Tomato & Basil: Casual Italian Dining with a Chic New York Vibe

Tomato & Basil: Casual Italian Dining with a Chic New York Vibe

By Mike Lauterborn

(2-page spread in Fairfield County Life Magazine July/Aug issue)

6/10/11

Fairfield, CT – The self-dubbed café and pizzeria offers something for everyone: tasty fare for hungry families, libations and light appetizers for thirsty commuters and a Riviera disco vibe and bar scene for singles and couples looking for a late night diversion.

Opened just over a year ago at 1876 Black Rock Turnpike, Tomato & Basil, housed in the old Miro Farms building and tucked beside Citibank, serves up casual Italian dining but with New York-style sophistication that extends to its background beats and bar menu.

The eatery was the brainchild of 32-year-old Norwalk resident Chris Pedicini, co-owner with Eugene Kabilnitsky, 29. Pedicini, general manager Greg Vayneris, 29, and executive chef Vinnie Mascaro, 33, run the day-to-day operations while Kabilnitsky oversees financials.

Born and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York, Pedicini came from a strong Italian family. No direct family members, however, were involved in the restaurant business and it wasn’t until his time at Ithaca College and Pace University that he started to gravitate in that direction. In 1998, he began working for a family friend in an Italian restaurant in Greenwich, “starting at the bottom, from dishwasher to pizza maker then cook,” he said. “The atmosphere felt natural and comfortable. At the same time, I was taking business classes. Things really came together when I was afforded the opportunity to own and operate my own business, in 2001 -- a pizzeria in Greenwich.”

Pedicini operated that venue through 2004, noting, “It was good training, allowing me to see what worked and what didn’t, understand people’s food preferences, learn people skills, and apply my business learning and promotion strategies. Basically, it was the building block for Tomato & Basil.”

The restaurant name came easily. “Tomato and basil are the two main ingredients of Italian cuisine,” he said. “Whether it be pastas, pizzas or sauces. The name doesn’t leave room for misunderstanding as to what the place is about.”

Location was an important consideration. “We wanted to do something in Fairfield in general,” said Kabilnitsky. “One of the things that drew us to Black Rock Turnpike was traffic flow – 30,000 cars drive by daily. And there wasn’t any other place on the strip that attracted a better crowd. We noticed that there were limited eating destinations between Easton and the Post Road, too.”

Their arrival was welcome. “People told us they were fed up with what was here, and this café-style dining is what people are gravitating towards,” added Kabilnitsky.

Lunch offerings include a wide choice of salads, light sandwiches and pizzas, priced up to $10. The Vineyard salad is a favorite, featuring grilled chicken, dried cranberries, candied pecans, gorgonzola, red onions and honey balsamic over fresh field greens. The Pollo Panini includes marinated grilled chicken, provolone cheese, fresh baby arugula, fire-roasted red peppers and pesto aioli. Pizzas are thin-crust, brick oven baked Neopolitan-style, like the Margherita pizza, made with plum tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, olive oil and fresh basil.

In the Appetizers category, priced $8 to $10, T & B has 15 small plate items, ranging from traditional dishes to modern Italian. A popular dish is New York Calamari, which is flash-fried and sauced in cherry wine with garlic and hot-cherry peppers. The Mozzarella Carozza is homemade fresh fried mozzarella. A new offering, the Tuna Tartare is done Italian-style with scallions, basil, garlic and fresh Ahi tuna.

With regard to the Dinner menu, Kabilnitsky said, “It’s seasonal, changed twice a year. We go heavier in fall/winter and lighter in warmer months. We try out new entrée items as specials and see what moves.”

Typically, T & B offers 7 to 8 entrees, along with a separate list of pastas, which can be a side or main. Entrees are priced $18 to $22. Among the leaders, the Stuffed Pork Chop contains braised apples, caramelized onions and cranberries served with red mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach and a port wine demi-glace. The Chicken or Veal Picatta is sautéed with artichoke hearts in a lemon caper wine sauce and served over spaghetti. A new item, Rainbow Trout is stuffed with roasted peppers, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and smoked guajillo pepper sauce, with a cucumber and apple salad on the side.

Pastas fall in the $15 to $18 range. A front-runner is the Truffle and Bacon Mac & Cheese, which is cavatappi pasta with a rich three-cheese sauce laced with white truffle oil and smoky bacon all baked golden brown with fresh bread crumbs. Summer Tortellini is tri-colored cheese tortellini sautéed with chickpeas, oven-roasted tomatoes and fresh spinach in a light pesto plum tomato sauce. The Linguine Vongole features littleneck clams, garlic, parsley, olive oil and white wine.

Children are accommodated with their own menu, with items like chicken tenders, mozzarella and penne with butter in the $7.50 to $9 range.

Making the afterwork and late night hours come alive is Israel-born Tomer the Mixologist, who makes a mean cocktail. One concoction is the French Raspberry Martini, made with fresh raspberries, raspberry vodka, prosecco, Cointreau and fresh raspberry puree. The Espresso Martini, which is great before or after dinner, is made with fresh illy espresso, vanilla vodka, Kahlua and Mexican coffee liquore, shaken well and topped with cinnamon. Giving Latin-themed restaurants a run for their money is T & B’s sangria, made fresh to order by the glass.

“We consider ourselves beer geeks,” said Vayneris, with regard to the beer selection they also maintain. “We only have craft beers on tap. We love good beer. This includes a limited but very interesting bottle selection, like trapiste beer. We try to rotate beers seasonally – for summer, we always have an I.P.A. on tap. Never macros.” In fact, the restaurant hosts bi-monthly beer dinners, with the next one planned for the last week of August or first week of September.

The Tomato & Basil portrait would not be complete without a nod to its wine inventory. “We have 35 choices,” said Vayneris, “Among reds, a Terra Di Toscana Scopetini SanGiovese, a Les Shadoks Bordeaux and a Saperavi Merlot from Georgia. Among whites, a Castelnuovo Del Garda Custoza and Apicus Verdicchio.”

Vayneris sees all good things in the future for the restaurant, and attributes it to the solid relationship between the owners and staff, and their connection with patrons. “We’re about providing a personal experience, and making people feel welcome and part of the family,” he said. “We’ve created a loyal following and hope to serve the community for many years going forward.”

Tomato & Basil is located at 1876 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield. For more information, call 203-333-3600 or visit www.TomatoandBasilCT.com

Potent Fake Pot Marketed as Incense Drives Bill to Ban

Potent Fake Pot Marketed as Incense Drives Bill to Ban

By Mike Lauterborn

(appeared as front page feature in Fairfield Sun 6/23)

6/14/11

Fairfield, CT – Call it Reefer Madness. When an aromatic incense called K2, comprised of various herbs and botanicals designed to elevate the senses, grew in popularity, rip-off artists noticed and began to copy and capitalize on it. Available in convenience marts, food stops and smokeshops, the faux products – with provocative names like K2 Spice, K2 Krush and Kryp2nite -- contain marijuana derivatives and dangerous chemicals that can be hazardous to users, which are often teenagers that smoke this synthetic marijuana substance as a legal way to get high. Recognizing the hazards of these products and their status as a gateway to more serious drugs, a bill to ban the fake pot has been unanimously approved in both the Connecticut State House of Representatives and Senate and now awaits approval by the Governor.

First blip on the radar

Jan Laster, Regional Action Council and Health Promotion Director for RYASAP (Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership), said these synthetic marijuana products first hit her organization’s radar last fall. Housed on Fairfield Avenue at the Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport, RYASAP is a community-driven non-profit that actively engages other organizations, public officials and community leaders around specific issues, trying to create a catalyst for change and system reform.

“At a statewide meeting of Regional Action Council directors, faux marijuana came up as being prevalent and a big problem, though predominantly in the southeast corner of the state,” Laster said. “We noted a lot of usage among members of the military in particular, given the prominence of armed forces locations in that area. The chemical compounds were not detectable through the military’s drug-screening process, so not only was it undetectable but they could obtain it legally, too. That was a concern.”

Of more concern was its accessibility to young people statewide, and how it is marketed to appeal to them. “The products have flashy names, psychedelic and colorful packaging, and often plastic pouches and different shapes,” she said.

More troubling are the potential side effects. “Psychological effects can include distorted perception, loss of coordination, problems with memory and learning, and trouble with thinking and problem solving,” said Laster. “Physical effects can include increased heart rate, immune system impairment, high blood pressure, hallucinations and paranoia.”

Laster commented that, as a parent, these effects would raise her eyebrows. “When something’s legal and available, it gives the perception that the product is safe,” she said. “Kids trying to drive or ride home, though, are putting themselves at risk and this is very concerning.”

Laster explained that the herbs are laced with synthetic cannabinoids, which are psychoactive manmade chemicals that mimic the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active ingredient in marijuana.

“We are making our constituencies aware of it and, as a group, we asked state senate and state legislators to create a bill,” she said. “It’s among our top concerns along with alcohol and tobacco.”

Senator Paul Doyle, a Democrat in Wethersfield, CT, who is also Senate Chair of the state legislature’s General Law Committee, initiated the bill to ban synthetic marijuana. “I didn’t know much about it at first,” he said. “The age requirement to buy it is very low and purchase is not highly policed. When the hazards were shared with me, I moved to support it. People are more aware of the dangers of marijuana. This can be even more dangerous, given its underground availability and nature.”

Laster added, “You have to stay ahead of the curve. Kids are often aware of things before adults – where to get it, how to get it. We want to raise awareness and be proactive in the community. It’s a tedious balance battling this as it puts it on kids’ radar screens, where it may not have been before.”

A gateway to more serious drug abuse

Fairfield resident Joanne White lost her son Ryan to a heroin overdose and now works to help others who have experienced this pain through an annual healing walk, website and other means. She said use of synthetic marijuana could be a stepping stone to more serious addictions.

“He experimented with beer, then went to pot,” she said. “It was an escalating disease, that progressed to Oxycontin and beyond. He experimented with 25 to 30 boys and girls. Some walked away from these experiments, while others continued to go up the ladder, like Ryan.”

White said the danger with synthetic pot is that you’re not sure what it’s being laced with and it could be lethal or laced with properties that make it more addictive. “The people making the product are looking for lifetime buyers,” she said. “The sooner they can get them hooked, the better for them. This type of pot is much stronger and harder to walk away from. Once you start medicating yourself on a daily basis, it becomes a way of life. Every addict makes a drug choice that can put them in jail or take their life. Addicts look to maintain their high. It all catches up.”

White says parents need to keep a watchful eye on their children and be on the lookout for changes. “You can’t say all kids do it when it comes to pot,” she said. “You need to look for the signs and get them help before it escalates.”

With sadness in her voice, White noted, “My son was 31 when he passed. He was a phenomenal person and graphic artist in the city, but he overdosed from heroin.”

Communication may be the best prevention

Like Laster, John Hamilton, a Fairfield-based licensed alcohol and drug counselor and CEO of the Recovery Network of Programs, a highly revered treatment agency, is concerned that drawing attention to these products may have a counterproductive effect.

“The main issues we see are binge drinking and prescription drug use,” Hamilton said. “Synthetics are not on the radar screen in this area yet. The hysteria of adults may work against the cause, sparking curiosity. At the same time, it’s an issue that can create a trend. You can get it easy and cheaply, and there’s no perception of harm, so kids will try it. It needs to be seen as bad either through legislation or high fines.”

Hamilton said it’s hard to know who will develop a problem but there are certain key influencers. “We don’t have the science and data to predict what people will become addicted to drug-wise,” he said. “But we know factors that influence vulnerability, which include depression, anxiety, ADHD and poor resilience. A major factor is stress, which actually influences hard wiring of the brain.”

In terms of parents adopting an approach with their kids, Hamilton said a ‘scared straight’ strategy may backfire and often kids will trust their friends more than adults. “Scared straight and a dollar won’t buy you a cup of coffee,” he said.

“In the bigger picture, you need to give kids hope, resilience and community support as a real protection against substance problems or addiction,” Hamilton said. “Parents have to show they have faith and confidence in their children. The child and parent need to have an honest and open line of communication. If kids are doing drugs to mood regulate or feel better, they’re in trouble. That’s the big red flag.”

SIDEBAR

K2 or Not K2, that is the question

The home website of K2, www.K2incenseblend.com, defines the product as “a powerfully aromatic incense blend that can uplift and elevate your senses with its soothing mellow aroma.” The maker claims it contains a variety of botanicals, plant material and proprietary ingredients. If offers the product in a variety of different scents purported to help soothe the body and mind through its aromatherapeutic properties. Main ingredients the site lists include Canavalia rosea, Clematis vitalba, Nelumbo nucifera, Pedicularis grandifolia, Heimia salicifolia, Leonurus sibiricus and Ledum palustre. It is price-tagged at $20 to $30 per gram, depending on quality. The maker currently offers four brands: K2 Blonde, K2 Summit, K2 Ultra and K2 Solid Sex.

A companion website, www.K2Wholesale.com, warns about the multitude of fake, poorly copied and potentially dangerous K2 rip-off products marketed under more than 75 provocative names, which it lists. “With no quality control over these fake and counterfeit K2 incense blends, and no way of knowing what these boiler room/garage/kitchen/basement producers are putting into these products, buyer beware!” the site states. The site also warned sellers of the faux products, who risk criminal prosecution and property seizure.

Numerous videos on YouTube show young people using imitations, like K2 Volcano. One clip shows a young couple, Jay and Rhiannon, smoking it, flashing the package and saying, “The sh** gets you f***in stoned.” Clearly, these products are not being used as incense as marketed, and contain properties that produce a high. Their long-term effects are unclear given the absence of disclosure of ingredients and regulation. It seems apparent that only a ban and pursuit of criminal action in cases where death or serious medical conditions result from product usage will curb its proliferation. 

Ludlowe Graduation Not Dampened By Rain

Ludlowe Graduation Not Dampened By Rain:

Ceremony pushed indoors, 

split between two gyms

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

6/23/11

Fairfield, CT – All morning, ceremony organizers eyed the skies and watched the weather reports, trying to determine if the event could be held outdoors. Buckets of rain and flash flooding drove the decision to push it indoors. It was a disappointment, but would not quell the buoyant, excited feeling that carried the day.

Thursday evening, Fairfield Ludlowe High School held its Sixth Annual Commencement Exercises, celebrating the Class of 2011 and graduating 338 seniors. Twenty-nine of these students had the distinction of maintaining a grade point average of 4.0 or better for four years. Ninety-two students graduated as National Honor Society members.

The commencement was initially planned for Taft Field in the school’s stadium but pushed inside when it was clear the weather would not cooperate. An estimated 1,800 spectators were divided between two gyms. In the main gym, the graduation occurred; the secondary gym carried a live video feed of the exercises for the audience gathered there. This was the first time in the six years of graduation ceremonies that the event was held indoors.

“The weather was ridiculous today with all the rain,” said Athletic Director Dave Schultz, helping with crowd control at the entry to the main gym. “Student Activities Director Victor Mirrer should get a lot of credit for organizing the move indoors. We didn’t want to shut anyone out that would normally have been able to attend an outdoor function.”

Schultz added, “This has been a great senior class. We’re proud of them and are looking forward to hearing about their successes as they move on.”

Bob Kennedy, father of graduate Christopher, felt fortunate to be a Fairfielder. “Chris is headed to Villanova to study engineering,” he said. “We feel we’re blessed to be living in Fairfield and for his getting the quality education that got him into a top school. He’s prepared and had a great experience here, involved in baseball, football and track.”

Sitting in the stands nearby, parent Mary Cody said, “My daughter Megan is headed to the University of Scranton to major in community health. Ludlowe gave her a great internship at RYASAP in Bridgeport. She had a wonderful experience here.”

As proud as the parents were graduates’ siblings, like Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, whose sister Amanda was part of the Class of 2011. “She’s going to my alma mater Western Connecticut State University,” she said. “She was a great student, working hard in her AP classes. I can’t wait to see all the great things she’ll do in college.”

Among the grads themselves, Bobby Murphy, draped in a blue gown and cap, joked, “The friends and experiences I had here at Ludlowe shaped me into the man of character and integrity I am today. I’m going to Old Miss. Hotty toddy!”

Grad Jill Steinhauer, looking like a picture in a white gown and clutching a yellow rose, said, “I’ve made some of the best memories of my life at Ludlowe and will miss all my fellow students and teachers. St. Joe’s here I come!”

Standing in a row behind Steinhauer, grad Lucia Harold commented, “I had a great time here the last four years. I’m happy to graduate, but will really miss it.”

Addressing the gathering, Headmaster Dr. Vanessa Reale said, “Our celebration will not be dampened by the rain. The sun shines on the Class of 2011. Our students have a powerful support system. These grads will be our future professionals. Their potential has no limits. You are truly a remarkable class. Best wishes.”

As she yielded the podium to Senior Class President Zach Tobin, beach balls went flying into the air above the seated graduates. As humorous was Tobin’s speech, laced with witty observations.

“I want to thank the faculty,” he said. “Without the leather couches and ping pong tables, the senior lounge would be a dark place. Thanks to mom and dad. We would literally not be here without you. Thanks to my classmates – the bold, brave, beautiful Class of 2011. If I had to do it again, I would not change a thing.”

Tobin added, “Look at us now – taller, less awkward, and really good at ping pong. In the words of Biggie Smalls, the sky’s the limit.” 

View Finder: Roger Sherman Elementary 5th Grade Graduation

View Finder: Roger Sherman Elementary 5th Grade Graduation

Sunny skies make a special celebration even brighter

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 6/23)

6/20/11

Fairfield, CT – The weather couldn’t have been more perfect as Roger Sherman Elementary School’s three fifth grade classes, led by teachers Margo Boskello, Aristi Torres and Ted Ostrowski, made their way down the aisle and took their seats on the tarmac at the rear of the building.

The occasion was the Monday, June 20 graduation of these classes on to Roger Ludlowe Middle School, where they will start in the fall. Witnessing the ceremony were dozens of parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. Electronic devices whirred, clicked and snapped continuously as each grad collected their diploma, stood on a riser for a quick photo and sat back down.

The moment was a particularly moving one for Sherman Principal Eileen Roxbee, who started at the school six years ago when these fifth graders were entering kindergarten. “You demonstrate every day what it takes to be a Sharp Shark,” she told them. “I hope you will remember your days at Sherman with a smile. Be a person who cares about the world, for it is a fragile place.”

Sitting straight and tall in three neat rows, the youngsters took in their surroundings, aware that an innocent era had ended and new adventures awaited.

Tally Ho! Benefit Horse Show Jumps into Action at Hunt Club

Tally Ho! Benefit Horse Show 
Jumps into Action at Hunt Club

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

6/21/11

Westport, CT – They soared over the jumps, maneuvered the courses and tried to be as quick and accurate as possible, rider and animal working fluidly as one.

The grassy grounds of the Fairfield County Hunt Club at 174 Long Lots Road was the stage Tuesday for the opening of the 89th Annual June Benefit Horse Show, a five-day event scheduled to run through Saturday, June 25. Over that period, the free show features 250 individual competitions across four rings, starting at 8 a.m. each day. Riders include children, adults, amateurs and professionals. A boutique shopping area with ten vendors, and hospitality tent open to the public through Friday, is also offered. The highlight event is the Grand Prix on Saturday, at 1:30 p.m., with a luncheon benefiting Westport-based Equus Foundation. Major event sponsors include Wells Fargo Advisors (George Venizelos) and Buick/GMC.

“This is a great opportunity to see top-level horses and riders competing and jumping obstacles,” said Lynn Coakley, President of the Equus Foundation, the mission of which is to improve the quality of life for horses and the people that benefit from them.

“We raise money for horse charities all across the U.S. that are using the animals to help people,” Coakley explained. As examples, she cited horses’ application in therapeutic treatments for people with autism, noting that the Hunt Club helped Equus launch a pilot program for autistic children at Giant Steps School in Southport.

Another charity Equus supports is Horses for Heroes, helping veterans, who are amputees or have brain injuries, coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. “Therapeutic riding accomplishes the same thing as a medical facility and is even more emotionally uplifting and empowering,” Coakley said.

Clients of Kids at Risk, another charity on Equus’ roster, feel this same empowerment through riding, due to the animals’ size.

Two types of riding are performed at the Horse Show: Show Jumping and Hunter. In the former, riders jump obstacles within a specific timeframe -- the fastest without knocking anything over wins. In the latter, riders are judged on the consistency and fluidity of their jumps. “Hunter is a takeoff on the old hunting days wherein horses needed to be dependable and controllable,” added Coakley.

In addition to the riding, special events are offered each day: On Wednesday, a free fashion show, at 5 p.m. in the main tent; on Thursday, a Barbecue, at $15 per person, with a Horseless Horse Show, wherein kids jump mini obstacles, begins at 5:30 p.m.; Friday, a free pet parade starts at 5 p.m. On Saturday, attendees of the Grand Prix event are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and sports chairs for spectating.

Hunt Club Riding and Stables Manager Robyn Pavone was glad to have Coakley and Equus on board, now for the fifth year. “Lynn and I have been friends since childhood and rode here as girls,” she said. “It’s nice for things to come full cycle.”

Pavone added that there have been many improvements to the facility and course. “Our jumps are all Olympic modeled and professionally designed by Steve Stephens, who is known the world over,” she said.

Serving as Ringmaster, a role he has performed at the Club for over 30 years, was John Franzreb III, toting a bugle to announce competition starts. “This is one of the most picturesque horse clubs in the country – a place where horsemen just love to come and compete,” he said. “The schedule and grounds are just fantastic.”

Browsing the boutique area, Westporter Beth Cofsky was glad to have the Club, almost literally, in her backyard. “I live close by and just joined the Club,” she said. “In fact, I have a tennis clinic here in an hour. My son Logan wanted to check out the horses. The animals are amazing.”

Relaxing between competitions, Lillie Keenan, 14, an accomplished junior rider from New York City, said this show is a favorite. “I love coming to the Fairfield Horse Show,” she said. “Most clubs are not all grass like this course, which adds an extra challenge for both rider and horse.”

About the sport, Keenan added, “I’ve been riding since I was six, starting at the Claremont Riding Academy in New York. I love riding and the connection with the horse. It’s really special.”

Wall-to-Wall Audience for Thorson Talk at Historical Society

Wall-to-Wall Audience for 
Thorson Talk at Historical Society

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

6/18/11

Westport, CT – In a literal sense, Professor Robert Thorson rocked his audience with a stimulating talk Saturday afternoon about the stone walls of New England.

Presenting in the Sheffer Gallery at the Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, the professor of geology at the University of Connecticut and leading authority on stone walls spoke about the charms of the region’s historic ruins, the challenges of maintaining them and his surprising evolution as a writer on the subject. Over 30 people, the gallery’s seated capacity, attended the session.

“This is an adjunct to our current ‘Back to our Roots’ farm exhibit and particularly aligns with our ‘Rock On’ display about Westport’s stone wall story,” said the Society’s Executive Director Sue Gold. “Stone walls were integral to farms. When early settlers first arrived and started clearing land, they piled stones up in lines along the perimeters of areas they were plowing. They weren’t really property dividers initially. It’s been fascinating learning more about area stone walls and the many different types.”

Included in the Rock On exhibit, in fact, was a list that Thorson had developed of the different types of walls, which were defined by the names freestanding, flanking, raising, impoundment, foundation and confinement.

Regarding the list, Thorson said, “I’ve really developed classifications for stone walls – these did not exist anywhere, except in anecdotal expression or European cultural typology.”

The gregarious academic and holder of a PhD in geology from the University of Washington referred to himself as a Wisconsin-born “sodbuster” with Norwegian and Swedish roots. By way of Alaska, he moved to Storrs, CT in 1984 to work at UConn and, ironically, until that point, hadn’t really seen a rural stone wall. “As my role was to teach the geology of landscapes, I figured I better go look at some,” he said.

In Natchaug State Forest in the northeastern corner of Connecticut he had his first encounters with rural stone walls. “They struck me as landforms in the woodlands,” he said. “Once you start examining them more closely, you don’t stop pursuing them. They are so evocative and fascinating.”

He recorded some of his first impressions in “Stone Wall Secrets”, a thinly veiled illustrated geology book he produced with his wife Kristine in 1998. To his surprise, it was picked as a Smithsonian Book for Children.

Over the next decade, he continued to visit, research and compile notes and photographs about stone walls to produce a second book, “Stone By Stone”, in 2002. It, too, was recognized, with the State Book Award for Non-Fiction. “That was amazing,” said Thorson, “as I hadn’t set out to be a writer.”

His publisher then asked him to write a field guide. The result was “Exploring Stone Walls.” Thorson said that, these days, he gives at least one talk a week several months out of a year. “There’s no funding for me to do these – I break even – but I consider it a university outreach opportunity and form of scholarly engagement.”

Calling himself a “stump evangelist” about conservation of stone walls, Thorson decried the practice of strip mining, wherein landscapers solicit or poach from old farmsteads and repurpose the wall stones as landscaping materials. “These are signature land forms that must be preserved,” he said.

In speaking about stone walls in general, Thorson felt it important to define the difference between rock and stone, terms often misused. “Stone is an object made of rock,” he said. “We don’t call a gravestone a graverock, or cobblestone cobblerock.”

And just who built New England’s stone walls? “Slaves, prisoners, children,” he said. “People connected to farms and mostly before the Civil War.”

Thorson defined the epicenter of the stone walls in New England as Worcester, Mass. and said it is estimated that 240,000 miles of walls were initially built in the region, of which 120,000 miles remain. He added that the oldest on record was built in 1607 in Kennebunk, Maine, and that most were built in the period 1775 – 1825, after the Revolutionary War and up to the period when the railroad came into play.

With regard to why there are so many walls in New England, Thorson points to three key factors – the presence of hard rocks, glacial soils and farm/livestock tillage culture.

Among the area walls, the professor said there is variation in texture and composition, but also variability from town to town. “Westport sits in a nice glacial valley and is a wonderful place for a guy that likes stone walls,” he said. “Honor the archaeology and the architecture.” 

Spirits Not Dampened By Soggy Start to Irish Fest

Spirits Not Dampened By Soggy Start 
to Irish Fest

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

6/17/11

Fairfield, CT – “We’ve got a bit of a mist, but it’s never stopped us before,” said evening emcee Pat Speer, looking out at the muddied grounds of Fairfield University and the rain tipping down Friday night.

He had mounted the stage in a large, white main tent to officially kick off the 23rd Annual Fairfield County Irish Festival, hosted for the second year at the university and scheduled for a three-day run, through Sunday June 19. Heavy rains had visited the area on and off during the day and continued to be nuisance as the festival began at 6 p.m.

To many, the gray rainy weather seemed an appropriate “old country” accompaniment to an event that celebrated all things Irish. Features included live music, food stands, Gaelic sports, dance performances, products vendors and, of course, Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s.

In the event of lightning, which had shown itself repeatedly during the day, Speer warned that the fire marshall would make a judgement call and, if he determined there was a significant risk, he would order an evacuation of the field. Fortunately, he didn’t need to make that call and, after the singing of the Irish and American national anthems, Nova Scotia-based band Pogey got the festivities going.

Among the many food vendors represented was Fire Engine Pizza Company, formerly Marty’s Brick Oven Pizza of Black Rock, whose brick and mortar facility was destroyed by fire March 19. The business has carried on bravely and had onsite their now-famous fire engine, into which a brick oven had been installed.

Other food vendors included Giulio’s Pizza of North Haven, the Gaelic American Club with hot corned beef sandwiches and soda bread, Catering from the Hart with salads and wraps, St. Patrick’s Gaelic Football Club serving burgers and dogs, the Ancient Order of Hibernians with corn on the cob and Italian ices, and The Field of Black Rock offering fish and chips.

Manning a beer tap, Dave Russell, a Gaelic Club member for over 25 years, recalled the early days of the fest. “I was at the very first one, in 1987, which was held at Roger Ludlowe Middle School,” he said. “It was pretty modest with a few entertainers and some tents, but the beer was constantly flowing.”

Maura O’Donnell, festival chairwoman, said the fest, which is sponsored by Feile, a public charity, has evolved into a fun family weekend. “Now we have people, who came to the first year’s fest as kids, returning as adults and parents,” she said. “And they come rain, shine, sleet or snow. We watched the weather all day and have our puddles, but none of that has dampened anyone’s spirit.”

One of the dance groups on hand was the Sheeaun Academy of Irish Dance, led by Moira Speer. Instructor Frank Rupp said Moira started the school a little over two years ago and that the dancers, age three and up, are performing at the fest for the second year. “Irish dancing is a real crowd pleaser and the kids are really competitive,” he said. “They put on a great show.”

Working a tent dubbed Condon’s Kitchen, in memory of her late sister Marybeth Condon, Pat Harding was offering brownies, cake, apple crumb, homemade scones and coffee. “This is basically the nightcap after all the beer,” she laughed.

Tromping through the mud, balancing cups of beer and fish and chips, was Jackie Sliva, with family and friends, one from out of state. “We dragged Megan down from Massachusetts,” she said. “We won’t let a little rain stop us. There was even a rainbow – true Irish weather… and it’s always a good day for a Guinness. Anyhow, if you drink enough, you don’t notice the rain.”

On the opposite side of the field, Fairfielder Abby Grant, 11, had just seen a step dancing performance and remarked, “That was phenomenal. Their jumps are super high and their steps are right on target.”

Enjoying a pint nearby, Andy O’Leary made a similar weather comparison. “This is like Ireland in March, without the lightning,” he said. “Inclement sums it up. It makes you feel at home.”

As O’Leary spoke, Neil Harding of Harding Funeral Home came up to him. “That’s my undertaker,” smiled O’Leary. “Here he goes measuring me again, at the same time wishing me well.”

It was clear that no degree of Irish humor had been muted by the rain either.

Remaining Irish Festival Days/Hours: Sat. 6/18: Noon – 11 p.m. and Sun. 6/19: Noon to 8 p.m.  Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students (with valid student i.d.), children under 16 free with parents. For more information: www.irishfestival.org