow and is the reason why Stephanie Hackley will never have to “walk out the door.”
It’s old school at its finest. It’s what Chariho Furniture was founded upon and how it will continue. “It’s our pride,” concludes Stephanie, “it’s what we work for every day.”
Chariho Furniture is located at the junction of Routes 138 & 112 in Richmond, Rhode Island. www.charihofurniture.com (401) 539-9043
And yes, unlike many other furniture stores, they’re open every day of the week. So, what are you waiting for?
Photos on left by Jeffery Lilly
The Staff -Top Row: Neil Roy, Todd Mueller Middle: Brenda Faubert, Sandy Gulino, Sherry Adams Bottom: Stephanie Hackley, Jess Sullivan, Photo Courtesy of Chriho
Jewelry and it’s ROLE in History
by Craig Lessard, CEL Fine Collectables
When we studied history in high school and college we studied a very short time period. Our own history as a nation only consists of 248 years, a fraction of time compared to other cultures of history. Most of us were taught the important names like Washington and Lincoln and a few dates but let’s face it we mostly forgot most of it or for that matter didn’t care for the subject. Let’s face it most of us have a hard enough time remembering to pick up creamer on the way home to make coffee in the morning.
The history I like is in deep time. Not just the history of nations, leaders, and wars but ancient history of about us as a species. When I said deep time, I meant millions to hundreds of thousands of years. 4.2 million to 300,000 years to be exact. Our very early ancestors to the evolution of our species homo sapiens.
This is so very boring, I'm sure you don’t care for all the numbers and neither do I. I'm more interested in the day-to-day activities of our ancestors. Not when they evolved or went extinct. What was their favorite Taylor Swift song? How did they Knapp their spear points? What kind of toilet paper did they like best, scented or non-scented. Believe me toilet paper has an interesting history all its own. Maybe another subject for a future article.
So, what’s this all have to do with the history of jewelry? Let’s travel together back in time and look at one of our ancestors. Let’s go back to February 14th Valentines Day 50,000 years ago. Our ancestor doesn’t know about Valentines Day, yet, you must remember that Cleopatra didn’t introduce Julius Caesar the modern calendar until the first century BCE.
At this period our ancestors are hunters and gatherers who migrate with the herds of animals they hunt to make their living. Our friend today is roaming along a river or lake edge looking to bring back to his shelter something for breakfast. He knows his mate has the coffee brewing waiting for his return.
While looking to the ground he notices a shell that catches his eye. He picks up the shell and really has no idea why he did. It’s just appealing to him. Perhaps he has the idea of making something from this, maybe something to wear? So, it begins the founder of Cartier.
Archaeology finds have confirmed that the first material to be used in the making of jewelry was organic such as shell, bone, or wood. It had to be something that could be holed to string some type of cord like animal sinew.
As time went on early man started making tools that allowed him to carve and even shape stone. The ability to create tools and use them to shape his environment is what makes us modern humans. One other characteristic of becoming modern is the making of art and jewelry which we have now done.
The history of jewelry goes hand and hand with our own modern man history. Jewelry has been used to finance wars, exploration, and tribute to a ruling king. It has been plundered in tombs. Villages, and castles. Even today the first thing a burgher will try find is a jewelry box even before grabbing the electronics.
What makes jewelry so desired and cherished? The feeling it give us when we open that velvet lined box from our favorite jewelry store knowing that something is special within. Jewelry makes us feel good about ourselves. Maybe just a little bit prettier. Maybe feel a little bit more desirable, I’m sure when a new King of Queen of England are crowned, and the British crown jewels are placed on their head the feeling must be incredible. For centuries to the present the British Crown Jewels stand for the power of the crown and of England as a nation.
Many ancient cultures were renown for their creative talents in creating early jewelry, one of my favorites is the ancient Egyptians, their lust for gold and jewelry was insatiable. The Egyptians believed that their gods skin were made of gold. The Egyptian even waged military campaigns just to keep Nubia now present-day Sudan in its grasp. Nubia was the land of gold. So many other ancient cultures were also renown for their jewelry it is almost impossible to list them all. Including our own Native North Americans.
So, let’s check on our friend and his shell. It is February 14th 50,000 BCE and he and his mate are by the fire. She is wearing her finest Mammoth cape, is showing off her new shell necklace to the other females of her clan and they daze in awe.
Travel again to the future. We are with our loved one in a fine restaurant, and she is wearing her finest Sable fir and admiring her new diamond necklace. It’s all the same we just all love pretty things
Happy Valentines Day!
By Jan Tormay
Cupid Inspiring the Plants to Love.Illustration in The Temple of Flora or Garden of the botanist poet painter and philosopher published by Robert John Thornton. After an 1827 engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi and John Landseer from a painting by Philip Reinagle
ove is a funny thing. We never know when Cupid’s arrow will strike us. Some couples find their special someone in high school, college or at work, while others meet them at nightclubs, the supermarket, through online dating, or the dreaded blind date.
In the back of our minds – consciously or subconsciously – most of us yearn to find that life partner who will love us for who we are really are. Someone to spend the rest of our lives with.
Several couples who were lucky enough to find “the loves of their lives” shared their stories.
Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” and Henry Bell of Pawcatuck, Connecticut met in prison 34 years ago. Even though Henry usually jokes that she was an inmate and he saved her from a life of crime, they were both working for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections in Cranston, Mary Beth said in an email.
Back then, she was a medical records clerk, transporting hard-copy medical records, forms and charts, as inmates were transferred from one facility to another. Henry worked as a correctional officer/nurse covering the prison dispensaries. “We first met in Maximum Security (the Big House), when I was dropping off a pile of charts. He had noticed me before, apparently, and said it was nice to see me again, and that it would be great if I always covered ‘Max,’ since he was usually stationed there,” Mary Beth said.
They “bumped” into each other a few more times at Medium Security, Minimum Security and the Women’s Prison – always sharing pleasantries while they worked.
Then one day while she was hunched over a desk filing lab slips into charts for two hours, Mary Beth said she mentioned to Henry that her neck and shoulders “were killing” her. “He came over to me and gave me a quick, but wonderfully effective neck and shoulder rub, and the rest is history. We just celebrated 32 wonderful years of wedded bliss and I am still getting wonderful neck and back massages. I tell everybody, ‘Forget the doctors, marry a nurse!’”
The Bells on 30th Anniversary
Henry & Mary Beth Bell at reception-Larchwood Inn RI
Henry & Mary Beth Bell on Wedding day Ballys Chapel Las Vegas NV.
One day in the spring of 1949 after noticing 21-year-old Therese LeBlanc with roller skates in the vestibule at St. Mary’s Church in Norwich, Connecticut, Joe Dunn followed her after the Lenten Service to the rink across the street and tried to talk with her, she said during a telephone interview.
“I was not interested in him at all…I was so sick at the sight of him…And the rest is history.”
Before relocating from her New Brunswick, Canada home almost one year prior, Therese had been dating a boy there and they were still exchanging letters.
Joe, 25, had just returned to Norwich after living in California for several years following his service in the U.S. Army during World War II, and he wasn’t giving up on Therese. One time he paid her 50-cent skating fee. She asked why he did that and still did not want to talk with him. Still, Joe followed her around and eventually they started skating together, said Therese, now 97, admitting he was a better skater than she was.
After two months, she allowed him to walk her home and would just say, “Good Night.” Even though Joe had already introduced himself to her two sisters and brothers-in-law (one
really liked him) when he asked for her telephone number, Therese told him they didn’t have a phone, even though they did. After about two months, she relented and they went on a double date to see Baritone, Trumpeter and Big-Band Leader Vaughn Monroe perform in Hartford.
Next, Joe started talking about marriage, which Therese didn’t immediately think was a good idea, because he didn’t make much money. He changed his financial status by getting a better job. They married on June 23, 1951.
“We ended up having a very happy life and my husband always respected me,” said Therese, adding they never fought. When they disagreed, they would walk away from each other. “Four or five minutes later, we’d be back. We didn’t even know what it was all about. So it worked for us. It worked well. Marriage is not easy, but it is what you make it.”
Joe died on October 8, 2010 at the age of 87 after battling asbestosis for many years.
“He always told me the minute he saw me, he knew I was going to be his wife,” Therese said.
In 2020, Therese Dunn published a book, “Believe,” a true story about love, faith and miracles.
Therese and Joe Dunn Wedding Day June 23rd, 1951
Therese-Joe Dunn 50th Wedding Anniversary
Therese &Joe Dunn’s Love Lock -110 Pont des Arts. Since late 2008, tourists have attached love locks with their names to the bridge and tossed the keys into the Seine River as a romantic gesture, symbolizing their committed love.
Cupid Finding Psyche Edward Burne-Jones 1865 - 1867 The composition was initially intended for the illustrated edition of William Morris’s ‘Earthly
which he and Burne-Jones began planning in 1865. Burne-Jones worked on ‘The Story of Cupid and Psyche,’ and about fifty of his designs were
by Morris. The project was abandoned in 1868 due to difficulties in finding a suitable modern typeface to integrate with the illustrations. Forty-four woodblocks were eventually printed and published by Clover Hill Editions in 1974.
Paradise,’
woodcut
AJ was seated on a park bench reading the paper amidst the “delightful chaos” of a summer arts fair in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts on August 6, 2001, when Jeff Marquot quietly sat down next to her, looking every bit as though he’d stepped out of a cologne advertisement, she said in an email.
Even though he was tall, young, handsome, and spoke with a lilting, elusive accent, he wasn’t her type, as she was a “Rolling Stone” connoisseur and he was very “GQ,” the professional photographer added.
After a long while, Jeff finally said, “Hello,” and what followed was two hours of “fizzing” conversation. Behind her, a street performer stood stock-still in angelic garb, wings so enormous they could have doubled as sails. In hindsight, AJ said she should’ve taken this as a sign of “divine meddling.”
As a self-described “GenX preacher’s kid” with a college stint that barely lasted long enough to be considered a phase, she said Jeff was an Xennial atheist, double-degreed by 23, and set to leave the U.S. in six months. “This is a terrible idea,” she thought at the time, but jumped in anyway.
AJ said his openness to new ideas, quick wit, and relentless intellectual curiosity won her over. He taught her the French art of arguing for sport, which she initially mistook for a personal attack. While she fumed, he couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just enjoy the game. Over time, she learned to spar back and grew stronger for it.
When Jeff left for Europe, she waved him off with a melancholy “adieu,” assuming that was that. Yet somehow, a few months later, AJ said she was dragging her suitcase through Geneva, Paris and Bangkok airports “like a jet-lagged moth drawn to the flame of poor decisions.”
While often in separate hemispheres over the next five years abroad, she described an always-present, “inexplicable pull toward each other.”
They married between Geneva and Paris, then reluctantly returned to the U.S. after Bangkok. Seven years and two children later, the Marquots “escaped” New Jersey to come to Connecticut to be closer to her parents.
The myth of Cupid and Psyche is one of the great love stories of the ancient world and it even has a happy ending. Recounted in the Latin novel The Golden Ass by Apuleius. Many Neoclassical paintings and sculptures derived inspiration from the story.
AJ said their shared intellectual curiosity has worked wonders on their worldviews. She’s become more agnostic about her faith. He’s traded atheism for a similarly-agnostic shrug, softened by a new appreciation of a “benevolent, love-centric divine.”
The couple has also long since replaced television with books and long-form podcasts on challenging topics - which have become their new education. In politics, parenting, and philosophy, they are not the same people they were when they met, and they are glad of it.
AJ said their Tolland County, Connecticut home is a lively mix of two brilliant children, their son -14 - set to design the next supercar, and their daughter - 12mastering the aerial-circus arts. Around them fly seven rescued birds and two energetic puppies. “Life is filled with podcasts, bird chatter, and cozy chaos, with travel and outdoor adventures whenever possible.”
“AJ has been a profound blessing and a transformative presence in my life, freeing me from the confines of self-absorption,” Jeff said in an email. “Her beauty and charm are perfectly matched by her
wisdom, and the prospect of growing together fills me with a deep and genuine excitement.”
Jeff works from home in tech and AJ’s zen space is working behind the camera. They live in a colorful, bohemian world, but wherever they are, “home” is in the arms of her “All Wrong For Me,” AJ said. “It turns out, sometimes ‘terrible’ ideas often lead to the best stories.”
For this hopelessly romantic writer, love seems like such a delicate thing – fragile like a flower that can easily wither and die. Perhaps Cupid is testing us with multiple arrows – letting us choose the qualities in our mates. Do we rush or take our time to really get to know our “love interests?”
Talk to old couples who have been married a long time, who by the way, always seem to have a great sense of humor. They all say the same thing. Kiss and make up: Never go to bed mad. Take a break after a disagreement, then talk. Forgive each other.
Maybe love isn’t difficult, after all, if you have the right mate.
Victor Hugo
Jeff & AJ Marquot wedding day
AJ & Jeff Marquot 2024
etiring.
The word conjures up images of throwing out the alarm clock, throwing out the rules, and throwing out the old working life. Instead, exchanging it for leisure. For no time constraints. For independence and choice.
This story is about Larry Hunter and his choice. Larry Hunter retired from United Technologies in Farmington, CT after a 40year career in supplies development and “doing engineering work.” He wasn’t sure what was next, but Hunter knew he wouldn’t be lying in a hammock a book in one hand, a cold drink in the other.
“My wife and I had been coming down to the beach in the Westerly, RI area for years, and she really loved it. She said that when she retired, she wanted to be no more than an hour from the beach,” so six years ago the Hunters left their Barkhamsted home in Litchfield County and moved to Westerly.
Like so many people, Larry had an interest in his own family ‘s genealogy and began selfexploration. Most people are content to use online databases or library archives, but the more Hunter uncovered, the more his intrigue was empowered. Eventually, it led him to cemeteries, and it was there that his eyes were opened in many instances to bad conditions. What he found were graves that were overgrown and stained, stones that were uprooted, chipped, and unreadable, and a general neglect of what should have been a hallowed place of honor and respect. That’s when Larry Hunter decided to do something, and that something began with a strong remedial education.
Researching online, he found Atlas Preservation and Jon Appell in Southington, CT. Appell is an experienced gravestone preservationist, gives lectures and tours, and owns Atlas Preservation a store that sells supplies for restoration, conservation, and construction.
Along with a hefty dose of knowledge, Appell equipped Larry with D-2, a biodegradable solution that removes stains from mildew, algae, mold, lichens, and everyday air pollutants. It is the preferred solution to clean monuments and headstones
of any material. While well-meaning folks visiting a cemetery might choose to bring along a bottle of their favorite household stain remover and a power cleaner, those are exactly the wrong things to use. A contact time of only 10 minutes followed by a gentle scrubbing with a soft nylon bristle brush, or better yet by hand, is exactly what’s needed to loosen most stains without harming the material used for the stone. Hunter’s advice is both swift in coming and stern in message: “Don’t try to clean a cemetery stone yourself without proper training!” And Larry Hunter has had plenty of that. So much so that now he mentors others who are like-minded.
Hunter not only conserves and restores graves in cemeteries, but he is happy to work with organizations and private citizens. As such, he was appointed by Governor Daniel McKee as a Commissioner for Washington County, Rhode Island serving the Rhode Island Advisory Commission on Historic Cemeteries.
The latter is a permanent advisory commission to study the location, conditioning, and inventory of all historical cemeteries in the state and to make recommendations to help residents find a cemetery that may not be marked or registered. Surprisingly, there are 3200 cemeteries in the tiny state of Rhode Island, the largest amount proportionately in any state in the country. Connecticut, where Hunter also works, has 2300 “known” historical cemeteries.
Cleaning a gravestone is a labor of love for anyone who takes on this special task. For many volunteers, it is a show of respect for the deceased or a hope that their legacies might endure. For some, cleaning a gravestone is therapeutic allowing volunteers to connect with the past even if they have no knowledge of the person buried there. This is a large part of Larry’s involvement because he then researches the family names and dates, and constructs stories in his mind of those who have gone before. It is community service in its finest definition and a service for which Hunter takes no compensation.
There is much involved in cleaning a gravestone from the initial checking with cemetery management and local regulations.
It is painstaking work and very physical, certainly not for everyone, but Larry Hunter is not everyone. It is never Hunter’s intent to make a marker look new which is why those who desire to do this work must be carefully taught as to which products to use and how cleaning must be performed with the gentlest means possible so that the original surface and inscriptions are not altered nor harmed.
Larry Hunter is fully committed to the land and spends most every Tuesday morning volunteering at the Westerly Land Trust along with some other 20-30 volunteers who show up. “I do whatever needs to get done that day. Mowing, cleaning the trail, building bridges, maintaining the community garden, all give me a sense of satisfaction.” He also enjoys escorting groups on cemetery tours, and he will happily give talks to any group that asks. The history, the stories, and the dates that he has in his head for a myriad of cemeteries and specific graves are absolutely astounding!
Recently, he cleaned up the War Memorial at the Westerly, RIPawcatuck, CT border and has helped
to clean and restore all the granite in nearby Wilcox Park in addition to the veterans’ memorials. Hunter’s keen interest and overwhelming passion for doing this work have also taken him to River View Cemetery in Essex, CT, Endicott Family Cemetery in Danvers, MA, and the Ancient Burial Ground in Hartford (the oldest established cemetery in the state of Connecticut) among many others. It’s not a hobby, it’s the only way he knows to be.
He’s a preservationist.
He’s a conservator.
He’s a storyteller.
He’s a retiree who never retired from his part in the human race, for doing good, for giving back to the land and the people who once felt that soft give of earth beneath their feet when they walked among us.
Above all, Larry Hunter is just that rare someone who truly cares about history, about those who lived and made that history, and whose names should never be forgotten.
Although he spends hours in cemeteries, there is nothing macabre about what he does. Larry Hunter honors live every time he sets foot in a hallowed place of rest, every time he touches that granite or marble and reads those names, the dates, the tributes. He talks to those who lie in repose, wanting to know their stories, listening as he works. Asked if he believes in ghosts, he smiles. “I don’t believe in coincidences, and there have been many.”
Who knows? Sometimes in the wind there may be a whispered thankyou from someone long passed who is offering grateful thanks to Larry Hunter. Thanks to that someone who never knew them but knows that their time on earth mattered.
“This is an outstanding headstone and one of our favorites from the Civil War era. John A. Niles died in Baton Rouge and is buried there. The stone says in “Memory OF.” It’s just a memorial stone, yet so beautiful. The stone is located in Salem, CT, on private property, where we were invited to work.
The fellow in the picture with me is my good friend Michael Carroll. He is the Creator and Executive Director of a non-profit group in Connecticut called Rediscovering History, Inc., of which I am also a board member. As he refers to us,”Brothers in Stone,” we often work together. He lined up this job and some of the others.”
You can find him easily on Facebook Rediscovering History, Inc.
Where is Greg Drinking?
A Roman playwright once penned,“Fortune Favors the Bold.”This expression has been widely popularized in Western culture ever since highlighted by a longstanding Guinness Brewing ad campaign. The expression invokes a certain bravado that reminds you that, in the best or worst of times, one can sometimes manifest their dreams into existence. Such is certainly the case with Morgan Bettencourt and her partner Frank Alviani who found the most unlikely of paths to the title of“restaurateurs.”Dock 9 exists in stark defiance of the odds, proof that the universe can align itself for the greater good.
Since this article usually has a beverage focal point I deferred to Morgan and her brother, Noah behind the bar who sent out their flagship Espresso Martini Tower. It arrived tableside looking like a spiral staircase. First up is their Classic Espresso martini. It has a healthy amount of roasted darkness to share but has a silky finish which you will savor. Bright acidity from the fresh beans balanced out with fluffy cream. Coconut Espresso would be next. Whether you are team Almond Joy or Mounds, If you enjoy coconut-flavored treats, this is a must-try! It is frothy and pops of dark chocolate that balances the more exotic notes. Understated and balanced. White Chocolate Cappuccino is the creamiest of the four. It drinks like tres leches in a glass, dreamy and decadent. If the white chocolate is the frosting in this beautiful beverage, then the cappuccino base is a fitting cake counterpart. Milky goodness waiting under the thick clouds above. Blueberry Espresso rounds out the grouping with a tart and fruity bite that really works as a digestif (an alcoholic beverage served after the meal which aids in digestion), very mixed-brunch foods friendly!
presentations. Consider Dock 9 as a Valentine's Day (brunch or otherwise) option, you could do worse than a cozy and inviting spot in one of the more popular venues for inviting and innovative cuisine in Connecticut that doesn’t require a full-on battle for parking!
You might be able to guess that the space in the Stonington Velvet Mill was an old loading dock by the name. You could never imagine that such a newly opened eatery could have a warmth that feels like a neighborhood staple. Dock 9 is linked to the long-standing martini and coffee house Perks & Corks in Westerly. It was there that Morgan learned how to excel at finding the perfect pitch point between style and function. Bryan and Jenn Keilty have long had a mastery of the art of making customers feel at home while not skimping on remarkable
Morgan didn’t meet Frank working the happy hour crowd on High Street. She met him at Electric Boat where she is still employed (Frank had his last day there in early January). In fact, Morgan wasn’t necessarily going to be a part of any of these stories if it had not been for a traumatic turn of events that would have sent most people into a darkness that is hard to overcome. Back in 2019, her mother Julie Cardinal, a regional superstar who could be found making people smile at Elks Club and Rotary meetings as well as hosting her own talk show on the local radio station), was taken from her beloved family and community by an act of senseless violence at the elderly apartment complex she was managing. Morgan returned to the area to help her family begin the uphill battle of putting together the pieces of their lives which had been shattered so abruptly. Ultimately, she decided that the universe might need her to stay where she grew up. Now she is at the helm of a restaurant staffed by siblings and friends, everyone wearing a cardinal somewhere on their outfits in honor of her mom. The oars once mounted on her grandmother’s house where she was raised, are on the wall with “Cardinal” etched on them. A more fitting tribute would be hard to imagine.
This is the first time I have written about a place to be rather than a glass to grab. It is a conscious decision from equal parts of awe and hope. I stand in awe of this young person’s grit and determination in the face of adversity. I am impressed that she has managed to draw into her circle so many kindred spirits who are helping to make something so special occur at a time when good news can feel hard to come by. My hope is that the support the local community here in southern New England is outpouring will make waves that splash far and wide making this little upstart a longstanding culinary fixture. Like seeing a cardinal on a snowy New England day, it touches something in you that feels right.
Dock 9 Fit’s Like a Glove at the Velvet Mill
Gregory Post is a manager at Saltwater Farm Vineyard, affiliated with Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard.
By Jan Tormay
arc Douglas Berardo considers himself a very lucky man. The Westerly, Rhode Island singer/songwriter spends about 150 days on the road annually with his wooden acoustic guitar singing mellow, character-driven, somewhat confessional songs to between 50 and 100 people.
It’s always a night of big laughs, songs and interaction and people generally go home “feeling like something happened,” he said while settling in at Perks & Corks at 62 High St. in Downtown Westerly. Berardo has periodically played at this venue and its previous location a few doors down (now The Eagle’s Nest Gallery) since 2005 where he held a few ticketed shows on Sunday afternoons with nationally-known friends, including singer/songwriter Cliff Eberhardt. The “Harbor Songs” series is now sporadically featured at The United Theatre.
Berardo said he is proud that he has essentially trained local “bar people” to be calm and “receive songs.”
He also “converts” people every summer at The National Hotel on Block Island, where he is the artist in residence. Unlike the island’s usual revved-up entertainment that features tribute bands, rock ‘n’ roll music and dancing – during which visitors often relive past experiences - Berardo said he watches people settle in on comfortable chairs and slowly relax as he sings and the sun sets.
The former Rye, New York resident said he enjoys playing for small, close-listening crowds that care about songs. “And that experience in the room is sort of what’s important to them.” Not wanting to be labeled as folk, rock, country or any other genre, he describes his work as songwriting from the tradition of Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Brown, Harry Chapin and the “magical noises” of James Taylor.
Berardo attributes much of his ever-increasing success to Susan Markland, his agent and manager. Not only does she manage most facets of his life, but it was also her idea for him to play with well-known songwriters he admires - which has broadened his audience. On his first co-billed tour, she booked Berardo with (the late) David Olney, who he described as a great Nashville songwriter and teacher whose songs have been covered by numerous artists, including Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Linda Ronstadt.
Marc Douglas Berardo
Photo by Dan Corbett
Berardo’s latest 2024 album, “The Beauty of This Now,” reflects how the pandemic was a big lesson for people, and it made them realize the old adage is really true: that everything can be taken away at any moment. “I needed to hear it from the world at large, from the universe, you know. It really was helpful to me.”
While moving and traveling a great deal, Berardo said he worried a lot and wasn’t always listening to people.
His first song, “I’m Listening Now,” he said, “was just essentially that, like slow down, I’m listening to you.” “I think during Covid, peers of mine drank more, or they worried more, or they decided to go in different directions. For me, it just calmed my brain down and made me like, ‘Okay let’s rethink everything.’”
Berardo credits great friend and legendary Texas songwriter Walt Wilkins for the album’s completion with the accompaniment of some of the best musicians he ever saw play in Austin, Texas. “He really liked my songs, and he sort of just put it on the table that it was time to make another album and that I should come to Austin, and he would produce it (along with Ron Flynt). And I got kind of swept up in it…And we did it fairly quickly, which is probably how you should do it. You shouldn’t linger or think about it too long.”
Because Berardo doesn’t maintain a schedule to journal and
write songs, he said clearing and defending time to immerse himself in life and sometimes being alone, is important to him.
His inspiration for songs come from everywhere: movies that might move him, another song, going alone to places and watching people and listening to conversations. The selfdescribed “people-watcher” said jobs often have a certain language, which he likes to add to his songs.
Also, even though songs may seem like they’re about one character, Berardo said they’re really made up of several people and they find their way into one idea, one person.
“I carry stuff around for a long time and then when it happens, it happens. And then I have a batch of them and if they’re a good enough batch and they seem to hang together and they seem like a cohesive idea thematically…they end up like maybe on a little album or those are the songs I’m playing for that period of time.”
Unlike many young musicians who started their careers in garage bands, Berardo did not even learn to play the guitar or perform in public until he attended Boston’s Northeastern University. Lack of interest in attending classes and a Hertz Rent-A-Car map of Florida on his wall led him to the Sunshine State, where he would eventually attain a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing.
After Berardo’s first gig of playing to three people in Allston, Massachusetts in 1987, he was soon in the ocean town of St. Augustine, Florida where he discovered the Milltop Tavern’s “Listening Room,” which hosted nationally-known songwriters/singers. For months, he listened to Florida legend, songwriter and talent
Left Page: Marc Douglas Berardo and Livingston Taylor at The Towne Crier, Marc Douglas Berardo at Mile High Concerts, The Beauty of this Now, Album Cover of 2024 Collection
Above: Marc Douglas Berardo and Walt Wilkins at Main Street Crossing, Bluebird 2022, Marc Douglas Berardo with Walt Wilkins, Thomm Jutz and Amelia White, Marc Douglas Berardo at Knickerbocker.
coordinator Don Oja Dunaway and others, while figuring out how to create his own songs. After Berardo worked up the nerve to audition, Dunaway gave him his first real break: a job singing twice weekly.
Soon, he was opening for “amazing people” in this “niche world” - people who had already cut records and were traveling around and singing their songs in intimate settings. This made him try harder and get better.
Describing it as a “transformative experience,” Berardo said it became the template for his life. He suddenly realized “there was a whole world of people writing songs that weren’t necessarily on MTV or wildly famous,” who could sell 500 tickets wherever they went. “So that world appealed to me, especially in the face of the music that was happening at the time.”
Berardo continued to perform at the “Listening Room” from the late 1980s and early 1990s and periodically from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Over the years, he has lived in California, Maine and Florida – always searching for the next place with a community of songwriters.
When Berardo first started out, he played other artists’ songs, and being more self-conscious, imitated their style of writing and wrote in the third person. Now mainly writing in the first person, he said, “In recent years, there’s more me in the songs.”
Like anything, the more you do something, the better you get at it and the more confident you are, Berardo said adding, that his songs and ability to conjure them up has also evolved.
Over the years, he has opened for the Doobie Brothers, The Pousette-Dart Band, Jimmy Lafave, 10,000 Maniacs, Red Molly, Livingston Taylor, John Haitt and many other big names. He has also performed as a duo with his brother Chris, and later with his sibling’s DesBerardo Band, which has been part of classic rock acts that have included Little Feat, America, Foreigner, The Marshall Tucker Band and Badfinger, among others.
Berardo is quick to say that while opening for well-known band’s sound glamorous, it is more profitable to travel and perform with one or two other people and more fulfilling to sing his own songs to smaller audiences.
Above: Marc Douglas Berardo and David Olney, Marc Douglas Berardo in the round at Bluebird with Shannon McNally, Dan Navarro and Kevin Gordon. Opposite Page left to right: Marc Douglas Berardo and Abbie Gardner, Marc Douglas Berardo at Perks and Corks, Bryan Keilty and Marc Douglas Berardo, Photos by Jan Tormay
Berardo’s future goals when he is not touring include trying to make two albums in 2025. He plans to finish what he started in 2018 and call the record “Temporary Things.”
His other project involves a stripped-down version of some of his older songs. “I’d like to re-record and sort of reintroduce them to the world in the way that I play them now.”
When aspiring singers/songwriters ask for advice, Berardo, now 55, said he tells them, “Do the work. Be prepared to walk the hard ground and just make sure you’re doing it because you have to.”
He added that when starting out, you have to be willing to live with a very small overhead. “It’s not a very secure lifestyle.”
Berardo said singers/songwriters must be able to take criticism well and should also ask themselves why they want to do it. “If there’s any sneaking suspicion that it might be because you want attention, you should go get a job, because it’s an incredibly, all-encompassing thing. You have to do it for the right reasons or it’ll let you down. It will shut you down right where you stand, basically, because that doesn’t sustain itself.”
For more information and tour dates, go to marcdouglas.com.
Love Letters to the Shoreline
by Elizabeth S. Mitchell
Sunrise for the Soul
Something quite unique about Old Saybrook, CT is how many different directions you can travel in town to eventually reach water. Growing up in western Massachusetts, my experience had always been that if I had wanted to watch the sunrise over the water, I’d have to drive to Boston. In order to see the sunset over the water, I’d need to go all the way to the west coast, with about 6,000 miles separating the two experiences.
In Old Saybrook, however, a person can watch the sunrise over the water on one side of town, and within a drive of just a few minutes, watch it set over the water on the other side. While last month I talked about the magic of sunset at Harvey’s Beach, it seemed only fitting, as the light reenters the world a little every day as we inch our way toward Spring, to talk about the sunrise.
The upside of the shorter days of Winter is that in order to see the sunrise, one needn’t pull themselves out of bed at five o’clock in the morning. On the morning of this writing, in fact, the sun rose over Old Saybrook at 7:16 am, which left me enough time to swing by Ashlawn Coffee, pick up a London Fog tea, and still make it back to Saybrook Point Marina to watch the redfire sun peek its way over the horizon.
Some mornings, I see this view from the cozy, warm inside of the pool area of Saybrook Point Resort (if I get myself together early enough for a morning swim). Other mornings, I choose instead to make my way up the steep, winding drive toward Founder’s Park, and watch the sky turn from deep blues and purples to pinks and reds before the sun finally makes herself known, glinting the first rays of golden light down over North Cove on one end of the view and the train bridge on the other.
While sunset is romantic in an undeniable way, sunrise is something else entirely -- it feels like the dawning of pure hope. Since the start of the year, we have witnessed many tragedies play out across our news screens. But watching the beauty of sunrise fulfill her promise each day, reliably, regardless of what else may be going on, assures us that dawn always comes, no matter how deep or dark the night may seem.
And I can scarcely imagine a more beautiful place for the sun to rise upon than the grassy inlets, sparkling marinas, stretching beaches, and charming Main Street of the town I could not be more grateful to be a part of.
