Burr Homestead Gets Magical Makeover

Burr Homestead Gets 
Magical Makeover:

Annual Christmas Tree Fest 

offers decorative delights

(Appeared on 

Fairfield.Patch.com 12/4)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

12/4/10

Fairfield, CT – ‘Twas three weeks before Christmas and all through the homestead, not a wall was left bare nor even a bedstead.

The scene was the historic Burr Homestead on Old Post Road and the event was the Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival, a three-day affair coordinated by the non-profit group of the same name which, for 29 years, has been hosting this special sale of spectacular, one-of-a-kind handmade holiday décor.

Passing through the heated, space tunnel-like tenting at the front of the mansion, visitors emerge into a wonderland of treats, not only for the eyes, but for all the senses. Holiday greens appear to have occupied every nook, the smell of warm apple cider drifts in the air and, on the morning of Dec. 4, the melodic tones of the Coastal Chordsmen enhanced the setting.

The Festival kicked off Dec. 2 with a preview party, featured a children’s event Friday, Dec. 3, and today offered a lady’s tea, evening wine tasting and Diane Smith signing her book “A Connecticut Christmas.”

Each year, according to former Fest board chair Patricia Gardner, a different organization is chosen as a beneficiary and receives all the proceeds from the event. Groups apply for the honor and its members help with set up. This year, the Burroughs Community Center on Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport was selected.

Burroughs Board Member Karen Maloney, who is also co-chair of this year’s event and was responsible for seeking underwriting support, explained that the group serves the immediate community, with a focus on 5^th through 12^th grade students. It offers after-school programs, tutoring, summer travel opportunities and English language learning. Notably, the Center is collaborating with Fairfield’s Wakeman Boys and Girls Club to open in spring 2011 a gym, the Smilow Burroughs Boys and Girls Club, onsite.

Maloney noted that 17 different rooms and areas throughout the home had been filled from floor to ceiling with custom décor fashioned by a small band of talented ladies that had volunteered their skills for the cause. Items included full-sized Christmas trees, tabletop trees, garlands, boutique items, Nutcrackers and ornaments. “Any decorative accessory you can imagine for the holidays,” she summarized, “and in a wide range of styles from very dramatic to less formal, some child-focused.”

Jennifer Bartlett, the decorating chair, website chair and a Fest board member, mentioned that every year has its own theme and this year it is “Community.” Bartlett coordinates all the design work, taking supply orders from the designers and purchasing from wholesalers all the raw materials – every sprig, every ornament. “Then I watch them transform everything into their incredible creations,” she added.

All completed décor is then price tagged and displayed throughout the house in the many different settings – a living room, den, children’s bedroom, parlor, etc. All the items stay intact until the conclusion of the Fest at 4p.m. on Dec. 5, when visitors can then come to pick up their purchases.

Maloney mentioned that the children’s bedroom took nine full days to decorate and includes in the center of the room an antique carousel on loan from the Beardsley Zoo.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa, and he was on hand, too, to receive the junior set in the second floor hallway. One Santa visitor was 11-week-old Freddy, whose parents had recently bought a home in Fairfield. Mom Jamie said, “We came to get Freddy’s first picture with Santa, but also to support the Burroughs Center and get in the Christmas spirit.”

Browsing downstairs, Cathi Curioli of Norwalk said, “It’s my first time here. There are so many beautiful things to look at. Amazing. Beautiful. I just finished redoing my house so am looking for fun stuff to put in it.”

Staff, like volunteer and Southport resident Teale Stevens, one of 40 or 50 volunteers onsite at any given time, were just glad to be playing a key part. “I like to help out and give back to the community.”

Others like Kallen, 22, and mom Katherine Knetzger were just bubbling over with holiday spirit.

“It’s so happy here. I don’t want to leave,” gushed Kallen.

“We’ve come here since she was a baby. The tradition continues!” chirped Katherine.

Holiday Train Show Fun for All Ages

Holiday Train Show Fun for All Ages

(Appeared on 

Fairfield.Patch.com 12/4)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

12/3/10

Fairfield, CT – Giant wreaths, garland snaking around ceiling joists, twinkling lights and, of course, miniature trains chugging along loops of track through detailed town settings. It was a feast for the eyes and a delight for young and old, signaling the start to the holiday season.

The site was the Jacky Durrell Meeting Hall at Fairfield Museum and History Center on Beach Road and the occasion was the Dec. 3 opening night of the Holiday Express Train Show. This was the fourth consecutive year of the event and the two teams of model train hobbyists that had participated in the past – the Connecticut G-Scalers Model Train Club and the Housatonic Model Railroad Club – were on hand once again.

The two groups had spent the past week building their respective set-ups from the ground up, starting with platforms and tabletops upon which they placed industrial carpet, track, trains, cottony snow and all the intricate town elements to complete the scene.

The more expansive of the two sets occupying the room belonged to the G-Scalers. In all, there were four working trains, including one pulled by Thomas the Tank Engine and a second by Percival. The trains skirted 17 individual buildings, some as tall as two feet. Two dozen mini pine trees dotted the landscape. Over 50 mini human figures interacted in and around the structures. A dozen mini-scale autos were parked on town streets. Mini figures of bear, dogs, cats, cows, sheep and pigs appeared here and there. Standing at the head of it all, there was a fully decorated Christmas tree with presents beneath it and a Menorah with blue glowing lights.

Anchoring the opposite site of the room, the Housatonic group’s set-up included two working HO trains circling a double loop through two fully populated town settings with a similar collection of elements to that of the G-Scalers’.

A third set – a Lionel O-Scale train – traveled a simple loop on a high platform in the center of the museum’s lobby.

“This brings back memories of Christmas morning, 1958,” said Fairfielder Charlie Lambert, visiting with his wife Cathy. “I had an American Flyer Frontiersman… an S-gauge train on a two-rail track. I collect trains now, much to my wife’s dismay sometimes. It’s a wonderful hobby.”

As Lambert looked on, a G-scale train whizzed past. It was operated by Bill Dressler, President of the G-Scalers, who operated controls hidden beneath a Christmas box. The Wizard of Oz of mini railroads looked as delighted as those marveling at the trains, like Fairfielders Doug Hoffman and daughter Whitney.

“We’re inspired to go home and set up our trains and build some trestles. We used to set up the trains around the Christmas tree, which we’ll have to do again now,” said Hoffman, who mentioned having a G-scale set at home.

Matt DiGiovanna was another adult reliving Christmases past. The Monroe resident was on hand with grandsons Kolby, 15 months, and Kaden, 4. The grandfather owns an O-gauge HO train set, which had been his father’s.

“This is fabulous!” DiGiovanna said, swinging Kolby around for a better look at an approaching train.

“There goes Percy! And Thomas! There he goes in the tunnel!” squealed Kaden, teetering on a step stool.

Redding resident Tara Williams, with husband Patrick and son Connor, 6, was another enthusiast. “We’re big train buffs. This is the quintessential Christmas thing to do. These sets have the right spirit and size for children. We look forward to this each year. Merry Christmas!”

Streaming in from the tree lighting on the Town Green, ruddy-cheeked Riley Guarino, 7, and Della Jackson, 5, peered over a low glass partition at the HO set-up. Said Della’s mom Kathleen of the girls, “It’s amazing for them to see the trains and for me to see the excitement in their eyes, to start off the season.”

Carolers and brothers Kevin and Sean Zentner, 11 and 9 respectively, filed in behind them. “Cool! Really big!” they whooped, spotting the G-Scale trains.

Looking over the crowd of people who were clearly in merry spirits, museum program coordinator Walter Matis summed up, “This is what the season is all about.”

The Holiday Express Train Show will be on display through January 2. For more information, call 203-259-1598 or visit www.fairfieldhs.org

Sweet Rexie’s a Lifetime in the Making

Sweet Rexie’s a Lifetime 
in the Making

(Appeared on front page of

Fairfield Sun 12/2)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

11/22/10

Fairfield, CT – It’s been a year since Sweet Rexie’s dropped anchor in downtown Fairfield but a lifetime in the making for owner Nanci Lewis.

A small town girl with a good head for numbers but also a creative flair, Lewis’ many life experiences gradually pointed her to the sweets emporium that has become a favorite of area shoppers. While busy preparing gift baskets and store displays in advance of the holidays, she took a moment to share what inspired her, how the business has evolved and all the wonderful and diverse items that she carries.

Early Inspiration

“It’s ironic, but I wasn’t a real candy junkie when I was a kid,” said Lewis. “For me, it was about good chocolate. I was really into chocolate.”

Born Nanci Vicedomini in Springfield, MA, Lewis was the youngest of three children. Her father owned a custom electronics company. Later on, he opened a catering business and Lewis’ mom was a chef there and cooked all the food. “They were good role models as entrepreneurs,” said Lewis. “I helped out with the catering, from age 10 to 19, when they sold the business. After school, whatever I could do, I did, from food prep to serving. We did a lot of wedding business and private events.”

Lewis’ Italian heritage was also influential, given the family orientation and love of holiday traditions. “My mother is a fabulous cook, it’s her whole world,” said Lewis. “I was always around that. Everything was made from scratch. Pizza, pies, bread. We had amazing holidays… Christmas was very magical. My mother had a certain style of decorating, color coordinating wrapping paper with tree décor. If the tree was red and silver, the paper was red and silver. It was very elegant, but also fun. I took a lot from that.”

Her grandfather was another key factor. “He owned a candy and ice cream store in Waterbury, CT, where they actually made their own ice cream,” Lewis recalled. “People came from all over. My mother told me how she cut strawberries and helped make the ice cream. I was young, but I do remember the store – all the jars, the penny candy.”

A Detour into Finance

In 1980, Lewis went off to Boston College, and majored in economics. “I have to give my parents a lot of credit,” said Lewis. “Back then, a lot of girls didn’t go to college. My dad said, ‘It’s not if you will go, but where you will go.’ I was really resistant, but it was the best thing I did.”

After BC, she did an M.B.A. at the Crummer Graduate School of Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. “The program at Crummer was great, with only 50 of us, and quality professors who gave us individual attention. I felt like I got a lot of out of it and the business background was later helpful in knowing how to do simulations, forecasts and projections. I’ve drawn on all of that.”

Fresh out of grad school, Lewis pursued finance. “I was good with numbers and strong in math, and people guided me that way. But I was also creative. Interior design may have been more appropriate for me.”

Her first job was with United Technologies in the Sikorsky Division, doing financial analysis on helicopter programs. Then she worked for Sprague Technologies, a Fortune 500 company that made semi-conductors, in corporate planning.

In 1990, she married John Lewis, originally from South Africa, who was at Yale doing a PhD. He was accepted as a fellow at Memorial Sloane-Kettering specializing in surgical oncology. They relocated together to New York in 1992.

“I was new to New York and did some temp work, ending up with Ames Management Association, which manages corporate training programs,” Lewis explained. “I worked closely with the marketing manager, handling the financial responsibilities for marketing programs. I coordinated all the course leaders and training in 18 different cities, and helped develop courses. It was probably my favorite job, as it let me branch out.”

Unfortunately, Ames went through a restructuring, her unit was dismantled and her job ultimately phased out while she was on maternity leave, pregnant with first daughter Rachel. While she was offered a spot to come back, she made the decision to be a full-time mom and she and her husband bought a home in Fairfield, in 1999.

The Big Idea

As a homemaker and mom, Lewis would get involved in all the fun embellishments like tea parties and birthday celebrations and what she terms “Martha Stewart” type things. “Other moms noticed,” Lewis remembered, “and would say, ‘You’re good at this.’ I realized it was a gift. Rachel was 5 when I got the idea to start Sweet Rexie’s.”

The business name was a merger of two names – Rachel (now 11) and her daughter Lexie, 7. Lewis has a third daughter, Mia, who’s 3.

“It seemed like it would be fun,” said Lewis with regard to her thoughts at the time, “though I had no retail experience other than a Gap job in college. I had a bit of a learning curve, and had my challenges, made my mistakes.”

Lewis opened her first shop on December 8, 2004 at 136 Washington Street in South Norwalk. The shop had ample space – at 2,000 square feet – and was, overall, a great experience. “I had very loyal customers, and drew from a wide geographic area. But parking was always a challenge and we didn’t get the visitors we hoped for from the Maritime Center. And, at the end of 2008, the economy was falling out and our traffic count started to go lower.”

Lewis said it was a very challenging period. “I had to really drive our traffic all the time. The saving grace was birthday parties, which made up 30% of our business. My lease was ending and I wanted to be more accessible to my children while maintaining the business, so I decided to relocate to Fairfield.”

The entrepreneur settled on a retail space at 1552 Post Road and, after renovations, opened November 21, 2009. “This space is great for us… right in town and walking distance to the train. We’ve been so busy getting everything ready for the holidays, our 1-year anniversary just slipped by.”

She explained that, in early December, people place all their custom orders. Closer to the holiday, they get rushed and want pre-made packages.

Pausing for a moment to reflect on how she arrived at this point in her life, Lewis said, “I guess it wasn’t until I opened this shop that I realized how full circle things had come and how I subconsciously drew on the imagery of my grandfather’s shop. This has more of a contemporary flair, but we also have the old-time candies like the Mary Janes, Bit ‘o Honey, Fireballs, Twizzlers and Tootsie Rolls that were around when I was a kid. It’s funny, the paths people end up choosing.”

SIDEBAR

Sweet Rexie’s: So Much More than a Candy Store

Nanci Lewis, the owner of Sweet Rexie’s in downtown Fairfield, is often challenged by the perception some people have of her business. At first glance, it gets summed up as a candy store, but as it states on www.sweetrexies.com, Sweet Rexie’s is “so much more than a candy store.”

“People don’t realize we do gift baskets,” said Lewis, “and we’ve been doing them for six years. We also have apparel, games, baby gifts, ice cream, etc. Once people come in, they remain loyal and keep coming. It’s all about selection, quality and packaging.” 

As to the product line-up, it is truly broad, spanning the following categories:

-       Games, puzzles, plush toys, arts and crafts, dolls, miniature cars and novelty stocking stuffers

-       American Girl crafts line and mini dolls

-       Plush toys for babies

-       Pre-made and custom holiday gift baskets in a wide price range

-       Teacher and hostess gifts

-       Exotic and imported chocolates including brands Chocolate Moderne and Anna Shea

-       An ice cream counter with 16 flavors from which to choose including everything from Birthday Batter to Raspberry Sorbet

-       150 selections of bulk candy, from dark chocolate to gumballs

-       Classic candies like Dubble Bubble and Bit ‘o Honey

Lewis also serves businesses with the ability to customize packaging with corporate logos. “We have worked with a host of companies including Marriott Corporation, Mercedes Benz USA, banks, realtors and more,” noted Lewis.

As important, Sweet Rexie’s will deliver locally, including all area hospitals, and ship nationwide.

With the feel of an old-fashioned candy store, but the wide inventory of a modern retailer, Sweet Rexie’s has something for everyone -- at the holidays and throughout the year.

Sweet Rexie’s is located at 1552 Post Road in downtown Fairfield. For more information, call 203-254-3254 or visit www.sweetrexies.com

Some Sweet Ways to Meet

Some Sweet Ways to Meet

By Mike Lauterborn

(Appeared in Dec. 2010 issue of Inside Chappaqua magazine)

© 2010. All rights reserved.

8/5/10

There are many great social networking groups for singles and the “newly single” to enjoy in Westchester and the New York Metro area. Below is a small sampling…

Meet Up!

Meetup promotes itself as “the world’s largest network of local groups.” The online service makes it very simple for anyone to organize a local group around his or her personal interest/s or to join one of the thousands of groups already meeting up in person. According to the site, more than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day. It’s a great way for single and newly single people to narrow their search for a mate to those with common interests, while widening one’s social circle at the same time. The service boasts 7.2 million members and claims 250,000 monthly meetups. For info, go to: www.meetup.com

Wine & Dine!

Local Wine Events is a free online service that notifies subscribers of local food and wine events – great opportunities to meet friends and potential love interests with a discerning palate and passion for good taste. It was founded and developed by Eric V. Orange, who has distinguished himself in the wine industry for the past 20 years. Site users can plug in their specific region of interest by name or zip code and see a list of wine events by date, with event details, cost and location included. For info, visit www.localwineevents.com

Get Going!

Singles On The Go is a tremendous online resource that allows singles to find groups and activities by state, city or even territory. Links are provided to a very broad range of to-do’s including speed dating, mixers, social networking, dining groups, wine tasting, dance groups, religious groups, volunteer teams, civic organizations and clubs – all dedicated to singles. For more information, go to: www.singlesonthego.com

Make A Date!

Single America is billed as “the most complete and up-to-date American singles and dating guide” online. Featured on its site are complete listings of singles parties, events, clubs and speed dating. There’s more: reviews of online dating sites, dating tips, advice, safe dating, gay and lesbian dating, religious and ethnic dating and more. This resource is essentially a portal to meeting new people, making friends and finding that certain special someone. Go to: www.Single-America.com

Socialize!

Social Circles was founded a dozen years ago by professionals who’d grown weary of “the same old social scene.” Their aim was to get busy people like themselves to interact with their surroundings while making new and solid social connections. The service relies on a diverse calendar of events to act as a driver of “meet ups”. Activities include nightlife, arts, outdoor adventure and travel and are centered in and around New York City. There is a nominal membership fee, though the first month is free. For info: www.socialcircles.com

Be A Gourmand!

The Single Gourmet is one of the most established singles groups, known for its integrity and elegance. It was founded 25+ years ago and has chapters nationwide. It offers sophisticated single men and women a relaxed, easy way to meet other successful singles. The group hosts fine culinary events in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Fairfield Counties, as well as NYC and Long Island. To learn more and see lists of events, photos and travel plans, go to: www.singlegourmet-metrony.com

Prep Begins for Holiday Train Show

Prep Begins for Holiday Train Show

Model railroad clubs set up for Dec. 3 opening

(Appeared on Fairfield.Patch.com 11/29)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

11/28/10

Fairfield, CT – Like Santa’s elves, the two teams of model train enthusiasts busied themselves measuring, marking, tapping and taping sections of track to the top of two large platforms.

‘Twas the Sunday before the Friday, Dec. 3 opening night of the Holiday Express Train Show at the Fairfield Museum and History Center on Beach Road and the teams were in the beginning stages of building the track layout.

“We’re trying to get as much done as possible in terms of the foundation,” said Bill Dressler, President of the CT G-Scalers Model Train Club, one of the two teams involved in the event. “Tomorrow we’ll begin placing the buildings, people and scenery.”

He and his five club associates worked from hand drawn plans, placing and connecting track on top of industrial green carpet laid atop long folding tables in the museum’s Jacky Durrell Meeting Hall.

“The tables make it much easier for set-up and for people to see,” said fellow club member and Wilton resident Stephen Auslender. “Normally, trains are laid out on ground level and are permanent.”

The “G” in G-Scale stands for “garden” explained Auslender, as these sets are often integrated into gardens. The gardens consist of live miniature plants like bonsai trees and breeds with tiny flowers and leaves. The G-Scale trains run indoors and outdoors and are twice the size of the classic Lionel trains. The tracks they use are 1 ¾” wide, made of brass and affixed to plastic ties. The brand of both the trains and track is LGB, the acronym for Lehmann Gross Bahn, the West German manufacturer.

“This is the fourth year we G-Scalers have been doing this with the museum, but this year we are doing a more elaborate display,” said Dressler. “It will be multi-level, with five trains running simultaneously and more intricate scenery, buildings, bridges and tunnels. We will be bringing back Thomas the Tank Engine and adding Percy, as well as a stream train, diesel and a live video camera on one of the trains.”

On the opposite side of the room, the Housatonic Model Railroad Club, led by Fairfield resident and President Jeff Dean, connected wiring and track sections affixed to the top of a sectioned wooden platform for the HO-scale trains that they will run at the show.

Dean explained that the HO trains are standard gauge running on nickel-silver rails that are 11/16” wide and mounted on plastic ties. His club, too, has returned for a fourth year and expanded their layout by four feet into an oval-shaped set-up measuring 9’x16’ in total area, with inner and outer track loops.

Dean’s 10-year-old daughter, Maggie, had accompanied him. “She chose to come here over Christmas shopping with her mother. She loves this.”

Dean, 52, said he’d been involved with trains since he was eight and that his first set was a Lionel. He said he has always enjoyed the escapism, history, modeling and electronics involved with the pursuit… and that he and fellow club members like Westporter John Shannon are committed.

“We don’t play with trains. We operate trains. This is a very serious hobby,” said Shannon.

Dean joined the club when he was 17 and became president about 15 years ago. The club has 15 members, several of whom have train set layouts at home. He said his daughter comes to the club and train shows and he hopes she will carry on the traditions.

Fellow club member Jeff Zeleny has been an enthusiast since he was five. “My parents got me an American Flyer set for Christmas and I was hooked. I have a layout in the basement at home, which I’ve been working on for the past seven years. It’s an ongoing project… you never finish it.”

The G-Scalers don’t have a dedicated club space says Auslender. “We meet at individual members’ houses once a month and sit around and talk about our aches and pains. The wives cook then the men play with their trains.”

For the first time, the teams will be joined by Ruth Blackwood, president of Wilton-based Blackwood Associates Event Design and Production. She has an impressive 30-year track record designing events for venues like the Stepping Stones Museum, Westport Playhouse and St. Vincent’s Hospital, and will apply her talents to “add another layer to the train show.”

Specifically, Blackwood, with an assist from Miro Landscaping, will use antique fabrics, garlands, wreaths and Dickens characters to dress up the space and bring out the spirit of the holiday.

Mike Jehle, the museum’s executive director, is glad to have these groups aboard. “The show’s become of the most magical and popular events around the holidays and we couldn’t do it without them. It’s a win-win for all of us that we get to share with the community.”

To learn more about the CT G-Scalers, visit www.CTGScalers.org. For more info about the Housatonic Model Railroad Club, visit www.housatonicmr.org.

Simple Pursuits Spur Smiles at Museum’s Community Day

Simple Pursuits Spur Smiles at Museum’s Community Day:

Storytelling and crafts highlight Nov. 26 Ffld Museum event

(Appeared 11/28 on Fairfield.Patch.com)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

11/26/10

Fairfield, CT – What could be more appropriate on this Thanksgiving holiday than to spend a little time with family enjoying simple activities together in the spirit of our forefathers?

That was the theme of “Community Day – The First Thanksgiving”, a program conducted early afternoon Friday Nov. 26 at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road. The event offered craft making led by the museum’s Director of Education Christine Jewell and storytelling presented by Janis Us.

An instructor at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT, Us is descended on her father’s side from the Mohawk and Shinnacock tribes. Her stories all have Native American themes revolving around animals.

“It takes a long time to become a storyteller,” she told the small audience of parents and their young children. “You have to memorize about 200 stories.”

Us, at 64, is actually still an apprentice training under the guidance of Catamount, an Iroquois storyteller. As to when she can officially claim the storyteller title, Us said, “When I can remember all the stories and all the folklore. I didn’t start until I was in my 40s, so I’ll probably be six feet under before that happens.”

You wouldn’t know Us was still in training to hear her tell tales like “The Beaver, Turtle and Race for the Pond” or “Rabbit and His Extra Long Ears.” The fluidity of the stories, variety of voices and sounds she employed, and her easy manner thoroughly delighted the group.

In an interactive way, Us tapped children from the audience to approach her at the front of the Meeting Room, reach into a “story bag” made from rabbit fur and draw out an animal finger puppet. There were about 15 of these and ranged from rabbits and turtles to moose and beaver.

“Some storytellers have story baskets,” said Us. “I like the mystery of a story bag… and it makes things fun for the kids.”

Us would then relate each tale, integrating the selected finger puppet animal into her presentation. Each story had a moral lesson, which Us would clearly summarize at the conclusion of each telling.

Along one side of the room, Us’ son, Matthew, 38, manned two long tables atop which Native American jewelry, most of which his mother had fashioned, lay.

“She’s been doing this for quite some time,” Matthew commented. “She’s very good at it.”

Jewelry items included bracelets with sky and star themes, bracelets with leaf-shaped charms, Cherokee-style necklaces and chokers made from bone, abalone, glass beads, buffalo horn and leather. There were also story bags like her own, pendants with obsidian stones, hair pins and belt buckle covers.

Pointing to some Iroquois raised beadwork, the storyteller said, “This was almost lost as a craft. We were down to eight elderly workers when a master bead worker went across country and recruited about 3,000 craftsmen to maintain it.”

In a back room of the museum, another group was hard at work making cornhusk dolls and rattles. At one table, Fairfielder April Clyne and her three girls Allison, 2, Abigail, 9, and Alexandra, 7, were putting the finishing touches on their dolls, which were made with cornhusks and twine.

“With girls, it’s all about crafts,” said April.

“I really like to learn about history,” said Abigail. “And I thought this would be fun. I’ve been here before with my Brownie troop.”

Fairfielder Kathy Veenker was overseeing the doll making at an adjacent table, where her daughter Elizabeth, visiting from Washington, D.C., and 3-year-old identical twin granddaughters, Eloise and Charlotte, were seated.

“We’re trying to get back to natural activities and the real roots of Thanksgiving,” said Veenker. Kids watch so much TV… it’s fun to return to simple things, like when I was growing up and in the Girl Scouts. We made our own entertainment.”

Southporter Lorna Savage was keeping on an eye on her own brood – daughter Patricia Bravo, also from Washington, D.C., and grandkids Benjamin, 6, and Maya, 8, who were making rattles using paper towel tubes, markers and rice.

“I thought this would be perfect,” said Savage. “I call Maya my little Martha Stewart. She’s so crafty.”

Interfaith Collaboration Spurs Dialogue on Foreclosure Crisis

Interfaith Collaboration Spurs Dialogue on Foreclosure Crisis

(Appeared on front page of Bridgeport News 11/25)

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2010. All Rights Reserved.

11/17/10

What began as a seed of an idea several years ago has blossomed into a fruitful collaboration between interfaith leaders and their congregation members who seek to find solutions and help for families facing foreclosure on their homes and other financial difficulties.

Organized under a “Tent of Abraham” umbrella, clerical representatives from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths that have already fostered interaction and understanding between their respective congregants are now building upon that foundation to address serious challenges that are affecting people of all faiths.

In a recent sit-down with her clerical “partners” at the Park Avenue-situated Congregation B’Nai Israel in Bridgeport, the temple’s Associate Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz said, “Given the state of the world and economy, we began to wonder how faith can play a role and help.”

Pooling Interfaith Resources

This is when John Harmon, a congregant at Fairfield’s First Church Congregational and the Principal of Adulant Consulting Services LLC, entered the picture. “I came to the group relatively late, in April 2010. To the table, I brought a background of experiences at Pitney Bowes and teaching history (focused on the Renaissance Reformation period) at the University of Rochester. This gave me a solid background on finance and history, and a broad perspective on several religions.”

Historically, said Harmon, “Each faith posed challenges to the commercial world in terms of how to structure financing with regard to religious ethics and rules. For example, Catholicism, Judaism and Islam each had restrictions about the amount of interest you could charge. Very clear guidelines. These faiths have the same principles today but we haven’t heard from them with regard to current financial difficulties and how we get out of this mess.”

Harmon spoke with the group about this and each member realized they had contacts within their own circles with expertise in financial areas. A Christian representative was a former bank CEO in the Bronx. There was a rabbi who was a former investment banker. An attorney that does Islamic banking who advises people on investing within Islamic guidelines. The group realized it could offer real help to struggling families.

Dedicated Financial-Oriented Programs

On Oct. 27^th, a first panel-style program was held, with presentations by each faith leader. At a subsequent Nov.3^rd session, feedback and discussion was encouraged. These sessions were held at the Center for Faith and Public Life at Fairfield University, under the direction of Father Rick Ryscavage.

“These programs were very relevant to what people are experiencing,” said Rev. Bryan Leone, a pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Monroe but representing a Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport (CCGB) viewpoint. “Economic hardship knows no boundaries. All people are suffering. There should be a moral ethic in which lending is conducted. If this had been applied, we wouldn’t be in this mess. In many cases, people have been the victims of questionable ethics. Business deals should be conducted as if the customer is a family member.”

“At our recent session, the speakers made the point that transparency and trust between two sides is also good business. This has been absent within transactions over the past years. No one knows who owns what,” said Harmon.

Gurevitz suggested that the fault is not necessarily with individual counselors but with processes in general. “It’s not that there’s a lot of bad people out there. It’s more the systems that are set up that violate morals,” said Gurevitz.

Leone thought one recent attendee’s remark highlighted one key part of the problem. “He made the point that there’s a disconnect between stockholders and people working in the banks. Corporations are so big that they lose humanity and the person-to-person contact. They lose sight that they’re affecting human lives and have become heartless entities.”

Dolores Paoli, a lay person who serves as Youth Activity Coordinator for the American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies, concurred. “We don’t have the small community connection anymore like in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”

Harmon noted how some loan payers are being taking advantage of and how families have had to rally to assist each other. “Customers that are least able to pay are the most profitable customers for the corporations due to interest charges. We are seeing extended families trying to help each other out.”

Harmon suggested, “There needs to be greater oversight of commercial activity, by government or faith-based councils. We have an ethical responsibility to behave in a fair, ethical way. Without the ethical energy that religion provides, this fairness will continue to be absent.”

The Pitching of the Tent

This type of dialogue and constructive interaction between different faiths on these serious issues may not have been possible if Gurevitz had not been spurred to action. She explained how the “Tent of Abraham” collaboration, which initially began simply as a sharing of interfaith traditions, came about and how it has evolved over time.

Gurevitz reflected, “I came to this community five years ago and got an email from Rabbi Arthur Waskow, who runs the Shalom Center in Philadelphia. He’s a very prophetic voice and raises consciousness on many ideas. Ramadan (the Islamic month of fasting) had reached a point on the calendar where it coincided with Jewish high holidays in September. He thought it would be wonderfully appropriate for people of different faiths to share each other’s holy times and learn from each other. People of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths were encouraged to collaborate, under a Tent of Abraham umbrella.”

The overarching umbrella name seemed appropriate given that Abraham was one of the first great Biblical patriarchs and is a common ancestor of the three monotheistic faiths. Abraham also had a tent that was open on all four sides, so that he could see people as they approached and welcome them in. It was symbolic of the open exchange of ideas that the group hoped to foster.

“I had done some work with Waskow in the past, made a connection with the Jewish Federation and they reached out to the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, which has a bridge building ministry,” continued Gurevitz. “We liked the idea of specifically working on something three-faith oriented. A steering committee got together and we organized an initial program that was held at Sacred Heart University.”

The first program had about 120 attendees that were a mix of congregants from each of the faiths. The format featured a panel of religious leaders from the local community addressing the gathering. The theme was Abraham as a spiritual ancestor and how the faiths draw inspiration from the story.

“Instead of focusing on the differences between the faiths, the concentration was on the 99% that we all had in common,” said Gurevitz.

Paoli added, “That was the glue that created a foundation for meeting going forward. The emphasis was placed on understanding and sharing.”

While the first program was very encouraging, it fell short of fostering the interaction the group wished to achieve. “Going forward, small interfaith groups were organized at each program so people could have discussions and share stories amongst themselves,” said Gurevitz. “And we began to have different presenters and varying themes, which included lifecycle, pilgrimage, repentance and fasting. These themes were the obvious religious topics.”

Forward Direction

While continuing to encourage collaboration at all levels, the group is now focused on providing real support to people of all faiths. To this regard, feedback forms that were distributed at the group’s last session are currently being digested and analyzed and the group plans to reconvene in late spring. In the meantime, for those congregants most in need, churches are ready to help with discretionary funds and fundraising efforts. Several also plan holiday food drives and to help people in need with their fuel bills. Others have established job banks and are using online services like Linked In to connect congregants.

Clearly, the interfaith collaboration has promise. “We love each other. We’re like family,” said Paoli. Summed up Gurevitz, “Our relationship makes it possible to spur dialogues.”

SIDEBAR

Divine Mortgage Solutions Helps Homeowners in Crisis

Aligned with the objectives of the Tent of Abraham interfaith initiative, Divine Mortgage Solutions, a non-profit service operated by Rev. Marjorie Nunes, pastor at Summerfield United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, helps homeowners in foreclosure crisis.

As stated on its website, the role of the “ministry” is to function as an advocate for homeowners who are in foreclosure, at risk of foreclosure/loss of home and who are in need of post-foreclosure counseling and services. It is comprised of a group of dedicated individuals with the knowledge to negotiate with lenders to obtain modifications, loan restructuring plans, forbearance agreements and other tools to keep homeowners in their homes.

“We reach out to folks regardless of their religious beliefs, even though we are Methodist-based. We charge no fee and operate through grants,” said Nunes. “The first problem, from one family, came at the end of 2007. I never thought it would grow to the extent it has. I have a business background and began seeking more knowledge as the crisis grew. We have probably helped over 75 families in one way or another.”

The problem has evolved according to Nunes. “In 2008, there was a lot of sub-prime. People got into loans they shouldn’t have. When these reset to high adjustable rates, they were overwhelmed. Now with unemployment increasing, people can no longer afford even the fixed rate. It’s tricky when there’s no money coming in. I’m not a bank sympathizer, but I understand they can’t modify a loan if there’s no income.”

Often people just need help understanding the paperwork. “Some think that when they get a foreclosure notice, that’s the end. But that’s just the beginning and there are many remedy options,” added Nunes.

“We try to offer some peace and let people know that someone cares enough to help,” offered Nunes, a message that’s particularly appropriate and welcome during the holidays.

For more information about Divine Mortgage Solutions, please visit http://www.sumconthehill.com/divine.html