“It’s just like a snow day,” I say to the bank teller. Except that it’s not snowing, and the driving conditions are fine. Ah to be muffled in white—we may as well have been— the streets and storefronts were that quiet. Everything blanketed in stillness.
This is the seventh of an essay series that will be published as long as social distancing is necessary. All pieces are written by Litchfield County residents. If you are interested in submitting an essay for consideration please email us at info@litchfieldmagazine.com.
“It’s just like a snow day,” I say to the bank teller.
Except it isn’t snowing, and the driving conditions are fine. Ah to be muffled in white—we may as well have been—the streets and storefronts were that quiet. Everything blanketed in stillness. Banking at the drive-through in my black gloves, not because this March day was cold, but because I couldn’t find the box of those blue latex surgical gloves I had stashed after the divorce. And it’s weeks before we start to wear masks to do the groceries. It’s the beginning.
I would imagine a snow day, a game of pretend. This ability to substitute a present reality with a more desirable one is among the gifts of childhood. What a useful trick, to reconstruct the circumstances of joy: awakening to a whiteout, a transformed world, a changing landscape, freedom! Weights lifted! Pressures and obligations dropping away, we would remain ensconced at home, allowing for only the important things to come back into focus.
In our snow-day isolation we gaze out the window, drifts and accumulations burying all that is familiar. The snow is evidence that we aren’t the only ones under this crystalline spell, and we remain reassured by the recognition that we were among the fortunate: with warmth, with food, with shelter. I need this illusion like a drug.
March 16th, 2020
Habits
“Anxiety, my old lover, what do you want with me now?”
Bedtime and early mornings are the only time I have to myself, and so I begin a ritual assault on my snow day bubble. Absorbing statistics and unknowns, pieces of news, clips, quotes, tweets, posts. But this is beginning to have an effect. Waking sweaty, heavy heart sinking, pulse rising with the awareness of a new day where nothing is the same as the day before. Grief hangs murky over the dawn. It’s like Christmas morning on opposite day.
March 24th, 2020
Poetry
To mark the days, our town has begun a nightly bell ringing tradition. From 8:00 – 8:02 the church bells toll, and from our doorsteps we make a sound, our rejoinder of singing bowls and little brass Indian bells heard at least as far as across the street. The silhouettes of our neighbors wave to us, we wave back. This sound, resonant with many lifetimes, is like a call to remember.
No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own Or of thine friend’s were. Each man’s death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.
—John Donne (1572 – 1631)
March 30, 2020
Tools
“Fire can be made to cook your dinner, or it can be left to burn your house down,” said the sage.
Cohabitating the three of us here, it’s hard to believe entire weeks have passed. Time and work have begun to speed up again; we lapse into easy routines. Wake, meditate, create, consume, clean, repeat. Because they are now nearly fully grown humans, its easy to imagine myself back in college, with roommates bearing an uncanny resemblance to my ancestors. With that association, I conjure a sense of camaraderie. Yet as I watch them at bedtime wrestling like kittens, I remember how close behind their childhoods lie. I witness them play, the bonds of early childhood rekindled, and I see they have all the tools they need. They tumble and tickle and ignite small joy-fires that burn away pain.
April 11th, 2020
Healing
I learned recently that trauma is usually recalled in fragments. The frontal lobe, recognizing danger, registering damage, shuts down the careful recording and ordering of experience, protecting us from painful replay. Poetry—an articulation of fragmented, condensed human experience—is the direct expression of trauma. When we feel safe, we will spread out these words, images, and sensations, and begin ordering these fragments. Let us begin tender sorting, let us begin the healing. There is much to be done.
“TeleHealth allows Greenwoods to continue to offer mental health counseling, assessment, and referral services at a time when people need it the most,” John Simoncelli, LCSW continues. “But, many don’t know that TeleHealth is even an option.
Amid COVID-19, Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals (Greenwoods), a nonprofit organization that uniquely helps individuals and families living and working in Litchfield County find quality, accessible and affordable mental health care, has quickly turned to TeleHealth to provide continued counseling services to not only established patients, but also those experiencing heightened levels of anxiety and fear arising from the crisis.
Averaging about 50+ mental health assessments per month before the crisis, Greenwoods expected to see about a 25% increase in patients in 2020 based on an increased awareness of the organization’s services; and a growing number seeking help for a variety of reasons: verbal and physical abuse, trauma, anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug addictions, bereavement, divorce, eating disorders, marital/relationship conflict, and problems that just seem impossible to tackle alone. However, with the unprecedented health and economic crisis, Greenwoods is actually seeing its numbers decreasing.
“When faced with a mental health or related problem, many people simply don’t know where to turn,” says Executive Director of Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals, John Simoncelli, LCSW, LADC, MPA, who says the organization is the only mental health referral service in Connecticut that provides personalized referrals by matching each person who comes to them with counselors, therapists or other professionals with the expertise to help at reduced rates.
“TeleHealth allows us to continue to offer mental health counseling, assessment and referral services at a time when people need it the most,” he continues. “But, many don’t know that TeleHealth is even an option. Plus, for many, there’s a lack of motivation to take the first step to get help coupled with financial uncertainty right now.”
Pre-pandemic, Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurance companies wouldn’t cover TeleHealth. Now, with rules unrestricted, even HUSKY Health (Medicaid) is responding to member and provider needs associated with COVID-19, waiving its face-to-face requirements for medical and behavioral health services. So, while it didn’t make sense for Greenwoods to invest in TeleHealth beforehand, now it does.
Within three days of Greenwoods having to shut down its in-person counseling sessions, the organization trained all of its employed clinical staff (9 clinicians) in TeleHealth, so that they could continue to see patients without interruption. In addition, the organization worked with all of its new and existing patients to help them access TeleHealth and sent information to its network of 130 clinicians, encouraging them to transition to TeleHealth, so that Greenwoods could continue to refer clients to them. Greenwoods’ clinical coordinator, who supervises all clinical work, turned into its technology department for two weeks, problem-solving and troubleshooting with clinicians and clients.
Operating without any state or federal funding, Greenwoods also provides financial help to those who are eligible. Thanks to its Financial Assistance Fund supported by grants, donations and online fundraising, the organization never refuses to see a patient and never lets a patient go untreated because they can’t afford mental health or their insurance won’t cover it.
“I am truly grateful Greenwoods has provided us with the means to continue to help and support those we serve in our community,” says Cindy Vail, a clinician, who says that patients need to tell their location before a TeleHealth session in case emergency help needs to be called. “Continued sessions give patients a time to meet with someone who cares about their challenges and to help them learn to problem solve effectively. They are able to connect with someone and discuss their burdens while feeling validated and supported.”
Before Trish McTague’s physician sent her a brochure about Greenwoods six and a half years ago, she had already seen three therapists. But, none were a good match. Today, she continues to see the therapist she called at the top of the short list of names that Greenwoods matched to her specific mental health and insurance coverage needs.
“I see my therapist twice a month and never miss an appointment,” says McTague. “So, while I had never ‘Zoomed’ before, a virtual session enabled me to continue to connect with someone. It’s so important what Greenwoods provides. We need to get rid of the stigma associated with reaching out and getting help, whatever that may be.”
The recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development, the Gunn Historical Museum has put together Washington, Connecticut—An American Story, an award-winning multimedia exhibit that traces the history of the town back thousands of years through to the present day.
Washington’s Magical History Tour By Charles Dubow
Small-town historical museums all too often conjure up memories of bored, rainy-day childhood visits to creaky airless rooms invariably cluttered with dusty vitrines, blurry daguerreotypes of grim-faced worthies, moldy documents, the reek of camphor, and at least one antique spinning wheel.
The Gunn Historical Museum in Washington shatters that stereotype. Yes, it is located in a 1781 clapboard house and does have the aforementioned vitrines and spinning wheel, but there is nothing dusty about it. The recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development, the Gunn has put together Washington, Connecticut—An American Story, a beautiful and rich award-winning multimedia exhibit that traces the history of the town back thousands of years through to the present day.
Entering into the front room of the museum the visitor is greeted by bold colorful graphics that sketch out the town’s timeline, beginning with a painting of the Neolithic Native Americans who first settled in the area around 10,000 BCE (the museum worked closely with the nearby Institute for American Indian Studies). These graphics, designed by Sandy Hook based SandorMax, continue throughout the exhibit and are punctuated with interactive videos and audio guides, breaking the town’s history down into multiple chapters, including its Colonial period, industrial and commercial efforts, its pioneering abolitionism, its involvement in America’s major wars, the long association with education and the arts, and its role as a summer resort for both the wealthy and the working class.
What makes the exhibit particularly special are the artifacts gleaned not only from its impressive collection of more than 15,000 items but also from the pieces that have been donated by Washington’s current citizens, many of whom are descendants of its first settlers.
“The town has been incredible,” says Stephen Bartkus, the museum’s curator. “They’ve allowed us to borrow their family treasures. They volunteered to help us put the show together and many of them serve as docents. It’s an incredibly passionate and enthusiastic town full of people who take enormous pride in their history.”
Among the treasures, to name only a few, are a pair of epaulets that belonged to the Marquis de Lafayette, needlework samplers dating back to 1791, a 1920 hand-decorated guest book from The Mayflower Inn (the year it opened), a Revolution-era long rifle, and an empty 19th-century Litchfield Belle cigar box. Cigar-making was only one of many industries that flowered in Washington over the past two hundred years. In addition to being a source of marble—hence the eponymous village of Marbledale—there were also numerous mills, ironworks, dairies, and inns. The town even made a go at manufacturing matches.
While local manufacturing has gone the way of the Shepaug railway that once ran through the region, what has been consistent over the past century is the appeal of Washington’s natural beauty. Beginning in the late 19th century weekenders, summer people and locals mingled on the shores of Lake Waramaug, the second-largest natural lake in the state. At one point in the 20th century, according to a map in the museum, 17 inns were lining the lake, including the Lake Waramaug Casino where, docent Doug McHan says, “The weekends back then in the ’40s and ’50s were wild. People would drive from all over to drink and dance there. It wasn’t a real casino, of course. They just called it that to sound fancy.”
For the curious visitors or local enthusiasts, a few hours exploring this fascinating microcosm of the American experience will be time well spent. It will be only a happy memory. Only patience is needed for now, until they can re-open and share the treasure inside.
I’m social distancing like a modern Victorian heroine: Edith Wharton’s Lily Bart in The House of Mirth meets Henry James’ Daisy Miller (except with a happier ending—I’m no fragile flower).
This is the fifth of an essay series that will be published as long as social distancing is necessary. All pieces are written by Litchfield County residents. If you are interested in submitting an essay for consideration please email us at info@litchfieldmagazine.com.
Social distancing doesn’t mean style exile. Many moons ago, I started a fashion blog to document what I wore. As social media became less amusing to me, I stopped posting but kept dressing. Now the stay home movement has spurred me to startup again Home is where the heart is, and my heart loves fashion. A photo diary of daily outfits and inspirations based on my passion for designer vintage pieces and art museum treasures, FashionSheSaysAgain was rebooted from its FashionSheSays origins. Born and bred in New York City (Upper East Side), my parents have owned a house in Washington for 30 years, and I’ve been coming here all my life. Now that I’m here for the foreseeable future, I ask myself: can a city girl hack it full time in the country? Time will tell.
I’m social distancing like a modern Victorian heroine: Edith Wharton’s Lily Bart in The House of Mirth meets Henry James’ Daisy Miller (except with a happier ending—I’m no fragile flower). This entails putting on pretty dresses, walking outside on our property, writing letters (or texts) to faraway friends, and picking up new hobbies (like coloring books and possibly needlepoint—my grandmother left several unfinished tapestries).
Socialite Nan Kempner proclaimed: “The best part of a party is getting dressed to go.” This was always my mantra, but especially these days, when even a party of one can benefit from sartorial splendor— when in doubt, overdress Dressing for success nowadays means stopping a social distance spiral down the rabbit hole like Alice in Wonderland. Trying to stay sanely stylish all the time in these trying times is impossible… Some days, I feel overwhelmed by current circumstances and stand in my closet, staring—it’s not that I have nothing to wear, but I literally cannot choose which clothes to put on. There are days when I can’t stop re-reading the same sentence in beloved books. At the moment, my mind can’t compute a new story, so it’s just as well I have old friends to turn to for comfort (Edith Wharton, Henry James, Jane Austen). On those days, I curl up in a cozy corner dressed in a fancy nightie with a favorite novel and re-discover stories of faraway places for pages on end until the mad world feelings flutter into friendly fairy fire.
As a single girl, social distancing certainly presents a dating conundrum. Luckily, I’m old-fashioned and enjoy talking on the phone. Previously, I’d screen potential beaus with a pre-meeting phone call to confirm the gentleman could string together a sentence. Now that FaceTime has preempted face-to-face dates, it’s another step until the day we finally meet. E.M. Forester implored: “Only connect!” in Howard’s End, hauntingly foretelling our precarious present. Isn’t it ironic that the technology distancing us from each other in the not so distant past is what’s helping hold us together now?
Because staying in is the new going out, I’m dressing up and feeling inspired in beautiful clothes. I have a photographic memory for what I wore and when. Proust used madeleines throughout In Search of Lost Time to remember his past; I use clothes to remember mine. Are these times we want to remember? Yes, because they make us who we will be tomorrow. If today, all I did was hold myself together with a bit of frippery, I feel proud. I dress, therefore I am. I’m still here, and the clothes in the closet are my mark on the world. Emerson philosophized: “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” I trust there are still beautiful days ahead—this intermission will end, and the magic will carry on.
While many athletes dream of going to the Olympics, few ever reach that goal. Suzanne Paxton is one who did. She was 15 when she took up fencing and. eventually. went on to represent the United States at the 1996 Olympic games. In 2006 she founded Point Studio, Inc., a video, television, and live event production company.
Making a life after a realized Olympian dream
By Joseph Montebello
While many athletes dream of going to the Olympics, few ever reach that goal. Suzanne Paxton is one who did. “I grew up in Ridgewood, NJ and in my sophomore year was enrolled at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry NY,” Paxton explains. “I was always athletic and soccer was my sport of choice. Francisco Martin was my coach and he was also a fencing champion in Spain. Fencing and soccer go hand in hand as they are both spatial sports characterized by rapid motor performance and optical concentration.”
For Paxton fencing brought a whole new set of challenges and excitement. For example, the execution of an attack takes but fractions of a second. It is crucial to follow the movement of the feet, body, and armed hand of each fencer. “You have to learn the mechanics, trying different combinations. A round consists of a 15-touch bout. Three minutes on, one minute off, three minutes on, one minute off, and a final three minutes for a total of nine to do 15 touches. It’s a bit like boxing,” says Paxton.
She was 15 when she took up fencing and her only goal was to make the junior varsity team. While many athletes start younger, because of her soccer training Paxton was able to jump in a little faster. By her senior year she was participating in many professional events, including the Junior Olympics.But that was just the beginning.
She won medals at World Cup competitions, Pan American Fencing championships, World University games, and other international events. In 1992 she was amember of the first United States team to win a gold medal at the World Cup in Cuba. She went on to represent the United States at the 1996 Olympic games and was a top nationally and internationally ranked fencer in women’s foil and team competition. Following her victory, she became a fencing analyst for NBC Sports Olympic Games in Athens and has served as an ambassador for the US Olympic Committee. The Tokyo 2020 event will be her tenth and she will be working with the NBC Olympics coverage team.
Paxton went on to forge a career working in the media, producing features and profiles of countless people from athletes and entrepreneurs to prominent movers and shakers who have influenced the world. With her expertise in narrative storytelling and her knowledge of the media, in 2006 she founded Point Studio, Inc., a video, television, and live event production company. Her talents and efforts have won her five Emmys and stellar clients, including ABC News/Good Morning America, ABA Sports, Bloomberg, CBS, CNBC, AT&T, Bank of America, Sesame Workshop, US State Department, United Nations, and Women in the World.
“I love the process of telling a story,” says Paxton. “We began with live and live-to-tape television and segment and series television production. We’ve now expanded to cover every production need in any television, video, online, or live event capacity, including live streaming services.”
Paxton spends much of her time in Washington with her husband Patrick Horan and their young son. Not far from their home is Waldingfield Farm, which has been in the Horan family for generations. It is one of the largest certified organic operations in Connecticut with an active and innovative community supported agriculture (CSA) program. The best of both worlds for Paxton, an inspiration for girls striving in the field of athletics and young women aspiring to be entrepreneurs.
As we enter the second month of this unprecedented lockdown, we are having to accept a new way of living that is taking place almost exclusively in our homes. Interior Designer and Lifestylist Joshua Smith shares some ways to lean into the new normal.
This is the fourth of an essay series that will be published as long as social distancing is necessary. All pieces are written by Litchfield County residents. If you are interested in submitting an essay for consideration please email us at info@litchfieldmagazine.com.
As we enter the second month of this unprecedented lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are having to accept a new way of living that is taking place almost exclusively in our homes.
I’m sure at this point even homebodies, like myself, have had their fill of staying home. I’ve taken to fantasizing about the first place I’ll go when Litchfield County comes alive again. Perhaps Provisions for my iced coffee with a splash of oat milk, or some butter pecan at Arethusa—and when I’m feeling particularly rebellious, it’s Sweet William Bakery for their decadent cinnamon buns.
I truly never realized the joy I received from the simple ritual of going out for a cup of coffee until I couldn’t anymore! I know I’m not alone in this. In some capacity, we’re all grieving the loss of our daily routines.
As an Interior Designer and Lifestylist, I am passionate about creating homes that support how we want to live and who we want to be. And because I’ve worked remotely for the majority of my career, I’ve made sure that my home was my sanctuary, a space that nourishes my spirit and inspires my mind. I’ve found that when I live better, I feel better, and feeling better allows me to DO better.
The importance of home has become even more salient for me, and I know it has for others as well. With everyone now living and working from home—some simultaneously managing Zoom meetings, cooking meals, and juggling their children’s education—I’m hearing more people say they are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious.
So, I thought I’d share some tips that can bring some sanity and comfort back into the places in which you dwell. These tips have helped me, and my clients make our environments a space to thrive.
Zen your Home
Create Designated Zones—Create zones in your home for work, homeschooling, and other important tasks. This not only helps to differentiate your physical space, but it aids in a mentality shift that will support you diving into those tasks more fully. Treat your designated workspace or home-schooling area like you would your actual office or classroom. Use it each day at the same time for the tasks intended, and it is sure to help minimize needless distractions and increase productivity.
Declutter to Destress—In these uncertain times, many of us are already managing stress. By simply tackling some of those nagging home projects you’ve been putting off—that pile of papers you pass every day with dread knowing they need to be organized—you can minimize needless stress in your environment Taking care of these tasks can eliminate lingering negative energy, create more space for harmony in your home, and improve your overall wellness.
Style it up—Beautify your space with items that you love, whether that be a well-placed lamp, some throw pillows, your favorite mementos, or my signature touch, crystal geodes. Bring in the green and boost your mood with potted plants. Personalizing your space with items that you love will carry positive energy, increase your home’s warmth, and raise your vibration too.
Create New Routines
Adopt a Morning Routine—If you want to harness some peace of mind and tap into your power, the perfect place to start is with a morning routine. Many successful people profess the power of this practice and it can be as easy as cultivating a little stillness and quiet at the start of each day. I suggest starting each morning with the three 5’s: 5 minutes of meditation (listening), 5 Minutes of prayer (setting intentions), and 5 minutes of journaling (conversing with your higher self). Following this with some stretching or exercise will help you start the day off right!
Get Dressed—This may seem simple, but it’s a secret those of us who’ve always worked remotely already understand. While you may be able to sit at your desk in a t-shirt and pajamas without anyone ever knowing, something about that attire relaxes the brain and can lead to decreased productivity. Getting dressed each day, even if it’s to sit at the desk in your home office, will help you mentally switch gears into work mode, and maintain some normalcy in your day-to-day routine.
Schedule It
Time Blocking—Schedule your important tasks by blocking off time in your calendar, because if it’s not scheduled, it likely won’t happen! Blocking out time for breaks is highly beneficial because when sitting at our desks, we don’t breathe as deeply. So, when you typically suffer that afternoon slump, schedule a 15-30-minute break, and take it outside for some fresh air. Taking a walk and focusing on your breath and the present moment will rejuvenate you in no time!
Pomodoro—This is a reward-based, scientifically proven method to help increase your productivity. Minimize your distractions by closing your email and shutting off the ringer on your phone, and then set a timer for 20 or 40 minutes to plow through the task you want to accomplish. Once you’ve completed the task, reward yourself with a five to ten-minute break. You can adjust the lengths of time for what works best for you and your productivity.
Make Time for Joy
Photo credit: Jesus Baez
Believe it or not, the majority of my clients score feeling fulfilled and joyful lowest on personal assessments. Incorporating a little joy into your day and shifting into a more positive mindset can be as easy as taking a walk or pausing for a quick afternoon meditation.
For those with children, these more solitary techniques may be more difficult to achieve, but there are ways to cultivate joy in your daily routine. I encourage my clients with families to employ a technique called the gratitude riff to help shift energies into a more positive place. To play, grab a ball or an item that can be tossed around, and then sit in a circle on the floor. The person who has the ball starts by saying something they’re grateful for, and then passes or tosses it to another person in the circle for their turn. This can be played for as many rounds as you like, but it’s sure to elevate moods and remind all of us that even during uncertain times, we have much to be grateful for!
Wanessa Anderson, owner of W. Rhythm and Fitness Studio in Kent, hasn’t suffered the panic that most business owners have experienced during the shutdown. Instead the crisis has served as her springboard. Anderson is offering a FREE week of trial classes as an incentive to add movement to our daily routines and to help battle the isolation blues.
Sponsored story by Anne Franco McAndrew
Long before COVID-19, Wanessa Anderson was already seeing her business in a new light. Anderson, the owner of W. Rhythm and Fitness Studio in Kent, is always one step ahead of the curve. She knew her next move was going to incorporate social media and exercise. With pieces of her cyber expansion puzzle already in place, Anderson hasn’t suffered the panic that most business owners have experienced during the shutdown. Instead, the crisis has served as her springboard.
Undeniably she has one of the most loyal clientele in the area, recently voted The Best Barre Studio in Litchfield County for the second year in a row. Her online class idea had been percolating in her brain for quite a while. But it wasn’t until she spent some time this past February in Cartagena, a port city of Colombia, that the format became defined. “The idea to visit Cartagena came to me in a dream”, she said. So she followed her dream and it provided her with the energy she needed. Whether it was the blazing bold colors of the architecture or scrumptious ceviche served in jammed eateries, she didn’t say. But internally a shift took place. She returned home, just barely making the re-entry cut off, and immediately put the wheels in motion for her video classes.
If the body of Anderson’s business is her fitness expertise, the soul of Anderson’s business is her message of love and light. As she challenges and nurtures physical conditioning, she furthers the experience through movement and mindfulness. Wanting us to reach our highest performance level physically, mentally, and spiritually, she talks about this throughout the classes to reinforce the message. So much of worldly discord, she believes, is because people are disconnected from their bodies. People need to make movement part of their daily routine, “like brushing your teeth”, she remarks in her Brazilian accent. “The cure for boredom is movement.”
Anderson’s online platform can be found at wtotalfitness.com. Here you will find a varied range of classes including yoga, barre, pilates, and cardio party. You can subscribe for an extended time or rent a video for a couple of days. Either way, every class is a complete body/mind workout which also incorporates stretch and flow. Anderson is offering a week of trial classes for free (click here) as an incentive to add movement to our daily routines and to help battle the isolation blues.
It’s not as if the anxiety of the world’s situation hasn’t affected her. It has. But she deals with it by making time for her self care as well as encouraging others to do the same. “I start my day gently, with a hot bath, essential oils, and candles. I meditate. I used guided imagery.” The unique challenges that a pandemic poses are new to all of us. Anderson strongly urges people to establish a routine that nurtures our souls to better enable us to deal with anxiety. Another part of her formula is to absorb the beauty of the world and reflect on her blessings. The message from her is simple and direct. “It’s a scary time but we are all strong. We will rebuild. Start by taking care of yourself and the rest will follow.”
Childhood, for many of us, is a “feeling” coupled with a few scattered memories – snippets of stories that usually grow blurry over time. Often, we remember more about how events, people, and places made us feel, than what actually transpired. Land preservation holds space for that feeling, and during the crisis of Covid-19, it should be celebrated.
This is the third of an essay series that will be published every week for as long as social distancing is necessary. All pieces are written by Litchfield County residents. If you are interested in submitting an essay for consideration please email us at info@litchfieldmagazine.com.
Childhood, for many of us, is a “feeling” coupled with a few scattered memories – snippets of stories that usually grow blurry over time. Often, we remember more about how events, people, and places made us feel than what transpired. Land preservation holds space for that feeling, and during the crisis of Covid-19, it should be celebrated.
Toward the end of Merryall Road in New Milford, there are a few meandering bends that cradle Mayapple Hill Farm, (also known as Smyrski Farm) which is a substantial part of the Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust. I grew up in this area, and my memories of working and playing on “The Farm” as a child are both vivid and cherished. This part of New Milford, the one I remember from my youth, hasn’t changed much at all.
Between the stress, fear, and let’s face it, “daily grind,” of this pandemic, I’ve had one poignant thought: All is not lost if our memories remain.
I drove out to “The Farm” late one afternoon during a recent stretch of sunny, milder days because I like to be still and feel it when springtime emerges.
Stunning is a good word. Peaceful is another. Uncomplicated sums it up rather nicely. No breaking news, no press conferences. Zero new developments.
Stopping on the side of the road, I looked toward the hills in the distance, and quietly let myself breathe like the formidable, budding trees that dot the valley. I instantly recalled how the Smyrski’s would let us “run” our little dachshunds across the very field in front of me, looking more like groundhogs on a mission.
I stood there, inside the mellowness of the golden hour’s approach, pining for the more hopeful, somewhat carefree existence I enjoyed just a few short months ago, back when I was far less encumbered by worry, bouts of melancholy, and a profound sense of loss.
The barns appeared empty, desolate amid the hazy sky, yet I knew that every porous crack and nook still seeped with the echoing laughter and curiosity of my childhood. The country road seemed quiet, (as country roads do), but I could still hear the hum of my father’s motorcycle buzzing down the middle. My daddy was a straight-up badass, and when he picked me up from middle school on his bike, I felt like one too.
Wrapped in my windbreaker, a flood of memories came crashing through my internal levee that keeps them safe. In the spring, my father would ceremoniously put away his ice fishing gear for the season, and begin the arduous process of starting his summer vegetable garden from scratch. I’d watch as he carefully nursed his seedlings, placing them in tenderly on sundrenched windowsills throughout our house.
During this serious time in our history, a time of great pause and social distance, I recall the wide-open spaces of my childhood, one spent without the screens or affirmations I now regularly seek. I have been hoping for quite some time that the blessed feeling I carry when I find myself immersed within the raw beauty of the unchanged landscape, will somehow return.
All too often, when things change, either for us or because of us, we move on, and we forget.
I’ve lived in New Milford my whole life. Without photos, I forget what the intersection after Boardman Bridge looked like before it was re-vamped. I forget what our town center and The Green looked like before it was narrowed to create more parking. I know the corner of South Main Street included a gas station, and Lawson’s Dairy had an ice cream parlor, (my first job when I was 15). I forget what Route 7 looked like before expansion, yet the clear-cutting across from the Walmart shopping center that made room for chain restaurants and more box stores wasn’t all that long ago.
“Progress” is a word used most often for describing development but make no mistake, it’s usually the developer who progresses, not the essence, history, or culture of a small town. Many of our open spaces have been demolished. Natural flora and fauna habitats have been destroyed or rearranged, in the name of “progress” over time.
The 220-acre Smyrski Farm, bequeathed by John and Sophie Smyrski in 1988 to The Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust, will never be developed in the name of “progress.” Upon her death, Sophie Smyrski, (the last of the Smyrski Siblings), ensured that nothing could be built on, or around their family farm, which is now a premier agricultural preserve.
The parcel is now leased to Nick and Linda Pouder, of Mayapple Hill Farm. Though it is no longer a dairy farm, the property and buildings remain unaltered. The Pouder’s raise sheep, grow vegetables and make maple syrup among other ardent agricultural endeavors. The protected property includes a full meandering mile along historic Merryall Road, and the West Aspetuck River. The tranquil valley and modest mountain backdrop can only be described as “quietly impressive and undisturbed.”
COVID -19 will ultimately change us all in ways we cannot begin to process right now. Something that doesn’t have to change is our memory of special places. We can learn, going forward, to savor the unspoiled places that are surely worth protecting. A land trust does the heroic work of keeping certain places in our memory from disappearing, despite our troubled times.
We know that things will change. Things will be different. Ultimately, “death” of any kind, including seasons and our previous “way of life” might deliver a sweet and rewarding renewal of sorts, but I will declare here and now that I prefer the everlasting warmth of familiarity over the coldness of what’s unknown.
Image of the author, Kim Wheeler Valzania.
When I drive by the farm now, I don’t have to conjure a memory. The Smyrski’s foresight made sure their legacy and the beautiful green acreage that was once a working dairy farm will remain unaffected for all to enjoy. Everything is still exactly where it was and the “feel” of the place is still very much alive.
It is indeed a profound gift that the “feel” of my childhood remains intact, as well as the place itself. I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets to enjoy it. That feeling, in a nutshell, is part of what green space preservation is all about, and it’s what I love the most about living in Litchfield County. Covid-19 may change many things, but it will not change the green spaces we protect.
The love affair began with a getaway weekend to The Mayflower Inn and Spa in the summer of 2005.
I was a full time New Yorker and a young lawyer, recently married and expecting my first baby. After a long, lazy day by the pool, we were off to dinner. My husband held my hand as I teetered over the antique floor boards, making my way through the picturesque country lobby in impractical high heels. As we waited to be seated, I caught my first glimpse of the Tap Room.
This is the second of an essay series that will be published every week for as long as social distancing is necessary. All pieces were written by Litchfield County residents. If you are interested in submitting an essay for consideration please email us at info@litchfieldmagazine.com.
I was a full-time New Yorker and a young lawyer, recently married and expecting my first baby. After a long, lazy day by the pool, we were off to dinner. My husband held my hand as I teetered over the antique floorboards, making my way through the picturesque country lobby in impractical high heels. As we waited to be seated, I caught my first glimpse of the Tap Room.
A cute young guy in a suit was playing standards on the piano. The vibe was elegant yet casual, sophisticated but also inviting. With its thick leather banquettes and hunter green walls, the Tap Room lacked the sleek, modern, coolness that was everywhere in New York at the time. Still, the scene felt oddly familiar, as did all of the players sprinkled around the bar and tables. I had never been there before, never laid eyes on any of these people, but I felt entirely at home—as if I should walk right in, order a Gin and Tonic and start chatting away with anyone and everyone in the room.
I was smitten.
Over the next few days, the attraction only grew. I was charmed by the “High Water Mark” sign on the old drug store in Washington Depot, then wooed by the selection at the Hickory Stick Bookshop. The old Kiddipity, overflowing with toys I might someday buy for our baby to be, made me tingly with excitement. And then there was The Pantry, where the sour cream coffee cake nearly launched me into a full-blown Meg Ryan food orgasm, right there at the butcher-block table. (I ordered another slice to go, instead.)
We toured Kent and Litchfield and West Cornwall, delighted by the shops, enchanted by the Covered Bridge, utterly wowed by the raging Housatonic.
We inched our way slowly around Lake Waramaug, equally captivated by the shimmering water and the festive, laid-back vibe in the air. Every other house seemed to be hosting a Fourth of July party, and once again—though we knew no one—I felt somehow certain we would be welcome if we did.
We meandered through the village of New Preston, where all the stores were already closed. Peeking through their windows, I imagined the owners and staff gathered together at the lake, mingling with friends and awaiting fireworks at one of the barbecues we’d just passed. We paused in front of a realtor’s office, checking out the available rentals, dreaming of what it might be like to spend the rest of the summer living lakeside and hosting barbecues of our own.
Driving back to New York, I felt tan and relaxed and completely unaware that anything significant had occurred. We sped back to our city and our careers and our baby to be, away from this tiny county in the Northwest hills of Connecticut. As far as I knew, it had been just another vacation—a lovely getaway that had nothing to do with my real life or its trajectory.
And yet.
Looking back, I do recall a heightened interest in the passing scenery. Driving through Washington, Roxbury, then Bridgewater, I felt an almost hungry curiosity about what it might be like to live in that house, or send my kids to that school, or practice law in that shop.
Maybe, I imagined, it might even feel like home.
Fast forward to February. Like all new mothers, I was both enamored and exhausted. I was also feeling cooped up in my apartment, and more than fed up with winter. With baby affixed to breast, I called my husband.
“Remember that town?” I began. “The one where we stayed at that inn over the Fourth of July?”
Two weeks later, I found myself zipping all over Litchfield County in the back of Peter Klemm’s black Cayenne, in search of the perfect summer rental.
By the end of that day, I was dizzy with desire, convinced that this was the place for us. I was also dejected. None of the rentals we had seen felt right. “Just out of curiosity,” I asked without forethought, “what do you have for sale?”
Peter took us to a hilltop construction site—a frame of a house wrapped entirely in Tyvek paper, nothing but plywood and sawdust on the inside.
But the view!
Behind the barely built heap of a house was a gently sloping backyard, ending in a tangle of bushes and trees that seemed to go on forever. Over those trees, we could see the fields and barns dotting New Preston Hill, across the hiking trails I would later come to know as Macricostas Preserve, all the way to the distant mountain ranges of Kent.
Now, almost fifteen years later, we are a family of five sheltering in place in that construction-site-turned-home, and I am gazing out my bedroom window at that very familiar, still-stunning view.
I ride out the current COVID-19 storm, hunkered down and separate from so many of the people and places I have come to love. I feel antsy with uncertainty and increasingly desperate for normalcy. At the same time, I am filled with appreciation for the simple joys of ordinary life—coffee dates at Marty’s, coaching Shepaug softball, recognizing everyone I see at the Food Market—and for everyone and everything around here that constitute the gorgeous fabric of this community.
What began as a weekend tryst and mere flirtation with fantasy, has deepened into a lifelong commitment. Having to keep my distance, for now, only solidifies my sense of connection to this special part of the world, and my eternal gratitude for every twist and turn—all the magic and happenstance—that drew me to this place and compelled me to make it my home.
Chin chin, Litchfield County. I look forward to toasting you back at The Mayflower Bar this summer.
Now more than ever, our small businesses need your support. These local restaurants are serving takeout and curbside delivery. While they are taking all sanitary precautions, it’s still a good idea to sanitize the containers and then wash your hands once you bring the food home.
During the Coronavirus our small businesses need your extra support. These local restaurants are serving takeout and curbside delivery. While they are taking all sanitary precautions, it’s still a good idea to sanitize the containers and then wash your hands once you bring the food home. Email info@litchfieldmagazine.com to add a local restaurant to the list.
Every day, they have a special menu shown on their website.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday place your order between 11:30 am – 3:00 pm They will then have pickup times every half hour starting from 4:30 until 7:30 pm. (You can also leave a voicemail before 11:30 am, for day-of, and anytime for the following days, which they will return.)
They are offering a variety of options, including salads, burgers, spaghetti, and fish and chips.
Open Sunday through Wednesday between 7:00 am – 4:00 pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 7:00 am – 8:00 pm. Dinner orders are call-in only and are available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday between 5:00 – 8:00 pm.
Serving the likes of kale and farro salads, turkey chili, and mustard crusted wild salmon with asparagus. Open Thursday through Sunday for the time being. Curbside pickups can be made between noon and 4:00 pm. Your purchase will be left outside on the patio with your name on the bag. Deliveries will be made beginning at 5:00. Your package will be left on your doorstep. Call to place your order.
Check the website for their pick-up menu. Accepting “reservations” for Easter carry out! Nueske’s smoked ham! Local veggies and salads. Freshly baked buttermilk biscuits and pies. Make a reservation for pick up.
Offering a variety of options, including pizza, chicken entrees, and desserts.
Open Wednesday through Friday between 12:00 – 5:00 pm for lunch, Saturday and Sunday between 12:00 – 4:00 pm for brunch, Wednesday through Sunday between 5:00 – 8:00 pm for dinner, and orders can be placed by phone or on their website.
They’ve created a new menu built for the community, which has always rallied to help local businesses through tough times. They’re now offering lower prices and larger portions for pick up.
Patty, the owner, is preparing curbside takeout dinners that are delicious. She’ll even undercook fish if you want so you can finish it off in the oven and serve it hot. They offer a delicious variety of salads, including vegan, dairy free, nut free, and gluten free. Call to order for pick up.
Open Monday through Thursday between 4:00 – 9:00 pm, Friday between 2:00 – 9:30 pm, Saturday between 11:00 am – 9:30 pm, and Sunday between 11:00 am – 8:30 pm, and orders can be made by phone.
See weekly menu on their website. Open Thurs – Sat 11:00 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 – 6:00 pm for curbside pickup. Delivery available within a five-mile radius for a $5 fee.
Want some fresh seafood to cook yourself? No problem. Call them the day before (Fridays for Sunday) and they will gladly bring it into the store for you.
Popular caterer offering food for pick up or delivery.
Pick -up and delivery will be between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm each day, with your order brought out to your car at their New Milford location, or delivered right to your home.
They are offering a variety of options, including salad, pasta, lamb chops, and scallops.
Open Monday through Thursday between 4:00 – 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday between 11:30 am – 12:00 am, Sunday between 11:00 am – 3:00 pm for brunch and 4:30 – 8:00 pm for dinner, and orders can be placed by phone.
Offering fresh local eats at this darling market. Now offering fresh bagels and bread with local butter. Order by phone, pay by credit card and pick up curbside.
They are offering a variety of options, including sandwiches, wraps, burgers, salad, and pizza.
Open Monday through Thursday between 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Friday and Saturday between 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sunday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm and orders can be placed by phone or on their website.
They are offering a variety of options, including salads, sandwiches, noodle bowls, and burgers.
Open Monday through Friday between 7:30 am – 3:00 pm, Saturday between 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Sunday between 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, and orders can be placed by phone.
Offering Wiener Schnitzel, family style Wiener Gulasch, and more at this renowned restaurant known for its contemporary Austrian cuisine. They are also selling wine by the bottle.
To place order, call Thursday through Monday 11-5 or email at info@thehopkinsinn.com. All payments taken over the phone. Pick up times are on the website.
Daily menus are posted on their Facebook and website.
Open Tuesday Through Saturday between 10:00 am – 4:30 pm and orders can be placed by phone.
Waldingfield Farm patrick@waldingfieldfarm.com The Waldingfield Farm stand/store is open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-4:00 pm and is taking precautions for a safe and healthy shopping experience.
Location:
24 East Street, Washington, CT: The Barn entrance is up the road from the main driveway, opposite the driveway to #41 East Street.
One person/family is allowed in the barn store at a time, and the farmers (wearing gloves, etc) will prepare your bag for you. They will bring a bag of produce to your car as well if anyone would not like to come into the barn.
If you or anyone you know cannot travel and would like items from the farm, please respond to Patrick (patrick@waldingfieldfarm.com). We will work for you to get a delivery.
Available produce/products (the list is growing by the week!):
Five Acre Farms milk & eggs (big brother Dan Horan’s company)
Greens including arugula, kale, mixed greens, etc.
Mushrooms, including shiitake and other varieties
Root crops including multi-colored carrots, turnips, potatoes, celeriac, beets, etc.
Waldingfield Marinara, Waldingfield Crushed Tomatoes (for sauce), Waldingfield Bloody Mary mix.
Open Tuesday – Saturday from 4-9:00 pm for no contact takeout/pickup. They are offering free delivery for anyone over 65+ years of age and orders over $30. Full Menu is available on the website – not only limited offerings as well as Growlers and bottles of wine.
They have a takeout and specials menu on their website, and offerings include salads, kinds of pasta, and the option to “make it family style” to serve four
Open Monday through Sunday between 4:00 – 7:30 pm, and orders can be placed via phone or on their website.
They are offering a range of breakfast foods including pancakes and eggs, as well as lunch entrees like burritos and sandwiches.
Open Monday through Friday between 6:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday between 7:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Orders can be placed on their website.
Your weekly guide to can't-miss events, hidden gems, and local favorites in Litchfield County.
Sign up now for curated things to do, eat, and explore—delivered every week.
It’s free. It’s local. It’s essential.
