Publication: SuperShe.com and SuperShe mobile application
Sure, the Future is Female, But Do You Need a Financial Pro to Help You Plan For It?
When someone asks if you’ve got a financial plan, the first thing that may come to mind might be that scene from Friends where Phoebe says: “I don’t even have a pla-.” Just trying to figure out if you can swing cocktails at that cute new bar down the street and your weekly Trader Joe’s run is hard enough on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, you might not feel like you know an adequate amount about money, in general, or earn a sufficient amount of it to be thinking seriously about your financial future. You might’ve heard buzz about hiring a financial planner to help you manage your money and investments…but is the payoff really worth it? We did some research to see what financial experts and women like you have to say about bringing in a pro to manage the Benjamins.
You’re Never Too Young For a Financial Planner
Although the stereotype is that financial planners are only needed by well-off, older people who are decked out in Ralph Lauren, the times are definitely a’changing. Having someone help you get your money in order so you can focus on other things can actually be a smart investment.
“Traditionally, people sought financial help once they were having a child,” says Heather Goodman, San Francisco-based COO and president of True Capital Management. “But because more women are in the workforce, and the millennial generation is waiting longer to have kids, more people are seeking out a financial planner in their mid- to late 20s.” And she believes money management should happen even sooner. “I think financial planning should start as soon as you’re in college,” says Goodman, stating that it’s good to just get a handle on the basic idea of how much is going into your account and how much is coming out early on, even if it’s a small amount. “I don’t think it should wait.”
According to a study by Pew Research Center, millennial ladies are working more and making more moolah than generations before them (no shade: we know the patriarchy has held women back), so we’ve got more money to be managed. Let’s face the facts: this stuff can be hard, especially when we’ve got a million and one things on our plate. It’s OK to ask for help. “The nice thing about a financial planner is that it ensures that you can dedicate your time to other things while you are living your best life,” says Lazetta Braxton, Maryland-based founder and CEO of Financial Fountains, a financial planning firm. “It comes down to delegating.” Recommendations from family and friends who are in similar financial situations as yours is best, but you might also want to head to FINRA.org, where you can check out the background of the Certified Financial Planner — make sure they’re certified — you’re thinking of hiring, recommends Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial Takes on Investing: A Beginner’s Guide to Leveling Up Your Money.
You Don’t Need a Lot of Dough to Call In a Pro
“I have, like, zero money for a financial planner to manage,” says New York-based SuperShe member, Rose. But, in reality, you don’t need to be makin’ it rain to benefit from a little financial assistance. Any amount of money in your bank account can be managed to help you save up for that Chevy Traverse to take the kids to practice or to renew your Class Pass subscription.
When Cristina, a New York-based SuperShe, had a friend recommend a financial planner, she also thought that she didn’t need one, since she wasn’t exactly rolling in riches. But she kept an open mind and met with the planner; he seemed trustworthy (no Bernie Maddoff vibes, she says), so she hired him. “Fast-forward two years, and now he’s managing 75 percent of my money, helping me set up a cushy retirement and also an excellent rainy day fund, which means I never have to take on a client or project that don’t align with my values just for the money,” she says. “Basically, he’s the career coach that I didn’t know I wanted or needed, and I’m so grateful. Not to mention, he’s helping me grow my net worth well beyond what I thought was possible.”
Um, we’ll have what she’s having.
Finance Stuff Can Be Tough
There’s no shame in admitting we get help with our green ‘cause we’d rather not deal with big financial decisions ourselves. “I don’t know a thing about managing my money in the long-term,” says Clare, a SuperShe from Connecticut, who is considering finding a financial planner. “I can budget month-to-month, but planning ahead when I’m only 22 is tough, and I honestly don’t want to do it myself. I’d rather have someone I trust take care of it while I learn more about it.” A financial planner’s whole shtick is taking an objective look at your finances, managing tight budgets, helping you with investing, and making sure you’ve got a doable plan for your future.
Whatever your financial sitch, it’s up to you to decide if you want a trained professional to lend a hand. You’re a SuperShe, but you don’t have to be a superhero all the time; totally cool to ask for help if you want it. But if you’re a boss when it comes to managing your bucks, keep doing you. We’re not here to tell you how to live your life.
In the wise words of Beyoncé: “You’re a grown woman. You can do whatever you want.” Just know that babes like you are killing the financial game these days, and people are eager to help you out as you grow and charge toward your badass future.
Hey, Big Spender. Help Is Here.
It happens to the best of us: we march into Sephora to replace our trusty tube of mascara, but five minutes in, we’ve filled up our baskets with Urban Decay’s new Naked eyeshadow palettes, a lineup of Fenty lipsticks, and those tantalizing face masks in the checkout line. We do serious damage with our credit cards and don’t know why we can’t exercise some self-control. Ugh, it’s all so beautiful.
The overspending doesn’t stop in the Sephora aisles. In so, so many situations, we find ourselves shelling out when we should be chilling out. But curbing spending habits can be tougher than calling it quits with your reliable Friday-night booty call. A 2018 survey by CreditCards.com found that almost 75% of Americans are prone to impulse buys. So we sent out a cry for help (we’re talking a Kim K-level dramatic cry) to find out why we keep on buying and buying—and how to cut that out.
1. Stop making rezzies and relax.
If you’re out almost every night with friends, it’s probably time to cut back on the pricey farm-to-table cuisine and bottles of rosé that are steadily emptying your bank account. Listen, ladies: we get that having a jam-packed calendar can feel totally rewarding, but it can also be draining—physically and financially.
“I like going out for drinks because I like to hang out with my friends outside of my apartment,” says Flora, a NYC-based SuperShe. “I go out around two to three times a week with friends, and each time I drop around $30 to $50.” We feel you. And we’re definitely not saying you shouldn’t have some fun with your friends or coworkers. You do you, woman. But if you’re blowing your budget on carbonara and cocktails—and you’re not sure why you can’t stop—it might be due to a common anxiety: FOMO, or fear of missing out, if you’ve somehow managed to avoid the term.
“We want to be included, we want to be part of a community,” says Amanda Abella, an online business coach and millennial money expert based in Miami. “Plus, sometimes, we fear what other people are going to think of us if we say ‘no’ to plans.” While it’s nice as hell to be a part of stuff and feels great to be liked, you’re one woman and life can be exhausting and expensive. Don’t be so hard on yourself or worry about what’ll happen if you decide to stay in and catch up on Netflix.
Cash in this tip and save: Learn to say ‘no’ to plans if you really want to nip your expensive social calendar in the bud. “We tend to people-please and say ‘yes’ to everybody,” adds Abella. “And we end up exhausted, stressed out, and broke.” Practice being pickier about how and with you you spend your precious time. Remember, some much-needed “me” time is actually be a good thing.
2. Don’t shop til your savings drop.
Damn the retail gods who fill up our inbox with too-good-to-pass up offers on sleek booties, perfectly distressed denim, oversized cashmere sweaters and every freaking thing we want to wear right now. Our wallets can’t keep up! If you’re in a similar situation, but can’t stop making the rounds at Zara or clicking “Add to Cart” on your phone, it might be a reaction to emotional stuff in your personal life. Ever heard of retail therapy?
You’re definitely not alone: 49% of Americans say they’ve spent more than they can afford because of emotions, according to a survey from NerdWallet.
Cash in this tip and save: Consider whether something’s got you in your feelings, à la the masterful Drake. “Look at when you’re compelled to overspend,” says Kassandra Dasent, a financial consultant based in Florida and founder of Minding Your Money. “Maybe you went on a bad date or got dumped. Instead of just going online and shopping, stop and say, ‘Hey! What’s going on with me that I’m just buying all this?’” Sucky emotional stuff might be causing you to mend heart strings with price tags.
Definitely check yourself before you wreck yourself. But if that doesn’t work for you, Dasent suggests not saving your credit card info on your computer. It’s hella easy to click “Complete Purchase” when your payment info’s already there, so create one extra step for yourself that gives you a few more minutes to realize that you don’t actually need that leopard print midi skirt from Revolve right now.
3. Kick your gal pals off the gravy train.
We’re all boss babes who don’t need anyone to tell us we’re crushing it. But, sometimes, a little validation feels good. Like, really good. Like, having-a-dude-go-down-on-you-who-actually-knows-what-he’s-doing good. Unfortunately, this desire for external validation can sometimes sabotage our spending, according to Abella. Specifically, some of us end up being overly generous with our funds towards friends to “buy” their affection.
Trying to seem giving and #chill to your squad can leave your wallet a whole lot lighter. “I’ve always been over-the-top generous,” says Cristina, a NYC SuperShe. “I’m often treating friends to movies, meals, drinks, and coffee for no reason at all. There are a few reasons why I end up doing this, but mostly, I’m just so grateful for my friends’ time and energy, and for the enriching conversations and problem-solving that we do when we hang out. I want to thank them, and this as close to me giving them the shirt off my back as I can get.”
There’s nothing wrong with being nice and, in fact, we don’t always realize we’re going above and beyond. “In general, women are taught that their value is in being liked and not respected,” says Abella. “It’s just social conditioning. When our bank account starts shrinking, it’s often from giving, giving, giving, and nothing being reciprocated.”
Cash in this tip and save: Shut this habit down, as awkward and uncomfortable as it’s gonna be. Set some boundaries and stay strong, regardless of how “good” a friend she is. “You have to put yourself first,” says Abella. ”It’s going to really suck in the beginning once you stop giving like that. You taught whoever you’ve been overspending on how to treat you, so the second you change your tune, she’s going to be surprised.” But it’s 2019, baby. Pull on your grown woman power pants and demand the respect and reciprocity you deserve.
10 Money-Saving Tips to Elevate Your Investment Game
Let’s be real: when some of us hear the word “investing,” our eyes glaze over and we start daydreaming of the penne alla vodka we’ll be scarfing down later for dinner. The thought of jumping into the stock market can be more daunting than trying to pick up Game of Thrones from Season Eight. It can also be straight-up scary; you work hard for your moolah, and putting it where you can’t see it can stir up some serious separation anxiety. It’s chill—we totally get it, and these feelings are completely normal. In fact, a survey by S&P Global in March of 2019 found that only 26 percent of American women invest in the stock market, despite 41 percent of these same women viewing the market positively. Let’s fix that.
Whether you’re looking to take the training wheels off your investing bike or you’re already poppin’ wheelies all the way to the stock exchange, we’ve got the most bangin’ tips for what to do with your dough. You can look elsewhere for the rules and regs; we just want to help you put some extra oomph into your investments, courtesy of opinions and real-life experiences from finance pros. Crank up the Soulja Boy, because we be gettin’ money.
1. Keep that cash flowing.
First and foremost, you want to make sure that while you’re investing like a boss, you don’t end up without a single George Washington in your Kate Spade wallet because all your money is tied up in investments. “You can have 10 million invested and be strapped for cash,” warns Kristina Roth, SuperShe’s badass founder and CEO, who used to run her own successful tech consulting company before selling it and becoming a self-made millionaire. #Goals. Ideally, you should have an emergency fund of six to 12 months, according to Amanda Abella, online business coach and millennial money expert. You should also have resolved all serious debts, and, not to mention, it’s clutch to have enough money in the bank for that vacay in Bora Bora that you’re planning.
2. Consider working with a pro.
Listen, it can be hard to ask for help. We would rather sweat buckets trying to put our heavy luggage in the overhead bin on an airplane than ask that guy next to us to lend a hand. But when it comes to your investments, there’s no shame in the assistance game. If you’ve got the funds for it, try bringing in a financial planner or adviser (for the D.L. on these peeps, check out our advice on enlisting their help here). But if you don’t have the hundos to pay for help, try awesome websites, like this one, that let you calculate things like your 401k investment plan for free.
3. Figure out who’s behind the company you’re thinking of putting your money into.
“Do your research and get to know the team involved with a potential investment,” says Roth. “I wouldn’t blindly just invest. The scams start, again, with the people behind it. So meeting with these people can help tip you off.” As a boss lady, you don’t want some finance dude thinking he can take you for a ride because you’re a woman. Plus, the people at the company play a huge role in whether the venture will be a success, so getting some face-time can help you figure out if the investment’s baller or just bad news. Be wary of technological jargon that’s super hard to understand, advises Roth, and steer more toward folks who already have a proven track record in the business.
4. Play it safe with real estate.
“If you’re nervous about putting your money in an investment for the first time or branching out with your money, invest in a real estate fund,” recommends Roth. “There’s a real physical facility behind it, so it’s a less risky place to put your money. Physical locations—specifically multi-family residential housing —are, for me, the lowest risk with higher returns.” Let the ol’ brick and mortar get your wallet bursting, ladies.
5. Don’t let your feelings interfere with your funds.
“Avoid investing on emotion,” says certified financial education instructor Bola Sokunbi, New York-based CEO and founder of Clever Girl Finance. Putting your money into companies run by friends or family just because you guys are tight can leave your bank account empty and your relationships more damaged than your split ends after a blowout.
6. Invest in the apps you’re already addicted to.
Roth admits one of her biggest regrets is not investing in all of the app-based companies she liked before they made it big. “Look at the apps that have your eyes glued to your phone,” suggests Roth, making note of apps like Facebook and Amazon—before they became household names. “Ask, ‘What problem is this company solving? What is it making easier?” Invest in something that has a real purpose and that no one else is already doing.
7. When you uncover a diamond, act on it.
A savvy investor with a background in computer science, Roth had a feeling a few years back that blockchain was going to take the world by storm. Blockchain is essentially the technology that keeps a record of cryptocurrency transactions (cryptocurrency is digital currency, like Bitcoin). Roth was more than ready to invest a pretty penny in Ethereum—which functions as both a blockchain platform itself and a cryptocurrency formally known as Ether—but unforeseen personal issues arose and she postponed her investment. “I knew that I wanted to do it, but I didn’t do it in time,” says Roth. “And then six months later, the investment I was planning to make would have been worth $100 million.” Go with your gut and don’t wait on those things you want to invest in, Roth tells us. And, wow, we’re listening.
8. Once you invest, leave your loot alone.
“Boring is better,” says Jean Chatzky, author, financial editor, and host of the podcast “HerMoney.” “What I mean is that most of us aren’t stock pickers, and you don’t have to be. Women outperform men when it comes to their investments because we don’t meddle.” Read: our egos don’t have us constantly looking for the next best thing. Stay true to your investment and don’t touch your money once you’ve put it somewhere you’re confident about. Let it grow in the long-term.
9. Don’t sleep on taxes.
“Budget for taxes based on the gains of your investment,” says Sokunbi. It can be easy to shell out money for shiny, glittering investments, but you don’t want to be slapped in the face with exorbitant taxes you can’t pay. Hit up your accountant to help you figure out the exact number you’ll be looking at, advises Abella. You’ve got to have a plan and know what your taxes sitch will look like after you invest. But, fear not: you can use your gains from your investments to pay those pesky taxes. “Let’s say you cash out your gains, and you owe $100 in taxes,” says Abella. “Your gains would be sent to your checking account as cash — depending on what platform you are using—so you’d have the cash to pay the taxes.” But again, always double-check with your accountant to make sure you’re on top of your stuff.
10. Automate what you can.
“Human beings, including women, are wired for instant gratification,” says Chatzky. “We want it, and we want it now. That makes it really hard to continually put money into things, like retirement and college savings accounts, for the future.” The solution: Set up automatic deposits so the money from your paycheck goes directly into those investments before you have the chance to spend it on those Sephora face masks you always grab while waiting in line.
Doing the Mom Thing While at Work
These days, more women than ever are staying in the workforce after having kids: 7 in 10 moms with children under age 18 were in the labor force in 2017, up from 47% in 1975, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To help those new moms just starting out, we asked real-life SuperMoms to shed some light on the realities of knockin’ it out of the park at work while you’re knocked up—and when you return.
When to make the big announcement.
Woohoo! You just saw those two lines on your pregnancy test and you’re over the MFing moon about it. Little by little, you start to make plans, knowing that your life is about to change in some major and exciting ways. Then your happy dance is halted by the question: WTF are you going to do about work?
Don’t freak out just yet, mama. You’ve got time before you have to do anything. “When you’re newly pregnant, you don’t have to tell anyone at work,” says longtime journalist and founder of the viral #NoShameParenting movement, Lindsay Powers. “If you have a good relationship with your employer or you start showing, you might want to say something,” adds the NYC-based mom of two and author of the upcoming book, You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids.
Amber Mamian, a CA-based entrepreneur, mom of five, and founder of Global Munchkins, a blog dedicated to family travel, stayed silent as long as she could. At the time of her pregnancy, she was working for herself in a small office with three employees. “I didn’t say much at work until I was showing, which was closer to five months,” she explains. You’ve got a bun in the oven and a lot on your plate; it’s no one’s beeswax what’s going on in your uterus until you decide it’s their beeswax.
A SuperShe mama who has chosen to stay anonymous — for the rest of this article, we’ll refer to her as Jessica — suggests waiting until the second trimester to tell your boss because of the high miscarriage rate in the first trimester. About 80% of all cases of pregnancy loss occur within the first trimester, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. So she advises being totally sure all is good in the ‘hood before you start making big adjustments at work. It’s a hard and upsetting truth, we know, but a truth nonetheless.
On a different note, we get that you might be freaking out because you’re nervous that things will change in the office once everyone knows you’re pregnant. Our SuperMoms acknowledge that, yes, some work environments might not be ideal and judgment is real. “I was always worrying about looking pregnant while job searching because I felt like it would be a strike against me,” Jessica recalls. “But once I started showing, I decided to be bold. I’m making a human dammit, and that’s impressive.”
You can and should be bold because there is a federal law, called Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), that prohibits your workplace from discriminating against you because you’re with child. According to the American Association of University Women, if anyone does discriminate against you for being pregnant at work, you can file a claim within 180 days of that happening, even if you’re no longer employed by the A-hole who crossed the line. While you don’t need a lawyer to proceed, it’s always good to consult with legal counsel, if you can.
Bottomline: Don’t fret about giving your team the heads up until you’re good and ready. And if anyone at work starts acting shady because of your bump (i.e., you get passed up for a well-deserved promotion), remember, you’ve got the law behind you.
Map out your exit for maternity leave.
Once you’ve let your employer know you’re brewing a magical little being inside you (perhaps you phrase it slightly differently during that conversation), it’ll be time to start thinking about your maternity leave.
Now, we know you’re excited to get your well-deserved—and hella necessary—time off to not only BIRTH a human, but also to spend some amazing quality time with him or her. But before all that good stuff can happen, you’ve gotta do some planning. Annoying, we know, but nothing monumental ever happens without a little forethought and some metaphorical elbow grease.
Of course, arranging your leave will be different for every SuperShe, so we suggest first checking to see if your employer provides paid leave. “It depends on how much paid leave you have available, and sadly, many women in America don’t have any,” says Lindsay. “For my second child, I was lucky to work for a company that offered paid leave, so I was able to go on leave a couple weeks before my due date without compromising the amount of leave I had access to after my baby was born.” If you don’t get any paid leave (which is so messed up), you might need to work until closer to your due date, depending on your financial situation.
As for the plan itself, take notes from this SuperMom: “I worked with my manager to create a strategy for who would cover various duties,” recalls Lindsay. “My company split my to-do’s among multiple people. So I just collaborated with those coworkers to make sure they could seamlessly step into their designated roles.”
If your company prefers to hire a contractor to fill in for you in the interim, try to get your temporary replacement to shadow you for the max amount of time possible. “It’s great if you can have some overlap with a temporary replacement, whether it’s for a day or a week,” says Lindsay. “I recommend leaving a one-pager with important phone numbers and emails regardless.” In addition to that handy-dandy helper sheet, be sure to put all your major responsibilities in writing and cc your manager on the email so everyone is on the same page about how invaluable you are to the brand.
Pretty straightforward stuff, right? It’ll make your life a lot easier when you’re at home with your newborn and don’t have to check in to make sure that Brad from accounting knows what he’s doing in the morning meeting.
Actually enjoy being OOO.
Your automatic “peace out, bishes” email response has been set, effectively telling everyone who’s contacting you at work that you’re about to experience the miracle of childbirth. But what’s maternity leave actually going to be like in terms of your ties to the office?
“I went dark on maternity leave,” says Lindsay, explaining she didn’t touch base with work at all. “At one point, my manager wanted to connect with me, so I did a phone call toward the end. But other than that, I pretty much didn’t check in.” She adds that she was lucky she was transitioning into a new role upon her return, so she didn’t really have much to worry about regarding the old one while she was at home with her offspring. Sounds like a total dream to us.
But it’s not always sunshine, rainbows and Friends binge-watching. Jessica voluntarily parted ways with her previous job a few months prior to giving birth and had been on the job-hunt. However, when her son arrived, she decided to press pause and focus on the baby. Even without the stress of a job search, things were tough. “In my experience, there’s no such thing as enjoying your maternity leave,” she says. “You can never get enough sleep. To make it easier, I tried to divvy up the baby duties with my husband, but it was still hard.”
In addition to seemingly never-ending baby duties (pun intended), missing work while on maternity leave is another potential reality for moms-to-be. “I found maternity leave incredibly difficult,” says Amber. “Being home with a baby is sweet but incredibly lonely. I missed the excitement of making sales and adult interaction most.”
Listen, every SuperMom’s experience is going to be different. But it’s nice to know that the possibility of getting the hell away from work to bond with your bambino is a real thing. It’s also reassuring to hear that if you’re struggling to enjoy your time out of office—whatever your situation may be—you’re not the only one.
Getting back on the grind.
The U.S. legally requires that you take 12 weeks of unpaid leave if you’re a mom of a newborn or a newly adopted child and you work for a company with more than 50 employees. So even though you’ve recently pushed a human being out of your vagina, you’ve got bills that need payin’. That last sentence alone makes us wonder why women don’t get enough credit, but alas, we digress. And for the record: this isn’t to say that stay-at-home moms aren’t badass superheroes with hard-as-hell responsibilities, too—we’re just focusing on mamas who decided to go back to work for this piece!
Our SuperMoms all had different experiences returning to the office. And we’re not going to sugarcoat it: it wasn’t easy and breezy for any of them.
“When I went back to work after having my first child, I was suddenly ‘mommy tracked,’” says Lindsay. “My boss at the time announced to my entire team that I was now ‘leaving early’ because I’d asked if I could ‘only’ spend 40 hours a week in office, finishing up any outstanding work after my son went to bed. He also once forwarded me an email to an interesting conference, saying, ‘I’d love to send you to this, but you’re probably not traveling right now!’” Um, what?
Lindsay took her experience with this offensive and unacceptable mommy-shaming and changed the way she operated at work.“When I switched positions within that company, I stopped asking for ‘permission’ to leave for appointments, and instead just blocked out the time I couldn’t work on my calendar,” she says. “I still got all my duties done. I recommend this ‘ask forgiveness later’ approach to all parents who are able to.”
For some women returning to work, the aforementioned mommy-shame comes from somewhere else: feeling bad for not staying at home. “For me, going back to work was great,” says Amber. “However, it took a little while to get over feeling ashamed that I’m just not a stay-at-home mom. I gave staying at home my all for a year, but it wasn’t for me. I really enjoy what I do and I’m passionate about the companies I’ve built.”
Although Amber experienced it more internally, the societal shaming of moms (think judgemental comments and side-eyes from other moms, coworkers, and even strangers) for returning to work and not spending every waking moment with their kiddos is a real problem today. According to reports from the Pew Research Center, 77% of adults say women face a lot of pressure to be an involved parent; a significantly smaller share, 56%, say the same about men.”
So, yep: it’s sexist B.S. that makes us feel bad about getting back to work. It’s especially crummy to feel this way when we want to spend time with our kids, but staying home just isn’t a feasible financial option. Sheesh, cut us some slack and stop making women feel bad about having ambition and obligations.
Some of the tough stuff isn’t just emotional, either. Jessica was ready to get back to the office, but was shocked when she realized how exhausting it is to be a new working mom. “I go home and I want to sleep, but I can’t because I get a surge of energy when I see my baby,” she explains. “Then he goes to sleep and I realize I still have all this stuff to do for myself and around the house. Working is so exciting, so I can’t imagine not doing it—but juggling everything is so tiring. It’s a tired you’ve never experienced before.”
While it might be scary to read how difficult it all can be, consider that most things worth doing are insanely hard. Balancing baby and a job each day is impressive and admirable in our eyes. Get excited for the journey and give yourself a pat on the back because you’re a rockstar, mama.
Publication: Washington Square News
This NYU Graduate Is Bribing Millennials to Vote
NYU Wagner alumna Emily Graham wants to turn around low voter turnouts among millennials. She’s encouraging young people to vote through her new online platform MOTIVOTE, which uses incentives — such as free workout classes and gift cards — to bring people to the polls.
Graham created MOTIVOTE as a response to the low voter turnout she saw during the 2016 presidential election. “Everything was awful,” Graham said. “I knew I needed to do something, and I knew I needed to use all of the resources NYU had to offer to affect politics.”
So, in the wake of Donald Trump’s inauguration, she began brainstorming with two of her then-classmates, Rachel Konowitz and Jess Riegel. They noticed that following the inauguration, citizen activism and anger peaked, manifesting in protests like the Women’s March.
“We realized it would all be for naught if people didn’t actually show up to vote,” Graham said, referencing the low rates at which young people vote compared to the rest of the country. “It’s sort of tragic that we will live with policies enacted today the longest, but we have so little say in them.”
During their research of tactics for motivating individuals, the co-founders discovered that social pressure and financial incentives are proven to drive behavior.
In March of 2017, MOTIVOTE was born. The basics of the “gamified” platform are as follows: users create an account, join voting teams with their friends, commit to vote in the upcoming election, and — after they’ve confirmed they are registered to vote — complete tasks to receive rewards.
The tasks can be as easy as hosting a debate watch party to get more involved and learn about the candidates, and rewards for certain tasks range from a free SoulCycle class to a $200 credit on Ticketmaster.
“The tasks are simple and they continuously remind team members of the importance of their vote, while not adding an extra stress to their daily lives,” said Steinhardt junior Helen Scheetz, who is leading a team on MOTIVOTE.
MOTIVOTE wants to keep young people engaged and involved in the voting process — and so far, it’s working, at least for Scheetz.
“Being able to see where my team is at has motivated me to participate and to earn my points,” Scheetz said. “I have seen the excitement build up for Election Day so much more since the app has started.”
The purpose of the teams is to hold users accountable for voting. To ensure this, MOTIVOTE requires that users send a selfie — either with their “I Voted” sticker or with their absentee ballot envelope before mailing it — to their group.
The kicker: your team gets notified if you don’t vote.
Graham hopes this social pressure will increase young voter turnout and that the task-reward system will propel voters further into political involvement.
“We want to complete what comes after the, ‘I registered, now what?’ question,” Graham said. “We want to take you past that first step.”
So far, MOTIVOTE has roughly 1,000 users, but Graham would like to get to 10,000 before midterms. She and the rest of the team are working daily to get more users and the platform now acquires hundreds of new users every day, according to Graham. She thinks this is due to people finally tuning into the fast-approaching midterms.
Journalism graduate student Kathleen Knowles thinks MOTIVOTE is an interesting way to get people who claim to care about politics to actually make their votes count.
“So often people get caught up in the shock of elections, but then forget to follow through,” Knowles said. “This is a great way to hold people who really want to become involved accountable.”
The more users that sign up, the closer they come to their goal of making civic engagement social and habitual.
“Our goal for the future is that you’re voting in every election, calling representatives, volunteering and getting more deeply entrenched in your community,” Graham said.
Even with all of the excitement around the midterms this year, it is unclear just how many young people will actually vote. But Graham has hope that MOTIVOTE can help squash the complacency that plagues the young voter demographic.
Of their users who were able to vote in the June 2018 primary elections in New York, 87 percent actually did, according to their data from the platform’s pilot run.
“If you fall into the group-think that your one vote doesn’t matter, then it won’t,” said Graham. “But this is the beauty of MOTIVOTE: It’s not just you. It’s thousands of others voting for the first time. That’s where you make an impact.”
Publication: Town & Country
Inside a Special New York Screening of The Wife
On July 26, movie fans braved the heat to attend a special New York City screening of The Wife, a new drama starring Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce and set to open August 17. In addition to Close and Pryce, their costars Christian Slater and Annie Starke (Close’s daughter, in her first major film role) also attended the screening, hosted by Sony Pictures Classics at The Paley Center for Media, and a private dinner afterward at the Monkey Bar. Other guests included Christine Baranski, Diane Sawyer, Nat Wolff, Grace van Patten, Regis and Joy Philbin, and Meg Wolitzer, whose book inspired the film.
A New Exhibit at the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence Highlights the Designer’s Life in Hollywood
Robert De Niro. Al Pacino. Frank Sinatra. Rudolph Valentino. Italian-Americans have a long and proud legacy in the movies, and a new exhibit pays tribute to their contributions to the business through the eyes of an early pioneering immigrant.
These days Salvatore Ferragamo may be best known as a leather goods brand with a regular presence on Hollywood red carpets, but its namesake’s history with Los Angeles stretches back much further.
“Italy in Hollywood,” a new exhibit at the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence, which runs through March 2019, explores the designer’s life in California from 1915 to 1927. This lesser-known but formative time in Ferragamo’s career is showcased through eight immersive rooms, each highlighting a distinctive theme of Italian-American culture.
Travis Banton, Bolero-style “Suit of Lights” jacket, Designed by Natacha Rambova and worn by Rudolph Valentino in the movie “Blood and Sand” directed by Frank Niblo. Paramount Pictures and Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, B-W, 125’, 1922, Courtesy of The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design: Larry McQueen, Los AngelesCOURTESY OF SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
The young Italian designer emmigrated to America from his hometown of Bonito during World War I and quickly found his way to Santa Barbara. Ferragamo opened a shoe repair shop with his brothers and collaborated with the most famous names in cinema, including Raoul Walsh, James Cruze, and Cecil B. DeMille.
When the industry moved to Hollywood, he followed, becoming the self-professed “Shoemaker to the Stars.” His new store, the Hollywood Boot Shop, attracted the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Mary Pickford, Pola Negri, Lillian Gish, and, of course, another Italian émigré, the original sex symbol, Rudolph Valentino.
Housed in Palazzo Spini Feroni, the 13th century building owned by the Ferragamo family since the 1930s—the museum opened in 1995—the exhibit also recreates Ferragamo’s original shop, and some of his designs, including the pair worn by Marilyn Monroe in the iconic subway grate scene in The Seven Year Itch.
Salvatore Ferragamo, Prototype for laced shoe, 1927, Calfskin and suede upper. The model was designed for the actress Gloria Swanson, Firenze, Museo Salvatore FerragamoCOURTESY OF SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
Curated by Giuliana Muscio and Stefania Ricci, “Italy in Hollywood” uses Ferragamo’s success story to thread a larger narrative about the burgeoning representation of Italians in American cinema. Film clips, stills, posters and other memorabilia point to a body of work by immigrants that formed the foundation of a then blossoming industry.
Music by Italian immigrants and Italian-Americans plays throughout the exhibit to create an interactive experience, highlighting the artistic impact of an immigrant creative community in the first half of 20th century America.
Poster by Leopoldo Metlicovitz, Undated Advertising poster produced for the movie “Cabiria” by Giovanni Pastrone B-W, 168’, 1914, Torino, Collezione Museo Nazionale del CinemaCOURTESY OF SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
After last year’s “1927 the Return to Italy,” curators sought to explore another early chapter of its founder’s life, and it so happens that immigration happens to be a timely topic today.
“I look back now and see a parallel between the film industry and my own,” Ferragamo wrote in his autobiography. “Just as the motion picture industry has grown and developed from those fledgling days, so too, I hope, has mine.”
Photograph of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, 1920s, Photograph GAB Archive/Redferns | Getty ImagesGETTY IMAGES
Designed by Maurizio Balò as an homage to an early Hollywood soundstage, the exhibition space contrasts strikingly with its ornate home, the Palazzo Feroni, and, indeed, with Florence itself, a historic city that feels like a living museum. As guests stepped inside on a recent visit, it seemed as though they were walking into another time, in another world.
Town & Country and Saks Fifth Avenue Celebrate Jewelry On 2
On the evening of June 5, jewelry fanatics including Olivia Culpo, David Yurman, and Marjorie Gubelmann flocked to the opening of Jewelry on 2, the new luxury jewelry destination on the second floor of the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship at 611 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The space, which is nearly 7,000 square feet, features an incredible array of the very best brands—a number of which are exclusive to New York City at Saks—as well as two private jewelry viewing rooms, opportunities for jewelry design, repair, and cleaning, and a team of style advisors.
The event was hosted by Saks President Marc Metrick and Town & Country Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes and attracted an excited crowd of designers and collectors including Aurélie Bidermann, Melissa Kaye, Thomas Bouillonnec, Jennifer Creel, Susan Fales-Hills, Amy Fine Collins, Marco Bicego, and more.
Inside Carlos Souza and Charlene Shorto de Ganay’s Portugal Paradise
The tranquil beaches and culturally rich architecture of Comporta come to life in Carlos Souza and Charlene Shorto de Ganay’s Comporta Bliss(Assouline). On shelves this month, the vivid collection of photographs provides an insider’s look into Portugal’s ocean side gem. The peaceful town is a frequent escape for celebrities like Madonna, François Dumas, Farida Khelfa, Jacques Grange, and the Espírito Santo family, who have been known to spend their days horseback riding in the dunes and strolling the quiet beaches.
The coastal getaway has also been a longtime favorite destination for the authors. Carlos Souza, a worldwide ambassador for Valentino and editor-at-large for Architectural Digest, captures the relaxed, yet lively nature of Comporta. The raw nature and magazine-worthy décor that fill the pages of the vibrant book also reflect the passions of co-author Charlene Shorto de Ganay.
Dubbed Valentino’s unofficial muse, Shorto de Ganay is a seasoned veteran of the fashion industry with her own zeal for photography. The authors’ images of local life, friendly meals, and unique homes capture the essence and authenticity of the stunning fishing village reminiscent of an idyllic 1950s Saint-Tropez. See below for the wanderlust-inducing photos from the book.
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
CARLOS SOUZA & CHARLENE SHORTO
Publication: Easton Courier (The newspaper has since merged with two local papers, so links to past articles are no longer available)
Curbing Unsafe Teen Driving
Aerin Reed
College Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: July 13, 2017
Page: A1
The open road, friends, and summer vacation are a dreamlike combination. However, with concern over unsafe teen driving increasing at every turn, it seems to be a more dangerous combination as the days go by.
Fatal teen driving accidents in the United States increased by more than 10% from 2014 to 2015, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The more notable teen car accidents in Easton and Redding in the last two years are starting to make this problem hit close to home.
While there may not have been a direct increase in teen driving accidents in the two communities in recent years, “There have been two crashes which have resulted in serious injuries and which have drawn a great deal of attention, thus the perception that there has been,” said Redding Police Chief Douglas Fuchs.
Accidents and incidents involving teen drivers have been in a white-hot spotlight for the past two years in the Easton and Redding communities. Two major car accidents have been life-threatening.
An accident in June 2016 left a Joel Barlow High School student critically injured and paralyzed from the waist down. An accident in April landed multiple Barlow students in the hospital for extended periods of time and with serious injuries.
Further inquiry among the teen community indicated that even teenagers themselves notice unsafe driving behaviors exhibited by people their age. Sabrina Weiss, a graduate of Barlow’s Class of 2017, said she has observed area teens, “speeding, drinking and texting while driving.”
On a more hopeful note for the future of teen driving, Weiss said the recent big accidents have influenced the way students regard driving safety.
“The perspective on driving has definitely changed amongst my peers,” said Weiss. “There have been some horrifying accidents that have made the things that we have learned about in wellness classes and the PSAs that we have seen online become more real, and as loved ones become affected we all become more conscious of the consequences. It just becomes more real how easy a car can get out of control and how grand the impacts can be.”
This change is promising, but there is still something to be said for the fact that it required two major accidents to make safety on the road hit home for teens in the community.
“Unfortunately, youth’s institutional memory is fairly short as classes graduate, and the farther out an incident is, the less impact it seems to have on future behavior,” Fuchs said. “Many teens and others often think ‘not me — not in my backyard.’”
“Youth often have a difficult time understanding the sometimes significant consequences of their actions,” he said.
Speeding is the most common type of offense the Redding Police Department sees teen drivers committing. But with new technology and societal pressures, there are many other unsafe behaviors that occur while driving, such as Snapchatting and having too many people in one car.
What motivates teens to do things behind the wheel that they know are unsafe?
“Kids drive too fast because it is fun, convenient, and some teens view it as cool,” Barbara Powell, chair of the Easton Redding Community Care Coalition (ERCCC), said. Powell, a teacher at Barlow and the mother of several Barlow graduates, said that consequences for these actions are few and far between.
Attempting to make it home before curfew and being under the influence of drugs or alcohol are additional factors that lead teens to make these dangerous decisions.
And as for solutions? “Engaging youth in a positive environment before a serious incident occurs” is the best way to reach teens about the dangers of their decisions while driving, Fuchs said. “Police officers often are a part of either health class or driver education classes in an effort to reach new and younger drivers.”
But sometimes it seems that isn’t enough.
“I think we need to do even more educating,” Powell said. “I think we should use a mock crash activity like so many towns do. I think we should have assemblies with people who have been affected by driving wrecks, texting wrecks, drunk driving incidents, etc.”
Powell and Weiss cited a guest assembly speaker at Barlow this spring as a powerful influence on driving safety perspectives. In addition to parents setting good examples in terms of safe driving practices, “We should also do more to combine what you learn in the health curriculum and what you learn in driver’s education,” Powell said.
From the firsthand perspective of a teen, alternatives to getting behind the wheel would decrease unsafe teen driving.
“SafeRides would really help the community,” Weiss said. “While Uber is an option, it tends to be very expensive, and SafeRides is a great program that other towns use.”
In terms of education through the high school, “I think students tend to respond best to genuine speakers, as opposed to just reading something in wellness classes,” she said.
SafeRides, which offers a free ride home for anyone who is under the influence, will be starting in Redding. Powell agreed it will be helpful in decreasing the number of teen car accidents.
The ERCCC is working to increase teen driving safety on many levels, according to Powell, with “more education for kids, and more education for parents about safe hosting laws, how to host a safe party, and how to communicate with other parents to keep in the know.”
The ERCCC is also working with the Easton, Redding and Region 9 boards of education and the Easton and Redding police departments with regard to driving policies. The coalition already works with the Barlow community, and it hopes to begin working with John Read Middle School and Helen Keller Middle School this summer.
Easton’s and Redding’s winding and narrow roads are tough to navigate for even the safest and most cautious of drivers. At this crucial time, the issue of dangerous teen driving behavior is at the front of everyone’s minds.
That means plans for solutions and improvements are front and center as well. Hopefully, more education, communication, preparation, and alternatives will set teens driving down a safer road for all.
Class of 2017 Says ‘Goodbye’ to Barlow
Aerin Reed
Easton Courier Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: June 22, 2017
Page: A1
The importance of compassion, empathy, kindness, and the truth were some of the words of wisdom bestowed upon Joel Barlow’s graduating seniors at their commencement ceremony Thursday, June 15.
In what speakers referred to as often less-than-kind times, their messages were relevant and hopeful reminders for not only the graduates, but all in attendance.
The 57th annual Joel Barlow High School Commencement Ceremony took place at the William A. O’Neill Center at Western Connecticut State University.
Members of the faculty entered first as the Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band played the “Grand March.” Wearing their white caps and gowns, the seniors filed into the ceremony in pairs as Barlow’s band and orchestra performed the procession. Proud family members, friends, and faculty lined the students’ path, cheering them on as they made their final entrance before leaving high school behind.
Following a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by senior members of Barlow’s chorale, Olivia Chioffi, the treasurer of the Class of 2017, began the commencement ceremony with a salutation. She recognized administration, teachers, and guidance counselors for their help over the past four years, and family and friends for their unwavering support and guidance.
Dr. Gina Pin, assistant superintendent and Barlow’s head of school, addressed the graduates, emphasizing the importance of empathy, but also asserting the need for the compassion that is necessary to put empathy into action.
“Seek to build empathy and nurture compassion and you will find joy and contentment in life,” said Pin.
Pin also acknowledged that these qualities are already evident in this year’s graduates.
“From where I stand, compassion is alive and well in the Class of 2017,” said Pin.
Concluding her speech, senior members of the chorale took the stage once again to perform a poignant and hopeful rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”
The first commencement speaker, Elena Petron, delivered a speech entitled “On Looking Back, and Forward.”
She — much like Pin — highlighted not only the empathy and kindness she sees in her fellow graduates, but also the importance of these qualities as they embark on this new chapter in their lives.
“As we begin to experience new experiences and begin new beginnings, it will take more effort than ever before to remain kind,” said Petron. “We have to try to think beyond what is in our own best interests. We have to try to do more for others, even when it might be an inconvenience. When we move on from Barlow, we have to try to be good.”
Chioffi returned to the podium to give the second commencement speech, “Investigate,” in which she urged her classmates to find truth and remain curious.
“Keep investigating,” said Chioffi. “Keep thinking. Keep seeking knowledge in whatever form. It is that knowledge that will drive your growth and success.”
Chioffi called upon the Class of 2017 to rise to the occasion.
“So as you go off to attend college, take a gap year, join the military, or get a job, I challenge you to ‘investigate.’ To ‘believe in truth.’ To not ‘obey in advance.’ Because every time we do this, we’ll make the world just a little bit better.”
To much applause, Dr. Stephanie Pierson Ugol, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, recognized the top 16 graduates of the Class of 2017: Libby Albanese, Michael Brown, Sara Capella, Chioffi, Gabrielle Colangelo, Michelle Curtis, Nicole Kearney, Jessica Lam, Maeve McLeod, Gretchen Rooney, Andrew Schur, Amanda Spak, Maxwell Triano, Ryan Weinstein Tufts, Grant Worthington, Katy Zhu.
Ugol also recognized Benjamin Curto, a graduate who has enlisted in the United States Air Force.
Retiring faculty and staff members Margaret Egan, Barbara Principi and Sandra Van Ausdal were recognized as well for their many years spent dedicated to the school system. As their class gift, the Class of 2017 officers presented a generous donation of $500 to the Mikey’s Way Foundation.
In the spirit of recognition and milestones, Dr. Thomas H. McMorran, superintendent of schools, sought to instill in the graduates the importance of the connection between memory and emotion.
“Remember, don’t forget,” McMorran urged during his speech.
“As you commence the adult portion of your lives, I enjoin you to tell the stories, both good and bad, of your time as a student in Easton and Redding,” said McMorran. “Carry that past into your future, and remember that your memory is an organ of morality, not a hard drive to be wiped.
McMorran also urged the graduates to “take a few minutes to think about the role that memory plays in shaping our character.”
Tatiana Naclerio, secretary of the Class of 2017, led the transference of student government, honoring juniors Michael Klein Wassink and Caitlin Colangelo as president and vice president of the graduating Class of 2018.
The graduates were awarded their diplomas by Vance Hancock, chairman of the Region 9 Board of Education, as the president and vice president of the Class of 2018 read their names.
In a moving metaphor, class treasurer Chioffi described Barlow as an institution in which the people are the composers, conductors, and maestros. Barlow taught the graduating class “how to bring individual notes together to create beautiful music,” said Chioffi, creating a masterpiece and molding students into “accomplished musicians.”
She encouraged her fellow graduates to play their hearts out.
“Let the concert begin,” said Chioffi.
Easton Dog Park Celebrates Two Years of Furry Fun
Aerin Reed
College Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: August 3, 2017
Page: A1
Humans and canines alike came together to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Easton Dog Park. Bernadette Coughlin, a regular at the park, set up a celebration get together through WhatsApp. She informed the other dog park regulars when to head over to have some fun and celebrate the special day.
Fans of the dog park often use WhatsApp to coordinate so they know when others are going to be at the park.
For Coughlin, the best part of the park has been “how many new friends everyone has made, how nice the people have been, and how the dogs have just had so much fun playing together. They all seem to get along well,” she said.
Treats, smiles, and many wagging tails made for a celebration on July 26 that showed just how much Easton residents love and appreciate the dog park.
Easton Democrats Endorse Slate
Aerin Reed
College Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: August 3, 2017
Page: A1
The Easton Democratic Town Committee unanimously endorsed its slated candidates for the Nov. 7 general election.
The Democratic Town Committee met outside the Easton Senior Center on the evening of July 25 and voted on the slate. There was no opposition to any candidates.
Connecticut state law required that parties hold a convention, caucus, or town committee meeting between July 18 and July 25 to endorse candidates for the upcoming election.
The final day by which candidate endorsements must be certified was July 26, the day after the Democratic caucus took place.
Meanwhile, the Easton Republican Town Committee had met a week earlier, on July 18, to endorse its slate.
As in the past several years, the Easton Democrats do not have a full slate of candidates. Robert Lessler, who is running for re-election to the Board of Selectmen, said it was disappointing.
“The people of the town deserve to have a choice for every office,” he said.
The other endorsed candidates are Cindy Shortt for Easton Board of Education; Linda Dollard and Gloria Bindleglass for Library Board of Trustees; Gloria Kovac for Board of Assessment Appeals; Maureen Williams for the Region 9 Board of Education, which is a contested race; and Gloria Bindleglass, David Katz and Irv Silverman for constables.
Robert Schrage, town committee chairman, attributes the incomplete slate in large part to the community’s lack of information about their local government.
According to Schrage, many Eastonites do not have a full understanding of exactly how the town government works. He hopes the committee can find a way to convey its role to the public and garner more involvement. Schrage encouraged the community: “Get curious, get involved.”
In addition to more community involvement in the local government, the Easton Democratic Town Committee has other goals.
Acknowledging the budget struggles that the town will continue to face during the next two years, Lessler plans to spend his next term “making sure that we find a way to keep taxes as low as possible while still providing top quality public services.”
Lessler has been a Selectman since 1997, aside from a two-year period during which he was not in office. He cites his “judgement and approach to deciding issues and [his] work with the people of the town” as his most meaningful contributions to Easton so far.
“I am, of course, happy to have been a part of many projects and endeavors,” said Lessler, referencing his work on local committees, budgets and debates.
“It’s a lot to look back on,” he said of his career.
As for the future, Lessler supports the idea of creating a village center. Since Easton is a small town, those without children in the school system tend to lack a place they can go to for a solid sense of community.
“A village center has the potential to be a gathering place for everybody in the community,” he said.
Lessler also wants to create hiking and biking paths within Easton that would offer more recreational opportunities and enrich the town. These paths would be “another way to connect the community,” he said.
Now that the slate has been endorsed, Lessler and the town committee can start to get the ball rolling on these new ideas.
“I thoroughly enjoy the work and the opportunity to serve,” said Lessler, “and I feel like I still have something more to give, so I am looking forward to another term.”
Easton Republican Town Committee Endorses Slate of Candidates
Aerin Reed
College Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: July 27, 2017
Page: A1
The Easton Republican Town Committee gathered in the community room of the library to endorse the slate of approved candidates for this November’s regular elections. The slate was unanimously endorsed at the caucus.
“The caucus members were enthusiastic, exuberant, and efficient,” said former First Selectman Tom Herrmann, who chaired the meeting. Herrmann was one of the many caucus members who stayed after the meeting to talk.
The ERTC held a caucus July 18 to approve its slate of candidates for the Nov. 7 regular elections. In Connecticut, party endorsements for slates must occur between July 18 and July 25. The certification of endorsements must occur on or by July 26.
State election law requires that the endorsement of candidates occur at a caucus, convention, or town committee. The Easton Democratic Town Committee will meet Tuesday, July 25, at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center.
First Selectman Adam A. Dunsby, Selectman Carolyn M. Colangelo, and Treasurer Wendy A. Bowditch are among the candidates running for re-election.
Herrmann said he has high hopes for the candidates. “It’s a strong slate,” he said. “All of the major office holders are incumbents and have served this town well, and are a clear indication of how this party stands together as strongly as we do.”
Citing her love for the town of Easton as her biggest motivator to run for reelection,
Colangelo said, “I’ve enjoyed serving the town and using my background to attempt to lead the town effectively.”
Colangelo aspires to accomplish many things in this new administration. “I hope that we can improve our property values, continue to provide excellent education opportunities within our school systems, and continue to maintain the wonderful character of our town,” she said.
Regarding plans for the future, Dunsby hopes to achieve the ideal balance of “schools up, taxes down.” As for recreational plans, “I would love to work on putting a restroom facility up at Morehouse fields,” he said. He also mentioned the possibility of expanding the solar project behind Samuel Staples Elementary School.
On the subject of the development of a single town center, Dunsby said that as time goes on, Easton should look at “building out the Morehouse property as our recreational center.”
“Easton desires to be a town with rural character and schools,” he said. “I think I work hard to keep things that way.”
“Every election you start from scratch and don’t take anything for granted. It’s a real honor to be the Republican candidate for first selectman,” Dunsby said.
The other candidates endorsed at caucus were: Diana Christine Halloran for town clerk, Krista A. Kot for tax collector, Matthew P. Gachi, Michael P. Kot, and Richard Cremin for Board of Finance, Adam G. Bonoff for Board of Assessment Appeals, Jeffrey F. Parker for Easton Board of Education, Catherine Gombos and Todd Andrew Johnston for Region 9 Board of Education, Todd R. Pajonas and Kristi L. Sogofsky for library board, John W. Harris for Zoning Board of Appeals, and Anthony B. Farmer, Darrin David Silhavy, Tony Neidenbach, and Eric Michael Frank for constables.
All in all, town committee officials agreed the slate was a success for Easton’s Republican Town Committee.
“We are very excited by our slate, given its many years of collective experience in town government and its commitment to spending tax dollars prudently, preserving the rural character of our town, and maintaining excellence in education,” said Bowditch.
Summertime Mood Calls for Farm-Fresh Food
Aerin Reed
College Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: July 6, 2017
Page: A1
As the first day of summer slips into the rearview mirror, Easton begins to change: Hotter days, no school, and unbridled time to explore the town and all its gems.
One of the best features of Easton is its abundance of farms and locally grown farm-fresh food. So, before you head over to the grocery store to stock up for your first-of-the-summer, tasty al fresco dinner, check out what fresh wonders a few of our local farms and country stores have to offer this season.
Sherwood Farm
355 Sport Hill Road
Located across the road from Helen Keller Middle School and its new playground, this picturesque, traditional farm is the spot to buy fresh food and take the kids after a fun summer’s day of horsing around.
Flowers for sale line the entrance, and cows and other farm animals can be seen from right behind the fences outside the store.
Inside, Sherwood Farm sells everything from fresh bread, to meats, dairy products, eggs, honey, hot sauce, and of course, their farm-picked produce. The usual fresh produce suspects are sold, such as apples, peaches, tomatoes, onions, and the like, but there are also some more interesting additions.
Multiple varieties of kale, for example, are sold here, making it a destination for anyone who’s on board with the newest food trends and wants farm-fresh quality. With lots of beautiful land and an abundance of options, Sherwood Farm is the one-stop-shop for a perfect summer’s meal — and a joyful, authentic farm-to-table buying experience.
Sport Hill Farm
596 Sport Hill Road
Boasting an idyllic outdoor area with picnic tables and flowers, Sport Hill Farm is the place to grab some fresh food and snag a cool spot in the shade.
Indoors, it has all the makings of a classic farm store but with an upscale twist; Sport Hill Farm sells more select items such as apple butter, coconut oil, gluten-free pasta, soaps, quinoa brittle, sauerkraut, poppable corn-on-the-cob, fresh crushed and jarred tomatoes, and even apothecary products.
This is in addition, of course, to the fresh produce they sell, some more uncommon than the rest: kale, fennel, scallions, Brussels sprouts leaves, strawberries, escarole, dandelion, broccoli leaves, and Swiss chard, to name a few.
They also sell meat and dairy products, as well as fresh eggs from the chickens they keep in a coop out front. Whether you’re in need of some basic fruits and vegetables, or something a little more unique, Sport Hill Farm provides quality and freshness, with an outdoor experience to match.
Silverman’s Farm
451 Sport Hill Rd
Known far and wide and always a classic, Silverman’s Farm never fails to provide a wide range of products and that essential Easton feeling, especially in the summertime. The fresh flowers for sale outside and the view of the orchards on a sunny day are a sight for sore eyes.
Fresh apples, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, lettuce, tomatoes, and corn for sale make Silverman’s shine in the summer season. The delicious fresh pies, donuts, and pastries don’t hurt either, and make for a tasty and local after-dinner treat.
Visitors should also allot some time to peruse all of the other food items, treats, keepsakes, and trinkets inside that give Silverman’s that hometown feel.
With country music playing outside, American flags peppering the farm and store, the Farm Park and all its animals across the street, Silverman’s encapsulates summer, fun, and farm fresh.
Snow’s Farm
550 Sport Hill Road
Looking straight out of a classic movie set with its endearing white and red-accented farm buildings, Snow’s Farm is not your average farm store.
In addition to selling farm-fresh eggs in the summer, they also sell firewood, mulch, hay, soil, manure, stone, and sand.
Family-owned since 1912 — as their sign out front proudly states — they provide landscaping services and delivery, which are a frequent need when summer rolls around. Inside the store they also sell honey, apparel, and mugs, among other items that create a quintessentially Easton farm store. Snow’s Farm is the place to get some help with your summer landscaping projects, and pick up some local, farm-fresh eggs.
Aspetuck Valley Apple Barn
714 Black Rock Turnpike
The colorful array of flowers surrounding the front of the Apple Barn creates a charming sight on a summer’s day.
Inside, a variety of fresh produce is for sale, such as strawberries, nectarines, plums, melons, peaches, tomatoes, zucchini, and even black velvet apricots.
There is also a wide selection of fresh-made jellies, jams and preserves, all homemade from the Apple Barn’s orchards.
Whether you’re in the mood for jellies like key lime or cranberry bourbon jalapeño, or more classic preserves like blackberry or strawberry, the Apple Barn has it covered.
A country store at its heart, the Apple Barn also sells keepsakes, garden decorations, pies (some sugar-free!), honey, pastries, peanuts, and the like. The scent of fresh flowers and a country atmosphere make the shopping experience just as sweet as the fresh food.
More places to visit
These are just a few of the countless farms and pick-it-yourself orchards in Easton. Other places to visit this summer are Candee Farm, 488 Morehouse Road, where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables; Gilbertie’s Herb Farm, 65 Adams Road, which sells wholesale herbs, produce and flowers; Lakeview Orchards, 206 Everett Road, which sells produce and pumpkins, and Shaggy Coos Farm, 53 Center Road, which sells pork, beef and fresh eggs.
Explore the town, find your farm, and kick off the season the best way: Buying locally, organically, and enjoying the experience.
Kennedy Center Visits Easton EMS
Aerin Reed
Intern
PUBLICATION: Easton Courier (CT)
SECTION: News
DATE: June 15, 2017
Page: A1
The rain slicker-clad group of visitors filed into the back of one of the Easton Volunteer Emergency Service’s two ambulances to learn more in-depth about its ins and outs. Although it was a rainy day, the energy in the garage was bright, and the room was full of eager learners. They came prepared with questions about what to do in all kinds of situations, anywhere from taking a rough fall to suffering from a gunshot wound.
The group from the Kennedy Center in Trumbull stopped by the Easton EMS building on Sport Hill Road June 6 for a luncheon and hands-on tour of the facilities.
The success of the tour was evident midway through; people who had been hesitant to volunteer in the beginning were soon asking to be strapped into one of the stretchers or have their vital signs taken.
The Kennedy Center provides services, vocational opportunities, and programs to individuals with disabilities in Easton and throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties.
Because an ambulance presence is occasionally necessary at the center, the goal of the visit was to familiarize the individuals with the equipment and procedures so that they are not afraid if they encounter them in the future.
“I’m going to show you everything so you have nothing to worry about,” said Peter Fiore, the full-time Easton emergency medical technician who led the morning’s events. Fiore’s wife works at the Kennedy Center.
From oxygen masks to trying on neck braces — and even to a test-ride in a stretcher — Fiore gave the visitors the full experience of what kinds of things they might be confronted with in a medical emergency.
The visitors took a break from consuming information and instead consumed a much-needed lunch at tables that had been set up for them by the EMTs. The group was all smiles.
“Now you know: if you have to come into an ambulance, it’s not a scary place,” said Fiore.
The visit was a pilot program, but Fiore would like to have visits like this one once a month if possible. He has plans for new programs, initiatives, and future visits, as well as the desire to open the picnic area in the backyard of the EMS to other groups in the community that would like to visit.
Tyler Dietrich, community experience manager at the Kennedy Center, said he will absolutely be coming back to the Easton EMS. He called the visit a “perfect opportunity for them to come here and see the ambulances and what EMTs do.”
He added that in the future, they will be familiar with EMT processes and practices if they see their friends entering an ambulance.
The visitors learned valuable information and are now more inclined to have a positive association with emergency vehicles, equipment, and personnel. Fiore was overjoyed to be able to give back to the community with just a few hours out of his morning.
“I thought it was perfect. I definitely want to get more individuals from my group here,” said Dietrich.
Publication: H&S PR Press Pitch
Spring Forward with the BACARDÍ Blackberry Bramble
In honor of the first day of Spring (March 20) and this weekend’s Spring Forward, celebrate with the perfect cocktail to welcome the new season!
Trade-in your winter coat for a seasonal and refreshing BACARDÍ Blackberry Bramble – a light and bright cocktail that’s sure to cure your winter cabin fever.
The BACARDÍ Blackberry Bramble is a breeze to prepare – just shake up BACARDÍ Superior and lemon juice, add some simple syrup and drizzle with the complementary sweetness of Crème de Mure. Garnished with basil and a blackberry skewer, this cocktail has a balanced, vibrant taste to accompany the exciting new beginnings that the springtime promises.
Spring is all about fresh starts, so start the season off with the perfect cocktail to enjoy with friends, family, or as your own reward for all that spring cleaning.
Cheers!
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BACARDÍ BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE
2 parts BACARDÍ Superior
1 part lemon juice
0.5 part simple syrup
0.5 part Crème de Mure
Method: Shake the first three ingredients vigorously with plenty of ice, strain into a glass, and drizzle Crème de Mure on top. Garnish with basil and blackberry skewer.
Aerin Reed 