INK MAGAZINE - JUNE 2021 by Ink Publications

A Guide to Finer Living in Connecticut & Abroad JUNE 2021

Vol 16 Issue 185

áƺ‫ټ‬ȸƺ Ɏǝƺ ˡȸɀɎ ǝƺƏǼɎǝ ɀɵɀɎƺȅ ǣȇ !ȒȇȇƺƬɎǣƬɖɎ ɎȒ ƫƺ ȵƏȸɎ Ȓǔ Ɏǝƺ ȵȸƺɀɎǣǕǣȒɖɀ xƏɵȒ !ǼǣȇǣƬ !Əȸƺ zƺɎɯȒȸǸِ ³Ȓ ɵȒɖ ƬƏȇ ǕƺɎ Ə ɀƺƬȒȇƳ ȒȵǣȇǣȒȇ ǔȸȒȅ Ɏǝƺ ɯȒȸǼƳ‫ټ‬ɀ ǼƺƏƳǣȇǕ ȅƺƳǣƬƏǼ ƺɴȵƺȸɎɀً ƏɎ ȇȒ ƺɴɎȸƏ ƬȒɀɎِ MiddlesexHealth.org/Mayo

3 JUNE 2021

Vol. 16 Issue 185

Feature Stories

Departments

Cue the Lights! Raise the Curtain!

The Ivoryton Playhouse is Back!

Hopping around CT - Bear Hands Brewery Ask Ashley - An Unexpected Wellness Trend Music Mirth & Mojo - Oliver Wood

Career Changes Can Get a Little Nuts

Wrights Mill Farm You Are Family!

Rescued By the Lens

Photographers Clyde & Nikki Butcher

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Has it been a whole month already? How could that be? Is it just me, or is it a bit of challenge to find a gear? They say that the only constant thing in life is change. I don’t know who “they” are but having just celebrated another birthday in May and I would whole-heartedly concur. Change is in the wind. It’s going to take a while right? No matter how you have felt over the last year I think that many are finding that life did not stop due to the pandemic. Here at INK we have multiple big changes going on. Several relocations, opening a studio/gallery space in the Westbrook Outlets where we will produce the magazine, host meetings and gathering, as well as down the road display and offer local art for sale. As for the day-to-day we find ourselves searching for our muscle-memory. Having put out complimentary issues for a decade and a half we had definitely developed a rhythm. Though our monthly distribution numbers have not changed over the last year, the way we have done things in the past needed some tweaking for sure. For example, we have always put down big stacks of INK at the libraries. Without the libraries, those magazines temporarily needed to find a new home. Now, we are happily revisiting many of the old haunts that up until the lockdown had received 1000’s of monthly magazines. Our subscriptions have exploded over the last year (thank you.) It’s nice to see the magazine going all across the state as well as many outside of Connecticut. In this issue we have several hopeful stories involving change. A reboot at the Ivoryton Playhouse, a rebirth at Wrights Mill Farm after being burned to the ground, a Madison couple experiencing a complete one-eighty in careers, change clears a path. Change is the inevitable and the challenge lies in it’s embrace. Jeffery Lilly

The National Sailing Hall of Fame & Museum

Leather Moon A Man Cut from a Different Cloth

Contributors Ashley Alt - ask ashley Susan Cornell - editorial Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography Alison Kaufman - music mirth & mojo Jim Lalumiere - editorial Art LiPuma - on the vine Chelsey Lilly - events

founder / publisher

Rona Mann - editorial Daniel Lev Shkolnik - editorial Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design Paul Partica - the cheesemonger John Tolmie - editorial Kate Tolmie - photography Joe Urso - ad design

Advertising

Jeffery Lilly - Publisher 860.581.0026 Bob Houde - Advertising Director bob@inkct.com 860.303.6690

Rona Mann - Greater Connecticut six07co@att.net - 401-539-7762

Cheryl Powell - Greater Connecticut cheryl@ink-pub.com - 860.608.5749

Richard Malinsky - Shoreline richard@inkct.com - 215.704.9273

John Tolmie - Eastern Connecticut john@inkct - 860.460.0005

On the Cover: Trimaran, Photo courtesy National Sailing Hall of Fame

visit inkct.com

All content of INK Publications including but not limited to text, photos, graphics and layout are copyrighted by Inkct LLC. Reproductions without the permission of the publisher are prohibited. Inkct LLC is not responsible for images or graphics submitted for editorial or by advertisers which are not copyrighted or released for use in this publication.

Inkct LLC - 314 Flat Rock Place Unit F125, Westbrook, CT 06498 - email: submissions@ink-pub.com - visit www.inkct.com

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Image by Brian J Wilson

Cue the Lights! Raise the Curtain! They´re Going Up Again! The Ivoryton Playhouse is Back by Rona Mann

rom the time we’re little kids we perceive there is something inherently bad about the dark.

The dark is where the bogeyman lives. It’s a portent of evil. It’s unknown and frightening and quite often leaves us feeling off-balance. Well, this is a story about the dark that is refreshing, hopeful, and positively energizing. For on July 8th when a socially distanced audience of nearly 100 people settles into their seats, they will witness something wonderful, as out of the darkness will come a rebirth. Yes, after an overly long, depressing,

and very dark intermission, The Ivoryton Playhouse will come alive as it has since June 17, 1930. The house lights will dim to an exciting kind of dark, the chatter will cease, the curtain will rise on a well-crafted, professional set, and the stage lights will once more come full up, heralding the start of a new play, a new season, and a new start for the Playhouse. And we are quite certain that there will also be widespread applause even before the first actor utters a word, there will be joyful tears long before the final bows, and once again in Ivoryton, Connecticut as it has for the last 91 years, the highest quality of theatrical entertainment will be mounted on that storied stage.

11 Here, Katharine Hepburn and Art Carney strode these boards, as did Gene Hackman, Carol Channing, Alan Alda, and Sid Caesar. Here Phyllis Diller put on stage makeup along with Norma Terris, Don Ameche, Shelley Winters, and so many other notable actors. This is more than a theatre, it is a place of great history, a building that “was never dark, except twice,” Executive/Artistic Director Jacqui Hubbard says. “During World War II and then not again until the pandemic.” The building itself was originally used as a community recreation hall for the employees of the local ivory cutting factory that served the piano industry; however, in the 1930s, the piano industry began to fail due to the growing popularity of radio and the movies. Milton Stiefel, a road-weary actor who was summering in Essex, discovered the vacant property and immediately saw it as a viable theatre. He rented the building, remodeled it, and the Playhouse became an instant hit, a prominent summer stock venue with Stiefel as both its champion and impresario. Since that time, the Ivoryton Playhouse has grown and flourished, well regarded throughout the local, regional, and national theatre communities. Jacqui Hubbard, a member of the board since 1991 and Artistic/Executive Director since 1999, is currently working tirelessly with her small, but dedicated staff, in anticipation of the July 8th opening. Her constant companion, “Lulu,” a small dog of questionable parentage, is never far from her side, trotting along dutifully, following Hubbard through the lobby, rows of seats, and up and down stairs multiple times a day. There are a number of things Jacqui wants the theatre-going community to know: she has been working constantly with both the Department of Health at Yale and Actors Equity, the labor union of live theatrical performance who insisted they hire a Covid-19 compliance officer, to ensure that the Ivoryton Playhouse will be completely safe for patrons this season. To that end, the Department of Health has done a full inspection as has the union and determined that the normal 283 seats must be pared down to a maximum of 96 per performance for optimum social distancing. Cutting the number in thirds is protective for audiences, but financially tenuous for the theatre itself. Yet Hubbard, her board, and all the

Ivoryton Playhouse Stage

12 people connected with the theatre are committed to make it work. She cannot wait for the audience and says of the theatre in general and her season in particular, “You can change hearts and minds when people see themselves in the work we present.” Hubbard has therefore wisely chosen a season of comedy, of music, and of light fare. “After what we’ve all been through, people want to be entertained and feel good. They don’t want anything heavy. And they want to feel safe.” To accomplish that goal, the first two shows of the summer season are 90- minute two-character plays with no intermission. This will eliminate any crowds in the lobby or around concessions or restrooms. “We are fortunate,” Hubbard says, “that this theatre has five doors which will be opened for maximum fresh air circulation.”In addition to 40% outside air, air purifiers have been installed which will sanitize every cubic inch of indoor air-conditioning. The five doors will also be used when exiting the theatre, so there will be no crowds to contend with whatsoever. Sanitizers will be provided within the building, and everyone from cast, crew, and administration, to all theatre patrons, must wear masks at all times while inside the Playhouse. The shows at the Ivoryton Playhouse are not strictly limited to summer this year, which is welcome news for those who have always appreciated the enjoyable and diverse entertainment found here. Hubbard has mounted a season of five shows (usually there are eight) and plans to continue in the Fall with a musical, a one-man show performed by “George Burns,” and hopefully, the much-loved and anticipated community Christmas show. It’s apparent that there’s no stopping Jacqui Hubbard now. “As soon as I got the go-ahead from Equity, I started to plan the 2022 season so I could have everything in place well in advance.”

Clockwise: Murder For Two Tour, Jacq Lu, Murder For Two Tour Opposite Page: Murder For Two Tour, Black & White Getty Image, Bessie And Sadie Delany Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years, Ian Lowe, Photo by Joan-Marcus, Ivoryton Playhouse Staff.

“As soon as I got the go-ahead from Equity, I started to plan the 2022 season so I could have everything in place well in advance.”

Yes, there’s work to be done, but at the Playhouse, which Hubbard calls “the very centerpiece of Ivoryton,” the doors are open, the lights are on, and the excitement in the air is both palpable and electrifying. Jacqui Hubbard looks around at what is now chaos, then sits back in the slightly dusty chair that will soon be pristine and fully sanitized come July 8th. With Lulu at her feet and a tired smile, she says, “There’s much work to be done to get all this ready. But we’ll be ready. We’ve been ready for a long time.” The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street, Ivoryton. www.ivorytonplayhouse.org For box office (860) 767-7318 Reserve early! All performances will sell out.

HERE ARE THE UPCOMING SHOWS AND DATES: Murder for Two: July 8-August 1st Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years: August 12-September 5th Fall Shows TBA will include a new country and bluegrass work by the popular David Lutken: September 23-October 17th Say Goodnight, Gracie starring Bruce Connelly: October 28-November 21st

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VA L E N T I N E H . Z A H N C O M M U N I T Y

G A L L E R Y

T H E GA L L E RY AT M I D D L ES E X H E A LT H S H O R E L I N E M E D I C A L C E N T E R

Virtual Gallery Exhibit Madison Art Society “Summer on the Shoreline”

May 26 - August 27, 2021

Christine Drago, Gone Fishing, watercolor (detail)

Visit the gallery from the comfort of your own home at MiddlesexHealth.org/MAS Madison Art Society (MAS) promotes, sponsors and encourages excellence in the arts in the community, the schools and among its 250 members. They offer several educational and exhibition opportunities for artists of all experience levels throughout the year.

250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook, CT 06498 860-358-6200 + info@midhosp.org + MiddlesexHealth.org

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Changing Careers is Just Plain Nuts! by Alli Ganino Photos Courtesy of Hot Monkey Nuts

f you’ve ever been to the lovely shoreline enclave that is Madison, Connecticut, you probably formed a mental image of the types of people who live there. Imagine Colonial style homes surrounded by large, manicured yards, inhabited by professionals who golf, play tennis, ski, and take the family to Disney every year. In 2005, Greg and Cate Muenker certainly seemed to be on their way to living up to the idyllic Madison lifestyle. Greg always had a fine-tuned palate and considered going to culinary school but decided that earning a college degree was more valuable. He met Cate in their freshman year at Rutgers University where he earned a B.S. in Economics and Cate earned a degree in Biology. After college, Cate, who is from Guilford, lured Greg to Connecticut where he began working his way up the corporate ladder in the world of finance while Cate got her Masters’ degree at UCONN and currently manages a lab at the Yale School of Public Health. Greg calls himself a “pepperhead,” someone who enjoys extremely spicy foods. Before he and Cate had kids, Greg put hot sauce on everything. They even had a holster for the dining room table to hold a variety of hot sauces for spicing up meals. Wanting to bring a spicy snack to work, Greg started looking for hot snack foods but was always disappointed. So he began making his own spicy peanut blends to take to work. He bought habanero powder to add to store-bought roasted peanuts, then began to play around with adding other flavors such as garlic, parmesan cheese, and herbs. Word started to spread about Greg’s spicy snacks and co-workers started stopping by his desk with napkins and water, ready to indulge in some spicy nuts. Once he realized he was essentially getting repeat customers, Greg thought to himself, “I might have something here.” With the last name Muenker, it’s no surprise Greg was sometimes given a monkey-themed nickname. One co-worker called him “Monkey Boy,” a moniker Greg didn’t really appreciate; however, when deciding on a name for his spicy peanut

19 concoctions, Greg took the unpleasant nickname and turned it into a positive, calling his snacks Hot Monkey Nuts. He began testing the waters, selling his snacks locally, mainly to his and Cate’s coworkers. The idea of growing Hot Monkey Nuts from a hobby into a full-fledged business was daunting, however, and as the Muenkers started a family, progressed in their careers, and found themselves with less free time, the spicy peanut business fell to the wayside. Then, in 2018, everything changed. After 20 years working in a field he didn’t enjoy, Greg became increasingly unhappy with his career. “What brought me joy was this little hobby of mine, making peanuts, making people happy.” One night, on a whim, Cate went online to see if the domain name www.hotmonkeynuts.com was available. It was, so she bought it saying, “I wanted to give Greg joy in his life.” With the website purchased, Cate began the task of researching how to turn Greg’s spicy hobby into a business. The couple decided early on to focus on growing a legitimate business with a product that could be sold across the country, online, and in stores, rather than a mom- and- pop type of shop. They learned how to start a business from scratch, figuring out tax codes, UPC codes, nutrition labels, packaging design, logo design, and everything else that goes into launching a product. Greg notes, “Launching a food product is probably one of the most difficult things to do in the industry as far as what’s required by the government.” As they were diving into the business end of things, Greg and Cate started to revamp Greg’s old recipes for spicy peanuts. Originally, each recipe had basic, literal names like Garlic Parm, Three Cheese, and Mexican Salsa. They weeded out recipes that didn’t really work or were too similar to other recipes. They took the name Hot Monkey Nuts and ran with the theme, creating six original flavors that tied in perfectly with their concept: 3- Alarm Garlic Parm, Cinnamonkey Spice, Sour Screamin’ Onion, Jamaican Me Sweat, Nacho Momma’s Nuts, and Curry Up! I’m On Fire. To hone the recipe for each flavor, Cate used her diverse group of coworkers as guinea pigs. Once they had the recipe for the flavor perfected, they added spice to achieve the level of desired heat for each variety. They did all this while juggling Cate’s full-time job and raising four children between the ages of 6 and 12. For the logo and packaging design, Greg and Cate initially used a website, later perfected with the help of a local graphic designer, Lisa at Taylor Brown Illustration and Design. The monkey featured on the front of their packaging sports a peanut-shaped nose and six flames on his head -- one flame for each member of their family. The tagline “Got the guts? Eat my nuts!” dates back to 2005 when the couple first tossed around the idea of starting a business to sell Greg’s spicy snacks.

Finally, in December of 2018, Greg and Cate launched Hot Monkey Nuts at the Night Market in New Haven. Throughout 2019, they sold their spicy snacks at vendor events like the Durham Fair. They learned what worked and what didn’t, finding out their product appealed to a younger, braver audience. Although they had their website up and running, most of their sales happened through their booths at these events. With clever branding and a slightly risqué tagline, Hot Monkey Nuts garnered plenty of attention. They’ve since added Fromage a Trois, Hot-Winged Reaper, and Black Widow’s Bite to their line of flavors, with Black Widow’s Bite being the hottest. Cate says, “I didn’t know I was creative until I started doing this.” In September 2019, they were invited to Discover Connecticut in Washington, D.C., a yearly showcase of Connecticut companies hosted by Senators Blumenthal and Murphy. Cate remembers, “To be in the same room with companies as well known as Pepperidge Farm and LEGO, was unreal!” Her small business being recognized in the first place

21 was a step in the right direction for growing the business and getting the Hot Monkey Nuts name out there. In January of 2020, Greg and Cate started selling Hot Monkey Nuts on Amazon and Faire.com. Just three months later, COVID hit. The pandemic forced the postponement, then cancellation, of the fairs and events that previously made up the bulk of their sales, however, Cate’s timing in launching online sales turned out to be perfect. With consistent sales through their website and other online platforms, Hot Monkey Nuts had a great year despite the pandemic. Greg still makes every single batch of Hot Monkey Nuts himself by hand. He cooks up 42 bags of spicy peanuts at a time. The kids aren’t allowed yet to help out in the kitchen, but pre-pandemic they were often recruited to help with booth sales at events. Now, they mainly help with packing, labeling, and shipping online orders. The pandemic may be winding down, but Greg and Cate’s passion for promoting Hot Monkey Nuts shows no signs of slowing. They’re also collaborating with Willy Pete’s Chocolate to produce spicy chocolate bars and are finalizing plans to sell Hot Monkey Nuts in Big Y grocery stores. Cate recently received a grant from the Connecticut Women’s Business Development Center which will go toward outfitting the kitchen in their new space. Greg and Cate have successfully turned their challenges into a venture which brings them both joy, focused on having the guts to share their nuts. You can purchase Hot Monkey Nuts at www.hotmonkeynuts.com. A portion of the proceeds from each sale is donated to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, totaling over $1500 to date. You can also check them out on Facebook and Instagram @hotmonkeynuts.

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at Harvey's Beach Old Saybrook Fresh Hand-Picked Lo ter Rolls Served on a Butter Grilled Brioche Roll!

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opping Hopping Around CT.

Bear Hands Brewery Your local Bohemian Craftsman brewery

Located in downtown Putnam is the Quiet Corner’s newest brewpub, Bear Hands Brewery. Opened in 2020 and run by the hard-working team of Justin and Kayla Trent, Bear Hands brings a fun, inviting vibe with beers to match.

Photos & proﬁle by Jim Lalumiere

Craft beer should be fun and relaxing, not tons of work and stress. But when you open a 3.5-barrel brewery six weeks before the Covid-shutdown, everything changes. Having just reﬁnanced their house and moved on from their previous jobs to open Bear Hands, the pandemic was the last thing Justin and Kayla saw coming. Giving up was never an option, but buckling down and working harder was. With no draft sales in the foreseeable future, Justin kegged his beers and ﬁlled cans for 70 hours per week at Black Pond Brews in Danielson to keep things afloat. Once restrictions were lifted people were able to come in and grab pints and growlers. What the customers found was a little oasis of comfort in a very trying time. Bear Hand’s space has two distinct feels to it. The atmosphere of both rooms is what sets them apart from other local breweries. The upstairs taproom room is distinctly

Kayla Trent, Brewer/Co-owner Justin Trent

“Bohemian Craftsman”as Kayla puts it. Hardwood ﬂoors and rustic wooden tables are softened by framed artwork and t-shirts hanging on the walls. Old-school brewing equipment diagrams nestle alongside watercolor ﬂower prints and antique hand saws. Edison lights hang from chains, giving the room a cheery glow. The bar at the back of the room has a dozen comfy high-top chairs along long wooden table-top, beckoning for friends to sit and enjoy a pint or three.

The Speakeasy downstairs has a completely different feel to it, although just as inviting. As you head downstairs, the “brick” hallway you encounter was painstakingly painted by Kayla and leads to a Prohibition era Juke Joint. Black and white checkered tiles stretch the length of the room while a hearty wooden bar surrounds a custombuilt copper draft tower. A small but unique selection of bourbons, ryes and spirits line the back wall. The room has a 1920’s Chicago feel to it with forest green over-sized leather couches and chairs alongside wooden tables that look like they could invite an intense poker game.

Giving the room a modern touch is the Golden Tee game and pinball machine at the far end. A TouchTunes jukebox set in a mock wine barrel is ready to crank out your favorite songs. Justin, like most brewers, started as a homebrewer. His eclectic taste in beer is mirrored in the vast array of beers he enjoys brewing. “Part of the creativity of the brewing process is just wanting to do the next thing” he proclaims. In today’s craft beer world, drinkers are always asking “what’s next”? The model that Bear Hands has put together accentuates that and pleases their customers. Taps are set up so that customers know what style of beer to expect on each draft when they arrive. Tap #1 is always a fruited sour with Tap #2 being a wheat beer, sometimes fruited, sometimes not. Porters are dedicated to Tap #3 while Taps #4, #7 and #10 are hoppy beers such as Pale Ales, IPAs and IIPAs. Milkshake IPAs have just joined the rotation, as is tasted in Trendaphobia, a 7.9% mango IIPA currently on line #7. Justin likes experimenting with single hop varieties and dry-hopping his beers which intensifies the hop flavor and aromatics. Having fun with ingredients, styles and beer names is what keeps things fresh at Bear Hands. I Put Pants on for This!? is a 5.5% Curuba fruited Wheat Ale, imparting the ﬂavors of banana and passion

fruit from this hybrid fruit from Columbia. Speech Thewapist is a NEIPA that has caught on with locals and has made it into the regular draft rotation. Beckoning back to the earlier days of craft beer, Jinger’s Brown has quietly become a staple, and the closest thing Bear Hands has to a flagship beer. A hybrid between an English Brown and a Granola Brown, this easy drinking 6.5% malty ale satisfies not only nonhoppy beer drinkers, but anyone who likes a smooth pint. 12 draft lines means more beers than I’ve described here, but you’ll just have to head to Putnam to find out about the rest of them for yourselves. Believe me when I say, the Snozberries taste like Snozberries. The near future sees Bear Hands completing a newly-built kitchen in the basement to satisfy your hunger pangs. Soon to be offered is a Pub Grub style menu of flatbread pizzas, wings, assorted Mac & Cheeses and other snacky yet filling comfort foods. The team is proud to offer a menu that will match the quality of their beers and comfort of their décor. When in Putnam, pull up a stool at Bear Hands Brewery. Stay for a few pints, play some pinball, and make some new friends. Bear Hands Brewery 75 Main St, Putnam Hours: Wed -Thurs, Sunday: Noon-8pm Friday, Saturday: Noon-10pm Jim Lalumiere, lover of all that is hoppy, malty and sour.

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Three Unique Venues One Beautiful Location All With The Best Views In Mystic Events & Weddings

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Wrights WrightsMill Mill Farm Farm

Youare are Farmily Farmily You Profile and Images Jim Lalumier Profile and Images Jim Lalumier

Profile and Images Jim Lalumier ocated in rural Canterbury is a wedding venue like no other in the area. Wrights Mill Farm is situated on 240 private acres offering views of Connecticut’s rolling, wooded hills. Owned and operated as a family business since 2004, Wrights Mill Farm prides itself on offering every couple a completely personalized wedding experience. All wedding venues offer dinner, dancing, and drinking, but few come close to providing the bucolic feel and attention to detail that the team at Wrights Mill does for every couple who enters their rustic doors.

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

Curt Dubois, co-owner of Wrights Mill Farm, started as a dishwasher at his family business on Coles Island in New Brunswick, Canada. Working his way across Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia, Curt landed in Connecticut in 1986 and dove into the Food and Beverage industry, managing at some of our state’s more prestigious hospitality venues. Originally from this area, Curt was familiar with Wrights Mill Farm and bought the property and business in 2004. Wrights became Northeast Connecticut’s premier wedding facility, hosting over 1700 weddings in the next 14 years. The main building housed weddings year-round, while the 5000 square foot Pavilion hosts seasonal weddings and seats 160 guests. On May 18, 2016, a disaster struck as a fire destroyed much of the main building. Faced with a full schedule for the upcoming year, the dedicated team at Wrights Mill utilized their outdoor pavilion to ensure almost all of the planned weddings were executed to the delight and satisfaction of over 100 hopeful brides. It was at this time that Curt made the decision to rebuild Wrights Mill Farm. Not only would he rebuild, but he would build his dream venue that will astonish future brides and grooms for decades to come. Rising from the ashes after four long years of rebuilding, Wrights Mill Farm reopened its brand-new doors in October of 2020. The main building is an impressive 9600 square foot barn-like structure. A circular drive flanked by wooden fences and spring flowers of pink and yellow lead to a stone patio. The outside of the barn is made of wide wooden boards the color of chocolate. The doors under the awning lead to the jaw-dropping 5000 square foot reception hall that seats 240 guests. What sets this hall apart is the country elegance it exudes. Walking through the sliding

After - Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

Before

barn doors, your eyes are immediately drawn upwards to substantial vaulted ceilings 40 feet high. The thick, oaken rafters and ceiling are naturally lit by windows along two sides of the room and a large round window above the entry doors. Additional lighting comes from a row of dramatic wrought iron wagon-wheel shaped chandeliers which were custom made by a father and son team in Toronto, Canada. Placed around the room are farmhouse guest tables and wooden chairs that seat eight people per table. With the ample space the room provides, dancing is never a problem, especially when the beat drops from the team of Mark and Pat, the duo behind Offbeat DJ service. Offbeat is the on-premise DJ service exclusive to Wrights Mill Farm. With over 30 years of experience between them, Mark and Pat will get your guests off their seats and onto their feet, customizing your wedding playlist to your tastes.

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm/Jess Lance Photo

At one end of the room is a bar area that people will automatically gravitate to. Whether it’s an open bar, cash bar, or a combination of both, your guests will be able to imbibe their favorite beverages served by professional bartenders. A full-service bar is available for mixed drinks as well as the finest red and white wines. Bottles and cans of craft and domestic beers, seltzers, and non-alcoholic beverages round out the offerings. What people tend to remember about weddings, besides the actual ceremony, is the food. The team at Wrights Mill goes above and beyond when it comes to feeding your friends and family. There are multiple meal packages to choose from based on budget and preferences. All packages are all-inclusive and include: white linen tablecloths & colored napkins, silverware, dinnerware, wedding cake and/or cupcakes, champaign toast, and wait service. You can choose from 3 or 4- course sit-down meals or multiple levels of buffet-style receptions. Family-style platters, chef stations, and even BBQ options are also available. Cocktail Hour and Butler Hor D’oeuvres are additional choices that can add some flair to your special day. The food offerings at most venues would end here, but not at Wrights Mill. What happens if you’re hungry as you’re getting ready for the wedding? Or you’ve Humpty-Danced yourself into being hungry an hour after dinner? Curt and Executive Chef Biagio have these scenarios covered. A Bridal Suite

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm / Devolve Imaging Photography

Lunch is available to your wedding party while prepping for your ceremony. A selection of fruit, cheeses, crudité, and finger sandwiches will quickly satisfy your cravings but not weigh you down. The Late-Night Menu is an offering that is relatively new to Wrights Mill, but more than half of wedding parties take advantage of it. Some more food may be in order after indulging at the bar and sweating on the dance floor. Your late-night selections include assorted flatbread pizzas, party subs, salted pretzels, free-range chicken wings, and crowd-pleasing sliders ranging from cheeseburgers to pulled pork and BLTs. It is details like this that sets Wrights Mill apart from your average wedding venue. Your big day is not limited to just the grand ballroom. Just outside your doors is a covered deck the length of the building that accommodates eight high-top cocktail tables. Your guests can get some fresh air while overlooking the wooded hills of Connecticut. Walking around to the back of the building, you will find yourself standing on a 4200 square foot patio where you can take in the night and be warmed by the wood-burning fire pit that is beckoning to hear your stories. This fire would not be complete without the complimentary S’mores that are always a hit at the end of the night. Those of you with a competitive edge, cornhole boards and bags, and Giant Jenga are also available. 99% of couples who have their receptions at Wrights Mill also get married there. Curt accounted for this while planning the layout for the new

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

building. The amenities include a luxurious Bridal Suite, complete with three lighted make-up stations, a large bathroom, table and chairs, and enough storage for any bridal party. Two oversized restrooms are next door, able to accommodate large weddings without making people stand in lines. At the same time, the men’s room even has a changing table for equal-opportunity dads.

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm/ Devolve Imaging Photography

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

When one decides to get married at Wrights Mill Farm, you choose so because of the country elegance and rustic property that dates back to Colonial New England. It offers multiple spaces outside in which to get married and take spectacular pictures. A short horse and buggy ride (supplied by Cedar Knoll Farm in Lisbon, CT) from the main barn will bring you to a sitting area with 19 long wooden benches. Overlooking a natural waterfall is a wooden trellis, under which is perfectly positioned to get married. Nothing says “New England” more than having your pictures taken in front of a 200-year-old granite stone wall, with the sounds of a cascading brook mere feet from you. Don’t be surprised if deer wander into your wedding ceremony, as has happened on more than one occasion in the past 17 years. Picture opportunities are abounding on the property. Continuing on your horse-drawn carriage ride around the property brings you to a covered bridge that perfectly frames the idyllic pictures of your special day. At the entrance to the property is a serene pond with a wooden deck overhanging the water. Both of these locations are favorites of couples looking to capture romantic yet rustic images of their first day as man and wife. Over the years, Curt’s long-tenured staff at Wrights Mill have become what

Courtesy of Wright Mill Farm

they lovingly refer to as Farmily. Most have stayed with him for as long as they’ve been open. Bringing in his OWN family was only natural and increased the tight bond that is Wrights Mill. Curt’s daughter Briana has become the Wedding Coordinator, making sure every aspect of each wedding is seen to, putting each anxious bride at ease, and helping to personalize every decision. Curt Jr. (CJ) is instrumental in the set-up and breakdown of all weddings and of the spacious grounds and maintenance. Curt’s sister Cheryl is the Service Supervisor in command of the front-of-the-house throughout the entire day, ensuring the service the service runs smoothly and assuring no detail goes unnoticed. It is no wonder that Wrights Mill Farm has won the Couple’s Choice Award on Weddingwire.com from 2013-2021 and The Day newspaper “Venue Award” for 2020. It’s their attention to detail, communication, personalization, and genuine care of their customers that makes every couple part of the Wrights Mill Farmily. Wrights Mill Farm - www.wrightsmillfarm.com

AskAshley

An Unexpected Wellness Trend To Embrace This Summer Hint: It’s all about having fun

an you believe it’s already June? Time is a funny thing. Some days can feel as long as weeks, and some years can feel like they’ve flown by with a blink of an eye. Because June is the ultimate kickoff-to-summer month, aka everyone’s frantic ramp-up of get-fit-get-healthy, I thought you might appreciate a different kind of wellness trend that doesn’t revolve around how we look in a bikini or what we should be eating to “blast belly fat.” While many of our lifestyle habits have changed over the past year -- how we work out, what we eat, how we work, etc. -- one thing has remained the same: our longing to connect with others. And in that craving of social connection comes a pleasant side effect: banishing stress. In the warmer months (and really always), we talk a great deal about ways to boost our immune system, care for our skin, eat healthier, and be more active, while side-stepping (or flat out ignoring) a ridiculously simple way to improve our wellbeing: having fun. Fact: Fun is a central component of happiness. And being happy is often synonymous with being healthy. When we have fun, our body produces feel-good hormones that are critical to a healthy mind and body, similar to when we exercise and our body gives us endorphins.

According to health experts, growing evidence suggests “fun can be an antidote to the stress of modern life for adults, while also bringing a slew of health beneﬁts.” Seems like common sense, but are we actually taking restorative measures to destress, unplug, and just relax already? A no-brainer way to release those feel-good hormones is to make it a point to be around people who uplift us, support us, and make us laugh.

37 Sustaining our social health (i.e. hanging out with friends regularly and joining community sports organizations) is just as important as maintaining our physical and mental health.

losing touch with people we love is inevitable during big life transitions, that doesn’t mean we can’t get back in touch. And it certainly doesn’t mean we can’t make new friends.

So, while I am deﬁnitely not diminishing the importance of summer health tips like choosing in-season produce, practicing safe sun, and continuing to be active every day, what I am doing is reminding you that having fun for no reason other than to have fun is an incredible wellness trend to adopt this summer. And really, forever.

That said, pick one day a week (or month, whatever ﬁts your socializing fancy) where you meet up with pals under a common interest, like picnicking in the park, supporting a local comedy spot, or starting a book/wine tasting/yoga/whatever club.

If you need a refresher on how to incorporate more fun into your life, here are some fool-proof ways to do it.

Maybe it’s a “Sundays at the beach” tradition where your family meets up with another family for the afternoon. The point, again, is to stick with your chosen social tradition so you both reap the social health beneﬁts that come with fun and friendship.

(1) Ask yourself what your version of fun looks like, then do it. Say you’re a movie buff. Make hitting the theatres a regular thing. Maybe your favorite thing to do in the summer is attending as many street fests and outdoor concerts as possible. Find out when and where they are, and schedule them in your Google Calendar the same way you would an important meeting. (2) See your friends regularly. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it hundreds of times: Friends are the pinnacle of the good life. The secret to keeping your social health up is to make seeing friends a regular occurrence. And while FaceTime and texting are great stand-ins for catching up, they just don’t compare to that blissful, face-to-face interaction that we crave (and need). While “regularly” looks different for everyone, the point is to prioritize time with friends, not view it as something “nice to do.” So, maybe you dedicate one day a week to having a few close friends over for dinner. Or you turn your kid’s Saturday baseball games into parent after-parties of bonﬁres and BBQs. Perhaps you double date with another couple every month at trendy eateries. (3) Find a mantra that speaks to you on the having fun front: Mine is “Less work, more champagne,” meaning worry less and celebrate more. Anytime I feel stressed out about work or parenting or anything that causes frustration, I stop what I’m doing and say, “Less work, more champagne.” It works every time in easing anxiety, reducing stress, and reminding me that we tend to take life a wee bit too seriously. (4) Start a new social tradition, and stick to it. Common reasons we lose touch with friends stem from moves, kids, and differing interests. While

Takeaway I’m not saying quit your job, move to Tahiti, and abandon all responsibilities of your life (I learned that the hard way in my twenties). I’m simply suggesting to not wait around until Friday to have fun. Sometimes it’s the little pockets of fun that are most rewarding, like making a big deal out of Monday night dinner for no reason. Or inviting your neighbors over for cocktails on the porch because the weather is just right. Or running around the yard barefoot with your family because hey, it’s summer. Have yourselves some fun this summer! The universe knows we deserve it. PS! Wishing all the hard-working moms a Happy Belated Mother’s Day, and a Happy Father’s Day to all you rad dads. Keep up with Ashley by signing up for her Happiness Hacks newsletter, Take A Sip, at ashleyalt.substack.com.

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Pandemoniu um Rainforest Project (PRP) - PRP Nature Centerr -

As we head into our summer months, we are so excited to share the “big white building” with you! SSome off you kno k w it West Elm Street. We ar “other” Pratt, Read d & Co. and cutting went o and we will be ab ble t and show them wher h originally powered are excited to shaar may very well be t that the public can are so proud that i

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Rescued By The Lens Profile by John Tolmie Photos Courtesy of Clyde Butcher and Niki Butcher

he year was 1975 when a young Clyde Butcher

found

himself

enveloped

beneath the shadowed canopy of Pepper Wood Forest in Santa Rosa,

California. This West Coast woodland is home to lush flora and the famed giant Pacific Coast Redwoods. Clyde, no stranger to being behind the lens, peered through the eyepiece of an oldschool accordion-style camera mounted on a trifecta of stout wooden legs that disappeared into the dense emerald flora below. From the feel of sliding the large format film in place to the materialization of his shots under the red glow of the darkroom, shooting this way seemed more honest than the immerging culture of instant gratification in photography. A particular indigenous fern had caught Clyde’s attention. A carpet of clover-shaped leaves flowed over fallen trees and spongy black soil. The wind had subsided, and the stillness of the woods presented a perfect opportunity to capture its serenity. “All of a sudden I hear an immense crack.” Clyde grins, “Just thirty feet to my left a threehundred-foot redwood came crashing down. I felt the earth move under me. Wood shrapnel went everywhere like a bomb just went off.” The tree had split neatly down the middle revealing a deep wooden trench the length of a football field. When the earth had finally settled, a stunned and gratefully alive Clyde began packing his gear.

“I found the tree. It was more than I could have imagined.”

Pepperwood Tree

“After a few expletives and checking my pants, I knew I was done for the day.”

“After a few expletives and checking my pants, I knew I was done for the day.” He Nods with a grin, “I had gotten a few good shots and figured it was a good time to head home.” The incident made an impact on the photographer, one that remained in the back of his mind for years to come.

Clyde had been shooting in color throughout his career, however, all color would fade from his heart at the news of an unimaginable tragedy that would change his life and prompt a dramatic shift in his artform. “When I came to Florida, I continued my colorwork until 1986 when my son was killed by a drunk driver,” Clyde reveals. Silence hangs for a moment as he draws in a meditative breath and continues, “I said to myself, ‘I’m not leaving Florida and from now on, I’m only shooting in black and white’.” Clyde shifts his demeanor with a smirk and furrowed brow, “Florida’s got so much color, you want to throw up. I felt with black and white, you’d be able to really see it, to feel it texturally.” The dramatic change to black and white began to produce images that would alter the publics’ view of Florida’s untamed wilderness, and moreover, Clyde’s son would remain fresh in his heart as each click of the shutter would continue to bring father and son together in memory. He and his wife, Niki, have called Florida home ever since, remaining exclusively in its borders for years as Clyde focused his camera on the plethora of tropical mysteries whose images would one day have an impact far greater than could be imagined.

Top: Gaskin Bay, Florida Bottom: Clyde’s Darkroom Opposite Page Top: Dunes Middle: Nikki and Clyde Bottom: Clyde Loxahatchee River

Nearly ten years had passed since losing his son and twenty-five years had gone by since Clyde bore intimate witness to the thunderous demise of a particular titanic western redwood. Grief still lingered, always would, but time had healed Clyde and Niki enough and in 1996 the pair decided to scratch a mental itch that layout west in the shadows of Pepper Wood Forest. Clyde had always wondered what befell the fallen giant after so many years and revisiting the resting

“Florida’s got so much color, you want to throw up. I felt with black and white, you’d be able to really see it, to feel it texturally.”

behemoth would challenge Clyde and Niki. However, their fortitude and patience would reward them with one of Clyde’s all-time favorite shots. “I found the tree. It was more than I could have imagined.” Recalls the photographer, “The tree left a hole in the canopy. The sky had opened. Sunlight had hit the ground making things grow and we witnessed the birth of a whole new ecosystem. It was gorgeous.” Clyde was enamored and decided to get a better view by climbing the exposed roots of the collapsed redwood. “When I stopped climbing, I looked over my shoulder and there was a twenty-foot drop behind and me carrying a tripod.” Says Clyde with a chuckle, “I calculated a ten-minute exposure, so I had to stand still for ten minutes. But there was a tree limb in the way, so Niki was holding it back, and she was a big one.” With Niki wrestling the tree limb and Clyde froze in place, it was time to capture the image he had dreamt of for so long. “But then a beautiful plant started going like this right in front of the picture.” Clyde says with a waving hand mimicking a dancing reed, “We were only about a halfmile from Highway 101, so when a semi would come by, the plant would move. It was a real challenge to get that shot.” Clyde’s legs began to numb as he poised his substantial frame atop his fallen muse and Niki was nearly exhausted from hugging her wooden friend, but after over ten exposures, they headed home. In his darkroom, under crimson lights and swirling of chemicals, Clyde and Niki’s efforts had paid off as the legendary Pepper Wood photograph materialized to their utmost satisfaction. Niki has an affinity for capturing all things funky and nothing expresses pure funk more than the innumerable roadside attractions dotting Route 27, the Orlando bound thoroughfare. “We did street art festivals when we first started out all along that highway. This was a time before stop signs or stoplights and it was a straight runthrough.” Niki recalls with excitement, “I love funk! I LOVE FUNK! Because when you go into a funky place, you find somebody who is totally and utterly unique, and I love people who are what they are. So, I love stopping at these funky places.” Clyde interjects a hearty objection to which Niki promptly agrees, “He doesn’t like these types of places, but one time Tom Gaskin had a Burma-Shave sign that read ‘LADY – IF YOUR HUSBAND WON’T STOP – TAKE YOUR SHOE OFF – HIT HIM OVER THE HEAD’ So, I read it to him, and he stopped.” The giggling pair lean toward each other recalling the amusing event. Tom Gaskin, bonafide funk proprietor, and his long-

“Now I’m from California and I’ve seen pictures of gators and snakes, you know, so I never wanted to get into the swamp. In California, you look at nature from your car, but you can’t do that in Florida.”

time pal Niki immediately started sharing stories as an obedient Clyde stood by cloaked in visible tedium. “Tom looks at me and knows I’m bored and says that he built a boardwalk out back and I should take a look.” Clyde says with his smooth interjection, “Now I’m from California and I’ve seen pictures of gators and snakes, you know, so I never wanted to get into the swamp. In California, you look at nature from your car, but you can’t do that in Florida.” Once out back, Clyde discovered that the use of the word boardwalk may have been a bit of a stretch. “Yeah, it was a boardwalk alright.” Clyde muses with the emphasis of a single pointer finger. “A. Board. Walk. It was a plank twelve inches wide and the railing was tree limbs nailed to some trees.” But trepidation was soon replaced by wonder as Clyde found himself in a familiar yet alien world. “When I got back there when I got into it; It reminded me of the redwood forest. It had that same primeval feeling. It was such a gorgeous scene.” Clyde recalls, “And so I came back the next day with my camera and took that picture.” The pivotal shot, simply named Tom’s Swamp, was the start of a journey that would lead Clyde and Niki deep into the foreboding Everglades; a place they would champion with lens and film. Clyde and Niki began to wade waste deep into the Everglades primal waters. They believed the risk was worth the reward and they would help the viewer gain an appreciation that could only be gleaned from

Top: Tom’s Swamp Middle: The Badlands South Dakota Bottom: Nikki shoots Clyde shooting. Opposite Page Top: Clyde, Photo by Woody Walters Below: Acadia

“It was their responsibility to protect our drinking water, our agricultural water, our rivers, our lakes, and the Everglades.” Niki frowns, “And they had failed.”

this intimate perspective. The first round of photographs from the Everglades project was donated and would adorn the latest complex being constructed for the Southern Florida Water District. “It was their responsibility to protect our drinking water, our agricultural water, our rivers, our lakes, and the Everglades.” Niki frowns, “And they had failed.” Pollutants had been being dumped into the Everglades for years creating an ecological disaster so vagrant that Florida was being sued by the Federal Government. “So, we decided to fund the photography project on our own because we had to do something.” Clyde says, “It wasn’t cheap and at the time I wasn’t making much money, but we knew we had something special.” Nearly thirty immense prints of the Everglades, in stunning black and white, soon hung in the new building’s main corridor to the amazement of all who passed by. “People coming in to get permits would see this and until then nobody thought the Everglades was pretty. They just thought it was an ugly swamp. It was the first time people got to see what it really looked like. And, politically, it really helped the whole restoration project get going.” Clyde explains passing the thought to Niki, “The pictures educated the public and the government as to what the Everglades really looked like.” She recalls, “But the best thing that came out of it was when the people from the water council saw the pictures, it reminded them why they were there and what they were saving.” The Butchers’ dedication to their craft and the environment has engendered tangible and measurable results, changing the way folks have viewed the Everglades. At over eighty years young, you will still find Clyde and his bride taking leisurely swamp walks, where they would love for you to join them and show you the wonders of the yet untamed and magical world of the Everglades.

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The National Sailing Hall of Fame & Sailing Museum Profile by Caryn B. Davis Photos Courtesy of The National Sailing Hall of Fame

ewport, Rhode Island, has been synonymous with sailing since the Gilded Age. In the mid l9th century, southern plantation owners flocked to its shores to escape the summer heat, constructing cottages along Bellevue Avenue. The Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans and other members of the uber wealthy discovered Newport in the early 20th century, building lavish mansions and filling Newport Harbor with their opulent yachts. In 1883, the prestigious New York Yacht Club held its first regatta there establishing Newport as a preeminent racing destination. Ten years later the Newport Yacht Club was founded with the Ida Lewis Yacht Club following in 1928. These clubs, along with the growing sailing scene, paved the way for the most prestigious race in the world - the America’s Cup to be fought and won there from 1930 until 1983, when famed sailor Dennis Conner lost the coveted Cup to the Australians ending America’s 132-year winning streak. Since then, this sailing mecca has witnessed a bevy of international events and races such as the Annapolis to

Newport Race, the World Championships of the One Ton Ocean Racers from around the world, and the Newport to Bermuda Sailing Race, among others. So it is quite fitting that the National Sailing Hall of Fame decided to make its new home in the “sailing capitol of the world”. The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “preserving the heritage of the sport of sailing, celebrating its heroes and inspiring new generations of sailors and innovators.” It was established in 2004 and originally headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, before acquiring the first two floors of the 1894 Armory in Newport, overlooking Narragansett Bay. Once used as a meeting hall for military units, and later by the international press corps covering the America’s Cup, plans to open the country’s first national Sailing Museum in this historic building are well underway. “The board of the NSHOF was presented with an opportunity in Newport that fulfilled a long-time vision of creating a museum,” says Heather Ruhsam, Executive Director of the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the newly formed Sailing Museum.

The 1100 square foot Sailing Museum will be a venue for onsite learning, as well as introducing visitors to the sport of sailing, it’s evolution, and its key players both past and present. The organization has partnered with the America’s Cup Hall of Fame which permanently resides at Herreshoff Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island. The AC Hall of Fame will have some exhibits in this new space to present another piece of the sailing story. The NSHOF began inductions in 2011, and honors men and women posthumously, as well as those over the age of fifty-five who are still living in three major areas – Sailing (which includes the sailboat racer, cruiser or offshore sailor); Technical (such as designers, boat builders, sailmakers, etc.); and Contributors (those involved in the sailing experience like teachers, coaches, artists, musicians, promoters, administrators, organizers and the media). The selection committee is comprised of individuals across the US in varying parts of the industry. They meet annually to review publicly nominated candidates and select the inductees which then goes to the board of directors for ratification. The board also decides if they want to add a lifetime achievement award for excellence in sailing, and for educational, philanthropic, cultural or other contributions off the water that have greatly enhanced sport. Some notable past inductees include Allison Jolly, the first women to win a Gold Medal in sailing in the 1988 Olympics and the youngest woman ever to win the US Sailor of the Year Award at age twenty; English artist James E. Buttersworth known for his precise renderings of yacht races and yachts under sail during the 19th century; Irving McClure Johnson who founded a sea sailing school with his wife Electa and went around the world seven times with an amateur crew of 20 men and women; Thomas Avery Whidden II who has raced in eight America’s Cup campaigns and built North Sails into the largest sail making company in the world; Joshua Slocum who completed the first solo circumnavigation under sail and penned his third book Sailing Alone Around the World about that voyage in 1899; and Olin J. Stephens II, a naval architect who designed six winning America’s Cup yachts among many other innovative vessels.

“There are two ways of looking at what makes a good racing boat: The rule under which the boat is measured, and the qualities that make for good performance and speed. But what really makes a good racing boat is overall balance. What I mean is: The balance of all the qualities that are combined together to make a good combination; length, displacement, sail area and stability. These are the keys to a boat’s performance.”

Left Page Clockwise: Allison Jolly at the Olympics. Dennis Conner with the Cup. Mark Reynolds, Briggs Cunningham (HOF), Olin Stephens (HOF), H.Sears, Optis, George Coumantaros. Right Page Clockwise: JJ Fetter, Thomas Flemming Day, Mike Toppa, Ken Read, Vince Brun (HOF), Tom Whidden (HOF), Dingy Sailing,

“One of things we say about sailing it’s one of the few sports you can do your whole life and there are host of different scholastic lessons and life skills that comes with being on the water and in sailing community. It’s an intrinsic part of the landscape here”

When I interviewed Stephens in 2004 he said this about his boats, “There are two ways of looking at what makes a good racing boat: The rule under which the boat is measured, and the qualities that make for good performance and speed. But what really makes a good racing boat is overall balance. What I mean is: The balance of all the qualities that are combined together to make a good combination; length, displacement, sail area and stability. These are the keys to a boat’s performance.” But the NSHOF and the AC Hall of Fame are only one component of this comprehensive museum. Through exhibits, educational programming, interactive learning for school children, and the Virtual Regatta Sailing School (the country’s only on-site eSailing competition held virtually on Narragansett Bay), visitors can chart their own course and choose what interests them. “You are not going to walk in and just see artifacts. It’s a very interactive museum, “says Ruhsam. “We are creating a vibrant and inclusive setting for people who want to learn about the sport or discover the resources to get started sailing themselves. We are working with a lot of other organizations to ensure we have those pathways available.”

Left Page Clockwise: Making of a Champion - Physical - Looking West, Making of a Champion- Physical - Looking East, Making of a Champion- Physical, SH Volvo Ocean Race- 2005-6. Right Page Clockwise: Sail GP Marseilles, Sail GP, Sail GP, Sail GP Marseilles

In addition to the two halls of fame where the achievements and stories honoring the people who have advanced the sport will be told, the main hall is comprised of several areas that include Wind & Water (understanding weather, tides and currents, points of sail, ocean stewardship, the anatomy and evolution of

a boat and design principles); The Making of a Champion (which investigates the mental and physical challenges of sailing like navigation, tactics, leadership, problem solving, endurance, agility and strength); Teamwork (exploring how sailing brings people from varying skill sets together to create a cohesive unit necessary for success); and Competition. In this gallery, through the various events, races and people who shaped the sport, visitors will discover what happens to a racing team when all these elements are aligned. There will also be interactive educational STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) exhibits and “stealth learning” showcasing how sailing can be applied to these disciplines. “One of things we say about sailing it’s one of the few sports you can do your whole life and there are host of different scholastic lessons and life skills that comes with being on the water and in sailing community. It’s an intrinsic part of the landscape here,” Ruhsam says. The National Sailing Hall of Fame & Sailing Museum are scheduled to open in May of 2022. For more information logo onto www.nshof.org.

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By Daniel D Lev Shkolnik

Mitten Owned by Leatherman - Courtesy of the Connecticut Historical Society

rom 1856-1889, a man in a leather

natural cycle of sorts—a leather moon that came

suit walked clockwise, like

and went exactly once every 34 days.

“In the towns he visited,

clockwork, around a circuit of

When asked about his story, it’s said he would

towns in Connecticut and New

cut off conversation. Rumor filled the cracks of

he became a natural

York. The man slept in caves.

fact and a legend developed that he was one

He wore a leather suite made of boot tops that

Jules Bourglay of Lyon, France, who lost his

preserved him from the snakes and critters that

fortune in the leather industry and subsequently

scurried at his ankles. He carried a French prayer

his chance to marry his true love; afterward,

book, though if spoken to in English, he would

he wandered Connecticut and New York in

went exactly once every

grunt and gesture. He may have had a strong

penance. According to Leatherman expert Dan

knowledge of Native American lore and used

W. DeLuca, this story isn’t true. In his book

34 days.”

this knowledge to live among the woods and

The Old Leatherman: Historical Accounts of a

streams. No one knew his name, and so they

Connecticut and New York Legend, DeLuca says the

called him the Old Leatherman.

article about “Jules Bourglay” was first published

cycle of sorts—a leather moon that came and

(then retracted) by a newspaper and turned out In his suit, he resembled a cast-iron stove with

to be more fiction than fact. But the legend stuck.

legs. Despite his strange appearance and unusual

So much so that upon his death in 1889, the

way of life, he developed friends along his route

Leatherman was buried under a tombstone that

who greeted him with food and water. At certain

bore this false name.

schoolhouses, the best child would get the chance to meet him with food on “Leatherman

Aside from debunking old speculations,

Day.” In the towns he visited, he became a

there’s relatively little new to be said about

“One store he visited kept a record of his order, which consisted of: one loaf of bread, a can of sardines, one pound of fancy crackers, a pie, two quarts of coffee, one gill of brandy, and a bottle of beer.”*

the Leatherman. Yet every year or two, in

accepting only what was freely offered him.

articles much like this one, the story of the Old

His regular visits built familiarity and empathy

Leatherman is revived. This has been going on

in those towns he visited, and his life evoked

for about 130 years and raises the question: why?

a pathos even among those who did not know

What is it about this man’s story that made him

him—a pathos the Jules Bourgley myth tapped.

a legend in his day and has continued to carry

Uncanonized, the Leatherman resembles a

him, year to year, as a piece of evergreen news?

folkloric saint, remembered and revered not for the sake of salvation but for the wonder

In part I think it’s because the Leatherman isn’t

he evokes. Not unlike a saint, he continues to

so much a man as a myth. He represents an

receive a kind of reverence.

archetype—a social character that repeatedly

* Quoted from Marvels of the Past The Legend of Leatherman by Nicole Henley

appears in human cultures and, chiefly, the

When the Leatherman’s bones were to

myths and stories that cultures tell. “The

be dug up, DNA tested, and moved to a

vagabond” is the most obvious archetype for

new site in 2011, Don Johnson launched

the Leatherman, but I believe the more accurate

“LeaveTheLeathermanAlone.com” and led a

one is that of the saint, or perhaps its subtype:

campaign against the move. Johnson’s main

the holy fool. The Leatherman could have easily

objection was that the Leatherman went to great

taken on the archetype of a crib-side boogeyman

lengths to keep his secrets; what right do we

in communal imagination, but his toothless

have to impinge upon that privacy? Incidentally

nature and gentleness with children connoted

or not, preserving his privacy also preserves his

innocence. His French prayer book implied

mystery—one of the things that gives his story

religiosity. He never stole or begged for food,

its power. As with other myths, it’s the mystery,

“Occasionally, legend and reality unite in the form of some remarkable soul who, through peculiarity or chance, assume a role resembling the mythical characters we read about in childhood’s fairy tales. The Old Leather Man was one of these.”

The view looking up from the center of Leatherman Cave. The rocks form a natural chimney for campfires.

not the history, that keeps our minds entranced. Despite this, DeLuca and other historians—who gathered thousands of Leatherman-related articles, photos, and materials over the years— have done a considerable amount in recent decades to clarify what can be known (or reasonably guessed) about his life with the goal of keeping his story alive and free from falsehoods. He was likely not a French saint, a holy fool, or a tragic lover and penitent. Judging from his repetitive circuit, his clock-like precision, the neatness with which he kept his caves, and his many identical tobacco pipes, DeLuca suspects he was a man with OCD. Why did he wear a leather suit? Likely because it was cheap and practical, keeping him warm in winter and fending off the teeth of snakes and other wild creatures. For the majority of his years wandering, he did not rely on others but sustained himself with fishing, trapping, and tanning. He preserved food in his series of caves and cultivated gardens along his route. While he

wandered for about 30 years between 1856-1889, he only walked his famous 300-something-mile loop for the final six. Despite all the material that’s been gathered, the Leatherman’s history retains a good deal of its mystery and likely always will. He was a real man with a real past, he felt love and loss, he had a name—but we know little to nothing about all that. Whenever he arrived to a town out of the woods, he also arrived out of the realm of imagination. The Leatherman existed (and continues to exist) on the paths that run between human society and the weird kingdom that rises at its edges from which all folktales take their ink. In 1937, Allison Albee, a Leatherman researcher, said it well: “Occasionally, legend and reality unite in the form of some remarkable soul who, through peculiarity or chance, assume a role resembling the mythical characters we read about in childhood’s fairy tales. The Old Leather Man was one of these.”

Other Facts of Interest • The Leatherman inspired a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, “Leatherman.” Released as a B side of the single Given to fly from the 1998 album Yield. • The song Mennyt mies by Finnish singer-songwriter J.Karjalainen refers to “Uuden-Englannin nahkamies” (“New England Leatherman”), a vagabond who walked 10–12 miles a day through western Connecticut and eastern New York state in the late 19th century. • The Connecticut Humane Society had him arrested and hospitalized in 1888. A diagnosis of “sane except for an emotional affliction” subsequently released. He died a year later from cancer of the mouth due to tobacco use. • Leatherman Loop is a unique 10k trail run at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River, NY. It features natural surroundings and the Legend of Leatherman. Founded in 1987, Leatherman’s Loop; is the most extensive trail race east of the Mississippi River in the United States, with over 1,300 finishers in recent years. http://leathermansloop.org • That “boot suit” weighed 60 pounds, and he wore it even in the most sweltering days of summer.Leatherman started walking clockwise in a huge circle between the Connecticut and Hudson rivers. And he finished that circuit every 34 days.”

• Leatherman’s Cave Loop – Mattatuck State Forest boasts a trail 4 miles long with moderate difficulty. One of his rest stops was in Mattatuck State Forest, which today is known as the Leatherman’s Cave. https://scenesfromthetrail.com • PBS produced a video documentary that aired on Connecticut Public television in 1984. The Road Between Heaven and Hell. Remastered (2011) and all three parts combined into a single 29-minute video. • The Leatherman slept in caves and other shelters, where he tended gardens and stored food. He walked through more than 40 towns on his route. • List of towns visited by Leatherman in his 365 miles every 34 days - Brewster, North Salem, Ridgefield, Branchville, Georgetown, Redding, Danbury, Woodbury, Watertown, Thomaston, Terryville, Bridgewater, Waterbury, Bristol, Forestville, New Britain, Berlin, Old Saybrook, Guilford, Branford, East Haven, New Haven, Stratford, Bridgeport, Trumbull, Norwalk, New Canaan, Stamford, Greenwich, White Plains, Armonk, Chappaqua, Ossining, MountKisco, BedfordHills, PoundRidge, Yorktown, Peekskill, Somers, Derby, Woodbridge, Naugatuck, Hamden, Southington, Burlington, Middleton, Meriden, Portland, Wilton.

Oliver Wood Gives Us A New Reason to Smile By Ali Kaufman Fans of The Wood Brothers have another reason to rejoice! In addition to live dates on the horizon, frontman, Oliver Wood has just released his own solo project, Always Smilin’ on Honey Jar Records, distributed by Thirty Tigers. This 11song album with a 12th bonus track is a fresh collection, yet has a familiar feel with stellar lyrics and a sound that melds the American Roots music that Oliver is well known for with some bluesy, folk, even gospel tunes. I had the chance to speak with Oliver about making the album and the year that was. As always, he was most gracious, introspective, and generous with his time. Photo by Sandy Roe

Like many musicians who have spent years on the road, the complete halt of touring came as a shock, but Wood opted to take this time as a luxury, slowing down to meditate, journal, and let the writing pour out of him. It was also a time to relearn the lesson that we are never really in control of so many of the things that life brings our way. That is not necessarily a bad thing as it brought about the realization that one has the choice to ﬁght

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

against the current or make peace with being “out of control” and discover your art as it unfolds. I could hear the enthusiasm in Mr. Wood’s voice as he spoke of the creative process and how it works for him. There are different ways that artists come to their songs, but the ability or challenge of accessing one’s subconscious or creative mind is the goal. “As an artist, I think you can do your best work when the logical side of your brain gets out of the way and you can unleash the creative, intuitive side and just blurt out ideas," Oliver shared. He then went on to say,“Being childlike, not judging or self-conscious, that is where the good magical stuff happens.” Being a fan of biographies of musicians, Oliver imparted that some of his musical heroes have gotten there by engaging the logical side with a walk in the woods or going for a drive to let the inspiration loose. The song, Fine Line is an example of this thought process and also of the wonderful lyrics that have made me always think

that Oliver Wood is an exceptional poet that just happens to be a fantastic musician as well. Another standout feature of Always Smilin’ is the appearance of guests that lend their talents to a few of the songs. Carsie Blanton has supported The Wood Brothers on tour, and they have stayed in touch over the years, connecting when she came through Oliver’s home base of Nashville. The song they worked on together was actually born pre-pandemic and then perfected with the time they had on hand. Molasses became a concept song about a real life event, The Boston Molasses Disaster that happened in the Northend of Boston when in 1919 an explosion at the factory injured over 150 people and killed 21. Another long time association is with Susan Tedeschi, with whom The Wood Brothers go way back. Oliver has known both Susan and Derek

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

Photo by Alysse Gafkjen

Trucks since they were teens! They have also toured together, most recently on the hugely popular Wheels of Soul Tour. Much music today is made via remote contributions so it was not a problem to employ that strategy for the song Get The Blues. Tyler Greenwell, drummer for Tedeschi, Trucks, and many others is also on the album. The ﬁrst song, Kindness, sets the bar high with a poignant message of how the simple act of choosing kindness in everyday situations can be a way of life. Oliver Wood strives to mirror that way of living. In addition to the original tunes, there are a couple of gospel covers and a terrific bonus track, Needed Time. The cover art for this project was a collaboration of a different sort. Oliver’s wife, Rebecca Wood, hand made the linocut artwork that graces the cover, and I hope will be on a run of tee shirts. It is fantastic in its simplicity and skilled artistry. Another perk of a solo project is the ability to hire one’s wife without causing any waves! Release date for Always Smilin’ was May 21st with the vinyl coming out

on July 9th, but he will have both CD and vinyl with him at his solo shows. Connecticut will get its chance to hear this solo tour live when it makes a two-show stop at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Outdoors at The Playhouse Tent on Saturday, July 10 for a 4 o’clock and later 7:30 performance. Oliver will take the stage with percussionist and also Wood Brothers band mate, Jano Rix. Ted Pecchio will round out the trio on bass. While it will be challenging to fit the solo appearances in with the rigorous schedule that lies ahead for The Wood Brothers, (which he is still very much a part of), it will get figured out. Lastly, I asked about the first live shows he has begun to play again. “So freeing! They have been distanced and set outdoors to comply with restrictions, but the real thing is unbelievable. There is no substitute for the energy of a bunch of people in a space all together, really fun. It’s a collective groove that gets going, and it’s fantastic!”

I couldn’t agree more, and yes, I am smilin'. To learn more, please visit Oliverwoodmusic.com and Thewoodbros.com to catch up with the band. Ridgeﬁeldplayhouse.org to secure tickets to the show and check out their entire events calendar, loaded with terriﬁc performances that are coming back!

Bottom photos by Joshua Black Wilkins

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Hopping around CT - Bear Hands Brewery

Music Mirth & Mojo - Oliver Wood