STATUS REPORT // AZZUL New shoes with Portuguese heritage // CARS Electric-powered options // POWER Home-generator basics
NOV/DEC 2020 | $5.95
3
Local Artists
Anyone who has been through a major disaster will tell you, it takes a
community.
INSPIRATION During Social Distancing
pg. 34
plus!
REAL HEROES
EMILY LIEBERT'S NEW BOOK PICKS— GET COZY
pg. 32
Stories of COVID-19 Restaurant Chef/Owners Power Through the Crisis Molly Healey Brian Lewis Matt Storch Bill Taibe
KATIE CRAYMER The Westport artist wears one of her knitwear designs
holiday shopping
Everyone Deserves a Gift This Year pg. 24
contents vol. 22 | issue 6
NOV/DEC 2020
features
52
38
departments 12 EDITOR’S LETTER by dia ne ta l b ot semb rot
LIGHT A FIRE
15 STATUS REPORT
Each year, we celebrate locals who give back to the community. This year, we thank and honor the heroes who helped us get through the Covid-19 crisis.
BUZZ Artists creating through Covid-19; new shoe shop AZZUL; boosting your immunity now
b y ji l l joh ns on m an n
52
Running a restaurant is never easy, but it’s especially challenging these days. We talk to a few chef/owners who are creatively adapting to the new normal. b y dia ne se m brot
20
66
SHOP SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE Your guide to finding cozy gifts for everyone on your Nice List! GO Electric-powered vehicles DO Emily Liebert’s book picks; preparing for the unexpected with The Readiness Collective; powering up the home generator 63 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 64 POSTSCRIPT by d onna mof f ly
top: Tasty food from Manna Toast bottom: Manny Rodrigues, founder and designer, AZZUL
on the c over artist katie cr aymer| photo gr aphy by chris cr aymer WESTPORT NOV/DEC 2020, VOL. 22, NO. 6. WESTPORT (USPS/ISSN 1941-9821) is published bi-monthly 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 WESTPORT PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. U.S. Subscription rates: $19.95/1 year, $34.95/2 years; Canada and Foreign $44/1 year, $72/2 years. westportmag.com
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editor’s letter
NOV/DEC 2020 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT
THANKS A LOT
westportmag.com
12
way in which theoretical is different from metaphysical, so thanks for that, too.) Instead of resting, I’ve learned about cleaners, sanitizers, proper hand-washing (“Happy Birthday” twice and get the thumbs) and sourcing scant supplies online. Also, I now have first-hand examples of how supply chains break down, something I never fully appreciated in “the before times.” Instead of going out to dinner, I’ve had the privilege of cooking nightly. Thankfully, my family loves my four “signature” dishes and have resourcefully made impressive backup plans for when I give into a creative culinary whim. Speaking of which, I tried new things this year. I dragged out the sewing machine and whipped up four masks in four hours. I’m sure I did the right thing, though my family looked at them the way a dog looks at a vegetable. Which reminds me, I started a vegetable garden. I enjoyed harvesting lettuce, and regret the other produce that gave their young lives only to sustain bugs, local deer and fat chipmunks. Sadly, the green tomatoes were a disappointment for which I cannot find a bright side. All this gratitude practicing helps me see the new year as bright and beautiful as stars. After all, and, seriously, no matter how mysterious they are, we can always wish upon them and believe.
diane.sembrot@moffly.com
WILLIAM TAUFIC
M
y dear year 2020. I hope this letter finds you well and, as everyone has taken to saying this year, safe in these most unusual times. I am writing to thank you for the many lessons heaped upon me, those I love, and those I probably would love if I could ever meet them. You’ve really put us all through the wringer. However, you’ve given us a chance to practice our daily gratitude. I, for one, have learned to become thankful for the smallest of things, such as: electricity (for a couple of weeks without it, I was able to try my hand at homesteading skills), friendly get-togethers (I’m saving money on outfits for events) and lots of time with my dog (we both eat a lot of cookies). Instead of traveling, I learned to appreciate a night sky full of stars. Yup, they sure are pretty. Might be helpful if I knew anything about them, but there’s time to read up on them these days. Instead of sending my first born across the country to his dream college, we had the opportunity to have him stay local. In fact, he’s at home. This affords me the chance to further develop my plans for converting his bedroom into a spacious office. Meanwhile, I continue to use a “vintage” table in the corner of the family room as a full-time work space as I adjust to working completely paper-free. You see, the home printer is jammed with nonexistent paper most of the time—but I actually relate to this glitch in a theoretical/metaphysical sort of way (I also have more time to look up the significant
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buzz STATUS REPORT
COVID-FUELED CREATIVITY Three WESTPORT ARTISTS who used quarantine to express themselves
JERRI GRAHAM, CONTRIBUTED; SOPHIE MONTAGNON WITH FACE TO FACE BY MAX SCHUTZE; KATIE CRAYMER BY CHRIS CRAYMER
above: Photographer Jerri Graham, artist Sophie Montagnon and artist Katie Craymer
S
ilver linings…everyone began searching for them once a coronavirus bulldozed life as we know it and left us to gradually reassemble fragments into some semblance of a satisfying existence. Many relished the uncluttered calendars, leisurely family time, Netflix binges, sleeping in, working in PJs. Others found the pause button triggered by the pandemic meant more time to create and more emotion fueling their creations. These three women seized the moment to record history, sculpt loneliness into beauty and crochet color out of darkness. by jill johnson mann
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 WESTPORT
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buzz
1 above: “The Struggle” is part of a trilogy created during the pandemic. below: “Papillon” illustrates the artist’s use of metaphor.
In August, as many businesses were going under, Graham made a bold move and decided to open a photography studio in Westport, located at 18 Riverside Avenue. “The studio was a decision I made because I had nothing to look forward to,” she says. “All my work had dried up. I was waiting for life to happen. I had to create a space to work or I would just keep waiting.”
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above: CT Bites founder Stephanie Webster and her husband, David, spent quarantine with their three daughters. below: Larry Untermeyer comments, “I can’t complain. I’ve been lucky in my life in many respects. I’ve twisted through the forest and made it through. A lot of my friends didn’t.”
Artist Sophie Montagnon, known for her emotionally powerful bronze and acrylic (lucite) sculptures, created a series of pieces during the pandemic. “I looked at the people around me and myself and saw the loneliness and desire to connect with others,” she says. “It inspired me to create a trilogy and other pieces
that reflect this time. In them, you can really feel that fear of the future. I still have a lot of things in my head I want to address. The pandemic made me think on a deeper level.” As a girl, Montagnon was influenced by René Lalique’s beautiful glass sculptures and by the strong women around her. Her sculptures are often feminine and sensuous with a focus on hair as a metaphor. “I connect with the unconscious and it reflects in my work,” she says. “I want to explore what people are feeling.”
ALL PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY THE ARTISTS
Photographer Jerri Graham partnered with the Westport Museum for History and Culture to create a living history of the pandemic through photos of Westporters on their front porches, unmasked. “In an effort to remain connected as a community, our mission is to show our faces to our neighbors,” says Graham, whose Westport in Focus portraits will be archived “so future generations can see we survived, thrived and maintained our humanity as a town in this unprecedented time.”
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above and below: The artist, Katie Craymer, modeling her creations “The Crochet Monsters,” which she made by hand during the pandemic.
as crochet blankets and pillows.” She purchased a knitting machine before the pandemic hit, enabling her to knit from home with speed and varied techniques. “I have enjoyed the lack of distractions being home,” she says. “It has given me the time to create over fifteen knit garments, crochet four outfits and start my own knitwear brand: Entering the Fantastic.”
While many families discovered the beauty of stayat-home bonding time—sharing home-cooked meals or long strolls— Katie and her father, renowned photographer Chris Craymer, mixed their creative juices. “My dad and I were able to collaborate in photographing my work,” she says, “which was a creative quarantine activity to do together.”
KATIE CRAYMER BY CHRIS CRAYMER; BOW ©JUKOV STUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Katie Craymer was a senior at the Art Institute of Chicago when the pandemic forced classes online. She didn’t let the disappointment of finishing school from home in Westport dim her creative light. “My first undertaking was ‘The Crochet Monsters’— a trio of crochet beings I made by hand,” explains Craymer. “These masked crochet beings, inhabited by myself, are photographed emerging from the corners of walls in the home and preparing to disguise themselves
CREATIVE HOLIDAY GIFTS Jerri Graham Book a Home for the Holidays photo session with Jerri Graham and make sure you are documenting your family bonding time: jerrigrahamphotography.com and on Instagram @jerrigrahamphotography Sophie Montagnon The artist’s divers and meditative yogis are lovely sculptures for those seeking serenity in the New Year. The gold head with gold flakes titled “Brainstorm” promises brighter times too. She also designs figurative gold jewelry, with many pieces representing the “beauty and sensuality of women and their strengths.” Some sculptures are available at Nova and Middlemarch in Westport or visit: montagnonsculptures.com and on Instagram @sophiemontagnon Katie Craymer What could be more perfect for winter? Order custom crochet and knit pieces on Instagram @enteringthefantastic
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 WESTPORT
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buzz above: Laranja suede sneaker with waxed cotton laces and navy eyelets, aglets and sole
The Extra Step AZZUL’s vendor partners and suppliers follow environmentally sound practices and the company gives back. “There has to be an important connection in everything I do,” says founder Manny Rodriques.
SOLE MAN
DESIGNER BRAND AZZUL, BASED IN PORTUGUESE ARTISANAL HERITAGE, IS FASHIONED FOR TODAY’S STYLES by diane sembrot
A
zulejos are a symbol of Portugal’s art, history, folk traditions and significant industries,” says Manuel “Manny” Rodrigues, who recently opened AZZUL (azzul. com), an “athluxe” footwear store in New Canaan. The shoes ($300 to $475) are handcrafted in Portugal at renowned familyowned workshops, selected for their multigenerational specialists who hand down traditional techniques in production, handembroidery and weaving. AZZUL comes from the Portuguese word azulejos. ‘The tin-glazed ceramic tilework, which adorns the exteriors of nearly every building in my hometown, Braga, can be found across the entire country,” he says. His shoe designs showcase the many creative talents of his homeland. “Everything about AZZUL is meant to pay tribute to and celebrate my native country, Portugal,” he says, referencing
the sardine motif. “The sardine is embedded in Portuguese culture, from the predominant fishing industry to the cuisine.” Rodrigues has lived in the U.S. since he was a teenager. “I always wanted my flagship store to be ‘home’ and local, close to where I live, so it’s part of my family and easily accessible, especially since all of our new merchandising will be launched from there,” he says. The premiere collection launched in the spring with two “athluxe” sneaker styles for women and men: Braga (laceups) and Faro (slip-ons). They are available in suede, leather and canvas. The newest collection for women includes flats, heels, sandals, clogs and boots, and, for men, high-top sneakers. “I designed my styles with a wide range of customers in mind, from teens to adults, and for work and play. For men, our slip-on sneakers are more trendy; they look great with shorts or jeans.
And for the guy heading to work, our all-leather and suede lines are really versatile; they’re a perfect smart-casual option for wearing with a suit yet feeling casual and comfortable at happy hour.” Fall brings in the rich earthiness of New England. “For men, our cognac leather sneaker on a classic Margom white sole with our detailed navy eyelets and laces and online is amazing. For women, our clogs are fantastic—beautiful colors and hand-carved wood,” he says. “So many talented people touch each of our shoes, from hand-carving the wood to handstitching our embroidery. I visited and selected each of the family-run factories in Portugal that are constructing our designs—they’ve been making shoes for hundreds of years. I also hand-pick our materials. Our wood for women’s clogs, for example, is aged for two years before being carved.” His care means shoppers can simply enjoy them.
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Nonprofit “We commit a percentage of our profits to the Oceano Azul Foundation, which works to keep Portugal’s waters clean.” Workers “Our factories devote a portion of their profits to a scholarship fund for the children of the families who construct our shoes.” Earth Safe “We carefully select our materials and production facilities and choose to work with producers who have been awarded for their safe environmental practices in suede and leather production.” Sustainability “Our signature women’s sneaker—coming early next year—is made with fabric produced from things found in the sea, such as fishing nets and plastic bottles.”
above: White leather sneakers with waxed cotton laces and navy eyelets, aglets and sole
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF AZZUL
left: Manny Rodrigues, the founder and designer of AZZUL shoes for men and women top, center: Black canvas, lace-up sneaker with hand-embroidered signature sardine motif top, right: Women’s blue suede boot for fall bottom, right: Men’s navy suede sneaker, fit for chilly fall weekends and fashionable enough for suiting up for business meetings during the week
SCAP CHRYSLER | JEEP | DODGE | RAM
THE BIG REBOOT BUILDING A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN BE KEY TO GETTING
THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS
by liz barron
P
andemic or not, it’s pretty safe to say that keeping our immune systems strong is an important element to staying healthy. And, with the cold and flu season ramping up, now is clearly the time for a reboot. We spoke with local medical experts JOSH HERBERT, M.D., medical director, primary care, at Stamford Health Medical Group, and KAREN BECKMAN, M.D., pediatrician at Riverside Pediatrics LC in New Canaan for their advice on what could help.
Are there supplements we all should be taking right now? Dr. Herbert:
number of colds but more high-quality studies are needed. There is no conclusive evidence that any herbal remedies impact the incidence of the common cold and many have unsafe side effects for children. The current recommendation is that they should be avoided in children. vitamin E has also commonly been used because it has been shown to decrease the number of colds; however, it is associated with an increase in all-cause mortality and therefore should be avoided.
No supplements have been proven to prevent Covid-19. Many claim to improve immunity but these claims often lack scientific evidence. Some supplements or combinations have the potential to be harmful [interactions with one another, high doses, mixing with prescription medication, etc]. It is always best to check with your physician regarding supplements. For general health, commonly used supplements that are safe at the appropriate doses are multivitamins, melatonin, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D.
Will we see less sickness in general because of mask wearing and socialdistancing orders? Dr. Herbert: Masks work. Covid-19 has been demonstrated to spread via respiratory droplets (although airborne transmission continues to be studied). Therefore, maintaining physical distance (6 feet) and wearing a mask decreases transmission. Masks are critically necessary in decreasing transmission from asymptomatic Covid positive people. Areas that adapted mask wearing, distancing and hand washing have proven to show decreased spread of infection. The R0 (“R naught”) of an infectious disease refers to how contagious it is or, more specifically, how many people are likely to become infected from one contagious person. Based on that mathematical
Dr. Beckman: Children living in the Northeast should be taking vitamin D3 supplements during the school year. I recommend 400 to 600 IUs for infants and children up to puberty and 1000 IUs starting at around age 11. A multivitamin (with vitamin D) is useful for children with limited diets. Some studies show that vitamin C dosing of at least 200 mg/ day helps prevent upper respiratory infections. Studies show that zinc helps shorten the course of the common cold when given at a dose of 50 mcg/kg/day up to a maximum dose of 2000 mcg/day but should never be given intranasally. There is also some evidence that probiotics may help decrease the
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formula, Covid-19 is more contagious than influenza. So if we are taking measures to prevent Covid, we automatically decrease the spread of flu. Just do not wear a mask with an exhalation valve or vent. These types of masks potentially allow the contagious virus to be exhaled out the vent. Should I worry about my child’s immune system more now than ever? Dr. Beckman: For most children, there is no need to evaluate their immune system. Taking preventative measures, wearing masks and ensuring proper hand washing should be enough. For children who are suffering from more than “their share” of infections, especially repeated bacterial infections, or infections severe enough to result in hospitalization— further testing should be pursued to look for underlying immunodeficiency disorders. How can we maintain a healthy immune system? Dr. Herbert: Everyone’s immune system is different and is affected by multiple factors— some that are modifiable and others that are not. Health conditions, prescription medications and advanced age can put certain individuals at higher risk of infection; focusing on factors that can be controlled is key.
HABITS FOR GOOD HEALTH 1 GET ENOUGH QUALITY SLEEP 2 EAT A BALANCED DIET Limit sugar and processed foods, and increase amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein. 3 STAY HYDRATED Gargling with water three times a day has been shown to reduce the incidence of the common cold. 4 EXERCISE Target 150 minutes per week of cardio for adults. 5 MAINTAIN PROPER WORK/ LIFE BALANCE especially when working from home 6 LIMIT ALCOHOL 7 REDUCE STRESS 8 TAKE BREAKS FROM SCREENS
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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS
We’ve had most of the year to become professional homebodies. Isn’t a season with shorter days and colder nights the perfect time to put our new skills to good use? Still, we could all use some help in lifting our spirits (bottled spirits are a great place to start). Here, a guide for everyone who’s staying in. After all, there’s no place like home for the holidays (and we know you’re not traveling anywhere, anyway).
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THE PART getting cozy never looked so good 1 UGG Fluffette slipper; $89.95. Nordstrom, The SoNo Collection; nordstrom.com 2 JOHN ELLIOTT Escobar heather gray lounge pant; $248. Mitchells, Westport; mitchellstores.com 3 TORY BURCH Striped poncho; $358. Greenwich; toryburch.com 4 JENNI KAYNE Shearling slide sandal; $325. jennikayne.com 5 KERRI ROSENTHAL Oversized patchwork cashmere hoodie; $448. Westport; kerrirosenthal.com 6 MOTHER DENIM Busy Doin’ Nothing socks; $24. Penfield Collective, Fairfield; penfieldcollective.com 7 EUGENIA KIM Maryn knotted headband; $145. modaoperandi.com 8 JOIE Jorja sweater; $328. Greenwich; joie.com 9 SKIN Double layer pant; $148. Soleil Toile, New Canaan, Westport; soleiltoile.com
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1 MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS Herringbone throw; $260. Greenwich; mgbwhome.com 2 SANTA MARIA NOVELLA Pot Pourri; $35. Navy Lobster, Greenwich 3 THE USB LIGHTER COMPANY USB rechargeable lighter; $38. Back 40 Mercantile, Old Greenwich; back40mercantile.com 4 JØRGEN RASMUSSEN Sheepskin throw 23.6” x 41.3”; $95. Design WIthin Reach, Stamford, Westport; dwr.com 5 TELLEFSEN ATELIER Wildflower mug; $55.Wee Mondine, Darien; weemondine.com 6 DIPTYQUE Small candle holder in gold by Osanna Visconti; $1,750. diptyqueparis.com 7 OLD MAN MCKITTRICK’S Hello Lily Rose candle; $42. Hickory & Tweed, Armonk; hickoryandtweed.com 8 CHRONICLE BOOKS Hygge & West Home: Design for a Cozy Life; $35. Eleish van Breems Home, Westport; evbantiques.com 9 FARMHOUSE POTTERY Fatwood firestarter bag; $32. West Elm, Westport; westelm.com
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1 PRINTWORKS Classic Domino set; $32. verishop.com 2 CHRONICLE BOOKS Gin Rummy playing cards; $14.99. Anthropologie, Westport; anthropologie.com 3 SMITH STREET BOOKS Bowie Bingo; $29.95. smithstreetbooks.com 4 RIZZOLI Tiger King puzzle; $14.95. Elm Street Bookstore, New Canaan; elmstreetbooks.com 5 CAVALLINI AND CO. Vintage succulents puzzle; $22. Terrain, Westport; shopterrain.com 6 AREAWARE Little puzzle thing; $15. areaware.com 7 SUNNYLIFE Mega jumbling tower game; $110. sunnylife.com 8 OMY Ultra washable markers; $17. maisonette.com 9 HYGGE GAMES I’m Not Saying You’re Stupid; $20. Beehive, Fairfield; thebeehivefairfield.com 10 JONATHAN ADLER Harlequin 2-in-1 game set; $25. jonathanadler.com
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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS
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1 LE LABO Body scrub; $48. Greenwich; lelabofragrances.com 2 SERENA & LILY Positano linen robe; $128. Westport; serenaandlily.com 3 AESOP Gentle deep-cleansing duo; $100. Greenwich; aesop.com 4 SAVVY + GRACE Luxe hot water bottle; $29.95. Westport; savvyandgracewestport.com 5 TRIUMPH & DISASTER Ritual face cleanser; $30.Organachs Farm to Skin, Westport; organachsfarmtoskin.com 6 STRANGE BIRD Inner Light moisturizer; $78. Inner Light, Darien; innerlight-wellness.com 7 MZ SKIN Light therapy golden facial treatment device; $625. Bluemercury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport; bluemercury.com 8 JOANNA VARGAS Magic Glow Wand; $285. joannavargas.com
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7 8 1 RIZZOLI The Perfect Kitchen; $55. Waterworks, Greenwich; waterworks.com 2 MATER Double bottle; $190. shophorne.com 3 FLOUR BAKERY Assorted frozen cookie dough; $89.95. Williams Sonoma, Westport; williams-sonoma.com 4 BRIGHTLAND The Duo, 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil; $74. brightland.com 5 CARL AUBOCK Hand beer opener; $195. The Glass House Design Store, New Canaan; designstore.theglasshouse.org 6 JULISKA Graham bar tool set; $198. Stamford; juliska.com 7 LSA Paddle tapas set; $145. The Perfect Provenance, Greenwich; theperfectprovenance.com 8 TERRA KAFFE TK-01 espresso machine; $775. store.moma.org W
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go Cadillac plans to re-enter the electric arena with the Lyriq in 2023.
CHARGING FORWARD
S
ince introducing the Prius in 1997, Toyota alone has sold 11 million hybrids. But equally influential is the brand that turned the automobile industry on its ear, Tesla, which is nearing its millionth sale and clearly gearing up to conquer the world with a long list of new styles to come. And now, automobile brands are rushing to copy the all-electric whoosh of highly stimulating propulsion. So here’s what’s up. Coming environmental regulations guarantee it, and manufacturers know it. The most desirable Ferrari now, for instance, is
the new SF90 Stradale that offers silent running from its three electric motors as well the shrieking fortissimo of its turbo V8, producing altogether nearly a 1,000 horsepower. Porsche fanatics love their wonderful engines, but gracing the showrooms right now is the brand’s sleek Tesla-fighter, the Taycan, an insanely fast EV. The Taycan’s urgency is matched by Porsche’s electric intentions. Cadillac abandoned its hybrid Escalade model seven years ago, but is now hustling one back into the showrooms, all the while preparing us for its new Lyriq in
by chris hodenfield
2023, an electric vehicle with lines as swoopy as its name. Jaguar, which already sells the I-Pace crossover, is about to introduce a new electric flagship XJ model. Audi has already been selling electric versions of its Q-model SUVs in Europe and will now bring them here. BMW and Mercedes also have electric offerings. Ford is about to do the unthinkable this year with the Mustang Mach-E, a version that grafts those classic Mustang lines on an EV crossover. They promise 300 miles of range, too. Sounds interesting.
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Anyone who has experienced the eyeball-flattening thrill of a Tesla knows any of these models promise excitement. But what about, you know, more reasonable options? Sensible shoppers will still want to examine Hyundai’s Kona Electric, a nifty pepper pot that provides 250-mile range for about $40,000. Maybe the cheapest way to jump into an electric ride is the new Mini E at around $30,000. The range is limited to 100 miles, but anyone with a garage-charger could make do. One thing we do know from our electric-car experience: It will be fun to drive.
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GET LIT!
TWO WOMEN GONE MISSING. FAMILIES IN TURMOIL. A CRIME THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE. HERE ARE THREE MUST-READS THAT WILL GRAB YOUR ATTENTION AND KEEP YOU TURNING THE PAGES WAY PAST YOUR BEDTIME by emily liebert
DON’T LOOK FOR ME BY WENDY WALKER
ANXIOUS PEOPLE BY FREDRIK BACKMAN
INVISIBLE GIRL BY LISA JEWELL
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ackman, the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, delivers an emotionally charged comedy about an almost bank robber who evaporates into thin air and the eight highly anxious strangers he leaves behind. Simply stated, it’s a crime that never took place. Apartment hunting isn’t a matter of life or death for most people. But when a failed bank robber storms into an open house and takes the eight strangers hostage, they’re forced to reveal hidden truths about themselves. There’s Zara, a bank director, whose life has been struck by tragedy and now she’s fixated on frequenting open houses to see how regular people live and, also, to right a wrong that’s been plaguing her. Julia and Ro, a lesbian couple awaiting a baby, can’t agree on anything and fear that their future together may not be as successful as they’d hoped. Roger and Anna-Lena are retired and obsessed with finding a fixer-upper they can fill with Ikea furniture as a means of ignoring the fact that their marriage may be unrepairable. And Estelle, who’s eighty years old and lying about her daughter and husband.
wen Pick’s life is unraveling. He’s just been suspended from his job as a teacher, on the heels of a sexual misconduct claim, which he vehemently denies. Not to mention that he’s a thirty-something-year-old virgin, living in his aunt’s spare bedroom. Across the street, lives the Fours family, consisting of mom, Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad, Roan, a child psychologist. And they don’t particularly like Owen, especially after their teenaged daughter insists he followed her home from the train station. In the meantime, a young woman named Saffyre Maddox—who was Roan Fours’ patient for three years—is feeling forsaken when their therapy ends and she’s desperate to maintain her connection with Roan. Surreptitiously, she follows him and ends up learning more than she expected about Roan and the Fours family, until Valentine’s night when Saffyre disappears. Unfortunately for Owen, he was the last person to see her alive. This shockingly twisted thriller about a group of people whose lives unexpectedly intersect when a woman vanishes will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
EDITOR'S NOTE If you like these suggestions, don't forget this columnist's own new book: PERFECTLY FAMOUS is a suspenseful thriller set in Connecticut. Makes a great gift for the readers on your list! westportmag.com
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CONTRIBUTED
hey call it a “walk away” when women disappear, urgent to exchange their lives for a fresh start. Apparently, it happens all the time, just as it did for grief-stricken wife and mother Molly Clarke, when her car was abandoned miles from home and a note was found at a nearby hotel, leaving her family shattered. Molly clearly does not want to be found. Or so the story goes. But is that really what happened? Molly’s daughter, Nicole, isn’t convinced, despite their challenging relationship—especially when a new lead is introduced two weeks after they’ve stopped searching for her mother. Nicole finds out that there was another woman who went missing from their same small town and also unearths a covert and isolated property, bringing her closer to the truth about what happened the night Molly vanished. This story is “about a woman with a tragic past and seemingly bleak future. A woman who has a flash about walking away from her life. A woman who takes a ride from a man and his young daughter, who reminds her of the child she lost years before,” explains Walker. “Molly’s disappearance and her daughter’s desperate search to find her fill the pages with twists, turns and unexpected revelations. But at its heart, this is a story about grief, acceptance and the power of redemption.”
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do
left: Founder Jesse Levin above: The Readiness Collective teaches practical skills in a setting that is not intimidating—seen here, hanging seats, community table and, far left, the medical area with emergency-kit and go-bag training
GET READY
THE READINESS COLLECTIVE , BY TACTIVATE, LAUNCHES TO PROVIDE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING FROM EXPERTS IN OUR MIDST by diane sembrot
P
top: The check-in area and, at right, the training area for homesteading skills below: The space for Community Emergency Readiness Workshops
andemic. Hurricane. Tornado sightings. Major power outages. Winter on the horizon. Jesse Levin, a Staples grad, timed his new business well. He runs Tactivate (an advisory firm that applies emergency-response expertise to prep individuals, businesses and communities and deploys expeditionary entrepreneurial capabilities in the aftermath of disasters), and its new offshoot: The Readiness Collective. “Through our parent initiative, Tactivate, we have been conducting disaster-response and economic-stability efforts worldwide for over a decade,” he says. “We have worked with leading experts from military Special Operations personnel to communications, water-purification and supply-chain specialists. We are curating the best trainers, gear providers and subject-matter experts to teach classes, offer insight and provide training and outfitting for our community in a new breed of schoolhouse and training club.” The takeaway: Don’t wait until something happens—work out scenarios and responses ahead of time. “EMT-B training, for example,”
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he says, “sounds like a heavy lift, but it really is doable. How about learning to use a chainsaw safely or how to operate the generator you purchased and never unboxed? If you don’t have a generator, purchase one and learn about the different types, gas shelf life versus diesel or solar versus other systems.” The business is all about preparedness. “We launch ventures hand in hand with military Special Operations veterans and use the cash flow to sponsor teams to conduct disasterresponse and emergency economic-stability operations worldwide,” Levin says of the broad strokes. But if that sounds heavy, take heart, because he’s bringing preparedness to the masses. “Our main focus through all privatesector projects has been experimenting with how to really socialize ‘readiness’ in a non-militaristic, prepper or fringe manner to make the skills more palatable and accessible.” So, while skills are important when a threat looms large, so too is understanding that an effective response is linked to the community. “People should get to know their neighbors, come to understand what resources and
ALL IMAGES, INCLUDING RENDERING BY RYAN STUDIO ARCHITECTURE, PROVIDED BY THE READINESS COLLECTIVE
do skills exist on their street and work to fill any gaps,” Levin says. “Maybe someone has a whole-house generator, while someone else is a doctor, and yet another neighbor is an arborist. Cultivate community, learn to be capable, have backup power and start training to be a provider and protector versus a dependent.” (Ouch, but true.) “Make it an adventure and bring in your family or group of friends to train in readiness disciplines. Most important, wherever you decide to go, seek training, make friends, cultivate community and prepare as if the community depended on you.” So why have emergency pros? “The best way to support first responders is to reduce the burden on them,” he explains. The key is to be more self-reliant. He wants to show you how. “Purchasing a prepackaged medical kit, a mountain of toilet paper, thousands of rounds of ammunition and firearms does not equate to preparedness. Much of the information presented publicly in the vein of ‘prepping’ and survival is focused on isolating and a we-vs-they mentality. In actuality, as anyone that has been through a major disaster will tell you, it takes a community,” he says. The Readiness Collective, serving as a hub for teaching new skills and connecting one another, focuses on ensuring people and businesses are not just reacting, but are proactive. In short, it covers “situational awareness, medical, communications, logistics, group dynamics, equipment to homesteading and mental and physical resilience” on-site, with “high-touch customized training and outfitting.” Translation: You won’t be sitting in a chair. “We are now bringing together over a decade of both brick-and-mortar venture launch and disaster-response expertise to launch the first emergency-readiness training club and gear gallery and outfitter in the country. This will be an emergency-readiness trade school of sorts and social club to bring best-in-class trainers, equipment and expertise to the community. The good news is readiness is a lifestyle and discipline is a blast to cultivate.” While learning medical skills, how to operate a HAM radio, and what to pack in a vehicle emergency kit, people are making
connections. “We facilitate social collisions through training and gatherings among first responders, veterans, creatives, business owners, etc., so there will be familiarity, connectivity and a baseline competency,” he says, “creating a more collective and capable group dynamic.” Launching at the SoNo Collection, it even offers certifications. More at readinesscollective.com and tactivate.com.
PREPARE, DON'T PANIC “From Tequila and Tourniquets, our famous Happy Hour medical class, to learning how to build chicken coops or set up emergency solar generators and panels, this is the first social club for readiness. Topics range from navigation, off-grid communication, medical skills, social movement theory to breath control, food security and trade skills like how to change a tire, build a water collection system and more.” —Founder Jesse Levin
Emergency Readiness is a discipline and a practice that requires cultivation, no different than diet and exercise. It’s a team sport. jesse levin, founder
above: The plans for the new venture show the various training stations, from vehicle preparedness to body/mind focus techniques
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left: A Gault service technician performing annual maintenance on a Generac generator.
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hat’s it. Done. The August storm that wiped out power to our towns for more than week was enough to put us over the edge. It’s either time to buy a generator, invest in solar energy or learn to live off the land. Here’s a look at the machine that locals are eyeing before the next emergency. Whoosh… You know the deflating sound when your lights go out, the dishwasher stops mid-cycle, the TV cuts out and the whole white-noise hum of the house comes to an eerie silence. And then, bellowed from the far reaches of the house: “Did the power go out?” Another storm. Another blackout. It might last for days—or, if you’re lucky, just a few minutes, because you hear the generator kick in and start purring. Pop go the lights and the fridge and the house is back in action. When the homewrecker Isaias blew into town, plenty of area residents probably thought this was enough, that it was time to get a generator. “Since day one of storm Isaias, we have been inundated with inquiries
by diane sembrot
for whole-house generators,” says Meredith Donaher of GAULT (gaultenergy.com). “This storm was a reminder that having a generator is no longer a luxury but a necessity to many homeowners. Unfortunately, because of the ongoing pandemic, the generator industry as a whole, like many other industries, is being negatively affected with manufacturers having limited inventory of both generators and parts. We will continue to work with our suppliers to try to expedite product like we did after Super Storm Sandy.” Homeowners may choose a generator that offers automatic operation—a permanently installed, standby generator that can automatically restore power in seconds, even when away from the house. A full system is powered by either propane or natural gas that gets connected directly to the generator. If not, consider installing it at the same time as the generator. Sometimes even if the home has propane or natural gas, an additional tank needs to be installed. Plus, you don’t have to swing open the door to your home’s electrical panel and take any risks; the full units are
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already directly connected and ready to go. Generators can provide enough power for the entire home or they can power just critical appliances, like the freezer, security system and garage doors. It depends on what size generator is installed. Gault takes care of sizing, town permits and electrical work involved in installation. “We have a unique turnkey solution when installing a generator, which means that we coordinate every step of the process for the homeowner—from sizing the unit, determining fuel needs and town permitting to trenching and electrical work as well as final inspections,” Meredith says. “We do everything in-house to ensure that every installation is done correctly and efficiently.” Afterwards, homeowners can get remote monitoring systems for Generac and Kohler generators, and Gault provides annual maintenance of Generac, Kohler and Honeywell automatic standby generators. Because of the virus and the severity of this last storm, the whole industry is under stress. If interested, start now—it could take time. W
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POWER UP
BLACK OUT. AGAIN. IS IT TIME FOR A GENERATOR?
awards
Celebrating was a virtual success! SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR 2020 SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSORS
EXCLUSIVE AWARD SPONSOR
EXCLUSIVE GIFT BAG SPONSOR
margaret tjimos goldberg
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LIGHT A Honoring those who went ABOVE and BEYOND
lana gifas
dave kuban
marc jaffe
nicole straight
bob granata
ria rueda
david kuban
FIRE by jill johnson mann | phot o gr aphs by mel ani lust
danielle blaine
2020
in UNPRECEDENTED TIMES stephanie webster
pj johns
michele conderino
W
e have honored our Light a Fire winners—our admirable neighbors who donate their time, money and passion to myriad causes—for thirteen years, but this year is like no other. This year, when the COVID-19 pandemic put Fairfield County in the eye of the storm, most of us just wanted to curl up in a ball with a laptop and Netflix subscription and wait it out. Authorities gave us an excuse, even a command, to stay at home. But brave people among us—some essential workers and others who determined volunteering was more essential than ever—masked up and did what our Light a Fire winners always do: put everyone else ahead of themselves. Only this time, going to work at a homeless shelter every day, delivering hot meals to families who usually depend on school for that, providing childcare to healthcare workers—these deeds carried with them the risk of grave illness and even death. To the organizations honored here, the people who run them and the volunteers who serve them: our deepest gratitude and thanks for all you have done and continue to do in these unprecedented times. One theme kept recurring during the interviews for this story—the struggle is not over. People have lost their livelihoods, homes, loved ones, and economic recovery will be slow. The need for food, shelter, support and hope will continue to be overwhelming this winter. Read about each of these organizations and consider where and how you might help. Perhaps you will find yourself in these pages next year.
Join us for a virtual celebration of our honorees hosted by James Naughton. 2020 Light A Fire
AWARDS
DECEMBER 3 /
THURSDAY 5:45-6:45PM westportmag.com
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REGISTER AT LIGHTAFIREAWARDS.COM
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * HOMELESSNESS IMPACT *
ORGANIZATION
Open Doors MICHELE CONDERINO, Executive Director
WHAT WERE THE FIRST STEPS YOU TOOK WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT IN MARCH? We evaluated our physical [shelter] space, made sure we had enough PPE to keep everyone safe and suspended our volunteer program. We had to find every way to reduce exposure to people and advocate with the state to hotel our guests. All of our older population were situated by late March and the rest of our population by April 6.
WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO KEEPING YOUR CLIENTS SAFE? At the beginning, there was so much we didn’t know. We were reading constantly, seeing what the CDC was saying, and fine-tuning our policy daily and having a lot of honest conversations with clients. We explained: “You need to protect yourselves. We’ll do what we can, but it’s about the interactions you are having also.” I had a lot of fear as a leader; I wanted everybody to be safe. I worked on-site right through the pandemic; I don’t know how many hours. I felt it was important my staff knew I wasn’t asking them to do anything I wasn’t willing to do myself.
WORDS OF PRAISE
WHAT ARE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF FROM THESE MONTHS?
During unprecedented times, government officials mandated stay-at-home orders, but complying with that directive requires having a home,” says board member Barbara Blasso. “At the outset of the COVID-19 threat, Michele and her team quickly assessed the high risk of exposure given the shelter environment and took immediate steps to reduce the risk of transmission among our most vulnerable.
How this organization has taken on its mission and really seen it through. We understood that what we do can be the difference between life and death. We had to do everything we could to keep people safe, and the staff really bought into it. I said to them, “Fifty years from now we will talk about this moment. I’m really proud we helped people. I hope you are, too.”
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HOW ARE YOU PREPARING TO WEATHER WHAT THIS STORM MAY BRING IN 2021? With a lot of reality. Even through the darkest moments of COVID, I knew the real challenge would be over the next couple of years— as unemployment rates rise, extra benefits end and eviction moratoriums end. Our true test will be the long term. We have the highest number of housing placements in the county at this time. We have to decrease capacity due to social distancing. We do everything we can to move people forward; there is a line waiting for that bed. There is a lot of fear in that, not only from COVID but from the elements as we approach winter. It gives us a lot of motivation to do the best we can. »
Impressive Stats Open Doors has remained open throughout the pandemic Kept 40-plus homeless clients safely sheltered through the crisis Secured payroll funding to protect the salary of every staff member Spearheaded a plan for the future with other community leaders serving the homeless Continued to provide meals through its kitchen and pantry, pivoting to takeout Continued running its employment program
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * GRASSROOTS IMPACT *
NICOLE STRAIGHT, Founder RIA RUEDA, ALISON SHERMAN, STEPHANIE WEBSTER, Cofounders ORGANIZATION
Food for the Front Lines
ni cole straight
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR FOOD FOR THE FRONT LINES? NICOLE STRAIGHT: My daughter called and said she was coming home from college. She is an EMT. Within three days at home, she was back doing her volunteer work. I started thinking, what can I do? Maybe I could buy
dollars had come in. I reached out to anyone who could connect me to the local ERs and it just started to snowball. Within a few days Stephanie Webster [founder of CT Bites] called me and said, “I love what you’re doing. I want to help. I know all the restaurants.” She created the logo and handled the social media. Ria Rueda [a PR professional] texted me: “I want in.” Alison Sherman [former communication manager at Food Rescue, current CEO of The IfLife Foundation] joined in soon after and helped with print and TV PR. Margorie Almansie at Social Venture Partners offered to help with the back end, paying the restaurants; sometimes we were buying 2,000 meals a day. A big shout out to Tim Roof and Raleigh Leahy, also at SVP. Soon people all over started reaching out saying, I want to do this. At one time there were four Food for the Front Lines going on around the state.
some meals for the EMT staff. I contacted Bill Taibe [chef and owner of several area restaurants] and asked if he’d be willing to make some boxed dinners. That’s how it started. I told my daughter, “Your service is what moved me to volunteer.”
HOW DID YOU EXECUTE YOUR PLAN? It wasn’t meant to be more than a one-night thing. But that initial bill was $750, so I posted on Facebook, asking if anyone wanted to contribute. By the next day, literally a few thousand
WORDS OF PRAISE
Food for the Front Lines raised money to pay restaurants to prepare food for Fairfield County hospitals and responders,” explains Monica Moore, one of several nominators of FFTFL. “They also helped start locations in New Haven, Hartford, Litchfield and Westchester counties. They then pivoted to raise money for pantry food essentials for unemployed restaurant workers, many of who are not getting unemployment, stimulus checks or food stamps. To date [August], they have hosted two food drives, feeding 3,200 people.
NOW THAT YOU’VE MOVED BACK TO YOUR HOME STATE, CALIFORNIA, HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THIS EXPERIENCE HERE? I think it was the perfect storm. I was so lucky to have lived in
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Westport for twenty-one years. I have a lot of friends there. The moment was right. I will look back at COVID and remember we busted our butts for eight weeks and kept a lot of people employed. It was a remarkable thing the four of us were able to pull off.
Impressive Stats Raised over $130,000 in eight weeks Served over 12,000 meals to healthcare workers and first responders in Fairfield County in eight weeks Contracted with forty restaurants/caterers, helping them stay in business Served Bridgeport, St. Vincent’s, Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich Hospitals, as well as first-responder units in Greenwich, Stamford, Trumbull, Danbury, Weston, Westport and Darien
WORDS OF PRAISE
Board member Juanita James raves about First County Bank’s response during the pandemic: “The staff worked around the clock to help complete applications, answer questions and get loans approved, when some banks weren’t even returning phone calls. They added staff to handle the additional volume so they could process as many loans as possible. For the second round, they anticipated the demand and went the extra mile. One employee was even prepared to come in at 12:01 a.m. to be ready as soon as the SBA portal reopened. larger banks and came to us. On the commercial side, we usually originate $100 million in loans in a year. It was a huge task to do the same amount in a few months. There were new rules coming out daily. Everyone pitched in, making sure we were all safe and had all the PPE we needed. No employee contracted the virus from an internal source. This honor is for our employees and board of directors. I applaud them.
WHAT LESSONS DO YOU THINK WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME? Recognizing that we are all in this together. We are a community, whether restaurants, the bakery down the street, the pizza joint. Perseverance is key. Being essential workers gave us a little privilege, but we were meant to be doing what we did. »
WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE CUSTOMERS YOU HELPED? We are putting out ads with all the testimonials. We went out of the way to help them, and they’ve been ecstatic. Large banks couldn’t respond. With us, they could actually speak to a person and finalize a PPP loan, saving their businesses. We were also able to help nonprofits dramatically. That’s a testament to being a community bank. The founders were not looking to raise a profit; they wanted a bank to help foster and build the community. We’ve continued to honor that.
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * SMALL-BUSINESS IMPACT *
ORGANIZATION
First County Bank
CAN YOU SHARE THE MOST MOVING EXPERIENCE DURING THIS TIME? I’m going to choke up, because I actually came down with the virus. I battled through it, but I had to go the hospital. Our team came together and stepped up, while I was off the phone for several days. We had built the foundation as a team together, and they followed through. Having COVID, being in the hospital—it was an emotional experience. I’m still emotional about it today.
BOB GRANATA, Executive Director
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN TERMS OF FIRST COUNTY BANK’S IMPACT DURING THIS PANDEMIC? The most striking thing is how our employees pulled together
as essential workers, helping out an immense number of people, setting up consumers with online banking and debit cards, helping them pay bills online. People left
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Impressive Stats Originated 1,150 Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling $125 million and protecting 10,000 jobs Donated 10,000 masks to Stamford and Norwalk hospitals Donated $10,000 to the COVID-19 Relief Fund Donated $8,000 to local shelters and food pantries Dedicated its annual Reyno A. Giallongo Jr. Award to frontline healthcare workers, with $5,000 donations each to Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, St. Vincent’s and Bridgeport hospitals
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER *
PJ JOHNS, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION
Filling in the Blanks TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT FILLING IN THE BLANKS AND HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED? Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer founded Filling in the Blanks to stamp out childhood hunger by providing meals to children in need on the weekends. I was their personal trainer, and we’ve been friends for over fifteen years. Whenever they’ve needed something, I’ve been available to them. I’ve helped out with backpacks for the holidays and putting together meal bags with Grace Community Church, where I’m a youth leader.
HOW HAVE THE NEEDS AND YOUR VOLUNTEER WORK RAMPED UP SINCE MARCH? The pandemic hit, and they called me to pick up meal bags and deliver them to churches. They were short staffed, so I stayed to help out. On March 23rd, I delivered 600 bags. I’ve been there ever since. Our group stayed small, with six of us working alongside each other for twenty-three weeks. It used to be just Fridays, but I saw the need and said, “We have to do this Monday, Wednesday, Friday.” Sometimes the town could only give one dinner to last two nights. I said, “One night these kids can’t be fed. Can we bring meal bags?” This is how Filling in the Blanks literally fills in the blanks. We also gave out boxes and boxes of detergent and grocery items.
WORDS OF PRAISE
For many who are frightened to leave their house due to the virus, volunteering is not an option. But not for PJ—he comes equipped with his backpack of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and his trademark black hat on backwards to go out and help the community,” says Filling in the Blanks cofounder Tina Kramer. “His smile lights up a room, and he treats those who need help with dignity and honor. This is a beautiful soul who is giving selflessly of himself in this critical time.
WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE YOU SERVED? There were a lot of proud people who couldn’t afford to eat for the first time in their lives. We greeted everyone with a smile, learned their names, and took care in what we were doing. We weren’t just handing out food; we were offering hope and encouragement. Some people came in wrecked. We tried to meet
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each person’s needs. An elderly Russian woman, Antonella, loved mac-n-cheese. I bought her thirty boxes, and she teared up when I gave them to her, saying “Thank you and God bless you,” over and over in Russian. She would bring us trinkets—we knew it was her way of saying she wanted to give also. We made cupcakes for kids’ birthdays. A mom told us, “You didn’t have to do this for my children. They will never forget it.” The community is forever changed. An act of kindness has a ripple effect for a long time.
LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS TIME? I have a greater appreciation for even the smallest of things: If I want to go to Starbucks or the supermarket, I can. When you go through something difficult, concentrate on others—that’s how I was raised. God is there for you and will take care of you and your family. This time has given us a chance to pause, get closer to our families and help our neighbors. This was the most rewarding thing I could have done.
Impressive Stats PJ and his team of six handed out 147,459 meals, including 49,000 meal bags from Filling in the Blanks Volunteered on seventy days in a span of twenty-three weeks, for a total of 315 hours
WORDS OF PRAISE
During this difficult time, Women’s Mentoring Network realized that the WMN programs and services are needed now more than ever,” says board member Shirley Hu. “WMN is on the front lines of this pandemic, as it works with disadvantaged women who are seeking employment after losing their jobs as a result of the pandemic. HOW DID YOUR ORGANIZATION NEED TO PIVOT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT? We transferred all of our services over to the online platform. We are doing all of our workshops online and have more than doubled their frequency. We bring in professionals from the community—banks, companies, staffing agencies—to present to our clients. We have been helping the unemployed and underemployed for thirty years, but everything had to pivot: holding workshops two to three days a week, changing the focus to applying for unemployment and PPP loans, learning how to interview on Zoom. Our mentormentee program, which is thriving during this time, transitioned to virtual as well. Now is a good time for clients to reevaluate their situation and transform themselves. Any emails we send out now are more focused on getting our families through COVID. We are part of the Stamford Food Collaborative and Cradle to Career. We pivoted our United Way funding to a drivethrough food pantry.
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * WOMEN’S IMPACT *
HOW HAVE YOU HELPED YOUR CLIENTS STAY ON THEIR FEET AS THIS CRISIS EXACERBATED THEIR CHALLENGES? Our mission focuses on helping clients find employment and become economically secure, but we’ve pivoted toward education so they can make the most of their unemployment. Online and digital literacy have become so important. Also helping them find food resources and manage their budgets.
ORGANIZATION
Women’s Mentoring Network LANA GIFAS, Executive Director
WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM THE FAMILIES YOU HAVE SERVED DURING THIS TIME? They are so grateful. Many of our clients are from immigrant families
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and may not have family or friends to talk to about their needs. They really look to us as a mentor to help them get through, especially now. We are just one piece of the puzzle, and we help connect them to everything they need to move forward in their lives.
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS TIME? If you are focused and resilient, you will be able to move forward. We had to do that and our clients need to as well. We have had women find jobs. But many don’t have computers and are applying for jobs from their phones. We have raised some funding to get kids computers for virtual school. When a student gets a computer, the family gets it. People are so grateful for that. I still have a waiting list of over 100 who need computers. So many people coming out to donate and volunteer, communities coming together, the focus on diversity and inclusion with Black Lives Matter—these are very positive things in a time when it can be hard to stay positive. »
Impressive Stats Provided $37,000 in financial assistance to 175 families, enabling clients to eat and pay rent while awaiting stalled unemployment checks Provided over 250 individuals with support services to help find employment and manage finances Distributed over 100,000 pounds in food via a drive-through food pantry
2020 2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * COMMUNITY IMPACT *
ORGANIZATION
Neighbor to Neighbor MARGARET TJIMOS GOLDBERG, Executive Director YOU RECEIVED THE FIRST GRANT FROM GREENWICH UNITED WAY [GUW] IN THE PANDEMIC. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? When we all recognized the gravity of the situation, David Rabin [CEO, GUW] called me and asked, “Margaret, what do you need?” That was a perfect example of trust and communication in the community. I’ll never forget that. We then applied for another round of granting, which we received for continuing needs.
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS YOU HAVE USED THE FUNDING AND PARTNERED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS? We had a summer program to provide for families with children, a supplement to what the school district was distributing. We worked with the Southwestern CT Agency on Aging, distributing groceries to 200 households each Friday. Words can’t describe the effort with our community partners. The impact has been remarkable. Thanks to Kyle Silver and the town of Greenwich, we were able to move to the Arch Street Teen Center after the Christ Church campus closed. That has been a godsend. We also have an internal focus, making sure staff and volunteers are taken care
of. It is very stressful. We are now looking at mid-2022 before we can even think about a hint of things stabilizing. How do we make sure there is nourishment all around, not just groceries but also health and well-being? It’s a delicate balance, but the work we are doing provides such a clarity of focus. It’s so energizing and inspiring.
HOW DID YOU FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED IN SUCH AN ISOLATING TIME? By communication and consistent messaging that is easily understandable, conveyed across various platforms. We’ve gotten a lot of attention in the newspapers and on social media. The TAG drivers know the individuals in the households, which creates connection. We have young families with newborns, with a growing need for diapers and formula. We connected on Facebook and were able to get them what they need. I met face-to-face with a ninetyeight-year-old client today and made sure he got his food delivery. When calls come into my office, I immediately provide people with my cell phone number, ensuring they know we are here for them. If we can’t provide what they need, we reach out to other agencies.
Impressive Stats WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS PANDEMIC? There is an awful lot that we just don’t know and a lot we don’t control. We have learned to walk together in confidence with our partners, staff and board, and find pathways to opportunities. We have to continue to move forward together. Don’t walk alone. Seek support with confidence and you’ll find a way. We’ve proven that many, many times already.
Committed food for 550 households weekly (and growing) Provide weekly snacks to 100 students Provide supplemental fruit to Meals on Wheels deliveries Completed the weekly Summer Supplement delivery to 225 households
WORDS OF PRAISE
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, NTN acted to prepare for an increase in families in need. They realized early that this was a crisis situation,” says NTN donor Brooke Urban. “NTN began to establish or strengthen partnerships with Greenwich Teen Center (larger space), TAG (distribution to clients), Greenwich United Way, the Junior League of Greenwich, Jewish Family Services, churches, schools and many more organizations. westportmag.com
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WORDS OF PRAISE
Jeremy Nappi, Senior Director of Fund Development & Operations; Robert Moore, Director of Community Impact; David Rabin, CEO
Not only did the GUW raise and distribute the most impactful fund in town, the organization also served as a matchmaker—bringing together key stakeholder organizations and residents who wanted to help in different ways but didn’t know how to go about it, and connecting them with those who needed assistance that could not otherwise be found,” says Karen Hopp, longtime supporter and volunteer who now works on PR for the agency. the board about a COVID-19 relief fund. Even before that, we gave an emergency grant to Neighbor to Neighbor. One-third of Greenwich residents are already in need, and we knew the pandemic would exacerbate that. We acted quickly—that’s what we do. We know the community’s needs more than anyone. In December/January we will be coming out with a robust needs assessment, which we do every five years. We partnered with Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact. We created an online interactive map; you can click on an area of Greenwich and see what the needs are.
HOW DID YOUR ORGANIZATION PIVOT DURING THIS TIME? We started the relief fund. We got the grant committee together weekly to handle grant applications and rapidly deploy funds. In the past, the CEOs of human services organizations in town met every four months. We shifted to weekly calls and made scores of connections to address critical needs, such as food delivery of breakfast and lunch daily. Of the 9,000 children in Greenwich Public Schools, 20 percent are on free/reduced lunch. We connected the superintendent with an organization that could deliver meals to these families. We made a connection for Greenwich Hospital for mask donations. We organized a book donation for Title 1 children. We acted as a fiduciary for Greenwich Comes Together, which was not a 501c3 yet.
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * NONPROFIT IMPACT * ORGANIZATION
Greenwich United Way DAVID RABIN, CEO WHEN DID YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE DEVASTATION AHEAD WITH THIS VIRUS? This crisis is exactly why we are here. The Greenwich United
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING THIS PANDEMIC?
Way was founded eighty-seven years ago during another crisis, the Great Depression. On March 15, my staff and I had a phone conference and then approached
We never skipped a beat. We raised almost $900,000 in three months and granted it quickly without compromising our
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process. With COVID grants, we request monthly reports on how the money is spent, so we can report back to donors to show they had the greatest outcome.
HOW DID THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS? Greenwich responded like Greenwich always does. We put out the clarion call, and it was answered rapidly. »
By the Numbers Spearheaded the Greenwich COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, which raised $900,000 (as of August) Issued twenty-one grants to the most vulnerable in the community (as of August) Delivered 5,200 meals through Caritas, 6,784 meals through Filling in the Blanks and provided funding for 57,204 meals supplied through Neighbor to Neighbor Provided Zoom calls to 360 families through River House during the first month of the crisis Gave $400 each to 125 individuals to meet basic needs through Family Centers Provided 549 teen talk counseling sessions through Kids in Crisis Paid for 250 meals for frontline workers through Nathaniel Witherell
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD
* OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS *
DAVE KUBAN, Owner ORGANIZATION
Planet Pizza, Norwalk HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS ADAPT DURING THIS PANDEMIC? We are in a high corporate area, so we lost those patrons and our rent is high. We adjusted our prices to a little above cost, so we could keep doing high volume. Everybody likes the doctors, nurses, police, so we started asking for donations and sending pizzas out to them. Melissa and Doug donated. Lemberg Law would donate $200 or $300 a day. We’d write a message from Lemberg Law on the pizza box, and the nurses would write and thank Sergei Lemberg directly. It took off. Crossfire Motorcycle Club bought 500 sandwiches, chips and waters—for $6 not our usual $11— and personally delivered them by motorcycle to Norwalk Hospital. I’m involved with the community on a normal basis, so this was easy for me. I grew up in Norwalk, with no money. Now I try to give back what I can.
HOW DID YOU HELP FAMILIES IN THE AREA? We raised $9,000 to provide food for kids and worked closely with guidance counselors to get healthy meals—grilled chicken,
broccoli, rice—to families. Rice is not on our menu, but we were buying six or seven fifty-pound bags a week. Someone asked for bologna; I don’t sell it but I wasn’t going to turn anyone down! I sent my driver for some. Matt Corey, who teaches lacrosse in Norwalk, donated $2,000 out of his own pocket, and we gave families Planet Pizza gift cards for wellrounded meals, including protein, veggies, milk and juice. With Malta House and social services, we delivered hand sanitizer, paper towels—anything to keep kids from getting sick.
WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THOSE YOU SERVED?
Impressive Stats
So many people called to thank us, crying—saying that was the only food they had for the week. I felt so bad, I started dropping off $50 gift cards. I told my wife at night, “I don’t feel right sitting down and eating dinner.”
and fed all the homeless under the bridge. Then we fed all the homeless by the bridge in South Norwalk, then at Stratford’s Home Depot, and then by the train station in Bridgeport. One lady there had six kids with her, living in a tent. I gave her the money in my pocket. They were charging the food truck; they were so appreciative.
MOST MOVING EXPERIENCE? M2 Tactical gun shop and Saugatuck Financial each donated $2,000. We made 450 bagged lunches, took my food truck, drove over to Exit 6 in Stamford
Raised $27,000 for hospital employees over three-anda-half months Raised $9,000 to donate meals to families once schools closed Served 450 meals to the homeless
WORDS OF PRAISE
Dave raised money to feed hospital employees over and over,” Cristy Gonzales, a teacher who works with lowincome kids, says of owner Dave Kuban. “He has his guys delivering meals to needy kids for free, then he tips his drivers himself. He has been sending food to everyone who is taking care of our community—store employees, postal workers, nurses, doctors—and keeping his employees working. When schools closed, I panicked thinking about how many kids would go unfed each day. I called Dave and he stepped up! He is now feeding so many that I’ve lost count. westportmag.com
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2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * BEST FRIEND TO CHILDREN *
ORGANIZATION
Children’s Learning Centers
MARC JAFFE, Chief Executive Officer HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AS AN ORGANIZATION AND TAKE ACTION WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT? My team is really dedicated and mission driven. We knew the Greenwich/Stamford area was going to be overwhelmed by COVID. We have a long-standing relationship with Stamford Hospital; it’s the largest employer of our families. When the Project 26 program was announced, the OEC (Connecticut Office of Early Childhood) approached us and our response was: “Whatever it takes.” We were fortunate that we had a core team who demonstrated real courage and commitment and raised their hands.
WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THIS TIME MAKE YOU MOST PROUD?
closed, we almost immediately pivoted to remote learning, serving 940 children at home. These are younger kids who can’t read yet, don’t have technology, and whose parents are often non-English speakers. Philosophically we don’t believe in having children on screens, but we realized staying connected to the children, and engaging with the parents was really important. Our family engagement increased tenfold. We have committed to building a robust remote learning platform for pre-K, which doesn’t really exist.
Certainly Project 26. We ran a program for eight weeks and managed to do it without any children or staff getting sick. The healthcare workers deeply appreciated knowing their children were cared for and happy—you could see that in the faces of the children. We’re now serving 380 children in our seven sites. That also means 500 parents are going to work, so we are supporting the community and getting the economy back on its feet. We learned in running Project 26 how to mitigate risk, enabling us to reopen quickly. Also when we
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR 2021 AS WE FACE THE UNKNOWNS OF THIS VIRUS? Having our robust remote learning platform in place. Hopefully it becomes a model for the state, maybe the nation. Have as many children at our sites as we can safely accommodate. Continue to support not only our children and families, but our staff and team members, who are under a fair amount of stress. And to be cognizant of the challenges around race and equity as revealed by the George Floyd incident and respond to those challenges. Our staff is 85 percent female, 95 percent minority. »
WORDS OF PRAISE
Many CLC families were disproportionately impacted by the economic ravages of the virus,” explains Sue Bodson, who nominated CLC. “Food insecurity and unmet basic needs were very common problems, and CLC demonstrated how an organization leans in and shows up despite never-beforeseen challenges.” Sue, along with Bobbi Eggers, was planning CLC’s annual benefit when the pandemic hit. They quickly pivoted to a virtual Instagram party—over 600 participants attended, and the event raised $113,000.
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Impressive Stats Through Project 26, CLC offered childcare to Stamford Hospital healthcare workers for eight weeks in the heart of the pandemic. No child or staff member contracted COVID-19. Safely opened seven of CLC’s eight locations by the end of June, enabling 500 parents to get back to work Distributed 9,000 diapers through Greenwich’s Mothers for Others (ongoing effort) Distributed over 200 meals through Filling in the Blanks in Norwalk Organized a 1,000-volume book drive with Westhill Angels
2020 Light A Fire
AWARD * OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP *
ORGANIZATION
Food Rescue US DANIELLE BLAINE, Site Director
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO ADAPT TO THE RAPIDLY GROWING NEEDS WHEN THIS PANDEMIC HIT? We usually use our app to communicate between food donors, volunteers and our social service agencies who receive the food. When the pandemic hit, so many agencies and grocery stores closed or changed hours that our app schedule could not reflect the rapid changes. I quickly emailed all of our volunteers and asked who would be able to help at a moment’s notice to move food to people who need it most. I received about 200 responses from volunteers, and we moved our system to fast-paced texting for March and April. The volunteers were incredible. We also launched three new initiatives: our community kitchen program, restaurant meal program and farm distribution program.
WHAT WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION’S EXPERIENCE WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF YOUR EFFORTS? We experienced an unbelievable outpouring of goodwill from volunteers giving their time and companies and individuals providing grants to sponsor our meal programs to our local agencies, helping our local restaurants in the process—a real win-win for all.
ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF DURING THIS TIME? Building stronger communities through our volunteers and grocery, restaurant, school and hospital donors, and reaching deeper into the community to find individuals who are not being helped or need more help. When our volunteers reached out to help neighbors in need, it brought the whole community up. One of our agencies said, “The people felt respected and cared about when they saw these beautifully packaged meals coming from our local restaurants and community kitchens.”
Impressive Stats Provided over 840,000 meals (as of August) to the food insecure since the start of the pandemic
WHAT LESSONS DO YOU THINK WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME? A pandemic can turn things upside down in a moment. Our agencies saw a doubling or tripling of people in line for food—many of them for the first time and many in tears. It could happen to anyone, and by building a stronger community of volunteers we can pivot to help anyone in Fairfield County in more ways than before. We experienced this with the weeklong power outage. We were so ready to jump in and take immediate action to help the stores and agencies get back on their feet quickly. Our
volunteers went to restaurants at a moment’s notice to get food that was going to spoil and take it to people who needed it. Through the pandemic, we have learned to come together as a team and community. The next time it could be us in line for the first time, and I think that has really made people think about equity and helping all people who are economically disadvantaged. W
WORDS OF PRAISE
Food Rescue was a key partner who helped us to develop a sustainable food system to feed hundreds of families during this COVID pandemic,” says Deborah Sims, Executive Director of East End NRZ Popup Market & Cafe. “They provided us with high quality fresh fruits, vegetables and meals, which was essential to our families that faced daily struggles in dealing with hunger. westportmag.com
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Kept over 1 million pounds of food out of landfill Grew its team to 1,268 food rescuers (from 1,000 on March 1) Launched five Restaurant Meal Programs, helping more than twenty restaurants stay in business Launched three Community Kitchens— reopening restaurants, hiring back staff and making healthy chef-prepared meals for the food insecure Launched a Farm Distribution Program, recovering excess food from farms
The
Awards
Celebrating our COVID-19 heroes T HURSDAY • D EC E MBE R 3 • 5:45 - 6 :45 P.M.
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clockwise from top, left: Four chef/owners of restaurants in Westport— Molly Healey of Manna Toast, Brian Lewis of OKO and The Cottage; Bill Taibe of Don Memo, Kawa Ni and The Whelk; and Matt Storch of Match Burger Lobster and Match
hot & cold
CUISINE DURING COVID
HEALEY BY STACY BASS; LEWIIS COURTESY OF OKO WESTPORT; TAIBE BY GARVIN BURKE; STORCH BY JULIE BIDWELL
Chef/Owners on Shutdowns, Restrictions and Re-openings
T
he restaurant business isn’t a lukewarm calling. If you’re a chef/owner in Westport, you never have it easy. No matter how good you are at preparing meals, running a kitchen, hiring and managing staff, negotiating with landlords and vendors, and all the rest of it, you need to make quick pivots and put in long hours. That is, it’s not all creative cuisine and wine sampling. Add in a pandemic? It’s not good. In March, businesses throughout the area shutdown as customers stayed shut-in at home. Locals were encouraged to stay put except to pick up essentials. In time, pickup meals got the green light. By summer, restaurants were opening tables outside and things started to feel a bit normal. But was it? For restaurants, which rely on regular customers and events, to contribute to the bottom line, it is a prolonged stressful time, but they are finding ways to connect with their usual customers, while also attracting new ones. Some offer takeout service for the first time, some dabble in cocktail boxes to go. We checked in with four local chef/ owners, who aren’t just firing up the burners, but also keeping the business—and those it supports—going. by diane sembrot
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CUISINE DURING COVID
A
fter years of learning how to cook, and truly, deeply understand what she loved about it, Molly Healey refined her skills as a private chef. Then she took a leap. As luck would have it, she was in the right place at the right time when Yvette Waldman and Stacy Bass approached her about how to fill a space in Bedford Square. With Howard Bass and David Waldman, the team collaborated on the details of the new café: setting up the business plans, sourcing vendors, refining the menu, hiring and training staff and more. They didn’t stop until it came true. Manna Toast opened this past spring. Molly describes it as “primarily plant-based, hyper-local and tremendously
We just adapted to the changes: temp checks, sanitizer, cleaning the bathrooms every thirty minutes, new outdoor furniture. I think they are all for the better. - MOLLY HEALEY
ready, set, go When launching a brand-new restaurant and concept—a centralized hub for prep-work and more—and a pandemic hits, plans get thrown into the
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air, right? Regrets and panic set in? Not for Molly, who says everything was fine. Asked if she’d do anything differently, she responds: “Not much, everything has worked out pretty well. We have had a few bumps in the road, of course, but they have all been valuable learning experiences that have greatly contributed to the evolution of our concept.” (She’s cool as a cucumber.) Covid-19 restrictions are another to-do on her mind. Recalling the first days of the shutdown, she says, “It was OK, really. People were relying on takeout and delivery. The café wasn’t open yet, and we had the opportunity to sell food from the hub earlier than we expected. It also gave us a chance to test out our product on people and refine and develop an even better concept.” The team behind Manna was warmed up and prepared to make business decisions and conjure up creative solutions on the fly, if need be. As Molly said, everything worked out.
go time By summer the café was attracting passersby. That meant keeping up state-mandated regulations around cleaning and social distancing as well as greeting customers. “We just adapted to the changes: temp checks, sanitizer, cleaning the bathrooms every thirty minutes, new outdoor furniture,” Molly says. “I think they are all for the better.” With the cooler weather, the seating will be seasonally appropriate, cozy and welcoming. “People can enjoy Manna any time of year.” Covid has not changed the pace of her days. “Definitely not more free time,” she says. “Now that I have two kids, and my husband and I both have our businesses, time to slow down and spend with family has dwindled, but I try the best I can to be home for dinner.” Despite the pressure, she has no regrets. “Mostly all positives. It’s very strange to celebrate all your dreams coming true during these especially strange times, but I really have been so lucky during all of it.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACY BASS
MOLLY HEALEY
eco-conscious.” The business was young when Covid-19 sent the region into shutdown. Back in March, businesses closed their doors and people stayed home. Yet Manna group’s instincts and ambitions were right, because locals didn’t stop eating out—they turned to takeout and delivery for weeks, and Manna had pickup and home delivery baked into its plans. They started out using their own drivers, and now they’re extending the service with UberEats and Doordash as well. From conception, Manna has also appealed to today’s local food tastes: personal, niche, local, high-end and nutritious. Using Wave Hill Breads, Molly and Chef de Cuisine Jason Wiener create a variety of toasts stacked with artful layers of colorful toppings, such as cucumbers, red onions, radish, red peppers, beets and kale. It also offers large salads, tasty soups and sides as well as yogurt, plant milks and fruits, locally roasted coffee and wine and beer. This fall, Church Lane is closed to cars, and tables line the sidewalks so that diners can enjoy eating outside if they choose, though the café is as comfy inside as it outside. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the outdoor dining area will be outfitted with heaters and blankets to add to the coziness and the dinner offerings will expand. Heading into the holiday season, Manna is also available for catering and private events.
above: Manna Toast starts early, serving breakfast favorites, like muffins, carrot cake with cashew cream cheese and its best-selling Cauliflower Hash • New business, pandemic and a growing family, yet Healey maintains cool confidence below: Great snack for the kids: almond butter toast with apple slices, grapes and sprinkle of granola • Manna Toast always has seasonal soup on the menu as part of a belly-warming and nutritious meal.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY COURTESY OF OKO WESTPORT AND THE COTTAGE
above: OKO, following Japanese-influenced cooking techniques and traditions, artfully plates its Sticky Ribs: smoked maple, gochujang, sesame and scallion below: The Cottage’s Duck Fried Rice, maitake, duck confit, bok choy and quail eggs
CUISINE DURING COVID
created with impeccably fresh ingredients. Chef/owner Lewis embraces the art of food, and his reputation is spotless. He even opened a second OKO in Rye, New York. Raised in Westchester, he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America with honors and later worked under Chef Jean Louis Palladin and Marco Pierre White. In 2018 he took semi-final honors for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast. His experience as a chef and a restaurant owner has helped him navigate and lead his businesses through the biggest challenge to the food scene in multigenerational memory.
BRIAN LEWIS
E
veryone in Westport seems to have a soft spot for The Cottage, the petite restaurant with a big reputation for high cuisine. Of course, running and owning it wasn’t enough for the energetic Chef Brian Lewis. He was inspired to open a second restaurant, OKO (short for Okonomiyaki). Lewis transformed an old firehouse on Wilton Road into a chic place for Japanese cuisine. OKO, with sushi, tempura and soba, and other Japanese-influenced dishes, was born of a successful Japanese dish served at The Cottage, and both have found their place in the local food scene. Both have a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere and serve dishes
he says. “We were able to move quickly in advance of the mandate and were poised for maintaining a safe environment for our guests and our employees. Our ability to consolidate all efforts to only one to-go restaurant—OKO Westport—and place OKO Rye and The Cottage into hibernation mode allowed for a realistic and long-term plan for the business and, most important, the safety and well-being of our guests. We also created a meal train to feed our staff, serving 400 meals per week.” Recalling the heavy news each day, Lewis is satisfied with how he brought the businesses through the turbulence. “I really do not have any regrets or changes that I would have made with our strategies or decision making,” he says. “We closed OKO Rye and The Cottage entirely for three months and operated only OKO Westport for three months.” That doesn’t mean it was easy. His heart and soul, and creative outlet, is invested in his work, so putting a restaurant on the back burner is a test of patience. But pragmatism won out. He stayed focused on the core of his offerings, which remained, mostly, unaffected by the strain on supply chains at the time. “The only inventory shortage for us was fish from Japan.”
winter’s chills Looking back to March, the region was put into quarantine and restaurant owners were presented with the impossible: anticipate the unthinkable. What would Chef Lewis have done differently, knowing what he knows now? “Anticipating and planning for the unknown and unprecedented was, of course, the most challenging component to leading our team and the guest experience through these times,” he says. “Having the knowledge of the eventual guidelines would have certainly led to an even more swift and efficient planning for closing and re-opening.” Left on his own, he took charge and moved his business forward. “With initial impact of the pandemic, I made the decision to close all three restaurants two days before the state mandate was enforced. This decision turned out to be an excellent one,”
making progress
As Westport collectively moved through shock, an uneasy acceptance settled in. Restaurants were allowed to re-open, provided they practiced new safety guidelines. Lewis reopened all of his restaurants on June 23, with inside and outside dining. “We strictly adapted to the highest level of Covid-compliant safety measures for our staff and guests,” he says, though it was hardly doubted, given the fastidious reputation of his places. Upon re-opening, he also added outdoor dining for all three
restaurants. To-go sales remained high, and he was able to offer a full menu. “We have realized a great spike in creativity upon our return to in-house dining and we will be adding beautiful, all-weather heated tents to dine continuously throughout the fall and winter.” Small private events are allowed. Not all places, not even favorite ones, will fare as well under the demands to the times. Lewis has bittersweet faith, saying, “I believe that while some markets, such as New York City, will sadly be devastated, the local suburban markets will see an unprecedented spike in business, as long as the correct adjustments have been made to the business model.”
big picture
Guiding restaurants—and supporting those who depend on them—through a crisis keeps Lewis busy. “With a worldclass set of teams in place and exceptional leadership by Chef de Cuisine Christian Wilki and Hospitality Director Ralph Leon, I was able to focus on long-range business strategies, short-term solutions, public relations, Covid compliance and, of course, home school my children and prioritize my family during this extraordinarily challenging time,” he says of his days. “My team and my twin six-year old boys, Jude and Jax, have all taught me more about resilience, love and friendship than I would have learned in a lifetime of ‘normal’ life. I am forever grateful for how everyone showed up and returned to work and, of course, how my children have grown and continue to impress me with the way in which they see the world with such bright eyes through it all.” Looking ahead, he hopes for days of being “on a complete total creative roll and no slowing down in sight! Maybe enough time for a quick ‘cheers,’ and then back to the kitchen.”
I am forever grateful for how everyone showed up and returned to work and, of course, how my children have grown and continue to impress me with the3 way in which they see the world. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 WESTPORT
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- BRIAN LEWIS
CUISINE DURING COVID
community and our surrounding community together and moving forward. Show how our new way of service can be done safely and organized, while still being delicious and unique.” Even so, he admits, “I’d rather forget about March, and April, and May, and June.”
moving forward
shut down
MATT STORCH
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orn and raised in Westport, Matt Storch is well known around town. He’s friendly, has a larger-than-life personality and is daring as he charges forward on new adventures in the culinary scene. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, he also worked alongside Chef Todd English. He joined Match in South Norwalk in 2000 as executive chef, and co-owner in 2001, creating a globally inspired menu from his travels using his own twists on the classics using as local as possible ingredients. In 2016, he opened Nom-eez in Black Rock and sold it in 2019; and in September 2017 he opened Match Burger Lobster in Westport, a partnership between Match
next up
As they turned to online orders, he and the staff missed the hospitality side of the business. “I wish there were a more personal way to go about it, but we didn’t have the manpower, and our goal was to keep everyone safe,” Storch says. He launched a new service called Match Provisions, working with a food distributor in New York and his partners from Copps Island Oysters. Customers placed orders online and picked them up on Tuesdays at the Westport Train Station. “Everyone who didn’t feel comfortable going to a store really appreciated our level of safety and efficiency.” (Customers can pick oysters up at the restaurant now.) Storch and his team came up with plenty of responses to the new normal, including: family meals; a 200-person drop-off dinner to the homeless shelter, funded by online donations; and pantry bags, funded by a directto-staff online initiative. “Some stuck, some did not, but I don’t think I would change anything,” he says. One things was clear: no discounts. “We didn’t feel it was the time to lose money.” By summer, Match was offering full-service outdoors and reduced tables inside, and Match Burger Lobster had rolled out a new concept. “The level of take out we were doing made it impossible for us to differentiate between table service and takeout, so we kept everything wrapped and in bags and delivered it either to your car or to your table,” he says. “Took a bit for some people to get used to, but now it really works great. When inside became a possibility,
When Covid hit in March, the local restaurant industry didn’t feel a financial pinch, it was a financial punch! Chef Storch had to reduce staff, hours, offerings. Of course, he got up again. Through all of the disruptions—wait times, social-distancing measures, menu changes—he thanks his customers for their support, adding: “We want nothing more than to go back to ‘normal’ as well, but, for now, this is what we get.” Looking back, he admits, “The first decision was stay open or close. My partner Susan [McConnell] and I went back and forth for days in the beginning and, ultimately, laid it out for the staff. We had to keep our circle small and tight. We were lucky that we had the POS system in place for online ordering so all we had to do was switch it on. We closed and locked our doors, put our heads down and served as many people as we could.” In those first weeks, no one could know where the pandemic would lead or what it would mean for business. “It was a challenge—a scary challenge— that really had no foreseeable end. For me, I said: ‘Challenge accepted.’ Stay relevant. Help as many people as possible. Keep the food moving through the restaurants and keep costs as low as possible. Keep the restaurant
we decided to stay outdoors only. We hired back our busboys and made them our sanitarians—when you got up with your garbage in the picnic bag, they would swoop in and sanitize the tables and chairs. We made an outdoor window for orders, so there would be some hospitality.”
Now what? “Oh man. I have no idea, except for cross my fingers for warm weather and a mild winter,” Storch says. “We are prepared to go back to full-time takeout if we have to. Unfortunately, that means laying off some of our staff again. I hope that is not the case and we stay busy with takeout in Westport and guests join us on our heated patio. We hope that because our SoNo restaurant has extremely high ceilings and very spaced out tables that we will see some business inside. I am working on an idea for a large tent on farmland for the winter, but even that would be considered inside. I’m hoping to do five-course menus changing every week and great entertainment. Think: winter in Aspen.” Looking for the silver lining, he says, “You learn from every life experience, and without my lessons from early career and growing up I would not have stood a chance against this virus, both in business and personal life. You really learn that shit happens every day, especially in this business. Over the last few years I have really learned to not let it get the best of me. If you stay calm, there is always a solution. You really see who cares when you go through something like this. Who is genuine. I have to say, my fellow chefs, restaurant owners and employees are some of the most genuine and heartfelt people in the world and I am honored to be with them.” For now, Storch and his team do what they love: food.
We want nothing more than to go back to ‘normal’ as well, but, for now, this is what we get.
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- MATT STORCH
HEADSHOT BY JULIE BIDWELL; STORCH IN MASK BY JERRI GRAHAM; LOBSTER AND BURGER BY THOMAS MCGOVERN; OTHERS, CONTRIBUTED
in Sono and Blooms, a thirdgeneration family of local oyster (and seafood) farming. The year after, he opened Match Taco and won Chopped, the Food Network cooking competition, though locals didn’t need a national TV show to tell them that Chef Storch is a culinary star.
above: The philosophy of the Match Burger means holding your food with two hands and having lots of napkins nearby • Chef Storch, guiding his restaurant through the pandemic, was photographed by Jerri Graham to document Covid in Westport below: Pick up your to-go order and add in Copps Island oysters, prepped and ready to enjoy at home • Stress eating at its best—a juicy burger and fresh lobster (yes, for pickup, too)
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CUISINE DURING COVID
BILL TAIBE
Food touring Mexico City inspired his new restaurant Don Memo
right: Owner/chef Bill Taibe
by georget te yac oub
D
top: Don Memo’s contemporary take on enchiladas middle: quesadilla bottom: Executive Chef Anthony Kostelis
uring the pandemic, most restaurants struggled, others thrived, and one pivoted its whole concept for something new. That restaurant —once referred to as Jesup Hall —is now Don Memo. “I was so dead bored of it,” says Bill Taibe, chef and owner of the former Jesup Hall. “It was American tavern food and I worked really hard to get it where we wanted it, so once I felt like we were there, I was kind of done with it.” Taibe made the decision on Mother’s Day. He was in the restaurant, yelling because the mint was bruised as employees hustled to get the takeout orders to curbside. In the middle of that brunch, Taibe pulled the plug. “I can’t do this American shit anymore,” he says. “I had done that type of food for so long. I was done with it. I needed to do something different.” That day, in the middle of the shift, Taibe told everyone they were shutting down and that he didn’t know what was next.
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Art of Food
Bill Taibe revealed his love of food in Mexico City through photos he posted to Instagram @billtaibe 1
2
3
4
1 Tacos al Pastor in Mexico City 2 Taquerîa El Greco in Mexico City 3 La Clandestina Mezcaleria. Mexico City 4 Taquerîa El Greco
PHOTOGRAPHY: TAIBE AND KOSTELIS BY GARVIN BURKE; FOOD INSET FROM IG @DONMEMOWESTPORT; MEXICO CITY FROM IG @BILLTAIBE
He went home, talked to his wife, and decided it was Mexican street food, elevated. This wasn’t random. Five years ago, Taibe took a trip to Mexico with a group of friends. He went to Oaxaca and Puebla to visit the family of Memo Garcia, whose sons worked with Taibe for seventeen years at his restaurants (and ultimately how the name ‘Don Memo’ was inspired). After that trip, he went back to Mexico City handful of times, falling in love with the freshness of the ingredients and the perfect matching and balancing of flavors. So, it made sense that he eventually brought it back home. “When you build a restaurant, which I’ve done for many years” —for those who don’t know, Taibe is the also the chef/owner of Westport powerhouses, The Whelk and Kawa Ni—“it’s hard to build a menu and really hit it,” he says. “We might have done that here.” Fan favorites include the potato tostada, the lamb barbacoa (personal favorite), and the green chorizo quesadilla. Taibe’s favorite drink is the Paloma—just four ingredients that are perfectly matched and balanced. The menu was created to be as authentic as possible so that “people get a taste of what I love so much about Mexico,” he says. When asked about what it was like to open a new restaurant in the middle of a global pandemic, he said, “The pandemic for me was one of the most interesting times of my life, trying to figure out how to get my restaurants through this. The world had stopped and there was this awkward beauty about it. No one was out. My team are true professionals and all we wanted to do was make sure we kept a bit of normalcy in town,” Taibe says. “As the world shut down, the food made everything feel okay.”
A N T I Q UA R I U S
GREENWICH WINTER ANTIQUES & DESIGN SHOW
DECEMBER 2–4, 2020
Presented online by InCollect
TOGETHER AT HOME
The Greenwich Historical Society’s premier annual fundraiser celebrating design, decorative arts, architecture and landscapes, presented in a new content–rich virtual format.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW greenwichhistory.org/antiquarius All the best of Antiquarius- online- with engaging virtual panels and workshops featuring top local designers. Plus, daily email content celebrating Greenwich retailers, entertainers & designers, a special festive gingerbread kit, our annual Festival of Tabletop Trees and candlelit Bush-Holley House tours.
HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR
Celebrating the work of designers Patrick Mele, Charlotte Barnes, and Heather Georges
DESIGNER PANEL
Presented by Douglas VanderHorn Architects
HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING WORKSHOP
With decorating & entertaining guru Eddie Ross
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE
Curated local and popup boutiques for festive shopping
12 th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 22 Hosted by
SAM BRIDGE NURSERY & GREENHOUSES
437 North Street, Greenwich Monday–Saturday; 8:30am–5pm
Virtual Greenwich Holiday Stroll DECEMBER 1–24 Featuring
OVER 100 MERCHANTS THROUGHOUT
Greenwich, Village of Old Greenwich, Byram, Glenville, Cos Cob, Riverside
Reindeer Festival Hosted By
Reindeer Stable Sponsor
Reindeer Sponsor
Premier Media Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Virtual Holiday Entertainment Sponsor
NURSERY & GREENHOUSES, LLC EST. 1930
Created and Produced By
Community Sponsor
#GreenwichReindeerFestival #VirtualGreenwichHolidayStroll
G r e e n w i c h r e i n d e e r F e s t i va l . c o m NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 WESTPORT
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ART & ANTIQUES Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture............................................................ 8 AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield............................................................ 17 Scap Chrysler Jeep......................................................................... 21 BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT California Closets...............................................................................7 Grand Entrance Gates...................................................................... 31 BUSINESS & FINANCE Castle Connolly............................................................................... 33 Cummings & Lockwood LLC............................................................. 6 UBS Financial Services Inc./ The Shantz Mantione Group........................................................ 11 DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS Eleish Van Breems............................................................................ 9 SERENA & LILY....................................................................... Cover 4 EDUCATION & CHILDREN Fairfield University/Quick Center for the Arts..................................10 EVENTS A-list.................................................................................................37 Greenwich Reindeer Festival............................................................ 61 Light a Fire....................................................................................... 51 FASHION Roundabout.................................................................................... 23 FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Winvian............................................................................................ 14
HEALTH & BEAUTY Greenbook TMS NeuroHealth.......................................................... 31 Hartford HealthCare............................................................... Cover 3 Hospital for Special Surgery..............................................................5 LCB Senior Living, LLC..................................................................... 18 JEWELRY Lux Bond & Green/Rolex.................................................... Cover 2, 1 Manfredi Jewels............................................................................... 3 NONPROFIT Breast Cancer Alliance.................................................................... 14 Connecticut Humane Society.......................................................... 6 Greenwich Historical Society.......................................................... 61 The Elephant Santuary.................................................................. 62 Westport Historical Society........................................................... 23 PETS Earth Animal.................................................................................... 33 REAL ESTATE William Raveis Shelton HQ............................................................... 13 MISCELLANEOUS Westy Self Storage.......................................................................... 23
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Ownership Statement Westport Magazine U.S. Postal Service. Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation. (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Publication Title: Westport. 2. Publication No.: 1941-9821. 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2020. 4. Issue Frequency: 6 times. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 6. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $19.95. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Gabriella Mays, Publisher, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Diane Sembrot, Editor, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Diane Sembrot, Managing Editor, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. 10. Owner: Moffly Media. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. For Completion by Nonprofit Organizations Authorized to Mail at Special Rates: Not applicable to Westport Magazine. 13. Publication Title: Westport. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September/October 2020. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): *6,623 **6,079; b(1). Paid/Requested Outside-County Mail Subscription Stated on Form 3541: *592 * 567; b(2). Paid In-County Subscriptions: *2,253 **2,159; b(3). Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: *448 **270; b(4). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: *0 **0; c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), (4): *3,293 **2,996; d. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, Complimentary, and Other Free): d(1). Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: *0 **0; d(2). In-County as Stated on Form 3541: *1,146 **1,128; d(3). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS *0 **0; d(4). Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or Other Means): *1,343 **1,075; e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3), (4): *2,489 **2,203; f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): *5,782 **5,199; g. Copies Not Distributed: *841 **880; h. Total (Sum of 15f, 15g): *6,623 **6,079; i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f. times 100): *57.0 percent **57.6 percent. 17. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the November/December 2020 issue of this Publication. 18. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on this form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including multiple damages and civil penalties). Elena V. Moffly, Business Manager/Treasurer, October 1, 2020. *Average No. Copies Each Issue During Proceeding 12 Months. **Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date.
We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs. Weddings should have a current Westport, Weston or Wilton 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: Joey.Macari@moffly.com Westport Magazine | 205 Main Street Westport, CT 06880
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ART & ANTIQUES Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture................................................................... 8 AUTOMOTIVE Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield................................................................... 17 Scap Chrysler Jeep................................................................................21 BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT California Closets..................................................................................... 7 Grand Entrance Gates.............................................................................31 BUSINESS & FINANCE Castle Connolly...................................................................................... 33 Cummings & Lockwood LLC.................................................................... 6 UBS Financial Services Inc./ The Shantz Mantione Group............................................................... 11 DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS Eleish Van Breems................................................................................... 9 SERENA & LILY.............................................................................. Cover 4 EDUCATION & CHILDREN Fairfield University/Quick Center for the Arts.........................................10 EVENTS A-list....................................................................................................... 37 Greenwich Reindeer Festival...................................................................61 Light a Fire..............................................................................................51 FASHION Roundabout........................................................................................... 23 FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Winvian...................................................................................................14 HEALTH & BEAUTY Greenbook TMS NeuroHealth.................................................................31 Hartford HealthCare...................................................................... Cover 3 Hospital for Special Surgery.................................................................... 5 LCB Senior Living, LLC............................................................................18 JEWELRY Lux Bond & Green/Rolex...........................................................Cover 2, 1 Manfredi Jewels...................................................................................... 3 NONPROFIT Breast Cancer Alliance...........................................................................14 Greenwich Historical Society.................................................................61 The Elephant Santuary......................................................................... 62 Westport Historical Society...................................................................61 REAL ESTATE William Raveis.........................................................................................13 MISCELLANEOUS Westy Self Storage................................................................................. 23
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First Bank of Greenwich...............
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ART & ANTIQUES Light a Fire................................... Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 AUTOMOTIVE FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield........................................................................................................... 17 Scap Chrysler Jeep........................................................................................................................ 21 Mackenzie's Bar & Grill................. BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT Marcia Selden Catering................ California Closets............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Grand Entrance Gates...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Winvian.......................................... BUSINESS & FINANCE Table 104 Osteria Bar ................... Castle Connolly................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Taco Daddy.................................... Cummings & Lockwood LLC.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 UBS Financial Services Inc./ The Shantz Mantione Group......................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS Eleish Van Breems............................................................................................................................9 SERENA & LILY...................................................................................................................... Cover 4 EDUCATION & CHILDREN Fairfield University/Quick Center for the Arts.................................................................................................................................................................. 10 EVENTS A-list................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 37 Greenwich Reindeer Festival............................................................................................................................................................................................ 61 Light a Fire....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51 FASHION Roundabout..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Winvian........................................................................................................................................... 14 HEALTH & BEAUTY Greenbook TMS NeuroHealth.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Hartford HealthCare................................................................................................................................................................................................Cover 3 Hospital for Special Surgery.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 LCB Senior Living, LLC..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 JEWELRY
postscript
NOV/DEC 2020 / DONNA MOFFLY
I
“Don’t worry about it,” Jack told me in the bar where I had headed for another drink. “Every Senator needs someone like you.”
t’s November, the month of political triumph or defeat preceded by weeks of annoying e-mails and robot calls. And it always reminds me of the memorable politicians I’ve met over the years. Well, the first one I didn’t actually meet, and he was just a general in 1943. Ike was in Cleveland, waving to the crowds on Euclid Avenue from the back of my father’s yellow Cadillac convertible while my brothers and I threw confetti out the window of the Statler Hotel. Later, he’d become our 34th President. Other major players I’ve met up-close and personal—like President George H. W. Bush in 1989. Through Joseph Verner Reed, Chief of Protocol, I was invited for coffee at the White House after the state dinner for the President of Italy and got a big laugh when I offered: “You know, Mr. President, the last time I saw you, I was on stage and you were in the audience!” I reminded him that as Ambassador to the U.N., he’d attended a Grace Notes concert at the Old Greenwich Civic Center on U.N. Day. We sang “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, and Libby Flinn went down into the audience and sat on his lap. Then there was the “very informal” invitation from our neighbors Polly and Hugo Koehler to come for a drink after tennis to meet Hugo’s brother. So there, still in our whites, we were introduced to a gent whose first name I heard as “Clayton.” Clayton Koehler, right? When I asked him what he did, he said “nothing” and turned away. Oops! In the kitchen, Polly explained: He was Hugo’s half-brother. Claiborne was his first name and Pell his last, because their mother had married twice. He was the Senator from Rhode Island currently on the cover of TIME magazine. “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Jack told me in the bar where I’d headed for another drink. “Every Senator needs someone like you.” westportmag.com
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Apparently, I felt that Michael Fedele needed me, too, when he ran for Governor in the 2010 Republican primary. At an Eagle Scout dinner, I offered him some motherly advice. He’d used the word “clearly” about eighteen times in one radio broadcast. “You make listeners feel that if they don’t agree with you, they’re idiots.” Surprisingly, he almost abandoned the word thereafter. Fedele lost, but clearly I’d tried. During the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York, Jack and I attended a Republican Majority for Choice event at the top of the Met-Life building. It drew the likes of Bill Weld, former Governor of Massachusetts, who spoke eloquently about women’s rights. Standing by the front desk, my husband saw a new arrival make an obvious pass at the receptionist. It was Tommy Thompson, “W’s” anti-choice Secretary of Health, who’d crashed the party. Afterwards, Jack was telling me about it in the elevator, when the only other occupant, an attractive young lady of the press, interjected: “Oh, yah. He’s known for that. We call him ‘Tommy Touch-Tone.’ ” Then there was the first time I met Chris Murphy—at the Selbys’ house in Old Greenwich in 2012 when he was running for the U.S. Senate. I asked him if he was pro-choice; it wasn’t on his website. Absolutely, said he. So I suggested he get it up there fast. His wife was on the board of NARAL. Chris would become the youngest Senator in the 113th Congress and one of my favorite politicos, along with Chris Shays, who Jack and I took sailing on Purple Tiger during his final run for Congress. Blue skies. Blue water. Sunshine. No phones. Totally relaxed. It’s a rough business—politics. Not for the faint of heart. And money can’t buy experience, integrity or humanity. Election Day is our big chance to vote in the best people for the job.
VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH, CT
OF POLITICOS & CROSSING PATHS
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You have a whole world to get back to.
If back pain has been holding you back, our new Spine Wellness Center in Westport can help you move forward, with a more holistic approach that includes alternatives to surgery. To learn how we can help you put your back into everything you love doing, visit HartfordHealthCare. org/SpineWellness or call 203.226.2499.
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