Ink Magazine - September 2016

September 2016

publicationsÂŽ

Vol 12 Issue 9 2016 www.inkct.com

A guide to finer living in Connecticut & abroad.

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Features

SEPTEMBER January 1, 2016 2006

Cutting Fabric, Not Corners

Oak & Velvet pg. 8

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Columns, Reviews, Events

ISSUE CONTENTS

The Cheesemonger Local Cheese and More at Arethusa Farms

pg. 76

September Events Events throughout Connecticut

pg. 79

"It's About the Process"

John R. Schroeder, AIA

pg. 16

Kenny D’Aquila’s “Unorganized Crime” Grips Hollywood

pg. 24

Doris: Rescuing a Large Lady Takes a lot of Work...

pg. 30

Mongolian Banker Dog Project Saving Snow Leopards one Dog at a Time...

pg. 42 On the cover: Sunset Hill Vineyard - Photo by Caryn B. Davis

INK staff "The Grape is the Winemaker"

Sunset Hill Vineyard pg. 50

Contributors:

Advertising:

Jeffery Lilly- publisher/design/founder

Contact us to receive our media kit complete with detailed advertising information including ad rates, demographics, and distribution in your area.

Stephanie Sittnick- publisher/sales/design Carolyn Battisa - editorial Laurencia Ciprus - editorial Caryn B. Davis- editorial/photography

Seana Bill:

Charmagne Eckert - editorial

A Self-Taught Journey Back to Her Roots.

Alan Fields - Design in Mind

pg. 58

Sharma Piersall Howard - editorial Barbara Malinsky- editorial Paul Partica, The Cheesemonger

Dysfunctional Touchstone of American Theater

pg. 66 We encourage the public to submit stories, poems, photography, essays, and all things creative. If you know of a person or place of interest, please submit your ideas to: submissions@ink-pub.com We will do our best to put your ideas in INK.

Stephanie Sittnick - Director of Advertising advertising@ink-pub.com 860-227-8199 Kaitlin K. McDermott - Greater Connecticut kaitlin@inkct.com 203.273.3726

Nancy LaMar-Rodgers - editorial Rona Mann - editorial

Monte Cristo Cottage:

Please direct your advertising inquiries and questions to:

A. Vincent Scarano - photography

Cheryl Powell - Saybrook - Branford cheryl@ink-pub.com 860-608-5749 Rona Mann - Clinton - Stonington six07co@att.net 401-539-7762

Every issue is printed using 100% Soy based ink.

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

INK PUBLISHING, LLC 107 Hemlock Valley Rd., East Haddam, CT email: info@ink-pub.com www.inkct.com

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Cutting Fabric, Not Corners Oak & Velvet

by RONA MANN

"There is no one I'd rather be than me."

Q

uite a statement.

For how many people have you ever met that might utter those words and truly mean them? So when you meet Michael Ciborowski, it doesn't take long to realize you've met a true one-ofa-kind individual. And it fits, because his is a one-of-a-kind business: Oak & Velvet.

To understand the uniqueness of this concern, you first need to understand the uniqueness of the man behind it, and that goes back a number of years. Michael Ciborowski was raised in the boroughs of New York; and like many young men in their teen years, he sought a part time job to make some pocket money. He and a couple of buddies wound up working after

school at an upholstery company where "we tore apart stuff and goofed around a lot." But in a very short time Michael, unlike his friends, stopped goofing around and really began to take the art of upholstery seriously.

"Back then the older upholsterers working there didn't want to teach you anything because they were afraid for their jobs." But there was one older worker who spotted the teenager's interest and took him in hand, teaching him the trade. It took two years, but when Michael finally covered his first chair, he was not only proud, but perhaps a bit cocky.

With all the over-confidence and youthful pomposity of a teenager, Ciborowski took out an ad in the local Pennysaver, advertising himself as the "Moonlighting Upholsterer." He was all of 19.

"But the phone in my mother's house started to ring and pretty soon rang off the hook. I was going to Hofstra University at the time to be a

Owner Michael Ciborowski & Creative Director Maria Louise

teacher. My mother insisted I continue on this path and maybe do a little upholstering on the side. But who listens to their mother, especially a teenager?"

For a while Michael plied his trade in the family's garage till he grew out of space and decided to rent a store. As he was hanging his shingle, "Sew Fine Upholstery," a man hap-

Above and top right photos by Stephanie Sittnick

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pened by at the same time and asked for work, saying he was an experienced upholsterer. The young man hired him on the spot, which just may have been the aha moment in Ciborowski's young career. "The experienced upholsterer watched me work, stitching quickly, cutting a few corners here and there, and finally said, 'If you want me to stay here and work for you, I will show you the right way to do the job. You don't have time to do it right, but do you have the time to do it twice?' That became a turning point for me in only producing quality work, with no corners cut...ever. And to this day I still repeat this quote to my employees. It's what this business is built on."

of-a-kind handcrafted pieces. They may choose from a wide variety of fabric. And best of all, they themselves are measured!

Maria carefully measures her customers so that the talented old world craftsmen downstairs can craft each piece to each individual physique for maximum comfort. No one else does that! While many furniture stores bandy the word "quality" about, it's often just an advertising tag line.

Not so at Oak & Velvet where quality is the only stock and trade Michael knows. It's the way he was taught so many years ago, the way he teaches his young staff today, and the only

way they know to custom craft or upholster furniture that lasts. "I teach them inside and out all I know."

Maria, the creative brain in the mix, works from customers' ideas. Some bring her a photo, some a sketch, but all have a vision. Maria makes it happen and loves what she does because as she says, "every day is different; it's always fun to work here.

But it's Michael's passion that fuels all of us."

Ciborowski has made it as much fun to work at Oak & Velvet as it is to be a customer because he thoroughly and deeply values the employees he has worked so hard to train. "I

Ciborowski's employees are a small band of solidly trained craftsmen who make up Oak & Velvet, a Middletown enterprise unlike any other statewide because it is both showroom and factory in one. Open not just to the trade, but to discerning clients as well who want handcrafted pieces built to their specifications, exactly fitted to them and their lifestyles.

These are customers who value upholstery fashioned by old fashioned methods.

Methods that have no room for cutting corners...work that takes time to create because Oak & Velvet believes quality happens when you match a customer's expectations.

That's why Michael hired Maria Louise. Her formal title is "Creative Director," but she is in her very bones and soul an artist. Maria is a professional painter who works by commission; and although she's young, she is an old soul when it comes to that tradition of quality, the very cornerstone of Oak & Velvet.

When a client makes an appointment to visit Oak & Velvet they are first ushered upstairs into an expansive showroom within the Remington Rand building. Here they may view sofas, chairs, ottomans, and other onePhotos by Stephanie Sittnick

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have a vision not only for my company, but for the people who work here. We are small and will stay small; and I will do just about anything to keep every one of these people because they are highly trained craftsmen, not found anywhere else." To that end, Michael is installing a giant flat screen TV and a bar so his employees may come in on Sundays to watch the World Series or football games with their families. He's also built a company gym and is offering financial "perks" and health benefits, doing whatever it takes to let his people know they are valued and to keep these high-end furniture makers and upholsterers happy at Oak & Velvet.

But it doesn't stop there. Michael is a good steward of his community; and like his company and his philosophy, his approach to community service is unique as well. This past April, Oak & Velvet had its formal "grand opening" in Middletown, even though Michael had served the community well for more than 20 years as "Sew Fine Upholstery." But this was no ordinary grand opening. Instead, Ciborowski invited some 300 people to fill the showroom

for a unique kind of fundraiser. There was a dance floor, a live band, four bartenders, plenty of food, and a goal of raising $10,000 for Huntington's Disease, which they surpassed.

The piece de resistance was raffling off a custom crafted sofa, chair, and ottoman with a retail value of $7500. The winner not only was now the recipient of magnificent handcrafted furniture, but was given the honor of selecting the charity for next year's gala. "We will continue to hold this event every year on the last Saturday in April," said Ciborowski. "And every year the winner of the raffle will pick the beneficiary for the following year. In 2017 it will be Spina Bifida. By doing this we are constantly paying it forward."

So that's the story. The story of one very unordinary young teenager who early on had instilled in him the passion for upholstery with a penchant for

quality. It's the story of the business he built one perfectly handcrafted piece of furniture and one flawlessly upholstered item at a time.

Oak & Velvet is really just an extension of Michael Ciborowski...not at all ordinary, but without a doubt, extraordinary.

Oak & Velvet is located at 180 Johnson Street, just a bit off the beaten path and off Main Street in Middletown. Look for the signs...or call ahead for a personal appointment www.oakandvelvet.com (860)347-2300

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"It's About the Process" Chesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s John R. Schroeder, AIA

by RONA MANN / images courtesy John Schroeder "It all begins with a blank piece of paper."

T

hose simple, yet effective words are spoken by John R. Schroeder, an architect by profession, a gentleman by design; and by choice, a real down to earth human being having

an awful lot of fun doing what he always wanted to do.

"It's all about the process," Schroeder begins, settling comfortably into a chair around the conference table in his office. An office he shares with his right hand man of five years, soon-to-be-architect, Jared Hardell. "Whether we're working on a residential or commercial

project, there is always a process I like to follow because if you follow the process, the ideas percolate themselves and everyone is satisfied."

While John R. Schroeder, AIA (American Institute of Architects) is a professional design firm specializing in architecture, planning, and interiors, Schroeder himself is just fine with

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was an architect gave me some advice early on.

He told me to learn how to write and write well. I see how important that is now because we spend 50% of the time writing proposals and bids, so that's extremely important."

Graduating from the University of Michigan, Schroeder considered continuing his education at either Tulane or the Rhode Island School of Design( RISD). Ultimately he chose the Providence-based, yet world renowned RISD and immediately realized, "I was going in as an underdog." RISD seems to attract art and architecture students who are a bit more "out there" than the Midwestern, buttondown, All-American Schroeder appeared to be on the surface. "They felt I couldn't be creative," John smiled. But he showed them...and everyone else. He's still showing them, having built a solid reputation among both colleagues and clients with a large and enviable portfolio.

Although he graduated during an economic downturn, he quickly found work as a young architect working for prominent firms throughout Connecticut, before opening his own office thirteen years ago in the heart of Chester and designing the very building in which it is housed.

Schroeder's experience and expertise extends from designing hospital and university buildings, to offices and homes; yet it is the residential work he enjoys the most. "It's very personal," John says. "I like to find out what

simply being known as an "architect." It's all he's ever known or wanted; and he's done it successfully for the last 30 years.

"I knew early on that's what I wanted to be.

When I was about 12, my father told me I might want to think twice about that because math was not my strong suit. But I persevered.

I took the high level math classes I needed and just worked harder. For a while I also contemplated becoming an author or an archaeologist, but in the end architecture won out."

Still there's a bit of the author in Schroeder and what he does. "My father's friend who

John R. Schroeder, AIA

makes people tick, how they like to live. That way we do what we do with no pre-conceived notions nor a cookie cutter approach. It's the beginning of the process."

So there we are again, speaking of "the process."

"It begins by holding a meeting either at their office or their home, John informs. "I want to see exactly what they have and what their priorities are. Next, we bring them here to look at samples because there are too many to bring to them. There's wood and stone and tile and hardware and so many other decisions to make."

Then Jared works his magic. He amasses all the information and projections, initially rendering

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Moodus Residence Renovation and Great Room Addition Schroeder Residence Renovation

them into sketches and finally utilizing 3-D software, enabling the client to see both the inside and outside of their home or office. By using this state-of-the-art software, John and Jared are able to avoid costly mistakes, save time, and work more efficiently through increased precision and control, making for happy clients.

The client is part of the process from beginning to end which is why on the wall of the studio is the quote, "We engage our clients in positive and rewarding collaboration." It's simply the only way they know how to do business at John R. Schroeder,AIA. The next pivotal point in the process comes when the client decides if they wish the faster approach of design build, or the "old

fashioned" way of bidding from beginning to end, utilizing a system of checks and balances. There is no right nor wrong way to go. It is solely dependent upon the individual client, Chester Residence Addition and Kitchen Renovation 3D Rendering what they want to have happen, and how quickly they want it software, but we had triangles and graphite and electric erasers and four days of exams to to happen. get licensed." Today he looks over at Jared Design build involves the contractor early on. who has already passed four rigorous exams "We make sure to get all pricing and decisions and still has more to go. But Jared doesn't ahead of time to alleviate any pressure," says work with triangles and graphite. His is a John who clearly wants to avoid any potential world of software and 3-D imaging that roadblocks or negative outcome. "We have changes rapidly, still he's on top of it all the honest, skilled contractors with whom we've time. Together John and Jared complement worked for years that we can reply each other perfectly, and that makes for a winon to be on time, dependable, and ning association that only benefits the people accurate. These guys love what with whom they deal. they do, and they're smart. They also know how to push the paper: scheduling, billing, invoices, hiring of sub-contractors. It's all about having good relationships..and we have them."

If the client does not opt for design build, the old-fashioned method is one where Schroeder is constantly checking for quality and integrity Avalon Health Care Center Reception Renovation 3D Rendering/Final Build at each step along the way. "It's important to us that the clients get the most bang for their buck, so it's not just words and lines, but having the full knowledge of codes, mandates, and monitoring the constantly changing regulations. In the end our clients save more money because they did it right."

The field of architecture - both an intricate form of art as well as a science - has changed greatly since John Schroeder was in school.

"Back then we sketched everything, didn't have sophisticated

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"And we have fun, don't we?" John says looking over at a nodding Jared. "The process is fine...rewarding, exciting. We take ideas from people's heads, put them on paper, then transfer them to 3-D, and then produce a finished product. Still, it all begins with a blank piece of paper and an idea. Creativity is fun!"

John R. Schroeder AIA is located at 69 Main Street, Chester - second floor www.jrsaia.com (860) 526-5838

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Join us at EFWatermelon for a champagne toast to celebrate Paul Crevoshay’s upcoming exhibition at the Musee de Mineralogie in Paris.

Signed copies of the limited edition exhibition catalogue will be available.

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Kenny D’Aquila’s “Unorganized Crime” Grips Hollywood

By Barbara Malinsky / Photos courtesy Kenny D’Aguila phenomenon. A four-year-old child sees a cello and says, “I want to do that.” A young boy may be unwillingly brought to his sister’s ballet class and says, “I want to do that too.”

Another child plays hooky from school to draw cartoons all day. It happens so often that you ponder whether the child is already born with the muse ready to be released by some engaging experience.

K

enny D’Aquila recently grabbed Hollywood’s attention with the debut of his play Unorganized Crime that garnered rave reviews. His journey from Old Saybrook, Connecticut to Hollywood, California is a drama in itself.

He heeded the call that beckons artists to do whatever it takes to pursue their aspirations.

That inner voice is a mystery, an unexplainable

D’Aquila started life in a typical family household with his parents and three brothers. He attended Old Saybrook Elementary School where he excelled in football. As an eighth grader, he rushed for 16 touchdowns in 8 games and was “Brothers!” named the team’s Most Valuable Player. He continued to pursue football at Xavier High School as team captain but an injury ended a promising sports career.

It was then that he began to participate in the school’s theatrical productions - West Side Story, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and others. In college, the spell

Management team and close friends.

was firmly cast when he auditioned for several plays and got every role but when he decided to change majors, his parents disapproved. He then worked as a machinist at C. J. Bates and Son factory in Chester, Connecticut for about a

Kenny (GINO SICUSO) with the enormously talented John Pankow (FATHER ANTHONY SICUSO)

year and saved $900. He left his family to migrate to Hollywood to pursue a career as an actor and screenwriter.

When he arrived there, he made ends meet by waiting tables. “It takes a lot of courage to

28 made it. That was a very powerful thing for me.”

He then married and had a son so he left show business to focus on fatherhood although he continued to work as a waiter. Sadly, his father succumbed to cancer and the once close-knit ItalianAmerican family that D’Aquila grew up with started to fall apart. He was Jack Topalian, Chazz, and Kenny after a staged reading in NYC. deeply affected by pursue this business. You have to be strong to how his family members lost faith in one take the rejection. You get to hear ‘no’ more another and wrote about it thematically in his than ‘yes’. If you don’t like ‘no’, find some- newest play Unorganized Crime set in a Mafia thing else. I’ve probably waited on more environment. tables than any other actor in history but I had to take care of my family.”

The play and its message turned out to be the turning Soon he was cast in a number of musicals point in D’Aquila’s career as including Godspell, Camelot, the Fantastiks, he re-entered show business and Jesus Christ Superstar. Soon a larger role as both writer and actor. came his way - Les Miserables’ Grantaire “Alfred Hitchcock said that directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. He you can do three things with was then asked to participate in the an audience – make them International Album of Les Miserables and laugh, cry or scare them. My won critical praise for his rendition of play does all three in a Grantaire. “Nothing gets my heart beating totally different way.” faster than hearing the orchestra starting to play with 1,500 people in the audience. There He knew noted actor Chazz are so many emotions going through you. Palminteri as a friend but When I’m backstage I need to be alone for at never approached him proleast five minutes before I go on.” fessionally. This time, he asked him to read the script. Palminteri called D’Aquila is also a screenwriter; his first play back several days later saying, “What are you Uptown (1990) won 8 Drama-League Awards doing working in a restaurant? This is one of and was nominated for Best Play by the LA the best plays I ever read.” He wanted to help Drama Critics. “After my first play, my father D’Aquila the same way that Robert De Niro looked me in the eyes and said, ‘ I’m so proud helped him with A Bronx Tale, a partly autoof you!’ and I could see in his eyes that I had biographical drama.

In 1989, Chazz Palminteri debuted his one-man show A Bronx Tale at a small theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The modest play would later catch the attention of Robert De Niro, who subsequently made it into a feature film that helped propel Palminteri’s screen career.

He believes in paying it forward. D’Aquila’s play Kenny on the set with director, Nick Vallelonga. “ Photo by Ben Shani

reminded him of himself years ago when De Niro helped him. “After I opened my play, it just took over Hollywood and became a phenomenon.”

“I don’t know if D’Aquila’s play will be like that. It would be pretty amazing if it did. After opening night, the reaction was incredible.”

The play drew sold-out audiences and drew praise from Los Angeles theatre critics across the board, including rave reviews from the Hollywood Reporter, Broadway World, and the Los Angeles Times.

Unorganized Crime has a small cast of 4 principal characters – Chazz Palminteri (Sal Sicuso - older brother), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Rosie Gino’s wife), Kenny D’Aquila (Gino - brother), and Carmen Argenziano (Carmelo father). D’Aquila’s own family breakdown is the basis for the dissolution of this fictitious family. Gino Sicuso, a forgotten brother and son, is banished to Detroit by his father. Sal, a menacing mobster, turns up one day at Gino’s doorstep. What transpires is a gripping, savage, and wildly humorous tale between two brothers and the love of a woman who is torn between loyalty and survival. The family dynamics could take place in any American family today. The reviews were praiseworthy.

There is comedy …

Sal: This is your last chance. Whatever happened in the past is the past. What’s important is right here, right now. It’s all about what’s in front of you at this moment. You understand?

Gino: I do Sal: Where are you?

Gino: I’m right here Sal: Right here. In the moment. The two of us. Yes? Gino: I’m so ‘right here’ I forgot what you just said.

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Pathos…

Rosie: I believed you. I stuck by you. I was the only one. I WAS THE ONLY ONE. … Doesn’t that mean anything? ... You say we’re perfect for each other. I believe that. I do. Now. I’m begging you. Show me how much you love me. Show me.

Now D’Aquila has teamed up with Palminteri by creating and writing a new television series based on D’Aquila’s play.

They are presently producing the promotional pilot of Unorganized Crime that will be shot this summer. The cast includes Chazz Palminteri, Jennifer Tilly, Mark Margolis, and Kenny D’Aquila.

And more…

D’Aquila may just be in the right place at the right time now for this to be a huge success.

Everything is good. On March 21, his son Louis Corbett D’Aquila became the 2016 City of Los Angeles Junior golf Champion. He is planning a visit to Connecticut to reconnect with his past. “You know, there’s a West Coast and East Coast but God created the East Coast first.

Old Saybrook is where it all started.”

Illustrations by Janice Tkal Collen

UNORGANIZED CRIME: Chazz Palminteri (SAL), Elizabeth Rodriguez (ROSIE) and Kenny D’Aquila (GINO) Photos by Daniel Reichert

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Top image courtesy MIT Museum: Doris in all her spender.

Bottom image photo by A. Vincent Scarano: Doris in her current state.

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Rescuing a Large Lady Takes a lot of Work...

By Carolyn Battista / Photos by A. Vincent Scarano With special thanks to: MIT Museum & Mystic Seaport Museum

For a long time, she was a large lady in dire distress. Now, to her admirers’ relief, she has arrived at just the right place.

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he would be Doris, a 78-foot sailing yacht built in 1905, with hull #625, by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in Bristol, Rhode Island. She’s the largest all-wooden boat ever built by the famed company, but a few years ago she seemed about to get scrapped, after decades of damage and neglect. At last she was rescued and brought to Snediker Yacht Restoration, an outfit in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, that’s known for meticulous care and skill in building, maintaining, and restoring boats, mostly wooden ones.

“Doris is an incredibly lucky girl. Even through neglect, people made sure she didn’t get cut up,” said Dave Snediker, whose boat shop has tackled everything from building a dory like Henry David Thoreau’s, to restoring a 1960’s “vaporetto,” a Venetian water taxi. Doris will

become the shop’s largest project ever. Work to rebuild her from the inside out using original plans, proper materials, and a combination of traditional and modern methods, is expected to take about five years. The shop has established a website, Doris1905.com, to tell Doris’s history, show photos old and new, and report progress.

Meanwhile, day to day, the shop keeps up with its other varied tasks.

Doris was designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff for S. Reed Anthony, an investment banker who paid $18,000 for her. She was the first boat designed and built under the Universal Rule which, Dave said, “rewarded a more voluminous hull. It really changed the way boats looked.” Doris soon turned heads as she defeated Gloriana, a prize-winning 1899 Herreshoff boat of “old-rule” design, in a race series off Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Over the years Doris had several owners, several names (Astarte, Huntress, Vayu, Doris

again) and many fine hours on the water; but she came upon hard times. In the late 1970’s, she ran aground. Her hull got badly damaged; and there was even talk of just packing her with hay, then setting her afire. Over the years there were noble efforts to fix, to restore, but all faltered.

Early photos on the Doris website show a resplendent vessel; later ones include a group poignantly titled, “The Beautiful Decline of Vayu.” Eventually poor Doris spent more than 30 years just sitting, deteriorating, at Crocker’s Boatyard in New London. By 2013, Crocker’s was ready to scrap her, but waited while help was found--an anonymous Snediker’s client who stepped forward to buy Doris and fund her restoration. “He wants to stay in the background,” Dave said. “He’s a great guy.”

In September 2015, Doris traveled by truckand-trailer with escort vehicles flashing their lights, down busy city streets, along I-95, and across the Gold Star Bridge to Snediker’s.

There Dave has the original construction pro-

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file for Doris (from Herreshoff papers at MIT) on one office wall, and one of her cast-iron malleable hanging knees on another. “We’ll start the restoration of Doris pretty much the way she was built,” Dave said.

“We just got a truck load of oak for frames and deck beams….”

Because work on Doris will require more room than the boat shop has, Snediker’s is leasing an old sail loft building nearby.

There, lofting—laying down plans for the hull—has already been completed. Doris has been resting on supports outside the boat shop, but she’s headed for another road trip—this one to the sail loft building with its nice indoor space, 90 feet long.

Dave launched the boat shop with Bill Taylor (who has since retired) more than 30 years ago, but he has worked with wood and with boats since he was a kid. “My dad always had cranky old wooden boats we worked on with him,” he said. The family lived on Long Island and sailed the local waters. “I loved it,” he

said. He also liked a PBS woodworking show.

“That’s so cool!” he thought, even of wooden buckets on the show. The family moved to Mystic when he was 14, and he soon signed up for a boat building course with the legendary John Gardner at Mystic Seaport. In coming years he would help his brother Quentin build the Mystic Clipper (replica of a 19th-century Baltimore clipper), work as a shipwright at the Seaport, and do many building and carpentry projects. He noted that he and Taylor took on assorted jobs at first, but soon gravitated to what they especially favored—“all boats.”

Snediker’s has worked on boats of all sorts and sizes.

In 2007, they constructed a close-as-possible replica of Musketaquid, the boat that Henry David Thoreau built with his brother John. Henry wrote about the boat and their 1839 trip in it in his first book, “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.”

He described the boat as 15 feet long, 3 ½ feet wide, “in a form like a fisherman’s dory.” Dave said, “It was a fun project. We harvested knees in the woods, which is what I think Thoreau would have done.” The new Musketaquid was exhibited at the Concord Museum in Concord, Mass.

Another project was the restoration of Intermezzo, the vaporetto (or “motoscafi”) that had plied Venetian waterways. Now Intermezzo has among other improvements, a new engine, a new bottom, and restored chrome. “She flies,” Dave said.

This spring Snediker’s restored the 1950’s

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Photo courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum

Arion, the first American fiberglass auxiliary sailing yacht. It was designed by Sidney Herreshoff, Nathanael’s son, who used traditional methods (such as starting with a half-hull model) along with the new-fangled fiberglass. “It’s a very significant boat,” Snediker said, adding that it left the boat shop in splendid shape. “We really tricked her out,” he said. “We used lots of teak; she’s pretty fancy.”

Recently completed was the restoration of The Kid, a 21-foot 1901 raceabout designed by BB Crowninshield for a famed yachtsman, Oliver Harriman. She belonged for many years to the late Clifford D. Mallory, a longtime supporter and trustee of Mystic Seaport, who named her Cliphora and raced her on Long Island Sound.

Snediker’s also builds boats, including lots of little Herreshoff models that have been shipped all over, from the Mediterranean to New Zealand. Current projects include building a 97-foot mast for a Sparkman & Stephens yawl and doing little extra tasks (like varnishing the binoculars rack) on Arion, which gets attention even after leaving the shop.

As the boat shop crew digs into the Doris project,

Photo courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum

Snediker’s will also engage cabinetmakers, metal fabricators, and other contractors for some jobs. “There’s a network of people who do such great work, so many little great machine shops,” Dave said. He appreciates the small operations, often run by old-timers with decades of experience, that take on painstaking projects that bigger, more modern places don’t want. New work will have to be done around original work. “It’s boatbuilding with the old boat in the way,” he said.

Always, the aim will be to stay true to Doris—the 1905 Herreshoff Doris.

Snediker’s welcomes more Photo courtesy MIT Museum:

information, more photos, and even original components that will aid the restoration. All were pleased when a truck pulled up with such items as paneling and bunk boards that answered some of their questions about detailing. Joel Plessala, of the boatshop crew, said, “Stuff comes out of the woodwork. We have located the binnacle and the wheel. There are other things out there….”

Dave noted that many folks in southeastern Connecticut know Doris, remember seeing her on the water and never wanted to see her scrapped. “So many people cared about her,”he said. “It’s been a huge effort by a lot of people to get her this far.” He expects that when the restoration is completed, Doris will sail New England waters and maybe beyond.

“The Mediterranean…,” he mused, “that’s where she should be seen!”

For more information and photos, visit: doris1905.com and snedikeryacht.com.

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Original drwaings courtesy MIT Museum:

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Saving Snow Leopards one Dog at a Time...

By Sarah Crisp / Photos courtesy OEX

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or 10,000 years the nomadic peoples of Mongolia lived in relative harmony with their surroundings, forging a subsistence living from herding sheep, horses, goats, yaks, and camels on the rich grasslands of the Central Asia Steppes. That balance is at risk and a non-profit founded by Bruce Elfström is working to help restore it. The Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project is one of a number of environmental missions that have spun out of his company Overland Experts.

OEX, as they are known, have a worldwide reputation for 4x4 off-road mobility training.

At their purpose built training grounds in Connecticut, North Carolina, Virginia and California they teach the art and the science of off road driving to recreational drivers and America’s Finest including Navy SEALs and Army Rangers as well as leading utility, geoexploration, and film logistics companies.

Their World Wide Mobility Team trains global

military Special Operation Forces, humanitarian relief agencies, alternative energy companies, and other NGOs on location.

They also run overseas guided self-drive adventure trips to places as far flung as Newfoundland and Tanzania, Bolivia and Iceland. It was during one of these trips to Mongolia in 1998 that Bruce and his colleagues came across an environmental and humanitarian issue that would capture his heart and that of his daughters Petra and Oaklea who now work for the project while also studying for their bachelor’s degrees in Archaeology and Environmental Science at Hamilton and Bates collages.

One evening the group of travelers stayed as guests of a nomadic family in one of their Gers; the large round tents known outside of Mongolia by their Turkish name “yurt”. That night the family and their extended

The Flaming Cliffs Photo Credit: Barry Laws

family in the valley lost seventeen colts to wolves; young horses that, when sold, would have contributed significantly to the family’s annual income.

Bruce, a biologist by degree, started to study the issue, feeling certain there was something that could be done to help these families retain their traditional lifestyle. Bruce and his team of young, field hardened workers formed a 501 c3 Non-Profit called the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project [MBDP] whose mission is to help slow down and reverse the desertification of the Mongolian

Above: The travelers and the MBDP field staff gather to say goodbye before the travelers head out to deliver the pups to their new homes Photo by Bruce Elfström Facing page: Young nomad child with her Bankhar pup Photo © Soyolbold Sergelen

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Bruce weighs one of the dogs that has already been placed with a herding family whilst Oaklea Elfstrom collects research data which is passed to the Institute for Canine Biology and other research institutions. Photo by Petra Elfström

The Bankhar’s ruff mimics that of a male lion and their eyebrows give the impression of “four eyes” thought to be more effective in warding off evil predators. Photo © Søren Nielson

Bankhar offering shade to a goat kid and protecting the family as well as the herd Photo Credit and © Soyolbold Sergelen

Livestock Guardians has already been shown to reduce predation on domestic livestock by 80-100%, eliminating the need for indiscriminate and retribution killings as predators revert to targeting natural prey species, instead of domestic ones.

Grassland Steppes, and to preserve and protect traditional Mongolian culture.

In fulfilling that mission, Bruce and his team aim to do more than protect the nomadic lifestyle. Lethal predator control (shooting, trapping and poison) and retribution killings are major threats to the apex predator populations in Mongolia including endangered species such as snow leopards, wolves, Gobi bears, foxes, and eagles.

The use of

On closer study and through conversations with the nomads, Bruce found that while a traditional nomadic culture was still followed one important tool had become exceedingly rare.

During the Communist era between 1924 and 1990, when Mongolia was a satellite state of the Soviet Union, herders were forced into state owned collectives. Families lost their traditional grazing lands and with them Mongolia’s traditional Livestock Guardians – the Bankhar Dog. By 1960, the majority of livestock and

cultivated land had been collectivized. In the late eighties, with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the withdrawal of military forces, Mongolia adopted a free market economy.

Almost overnight, herders in each collective divided up the animals and returned to living as nomads. Over the generations some practical knowledge was lost, and a new danger to the herders’ livelihoods was appearing in the form of global climate change.

Bruce Elfstrom weighs, measures and collects data on dogs that have already been placed with families and which are working with their herds. Photo © Søren Nielson

45 Increased winds, longer, colder winters, and Traditionally herders kept five species of live- bandry, and large herd size increased the speed later springs lead to less developed grasses. stock, each of which is able to survive differing of desertification.

Shorter drier summers with higher tempera- weather or grass conditions. Over the last 30 tures lead to increased evaporation. Rain still years Cashmere wool demand has increased MBDP researches, breeds, and trains comes to the Steppe, but it is now in the form dramatically. Cashmere wool buyers work in Mongolian Bankhar livestock protection dogs of more frequent stronger but and places those working dogs shorter rainstorms that lead to in homes of nomadic herding increased erosion, as the less families, where they perform developed grass is unable to withtheir traditional role of mediating stand the fast run-off from these between herders and predators; intensive downpours. These are protecting livestock and at the the mechanics of desertification same time, reducing the need and one of the greatest threats to for retribution and large scale the traditional Mongolian way of killings of the endangered apex life and to the wellbeing of predator species. By removing Mongolia’s threatened wildlife the threat of depredation, it is species. It leads to more limited hoped that herders will be and less nutritious grazing areas; able to practice sustainable needed by both the natural and grazing and decrease their the human communities of part in desertification.

Mongolia. With bitterly cold winters known as Dzuds, and the Back in Connecticut, OEX Young nomadic herder using his lassoo skills Photo © Soyolbold Sergelen ever-present risk of predation, Director of Training Erik herders find themselves in an environmental only a few locations and that forces herders to Eisensmith and his team prepare recreational and humanitarian “doom loop”. They are stay near to these areas and keep larger drivers for what they might find as they travel forced to protect their incomes with larger goatherds in order to capitalize on the ups and the unbeaten tracks of Mongolia. This is a herds and to seek larger areas of upland pas- downs of the Cashmere wool market. land of many contrasts: rivers and mountains, ture, taking their herds closer to the hunting deserts, and flaming red cliffs, the urban chaos grounds of Apex predator populations.

The result was a perfect storm – climate of Ulaanbaatar, and the barren landscape of change, over grazing, mono-species hus- the Gobi. Running these trips serves several

Petra Elfstrom with the Bankhar Pups that have been bred through the MBDP Photo © Søren Nielson

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Camping OEX & MBDP style Photo by Bruce Elfström

purposes. The profits of the trips go to the MBDP and, as they travel across Mongolia, drivers and passengers work with the MDBP research team to place puppies with herding families and collect data on the growth and behavior of the already placed dogs. They collect research on livestock loses, predator sightings and predation patterns, and they also administer basic veterinary care such as de-worming.

The research data is shared with other important groups such as the Institute for Canine Biology, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Snow Leopard Trust. Importantly it also allows the MBDP team on the ground and Stateside, to share their work with the world through the eyes, cameras and publications of their clients and fellow travelers such as self-confessed “Modern US Nomad” JoMarie Fecci.

Fecci and her longtime friend Isabelle Nikolic

came to Connecticut in 2014 to train for the grueling Rally Aicha des Gazelles. This is a unique event that brings women between the ages of 18 and 65 from more than 30 different

Nomadic herder Photo by Bruce Elfström

countries together in the Moroccan desert for a new type of automobile competition. As they say “no speed, no GPS, just old-fashioned navigation using compass and map.

Oh – and completely off-road.

“Their instructors are among the most knowledgeable and experienced individuals I have had the pleasure of training with.

In addition… to several challenging training facilities, their attention to detail and dedication to safety and environmental stewardship sets them apart from the others.” says Army Ranger Drew Dumas.

Like others, Dumas, Nikolic and Fecci have returned to OEX on several occasions to refine and enhance their skills and to prepare for their next tour of duty or driving adventure. Take one look at the reviews and you will find a string of superlatives – but the team does not look for plaudits.

Erik joined the team in 2010.

With many years of high speed, track experience, a background in mechanical design and engineering, and extensive world travel, all of which meant he was the perfect fit for the team. His goal, whether training recreational drivers or the

47 best of America’s military, is to help his clients “drive well … go further” [and get home safely!]

Visit their training grounds and you won’t find any power point presentations; just realworld knowledge from simple, to exceedingly complex, taught hands-on.

That training starts young; Fecci and Nikolic

had better watch their backs as a new generation train on father’s day, with Ted Dinwiddie at the Virginia training ground. They don’t yet know whether their training will take them into a career in the special operation forces, auto-orienteering across the Sahara, navigating the glaciers of Iceland or driving their jeep across a rope bridge in Bolivia. Maybe, they

will go on to help save Snow Leopards and the Bankhar Dog in Mongolia?

If you would like to donate to the MBDP please visit their website Http://www.bankhar.org.

All donations are fully tax deductible and gratefully received.

Stopping for a bite to eat at a monument to climate change in the Gobi Photo © Petra Elfström

“Desertification” Photo by Bruce Elfström

Rock Carvings in the Gobi Photo © Ryann Dunn Bruce Elfstrom with daughter Oaklea Photo by Barry Laws

Champion Herder Sugar with kid triplets Photo © Soyolbold Sergelen

Training Army Rangers at OEX’s Connecticut Site Photo by Erik Eisensmith

Photo by Ryan W. Dunn

A local Sharman blesses the site for the new MBDP breeding center.

Photo by Søren Nielson

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"The Grape is the Winemaker" Sunset Hill Vineyard

Photos and profile by Caryn B. Davis

W

hen they first started dating, Donna Moore took Matt Caruso to a wine tasting at a California vineyard just north of Los Angeles, where they were living at the time. Moore was already a wine enthusiast with investments in several wine bars.

Caruso, on the other hand, was skeptical.

He wasn’t interested in spending an afternoon with what he thought would-be pretentious wine drinkers. Additionally, his beverage of choice was beer. But after meeting Bruce Hansen at Hansen Vineyard, all that changed.

“I’ll never forget when we went to Hansen.

This guy comes out of the barn with his oneeyed dog. He says, ‘Yeah we can do some tastings. Let me look for glasses.’ We thought he was the helper, but it turned out he was winemaker,” recalls Moore.

While Hansen may have appeared discombobulated, scouring for glasses and pouring from a label less bottle, the wine was outstanding; and the experience left an indelible mark.

“That’s when we realized winemakers were actually farmers. We walked away thinking, we can do this,” says Moore.

Over the next four years, when they weren’t busy with their careers as a sports event producer and actor respectively, the couple visited 150 vineyards. They amassed a wealth of information by speaking with winemakers, participating in tastings, pouring at festivals, and reading.

“We’d pull into a big estate winery or a small place with one guy pouring out some Cabernet. You never knew what you were going to get. It opened my eyes. I saw it could be this funky, hip, artsy thing,” says Caruso.

Caruso grew up on a farm in Lyme, Connecticut which had originally been owned

by Will Sawyer. Sawyer was the only farmer in the state who never replaced his oxen with the tractor. In 1974, Matt’s father, Salvatore purchased Will’s land and called it Sunset Hill Farm. When Salvatore wasn't piloting planes for Delta Airlines, he was working the land.

The family kept an array of livestock and grew fruits and vegetables.

53 for surviving New England’s harsh winters.

“Matt once asked me where did I see myself in a few years; and I said, ‘I want to own my own vineyard one day.' So when this happened, I did not think twice. I closed my company, and we moved east,” says Moore, who now as Advertising works Director for TTPM in New York City during the week and at Sunset Hill Vineyard on the weekends.

Figuring out what grapes would grow best; what equipment was needed; how to plant, prune, and maintain the vines along with the harvesting, crushing, pressing, and racking required to make the actual wine, required a huge learning curve.

While on hiatus, Caruso ventured home to visit his family. Looking out over the land, he realized it was perfectly sited for a vineyard because of the sloping, sunny hill. Salvatore offered his son 2.5 of his twelve acres. In 2007, they planted Chardonnay, Cab Franc, and a hybrid grape called St. Croix, known

“But thank God we had help, and thank God for computers,” says Caruso.

Bruce Elfstrom, who owns an organic vineyard in East Haddam, advised the couple on their grape selection. Caruso also spent time working

on Elfstrom’s vineyard to understand what it entailed. Other help came from Larry McCulloch, a wine-making consultant and Wayne Stitzer who assessed the site and aided in establishing the vineyard.

“People always said it would be a lot of work, but I never understood how much,” says Caruso who dug 1700 holes so he could plant his 1700 vines, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. Once those 1700 vines were planted, they needed water.

“I used to walk every single vine with a hose singing “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper. I had

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55 it timed so when I reached a certain part in the song, I knew that was enough water.

Then I’d go to the next vine and sing the song again,” laughs Moore.

It took three years before the couple realized the fruits of their labor. In 2009 they did a small harvest and a larger one in 2010. By the fourth year, they attained full harvest capacity, and now produce and bottle about 250 to 350 cases annually inside a small, wooden barn on the property. This is a family run business.

Matt’s father and his mother Mary Ellen, who is also a children’s book author, pitch in along with his brother, David and his sister-in-law, Laurie.

“We try to do it as simple as possible. We often say, ‘The grape is the winemaker.’

We are just the stewards in between,” says Caruso.

But it’s been a long haul. Eighteen months before they were due to open, some residents expressed concern that the vineyard would become too large for the neighborhood in terms of traffic, noise, delivery trucks, etc. They feared the vineyard would expand by opening

us. We worked on those vines for seven years watching them grow, and we were almost unable to open because of this controversy,” says Moore.

In honor of the Lyme Art Colony that brought impressionist painting to the area in the late 1800s, and to give back to their community, Sunset Hill established their Artist Series labels, designed by local artists. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the wine benefits a charity selected by the artist.

Chester artist, Leif Nilsson was first to participate. He chose to donate to the Lyme

Art Association. Next year’s artist, Michael DesRosiers plans on giving to the art department at Lyme Consolidated School.

“The happiest thing is to know we are finally doing this. We had to sacrifice a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but we are very excited. There are times when we are having dinner with friends, drinking our own wine, and there is just no substitute,” says Moore.

Sunset Hill Vineyard is located at 5 Elys Ferry Road, Lyme.

To schedule an appointment to purchase wine or enjoy a tasting, contact (860) 598-9427 e-mail: matt@sunsethillvineyard.com donna@sunsethillvineyard.com Visit them online: www.sunsethillvineyard.com.

a café, hosting weddings, and welcoming bus tours. However that was never the intention.

Their goal has always been to stay true to their California roots by replicating what they loved most, which was meeting and talking with the winemakers, walking the vineyard, and tasting wine in a convivial setting. They want to remain small to give the visitor an intimate, enjoyable experience.

After going back and forth with local zoning and the state, Sunset Hill Vineyard is now officially open for sales and tastings by appointment Thursday – Sunday.

“This was our dream. It was almost taken from Matt Caruso and Donna Moore

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61 waiting tables, stuff was expensive,” says Seana. “I saw this farm table in a magazine, and I thought, I think I can make that.”

Seana Bill:

A Self-Taught Journey Back to Her Roots.

By Gina King

T

he pile of cut trees at the top of the dirt driveway are just waiting for custom woodworker Seana Bill to give them new life and handcraft them into one of her elegant pieces of furniture.

Seana was a teacher on track to teach physics and working on her Master’s in education in Baltimore City, Maryland when a quest to find good quality furniture on a student’s salary changed the course of her career. “I would buy all this furniture, and it would fall apart or bubble up if I got water on it. Being a student and

With a vision and motivation for lasting furniture driving her, she made the trip back to the family homestead in Lyme and built the first of what was to become many farm tables using her father’s woodworking tools and chestnut wood from an antique house. “I was hooked instantly.” After that she spent her weekends and vacations driving back to Connecticut to work in her father’s shop to make more furniture for her friends. “It was a tough decision to leave teaching. It took me a long time to figure out what to do.” Seana is self-taught and has been in business for herself designing and building furniture and custom cabinets for six years. She says she learns best by seeing a piece of wood or looking things up, while her physics background comes into play to help her problem solve on challenging design elements. “It’s always fun to come up with new ways to do things.”

Her woodworking shop is a charming old barn

Seana Bill in her Lyme studio/shop. Photos by Jeffery Lilly

next to a circa 1720 house that her dad built literally from the ground up using antique salvaged wood from all over the state. The little lights hanging from the barn's ceiling beams are left over from her wedding festivities two months ago. Where her tools and slabs of wood now stand was where the band played, as family and friends danced the night away kicking up sawdust.

One of the commission pieces she is working on for a customer who lives in Newport is a beautiful walnut desk with pull out drawers.“I love designing stuff,” says Seana. “It’s so great to design something either with a customer, or

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for them; I have come a long way in my abilities and design skills.” She invites potential customers to visit her workshop and look at the different types of wood and colors. The walnut she is using for the desk came from a local arborist and cut down trees. Seana likes to have a few different projects going at once, and this one-woman team can handle it just fine all on her own. She is also working on kitchen cabinets for another customer using sugar maple wood left over from fallen trees, and a cherry tree rescued from Hurricane Irene will be reborn again in a piece of furniture she is designing for another customer.

Her artistic work has become so well known that people call her when they take down a tree in their yard. One customer who is a fan of her wood masterpieces, wanted her to use an old walnut tree that had come down on her father’s property to make a piece of furniture as a remembrance of him. Seana uses local lumber and antique wood from homes and even wooden studs that are 200-300 years old.

“People appreciate true good craftsmanship

here in New England,” explains Seana. “If someone requests something, I will build it.”

To further her self-learning journey Seana taught herself to weld, which she incorporates as part of her design elements such as adding steel braces to coffee tables or metal brackets on desk legs. “It’s really endless as to what you can do; learning is forever,” says Seana. She puts her heart into her carpentry and is involved in every part of the woodworking process for her one of a kind furniture pieces or cabinets: picking out the type of wood, milling it into boards using the band sawmill on her family’s property, stacking the wood for drying, running the wood through a planer to flatten it out, cutting it, assembling the pieces, sanding, and finally applying finish using a tung oil varnish blend. “I am so grateful and fortunate to have this space,” says Seana.

“This is timeless stuff.”

She does feature some of her furniture in local stores such as Lori Warner Studio Gallery in Chester, Chalk Mercantile in Old Saybrook, and Fairhaven Furniture in New Haven; but she really likes to do commission pieces where she can engage with the customer and either work with them on a design, or draw from her artistic skills and build something they will cherish.

To say she grew up around woodworking watching her dad, Greg Bill, restore old homes and work with his hands, is an understatement. He remembers her helping him after school hauling slate up to the roof. Her dad has been working on the family house for 25 years, building it from the floor joists on up and out, using reclaimed lumber from other restored houses and fallen trees on the property. Now they compete for the use of his tools, which he has to go and retrieve from Seana’s barn workshop; but it gives him a chance to see what the latest project is she is working on. “Her business seems to be on the up swift,” says Greg; “a week doesn’t go by that she doesn’t get calls.”

The apple wandered a bit from the tree but then rolled back right under its mighty limbs.

“I love what I do to be up here in the woods,” says Seana. “I sit and have a cup of coffee, open the barn, and get ready with sanding.”

Seana Bill, Custom Cabinets & Furniture Email: SeanaBill@gmail.com Phone: (860) 575-1108 Web: seanabillcustomwoodworking.com

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Above photos of Seanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s craftsmanship courtesy Sean Bill

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Exxploring the philosophy of beautty at the Mystic y Museu u um of Art.

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Monte Cristo Cottage:

Dysfunctional Touchstone of American Theater

By Sharma Piersall / Photos by A. Vincent Scarano

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tanding in Ella O’Neill's bedroom at the Monte Cristo Cottage in New London fires up sympathy for the woman who inspired the character of Mary Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize winning play,“Long Day’s Journey Into Night.”

The windows, constructed to save money, are so low to the floor one would have to stoop down to capture a view, which barely seems worth the effort as one would be gazing mostly at the angled rooftop. It isn’t difficult to imagine Ella, the inspiration for Mary Tyrone and mother of Eugene O’Neill, pacing in the family home, properly bound in tidy Victorian clothing – suffocated not only by the confined living quarters, but by the demons of her addiction to morphine. The famed Monte Cristo Cottage in New London was the boyhood home of Eugene O’Neill, a place where reality and theatricality meet.

O’Neill’s well-known autobiographical play, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” revolves

largely around the living room of the Monte Cristo Cottage on Pequot Avenue, a home now owned by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

It is open for tours most of the year.The cottage includes replicated period clothing, costumes, and set designs throughout; the famous living room is painstakingly true to O’Neill’s specific stage design notes, down to the chairs – two of which are thought to be original to the family.The room is paneled, evincing a cabin-like warmth and intimacy to the space, which captures the optimistic rays of the morning sun.

As the afternoon shrinks to a close, the room becomes shrouded in darkness and fog, a metaphor in O’Neill’s play completed in 1942 and for which he was awarded a Pulitzer posthumously in 1957. O’Neill described the play in a letter to his wife as written “with deep pity and understanding and forgiveness for all the four Tyrones.”

“There really is no other place you can visit that is the true home and setting of a great piece of American literature – theater or otherwise,” said Robert Richter, a Eugene O’Neill scholar and author of “Dat Ole Davil Sea.”

Eugene O’Neill’s father, James O’Neill, was the dashing actor who made good money as the character Edmond Dantes in “The Count of Monte Cristo,” imparting the namesake of the cottage he bought and becoming the only home the family of a touring actor would know.

From 1900 to 1920, shortly before James

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interaction and dysfunction. He also has them read the play in the living room where they can witness his uncanny memory for the room in stage directions, given that he had been away from the home for two decades when he wrote it, remarked Dowling.

Eugene O’Neill was shaped by his summers in New London, influenced by the seaside locale and friendships as much as he was by the atmosphere created by the discovery of his mother’s morphine addiction after she tried to plunge into the Thames River to her death.

O’Neill, said Richter, belonged to a group of Bohemians who were known as the Second Story Club. They discussed literature and ideas in an apartment on Main Street, a roadway later named after him – Eugene O’Neill Drive – a renaming that was reportedly unpopular with the mayor at the time. Many locals focused on O’Neill’s penchant for the bottle rather than his reputation as the father of American theater and the third most translated playwright after Shakespeare and Shaw.

Visitors to the cottage, from all around the world, get a chance to witness the same moody environment that O’Neill experienced, including the enveloping fog that both

O’Neill’s death, the family spent nearly every summer at New London’s Monte Cristo Cottage. “Long Day’s Journey” is set in the year 1912. Yet James O’Neill, who came from humble Irish origins, could not part with his pennies as freely as he was able to afford. He raised the roof of the front parlor, dining room, and entrance to 11 feet 7 inches, creating a deceptively airy and gracious feeling to the house, given the pinched, darker quality of the upstairs.

Robert Dowling, a Eugene O’Neill scholar who has written four books on the playwright, likes to take his students from Central Connecticut State University to the cottage while they are studying O’Neill, allowing them to see and feel the way in which the cottage would enhance the family’s tragic circle of

71 desire to write about the house had been brewing for decades.

inspired and depressed a young O’Neill.“Fog is a big metaphor in the play for escaping reality,” said Anne Morgan, literary manager at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. She also noted the sea is a large part of O’Neill’s oeuvre.

“The house itself is very much at his emotional core as both a person and playwright; and it shows up in strange ways throughout his cannon,”said Dowling, noting that O’Neill’s

Tour guides will likely point out the odd spindles when going up the stairs, or the way in which the stairwell obscures the window – all construction shortcuts to save the actor money. Upstairs, low ceilings and cheap wallpaper, a faded floral design selected by the O’Neill Theater Center to echo the original, all add to a drab existence in the family living quarters.

For students and fans of O’Neill, witnessing the oddities of the cottage brings home some of the lines heard in “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” such as Mary Tyrone’s complaints of her husband’s skinflint tendencies.

For set designers and actors who make regular homages to the cottage, stepping into the historic cottage is invaluable .In the play, the characters are trapped in their life situations, a fate accentuated by the shrinking aspect of the

home. The play is purposeful in its progression from morning to midnight, forcefully thrusting that pain forward.

The Monte Cristo Cottage was sold in 1920 and put into auction, according to Morgan. It was then intermittently empty and rented until purchased in 1937, owned then by Dorothy

and Lawrence White. In 1971 it became a National Historic Landmark, and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center purchased it in 1974, granting Lawrence White occupancy.When White died in 1975, the theater center began fund raising for restorations. “It’s a crown

72 that O’Neill did not want “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” published until 25 years after his death; and he never wanted it produced. “It was such a personal play for him that he didn’t want to make it public while anyone was still alive to recognize it as autobiographical,” said Richter.

jewel for us; the cottage represents a direct link to our namesake,” said Preston Whiteway, executive director of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.

Both the home and New London were touchstones for O’Neill, who came to find the house and visit in the 1930s. He had difficulty locating it due to development; but once he did, he walked up the winding hill to the front door where he lost emotional capacity to knock and visit one last time.

“I think by returning as a writer to the setting of his work he was trying to come to terms with what his life was and what his family was,” observed Richter, remarking, like others,

As it turns out, O’Neill’s third wife, the glamorous actress, Carlotta Monterey had it published only three years after his death and approved the first performance in Sweden. “She wanted to be the steward of his artistic voice,” said Morgan of Carlotta’s decision to undercut O’Neill’s wishes. It was a wise decision, at least for audiences at large, as the play is one that resonates today, even with youth studying the work for the first time.

When Dowling’s students read the play in the famous living room, he said the effect is powerful.

“The ghost of the playwright is right there with you. It’s such a personal statement of his pain…to actually sit in the room, you feel a real communion with the guy and his family and their collective pain.

Frankly it’s brought my students to tears.”

Visit the Monte Cristo Cottage at 325 Pequot Avenue in New London Hours vary seasonally. Call (860) 443-0051 for specific information

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At the adjacent cheese-making plant, we were then introduced to production manager Chris Casiello and cheesemaker Matt Benham, two gentlemen largely responsible for the great cheese production we were soon to enjoy.

Afterward, we visited the actual dairy farm in Litchfield, but our trip was far from over. We headed back to Bantam where we enjoyed a great lunch at Arethusa a mano, the company’s lunch café where everything is made by hand.

Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Local Cheese and More at Arethusa Farms have seen a lot of farms in my day, but none compare with the overall beauty and cleanliness of Arethusa in Litchfield, CT. My wife and I spent a most enjoyable afternoon visiting there a couple of weeks ago. I would go so far as to call this magnificent place the Disney World of dairy farms.

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We were very fortunate to connect with Erin Hubbard, who was kind enough to offer us a tour of the facilities that day. We started with their exceptional ice cream shop, Arethusa Farm Dairy. You will find the best Ice cream ever here, made from simple ingredients: milk, cream, eggs, sugar and natural flavors. As their motto states, it “tastes like it used to be.” They offer chocolate, vanilla, coffee, mint chocolate chip, strawberry and other seasonal flavors.

My only regret of the day was that we could not stay to enjoy a fine dining experience at Arethusa al tavolo, their upscale restaurant. This establishment offers mouthwatering dishes like seared Berkshire Pork Tenderloin, wrapped in prosciutto, Nova Scotia Halibut, gently poached in olive oil and Rohan Duck Breast, lacquered with orange blossom honey. Need I say more?

Arethusa’s History Named after a local orchid, Arethusa started originated as a small dairy operation owned by the Webster family in the early 1900’s. With just a small herd of Guernsey cows, it grew its business and eventually became one of the first farms to use electric milking machines. With the addition of its own bottling plant, it was also one of the first farms to offer home delivery of milk. But by 1981, the changing economy had put an end to this service and they soon wholesaled to a dairy co-op.

The Story has a happy ending. George Malkemus and Anthony Yurgaitis, nearby property owners, discovered that the farm might be subject to development. So they knocked on the door and asked if they could purchase it. They promised to save the farmstead and agreed to revive the name Arethusa. The deal was made in 1999 and they held true to their promise.

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The re-established Arethusa soon acquired its own herd, along with purebred Holsteins and Jerseys. By 2004, these cows brought home top honors from prestigious shows around the world. One of their Holsteins, Melanie, was named Supreme Champion of the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin, and her Jersey mate Veronica won Reserved Supreme Champion. We actually met Veronica, who now lives the life of a famous purebred race horse in her own private pasture.

Did I mention that all 300+ cows have their own name, not just a number?

The Farm I noted earlier how well-kept the farm is. As we walked through the main barn, home to eighty head, we were pleasantly surprised by the overall conditions.

It was free of the barnyard-type odors typically associated with this kind of environment. And we found the barn floors extremely clean due to a twenty-four hour work staff.

Animals are treated as pets at this farm. An overhead ventilation system keeps the barn cool. I might add that the temperature was in the mid 90’s the day we visited, and we were very comfortable. Some cows feeling the heat more than others had individual fans placed near them. As if this is not enough, how about a huge shower stall where all cows have their tails shampooed each day before returning to their stalls?

dense paste makes Europa a great cheese for melting – on burgers, sandwiches, or a bowl of piping hot soup.

Farmer’s Cheese Bright, lightly tangy and utterly versatile. We dress ours up with raisins and a touch of maple syrup for a sweet treat, or toss it with pasta and fresh herbs for a simple, hearty meal. Whether sweet or savory, Arethusa Farmer’s Cheese provides the perfect canvas to let your creative side run wild.

Mt. Tom Inspired by the cheeses of the Swiss Alps and named for our own local alpine monolith (all 1,325 feet of it!), Mt. Tom is sweet and nutty with a light, mouthwatering tang.

Rotundo Our homage to the monastic cheeses of the French countryside, our Rotondo straddles the line between milky sweetness and all-out stink. With a sweet, tangy flavor and a nutty, lightly pungent aroma, Rotondo is assertive, but never aggressive.

Tapping Reeve Local lawyer Tapping Reeve formed the Litchfield Law School in the late 18th century, educating scores of politicians and justices who would go on to shape a fledgling nation. What better way to honor that legacy than with a cheese? We hit the history books and developed a savory Colonial-style cheese to please the most discerning connoisseur – past or present. Our Tapping Reeve is both sharp and refined, not unlike its namesake.

As with all cheeses, try to sample before you buy to ensure they are to your liking. I do believe that you, too, will find some new personal favorites.

Ice Cream and More The Cheeses I cannot tell you enough how pleased I am to find a local cheesemaker with such standout varieties of cheeses and qualities of taste. Here they are, as described

by Arethusa Farms: Arethusa Blue With Arethusa Blue, we sought to capture the rustic elegance of our favorite farmhouse blues from the British Isles. Chocolaty and toasty, sweet yet pleasantly salty, firm yet creamy, Arethusa Blue boasts a deep, multidimensional flavor.

Arethusa Diva This is a great cheese for the washed rind, French Munster lovers. The aroma is full and pungent but the finish is delightful. Try it with a nice dry cabernet.

Bella Bantam With the comforting aromas of fresh buttered popcorn, Bella Bantam is supple and creamy, making it the perfect snack time staple.

Camembert Whether served with crusty bread alongside your favorite midwinter soup or tucked in the picnic basket with a bottle of crisp white, our Camembert is truly a cheese for all occasions. Rich and buttery with a milky sweetness and subtle minerality, our Camembert is a surefire crowd-pleaser.

Crybaby We set out to make a Swiss-style cheese that was as at home on a cheese board as it was tucked in a ham sandwich. Meet Crybaby, so named for its multitude of tiny “eyes”. Crybaby features a subtle, nutty aroma, while still delivering that unique Swiss cheese bite.

Europa Our take on a classic Dutch Gouda, Europa features wispy aromas of butterscotch and toasted nuts that give way to a savory, brothy flavor. Its smooth,

In addition to all of Arethusa’s remarkable cheeses, many other products are available.

This includes butter, yogurts and a selection of assorted milks, including chocolate, coffee, egg nog and, of course, half & half for coffee. Last but not least is the great ice cream.

I will be bringing it in as soon as I can, but I have yet to make up my mind whether I will sell it or just keep it for personal use.

Arethusa Farms is a great place to visit. If you cannot make it for dining, try to at least stop by the ice cream store in Bantam for a waffle cone. You might be surprised by the line of people waiting.

I would like to thank Erin Hubbard for all of her help and time on our day at Arethusa Farms.

Arethusa Farm Dairy 822 Bantam Road, Bantam, CT 06759

Hear Paul discuss this topic and more the first Wednesday of every month on Talking Cheese, an iCRV talk radio show airing live at 9:00 am and re-airing at 2:00 and 7:00 pm the same day. Go to www.icrvradio.com to tune in.

Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop www.cheeseshopcenterbrook.com

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September 3, Essex The Cooper & Smith Gallery, in association with Lennon, Weinberg Inc., of NYC, presents Stephen Westfall in Perspective: A 15-Year Survey (2002 – 2016).

Stephen Westfall’s geometric abstractions, simultaneously exacting and unsettled, belong to a lineage of Minimalism that includes Frank Stella, Agnes Martin and Sol Lewitt. Westfall has received grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy of Arts and Letters,Starting Saturday, September 3rd, Photo courtesy of Lennon, Weinberg, Inc., New York. Cooper & Smith Gallery, September 7 - October 2 Ivoryton One of the world’s most popular musicals, Man of La Mancha, the “Impossible Dream” musical, is based on Cervantes’ masterpiece Don Quixote, and tells of the adventures of a mad, aging nobleman who embarrasses his respectable family by his adventures. Backed by his faithful sidekick Sancho Panza, he duels windmills and defends his perfect lady Dulcinea. At times both inspiring and thought provoking, the story is both very entertaining and very moving, and will warm the heart of everyone whose spirits were ever raised by the prospect of a victory by the underdog against all the odds. Winner of 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main Street, Ivoryton, CT 06442 info@ivorytonplayhouse.org Box Office Phone: 860.767.7318

September 8 Old Lyme The film is a portrait of the landscape painter Christian Brechneff. It shows his life today in America and Switzerland, painting in his Connecticut studio or high in the Swiss Alps in his beloved Engadin. It follows him as he travels from Basel, his home town, where he exhibits regularly, back and forth to New York, even to his wedding to another an America painter, Tim Lovejoy in a house up on the Connecticut River. Most touchingly, the film returns with him to the Greek island of Sifnos where he had a house and painted every year for some thirty years. It was the story of his time in this house, working and living there, that is basis for his book The Greek House which was the major inspiration for this film, and we voyage back there with him to revisit the village where he lived, the places he painted and the friends he had there. Thursday, September 8, 2016 SCREENING Limited Seating 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center 300 Main Street | Old Saybrook, Connecticut. RECEPTION AND EXHIBITION Featuring a selection of Christian Brechneff's oil paintings 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.The Cooley Gallery | 25 Lyme Street | Old Lyme, Connecticut September 10 & 11 Monroe 2016 Apple Festival. St Peter’s Annual Apple Festival is the perfect way to kick-off New England’s fabulous Fall season. It’s a community tradition you don’t want to miss. Every year on the first weekend after Labor Day, St Peter’s Church holds its annual Apple Festival. Craft vendors from all over the Northeast set up tents on the historical Monroe Green to sell everything from doll clothes to jewelry to woodcrafts. There are games for kids, tons of great food and baked goods, and apples, apples, apples! 10:00 am until 5:00 pm St Peters Church On the Monroe Green, 175 Old Tannery Rd, Monroe, CT www.stpetersonthegreen.com September 17 Madison Join Robertson Madison as they launch an exclusive collection of luxurious lounge and sleepwear by Paper Label. Paper Label’s “Sanctuary” collection is designed and developed in Vancouver BC, and until now was only available in Canada. Paper Label is changing the way women look and feel while at rest. Discover the soft supple breathable fabrics, the easy fit, drape and feel of the collection. You will see why so many women in Canada love this amazing product. Saturday September 17, 2016 12pm- 5pm: Robertson Madison LLC, 69 Wall Street, Madison, CT 06443 P:203-421-6799

September 8 – October 28 Westbrook “Seasons on the Shoreline” at the Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery at Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Medical Center. The exhibition features fine art quilts by members of Sisters in Cloth. Meet the artists at a reception on Thursday, September 15 from 6 – 8 p.m. The Gallery is open during regular business hours and is located at 250 Flat Rock Place, Westbrook, CT. For more information, contact Middlesex Hospital at 860-358-6200 or info@midhosp.org.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September 1 - October 10 Essex INVADERS! The Connecticut River Museum’s latest exhibit INVADERS: They come by Air, Land, and Water focuses on the impact that various invasive plant and animal species have had on the Connecticut River and its environs, told through fantastic artwork, specimens, and a videography among other means.

The exhibit will be accompanied by several related lectures throughout the summer. Through October 10, 2016. Museum admission $9- discounts availableConnecticut River Museum, 67 Main St. Essex, CT

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

82 September 17-18 Niantic Paper & Light by Shandell’s annual trunk show, presented by Artisan Framing & Gallery. Sept 17, 2016 10~4pm, Sept 18, 2016 10 ~ 4pm. Lampshades & more created from hand painted & marble papers.

Large selection of one ~ of ~ a ~ kind finials & papers available. Bring your lamp & have a custom shade designed.

Artisan Framing 293 Main St., Niantic, CT 06357 - 860.739.2286

September 17 Simsbury Simsbury Woman's Club's Arts and Crafts Festival. The Simsbury Woman's Club's 47th annual Arts and Crafts Festival will be held September 17 and 18 on Ironhorse Blvd in downtown Simsbury. There will be over 100 juried arts and crafts persons selling a broad selection of high quality items. The outdoor market will be open 10AM to 5PM both days. Parking and admission are free.

Simsbury, CT. Ironhorse Blvd, downtown Simsbury September 17 - November 18 Old Lyme New England Landscape Invitational – Society of CT Sculptors. Lyme Art Association member artists and select invited artists will be featured in this annual exhibition of landscape paintings from around New England. Works by the Society of CT Sculptors will be on view in all four galleries. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 to 5 pm, or by appointment. Admission is free but a $5 donation is suggested. Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT September 24 New London The Mark Mercier Band.

Hygienic Art is proud to present The Mark Mercier Band (members of Max Creek) to close out our summer concert series in the Art Park! Andre and Friends will open the show. Join us for the last outdoor concert of the season! Legendary Keyboard player and Vocalist for Max Creek and many other bands. Mark is not only a great musician, but a great person. Well known among his fans (with a loyal “Mark Side” following) he is one of musics finest. Max Creek are true pioneers of the electric rock jam, with four decades of experience launching musical adventures with a rich repertoire of originals and uniquely interpreted gems. Each set is a journey for audience and band alike, chasing muses without a net and bringing it all back home to the roots again. Hygienic Art Galleries, 79 Bank Street, New London, Connecticut 06320 860-443-8001 https://www.facebook.com September 24 New Canaan “Martin Kline: Painting and Sculpture” Exhibition Opening. Heather Gaudio Fine Art is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition “Martin Kline: Paintings and Sculpture” featuring a selection Kline’s new series of white paintings along with other encaustic work and sculpture. This is the artist’s first solo exhibition at the gallery which will run from September 17th to November 5th. The public is invited to attend an opening for the artist on Saturday, September 24th, from 57pm. Heather Gaudio Fine Art, 66 Elm Street, New Canaan, Connecticut 06840 (203) 801-9590 www.heathergaudiofineart.com

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September 29 & October 6 Old Lyme Lyme Art Association presents Joy Pepe and “Natural Wonders, the Images and Culture of the Hudson River School Painters” The Lyme Art Association, at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme Connecticut, is pleased to offer two art history presentations by Joy Pepe on the Hudson River School painters on Thursday, September 29 and Thursday, October 6, at 7 pm. Admission is $5 per lecture for members, $10 for prospective members. The Lyme Art Association offers these lectures as part of the focus on landscape painting during the fall New England Landscape Invitational Exhibition, on view September 2 to November 18. The talks will be accessible to anyone interested in art history – no special knowledge is expected or required. Joy says of the Hudson River School artists, “they painted views of landscapes in the emerging America of the mid-nineteenth century when the terrain still resonated with wildness, but was being encroached upon by an expanding population and increasing industry.” Joy M. Pepe is Professor Emerita of Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, where she developed the Art History curriculum, implemented an Art History Minor, and was chair of the Liberal Arts Department. She now gives popular lecture series on various art history topics throughout the state. Advance sign-up is encouraged; space is limited. Please call the LAA at 860-434-7802 or visit www.lymeartassociation.org for additional details.