by Dylan Miller
Noted
by Lisa Vientos-Kablis and Donna Scorrano
More Life
The holiday season is one of the most magical times of the year, especially here in the 068. There’s something so special about the annual Ridgefield Tree Lighting and Holiday Stroll, where the town comes alive with lights, music, and festive cheer. For me, the holidays have always been a time to gather with family, deck the halls, and embrace the joy of the season.
Now that the holidays are behind us, as are celebrations with our families and friends. The festivities around our 068-community wind down as the new year rushes in with a sense of renewal and hope. This is the time of year when we often have self-care, fitness, and wellness at the forefront of our minds.
Indeed, there is no better time than the present to begin one’s journey toward better health and overall wellness. But what factors contribute to overall wellness?
Certainly, physical exercise and a balanced diet are important, but are only one part of the equation. Maintaining consistency and creating a realistic, sustainable self-care and fitness routine is essential. Equally important is establishing a support system - connecting with others and encouraging our fitness friends. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people helps maintain consistency and accountability. This sense of community and support is exactly what draws so many to our Ridgefield and Danbury Orangetheory Fitness studios.
Orangetheory Fitness workouts combine cardiovascular and strength-building with personalized coaching that not only ensures safety and effectiveness but also motivates our members to gain the endurance, strength, and power they need in real life. We strive to offer “More Life” to our members and community, combining a balance of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. We encourage you to visit our studios or seek out the famous Orangetheory Splat symbol that is seen in many of our communal events. We are committed to assisting you in your health and wellness journey. On behalf of the Orangetheory Fitness Team, we wish everyone a joyous, prosperous, and — more importantly — healthier year ahead.
Lisa Vientos-Kablis and Donna Scorrano
Victoria Berry, Area Operations Manager; Donna Scorrano, Owner Operator Orangetheory Fitness Ridgefield - Danbury West and East; Lisa Vientos-Kablis, Ridgefield Studio Manager
Dee Dee Colabella Owner dcolabella@rpacartcenter.com
Greg Mursko Publisher publisher@068magazine.com
Dylan Miller Chief Operating Officer dmiller@rpacartcenter.com
Julia Bruce Editor-In-Chief editor@068magazine.com
Contributing Writers
Jack Sanders, Johanna Dodd, Roger Garbow, Tracey Brady, Jennifer Kirsch, Pam Hartnett, and Erik Ofgang
Contributing Photographers
Dylan Miller, Claire Barrett Photo, Linda Pordon Photography, Roger Garbow, Eileen Creagh, Hungry Studio NYC, and Panosnaps LLC
Advertising Sales
David Gursky | 914.646.9141 sales@068magazine.com
Erica Shillingford | 914.844.5602 eshillingford@068magazine.com
068 Magazine is a publication of Colabella Media LLC. ©2024. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.
This Issue’s Featured Writers
Janet Ozzard
Janet Ozzard is an editor and writer who has worked at many magazines, websites, and museums covering style, art, food, and culture. She lives with her family in Redding, and considers herself an exceptional Wordle player. For our Have You Met? column found on page #16, Janet interviews local orthorpedist Angelo Ciminiello about ways to prevent injuries while exercising.
Stephanie Dee Duality is the name of the game for Stephanie Dee, having worked as a graphic designer and copywriter at a New York-based advertising agency. She is now the Creative Design Manager at a biotechnology company in Danbury, CT. As an illustrator and interdisciplinary fine artist, she shares her work in various galleries around Connecticut. In this issue’s Art in the Spotlight on page #20, she explores the art of neon lighting.
Carin L. Weisman
Carin L. Weisman is an award-winning communications professional and author of numerous works, including the book #morninghaiku: a simple practice to inspire your every day. On page #36, Carin checks in with several experts about the importance and the benefits of stretching.
Joey Macari
Joey Macari is a freelance writer and content creator who writes bespoke copy for multiple media publications in the Northeast, in addition to social media copywriting for multiple non-profit arts organizations, NY Times best-selling authors, and more. Joey is also a working actor and teaches theater to youth in greater Boston. On page #52, Joey takes a fun look at aerial yoga in this issue’s Is That a Thing?
by Jack Sanders
To the grog-drinkers and brandy tipplers
Toast!
RAidgefield was not exempt in the battles over booze that eventualy led up to Prohibition. As early as 1800, Rev. Samuel Goodrich complained of “grog-drinkers and brandy tipplers,” but a temperance movement didn’t gain a foothold until the 1850’s, perhaps encouraged by recent tragedies - for example, the day after Thanksgiving in 1852, diarist Anna Resseguie noted, ‘‘Today the bell tolled for Mr. Eben Gilbert, found dead in a ditch, lying with face downward, his bottle by his side.’’
Two years later, Congregational pastor Clinton Clark called for prohibition, maintaining the only time alcohol is appropriate is ‘‘to him that is ready to perish.’’
Then in 1872, the state passed a law permitting towns to ban alcohol sales. That August, forty people sought a Town Meeting to consider ‘‘the propriety of instructing the Selectmen not to recommend any person to be licensed to sell liquors in the Town of Ridgefield.’’ They believed ‘‘the sale and use of a beverage of intoxicating liquors is a great curse of any community, productive of much of the crime and misery which affects society.’’ By a two-toone margin, voters banned the sale of intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal use.
However, by April 1873, some were getting thirsty. Twenty-five men petitioned to rescind the ‘‘no license’’ vote, resulting in one of the most
‘‘spirited’’ town meetings in Ridgefield history. George Lounsbury, later governor of Connecticut, proposed the sale of ‘‘spirituous and intoxicating liquors, ale and lager beer’’ be allowed. Up stood George’s brother Phineas, also a future governor. A temperance leader, Phineas decried drink and got the meeting to approve a two-hour paper ballot vote, allowing him to run up and down Main Street gathering supporters. When the ballots were counted, 104 favored alcohol sales, 111 opposed.
Ridgefield would remain dry for decades. Nonetheless, drinking problems persisted.
1. The local ban on booze did not include medicines with alcohol, and The Ridgefield Press in the 1870s regularly carried ads for Bininger’s Old-London Dock gin, “designed especially as a safe & reliable medicine for family use.”
2. State troopers watched trucks closely. This one, stopped upstate as suspicious, carried a large quantity of alcohol behind those wire spools.
3. 24 Bailey Avenue, a building no longer standing, was said to have housed a popular speakeasy during Prohibition.
4. Rev. Byrnes found empty liquor bottles behind the Jesse Lee Methodist Church, shown with parsonage around 1905.
5. During the Prohibition era, Bailey Avenue was a place where one could always find a drink. It occasionally ran red with wine from barrels smashed by state troopers.
Old Ridgefield
blighting the lives of their wives and blasting the future of their children’’ or by ‘‘boys who were breaking mothers’ hearts and bringing fathers’ gray heads in sorrow to the grave.’’
In 1909, the selectmen reacted to yet another petition to allow liquor sales by publishing the list of signers in The Ridgefield Press, ‘‘believing that the public would like to know the names of the voters who desire to introduce the saloon in our quiet village.’’ Pro-“saloon” contingent included the son of one of the selectmen and the son of a prohibitionist judge. When the vote was taken, Ridgefield remained dry.
While the town would allow liquor sales a few years later, “happy hour” was fleeting. In 1919, the 18th Amendment enacting Prohibition was ratified, taking effect a year later.
One Ridgefield result was the 1921 arrival of the Connecticut State Police, which had recently formed largely to help deal with Prohibition. Troop A, one of its first statewide stations, was on West Lane, along a route favored by vehicles smuggling booze from New York into New England.
historian Aldo Biagiotti.
“Speakeasies” appeared on Bailey Avenue, Grove and Prospect Streets, and North Salem Road as well as in Branchville — one was operated by a widow to support her six children. All were raided. Troopers lined up barrels of wine confiscated from cellars and smashed them with axes on roads like Bailey Avenue. As the liquid poured down the gutters, “several of the more enterprising citizens of the area ran out with buckets and scooped up the wine,” Malo Bedini would later recall.
They weren’t the only ones. When the Titicus River ran red with wine dumped by troopers, “farmers down river were watering their cows at the banks,” Biagiotti reported. The cows drank the wine-laced water and “on wobbly legs they wandered home to their stalls. Happy cows gave their milk most willingly that night.”
Long after Prohibition ended in 1933, many Italians would not forgive the state police. “They acted just like the German Storm Troopers,” said Franca Travaglini.
8 Future governors Phineas and
Soon state troopers were also cracking down on the locals. Regular raids targeted the Italian communities, who couldn’t believe that acquiring wine, so much a part of their culture, had become a crime. “For us who drink wine at lunch and dinner, the law was ridiculous,” an oldtimer told Italian
Oddly, the first post-Prohibition liquor store in town was operated by the Cott family, who’d soon abandon booze for soft drinks. Remember the slogan “It’s Cott to be good!”?
Today, Ridgefield’s “grog-drinkers and brandy tipplers” have nine retailers and 20 plus restaurants to quench their thirst. •
6. With Model T Fords and motorcycles, state police at Troop A on East Ridge Road, and earlier on West Lane, spent much of their time enforcing Prohibition.
7. Ridgefield pastor Samuel Goodrich warned against “grog-drinkers and brandy tipplers” in the year 1800.
George Lounsbury were on opposite sides of the temperance question.
Have You Met
by Janet Ozzard
Dr. Angelo Ciminiello
After almost sixteen years into his orthopedic surgery practice at OrthoConnecticut with a specialty in sports medicine, Dr. Angelo Ciminiello still comes to work every day feeling like he has the best job in the world. “I really do,” he enthuses. “Honestly, it’s getting more fun.”
Ciminiello grew up on Long Island in a family of athletes; he and his three siblings all played Division 1 sports at their respective schools. Ciminiello was a star baseball player at Providence College, where he played third base and was captain of the team, leading them to a Big East Championship and the NCAA College World Series Tournament. He went to Thomas Jefferson Medical School intent on becoming a heart surgeon, but the intense demands of that specialty made him rethink, and with his (literal) on-the-ground experience in high-level sports, orthopedic surgery made sense. After his residency at the University of Connecticut Health Center, he spent a fellowship year in Boston working as assistant team physician to the Celtics and with some college teams. He’s been in Ridgefield ever since, taking care of the local population’s knees, shoulders, and bones.
“There are more shoulder and knee injuries in the athletic population,” he says. “I see mostly knee and shoulder injuries. I do a lot of reconstructive procedures, from ligament
reconstruction to fractures to rotator cuff repairs to ACL injuries and cartilage transplants, all the way up to partial knee replacements.”
“As a sports medicine surgeon, I’m able to take care of the entire body, because a lot of these athletic injuries will take place in a variety of joints,” he adds. “My practice lends itself to that variety on a daily basis, which is incredibly gratifying.”
Ciminiello also loves the specialty’s constant technological evolution. Thanks to arthroscopic techniques, tiny cameras, robots, and other advances, surgeries that once took hours to do and weeks to recover from are shorter, less invasive, and safer. Staying on top of new tools and techniques requires constant education, says Ciminiello. “You need the skill set to do the less-invasive surgery, to be facile with the newer implants, to be in control of all the new technology,” he explains. “I’m practicing differently this year than I was last year, and profoundly differently than when I came into practice, as well as what I was taught when I was a resident or a fellow. That’s the natural evolution of our craft.”
Stretching is the single most important thing Ciminiello would like to see people do to stave off injury and stay out of his office. Stretching before and after an activity builds tolerance and strength around the bones. “The more flexibility you have
Opposite page, Dr. Ciminiello performing reconstructive surgery on a soccer player. Top, in Cooperstown with his son. Bottom, sailing with his duaghter in Turks and Caicos.
in the soft tissues around the joint, the more buffer there is for that joint,” he explains. For those who have developed chronic soreness thanks to hours spent on the Merritt Parkway or behind a desk, Ciminiello suggests dropping your shoulder blades down and rolling your neck from side to side to loosen the muscles. “Believe it or not, getting into that good ergonomic position will mitigate an enormous amount of those postural-related shoulder injuries that really drive a lot of the office visits,” he says.
Will stretching, neck-rolling, and posture checks keep every ache or strain at bay? “It’s impossible to prevent every sort of overuse injury,” he says. “I’m not saying that one exercise is going to undo 40 years of poor posture, but it’s something to start the process. Getting started is always the hardest part for everybody, myself included.”
Yoga is a great addition to your fitness routine in order to avoid injury. “Yoga lends itself to overall flexibility and good posture and building your way towards good joint health,” he says. “More men should be doing it,” Ciminiello says to his male patients, especially because they are inherently tighter in the hips and shoulders. His male patients who do yoga are in much better shape orthopedically.
It’s not all about anticipating the challenges of getting older. Ciminiello, who is the team physician for Ridgefield High School, Bethel High School, the collegiate NECBL team Danbury Westerners and the Danbury Hat Tricks, feels strongly that stretching should be routine in every young athlete’s regime. “I look at that as a golden opportunity to really educate those younger patients,” says the former all-star athlete. “The hope is that they’re going to carry that with them for the rest of their life.” •
Top, as a former athlete, Ciminiello continues to partipates in many activities, often including his family. A holiday tradition, Ciminiello and his family always run the Turkey Trot. Bottom, Dr. Ciminiello takes some time to relax with his wife Amy, in St. Petersberg.
Stephanie Dee
in a Tube
Neon lights have dotted famous landmarks such as the Moulin Rouge in Paris, the Las Vegas Strip, and New York City’s Times Square since the early 1900s. The commercialization of neon signs began with Georges Claude, a French engineer, at the Paris Motor Show in 1910. Gaining popularity internationally, the golden age of neon is documented as being the 1920s to 1960s with a revival in the 1980s. Mainstream TV series like Miami Vice helped to encourage this love for neon with many nightclubs, hotels, and bars adopting neon once again as a symbol of luxury.
The popularity of neon signs began because they were bright so people passing would be attracted to them even in the daytime. Today, LED signs are making strides past neon; however, some artists continue the tradition of custom works, and the craft is seeing another revival in contemporary sign-making.
Novelty in Neon
Growing the Glow
Kody Shafer first started working with neon after high school when he happened upon a neon shop along Route 66 in Albuquerque. While photographing neon signs, he was struck by the workings of shop owner Robert Randazzo. He apprenticed under Randazzo, a master glass blower/electrician at Absolutely Neon during his time at the University of New Mexico.
Art In The Spotlight
Kody later moved to Brooklyn, New York, and began working at Brooklyn Glass. There he led installations around New York City at art museums, flagship retail stores, and special events. When Kody moved to Osaka, Japan, in 2018 he began working at Yoshi’s Neon Studio where he learned the styles and techniques of Japanese neon fabrication. Kody founded his own neon shop after returning to the United States. Located in Norwalk, Connecticut, Neon Spectacular specializes in neon lighting and artwork.
When Kody went to Japan for his training, he became engrossed in the history of neon signs in Japan. Tokyo has seen a renaissance of neon signs just as in areas of the United States. During the Japanese economic bubble in the 1980s, “They would get huge rooftop signs. It would be pretty normal to get an order of over 1000 neon tubes in a month,” says Shafer. Nowadays, much of the work in Japan is refurbishing
Heat must be applied to the glass tube skillfully to be able to attach essential components to the tube, or to bend it to the desired shape. Shafer simultaneously blows air into the tube to add pressure from inside.
those neon signs and was the foundation for Shafer’s Japanese neon education.
Little Light of Mine
Kody’s knowledge and Neon Spectacular’s capabilities allow for 28 different color variations and shapes as small as 2 inches. Neon signs are made entirely by hand with methods staying largely unchanged throughout history. These traditional methods require soft lead glass (crystal) to be heated, bent, and twisted by hand using a torch. Then they are cooled and fused together. Later, they are filled with various gases to achieve the selected colors.
Electricity comes in when pure-iron electrodes surrounded by a glass jacket are welded to both ends of the tube and wired to the transformer using high-voltage cables. Photons, tiny, invisible packets of light energy, and the smallest possible unit of light, provide energy that causes a chemical reaction within the tube while adding light,
Art In The Spotlight
giving the sign a colored glow.
To maintain its shape and structure the entire sign is mounted to a backing panel. Neon signs made by Neon Spectacular can be mounted directly to the wall which allows the full effect of the glow to radiate around the room. Glass frames are often referred to as “dead frames” or “skeleton frames” and can be another option. In this type of mounting, neon tubes are glued to a structural glass frame that encases the tubing. Finally, Neon Spectacular uses neon or plexiglass backing which can be mounted to a wall or hung from the ceiling. Shafer’s experience in Japanese neon studios has given him a different perspective on the process of making signs. “What I found very interesting about the Japanese way for neon specifically is, in the United States when people are bending neon, I
notice the style is, you bend unit by unit.” Each glass tube is fabricated one at a time and each are completed before moving to the next. “Whereas in Japan, they’ll do all the bending at once and then they’ll put in all the electrodes in at once, and then you do all the pumping at once. It’s blocked into sections, and I found that to be very helpful when I was learning,” explains Shafer.
A Bright Future
The chance meeting that led Kody to a career and a life-long passion was the ultimate luck of the draw. All of his eye-opening experiences inform his current practice and are passed on to new groups, allowing the tradition to continue for years to come. “I can’t think of much that is more beautiful than Neon,” Kody says. “It’s like lightning in a tube.” •
Above, examples of work that Shafer has created for clients that demonstrate his talent and expertise in creating unique pieces.
Culinary Chemist
by Johanna Dodd
Taste the Freshness!
Boost the Nutritional Impact of Your Food
It is the time of year for resolutions and many of us want a healthier diet. One of the best ways to do that is to include more fruits and vegetables in our diet.
It’s important to understand that there are differences in the nutrients in raw and cooked foods. The way we prepare food allows different nutrients to become available to us, and it also can make it more palatable. Cruciferous veggies, like Brussels sprouts or broccoli, contain some amazing antioxidants called glucosinolates. These nitrogenand sulfur-containing compounds give the vegetables their bitter flavor to deter herbivorous insects from chowing down on them. For humans, though, the compounds are anti-inflammatory and can prevent early cell death. Eating the veggies raw, you get one set of antioxidants; eating them steamed or roasted so that you lose none of the other water-soluble nutrients, allows another set of antioxidants to become bioavailable (more able to be used by your body). If you want to skip the high-calorie dips or dressings used to make your raw broccoli better to eat, just steam it; it’s just as good for your body steamed as raw!
The produce with the most nutrients are the ones with the shortest ‘pick to shelf’ time. I spoke with Sal Sabatino and his son Vinny, of Bethel Organics and Specialty Market on Elizabeth Street, Bethel, on this topic. Sabatino spends a lot of his very early mornings searching for the freshest local produce, sourcing it from
many different places. He told me that people are surprised when they come to his store and find that the prices aren’t as expensive as organic food in large supermarkets. The benefit of his hard work is that the produce arrives on his shelves long before that of the bigger grocery stores, so the nutrient density of his produce is almost at its peak, meaning not only is it at its best providing for your body, it also keeps longer in your fridge. Global shipping and chemically promoted ripening in storage have enabled fruit to be available year-round, though they aren’t always the tastiest. Climacteric fruits, like apples, bananas, or avocados, can be picked when they are slightly unripe, and finish the ripening process in warehouses filled with their ripening hormone, ethylene. This is why leaving the less ripe fruits purchased from the store in a plastic (polyethylene) bag works to ripen them too! Strawberries are non-climacteric fruits. Picking them early and ripening them in the same way just means that they ripen on the outside but not the inside. “We have forgotten how to eat seasonally,” says Sabatino. “Everyone’s grown up with supermarkets, people don’t realize some produce available isn’t in season.” I asked him what we should eat right now, and he said, “This time of year, all your citrus is just coming to the peak, along with pomegranates and persimmons, until March.” Sounds delicious, I will be over here eating a clementine! •
Bethel Organics and Specialty Market offers a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to aid a healthy diet.
by Julia Bruce
There is an old proverb – “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” The idea is not just helping out, but rather, helping up. Several women in the area are sharing their time and talent to make a difference in the lives of women looking to make a fresh start or become more independent.
Dana Rose Robertshaw and Vanessa Anderson, two stylists who work at Pelo by Edgardo in Ridgefield, recently traveled to Guatemala – not to teach people to fish but rather to cut hair. The trip was part of Hair Aid, an Australian-based non-profit, which was established in 2013 with the mission of teaching haircutting skills to people living in impoverished countries so that they can earn money and support their families.
Robertshaw first learned of Hair Aid while attending an Intercoiffure convention (an international stylist organization). “I was immediately intrigued by the program,” says Robertshaw.
It took several years to make the dream a reality.
Far left, students practicing skills that they’ve learned over the fiveday Hair Aid teaching program in Guatemala. Middle, one of the instructors demonstrating a cutting technique. Above, volunteers of Hair Aid, who came from around the world.
Volunteers need to pay a flat fee which includes their accommodations, ground travel, and the cost of a translator. They must also cover the expense of their flights and all meals. Edgardo Escribano and his wife Amy, owners of Pelo by Edgardo were instrumental in making the trip happen for Robertshaw and Anderson. “Edgardo and Amy were incredibly supportive. They put together an amazing fundraiser and collected tons of donated supplies. The community rallied behind us,” says Anderson. Two other salons - Adam Broderick and Bloom also contributed to making the trip happen.
Hair Aid’s program consists of a free five-day curriculum that covers several basic cutting skills: straight cut, diagonal forward and backward, two layers, graduated cut, and men’s cuts. “I was a bit skeptical at first,” says Robertshaw. “I wondered how much they would be able to learn in just five days - I was in school for a year - but I was truly amazed at how quickly the students learned.”
Robertshaw was assigned to Pro Chapina, a shelter for women who were looking to transition from unsafe home environments. There, they are offered temporary housing and counseling and are taught a marketable skill such as sewing or haircutting. Robertshaw had 22 students, most of which had very limited schooling. “There isn’t a lot of emphasis on women’s education in Guatemala which limits their opportunities,” she says. Anderson was at a location called el Patojismo, a local school that
Top, graduates of the Hair Aid program receive certificates, as well as donated scissors, combs, and capes. Above, Dana Rose Robertshaw demonstrating a haircut to her students.
helped provide daily skills for youth and keep them on track.
Having a translator was essential – both stylists only had a small command of Spanish. Hair Aid provided some translations of basic hair techniques, but the stylists had to try not to overcomplicate the directions to make it easier to translate. Techniques were demonstrated by the stylist, and then the students were able to practice the skills on live models. “It was convenient that my location was in a town, so we literally could just ask people walking by to come in,” says Robertshaw.
During the trip, they met with one of the leaders of Hair Aid who mentioned Shear Advantage, an organization established to further provide for the students. “It’s one thing to go in and teach it’s another thing to show them what to do next after the lessons stop,” says Anderson.
Robertshaw and Anderson already have plans to return to Guatemala, this time alongside Shear Advantage. “I am helping put together a cutting manual for them,” says Robertshaw. Shear Advantage emphasizes what is trending hairstyle-wise in the specific country, making the training that much more worthwhile. “I really want people to know about these programs. I feel like hair stylists are such giving people that perhaps more would want to get involved. I feel like I left a piece of my heart there. It truly was the most rewarding work of my life,” says Robertshaw.
For more information about haircutting volunteer opportunities, please visit www.hairaidusa.com or www.shearadvantage.org. •
by Julia Bruce
Brett Lauren grew up in an unconventional family – her father was in the fashion industry and her mother had a very hands-on, can-fixeverything attitude. This non-traditional upbringing resulted in an ongoing curiosity about how things are made. “I love tinkering. I’ve always made jewelry,” says Brett.
After college, Brett followed her father into the fashion business and also worked in the restaurant industry. “It’s about service and helping people,” she says. After her father passed away, Brett needed to make a change. Jewelry-making had always been a hobby, but she decided to grow it into a business. She closed the family company and went
to Florence, Italy, to take metal smithing classes. She moved back to the East Coast and eventually settled in Westport, CT.
She established Brett Lauren jewelry in 2015. Her unique bracelets are crafted from gemstones sourced from around the world that are able to freely spin in individual bezels. Her jewelry is more than just beautiful, it’s a purpose-driven enterprise. Brett employs women from underserved communities, those that might have been marginalized by society. The women, who are paid for their production time, learn not just jewelry-making skills, but through each session, Brett imparts some general manufacturing and production conceptssourcing, quality control, keeping timelines, managing costs - that she hopes they will carry with them. “These women are engaged, seeing the big picture, and caring about the quality of the work they do,” she says.
For Brett, it’s about creating a level playing field. “I want as many women around the table as possible,” she says. “We sit at the table, and everything falls away. It’s very equalizing. We’re just a bunch of women making bracelets,” Brett says. Her table companions have included women struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental illness. Brett, who is open about
her own mental health struggles, wants to help other women get on their feet. “I want people to see that you can overcome whatever challenges life hands you,” she says.
Recently, Brett met with the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, which provides competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities. She donated bracelets to be sold at their upcoming gala, but worked with their employees - also known as “prospects,” to make the, teaching them a new skill.
Brett has learned that the process of making bracelets develops self-esteem and confidence in these women, which ultimately, can change their attitude toward life. “Some of them sit down and don’t feel capable of making the bracelets, but when they produce a beautiful piece of jewelry, there’s a sense of accomplishment.”
Brett has no plans to outsource her production - it’s all about remaining community-based. “I need this business and these women far more than they need me. Being of service is what keeps me going. I want it to be a look-good, feel-good, dogood experience. Consumers want to buy something that has a story – we deliver one.”
To learn more about her designs, you can visit www.brettlauren.com. •
Top right, The Prospector Theater at the table making bracelets as well as learning some basic business concepts. Bottom far right, Brett Lauren wearing some of her designs.
by Carin L. Weisman
“When we stretch our bodies, we stretch our minds and open ourselves to new possibilities.”
If you’re anything like me, you know how important it is to stretch—not just to prevent injury, but to enhance overall wellness and vitality. Yet, it’s often the first thing to go when we are pressed for time. “Most people don’t stretch because it takes time and isn’t particularly thrilling,” said Wilton Physical Therapy owner Tony Grabiec. “We encourage our patients to stretch, but more importantly, to engage in activities they enjoy—walking, biking, or even dancing—because movement keeps our joints lubricated and mobile.”
Stretching not only contributes to feeling good, it also offers many short- and long-term benefits, including better posture, increased athletic performance, improved balance and coordination, faster recovery, and better sleep. If that wasn’t enough, Grabiec reports growing research finding that exercising and being active
The Daily Stretch
Whitney Coccaro suggests doing a few simple poses every day to warm up your spine and get the blood circulating. Try this quick morning routine to start your day off right:
n Child’s Pose
n Cat and Cow
n Thread the Needle
n Downward Dog
n Supine Twist
correlate with living longer. One recent study out of Brazil explored the connection between flexibility (enhanced by stretching) and longevity. Examining data from 3,000 people over almost 30 years, it found that people with higher flexibility had a lower risk for mortality.
Grabiec sees this research come to life daily in his clinic. “My senior patients who have been active most of their lives through exercise or sport usually look younger, demonstrate good mobility, and have minimal or no balance issues.”
At the StretchLab in Ridgefield, clients are also focused on living well and long. Its motto, Live Long, is boldly displayed on the wall, pamphlets, and gear. “I always dreamed there would be a place like this,” said member Justin Stoney who has been visiting
the StretchLab once a week for more than two years. “It’s restorative, but more active than a massage, and a great complement to my cardio and weightlifting workouts.”
So, what exactly happens during a session in the StretchLab? Experienced “flexologists”—professionals trained in health and wellness—perform a deep dive on every muscle to help increase blood flow, improve range of motion, heal injuries, and relax the central nervous system. “Ninetyfive percent of us don’t stretch as our bodies truly need,” said manager Julie Baran. She explains that unlike a massage, which provides immediate relief, the StretchLab’s
Tony Grabiec, owner of Wilton Physical Therapy emphasizes the importance of stretching and staying active to his clients.
one-on-one assisted stretching program provides long-lasting benefits. Baran doesn’t just talk the talk—she lives it. “I had severe back pain and migraines for 15 years,” Baran said, “I started getting stretched consistently, and my back pain disappeared.”
Like Wilton PT, the StretchLab sees clients of all ages and abilities—children in sports, construction workers, curious people driving by, those referred by a doctor, and more. While most StretchLab clients opt for a monthly membership, a “floater flexologist” is also on hand, ready to take walk-ins. “I always feel better when I leave—in body, mind, and spirit,” said Stoney.
Whitney Coccaro, owner of Yoga Station & Wellness in Georgetown, also knows a thing or two about stretching. She made a pivotal life change two years ago, leaving a high-stress job in corporate tech sales to create a space dedicated to wellness. Trained in the Iyengar style of yoga that emphasizes alignment and body awareness, Coccaro’s approach goes well beyond physical flexibility. “It’s about stretching not just our bodies but also our minds and communities,” she said.
Her newly renovated Georgetown studio offers a variety of classes and styles to suit everyone’s stretching needs. During its popular yin yoga class, participants hold poses for three to five minutes, giving time for the fascia (connective tissue surrounding muscles) to release tension and relax.
“We want to break the stereotype that yoga is only for flexible women,” Coccaro said. “We have students of all genders, ages, and fitness levels.” One of Yoga Station’s clients, a professional drummer, found that regular stretching helped alleviate discomfort in his hips, significantly improving his quality of life.
With such great options across the 068, why not take that first stretch...er step? Your body and mind will thank you. •
Hatrick,
Keys to Maintaining Great Relationships
by Julia Bruce
As the calendar approaches Valentine’s Day, 068 Magazine reached out to a local expert for some relationship advice. Niro Feliciano is a psychotherapist, best-selling author, and contributor to national publications, as well as a frequent guest on the Today Show. A Ridgefield resident who has been married for 21 years and is the mother of four children, Feliciano loves sharing tips on mental health, parenting, and relationships.
Feliciano observes that healthy relationships often have some common traits. Spending time together is one facet of a good relationship. Life can get busy, especially if you have young children, but it’s important to make time for one another. “It doesn’t have to be something big, even a walk together or a trip to the store can suffice,” says Feliciano. Equally important is to surround yourself with couples you admire so they can be an inspiration and support system. “Negativity begets negativity,” she says. “Instead, try to spend
time with couples in positive relationships.” Good communication is another important aspect of a strong relationship, even though it isn’t always easy. “Sometimes you don’t say things you want to because in the past you’ve not gotten the right response from your partner, or maybe you don’t want to hurt them,” says Feliciano. Good communication also means being a good listener and really focusing on what your partner is saying. It’s essential to talk about what Feliciano calls “the elephant in the room,” i.e. the topics that always lead to conflict. Couples therapy can be beneficial if you’re beginning to see some cracks form in the relationship.
When things get rocky, and no relationship is without its trials, there are several things Feliciano recommends to help get back on track. “Identify what attracted you to your spouse in the first place and decide if those qualities are still evident; if not, what do you need to do to bring them back,” she says. Being able to apologize is
Secrets to Long-Term Love
Remember what’s going right.
Don’t forget the good things in the relationship
Hug often.
Non-sexual touch increases empathy and bonding.
Apologize quickly.
Saying you’re sorry can break down emotional walls.
Dream together.
Creating new experiences can reignite the chemistry.
Surround yourself with couples you admire.
A strong network of friends provides support.
Stay curious.
Ask questions about each other’s interests and feelings.
key when conflict arises. “Taking the other person off the defensive by saying something like ‘I’m sorry I made you feel that way’ can help ease the tension.”
Above all, Feliciano encourages couples to stay curious. “You have to get to know your partner at different stages of life,” she says. Setting goals or planning future trips can bring back the feelings of excitement that were there at the beginning of the relationship. “Healthy relationships take work, but the time invested is worth it. Few experiences are as beautiful as a love that has grown over time and reflects the evolution of two people deeply committed to one another.”
Feliciano is the author of This Book Won’t Make You Happy: Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment. Her second book – All is Calm-ish – is scheduled to be released by the end of 2025. For more information, please visit nirofeliciano.com or follow her podcast, All Things Life with Niro Feliciano. •
Everyone who has driven an EV comes away wowed by the impressive acceleration available at any speed. However, most EVs lack the crisp handling and steering feel of traditional internal combustion performance vehicles. Sure, the low center of gravity makes EVs feel secure on the road, but few are able to mask the massive weight they carry. Porsche has now raised the EV bar and added a dose of fun-todrive into the electric vehicle recipe.
The Macan Electric, while built on an all-new platform, is similarly sized to the gas-powered Macan, Porsche’s best-selling vehicle. The Macan Electric can be had with a single motor driving the rear wheels or dual motors providing all-wheel drive. Horsepower ranges from 355 in the base model to 630 in the Macan Turbo Electric. The Turbo, which also packs 833 lb-ft of torque, can deliver 0-60 acceleration in a scintillating three seconds. Power aside, the Macan Electric sets itself apart when you turn into a corner. Switching from Normal to Sport or Sport Plus modes firms up the suspension to give your Macan sportscar like-agility. And when the road ends, the Macan Electric can keep going. The offroad driving mode and the standard air suspension give the Macan up to 8.9 inches of ground clearance.
On the inside, the Macan Electric offers plenty of room for four adults and a spacious cargo area. While the driver has oodles of tech at their fingertips, the optional 10.9 inch passenger display gives the front seat passenger access to navigation, infotainment settings, and even streaming video content. Fortunately, the passenger screen is designed so that it is not distracting to the driver who has a head-up
display with augmented reality to keep their eyes forward.
Through the good folks at Porsche Danbury, I had the opportunity to get some seat time in a Macan 4 Electric. Porsche Danbury, founded in 1989, was purchased by Georgica Auto Holdings in December 2022. The dealership, located on Sugar Hollow Road adjacent to its sister Audi and VW dealerships, just went through a major facility update to bring it up to Porsche’s latest Gen 4+ standards. Porsche Danbury General Manager Brett Drago discussed the improvements: “Our renovation efforts have resulted in several exciting new features, including redesigned and increased seating areas, revamped coffee and refreshment bars, enhanced decor, and a complete digital transformation. The highlight of the showroom is our 19-foot by 16-foot digital wall, which offers a stunning visual experience and represents our commitment to bringing customers the most immersive and dynamic Porsche environment possible. Phase two is coming in January and we cannot wait.”
Porsche Danbury is a multiple winner of Premier Porsche Dealership awards. During my time at the dealership, I found the staff to be professional, courteous and thoroughly knowledgeable. They quickly had my phone synced to the vehicle for the full personalized driver experience.
I’ve driven a lot of EVs and while the acceleration rarely disappoints, the driving experience is often a bit soulless. Not so with the Macan. It drives like a Porsche, with great steering feel, crisp handling, and an overall engaging experience. Based upon the runaway success of the gas-powered Macan, I have no doubt Porsche is going to have another hit on their hands. •
With Few Words: A Dance Cycle
A.C.T. of CT Breathes Life into a New Work
For the past seven seasons, A.C.T. of CT has been celebrated for its Broadwaycaliber productions of well-known musicals, but an equally vital part of the theater’s mission is creating and nurturing of new works. The theater is deeply committed to fostering the development of original musicals, with a passionate focus on elevating the voices of the next generation of writers, composers, and artists. This dedication not only enriches the art form itself but also empowers Fairfield County to play an active role in the evolution of new theatrical works.
In the summer of 2018, A.C.T. of CT launched its New Works Series with the “New Works Festival,” an initiative that included the debut of a new musical, Austen’s Pride. The success of Austen’s Pride led to a fully staged production at A.C.T. of CT in the spring of 2019. The musical’s journey continued with a production at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle and a prestigious concert presentation at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Since that auspicious beginning, A.C.T. of CT has continued to champion new works, presenting readings and productions that have resonated deeply with audiences.
Among these was the first professional production of the new musical Nickel Mines, which left an indelible impact on those who experienced it.
This March, A.C.T. of CT proudly presents another world premiere with Few Words: A Dance Cycle. This innovative new work, told entirely through the language of dance and movement, explores the profound resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. With an entirely original score composed by A.C.T. of CT’s Resident Music Supervisor Bryan Perri, the production is the brainchild of A.C.T.’s Artistic Director Daniel C. Levine, with dance supervision by the acclaimed choreographer Sara Brians.
Few Words: A Dance Cycle features choreography by four of New York City’s most sought-after choreographers and promises to be an exhilarating and unique experience. By eschewing traditional dialogue and lyrics, the production relies solely on the dancers’ physicality to convey complex stories, emotions, and themes, offering a universal form of storytelling that transcends language and connects with audiences on a visceral level. The piece unfolds in
four distinct and independent acts, with each one delving into themes of resilience, connection, and communication through the transformative power of movement and dance. It is a true “dance cycle.”
Composer of the piece, Bryan Perri, says, “This music is the sonic embodiment of the swirling chaos, emotion and contemplation that lives inside my mind. I am grateful that A.C.T. of CT appreciates new work and is willing to champion a piece that pushes traditional boundaries. Each piece represents its own emotional journey that everyone can connect to in their own way.”
Creator and Director of the piece, Daniel C. Levine, says, “When considering the structure and writing a treatment for this piece, I wanted to identify four very different stories that could reasonably be linked by one thematic idea – that of ‘connection’. While the four stories that I wrote are all based on either real people, true events, or existing tales, I felt compelled to take these narratives a step further. I created backstories and, within the confines of my imagination, expanded upon and dramatized these stories or factual events and delved deeper into the emotional landscapes of these characters and amplify the universal themes within these stories, making them not only relatable but also profoundly moving in ways that only the art of dance can express.”
A.C.T. of CT is honored to collaborate with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra for this limited one-week engagement in March 2025, and eagerly anticipates the opportunity to share this compelling exploration of the human spirit with its audience. •
The creators of Few Words: A Dance Cycle - Daniel C. Levine, Sara Brians, Bryan Perri
Expert Advice for Optimal Health
FOR LIFE
Many New Year’s resolutions revolve around pledging to eat better in the upcoming year. 068 spoke with three nutritionists in the area and while each specializes in a specific demographic, they all agree that good nutrition should be a part of your everyday life, not a short-term fix.
Fueling Before the Game
Tracey Brady of Holistica Nutrition offers functional nutrition guidance for the whole family, but many of her clients are student-athletes. While their primary focus is on training and skill development, without an understanding of how to eat for optimal performance, these athletes are missing a key component.
When they over train and under-eat, the consequences show up on and off the field. Muscle repair is compromised, energy levels fall, and concentration in school suffers. Worse, when they miss out on essential nutrients, they risk deficiencies that affect their overall health.
“Most of my student clients come to me without any knowledge of the basics of nutrition,” says Brady.
The core principle of Brady’s nutrition practice is understanding the effect food has on your body, which makes the decision of what to put in your body much easier.
The first thing she teaches clients is the function of each macronutrient in the body. The timing of eating these nutrients is particularly important for athletes – what to emphasize before, during, and after physical activity matters. Vitamins and minerals to support recovery, adequate hydration, and maintaining steady blood sugar for sustained energy throughout the day round out the essentials.
“In the past, I had a lot of trouble staying energized,” says Lasell University Women’s Volleyball player Sydney Katz. “Tracey helped me find foods that I enjoy and give me energy throughout the day. I attribute my success this season to her.”
Brady’s message to her clients is simple: Elevate, don’t obsess. Maintaining a healthy relationship with food is key. “I would love for them to eat a 100% clean diet all the time, but that’s not necessarily realistic. I get that,” Brady says. “Sometimes you just have to have a cookie.”
by Tracey Brady, Jennifer Kirsch, and Pam Hartnett
Midlife Nutrition: Keep It Balanced!
Jennifer Kirsch is a trainer and nutritional coach – whose primary focus is middle-aged women. “You hit midlife, and suddenly it’s not uncommon to feel like what ‘used to work’ no longer does,” says Kirsch. She suggests several nutrition tips to support this phase of life without needing to overhaul your entire life.
First, keeping blood sugar stable is key. Focus on balanced meals—think protein, fiber, and healthy fats at every meal. These slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream, keeping energy levels steady.
Protein is essential to counteract muscle loss as we age. “Aim for a minimum 25g serving of lean protein at every meal— eggs, chicken, beans, tofu,” says Kirsch.
Protein not only helps maintain muscle, but it also keeps you feeling fuller longer.
Fiber is a secret weapon for gut health and for stabilizing blood sugar. Kirsch recommends about 25 grams per day, including multiple servings of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Inflammation can become an issue in midlife, leading to joint pain, fatigue, and even weight gain. Selecting whole food sources like leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats like olive oil and minimizing ultra-processed foods can lower inflammation.
Lastly, calcium is crucial for bone health because bone density naturally declines, putting many women at risk of osteoporosis. If you’re not a fan of dairy, foods like almonds, tofu, and leafy greens
are all excellent sources of calcium.
“Ultimately, midlife nutrition comes down to balance,” says Kirsch. “By making a few smart tweaks, you can stay ahead of whatever challenges—or hormonal shifts— come your way.”
Foods that Fight Cancer
Eating the right foods can make all the difference in cancer prevention, recovery, and recurrence. “When it comes to cancer, there are no neutral foods; everything you eat either promotes or hinders healing,” says Pam Hartnett, MPH, RDN, a Cancer Recovery Coach and Dietician.
Sugars, such as sweets and processed foods, spike blood sugar and insulin, creating inflammation and conditions that support cancer growth. Reducing sugar intake is a powerful way to lower cancer risk.
Hartnett recommends adding cruciferous vegetables - like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts- to help your body clear harmful substances linked to cancer and promote hormone balance, which can lower the risk of hormone-driven cancers like breast cancer.
Fiber is important, too. Foods like leafy greens and beans promote healthy digestion and help eliminate excess hormones and toxins. Flaxseeds, walnuts, and fatty fish such as salmon provide omega-3s, lowering inflammation and supporting immune function. Extra virgin olive oil offers similar benefits.
Eating well before and during treatment can ease side effects and improve treatment results. “I’m so grateful for Pam’s counsel. I’m now a ten-year survivor. I have kept the cancer from returning and my immune system is so strong now,” says Anne, one of Hartnett’s clients.
After treatment, building a cancerresistant body is equally important. “Many people slip back into old habits once they’re told the cancer is gone,” says Hartnett. “I remind my clients that they didn’t get sick because of cancer; they got cancer because their body was already unwell.” Hartnett believes that creating a cancer-resistant body is key to fully healing from cancer and preventing it from coming back. •
Brady, Kirsch, and Hartnett all recommend a variety of fresh foods - including lean proteins, vegetables, and fruitsfor optimal nutrition no matter what stage of life or health you’re currently in. PHOTOGRAPHY
From the bustling halls of Ridgefield High School to the thriving stage of the Ridgefield Playhouse, this iconic venue’s journey shines as a beacon of community spirit and the magic of preserving history.
The old Ridgefield High School, built in 1915, gained its iconic auditorium in 1929, designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert and his son as a gift to the town. This space served as a hub for education and culture for over four decades, hosting school performances, town meetings, and two legendary performances by Arturo Toscanini during WWII. After the high school relocated in 1972, the auditorium sat dormant until the late 1990s, when a group of Ridgefield residents envisioned its transformation into an arts and entertainment venue.
After securing town approval in 1998, the building underwent a meticulous restoration, bringing its exterior back to its former glory, while modernizing the interior. “The auditorium was built with near perfect acoustics,” says former Executive Director Allison Stockel. “Ridgefield residents recognized the theater’s historic significance. Barbara Manners and the committee’s remarkable foresight saw its potential to become truly great.” The
Community,
Playhouse opened in December 2000 with a performance by Grammy-winning artist José Feliciano, known for his holiday classic “Feliz Navidad.”
Since then, the Playhouse has hosted over 4,000 events, including concerts, plays, dance recitals, film screenings, and over 30 galas. They offer a range of legendary acts like Elvis Costello, Andy Grammer, Willie Nelson, Melissa Etheridge, and Pat Metheny, alongside comedians like Amy Schumer, Jay Leno, Colin Jost, and Seth Meyers.
In 2004, the Playhouse launched its Arts In Education program. Since then, it has grown to host over 30 live shows annually, reaching 20,000 students in person and 107,000 virtually. In 2023, a $200,000 fundraiser allowed the program to be offered free of charge for the first time. It’s become one of the Northeast’s most impactful programs, offering students of all economic backgrounds performances that connect to their daily curriculum.
The Playhouse’s influence extends beyond its walls. In 2021, Ridgefield was designated Connecticut’s first Cultural District, recognizing the town’s vibrant arts scene. “This honor unifies our cultural organizations while supporting the local economy,” says Sean Dowd of Ridgefield’s Economic & Community
Development Commission. “The Playhouse is an outstanding landmark and contributing force to this mission.”
Recent renovations, funded by private donors, elevated the Playhouse experience. The $4 million capital campaign project doubled the lobby size, enhanced the bar area, added private dressing rooms, and improved backstage facilities.
Partnerships with local non-profits, further embed the Playhouse in the community. Its annual Nutcracker performances with the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance have become a cherished family holiday tradition.
“Our theater has grown from a modest venue into a vibrant cultural hub, offering diverse performances that resonate with all ages,” says Executive Director, Ashley Paltauf. “The Playhouse’s success is a testament to the community’s dedication and support.”
While ticket sales are essential, they only cover a portion of operating costs. As a non-profit organization, the Playhouse relies on the generosity of donors, members and sponsorships to sustain its mission and continue enriching the cultural fabric of the community. Stay tuned for more exciting details as the Playhouse prepares to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. •
Hang Tight! on Aerial Yoga
by Joey Macari
Ever wonder what it’s like to flip your fitness routine upside down—literally? Enter aerial yoga, the gravity-defying practice that lets you hang, stretch, and even soar in ways you never thought possible. Imagine traditional yoga getting a little more air, a bit of flight, and a lot of fun, and you’ll understand why this trend has taken off.
The origins of aerial yoga go back to the early 2000’s when fitness innovators decided to give yoga a lift by blending it with aerial acrobatics. Aerial yoga founders like Christopher Harrison created the first “antigravity yoga,” drawing inspiration from circus arts, pilates, and traditional yoga practices. Using silk hammocks originally crafted for aerial arts, studios soon realized that these fabrics made an incredible support system for stretching, strengthening, and yes, for a touch of mid-air drama.
This “floating” yoga comes with plenty of perks. Enthusiasts experience the joy of weightlessness, which is as freeing as it is challenging. Many moves involve hanging upside down, which helps decompress the spine and
offers a new perspective on fitness. The sensation of being supported by the silk while working through poses lets yogis playfully strengthen their core and improve flexibility while they’re at it. Plus, the hammock provides support for deeper stretches and inversions, so even beginners can feel like they’re flying through a dance routine, minus, of course, the floor.
If traditional yoga keeps you grounded, aerial yoga lifts you into a whole new zone. Moving while partially suspended takes pressure off the body and lets people at all fitness levels find their flow. And since it blends playfulness with purpose, aerial yoga is as much about feeling empowered as it is about getting fit. It’s no wonder people enjoy “hanging out” in class—what other workout lets you feel like you’re defying gravity while getting a full-body workout?
Curious about taking your workout to new heights? Empowered Aerial Fitness in Stamford is a fantastic place to test the waters (or the air).
Founded by local fitness expert Aileen
Hanging upside down while doing aerial yoga can decompress the spine and give you a different perspective on your practice.
Creagh, Empowered Aerial Fitness offers a welcoming vibe for newbies and plenty of challenges for seasoned yogis looking to soar. Known for its focus on empowerment and body positivity, the studio helps participants feel lighter— inside and out—after every class.
“Everybody wants to be in the circus!” jokes Creagh. “Aerial yoga is physically demanding and incredibly freeing. It’s playful and stress-relieving, making it a perfect way to boost mood and confidence while building strength and flexibility. Students often come in feeling curious or even a bit fearful, but they leave smiling, feeling confident, and proud of doing something amazing.”
“The benefits of aerial hammock yoga are limitless and vary for each student, but include a full-body workout, improved flexibility, strength, balance, and body awareness,” says Creagh. “Plus, students experience spine decompression, easier inversions, better posture, and the shift from an ‘I can’t’ mindset to an empowering ‘I DID that!’ attitude.”
So, if you think you have the groundwork of the practice down pat, why not give aerial yoga a whirl? Whether you’re chasing a fun new workout or just curious to try something out-of-the-box, this fitness class might just make you feel like you’re on cloud nine.
For more information or to try a class, please visit www. empoweredaerialfitness.com•
Partipants at Empowered Aerial Fitness in Stamford use the hammocks to move into deeper stretches and poses, as well as feeling supported during savasana - the restorative pose at the end of a yoga class.
Danbury Police Officers Receive Ballistic Vests Courtesy of SpeedspTuningrt
For the second straight year, Danbury’s Speedsport Tuning has recognized the hard work and dedication of Danbury’s Police Department by donating ballistic vests to two members of the police force. On Wednesday, November 13th, Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, Deputy Police Chief Mike Sturdevant, and Danbury Police Department Union Representative Sergeant John Giafone attended a ceremony at Speedsport Tuning where Sergeant Andrew Whitlock and Officer Tyler Hancock were each presented with a personal ballistic vest.
Last year, after learning that Danbury police officers must pay for certain pieces of equipment, Speedsport Tuning owner Bryan Lagas decided to donate the body armor, which is designed to help absorb impact and protect against bullets.
Mayor Alves spoke after the presentation. “First of all, let me thank the Danbury Police Department for the incredible work they do. It’s cliché to say we have the best police department in the state, but I really believe we do. We are so grateful to Speedsport Tuning for donating equipment that helps keep our officers safe. From the bottom of my heart and from the city of Danbury, we thank them.”
Bryan Lagas added, “We’re so happy to be part of a community with such a strong and dedicated police force. The Danbury Police Department is just exceptional. Donating these ballistic vests is a way for us to give back. Ultimately, I hope other local businesses will follow our lead and support these brave men and women.”
Sergeant Whitlock and Officer Hancock won a police union raffle to determine who would receive the vests.
Speedsport Tuning, located at 52 Miry Brook Road in Danbury, is a full-service automotive repair and maintenance facility specializing in European cars as well as Teslas.
L-R: Sergeant John Giafone (DPD Police Union Rep), Bryan Lagas (Speedsport Tuning Owner), Sergeant Andrew Whitlock (donation recipient), Officer Tyler Hancock (donation recipient), Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, Deputy Chief Mike Sturdevant. Photos by Roger Garbow.
Plank RIDGEFIELD
Plank Ridgefield is a spin-off of Plank Katonah and like the original location will be all about providing enjoyable exercise and shopping opportunities as well as a sense of community, says founder Linda Murphy.
The inspiration for the concept came in 2019 after Murphy and her husband realized that they were no longer tethered to a specific location by jobs. Her husband had retired, and Murphy, who was expecting the couple’s first child, was an entrepreneur and founder of Product Launchers and could work from anywhere.
“We moved five times in three years, which was pretty chaotic,” Murphy says. They settled in Katonah, New York, but she couldn’t find the fitness classes she wanted in the area. Murphy also was finding it hard to make friends with all the moving and wanted a place where she could gather with others.
Plank Katonah was born of these desires and now has led to Plank Ridgefield, located at 389 Main Street. The new Ridgefield destination occupies a 2,000-foot square foot space broken
up into four sections: an exercise studio, cafe area, retail shopping portion, and children’s playspce. The cafe features a coffee and espresso bar, as well as chef-prepared grab-and-go meals. The front retail space features products from Lululemon, Free People, Beyond Yoga, and more. There’s also a children’s play area where kids can be dropped off under supervision while their parent takes a class or are in the cafe.
“We had moved around so often, it was really challenging to meet friends,” Murphy says. “That’s where a fitness studio really does come into play. Then having that coffee shop component to it and having a children’s drop-in service just maximizes the experience.”
Classes are open to everyone of all different fitness levels. Starting in January, Plank will offer tween and teen classesthose 16 and older can participate in the adult classes. “Men will come to our yoga classes, but a lot of football players do Pilates and Barre because of the benefits. It’s working different muscles,” says Murphy.
For newcomers, Murphy recommends purchasing a twoweek unlimited pass for $49.99, so that you can get a feel for the studio and figure out what you like. “I sometimes will go to a studio and the vibe feels cold.” Murphy says. Plank Ridgefield offers the opposite of that experience. “We are welcoming to everyone - all different shapes and sizes, and ages,” Murphy adds. For more information, visit plankridgefield.com.•
Lorenzini Laurel
Laurel Lorenzini, a native of Ridgefield, now resides in Woodbridge with her loving spouse, two imaginative daughters, and their playful pup, Bonnie. Growing up in a bustling household with eight siblings, she learned early on that everyone has something unique to offer the world.
Before pursuing her passion for writing, Laurel served six years in the Air Force as an air traffic controller and later earned her law degree. Now a children’s book author, she finds joy in exploring themes of acceptance, self-worth, imagination, and the power of cooperation in her stories. She strongly believes in the importance and potential of children and strives to reflect that in her work.
One of her greatest pleasures is visiting schools to connect with young readers. Learn more about Laurel at laurellorenzini.com or follow her on Instagram at @laurel.lorenzini. Her books are available for purchase at Books on the Common and on Amazon. •
you can now vote for who to highlight for One More Thing: Go to 068magazine.com/voteforonemorething link and fill out the form to recommend a person you would like to see highlighted who is exceptional in the arts. You can vote for any category of artist and then list the name of the artist or work of art. If you are an artist, please use the HIGHLIGHT MY ART graphic which can be downloaded to campaign for votes. The artist with the most votes in February will be spotlighted in the March/April issue.
Thank you for supporting the arts in Fairfield County.
