ARTS + CULTURE
KISMET AND CURTAIN CALLS: DANIEL C. LEVINE’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FROM BROADWAY TO “BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD”
SPORTS + RECREATION
BREAKING THE ICE: RIDGEFIELD LIONS’ FIRST ALL-GIRLS HOCKEY TEAM DEBUTS, EMPOWERING YOUNG PLAYERS AND INSPIRING THE COMMUNITY
I don’t know about you, but this time of year I am always torn. I find myself torn between resisting the commercialization of another greeting card holiday and indulging in all the sweet excuses to enjoy the season.
Should we plan a Valentine’s Day date out, or opt for a cozy night at home? Buy a card, or simply speak a heartfelt word? I usually land somewhere in the middle. We’ll each arrive at different answers based on our preferences and personalities, but what we hold in common is an opportunity to make sure those around us know we love them. And regardless of how you choose to celebrate, we hope the pages of this month’s magazine will help you do just that as we celebrate and highlight what’s to love in your local community.
While we teeter between January’s winter chill and spring’s budding excitement, we hope you’ll be inspired to take a moment to come together with the people in your life. The ones in your home and on your street. In your neighborhood and your community.
“Love local” isn’t just about supporting local businesses—it’s about cherishing what’s close to you. Those under your own roof included. So grab a coffee and head home for a game night around the fire with the family. Or snag a bottle of wine and some cheese and indulge on a movie night in.
We’ve always believed what we can do together is so much more than what we can do apart. And we continue to see that demonstrated through the many stories told in these pages month after month.
Thanks for letting us be a part of the life you’re building, whatever that may look like. Our hope is that we inspire you to love it just a bit more than you did before.
Happy February!
BRUCE BERNSTEIN, PUBLISHER
February 2025
PUBLISHER
Bruce Bernstein | bruce.bernstein@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Katie Parry | katie.parry@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANT
Pam Antonacchio | pam.antonacchio@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jennifer Zarine Photography, Ashley Hutchings, Dirty Sugar Photography
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas Learn
Local
Victoria
914-669-5485
angelisad@salemgolfclub.org
www.salemgolfclub.org
Quiet Light Counseling is here to support you and your family in achieving a healthy and hopeful 2025! We provide therapy services focused on maternal and paternal mental health, supporting both new parents and those further along in their parenting journey. Our postpartum therapy groups for new mothers are available year-round. Quiet Light also provides couples counseling services to help partners strengthen communication and foster deeper intimacy in their relationships. Visit quietlightcounseling.com to learn more.
Carolyn Onorato began reFabjack as a whimsical Etsy shop, transforming vintage denim jackets and vintage treasures into wearable art. After dreaming of a physical storefront for years, reFabjack recently opened at 1 Bailey Avenue, just off of Main Street. Onorato creates one-of-a-kind pieces, sewing on vintage or new patches, beads, rhinestones, buttons, embroidery, or frayed denim onto vintage denim jackets. Stop by the store to see an ever-revolving treasure trove of vintage jewelry. Follow @reFabjack on Instagram!
Amanda Gabbard is a celebrity makeup artist, esthetician, and beauty educator based in NYC and Ridgefield, with over 20 years of experience in TV, film, and fashion. Featured in Vogue and Glamour, she has worked with renowned photographers, designers, and as an on-air beauty host. Known for enhancing natural beauty, her versatile techniques and approachable demeanor empower clients to embrace their unique features with confidence. Follow along @amandasgabbard on Instagram and visit amandagabbardbeauty.com to learn more.
Celebrating 60 Years of Dance
Offering courses in:
Parent and Child Classes Age 1-3
Pre-Ballet Classes Age 3 and up
Ballet
Contemporary
Hip Hop
Tap
Jazz
Modern
Adult Ballet
Adult Tap
To register, or for more informationon current classes, call 203.438.5597 or visit ridgefielddance.org.
Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 440 Main Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut
DANIEL C. LEVINE’S INSPIRING STORY
Daniel C. Levine’s journey to co-founding A.C.T. of CT is a serendipitous tale—so full of kismet, it could easily inspire a Broadway show.
Levine, who grew up outside of Boston, attended Brandeis University for his undergraduate degree, where he was a theater major… and a pre-med student. He then began his graduate studies at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. During his second year, he saw an ad in The Boston Globe for an open casting call. The role was for Marius in Les Misérables.
“I thought, I’m just going to go and see what happens,” Levine recalls. “I stood in line with over 1,500 other men all day, auditioned, and two weeks later, I was performing in the Broadway hit, Les Misérables.”
Over the next two decades, Levine would go on to perform in such Broadway blockbusters as Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, Mamma Mia!, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Little Shop of Horrors. He’d never heard of Ridgefield. Then, in 2012, while visiting his brother, who had recently moved to Redding, Levine discovered Ridgefield during a trip to Main Street with his niece and nephew.
“Ridgefield felt like a very welcoming, artistic, and creative community,” Levine reminisces. “I bought what I thought was going to be a weekend house here in town, then spent a couple of years renovating it. I started spending more time here and less time in NYC.” So much less time, in fact, that Levine began turning down auditions in favor of staying in Ridgefield. Not only did he want to stay here—he wanted to create theater here.
“I loved performing, but I really felt as though my passion was in creating and directing. Throughout my career, I was lucky to work with many incredible directors, including Jerry Zaks, who directed me in Little Shop of Horrors,” Levine tells us. “To be able to watch his process, how he spoke to actors, and brought his vision to fruition… it was a master class in itself.”
Levine goes on to explain how he would often stay behind after rehearsals or come early just to observe his directors in action.
“Stephen Schwartz also taught me a lot about directing. He played a big role in my career,” Levine says. “I knew that directing was something I wanted to explore but wasn’t really sure how.”
Ridgefield was officially designated as Connecticut’s first “Cultural District” in April 2021, though it has long been a haven for the arts. During World War II, Arturo Toscanini conducted here not once, but twice, in the auditorium of the-then Ridgefield High School. The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum opened in 1964, followed by the Ridgefield Theater Barn a year later. Then there’s Ridgefield Chorale, Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, nearly half a dozen dance studios, and, of course, The Ridgefield Playhouse.
The Playhouse opened in 2000, with Allison Stockel stepping in as Executive Director the following year. “I was very good friends with Allison, and she asked me to serve as artistic advisor for their Broadway & Cabaret series,” Levine tells us. “I directed one-night concert versions of Broadway shows. The shows would sell out so quickly, it made me realize there was an appetite in this town for professional theater.”
By “professional theater,” Levine is referring to theaters that employ performers who belong to the Actors’ Equity Association—the union for professional actors. All actors who work on Broadway, in Broadway national tours, and a select
number of regional theaters must be members of this union. Opening a theater for professional actors that self-produces and presents longer-running musicals—that was something Levine wanted to bring to Ridgefield.
Levine’s husband, Bryan Perri, boasts an impressive musical pedigree. A Broadway composer, music supervisor, orchestrator, arranger, music director, and conductor, Perri has worked on acclaimed productions like Wicked , Jagged Little Pill , and Almost Famous. In 2016, Levine reconnected with a Broadway colleague, Katie Diamond, in Ridgefield. Together, the trio began discussing the possibility of establishing a theater in the area. Shortly after, the three founders united to create A.C.T. of CT (A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut).
In addition to its Cultural District, Ridgefield was home to something quite different until 2005. Schlumberger, the world’s leading oilfield services provider, established the SchlumbergerDoll Research Center on Old Quarry Road in 1948. This corporate campus played a pivotal role in numerous technological breakthroughs during the second half of the 20th century. However, when the center relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2005, the property fell into disrepair.
“There was a town-appointed committee charged with figuring out what to do with the property,” Levine explains. “What they realized through a series of meetings, recommendations, and votes was that the community wanted it to be used for art and culture.” First Selectman Rudy Marconi wholeheartedly supported this vision. “Rudy is deeply committed to the arts and was very focused on helping make our town an arts hub,” Levine tells us.
The only problem? The Schlumberger-Doll Research Center was not a theater. It was a corporate research space with a
small auditorium—one that had asbestos and flood damage. Undeterred, the three co-founders hired theater professionals and formed A.C.T. of CT’s Board of Directors, staffing it with members who had vast theater experience, including in theater construction.
“One year from the day that we signed the lease to Schlumberger, we opened with our first production, Mamma Mia!,” Levine says, smiling. But it was very close, with the parking lot being paved and the walls painted one week before opening night. While Levine recalls feeling nervous, Ridgefielders showed up right away. “The entire run was sold out!”
The following year, A.C.T. of CT had another fantastic season, solidifying Levine’s supposition that Ridgefield craved professional theater. Then, like something out of Shakespearean times, Covid hit, shuttering all theaters. Levine and his co-founders tried to keep the spirits of community members afloat with virtual performances. Then, inspiration struck.
“We had a Stephen Schwartz series,” Levine tells us, referring to the lyricist and composer of Wicked fame—who also happens to live in Ridgefield. “The first year, we produced Stephen’s musical, Working. Following that, we put on Godspell . In 2020, we were supposed to produce Snapshots… but, of course, we had to cancel.” And while the Actors’ Equity Association restricted theater actors from working, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) did not. So A.C.T. worked with SAG actors, shooting Snapshots on location in Ridgefield as a feature film.
Levine’s movie version of Snapshots was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Musical Theater Album.” And once restrictions eased, it was clear Ridgefield’s appetite for “Broadway in Your Backyard” hadn’t diminished. “Audiences returned, and we have consistently been over 98% capacity. We’re so lucky to live and work in a community where the arts are considered vital to a thriving society,” Levine tells us.
Now in its 7th season, A.C.T. of CT opened in the fall with a successful run of Jersey Boys. Next, the curtain will rise on Fiddler on the Roof beginning February 6th. Following that, Few Words: A Dance Cycle—a brand-new production featuring original music by Bryan Perri—will debut on March 26th. Conceived and directed by Levine, the production will also showcase original choreography by four of Broadway’s most sought-after choreographers. The 2024–2025 season will conclude with a production of Waitress: The Musical , starting on May 29th.
On January 20th, Levine was honored with the Spirit of Dr. King Community Service Award, which recognizes a community member dedicated to giving back. “I care deeply about this community. It has done so much for me and for my organization that any time I can give back, I do,” he shares.
Levine’s commitment to Ridgefield is extraordinary. He has dedicated his time and talent to such organizations as Founders Hall, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, the Ridgefield Library, ROAR, Jane Doe No More, Compassionate Ridgefield, and SPHERE. He also served as a Commissioner on Ridgefield’s Conservation Commission for over six years and has been the recipient of the Arts Volunteer Award, the Dr. Henry C. Lee Award, and a Special Congressional Recognition from the 5th District.
So, what’s next? Levine is hard at work planning the 2025–2026 season. “I have a short list of shows that I’ve always wanted to produce, but it’s often challenging to obtain rights with licensing limitations. It’s a puzzle for me to put together the perfect season for audiences… but one I am always up for!” he tells us.
Another challenge? The lack of a secondary space for rehearsals. “One production has to be closed and loaded out before a new production can be loaded in and rehearsals can begin. I would love to run a show while simultaneously rehearsing a cast in a secondary space,” Levine explains. “And, of course, there’s the tricky issue of where to house our casts and crews—over 70 people per production—for weeks at a time during a show’s run.”
All these challenges require immense coordination, creativity, and resilience. “Despite the obstacles, there’s nothing quite like seeing it all come together—watching the cast, crew, and audience connect through the magic of live theater,” Levine reflects. “It’s a reminder that the hard work is worth it, because we’re creating something truly special. It’s an honor for me to be able to create theater for our remarkable community that I love so much.”
Visit actofct.org to learn more and purchase tickets for an upcoming show!
ARTICLE BY KATIE PARRY PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY HUTCHINGS
The Winter Garden Ice Arena opened on Prospect Ridge in 1975, introducing the Ridgefield Amateur Hockey Association (RAHA) Lions to the community. Now in its 50th year, RAHA has another reason to celebrate. Last August, coaches Melissa Miller and Ashley Trimble joined forces to form the very first all-girls Lions team. Growing up in Ottawa, Ontario, Trimble was destined to become a hockey player. Picking up the sport at age 4, Trimble went on to play prep hockey at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Reflecting on her journey, Trimble shares, “I was fortunate to play at the collegiate level at Manhattanville College,” where she earned All-American honors and competed in two NCAA National Championship games. After graduating, she transitioned into coaching and officiating but took a brief hiatus to focus on raising her young children. Then, in 2023, Trimble returned to the sport at Learn to Play in Brewster—this time with her daughters, Riley, 8, and Reece, 5, joining her on the ice.
Conversely, Miller spent her early years figure skating. “There weren’t girls’ leagues around back then, so I do wonder if I would have played hockey instead. The opportunity just wasn’t there,” she tells us. Then, like an inverted version of The Cutting Edge, Miller swapped her toe picks for hockey skates and never looked back. Now an elementary school teacher here in Ridgefield, she has two children in the RAHA travel program: 11-year-old Carson and 7-year-old Sloane. Hockey clearly runs in the family—Miller’s husband, who also grew up playing the sport, coaches Carson’s team.
“Carson played with the Lions, and Sloane became interested in playing too. She did a program called Learn to Play
through the New York Rangers,” Miller tells us. “I volunteered to help coach, and she kept saying to me, ‘Mom, I’m going to be a Lion’. So then I started thinking, OK, well, this is great—I want you to do these things! But I really didn’t see a place for just girls,” Miller explains.
RAHA is a tryout-based organization which hosts teams by age, starting with Mites (8 and under), Squirts (10 and under), Peewee (12 and under), Bantam (14 and under), and Midget (18 and under). Girls are encouraged to try out—and they do, knowing that if they make the team, the majority of their teammates will likely be boys.
“One of the things that drove me to start an all-girls team,” Miller tells us, “is that since my son started playing travel hockey, there’s always been a girl on his team. Only one girl.” Being the sole girl on a team of all boys—whether in the locker room during games or on overnight trips for tournaments—is something Miller was keenly aware of. “It was important for my daughter to have that social aspect of being around other girls with similar interests. She loves playing hockey. I don’t know if she would love it as much if she didn’t have the team camaraderie,” Miller adds.
Although women have been playing ice hockey for decades, their journey to reaching the sport’s upper echelons has been marked by stops and starts. Then, in 2023, hundreds of female players from Canada and the United States shattered a significant glass ceiling with the formation of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. The league introduced fair salaries and launched six teams: the Boston Fleet, the Minnesota Frost, the Montréal Victoire, the Ottawa Charge, the New York Sirens, and the Toronto Sceptres.
Fortuitous timing for the Ridgefield Lions. When a mutual friend introduced Miller to Trimble—on the soccer field, of all places— the two women immediately hit it off. “We just started talking, and it snowballed from there,” Trimble shares. Soon after, Riley and Reece joined Sloane as the first three members of the newly-formed team.
Miller, who is a RAHA board member, smiles as she admits she had a slight “in” to help get the ball rolling. “I brought this to the table and said an all-girls team is something I really want to do. RAHA gave me the support to make it a reality, providing ice time and tuition,” she tells us.
“If you build it, they will come. Girls want to play with all girls. And it’s a little hard to find that at this age.”
“I’ve tried to start girls’ programs in the past, and we haven’t had the support like we’ve had here. RAHA has been great,” Trimble says. Going on to reference Field of Dreams, she adds, “If you build it, they will come. Girls want to play with all girls. And it’s a little hard to find that at this age.”
Through word of mouth, planning, logistics, and perseverance, the team grew to 17 girls. On August 28th, RAHA’s inaugural all-girls Lions team took the ice for their very first practice together.
RAHA serves as a feeder program for girls’ varsity teams, including the Ridgefield Tigers, which currently features two players from Immaculate and one from Danbury. However, building an exceptionally strong team at that level has been an uphill battle—largely due to a lack of consistent support from the outset. Fostering team camaraderie from an early age is essential for retaining players and strengthening any sports program.
Now, when joining RAHA as a Mite, girls will have an opportunity that was previously unavailable to them. They can develop their love for the sport while also fostering that all-important team camaraderie from the very beginning. Miller and Trimble hope to see more girls join the program each year, eventually advancing the teams to Squirts, Peewee, and beyond.
“We’ve played over 15 games around the area, predominantly against coed teams. But as we get older, there will be more opportunities to play all-girls teams,” Miller tells us. “It’s been awesome, I love coaching with Ashley. The girls love it. It’s amazing to see how much they’ve improved in such a short amount of time because they’re having a good time. They’re practicing something they like!” Miller says enthusiastically.
“And they’re all little besties off the ice!” Trimble adds. “It’s fun. They’re from all different schools, all different towns. We’ve captured the local demographic.”
The inaugural all-girls Lions season wraps up in March. Be sure to stop by the Winter Garden to catch a game! Learn more by visiting ridgefieldhockey.org, and follow along on Instagram at @raha_girls_hockey and @ridgefieldhockey.
MEET LOCAL MOMPRENEURS MAKING THEIR MARK IN RIDGEFIELD AND BEYOND
ARTICLE BY KATIE PARRY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER ZARINE PHOTOGRAPHY
Victoria Baird founded Baird Design Co. in 2024, fulfilling a lifelong passion for architecture. “It’s funny how long it took me to realize I wanted to be an architect. Looking back, it seems so obvious—I’ve always loved design. As a kid, I would tear pages out of magazines to redesign rooms in our house, sketch over floor plans, and whenever I was on a construction site, I remember being captivated by the excitement of it all,” she shares. While studying art history in college, Baird deliberately avoided architecture courses, assuming they wouldn’t interest her. That all changed when she finally enrolled in American Architecture. “I was hooked,” Baird says with a smile.
Baird’s career has spanned a wide range of disciplines, including interior design, construction management, and both commercial and residential architecture. While she’s found joy in each area, Baird shares that her true passion lies in designing homes. “From the way they sit on a site and connect with nature to selecting the wallpaper and lighting inside, every detail is part of a larger puzzle to solve,” she explains.
Since moving to Ridgefield in 2020, Baird has become an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgefield Business Management Council.
Baird gathers inspiration all over town, saying, “One thing I’m struck by almost daily is how beautiful our town is. I love Ridgefield’s focus on preserving nature and history. It’s a great example of how we can be a vibrant, modern community while still respecting the past and honoring the elements that have made our town special for so long.”
Baird brings her passion for design to every client’s home, creating spaces that feel effortless, comfortable, and deeply personal.
Learn more at bairddesign.co. and @baird.design.co
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Dr. Brittny Howell is a board-certified vascular surgeon and the visionary founder of Morph Med Spa, which opened in August 2021. Her transition from corporate medicine to entrepreneurship reflects her passion for patient-first care and her desire to create a more meaningful practice.
“It felt like I never had enough time with patients, enough time at home, or was productive enough for the practice,” Dr. Howell recalls. Frustrated by such constraints, she decided to build something different. “I wanted to create a place where I was excited to come every day— and where my patients and team members felt the same.”
Morph Med Spa began as a practice focused on varicose vein treatments.
“Like I’ve metamorphosed in my adulthood, my practice has too,” Dr. Howell says. Today, at Morph Med Spa, Dr. Howell offers personalized medical programs, like hormone optimization, plus a suite of aesthetic and wellness services, including injectables and pelvic floor therapy.
“What I’ve learned is that my favorite part of doctoring is the patient-physician relationship,” Dr. Howell tells us. At Morph Med Spa, these relationships are central.
Dr. Howell, her husband, and their three children have called Ridgefield home for a decade. “I think Main Street is what most
people think of when they think about Ridgefield. But what I most love is the true feeling of community,” she tells us.
Beyond running her business, Dr. Howell serves as a Commissioner on the Economic and Community Development Council and as a Board Member at Ann’s Place. This year, she’s helping organize Ann’s Place’s annual fashion show supporting cancer survivors. The event will be on April 30th at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
Dr. Howell is also an advocate for local businesses, emphasizing how essential they are to our community and to Ridgefield’s unique character. “Supporting them—on Main Street and beyond—ensures our town continues to thrive,” she adds. Learn more at morphmedspa.com and @morphmedspa .
Ashley Hutchings began her journey in Ridgefield before living in Litchfield County, London, and New York City. With a passion for creativity, she embraced her artistic side after becoming a mother, founding MomUptown.com and @mom_uptown on Instagram. After years of being asked for social media advice, she launched InTown Social in 2023, a boutique marketing consultancy specializing in helping small businesses stand out in the digital world.
Initially working with clients in NYC and Connecticut, Hutchings has shifted her focus closer to home since moving back to Ridgefield. “I’ve concentrated on partnering with nearby
restaurants, schools, realtors, event companies, and more,” she says. “My passion lies in uplifting local businesses.”
InTown Social creates stunning, engaging content while fostering connections within the community. “In a small town like Ridgefield, our paths cross in so many ways. I love finding opportunities to support one another,” she explains.
Hutchings also extends this community-first ethos into her personal life, volunteering for two school boards, SCOR, the Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, and her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
Recently awarded the contract for the Ridgefield Commemorates America at 250 Committee, she’s excited to highlight upcoming events celebrating this historic milestone.
“It’s so special to raise my three children here,” Hutchings shares. “I love how passionate people are about preserving Ridgefield’s charm and supporting local businesses. I’m excited to see what pops up on Main Street next!”
Follow along @InTownSocial and @Mom_Uptown .
From an early age, Jenifer Johnson was captivated by the magic of “putting on a show”—how every element comes together to create an unforgettable experience. “That feeling of bringing something to life… that is what ignited my love for event production,” Johnson recalls. In 2017, Johnson and her husband discovered Ridgefield while house hunting. “It was love at first sight. We came for the house, but stayed for the magic,” she says. “Ridgefield feels like an artsy dreamland.”
After becoming a mother, Johnson found various ways to stay connected to event planning. “I wasn’t just a mom—I was a party-planning machine, determined to keep my imagination alive. Who knew balloon arches were so tricky?” she says with a laugh.
Then, in 2018, she founded the Ridgefield, CT Playdate Meetup Group, which became her creative playground and the launchpad for one of Ridgefield’s most beloved events—Princesses in the Park.
Johnson has worked on events for many local nonprofits, including the Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgebury Farms and Stables, the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, and the PTA at both Farmingville and East Ridge Middle School. “Planning events feels like directing a live performance, where guests become part of the story,”
she says. It was this passion that led her to start Sweet Bean Events in 2021 with her friend, Lisa Shaplen, a fellow Ridgefield mom.
Sweet Bean Events is a full-service agency specializing in weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, corporate events, and milestone celebrations. With thoughtful, creative design and exceptional attention to detail, they bring any vision to life, crafting personalized, unforgettable experiences that make each event unique.
But the event closest to her heart? Princesses in the Park. Months of planning go into this project. “Ridgefield, you’ve captured my heart, and I’m so grateful to be part of the magic you create every day.”
Learn more at sweetbeanevents.com and @sweetbeanevents.
Before becoming a therapist, Denise Santangelo practiced law as a litigator in New York. Despite her success, she felt unfulfilled. With her husband’s support, Santangelo returned to school while working full-time and raising two young children.
Now a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Connecticut and a PhD candidate in Psychology, Santangelo recalls falling in love with Ridgefield’s Main Street during her first visit in 2015. “The moment I saw it, I knew I had to live and work here,” she says.
In 2020, she realized that dream by opening SpireTHERAPY on Main Street. “During lockdowns, I provided essential mental health support as one of the only in-person therapists in the area,” she shares. Santangelo has since expanded to a team of seven therapists
offering individual therapy, groups, and workshops for children, teens, parents, and families, and dynamical neurofeedback as well. Its trademark-pending SpireMETHOD integrates individual, parent, and family therapy with a curriculum combining Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, and more.
“While Ridgefield does so much for younger children, I see opportunities to engage older adolescents and teens with initiatives fostering community involvement,” Santangelo says. “I hope to explore these ideas while building on SpireTHERAPY’s mission to support families navigating mental health challenges, including ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and depression.”
Santangelo also serves as Chair of the CT Counseling Association’s Western Chapter and works with the Ridgefield Prevention Council. “Through these local committees, I hope to create impactful opportunities for adolescents and families, fostering greater mental health support across Ridgefield and the surrounding community,” she says.
Looking ahead, SpireTHERAPY plans to open a second location this year and launch both a podcast and a YouTube channel. “We’re here to uplift children, parents, and entire families through tailored programs, workshops, and therapy rooted in understanding and compassion,” Santangelo shares with a smile.
Learn more at spiretherapy.com and @spireTHERAPYct.
FEBRUARY 2ND
Ridgefield Parks & Recreation | 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
Taste of Ridgefield lets you taste the offerings of over 20 local restaurants in the area—all under one roof!
The Rotary Club’s key fundraiser, Taste of Ridgefield offers two sessions: the first is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the second is 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 if purchased in advance, $55 at the gate. Learn more at ridgefieldrotary.org.
FEBRUARY 4TH
The New York Philharmonic String Quartet
The Ridgefield Playhouse | 7:30 PM
The New York Philharmonic String Quartet comprises four musicians: Concertmaster Frank Huang, Principal Second Violin Group Qianqian Li, Principal Viola Cynthia Phelps, and Principal Cello Carter Brey. Formed in January 2017 during the Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season, all four members have appeared as concerto soloists with the Philharmonic and in orchestras around the world. Purchase tickets by visiting ridgefieldplayhouse.org.
FEBRUARY 5TH
Lounsbury House | 10:00 AM
Lounsbury House and SOAR Together are delighted to announce the launch of “Grateful Gatherings with Flower Power,” a heartwarming and engaging community series filled with casual conversation, creativity, and compassion. Guests will enjoy relaxation and mindfulness in a beautiful setting with creative activities. A portion of bouquets to be delivered to SOAR targets, including local hospitals and nursing homes. Free to attend.
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FEBRUARY 6TH
Fiddler on the Roof Premieres at A.C.T. of Connecticut
A.C.T. of Connecticut | 7:00 PM
Fiddler on the Roof is a timeless musical masterpiece, with themes resonating as powerfully today as they did when the show first premiered. Exploring themes of family, identity, and the enduring power of love, resilience, and tradition, the production promises to be unique and visually stunning. Fiddler on the Roof runs 2/6 through 3/9. Purchase tickets by visiting actofct.org.
FEBRUARY 9TH
Bill Blagg’s Family Magic
The Ridgefield Playhouse | 11:00 AM
With over 60 minutes of nonstop fun, Family Magic is designed to entertain and engage audiences of all ages. Bill Blagg’s unique blend of comedy, audience participation, and mind-bending magic will keep you on the edge of your seat. Prepare to be amazed as ordinary objects come to life while others vanish in the blink of an eye! Purchase tickets at ridgefieldplayhouse.org
FEBRUARY 27TH
Behind the Headlines: The Evolution of Investigative Reporting
Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center’s Garden House | 7:00 PM
Explore the power of investigative journalism with Mike McIntire, reporter for The New York Times. Discover how investigative journalism shaped pivotal moments in American history, the vital role of holding power accountable, and current trends in the industry. A Ridgefield resident, McIntire is a member of the investigative unit at The Times. Visit keelertavernmuseum.org/events for tickets.
