Editor’s note: This is the first part of a series exploring homelessness in rural Northwest Connecticut. Click here to read part two.
TORRINGTON — On a frigid day in early December, a newborn entered the world naked and homeless — but not hopeless.
Upon release from the hospital maternity ward, the infant’s young mother, abandoned by family, returned with her swaddled baby to the homeless shelter in Torrington where she had been staying while awaiting the child’s birth.
“We are currently housing eight children and a baby,” explained Deirdre DiCara, executive director of the nonprofit Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwest Connecticut Inc. (FISH), as she organized a bassinet in preparation for the shelter’s newest and youngest arrival.
While at FISH, infant and mother will receive health care and support services from local organizations aimed at placing them in permanent housing, said DiCara. “Hopefully, with time, she will reunite with her parents.”
A public health emergency
Homelessness in rural Northwest Connecticut, which has surged for the second year in a row after a decade of decline, far exceeds the number of beds available at the only two shelters serving the state’s rural Northwest Corner.
“It’s a public health emergency and a humanitarian crisis,” noted DiCara.
The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness has reported that homelessness jumped 39% statewide from 2020 to 2022, and as of fall 2023, had risen 13% over the prior year.
In the Northwest Corner, 30% of those experiencing homelessness are considered chronically homeless, meaning they had experienced homelessness four or more times in three years, according to The Plan to End Homelessness in Northwest CT, a comprehensive report prepared by the Northwest CT Community Foundation (NCCF) in collaboration with about 30 regional social service agencies.
The rural homeless are less visible than those in more urban areas, said service providers. They are camped out in dense woods, under bridges or living in cars, tents or structures unfit for human habitation.
51 beds for entire Northwest Corner
The dipping temperatures drive homeless people to seek a warm place to sleep, burdening local shelters.
“We have 51 shelter beds in Northwest Connecticut. There are 35 beds at FISH, five of which are dedicated to veterans funded by the Veterans Administration (VA), and 16 beds at the Y in Winsted. It’s a very rural region, and transportation is a big issue,” said Julia Scharnberg, vice president of community engagement for NCCF.
“Our shelters are constantly full. We are stuck with a real logjam,” she noted. “Every day that passes, the wait list is long enough to fill all 51 slots about twice.”
Scharnberg, who also serves on the board of The Housing Collective, said she has seen a rise in the number of unhoused seniors. “Many are on a fixed or low income and any increase in monthly expenses puts them at risk of homelessness.”
The lack of low-income housing in the Northwest Corner has reached a critical point, explained the FISH executive director. “I often say it’s about housing affordability, not affordable housing.”
Complicating matters, the planned mid-November opening of an emergency cold-weather shelter in downtown Torrington, known as Operation Overflow, has been delayed as service providers search for a suitable location. Several churches have offered space, but a group of parents objected to the shelter’s proximity to a nearby school.
‘A problem that touches everybody’
Rural homelessness, according to The Plan to End Homelessness in Rural Northwest Connecticut, has many of the same root causes as the more visible urban settings: the persistent lack of affordable housing, evictions, poverty, domestic violence, mental illness and the invisible injuries of combat.
The Northwest Corner towns, unlike larger cities, lack shelters to call their own. Except for assistance from municipal social services agents, the task of assisting and monitoring homelessness falls heavily on municipal, faith or business leaders, health care agencies, charitable institutions and volunteers.
“There is nothing here because our towns are so small. What has happened is an informal web of arrangements,” said state Rep. Maria Horn (D-64).
“They are often put up in a hotel, or transported to where there are services. There have been a lot of good intentions, but the processes seem to have gone astray,” said Horn. “People are forced to find their way to Torrington and Winsted, and we tend to think we don’t have a problem.”
Help starts with 2-1-1
New Beginnings of Northwest Hills Litchfield County is a regional service agency and sponsor of The Gathering Place, which implemented the 2-1-1 intake system in Litchfield County in 2014. It offers unhoused people in Northwest Connecticut “assistance and access to services to help individuals transition out of homelessness and into a new chapter of their lives,” according to director Nancy Cannavo.
Its Gathering Place offers visitors a safe place to receive their mail, take a shower, do laundry, get a haircut, speak to a provider one-on-one, make phone calls and obtain clothing for employment interviews. Visitors also receive mental health and substance abuse referrals and supported employment.
Cannavo, a psychiatric nurse at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and coordinator of the Mental Health Services to the Homeless program, said that between January 2022 and November 2023, The Gathering Place saw 608 homeless clients.
“We are fully committed to caring for all people and ensuring that no one is left behind,” said Cannavo.
Natalia Zukerman
Sam Lardner and Barcelona will play a benefit for Vecinos Seguros 2 at Salisbury Congregational Church on Friday, July 24.
On Friday, July 24, musician and educator Sam Lardner and his band, Barcelona, will take the stage at Salisbury Congregational Church for a benefit concert supporting Vecinos Seguros 2, an all-volunteer organization that provides emergency assistance and rapid-response support to immigrant families in Northwest Connecticut affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.
Lardner, who attended and later taught at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville before moving to Spain in 1997, still considers the Northwest Corner his home in the United States. “It’s such a special place,” he said.
After years as a touring singer-songwriter on the New England folk circuit, fronting a country band in Spain and releasing multiple albums, Lardner eventually stepped away from music as raising four children and paying for their college tuition became his priority. He returned to education full time but never abandoned music entirely, continuing to perform whenever he could.
Now, with his children grown, Lardner has returned to the stage with a renewed sense of purpose. Through his Varroomba! project, music has become more than entertainment. It is a fundraising engine, a way to build community and a vehicle for supporting organizations responding to urgent needs.
Instead of charging organizations to host concerts, Lardner raises money ahead of time through his community of fans. The proceeds cover recording costs, musician salaries and travel, allowing each concert to become a fundraiser for the host organization.
“I call the venues and say we’re coming, and we don’t cost any money,” he said.
There are three levels of Funding Fans: Wunderfans, who contribute $50 or more; Virtuosi, who give $1,000 or more; and Gamechangers, who donate $3,000 or more. Through this model, Lardner has raised $27,000.
This year’s six-piece ensemble spans three generations and includes Lardner’s son Jackson, along with veteran members of the band and two younger musicians from Spain.
Lardner said the concert in Salisbury will be joy-filled. After finding himself overwhelmed by headlines while living overseas, he shifted his focus from writing topical songs to performing music that offers hope.
Lardner said conversations with organizers have shaped the tone of the evening.
“We talk through the events with each organizer,” he said. “What do we want to do here? Are we raising awareness? Are we raising funds? Are we doing both? Are we celebrating community? This one is among the most mission-driven because the need is so immediate.
Vecinos Seguros 2 was launched earlier this year as federal immigration enforcement intensified across Connecticut. Building on the work of the original Vecinos Seguros network, the organization mobilizes volunteers to accompany immigrant families, provide emergency financial assistance, connect residents with legal resources and strengthen neighborhood support systems. Leaders say requests for help have grown sharply in recent months as fear of detention has increased.
Although the subject is serious, Lardner hopes the evening itself will be joyful.
“With music, the afterglow is much longer and more powerful,” he said. “It’s all about these groups and what they’re trying to do.”
If the inaugural Varroomba! tour succeeds, Lardner hopes to double its impact next year.
“We’re doing 15 causes this summer,” he said. “I’d like to do 30 next summer and just keep growing it.”
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Salisbury Congregational Church. Proceeds benefit Vecinos Seguros 2. Tickets are available through Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/4vvfVYO. For more information on Varoomba!, visit varroomba.org
Lucia Iandolo
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
This is an art and the arts unite nations.
—Karina Powers
Karina Powers began dancing at 4 years old. A professional dancer, singer, performer and Mexican folklore dance professor from Baja California, Mexico, she is the youngest of three sisters who were all involved in the arts. Powers now teaches traditional Mexican dances to adults through her company, Compañía De Danza Folklórica Regional Mexicana, in Millbrook. She said she has a strong passion for the history and art that exist within the dances she teaches, and she hopes to instill that passion in her students.
“Many of them have never danced this type of dance,” said Powers. “They’re from Mexico, but they came to the United States at a young age to work. They have that dream to learn, and now they have this opportunity.”
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
D.H. Callahan
Bucky Pizzarelli and Brandon Goldberg at the Litchfield Jazz Festival in 2017.
The Litchfield Jazz Festival opens its 2026 season on Friday, July 24, at the Frederick Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut. The evening will feature a gala and a concert led by saxophonist Don Braden featuring the Litchfield Jazz Fest Dectet.
The festival began in 1996 and has been going strong ever since. The list of past performers reads like a who’s who of modern jazz greats, including Christian McBride, Soulive, Joshua Redman, Dave Douglas, Brad Mehldau and John Scofield, all of whom helped revive the genre for a new generation of fans at the turn of the millennium. Vocalists like Diana Krall, Dionne Warwick and Dr. John have made appearances as well. And, of course, the festival has been graced by established masters like saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter; guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli; bassist Rufus Reid; drummers Roy Haynes and Tito Puente; the Preservation Hall Jazz Band; and pianists Dave Brubeck and local legend Ahmad Jamal.
Jamal, who died in April 2023 at his home in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts at the age of 92, was a pioneering jazz pianist. His minimalist style inspired generations of jazz greats, including Miles Davis, who wrote in his autobiography that Jamal “knocked me out with his concept of space, his lightness of touch, his understatement, and the way he phrased notes, chords and passages,” and is widely cited as saying, “All my inspiration comes from Ahmad Jamal.”
Jamal’s performance came at the inaugural festival back in 1996, one year before the Litchfield Performing Arts nonprofit group undertook its next serious foray into the genre by opening the Litchfield Jazz Camp. Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the camp has been an incubator for enthusiastic jazz musicians of all ages. Vita Muir, founder and executive/artistic director of Litchfield Performing Arts since its founding in 1981, said the youngest camper was 9 years old, while the oldest was in his 80s. Today, more than 300 students attend the camp as boarders or day campers during its four weeklong sessions. The goal is to make each camper become a better version of themselves through jazz, camaraderie, confidence-building and other intangible methods.
The jazz world used to have a strong built-in mentorship mentality. Younger players would get picked up by more experienced musicians to play with their bands. John Coltrane famously played with Miles Davis before striking out on his own. But today, with fewer and fewer jazz performance spaces, that pattern of mentorship has drastically subsided. The camp works in part to rebuild that tradition. “First the teachers hire the students, then the students hire the teachers,” stated Muir in a recent interview.
That relationship between the camp and the festival will be in the spotlight Friday night following the opening gala. Led by Don Braden, the Litchfield Jazz Fest Dectet features musicians who have deep connections to the camp as students, teachers or both, including drummer Anton Kot, a recipient of Juilliard’s Tito Puente Scholarship Award.
At its essence, of course, the festival is about great jazz. In that spirit, a dizzying lineup of contemporary greats will take the stage throughout the weekend, including the Steve Davis Sextet, the Paul Bollenback Quintet and the Curtis Brothers Trio on Saturday, as well as the Steve Kortyka Sextet on Sunday.
For a full schedule and tickets, visit litchfieldjazzfest.com
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Jack Sheedy
Danny Saed, assistant director of “Pinocchio”; his mother and co-founder of Grumbling Gryphons Leslie Elias; theater arts camper Joyce Sun; artist and counselor Natalie Resto; and Steven Sun, Joyce Sun’s father.
Leslie Elias wants you to understand something about the group she calls Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater: “I like to say that we try not to grumble.”
For 46 years, she has used the nonprofit to educate and entertain children in the performing arts. Summer after summer, young campers learn about acting, singing, mask-making, costume-making and scenery painting. This year, as in years past, a five-day theater arts camp will culminate in a live performance of one of Elias’ original plays, guaranteed, she hopes, to quell all grumbling.
Elias co-founded Grumbling Gryphons in 1980 with Vanessa Roe and Nicholas Jacobs. Mask-maker Robert Flanagan, known for his work with the Muppets and for designing props for the Broadway production of “Oz,” suggested the name Gryphons, a reference to mythological beasts that are part eagle and part lion. Jacobs liked the idea and added “Grumbling,” mainly for alliteration.
A gryphon, Elias said, is “not a negative thing. It’s the guardian of treasure. I like to think of it as guardian of a treasury of stories.”
Registrations are being accepted for children ages 6 to 14 for the theater arts camp that will begin July 27 and end with a July 31 performance of “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” Elias’ adaptation of the classic tale. Children will work with a team of professional actors, musicians and visual artists, Elias said. She will direct the performance, with assistance from her son, Daniel Saed.
Elias has been a storyteller all her life. “My mother was an important influence. She started a nursery school when I was a kid. I helped the younger kids. I would tell them stories, and we would act out plays. My parents were always taking me to theater and concerts, and so that had a profound influence on my life.”
Her many accolades include the Connecticut Office of the Arts’ 2018 Arts Hero Award and The Northwest Connecticut Arts Council’s 2018 CultureMAX Award for Arts Educator.
Millerton resident Jane Wood said that she joined the theater arts camp when she was 8 years old. Now 15, she is an assistant counselor, engaging with new and veteran campers. “If you’re an older camper, you might have a more advanced role with a bunch of lines, but in the ensemble, you’re doing a lot of singing and a lot of dancing,” she said. “Some people have like one or two individual lines throughout the performance.”
In past years, Wood has had featured roles in the camp performances, including the Queen of Hearts in “Alice in Wonderland.” This year her role is keeping younger kids entertained, she said.
Wood said she has learned a lot from Elias. “I learned how to organize a group of people. Sometimes it is not very pretty, but when it does get done, it is beautiful.”
On July 4, Natalie Resto marched with the Grumbling Gryphons in the parade in Cornwall Village. “One of my main jobs that I do for Leslie is helping with illustrations for logos and flyers, as well as helping assist in props and costumes,” Resto said. For “Pinocchio” she will help create props that can be tailored for indoor or outdoor use.
“I come up with different kinds of art activities that the children will get to participate in during the theater camp,” Resto said.
The five-day camp and performance will mark the start of a summer filled with dramatic productions by Grumbling Gryphons throughout New York and New England. “The Myth of Persephone,” one of Elias’ earliest and ever-popular plays, will be performed Aug. 8 at Stissing Center in Pine Plains. “Anansi-The Trickster Spider: A West African Folktale” will be performed Aug. 15 at the Harwinton Fairgrounds. Both performances will begin at 11 a.m., preceded by a pre-performance dramatic workshop at 10 a.m.
“I love working with children,” Elias said. “I love empowering children, giving them an opportunity to work as a team, make new friends, have fun and have input into our plays. It’s not just putting on the perfect play or the perfect show; it’s about co-creating and contributing to the whole.”
The public performance of “The Adventures of Pinocchio” will take place July 31 at Grumbling Gryphons headquarters at 29 Lake Road, West Cornwall. The rain location will be at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, 246 Warren Turnpike Road, Falls Village.
To register a child for the theater arts camp, or to learn more about this summer’s activities, visit www.grumblinggryphons.org, email Leslie Elias at grumblinggryphons@gmail.com or call 860-672-0286.
Bobby Graham & Matthew Marden
Sea bass and shrimp gumbo
Each month, Dugazon owners Bobby Graham and Matthew Marden share a recipe inspired by the traditions, stories and sense of welcome at the heart of their shop in Sharon, Connecticut. Visit Dugazon at 19 W. Main St. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and online at dugazonshop.com.
This month we’re sharing one of our favorite comfort foods: sea bass and shrimp gumbo. While gumbo has a reputation for being a labor of love, this version skips the traditional roux, making it surprisingly approachable. The ingredient list may seem long, but once everything is prepped, it comes together quickly, rewarding you with a rich, flavorful bowl that’s perfect any time of year. Many of the pantry staples you’ll need for this recipe can be found right here at Dugazon.
For Bobby, gumbo brings back fond memories of annual visits to his grandparents in Louisiana, where every trip revolved around the kitchen and the table. His grandfather’s gumbo was always a highlight.
We hope this recipe brings a little Louisiana warmth to your table and becomes a favorite in your home, too.
Adapted from “Big Easy Seafood Okra Gumbo” in Emeril’s “New New Orleans Cooking.”
Ingredients
•2 tablespoons olive oil
•1/2 cup chopped onion
•1/4 cup chopped celery
•1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
•1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
•1/2 jalapeño, chopped
•1/2 tablespoon salt
•1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•1/2 cup seeded and chopped Italian plum tomatoes
•2 tablespoons minced garlic
•1 tablespoon minced shallots
•2 quarts fish stock (store-bought or frozen)
•1/2 pound sea bass, cut into 1-inch cubes, skin removed
•1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
•1/2 teaspoon Crystal Hot Sauce (available at Dugazon)
•6 bay leaves, fresh or dried
•1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
•1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
•1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
•12 fresh okra, sliced
•1 teaspoon cornstarch
•2 teaspoons Tony Chachere’s Cajun Seasoning (available at Dugazon)
•1/2 pound peeled medium shrimp (Guido’s fresh Gulf shrimp is a favorite)
•2 to 4 cups cooked white rice
•1 cup chopped green onions
Equipment
•Large soup or stock pot
•Wooden spoon
•Rice cooker or saucepan
•Soup or gumbo spoons
Preparation
The cooking times are important to the texture and flavor of the finished gumbo.
•Heat the olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the onion, celery, green and red peppers, and jalapeño. Sauté for 1 minute. Add the salt and pepper and cook for another minute. Stir in the tomatoes, garlic and shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes.
•Add the fish stock, sea bass, Worcestershire sauce, Crystal Hot Sauce, bay leaves, basil, oregano and thyme. Bring to a boil and cook over high heat for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium.
•Stir in the okra and Tony Chachere’s Cajun Seasoning. Simmer for 15 minutes, skimming any foam from the surface as needed. Raise the heat to high and cook for 5 minutes. Add the shrimp, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir the cornstarch into the gumbo and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes to slightly thicken. Remove from the heat and taste before adjusting the seasoning.
•To serve, ladle about 1 1/2 cups of gumbo into each soup bowl and top with about 1/2 cup cooked rice. Garnish with 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped green onions. Serve with crusty French bread and butter.
Make-Ahead Tip
The gumbo can be made one day in advance, refrigerated and gently reheated before serving. Cook the rice the day you plan to serve it. Like many stews, the gumbo is even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld.
Lucia Iandolo
Alt folk duo Sweet Petunia to perform a benefit at Random Harvest on Saturday, July 25.
On Saturday, July 25, Americana/Alt Folk duo Sweet Petunia will perform at Random Harvest in Craryville, a worker-owned market, café and community space that supports farmers and brings people together through locally sourced food. The concert comes just months after the fatal two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 23 and County Route 7 that devastated the hamlet, disrupted local businesses and left a lasting emotional impact on the community.
After the crash, Random Harvest remained open and committed to connecting people through food and community. Simpson said the duo looks forward to contributing to a healing experience through their music.
“We are honored to be there and to share our music,” Simpson said. “We’re happy to be part of a celebration and hopefully raise some funds and just have a good time.”
Sweet Petunia is made up of Mairead Guy and Maddy Simpson, who met while studying at Berklee College of Music. Throughout their college years, Guy and Simpson’s voices blended so beautifully that classmates often mistook them for siblings. After discovering their collaborative sound, they formed Sweet Petunia and began performing at music festivals while writing their debut album, “Foggy Mountain Mental Breakdown,” released earlier this year on Ani DiFranco’s label, Righteous Babe Records. The record explores themes rooted in Appalachian traditions while drawing inspiration from Boston’s DIY punk scene.
Sweet Petunia’s music combines deep, thought-provoking lyrics with intricate banjo playing to tell stories of self-discovery and life’s many complexities. The banjo seems to be having a resurgence in mainstream music, a trend the duo believes is driven by younger audiences seeking an escape from modern life and a return to something more tangible.
“I think kids are basically just so fed up with the internet and want to go back,” Simpson said. “So it would make sense to me that they would be interested in more traditional music.”
Through the years they have spent collaborating, both musicians have continued to grow, learning new instruments that have expanded their sound. Along with the evolution of their music, their onstage chemistry has also developed.
“We’ve gotten really good at banter,” Guy said. “People tell us that we’re really funny a lot, which is really meaningful.”
Simpson noted that when they first started playing together, neither of them knew how to play the instrument they are now best known for.
“Neither of us played the banjo, so that was something we learned and developed,” Simpson said. “We both literally learned how to play an entirely new instrument and how to write songs on it and how to incorporate that into the music that we make.”
Random Harvest is located at 1785 Route 23 in Craryville. The performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at events.humanitix.com/sweet-
petunia-concert.
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