How do we counter an epidemic of loneliness?
For the Ridgebury neighborhood of Ridgefield, one simple step was to set aside a day to gather as neighbors and friends. The day, last Sunday, was appropriately dubbed Ridgebury Day! It was a day set apart to connect, play and just be with one another. James Howley was the visionary behind the day, with The Meetinghouse as partner. Joining James were family members Melanie, Matthias, Clara and Grace. A big thank you to the entire Howley family!
Attended by over 600 adults and 300 children, it was old-fashioned fun, with families and friends spreading out across the driving range to enjoy a beautiful fall day. Music from Mojo and Concussion welcomed families as they arrived. While the Hot Air Balloon was not able to fly due to wind, there was juggling with Mattias Howley; face painting with Grace Howley and others; visiting falcons with Chuck Gilbert, a certified falconer; pony rides with Rising Starr Horse Rescue; kite flying; races and more. Food was provided by Sunrise Cafe and O’Deens. A painting by local artist Grace Howley was auctioned off to support The Meetinghouse. And there was a raffle with rides and lessons from Rising Starr, along with gift certificates to O’Deens to help offset costs.
James and Melanie Howley welcomed the crowd. First Selectperson Rudy Marconi shared words. Ridgefield Poet Laureate Ira Joe Fisher shared a poem he wrote for the day and served as auctioneer. Deborah Rundlett, director of The Meetinghouse, brought greetings.
Thanks also to the Board of Selectpersons for supporting the vision, the Ridgefield Fire Police for keeping us safe, and to St. Elizabeth Seton Church for overflow parking. To the Meetinghouse Communication Team (Priscilla Prentice and David Vita), the Residents (Heather Cochrane, environment; Holli Levy, art; and Claire Walker Moffatt, wellness), Carole Bishop, operations, and the volunteers who made the day possible.
We live in a time when many feel no sense of place. For the people of Ridgebury, there is a distinct sense of place, with Ridgebury Elementary School signs dotting the landscape, reminding us all of what it means to be #RidgeburyProud. For Ridgebury and Ridgefield, we have a sense of place out of which we are weaving ourselves into community.