Litchfield Magazine March/April

In the HILLS

Editor’s Letter

MARCH HAS A PERSONALITY all its own. One day brings blue skies and daffodil optimism; the next, we’re squarely in mud season—boots by the door, air still sharp, spring not quite convincing. Early spring isn’t a glow-up. It’s a slow thaw. And that feels exactly right for a Health & Wellness issue. Instead of the expected yoga pose on our cover, we couldn’t resist this shot of Jason Doornick at Motoriot in Kent. It makes us smile—and really, what’s healthier than that?

Inside, we meet extraordinary health and wellness leaders, including Dr. Tara Narula, who has a new book out; massage therapist and birthworker Amoin Chantal; and cosmetic acupuncturist Stefanie DiLibero. Musician Daniel Lauter explores the restorative effects of singing bowls, while trainer Heidi Deitrich shares the essential equipment for building a simple, effective home gym. We take in the beauty created by artist and human rights activist Pamela Takiff and spend time with Native American elder and educator Darlene Kascak. We also share the remarkable story of Project SAGE, which began in 1979 as a small volunteer effort at Sharon Hospital and has grown into a lifeline for thousands across our region.

Beyond wellness, we visit the new Cowboy Butter barbecue restaurant in New Milford, tour the design-forward 9 Academy guesthouse in Salisbury, explore Sullivan Farm’s hands-on agricultural education, and look at how classic car culture is fueling community across the Litchfield Hills. Enjoy!

Mary Beth Lawlor

Early Buzz

1 HIDDEN VALLEY

A new local market, sister to the Cornwall Market, has opened in Washington at 88 Bee Brook Road. Serving up fresh bread, pastries, breakfast and lunch items.

2 LITCHFIELD RESTAURANT WEEK

A week of special prix-fixe meals and dining events at 20+ restaurants across Litchfield County. From March 20-27.

3 EARTH DAY PLANT SALE

Every year the Northwest Conservation District sells native plants at Goshen Fairgrounds. April 24-26. I like to pre-order online and then pick up. nwcd.org

4 LAUREL RIDGE DAFFODILS

A spring right of passage. Public access to the land begins in late March/early April. If you haven’t been, you must go.

5 THE TASTEFUL GARDEN

On April 25, Barb Pierson of White Flower Farm will share her favorite plant selections for today’s kitchen gardens at Hollister House Garden. RSVP now at HHG for your spot.

LITCHFIELD

Contents / Mar/Apr / 2026

Healing, From the Heart

Cardiologist Tara Narula (who is also chief medical correspondent for ABC News) knows from experience that it takes more than just great science and great doctors to get an optimal outcome from a difficult diagnosis. What makes the difference is the emotional healing power of the patient. She shares her findings in a book, The Healing Power of Resilience. 21

38 SULLIVAN FARM

Late-winter maple syrup season offers the first lesson of the year in the ways that nature provides the best and healthiest food. A teaching farm in New Milford offers demos, tours, and tastings.

By linda Tuccio-Koonz

46 HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Care of the mind and body takes many forms in Litchfield County. Our annual special section explores options that range from traditional to modern to ancient.

64

DREAM MACHINES

For decades, Litchfield County has been a mecca for collectors of vintage cars. Two new businesses cater to this special “carriage” trade.

By Chris stella

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR SHARON HOSPITAL

Northwell is committed to strengthening the vital care your community relies on.

This includes providing high-quality services, like labor & delivery—so families can continue to welcome their newest members with confidence. It’s all part of our commitment to bringing a new chapter of care to Connecticut. To Litchfield County. To you.

Learn more at Northwell.edu/Sharon

Mary Beth Lawlor shares the latest news and highlights from Litchfield County’s health and wellness scene.

Immigration, and the Underground Railroad

The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, cardiologist Tara Narula, alternative essential care options, artist Pamela Takiff

FARM

In New Milford, a teaching farm whose prime lesson is that we all eat better when we know where our food comes from.

Top resources in Litchfield County for care from head to toe

Feeling the love—of gorgeous old autos—at Motoriot in Kent and Autogalerie in Lime Rock.

Rest easy at this modern Salisbury guesthouse.

Cowboy Butter in New Milford serves upscale barbecue and all the finest fixin’s. Bring your appetite.

Taha Clayton’s Historic Presence at the Tremaine Gallery

Who WE ARE

PAULA CORNELL / writer

Paula studied journalism at the University of Washington, and has written for Love Justice International, a nonprofit fighting human trafficking. In this issue, she writes about Project SAGE, a domestic violence nonprofit; and about facial acupuncture treatments at Gotham Wellness.

RYAN LAVINE / photographer

Ryan Lavine built his career in Philadelphia and New York before settling in Litchfield County with his wife and two daughters. In this issue, he worked with Stefanie DiLibero of Gotham Wellness, Kristen van Ginhoven at Project SAGE, and Darlene Kascak at The Institute For American Indian Studies.

JAMIE MARSHALL / writer

Freelance writer and editor Jamie Marshall specializes in travel, interior design, and personality profiles. In this issue she gives readers a peek into the stylish suites at 9 Academy in Salisbury, a contemporary guesthouse owned and designed by Aidan Cassidy and Charles Teti of Cassidy & Teti Interiors.

MICHELLE MADDEN / writer

Michelle Madden is a Webby Awardnominated writer. In this issue, she profiles cardiologist Tara Narula who, after observing the profound power of resilience in her patients’ health outcomes, wrote a book on the topic, The Healing Power of Resilience.

MARIA MOSTAJO / writer

Maria Mostajo is a lawyer, philanthropist, and art collector, and provides pro bono legal services to refugees and artists. In this issue, she profiles a human rights lawyer whose photographic work excavates beauty from deteriorating paper or peeling paint, often revealing a female form or landscape.

LITCHFIELD

March / April 2026

MARY BETH LAWLOR

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

DEBORAH HAYN

Creative Director

VANESSA HAMMOND

Operations Manager

ALICIA PASCALE

Production Manager

STEVEN LOMBARDI

Website Manager

CYNTHIA HOCHSWENDER Copy Editor

ZANDRIA OLIVER

Production Assistant

GEORGIA LOPRESTI

Events Director

Contributing Writers

Paula Cornell, Charles Dubow, Linda Koonz, Michelle Madden, Jamie Marshall, Alexandra Mazza, Maria Mostajo, Christopher Stella, Clementina Verge

Contributing Photographers

Anne Day, Rana Faure, Ryan Lavine, Ashley Nicole

Advertising Sales

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We welcome input about this and future issues. Please address letters, queries, and ideas to info@litchfieldmagazine.com.

To advertise email jill@litchfieldmagazine.com or call us at 860-931-7787

Go to www.litchfieldmagazine.com/subscribe for a one-year subscription or send $40 to: Happening in the Hills LLC PO Box 95, South Kent, CT 06785 860-931-7787

Litchfield Magazine is a publication of Happening in the Hills LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. litchfieldmagazine.com

“Honored and so appreciative to be in the top three. Thank you! Makes my heart smile!” [Reader’s Choice 2026]—@esevents08

COVER

“Congrats! Such a great community.” [Reader’s Choice 2026] —@pizzeriamarzano

“Congratulations to all! Thank you to our supporters for voting us into the top 3!” [Reader’s Choice 2026] —@bouquetsbeyondct

THE SILO COOKING SCHOOL

“I used to take my mom there every Christmas to see the tree and all the handmade items for sale.” ‘ [“New Season for the Silo” Reader’s Choice 2026] —@whiskeydave1

“Fabulous article. So well written.” [“New Season for the Silo” Reader’s Choice 2026] —@mandygandt

ICE FISHING

I’ve always been fascinated by these guys.” [“Put It On Ice” Reader’s Choice 2026] —@gerryflint

Looking Back

Early Immigration

By Alexandra Mazza

DURING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, Connecticut’s mills depended on immigrant labor, particularly from Eastern Europe, Italy, and Ireland. As mass immigration accelerated, Southern and Eastern Europeans arrived in large numbers, joining earlier Irish communities that had entered industrial work in the 19th century. Italians, the largest immigrant group in Connecticut during this period, often began in unskilled factory and construction jobs, including dangerous mill labor with long hours and low pay. French Canadian immigrants followed, while Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian arrivals came later, driven by political unrest in Europe, settling in textile and brass mills across Hartford, New London, and surrounding counties. Most women, initially employed as domestic servants for wealthy industrialists, increasingly joined men in factories as home work declined during the 1930s.

Working conditions were harsh. Mills were crowded, poorly ventilated, and dangerous. Employers frequently exploited immigrants’ economic vulnerability, paying them low wages that could barely support their families. Many depended on relatives or ethnic networks for housing and basic support.

Cultural hostility added to these struggles. As foreign residents reshaped Connecticut’s population, American-born workers often viewed immigrants as threats. Anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and anti-Jewish movements gained strength, intensified by the Red Scare and the Great Depression. When immigrant mill workers requested safer conditions or higher wages, their efforts were branded “unAmerican.” Police and government officials arrested many as supposed radicals, which intensified cultural oppression. Despite exploitation and discrimination, immigrant labor remained central to Connecticut’s industrial growth.

Quiet Resistance

By Alexandra Mazza

IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY,

Litchfield County’s rolling hills concealed acts of deliberate defiance: Communities such as Litchfield, Torrington, and Cornwall quietly participated in informal Underground Railroad networks that challenged slavery without spectacle.

One stop was the Uriel Tuttle House in Torrington. Tuttle, president of both the Litchfield County and Connecticut antislavery societies, was a committed abolitionist. A letter written upon his passing described his home as “a place of refuge for the panting fugitive;” his resources helped freedom seekers move safely north.

Litchfield was also a place where formerly enslaved people attempted to build permanent lives. William Grimes escaped bondage and settled in town as a barber. “To be put in irons and dragged back to a state of slavery,” he writes, “and either leave my wife and children in the street, or take them into servitude, was a situation in which my soul now shudders at the thought of having been placed.”

Together, these stories reveal the tension beneath the county’s surface. Area residents quietly resisted slavery, even as regional economies remained tied to Southern trade. Their actions remind us that moral courage often unfolded not loudly, but deliberately, and close to home.

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ENDURING LEGACY

BY CLEMENTINA VERGE

On Our RADAR

A Conversation with a Traditional Native American Storyteller

Darlene Kascak’s sense of identity took shape in kindergarten, when a teacher told her she “didn’t look Native American.” Soon after, her great-grandmother anchored her in something deeper: “You are Schaghticoke; you come from a long line of strong women.” The words stayed with her, guiding her sense of purpose and responsibility.

“To be a citizen of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation is to carry a relationship—to land, to ancestors, to community, and to the generations still coming,” reflects Kascak, a Traditional Native American Storyteller and educational outreach ambassador at The Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut. “It’s not a title or a status. It’s a way of moving through the world with a sense of rootedness that can’t be replicated or replaced.”

For centuries, the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation has lived in what

is now Litchfield County. Place names—from Algonquin State Forest to the Aspetuck River and Lake Waramaug—trace a history spanning more than 12,000 years. Across that expanse of time, the community has endured displacement and colonization, while maintaining its connection to land and stories.

An anchoring principle is the Seven Generations teaching: Make decisions with those yet to come in mind.

“The Schaghticoke people see the land not as a resource to be exploited, but as a living, breathing partner,” Kascak says. “The land gives us food, shelter, and guidance. In return, we have a responsibility to protect and care for it.”

Today, as a museum professional and member of the Schaghticoke Women’s Traditional Council, Kascak works with journalists, educators, and cultural institutions to ensure Native histories are represented with accuracy and depth. Her work continues a long

tradition of Schaghticoke women leading in diplomacy, land stewardship, and community care—safeguarding stories and collective memory.

In institutional spaces, she often encounters narratives that begin too late. Museums frequently frame Native history at the moment of European contact, overlooking the thousands of years of Indigenous governance, innovation, and nationhood that preceded it. Distinct cultures are flattened into generic categories. Objects are displayed as static artifacts rather than expressions of living relationships. The realities of colonization—land theft, forced removal, boarding schools, violence— are softened, and Native voices are sometimes invited in only after key decisions have been made. The result is a focus on loss, rather than on resilience and governance.

To combat this, Kascak works to ensure that Indigenous histories are told in their fullness—recognizing not just loss, but survival, resilience, and the ongoing presence of Native peoples.

For those who wish to support the accurate and respectful storytelling of Indigenous histories, she offers simple advice: “Listen first, uplift Indigenous voices, respect cultural boundaries, and push for accountability within institutions.” These steps, she believes, are crucial in building a more truthful, respectful, and hopeful future.

“Our stories aren’t just tales from the past—they’re teachings about how to live with respect, responsibility, and relationship,” Kascak reminds, emphasizing that those traditions are about more than survival; they shape the world we leave for future generations.

—iaismuseum.org

Inner Peace

By Tal Fagin / Sometimes I Think I Suck:

Life-Changing Strategies for Self-Critical People is for anyone who has ever struggled with selfdoubt, perfectionism, indecision, or insecurity. It grew out of years of coaching high achievers— lawyers, executives, creatives, caregivers, students—who all shared something in common: a harsh inner voice constantly reminding them they weren’t good enough.

I wrote this book because I know that voice all too well. It’s the book I wish I’d had when I was younger, back when I drove myself too hard, mistook perfectionism for discipline, and believed self-criticism was the key to my success. It wasn’t. It was the very thing holding me back from joy, ease, and a deeper sense of fulfillment.

My book offers a simple yet profound message: The mean voice in your head isn’t always telling the truth. With awareness, curiosity, and compassion, it can be retrained. Inside, readers find practical, research-backed tools to disrupt painful patterns, challenge old beliefs, and build a kinder, more honest relationship with themselves. This book helps you break self-defeating patterns and embrace the rewarding life waiting for you.

STRENGTH TRAINING

A Cardiologist Reveals the Profound Power of Resilience

BY MICHELLE MADDEN

›Some people have an aura of ease, a gentle calm that makes you exhale and feel safe, as though you are being tenderly held in the palm of their hand. When you are with Tara Narula, MD, you not only sense that she is an exceptional doctor, but that she has a highly evolved soul. It seems fitting, then, that she would write a book called The Healing Power of Resilience (Simon&Schuster).

Narula is a renowned cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital and ABC News chief medical correspondent. She has a home in Roxbury and comes there with her husband,

On Our RADAR

David, every weekend to unwind, and give their two daughters and golden retriever puppy a place to run. They were introduced to the area by David’s brother, Ryan Cangello, the owner of the beloved Owl Wine & Food Bar in New Preston.

Narula was driven to write her book based on a clear pattern she’d observed among her patients. In the face of a medical diagnosis, some were able to weather their situation and even thrive, while others were not. What accounted for this difference? Resilience—the ability to adapt to change.

This trait was embodied by Narula’s own father—an immigrant, with $50 in his pocket when he arrived, eventually becoming one of the founders of cardiac electrophysiology. She was guided through her life by a message imparted by him: “There is nothing that happens that you can not overcome.” Narula grew up accompanying her father on rounds, and fell in love with medicine, thinking that one day she would become a cardiac surgeon.

The path, however, to becoming a doctor was circuitous and bumpy. Before following her heart, she followed her degree (economics from Stanford) and opened a smoothie shop in Miami. But smoothies never soothed the yearning to heal. Eventually in medical school, her own resilience was tested when she became the patient and went through years of uncertainty as she lost partial vision in her

right eye. To give her strength, her mother sent her the Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. It became a powerful force in her healing, and taught her the lesson of acceptance, a key ingredient of resilience.

Throughout her career, Narula has realized that resilience is woefully overlooked. Doctors are not taught to consider the physiological toll that stress can have on the body, nor are they taught how it can be mitigated. “The world of psychology and medicine are siloed,” Narula laments. “We can’t help our patients heal if we are not bridging them.”

Like a willow that bends with the wind without breaking, the ability to embrace change is something that every one of us can develop. It is not a fixed trait. And as Narula lovingly points out, “You are already far more resilient than you think you are.”

—@drtaranarula

SENIOR

HEALTH

A Senior Advocate

By Sara Lynn Leavenworth

When my friends and I were pregnant, we were flooded with information on how to parent. The What To Expect books were staples of every baby shower.

Fast forward to today: Where is the book “How To Parent Your Parent?”

At Senior Advocate Services, we hear the same stories:

“Mom fell and went to the hospital, but Dad said she will be fine.”

“Dad got lost driving back from the store, but he is still good to drive.”

“I wonder if the bills are being paid on time. The refrigerator is full of expired food. They don’t want my help.”

Individually, these moments don’t feel like an emergency. Collectively, they are often the early signals that something is changing.

The generation born in the late 1930s and 1940s is fiercely independent. Conversations about aging and planning can feel off-limits. There’s often denial—until a crisis forces rushed decisions and overwhelming choices.

Starting conversations early helps. And when parents resist, understanding options allows you to prepare—not to take control, but to protect their safety, dignity, and independence.

There may not be a bestseller on parenting your parent. But you don’t have to navigate it alone. A senior advocate can offer guidance and help build a support system. Everyone wants the same thing— to stay safe, to remain independent.

—senioradvocatect.com

THE ART OF ANCESTRAL CARE

Restoring Ritual and Reverence to Women’s Healing

BY CLEMENTINA VERGE

›Motherhood is the sacred art of creating and nurturing life—a space where strength meets vulnerability, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. In this transformative chapter, holistic healing and body-centered care are not indulgences; they are essential luxuries.

Amoin Chantal Kra, founder of Akwaba, LLC – Massage + Birth in Litchfield, embodies this philosophy.

A licensed massage therapist, birthworker, a healer, and mother, she provides women with the care, grace,

and sacred support needed to nourish and honor their bodies.

Kra grew up in Côte d’Ivoire, where care was never solitary. Birth, recovery, and even loss unfolded among women—midwives, aunties, neighbors—bringing herbs, warm hands, nourishing food, and quiet encouragement.

As a child, she absorbed this truth instinctively, fetching water or cloth, and learning that healing is communal, embodied, and

profoundly human.

“I come from a culture where healing is shared,” Kra reflects.

“Mothers soothe babies with their hands, aunties support laboring women, and the community holds anyone who is hurting. Healing is relational and embodied, not just clinical. That shaped how I care for women today.”

Amoin Chantal Kra brings plants, healing hands, and love to the care of women’s bodies.

When she moved to the United States nearly three decades ago, the contrast was stark. Care often felt rushed,

stripped of cultural context and tenderness, and women’s voices were sometimes overlooked. In response, she began weaving the nurturing traditions of her upbringing into modern care, restoring dignity, slowness, and ancestral wisdom.

“I bring what I grew up with: hands-on care, herbs, warm oils, breath, and rhythm,” she explains. “None of it competes with modern bodywork. It complements it, returning culture, comfort, and dignity to the room.”

Her philosophy holds that the body carries memory. The hips, in particular, house creativity, sexuality, birth, stress, and lived experience. When tight, women feel constrained; when softened, something awakens. To “awaken the power of the hips” is not merely physical—it is an invitation to embodiment, freedom, and self-remembrance.

This ethos lives fully in Akwaba – Massage + Birth. Akwaba means welcome: to the body, the story, the mother, and the baby. Each session blends modern therapeutic techniques with ancestral practices—warm oils, breath, rhythm, gentle touch—creating a space where women feel seen

and supported. Prenatal sessions ease hips, ribs, and the lower back while calming the nervous system. Postpartum care emphasizes restoration, with abdominal and pelvic support, warmth, and sometimes herbs or tea.

Kra challenges the misconception of massage as mere relaxation. Touch regulates hormones, supports digestion, improves sleep, and fosters emotional safety. This understanding inspired GENTLE Touch Therapy, teaching caregivers and families how soft, intentional touch communicates care without force.

Over the years, Kra has witnessed profound transformations: Anxiety giving way to rest, pain to ease, isolation to belonging. Often, the deepest shift is subtle— the instant a woman’s body finally feels safe enough to soften. Her dream is to create a sanctuary where bodywork, birth support, herbal care, ceremony, and education coexist under one roof—a place that feels like home. Above all, she hopes every woman leaves feeling rested, held, and more deeply connected to her inner power. —instagram.com/ akwaba.massage.birth

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

Spring Awakening

By Jessica Ashoka Grant

Within the field of mental health, spring often presents a paradoxical landscape. While increased sunlight and ephemeral blooms can elevate mood, they may also illuminate latent melancholy or a felt pressure to enliven and interact. Sustainable well-being requires respecting the nervous system’s natural rhythms rather than imposing externally driven expectations.

In India’s traditional system of Ayurvedic medicine, this season embodies the elements of earth and water. As the body emerges from winter’s stillness, these qualities may manifest as heaviness, congestion, or emotional inertia. The goal is not to counter these sensations aggressively, but to encourage mindful release. Practices to nourish a balanced transition may include a gentle cleanse to promote digestive clarity featuring kitchari, a flavorful basmati rice. The lymphatic system may benefit from decongesting edible plants such as dandelion, chickweed, and violets, all endemic to the area. Bitter greens further support liver function while replenishing micronutrients.

Incorporating techniques such as gua sha and garshana may assist in moving interstitial fluid and reducing somatic stagnation. Neti pot cleansing for sinus health can help mitigate environmental allergies, while energizing walks, gentle twists, and digital detoxification further support alignment. A thoughtful approach to spring wellness emphasizes gradual integration over vigorous elimination. primawellness.com

Jessica Ashoka Grant, based in Litchfield, is a licensed psychotherapist, Ayurvedic practitioner, educator, and researcher who specializes in integrative approaches to wellness.

THE HEALING FREQUENCY

On Sound, Stillness, and Paying Attention

›For Daniel Lauter, sound has never been something he simply hears. It is something he perceives everywhere—in the rhythm of footsteps on a city street, in the low hum of stillness, in the slow movement of light across a mountain ridge. For more than 35 years, he has followed that intuitive relationship with sound, shaping a life and practice devoted to music as a pathway to restoration, awareness, and transformation.

Internationally recognized for his immersive sound journeys and

sound baths, Lauter is considered one of the early pioneers of modern sound meditation in the United States. In the mid-1980s, while living in Marin County, California, he began exploring the vibrational potential of crystal bowls—long before they became part of mainstream wellness culture. He went on to produce some of the first live-to-digital recordings of these instruments, helping define what has since become a widely embraced healing

modality.

Lauter’s foundation, however, is firmly rooted in classical music. He studied clarinet and pursued advanced interdisciplinary work at the Center for Interdisciplinary and Experimental Art in San Francisco. While conservatory training refined his technical skill, an early lesson from a visiting musician—how to tell a story with a single note—shaped his artistic philosophy. That emphasis on simplicity, phrasing, and emotional resonance

photograph by LINDSEY RANSOM

continues to guide his work.

His musical life unfolded across dynamic creative scenes, from intuitive loft jazz in New York City to experimental collaborations in San Francisco’s Bay Area. Over time, his focus shifted from performance to perception—how sound moves through the body, influences emotion, and creates space for stillness. This inquiry deepened through formative experiences with indigenous elders, including learning circular breathing and Aboriginal Yidaki (didjeridu) within Dreamtime traditions, studying drumming lineages, and witnessing sound used as ceremony and medicine.

Those experiences later informed Lauter’s sustained engagement

with Buddhist study, including Sanskrit texts and contemplative practices such as the Medicine Buddha and the Heart Sutra. Rather than existing alongside his music as a parallel pursuit, this training functions as a structural framework for his work, shaping how intuition is held, directed, and expressed.

“My experiences with indigenous elders and ancient lineages naturally paved the way for my formal spiritual training,” Lauter says.

“To ground these vast energies, I immersed myself in Buddhist studies, taking refuge with Lama Migmar Tseten at the Sakya Institute, and working deeply with Medicine Buddha practices. That foundation gave structure to my intuitive abilities.”

Today, Lauter’s sound baths are composed live, drawing from an expansive sonic palette that includes crystal bowls, symphonic gongs, Himalayan bells, bansuri, shruti, tongue drum, vocal toning, and mantra. Each session unfolds with a musician’s sensitivity to harmony, rhythm, and spaciousness, offering participants an experience that is both deeply calming and subtly transformative.

That work continues locally and publicly this season, as Lauter hosts a public sound bath series at Winvian Farm in Morris (the next is March 22), inviting guests to experience his signature sound journeys within the serene setting of one of the region’s most distinctive retreats.—meditationdj.com

SUPPORTING SURVIVORS

Over Four Decades of Community Care

BY PAULA CORNELL

›In 1979, a group of women brought pagers to Sharon Hospital, asking staff to call if they found anyone experiencing abuse who needed a safe place to go.

That volunteer effort, known then as Women’s Emergency Services, would grow into what is now Project SAGE––a nonprofit providing support, shelter, and advocacy to those facing domestic violence in the region, for over four decades.

“This passionate, feisty, intelligent, roll-up-your-sleeves group of women in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut got together and were like, ‘We want to do something about this,’” says Project SAGE’s executive director, Kristen van Ginhoven.

As the work expanded, the name changed to reflect a wider range of services. Project SAGE stands for Support,

Advocate, Guide, and Educate—and is a reference and compliment to their clients’ wisdom.

When the board sat down to brainstorm how to fundraise in 2001, a 26-year-old board member named Naomi Blumenthal suggested doing a plant sale. Blumenthal worked as the head gardener for designer Bunny Williams at the time. Williams loved the idea and turned it into something much

bigger: Trade Secrets.

Every year, in May, Trade Secrets offers garden tours and a massive sale of rare plants and garden antiques to some 4,000 attendees, providing about a third of Project SAGE’s annual budget.

At the second Trade Secrets event, a woman approached Williams and told her she’d called Project SAGE within the past year.

“She said, ‘I can’t thank you enough for holding this event so I could know about the program,’” recalls Williams. “I realized how important it was to grow the event, and to help what is now Project SAGE become a reality, because domestic violence can affect anybody.”

National statistics from the Centers for Disease Control underscore that fact: One in three women and one in four men report severe physical violence during their lifetime. Litchfield County is no exception.

When a client walks in their door or calls on the phone, Project SAGE staff help assess their most pressing need and develop a safety plan. That plan could be as basic as a client feeling validated about their experience; but it can also be a longer-term process involving decisions to stay or leave, custody of children and pets, legal issues, financial setbacks, mental health, support systems, and more.

Project SAGE offers support for every client decision, connecting clients to whatever resources they may need.

Director of client services Virginia Gold has been with Project SAGE for nearly nine years, working with clients through both setbacks and victories over time.

“I am privileged to be invited into people’s lives at some of their hardest moments, and then to see some of their most successful moments as well,” she says.

Annually, Project SAGE responds to over 1,900 hotline calls, provides over 1,400 nights of emergency shelter, and offers counseling and other direct services to over 800 people––work that reflects the support of an entire community backing them over the decades.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call Project SAGE’s 24 hour confidential hotline at 860-364-1900. —project-sage.org

EARTH

Earth Day All Year Long

By Andrea Valluzzo

When Jim Febbroriello bought his Torrington home in 1975 (five years after Earth Day officially debuted), he couldn’t see the dam about 150 feet behind his house because of the thick forest.

The Coe Brass Dam is one of the last traces of Torrington’s once-thriving brass industry, and the surrounding mill pond is a haven for wildlife. Embracing a suggestion that the area would make a wonderful neighborhood park, Febbroriello, his family, and volunteers began clearing forest land on their property adjoining what is now the Coe Dam Park.

Owned by the Heritage Land Preservation Trust, Inc., the 12-acre Coe Dam Park is open for daytime passive recreation, and is the city’s only privately owned neighborhood park. Febbroriello routinely makes improvements to preserve the park. Having people enjoy the space is meaningful, but he also says, “It’s important to me because of the wildlife that is around here. We not only have geese, ducks, and beavers but woodchucks, possums, foxes, and an occasional bear.”

Every year since 1970, April 22 has served as a rallying cry to focus on cleaning up the planet. For people like Febbroriello and others, however, Earth Day is a year-round mindset taking many forms.

DAY Scan the QR code to read the rest of the story:

On Our RADAR

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Bringing Grace to the Unnoticed and Forgotten

BY MARIA MOSTAJO

›Pamela Takiff’s artistic practice reveals the complexities of her unique perspective as both a photographer and human rights activist. An attorney, she has lectured publicly—including before the United Nations Human Rights Council—and advocates for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. She has seen the dark side of humanity. Yet she

is drawn to beauty and light. Takiff uses her iPhone camera to capture an image or moment in time that she transforms into something she says will “focus the viewer’s eye and inspire their imagination without changing what was there to be seen.”

Takiff, who lives in Sharon with husband, has always had an artistic

eye, and was drawn to photography from a young age. Her mother and brother are both sculptors; and her mother paints, and makes jewelry.

Takiff has no formal art training, but while in college developed darkroom skills. Later, in New York City, she learned the arts of gilding and decoupage. She is now incorporating these techniques into her Artist, human rights activist, and attorney: Pamela Takiff creates art via photography, gilding, and decoupage.

photographic work.

As a street photographer, Takiff notices color and shapes in things most of us ignore: deteriorating paper, peeling paint. She hones in, and finds an image within an image. Then, through her editing process, she excavates the context, presenting the viewer with a landscape, form, or structure that allows for the creation of a new narrative.

Takiff is a sensitive and intuitive person. She finds purpose as an advocate for the traumatized, particularly women. She brings that sensibility to her artistic practice. Her newest body of work is partly inspired by the “the silencing of women and the loss of their agency.” Takiff’s females—shown at Le Salon

de la Société Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris last December, and at Mad Rose Gallery in Millerton last fall, are an assemblage of a powerful gaze, a silhouette revealing physical aplomb and stature, marbleized torsos decorated by Takiff’s tender gilding to accentuate the female shape, or bejewelled armless and faceless mannequins, all hinting to the forms of erasure or the use of the female form as a prop or foil. Takiff’s instinct is to highlight the reductive nature of some imagery while counterbalancing them with a sense of ornamentation that is both dramatic and elegant.

While Takiff does not photograph landscape or nature, she has recently captured reflective blues and grays from dirt or paint

splattered indiscriminately on sheet metal at a construction site. She brings forth a palette and light that is painterly, almost abstract, and yet resembles winter scenery or Japanese watercolors of ancient landscapes.

In keeping with her grace, Takiff shifts attention to others as she raves about the Center for Photography at Woodstock, where she now serves on the board. She joined the membershipbased organization looking for community and a way to sustain her practice. Takiff credits the recent transformation of her practice with collaboration with a studio assistant. “We work together on every part of the image, what to keep in, what to edit out, how to improve color and clarity.” —pamelatakiff.art

She hones in, and finds an image within an image.

Takiff brings forth a palette that is painterly, almost abstract. Her newest body of work is partly inspired by the “the silencing of women and the loss of their agency.”

At CAL Design we believe the greenest pieces you can buy are those already made. Offering a considered alternative to disposable design through timeless objects with a past, curated for living well today.

At CAL Design we believe the greenest pieces you can buy are those already made. Offering a considered alternative to disposable design through timeless objects with a past, curated for living well today.

Craig Anthony Longhurst

27 N Main Street Kent CT 60757

Craig Anthony Longhurst

T: 917 280 8878

27 N Main Street Kent CT 60757

T: 917 280 8878

SOWING SEEDS for TOMORROW

Hands-on Learning for a Sustainable Future

BY LINDA TUCCIO-KOONZ / PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANNE DAY

Late winter is maple syrup season at Sullivan Farm. Samples are shared during tours, and visitors learn the secrets of modern “sugaring.”

ROLLING HAYFIELDS

greet visitors to Sullivan Farm, where hiking trails disappear into the hills under a milky-blue sky. On this peaceful afternoon, the 109-acre New Milford property looks like something from a Van Gogh painting.

But it’s more than just an idyllic setting. Sullivan Farm provides hands-on learning for students interested in the business of organic farming. They grow everything from potatoes to pumpkins, cultivate flowers, and practice beekeeping—even selling their own honey.

The farm also offers tours and programs for groups of all ages. New England traditions, such as making maple syrup, are celebrated here. Mark Mankin, the farm’s executive director, says hundreds turn out for their annual Maple Fest.

“A lot of people really don’t have any idea where maple syrup comes from, and are surprised it starts as sap,” he says. “Many don’t realize it has to be processed; they’re under the impression the syrup comes right out of the tree.”

Sullivan Farm (started in 1841) was a family farm until 1997, when New Milford purchased it. “The way it’s managed is unique to probably any other program in Connecticut, because much of its day-to-day operations are run by high school and college students,” Mankin says. Volunteers, dedicated staff, and paid interns make it possible.

Originally, Native Americans heated stones and dropped them into sap, creating steam.

“One thing we’re trying is to make people aware that there’s a process to producing vegetables. Many people go to the store, grab carrots, and have no idea where the carrots came from.”

Seeds must be planted, nurtured, and harvested. There’s a lot to it, he says. The same goes for farm-made jams and baked goods, which the farm sells, along with its fruit, vegetables, and ever-popular maple syrup.

How did syrup making start? Stories vary. It’s believed a broken branch, or woodpeckers, alerted Native Americans to the sap that flows under certain conditions (when temperatures hit the 20s at night, and 40s and 50s during the day).

Originally, Native Americans heated stones and dropped them into sap, creating steam; the sap was boiled down until it became sugar. A slow go, but “with no iPhones or video games, they had a lot of time on their hands,” he says.

These days, Sullivan Farm taps 1,700 sugar maples. The sap is processed in a modern evaporator at the Great Brook Sugarhouse. “It takes 40 gallons of sap to produce a gallon of syrup,” Mankin says, inside the cozy structure.

Displayed near his desk is an amusing advertisement from the Ladies Home Journal, dated 1919. A smiling, chubby-faced man winks as he tips a large syrup container over his plate of pancakes. The copy says, “Oh Boy! Log Cabin Syrup! UM!!!”

More than a century later, we still love to drizzle syrup on our pancakes. Mankin says agriculture is changing dramatically and climate change is a major factor, but Sullivan Farm continues to evolve as well.

“The key to its success is what we’re building now,” he says, “through diversification and programs that draw people to enjoy the property and learn by doing.” —sullivanfarm.org

High school and college students teach visitors to the sugar shack that maple syrup is made by tapping sugar maples, then boiling down the trees’ clear sap over a wood fire until it reduces to amber-colored syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.

Fresh Season. New Home.

Modern country home designed with classic sensibilities and touches of artistic license. Sweeping porches and classic columns. Spacious country kitchen, purposely built for family style cooking. A large living room with sun lit floor to ceiling windows. Main floor Primary Suite and 4 bedrooms on the second floor. The land is level and offers privacy, room for gardening and/or a pool. Abutting over 30 acres of Land Trust the trails are your own private preserve.

$1,300,000

Set well back from the road is this incredibly private brookside home on South Kent’s lauded Geer Mountain Rd.

Perched over the brook, the house offers 1750 sq. ft. of wood floors, three fireplaces, open floorplan and plenty of windows for views and sunlight. There are three bedrooms with the primary on the main level for ease and comfort. The brook meanders through the lightly wooded 2.13 acres that features mature professionally landscaped grounds and a canvas of native trees and shrubs. Easy to maintain and even easier to enjoy.

$875,000

Well established mix-use income producing property in the downtown center of Sharon, CT. Two separate buildings:

Unit #1 – a 1088 sq. ft. restaurantkitchen, seating, ADA bathroom and outdoor seating all approved.

Unit #2 – a 1267 sq. ft., 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath residence with fireplace, hardwood floors, separate parking, back yard and patio.

Both have long termed rental history. Attractive to owner users or investors seeking quality real estate.

$525,000

This listing is a combination of three legal lots totaling 62.18 acres:

Lot #1 – 26.72 acres

Lot #3 – 25.36 acres

Lot #4 – 10.1 acres

These beautiful parcels are surrounded by thousands of acres of state forest. Spectacular views, cleared pastures, woods and total privacy. Driveway is roughed in and drivable. Under ground utilities included. Altogether, these lots can be purchased for…

$995,000

*Lots can also be purchased individually. Please inquire for more information.

LITCHFIELD MAGAZINE 2026

HEALTH & WELLNESS

OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS SECTION, FILLED WITH TRUSTED PROVIDERS

Vitalism

Naturopathic Medicine with Dr. Tara Tranguch

LET’S START WITH a story: It’s winter in Germany in the 1800s. A lame deer hobbles to a lake, immerses his leg, and stands still in the cold water. The deer returns each day to visit the lake until its leg is healed. Vincent Preissnitz, recovering from a crushed finger, witnesses this water cure and begins to use cold immersion to heal his own injury. This leads to his development of hydrotherapy which, when brought to the United States, becomes part of naturopathic medicine.

This story illustrates the immutable truth of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is grounded in the unchanging

laws of science, visible throughout nature and governing all life. Gravity, circulation, adaptation, and healing responses are not trends—they are constants. The same physiological principles that supported health thousands of years ago remain at work today.

What has changed is not the laws of science, but our attention to them. As modern culture rediscovers practices like cold immersion, we witness renewed respect for truths long emphasized in naturopathic medicine. Hydrotherapy—documented in the 19th century, and now popularized through cold plunges—demonstrates how strategic

exposure to water and temperature stimulates circulation, immune function, and nervous system resilience. The science has not evolved; our awareness has returned. Naturopathic medicine has always worked in alignment with these enduring laws, which is why it remains a premier system of healing.

Dr. Tara Tranguch is a Naturopathic Doctor who combines functional testing with individualized treatment plans to address whole-body health, including cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders, hormone and endocrine imbalances, and chronic inflammatory conditions. Her approach integrates nutrition,

lifestyle medicine, medical-grade nutraceuticals, homeopathy, nutrigenomics, botanical medicine, and hydrotherapy to restore balance and resilience.

Dr. Tranguch’s path into naturopathic medicine began with her own pursuit of health optimization. A formative detox experience in Thailand challenged her assumptions about food and healing. This curiosity led her to herbalism, health coaching, and farming—including teaching skills such as sprouting and growing microgreens—and ultimately to earning her post-doctoral degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the University of Bridgeport. What distinguishes Dr. Tranguch’s practice is her commitment to vitalism—the understanding that a living intelligence animates the body and drives healing. Rather than suppressing symptoms, she supports the body’s inherent ability to restore equilibrium. Emotional, physical, and spiritual health are considered together, allowing treatment to reflect the whole person rather than a list of lab values.

Dr. Tara Tranguch Naturopathic Medical Clinic is located in Woodbury, just off Sherman Hill Road. The space reflects both her global experiences living in Europe and Asia, and grounded lifestyle. Patients enter a clinic complete with a full on-site dispensary featuring over one hundred herbal tinctures, along with modern biohacking tools bridging traditional wisdom and contemporary innovation.

At its core, Dr. Tara’s mission is simple: Restore the whole body to health by honoring the laws of science and the vital forces that govern it.

—drtaratranguch.com

A Beloved Spa Enters Its Next Chapter

A MAJOR EXPANSION RESHAPES LOCAL WELLNESS

THE SPA AT LITCHFIELD HILLS provides holistic healing through world-class beauty, health, and wellness experiences. Current treatment offerings include massage and bodywork, medical-grade skincare, hair, and nails, with more to come in late 2026 with the unveiling of their newly renovated destination wellness property.

Business entrepreneur and founder Megan Harpin acquired The Spa at Litchfield Hills in 2004, while attending Babson College. Harpin has built The Spa over 21 years from a small startup into the local institution and award-winning spa destination it is today.

Megan, will you describe the spa?

The Spa at Litchfield Hills is located off Route 202 in Litchfield. Our facility features a brand-new nail salon, clean

beauty wellness boutique, temporary therapy rooms, and hair salon. All of these will be expanded upon with the completion of our renovated space and new treatments in late 2026. Our remote location and scenic property offer a unique opportunity to integrate nature into our facility, enhancing its serenity. We’re creating an outdoor oasis with treatments, lounge areas, and more, overlooking our pond and the White Memorial nature preserve. Additionally, we’re developing stateof-the-art medspa facilities and introducing biohacking services focused on holistic wellness.

What sets your services and products apart from others in the industry?

The Spa is a conscious brand that evolves with the industry. Our talented team delivers

world-class service and wellness experiences—all in one location—with quality rivaling major metropolitan spas. We believe in the healing power of our services and are excited to introduce new offerings. We’re grateful to share these experiences with our community and visiting wellness seekers. Our boutique features brands that not only make you feel good but also do good, offering a unique selection of clean beauty and luxury products not found locally.

What trends have you noticed in your industry recently?

Our industry is constantly evolving! People are more intentional about the products they use and their daily wellness habits. We align with the push for clean, sustainable ingredients and science-backed beauty and wellness solutions rooted in

holistic healing.

Our new service menu, launching in late 2026, will feature sauna therapy, IV therapy, and more—designed to enhance your spa experience and create lasting transformation. The new facility will also expand our Wellness Boutique with 30+ new clean beauty and luxury lifestyle brands.

How do you define your success?

I define our success through the positive feedback we receive from our guests and our consistent presence in the community. Over the past 21 years, we’ve proudly grown with our community, servicing generations of family members, working closely with other local small businesses, and supporting local nonprofit organizations near and dear to our hearts.

—litchfield-spa.com

Energy Health & Fitness

A HUB FOR WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY

ENERGY HEALTH & FITNESS, located in the heart of downtown Torrington, is a premier wellness center dedicated to fostering a healthier lifestyle. Owned by Robert Rovezzi and Luc Fondaire, and managed by Dina and Brett Cateno, the facility offers services ranging from personal training and fitness consultations to a full-service gym. Brett Cateno was honored as Best Trainer in Litchfield Magazine’s Reader’s Choice 2025 and 2026 issues, a testament to the team’s dedication.

Housed in a renovated 12,000-square-foot space in the historic Torrington Company’s former needle factory, the gym features a medical clinic and a smoothie/coffee bar for

a well-rounded experience. Known for its cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere, the team’s professionalism and warmth create a supportive environment. In this Q&A, we explore their vision, services, and the unique environment they’ve created to help people reach their fitness and wellness goals.

1. What inspired Rovezzi and Fondaire to get into the health and fitness business?

After retiring from corporate sales, the owners—both lifelong fitness enthusiasts— pursued their passion for health and wellness. Over 15 years ago, they invested in the gym. Eight years ago, they brought on Dina

and Brett Cateno, who made fitness and wellness their vocations. Together, they expanded services, creating a holistic wellness center that continues to evolve.

2. How is Energy Health & Fitness different from other gyms in the area?

We offer unique in-house services not commonly found at other gyms. In addition to a full gym and personal training, the facility features a kitchen with fresh-pressed juices, soups, and smoothies. The gym also boasts an in-house medical clinic with a certified APRN, offering blood analysis, prescribed hormone therapies, and IV drips—services that are new and expanding in the fitness industry.

3. How do you meet the diverse needs of your members?

Our membership isn’t defined by demographics. With a wide range of consultation services, personalized training programs, and an expansive array of equipment, we support the wellness goals of virtually any individual, regardless of age, fitness level, or experience. Our inclusive approach ensures everyone can find the tools and guidance they need.

4. What recent trends have you observed in the fitness industry, and how is Energy Health & Fitness embracing these changes?

A major trend is the merging of healthcare, wellness, and fitness. Medical facilities and insurance companies are recognizing that exercise and well-being are key to disease prevention. The modern fitness facility now incorporates both medical and fitness components. While this model is expanding in urban centers, it has been slower to take hold in Connecticut. We are proud to be at the forefront of this movement.

5. Can you share a client success story that showcases how your services have made a difference?

One standout success is Tasha, who trained with us for the Special Olympics Nordic Skiing competition. We helped her with weight management, muscle toning, and improved respiration. She won two gold medals. Tasha has since launched the Special Olympics Fit Club at our facility, furthering her commitment to fitness and community. —energytorrington.com 59 Field Street, Torrington

tance Bands

Provides smooth consistent tension movements ideal for full range of movement. Loop them around a pole or door to mimic a cable machine.

FEIERDUN Adjustable Dumbbells

This adjustable system changes weight fast, saving space and supporting strength gains.

On Our RADAR

Built Strong

FUEL, FITNESS, FOCUS FOR REAL LIFE

›TRODDEN Stability

Ball This inflatable exercise ball creates an unstable surface that engages your core muscles during movement. Excellent for improving posture and core strength.

This anti-slip metal platform supports jumps, step-ups, single-leg lifts, dips, and stretching—essential for cardio and explosive training.

I’m Coach Heidi Diedrich, and I believe strong bodies build strong lives. As an ISSA- and AFAA-certified trainer with 12 years of experience, I’ve coached everyone from competitive athletes to corporate teams and led 400+ HIIT classes during COVID. Today, I teach progressive strength and agility classes in Washington and bring personalized 1:1 training directly into clients’ homes. I’m sharing the essential pieces I recommend for building a smart, effective home gym. My philosophy is simple: Fuel, Fitness, Focus. Show up consistently. Support each other. Do the work. We are stronger than we know.

CoachHeidi@co

Resistance Bands by RENOJ

Great for lower body glute work and upper body pushing and pulling. Easy on the joints and effective for building muscle.

Modern Times Meet Ancient Medicine

ACUPUNCTURE HELPS PATIENTS HEAL, RESET, AND THRIVE

SPRINGROOT Acupuncture & Wellness in Woodbury blends the time-tested science of Acupuncture with modern medical solutions, to provide personalized, effective, unique healthcare in a meditative environment.

What would you like people to know about Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is often the subject of miracle stories — “I went three times in 1983, and it cured me!” Yes, these do happen, and it’s amazing and wonderful when it does, but they are rare. I refer to them as winning the Acupuncture Lotto. What feels more important to share is how incredible of a tool Acupuncture is over time. Acupuncture can heal deeply in such a profound way by actually restoring both the structure and function of the body. Frequency and consistency are vital, especially with complex conditions.

Many people come in for pain, but Acupuncture treats much more. What range of issues do you most often help patients address?

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat pain and structural issues by reducing inflammation, increasing circulation, and restoring function. But Acupuncture is also helpful for internal conditions. With 25 years of experience in Chinese Medicine, I have treated everything from anxiety, depression, and digestive issues, to autoimmune diseases, fertility, allergies, neuropathy, and migraines. I also have patients who come in for preventative care. Acupuncture is one of the original biohacking tools. It can help to maintain, optimize, and enhance the body and the mind.

Stress and nervous system overload seem universal right now. How does Acupuncture

help patients reset and feel balanced again?

Patients often comment that just simply being at SpringRoot calms their nervous system. But there’s more to it than that. There are specific points that activate the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), and calm the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). Acupuncture has been proven to lower cortisol and inflammation, both drivers of anxiety. It can raise the “feel good” neurotransmitters in the body (dopamine and serotonin) as well as stimulate the release of endorphins. I’ve described receiving Acupuncture as “facilitated meditation,” because it can induce deep relaxation, which reduces activity in the area of the brain that experiences fear and emotional responses. Regular Acupuncture also supports healthy sleep, and insomnia with an overactive mind is often at

the root of people feeling anxious throughout the day.

What is the deeper goal of SpringRoot: symptom relief, long-term healing, prevention, or something else entirely? It’s all of these, and I would add education and support to that list. I truly believe that our body’s ability to heal is far greater than we allow ourselves to believe, or have been led to believe. I want people to know that there are solutions when, often, allopathic medicine says there are not. I try to look at the big picture with my patients. We discuss lifestyle or dietary changes that can support their healing goals. I’ve seen so many amazing things happen within these walls. I always tell them, “I’m an optimistic practitioner. Let’s try!”

—SpringRootAcupuncture.com

Empowered Wellness

PILATES, HEALTH, AND HOLISTIC COACHING IN HARMONY

AT LITCHFIELD PILATES & INTEGRATIVE HEALTH (LPIH) Studio in Washington Depot, owner Annie Kaplon brings her extensive expertise as an Integrative Health Nurse at NYU Langone Health, Lerner Holistic Nursing Fellowship Coordinator, Board-Certified Integrative Health Coach, and PMA® Certified Pilates Instructor. The studio offers a variety of wellness practices, including Pilates for all levels, meditation, Reiki, and integrative health coaching. Located at 2 Green Hill Road, the warm and inviting boutique studio provides a space to move, grow, and connect with others while working toward your wellness goals.

1. Can you share your background and qualifications in both Pilates and integrative health?

As a Master Pilates instructor

and the founding Secretary for the Pilates Method Alliance, I have experience using and teaching mind-body movement through Pilates for over 30 years. I have also been a nurse for over 32 years, and I have spent the past three years as an Integrative Health Nurse at NYU Langone Hospital. I have a Master’s degree in Mindfulness Studies from Lesley University, I am a board-certified Integrative Health Coach from Duke University, and I am a Reiki level 2 practitioner.

2. What sets you apart from others in the industry?

My 30 years of experience in Pilates–tracing my direct lineage back to Joseph Pilates–combined with my acute assessment skills and critical care nursing background makes me uniquely qualified to promote health and

wellness holistically through movement, energy medicine, and personal coaching.

3. Who is your typical client?

Recognizing that every client and every body is different, I meet each client where they are right now, in this moment. I help to bring awareness of their bodies in space through movement and support while meeting their wellness goals.

4. What changes have you noticed in your industry recently?

I have noticed many changes over the past 30 years. Pilates is much more mainstream than ever before, and it’s wonderful that it has become more widely available. I think it is very important for people to make sure their instructors are certified Pilates instructors and have been well-trained.

5. How do your healthcare background and experience as a movement teacher shape the way you work with clients? I understand the importance of proper technique and form for overall body function and mechanics. I try to help clients build confidence and strength to trust their bodies will support them wherever they are.

6. Can you share a success story that you’re particularly proud of? One client that stands out is someone who had a previous back injury from an accident and lacked confidence in her body. We worked on regaining physical strength, which gave her confidence both physically and mentally. She went on to become a Pilates instructor and is now in advanced training.

—litchfieldpilatesandintegrativehealth.com

On Our RADAR

Radiant Balance

ANCIENT ACUPUNCTURE MEETS MODERN SKINCARE TECHNIQUES

BY PAULA CORNELL

›Behind frosted panes and soft white curtains in a quiet Lakeville studio, Stefanie DiLibero puts 17 years of experience and care into her signature cosmetic acupuncture treatments.

She stumbled upon this ancient Chinese medicinal practice as a college student while teaching English in Taiwan, when an acupressure treatment resolved a chronic sore throat almost instantly. A few years

photograph by RYAN LAVINE

later, acupuncture resolved another health condition, and DiLibero decided to pursue the practice herself.

As she grew more interested in skincare and healthy aging, her training in Chinese Medicine became a central part of her technique.

“I wanted an approach that was natural and rooted in long-term health rather than quick fixes,” she says.

She combined traditional acupuncture with modern technology to develop her own treatment method: Aculectrics.

It starts with a simple verbal evaluation. DiLibero asked about my health history and current concerns to better inform her personalized plan, considering the body as a whole.

At Gotham Wellness, Stefanie DiLibero offers both cosmetic and traditoinal acupuncutre services.

I came into DiLibero’s studio with visibly irritated

skin. She adjusted the plan accordingly, prioritizing gentler treatment that would help restore my skin barrier.

While I lay in a robe on a heated table, DiLibero cleansed and hydrated my skin before applying thin, single-use needles.

The needles were so gentle I barely knew they were there. She strategically placed them all along my body and face to support circulation, digestion, and skin repair, then let them sit for 30 minutes with an LED light therapy mask over my face while a speaker played soothing sounds nearby.

“Most people fall asleep during this part, so just relax,” she tells me. I was too concerned about keeping still and not messing up the needles to sleep, but it was relaxing nonetheless.

After removing the needles, DiLibero used manual therapy and acupressure primarily on my chest, neck, shoulder, and jawline to help lymphatic drainage and to promote skin healing. The full session, including intake, lasted two hours.

My skin looked hydrated and much smoother immediately after the session, but hours later I noticed even more dramatic changes––inflammation and redness had dropped, leaving my face looking calm and healthy overall.

DiLibero uses her own treatments and has never used Botox or fillers, though her treatments are compatible with both, and her own youthful appearance is a strong testament to the long-term effects.

She started her practice, Gotham Wellness, in New York City in 2009, and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and New York Magazine. She’s traveled the world honing her craft in various countries, but moved to Litchfield County during the pandemic. “I feel more at home here now than I do in the city.”

Her Lakeville studio opened in July 2025, offering both cosmetic and traditional acupuncture services as well as a curated line of skincare products. “I love helping people feel at home in their bodies. The external changes matter, but the internal shift—how someone feels in their body and in themselves—is just as powerful,” says DiLibero. —gothamwellness.com 20A Millerton Road, Lakeville

Healing Gets Personal

WHOLE-PERSON CARE FOR LASTING WELLNESS

AT THE CENTER for Natural Medicine in Watertown, wellness is anything but one-size-fits-all. This family-run practice brings together top practitioners across many modalities, including movement, medical care, mental health, and coaching, to craft personalized treatment plans. Every protocol is tailored to the individual, blending expertise and attentiveness to support long-term healing. Founded to bridge the gap between mind, body, and spirit, the Center is driven by a team dedicated to guiding each patient toward true, lasting well-being. Patients often arrive seeking answers after feeling unheard elsewhere, and discover a collaborative environment focused not just on

symptom relief, but on restoring energy, resilience, and balance for everyday living.

Meeting Patients Where They Are

At the Center for Natural Medicine, we start by meeting patients where they are. If someone comes in seeking medical healing, we begin there. As they experience progress, we explore other areas of life that may be out of balance, helping them consider what changes feel achievable and meaningful. Our goal is to guide patients toward holistic well-being without overwhelming them.

What Does “Whole-Person Care” Look Like?

Treating the whole person means considering physical, emotional,

Physicians may prescribe natural medications or therapies, always aiming for the least invasive, most cost-effective solutions.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Treatment plans are tailored to the patient’s goals, schedule, and budget. Providers regularly check in to adjust care based on progress and feedback, ensuring patients remain empowered and comfortable throughout their journey.

Nutrition

and Lifestyle

Lifestyle and nutrition are central to healing. We emphasize consistent, sustainable habits that fuel the body and support long-term wellness. Even small steps, when aligned with your goals, can have a meaningful impact.

Chronic

or Challenging Conditions

We approach all conditions with the same principles: thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and continuous support.

Acupuncture and Energy Work

and spiritual health. It’s about walking alongside patients, helping them tune into their body and intuition, and offering guidance so they can make informed choices. Every interaction is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and support for how each individual learns and grows.

Most Popular Services

Every service we offer is in demand at different points in a patient’s healing journey. There’s no single path—what matters is finding the right combination of therapies for each individual.

Your First Visit

New patients undergo a comprehensive one-hour evaluation, including medical history, lab work, and any needed diagnostics.

Acupuncture offers biomedical benefits, while energy work supports subtle mind–body connections and emotional healing. Many patients benefit from combining them. Together, these modalities reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance vitality, support emotional well-being, and cultivate a mindful relationship with health.

Who Benefits Most?

Naturopathic care is for everyone—whether managing or preventing chronic disease, seeking insight into wellness, adopting sustainable habits, or supporting mental health and motivation.

Looking Ahead

Our mission remains to provide the highest-quality, individualized care while empowering patients every step of the way.

—centerfornaturalmedicine.net

The Appointment That Changes Everything

HOW EYE EXAMS REVEAL FAR MORE THAN VISION

AT EYES ON LITCHFIELD, Dr. Tabitha Plunske and Dr. Tommasina Pasqua Sideris provide comprehensive, doctor-led eye exams using advanced retinal imaging to detect early signs of systemic disease—pairing precision care with curated, boutique eyewear. Here, they answer key questions about protecting your eye health.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve caught during a routine eye exam?

Your eyes are the only place in the body where we can see blood vessels without making an incision, which makes them an incredibly powerful diagnostic tool. Between the two of us, we’ve caught early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol— even a tumor—all in patients who walked in feeling perfectly fine.

One patient came in for a routine visit and we noticed changes in the back of her eye that led to discovering dangerously high blood sugar she had no idea about. Another was referred out the same day and ended up in emergency heart surgery. A comprehensive eye exam is a window into your overall health—and sometimes, it’s the appointment that changes everything.

What’s something most people don’t realize is slowly damaging their eyes?

When you’re focused on a screen, your blink rate drops by more than half. The oil glands along your eyelids depend on regular blinks to function—when they’re chronically underused, they can become blocked and eventually stop working. I’m

People spend a lot on frames— what mistakes to avoid?

Two things. First, choosing what’s trendy over what complements their features. Second, ignoring how the frame interacts with their prescription. A gorgeous oversized frame with a strong prescription can end up thick and heavy at the edges. We factor your prescription into the selection so the final product works beautifully. It’s part styling session, part science— and something you simply can’t get ordering online.

A lot of people dread eye appointments. What are you doing differently at Eyes on Litchfield?

seeing more patients in their 40s and 50s with dry eye disease that’s been quietly building for years. The simplest fix: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

At what age should people start paying closer attention to eye health?

Forty is the magic number. That’s when the lens starts losing flexibility, but it’s also when glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts can begin developing— often with zero symptoms. The warning signs people brush off: occasional blurry vision, halos around lights, eyes that feel tired by mid-afternoon. Sometimes it’s nothing. Sometimes it’s the earliest signal of something we can manage much more easily if caught early.

The dread usually comes from rushed exams, feeling like a number, and sometimes not even seeing a real doctor in the room. We built Eyes on Litchfield around the opposite of that. Every exam is with a doctor, in person, unhurried. When you’re in the chair, that time is yours—if you have ten questions, we answer all ten. The space itself feels more like a boutique than a clinic, and our eyewear is curated, not mass-produced. Patients tell us coming in feels more like a treat than a chore.

What’s one thing you wish every patient knew about protecting their long-term eye health?

Glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease— they’re all silent early on. We’ve invested in the highest-resolution retinal imaging available, which lets us track even the smallest changes in your eyes year over year and catch things when treatment is most effective. Your eyes are irreplaceable. The best thing you can do is partner with a doctor who knows your eyes and is watching out for you.

—litchfieldoptometrist.com

More Than a Salon

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF INNOVATION, HEART, AND SERVICE

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, Dawn Blom knew she wanted to create more than a salon. Starting her career as part of a high school senior project, she was inspired by the power of beauty to help people feel safe, seen, and confident. That early vision became the foundation for DPZ—a space rooted in care, connection, and community, where giving back has always been central.

Originally Dawn’s Pizzazz, the business evolved organically as clients began shortening the name to “DPZ.” The transition became official ahead of a major fundraiser fashion show celebrating nearly 20 years in business. “It was time to elevate the name,” Dawn says. “The business is about

all of us.” The rebrand honored DPZ’s legacy while reflecting the collective heart, talent, and future of the team.

Today, DPZ operates two Connecticut locations—Danbury and Litchfield—and Dawn’s role has evolved with the company’s growth. While she still serves legacy clients on a referral basis, her primary focus is mentoring, leadership, and developing the next generation of professionals. Education is central to DPZ’s philosophy, supported by ongoing training from industry icons and brand partners. The salon participates in conversations and roundtables most salons never see, adopting innovation thoughtfully while always prioritizing the guest experience

and ensuring every detail is intentional, from technique to ambience.

At DPZ, technical skill goes hand-in-hand with guest care. Advanced training allows the team to work with precision and confidence so clients can truly relax. Thoughtful consultations and elevated service rituals ensure every guest feels welcomed, cared for, and confident from the moment they walk through the door. Beyond salon and spa services, DPZ provides private wig services and will expand into hair toppers in spring 2026, supporting clients seeking solutions that restore dignity, confidence, and self-expression.

The heart of DPZ is its people. Dawn calls her team

family: authentic, supportive, and deeply connected. That includes her son, Pierce, a barber recognized as one of the best in Connecticut and Litchfield County; her sister Debbie, a cornerstone of the Litchfield location; Stefani, assistant manager and guest coordinator; and Rosie, an RN aesthetician bringing advanced MedSpa services to both locations. Each team member embodies the warmth and expertise that has become the hallmark of DPZ, carrying forward Dawn’s vision in every interaction and creating a culture of trust and excellence.

Philanthropy is woven into everything DPZ does. The company has raised and given back more than $1 million to support children and families facing illness, hospice and grief care, youth programs, and mental health initiatives. Beyond fundraising, DPZ provides gifts, complimentary haircuts, and awareness campaigns around mental health, suicide prevention, and substance abuse. Annual initiatives like the golf tournament allow this impact to continue year after year, cementing DPZ’s reputation as both a beauty leader and a community cornerstone.

As DPZ celebrates 40 years in Danbury, the vision is clear: a thriving, purpose-driven company committed to developing the next generation from within and carrying its legacy forward through people, leadership, heart, and unwavering dedication to every guest who walks through its doors.

469 Bantam Rd., Litchfield 81 West St., Danbury —Thedpz.com

Flexible Fitness

FOR MANY PEOPLE, the hardest part of fitness isn’t the workout—it’s making it fit into real life. That’s where Fit Coach in the Hills, LLC comes in. Owner Suzanne Blaicher brings personalized training directly to clients, whether at home, at the office, or virtually from anywhere in the world. No commute, no intimidation—just smart, tailored coaching designed to keep people moving.

A certified personal trainer, senior fitness specialist, and sports nutrition coach, Blaicher works with clients of all ages and abilities, creating programs that are approachable, challenging, and even fun. Five years into running her own business, she’s built a loyal following across Litchfield County and beyond.

Her path to fitness, however, wasn’t exactly linear.

In her late 20s, Blaicher realized something had to change when she slipped into her husband’s jeans—and they fit. At the time, she smoked, exercised sporadically, and felt far removed from her athletic roots.

A tough-love trainer helped reset her course, teaching her the fundamentals of strength training, while she devoured nutrition books and tracked her progress in a tiny notebook.

“I needed a lifestyle change,” she says. “Not a quick fix.”

Years later, after raising a family and immersing herself in classes ranging from yoga to TRX and spin, she pursued professional certifications and

began training others in the local gym. In 2020, when the pandemic turned our worlds upside down, friends began to ask if she would come to their home and train outside. That’s when Fit Coach in the Hills was born. What distinguishes Blaicher’s approach is flexibility paired with science-backed programming. Workouts evolve week by week, building strength and confidence while adapting to life’s curveballs. One session might focus on core stability, another on high-intensity training, or mobility work after long travel days. She works with whatever equipment clients already own, supplementing when needed, so fitness feels accessible—not expensive or complicated.

Her client roster spans from busy professionals in their 30s to active clients in their 90s. A major focus is combating sarcopenia—the muscle loss that naturally accelerates after age 30—through progressive strength training, balanced nutrition, and safe, sustainable movement. Programs often include walking plans for beginners or those returning after surgery, alongside strength, balance, and cardiovascular training.

Industry trends have also shifted. The rise of GLP-1 weight-loss medications has helped many clients begin their journey, but Blaicher emphasizes maintaining muscle through proper protein intake and resistance training. At the same time, she cautions against social-media-driven supplement overload, noting that many protein products are calorie-heavy and unnecessary for the average person.

Results, she says, speak for themselves. One client in his early 60s, recovering from multiple back surgeries, rebuilt his balance and gait through functional training, and now maintains a serious weight routine. Another recently stood up from the floor unassisted for the first time in years.

The common thread? Consistency.

“My goal is to establish a simple and effective fitness program that provides measurable results with consistency. That could mean improving balance, muscle tone, weight loss, climbing stairs without pain, or simply keeping up with kids and grandchildren! I feel so honored to help people achieve their fitness goals and can’t wait to go to work every day!”

—fitcoachinthehills.com

Showcase your business to our engaged readers in this special issue. Reserve your spot today — email jill@litchfieldmagazine.com

ROLLING HILLS & ROARING ENGINES

CLASSIC CAR CULTURE ACCELERATES IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY

“I BELIEVE CARS

can be a lens through which we understand the world and ourselves,” says Jason Doornick, founder of Motoriot, a vintage vehicle dealer and modification business in Kent. An increasing number of people are looking at the Litchfield Hills through the lens of vintage windshields as classic car culture accelerates, creating a community of collectors and service providers.

The growing interest in vintage vehicles in Litchfield County reflects a national one. The US classic cars market—comprising vehicles typically 25 years or older—grew from $7.2 billion in 2018 to $12.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $26 billion by 2032, according to Credence Research, a global market intelligence firm.

But the county’s winding roads have long been a hub of auto culture. Lime Rock Park, built in 1956 in Lakeville, stands as the third oldest continuously operating road racing venue in the United States, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The track has long been a destination for car enthusiasts, and this year marks the 44th edition of Lime Rock’s Historic Festival, a Labor Day Weekend celebration featuring vintage racecars.

This heritage is attracting enthusiasts and service providers. Doornick spent his teenage years in Kent, later moving to Hollywood, where he was introduced to actor and car enthusiast Paul Walker. This led to jobs as a stuntman on the Fast and Furious film franchise, and managing Walker’s fleet of vehicles until the actor’s death in 2013.

After returning to the East Coast to run his father’s robotics business, and later open an auto customization outfit in Stamford, he returned to Kent to found Motoriot with partner Charles Narwold in 2023. The business now works with partners in the US, Europe, South America, and Asia through which they source a variety of vehicles—from Land Rovers and Land Cruisers to Peugeots and Porsches. If a buyer can imagine it, Motoriot will strive to source it, transparently and ethically, and modify it according to the buyer’s needs— including engine upgrades, modern braking systems, even EV conversions, with each step clearly explained.

“The automotive industry lacks transparency and shared understanding,” Doornick notes. “We’re open

Jason Doornick (bottom right) and the Motoriot team aim to transform the automotive industry through transparency and education, reimagining the dealer experience by treating every restoration as an opportunity to build lasting relationships.

with clients on how they’ll get their car, and where their money is going—every step is visible.”

A 30-minute drive north from Motoriot, adjacent to Lime Rock Park, Colter Rule runs Autogalerie, a listings service that helps clients market their specialty vehicles on social media and auction sites. A serial entrepreneur, Rule founded Autogalerie in 2022, following a career in club promotion and co-founding event discovery platform Posh, which was purchased by Eventbrite.

Only a few years out of secondary school, Rule notes he’s one of the younger players in the classic car scene—though he is clearly poised to shape it. Autogalerie provides sellers with meticulous photographic and video documentation of a vehicle’s features, helping move more than 100 vehicles—spanning sportscars to vintage 4x4s—through its listings service in the last year. With a second location in Palm Beach, Florida, the business also provides storage and collection management services, helping locals complete the picture-perfect weekender lifestyle.

“Many people buy a weekend home here, and want the car to go with it,” says Rule. “And the regional coffee shops and bakeries support a perfect weekend drive vibe—they become destinations for leisurely weekend excursions with family.”

Family is another factor that is driving interest, as nostalgia often motivates buyers—memories of an old family vehicle, simpler times.

In an era of automation, classic cars offer sensory engagement: rolldown windows, and speedometers that offer pointers instead of pixels.

“Older cars have a clear connection to the road—as a driver, you’re going to smell it, hear it, feel it,” notes Doornick. “Every car has a story, and we are stewards of it.” This stewardship is creating more than a market—it’s building community united by the belief that newer isn’t always better. And that the feel of a wooden steering wheel, the sound of a key clicking in an ignition, the pull of a manual shift knob, don’t just connect man and machine—they connect people with history, memory, and themselves.

MOTORIOT 21 Bridge St., Kent, motoriot.io AUTOGALERIE Lime Rock, autogalerie.us

Rare Finds. Beautiful Gardens. Meaningful Impact.

A one-of-a-kind weekend where gardners and design lovers discover rare plants and exceptional pieces they won’t find anywhere else — all in support of Project SAGE. Your appreciation for rare plants, exceptional craftsmanship, and inspired garden design helps provide safety, support, and a pathway forward for survivors of domestic violence throughout Northwest Connecticut. By being part of this extraordinary weekend, you help meaningful change take root. Trade Secrets 2026 benefitting Project SAGE MAY 16 TH GARDEN TOURS MAY 17 TH RARE PLANT + GARDEN ANTIQUE SALE

tradesecretsct.com

Out &About

›› Reader’s Choice Party

Nearly 150 first-place winners gathered for our 2026 Annual Reader’s Choice Party at The Litchfield Inn on February 6 for an evening of celebration and connection. Guests enjoyed handcrafted cocktails by Litchfield Distillery, a Prosecco tower, and an exceptional spread of delicious bites. The energy was festive and proud as honorees mingled, toasted one another’s success, and posed for photos, capturing a memorable night of community and achievement.

A serene relaxing vibe suffuses 9 Academy’s three spacious suites, thanks to a neutral color palette, and contemporary furnishings and accessories. Limewashed walls add a textural touch, while the black kitchen cabinetry is sleek and sophisticated.

Stylish Digs

9 Academy Puts out the Welcome Mat

BY JAMIE MARSHALL / PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN GRUEN

LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO FIND THEIR WAY TO NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT,

interior designers Aidan Cassidy and Charles Teti of Cassidy & Teti Interiors first started coming to Litchfield County as weekenders, more than 30 years ago.

“We fell in love with the area and its beauty, and in particular Salisbury,” recalls Teti, who spent much of his career as a menswear designer. When COVID hit, they pulled up stakes in New York City and moved here full time. They bought a place in Salisbury, and that series of decisions led to a “Eureka!” moment. “As we settled into the area, we recognized there was a potential business opportunity,” says Teti. Specifically, a guesthouse that would combine the space and amenities of a home with the style, luxury, and plentiful towels of your favorite boutique hotel.

In 2021, they bought a simple building on Academy Street just off Main Street, and set about bringing their

vision to life. Working with a local builder, they took the building down to the studs and rebuilt from the ground up. “It was an antique house at one time,” says Cassidy, “and was definitely in need of some love.”

The driving force behind 9 Academy was twofold. “We wanted to be able to offer something new and fresh—we were very cognizant of not repeating what was already in the market,” says Teti. “At the same time, we were very cautious and careful to make it feel like you are still in rural Connecticut.”

The Loft Suite (opposite) on the third floor has 10-foot cathedral ceilings and a private balcony, while the Garden Suite (below) opens onto a lovely private green space. Bathrooms—two with soaking tubs—have a spa-like feel and provide a luxurious retreat at the end of a busy day.

They opened in 2023 and, judging by the response, they have succeeded. The property comprises three spacious guest suites, each with its own private entry and outdoor space (the first-floor Garden Suite has a—yes—small garden). The second-floor Parlor Suite has a reading nook, and a set of stairs to its own green space. The third-floor Loft Suite has a private terrace with a view of the village.

Light-filled and airy, each suite has an open floor plan for easy flow, a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer, and dreamy Le Labo bath products.

But what really sets 9 Academy apart is the thoughtful design. The decor and finishes throughout have a sleek sophisticated feel: limewashed walls and ceilings, bleached oak floors, Belgian flat-weave area rugs, Italian matte ceramic tile with underfloor heating in the bathrooms, and draperies and custom bedding made of flax linen. Furnishings and accessories are done in a neutral palette of taupe, cream, and khaki.

As former weekenders, Cassidy and Teti have gone to great pains to ensure their guests know about all the area highlights. The check-in/check-out process is easy and efficient thanks to contactless arrival and keyless entry. Communication is primarily by email and text. “It’s the way people communicate today. We learned pretty quickly how to walk the line between outreach and respecting their privacy,” says Cassidy. “In a nutshell, we are a guest house for the modern traveler.” —9Academy.com

Light-filled and airy, each suite has an open floor plan for easy flow

E ATS

COWBOY UP!

BBQ Fans Will Love Cowboy Butter in New Milford

BY CHARLES DUBOW

›You know you’ve had a really excellent meal when all you can talk about on the drive home from the restaurant is how much you can’t wait to go back again. That was the experience my wife, Melinda, and I had the other night returning from Cowboy Butter, the new(ish) barbecue restaurant in New Milford.

Opened this past July on Bank Street, it is the latest offering from

Jeff Schmidt and his partner Nicole Minard, whose Waterbury barbecue joint, Hindsight, has been winning raves since 2020. “I sort of backed into this whole barbecue thing,” says Schmidt, a genial, bearded bear of a man. “It was a hobby at first—until it wasn’t.” A local boy, Schmidt comes from a restaurant background. His mother, Jayne Lanphear, is co-owner of @The Corner in Litchfield. “I was

a restaurant rat. Basically I grew up doing my homework in the booths,” he laughs.

When he decided to get serious about barbecue, he went to Austin, Texas, where he learned the ropes at the Michelin-starred LeRoy & Lewis, and then followed up by studying with a Kansas City pit master. “The craft barbecue community is pretty tight. Everybody knows everybody else. So I

was able to pick up all different kinds of techniques. That’s why we offer a little bit of everything. But it still comes down to starting around 4 or 5 in the morning and living that woodsmoke lifestyle.”

For Schmidt’s patrons, I can easily say that he and his team’s hard work really pays off. To start we had Texas Twinkies that, as one might assume, have nothing to do with the Hostess sponge cake. Instead these are a thing in Texas, and Cowboy Butter’s version is piquant, smoked, bacon-wrapped jalapeños stuffed with brisket and cheese, with a lime crema for dipping. Insanely good. Of course, we also

had to have their melt-in-your-mouth burnt ends (glazed smoked pork belly with Whistlepig BBQ sauce) “Cowboy Candy” bacon jam, and pork rind cracklins. Now, normally when tasting a restaurant’s menu I try not to overeat—but in this case I couldn’t help myself, and polished everything off.

We still had plenty of room, though, which was a good thing because next up came a sampling of smoked meats, which is the primary reason to come to a barbecue restaurant—and Cowboy Butter did not disappoint. The prime beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey breast, and baby back pork ribs were succulent, tangy, and

perfectly cooked. (Meats are also available by the pound or full rack, to eat in or take out.) Other carnivorous highlights on the menu include their chimichurri tri-tip, Cowboy Butter steak, Cowboy Ribeye, and their decadent hand-cut beef tallow fries. And while it might seem silly to order a burger in a barbecue joint, do yourself a favor and order their American Wagyu Butter Burger. With cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and garlic aioli on a seeded toasted bun, it’s one of the best I’ve ever eaten.

Cowboy Butter, 59 Bank St., New Milford—cowboybutterbbq.com

Bantam

ARETHUSA A MANO

Baked goods, sandwiches (some made with Arethusa cheeses), espresso drinks. 833 Bantam Rd. 860-567-5722 arethusafarm.com I

ARETHUSA AL TAVOLO

Exquisite cuisine and superior service. 828 Bantam Rd. 860-567-0043 arethusaaltavolo.com E

JACKIE’S

Casual Bantam staple serving breakfast and lunch. 920 Bantam Rd. 860-567-0770 I

LA CATRINA OF BANTAM

Traditional Mexican recipes, modern cooking techniques. 810 Bantam Rd. 860-361-6401 lacatrinabantam.com M

ZINI’S

Presenting a modern twist on traditional favorites. 938 Bantam Rd. 860-567-1613

zinisrestaurant.com M

Bethlehem

OLIVA ON MAIN

Serving delicious Mediterranean specialties and wine. 15 Main St. S / 203-266-5558 olivacafe.com M-E

Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER BISTRO

Seasonal local, sustainable, food in a charming space. 27 Main St. S / 860-354-2863 bridgewatervillagestoreandbistro.com M

North Canaan

BLACKBERRY RIVER BISTRO

Serving delicious made-fromscratch food. 99 Main St. 860-453-4067 M

INDUSTRY KITCHEN & BAR

Tacos, wings, steaks, and

more. Happy hour from 3-5 pm Wednesday to Friday. 14 Railroad St. / 860-453-4317 Industrykitchenbar.com I

PICANTE’S CANAAN

Mexican food prepared fresh every day. Outdoor dining.

499 Ashley Falls Rd. 860-453-4271

picantescanaan.com I

TRACKSIDE TACOS

Mexican favorites served in a historical railroad car.

37 Main St. 959-227-9024 @tracksidetacos on FB I

West Cornwall

THE PINK HOUSE

Upscale cuisine in a lovely setting near the Covered Bridge.

34 Lower River Rd. 860-248-3207 thepinkhousect.com M Falls Village

THE FALLS VILLAGE INN

Comfort fare served in a historical landmark.

33 Railroad St. 860-824-0033 thefallsvillageinn.com M

MOUNTAINSIDE CAFE

Farm-to-table versions of classic American fare, served at breakfast and lunch. 251 Rte. 7 S 860-824-7876 mountainside.com/cafe I

OFF THE TRAIL CAFE

A popular stop for hikers, cyclists, and locals for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. 107 Main St. 860-206-7098 offthetrailcafe.com I Kent

45 ON MAIN

Espresso drinks, candy galore, and more. Sweet tooth mecca. 45 N. Main St. 860-592-0171 I

COZZY’S PIZZERIA

Serving up a fast-casual dining experience. Pizza and salads.

24 N Main St. 860-927-1551 I

FIFE ’N DRUM

Enjoy live music and great food at this Kent staple. 53 Main St. 860-927-3509 fifendrum.com M-E

THE KENT KITCHEN

Fresh sushi, burgers, sandwiches, ramen, and more. 12 N Main St. 860-592-0015

KENT PIZZA GARDEN

Delicious pizza plus full menu, fun atmosphere, full bar. 17 Railroad St. 860-927-3733 kentpizzagarden.com M

KINGSLEY TAVERN

Wide variety of fresh and local food in a friendly, casual setting. 14 N Main St. / 860-592-0261 kingsleytavern.com M

NO. 109 CHEESE MARKET

Gorgeous sandwiches on baguette, made with artisan cheeses and charcuterie. 6 Kent Green Blvd. 860-592-0366 109cheeseandwine.com M

ORE HILL

Fine dining. Intimate farmfocused tasting menu. 3 Maple St. 860-592-0404 orehillandswyft.com E

SWYFT

Small plates, wood-fired pizzas in a Scandinavian setting. 3 Maple St. 860-592-0404 orehillandswyft.com M

THE VILLAGER RESTAURANT

Breakfast and lunch at this popular spot. Outdoor patio. 28 N Main St. 860-927-1555 villagerkent.com I

WILSON’S BY HIGH WATCH

Popular breakfast and lunch spot, espresso drinks. 8 N Main St. / 959-300-0080 wilsonsbyhighwatch.com I

Lakeville

BLACK RABBIT

Gastropub cuisine, lobster rolls, Sunday brunch. Popular bar with sports on TV. 2 Ethan Allen St. 860-596-4227 blackrabbitbarandgrille.com M

FERN

Chic spot with artisanal woodfired pizzas, salads, pasta. 9 Sharon Rd. 860-596-1930 fernlakeville.com M

ON THE RUN

Popular coffee spot serving breakfast and lunch. 4 Ethan Allen St. 860-435-2007 I

THE BOATHOUSE AT LAKEVILLE

Known for burgers, sushi, friendly service. Popular spot for dining at the bar. 349 Main St. 860-435-2111 theboathouseatlakeville.com M

THE WOODLAND

Large selection of favorites and specials at iconic local eatery. Famous for fresh sushi. 192 Sharon Rd. 860-435-0578 thewoodlandrestaurant.com M

Litchfield

@ THE CORNER

Comfort food and fine dining. 3 West St. / 860-567-8882 athecorner.com M

BELDEN HOUSE

Seasonal products, often starring seafood. Beautiful space. 31 North St. / 860-337-2099 beldenhouse.com E

BOHEMIAN PIZZA & TACOS

Pizza, tacos, and drinks. 342 Bantam Rd. 860-567-3980 bohemianpizzaandtacos.com M

THE COURTHOUSE AT THE ABNER HOTEL

Elegant ambience with a diverse menu, great service 15 West St. / 860-898-8000 theabnerhotel.com M

DA CAPO

Italian food, casual atmosphere. 625 Torrington Rd. 860-482-6246 dacapolitchfield.com M

LOST FOX TAVERN & RESTAURANT

1740s tavern transformed into a chic space. Seasonal menus with updated classics. 571 Torrington Rd. 860-222-0855 lostfoxinn.com M

MAGGIE’S TAVERN

Casual farm-to-table dining at the bar in this Relais & Chateaux inn. 155 Alain White Rd. 860-567-9600 winvian.com M

MARKET PLACE TAVERN

Burgers, pasta, seafood. 7 North St. / 860-361-9930 mptavern.com M

MATERIA RISTORANTE

Fine Italian dining; excellent food, cocktails, and service.

637 Bantam Rd. 860-567-3326 materiaristo.com M

MERAKI

Delicious take-out; high-quality sandwiches and salads. Catering. 239 West St. / 860-361-9777 merakifood.com M

PATTY’S RESTAURANT

Casual eatery whipping up classic diner specialties. 499 Bantam Rd. 860-567-3335 pattyslitchfield.com I

PETRAROIA DELI

Sandwiches, salads, prepared foods in this beautiful deli. 33 West St. / 860-361-6006 petraroiadeli.com I

SAGE AND SALT

New all-American menu at the former Saltwater Grille. 26 Commons Dr. 860-567-4900 sageandsaltct.com M

THE VERDICT

Local beers, cocktails, and a friendly rooftop setting. 15 West St. 860-567-4137 theabnerhotel.com M

TOAST & CO.

Avocado toast, sandwiches, egg dishes, specialty drinks. 18 Commons Dr. 860-567-0301 toastandco.com I

THE VILLAGE RESTAURANT

Neighborhood haunt serving large portions of bar food. 25 West St. 860-567-8307 village-litchfield.com M

WEST STREET GRILL

This cozy, often star-studded mecca is home to great dining. 43 West St. 860-567-3885 weststreetgrill.com E

WINVIAN

Fine dining, with fresh and seasonal foods.

155 Alain White Rd. 860-567-9600 winvian.com E Morris

La Güera Cantina

Traditional Mexican favorites, open for lunch and dinner. 5 Watertown Rd. 860-361-6438 I

PENNY FARTHING TEA ROOM

British-inspired meals, delicious teas.

1 Watertown Rd. 860-361-6109 britsbrand.com I New Milford

AL DENTE RISTORANTE

Pizza, seafood, chicken, and house-made desserts.

7 Main St. 860-799-0059 aldentenewmilford.com M

A TASTE OF RIO

Brazilian barbecue, fresh

grilled meats, and buffet. 12 Danbury Rd. 860-799-0599 M

COLOSSEO

Sharing the family’s Italian heritage, serving traditional dishes. Brick oven pizza. 38 Park Lane Rd. 860-350-9596 colosseoristorante.com M

COWBOY BUTTER

Live fire cookery and “boujee barbecue” bistro.

59 Bank St. 860-717-4416 cowboybutterbbq.com M

GRASSROOTS ICE CREAM

Classics, plus flavors like blood orange chocolate chip, goat cheese blackberry, dark coffee.

12 Bank St. 860-799-0057 grassrootsicecream.com I

GRECA MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN + BAR

Fresh grilled fish, grilled meats, and small plates in a Mediterranean style. 1 Kent Rd. 860-799-6586 grecamed.com M

THE IRON RAIL

Casual and modern steakhouse with classic menu. 10 Railroad St. 860-799-5606 theironrailct.com M

LA PICCOLINA

Northern Italian cuisine on the town Green. Locally grown ingredients prepared in modern combinations. 27 Main St. 860-210-9669 lapiccolinact.com M

LUCIA RISTORANTE

This charming spot offers Northern Italian fare. Prosciutto di Parma rollatini,

bucatini carbonara, and quattro stagioni pizza. 51 Bank St. 860-355-5100 luciaofnewmilford.com M

MOMMA’S TACOS

Casual eatery serving fresh Mexican cuisine. 17 Church St. 860-717-4577 mommas-tacos.com I

RIVER & RAIL CAFE

Café menu served in a modern, pretty space. 21 Bank St. 860-799-7272 riverandrailcafe.com I

SPARROW BAR + RESTAURANT

Tacos, duck fried rice, grilled pork loin banh mi. 31 Bank St. / 860-799-7111 sparrowbyjb.com M

THAI CHARM RESTAURANT

Take-out Thai food including

chicken satay and pad thai. 218 Kent Rd. 860-799-5271 thaicharmct.com I-M

VEGA’S MEXICAN KITCHEN & BAR

Street tacos and classic Mexican fare. Full bar. 24 Railroad St. 860-799-0873 vegasmexican.com I

YOKOHAMA

Classic and modern sushi, plus other Japanese cuisine. 131 Danbury Rd. 860-355-0556 smorefood.com M

New Preston

THE HAYLOFT WINE BAR

Gourmet morsels and local wine served in a space overlooking Lake Waramaug. 25 Hopkins Rd. 860-868-7954 M

THE OWL WINE & FOOD BAR

Kale salads, brick oven pizzas, amazing short rib sliders, bar in relaxed setting. 18 E Shore Rd. 860-619-0585 owlnewpreston.com M

THE SMITHY CAFE @ 9 MAIN

A neighborhood hot spot serving breakfast and lunch. 9 Main St. 860-619-0699 cafeat9main.com I-M

THE SMITHY MARKET

Specialty groceries from local farms and vendors. 10 Main St. / 860-868-9003 thesmithymarket.com M

WHITE HORSE COUNTRY PUB

English pub food in authentic pub atmosphere with large bar and patio.

258 New Milford Tpke. 860-868-1496 whitehorsecountrypub.com M

Salisbury

NEO RESTAURANT & BAR

Woodfired pizza spot offering paninis, burgers, pasta, and more.

19 Main St. 860-689-1476 neorestarantbar.com M

SWEET WILLIAM’S COFFEE SHOP & BAKERY

Featuring delicoius scones, croissants, layer cakes, and coffee drinks.

17 Main St. 860-435-3005 sweet-williams.com I

WHITE HART INN

English-influenced menu and beautiful decor. Lunch and breakfast at Provisions, dinner on weekends.

15 Under Mountain Rd. 860-435-0030 whitehartinn.com I-M

Sharon

LE GAMIN

Delicious French cuisine from restaurateur Robert Arbor. 10 Gay St. 860-397-5382 legamin.com/sharon M

Torrington

BRINX KITCHEN AND BAR

A tapas menu featuring fresh cuisine in a stylish interior. 53 Main St. 860-201-4179 M

CASA VALIJO

Sophisticated Mexican menu, rooftop seating, brunch. 131 Water St. 860-618-2706 casavalijo.com M

GEPPETTO OSTERIA E BISTECCHERIA

Quaglia ripiena, tagliatelle al ragú di vitello, pine nut-crusted rack of lamb.

24 E. Main St. 860-618-0721

geppettoct.com M

PIZZERIA MARZANO

Delicious brick oven pizzas in welcoming atmosphere. 1315 E Main St. 860-618-0875

pizzeriamarzano.com M

SASSO’S COAL FIRED PIZZA

Pizza, seafood, beer, and wine served in a modern cafe. 52 Main St. 860-618-7162 sassoscoalfired.com M

TASTE OF THAILAND

Stir fry, curry, noodles, fried rice, seafood 19 McDermott Ave. 860-201-4684

tasteofthailandct.com M

THE VENETIAN

In business for more than 100 years, classic Italian fare in an elegant setting.

Our mission is to nourish and nurture our community by providing fresh, wholesome, and delicious foods made with ingredients from local farmers, growers, and producers.

52 Main St. 860-489-8592 venetianrestaurantct.com M

VIENTIANE THAI CUISINE

Excellent traditional Thai food. Friendly service. 231 High St. 860-489-0758 torringtonthaicuisine.com M

YIAYIA’S GREEK KITCHEN

Greek favorites served by a husband-and-wife team. 1057 E Main St. 860-618-3076 yiayias.net M

ZACH & LOU’S

Pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, brisket, and pork belly. Closes for the winter, opens again in March. 2936 Winsted Rd. 860-482-6573 zachandlous.com M

Warren

HOPKINS INN

Enjoy views of Lake Waramaug while dining on Austrian cuisine. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner. 22 Hopkins Rd. 860-868-7295 thehopkinsinn.com E

WARREN GENERAL STORE

Sandwiches, coffee, breakfast foods, sandwiches. 10 Cornwall Rd. 860-868-3354 warrengeneral.com I

Washington

COMMUNITY TABLE

Farm-to-table cuisine in an elegant setting. 223 Rte. 202 860-868-9354 communitytablect.com E

G.W. TAVERN

Serving traditional and contemporary cuisine. 20 Bee Brook Rd. 860-868-6633 gwtavern.com M

HIDDEN VALLEY MARKET

New. Sister of the Cornwall Market. Excellent

sandwiches, breakfasts, prepared foods. 88 Bee Brook Rd. @hiddenvalleyct I

MARTY’S

Neighborhood favorite. Breakfast and lunch treats. 4 Green Hill Rd. 860-868-1700

seeyouatmartys.com I-M

MAYFLOWER INN & SPA

Elegant setting in the main dining room, or more casual seating in the tap room. 118 Woodbury Rd. 860-868-9466

aubergeresorts.com E

THE PANTRY

Popular breakfast and lunch spot. Outdoor seating. 5 Titus Rd. 860-868-0258 thepantryct.com M

THE PO CAFE

Homemade sandwiches and salads, baked goods. Award winning. 5 Kirby Rd. 860-868-1879

meetyouatthepo.com I Watertown

ECHO CRAFT KITCHEN

Fresh, high-quality dishes with excellent cocktails. 150 Echo Lake Rd. 860-274-8829 echocraftkitchen.com M

ROMA RISTORANTE

Authentic Italian dishes with generous portions. 179 Davis St. 860-274-2558 romaristorantect.com M

UNCOMMON GRILL

Serving comfort food with a twists. 777 Echo Lake Rd. 860-417-3104

uncommongrillct.com M Woodbury

EL CAMION

Award-winning tacos and Mexican food—originally

served in a truck, as the name implies. Taco truck parties are still available.

308 Sherman Hill Rd. 203-405-3008 el-camion.com I

GOOD NEWS

Farm-fresh ingredients. New owners, renovated interior.

694 Main St. S 203-266-4663 goodnewswoodbury.com M

JOHN’S CAFE

Pork Milanese, crispy rice arancini, steak and fries served in this cozy popular restaurant.

693 Main St. S 203-263-0188 johnscafe.com M-E

MARKET PLACE

KITCHEN & BAR

Large, bustling, rusticmodern restaurant with a wide range of menu items.

641 Main St. S 203-586-1215 marketplacekitchenbar.com M

MISCHIEF ON MAIN

Casual dining at the Woodbury Brewing Company, featuring tacos, fried specialties, sandwiches. Live music.

738 Main St. S 203-405-3811 woodburybrewing.com M

MIX PRIME

Steakhouse also serving sushi and fresh fish.

757 Main St. S 203-586-1788 mixprimesteakhouse.com M

NEW MORNING MARKET

Organic produce with catering and juice bar.

129 Main St. N 203-263-4868 newmorningmarket.com M

RACHEL’S KITCHEN

Beloved for breakfast, lunch, and brunch favorites like challah French toast, lobster Benedict, and more.

230 Main St. S 203-263-2235 M

WEST EGG CAFE

Cute spot for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, with its own bakery. 20 Sherman Hill Rd. 203-586-1456 westeggcafect.com I

1754 HOUSE

Small plates and traditional fare in an historical space. 506 Main St. S 203-405-3735 1754house.com M

West Hartford

ARTISAN WEST HARTFORD

Cozy countryside tavern serving American cuisine. 1 Memorial Rd. 860-937-2525 artisanwesthartford.com M

BARCELONA WINE BAR

Ever-changing fresh Mediterranean and Spanish specials. 971 Farmington Ave. 860-218-2100 barcelonawinebar.com E

BARTACO

Casual dining with a beach-y vibe. 971 Farmington Ave. 860-586-8226 bartaco.com I

BLUE ELEPHANT TRAIL

Blue Elephant offers delicious Thai cuisine with gluten-free versions. 7 S Main St. 860-233-4405 blueelephanttrail.com I

THE HUNGRY CRAB

Cajun seafood with a variety of seafood boils, fried baskets, po’ boys, and sliders. 1144 New Britain Ave. 860-937-5738 thehungrycrab.com M

RESTAURANT BRICCO

Italian-American classics like handmade pasta, woodfired pizzas, fresh seafood, seasonal risottos, served in a rustic, lively setting. 78 LaSalle Rd. 860-233-0220 billygrant.com M n

ART news

HISTORIC PRESENCE

›HISTORIC PRESENCE is a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based painter Taha Clayton, on view at the Tremaine Gallery at The Hotchkiss School from February 14 through April 5. Curated by Gallery Director Terri Moore, the exhibition features Clayton’s striking portraits inspired by the 1930s to ’50s that honor the legacy, dignity, and everyday beauty of elders while exploring themes of history, identity, and cultural memory. Working in oil, charcoal, and graphite, Clayton creates deeply human images that celebrate resilience and presence. His work has been exhibited internationally and was recently included in the Lunar Codex “Nova Collection,” placing an image of his painting on the moon as part of a time capsule. The Tremaine Art Gallery, located at 11 Interlaken Road in Lakeville, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, noon to 4 pm. The gallery will be closed during the school break from March 7 to 23.