Palette 2015 by West Hartford Magazine

Robin GEBRIAN

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Contributors

Cheyney Barrieau, Christine Beck, Stacey Cohen, Amy Melvin, Ronni Newton, Rich Wagner

On the Cover: Detail of artwork for upcoming Playhouse on Park production of “Passing Strange.” Tracy Flater, executive director of Playhouse on Park, had this to say about it, “while we are incredibly proud of all we do, with regards to upcoming performances, we are so excited about all of them but I think ‘Passing Strange’ is the one we are all most excited about. We saw it in NYC - it's never done, it's not well known but it is an amazing piece of theatre that no one should miss.” PASSING STRANGE: Book and Lyrics by Stew, Music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald. It is running Dec. 2 - Dec. 20, 2105.

A Summer Garden to please the bees

Keep your family and the bees happy with plants to attract them

by Karla A. Dalley

It's almost old news that bees are in trouble. But when the President of the United States issues a memorandum creating a task force to promote honeybee and pollinator health, suddenly, that's even bigger news! The task force is specifically concerned with honeybees and monarchs, the two most threatened species, but we as gardeners know that many of our native bees like bumble bees and other types of butterflies like spicebush swallowtails and great spangled frittilaries have been declining, if not threatened, for years. So how do we plant a garden that will be beautiful to us and helpful to pollinators? It's easier than you think. But before we go any further, I want to address a common misconception about most bees. Bees are not wasps or hornets. That may sound silly, but so many people are afraid of being stung that they won't plant flowers or they won't consider planting something that might "attract" bees.

Bees have a job to do and that is to pollinate plants. When they are doing that job, unless you grab them with your bare hand, they will not sting you. They might do certain things that seem a little scary like flying near to you to see what you are doing. This will especially be true if you are wearing blue, lavender, yellow or white. They might mistake you for a large flower, particularly if you are wearing something with a scent. Do not be alarmed, and do not wave your arms as if you're trying to signal a 747. Stay calm: if you have to, close your eyes so that you don't start batting at the bee. It will fly away.

get out and enjoy watching bees in your garden.

ing, I worked around flowering plants all summer. As a demonstration, I would often pick up a potted plant or shrub that was covered in bees to show children that bees are gentle and do not sting. And of course I'd often carry bee-covered plants to customers' vehicles and gently dislodge any strays before loading them. Bees are pollinators; remember that they are just doing their job.

When choosing flowers for them to pollinate, you'll want to select plants in the range that they see best. It is those colors I mentioned above: blue, lavender (or purple), yellow and white. Interestingly enough, butterflies also see these colors well so you will most likely get bonus butterflies as well. There are choices in trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals and your favorite garden center can help you choose the best flowers for your particular garden, whether it's sunny, shady, or even just a patio or deck. Even a container here or there can help the bees. I planted all my containers this summer with pollinators in mind!

The more difficult part comes next. Bees (and butterflies) are highly susceptible to pesticides. You will need to be careful about pesticide use, or time the application of your pesticides to times of day when bees are less active. If you have a lawn service, that may not be possible.

If, however, you do your own lawn care, try to apply any pesticide, whether it's organic or chemical, in the evening when bees and butterflies are less likely to be active.

As someone with 8 years in retail garden-

For some ideas to get started in a sunny spot, coneflowers, salvias and black-eyed susans are long blooming, colorful and pollinator favorites. They are all perennial. Add some petunias, marigolds, or zinnias (annuals) for long blooming all summer color and you are on your way to having some happy pollinators! In the shade, New Guinea impatiens is a surprising choice for an annual. Perennials include cardinal flower (lobelia), which comes in red, blue and purple and turtlehead (chelone) as well as the popular and colorful coral bells (heuchera).

A reminder: a pesticide is more than merely an insecticide. It is also an herbicide (weed killer) and fungicide too – even rat and mouse poisons are pesticides. So you may actually be using far more "pesticide" than you thought you were.

Finally, get out and enjoy watching bees and butterflies in your garden. Bees come in an amazing number of sizes and shapes. There's a reason they call them "bumble" bees – they actually do "bumble" clumsily from flower to flower when pollen laden (check their back legs – they'll be coated in yellow).

And bee-pollinated flowers are not as likely to cause allergies either because the pollen is "sticky" so it will stick to the bee and not float in the air. So go enjoy the garden this summer, bees and all! ■

The Value of DoubleChecking Your Retirement Strategies

As you approach your “third act,” does it need to be adjusted?

Each day,10,000 baby boomers retire and begin receiving Medicare and Social Security benefits. ARE YOU READY?

Your portfolio lacks significant diversification. Many baby boomers are approaching retirement with portfolios heavily weighted in equities. As many of them will have long retirements and a sustained need for growth investing, you could argue that this is entirely appropriate. If your retirement is near at hand, however, you might want to consider the length of this bull market and the possibility of irrational exuberance.

The current bull has lasted about twice as long as the average one and brought appreciation in excess of 200%. It could rise higher: as InvesTech Research notes, twothirds of the bull markets since 1955 have gained 20% or more in their final phase. Few analysts think a “megabear” will follow this historic rally, but even a typical bear market brings a reality check. The lesser bear markets since 1929 have brought an average 27.5% reversal for the S&P 500 and lasted an average of 12 months.2

A poor quarter makes you anxious. You start watching the market like a hawk and check up on your investments more frequently than you once did. Some of this vigilance is only natural as you near retirement; after all, you have far more at stake than a millennial investor. Even so, this is a sign that you may be uncomfortable with the amount of risk in your portfolio. A port-

folio review with a financial professional could be in order. A semi-annual or annual review is reasonable. One bad quarter should not tempt you to abandon a strategy that has worked for years, only to examine it in the face of sudden headwinds.

You find yourself listening to friends & pundits. Your tennis partner has an opinion about when you should claim Social Security. So does your dentist. So does a noted radio personality or columnist. Their viewpoints may be well-informed, but they are likely expressing what they would do as they share what they feel you should do. If you seem increasingly interested in the financial opinions of friends, acquaintances and even total strangers, or the latest “hot tip” on the market, this hints at anxiety or restlessness about your financial strategy. Perhaps it is warranted, perhaps not. It may be time to re-examine some assumptions.

You wonder about the demands your lifestyle may make on your finances. You want to travel, golf, and have fun when you retire, and those potential lifestyle expenses now seem larger than they once were. Here is another instance where you may want to double-check your retirement savings and income strategy.

You see what were once “what-ifs” becoming probabilities. You sense that you or your spouse might face a serious health issue in the not-so-distant future. It looks as if you may end up raising one of your grandchildren. It seems likely that you will provide eldercare for a sibling who may move in with you. These life events (and others) may prompt a new look at your financial assumptions.

You think you will retire to another state. Say you retire to Florida. There is no state income tax in Florida. So your retirement tax burden may decrease with such a move (though some states have higher property taxes to offset the lack of state taxes). To what degree will geographic considerations affect your retirement income, or need for income? Such geographic factors are worth considering.3

You wonder how deeply inflation will impact your retirement income. A recent Morningstar analysis of retiree spending data compiled by the federal government noticed something interesting: for the typical retiree, spending declines in inflation-adjusted terms between age 65 and age 90. So the assumption that retirees increase household spending over time in light of inflation may be flawed. Of course, inflation has been mild for the past several years. If inflation spikes, however, that assumption might prove wholly valid.3

Looking at your retirement strategy anew has merit. As the years go by, priorities change and needs arise. New questions call for appraisals of old assumptions. Reviewing your approach to investing and saving at mid-life is only rational, for your retirement strategy must suit the objectives you now have before you rather than those you set in your past.

And what about tax efficiency?

Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? Do you have a lot of money in a 401(k) or a traditional IRA? If so, you may receive significant retirement income. Those income distributions, however, will

be taxed at the usual rate. If you have saved and invested well, you may end up retiring at your current marginal tax rate or even a higher one. The jump in income alone resulting from a Required Minimum Distribution could push you into a higher tax bracket.

While retirees with lower incomes may rely on Social Security as their prime income source, they may pay comparatively less income tax than you will in retirement – because up to half of their Social Security benefits won’t be counted as taxable income.1

Given these possibilities, affluent investors would do well to study the tax efficiency of their portfolios as some investments are not particularly tax-efficient. Both pre-tax and after-tax investments have potential advantages.

What’s a pre-tax investment? Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are classic examples of pre-tax investments. You can put off paying taxes on the contributions you make to these accounts and the earnings these accounts generate. When you take money out of these accounts come retirement, you will pay taxes on the withdrawal.2

Pre-tax investments are also called tax-deferred investments, as the invested assets can benefit from tax-deferred growth.

What’s an after-tax investment? A Roth IRA is a classic example. When you put money into a Roth IRA during the accumulation phase, contributions aren’t tax-deductible. As a trade-off, you don’t pay taxes on the withdrawals from that Roth IRA (as long as the withdrawals are considered qualified). Thanks to these tax-free withdrawals, your total taxable retirement income is not as high as it would be otherwise.2

As everyone would like to pay less income tax in retirement, the tax-free withdrawals from Roth IRAs are very appealing. Given the huge federal deficit, the pressure is on to raise tax rates in the coming years – and in that light, after-tax investments look even more attractive.

It is also possible to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, so many investors are considering paying taxes on a Roth conversion today in order to get tax-free growth tomorrow.

Certain tax years can prove optimal for a Roth conversion. If a high-income taxpayer is laid off for most of a year, closes down a business or suffers net operating losses, sells rental property at a loss or claims major deductions and exemptions associated with charitable contributions, casualty losses or medical costs ... he or she might end up in the lowest bracket, or even with a negative taxable income. In circumstances like these, a Roth conversion may be a good idea.

Should you have both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA? It may seem redundant, but it could actually help you manage your marginal tax rate. It gives you an option to vary the amount and source of your IRA distributions in light of whether tax rates have increased or decreased.

Smart moves can help you reduce your taxable income & taxable estate. An emphasis on long-term capital gains may help, as they aren’t taxed as severely as short-term capital gains (which are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income). Tax loss harvesting (selling the “losers” in your portfolio to offset the “winners”) can bring immediate tax savings and possibly help to position you for better long-term after-tax returns.

If you’re making a charitable gift, giving appreciated securities

you have held for at least a year may be better than giving cash. In addition to a potential tax deduction for the fair market value of the asset, the charity can sell the stock without triggering capital gains. If you’re reluctant to donate shares of your portfolio’s biggest winner, consider this: you could donate the shares, then buy more of that stock and get a step-up in cost basis as a consequence.3

The annual gift tax exclusion gives you a way to remove assets from your taxable estate. In 2015, you can gift up to $14,000 to as many individuals as you wish without paying federal gift tax. If you have 11 grandkids, you could give them $14,000 each – that’s $154,000 out of your estate. The drawback is that you relinquish control over those dollars or assets.4

Are you striving for greater tax efficiency? In retirement, it is especially important – and worth a discussion. A few financial adjustments could help you lessen your tax liabilities.

Remember, It’s not what you make it’s what you KEEP! ■

Robert A. Laraia, Founding Partner, Northstar Wealth Partners can be reached at www.nstarwp.com or 888-886-7737.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Northstar Wealth Partners a registered investment adviser and separate entity from LPL Financial.

*The Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Withdrawals form the account may be tax free, as long as they are considered qualified. Limitations and restrictions may apply. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Future tax laws can change at any time and may impact the benefits of Roth IRSs. Their tax treatment may change.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for an investment decision. Consult your financial advisor/tax/legal consultant regarding your personal circumstances before making any investment decisions.

Citations. 1 - ssa.gov/planners/taxes.htm [2/23/15]; 2 - denverpost.com/business/ci_27383286/iravs-401-k-which-is-better [1/25/15]; 3 - desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2014/11/01/jimsandager-donate-shares-directly-charities/18304273/ [11/1/14]; 4 - accountingweb.com/article/ how-make-most-federal-annual-gift-tax-exclusion/224201 [12/18/14]

Restaurant: La Petite France French Bakery & Café 967 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT 860-231-9255 www.lpfcafe.com Tues. - Sunday

Eclectic Parisian Café, Without Leaving We-Ha

by The Twin Tasters

As soon as we stepped into La Petite France (LPF), the charm of the place made us feel like we left the country, but we were actually smack in the center of West Hartford. Owner Alexandria was glad to see us and the place was bustling with a steady, but manageable, lunch crowd at 12:30 on a Friday.

And, just when you thought LPF is for the breakfast or dessert crowd only, think again. You’ll find substantial lunch selections.

First course: A savory crepe, made with their signature gluten-free/dairy-free buckwheat batter. We enjoyed the Montagnard crepe, made from sliced turkey, oh-so-melty Swiss cheese, tomato and roasted red pepper.

And we think the chef read our minds because there was plenty of black pepper on everything, so keep that in mind if you are not a fan of pepper like we are.

Next up, Croque Madame, a toasted ham and Swiss sandwich, with béchamel sauce and topped with shredded Swiss AND a fried egg

that would be awesome for breakfast, brunch or lunch. It was presented with a side of fresh mixed greens.

We weren't done yet ... out came a beautifully presented special salad of the day that included mixed greens, crumbled goat cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts.

To top off the meal, we managed to find space for a sweet crepe (made from traditional French batter), that was wrapped around a berry medly, and melted dark chocolate.

Our to-go bag included what appeared to be an ordinary-looking ham sandwich, but was actually a delicious Prosciutto & Mozzarella on freshly baked bread, with sun-dried tomato pesto! Yummy house-made macarons were also included in the brown-bag, completing our French bakery experience. ■

You never know where the Twin Tasters will show up. Contact: editor@westhartfordmagazine.com

NOTE: The crepe cart (with chef) is available to rent for functions, or, if you want the charm of the restaurant, you can rent the café space for private functions Tuesday-Sunday, after 6pm.

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What Makes it PoP?

Brief Photo History & Meet the Directors of West Hartford’s Own Playhouse on Park

By Staff Contributors

Photos by Rich Wagner

The founders who built Playhouse on Park consider their job duties a labor of love, but actually what they live every day is more aptly described in the words of Confucius “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” That sentiment is shared by all three , (very hard-working), co-founders of the now landmark theater on Park Road.

You probably know that Tracy Flater, Darlene Zoller, and Sean Harris started the theater when they were asked to take over the defunct Park Road Playhouse space in 2009. But what you may not know is that the trio was already on target to open a theater together in a three year period, but when the Park Road opportunity virtually fell in their laps, that rapidly turned into a 2 month plan! What better way to celebrate the start of season seven of Playhouse on Park but with some of Rich Wagner’s spectacular images, interspersed with memories from the management team.

My favorite memory ... was in our first season and it’s a selfish memory, kind of. We did The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and it was an enormous success. It’s selfish because I was in it with my two best friends but it was also a piece that challenged, entertained, and educated our audiences which is our mission.

“ ”

-Sean Harris, artistic director

“ ”

I love when students watch shows as part of the Literature Alive field trip program. Because of the Playhouse’s intimate setting with only four rows of seating on three sides of the stage, students of all ages stay really connected to what is happening onstage. We offer daytime matinees of shows in both our Young Audiences Series and our Main Stage Series.

“Applying for our non-profit status took 14 months from start to approval; building a Board of Directors, raising enough money to pay the core staff, it all took time. We created substantial debt, then worked very hard to rid ourselves of that debt. We have come so very far in six short years and yet we feel we still have a long way to grow.

–Tracy Flater, executive director

Meet The Playhouse Directors

DARLENE ZOLLER, Artistic Director

Darlene has directed and choreographed countless productions and she is the founder, director and choreographer of stop/time dance theater, the resident dance company of Playhouse on Park, now in its twelfth year. She was voted Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World for last year's production of I’d Rather be Dancing. She is Mama D of Mama D’s Outrageous Romp. Darlene is an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford's Hartt School. Darlene says, “when I see how far we have come in such a short amount of time and the level of excellence we have achieved it gives me the incentive to put in the time and energy to keep us moving forward.”

SEAN HARRIS, Artistic Director

Sean considers working at Playhouse on Park a labor of love “because I get to go to work every single day amongst people who are passionate in bringing theatre to our community.” He has directed Of Mice and Men, Metamorphoses, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Cabaret among others. As an actor he has performed on the Playhouse stage in The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Art, and The Mystery of Irma Vep. He is currently the director of heatre at Hall High School, which has been selected as one of the top 40 high

school theatre programs in North America by the American High School Theatre Festival.

TRACY FLATER, Executive Director

Tracy finds educating interns, adults and youth a very rewarding aspect of working at the helm of Playhouse on Park. Tracy has merged her passion for the performing arts and knowledge of business management to become a sucessful arts administrator.

In addition to her demanding role at the Playhouse, Tracy currently serves on the board of directors for The Hartt School at the University of Hartford; the Connecticut Dance Alliance; and Simsbury Main Street Partnership. ■

Photos included, first page: Playhouse on Park marquee 2013; Hair, 2015; Around The World in 80 Days, 2011; Proof, 2015; Metamorphoses, 2012; Stop Time Dance - Digits, 2015. Second & Third Page: Charlotte’s Web, 2010; Hair, 2015; Angels in America, 2014; Altar Boyz, 2014; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), 2010; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 2014.

Taking Urgent Care to a New Level

by Ronni Newton

You may need to see a doctor because you’re not feeling well, but that doesn’t mean that everything else involved with the experience needs to be negative.

Doctors Express Urgent Care of West Hartford fills an important niche – actually several niches – and seeks to make your visit as pleasant and efficient as possible from the moment you walk in the door and are greeted with a smile.

“We try to hire people with Disneyland smiles and bulletproof clinical competence and compassion,” said owner Tom Kelly, who hopped off his high-level corporate executive career track to build a network of Doctors Express facilities in Connecticut.

He opened his first Doctors Express urgent care center in Danbury in 2013, and the West Hartford location opened in June 2014. Kelly recently opened a second Danbury location and hopes to eventually have five to 10 facilities. Doctors Express is part of American Family Care.

Doctors Express keeps people out of the emergency room –where those who may not have insurance or need care outside of normal office hours might otherwise go. Getting treated by a medical professional at Doctors Express is typically much faster than going to the ER. “We want people in and out in less than an hour,” Kelly said. It’s also a less expensive option.

Doctors Express takes all insurances, and they also see patients who don’t have insurance on a fee-for-service basis.

About a third of the patients don’t have a primary care doctor.

“The others were either going to go to the emergency department, couldn’t get in to see their regular doctor, or just otherwise would suck it up and not do anything,” Kelly said.

“We get people off the couch and into the health care system,”

said Kelly. In the past year, professionals in the West Hartford location have diagnosed 20 cases of diabetes in people who had no idea they had it, he said.

Doctors Express has an onsite x-ray room, and they’re a DOTcertified facility for drug testing. Rapid strep, rapid flu, UTI and basic blood screenings and vaccinations are some of the most common services.

They handle pediatrics, geriatrics, and everything in between.

“Yesterday I had a 4-week-old patient and a 96-year-old patient back-to-back,” said PA Jeremy Allen, an emergency medicine specialist who is one of the primary providers in the West Hartford office.

Allen said working for Doctors Express is very different from working in the ER. “I take a lot of ownership with my patients here,” he said.

In addition to six PAs, Doctors Express also has seven physicians split between the three locations. The West Hartford office employs a total of eight nurses, and four are on duty at all times during the 80 hours the facility is open. (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends. They are open every day except for Christmas and Easter.)

Kelly gave up his corporate career to remain in Connecticut and spend more time with his wife and four children, but said his background gives him a different perspective on running a medical facility that is not only aesthetically-pleasing, but also a positive work environment for the employees.

“We wanted to open up the most beautiful medical facility in the greater Hartford area,” Kelly said, and he believes they have done that, with everything from the slate blue walls, to the artwork, to the sconces creating a soothing environment while at the same time incorporating state-of-the-art materials like non-porous synthetic floors (that look like hardwood) and steel/wood chairs in the waiting room that also minimize the spread of germs.

Kelly is also focused on the employee culture and said he wants Doctors Express to be “the favorite place people have ever worked.” All employees are carefully screened and retention is high – all contributing to a positive environment for the patients. ■

Doctors Express Urgent Care of West Hartford. 1030 Boulevard, West Hartford. 860-986-6440. urgentcarewesthartford.com. No appointment needed. Open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Watch for more profiles on We-Ha.com.

Poetry Alive and Well in We-Ha

Christine Beck was appointed as West Hartford’s fifth Poet Laureate by the Town Council in May and Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor, who has sponsored the Poet Laureate appointments for eleven years, read a proclamation signed by Mayor Scott Slifka.

You may already know of Christine. Especially if you are among the loyal group of Bishops Corner Neighborhood Association poetry fans you had a chance to hear Christine at the opening of the “Taste of Poetry” series sponsored by that neighborhood organization. (Visit the BCNA Facebook page, and new website, www.bishopscorner.org, for upcoming poetry events, as well as other happenings in that neck of the woods.)

Remember Them

Christine will be doing her inaugural reading at the West Hartford Town Library Wednesday October 7, which will be the kickoff for "West Hartford's Favorite Poem" project. Other town poets laureate will be joining her to read a favorite poem and explain why they chose it.

Christine had this to say about her appointment to Poet Laureate: “My goal is to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of poetry in the general public. Reading America’s Favorite Poems was inspirational, not only because of the breadth of poems selected but because ordinary Americans were eloquent about the importance of poetry in their lives. I hope my project will result in a similar book for West Hartford and culminate in a town-wide reading.”

Remember Them was written for Memorial Day, 2015 and read by Mayor Scott Slifka at the Veterans’ wall ceremony that day. Beneath the Treads was dedicated to the Golden Threads Gallery on the Holy Family campus on Tunxis Road, and Christine said she hopes “to honor other people and places in West Hartford with a poem” similar to what she did for the gallery.

Please visit www.christinebeck.net, or on Facebook at "Poetry in West Hartford" for poetry event news in the area.

Beneath the Threads

What if you had only one small task?

What if your square was gray, thread a muddy green that left no outline, pattern, print?

What if you pushed the needle in, day after day, pulled through stitches on the underside, wondering if a picture was emerging?

What if you turned it over, stood silent, witnessed a vast canvas, flat defeat of dark, then, something subtle stirring?

What if these small stitches, daily mindless duty, was all that you could do? What if this is all you need to do?

Christine Beck West Hartford Poet Laureate www.ChristineBeck.net

Visit the Bishops Corner Neighborhood Association at: bishopscorner.org for poetry on the patio, and more events.

Memorial Day 2015

Remember them all. Remember them. All of them.

All of them. The ones who went for glory. The ones who went for duty. The ones who went because they had no choice. The ones who simply went.

The ones who stayed. Who stayed because they were too old. Too young. Or female. Or unfit. The ones who tried to live without the ones who went.

Remember them all. Remember them. All of them.

When you remember them, speak of fishing poles. Speak of love notes, family dinners, family feuds. Speak of flank steak, mashed potatoes, drive-in movies, baseball games.

Remember a favorite color, a favorite song, the joke they always told, the slight they could not forget. How their spirits soared in sweet particularity.

Remember them all. Remember them. All of them.

Christine Beck West Hartford Poet Laureate www.ChristineBeck.net

“We have several regular clients who show up before work for a wash and styling!”

-Stacey Cohen

theclassicblowout–whichhappenstob

h a

Guest Style Editor: Stacey Cohen, Blow Dry Bar Owner

“One of our most versatile and expressive fashion accessories is always with us,” says Stacey Cohen, aka “Scarlett O’Hair-a, a franchise partner with Blo Blow Dry Bar in Blue Back Square.

“We can curl it, braid it, bun it, twist it and do so many things with our hair that it becomes a virtual accessory to our outfits and can change with our moods,” added Stacey.

When you visit Blo for a style session you won’t get a cut or color (leave that for your regular hair dresser), but you will get a whole variety of options to fit your personality, your specific event, or your important meeting or interview.

All lengths, all ages, all colors

riof hair (on men as well as women), can head on in for a styling session.

The biggest misconception about Blo, according to Stacey, is that “most people think we are a place for special-occasion-only styling. While we are ready to treat your tresses for any occasion, most of our clientele are getting blow outs for the time saving aspect in order to free up more time in their daily routines. There is an overall convince factor that we offer by being open 7 days a week as early as 7 a.m. and staying open as late as 8 p.m.”

Get hooked on Blo, and you’ll never have a bad hair day again!

TheclassicFrenchtwi

Guest Style Editor: Stacey Cohen, aka Scarlett O'Hair-a (Franchise Partner)Blo Blow Dry Bar

stacey@blomedry.com

Blo West Hartford, 71 Memorial Road, West Hartford, CT 06107

860-231-0443

blowesthartford@blomedry.com

“... most of our clientele are getting blow outs for the time saving aspect ...”

-Stacey Cohen

by Jeff Hodges

Every client has a particular set of landscaping needs and expectations when approaching an outdoor design. If you are seeking a “natural” look, or if you prefer a “refined” look, we can help you achieve your goals. We will present a design that satisfies your needs, without sacrificing your dreams.

Our Journey Begins and

we’d like to share it

by Tom Hickey

If you know me, and my wife Shevon, well then you know that we do just about everything together … so we figured, why not work out together? Shevon and I are working with Master Trainer, D’Mario Sowah at Akua Ba Fitness in West Hartford. Admittedly I have known about D’Mario ever since he moved into Blue Back and his shear size and presence intimidated me (still does). I recall seeing him excercising on the lawn at Blue Back (where Delamar is currently under construction) and saying to myself those people must be crazy subjecting themselves to work outs like that.

Now Shevon and I are no slackers –Shevon runs 5 miles a day at 5 in the morning and I do my best to keep up. We are healthy and in relatively good shape; or at least we thought we were. After our first assessment with D’Mario, including physical tests and body fat measurements, we were shocked at how poorly we did. To be honest, Shevon did much better then I, in fact, I almost got sick and nearly passed out but D’Mario was right there to help me through it. The way I see it, it gave me something to work toward. Afterall if we were in perfect shape, we wouldn’t be there.

What struck us most about D’Mario (other then his amazing life story) was his practical approach to what he calls, “Reverse Evolution Training.” Before machines and instruction manuals were introduced, people worked with their body’s existing resources to strengthen what was already there. This approach produces results in record time because your core is activated, fat burns faster, injuries are minimized and benefits are maximized. We can truly say that, “Reverse Evolution Training" is a more natural way to get fit. Through D’Mario’s approach you learn how to work with your body’s existing resources

with you

Shevon and I look at this new workout routine as...holistic fitness for the mind, body and spirit.

to strengthen and recondition, so hopefully it will produce greater results in record time. Shevon and I have quickly become very aware of every muscle (some we didn’t even know we had) through D’Mario’s training approach. One day I recall having trouble putting on a tie the day after a workout. Oh, you haven’t worked out until you tried a “crawl” not once but six times during a session. I’ll let you find out more about that. Now we kid you not, is it easy? NO! But because D’Mario and all the trainers on staff work with you individually you go at your own pace. Of course with a little push and sometimes not so little nudge to stay on course.

Shevon and I look at this new workout routine as a form of creating lifestyle changes through holistic fitness for the mind, body and spirit. We’ll see where it

leads us and we’ll share our journey with you. Please feel free to ask any questions via Akua Ba Fitness (see contact below).

It is D’Mario’s goal to have us do the CHALLENGE 51 course that he has built into his program. I’m not so sure it is our objective yet, BUT we’ll work toward that common goal!

We would love to find the time to be involved in the fitness classes and special events to support our individual fitness needs. Due to our schedules we haven’t been able to do this yet but we will.

We should add that all of the trainers have a specialty certification – from working with clients on rehabilitation, to sports conditioning, to weight loss. At Akua Ba you will be matched with a trainer who understands your unique needs.

To begin, please tell Akua Ba we sent you and get a free fitness assessment. Call to schedule your appointment and you’ll be glad you did. ■

AKUA BA FITNESS. 860-967-0561 customerservice@akuabafitness.com 121 Talcott Road, West Hartford, CT 06110

The new custom-designed facility over 10,000 square feet. The facility boasts state-of-the-art equipment, locker rooms with showers, and the proprietary Area 51 Obstacle Course.

Congratulations Catarina Rodrigues & Scott Kickery

photos by Adventure Photos

Scott and Catarina met during sophomore year at Bentley University. While in the early stages of their relationship, Scott accidentally broke Catarina's collar bone while mud sliding on the lower campus which led to the groom's first meeting of the bride's mother and sister in the hospital. Their relationship grew even stronger from that pivital moment.

Scott and Catarina wanted a wedding that would be fun, different and relaxed so they left the New England winter to get married in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in January. Having a destination wedding allowed them to enjoy several days with family and friends, and they were overjoyed with the turnout as 65 guests joined them for the happy occasion.

The groom is the son of Kevin and Susan Kickery, of East Hartford. His father is the VP and small business lender for Farmington Bank in West Hartford Center and is an active board member of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce and the West Hartford Business Association.

Catarina works as Vice President in the Finance Projects Office at BNP Paribas, and Scott is a Marketing Strategy Consultant for Epsilon. and they currently reside in Hoboken, NJ. Turn to page 64 to see Scott's sister's wedding, and you'll find his other sister's wedding (Roger and Kate Haas) in the issue #3, 2014 issue, or online at we-ha.com. ■

Visit we-ha.com for more photos and more WEDDINGS.

WEDDINGS

Congratulations Amy Kickery & Jason Ulbright

photos by Amy Hill of 627 Photography

Amy was the third Kickery to be married in a ten month period and she and her fiance Jason chose The Borden Building at Fred Fletcher Park, Raleigh, NC for their outdoor wedding and reception on April 4, 2015. The tulips were in full bloom on the day of the wedding and they beautifully accented the daffodils that were on the tables and bouquets. The decorations were designed and created by the bride. The flower girl was Lyla Ulbright (bride and groom’s 4 year old daughter). T hey celebrated in southern style with some chicken and waffles, a few line dances and local beer. It was a beautiful night under the stars.

Jason planned to propose when Amy decided to run a half marathon in 2014 and Jason suggested they travel to Nashville, TN for a weekend in April so she could run the Country Music half marathon there. She finished in 2 hours and 38 minutes and Jason proposed that same evening, on a footbridge in downtown Nashville. “It was an amazing day!” said Amy.

The couple honeymooned in the beautiful mountains of Ashville, North Carolina.

Amy works as a Literacy Coach for Wake County Public Schools in Raleigh, NC. Jason is a wireless tech at Page Plus of Raleigh.

What does the father-of-the-bride, one groom, and one more bride Kevin Kickery say? “They were all beautiful in their own personal way (Maine, Punta Cana and North Carolina). A little bit of a whirlwind during the 10 month ‘onslaught’ but all good in the end.”

View weddings on we-ha.com with more photos! ■

for complete stories and photos from the following events ... and MORE!

8th Year of Supporting Women’s Health @ St. Francis

This annual event spearheaded by Barbara Gordon and her daughter Tracy Fox, a nurse at St. Francis, was born eight years ago and has grown so much that it moved from a West Hartford backyard to take place at the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center at St. Francis (the very center this event has helped develop!). W.H. Firefighters Local 1241 did all of the cooking.Total raised since 2008: $135,000.

15th Annual Concorso Ferarri & Friends

The 15th annual Concorso Ferrari & Friends was held on June 28, 2015 in West Hartford Center. More than 100 high-powered Italian sports cars were parked in West Hartford Center attracting thousands of spectators to get a close-up view of many rare vehicles, some worth well over $1 million.

The 15th anniversary event, which is hosted by the Ferrari Club of America/New England Region, is a major fundraiser for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

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Ron’s Run for the Roses

Along with the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby, May 2, 2015 also marked the 7th annual Ron’s Run for the Roses. Nearly 475 attendees made their way to Folly Farm in Simsbury decked out in traditional Derby Day attire for the annual Ron’s Run for the Roses fundraiser. Hosted by the West Hartford-based Ron Foley Foundation, the event is geared toward raising funds and awareness to help fight pancreatic cancer. The event began as a backyard picnic in West Hartford at the home of Barbara Foley, and is named in honor of her late husband Ron Foley who died of pancreatic cancer in 2005.

Photo by RACHEL ADELE CABANIOLand KARL MESSERSCHMIDTfrom

16th Annual Mayor’s Charity Ball

Town Hall was the place to be on Saturday May 9. Guests at the 16th Annual Mayor’s Charity Ball began the evening by walking down the “red carpet” into Town Hall. “Mike Casey & Friends” provided mood music during the cocktail reception as guests mingled, enjoyed hors d’ oeuvre, and bid on silent auction items. Guests moved into the “Grande Tent” where they were entertained by the Playhouse on Park’s stop/time dance theater. The two non-profits supported by the gala areThe Town That Cares Fund and Playhouse on Park.