NewHartfordPlus.com

New Hartford usually rings in the Holiday Season during the first weekend in December.  Following is a record of this year’s festivities, from Bakerville to New Hartford Center.

Friday, December 2: Bakerville Holiday Festival

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The festivities at the Bakerville Library on Friday evening, December 2 included Mrs. Claus in the small building next to the library

The Silent Auction in full swing at the Bakerville Library

The Bakerville tree is lit in the Yates' side yard

The bonfire that's traditionally part of the Bakerville festivities

Hot drinks were available to ward away the cold

Sunday, December 4: Breakfast With Santa

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The busy entrance to Breakfast With Santa at Antolini School

First time on Santa's lap

Children busy at the craft table

Impromptu entertainment during breakfast

Sunday, December 4: ‘Light New Hartford’

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Caroling at Light New Hartford

The line waiting to get inside the Torrington Savings Bank where Santa was seated

Santa's lap provides a good vantage point for this young man

Santa gives a little encouragement

The awesome New Hartford fire truck seen across the Bardens' wagon which served as Santa's "sleigh" for the ride downtown

The ice sculptures are a favorite for both young and older

The tree is lit!

HUGE Thanks: To the following groups whose hard-working members brought us a weekend packed with holiday fun:

• The Friends of the Bakerville Library and the Library Board who brought us the Bakerville Holiday Festival;
• The Members of the New Hartford Women’s Club who brought us ‘Breakfast With Santa;’
• The Members of the New Hartford Business Council who brought us ‘Light New Hartford.’
• The Members of the North Congregational Church who hosted a delicious Holiday Dinner prior to ‘Light New Hartford.’

Video of Holiday Festivities

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A short video of the weekend’s Holiday Festivities will be added shortly.

Volunteers from The New Hartford Garden Club assist in the upkeep and restoration of the Old Nepaug Cemetery

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By: Mary Femniak

Digging a trench for the bulbs

November brought a hearty Garden Club work crew to the Old Nepaug Cemetery for the planting of 200 daffodil bulbs in a third year of effort to brighten the little cemetery on Route 202. Customarily outside the non-profit Garden Club’s town projects, members rallied around fellow member Linda Dryansky when she became involved with maintaining the Old Nepaug Cemetery and quickly realized it was a far more extensive project than initially anticipated. The list of necessities grew overwhelming as mowing, weed control, bulb planting, repairs and preservation of the stones, etc. were initiated by the intrepid but diminutive crew.

The town’s past is carved in each stone and history deeply marks the hallowed ground. The Old Nepaug Cemetery holds 161 interments… and while most of the graves are from the 1800’s, the oldest stone is the grave of Shubael Crow (a Veteran Revolutionary War Pensioner) marking his death in 1798. Obelisks, carved stone, grave stones, markers and sculptures requiring repair, cleaning and straightening await the spring when volunteers will have at it once more.

A restored headstone at the Old Nepaug Cemetery

Plans are to organize a separate and dedicated non-profit to manage the care and restoration of the cemetery as well as chronicle the compelling history represented by each headstone. If you have been seeking a rewarding way to contribute to a community project and would like to help, please contact Linda at lindadryansky@sbcglobal.net. Our winter wish list is: A non-profit guru who can shepherd volunteers through the process of setting up the organization, a marketer who can create and discharge press releases as needed, an IT nerd to create a web site, a biography buff/historian to search out and record the family histories from the stones, and volunteers to bring energy and ideas. Donations are welcome and will be used for cemetery repair and upkeep.

Garden enthusiasts are encouraged to consider joining The New Hartford Garden Club; the membership fee for this rewarding nonprofit community-minded group is $15.00 a year. To learn more about the 50-year-old New Hartford Garden Club find us on Facebook or email us at NewHartfordGardenClub@gmail.com.

Members of the New Hartford Garden Club at the bulb planting in the Old Nepaug Cemetery. Photo: Mary Femniak

A statue in the Old Nepaug Cemetery. Photo: Mary Femniak

Today, on Thanksgiving Day, as we celebrate the Freedom from Want, the 3rd of the 4 freedoms laid out by President Roosevelt in his message to Congress in 1941, we’d like to remind everyone of those 4 essential freedoms which provide the bedrock of our community:

1. Freedom of Speech;
2. Freedom of Worship;
3. Freedom from Want;
4. Freedom from Fear.

May we, on Thanksgiving Day, and every day, work towards actualizing the 4 freedoms for everyone in our community, young and old, rich and poor, native or newcomer.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The 4 Freedoms illustrated by Norman Rockwell in 1943

Listen to an excerpt of President Roosevelt’s Message to Congress in which he enumerates the 4 freedoms.

Visit the National Archives’ Powers of Persuasion: Poster Art from World War II, Four Freedoms to learn about the creation of the 4 Freedoms illustrations and their integration into a war bond drive.

Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum online. The museum is located in Stockbridge, Mass., a short drive from New Hartford.

By: Andrew Pelletier

Welcome to the third edition of the Upper Farmington Sportsman’s Journal. November is the month that our nation gives thanks and deer camp and deer hunting is on every sportsman’s mind. For thousands of years, many cultures have hunted and thanked the spirits of the animals that provided them with skins for clothing, bones for tool making and lean meat protein to sustain their people. We’ll take a look at how different cultures have honored and continue to honor the spirits of the game they harvest. We’ll offer up some deer camp recipes and we’ll hit the salt out of Point Judith for some late fall Cod fishing and a chance to fill the freezer with some tasty filets. Throw another log in the stove and pour another mug of java and enjoy the November Deer Camp Edition of Upper Farmington Sportsman’s Journal.

Thanksgiving

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I remember the first bird I ever took while hunting, a hen pheasant. I recall how sobering the moment was, how I thought that there was no such thing as “catch and release” in hunting. I remember offering some silent words of thanks in my mind to the bird’s spirit, a promise that its life was not taken in malice and would not be wasted. I recall how delicious that bird was at the table and how I used its feathers to tie flies with. Over thirty years later that pheasant lives in my memory because I honored its spirit. It’s a tradition that I continue to this day with all creatures I harvest, large or small – finned, furred or feathered.

I recall an interesting article about different cultures around the world and how they pay homage or give thanks to an animal they’ve harvested. In Germany it’s called “Letzer Biss” or last bite. A sprig of evergreen is broken, not cut, and dipped in the animal’s blood. The hunter, or “jaeger,” places the sprig in the animal’s mouth and the animal’s spirit is thanked. The jaeger then places the sprig in their hat band, on the left, and is worn there until the evening. The sprigs are saved, and displayed as a symbol of reverence and remembrance of the animal. North American Indians sprinkled cornmeal or tobacco around the animal’s mouth as an offering to the animal’s spirit. They believed that the animals they hunted would only reveal themselves when they offered themselves to the hunter as a gift to their people. If the hunter who took the animal did not offer a prayer or tobacco ceremony to the animal’s spirit, that hunter would never again be offered the gift of meat, hide, bones and sinew for his people.

Some cultures believe that stepping over or straddling an animal is offensive to its spirit. I also make it a point not to celebrate until the animal has expired. I find it disrespectful when the guys on these hunting shows are laughing, high-fiving and fist-bumping even before the animal is down or while ducks or geese are falling from the sky or wing-beating on the ground or water. There is nothing more solemn than taking a life, no matter how great or small. Poaching and disobeying hunting laws and regulations is the ultimate in disrespect.

What can the modern hunter do to pay homage to game they harvest? Start by being as skilled as you can be. Know your hunting implements and practice at being the best shot you can be. Bow, shotgun or rifle… shot placement is critical to a quick and humane kill. Don’t take risky shots out of range or through thick brush and wait for the cleanest shot possible. Use a scope if your eyes are not as keen as they used to be. Be the best tracker you can be. Give the animal time to expire and never give up tracking an animal prematurely. Sometimes recovery is closer than you might believe. Learn how to properly field dress game and properly care for it from field to table. The effort spent on field care will be clearly evident at the table. Only shoot what you intend to use. If you have more than you need, share the bounty with family, friends and neighbors. Get some wild game cook books and get the most from those precious frozen packages of game in your freezer.

If you are fortunate this year, perhaps a deer may offer itself to sustain you and yours. Take a little time and offer a few unspoken words of reverence and thank the deer’s spirit. Paying homage deepens the experience of hunting and is a simple tradition you can pass down to your children as you teach them how to not only be the best hunter they can be… but to be as respectful as they can be.

Hunting

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What’s In Season For November?

For current Licensing, Tagging & Reporting, permits, bag limits, hunting areas and special conditions go to www.ct.gov/dep/hunting

Deer Hunting

Firearms season started on November 1st*

Archery Deer CLOSED on November 15th and re-opens on December 21st in state land that offers firearms deer hunting. Private land and state land DEER BOWHUNTING ONLY areas remain open through December 31st.

*Free Landowner Deer Season started on November 1st and is open until December 31st. Revolver Deer endorsement is required for hunting with a revolver/handgun.

Private Land Shotgun/Rifle started on November 16th and is open until December 6th. Revolver Deer endorsement is required for hunting with a revolver/handgun. Private Land Consent Forms must be filled out by the Landowner.

State Land No-Lottery, Lottery and Controlled Hunting A SEASON started on November 16th and is open until November 25th. Only one permit type may be bought each year. Lottery and Controlled Area hunting permits applications were due on June 1st. Hunters wishing to hunt deer may hunt in NO LOTTERY AREAS if they didn’t get their applications in by June 1st.

State Land No-Lottery, Lottery and Controlled Hunting B SEASON starts on November 26th and is open until December 6th. Only one permit type may be bought each year. Lottery and Controlled Area hunting permits applications were due on June 1st. Hunters wishing to hunt deer may hunt in NO LOTTERY AREAS if they didn’t get their applications in by June 1st.

Upland Bird Hunting

Pheasant continues through November and ends on December 31st (a series of pheasant tags are required to hunt pheasants)

Ruffed Grouse continues through November and ends on November 30th (Hunters should think about NOT hunting grouse due to depleted grouse populations statewide)

Chukar Partridge continues through November and ends on December 31st

Crow continues through November and ends on December 31st

Waterfowl Hunting (Season dates are relative to the AP unit local for NewHartfordPlus waterfowl hunters)

Requires a Valid Federal and State Waterfowl stamp as well as a CT H.I.P. Permit.  For more Waterfowling info. go to: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2700&q=323426&depNav_GID=1633#WFSEAS

Ducks, Merganzers and Coots Late season started on November 9th and ends on January 5th

Canadian Geese Late season started on November 9th and ends on January 5th

Snow and Blue Geese continues through November and ends on January 14th. Late season starts on February 22nd and ends on March 10th

Woodcock and Snipe continues through November and ends on December 10th

Small Game Hunting

Grey Squirrel continues through November and ends on December 31st

Cottontail Rabbit continues through November and ends on December 31st

Snowshoe Hare continues through November and ends on December 31st

European Hare continues through November and ends on December 31st

Woodchuck ended on November 15th

Fox And Coyote Hunting

Red and Grey Fox Season continues through November and ends on December 31st

Coyote Season continues through November and ends on December 31st

Raccoon And Opossum Hunting

Raccoon Season continues through November and ends on December 31st

Opossum Season continues through November and ends on December 31st

Know and completely understand all hunting regulations BEFORE you head out!!!! Questions? Go to www.ct.gov/dep/hunting

Local Hunting Areas

Maps for most of these areas can be found at www.ct.gov/dep/hunting.

•  State Land
•  People’s State Forest – Barkhamsted (2,942 acres)
• American Legion State Forest – Barkhamsted (1,037 acres)
• Nepaug State Forest – New Hartford (1,367 acres)
•  Tunxis State Forest – Hartland (9518 acres)
• Wildlife Management Areas
• Cedar Swamp WMA – New Hartford/Torrington (278 acres)
• Roraback WMA – Harwinton (1,975 acres)
• State Leased and Public Access Areas
• MDC – Greenwoods Pond – New Hartford (400 acres)
• MDC -Colebrook Reservoir/ Hogback Dam – Colebrook/Hartland, etc. (4,159 acres)

Wild Game Cookery

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Venison Heart And Tongue

November, and here in the Northeast, a hunter’s thoughts are focused on deer hunting. November is the time of the rut, when the bucks will be chasing and bedding close to the does. It is a time when a buck will let his guard down and move at all hours of the day in search of receptive does, which gives the hunter a better chance at filling the freezer with prime cuts of venison. In deer camp, a successful hunter has a fine deer hanging on the gambrel, aging in the chill November air.

Dressing the deer was done afield and the heart, tongue and, if the deer is young enough, the liver were retained. Traditionally, these are the first venison brought to the table in deer camp. The seasoned hunter knows and anticipates the fine dining to come while the deer hangs and ages before processing the entire deer into various cuts of venison. A pressure cooker is invaluable in deer camp. The heart can be sliced and trimmed and put in the pressure cooker along with the tongue. Add to that beef broth to cover and a couple bay leaves. Put it on the stove on high and listen for the pressure cooker to begin to hiss, then bring the heat down below medium for an hour. The heart and tongue are pure muscle and come out super tender and delicious. The tongue’s rough outer skin peels away from the inner muscle. A camp lunch favorite is thin-sliced heart and tongue on a fresh hard roll. Stir together 2 tbsp. of horseradish and 3 tbsp. mayonnaise and put the mixture on top of the sliced meat with some salt and pepper. Simple and Delicious!

Venison Liver

Venison Liver has fallen out of favor due to recent health warnings about Cadmium and Mercury concerns. Deer liver can be safely eaten in moderation from younger deer. Some of the best liver i’ve ever had was in deer camp in Canada, trimmed and sliced very thin and breaded in a flour and bread crumb mixture and simply fried in butter until it’s golden brown. Even those who don’t like liver can’t get over how good venison liver can be.

Venison Loins

The pièce de résistance are the tenderloins that are carefully removed from inside the hanging deer. These are what would be called the filet mignon and are so tender they can be cut with a fork and melt in your mouth. Camp cooking is all about simple and the tenderloin is no exception. The whole tenderloins are both trimmed of the silvery outer tissue with a sharp knife. Then the trimmed tenderloins are cut into 1/2″ thick medallions. In a hot (medium high) iron skillet add some butter. The medallions of filet are then quickly seared for no longer than 1 minute on each side. In deer camp these precious medallions never have a chance to grace a plate as they are eaten straight from the iron skillet by some very lucky hunters! Hopefully someone else will be lucky tomorrow… the camp larder needs to be restocked!

Fishing

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November is also the start of cod season and as luck would have it, we are within a couple of hours’ drive of Rhode Island and some of the finest cod fishing on the East Coast. Each year the cod gather off Block Island and the fishing remains productive throughout the winter months. My outfitter of choice is the Frances Fleet out of Point Judith. Their boats are fairly fast and are close to the action which means more time to fish. At times clams for bait is the way to go, but this time of year and into the winter months sees huge schools of cod chasing bait fish like mackerel and herring. Heavy jigs and a teaser rig tipped with a rubber shrimp or squid strips are deadly when the cod are aggressively chasing the bait fish, so bring a variety of jigs in different weights. You can rent a rod or bring your own. A stout rod capable of handling weights and jigs up to 14 ounces and a matching reel with at least 150 yards of 25 – 50 lb. test mono or 60 lb. test braided line are recommended.

First and foremost, watch the weather and plan your trip around the best weather windows possible. One helpful site online is the Weather Underground at wunderground.com. The site gives fairly accurate information such as wind speed and wave height. Generally, wave height from 3 to 5 feet will rock the largest party boats. Those prone to seasickness should always take motion sickness medication. Be warned that motion sickness drugs will not help you if taken at the dock just before boarding. Take a dose 24 hours pre-trip, then another dose at least an hour before boarding. Drink plenty of water as these medications will dehydrate you.

Make sure you bring the proper clothing. Always dress in layers so you can remove or add clothes to stay comfortable. Waterproof bibs, a slicker and rubber boots will keep you dry all day and you can wash off any bait or crud that you get on them. I always bring a back pack in which I stow gear and extra clothing.

You will be drifting or anchored over structure. Cod feed at the bottom, so whether you’re using bait or jigs, staying in touch with the bottom is extremely important. Bring an assortment of lead weights and jigs from 4 to 16 ounces. You should be able to feel the weight hit bottom every time you lift your rod tip and drop it. If you can’t, add more weight or ask the mate how much you should be using. If you are drifting, the ideal position on the boat is with your line angling slightly away from you. In this position you can free spool line out to keep on the bottom as you drift. However, on a crowded party boat, your line will sometimes angle under the boat. It is crucial to hold the bottom in this situation. Don’t free spool your line more than twice to stay in touch with the bottom. This is when tangles with fishermen on the other side of the boat happen. Tangles take away from precious fishing time and ties up the mates. Add weight to avoid tangles.
Your best source of knowledge comes from the guys who work on these boats everyday. They’ll show you how to use the equipment and bait the hooks. They’re there when you snag bottom, when you’re tangled with someone on the other side of the boat and when you get a bird’s nest in the reel. Most of all, they’re there when they gaff that cod of a lifetime. For a small fee they will filet your cod and package it for the ride home. Ask questions and you’ll find these guys really know their stuff. At the end of the trip, give them a well-deserved tip. These guys work hard and depend on your generosity. It is customary to tip 15-20% of the cost of the fare.

The limit on cod in Rhode Island is 10 fish per day at 22″. A 22″ cod weighs roughly 5-6 pounds and sometimes big cod up to 30 – 35 pounds are taken, Who knows… you might even win the pool for biggest fish if you buy in!

Share Your Photos And Experiences With Us!

We encourage those who hunt, fish or observe wildlife to share their pictures and stories with us and other readers. Please send your photos with and stories to: http://newhartfordplus.com and we’ll be happy to post them in future editions of The Upper Farmington Sportsman’s Journal.
We wish all of you a safe and successful season!



Andrew showing his catch during a fishing trip. Photo courtesy Andrew Pelletier

On September 11, 2001, Cheryl Ann Monyak of New Hartford was at work in her office at Marsh & McLellan Companies, a professional services and insurance brokerage firm. At that time, the firm occupied eight floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, from the 93rd to the 100th floor. When American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the building, their offices spanned the entire impactzone, from floors 93 to 99. No one present in the offices at the time survived the attack: 295 employees and 63 contractors were killed in that attack, including Cheryl who was only 43.

Memorial Mass Notice

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Following is the Memorial Mass notice for Cheryl Ann Monyak published in the Hartford Courant on September 26, 2001:

Cheryl Monyak

Cheryl Ann Monyak, 43, was a victim of the World Trade Center incident on Tuesday (September 11, 2001). Born December 2, 1957, in Torrington. She was the daughter of Joseph and Doris (Woodard) Monyak of New Hartford. In addition to her parents, Cheryl is survived by a brother, Michael and his wife, Theresa; two nieces, Corinne Marie and Miranda Rose; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial mass will be held on Monday, October 1, 2001 at the Immaculate Conception Church in New Hartford, 5 p.m. Shea Funeral Home, 5 Steele Road, New Hartford, has care of the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to The Green Woods Scholarship Fund in Winsted, CT.

Doris Monyak’s Interview With ‘The Daily Campus’

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Doris Monyak, Cheryl’s mother, who lives in New Hartford, was recently interviewed by ‘The Daily Campus,’ UConn’s daily campus newspaper, for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Cheryl received her Batchelor’s and Master’s degrees from UConn. With the kind permission of the editorial department of The Daily Campus, following is the full article:

‘We’ve Been Crying These Last 10 Years’

By: Amy Schellenbaum

This time of year, Doris Monyak’s home is quiet.

The television screens stare blankly, grayed and hushed. There is no scratchy babble of the radio or distant murmurings of television jingles or weather forecasts. There is no prattling of news pundits, no greetings from anchors, no analysts, no “experts” and no photomontages.

In her home, there is no coverage of the event that killed her daughter, UConn alumna Cheryl Monyak.

“I know it’s big news and all, but when you actually see the tower burning and you know she was there – it’s like living it all again,” Mrs. Monyak said.

This year, like the eight years previous, Mrs. Monyak doesn’t want to risk seeing or hearing about the day two jetliners crashed into the World Trade Center. On Sept. 11, 2001, the jetliner servicing American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the floor her daughter worked on as a vice president at Marsh and McLennan.

“She went into work that morning – they were working on a big project,” Mrs. Monyak said. “She was always early. She got in early and was prepared for the day. Then everything happened.”

At approximately 8:46 that morning, the first of two Boeing 767 planes hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The crash directly decimated floors 93-99 of the North Tower, all of which were operated by Marsh and McLennan, where Cheryl, 43, worked, dealing with risk insurance around the world.

“She was a great business woman, and I know she was respected by the people she worked with,” Mrs. Monyak said. “She was a great gal – very intelligent and very outgoing.”

Mrs. Monyak was shopping at Target the morning of the attacks.

“You know, there was a TV section. I heard this woman say, ‘Oh my God,’” Mrs. Monyak said.

The image of the Twin Towers and the surrounding steel-colored clouds of smoke and debris played across dozens of screens in the discount retail store.

“[The woman in Target] said that was the World Trade Center and I knew that’s where Cheryl worked,” Mrs. Monyak said.

Nobody working for Marsh and McLennan on those floors survived; Cheryl was one of 295 Marsh employees that died that day. Mrs. Monyak said she was able to meet the families of other victims.

“Through the business world and everything, she made a lot of friends over the years. She worked with great people,” said Mrs. Monyak.

According to the New York Times “Portraits of Grief,” Cheryl’s friend Martha Ambros described her as a “magic person.” Friends served champagne and dessert at the memorial service to celebrate the life of the woman who made sure a bowl of M&Ms was placed in the middle of the boardroom table, according to the article. When things got heated in a meeting, she would reach across the table and grab some M&Ms to diffuse the tension.

“She did great in the business world, but she was never a snob. She was…an everyday person. She had a lot of common sense,” said Mrs. Monyak. “She was intelligent and willing to try anything. She was very quick at adapting to things.”

According to a Daily Campus article published in 2002, Cheryl was a Resident Assistant at UConn. One day, some students stole a pig from the agricultural side of campus and let it loose in the dorm hallway. According to the story, instead of getting angry, Cheryl laughed it off.

“Nothing bothered her, not even things like that,” Cheryl’s father Joseph Monyak told Daily Campus reporter Jennifer Babulsky.

Cheryl graduated from UConn with her Bachelor’s Degree in business administration in 1979 and got her M.B.A. from UConn in 1981.

“She learned some good things from UConn,” said Mrs. Monyak. “She got along with her women professors…[Cheryl] got to be a strong woman.”

In January 2002, the day before Mrs. Monyak’s birthday, the Connecticut police informed the couple they had found Cheryl’s body. Cheryl’s remains are “back home” in New Hartford. Mrs. Monyak is not traveling to New York City for any memorial services.

“We’re not going to New York because we have her here. I know a lot of parents, husbands, wives who probably never got the body back of their loved ones but…I have no desire to go down. It will be like reliving the whole thing,” Mrs. Monyak said.

Before she took her job at Marsh and McLennan, Cheryl was living in California working for The Travelers Companies and later Universal Studios. But the east coast called her home and she accepted a job offer as an executive at the New York City-based insurance company. She lived in Brooklyn, New York and then in Greenwich.

Cheryl has a scholarship in her name, the New Hartford Knights of Columbus Cheryl Ann Monyak Scholarship. Cheryl is survived by her mother, her brother Michael, his wife Theresa and their daughters, Corinne and Miranda.

“We’ve been crying these last 10 years,” Mrs. Monyak said.

To read the above article by Amy Schellenbaum please visit The Daily Campus.

Cheryl’s Continued Presence

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To catch a glimpse of the exceptional woman that Cheryl was, one has only to read some of the comments posted by her friends and colleagues on Cheryl’s page of the 9/11 Memorial website set up by Marsh and McLellan for its employees lost on 9/11. It’s obvious from these comments that Cheryl continues to be a positive, loving presence in the lives of those who knew her. In the words of her friend, Martha Ambros:

“She was another member of my family and a wonderful source of warmth, inspiration, commaraderie,fun, and love. Cheryl brought a pure, positive energy to everything she did. She wasted no time and made the most of every situation. I miss her everyday. As my daughter, Caroline says, “Mommy, Cheryl is still with us. She will be in your heart forever.”

Cheryl Ann Monyak of New Hartford was one of the 2,977 innocent people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

This memorial bench is dedicated to Cheryl Ann Monyak. The bench is located in Callahan Park, a few minutes from Cheryl's home in New Hartford. Photo: Maria Moore

Murray O. Gibson

Murray O’Brien Gibson, 88, of New Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2011, surrounded by his children and his wife Nancy Marshall Gibson, the love of his life for 25 years.

Murray O'Brien Gibson

Born March 27, 1923, in Newcastle, Ontario, Canada, Murray emigrated as a boy with his parents Alfred and Edith Gibson and five siblings to the United States and a new home in Cortland, N.Y. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army’s 103rd infantry division from April 1943 to April 1946, seeing combat in France and Germany. He graduated from Cornell University with an architecture degree in 1949 and in 1954 founded an architecture firm in Connecticut with college classmates Jim Russell and Bob von Dohlen. Initially building its reputation on the design of schools and churches, Russell Gibson von Dohlen grew to become one of the most successful firms in western New England, with offices in five states and nearly 200 employees at its peak. Notable buildings designed during Murray’s tenure as chairman include the Connecticut Legislative Office Building, the Connecticut River Plaza and State House Square, all in downtown Hartford, the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL, the award-winning Heublein corporate headquarters in Farmington, and the University of Connecticut’s Gampel Pavilion in Storrs. Interior design projects were executed by the firm for clients such as Aetna Life and Casualty and the Hartford Courant. At the time of Murray’s retirement in 1988, Russell Gibson von Dohlen was considered to be in the top tier of architectural firms in the nation.

Murray also enjoyed raising and showing Morgan horses. He achieved notable success in the show ring, crowned by two national championships in 1991 with his beloved horse, Weatherwell Celsius. Murray shared many civic duties with his wife Nancy, including serving the New Hartford Historical Society, St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Beekley Public Library. He was proud to receive the lifetime service award from the Hartford Boys and Girls Club. He deeded 25 acres to the New Hartford Land Trust and served two terms on the New Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission.

He enjoyed working on his beautifully landscaped property, as well as golf, croquet, fishing, walking the beach and attending cultural events, always with his wife Nancy and often with his many children, grandchildren and friends.

In addition to his wife Nancy, Murray is survived by his first wife Gloria Howland, brother Thomas Gibson, and sister Margaret Gibson, son Robert Gibson and his wife Therese, son Garth Gibson and his wife Nora, daughter Laurie Lindberg and her husband Brian, daughter Lisa Gibson, daughter Amanda Gibson and her husband John Butler, daughter Lisa Marshall Favre and her husband Larry, son Jay Marshall, and daughter Sarah Marshall, as well as 15 grandchildren.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Pine Meadow at 1 PM. Burial will follow in the memorial garden. Friends may call on Friday, September 2, 2011 at Montano-Shea Funeral Home, 5 Steele Road, New Hartford from 4 – 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Murray’s name to: St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Hartford, the Mason Beekley Memorial Library in New Hartford or the Hartford Boys and Girls Club.

Visit the online guestbook at Montano-shea.com.

State House Square in downtown Hartford, one of the architectural projects of Murray Gibson's firm, Russell Gibson von Dohlen. Photo: Rotten777 on Photobucket image

Gampel Pavilion, UConn, Storrs, another architectural project by Murray Gibson's firm, Russell Gibson von Dohlen. Photo of painting by Mark Waitkus at waitkusstudios.myshopify.com

By: Maria Moore

Some residents have asked us about the petitions around town asking for the hours of operation of our local (06057) Post Office not to be cut back. Following is the background to those petitions:

No sooner had the carriers from the New Hartford Post Office been reassigned to the Winsted Post Office this past Spring than rumors started to circulate that the hours of operation of the New Office would soon be cut. Some residents, including our reporter, expressed their concern to First Selectman Dan Jerram who, in turn, wrote to the Post Office’s Operations Manager in Hartford to convey those concerns and to ask to be updated on any possible changes being considered for New Hartford; see a copy of Dan Jerram’s letter: Change In Operations Letter, Dan Jerram (79).

The First Selectman hasn’t received any response to his May 19 letter; however, in late June a notice on the front door of the Post Office seemed to confirm residents’ fears: the window hours on the Saturday before the 4th of July holiday were being cut back to 10 a.m. through 12:00 noon, instead of their regular 9 a.m. through 1 p.m.

The entrance to the New Hartford Post Office on July 2. Photo: Maria Moore

On July 2 our reporter went to the Post Office at 9 a.m. and watched as a steady flow of residents went about their regular business at the Post Office – or almost. Those who had come to transact business at the window were unable to; they each tried to open the door inside the lobby and when they couldn’t, they turned back with a confused look on their faces to read the hours of operation on the blue sign on the door; “9 a.m.” the sign said, and yet there they found themselves, after 9 a.m. and with the door locked. Their confused air deepened, until our reporter pointed out the white sheet of paper above the blue sign announcing the holiday-shortened hours. No-one could remember the Post Office hours being cut back before, and a number of the would-be users wondered why they hadn’t been informed of the change. Residents’ reactions to the change in hours differed; a number of them were clearly annoyed at the incovenience. Some shrugged left, saying they would run other errands before coming back later to transact their business, others said they wouldn’t have time to come back again that day, and a few tried to figure which other post offices might be open at that time.

Asked what they thought about the change in the hours, several residents expressed their dismay, saying they lived on Main Street and didn’t have mail delivery to their homes. “I have a hard time getting to the Post Office in the evening,” a young woman who works out of town said, “It’s going to be even more difficult if they cut back the hours.” An older gentleman who said he spends summers at West Hill Lake, said: “A government office should be able to start work by 9 a.m.!” Another resident said she would be happy to give up Saturday home delivery of mail rather than to cut the office hours; another resident immediately after her disagreed, saying that she wouldn’t want to lose Saturday delivery. Two residents suggested that the Post Office would do better to close the Pine Meadow Post Office and keep the New Hartford Post Office hours unchanged.

Only one resident among the 24-30 people our reporter spoke to said that she thought the cut in hours was necessary for the Post Office to stay afloat financially.

Our reporter left the Post Office at 10 a.m. when the window opened for business and with the steady stream of customers continuing unabated.

July 2 Petition

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Our reporter had brought with her to the Post Office a petition she had prepared asking for the hours to remain unchanged. During the one hour that she had been at the Post Office, approximately 90 to 100 residents came to use the Post Office; approximately 35 residents tried unsuccessfully to use the window, and of those our reporter engaged in conversation approximately 20 of them; of the 20, 15 signed the petition she had prepared asking for the Post Office hours to remain unchanged.

Ongoing Petition: Your signature Is Needed!

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For the past two weeks Jennifer Lajoie and her mother Charlene of New Hartford Center have been collecting signatures of fellow residents in an effort to keep the hours of the New Hartford Post Office unchanged. Copies of the petition are available at the following locations:

• The Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall;
• The Tax Collector’s Office at Town Hall;
• Passiflora Cafe;
• Hoffmann’s Hardware Store;
• Village Hair Care;
• Radwick’s Coffee & Sandwich Shop;
• New Hartford Farmers’ Market (Friday afternoon);
• Blue Sky Foods.

Please stop in at any of the above locations to sign a copy of the Post Office petition.  Or you may download and print out a copy of the petition and collect signatures among your family and friends; download a copy of the petition New Hartford Post Office Petition, July 16 (119).

You may leave off completed sheets of the petition at any of the above locations.  On Friday, August 5, all the petitions will be collected and they will be hand-delivered to Chris at the New Hartford Post Office.

Thank you for helping to deliver the message to the management of the Post Office  that New Hartford is a vibrant, growing community that needs a full-time Post Office to fill its needs.

The notice on the door of the New Hartford Post Office with the shorter hours of operation for July 2. Photo: Maria Moore

Photos & Text By: Maria Moore

With the temperature in the 90s, the NewHartfordPlus crew headed for the Cove – Stanclift Cove, our town’s private beach on the Barkhamsted Reservoir. Here are some images from that trip.

Driving down Route 219, the first glimpse of the reservoir promises cool waters.

Driving farther along, both public beaches on the Reservoir, East Beach and West Beach (in image), are filled to capacity and closed to the public.

Hanging a left from Route 219 to 318, we headed down the steep hill only to come up the other side onto Route 181. We'd missed the Cove!

Slowly retracing our route, we found the entrance tucked away on the right.

At the end of the long drive, a sign that we've arrived.

Tall pines line the entrance to the beach area.

The large beach area.

The swimming area goes out to the diving platform, a favorite with good swimmers.

At the farther end of the beach is a small boat launch.

The shade of the pines provides a cool respite from the open beach area.

Picnic tables provide a place for family picnics and cookouts.

A last look back at the beach seen through the pines. Stanclift Cove is a wonderful place for families to spend the hot days of summer.

About Stanclift Cove: The Cove is a private beach on the Barkhamsted Reservoir shared by both the towns of Barkhamsted and New Hartford. Residents are required to purchase a beach sticker for the Cove. For more information about the Cove and to download a copy of the Stanclift Cove brochure, please see our June 18 article Stanclift Cove Beach Opens Today…

We are reposting this profile of the Barden Farm to include it in our NHDiary section. It first appeared on our June 10 Farmers’ Market article as the market’s Vendor of the Week profile.

By: Maria Moore

“Ed, you’re blessed, you really are.” Our reporter called out to Ed Barden as she waved goodbye to him across the field. “You think so?” He called back, as he carried another tomato plant ready to be transplanted. “I know so! Just look at that beautiful view.” “I would if I had the time!” Ed answered with a laugh and then turned back to his planting.

Ed Barden

You get the feeling though, that Ed knows that view very, very well: It’s provided the backdrop for his entire life. “How long has your family been farming here, Ed?” Our reporter had asked earlier on her visit. “Since 1919, when my grandad bought this land.” He’d said, going on to explain that his granddad had sold the land he owned in Campbell Falls, near the Massachussetts border, to the state for a state park and with the money from that sale he’d come down to New Hartford and bought the land on Burgoyne Heights where the farm is located. “In 1943 the barn burned down,” Ed continued. “The town held a fundraiser for the farm, and they raised $1,700. With that they paid two men $7 a day to work 7 days a week to rebuild the barn.” “Was everything gone?” “Everything, the livestock, everything.” An extraordinary act of community for a family that’s so rooted in this community.

Ed is a third-generation farmer, and you get the feeling that he’s a man who knows who he is, and what he does and he is totally comfortable with himself. And together with his wife, Anita, Ed earns a living from the farm, something that’s becoming more of a rarity as farm land is ceded to developers.

Anita Barden, one of the organizers of the New Hartford Farmers' Market

Over the years, as their family has grown from two children to four, the Bardens have also added to their business: They’ve built a separate building where customers can go at any time to pick up fresh produce; they’re selling at Farmers’ Markets, including our local Farmers’ Market in Pine Meadow which Anita helped to start four years ago; last year, with daughter Cara’s help, they launched a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program; and this year, Anita has just gotten a commercial kitchen licensed at the farm.

Ed and Anita welcome their customers to their farm, and more often than not, their customers will stop and visit for a while, sitting on the front porch of the farmstand, enjoying the view, looking at the farm animals, or throwing the ball for Buddy, their irrepressible Border Collie, while Barnabas, their large, white dog looks solemnly on. The rhythm of life on the farm is peaceful, and their customers carry some of that away with them when they leave. It’s no wonder that they have a growing number of loyal customers – the NewHartfordPlus crew among them – who look forward to their visits to the Barden’s farm, where they know they will find the best local produce, and a sense of kinship and community.

The Barden Farm is open 7 days a week, year-round. The farm is located at 45 Burgoyne Heights, .2 mile up West Hill Road from the Town Hill Road (Route 219) intersection. To contact the farm, please call 860-379-8803, or email bardenfarm@aol.com. For more information about the farm, including its CSA program, please visit the Barden Farm website.

With 90-degree weather, the Barden family does the only reasonable thing: they hang out on the porch of their farmstand. Photo: Maria Moore

Charlie, the youngest of the Barden children, lends a hand on the farm. Photo from September, 2010, NewHarfordPlus archives

Ed Barden transplanting his tomato plants into the field of his family farm. Photo: Maria Moore

Photos & Text By: Maria Moore

Everything came together perfectly for the first New Hartford Farmers’ Market of the season yesterday afternoon. The weather was ideal, sunny and not too hot; the vendors’ stands were filled with goods despite the earliness of the season; and friendships were rekindled among the vendors and their buyers, both old and new. Following are photos of the market, a celebration of the best in our community.

Ms. Carrot was happy to be back at the market after the long winter

Mike Hotchkiss shows his wife Connie a plant he's considering buying at the Barden farm stand while Mary Lou Ringklib takes a close look through the plants.

MarWin Farm is now bringing its farm-fresh poultry to the market for both their Farmshare customers and weekly shoppers. Here Kenny Dahill, operating from his "minimalist" stand, looks in his cooler for Karann Schaller's poultry.

 

Cara Donovan manning the Sweet Pea Cheese stand.

Nathan Day - and a friend - provided the lively music during Friday's market.

How much fun was the Farmers' Market on Friday? A LOT of fun, as Mary Barden shows in this photo.

The most original stand of the day was the Planted Feather with its tie-dyed canopy which took two tries to get it just right, said Wendy Scalon. Cool!

Chef’s Demo – A Weekly Market Feature

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The Chef’s Demo – a favorite of the 2009 New Hartford Farmers’ Market season – is now back! This season there will be Chef’s Demos every week. This past Friday, the demo was by Pamela Dunn; look for our separate article on the Chef’s Demos at the market.

Update: 6 p.m., Friday, May 27:

One last call Carol Allen at UpCountry SportFishing at 6:00 p.m. this evening confirmed that the tagged trout worth $5,000 has not been caught. The deadline has now passed and anyone catching the trout after this point will not be able to claim the prize money. The fishermen’s loss is the insurance company’s gain: Odd On Promotions does not need to make any payments on the 2011 New Hartford Fishing Derby that had insured the chance of having to make a payout with them.

Check out Odds On Promotion’s website to see the full spectrum of promotions they offer.

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As of 5:00 p.m. today, Thursday, May 26, the tagged trout worth $5,000 that was released into the Farmington River as part of the New Hartford Fishing Derby has yet to be caught, our reporter confirmed with the Grady Allen at UpCountry SportFishing.

With the deadline set at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, May 27, there’s just one day left for some lucky angler to catch the jackpot!

Reminder: Only those who registered for the New Hartford Fishing Derby can claim the prize.

To review the rules for the New Hartford Fishing Derby, see our May 16 article A $5,000 Trout Yours For The Catching….

To read about the the Fishing Derby which was held on Saturday, May 21, , see our May 22 article Fishing Derby Awards Prizes…

Fishermen in the Farmington River near the Route 219 Bridge in New Hartford Center. Photo: Maria Moore

A beautiful place to sit and watch the activity in the river.

The plaque on the bench commemorating Paul Brodeur. Photo: Maria Moore

An Ultra Fine Day For Paul Brodeur: Newpaper clipping

A newspaper clipping has been tucked into the plaque on the bench near the 219 Bridge, probably put there by the same loving hands that have planted spring flowers around the bench. The clipping reads:

“It was an Ultra Fine Day for Paul Brodeur of Newington, Connecticut, when he landed this gorgeous 29″ brown trout on the Farmington River with his 7’9″ 2-weight rod. He tells us he has had many fine fish since he bought this “fun” Orvis Ultra Fine Rod in 1985, but this was “a record I’ll never top and a day I’ll never forget and all on a 2-weight rod!”

Wow! Very few will ever top that, Paul!

Text & Photos By: Maria Moore

First Lieutenant James Flannery came back to Antolini School – almost a decade after graduating from our local elementary school. The reason for his visit was to thank the 3rd and 4th grade students who had corresponded with him while he was on tour in Afghanistan. “I loved receiving your letters, and my men loved them too.” James told each class he visited, thanking the students for their support. And then he sat with the class and answered all the children’s questions – or at least as many questions as they could get in during his 15-minute stop with every class.

1st.Lt.James Flannery

The children wanted to know about every aspect of James’ life in the army: what he ate (prepared meals), where he slept (sometimes he and his men had to go into people’s houses and and tell them they were going to be sleeping there), if he missed his family (yes, very much), what made him join the army (he’d always liked to be active, to be outdoors), and what he would do if he captured Bin Laden (handcuff him and put him in jail). James listened carefully to each question and then answered it seriously, treating each student with the utmost respect. It was clear to see from his manner why this young man, who had gone on to finish his education at West Point, was now rising so rapidly in his chosen career.

The visits to each class went by quickly and then it was time for the soldier to exchange affectionate goodbyes with the students from his own elementary school who had taken the time to write to him, an unknown soldier on duty in Afghanistan.

Our photographer accompanied 1st Lt. Flannery on his visit to three classes on Monday afternoon, March 14: Mr. Tancreti’s 3rd grade class, Mrs. Jones’ 4th grade class and Mrs. Hawley’s 4th grade class.  Coincidentally, James had been a student in all three teachers’ classes when he attended Antolini, something which made each visit that much more special.

Following are photos of 1st Lt. James Flannery’s visits to the three classrooms:

Mr. Tancreti’s 3rd Grade Class

James responding to the children's questions.

The children in Mr. Tancreti's class had lots of questons to ask of the soldier who had just returned home from Afghanistan.

Mrs. Jones’ 4th Grade Class

James visiting with Mrs. Jones' class.

Mrs. Jones enjoying James' visit to her classroom.

Students had many questions for James and they listened attentively his answers.

Mrs. Hawley’s 4th Grade Class

James sits with Mrs. Hawley as he visits with her class.

James holds a book on Bin Laden which was on display in Mrs. Hawley's class while he answers a question about the terrorist.

Students in Mrs. Hawley's class listening to James.

One of the students couldn't help peeking at the photographer sitting immediately behind her.

Kate Rieger, Principal of Antolini School, listening to the exchange between James and the students in Mrs. Hawley's class.

Many Thanks to Mr. Tancreti, Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Hawley for welcoming our photographer into their classrooms.

Many Thanks as always to Kate Rieger, Principal at Antolini for inviting us to be part of James’ visit.

By: Maria Moore

This past November the Historical Society hosted a talk by Town Historian David Krimmel on the founding of New Hartford, in which David described the evolution of the town’s landholdings from the original proprietors to those of modern-day landowners. Tomorrow night the Society will host a talk by Peter O’Brien who will populate the early landscape described by David with the people of that time.

Our reporter spoke with Peter about his research of the early inhabitants of the town, asking first of all how he had become interested in that research.

Peter pinpointed the beginning of his interest to when he and wife Sally bought their home in 1977 and were given a page of the history of the house from the previous owner to the one they bought the house from. Colin Tate had given them a rundown of those who owned the house, but it was very difficult to unravel information from the land records. And so he put his interest aside until 6 or 7 years ago when, having recently retired from his position at Post University, he found himself reading a history of New Hartford by Sarah Jones, a 19th Century writer. He started to notice inconsistencies, and that sometimes things weren’t as they seemed.

“When you have doubts, you have to start at the beginning.” Peter said, and that is what he did, going through town records, church records, probate records, even newspaper records. With Sally’s help, Peter created a database in which he records all information he finds regarding the early people of New Hartford. “I have 3,000 people in the database so far.” he told our reporter, scrolling down to the end of his spreadsheet. And he is still adding information. Right now he is going through Litchfield Superior Court records which are stored at the State Library, a long and laborious process. “It feels like voluntary servitude!” He said wryly, adding that he has several more years of research in Hartford still left.

Tomorrow, however, he will have the opportunity to share all he’s learned about the early residents of our town – at least those who lived here between 1700 and 1800; an arbitrary cut-off but a necessary one, Peter and our reporter agreed. Peter will not be talking about any one early resident, rather he will extrapolate from the specific pieces of information that he has accumulated to draw a general picture of what it was like to live in New Hartford during that time.

While describing to our reporter what life was like in the 1700s, Peter said: “It was a very different world back then; familiar and very different.” “What do you mean by that?” Our reporter asked. “The vocabulary was the same, but our understanding is different. For example, take the statement “all men are created equal.” Their understanding of “equal” is different from our understanding of it.” In a little more than 200 years, our value systems have become very different from those of our ancestors.

“There’s something very compelling about connecting with people who shared the same space as we do.” Peter said, expressing perfectly what has kept him at his research for all these years. And tomorrow evening, it will be his audience that Peter will help connect with those early inhabitants of not only our town, but in many cases, of our homes.

Peter O’Brien will present his talk on ‘The People, Material Culture and Relationships in New Hartford in the 18th Century’ at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center on the third floor of Town Hall tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 23. The talk will be followed by a reception at the Historical Society on the other side of Main Street across from the Town Hall. See our video of David Krimmel’s presentation ‘The Founding of New Hartford’.

An 18th Century house currently being used as a private school in the Bakerville section of New Hartford. Photo: Maria Moore

Photos & Text By: Maria Moore

It was standing room only in the New Hartford Senior Center yesterday afternoon as family members, colleagues, well-wishers and members of the media all came together to witness the swearing-in of Judge Michael Magistrali and his staff, who are now the officials of the newly-formed Torrington Area Probate District Court.

Brian Mattiello

Former State Representative Brian Mattiello welcomed everyone to the ceremony; Mr. Mattiello had been Judge Magistrali’s campaign manager during last fall’s elections had there been a campaign since Judge Magistrali ran unopposed. Mr. Mattiello was followed by Attorney Thomas Wall who administered the oath of office to Judge Magistrali; Attorney Wall is a long-time colleague of Judge Magistrali, someone whom, the Judge said, he had admired since his childhood when he remembered seeing Attorney Wall walking to his Torrington office.

Once he had been sworn in as the head of the new Probate District Court, Judge Magistrali swore in his office staff, beginning with the office assistant, “Judy” Batista, then the Assistant Clerks, Shelley Consodine and Paula Marchetti and then the Clerk Gayle Pellegren. Suzanne Pombar, who was formerly the Clerk of the New Hartford Probate Court, was sworn in by former Judge Skip Rogers, long-time Probate Judge in New Hartford, and as a testament to their many years working together, the two hugged as they wished each other well.

Judge Michael Magistrali

Judge Magistrali made a point of thanking the retiring judges from the former local probate courts who sat in the audience, among them Judge Isabell (Hartland), Judge Rogers (New Hartford and Barkhamsted), and Judge Barber (Winchester). He especially acknowledged the personal help and support he has received from Judge Alan Barber and Judge Skip Rogers and he presented both with a certificate commemorating their years of service as probate judges.

And then the ceremony was brought to a close, with Judge Magistrali inviting all to stay and visit and enjoy the refreshments which he hoped, looking at the large crowd assembled, would be sufficient for all.

The Torrington Area Probate District Court includes the towns of Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Goshen, Hartland, New Hartford, Torrington and Winchester. The Torrington Area District Probate Court is one of 54 new probate districts which have replaced the 117 local probate courts previously in place in Connecticut. This regionalization of probate courts is part of the state effort to regionalize services and effect cost savings.

The Torrington Area Probate District Court is located on the first floor of Torrington City Hall at 140 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790; telephone #: 860-489-2216. For information or with questions regarding New Hartford probate matters please contact Suzanne Pombar at the Torrington Area Probate District Court at 860-489-2215 or by emailing Suzanne at SPombar@ctprobate.gov.

Congratulations and best wishes: to Judge Michael Magistrali and his Staff on their appointment to the Torrington Area Probate District Court, our new district probate court.

The staff of the new Torrington Area Probate District Court.

Suzanne Pombar is sworn in as Clerk of the new Probate District Court by former Judge Skip Rogers. The two had worked together for many years in the New Hartford Probate Court.

Suzanne and Skip hug at the end of Suzanne's swearing in, a sign of the friendship between the two former officials of the now disbanded New Hartford Probate Court.

Gayle Pellegren being sworn in as Clerk by Judge Magistrali. The two had also worked together in the former Torrington Probate Court.

Judge Michael Magistrali with Attorney Thomas Wall.

Judge Michael Magistrali is sworn in as the new Judge of the Torrington Area Probate District Court by Attorney Wall.

Judge Magistrali presents former Winchester Judge of Probate Alan Barber with a certificate of appreciation.

New Hartford's former Probate Judge, Skip Rogers, receives a certificate of appreciation from Judge Michael Magistrali of the new Torrington Area Probate District Court.