cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 11, Number 50
Thursday, September 24, 2020
CIAC: Gradual approach needed to bring back high school sports By Greg Lederer Record-Journal staff
In looking to bring high school sports back amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference has emphasized the importance of a gradual process that can change on a daily basis.
At the end of last week, state schools learned that they had moved one key step closer to returning to regularseason competition on Oct. 1. On Friday, the CIAC sent out an email to athletic directors informing them that schools could move from cohorts to full-team practices as part of phase two of their sports plan. The
move went into effect Monday. “I think teams are ready to move forward,” said Cheshire Athletic Director Steve Trifone. “The athletes and coaches have been making sure to follow the safety guidelines.” In Friday’s email, the CIAC writes that the plan is fluid and in a perpet-
ual state of evaluation. The CIAC added that COVID-19 health data in Connecticut will continue to be monitored. “I feel good about where we are with everything,” said Maloney Athletic Director Bob McKee. “The CIAC is in See Sports, A2
Olive & Henry Fine Foods opens By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
Olive & Henry Fine Foods has opened its doors. The specialty grocery store is located in the lower level of the Watch Factory Shoppes. The shop in itself has a fun, hipster vibe, indubitably the byproduct of its hipster proprietor Chris Dircks and his wife Caroline. Together, the couple has created a one-of-kind quaint shop proffering a serious selection of mouthwatering gourmet foods. Customers can fill their totes with charcuterie (beef, duck and more), mushroom and vegetable pates, antipasto, fresh breads and bakery items, pastas, pickles, nuts, crackers, jams, coffee, cooking oils and spices and artisanal cheeses. Many of the products are locally sourced. How the shop came to fruition is a story in itself. “We found we really had to drive outside of Cheshire to find nice, off-thebeaten-path foods,” said Chris Dircks. Thus, the idea for the cheese shop was born.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, at left, with Cheshire musician/instructor John Ingrassia.
Chris and Caroline Dircks in front of their recently opened food specialty shop, Olive & Henry, in the Watch Factory Shoppes. Joy VanderLek, The Cheshire Citizen
As for the name? The name is nouveau hip, said Dircks. “Little kids come into the shop with names like Henry and then there’s a couple of older men who come in who are named Henry,” he said. Henry is the name of Chris’ father, grandfather, and a multitude of uncles, he explained. It is also the name of his brother and his own son’s middle name. “It’s a huge family name,” he said. As for the “Olive” in the shop’s name, that is one story Dircks would not divulge. Customers, however,
might be able to get the secret out of him. Even after deciding to open a cheese shop, the Dircks realized they wanted to offer crackers and spreads and more. “It has turned into a ‘what kind of stuff we eat, and we assume there’s other people who like the same stuff,’” he said. More insight went into the stock since the Dircks’ are “very sensitive to dietary inclusion,” drawn See Foods, A4
Musician helps kids get tips from rock stars By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
The music business has taken a big hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everything changed in like two days,” said Cheshire musician and instructor John Ingrassia, remarking on the pandemic’s huge effect on his business, and how it affected those students who take lessons. “Since March, I’ve had to be creative,” he said while contemplating how to keep his long-running music therapy and music lessons going. See Music, A5