SEASONS of NEW HAVEN - ANTHONY MCDONALD SUMMER ARTS PREVIEW - Seasons Magazines
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SUMMER 21: Hula Dancing | Connect icut’s Kayaking Wave | Grilled Salad | Sammy Davis Jr. NEW HAVEN SEASONS of ANTHONY MCDONALD The Shubert Theatre’s New Leader SUMMER ARTS PREVIEW Live Entertainment Returns to Connecticut ®
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S easons’ Greetings Summer 2021 SEASONS of New Haven ® ® Welcome to the summer issue of Page 8. Page 24. Page 42. Page 64. Seasons Magazines! Feature Arts & Culture Delicious Entertainment Decades after leaving Yale Hula in Connecticut? It’s Take a salad from ordinary to Theaters and music venues In this issue, we’re inspired by the University, author Joyce happening at a Wallingford- extraordinary by throwing it welcome live audiences back outdoors, warmer temperatures and Visit us online at Maynard is back to finish based Polynesian dance on the grill. this summer. www.seasonsmagazines.com what she started. company. tropical locales. We take you inside a 72. Page 50. Page Wallingford-based Polynesian dance Follow us on Twitter @SeasonsMag Page 12. Page 32. Home Pets company that brings the movements Meet Innovations in The pandemic has spurred The hosts of CBS’ “Lucky – and deep meaning – behind hula to Like us on Facebook Anthony McDonald, the Health Care a booming housing market Dog” offer insights into life. We also explore the pleasures and Facebook.com/SeasonsMedia Shubert Theatre’s new Doctors at UConn Health in Connecticut, including their show and advice for pet executive director plans to approach to stroke treatment. among those shopping for parents. scenery of kayaking in Connecticut, and bring more diversity and second homes. urge you to try cooking up something new accessibility to the 100-plus- Page 36. Page 78. by throwing your salad (yes, salad) on the Seasons of New Haven ® year-old landmark. Sports Page 58. Final Thoughts grill this summer. is published by Seasons Magazines Former pro soccer player History Sometimes, life makes you James P. Tully, Owner/Publisher Page 17. Kristine Lilly molds the next Music legend Sammy Davis slow down, whether you want We’re excited to share what Connecticut Adventure generation of athletes. had a major impact on the to or not. That’s not always a Creative Director long-running golf tournament theaters have planned for the summer Kayaking has gained bad thing. Cara Rosner Stacy Wright Murray popularity since the start of now known as the Travelers and beyond. With many preparing to the pandemic. Grab a paddle Championship. Editor welcome live audiences back in person for the first time since early 2020, it’s Cara Rosner and get on the water. an exciting time as we begin to move beyond the pandemic into our “new Sales & Marketing Executive normal.” We also take look at another pandemic-inspired trend – the surge Doreen Chudoba of people buying second homes here in Connecticut – and get some expert pet advice from the husband-and-wife hosts of CBS’ “Lucky Dog.” For advertising information please As always, I encourage you to connect with us on social media and let us know what you think. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. contact Jim at (860) 413-2022 jim@seasonsmagazine.com Our flexible Happy reading, Seasons Media, LLC lending solutions Cara PO Box 92 West Simsbury, CT 06092 and experienced team may be just Cara Rosner what your business Editor Seasons Magazines “IF YOU'RE NOT needs. BAREFOOT, THEN YOU'RE OVERDRESSED.” –Unknown You can count on us. Call 860-448-4295 or visit chelseagroton.com/growthatbusiness We want to tell our readers to understand the benefit of working with a seasoned team stories about the interesting who will be with you every step of the way. people and places in our beautiful state. It’s that simple. – JIM TULLY 4 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 5
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FEATURE More to This Story Author’s Homecoming Has Been Decades in the Making I By FRANK RIZZO t’s been nearly 50 years writer I deeply admire who teaches at since Joyce Maynard was a Yale and who taught Marina.” freshman at Yale University, Fadiman recounted that she taught when she wrote her 1972 cover Maynard’s 1998 memoir, “At Home story in The New York Times in the World” in her writing class at Magazine. “An Eighteen- Yale — “and hearing that just grabbed Year-Old Looks Back on Life” was a my heart because the book had been personal, generation-defining essay that condemned and scathingly dismissed led to a relationship that would soon when it was published and it was so upend her young life and shadow her costly to my career,” says Maynard. “I own long and accomplished career. am so proud of that book.” J.D. Salinger, the celebrated-yet- Many of Fadiman’s students bought reclusive writer of the touchstone into the literary establishment view classic “The Catcher in the Rye” and at the time; they thought that by other works, had seen the Times article writing that memoir Maynard violated and began an intimate correspondence Salinger’s privacy by including their with the teenager. At the end of her relationship. “But Marina Keegan, this first year at school, Maynard dropped bright young woman, had been my out of Yale — and abandoned her defender.” scholarship — to live with the writer Keegan saw Maynard as a teenage in New Hampshire. Less than a year girl manipulated by a predator, a much later, Salinger would coldly sever older, esteemed and powerful man, and defended Maynard’s right to tell an the relationship, and the shock and Joyce Maynard in New Haven, 2021. Photo by Frank Rizzo important part of her own life story. aftershocks of that abandonment would sensitivity and engagement, Maynard wrote to Fadiman, thanked Joyce Maynard graced the resonate with her for years. reminiscent of the Times cover her, and offered to visit her class any cover of New York Times Amid many personal and photograph taken of the pretty, lithe Magazine in 1972. time. That offer was accepted and professional struggles, Maynard freshman — and the image that first Maynard’s class talks became annual persevered. She raised three children attracted Salinger. events. On one of the visits, Fadiman as a single parent; authored 18 books From her cozy, art-filled Wooster told Maynard, “You have unfinished including novels, memoirs and best- Square apartment, the New Hampshire business in New Haven.” sellers, including “To Die For” and native talks about how her return to At that time, Maynard was newly scholarship. So, at the age of 65, she delights, but it’s also been bittersweet. a dancer and I can’t do a lot of things I “Labor Day,” both which became Yale was spurred by a chance read married, had just moved to California applied to Yale through the Eli Whitney “There was some ‘closing of the would have been doing when I was 19.” starry films. She also established eight years ago of a slim volume of and, though her husband was ill, she Students Program, established for those circle,’ but there are some things you She also discovered much had herself as an inspirational writing guru, essays by another young woman from wasn’t yet prepared for the fact that who have interrupted their college cannot now claim from your youth,” she “refreshingly changed” with Yale and especially for women who wanted to Yale writing on big topics. it would lead to a wrenching decline career. says. “I’ve never been more aware since the city — but some things haven’t. In share their stories, too. That’s when she came across “The and death from pancreatic cancer. She Maynard says her goal is not to I’ve been back here of what I lost.” 1971 when she first arrived, hers was “But I always deeply regretted Opposite of Loneliness” by Marina wrote about it in her 2017 memoir complete the four-year cycle and get For this return, Maynard has just the third class since Yale went co- leaving Yale,” says Maynard. “I never Keegan, a promising writer who was “The Best of Us.” a degree — “First of all, it’s very embraced the school’s many ed for its undergrad program. She still imagined going back.” tragically killed in an auto accident “After Jim died, the whole world expensive” — but rather to get some extracurricular activities, part of Yale’s remembers the stings of discrimination Until now. days after graduating Yale and just looked different,” says Maynard, “but I semblance of the Yale experience that cultural swirl where students are and dismissiveness young women before starting work at The New knew I just couldn’t curl up in a ball. I she missed. encouraged to take on activities beyond Dr.then faced S. Jonathan from male classmates and Aranow ‘UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN Yorker. needed a big challenge.” their path of studies. “I especially especially PHOTO LEAD IN:Some of that the professors. Photo caption here. NEW HAVEN’ “Suddenly I saw my name Maynard sometimes wondered CLOSING THE CIRCLE loved performing in plays,” she says. remains, she says. At 67, Maynard still has a long- mentioned in the introduction to the what she lost in making that fateful Maynard’s return to Yale has been filled But because of the limits of her age, “I But overall students have changed for haired, wide-eye look of intelligence, collection, written by Anne Fadiman, a decision in 1973 to leave school and with academic stimulation and personal can’t be on a sports team and I can’t be the better, she says: They’re 8 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 9
™ Connecticut HAS A VOICE! VOICE TURES more diverse, more LGBTQ, more been minimally affected by the virus. was the beginning of the workshops that / COM MUN ITY / TRAVEL / FASHION / FOO D / YOUTH / HISTORY / FEA E / HEALTH challenging. It was natural refuge for Maynard. attracts about 30 people a year — now NEWS / CULTUR CT VOICE has partnered with the “They’re so sensitized now,” she Guatemala was a special and serene just women. In the absence of men, they LGTBQ community to provide a CON NECT ICUT VOIC says of her classmates. “I was talking place for her since she visited decades tend to tell more intimate stories.” CO to a couple of young women the other earlier when she joined her daughter voice for all. Every voice is unique, NN While in quarantine there, she EC day and one of them was describing who was traveling there for Spanish finished her latest and perhaps most interesting, meaningful and TI TM E CU a famous musician who came to Yale language instruction. ambitious novel — and one of her most important, and this publication has T to perform. She was assisting him and “I just intended to spend a few weeks personal, “Count the Ways” — which a duty and privilege to present oh, the things he did. ‘Now he would with her but Guatemala had this heart- have been Title IX-ed so fast,’ they will be released in early summer, those voices. grabbing effect on me. It was the first published by William Morrow. It said [referring to the law protecting year I had no children at home and I people from discrimination based on follows a woman and her family from Each issue will bring you engaging, rented a little house on the shores of sex in education programs or activities Lake Atitlan which is surrounded by the ’70s to present day, dealing with thought-provoking, and fun receiving federal financial aid]. That’s marriage, parenthood, divorce and stories. volcanoes. I wrote a novel that had an expression that wasn’t around when changing times. nothing to do with Guatemala but I I was here.” felt very inspired. It’s one of the most And because her life sometimes Follow us on Instagram, Maynard is especially appreciative makes it ways into her writing, a book Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn. extraordinary and beautiful places on of the personal connections she’s made about her return to Yale is in the works the planet.” We’d love to hear your thoughts with many of her fellow students, most and is expected to be published next year, marking the 50th anniversary of and story ideas. of them many decades her junior. “I really love being around them and her Times essay. they’re so sweet,” she says. “I host “I look back at the last four years, FOR ADVERTISING many of them at my home here in an when I watched a man I adored die INFORMATION CONTACT MONTTIH informal writing group. They write and slowly and excruciatingly, and I could jim@seasonsmagazines.com we talk about what they’ve written. I not have imagined I would be here CUT IN CONNEC sometimes get an email from a student now,” she says. “It gives me — and who asks if we could have lunch and I know it would have given Jim — SPRI NG 2021 they usually want to talk about their enormous pleasure that I made a good writing and I just love that.” life. “I love New Haven. I ride my bike PANDEMIC RESET everywhere. I love the farmers’ markets. Maynard’s Yale experience was I’m a country person basically, but this upended last year when the pandemic city works for a small-town person. I struck. never think about retiring, but if I were In March 2020 during spring break, a retiring type I would much sooner see Maynard was in the Mayan village of myself here because there is so much San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala teaching her annual memoir writing At that same time, she learned she to take in and it’s so nourishing of the workshop there for women. “Personal lost her savings due to a disreputable spirit. storytelling has been a big part of my investment advisor — “and suddenly “I don’t ask myself where I am life that I’ve been teaching for years.” I had nothing. So I put a notice on the going next but you know there was With Yale shut down and people internet that I would be having a writing actually a house that was for sale on quarantined around the globe, she and several of the women decided to remain workshop. I had to figure out some way Court Street and I thought, ‘Hmmm,’” to do something. I housed them. I did she says laughing with a shrug, “But www.CTVOICE.com in Guatemala, which at that time had the cooking. I did everything. And that now these places cost a fortune.” 10 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 11
MEET Setting the Stage The Shubert’s New Leader Has a Clear, Inclusive Vision for the Future S Written by CARA ROSNER / Photographed by STAN GODLEWSKI ince taking over as the Shubert Theatre’s as we say. And then I would say my next two favorite executive director in mid-March, Anthony shows are by the same artist, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and McDonald has hit the ground running. When those would be In the Heights and Hamilton. he’s not managing logistics for the “new All three of these shows I love for different reasons, normal” when live audiences will return to whether it is the spectacle, the show, the voices of the the theater or getting to know local performers and arts actors, the style of dance, including elements of hip-hop leaders, he’s crafting his vision for the 100-plus-year- into the lyrics – they all are fun to watch and definitely old Shubert – one that’s more inclusive, diverse and leave an impression. accessible than ever before. McDonald’s background is largely in theater Q: What excites you most about your new role management. Most recently, he worked with the at the Shubert? Nederlander Producing Co. of America at both the A: What excites me about the job and this position is Minskoff Theatre and the Gershwin Theatre, home to a sheer matter of opportunity. We have to grow our Disney’s The Lion King and Wicked, respectively. He audience base and really shake up how we’re perceived has served as general manager, general management in the community. I know we’ve probably been seen consultant, and company manager for various Broadway by some as a place that may only cater to a small productions. demographic of this community. And especially when He brings a unique perspective to his role at the you look at a lot of our past programming, it’s been really Shubert, and recently took some time to discuss his vision Broadway-centric. And even though I’m coming from for the future. the world of Broadway, I also know that Broadway isn’t Q: What drew you to a career in theater? always something that connects with everyone. A: Theater has been a part of my life now since about There’s so much more out there that we can also sixth grade. What drew me to this world is really just my present and bring to our theater. As an organization we love for the art. I grew up performing and around all the realize that we have to intentionally begin to shift our different forms of the arts – vocal, instrumental, dance, programming model in order to gain the attention of the and of course theater. whole community in New Haven. And it doesn’t mean I also had really supportive parents who somewhat we’re going stop bringing our Broadway shows, but it steered me, I would say, more into the business side of means we’re going to expand our programming and make theater when I went to undergrad at Howard University. sure that we bring more diverse, more culturally specific At the end of the day, though, of course I don’t mind; programming to our stage and, subsequently, to the I have no complaints. I love what I do, and having this community. platform now, I really look forward to just making some We as an organization understand that we can do better, positive change in the community. we can be better. From the top down, everyone seems to understand that if we don’t begin to really open up our Q: What are some of your personal favorite doors and expand our audience base, and also just expand shows to see live? what we’re known for doing, then we may not be here A: I would say I have three favorite Broadway shows, for 10 or 20 years from now. We’ve got to make sure that sure. Starting with the very first show I ever saw, which [everyone in the community] knows that we exist and was Phantom of the Opera. My parents took me to see wants to come into our doors, wants to come and support that show in sixth grade and that’s when I caught the bug, us because of what we’re bringing to that stage. 12 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 13
counterparts in the state, the other performing arts center leaders. And as I’m relatively new, I’m still meeting artists and other leaders within the community as well. I could be working on how we roll out our season announcement, or speaking with our amazing grant writer. Every day is a little bit different and poses different challenges but, thankfully, I really enjoy most of what I’m doing and I really have no complaints. Everything is right now kind of just geared towards [getting ready to have live audiences again]. Preparing, rehiring a staff now to be able to be ready for that moment where we can finally see people smiling and excited and jittery from the fact that it’s been probably a year and a half since they’ve been able to sit in a theater and experience something live. Q: What are you looking forward to about working in New Haven? A: There are quite a few things that I’m looking forward to. One of them is supporting my new friend, Shelley [Quiala], who’s the executive director at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, in addition to my other new friend, Jacob [Padron], the artistic director at Long Wharf Q: How has the theater adapted during the Theatre. I heard a lot of great things about Long Wharf pandemic? before I even got to new Haven, so I’m really now looking A: We did a lot more virtual programming than we ever forward to seeing the magic that he creates on that stage. probably have done before. We also did a series where The entire theater community in New Haven has begun we were getting local artists, more so the music genre, a transformation. It’s an interesting time to be, as one and giving them a platform to once again perform for our would say, alive in New Haven – with our institutions, like audience. I would say moving forward, when it comes to mine and Long Wharf and Arts & Ideas, having all this our programming side, we are now definitely gearing back new blood, all these new fresh ideas. It’s a cool time to be up to have a live audience once more. here and to just be a part of that wave. Outside of programming, we’re trying to also figure out ways to try to give back to the community [such as hosting Q: What are your goals for the Shubert, recent COVID-19 pop-up vaccination clinics]. For me, it’s this year and beyond? honestly just trying to figure out what else can we do as A: My hope for the Shubert Theatre is that we find a an organization that can connect with this community that way to make our entire community feel welcomed, seen, doesn’t always have to be some form of entertainment. heard, and appreciated. It’s making sure that we are Something that I definitely do want to explore in always inviting everyone to see all of our shows, and not the future is to see how we can make our theater making any assumptions on what may interest someone. more accessible to the community, whether it’s from It also then means having some intentionality in our a socioeconomic standpoint or it’s an able-body programming, making sure we’re not only presenting a accessibility kind of issue, whether someone has pre- diverse set of productions – dance, comedy, music, theater existing conditions now and doesn’t necessarily want to – but, within those worlds, we’re also finding diverse take that chance of coming back into an audience or into a talent. crowd. What else can we do to offer them an opportunity I also want to find ways to help our community-based to still experience the magic of what we do? I don’t like artists gain access to our stage. If I could find a way to the idea of just saying, ‘No, sorry, you can’t come.’ That’s help subsidize the costs, to allow them to showcase their not okay. work on our stage more often, then we open up ourselves to expanding our audience base and expanding the Q: What’s a typical work day like for you? potential possibilities that may not have always been fully A: How I start my day when I head to the office is usually realized or explored before. Without community support driving in the car, because I’m actually currently in and generosity, we would not have been able to sustain Stamford. So it’s driving up 95, listening to Joel Osteen on ourselves for over 100 years now, so now I just want to XM radio and kind of starting my day in a positive way. make sure we find a way to inspire, invite and partner with However, one day can consist of back-to-back meetings the next generation so that we will be around for another with senior leadership, to my staff, to speaking with my 100 years. 14 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 15
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Glastonbury has a new business this season, begun by Bernice Mariqueo and her father Ricardo. AquaventuresCT is at South Glastonbury Seaboard Marina and rents kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and paddle boats on the Connecticut River. Get Out On the Water Mariqueo, who grew-up kayaking in To find some of the best places Connecticut, says, “It’s a fun outdoor activity that to kayak – as well as safety tips, really brings families together.” information on etiquette, and more – “We have a lot of reservations from big groups visit the Connecticut Department of getting together with friends families and kids.” Energy and Environmental Protection And a lot of gal pals. at portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Boating. With beginners, she says, “We give them a lesson how to paddle. No one has too much trouble learning for the first time.” Part of the attraction, she says, is that “anyone can learn how to do it; it’s something we can just do instead of go learn.” Chris Burke, who sells and rents kayaks at Indian River Marine and Kayak in Clinton, thinks renting is one of the best ways for anyone to get their feet wet. “It’s a wonderful way to get on the water,” Burke says, and those who take to the sport can spend as little as a few hundred dollars buying a used kayak. He sells mostly new kayaks ranging in prices of about $450 to over $3,000. “There’s no maintenance to kayaks, you don’t need a boat slip, you don’t need engines, you don’t need mechanics, you don’t need a lot of the things that are a hindrance to the average person to get on the water,” Burke says. Although Burke sells inflatable paddleboards, he has a warning about inflatable kayaks, which are not as rigid as paddlers might prefer on open water such as Long Island Sound. Users of inflatables, he says with a laugh, “get three workouts: one when Sue Warner, who has owned you bring and inflate it, one when you paddle, and Collinsville Canoe and Kayak with another when you try to get the air out of it.” her husband Jon for 31 years. “With the pandemic,” she says, “Kayaking is more popular than ever.” Cassandra Eilers of West Hartford at a Southington Paddle Sara Valleca of Roxbury, (on paddleboard,) leads a Southington Paddle Meetup Group event Meetup Group event at Crescent Lake in Southington. “I think it’s a combination of being “We had a tremendous interest all JOINING THE at Crescent Lake in a perfect thing to do and being able through the winter. All the people who Southington. to socially distance. People also had a couldn’t get a boat during last season BOATING BUNCH Unlike many outdoor sports, greater appreciation for the outdoors decided to get them for themselves recreational kayaking has a very small after being cooped up in their houses early. We’ve had two groups Burke’s partner, Sarah Thompson, has some advice as well learning curve as it doesn’t require and realizing any outdoor activity was from Michigan, one from Indiana. — size is important, and linked to where you intend to kayak. hours of lessons and practice to enjoy. a safe thing to do,” says Sue Warner, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, “If you’re on the ocean you want at least a 12-footer. If you’re And finding out if you like it is easy the owner of Collinsville Canoe and Virginia and all parts of New England. sticking to ponds or lakes a 10-footer is fine,” she says. and relatively inexpensive, with Kayak for the past 31 years. We’ve had people drive 35 hours round Kayaks have been around for well over 4,000 years. The New rental prices starting as low as $15 High demand meant a slow supply of trip to get a boat from us,” Warner World Encyclopedia says they were developed by indigenous an hour along the coastline — from kayaks, leaving outfitters scrambling to says. people primarily to hunt the rivers, lakes, and coastline of the Stamford to Mystic — and inland at help new enthusiasts. Warner only sells at the store or Arctic. They were made from animal skins stretched over frames places like Scoot and Paddle on Lake “We were able to get a decent delivers, and warns about having a usually made from whalebone (no trees in the Arctic). Housatonic in Derby, or The Happiest inventory but not nearly as much as kayak shipped. They’re just too easy to Contemporary kayaks haven’t strayed much from the original Paddler on Lake Pocotopaug in East we would have liked,” Warner says, damage along the way: “We’ve even designs, although they are no longer made from animal skins. Hampton. And there are new places adding that she remained busy even seen kayaks that have had forklifts go Fabric kayaks on wooden frames dominated the market up until taking advantage of the sport’s rise in through the off-season months. right through them.” the 1950s, when fiberglass boats were introduced. In 1973, popularity. rotomolded plastic kayaks first appeared. These boats, which are 18 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 19
Brothers Michael Martin (left) of Burlington and Nathan Martin of Bristol kayak the Farmington River after renting from Collinsville Canoe and Kayak. 20 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 21
Southington Paddle Kayak Meetup Group this past April (you can find it on meetup.com). THE GOLD STANDARD IN She organizes group paddles for kayakers and paddleboarders, a few times a month on weekend mornings and weekday evenings. MAGAZINE PUBLISHING One of her recent attendees was Cassandra Eilers of West Hartford. “I used to row crew so I was always on the water. I joined Meetup because I don’t have a favorite place to kayak, and this is nice because Seasons Media congratulates our contributors for recently you can find other people and connect,” Eilers winning the 2020 Excellence in Journalism awards from says. “I like the tranquility of kayaking alone, but I think the meetup group is great in terms of the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists exploring new places. It’s nice to have a little bit of both.” Lisa Dostie Fitch, who has been renting kayaks Seasons Magazines contributors recently earned to boaters for a little over five years at Quinnipiac the following 2020 Excellence in Journalism awards: River Marina Kayak Rental in New Haven, favors Todd Fairchild: First Place, COVID-related photo Lisa Dostie Fitch, owner kayaking on the Quinnipiac River. It’s a dynamic of the Quinnipiac River area, where the fresh water of the river meets the Sean Wang: First Place, Editorial Cartoon Marina in New Haven, salt water of Long Island Sound, she says. John Torsiello: First Place, Sports Feature where she rents kayaks. “It’s a perfect nursery for oyster beds,” she says, “And it’s an historic area because the Quinnipiac Stan Godlewski: First Place, feature photo and smaller, stronger, more resilient, and less expensive than [Native Americans] used to summer there.” Second Place, feature photo those made of other materials, helped make kayaking the Kayakers can also beach their boats and walk the trails of the Matthew Dicks: First Place, Humorous Column accessible and popular activity it is today. Fargeorge Nature Preserve, home to osprey, clapper rails, herons, greater yellowlegs, and spotted sandpiper hawks, Tony Bacewicz: First Place, Photo Essay GETTING YOUR FEET WET turtles, and deer and many others. Cara McDonough: Second Place, Education For those just starting-out, some of the best ways to find “But you have to be aware of the currents and be aware Reporting new people and places for kayaking are meet-up groups of your surroundings,” says Dostie Fitch, who recommends online. kayaking about four hours after high tide, particularly for Stacy Murray: Second Place, Page Layout Sara Valleca of Roxbury loves the tranquility of kayaking beginners, to take advantage of the calmer water. Winter Caplanson: Second Place, Photo Essay and “being able to enjoy the outdoors and listen to the hum “You get to experience a different viewpoint of New of all the nature that surrounds you.” Haven,” she says. “I believe it’s the best part of New Cindy Simoneau: Third Place, Arts and Looking to find fellow paddlers, she started the Haven.” Entertainment Reporting Connecticut Voice contributors recently earned the following 2020 Excellence in Journalism awards: Dawn Ennis: First Place, Video Storytelling and Second Place, Video Storytelling Jane Latus: First Place, Diversity Coverage Carol Latter: First Place, In-Depth Reporting Dawn Ennis: Third Place, Diversity Coverage John Torsiello: Third Place, Sports Feature Michael and Nathan Martin on the Farmington River. Visit seasonsmagazines.com and ctvoice.com 22 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 23
ARTS & CULTURE Hula Dancing in Connecticut A Polynesian Dance Studio Aims to Brings Deeper Meaning to Life A By ANNA ZUCKERMAN-VDOVENKO / Photos by EYE ON THE WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY s residents of our New Englanders have found their great Through different artistic methods, beautiful state of escape from routine in the embrace of Polynesians tell of creation and Connecticut, we enjoy Polynesian dancing. history, and share reverence for their New England life community. It is important to keep mightily, but that doesn’t ISLAND STATE OF MIND in mind that the ancient Polynesians mean we don’t long for a break from Whether a novice dancer or a originally came to settle there from the mercurial weather and do-it-yourself professional, while engaging in thousands of miles over the seas, lifestyle that is part of our proud culture Polynesian dance, one is privy to certain using just the stars and the currents to here. thought processes born from life on navigate from other islands. They were In fact, during certain times of year, some of the most beautiful islands in brave, determined, proud people with we may often find ourselves fantasizing the world. Within the vast lasso among survival skills that allowed for voyages about warm weather destinations. Easter Island (native name: Rapa Nui), across vast tracts of wild ocean. The Suppress it as we may, who can resist New Zealand (Aotearoa), Marquesas dances born from these Indigenous the notion of an escape from all that leaf Islands, Tahiti, and Hawaii, Polynesians peoples reflect their ancestral vitality blowing, snow shovelling, and skidding have long sustained a breadth of and joy for life. The sheer mystical on ice? different cultures, languages, dances, beauty of their islands and the reverence Believe it or not, certain unique cosmologies, and ways of life. for their history has become infused Some of the Kaiholunuie hula dancers in their formal Jasmin (Pikake) expresses and gracious Halau (studio) her love of hula in the dress. Tahitian dance. 24 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 25
Portrait of “Aunty” Kaye Colello as she watches her dancers perform. within their dance. And the dance has migrated to the Nutmeg State, too. Kaiholunuie Polynesian Dance Company, based in Wallingford, was founded in 2004 by Kekai (Kaye) Colello, the company’s artistic director, who has more than 45 years of Polynesian dance experience. An English teacher by day, Colello began to teach Polynesian dance out of her home as she completed graduate school, only wanting to pass on the traditions of her Hula lineage that had been bequeathed to her since childhood. The name Kaiholunuie came to Colello in a dream. The word “kai” – also embedded in her own given first name – means “ocean.” To her, it symbolizes the esteemed ocean adjacent to the land on which she played as a child. For Colello, the Pacific Ocean is a grand and mysterious place that ties the peoples of Oceania together. At Kaiholunuie, students learn Hula – an art form intrinsic to self-expression on the islands of Hawaii and a sacred, physical expression of Hawaiian history, genealogies, and stories that have both evolved and remained constant throughout time. It is a dance inextricably tied to the “Aloha,” a deep, emotional word that has no English equivalent, but rather encompasses an expanse of meanings surrounding love, compassion, humility, and life. It is a testament to Indigenous resiliency, tenacity, and strength. Colello and her fellow instructors also teach dances from throughout Polynesia, welcoming newcomers of all backgrounds to learn and participate. But the studio teaches more than dance, as students often engage in workshops where they learn the skills needed to assemble their own garments, create handmade Gabby Colello lets the spirit leis used in costuming, craft Pasifika musical instruments, of the dance move her. and engage in academic lessons on topics such as history. Why is this important? As New Englander Henry David Thoreau once said, “in wildness is the preservation of the world.” But it seems even more accurate to state: “In wildness and culture is the preservation of the world.” If we should lose such places and ancient customs that give life meaning, we stand on a tragic precipice where we no 26 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 27
proffering many Polynesian numbers determination to convert Indigenous American businessmen supported by the Even the Hawaiian language is to entertain their audiences, just as people to their way of thinking. At the U.S. military who happened to be there practiced at the Kaiholunuie studio. they might at a celebration on the Big time, they believed Hula was far too rife at the time. Subsequently, the rights of Colello’s outreach preserves what is Island. with alluring movements that horrified the local Hawaiian populace were taken precious, sharing the complexities of Colello says in the beginning, them and seemed despicable. Over the away. Hula lovingly with others, even those she had no plans to create a dance years following, Hula nearly died out as Liliu’okalani wrote famous anthems with no connection to Polynesian company. She simply wanted to a result. and songs that became a part of the ethnicity. bring people together and teach them But in time, Hula experienced lexicon used in ceremonies and in As Colello has often said: “There is a to dance. However, over the years, a revival and Hawaiian language modern Hula. This talented leader fine line between cultural appropriation through word of mouth and love of gradually resurfaced in education. was jailed in her own home and and cultural appreciation.” No one the dance, her classes grew into a Learning Hawaiian is popular at the subsequently tried in Honolulu for walks that line more gracefully than she thriving business. Her studio is now University of Hawaii and is now given treason against the new regime that does. home to a blossoming multicultural its due as a true reaffirmation of joy. had stolen her country from her. Perhaps best of all, Hula allows her group of adults, young people, and This cultural renaissance speaks truth to Washington, D.C. did nothing to students to feel empowerment through keiki (children) who join each other as the mind and heart. support the overthrown queen. The movements, centuries old. Undeniably, extended family to learn the different Many people don’t realize that Hawaiians were ill-treated and stripped there is a newfound, burgeoning forms of Polynesian dance. Hawaii was once a great Kingdom, of their lands. Ongoing work of awareness of how special and necessary Christi Colello She hopes her students will become united by brave chiefs who fought activists, educators, and scholars has are the customs of Indigenous peoples more globally aware of the many tooth and nail to unite the warring kept the last queen’s quest to recognize throughout the world. beautiful cultures, traditions, values, tribes that immigrated there on double- the monarchy alive. Kaiholunuie steadfastly maintains and belief systems that makes the hulled canoes from thousands of miles New England missionaries from the a commitment to authenticity as its world an invaluable classroom to away. Before the missionaries and early 19th century spawned their own instructors strive to be inclusive to all longer comprehend our meaningful tell a story of the song, a complex explore. colonization, Hawaiians were living in breed of cancel culture, putting the those who seek deeper knowledge of place in existence. So, it might not be language that becomes second nature to a paradise free of disease, with plentiful kibosh on all things Hula. So it seems Polynesian culture and share in Aloha. all that surprising that New Englanders those who study the art form. Gestures OVERCOMING HISTORICAL food and a proud artistic heritage. only fitting that here in Connecticut, the For more information about who can appreciate that sentiment may depict various subjects described STRUGGLES Hawaii’s last queen, Liliu’okalani, art of Hula is being practiced, preserved, classes or performance bookings, would embrace a Polynesian dance in a song: for example, movement It was the 19th century missionaries was overthrown by aggressive and given the respect it deserves. visit Kaiholunuie.com. company thousands of miles from of the ocean, swimming fish, falling from New England who were squarely Oceania. rain, emotions of love and attraction, responsible for putting a stop to this art colorful flowers, and beautiful birds. of dance, which shocked and offended “AUNTY KAYE” Tahitian dance for women is them. Colello, as lead instructor at notoriously fast and can be extremely Henry Opukaha’ia was a young Kaiholunuie, is respectfully known difficult to master. Simply put, merchant sailor from Hawaii who to all her students as “Aunty Kaye.” the women’s dances of Tahiti are landed in a missionary school based in She is a fount of knowledge pertaining an ebullient, joyful, jaw-dropping Cornwall, Connecticut. He converted to cultures that spawned a myriad of performance that can only be quantified to Christianity and told students of dance styles, each one significant to the as a highly respectable celebration of the faraway land where people lived islands from whence they come. culture. The lilting, lyrical Hawaiian so differently. Inspired by his faith, Her particular love of Hula since Hula is perhaps best known to those of he and others made plans to go on a youth always remained deep in her us on the mainland; it is an expression mission back to Hawaii in order to heart like an ember, reminding her of beauty in which every poetic convert his Hawaiian community, but of all the life lessons she had learned movement concurrently illustrates a he died in his mid-20s, before he could from her Kumu Hula (or master word, a thought, and a feeling. accomplish his goal. Hula teacher). Those lessons are You might ask, why would any Others from his coterie, who later grace, humbleness, light, and most New Englander want to participate in lived in Massachusetts, sailed to importantly, Aloha. Today, Hula is Polynesian dancing? What relevance Hawaii in his stead. Hundreds of once again central in her life, and could this form of dance possibly have whaling vessels based in Nantucket the joy of sharing it with others is to a Connecticut resident? and New Bedford, Massachusetts, also something she is so grateful for. Traditional dance is replete with made the long trip to Hawaii around Aunty Kaye imparts her own meaning and allows the participant Cape Horn into the Pacific annually. handcrafted, encyclopaedic information to focus on artistic movements that Sailors accidentally brought unfamiliar to her students, who hang upon every resonate within the body – gestures that diseases to Hawaii, tragically causing word she utters. She is such a talent have lasted for centuries. At Aunty some Indigenous populations to that often she brings her audiences to Kaye’s dance studio, the sacred magic plummet by nearly 90 percent. tears just from watching her expressive of Oceania is always waiting for her As the strict missionaries settled the Hula tells stories of history, “lovely Hula hands.” students – real and tangible. islands and began to colonize, they emotion and cultural pride. The dances of Polynesia are as Kaiholunuie dancers perform all over were determined to blot out certain various as the countless scores of New England – at festivals, schools, aspects of the culture that seemed islands themselves. Hand movements private parties and public events – at cross-purposes with their own 28 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 29
bamboo mazes Rocket Science #3, Airstream Interplanetary Explorer HOGPEN HILL FARMS EDWARD TUFTE ARTWORKS OPEN THIS SUMMER WOODBURY, CT INFORMATION AND TICKETS AT WWW.TUFTE.COM ‘Wild, whimsical, grand, incredibly beautiful sculptures: stainless steel surfaces reflecting Summer of Soccer every nuance of light, lacy stone walls, silent boulder megaliths." Michele McDonald, Boston Globe ‘North America’s best sculpture park: Edward Tufte’s Hogpen Hill Farms’ Philip Greenspun Miles of walking paths, joyous beautiful open space and artworks. Also studio show of indoor artworks, stainless steel Feynman diagrams, prints, books on data visualization and analysis, including new ET book Seeing with Fresh Eyes: Meaning, Space, Data, Truth. ‘Edward Tufte is the revelatory retina of our time, ever connecting eye and brain in enlightening new ways. He creates masterpieces about design that are themselves masterpieces of design. Seeing with Fresh Eyes: Meaning, Space, Data, Truth is a completely delicious work.’ Stewart Brand, creator of the Whole Earth Catalog ‘All communicators should read Edward Tufte’s latest book. Every page is packed with stunning visual and written insights on the art of communication, by ET who sees the world with the freshest of eyes.’ Natalie Wolchover, Quanta For the full Schedule, Tickets, and more info, ‘This new book by the pioneer of data visualization, Edward Tufte, go to HartfordAthletic.com is stunning. Getting a copy made my day.’ Eric Topol, Medscape Editor-in-chief, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research Institute HOGPEN HILL FARMS, WOODBURY, CT GRAPHICS PRESS, CHESHIRE,CT WWW.TUFTE.COM
INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH CARE A New Era for Brain Care W By ALIX BOYLE / Photography courtesy of UConn Health hen Dr. John Greenfield joined in stroke care. That means that most patients who come in the UConn Health Department of with acute stroke get tPA (tissue plasminogen activator, the Neurology in 2016, the treatment clot-busting drug) within 60 minutes of arrival. Being fast is options for acute stroke were limited. important, since the longer you wait before treating a stroke, UConn could provide a clot-busting the more brain cells you are losing. Getting the award means drug to appropriate patients, but did that the system of stroke care works really well, since a lot not have treatments to offer if you arrived more than a few of things have to happen quickly. We’re also certified by hours after your stroke or had bleeding into the brain. Now, The Joint Commission (a patient safety organization) as a the UConn stroke team includes interventionalists who guide Primary Stroke Center, which means we meet their criteria catheter tubes into brain arteries to pull out blood clots, and for providing high-quality stroke care. We now have a great neurointensivists who manage severe brain hemorrhages. reputation, and the ambulance services and EMTs know that Patients can get state-of-the-art care right in their own patients will do best if they are treated at a hospital like ours, backyard. so the number of stroke patients we see goes up every year. Neurologists treat an enormous variety of diseases of the Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. We brain, nerves, and muscles. Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, see strokes in patients of all ages, but the norm is people in epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis their 50s through 80s and are all very different, and higher. We have given tPA each of these conditions is to people in their 90s, and A PHYSICIAN WITH 30 best managed by a neurologist they do quite well. YEARS EXPERIENCE: Dr. John Greenfield gives patients state- with advanced training in that of-the-art care and access to specific area. UConn Health has Q: WHAT HAPPENS the most advanced treatments developed programs directed in neurology. Photo by Tina WHEN A STROKE Encarnacion, UConn Health by subspecialty-trained experts PATIENT ARRIVES AT to treat all of these diseases and UCONN? more. A. First, patients have a CT “When I went into neurology scan to make sure there is 30 years ago, it had an no hemorrhage. We find out undeserved reputation as a field when the symptoms came STROKE CENTER: Dr. Sanjay where you could diagnose a on, and if there are any Mittal (left) is medical director of the UConn Health Stroke huge variety of diseases and contraindications, like if Center, and Jennifer Sposito Dr. John Greenfield (right), chair of the UConn Health Department not treat any of them,” said of Neurology, consults with Dr. Jaime Imitola, medical director of the patient has had surgery (right) is its clinical program Greenfield, who is an expert in UConn Health’s Multiple Sclerosis Center. Photo by Tina Encarnacion, recently or is on a blood- coordinator. epilepsy and chair of neurology UConn Health thinning drug. The tPA is (Note, this photo was taken at UConn Health. “The tag line an enzyme that basically before universal masking in was ‘diagnose and adios.’ Now, we have effective treatments health care settings). chews up blood clots. If you don’t give it early enough, for almost all of these conditions. It’s an exciting time the part of the brain affected by the clot can’t be saved, and Photo by Kristin Wallace, to be a neurologist, with the tremendous advances in our there’s also a risk that tPA can cause a hemorrhage. We UConn Health understanding of the brain and its diseases. We have so many have a window of 4½ hours from when the patient was last more treatments than we had 20 or 30 years ago.” seen well. We get a CT angiogram to image the arteries in Greenfield outlined the growth of neurology services at the neck and brain to see if there is a clot blocking the flow. UConn Health in a recent interview. There is also CT perfusion scan that looks at blood flow to the brain. Dye is injected into the blood stream to image the Q. CAN YOU SAY MORE ABOUT blood vessels and how quickly blood gets into the brain. We THE STROKE PROGRAM? use an artificial intelligence software called RAPID/AI that A. It started in 2013 after we recruited Dr. Sanjay Mittal can help us interpret the blood flow in the brain to see if the from Geisinger. He had built the stroke program there and patient is a candidate for intervention. The software analyzes knew how to bring together the people and resources at the flow and color-codes how long it takes the blood to get UConn to make it work like a well-oiled machine. We have there. Green is the savable area that gets blood late but is still improved over the years how quickly patients get access to alive, and red is the dead area where there is no blood flow, clot-busting drugs. This year, we received the American Heart that won’t survive. If the green area that shows brain that can Association’s “Get with the Guidelines” award for excellence be saved is big enough, and there is a clot that is reachable 32 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 Seasons Magazines • SUMMER 2021 33
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