
Mrs. Li-Jin Chung and Mr. Wenchin Tsai Photo by Jennifer Almquist
Mr. Wenchin Tsai and Mrs. Li-Jin Chung greeted visitors with welcoming smiles at the open house held Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center on Westside Road.
Mr. Tsai, who manages the tour guides for the Center, explained their mission is to “promote cultural exchange to enhance mutual understanding among people. This is a place where you can explore the roots of spiritual thought that have influenced the world.”
Beyond the ornate metal gates emblazoned with the logo of the Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center lies a world that enchants, educates and humbles the viewer. The marble reception area displays its motto—“Love, Mutual Support, and Peace”—surrounded by the Chinese characters for gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, yielding, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and sincerity.
As the tour began, Mrs. Chung continued: “The Center opened on Aug. 6, 2022, to introduce Asian culture through education and dialogue, and to integrate with the local community with the goal of creating a more harmonious society. We must walk together as a team, as we are all the same under our skin.” Mrs. Chung, formerly a systems analyst at Bell Labs, volunteers her time at the Center “because I am passionate about our mission.”
Housed in an extraordinary stone castle built at the turn of the century, the Center contains museum-style art and history exhibits exploring the background and meaning of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and the spiritual and mystical aspects of the Incan and pre-Columbian culture of Peru. Young docents, volunteers who come from as far away as Montreal, are on hand to answers questions, bring fresh glasses of water, and knowledgeably guide the curious through three floors of interactive, mysterious and informative displays.
Sculptures, paintings from Taiwan and Canada, ancient artifacts, stained glass windows, calligraphic scrolls, and brilliant silk ceremonial robes glowing in the light fill the senses. There is a tunnel of glass lit from within that has water flowing down its sides to help visitors feel tranquil in their Spiritual Exploration Zone.
While the purpose of the museum is serious, there are flights of fancy. For instance, in one display, a button asks visitors to choose whether they pray for peace. There is a hand suspending a globe that, if the wrong answer is given, pulls the Earth underwater and a film plays showing global catastrophic events; push the “yes” button and the message is hope, light and salvation. In a separate building on this 48-acre estate, there is a Peruvian cultural exhibit, which has at its centerpiece a life-sized llama serving as a backdrop for a selfie photo booth.
Entering the vast Victorian dining room, Mrs. Chung explained that in 1998 when the Confucian Study Association purchased the property, it was in a state of disrepair. The funding for the restoration project has come from private sources around the world. Craftsmen from Taiwan were brought to Norfolk to reproduce the mahogany panels and coffered ceilings from the heyday of this massive stone house, which was designed by Henry Hornbostel for his widowed client, Pulitzer-Prize-winning Serbian physicist and inventor Michael I. Pupin, who wrote in his memoir, “From Immigrant to Inventor”: “In 1897 I bought a farm at Norfolk. This blessed spot where I regained my health and happiness, became my real American home and I have never had any desire to seek a better haven of happiness in any other place.” There is a display in the museum honoring the origins of the home including an image of Pupin and his friend Albert Einstein.
On Nov. 5, the Center held an open house and tea ceremony for the community to enjoy. A table set with soft linens, flowers and a row of teacups waited in a sunny alcove of the great paneled room. A row of guests joined the two women, who explained the tradition and meanings behind the aesthetic tea ceremony they call the Tao of Tea. They served red and green teas from Ali Mountain in Taiwan.
In a stone castle built to restore the soul of a man, it is fitting that its walls contain an organization that believes “The earth is the home we all share. By reducing conflicts and living in harmony and mutual prosperity, we are fulfilling our responsibility of protecting the earth. To achieve this goal relies on people being able to awaken and to manifest universal love, tolerance and mutual assistance. In this way we can honor the possibility of peaceful coexistence among people and create a bright and happy future.”
For more information: ctasiaculture.com
Call: 877-274-2285
The Connecticut-Asia Cultural Center
207a Westside Road
Norfolk, Connecticut 06058
The Center was open this year on the first weekend of every month, April–November 2023. Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It will reopen in the spring.
KENT — Frederick Wright Hosterman passed away peacefully in his home in Kent on April 16, 2025. Born in 1929 in Auburn, Nebraska, he was the son of farmers. He attended a one-room schoolhouse just outside of Brownville, Nebraska, adjacent to his family’s farm. The little brick schoolhouse is still standing! After graduating from high school, Fred attended the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), eventually earning a master’s degree in agronomy. He took a job with Monsanto in Buffalo, New York, where the company was a pioneer in applying biotechnology to agricultural sciences. In Buffalo, Fred met his future wife, Dorothy. Fred and Dorothy moved to New York City for several years in the early 1960s, before settling down in Norwalk. In Norwalk, Fred and Dorothy had three children. The family later moved to Kent. In 1980, Fred and Dorothy divorced, and Fred bought a large tract of land on Carter Road in Kent. He built a house there, largely by himself, which he maintained until his death at age 95. After taking early retirement, he spent the following decades working on his property, adding various buildings, woodcrafting, landscaping, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Fred had a jovial and close relationship with many of his neighbors, who he saw daily, all willing to share a cup of coffee or receive various bits of wisdom from Fred on any number of projects.
Fred was predeceased by his parents; Helen and Arch Hosterman, step-mother Cassie Hosterman, sisters Ruth and Esther Marie, brother Richard, and former wife Dorothy. He is survived by his three children and their spouses; John and his husband Eric of Northfield, Minnesota, Tracy and her partner, Sam, of Amenia, New York, and Catherine and her husband, Josh, of Cornwall. He is also survived by his five grandchildren; Nicky, Dan, Ian, Zachary, and Eliza, and several nieces and nephews.
Fred loved to flirt with the ladies, even in his 90s, doing a little “dance” for almost anyone he met. Another of Fred’s favorite hobbies was chopping down trees on his land. Initially, this started out as a necessity for fueling his wood stoves. Later, tree-clearing projects were aimed at enhancing the magnificent view from his house high atop Carter Road. Even at age 95, Fred was frequently on his excavator moving boulders or building a retaining wall, as he was strong, healthy and witty until his final weeks.
CANAAN — Nancy (Case) Brenner, 81, of Canaan, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, following a long illness on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.
Nancy was born on April 10, 1944, to the late Ray Sargeant Case Sr. and Beatrice Southey Case. She was the second youngest of five children, predeceased by her three brothers, Ray S. Case Jr., David E. Case and Douglas C. Case, and her sister Linda (Case) Olson. She grew up in New Hartford and Winsted, where she graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 High School.
Nancy is predeceased by her husband and the love of her life, Thomas E. Brenner. Often nicknamed “the love birds,” they were true soulmates and shared many wonderful years together filled with love, laughter, travel and family. Nancy is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly — Lori, Richard, Kathleen, Kevin, Debbie, Karen, Carrie, Jennifer, Tom, Scott and Kimberlee. She was a special aunt leaving behind so many happy and joyful memories. She never missed attending her nieces’ and nephews’ special events.
Nancy worked for over 20 years at Raynard and Pierce in Canaan. There she made many friendships and brightened the day of everyone who went through the door greeted by her smile and jovial spirit. Nancy was a loving wife, daughter, aunt and friend and will be missed by all who’s lives she touched.
A graveside service will be held at Collinsville Cemetery on Huckleberry Hill Road in Canton on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at 5 Cherry Brook Road, Canton. Memorial donations may be made in Nancy’s name to the Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 012011, where Nancy adopted her loving cat and faithful companion, Dusty.
SHEFFIELD — Adam Rand, 59, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully in his home on April 22, 2025, after a long battle with ALS.
Adam was born on April 6, 1966, to Lee and Charles Rand II of Boston, Massachusetts. Adam spent his early childhood in Nantucket, where his love of fishing and water was born before moving to Sharon. It was here where he made many lifelong friends and later graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1984. He attended Hiram College in Ohio before settling in Connecticut.
Adam was a master of all trades, a seasoned contractor and practiced carpenter. He was always eager to learn and became a skilled woodworker in his later years of life. His work ethic was undeniable. Adam was passionate about his family, his work and anything with an engine.
Adam leaves behind his loving wife, Annie Rand, his children, Samantha Rand (Nantucket) and Jack Rand (Canaan), his brother and sister in-law, Greg and Cindy Rand (Nantucket), and their children, Olivia, Maxwell and Samuel Rand (Boston), as well as the mother of his children and former wife, Nancy Rand (Collinsville)
Services will be held for immediate family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Compassionate Care ALS, PO Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574. Or Online at ccals.org