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THE ‘I DO’ HOW-TO
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MAY/JUNE 2018 | $5.95
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GUIDE PLAY EXPLORE SAVOR MEET INDULGE MOVE
Make the most of summer!
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P E D I AT R I C S U R G E RY
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INVITATI O N S FO O D & D ES SERT D ESI G N & D ECO R ENTERTAIN M ENT STAFF & RENTALS
TALK TO O NE O F OUR PART Y PL ANNERS TO DAY | (203 ) 6 5 5 -207 7
CONTENTS MAY/JUNE 2018
A sophisticated space for entertaining
82 DEPARTMENTS
73 | Insider’s Guide
14 | EDITOR’S LETTER
More than fifty reasons to look forward to summer—from sidewalk sales and outdoor concerts to festivals and beach picnics.
YOUR POCKET WEDDING PLANNER WITH EXPERT BRYAN RAFANELLI
17 | STATUS REPORT BUZZ: Bankwell invests
40 | FINANCE FIX Surviving market volatility
43 | PEOPLE & PLACES
BY LIZ ANDERSON STEINKE
in community; Juliska’s new jewelry line
New Canaan Library; Star, Inc.; The Depot
82 | Elegant Interiors
SHOP: Gifts for Mom and Dad
65 | VOWS
At a stately residence reminiscent of an English country manor, Cobble Court Interiors owner Robert Rizzo creates a sophisticated yet welcoming space. BY MALIA MCKINNON FRAME
90 | Teen Anxiety
Today’s teens are under a lot of pressure. And when it gets to be too much, it can tip to debilitating anxiety and depression. We consult the experts on this generation’s unique risk. BY TIMOTHY DUMAS
GO: Travel traditions; Range Rover’s Velar
HOME: Susan MacLeod’s green design
DO: Talking with kids about #MeToo
EAT: Enjoy beloved classics at Louie’s; French wine
Barlow—Darrow Clark—Fortunato
68 | UP CLOSE New Canaan’s Mike Handler
101 | DON’T MISS THIS 108 | TRIBUTE Our founder, Jack Moffly
cover illustrations by kathleen godbold
NEW CANAAN • DARIEN & ROWAYTON MAY/JUNE 2018, VOL. 18, NO. 3. NEW CANAAN • DARIEN & ROWAYTON (ISSN 1942- 1028) is published bimonthly by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St., Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to NEW CANAAN, PO Box 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. U.S. subscription rates: $19.95/1 year (6 issues), $32.95/2 years. Canada and foreign: US $40/1 year, US $66/2 years.
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CLASSIC MEETS ULTRA-CHIC | NEW CANAAN
Built in 2011 on a sought after cul de sac with breathtaking views of Holly Pond & beyond. Perfect for entertaining with all the amenities. $7,900,000 | MLS #1700429301 | Deirdre McGovern & Team | 203.554.0897
Magical oasis on coveted Rosebrook Road, this sumptuous home on 2.3 acres is surrounded by private land owned by the NC Audubon Society. $3,398,000 | MLS#170050732 | April + Kelly | 203.966.3555
BETTER THAN NEW | NEW CANAAN
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Simple elegance centrally located in sought-after location. Custom built by Country Club Homes in 2014. Perfect for entertaining! $3,199,000 | MLS#170051129 | The Sigg Team | 203.966.3555
Sophistication, warmth & privacy. Beautiful gunite pool, landscaped yard, walk to village. 5 plus bedrooms, finished lower level. 55 min train to NYC. $1,895,000 | MLS#170045136 | Tammy Langalis | 203.644.2393
N E W C A N A A N 2 0 3 . 9 6 6 . 3 5 5 5 | D A R I E N 2 0 3 . 6 5 5 .1 4 2 3 | R O W A Y TO N 2 0 3 . 8 5 4 . 5 1 1 6
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On the go or online at home, you can easily access our coverage of interesting people, stylish finds and fashion, fun things to do, new restaurants and more. All the news is at newcanaandarienmag.com. See you there!
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Simply the
BEST Celebrating the finest of everything in Fairfield County
Winner, Best New Restaurant
2017-2018 INDEPENDENT SCHOOL GUIDE
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ilovefc.com the best of fairfield county living • published by moffly media
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PHOTOGRAPHS: EAT, GRAYBARNS BY NOAH FECKS; PEOPLE,LIGHT A FIRE BY MELANI LUST; COBBLECOURT BY STACY BASS; GO, JETSMARTER, CONTRIBUTED; SHOP, TO AND FROM NAILS, CONTRIBUTED; BUZZ. WOLF + FRIENDS BY KRISTIN CHAMERS
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VOL. 18 NO. 3
MAY/JUNE 2018
creative director Amy Vischio
editorial executive editor Cristin Marandino acting editor Kathryn Satterfield market editor Megan Gagnon advisory editor Donna Moffly assistant editor Colleen Crowley
MEGAN GAGNON
On Fridays and Saturdays, baker Rob VanKeuren sells sourdough loaves and fresh pastries at GrayBarns. Devotees line up at 10 a.m. to buy the artisinal treats.
contributors
DIANE SEMBROT
Everyone knows to take the kids to Brendan’s 101 for ice cream, but it also has good food for Mom and Dad. Try the lobster roll. Maybe ask Brendan to play— he’s a musician.
editors Camilla A. Herrera — Editor, Stamford Diane Sembrot — Editor, Fairfield Living and Westport contributing editor Kathryn Satterfield writers Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Timothy Dumas, Kim-Marie Evans Malia McKinnon Frame, Chris Hodenfield, Elizabeth Keyser, Liz Anderson Steinke copy editor Terry Christofferson
editorial advisory board Robert Doran, Sue Frelinghuysen, David Genovese, Nancy Helle, Claire Hunter, Robyn Kammerer, Rita Kirby, George McEvoy, Julianna Spain, Amy Wilkinson, Torrance York
art
art director Paula Winicur senior art director Venera Alexandrova senior art director/status report Garvin Burke contributing art directors Katie DeFlorio Conte, Westport; Holly Keeperman, Custom contributing photographers Moffly Media’s Big Picture, Stacy Bass, Julie Bidwell, Neil Landino, Melani Lust production director Kerri Rak
digital
digital media manager Amber Scinto
digital editor Diane Sembrot
sales & marketing publisher Lisa Hingst
sales directors regional travel: Stephanie Delaney — Stephanie.Delaney@Moffly.com fashion/beauty: Monique deBoer — Monique.deBoer@Moffly.com doctors/dentists/finance/insurance/business consulting: Jennifer Frank — Jennifer.Frank@Moffly.com schools & education: Hilary Hotchkiss — Hilary.Hotchkiss@Moffly.com real estate/lawyers: Rick Johnson — Rick.Johnson@Moffly.com restaurants, wine & spirits, catering: Ellyn Weitzman — Ellyn.Weitzman@Moffly.com jewelry: Jennifer Petersen — Jennifer.Petersen@Moffly.com advertising opportunities and web coordinator: Lauren Stevens — Lauren.Stevens@Moffly.com executive director, event marketing Laurinda Finelli director, event marketing Caroline C. Steber partnership manager Kathleen Godbold event coordinator Alexandra Pemberton strategic marketing director Wendy Horwitz creative services art director Molly Cottingham
business
president Jonathan W. Moffly vice president/editorial & design Amy Vischio vice president/ finance & operations/sales & marketing Brian R. Feidt vice president/treasurer Elena Moffly founder John W. Moffly IV founder & editorial advisor Donna C. Moffly
HILARY HOTCHKISS
Found, in New Canaan, has unique items and furniture that work with any decor. There’s always something fresh to add to your home.
DONNA MOFFLY
These days, when most restaurants are so noisy that people can’t talk to each other, it’s a treat to laugh with friends over a hot game of Trivial Pursuit at the Center Street Public House in Darien. There’s a fat deck of cards on every table.
published by FAIRFIELD LIVING, GREENWICH, NEW CANAAN • DARIEN, STAMFORD, WESTPORT and ATHOME magazines
205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880 phone: 203-222-0600 fax: 203-222-0937 Mail@MofflyMedia.com TO SUBSCRIBE, renew, or change your address, please email us at subscribe@ncdmag.com, call 1-877-467-1735, or write to New Canann - Darien magazine, 111 Corporate Drive, Big Sandy, TX 75755. U.S. subscription rates: $19.95/1 year (6 issues); $32.95/2 years (12 issues). Canada and foreign, US $40/1 year and US $66/2 years. Prices are subject to change without notice. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without express permission of the publisher. ©2018 New Canaan - Darien magazine is a registered trademark owned by Moffly Media. The opinions expressed by writers commissioned for articles published by New Canaan - Darien are not necessarily those of the magazine. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, please call 203-571-1655 or email advertise@mofflymedia.com. FOR CUSTOM REPRINTS/E-PRINTS, please call 203-571-1645 or email reprints@mofflymedia.com 12
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BAGUETTE: © NILSZ-STOCK.ADOBE.COM; ICE CREAM: © DESIGNSSTOCK-STOCK.ADOBE.COM; WAVENY: MELANI LUST; DOG: © RENE-STOCK.ADOBE.COM; CARDS: © NIKOLAY N. ANTONOVSTOCK.ADOBE.COM
sales management publisher, stamford: Karen Kelly — Karen.Kelly@Moffly.com publisher, greenwich: Trish Kirsch — Trish.Kirsch@Moffly.com publisher, westport: Gabriella Mays — Gabriella.Mays@Moffly.com
LISA HINGST
The dog parks in Rowayton and New Canaan... probably the nicest ones of their kind. The one in New Canaan is especially scenic, situated in Waveny Park.
PAULA WINICUR
Our towns offer so many wonderful public outdoor spaces, like Irwin Park, Waveny, and the New Canaan Land Trust properties. I love exploring them and finding new hidden gems.
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EDITOR’S Letter
KATHRYN SATTERFIELD
Sail into Summer AS THIS MAGAZINE GOES TO PRESS, WE
To illustrate our cover and the Insider’s Guide, art director Paula Winicur turned to our own Kathleen Godbold—partnership manager by day, intrepid artist by night. Many thanks to the multitalented Kathleen, for adding just the right touch!
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continue to have unusually cold weather. But sunny yellow daffodils and deep pink tulips have pushed up through the ground, an almost defiant reminder that summer is practically here. Rising temperatures and longer days mean more down time, which for kids can get boring very quickly. And it’s up to parents to fill this time with fun and interesting activities. Our cover story, “The Insider’s Guide” (page 73), is chockfull of things to do with—and without—the kids. While working on the piece, Darien writer Liz Anderson Steinke was reminded of the myriad reasons she loves living in the area, not the least of which is being in close proximity to the water and our rich history. She tells us she enjoyed “playing tourist.” (In Darien, you can visit several sites that saw action during the Revolutionary War, and your tween might like to know that the sites appear in the young adult adventure novel Tory Hole). Liz gives us over fifty great ways to make the most of summer here. Also in this issue, we tour a manor from another era. Ivy covered walls, whitewashed brick exterior and an elegant interior are all whimsically juxtaposed with touches that showcase the owners’ impeccable sense
of style. In “Lasting Impressions” on page 82, Robert Rizzo, owner of Cobble Court Interiors, gives us an insider look at how he helped transform the space into an idyllic place to relax with family and friends. Finally, we take on the more serious topic of the social-media generation. Today’s teenagers seem to know how to do almost everything except relax. “The Anxious Generation” (page 90) by Timothy Dumas explores the recent surge in anxiety among teens. About 25.1 percent of youths 13 to 18 presently suffer from anxiety disorders. Tim talks to local teens and mental health experts and no surprise, the ever-present, ever-changing buzz of technology is partially to blame. The article also provides parents with information on what to look for and ways to support a teen in crisis. The good news: Most types of anxiety are fairly easy to treat. Now sit back, take a breath. Summer will be here before we know it.
kathy.satterfield@moffly.com
HEY, CANCER. NOW IT’S TWO AGAINST ONE. MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING PHYSICIANS NOW AT NORWALK HOSPITAL
United against cancer. Now, Memorial Sloan Kettering medical and radiation
oncologists are onsite at Norwalk Hospital — leading and delivering team-based care alongside Norwalk Hospital’s own cancer experts. It’s a powerful collaboration that
offers both advanced science and highly personalized care. And, for patients, that adds up to more than a fighting chance. For more information, visit MSKatNorwalk.org.
Sophisticated Brilliance IN AR CHI TE CTU R AL G LAS S
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S ER V I N G C ON N EC T I C U T A N D N EW Y OR K H O M E O W NE RS, C OR P OR A T E A N D C OMMER C I A L C L I EN T S F O R O V E R 50 Y E A RS. C A L L 2 0 3 -8 0 3 -2 3 4 0 A N D B E S U R E T O V I SI T O U R A RC H I TE C TU RA L G L A S S S H OWR OOM A T A MER I C A N F R A ME L E SS.C O M / SH O W RO O M
BUZZ status report
CIVIC LEADER
Neighbor Good
Bankwell CEO Chris Gruseke believes
that the best returns come from community investments
A
s CEO of Bankwell and a longtime New Canaan resident, CHRIS GRUSEKE’S philosophy is that community banks should support their communities. He has been at the helm of Bankwell for a little over three years since it went public, loves the small-town banking business and is passionate about helping others. Bankwell has nine branches throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties and will be opening three new branches, including one in Darien, this spring. We caught up with Chris recently to find out more about his company’s commitment to the local community, as well as those who are farther away.
How did Bankwell get its start, and what’s your professional background? A group of us got together and started The Bank of New Canaan in 2002. Then, we opened another bank in Fairfield and later folded the two banks together. I’ve been CEO of Bankwell for more than three years since it went public. I’ve spent most of my career in investment
banking, also serving as COO for Greenwich Capital for three years. I studied for a couple of semesters at Yale Divinity School and General Theological Seminary and was a chaplain at Greenwich Hospital for a time. What do you find most rewarding about your work with Bankwell? It’s great to run a public company »
Chris Gruseke
MAY/JUNE 2018 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN
17
BUZZ
What is the bank’s philosophy about community initiatives? Since the bank’s founding, part of our mission has been to give back to the communities we serve. We go beyond just writing a check. We’re aware of local and regional issues, and we do our best to develop and customize partnerships with neighborhood organizations so that we can provide value in meaningful ways. Why is giving back a priority for Bankwell? It’s like breathing the air around you—I can’t imagine it any other way. If you know you’re part of the fabric of
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the community, then it’s your responsibility to give back. When we started as The Bank of New Canaan, the founders were residents who were involved in town and wanted to be good corporate citizens. This is good for business, but it’s also the right thing to do. We are local business owners who do business with local business owners, so if our neighbors don’t do well, neither do we. What are some of the ways that Bankwell helps in the community? We are actively involved with more than 200 organizations each year through volunteering or mentoring, or by providing financial support. As a service to the community at large, we provide informational and educational seminars. Although we support groups like local chambers, libraries and the arts and environmental organizations, our main area of focus is providing support for the underserved. We’re very involved with companies that support health and human services, including education, jobs and children in need. What sponsorship initiatives mean the
most to you? Right now, my favorite is the Rams Foundation Council. We’re a major sponsor of this substance-free group at New Canaan High School, founded by substance counselor Joyce Sixsmith, and I periodically attend and speak at the parent-student meetings. Bankwell also helped bring this program to Wilton. The Maritime Aquarium is another program I love. We have a longstanding partnership with them and support their Children’s Opportunity Fund, which provides financial aid for children to visit the aquarium. Another example is the Fairfield Theatre Company. I initiated our sponsorship of this organization, which entertains over 70,000 patrons each year. We love to support the arts, and this venture helps the greater community. Can you elaborate on some of Bankwell’s other philanthropies? We’ve partnered with the Glass House over the last few years to create New Canaan Community Days, when residents can attend tours of this historical site for free. Other programs include a winter coat drive with
left to right: Special deliveries of supplies to the Humane Society and food to the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk; Bankwell is a sponsor of The Depot’s winter fundraiser.
Person-to-Person, and fundraising for the Tiny Miracles Foundation, both in Darien. We’ve just completed a food drive throughout our branches to stock the Open Door Shelter’s food pantry in Norwalk, and we donate to the Connecticut Food Bank. We are a major sponsor of the Darien Depot’s winter fundraiser and have just established the first annual “Bankwell for Good Scholarship” that will be awarded to a high school student member of The Depot for his or her charity work. For the Inspirica shelter in Stamford, we run a holiday children’s gift collection each year. Bankwell also supports Filling in the Blanks’ fall backpack program, and Bankwell staff members volunteer at their food packing events. Can you talk about the Bankwell For Good annual employee award? This award is granted to the employee who is living out the Bankwell “give
back” values. If you want to create a positive culture, you need to highlight the good things about it. This award celebrates the people who take time to get really involved and demonstrate good citizenship. Does your outreach extend past CT borders? Yes. After hurricanes Harvey and Irma affected Houston and the Keys respectively, we accepted donations from our employees and matched them. I found a small bank in Houston that had been affected, flew down there and presented them with a donation. We are in the process of doing the same for a bank in the Keys. These donations aren’t a huge amount, but they are a heartfelt way to show others we care. Not only do we want our employees to be proud of where they work, but we want to be a place where it’s in everyone’s nature to help others. —Malia McKinnon Frame
For more information, go to mybankwell.com
CONTRIBUTED
that has its roots in the community. Talking with my investors and visiting other businesses to see what they do in Fairfield County really appeals to me. Bankwell has a strong performance and culture, and we’ve been recognized by several national organizations as a high performer. Last year, Standard and Poor’s Global Market Intelligence named us one of the “Top 100 Best-Performing Community Banks” in the country.
LIVE BOLD We all have passion. And passion springs from inspiration, which begins with your surroundings. That’s what home is. Family. Friends. History. An amazing view. ATMOSPHERE. Art. It’s what makes a space a home — because home is where you truly L I V E .
wi l l i amp itt.co m DARI E N & ROWAY TON BROKERAG ES Pro p er t i es Featu re d: 52 Do rc h este r Roa d Da r ie n, CT | 106 Pea r Tre e Po int Road Darien, CT Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
SHOP
status report
LOCAL GIFTS FOR MOM & DAD
produced by megan gagnon
Give Big. Shop Small
Celebrate MOM and DAD with gift ideas from some of our local favorites
FOR HER / Master Mother’s Day by choosing a gift that’s as special as she is. FOR THE BOTANIST
FOR THE ATHLETE
FOR THE PLANNER
FOR THE FASHIONISTA
“Oh, this bouquet?” she says. “I just threw it together with some fresh blooms from my garden.”
She’s tried everything from Bikram to barre and is always at the top of her spin class.
Just about anything you’d ever need is either in her car or in her handbag.
Her advice and wisdom are matched only by her style savvy.
“Flowering and foliage houseplants have made a big comeback. For the mother with a green thumb, orchids and myrtle topiaries continue to top the most popular list, with stephanotis, jasmine, citrus trees, and staghorn ferns and fiddle-leaf fig trees following a close second.”
NANCY KLINE GORKIN OWNER, EARTH GARDEN, NEW CANAAN
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“Class packs make a great gift and we love to see mothers and daughters come to take class together. We also have a chic selection of gear including our favorite on-trend high waisted leggings, soft and pretty Beyond Yoga tops to wear to and from class, and limited edition
Liberty London print S’well bottles.”
“In addition to our racks and racks of spring dresses and cover-ups, we love these umbrellas by Rainstoppers. We have floral and butterfly prints with colors that come to life when wet, making a rainy day a little more fun.”
“The new See by Chloé laser cut espadrilles will make any mom feel beautiful. They're the perfect summer shoe to pair with denim, dresses or skirts.”
KRISTIN McCLUTCHY OWNER, PURE BARRE, DARIEN
ROSEY COSTELLO OWNER, EVERYTHING IS ROSEY, DARIEN
LESLIE ZEITLIN GENERAL MANAGER, SHOES 'N' MORE, NEW CANAAN
Soleil Toile Fine Lingerie & Swimwear
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14 POST ROAD EAST • WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT • 203.454.8688 44 ELM STREET • NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT • 203.966.2887
2 0 1 7
SHOP
Give Big. Shop Small FOR HIM / Think outside the (tie) box for Father’s Day FOR THE SAILOR
FOR THE OUTDOORSMAN
FOR THE SENTIMENTALIST
FOR THE COLLECTOR
...or fisherman. If he’s off the clock, he’s on a boat.
If you need him, he’ll be outside, enjoying the warm sun with a cold drink.
He saves everything, from his little league baseball mitt to concert T-shirts .
His closet and taste only get better with age.
“Costa Del Mar builds the clearest sunglasses on the planet for those who live to be on the water and this style shows off the polarized lenses in a retro frame. Pair them with pieces from our large selection of gear and Dad is ready for his own adventure.
“Our Adirondack chairs, handmade with 100% recycled poly lumber by Amish craftsmen from Pennsylvania, have a reputation for being the most comfortable. They’re built for all weather and come in a variety of colors to create a custom look.”
“There is nothing more personal than being able to present and preserve your most cherished memories. A shadowbox , like this one with souvenirs from the 1948 Olympics, puts your treasured keepsakes on display.”
MICHAEL LA SCALA VP SALES AND MARKETING, THE DOCK SHOP, DARIEN
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CHRIS & BETH MEIER OWNERS, AGAINST THE GRAIN, NEW CANAAN
TOM GEARY OWNER, GEARY GALLERY, DARIEN
“The gift of a Rolex watch is a perfect way to honor your dad on Father’s Day. The GMT-Master II, in stainless steel with blue and black bezel, makes for a handsome timepiece.”
KIMBERLY LA DU OWNER, MANFREDI JEWELS, NEW CANAAN
Where fashion gets personal. WESTPORT • DARIEN
GO
status report
GRANDPARENT/GRANDCHILD TRAVEL • RANGE ROVER VELAR
Grand TRIPS And by grand we mean grandparents and grandkids
T
he first time I crossed a jet bridge, my grandmother was by my side. The year was 1977, I had never been on a plane. The airline was Hughes Airwest, the planes were banana yellow and the flight attendants were groovy. From that moment on I was hooked; travel was in my soul. Our founding editor, Donna Moffly, also fell in love with fabulous hotels at the knee of her grandmother. In order to cure her sinuses, her grandmother whisked fiveyear-old Donna off to Arizona
left: Hughes Airwest “The Big Banana” from the 1970s. above: little Donna Clegg with her grandmother in front of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, 1941
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INSPIRED TO PLAN A GRAND TRIP OF YOUR OWN?
TIPS FROM THOSE WHO’VE BEEN THERE
1
If you’re traveling internationally, get a notarized consent-totravel letter signed by both parents. You won’t always be asked to show it, but you never want to be without it. Even for domestic travel, it’s best to have a notarized letter authorizing you to seek medical care for the child.
Five-year-old Donna with Doc Pardi • Donna atop Chubby
for a monthlong stay. They bunked at the Biltmore (natch), and a dashing gentleman named Doc Pardi delivered a pony to the door of the hotel for young Donna daily. Perhaps it’s because of memories like these that today’s grandparents have created an entire category of travel all their own. Multigenerational travel has been a top trend for the past five years according to Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel agencies. Though some trips include grown children, many are what the industry has coined “Skip-Gen.” Mom and Dad are left at home while Grandma and Grandpa get a chance to make lifelong memories with the grandkids. Some grandparents set a certain age for the magical trip, giving kids (and parents) something to look forward to and plan. Others tie the 26
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trip to a milestone. And a few hardy souls make it an annual excursion. Julia O’Brian of Tauck Tours, based in nearby Wilton, spoke with us about Bridges Tours, designed specifically to meet the unique needs of multigenerational travelers. She tells us that each Bridges journey is crafted around a philosophy of shared enrichment, where family members of different generations build bonds (or bridges) by experiencing the wonders of travel together. These trips don’t include a lot of kids-only or adults-only activities. Instead, adults and children share in sightseeing, activities and the discovery of each destination. She says that about two-thirds of these tours include grandparents, allowing them to hand over all of the planning to the experts and simply enjoy special time with the grandkids.
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Be sure to have a copy of the insurance cards and the pediatrician’s phone number.
Don’t be outnumbered; multiple kids are harder to manage. Keep it one-on-one for optimal bonding. Grandparent survey says that the best age for travel is between nine and fourteen. Old enough to appreciate it, young enough to not have completely mastered the eye roll.
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Set a budget for souvenirs ahead of time. This will keep the negotiations at every shop along the way to a minimum. Find out what bedtime rules are implemented at home and have the children stick to them on the trip.
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Last but not least, agree with the child ahead of time about digital device usage and your willingness to be the subject of their daily SnapChat story.
Rest easy.
NY Bus. Reg. # 08690 • CT Bus. Reg. # B-1086 • NJ Bus. Reg. # 98083A
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GO
Elegant Bruiser Range Rover’s Velar hits the sweet spot
R
ange Rover knows what you really want, and with the new Velar you get it in a hellacious helping. It’s a heartbreakingly stylish ride that happens to look so tough you expect a squad of commandos to break out of it. At the same time, it just reeks of luxury. That’s some combination.
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screen handles navigation and audio, the lower does the climate and other yeoman duties. Some customers will zip through these screens like they would their smartphone. Others might take longer to adapt. The lightweight aluminum chassis helps make this rakish bruiser a fine handler. The air suspension turns sharp potholes into vague shadows that you roll past. Passengers will feel like pashas borne aloft on clouds. There are five trim levels, starting out with relative “econo” models powered RANGE ROVER by either a VELAR P380 You probably won’t workhorse fourscale mountain walls cylinder or a Base Price: in it, like they do in diesel, starting at $65,000 the commercials, but $50,900. You’d Drivetrain: homeowners along probably prefer 3.0-LITER V6, the Connecticut coast the muscular V6 SUPERCHARGED, might be impressed that 380 HORSEPOWER, edition. If zany it’s capable of fording 4WD hyper-power is two feet of water. desired, wait for EPA Mileage The Velar provides Rating: the upcoming sumptuous seating for 18 CITY/ 24 SVR model with four adults. It is way HIGHWAY its supercharged, smaller than the big542-horsepower gun Discovery model, V8, intended and just enough smaller to compete with the German than the Sport model to give bullies down the block. it around-town friendliness. All Velars come standard The ultra-sleek flash with a sliding, panoramic aesthetics continue inside glass roof. And all Velars with a dashboard that belongs have the look that recalls the in a museum for modern British gentleman’s school of style. There are almost no toughness: The iron fist in a buttons! Replacing these are velvet glove. two display screens; the upper —Chris Hodenfield
2018 RANGE ROVER VELAR
TAKE CENTER STAGE WITH EVERY TURN
MSRP FROM $49,900 * Some prefer to listen to their heads, others their hearts. With the New Range Rover Velar, you have the luxury of listening to both. Your head tells you it's a Land Rover vehicle with legendary go-anywhere capability. Then take a look at the stunning exterior silhouette, the perfect waistline with flush deployable door handles and optional burnished copper details. Now listen. That's the sound of your heart racing. Land Rover Darien 1335 Boston Post Road Darien, CT 06820 866-217-4112 www.landroverdarien.com
European model shown: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE with optional equipment. *Price shown is Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for the 2018 Range Rover Velar. Excludes $795 destination/ handling charge, tax, title, license, and retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. See Land Rover Darien or call 866-217-4112 for details. Š 2017 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.
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status report BY MALIA MCKINNON FRAME
SUSAN MACLEOD’S ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGNS
Green Room The future of design is all about clean interiors and educated consumers—make a beautiful statement without a big footprint
S
USAN MACLEOD is on a mission to
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A sisal area rug is the natural choice.
SUSAN MACLEOD’S TIPS TO MAKE YOUR SURROUNDINGS MORE ECO-FRIENDLY
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RUGS AND CARPETING MacLeod doesn’t recommend wall-to-wall carpeting, as it’s often made of synthetic materials or treated with toxic flame retardants. “If you’re chemical-sensitive, emissions from newly installed carpeting
may cause headaches, dizziness or nausea,” she says. Instead, opt for natural fiber rugs made of wool, cotton, jute or sisal. MacLeod loves rugs from Merida because of their inventive designs and their commitment to ensuring that all production is free of child labor. »
Interior designer Susan MacLeod
NEIL LANDINO, JR.
help her clients create beautiful yet sustainable interiors that are hypoallergenic. After the Rowayton-based interior designer suffered an allergic reaction to a rug she installed in her own home, she did some research and was shocked to discover that everyday items like furniture, paints, carpeting and fabrics may contain volatile organic compounds. These VOCs can emit harmful vapors into the air and over time may cause long-term health problems including asthma and other serious illnesses. “There needs to be transparency in the furniture supply chain, which will help reduce harmful chemicals used in manufacturing and provide consumers with more environmentally safe furnishings,” says MacLeod, who recently received her certification as a Green Accredited Professional from the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC sustainablefurnishings.org/). The designer explains that eco-friendly interiors are becoming more accessible as manufacturers move toward more environmentally friendly production and clients become committed to a healthier home. “The future is about consumers knowing how products are made, where they come from, and investing in furniture that will last a lifetime.” Whether you’re renovating your home or building from scratch, here are six easy ways to make your haven safe and environmentally sound.
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SHEETS AND BEDDING Being ecoconscious doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small by choosing natural, hypoallergenic organic sheets and bedding. When buying a mattress, choose one made of an eco-friendly foam or wool (a natural fire retardant), and check that it has an organic cotton covering. “Mattresses are often filled with toxic chemicals including flame retardants, formaldehyde and cotton pesticides, all which contribute to harmful VOC emissions,” says MacLeod.
stains contain the toxic chemical polyurethane,” she says. If you’re replacing your floors, make sure they’re nontoxic, eco-friendly, and sustainably harvested, reclaimed or recycled. This will ensure you’re not contributing to deforestation, a global crisis. “Your choices really can make a difference,” she says.
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FLOORING When refinishing floors, avoid toxic oil-based stains. MacLeod likes using Monocoat, a plant-based, VOC-free wood-floor stain with great durability and over forty color choices. “Many
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FURNITURE When purchasing new furnishings ask, “What’s it made of?” Look for wood that’s certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or opt for reclaimed material, recycled fiber and water-based wood finishes. Manufacturers like Lee Industries and Mitchell Gold are members of the SFC and make safe furnishings. Their sofa frames are earth-friendly; they use water-based biodegradable glue; and
Reclaimed wood gives furniture a rustic appeal.
their furniture is free of fireretardant chemicals. As far as cushion fillings, look for ones filled with wool or a nontoxic flame retardant. MacLeod also recommends repurposing furnishings, either by reupholstering or repainting. “Vintage finds and antiques are back in vogue, and recycling furniture is a great way to be ecoconscious,” she says.
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PAINTS AND WALL COVERINGS Go for low-VOC paints (usually listed on the label) and wall coverings that are free from harmful solvents. “I recommend Farrow & Ball and Benjamin Moore’s Aura or Natura lines of paint for their depth of color and their commitment to being environmentally conscious,” says MacLeod. For wall coverings, she likes Phillip Jeffries grass cloths, which are made of bamboo, arrowroot, sisal and jute. These plants are easily replenished within the environment. SUSAN MACLEOD INTERIORS
A truly beautiful wood floor doesn’t have to come at a cost.
203-945-7856 www.susanmacleodinteriors.com
NEIL LANDINO, JR.
FABRIC Because harmful chemicals are used to grow both natural fibers and create synthetic ones, textile production accounts for more toxic waste pollution of water than any other industry. “Linen is my first choice of fabric, given its beautiful look, easy cultivation and low environmental impact because it uses very little water in production,” she says. Wool, organic cotton or recycled polyester are other good choices for fabric by the yard, and companies like Kravet, a member of the SFC, have a gorgeous selection.
For a safer slumber, opt for organic, hypoallergenic sheets and blankets.
Above the uncertainty Thomas Mantione is proud to be recognized as a “Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisor, Forbes Best in State, and Financial Times Top 400 for 2018” for giving clients clear direction when they need it most
While I am honored by these distinctions, I’m most proud that they reflect our team’s commitment to giving clients the perspective and guidance they need no matter what the markets or their life may bring. For more than 20 years, we have been providing generations of families with inclusive wealth management and professional investment guidance in diverse market conditions. Our consultative, “goals-based” process helps our clients’ clarify their current financial situation, identify challenges and create a comprehensive strategy. We collaborate with our clients’ other trusted advisors, as well as our network of professionals, leading the effort to develop one integrated approach. Our team is grateful for the trust that is placed in us every day, and we look forward to continuing to serve our clients with distinction.
Shantz Mantione Group UBS Financial Services Inc. Private Wealth Management 750 Washington Boulevard, 11th Floor Stamford, CT 06901 866-860-7266
Thomas Mantione, CFP®, CPWA®, CIMA® Senior Vice President–Wealth Management Private Wealth Advisor 203-705-4222 thomas.mantione@ubs.com Shantz Mantione Group UBS Financial Services Inc. Private Wealth Management 750 Washington Boulevard, 11th Floor Stamford, CT 06901 866-860-7266
ubs.com/team/shantzmantione Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors for 2017 is based on assets under management, revenue and quality of practices. Investment performance isn’t an explicit component because not all advisors have audited results. Neither UBS Financial Services Inc. or its employees pay a fee in exchange for these rankings. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Co. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services, which are separate and distinct and differ in material ways. For information, including the different laws and contracts that govern, visit ubs.com/workingwithus. Private Wealth Management is a division within UBS Financial Services Inc., which is a subsidiary of UBS AG. For designation disclosures visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified finanCial PlannerTM in the U.S. CIMA® is a registered certification mark of the Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. in the United States of America and worldwide. © UBS 2018. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. CJ-UBS-1553914945 Exp.: 04/30/2019
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status report
TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Making sure #MeToo is more
L
than just a hashtag
ast fall, #MeToo entered the national lexicon and has been driving the conversation about sexual assault and harassment ever since. The issue is no less relevant in Fairfield County, where local organizations have seen a jump in calls and walk-ins by victims seeking help. This increase is good news, as 60 percent of sexual assault cases go unreported nationally, says Deb Greenwood, president and CEO of The Center for Family Justice (CFJ). “The movement is empowering,” Greenwood says. “It’s allowing so many people to come forward.” CFJ, which serves six towns including Bridgeport, Fairfield and Monroe, reports a 52 percent increase in calls to its domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines. Similarly, says Quentin Ball, executive director of The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education, “we have seen a 20 to 30 percent increase in clients.” The Stamfordbased Center provides free programs and services to eight towns from Greenwich to Westport.
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For both centers, community and educational outreach are essential. Ball says the #MeToo movement has focused a spotlight on the issue. “So many organizations are interested in learning what all this means and what they can do,” she says. The Center offers age-appropriate educational programming for grades K–12. CFJ has programs in high schools that teach prevention and healthy relationships, among other things. Also, they recently partnered with Sacred Heart University on the #MenCareToo initiative. Ball and Greenwood say that involving men is key to prevention and change. In related news, Senate Bill No. 17 was introduced in February to the Connecticut General Assembly. Described as, “An act promoting fairness in access to information, support and justice for sexual assault victims,” it lengthens the amount of time a victim has to report a crime, among other things. “Prior to this national spotlight, it was really difficult to advance that the statute of limitations needed to change,” says Ball. Even the conversation about sexual harassment and assault is evolving. “We’re talking more about the continuum of sexual violence. Currently, there’s no criminal recourse for sexual harassment,” Ball says. “We’re trying to raise awareness that everything on that continuum is unacceptable and harmful. We need to work with the legal system to address how it’s handled.” —Kathryn Satterfield
“The reinforcement at home is so important,” Deb Greenwood of the CFJ says. “As parents, we need a toolbox.” Here, she offers tips and some talking points.
THAN GIRL TALK >It’sMORE crucial to talk to boys also, not only because men and boys can be allies in the effort to end harassment and abuse, but because they also can be victims.
KEEP IT AGE-APPROPRIATE >When tackling these sensitive subjects, remember to tailor the talk to your child’s age and developmental stage.
CONSENT >TellTEACH kids that they have the absolute right to say no—and yes, even change their minds—about things that make them feel uncomfortable as they begin to develop romantic relationships.
OPEN UP ABOUT SECRETS >Perpetrators of sex crimes and abusers are often master manipulators who use all kinds of tactics to keep their victims quiet. Stress to your child that if they see or experience abuse, they need to tell a trusted grown-up. If that person doesn’t believe them, they need to tell someone else.
GOOD EXAMPLE >YouSETareAyour children’s most important role model; treat others with respect and call out inappropriate behavior when you see it.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ©VADIMGUZHVA ISTOCK.ADOBE.COM
Tough Talk
HOME WORK
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status report
LOUIE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR • WINE 411
Veal Rollatini, rolled with prosciutto and mozzarella and sautéed in a mushroom demi-glaze
Italian Comfort Louie’s Italian Restaurant and Bar offers a taste of Little Italy close to home by carol leonet ti dannhauser photographs by main street hub
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have eaten more than my share of Italian-American cuisine, much of it prepared by my mother, aunts and grandmothers, as well as in dozens of Little Italys everywhere. When my companion Diane and I read co-owner Pieter Hartong comparing Louie’s to an Arthur Avenue eatery in the Bronx, we drove over faster than mozzarella melting in a wood-fired oven. We arrived on a Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. and discovered a lively crowd mingling in the long bar section, drinking and eating happy hour fare ($6 for “bites” such as meatballs and buffalo wings, $7 for wine and cocktails).
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We headed to a cozy high-backed booth in the dining room. Photos of stars and starlets from a bygone era lined the exposed brick walls. White tablecloths adorned the tables. We slipped in among couples and foursomes. Our waiter, Drew, with fourteen years at the Four Seasons under his belt and the Louie’s insignia on his tie, led us through the menu. It felt like a nostalgic stroll through 1980s New York—part steakhouse, part Mamma Leone’s: the T-bone veal chop with truffle oil or the shrimp fra diavolo; the chicken parmigiana or the linguine with clams; the pork chop capricciosa or the spaghetti bolognese.
Louie’s offered about twenty-five of these oldschool options, plus another ten or so specials on a blackboard. Drew told us his likes and dislikes, and we ordered from there. Plus, we got a glass of wine, Diora’s La Petite Grace pinot noir from 2015. It was robust, textured and full of flavor. We started with the special mixed hot antipasto, and dug into fried calamari. While the squid was somewhat tough, the clams oreganata burst with flavor, filled as they were with homemade breadcrumbs and fresh oregano. Though it said so on the menu, Drew didn’t think the mozzarella in the caprese was housemade, and he went back to the kitchen to inquire. Yes, they said, and so did we. The mozzarella, made that morning by Chef Luis Mendoza, was melt-in-your-mouth creamy, perfectly salted, just the right resistance in the bite. Mendoza, who is from Ecuador, cooked in Little Italy and at Polpo in Greenwich before running the kitchens at Louie’s in Cos Cob and Darien. Our attentive servers brought over veal parmigiana, and the generous portion covered the full dinner plate. But the batter-to-meat ratio overwhelmed the veal, and we longed for more flavor in the tomato sauce. “Chicken Louie’s” did not disappoint. The
QUICK BITES 1. Chef Luis Mendoza makes fresh mozzarella daily. He learned the craft twenty years ago from an Italian, while working at Il Cortile on Mulberry Street in New York. The Cruvinet serves fine wine at just the right temperature.
moist and tender brined breast had been lightly dusted with flour, resulting in a coating perfect for absorbing the lovely lemony sauce, with its hints of shallots and wine. We split the short-rib ravioli and practically licked the plate clean. The pasta, delivered perfectly al dente, held its own in a butter, brandy and cream sauce that, though very heavy, was chock-full of dried whole porcini and big beefy flavor. The white truffle oil did not overwhelm. Drew returned to discuss dessert. Louie’s makes its own Italian cheesecake and tiramisù, but Drew said, “I have four words for you: pineapple upsidedown cake.” Another throwback, but we were used to it by now. It arrived gooey and warm, with vanilla ice cream melting on top. We ate the whole thing. Just as we would have done at our grandmothers’ houses.
2. Kids’ meals cost only $7, making for a very familyfriendly experience. 3. The bar features a Cruvinet, a temperaturecontrolled wine dispensing system. Similar to beer taps, it keeps an open bottle of fine wine fresh for up to two months.
LOUIE’S RESTAURANT 10 Center Street, Darien 203-309-5818 louiesrestaurantbar.com
HOURS
Sun.–Thur.: 11:45 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat.: 11:45 a.m.–11 p.m.
Capellini Frutti di Mare with clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari in a light tomato sauce
MAY/JUNE 2018 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN
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White wine from the Loire Valley—the refreshing choice for spring and summer
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n the heart of France, the valley that surrounds the River Loire and its tributaries is home to some 400 vineyards that produce a good deal of the fresh, light white wine (plus rosés and red wines, too) that we love to enjoy in warmer climates. Known as the “Garden of France,” the Loire Valley is a cool region with long, warm autumns, where the rivers create microclimates among slopes of chalk and flint, and riverbanks of clay. As a result, it is one of France’s great wine-making areas, producing a variety of styles that match well with seasonal menus. Whether you’re dining out or hosting dinner al fresco, wine experts share some intel for your next pairing pleasure. —Elizabeth Keyser
LOCAL EXPERTS’ FAVORITES Tony Capasso
General Manager Gabriele’s Italian Steakhouse Greenwich
“The COMTE LAFOND SANCERRE is truly a special occasion white, with layers of flavor and complexity associated with better white burgundies.” “SAUVIGNON BLANC pairs with full-bodied fish in citrus and white wine sauces, although some of the better ones like MAISON IDIART go well with Livornese preparations, which use capers, olives and cherry tomatoes to accent the sauce.”
David Nelson Owner Ten Twenty Bistro Darien
“Regarding SANCERRE and POUILLY-FUMÉ, the mineral notes in both tame the fruit of the Sauvignon. Either are perfect with any of our simple fish preparations, Spinney Creek Maine steamers or steamed lobster.” “MUSCADET is a perfect oyster wine. Many say better than champagne. It’s the minerality in both that complements our large selection of raw oysters.”
The Fantastic Four
White Wine Pairings A few suggestions for guaranteed soirée success Cheers! Start your gathering by toasting with a glass of sparkling Crément de Loire.
Raw Bar Sip a Muscadet while slurping oysters on the half shell.
The inside story on grapes from the “Garden of France”
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Melon de Bourgogne
It’s from the Muscadet region, where the Loire meets the Atlantic Ocean. It boasts brisk, fresh, mineral flavors.
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Chenin Blanc
There are many expressions of this grape grown in the
central regions of Tourraine in Vouvray, Anjou and Saumur; it is sparkling, sweet or bone dry.
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Cabernet Franc
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Sauvignon Blanc
First Course Share a conversation over a juicy Sancerre and shrimp avocado salad.
The red of the region. For those of you who prefer reds and rosés, they are produced in Anjou and Chinon, which pair well with seafood stews.
The “ambassadors” of this familiar grape, with its crisp, grassy and citrus flavors, are Sancerre, which balances fruit, body, minerals and acidity, and Pouilly-Fumé, which is richer and more full-bodied.
Best for Last Savor a sweet Chenin Blanc with a cheese plate for a refined dessert.
Elizabeth Keyser has written about beer, wine and spirits for newspapers, magazines and blogs. She has sat on the Yankee Brew News tasting panel and judged craft and European brew contests.
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PHOTOGRAPHS: CORKS BY ©EGOR MURIKOV ISTOCK.ADOBE.COM; VINEYARD BY © PEDRO SALAVERRIA ISTOCK.ADOBE.COM; DRINKS BY ©GTRANQUILLITY ISTOCK.ADOBE.COM; OYSTERS BY © YVDAVID ISTOCK.ADOBE.COM; SHRIMP BY ©NIPAPORN ISTOCK.ADOBE.COM; CHEESE BY © KARELNOPPE PHOTOGRAPHY
French Classics
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MARKET VOLATILITY
Stick to It
Don’t panic—just build in thoughtful planning to survive inevitable market volatility
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ou’re a financial genius! You may have seemed like one, anyway, as your investments climbed, climbed, climbed to record highs at the beginning of the year. Early retirement? Vacation home? Sweet new boat? Oh, the possibilities of your newfound wealth. But then, MARK RITTER seemingly out of nowhere, came the free fall, followed by another and more still. The same stock market that had set about a hundred new highs since the 2016 election plunged the greatest one-day point drop in history, then rose and fell again. How will a savvy investor survive a market with more ups and downs than the Coney Island Cyclone? We turned to risk expert Mark Ritter for advice. For more than twenty-five years, he worked on Wall Street in investment banking, ultimately leading risk management at UBS. These days, Ritter, of Westport, serves as executive in residence at Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch School of Business. His advice to Fairfield County investors during tumultuous times? Do nothing. Corrections are normal even in bull markets, he says. Ignore them and stick to your plan. If you don’t have a plan beyond wishing for higher highs, it’s time to draw one up. Spell out when, what and how much you will buy and sell, when you will reassess and rebalance your portfolio and, most important, how
ASK YOURSELF… Do you have a rainy-day account holding liquid assets for six months to a year of expenses? How are you dealing with debt? What are your children’s educational needs, if you have them? How are you saving for retirement?
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much money you will need by what date. Your time frame dictates your risk. “With respect to volatility, your plan really depends on where you are in the investing cycle. You’re willing to accept risk if it’s a longer period of time,” Ritter says. “If you’re planning for retirement in thirty-five years, it will take a different risk profile than if you’re saving for a house.” For investors, the point of risk assessment is to be prepared in volatile times while maintaining a goal of maximizing wealth, he notes. “You don’t know what’s coming around the corner. People become overly enthusiastic about market prospects. It just takes one event and the stock market can tank by 50 percent.” Rather than hit the panic button, smart investors understand their risk and timeline, and then address specifics. Ritter tells young investors to pay down credit card and student loan debt and use equities to maximize growth with what remains. Don’t worry about volatility. “The first thing I did when my children called when the market went down was to tell them to buy more. Nothing had fundamentally changed but fear. And that is the time to buy.” If you’re a parent in your thirties, invest in a 529 plan for college, he says, but beware of targeting too much in the stock market. “A lot of people in the last ten to fifteen years made a little bit of a mistake in respect to that. In 2008 to 2009, they saw their college funds go from x to x minus 50 percent.” If you hope to retire decades down the road, you can fill your 401(k) with equities. But as you get closer to when you’ll need your money, Ritter says, remind yourself that markets go up and markets go down. “Keep with the plan, rather than ‘chop and change.’ Temper your enthusiasm, the way banks run capital. It’s OK to leave something on the table for the next person.”
by carol leonet ti dannhauser
NEEDCHANGES TO THE KNOW NOW
ON AGAIN/ OFF AGAIN IF YOU MANAGE YOUR INVESTMENTS ONLINE…
Outline what to do if you can’t access your trading platform. Many online and robo investing platforms crashed during 2018’s crazy gyrations. Robo investing “is fine for your algorithmic investing, for a certain percentage of your funds,” Ritter says, but understand when those algorithms trigger trades. Robo investing can be a cost-effective way to acquire funds, but “the downside is the investor is trusting the box in front of them.”
WHEN TO DITCH DIGITAL…
Ritter uses robo investing for a certain portion of his funds, but turns to people for advice. “There is no doubt in my mind that getting a second opinion from a human being is worthwhile. I’ve been on Wall Street my entire career and I still need professional advice about my own funds.”
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BE YOUR OWN FARMER’S MARKET THIS SUMMER
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The snappiest snap peas. The crispest, greenest lettuce. Tomatoes bursting with flavor. Whatever your heart desires, Homefront Farmers can help you grow it, right in your own backyard. Not only do we provide garden design and construction, but weekly maintenance visits are also available. So you can be sure you’re getting the most out of your garden all summer long. Best of all, we use only NOFA {Northeastern Organic Farming Association} approved farming practices. It’s the healthiest, freshest, best tasting produce possible, and that’s good for you, your family and the planet. Call now and see what Homefront Farmers can bring to your table. Homefront Farmers. Your own beautiful, organic vegetable garden. Done Right. Made Easy.
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PEOPLE & Places
NEW CANAAN LIBRARY • PHOTOGRAPHS BY DEBORAH O’BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHY
by kathryn satterfield
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ew Canaan Library’s tenth anniversary Literary Luncheon fundraiser was an extraordinary celebration, featuring The New York Times best-selling author of A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles, and honoring outgoing Board President Alicia Wyckoff. Led by cochairs Kate Burt, Pam Norton, Chelsea Staniar and Sharon Teles, the event transported the over 400 guests to 1920s Moscow, and featured an online auction. All proceeds provide crucial support for the library’s programs and services.
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1 Event cochairs: Chelsea Staniar, Sharon Teles, Pam Norton, Kate Burt 2 Ellen Sullivan Crovatto, Amor Towles, Lisa Oldham 3 Pam Norton, Louise Havens, Susie Catlin, Dionna Carlson 4 Laura Parker, Keleigh McAuliffe, Wendy Dewey 5 Tina Kramer, Renee Fill, Laura Barker, Karen Mierendorf 6 Event volunteer committee 7 Honoree Alicia Wyckoff with Amor Towles 8 Leslie Bisesi, Sheila Bajaj, Dana Marchiony 9 Elsa and George Sykes
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record-breaking crowd enjoyed dinner, dancing and a silent auction at the sixteenth annual fundraising dinner for Star, Inc. Held at Woodway Country Club in Darien, the event celebrated the organization’s sixty-fifth anniversary and raised over $440,000. Proceeds will support Star’s programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. Star creates opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, autonomy and personal growth. The highlight of the evening came when Star participants spoke about their experiences.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIGGS B DESIGN; LORRAINE GORDON
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1 Assaf and Rebecca Ben-Atar 2 Davis Family 3 Judy and Barry Bosworth 4 Silent auction 5 Joanna and Adrian Sisser 6 Frank and Anne Chiapetta, Rob Masanotti, Allyse Rosen, Mary Ferrara, John Masanotti 7 Megan, Molly and Rob Cioffi 8 Amanda and Rory Callahan 9 Kate and Justin Bagnati 10 Lucia and Harry Rilling and Katie Banzhaf 11 Kim Butenhoff, Bebe Beasley
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CHRIS F R AT TA RO L I President
F RATTAROLI. N ET
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1 Chris LeVine, Julianna Spain 2 Officer T. Courtney Isaac, Sgt. Alison Hudyma, Officer Stuart Schwengerer, Janice Marzano, JSgt. TJ Moore, Maggie Young, Ingrid Gillespie 3 Annabel Hartigan, Annie Arrix, Matthew Alvarado. Sophia Bremer, Charlotte Keane 4 Liz Benedict, Reedie Carl, Brandie Maniscalco, Tom Arrix 5 Andrea Tidrick, Janice Marzano, Bonnie Gotltieb, Jay Gottlieb 6 Kim Major, Alison Moffat, Tamara Pardo, Lori Joyce 7 Greatest Blaze & Co. 8 The Depot Board of Directors 9 Megan Palmer Rivera, Morgan Alderman, Erin Barba 10 Sherry and Brian Ramsay, Lisa Hingst 11 Shelly, Chris and Kathy Arrix, Andy Walsh, Bill Johnston
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A Toast for Teens
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uests turned out in their alpine best for The Depot’s Apres Ski Winter Fundraiser, held at the Darien Community Association. The evening included fire-roasted hors d’oeuvres by Greatest Blaze, alpine-inspired cuisine by Palmer’s, music by DJ Gruv, and live and silent auctions. The Depot is the longest-running teen center in the country, where Darien teens can connect, learn, grow and give back. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the organization and expanding educational programming for teen anxiety, depression and self-esteem.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/ BOB CAPAZZO
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For over a century, Cummings & Lockwood has provided sophisticated legal representation to individuals, families and businesses. Estate & Tax Planning
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Join Us!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16 • 8:45 a.m.— 2:30 p.m. GREENWICH COUNTRY CLUB • 19 Doubling Road
FULL DAY PROGRAM INCLUDES:
FOR TICKETS GO TO WOMENINBUSINESSFC.COM
EMILIE RUBINFELD
KEYNOTE SPEAKER President, Carolina Herrera
WELCOME BREAKFAST 8:45-9:30 a.m. INTERACTIVE SPONSOR SESSIONS 9:30-10:30 a.m. –
First County Bank’s Sara Tucker & Sandra Greer with Special Guest from Jade Marketing Solutions, Suzanne Stillwell Present “Personal Branding & Authentic Messaging”
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Nichols MD of Greenwich’s Dr. Kim Nichols Presents “Looking Your Best at Any Age”
11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. –
Pullman & Comley Attorneys: Nancy A. D. Hancock, Karen Jeffers and Megan Carannante Present “Legal Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs”
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Darby Fox, Child and Adult Family Therapist, Presents “Shifting the Parenting Perspective: How to Bridge the Gap with Your Adolescent and Enjoy Raising Your Teenager”
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Atria Senior Living’s Melanie Bedell Presents: “Better This Year: Atria’s Whole Person Approach to Greater Well-Being”
NETWORK WITH OUR EDITORS, EVENT SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS 12:45-2:30 p.m. –
Luncheon, Keynote & Women of Influence Awards Presentation Hosted by Rebecca Surran
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KEYNOTE PRESENTATION by Emilie Rubinfeld, President, Carolina Herrera
ENTER TO WIN! THE ASHA ESSENTIALS PACKAGE: Jewelry and accessories that can take you from the beach to the boardroom VALUE: $2,500
Provided by ASHA by Ashley McCormick
Melani Lust Photography
WOMEN OF INFLUENCE HONOREES
ALISA BAHL, PhD CORPORATE LEADER Senior VP of Clinical Solutions, OptumHealth
FLAVIA CATTAN-NASLAUSKY and CAMILLA GAZAL ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR Co-owners of Zaniac Greenwich and Co-CEOs of Summit 7 Holdings, LLC
TRACY CHADWELL WOMEN’S BUSINESS ADVOCATE Founding Partner, 1843 Capital
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
SIGNATURE SPONSORS:
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WINE SPONSOR:
EXCLUSIVE WATER SPONSOR:
FLORAL SPONSOR:
LIMITED SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE,
Contact Caroline Steber 203.571.1631
•
A portion of the ticket proceeds benefitting:
caroline.steber@moffly.com
BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BUSINESSWOMEN IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY >
MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
Emilie Rubinfeld Keynote Speaker PRESIDENT, CAROLINA HERRERA 501 Seventh Avenue, 17th Floor New York, NY carolinaherrera.com
Emilie Rubinfeld has been a leader in luxury fashion for over a decade. Throughout her career, she has built brand marketing and communications strategy for iconic U.S. and European-based fashion houses. Today, Emilie Rubinfeld is the global president of Carolina Herrera—the New York-based fashion brand internationally recognized for bold elegance and sophistication. Founded by Carolina Herrera in 1981, the design house and namesake creates women’s luxury ready-to-wear and bridal collections distributed globally at over 200 points of sale. As president, Emilie is leading the organization to be at the forefront of women’s luxury fashion while building a thriving and enduring global brand for the future. Prior to the role of president, Emilie held the position of chief marketing officer at the
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company. During her nearly two-decade career in fashion, Emilie has had senior marketing and communications roles at the U.S.-subsidiary of Italian fashion brand Giorgio Armani, as well as the Swiss-based women’s luxury brand, Akris. Emilie has recently joined the Fashion and Luxury Council of NYU/Stern School of Business. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a liberal arts degree, majoring in art history and political science. She currently resides with her family in New Canaan, Connecticut.
MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
Alisa Bahl, PhD Women of Influence Honoree Corporate Leader OPTUMHEALTH Senior Vice President alisa.bahl@optum.com
Dr. Alisa Bahl is a senior vice president at OptumHealth, a division of UnitedHealth Group. She has been an executive leader at one of the largest and most innovative health care organizations for the past twenty-six years, and led a private group practice prior to joining Optum. She serves as executive sponsor to Fortune 100 clients who are committed to enhancing the emotional well-being of their workforce. She leads a team that manages the most senior national relationships across major consulting firms, and drives both growth and innovation in the company’s clinical business. Most recently, she played a leadership role in combatting the opioid crisis in our country by championing initiatives aimed at stemming the growth of this devastating epidemic; aditionally she serves on the Advisory Board for the
UnitedHealth Group Opioid Task Force. Echoing Optum’s stance that no single entity can remedy the problem alone, she holds partnership and collaboration among her key business practices. Optum has joined with care providers, pharmacists, governments, health plans, clients, individual consumers and community organizations that fight substance misuse to confront the enormous social, economic and human costs of this national health care crisis. Bahl also serves on the scientific board of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families, and has been involved since its inception. Every day, Shatterproof advances its mission to reduce the stigma of addiction and spread knowledge about evidence-based care that will save countless lives. While in her
hometown of Miami Beach, she served for many years as a vice president on the board of trustees of Temple Beth Sholom, where the congregation of 2,000 families has a strong culture of social justice. She is also the mother of three wonderful boys and active in their school and sports’ activities. Bahl is married to Tracy Bahl, an executive at CVS Health and resides with her family in Greenwich. She is a graduate of the University of Florida and received her PhD from the University of Miami.
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MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
Flavia Naslausky & Camilla Gazal Women of Influence Honorees Entrepreneurs of the Year
CRISTINA PYE PHOTOGRAPHY
Zaniac, a Zane Prep company, delivers a retail math and science experience that engages, excites and motivates K-8 kids, while making parents feel proud about providing their children with real academic advantage. Zaniac is the go-to afterschool activity for parents who want their children to develop a passion for exploring and innovating. It is like school at its best—an active, inspiring place that is filled with friends and friends-to-be, where real math and technology learning is fun. The company’s mission is to provide K-8 students with a quality supplemental education program that addresses STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). FLAVIA NASLAUSKY In her professional life, Flavia has always been involved in financial markets and focused on
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emerging markets. Flavia worked as director of Latin American currency strategy at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Connecticut, covering economic and financial market developments. She traveled regularly to the region to market strategy product in Europe and Asia. Prior to her work at RBS, in 1999 Flavia worked at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York in the emerging markets fixed income research group. Flavia holds bachelor degrees in economics and political science from NYU. Flavia is currently Co-CEO of Summit 7 Holdings, which opened its first Zaniac franchise in Greenwich in 2013 and the second one in Westport in 2015. In 2017, she received the U.S. Small Business Award for Entrepreneurial Success. Flavia resides with her husband and two children in Riverside, Connecticut.
ZANIAC 644 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 201 Greenwich, CT 203.918.9264 zaniaclearning.com
CAMILLA GAZAL Camilla is a brand management professional with strong experience in finance, communications and analysis. She is highly skilled at interpersonal relations, is multilingual and has expertise with international clientele. Camilla has a master’s degree in hospitality industry studies, with a concentration in brand management from NYU. Camilla received her BA from FAAP, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and worked as a trader for the former bank Unibanco. After moving to New York in 2000, she worked for BBVA Securities and Santander Securities as a senior vice president in fixed income sales. Camilla is the Co-CEO of Summit 7 Holdings. In 2017, she received the U.S. Small Business Award for Entrepreneurial Success. Camilla lives with her husband and three children in Riverside, Connecticut.
MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
Tracy Killoren Chadwell Women of Influence Honoree Women’s Business Advocate 1843 CAPITAL 52 Mason Street Greenwich, CT 917.902.6406 tracy@1843capital.com 1843capital.com @tchadwell
Tracy is the Founding Partner of 1843 Capital, an early stage venture capital firm, located in Greenwich. 1843 invests in technology and consumer product companies that have at least one female founder. Companies with a female founder in 2017 received around 2.19 percent of total venture capital dollars, despite research showing that they outperform. This is due in part to the fact that only 7 percent of venture capital fund partners are women. 1843 Capital aims to realize above market returns by investing in a “missed” space, and help solve the funding gap for women at the same time. By funding and supporting the next generation of women CEOs, Tracy is creating a new class of role models and mentors for women. With 11.3 million femaleowned businesses in the United States, generating $1.6 trillion in revenue, there is a lot of opportunity.
Beautycounter, a company launched in Greenwich, is one of Tracy’s most successful investments. In addition to having an incredible female CEO, the company promotes the removal of toxins from personal care products and has created jobs for the 20,000+ consultants it employs. A common misperception is that women don’t build large businesses or highly technical companies. Tracy’s portfolio proves otherwise. In total, the companies she has invested in have created a combined enterprise value of over $1billion. Tracy is also an attorney, well-versed in corporate structures, and was formerly a Partner of a growth capital venture capital fund, Baker Capital, which had more than $1 billion under management. Tracy also has a broad network within the female-founder community. Recently,
she testified before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on the hurdles women face getting funding. She is a frequent speaker and judge of start-up competitions. Most recently she spoke at the MIT VC Conference and at the UBS Project Entreprenuer program, and was a judge for the Cornell (Johnson) Business School Women in Tech Competition. She is featured in a chapter of the book The Internet of Women, a UC TED talk for NYIT TEDx, and was in the documentary Dream, Girl about female entrepreneurs. She is a board member of Marstone and of Sachs Insights and was the former treasurer of The Belle Haven Land Company. Passionate about service, she proudly serves on the advisory board of the MIT Enterprise Forum, the New York Institute of Technology and as an executive advisor for the Echoing Green Foundation.
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MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
Rebecca Surran Host NEWS ANCHOR/COHOST
Rebecca Surran
Rebecca began her career as a founding member of Cablevision, now Altice USA’s regional News 12 network, where she started as a reporter. She went on to cohost News 12 Connecticut’s daily live talk show, The Exchange, interviewing key figures in news, entertainment, lifestyle, technology and sports. During her fifteen years in this role, she was nominated for three Boston/New England Emmy Awards in the “Best Talk Show Host” category. Rebecca also served as senior news anchor, developing extensive experience in live breaking news coverage including the 9/11 terror attacks, Hurricane Sandy, and the Sandy Hook School shooting. She also worked as a feature reporter. During her time as anchor/reporter, Rebecca won a New York Emmy Award for “Best Daytime Newscast” and was nominated for five others, including three for her feature reporting work. Rebecca’s career has also included work as a contributing editor for Walt Disney’s
FamilyFun magazine, serving as an on-air brand representative on WNBC’s Today in New York, The Today Show and Good Morning America, among numerous other local and national programs. After leaving News 12 Connecticut, Rebecca went on to work for the boutique public relations firm, The Dilenschneider Group in Manhattan, assisting clients in media relations, strategic communications and reputation management. She has also spent years in community outreach work supporting local fundraising events in various role, including Mistress of Ceremony and Panel Moderator. Much of that work is with organizations focused on women’s business development, the Alzheimer’s Association and groups working to support the hungry, homeless and underprivileged. Rebecca graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and spent a semester of study at Bath University, Bath, UK.
Yonni Wattenmaker Event Beneficiary BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE 48 Maple Avenue Greenwich, CT 203.861.0014 breastcanceralliance.org Yonni graduated from The George Washington University in 1993, and from HUC-JIR in New York City with an MA in 1996. Upon graduation, Yonni spent ten years as director of education at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners, New York; two years as development director for Tikva Children’s Home, a charity supporting homeless and abandoned children in the former Soviet Union; and four years as director of lifelong learning at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. Yonni has been the executive director of Breast Cancer Alliance since June 2011, a once regional but now national breast cancer charity headquartered in Greenwich. The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by
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breastcanceralliance
@BCAllianceCT
breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, BCA invests in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved. Yonni is also an active volunteer, currently
breastcanceralliance sitting on the Community Advisory Board of Greenwich Hospital and the National Council for Arts and Sciences at The George Washington University, and is a consultant for an addiction recovery center based in Los Angeles. Yonni resides in Bedford Corners with her son, Max.
MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
Darby Fox Presenting Sponsor 203.313.1662 Darby@darbyfox.com darbyfox.com @askdarbyfox
Darby Fox is a child and adolescent family therapist. With over twenty years of experience, she has deep empathy for children and families from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds and is an expert on parenting, child psychology and family topics. She appears regularly on-air and in print media, covering parenting questions and discipline techniques to current trends in child development. She has also collaborated with Meath Media Group to develop a television series called Fractured Family with Darby Fox. Darby is committed to the community and has provided pro bono individual and group therapy to Bright Horizons Foundation for Children students and parents throughout Fairfield County for the past twelve years. Bright Horizons Foundation for Children is a national organization that focuses on at-risk
children and families. She has served on the board of directors at both Horizons and The Open Door Shelter (a homeless shelter in Norwalk, Connecticut). In addition to private practice, Darby works directly with parents in small groups or lectures to help them focus on specific age related concerns. She feels there are not enough resources available for parents needing help. Her years of work with adolescents allow her to equip parents with insight and perspective needed to guide their parenting. She works with children of all ages, yet is especially focused on helping adolescents. As the mother of four, Darby has wellearned insight into the teenage mind and offers a unique approach to adolescence. She encourages parents to meet them where
they are, work to facilitate their growth and development instead of fight for control and build on their strengths to position them for happiness, success and fulfillment in life. When parents of teenagers have the opportunity to learn from Darby, they feel relieved that they are not alone and excited to shift their relationship with their teen. Darby received a BA from Middlebury College, graduating cum laude in sociology and biochemistry. She went on to graduate from Columbia University summa cum laude, earning her MA in social work. Since Columbia, she has pursued extensive specialized training at Yale Child Study Center, NYU Silver School of Social Work, Mel Levine’s All Kind’s Of Minds Institute, Harvard Medical School and The Ackerman Institute for the Family.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
PHOTOGRAPH BY KASEY HILLEARY
Pictured, from left to right: Livia DeFilippis Barndollar, Jessica Grossarth Kennedy, Jill Bicks, Karen Wackerman, Amy Murray, Marcy Stovall, Rachel Ginsburg, Judge Anne Dranginis (Ret.), Karen Jeffers, Elizabeth Austin, Judge Lynda Munro (Ret.), Martha Royston, Kelly Scott, Margaret Bartiromo and Nancy Hancock.
Pullman & Comley, LLC Presenting Sponsor 2 Stamford Plaza, 281 Tresser Blvd. Stamford, CT 850 Main Street Bridgeport, CT 33 Riverside Avenue Westport, CT
203.330.2000 info@pullcom.com pullcom.com
The attorneys pictured above are members of the Women’s Leadership Initiative practicing in the Fairfield County offices of Pullman & Comley, a full-service law firm with locations throughout Connecticut and in White Plains, New York. We are close and trusted partners to our clients, and are committed to providing the highest levels of service and value through innovative thinking, hard work and by delivering real results. Since 1919, Pullman has earned a reputation as one of Connecticut’s preeminent providers of legal services, continuing to grow and adapt to meet our clients’ evolving needs. We serve emerging businesses and public and private companies of all sizes, as well as not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions and
government entities. Our family law and trusts and estates attorneys provide a full range of services to individuals and families, offering trusted, personalized counsel at every stage of life. We have played a vital role in shaping our local communities and contributing to the legal profession. For the past twenty years, our Women’s Leadership Initiative has been committed to fostering an environment that supports the professional advancement of women, while also seeking to enrich the lives of women in our communities. We are committed to: • Advancing women’s careers in our communities through networking events, substantive roundtables, educational programs and informal coaching.
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• Providing networking opportunities. Our women’s networking events draw a dynamic range of female business and community leaders, while showcasing the important work of not-for-profits serving women and children. • Supporting women’s and family-focused organizations in our communities as board members and sponsors. • Addressing concerns such as heart health and breast cancer, managing financial well-being, and the importance of workplace diversity and inclusion. At Pullman & Comley, “Pulling Together, Succeeding Together” is more than just a tagline. It’s a reflection of our culture of camaraderie and working together to serve our clients and the community.
MOFFLY 8 T H A NMEDIA’S NUAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
SARA TUCKER
SANDRA GREER
Sara Tucker and Sandra Greer Presenting Sponsor FIRST COUNTY BANK 3001 Summer Street Stamford, CT
sgreer@firstcountybank.com; 203.462.4364 stucker@firstcountybank.com; 203.462.4362 firstcountybank.com
SARA TUCKER Sara Tucker is a senior vice president and director of business banking at First County Bank, and has been a woman in business for over twenty-five years. Passion, diligence, enthusiasm, adaptability and genuine interest in people have fueled her success. Sara’s career journey started in the financial services industry in the mid-1980s, where she discovered an affinity for providing financial support to businesses. Sara left the corporate world to raise her children, during which time she became fully engaged in the community, working closely with nonprofits and on several boards. Reentering corporate life brought many challenges, however she returned with an augmented perspective gained from the nonprofit world, and also from parenthood. Sara believes that her rise to leadership positions
has been influenced by her philosophy that people drive an organization. “When you listen, coach and guide with a people-first approach, you can help teams manage an ever-changing environment and achieve results.” Also, working in a field that is male-dominated, Sara observes that “Women bring a perspective to the table that is different, often more collaborative, more purposeful and more intent on making a difference every day. This is a balance that is needed.”
SANDRA GREER Understanding the critical elements that build, nurture and sustain meaningful, trusted relationships is central to Sandra Greer’s personal and professional life. In her role as vice president of First County Advisors, the wealth management division of First County
FirstCountyBank @FirstCountyBank
Bank in Stamford, Connecticut, it is her commitment to a highly customized, holistic planning and investment approach that resonates with her clients. Sandy has over thirty-five years of institutional investment and personal wealth management experience. Prior to joining First County Bank’s wealth management division in 2014, Sandy was a senior portfolio manager with BNY Mellon Wealth Management in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. Sandy has held many board of director and volunteer positions in organizations of professional, personal and charitable interest. Recognized by the Greenwich YWCA with the 2013 BRAVA Award, Sandy’s understanding of the numerous and conflicting demands faced by women is reflected in her own balancing act.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION WOMEN, WEALTH AND WISDOM
ASHA by Ashley McCormick Signature Sponsor ASHA BY ASHLEY MCCORMICK 409 Greenwich Avenue, 2nd Floor Greenwich, CT 203.661.0100 shop-asha.com asha Ashley McCormick, a Greenwich Academy alumna, started her jewelry company ASHA at Georgetown University where she conceived of an elevated fashion jewelry line that was bold and sophisticated and used the finest materials—all while maintaining an accessible price point. While studying abroad in Paris, a chance meeting with the head of Chanel Fine Jewelry gave her the confidence to set the idea in motion. ASHA is now sold in over 80 boutiques across the country and is featured by major department stores such as Nordstrom, Saks & Bergdorf Goodman ASHA offers a spectrum of goods, including fashion, fine and bespoke jewelry as well as leather accessories and gifts. ASHA jewelry is inspired by art, architecture and world travel, with travel serving as a key focal point for ASHA’s creative strategy and brand story. Ashley’s adventures inspire jewelry and handbag collections and provide beautiful marketing content for a highly engaged social media following and aspirational audience.
Reflecting today’s discerning and savvy retail customer who is mixing across traditional product categories, ASHA offers customizable jewelry with a wide range of price points dependent upon budget and lifestyle. An #ashagirl spans in age from fifteen to forever and wears ASHA to feel fashion forward, feminine and sophisticated. Whether purchasing a zodiac ring in 14k vermeil or customizing an 18k gold bespoke ring with diamonds, Ashley’s customer is purchasing a piece of jewelry that is unique and personal. Despite the proliferation of online direct to consumer businesses, McCormick still believes in the value and importance of brick and mortar. Opened in 2016, “The ASHA Penthouse” at 409 Greenwich Avenue, is a bright and beautiful space where clients can connect with the designer and experience a glimpse into the ASHA world. Ashley delights in working directly with clients and sees each visit as an opportunity to take the pulse of her customer base and gain inspiration for future collections. 58
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Around the Corner
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BROWNE & CO. 865 Boston Post Road Darien, CT LEARY’S LIQUOR CABINET 186 Heights Road, Darien, CT
Learysliquorcabinet.com |
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203.655.0508
learys_liquor_cabinet
Learys Liquor Cabinet
203.656.1920 dianebrowne.com browneandco BrowneAndCompany
WE’VE MOVED!
RESORT WEAR AND GIFTS
Accent Picture Framing and Accent Restoration
EVERYTHING IS ROSEY 1072 Boston Post Road Darien, CT
GEARY GALLERY 576 Boston Post Road Darien, CT
203.202.9977 everythingisrosey.com everythingisroseyboutique
203.655.6633 gearygallery.com geary.gallery gearygallery
PURE BARRE DARIEN 1958 Post Road Darien, CT 203.309.5690 purebarre.com/ct-darien purebarredarien Pure Barre Darien
Around the Corner
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
WIGGLES AND GIGGLES 1074 Post Road Darien, CT 203.209.5109 wigglesandgigglesshop.com wigglesandgigglesshop wigglesandgigglesshop
EARTH GARDEN FLOWERS 89 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT
earthgardenflowers.com |
NANTUCKET MONOGRAM & DESIGN BY BROOKE BOOTHE 1 Morse Court New Canaan, CT 203.594.6067 NantucketMonogram.com Nantucket_Monogram Nantucket Monogram
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Nominations being accepted in the following categories: Most Involved in the Arts Most Dedicated Committee Member Outstanding Philanthropist Outstanding Teen Volunteer Best Friend to Children Best Health Advocate Lifetime Achievement Best Friend to Seniors Most Involved Couple Corporate Good Neighbor (Organization)
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VOWS I do!
EMILY APPLEGATE BARLOW & BRIAN ALAN DARROW
by colleen crowley
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hen Brian and Emily respectively joined Teach for America, they didn’t realize they would be learning a lesson in love. Mutual friends introduced the couple, and they spent the next six years working together in education in New Orleans. Remembering a romantic evening at the New Orleans Audubon Zoo Gala, Brian proposed to Emily in front of the elephant enclosure and flew in her two best friends to celebrate the occasion. The couple were married by the Rev. Harold E. Masback III at the Chocorua Church Island Chapel at Squam Lake in Holderness, New Hampshire. The location is significant to the couple; Emily’s grandparents had a cottage on the lake, and she frequently spent summers there. The couple have visited the lake every summer since they began dating. Emily is the daughter of Rebecca and Steve Barlow of New Canaan. She graduated from Colby College and received her master’s from the University of Pennsylvania. She is the Dean of Students at Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Brian is the son of Elizabeth Horowitz of New York City and Robert Darrow of Fairview, Texas. He is a graduate of Indiana University and is the Director of College and Career Readiness for the Rhode Island Department of Education in Providence, Rhode Island. The couple will go to Italy for their honeymoon this summer. They live in Providence.
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8 1 The couple with Emily’s parents 2 The bride with friends from Colby College 3 Just married! 4 Bright and bold bouquets 5 The newlyweds 6 The reception was held at McIlvain Barn 7 A sweet getaway 8 The wedding party
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VOWS
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1 The bride and groom 2 The wedding cake 3 Despite the weather, spirits were high as the couple left the chapel 4 The newlyweds with Katie’s family 5 Mark’s late grandmother often appears to the family in the form of a butterfly 6 Katie’s rings 7 Family and friends cut a rug
| | KATHERYN ANNE CLARK & MARK GERARD FORTUNATO| |
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hen Katie matched with Mark on Bumble but didn’t initiate a conversation, he took matters into his own hands and used his one-time extension request to get her attention. It worked, and they enjoyed a first date at a rooftop bar in Manhattan. For their second date, Mark asked Katie to a Giants game and uninvited his best friend so she could go. When Mark was ready to propose, he took Katie’s childhood stuffed elephant Ellie on a tour of New York City sites special to the couple, taking selfies with Ellie along the way. He presented a ring, and the photo project, to Katie on bended knee in their Tribeca apartment. The couple were married by Deacon Donald Battison at the Siasconset Chapel on Nantucket, despite Tropical Storm Jose’s best efforts to delay the nuptials. Thankfully, the storm abated and the celebration continued as planned. Katie is the daughter of Michelle and Kevin Clark of New Canaan. She graduated from Boston University and is the assistant director of events at The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones in New York City. Mark is the son of Maribeth Eckert and Dr. Dana Fortunato of Essex Fells, New Jersey. He graduated from Hobart & William Smith Colleges and works at CapRock Capital LLC in Rye, New York, as vice president of structured product sales trading. The couple resides in Greenwich.
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Up Close MICHAEL E. HANDLER
Mike Handler, a New Canaan resident and Stamford’s director of administration, makes his case for the GOP primary ballot for the office of governor of Connecticut
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ike Handler has never run for elected office before, and shudders at the label of politician. But this month, Stamford’s director of administration— essentially the city’s CFO— will try to push his way through a crowded field of hopefuls to make it onto the GOP primary ballot for governor. Handler, forty-seven, joined
city government in 2012, after a fourteen-year career as an investment manager at such companies as SAC Capital and Jefferies Asset Management. He’s running on his financial bona fides, and what he says is a record of cleaning up a mess left behind in the city by now-Governor (and former Stamford mayor) Dannel Malloy. That record includes negotiating the sale of the city-owned, money-losing nursing home then called Smith House; revamping the management of the city’s wastewater treatment plant; landing new union contracts that included significant benefit changes; and curbing policies that allowed for such moves as restructuring capital debt beyond the life expectancy of an initial investment. Looking ahead, Handler says he will bring the same philosophy to Hartford, where he believes the state’s financial pressures will allow him to reopen Malloy’s 2017 deals with the state union coalition known as SEBAC. Those deals gave employees job security through 2022 in exchange for concessions like a multi-year wage freeze to help salvage the state budget. “I don’t believe you are somebody’s friend by giving them benefits you have no intention of funding,” he declares.
Handler wants to instead take current employees out of the pension system entirely, replacing it with a “fully funded, fully portable” 401(k)-style plan. “No state has done it,” he acknowledges, but “no state has been in the position we are in.” He also hopes to negotiate changes to retiree pensions and give them health benefits that track those of current workers, saying those types of structural fixes—not tax increases—will put the state back on the road to prosperity. “We have more than enough revenue to run our state,” Handler says. “There’s room to reduce the income tax, there’s room to eliminate the estate tax, there’s room to reduce the corporate tax rate, there’s room to do all those things and still do great things in our state.” Other Handler positions include allowing for private financing of road repairs in exchange for revenue from tolls. Regarding gun control, he supports banning so-called “bump stocks” that allow a semi-automatic rifle to fire faster, but on the issue of school safety, he notes his support for adding state-funded school resource officers in districts that want one. Handler believes such bootson-the-ground work will help identify “known behaviors that
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MIKE HANDLER FOR GOVERNOR 2018
The Handler Factor
by liz anderson steinke
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CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING
We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs. Weddings should have a current New Canaan, Darien or Rowayton family connection and must be submitted within three months of the wedding day. Regretfully, we are unable to run every wedding submitted. Send Information to: weddings@ncdmag.com New Canaan • Darien Magazine | 205 Main Street Westport, CT 06880
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Up Close
ON THE RUN This winter, Handler made it through the first major hurdle in the race by raising $250,000 in small-sum donations that would allow him to qualify for public financing of his campaign. To make the primary ballot, he now needs to win the support of 15 percent of the delegates at the state GOP convention at Foxwoods May 11 to 12, or tackle the more difficult task of collecting signatures of 2 percent of the state’s registered Republican voters by mid-June. His rivals include somewhat better-known figures like Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, State Senator Toni
Boucher of Wilton and former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, a 2014 candidate for state treasurer. GOP strategist Liz Kurantowicz, of Fairfield says a crowded GOP field will make it more difficult—but not impossible—for a newcomer like Handler to stand out. “I think to separate yourself from the pack you have to offer solutions, and you have to talk about the issues that are affecting people every day, and you have to connect with people emotionally,” she says. Some have suggested Handler’s message of can-do fiscal conservatism, paired with more socially moderate positions like being prochoice, might make him a better general election sell
“There’s room to reduce the income tax, there’s room to eliminate the estate tax, there’s room to reduce the corporate tax rate, there’s room to do all those things and still do great things in our state.” —Mike Handler than a primary hopeful, but Kurantowicz says success is what the GOP is looking for. “More than anything, people want to win,” she says. “If you can show yourself as someone who has the ability to win, I think they’re all ears.”
ON THE JOB
top: Handler with his wife, Sarah, and their daughters, Spencer, Easton, Charlotte and Gray above: Handler making his case to supporters
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A native of New Jersey, Handler holds an MBA from Columbia University and lives in New Canaan with his wife and four daughters, ages eighteen months to seventeen. He is a longtime EMT and former ambulance corps chief who has served since 2011 as the town’s volunteer emergency management director. New Canaan Fire Chief Jack Hennessey, who has known Handler about a decade, calls him “a man of very high integrity. “He’s confident, he’s courageous and he’s focused—he’s motivated to do good work,” the chief adds. “He’s a pleasure to work with.” Another big fan is Arthur
Selkowitz, the driving force behind Stamford’s Mill River Collaborative and a selfdescribed “pretty staunch Democrat.” Selkowitz says Handler has been “a huge breath of fresh air” in city government. “He’s smart, he’s pragmatic, he’s a problem solver,” he says. “If I need anything to get done in the city, and to cut through bureaucracy, I go to Mike because he gets it done and he’s a man of his word. “The state can’t afford another four to six years of just patching over the problems; we really have to confront them, and I think Mike is best able to do that,” adds Selkowitz. Handler says he’s confident that he’ll be on the Aug. 14 ballot, and that state Republicans will come to see him and his record as their best hope for blue-state success come fall. “I’m the one candidate who’s not campaigning to get the job, I’m campaigning to do the job,” he quips.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MIKE HANDLER FOR GOVERNOR 2018
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THE
GUIDE
MORE THAN 50 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER PLAY with the family, EXPLORE historic haunts, SAVOR what’s good, MEET with your mates, INDULGE your senses and MOVE it by liz anderson steinke
i l l u st r at i o n s b y k at h l e e n g o d b o l d
As the weather warms, take the family outdoors. Fun is in the air.
Market and go exploring up the coastline. Or try stand-up paddleboard classes or paddleboard yoga at the Darien YMCA.
FUN AT FARM CREEK
The Farm Creek Nature Preserve is a 16-acre gem. Kids can explore and Mom and Dad can enjoy the views. That it was saved from development and made public, “is extraordinary,” says one insider. “I get misty thinking about it.”
CARNIVAL TIME
The big elementary school fundraiser in Darien in May–the Hindley Happening—is the place for Ferris wheel fanatics, while New Canaan’s St. Mark’s Episcopal Church hosts the annual May Fair to raise outreach funds. The Rowayton Civic Association’s annual River Ramble festival, set for July 14 in Pinkney Park, includes a raw bar, kids’ games and pony rides.
CHILL OUT
The Darien Ice House, Twin Rinks and Chelsea Piers in Stamford and the SoNo Ice House in Norwalk all offer year-round public skating times.
CULTURE FIX
PLAYGROUND PERKS
Theater buffs can have A Midsummer Night’s Dream at this year’s Shakespeare on the Sound at Pinkney Park in June and July. The Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s 2018 season includes Kiss Me Kate and the Taming of the Shrew, while the Town Players of New Canaan perform year-round. The Darien Arts Center offers classes and performances.
Darien’s Weed Beach playground offers great views plus water play and a snack bar, while the smaller play area behind McGuane Field has a compact layout with baby bucket swings. In New Canaan, a major fundraising effort is under way to help the town improve the popular playground at Mead Park.
ROOM TO CREATE
MUSIC, AL FRESCO
FLOAT SOME FUN
Rent a kayak or paddleboard from Downunder Kayaks at Darien’s Weed Beach or behind Rowayton
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Try the New Canaan Library’s Maker Lab, the TEA room at the Darien Library (Technology, Engineering and the Arts) geared to kids in grades 3-5, or Darien’s Digital Media Lab to get creative with the latest technology, including 3-D printers. Or sign out STEM toys from Darien Library.
CULTURE CARD Play the day away at Bayley Beach, where residents can make use of the playground, basketball court, volleyball area—and the sand and surf, of course.
Another great library perk: museum passes for free or at a discount. Both the Darien and New Canaan libraries offer local favorites like the Maritime Aquarium and Beardsley Zoo, plus great choices further afield like the MoMA in New York City.
MELANI LUST
It’s time for summer concert series—Darien Summer Nights on Fridays at Grove Street Plaza, Waveny Summer Concerts Wednesdays in Waveny Park in New Canaan, and the Rowayton Summer Music Festival at Bayley Beach and Pinkney Park on select Wednesdays and Sundays, kicking off June 24. The Darien Recreation Department also offers family concerts at Weed Beach on Wednesdays in June.
The town’s youth hit the books at the Rock School, seen here circa 1895
Make historic discoveries in your own backyard NEW CANAAN
Nancy Geary of the New Canaan Historical Society suggests these four fun stops to learn more about the town’s varied history.
GORES PAVILION IN IRWIN PARK
This mid-century modern house, designed by “Harvard Five” architect Landis Gores, was built in 1960 as the pool house for prominent attorney John Irwin and his wife, Jane Watson, the daughter of the founder of IBM. The pool is gone, but the structure—with furnishings by Jens Risom—is listed on the register for Connecticut Historic Places. The Historical Society oversaw the preservation efforts and maintains the building. It is open MayOctober, Fridays-Sundays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. or by appointment.
POWERHOUSE THEATER IN WAVENY PARK
In 1896, Thomas Hall put together ten tracts of land and transformed them into a summer estate of 280 acres with a large home and other buildings, including a power plant and a stable. The family of Lewis Lapham, the subsequent owner, sold the property to the Town of New Canaan in 1967, and the power plant became the home of the Town Players of New Canaan.
MONUMENT TO CHIEF PONUS
Located at the intersection of Ponus Ridge and Davenport Ridge roads is a granite gravestone that reads, “Erected by the Historical Society and the Ponus Tribe No. 31 of Red Men of New Canaan marks the home and the traditional tomb of Ponus Sachem of Rippowams.” Ponus was the first known owner of the land in that area and the leader of the Ponus tribe.
SELLECKS CORNERS CHAPEL
Built in 1851, this chapel at 11 Barnegat Road was opened as a Methodist Church. Edwin Selleck, one of three brothers, owned a cooper shop and served as the first minister. The congregation was disbanded in 1942; the chapel is now private.
DARIEN
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Head up Goodwives River Road, stopping at the plaque commemorating George Washington’s travels through Darien at the intersection with Old Kings Highway South.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Visit the First Congregational Church at 14 Brookside Rd., the site of the most famous Tory raid in Darien. Over forty colonists, including the Reverend Moses Mather— an influential patriot—were taken hostage during an afternoon church service in July 1781.
Lauren Swenson, executive director of The Mather Homestead Foundation, suggests these Revolutionary War sites, inspired by Louise Hall Tharp’s young adult adventure novel Tory Hole.
BATES-SCOFIELD HOUSE
RING’S END BRIDGE
Head north to visit the newly opened Mather Homestead at nineteen Stephen Mather Road. This 1778 home, which offers tours by appointment, was built far from the waterfront so that the raiders would not find it. (While that didn’t work, the raiders did miss the hiding spot for some of the silver.)
In 1778, Darien was known as Middlesex Parish and the heart of commercial life was on the Ring’s End Bridge waterfront. Stand on the bridge and imagine what it might have felt like to see Tory raiders and smugglers approaching across Long Island Sound.
Head to the Darien Historical Society to tour its Bates-Scofield House and learn about colonial life. Ask about the secret passage.
MATHER HOMESTEAD
The Little Red Schoolhouse on Carter Street was built in 1865. It operated until 1957 and was the last of New Canaan’s 11 one-room schoolhouses. Pupils paid tuition until 1868, when the legislature voted that all schools should be free. The town provided minimal supplies and paid teachers $16 per month. Tours through The Historical Society.
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Luxuriate in time saved, a home-cooked meal, nature’s bounty or a bite at a favorite eatery.
your friends, with a growing foothold in Fairfield County. For some al fresco fun, families in the know call Heights Pizza, which will deliver to the picnic tables at Weed Beach in Darien.
COFFEE KLATCH
Stop and Shop’s Peapod and “Shoprite from Home” offer delivery or local pickup on food orders. Other options include FreshDirect and newcomer Instacart, which will bring you the goods from Stew Leonard’s, Whole Foods, Fairway and Petco.
RESTAURANT SCENE
Catch the organic and ultra-fresh food trend at Farmer’s Table and Baldanza’s in New Canaan or go for tried-and-true classics like Sails in Rowayton, Cava in New Canaan, or Scena, Cesco’s Trattoria or The Goose in Darien. Ethnic fare foodies like Coromandel for Indian and Little Thai Kitchen in Darien, while New Canaan newcomer Hashi Sushi comes highly recommended.
FAMILY EATS
Millane says her toddler’s favorite is the Driftwood Diner on Post Road in Darien. Other family-friendly standbys locals swear by include Meatball & Co., Estia’s, Louie’s and Bodega in Darien, and Locali in New Canaan.
DINNER ON WHEELS
Those apps that make city living so easy—think Seamless, GrubHub, DoorDash and UberEats—are still
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DINNER IS READY
Pick up ready-made meals during the week at Four Forks in Darien or Michael Joseph’s Catering by the Darien Library. Or try the wellstocked prepared food sections at Palmer’s Market in Noroton Heights and Garelick and Herbs in New Canaan.
FARM FRESH
The Darien Farmer’s Market runs Wednesdays from May to November in the Goodwives Shopping Center. The New Canaan Farmer’s Market is Saturdays from April to December in the Old Center School Parking Lot off Main. Farm to table was never easier.
SPEED-DIAL MR. SOFTEE
Everyone’s favorite local ice cream truck operator will make impromptu house calls in Darien. Dial (203) 434-8608 to have him swing by your street.
RECIPE SWAP
Feast your eyes on the Facebook group New Canaan Moms Cooking and Baking, where locals share their favorite recipes like herbed crepes with shrimp or slow-cooker jambalaya.
JULIE BIDWELL
Darien’s Upper Crust Bakery Café offers a fenced-in area where kids can play while you sip, while Neat is the go-to for coffee purists. Cynthia Millane, a former Brooklynite and a fan, says: “They are doing all the right things to meet the expectations of coffee snobs and run-of-the-mill coffee drinkers.” Zumbach’s is a New Canaan favorite (tip: bring your own cup and you only pay for a small). Or for a brew with a view try the back deck at Rowayton Market.
GROCERIES TO-GO
For child-friendly fare, longtime New Canaan resident Alison Baier Totaro recommends Spiga (pictured here). “It has large old-school booths, an open kitchen and a warm and friendly staff that know me by name. … [My daughter] loves the lobster mac and cheese and I love the butternut squash gnocchi.”
Don’t get stuck in a social rut. It’s time to branch out. Join for a good cause or to make new friends. DO GOOD
OPUS in Darien supports the local charity Person-to-Person, including an annual red “Balloon Day” to send disadvantaged kids to summer camp. Other great options for giving back include the Community Fund of Darien, the Young Women’s League of New Canaan, and the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk, which spans the region. Interested in a monetary gift? Check out Impact Fairfield County, which pools individuals’ $1,000 gifts to make six-figure grants to area nonprofits.
KID CABAL
MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers, meets every other Wednesday at the Noroton Presbyterian Church. Jackie Nevin, who moved to Darien two and a half years ago after living as a longtime expat in England, says of it: “An amazing group of moms, (with) childcare provided,
high-quality speakers and meaningful conversation. Hands down the best decision I made when I first moved to town.” The Darien Community Association’s wide range of offerings and speakers includes once-a-month “Mom’s Morning In” kid-friendly events. In Rowayton, “any newcomer should definitely join the Rowayton Parents Exchange; it’s a great way to meet people,” says Pamela Garrity, a four-year resident. The group offers a packed slate of events from September to June for parents of young children.
NIGHT OUT
Hot tickets for the over-21 set include the RCA’s Comedy Night in May and fall Oktoberfest, as well as Darien’s BigGER Rig Gig, a food truck themed party in the fall to benefit the work of OPUS.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Moms in the know share advice and trade resources on Facebook on the New Canaan Moms site (limited to residents) and the page Moms of Darien (& nearby) CT. Another great Facebook group is MovetoDarien.com Referrals and Advice, founded by two local realtors. (One tip: If the question has likely been asked before, use the
‘search’ function first to find earlier posts on the topic.)
SITTERS, SOLVED
Have a sick kid but an important meeting? Babysitter canceled and now you’re stuck? Nannies as Needed and the Everything Home and Family Domestic Staffing Agency offer pre-screened childcare help on an emergency or longer-term basis along with other services like personal assistants.
NEW IS SO YOU
The Newcomers Club of New Canaan has been introducing people to town and each other since 1957 and includes nearly 500 families at any time. “People who have lived here for decades still say their friends from Newcomers are some of their best friends because they sort of went through the mill together of getting settled, getting organized,” says current Newcomers’ president Claire Foster. The YWCA of Darien/Norwalk has a newcomers group (and associated email listserv) among its many divisions, and both organizations offer events for couples, moms, working women and others. Try their supper clubs (or the YWCA’s popular Wine Tasters club) to be matched with other couples for periodic get-togethers.
The Burbio app aggregates a customizable list of events from local groups like the town library and your child’s school—check in often to see what’s up. Like a good neighbor, the Nextdoor app has blockspecific intel on missing pets, backyard BBQs or a good last-minute babysitter.
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Primp. Pamper. Shop. Take a break and do what relaxes you. Your body and mind will thank you.
Aetheria Spa, founded by Beth McCarthy, uses organic ingredients such as rich coconut oils and cocoa for its freshly prepared masques—calories not included.
BEAUTY ROUTINE
Insiders call aesthetician Nancianne Warren in Darien a “secret weapon” for brows to facials to microneedling to ultraviolet lights. Haircut hot spots include Jaafar Tazi in New Canaan and Lanphier in Darien. Salon Etre in SoNo may look luxe, but its services are tres reasonable. Mani/pedi needs? Try Hollywood Nails in New Canaan or newcomer To and From Nails in Darien. Banana Nails in Norwalk will serve you coffee; opt for the extra massage time, which is totally affordable and well worth it.
PAMPER YOURSELF
Inner Light in Darien is notable for its full-spectrum infrared saunas and holisitic wellness self-care products. Carefoot Reflexology in SoNo earns raves for its pricing, professionalism and services.
PAINTINGS WITH PURPOSE
Pick up a little something for your walls at the annual art show to benefit the Community Cooperative Nursery School in Rowayton, set for May 31 this year.
SHOP LOCAL
SIDEWALK SALES
Don’t miss the days for bargains from your favorite local boutiques and family-friendly events. The Darien Sidewalk Sale starts July 12; New Canaan Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale is July 13 and 14.
TREASURE HUNT
Find a bargain and feel good doing it at the DCA Thrift Shop (your buys benefit the Darien Community Association) or the New Canaan Thrift Shop (for the Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County). Darien residents can unload and acquire cast-off books, sports equipment, housewares, small furniture and more at Darien’s Recycling & Refuse Center’s Swap Shop.
JULIE BIDWELL
This is the land of well-curated boutiques. Try She-la la in New
Canaan, or Everything is Rosey, Brown & Co., and Kirby & Company in Darien. Want an especially beachy vibe? Sail into Darien’s The Dock Shop.
Andrew Stephanou Salon & Spa in Darien offers indulgent treatments for both ladies and gents. Leave your stress at the door. Invigorate and revitalize with an exotic salt glow with lime and ginger; lose yourself in a healing stone massage; or get glowy, radiant skin with a vitamin-packed facial. Relax and say ahhh.
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BARRE NONE
Barre—a combination of ballet, Pilates and yoga—is a popular fitness trend in the area. Try it out at Oxygen Fitness or Go Figure in New Canaan, and Pure Barre or The Bar Method in Darien.
STRETCH YOURSELF
Need to loosen some sore muscles? Lymbr, a “personalized stretching studio,” opened its first Connecticut outlet in Darien last
Heidi Freyer leads a Pilates class at JoyRide in Darien.
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summer. “I love how many wellness options have popped up in Darien over the past couple years,” says one Lymbr fan, Sarah Evans Thelen, a NYC transplant and mom of two who also likes Kaia Yoga, Equinox and Darien Pilates for her fitness fixes. JoyRide Darien offers Sculpt and Pilates, for getting long and strong.
Rowayton on South Beach, up Witch, up Wilson to Bluff to Westmere. Runners looking for more hands-on training can try the Waveny Running Club, which meets Tuesday mornings at the park for weekly coaching by Jim Gerweck; $5 a session, contact jim@clubct.org.
SET THE PACE
Prefer to travel on two wheels? Stop by Danny’s Cycles, a popular local chain that recently opened a shop at 1950 Boston Post Road in Darien. Manager Ed Mantaring Jr. said Danny’s plans to offer beginner and intermediate group rides pushing off from the store on Sunday mornings through summer; check the website for details.
Steve Norris, owner of the Runner’s Roost shop in Darien, suggests runners looking for a scenic and safe trot try the 2.5 mile perimeter run at Waveny Park in New Canaan or the low-traffic 1.6 mile loop on the Pear Tree Point peninsula in Darien. For just the right timing of flats and hills, head through
CYCLE OF LIFE
Tonya Vellotti, owner of the Pet Au Pair dog walking and boarding service and Darien resident, likes dog-friendly Waveny Park in New Canaan and Darien’s Cherry Lawn Park for walks, and says Rowayton is great for a spin around town: “It’s a really good loop and there’s places to park.” After a fun romp outside, be sure to pamper your pooch at Paws & Reflect in Darien.
JULIE BIDWELL
Get fit. Run fast. Hop on a bike. Stretch out. Whatever your choice, just do it.
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LASTING IMPRESSIONS Whitewashed brick exterior and the most elegant interior make this other-era majestic home feel like it belongs in the English countryside by malia frame
p h oto g r a p h s b y s ta c y b a s s
The home, with its whitewashed-brick exterior, calls to mind a majestic estate in the English countryside.
Deep green ivy adorns the exterior, recalling a more romantic, refined time, though the house was built in 2003 and finished in 2007. Flower-filled urns welcome visitors to the grand estate.
I
was astounded by the beauty of this property from the moment I entered the driveway,” explains Robert Rizzo, owner of Cobble Court Interiors based in New Canaan. Though it looks to be from another time, this stately residence reminiscent of an English country estate was built in 2003 and finished in 2007. When Rizzo was called in to decorate, he knew he’d found something special. “The owners of this home are wonderful, and their taste level is spectacular,” he says. “The living room came about because I had just finished decorating the breezeway and patio areas,” he explains. “I walked inside and saw that they didn’t have a coffee table or a place to set down a drink, so I asked when we could tackle this room.” The project soon got underway, and Rizzo created three separate seating areas within the large room, incorporating the couple’s collection
of antique furniture and two existing sofas in the design scheme. The aim was to invent a sophisticated and user-friendly space, with plenty of seating. The owners really wanted interiors that were beautiful and elegant, but also needed durability and comfort, to the point of having their six dogs and six cats welcome in each room. “This family’s home is stunning with a mix of special old and new pieces, but everything is designed for relaxing and enjoying, and all the fabrics are child- and pet-friendly,” he says. To evoke a current, sophisticated vibe in the living room, Rizzo used a soft, light blue silk and wool rug from JD Staron with a wide border of blues, grays and whites to unite the different seating areas. A vertical grand statement was made with silk striped panel drapes by Osbourne and Little. Rizzo worked mostly within a neutral palette of blues, grays and taupes, but chose some MAY/JUNE 2018 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN
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LEFT: Silk striped panel drapes by Osbourne and Little frame a light-filled window. RIGHT: The neutral palette of blues, grays and taupes in the living room are at once calming and inviting. Deep-blue club chairs offer a pop of color and whimsy, while a mix of old and new pieces creates an elegant yet warm and approachable space.
whimsical fabrics and textiles that would be fun and lighthearted while complementing the traditional and antique furniture. “I love all the little moments in this space,” says Rizzo. Examples include a grand piano and a custom curved sofa that fits just under a curved window, original to the home. The tufted sofa was recovered in a neutral Cowtan and Tout fabric, while an old French bench nearby received its own makeover in the form of a playful graphic print. “It’s gorgeous but a little lighthearted,” Rizzo states. For a colorful punch, the designer found a pair of deep-blue mohair club chairs that are “bold, incredible and fun, like my client,” and placed them in front of the owners’ antique sideboard, which holds their collection of traditional blue and white china. Accents like a pair of solid crystal lamps work with the couples’ delicate crystal sconces and add to the formal essence of the room, also evident in the
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detailed mouldings and intricate millwork on the walls and ceiling. Rizzo was a big fan of making this room feel warm and look collected over time, and one way he achieves this is by mixing different colored metals. A circular glass-top coffee table by John Boone, for example, has bronze legs, the drapery hardware is silver, and the legs of a shiny mother-of-pearl console by Ironies are gold, yet all the hues blend together. Accents of gold also appear in the frames of most of the artwork. “My client tends to buy things because she loves them, and such is the case with the mix of art,” says Rizzo, noting the surprising combination of traditional and modern pieces. Among the family’s special treasures are a Donald Sultan black-and-white oil painting entitled “Mimosa” that hangs above the fireplace, and a duo of metal wire horse statues by artist Peter Busby that were prototypes for life-size outdoor
Outside, the lightweight wrought iron furniture can be moved around and reconfigured to accommodate various activities and spontaneous, large gatherings. Designed for three-season entertaining, the outdoor space is as liveable as it is functional. Its idyllic surroundings—rolling hills and restored horse barn—provide a welcome backdrop.
sculptures. “This room was about creating a feeling and not just choosing individual furnishings,” explains Rizzo. “My clients love to entertain, and now they use this room to host everything from baby showers to Christmas parties,” he says. The result is a bright, refined and stylish space that the whole family can enjoy. In addition to updating the living room interiors, Rizzo was responsible for creating a seamless flow from this room through a breathtaking outdoor breezeway to a stone patio. This is Rizzo’s favorite spot as, “it’s three-season so my client can be out there all the time.” Because the owners love spending time outside with family and friends, Rizzo chose simple white wrought iron furniture by Janus et Cie that is minimalist, lightweight, and can be moved around and reconfigured, depending on the activity. Scalamandre Flower Power fabric adds a punch of color on a lounge
chair and in throw pillows scattered around the area. “The client is fun-loving, so I played to her youthful essence with this colorful graphic fabric,” he explains. The designer also added multiple side tables that may be moved around or clustered together to accommodate a large group. Just beyond this outdoor oasis you’ll notice a pool, a romantic pergola covered by wisteria, and a nineteenth-century horse barn that was restored when the couple built the home. The idyllic stables, as well as the rolling hills of the property can be seen from both the living room and the outdoor living space. Amid the lush, green landscaping, the scene reminds you of a tranquil beauty that feels rare these days. “Every detail of this home is impressive,” remembers Rizzo, “but I truly love the owners’ detailed, down-toearth style, which will be relevant for years to come.” MAY/JUNE 2018 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN
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Anxıous Anxious Anxious Anxious Anxious The
Generation
The social-media generation shares more than ever—yet today’s teens are hiding a crushing amount of fear
ISTOCK.COM@PIOTR MARCINSKI
by t i m ot h y d u m as
The
Anxıous
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H
ere at The Depot, a popular teen center in Darien, Justin Carver*, a high school senior with a mop of dark curls, is sitting in a diner-style booth, fidgeting, scratching, tapping his foot. He never sits still. Especially not now, as he recounts the first day of his junior year at Darien High School, the day anxiety overwhelmed him. “I was like, ‘I’m not anxious, I’m just sick. First day of school— just relax.’ But I was freaking out. So I went to school that morning, and then I went and yakked up in the bathroom. I was shaking, like, ‘I can’t do this.’ ”
Certain names have been changed to protect privacy.
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JUSTIN IS HARDLY ALONE. ABOUT 25.1 PERCENT OF YOUTHS 13 TO 18 SUFFER FROM ANXIETY disorders at the present moment, and 31.9 percent have ever suffered from them, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. On college campuses, anxiety is the top complaint of students seeking mental health services, having overtaken depression. In 2016 the American College Health Association found that 62 percent of students reported feeling “overwhelming anxiety” in the past year, up from 50 percent in 2011. “Twenty percent of college freshmen are utilizing psychiatric services—that’s gone up exponentially,” says Meghan Skelton, a social worker at Weston’s high school and middle school. “By the time they graduate, 50 percent are accessing some sort of mental health services at college.” Over the past decade, high schools have witnessed a troubling rise in the number of students who, like Justin, get so anxious they can’t bring themselves to go. Psychiatrists call the phenomenon “school refusal” or
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“school avoidance.” While anxiety disorders generally are quite treatable, says Dylan Kollman, author of Solving the Anxiety Dilemma (2016) and founder of the Anxiety Institute of Connecticut in Westport, “school refusal can be difficult—it’s a sticky problem.” Kristin Hunter*, whose daughter, Caroline*, left Staples High School last year when anxiety overpowered her, likens school refusal to “grooves in a record” that deepen as the missed days pile up. “The longer you wait, the harder it is,” she says. Kristin shows us a photo of a fit, attractive sixteen-year-old with a radiant smile. “As a parent, it’s confusing. My daughter will go on stage and be in a play. But when she’s walking down the hallway or goes into a store on Main Street, she thinks everyone’s looking at her and negatively judging her.” (Caroline has since enrolled at a small private school, where she is faring better. Kristin hastens to note that Staples was “amazing” in their sensitivity to the problem: “They deal with a lot of this, you can tell.”)
Panic attacks have also become routine in schools, sending kids to the nurse’s office or worse. “I would hyperventilate and pass out and have to go to the hospital,” says Lauren Quinn*, a classmate of Justin’s whom we also met at The Depot. “I’d have probably four or five panic attacks a week. It started when I was in seventh grade. Since I’ve gotten older and worked with my doctors, I can now feel them coming and I can handle them better. But every now and then they’ll still get really bad.” Justin thinks that anxiety is far more common among his peers than the adults of Fairfield County know: “I’d say like nine out of ten kids have it.” Lauren agrees. “It’s a huge problem,” she says. “If you talk to any student, I guarantee they’ll be like, ‘I have anxiety.’ There are so many people who don’t get it diagnosed and are suffering from it.” “Over the last forty years, we’ve seen a 700-percent increase in anxiety, most of it coming over the past ten to fifteen years,” says Dan Villiers, cofounder of the Anxiety Institute in Greenwich, an intensive day-treatment program for adolescents, and of Mountain Valley Treatment Center in New Hampshire, the first residential treatment center for adolescent anxiety in the United States. The experts are calling this strange turn in the culture an “anxiety epidemic.” But what does that mean? Anxiety has always been with man as an anticipatory response to danger: Confronted with a tiger in the grass, or merely the idea of one, he readied to fight or flee. The same neurochemical response (emanating largely from the amygdala, a center deep in the brain that regulates fear but also pleasure) helps modern man rise alertly to the task at hand, whether in the classroom or on the playing field. “Anxiety should, in theory, have an adaptive function,” notes Howard Weiner, a psychiatrist at Silver Hill Hospital for Mental Health and Addiction in New Canaan. “We all know that we need a certain amount of anxiety on a test—but too much is bad, and too little isn’t right, either.” The question of too much anxiety among too many people began to occupy students of the brain about 150 years ago. In 1881 George Miller Beard, a neurologist from Montville, Connecticut, published American Nervousness, a book that, though it got much wrong (hay fever a “nervous disorder”?), managed to touch on something important: “The chief and primary cause of this…very rapid increase of nervousness is modern civilization.” Genetics, capricious parenting and family
strife contribute to anxiety in children—but these factors have always been with us. Beard was talking about the massive technological and cultural change that was then spreading across the land. Train travel, electric light, the telegraph and mass media were still fairly new, and the automobile and powered flight were just around the corner. The French writer Charles Péguy wrote in 1913: “The world has changed less since the time of Jesus Christ than it has in the last thirty years.” Before now, however, no anxiety epidemic had ever been recorded among America’s young. Where did it come from? The answer is complex. Ours is a moment marked by political contentiousness and mass shootings, which, teachers and social workers tells us, have penetrated school walls as noxious psychic forces. “For kids to feel unsafe about going to school, and teachers to feel unsafe going to work, is a big deal,” Meghan Skelton says. (Staples had dealt with a serious threat the week of our interview.) While granting these influences, the experts we consulted train their focus on two other twenty-firstcentury phenomena: a vastly ramped-up culture of achievement, centered on the golden ticket of admission to a prestigious college and the good life it promises; and kids’ near-umbilical attachment to the smartphone. As it turns out, the two are intimately related.
UNDER PRESSURE Suniya Luthar is a psychology professor at Arizona State known for her study of youths who attend high-achieving schools in affluent communities across the country. In twenty years of researching such schools (including Staples and Wilton high schools), Luthar has found serious maladjustment in all of them, without exception. “They should be better than national norms given their resources, right? If anything, these kids should be happier. Not only are they not happier, but in every single case, there’s at least one if not more areas in which there’s significant concern—whether it’s depression, anxiety, eating problems, self-harm or substances. It’s stunning.” She contends that pressure is the core of the problem— “the intense amount of pressure these kids experience to excel in just about everything they do,” Luthar says. “The question is, where does this pressure come from? And the
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answer is, where does it not come from?” “All of my friends, they feel like they’re under a microscope and have to perform at such a high level,” Lauren Quinn says. “It applies everywhere: sports, school, music, being in a club. Everyone’s worried about, like, ‘I have to be better than I was before, I have to be better than the next person.’ That’s when the anxiety kicks in, because you feel like you’re never doing quite enough. ‘I only got a B. I should have gotten an A.’ ” The kids admit they put some pressure on themselves. But Luthar says they’re also internalizing a cultural condition they can’t escape. Justin puts it starkly: “I think the culture of Darien is that the weak fall to the bottom and the strong rise to the top. New Canaan, too. Wilton. Fairfield County. It’s hard to meet the expectation around here. There’s so much that can upset you in an environment like this, where it’s like, ‘you’ve got to be the best to be happy.’ It’s almost impossible not to be anxious, you know?” Janice Marzano, who heads The Depot and is a beloved confidante of Darien’s young, remarks, “Kids are playing sports they don’t even like, just to get into college.” Students describe their days as being relentlessly mapped out. Lauren rises at 5 a.m. for physical therapy and does not stop until she turns out the light at night, after completing her homework. “There’s literally no time to be a kid,” she says. Her classmate Maria Price* says she’ll “step back” and put off her work when she’s overwhelmed, “which makes it even more stressful in the end.” Is gaining admittance to college really much harder these days? It’s a contested issue. But this much is true: The applicant pool has grown dramatically as colleges seek more diverse and more global student bodies; students are applying to more schools than they used to; and acceptance rates at the best schools have shrunk by as much as half over the past twenty years. “When I applied to Kenyon,” Dan Villiers says, “the acceptance rate was something like 55 percent. Now it’s 20 or 25 percent. I don’t think I could get in today.” (Many of the teens Villiers treats, not surprisingly, come to him with “fear about the future, fear of failure, doubts about themselves”—a complex of worries called generalized anxiety disorder.)
HIDDEN CRISIS At one point in the conversation with Lauren, she pauses and waves her hand before her eyes, checking a flow
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of tears. A friend of hers committed suicide, she says. “In a letter, she kind of explained it all. She felt she was letting her family down, and letting her friends down, because she just wasn’t good enough.” Lauren furrows her brow at the thought of it. “She was getting B-pluses in everything. She was a really smart girl. Everyone loved her. If you’d met her, you would have never thought there was this darkness inside of her. It’s so sad to think that if she was born like, twenty years ago, she never would’ve had the issues that she had.” This tragedy of this young woman is part of an alarming trend. Since 2007, teen suicides have been climbing steadily, the boys’ rate rising by a third, and the traditionally stable girls’ rate doubling. From 2008 to 2015, the number of children hospitalized for suicidal thoughts also doubled, with October, not surprisingly, being the peak admissions month. (But are they admitted for anxiety or depression? Often the two are “co-morbid,” or occurring together, and not neatly separable.) The uphill suicide graph correlates eerily with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 and the saturation of smartphones generally by 2012—at which point the graph turns steeper still. Phones and suicide? Last year, California psychologist Jean Twenge published a groundbreaking book titled iGen, which documents a powerfully suggestive link between phones—the obsessive, time-devouring use of social media on them—and anxiety and depression. Twenge writes, “The sudden, sharp rise in depressive symptoms occurred at almost exactly the same time that smartphones became ubiquitous and in-person interaction plummeted.” “I was a little skeptical at first,” says Dylan Kollman. “It felt a little old-mannish to me: ‘Oh, it’s TV. Oh, it’s video games, or rap music.’ But her data is really strong. And you just kind of feel it with kids, that there’s something unhealthy about unadulterated access to these phones.” Why should this be so? With the advent of smartphones, multiple studies say, young people are spending more time alone than they used to; their “real” adventures out in the neighborhood, among flesh-and-blood people, have become rare; mediating their worlds so incessantly through the smartphone inhibits their maturity; and constant digital stimulation weakens their ability to concentrate on tasks that require sustained attention, not to mention their ability to cope with uncomfortable emotions like boredom. Tracey Masella, a social worker at Silver Hill who deals extensively with adolescents, observes, “We’re breeding kids who have no tolerance for discomfort, whether it be boredom or anxiety or sadness or rejection or failure.” »
Treating Anxiety Disorders THERAPISTS SAY MOST TYPES OF ANXIETY ARE FAIRLY EASY TO TREAT—ASTONISHING NEWS TO THOSE WHO CAN’T STOP WORRYING OR WHO SUFFER REPEATED BOUTS OF SWEATY, WHITE-KNUCKLED TERROR.
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IMMERSION
“The whole secret of treating anxiety— which 95 percent of people don’t do—is learning how to increase it, not decrease it,” says Dan Villiers, founder of the Anxiety Institute in Greenwich. “Treating anxiety is immersing yourself in it.” What does he mean? Picture whatever situation lies at the heart of your anxiety—flying in a plane or attending a class that requires speaking. Although you’re in no physical danger, your brain sprays out its danger hormones, causing you deep dread or outright panic. No time soon will you expose yourself again to this danger, you tell yourself. Thus begins avoidance, a word you hear a lot from anxiety therapists. “People come here because of anxiety, but it’s really the way they avoid anxiety that causes the problems,” says Dylan Kollman, a therapist who heads the Anxiety Institute of Connecticut in Westport (no relation to the Greenwich institute).
CBT
One especially reliable anxiety-reducing process is cognitive behavioral therapy. Think of CBT as a two-part affair: talk therapy plus exposure therapy. The talk part isn’t designed to plunge you into Freudian murk, but to examine the irrational underpinnings of your anxiety—to fix the brain’s incorrect suppositions about danger stimuli. (Standing in front of a group of people won’t harm you, even though your brain’s on red alert.) The exposure part desensitizes you, step-by-step, to your over-active danger response. Some therapists, like Villiers, incorporate virtual reality devices as a way to prepare you to confront your realworld fear. Eventually, you leave the office for the “in vivo” part of your exposure therapy, in which you confront, with your therapist, the actual plane or classroom.
MEDICATION
The CBT process lasts a few weeks to a few months, and it can be costly. It works especially well with panic disorder and specific phobias. “The success rate for the treatment of panic disorder is 85 or 90 percent, and that’s without medication,” Kollman says. People with generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder also benefit from CBT, but the success rates are less clear-cut. Often these sufferers couple CBT with anxiety medications such as Xanax; the combination appears to work better than one or the other alone—if by “work better” we mean return people more frequently to their normal routines. Anxiety therapists tend to frown on medication or, at least, a medicationonly approach. It masks rather than fixes the problem. Meditation techniques, breathing exercises, and activities like art and equine therapy may also be part of the tool kit.
NEUROFEEDBACK
A recent arrival on the anxiety treatment scene is neurofeedback. Some years ago the medical establishment regarded it as quackish. Now it’s gaining respect as a treatment for ADHD, post-traumatic stress, anxiety and much else. The idea is that we can train the brain to produce its energy in a more harmonious way. Darien High student Justin Carver* (see main story) was initially skeptical, but after several treatments he believes that neurofeedback calms and focuses him. “This is literally me strengthening my brain,” he says, “so that I can healthily make thoughts in the day and I can healthily power down at night.”
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5 FACES OF ANXIETY Anxiety is a catch-all term. Therapists look to identify one of these specific problems:
1. PANIC DISORDER
is “a misfiring of your fear response,” says Westport therapist Dylan Kollman. “It’s a false alarm—it would be a real alarm if a cheetah were there.” Still, the fear is so acute that people feel as if they are going to die.
2. GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
is marked by feeling worried or on-edge and by an inability to escape negative thinking.
3. SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
or social phobia, the most common anxiety disorder, is characterized by a fear of social situations and, more specifically, by a fear of being unfavorably judged by others.
4. OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER has been given its own heading in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, like hand-washing.
5. POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
has also been given its own heading in the manual. It stems from traumatic experiences, like being attacked or witnessing violence, and therapists see little of it among teens.
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of disinviting guest speakers for fear of causing students “emotional injury,” to borrow a remarkable phrase used by Williams College’s student editorialists. Twenge writes, “If some people might be upset, the thinking goes, we’ll ban the speaker.”
SAFE DISTANCE This brew of high expectation and emotional frailty is bad enough. What makes it worse, though in ways we don’t yet fully understand, is smartphones’ power to amplify. (Who could have predicted the clout of the Tweet?) Lauren Quinn describes the smartphone world as a world of mirrors in which one is always found wanting. “It’s horrible—you see these people who look like supermodels. Even someone who goes to your school. They post a picture and you think it’s so cool, and everyone else loves it, you’re just like, ‘I want to be like that. I need to be skinnier. I need to do cooler things. I need to own nicer clothes.’ It just causes so much more unnecessary stress and anxiety.” The research indicates that Lauren’s feelings are widespread. “One thing our data is showing is that these kids think other people’s lives are always better than their own,” Suniya Luthar says. “ ‘My friends are happier than I am, more popular than I am, more successful in their love life.’ That aspect of social media is particularly damaging in terms of young people’s well-being.” This is to say nothing of cyber-bullying and the like, that not-so-brave new world where one can practice nastiness at a safe digital remove. Anyone would agree: Smartphones have their virtues. But Lauren has decided the vices outweigh them. She’s tired of the phones’ Pavlovian pull. “Literally the other day, I asked my mom for a flip phone,” she says. “I was like, ‘I don’t want my iPhone anymore.’ ” The engineers of Silicon Valley would applaud her. Justin Rosenstein, who helped create the “like” button for Facebook, banned himself from Snapchat—teens’ social app of choice—which he likens to heroin. Rosenstein is among a growing number of tech engineers who deem their own products unhealthy, a fact that should give us all pause. But there’s a deeper point to be made. Between the push to achieve and the compulsion to live digitally, the young are conditioned to fixate on outcomes and rewards—not on the pleasure of doing a thing, much less on the care of the soul. “It’s a hard way to live, if your
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Howard Weiner adds, “Something has changed in the expectation we have of getting through life without distress.” He notes a disconcerting paradox: smartphones are contributing to kids’ distress, yet the kids are turning to them to lessen the selfsame distress— like lab rats hitting the sugar lever. As Dan Villiers puts it: “They’re self-medicating through instant access to the smartphone. That’s a fact.” A broader point is that young people’s powers of resilience—of handling setbacks or uncomfortable situations—have seriously eroded. (The phones are but one cause. Masella also notes a shift in today’s parenting, whereby many parents’ reluctant to say “no” to their kids muddle the family’s authority structure, with chaotic results.) Jean Twenge mentions the new college habit
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An Evening of Luther Vandross Always & Forever American Idol winner performs all of Luther’s hits!
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Improv comedy from the troupe that launched Amy Poehler & more!
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2018 PANEL OF JUDGES
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Save the Date for the A-list Awards Gala! Wednesday, September 12 at the Palace Theatre in Stamford.
PRESENTING SPONSORS
sense of self-worth is all tied in with the splendor of your accomplishments,” says Luthar. Howard Weiner adds, “If that’s all you have, there’s not a lot to fall back on when you don’t succeed.” It’s touching to hear Lauren Quinn recall the presaturation days of her childhood: “We were lucky, because we were the last kids who didn’t grow up with smartphones—we had flip phones. So we got to play outside still.” The generation now in elementary school has never known a world in which people were not slaves to their gadgets. How will these children grow up? Count Dan Villiers among the concerned. “What’s so valuable in a child and an adolescent is to develop a sense of self-worth, self-confidence. And you do that by growing independence.” Too often we’re doing the opposite, he says. “We’re actually regressing them. We’re developing a generation of anxious and avoidant kids.” Changing the culture is, obviously, a tall order, since it involves “the entire ecosystem of kids” and then some, Meghan Skelton of the Weston schools says. “Everyone’s got to jump on board.” The schools do appear to be finding their footing as they recognize the enormity of the problem. Justin Carver says Darien High lightened his workload at critical times. Kristin Hunter recalls how Staples sent a small delegation to her house to delicately coax her daughter back to school, one class at a time. In 2013 the school’s guidance department launched the Staples Resilience Project in response to rising anxiety and depression; it’s designed to foster “emotional agility”—to help students gain a healthier perspective on inevitabilities like failure and rejection. Last year, Darien inaugurated Fitch Academy as an alternative high-school program for kids dealing with severe anxiety and related issues. And as schools put mental health and well-being at the forefront of their agendas, they turn increasingly to cutting-edge outfits like the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence in New Haven. The new emphasis on emotional skills (starting with the ability to understand one’s own emotions and to read others’ emotions) is hardly accidental: They are essential for healthy growth and learning, and yet numerous studies show they are under assault. Meanwhile, the hope is that students who need help will ask for it rather than suffer in silence. Consider Justin. “I’m feeling great,” he says, drumming the tabletop. “The anxiety still comes in little waves—but it used to be this big tsunami. Now, like Japan or New Orleans, we’re cleaning up, and sooner or later it’ll be a nice city again.”
5 TIPS FOR PARENTS
Having a child with an anxiety disorder can leave parents feeling overwhelmed, but therapists say these practical guidelines provide needed support.
1
Listen. In the hurly-burly of daily life, we may hear our kids without listening to them and, thus, miss their distress signals. Despite appearances, our kids want you to get beyond the monosyllables. So don’t just ask them how their day was; ask them what they think about things. “You know how friends can realize that something is wrong?” asks one Darien High School senior. “A parent could do that if they listen.” “Be curious, not furious,” advises Kristin Hunter,* a Westport mother whose daughter suffers from anxiety. “Ask them, in an empathetic tone, what they are worried about, what is keeping them from going. Try not to get mad or frustrated or ask what is wrong with them—that just shuts them down.” Finally, refrain from lecturing. “What they want,” says Weston schools social worker Meghan Skelton, “is to connect.”
2
Limit Screen time. This is a battle in every household, but the evidence is increasingly clear: social-media addiction leaves teens feeling less satisfied with their lives and more depressed and anxious. While social media can be great for connecting, it, ironically, leaves more kids feeling lonely and excluded (ask your teen about FOMO—fear of missing out). “When I take my daughter’s phone away, it’ll be twenty-four hours of hell—and then six days of bliss,” says Kristin Hunter. “Then she says, ‘I don’t feel as stressed. I don’t feel as much pressure to keep checking my phone.’” While they’re offline, have them read psychology professor Jean Twenge’s iGen, which warns of a
looming mental health crisis among our young. If they won’t read it, pin them to a chair and read choice passages aloud.
3
Encourage Good Habits. Do your kids exercise? Do they eat well? Do they go to sleep at a decent hour (social media often leads to nocturnal hours)? Do they get together—in person—with friends? These eternal good habits are among the things getting lost to digital addiction.
4
Lighten the Load. Between multiple AP courses, sports, clubs and volunteer work— the better to build an impressive college application—many kids feel they have too much on their plate and not enough time to discover, explore, imagine. The healthiest choice for your child might be to do less. Distressingly, mental health professionals tell us, it is often the parents who won’t let kids put on the brakes.
5
Understand. Sometimes a parent will view anxiety as a character weakness and encourage his child to “toughen up” or “snap out of it.” Greenwichbased anxiety therapist Dan Villiers’ own father took this view when Villiers suffered from social anxiety in his youth. But it’s misguided, he’ll tell you. Let’s remember that Thomas Jefferson suffered bitterly from anxiety; closer to home, so did Steve Young, the Greenwichraised Hall of Fame quarterback. Our anxious kids are battling a neurochemistry they cannot hope to defeat—not without guidance, tools, understanding and, in some cases, therapy.
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A F T E R TA L K B AY WAT E R P R O P E R T I E S MICHAEL AND SUE BODSON BREGAL INVESTMENTS EDGEHILL G R E E N W I C H H O S P I TA L GREENWICH MEDICAL SPA A M A N D A A N D B R YA N HANSON REGIONAL HOSPICE AND PA L L I AT I V E C A R E W E N D Y S TA P L E T O N R E Y E S A N D T H E S T A P L E T O N F A M I LY F O U N D AT I O N
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RANGE ROVER JAGUAR MARY JO AND BILL RIDDLE STERLING CARE STURGES RIDGE O F FA I R F I E L D (BENCHMARK COMMUNIT Y) SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING WAT E R M A R K W E L L S FA R G O P R I VAT E B A N K BARBARA ZACCAGNINI
COMMUNIT Y PA R T N E R S S TAT E M E N T L LC DIAGEO GERONIMO TEQUILA BAR & SOUTHWEST GRILL GWAY P R I N T I N G & GRAPHICS
KÔ TA , A M O H E G A N L D I ENTERPRISE
S p e c i a l Pe r f o r m a n c e b y ABBY MUELLER S TA R O F B E A U T I F U L: T H E C A R O L E K I N G M U S I C A L
F R I D AY, M AY 1 1 6 : 3 0 – 1 1 : 0 0 P. M .
RIVERSIDE YACHT CLUB 102 CLUB ROAD, RIVERSIDE Dinner in a Lounge Setting Dancing to What Up Funk! Silent and Live Auctions G o l d e n Ti c k e t R a ff l e
(T h e p e r f e c t t i m e f o r P U R P L E )
KUNJAN COLLECTIVE M O F F LY M E D I A , GREENWICH MAGAZINE PAUL MORELLI RICHARDS OF GREENWICH
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TRAVEL SOMMELIER, DARREN HUMPHREYS
INTERIOR DESIGNS
2018
HORSENECK WINES & LIQUORS, THERESA ROGERS
SHELL & BONES OYSTER BAR & GRILL
AMY AIDINUS HIRSCH
Celebrating Hope
W I N S TO N F LO W E R S
HELP THOSE IN NEED
CONNECTICUT PHARMACY ELENI AND PETER HENKEL
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LIVING
T H E B R I S TA L ASSISTED LIVING
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T H E A L Z H E I M E R ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N CO N N EC T I C U T C H A P T E R
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PRESENTING CHAMPION
AN EVENING TO REMEMBER
funding local programs, services and research
Fo r i n fo r m a t i o n a n d t i c ke t s : a l z . o r g /c t o r 8 6 0 . 8 2 8 . 2 8 2 8
BELIEVE IN A CURE
Celebrating Hope Sponsors
Don’t Miss This MAY/JUNE 2018
b y k at h r y n s at t e r f i e l d
dinner and dancing as well as live and silent auctions. Since its inception in 2013, this event has raised over $1 million to support the Association’s programs, services, advocacy efforts and research. 6:30 p.m. Riverside Yacht Club, 102 Club Rd., Riverside, riversideyc.org
Thurs. 24 BENEFIT
Show Off
Ox Ridge Horse Show Spectators and competitors from around the country attend this popular charity event, which has been a Darien tradition for more than ninety years. Proceeds benefit Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, a premier accredited center to benefit people with special needs and at-risk individuals. Ox Ridge Hunt Club, 512 Middlesex Rd., Darien, oxridge.com
MAY Tues. 1
CONTRIBUTED
BENEFIT
Laugh for Life This marquee New York City comedy event, hosted by the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, brings together hundreds of supporters. Special guest is comedian and
Domestic Violence Crisis Center Dr. Jackson Katz is the keynote speaker at this sixteenth annual luncheon. Funds raised will support DVCC SafeHouses and critical programs, all of which are offered free of charge. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Stamford Marriott, 243 Tresser Blvd., Dvccct.org
Thurs. 31 MOVIES
Greenwich International Film Festival The festival kicks off with the Opening Night Party, featuring a concert by Ms. Lauren Hill, film awards, cocktails and VIP activities. Enjoy four days of film, celebrity sightings and panel discussions. Greenwichfilm.org
ART storyteller Mike Birbiglia, a frequent contributor to This American Life and The Moth. 583 Park Ave., Manhattan, themmrf.org
Sat. 5 GALA
Living Art Awards Silvermine Arts Center’s evening of celebration honors visionaries for art. Enjoy cocktails seaside at 6:30 p.m., followed
by dinner, awards, an auction and dancing. Creative cocktail attire. Tokeneke Club, 4 Butlers Island Rd., Darien, silvermineart.org
Fri. 11
BENEFIT
Celebrating Hope This lively evening is the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter’s premier benefit in lower Fairfield County. Enjoy
CCNS Art Show & Sale This highly anticipated show brings together artwork from nationally and internationally known artists. The featured artist for 2018 is Norwalk-based pop artist, David Morico. There is an opening night gala on Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. The show runs through June 2. The Workshop of Black Bridge Motors, 314 Wilson Ave., South Norwalk, ccnsartshow.org
JUNE
familycenters.org, 203-869-4848, familycenters.org
ART
ARCHITECTURE
Sat. 2
National Geographic Photo Ark By photographer Joel Sartore, this exhibition features portraits of more than 6,000 creatures in 40 countries to date. It is a multiyear project to document every species living in wildlife sanctuaries and to inspire action through education. Through September 2. The Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr., Greenwich, brucemuseum.org
Sat. 9
Glass House Summer Party Enjoy an afternoon on the beautiful grounds of the Glass House. The forty-nine acre landscape comprises fourteen structures and features a permanent collection of twentieth-century painting and sculpture. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch and live entertainment. 12 to 4 p.m. 199 Elm St., New Canaan, theglasshouse.org
Thurs. 14
MUSIC
THEATER
Fri. 8
Sat. 23-24
London Calling Celebrate English elegance, style and culture at Family Centers’ premier fundraiser, at a private backcountry estate in Greenwich. All funds generated will directly support the health, education and human service programs that Family Centers provides. Please contact Laurie Molner with questions or table requests: lmolner@
The Great American Campout Spend the night at the New Canaan Nature Center, as part of the National Wildlife Federation’s Campout, a nationwide celebration of camping as a way to connect with nature. Enjoy a traditional campstyle barbecue dinner, a night hike and a campfire complete with S’mores. 144 Oenoke Ridge, newcanaan nature.org
The First Annual Rowayton Porch JAM It’s an afternoon of live music for a good cause, hosted by JAM Studio. Twelve Rowayton homeowners have donated their porches, where twelve bands will play throughout the afternoon. 12-4 p.m. All proceeds will go to providing art and music enrichment for inner city youth and the underserved. jamstudioct.org
BENEFIT
On Stage Shakespeare on the Sound presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The comedy is among the Bard’s most popular works for the stage. Daily shows (except Mondays) run through Sunday, July 1 in Rowayton’s Pinkney Park. Thursdays through Sundays, $20 adults, $10 seniors. Tuesdays and Wedsnesdays, donation only. shakespeareonthe sound.org
FAMILY
MAY/JUNE 2018 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN
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SWIM
BIKE
RUN CUMMINGS BEACH S TA M F O R D , C T
SAT JUN 23
5K RUN/KIDS TRIATHLON • FAMILY FEST
SUN JUN 24
RELAY/SPRINT/OLYMPIC TRIATHLON
Free and discounted registrations available. Register and learn more at www.KicItTriathlon.com. Money raised benefits Kids In Crisis, ensuring the well-being of children through vital 24-hour services, for 40 years.
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Thank you for making the Maritime Aquarium Gala a huge success!
30 th Anniversary Sponsors Nancy & Michael Herde Schuyler & Charlie Hinnant Newman’s Own Foundation Kit & Rob Rohn
Shipman & Goodwin LLP Trafigura Trading LLC Audrey & Ken Weil Louise & Michael Widland
HOME & HERD providing sanctuary for more than 20 years
Angelfish Sponsors Clay Fowler / Spinnaker Real Estate Partners Wendy & Richard Hokin Iris & Earl Mix
Sea Turtle Sponsors A.P. Construction Company Bankwell The Burnham Family / Hotel Zero Degrees Carolyn & Lee Caney Fairfield County Bank Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd The Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation Kate & Jim Hurlock
Little Pub Basil Mavroleon Kathy & Russ Mitchell O&G Industries, Inc. Purdue Pharma LP The Rich Foundation R. D. Scinto Inc. Elora & David Sweedler
Additional Supporters Kim & Richard Alexander Sandy & David Austin Bank of America Chubb Group Ann & Sandy Davies Emmakate & Leonard DiNardo The Erdmann Family Ann & Frank Gilmartin
Holzner Electric Construction The Karp Family Nancy & Fred Lione Northeast Generator People’s United Insurance Agency Tina Pray & Joe Lockridge USI Insurance Services Melissa & Mark Wilkerson
*As of April 1, 2018
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2018
THURSDAY
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Don’t miss the opportunity to capture the attention of 1,500 Gold Coast Consumers: • Gain unrivaled access to a discriminating audience of upscale, well-educated consumers • Create an integrated experiential marketing program to build brand loyalty among your client base • Generate word of mouth for your brand via our social media and website promotional support
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MOFFLY MEDIA’S
2018
Event Lineup Mark your calendars!
SPRING • SUMMER
7TH ANNUAL
B E ST BARTE N D E R C O NTE ST by
MAGAZINE
2018
June 13 Harbor Point Stamford
May 16
Greenwich Country Club Greenwich
July 19 Hilton Stamford
August 6 Delamar Greenwich Harbor Greenwich
FALL • WINTER
Darien’s
B E ST B A RTE N D E R awards September 12 Palace Theatre Stamford
CONTEST
2018
Presented by NEW CANAAN-DARIEN+ROWAYTON MAGAZINE
September 27 Nielsen’s Florist & Garden Shop Darien
December Westport
7TH ANNUAL
For more information and sponsorships please contact Laurinda Finelli at 203.571.1614 Want to see party pics, videos and more details about the 2018 events? Go to ilovefc.com/events
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ARTS & ANTIQUES Geary Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
AUTOMOTIVE
Land Rover Darien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT American Frameless . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Austin Patterson Disston Architects . . . 47 Frattaroli Development Group . . . . . . 45 Grand Entrance Gates . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 JP McHale Pest Management . . . . . . . 27 Neil Hauck Architects, P.C. . . . . . Cover 3
BUSINESS & FINANCE Cummings & Lockwood LLC . . . . . . . . 47 Davidson, Dawson & Clark LLP . . . . . . 69 GuardHill Financial Corp./Kimberly Weintraub & Michael Daversa . . . . . 13 People's United Bank Wealth Management . . . . . . . . . . . 41 UBS Financial Services Inc./ Shantz Mantione Group . . . . . . . . . 33
DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS BB Abode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Browne & Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 The Linen Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Nantucket Monogram . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
EDUCATION & CHILDREN New Canaan Country School . . . . . . . 72 Wiggles & Giggles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
ENTERTAINMENT 95.9, The Fox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 The Ridgefield Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . 97
EVENTS A-list Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
The Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter Sixth Annual Celebrating Hope 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Best of the Gold Coast . . . . . . . . . . 105 Darien's 3rd Annual Best Bartender . . . 81 Darien Chamber of Commerce Sidewalk Sales & Family Fun Days . . . . . . . . . 62 Darien Library Spring Fundraiser Scenes from the Silver Screen . . . . 102 Greenwich International Film Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Hope in Motion Walk & Run . . . . . . . . 97 Light a Fire 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 The Maritime Aquarium 30 Years Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Moffly Media's 2018 Event Lineup . . . 106 Navigators Stamford KIC/IT Races to Benefit Kids in Crisis/Swim Bike Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 New Canaan Nature Center Second Annual Lecture & Luncheon . . . . . 103 The Glass House Summer Party . . . . . 79 Young Women's League of New Canaan Kentucky Derby Party Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
FASHION Chou Chou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Everything is Rosey . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Mitchells/Richards . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3 Roundabout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Soleil Toile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Tina Dragone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Leary's Liquor Cabinet . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Louie's Italian Restaurant & Bar . . . . . . 63 The Mountain Valley Spring Water . . . . 67 Palmer's Darien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 5 The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood . . . 39 Roost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
HEALTH & BEAUTY Atria Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of Wilton LLC/Dr. Felipe Ordonez . . . . . 45 Memorial Sloan Kettering Physicians at Norwalk Hospital . . . . 15 Norwalk Hospital/Western Connecticut Health Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 OrthoConnecticut/ Coastal Orthopedics . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Paul D. Harbottle, D.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . 71 Stamford Health . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 2 Williams & Company . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
JEWELRY David Harvey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lux Bond & Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 New Canaan Fine Jewelers . . . . Cover 4, 7 Rolex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 4
LANDSCAPING, NURSERY & FLORISTS Earth Garden Flowers . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Earthscapes Landscape Management & Development Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Homefront Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
NONPROFIT
REAL ESTATE Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices . . . 31 William Pitt/Sotheby's International Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 William Raveis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SPORTS & FITNESS Exhale Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Pure Barre Darien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
WOMEN IN BUSINESS Alisa Bahl, PhD/OptumHealth . . . . . . . 51 ASHA by Ashley McCormick . . . . . . . . 58 Darby Fox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Emilie Rubinfeld/Carolina Herrera . . . . 50 Flavia Naslausky & Camilla Gazal/Zaniac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Pullman & Comley, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Rebecca Surran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Sara Tucker & Sandra Greer/ First County Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Tracy Killoren Chadwell/ 1843 Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Yonni Wattenmaker/ Breast Cancer Alliance . . . . . . . . . . 54
MISCELLANEOUS Westy Self Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
PLAN AHEAD Teens to Watch
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER AD RESERVATION CLOSE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1
The Holiday Issue
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER AD RESERVATION CLOSE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3
The Elephant Sanctuary . . . . . . . . . 104
MAY/JUNE 2018 NEW CANAAN•DARIEN
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TRIBUTE OUR FOUNDER, JACK MOFFLY
Clockwise from left: The skipper on his honeymoon in the Virgin Islands in 1959, hoping his first mate would take to sailing; the publisher emeritus of Moffly Media; the party boy on a bucking bull at a Greenwich Riding & Trails benefit; the honorees— Donna and Jack—at Richards raising money for SoundWaters
John Wesley Moffly IV W
ITH HIS CAPTIVATING CHARM,
engaging wit and, of course, that signature bow tie, Jack Moffly was the life of every party. But he was far more than a fixture on the social circuit. Whether in a boardroom of one of the many nonprofits he served over the years; on a dance floor (the man loved a dance floor); behind his computer crafting a balanced and thought-provoking article; or on a sailboat (a lifelong sailor, Jack was known as much for his skill as his grace and calm under pressure), Jack’s aptitude and passion for people were ever-present. He endeavored to connect—truly connect—with whomever he was speaking. And he wanted others 108
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to connect with one another. He wanted to foster community. That desire spawned the magazine you now hold in your hands. Jack, along with Donna, his wife of fiftyeight years, launched Greenwich magazine in 1990. It would serve as the foundation for the Moffly Media of today—a company of town, shelter and custom publications, events, marketing services and digital properties. Even after turning over the business to son, Jonathan, Jack remained a guiding force. His hearty “Hello there!” echoed down the halls when he stopped by the office for a visit. He was always ready to offer sage advice based on his sixty-year publishing career (thirty at Time Inc.).
Yes, Jack left an indelible impression on anyone lucky enough to cross his path. The hundreds of letters, emails and social media posts following his passing were evidence of that. Some were from close friends, others from people who didn’t know Jack well—or personally at all, in some cases—yet each one felt the loss of a great man who made very real and meaningful contributions to life here in Fairfield County. Jack Moffly, you will be missed. You most certainly will never be forgotten, and your legacy lives on in all that we do. —Cristin Marandino TO READ OUR FULL TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK MOFFLY, GO TO GREENWICHMAG.COM/JACKMOFFLY
CONTRIBUTED/VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY/BOB CAPAZZO/ BROOKE NEUMAN FOR GREENWICH POST
AUGUST 5, 1926 — MARCH 11, 2018
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