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Dear Readers,
Summer is underway in Greater West Hartford, and with the blooming dogwoods and warmer breezes comes a sense of renewal and celebration. Tis season, our streets feel more vibrant than ever, and this issue is a refection of the community spirit that makes our corner of Connecticut so special.
Last issue we were honored to feature Kitty and Steven Langan, who are celebrating an incredible 50 years of marriage this year. Teir wedding remains a cherished memory for many “West Hartfordites,” as it beautifully coincided with our nation’s Bicentennial celebrations. Tis issue features a beautiful home decked out with a salute to our nations 250th Celebration! Please send us pictures of anything you did special for the 250th this 4th of July!
Speaking of celebrations, our 12th Annual BEST OF WEST HARTFORD and DANCING with the WEHA STARS will take place Monday, September 28th, 5:30-7:30 at the Back Nine Tavern at Stanley Golf Course (just past WESTFARMS/COSTCO up New Britain Avenue on the lef). Once again we will gather to CELEBRATE the FINALISTS, (including 2nd and 3rd Place because in West Hartford everyone is a WINNER) with special samplings our culinary scene has to ofer. From the savory steak sandwiches from Fleming’s and the signature rice balls from Coracora, to the authentic favors of Frida and Back Nine Tavern, and much more, it will truly be a night to remember.
Be on the lookout for tickets and voting information in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I hope you fnd some time to relax on a patio, enjoy the sunshine, and dive into the stories of the neighbors who make this town a home. Te BEST thing about being digital is you can enjoy WEST HARTFORD MAGAZINE wherever you are!
Safe Travels this Summer, and Stay Cool!
Enjoy this issue,
2026 West Hartford Chamber Spotlight & Beacon Awards
The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Spotlight Awards and Beacon Awards, recognizing the businesses, leaders, entrepreneurs, and volunteers whose contributions continue to shape and strengthen the West Hartford community.
Tis year’s honorees represent the spirit of innovation, leadership, service, and community connection that defnes West Hartford. From emerging entrepreneurs to long-standing organizations and community champions, each recipient has made a meaningful impact through their work and dedication.
Te Chamber’s highest honors, the Beacon Awards, recognize individuals whose leadership and generosity have lef a lasting mark on the community. Established in 1989, the Noah Webster Award honors extraordinary community stewardship and civic impact. Te Elizabeth Gustin Basil Women’s Leadership Award, established in 2022, celebrates outstanding women leaders who embody innovation, mentorship, and community commitment.
Beacon Awards
• Noah Webster Award: Andrew & Joyce Mandell
• Elizabeth Gustin Basil Women’s Leadership Award: Laura Sheehan, Capital Classics
Spotlight Awards
• Business of the Year: Connecticut GI
• Community Impact Award: West Hartford Fellowship Housing
• Entrepreneur of the Year: Devonte Dillion, Dilligence Training & DT Cares
• Legacy Award: Daley Moving & Storage
• Rising Star Award: Allie Bellucci, Bellu Jean Creative
• Volunteer of the Year: Jamie Rice, JQR Capital
“Tese award winners refect the incredible depth of talent, generosity, and entrepreneurial spirit within our Chamber and community,” said the Chamber. “Teir leadership, creativity, and commitment help make West Hartford a vibrant place to live, work, and do business.”
Te Spotlight Awards are one of the Chamber’s signature annual celebrations, bringing together business and community leaders to recognize excellence and celebrate the collaborations that continue to move West Hartford forward. Tis year’s event featured a refreshed, interactive format showcasing food and beverage hospitality partners from across the Chamber community.
For more information about the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce and its programs, events, and initiatives, visit WHChamber.com.
Saving Early & Letting Time Work for You
In 1964, Te Rolling Stones released the hit single, "Time Is on My Side." Who knew they were talking about personal fnance? What does it mean to put time on your side? To Te Rolling Stones, it was a song about confdence and patience with love. To investors, it's about confdence and patience when investing for long-term goals, such as retirement.
How does it work?
As a young investor, you have a powerful ally on your side: time. Te earlier you start saving, the more opportunity your investments have to increase in value.
Te power of compounding. Many people underestimate it, so it is worth illustrating. Let's take a look at the long-term performance of an investment account using a hypothetical 5 percent rate of return.
A simplifed example goes like this: If you were to start with a $1,000 principal in an account that earns 5 percent interest per year, and contribute $1,000 a year to the account, you would end up with $69,671 afer thirty years, with $16,511 earned in compound interest from $30,000 in contributions. Tat compounding continues, even if you stop making deposits.1
Te 30-Year Snowball Efect
$1,000/year · 5% annual return · No starting balance
When it comes to building wealth, most people focus on how much they can save and the kinds of returns they can earn. While those are important, there is a third factor that is ofen much more powerful: Time.
Te math of compound interest rewards those who start early, even if they save less in total than someone who starts later. To illustrate this, let's look at two hypothetical investors:1
Te Early Starter
Contributes $10,000 a year for just 10 years, then stops entirely.
TOTAL CONTRIBUTED $100,000 ENDING BALANCE $850,608
Te Late Starter
Waits 10 years, then contributes $10,000 a year for 30 years straight.
TOTAL CONTRIBUTED $300,000
ENDING BALANCE $888,298
Investor Balance Over Time
Hypothetical 6% annual rate of return
As you can see from the trajectories, Investor 2 spends their entire career playing "catch-up." Even though their total balance eventually edges out Investor 1 by a small margin at age 62 ($888,298 vs $850,608), the "efciency" of their money is far lower. Investor 1 essentially bought themselves a 30-year head start, proving that in the world of compounding, a small amount of money plus a long time is ofen superior to a large amount of money plus a short time.
1 Tis is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specifc investment or combination of investments.
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GEMS OF THE SOUTHEAST:
The Second Half of My Danube River Cruise
Ilef of in my last article in Vukovar, Croatia on an AMA Waterways Gems of Southeast Europe River Cruise. I had been to Croatia before on a land tour and knew of Croatia’s beauty, history, and delicious food, and this river cruise highlighted the region. We then visited Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria.
In Belgrade, Serbia we were the frst river boat cruise to arrive in Belgrade for the year and we were welcomed with traditional dancing by the local children.
We visited St. Sava and it was one of the most beautiful sanctuaries I have ever been in; the gilded art and tile foors were singular in beauty. Our visit to the Tesla Museum was enlightening. Tere are original models and I volunteered to participate and feel the highvoltage, high frequency electricity from one of the models glide over my skin. I got to see other volunteers go before me and it defnitely looked safer than a zipline to me! Afer that charged experience, we went to the Belgrade Urban Distillery to try local brandy, which are well -known in the area. We were familiarized with rakijas and rakijas liquors, made from plum, apricot, or quince. Local mezzes enhanced the experience and the quince was my favorite.
Before we sailed through the Iron Gates, we visited Golubac fortress. Strategically positioned, this fortress that was built in the 14th century was controlled over many centuries by either Serbia, Hungary or the Ottoman Turks. At this juncture of the Danube, trade was controlled and taxes levied. In 1867 the fort was returned to Serbia, and over the years, fell into ruin. Most recently, the Serbian government invested in restoring this fortress and it helps to support the local town by providing many jobs. Te locals I spoke with were very happy to have this historic opportunity to bring up their standard of living.
Sailing down the Danube through the Iron Gates between the Carpathian, and Balkan Mountains we traveled from Serbia towards Romania. Tis portion of the Danube brings you to the widest, most narrow, and deepest sections of the Danube. Te highlight was seeing the face of King Decebalus, the tallest rock relief on a river clif in Europe. Vidin, Bulgaria ofered a very special excursion to a local home to make Baniska, a phyllo pastry treat, made traditionally with feta, but ofen used for any sweet or savory meal. Te husband
and wife invited us into their home where the wife explained, and our guide translated into English, how to make the delicious baniska, and then everyone had the experience of making a part of the recipe themselves. Te couple, retired real estate agents, were warm and welcoming and gave us a tour of their home and gardens. Te husband was especially proud of his fruit trees. Many in the group did want to know how much it would cost to buy a similar home in the area!
While we were on the bus to visit many of these areas, I did get the feeling that the views I saw of the farms and homes felt very much like I was watching an old movie. Although both Bulgaria and Romania are strong, developing countries compared to the European Union, poverty has its largest share of representation in rural regions. Last on our trip was the visit to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, known as “Te Little Paris of the East”. We had a panoramic tour of the city and then a walking tour of the old town area. Tere were grand buildings, and the Palace of Parliament in particular has an interesting history. Te guide was not at ease to explain much other than it is the second largest building, the Pentagon being the largest, and it is hardly used, and expensive to keep up. On my own I discovered it is considered one of the bigest authoritarian excesses, built in the 1980s. Please feel free to research this on your own.
A unique and special spot in the old town was the Church of the Strvropoleos, now a monastery for nuns. Te building was built in 1724 in Brậncovenesc style. Brậncovenesc is a blend of Ottoman, Byzantine, and local Romanian styles. It is ornate, intricate, and uses high quality materials. Unique to this church is the Stravropoleus Byzantine Choir. Founded in 1994 it sings and chants neo-Byzantine sacred music, using one voice for the melody and the choir which holds the low continuous drone.
We fnished the day and few home the next day. Some of our fellow cruisers decided to enrich their experiences through an extension to Transylvania to see Bran Castle, known as the Dracula Castle. Maybe next time!
Solving Summer Garden Issues So You Can Relax
By Karla A. Dalley
George Gershwin wrote “summertime and the livin’ is easy….” Apparently, he was not much of a gardener, however. He must have devoted his considerable talents to song and stage.
As we know, summer days in the garden are ofen not easy. We tend to battle insects, drought, weeds, and of course summer heat.
So how can we help our gardens to cope with all of this without exhausting ourselves in the process?
Tere are several ways, and as always, what works for some of you might not work for all of you.
Afer my rant last issue against mulch, you may wonder how I deal with weeds. In addition to leaving my leaves in the garden, I employ a variety of things as “living” mulches. I am blessed to have a great deal of moss in my garden, so I use the moss where it naturally occurs as a living mulch.
In other places where there is no moss, or where it’s too sunny for moss, I plant low growing groundcover-type plants very close together to shade my soil and shade out the weeds.
And of course, I try to disturb the soil as little as possible so that any buried weed seeds are not brought up to germinate.
Garden centers sell whole lines of groundcover plants for both sun and shade. And once you plant them, you have them. Tey are not like mulch that has to be renewed every year or two.
Even something like hostas, planted closely enough together, can efectively shade out a lot of weeds—and we know that hostas are tough plants that need very little care once established.
Once the weed issue is managed, another no-fuss gardening tip is to plant some shrubs. Tey take up a nice bit of room in the garden, and, if you plant the correct ones, they will fower for a long period of time, and will require very little care.
One of my favorites is hydrangeas. I must have 30 of them, of diferent varieties, all over my yard. Tey are suitable for partial shade, which most of us have in abundance. My hydrangeas varieties bloom from mid-June until October. It’s really hard to argue with something that gives a long bloom time like that!!
Other favorites of mine are shrub roses—and I can highly recommend the Drif™ and OsoEasy™ shrub roses for long bloom time and ease of growing. I have also heard that potentilla, also called shrubby cinquefoil, is quite easy and has a similarly long bloom time, but I have not grown it myself.
Te issue of drought is probably a biger problem for us than too much rain. Generally, however, once plants are established (afer the frst year for perennials, and 2-3 years for trees and shrubs), they should not need extra irrigation. I don’t water anything in my yard except my containers if we are not getting regular rainfall.
Tere are many drought-tolerant perennials for both sun and shade. Be sure that if the plant is new to you—in other words, if you are planting it this year—that you still water it regularly this frst year. It will not be “drought tolerant” while it is getting settled into your garden.
Some of the best for sun are what we generally think of as “meadow” plants like conefowers (rudbeckia), echinacea, grasses, salvia, sedums, Russian sage (perovskia) and lamb’s ears (Stachys).
Shade perennials that like it dry are ajuga, hellebores, liriope, brunnera, Japanese painted fern, heucherella and true geranium (the one you may know is ‘Rozanne’).
Finally, with respect to insects, we are blessed that here in Connecticut, many (but not all) have just one life cycle. Tat means that they have a short “pest-y” life span and then they just go away.
Of course, they can still do quite a bit of damage in that short span—but it’s important to know your insect before you resort to any kind of pesticide.
If you recall from last time, I said that our native bees and butterfies were extremely susceptible to pesticides, even organic ones. But, if you have an insect that must be sprayed, the best time to do so is in the evening, as close to sunset as possible so as to afect the bees as little as possible.
And with those bits of advice, you should have plenty of time to enjoy our too short summer.
Happy gardening!
The
Great Summer Fabric Myth:
Why You’re Wearing the Wrong Clothes
This Season
We’ve all been there. It’s 90 degrees out, the humidity is clinging to the pavement, and you’re staring into your closet trying to fgure out how to dress without melting.
When it comes to summer dressing, there is a lot of misinformation out there. As a tailor, I hear the same two complaints every single year:
“I love linen, but I just can’t stand the wrinkles.”
“I don’t want to sweat, so keep me far away from wool.”
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: You’ve been sold a lie. For decades, fast-fashion corporations have rewritten the rules of textiles to suit their bottom lines. Tey convinced us that wrinkles are a sin so they could sell us cheap, plastic, "wrinklefree" polyester. Tey convinced us that wool is only for winter so they could... well, sell us more polyester.
It’s time to unlearn the marketing hype and embrace the fabrics that were actually engineered by nature to keep you cool.
1. Linen: Embrace the Breeze (and the Crinkle)
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Linen wrinkles. It’s going to crease the moment you sit down, and you know what?
It’s supposed to. Wanting linen that doesn’t wrinkle is like buying a convertible but complaining about the wind. Te texture is the entire point.
Linen is made from fax fbers, which are naturally stif and hollow. Tis unique structure allows air to fow freely through the weave and pulls moisture away from your skin, drying almost instantly. Te relaxed, rumpled look of linen is a historical signifer of efortless, high-end summer style. It says, "I'm too busy enjoying this Aperol spritz by the coast to care about an iron." If you truly can't stomach the crinkle, look for a linen-silk or linen-wool blend. You’ll get the breathable benefts of linen, but the secondary fbers will help the fabric snap back into place.
If you think wool is only for heavy winter coats, prepare to have your mind blown.
Did you know that one of the largest consuming regions for lightweight wool in the world is the Middle East? Tere is a reason for that. High-quality, tropical-weight wool (ofen called "Cool Wool") is one of the most versatile, breathable fabrics on the planet. Unlike polyester, which traps heat and bacteria (hello, summer body odor), wool is a natural thermostat.
Breathable: It allows your skin to breathe in intense heat. Moisture-Wicking: It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp.
Odor-Resistant: It naturally repels bacteria, meaning you stay fresh all day. A loosely woven, open-weave wool jacket or trouser will actually keep you cooler in the baking sun than a short-sleeve synthetic shirt.
Dress for Your Life, Not a Trend
At the end of the day, fast fashion wants you to buy cookie-cutter clothing made of cheap synthetics that trap heat and look lifeless. But your body and your lifestyle aren't generic.
Are you running between airconditioned boardrooms? Do you need an outft that can survive an outdoor summer wedding? Or are you looking for the perfect weekend casual wear?
Stop letting corporate marketing dictate your comfort. It’s time to invest in pieces that are cut specifcally for your proportions and designed to withstand your daily routine. Step away from the polyester, embrace the natural texture of the season, and let’s design a summer wardrobe that actually fts your life.
Hats, Hope, and a High-Stakes Fight: Inside the 17th Annual Ron’s Run for the Roses
There is a distinct magic that happens when a community gathers for a cause biger than themselves, especially when that gathering involves Derby hats, dapper suits, and an unwavering resolve to fght one of the toughest medical battles of our time.
Te Ron Foley Foundation’s 17th Annual Ron’s Run for the Roses recently crossed the fnish line, proving once again why it remains such a special event, year afer year.. Organizers, advocates, and generous donors gathered not just to celebrate, but to fuel the fght against pancreatic cancer.
Here is a look inside this year’s remarkable event, the milestones achieved, and the community champions who made it happen
A Night of Celebration and Purpose
From the moment guests arrived, the energy was electric. Navigating a mix of fashion and advocacy, the event successfully balanced the festive spirit of the Kentucky Derby with the Ron Foley Foundation’s mission of supporting pancreatic cancer patients, their caretakers, and educating the public about the disease.
Guiding the crowd through the festivities was Master of Ceremonies Joe Furey, alongside Honorary Chair Kevin M. Dowd, who both helped set a poignant and meaningful tone for the afernoon.
An event of this scale requires committed sponsors, and this year’s corporate partnership was stronger than ever. Hartford HealthCare stepped up as the event's Premier Sponsor, and PeoplesBank served as the Presenting Sponsor. Tey both demonstrated the powerful impact of community-minded support.
Honoring a Local Hero: The "Rose of Hope"
One of the afernoon's most memorable highlights was the presentation of a brand-new accolade. Te inaugural "Rose of Hope" Award was presented to Dr. Andrew Salner
Dr. Salner’s legacy is defned not just by his clinical expertise, but by his profound, compassionate care. For years, he has stood as a beacon of dedication for cancer patients and their families throughout our community.
Tis award sets a new precedent for the annual event, honoring those who do the heavy lifing in oncology clinics and research labs day in and day out.
The Race to $250,000, and How You Can Help
Te generosity of the attendees was nothing short of stagering. By the time the fnal mint julep was poured, the event had already raised over $230,000
Every dollar raised from this event is funneled directly into critical areas; Patient Support Caregiver Resources Education and Researches
While $230,000 is an incredible milestone, Ron Foley Foundation’s ultimate goal of $250,000 is well within reach. Because pancreatic cancer doesn’t pause, the fundraising eforts haven’t either.
If you missed the main event but still want to make a diference in the lives of patients and researchers, the donation window remains open. Supporting this cause is a reminder that while the race is long, we are far stronger when we run it together.
To contribute to the ongoing campaign and help push them over the $250,000 fnish line, visit the Ron Foley Foundation's ofcial donation portal today.
