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New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.
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By Ronni Newton
It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving, and I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
I looked back at what I wrote in the introduction to this column the weekend after Thanksgiving last year, and the year before, because we’ve followed pretty much the same pattern the past few years – enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at our daughter Katie’s and son-in-law Matt’s house and then leaving for Nantucket first thing Friday morning to visit Ted’s mom. Other than in 2020, we’ve been coming to Nantucket for the weekend after Thanksgiving for at least the past 15 years.
Millie enjoying a blustery walk on Surfside Beach, November 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
While the highlight of Millie’s time here is always running on the beach (off-season means off-leash most of the time), one of the traditions the rest of our family has enjoyed for many years is the Nantucket Christmas tree lighting on Main Street on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition that President Joe Biden’s family has also attended (nearly every year for about the past 40 years) and even when he was VP he and his family pretty much blended into the crowd. Back in 2013, we ran into him (almost literally, and Ted held the door for him) walking out of the Nantucket Pharmacy carrying a tray with cups of hot chocolate just before the ceremony began. Since 2021, however, getting to the tree lighting has meant navigating limited entry points and long security lines.
This year we got to town early and I was very glad to be able to fully participate in the tree lighting ceremony and carol sing! We were just a few rows back so we saw the president and first lady, too.
Ted and I got to see the actual tree lighting for the first time in a number of years.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the Nantucket tree lighting on Nov. 29, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Nantucket tree lighting on Nov. 29, 2024. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, and other members of their family can be seen at the far right. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
We have done quite a lot of eating over the past week, but not in restaurants. Ted and I did get some yummy takeout from Pokeworks on Tuesday night though!
A volcano bowl (left) and my usual “poke my way” bowl from Pokeworks. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
While I have chosen to be positive and upbeat in the first part of this introduction, I’m going to take off my rose-colored glasses for a few moments here and step on my soapbox.
West Hartford tragically had another pedestrian fatality last week. I don’t yet have all of the details from the police investigation, but know that Anne Rapkin was walking her dog on Wednesday night when she was struck in the area of Sedgwick Road and Cornell Road at about 6:45 p.m. I arrived at the scene while the police were still fully engaged in their investigation (I spoke with the police chief, who was there), and reported the available details only AFTER the family had been notified. I had some closer-up photos of the scene, but out of respect did not publish those.
Everything about this incident is awful, tragic. But also horrible is the blaming that is taking place on social media. Unless you were there, or spoke to the driver of the vehicle or a witness, you don’t know what happened – whose “fault” it may have been. I don’t know all the details about what happened. I do know that a woman who was a very well-respected member of this community, who was a retired lawyer leading refugee resettlement activities for Trinity Episcopal Church, was walking her dog in her neighborhood and tragically lost her life. I know that it happened on a stretch of roadway I have walked and run along probably hundreds of times, and where my husband has probably walked, run, and crossed Sedgwick Road probably thousands of times. (He grew up on Castlewood Road, just a few houses down from Sedgwick, and walked to and from Duffy every day.)
I was also shocked to learn the day after the incident that although I didn’t know her full name, I had spoken with Anne Rapkin just a few hours before she died. I was in line late Wednesday afternoon waiting to mail a package at the LaSalle Road Post Office and a woman walking out of the post office stopped to speak with the woman in line in front of me. The woman walking out of the post office also recognized me and the three of us had a brief conversation. Anne Rapkin was lovely, and while she may have been 74, I would not refer to her as “elderly.”
I mentioned in a column a few weeks ago that something needs to change in people’s behavior, and on Wednesday afternoon, when I got home from the Center, I remarked that on the way home I had two pedestrians step out in front of my car (one was in a crosswalk where they were crossing even though the walk sign had been red for quite some time and I had a light that had been green for quite some time), and the other person was just strolling across the middle of LaSalle Road paying no attention whatsoever. Also on that same 1-mile trip home from the Center, I saw a driver run a red light (it was red for some time), and another driver pull out of a side street onto South Main, right into traffic, without even slowing. Luckily the driver of the car in front of me was able to react in time, as were the other drivers in the area.
The Town of West Hartford launched a Vision Zero initiative almost two years ago, following a string of tragic incidents in late 2022. It’s a 10-year plan, and while some safety improvements have been implemented, there are many long-term components to the plan and the intent is to completely eliminate serious and fatal traffic incidents by 2033. Updating the wattage of the street lights in what has been identified as the “High Injury Network” was already part of the plan.
We all need to remain alert and engaged when we are driving – and also when we are walking, or biking, or running. And education is also part of the Vision Zero initiative. I have an assortment of day-glo jackets and shirts that I wear for running (and I don’t run in the dark mostly because I don’t feel like I can see well enough not to trip), but I put on my black down jacket on Wednesday night when I was heading to the scene of the tragedy. Before I walked out the door I realized that wearing a dark jacket, along with dark jeans and my black boots, was not smart so I clipped on some blinky lights.
Please try to think about doing your part to keep the community safe, and please think before assigning blame from behind your keyboard. Tragedies like what happened on Wednesday night affect many people and their families, and assigning blame without knowing the circumstances doesn’t help.
At this time of year, especially, let’s try to be thankful for each other, for our family and friends and community, and be thoughtful in our actions and do our part to keep each other safe.
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If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].
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Here’s this week’s Buzz:
Many members of the New Park Brewing team. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Some new offerings at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Barrel-aged cider at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Seasonal pizza at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Tuscan fries at New Park Brewing. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Green Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Green Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Window looking into the kitchen at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Looking from the Green Room into the tap room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Door from the tap room into the Green Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Mural in the hallway near the Barrel Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Barrel Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Max Downtown is hosting a fundraiser for the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance on Giving Tuesday.
Gveenah is a few weeks away from opening at 844 Farmington Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Work underway inside Gveenah. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Work is under way at ChoccoDiva in the former Edible Arrangements space at 282 Park Road. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
They’re still working on Park Lane Pizza (337 Park Road). Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Blue Back Square tree, November 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Window display at Kaoud Rugs. Courtesy of Maurice Kaoud
West Hartford Fellowship Housing (WHFH) is excited to announce the appointment of Sandra Hawes as the new Director of Community Engagement. With over two decades of experience in the senior housing sector, Sandra brings a proven track record in marketing, fundraising, and customer relations to the organization. In her most recent role as Director of Marketing & Branding at Andrus on Hudson in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Hawes led comprehensive market analysis initiatives that optimized brand visibility and customer engagement. Her strategic oversight of traditional and digital marketing efforts, including website and social media management, has significantly increased brand awareness. Notably, she successfully executed a rebranding initiative that revitalized the organization’s identity and market positioning. Hawes will concentrate her efforts on fund development, marketing, and enhancing resident life through new programs and services. “Sandra’s expertise within the senior housing sector aligns perfectly with our mission at WHFH,” said Mark Garilli, Chief Executive Officer of WHFH. “We are confident that her innovative approach and extensive experience will not only enhance our outreach and service to the community, but this new role will also support our growth through this new development and beyond.” Hawes has a degree in business administration and foreign language from Stonehill College and previously worked at other senior housing communities in the area. WHFH is in the midst of a phased redevelopment and expansion which will ultimately create close to 100 additional units of affordable housing for the community.
Sandra Hawes. Courtesy photo
Progress is underway on the redevelopment of West Hartford Fellowship Housing in Bishops Corner. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Courtesy of West Hartford Rotary
April May Webb. Courtesy photo
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Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].
Ted and I repping New Park Brewing, wearing our hats on the beach in Nantucket with Millie.
Tap room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Tasman at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Green Room. New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Green Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
New Park Brewing’s cocktail menu. courtesy image
New Park Brewing Happy Hour menu. Courtesy image
New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Barrel Room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Green room at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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Tragic news about the fatality. I know that sharp turn over there is very rough and even with your head on a swivel it can be tricky, even in a car. My condolences to her family.
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