Sandy DiLieto of Page Taft Real Living

GUILFORD, CT — Karen Stephens, Owner/Broker of Page Taft Real Living announced today that Sandy DiLieto has received the Premier Service® Diamond Elite national away for providing superior customer service to home buyers and seller in the CT Shoreline area.

To qualify to become a Premier Service® Diamond Elite award winner, Sandy DiLieto had to receive a minimum 95 percent customer satisfaction rating. Premier Service® is one of the most comprehensive and effective customer service programs in the real estate industry.

Page Taft Real Living specializes in providing real estate services in Guilford and the Shoreline area. Sandy DiLieto works in our Guilford Office, located at 89 Whitfield St. . She may be reached by telephone at 203-453-6511 or 203-214-0607; or via e-mail at sdilieto@pagetaft.com.

On Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m., the Acton Public Library will be offering the program, Solar Energy Now! presented by Bob Ballek.

 Learn the environmental and financial benefits of going solar in Connecticut. Topics will include site analysis, cost/payback timeframes, and federal and state incentives including tax credits and rebates. No registration is required.

The Acton Public Library is open Monday through Thursday 10 to 8:30, Friday and Saturday 9 to 5, and Sunday 1 to 5.

Greg R. Shook, President & Chief Executive Officer of Essex Savings Bank

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has appointed 12 members, including  local bank executive Greg R. Shook, President & Chief Executive Officer of Essex Savings Bank, to an adisory council formed in response to new regulations.

Each Federal Reserve Bank across the country is establishing a First District Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC) in response to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The councils will represent the perspective of smaller financial institutions and provide input on the economy and lending conditions, among other issues, according to a statement.

The First District’s 12 CDIAC members represent commercial banks, thrift institutions and credit unions with assets less than $10 billion. Members, which are from each of the six New England states, will meet three times annually.

The following members were appointed:

• Gregory Shook, president/CEO, Essex Savings Bank, Essex
• James W. Blake, president/CEO, HarborOne Credit Union; Brockton, Mass.
• Tom Caron, president/CEO, Bank of Easton; North Easton, Mass.
• Christopher Oddleifson, president/CEO, Rockland Trust Co.; Rockland, Mass.
• Bill Stapleton, president/CEO, Northampton Co-Operative Bank; Northampton, Mass.
• Jane Walsh, president/CEO, Northmark Bank; North Andover, Mass.
• John J. Dwyer, Jr., president/CEO, New England Federal Credit Union (NEFCU); Williston, Vt.
• Michael L’Ecuyer, president/CEO, Bellwether Community Credit Union; Manchester, N.H.
• Gregg R. Tewksbury, president/CEO, Savings Bank of Walpole; Walpole, N.H.
• Peter Judkins, president/CEO, Franklin Savings Bank; Farmington, Maine
• Joseph J MarcAurele, president/CEO, Washington Trust; Westerly, R.I.
• Merrill Sherman, president/CEO, Bank Rhode Island; Providence, R.I.

Stapleton will serve as District One’s representative to the national CDIAC, which will meet twice a year to advise the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., according to a statement. The Federal Reserve Board announced in October it was forming the CDIAC to replace the Thrift Institutions Advisory Council.

The first meeting of the District One CDIAC was held on March 1.

Next Saturday, March 19, the Old Saybrook Chamber will be holding the 2nd Annual Business Expo at Saybrook Point Inn from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This event is free to the public and 35 businesses will be exhibiting new and innovative offerings.

Dan Holdridge, a survivor of Sept. 11, 2001, will be cutting the ribbon to open the event as well as being there to discuss his book, Pentagon Prayer – The Story of a Survivor of September 11, 2001 that was officially released on September 11, 2010 – an Amazon.com Best Seller.

In April 2001, Holdridge was one of the youngest Program Directors at General Dynamics Corporation in Needham, Massachusetts.  He oversaw computer engineering operations for General Dynamics and was sent to the United States Pentagon to support the construction of the newly renovated section of the Pentagon.

On Sept. 11, 2001, his life almost ended when he was injured in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Recovered physically, Holdridge dedicates his time speaking to people across the country about his experience that day, what helped him heal and how he became an even stronger person than ever before.

Today, Holdridge serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Industries Incorporated (www.EagleElectric.com) where he oversees the entire operation of the electrical engineering, and manufacturing corporation. This includes finance, human resources, project management, business development, customer communications, and continuing quality improvement programs.

Holdridge graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1995, and earned the Masters Degree of Executive Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of New Haven.  He served as a Trustee of the National 4-H Leadership Trust from April 2002 to 2004 and currently serves as Board Member and Vice Chairman of the New London County 4-H Foundation.

Shoreline Web News LLC, publisher of LymeLine.com, OldSaybrookNow.com and ValleyNewsNow.com, will have a stand at the Expo, including a raffle entered simply by giving your email address and with prizes including dinner for two at the Bee & Thistle Inn, tickets to the Ivoryton Playhouse, and advertising on LymeLine.com.

The Old Saybrook Police will also be on hand to offer their “Safe Kids” program along with Zeus, from the K9 unit.

Gift Certificate drawings will held hourly and the Saybrook Point Inn Spa will be sponsoring free “make-up art” and face painting.

Coldwell Banker Realtor, Jodi Strycharz (860) 884-3011

Coldwell Banker realtor Jodi Strycharz has provided the following data for the sale of single family homes in Old Saybrook over the past three years and also current real estate market conditions.

The total number of homes sold in Old Saybrook was up over 14% in 2010 compared to 2009, but the average selling price was down more than 10%.

For the million plus properties, sales activity has gained momentum with sales in Old Saybrook, Lyme, Old Lyme, Essex, Deep River and East Haddam.  Since January 1, 2010, 22 sales have closed and 6 are under deposit.  The average sales price for the 22 “million plus” properties was $1,567,497.

Current market conditions for the first two months of 2011 are encouraging with 111 homes currently on the market, 26 are under deposit and 8 have closed.

Old Saybrook Single Family Home Sales 2008-2010
 [table id=1 /]

Information Obtained from the CTMLS

Dorie Greenspan at the podium during her presentation at Congregation Beth Shalom in Chester.

Rachel Berliner, who is an intern with Shoreline Web News LLC from Old Saybrook High School, had the opportunity to meet a very special lady recently. Rachel attended a presentation by nationally acclaimed cookbook writer Dorie Greenspan and then after the presentation, Ms. Greenspan graciously agreed to be interviewed by Rachel.

Dorie Greenspan is a James Beard award-winning cookbook author.  On Sunday, Jan. 16, “foodies” had the opportunity to savor her experiences of Parisian life and food at Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek’s “Books and Bagels” event held at the Chester synagogue.  Greenspan inspired the large audience with her stories of Parisian “joie de vivre” and food prepared in a myriad of ways.

I was honored to have the opportunity to interview Ms. Greenspan after her presentation.  I asked her about the famous chefs she has worked with and the inspiration for her newest book “Around my French Table.”

RB: How long did it take you to put “Around my French Table” together?

DS: I teasingly say it took me 30 years because it’s really a record of my experience in France.  I worked on the book for four years.

RB: What was it like for you to work with Julia Child? What are your favorite memories and/or recipes of that time?

DG: I have so many ‘Julia’ recipes.  She was extraordinary.  She was the same person as she was on television.  She was always warm and encouraging.  Julia wanted women in the kitchen.  She counseled people to go to college and finish school.  She thought it was really important.  I was so lucky to work with her.
 

Ms. Greenspan is a very expressive lady!

RB: What was it like to work with Daniel Boulud?  What is your favorite memory of that time?

DG: The “memory” was how we put “the book” together (“Café Boulud Cookbook: French-American Recipes for the Home Cook”).  He (Daniel) had closed his restaurant and was rebuilding it.  It was August and all of the cooks were off.  He called about eight cooks [back to the restaurant] and said, “Okay, we’re going to work.  We’re going to come into the kitchen and create this book in teams.”  The whole restaurant was a construction site, but the kitchen was still usable.  He put together teams of two, about 10 teams.  Every morning, we would come in and there was a list of recipes we would have to create.  He would be around telling us what to do and how he wanted it done.  We would cook all day and as a dish would finish, everybody would stop and we would all taste it together.  Daniel has a great way of being a leader.

RB: Would you like to have your own show on PBS/Food Network?

DG: I like working on television, but I don’t know if I would have a show.

RB: How did you choose the recipes for the book?

DG: It’s interesting.  A lot of my recipes essentially come from three places: the food that I cook, food my friends cook, and food my friends who are chefs serve in their restaurants.  I wanted to show “a snapshot” of what food is like in France today.  I wanted to have the food you would “nibble” before you eat … things you would have as an “hors d’oeuvres.”  I knew what I wanted my chapters to be.   The great fun was saying, “I have these chapters.  All of my favorite recipes are going to go in there.” You get to put in (the cookbook) what you love most.  You also have to balance it so you don’t have a hundred chicken recipes and two for beef.  It’s that balance: what would make the most interesting recipes for readers and home cooks.

The audience was captivated by Ms. Greenspan's tales.

RB: Which region of France do you prefer?

DG: There are so many regions.  They “hold on” to their cuisine.  It’s wonderful that the traditions remain.  I liked the hearty food of the southwest of France.  I love the pastries from Alsace.  It’s hard to say.  I love the salted butter from Brittany … Bretagne.  I love gougères (cheese puff pastries) from Burgundy.

It was a pleasure talking to Ms. Greenspan.  She was such a kind and gracious lady.  I just have two more things that I want to say to her now — “Merci,” and “Bon Appétit!”

If you are looking for something to brighten up these cold winter days, mark your calendar now for Saturday, Jan. 29 when the-e-fair is being held.  This event is being organized by the dynamic Erica Tannen, who publishes the universally popular e-list, and will take place at Sonalyst Studios in Waterford.  

The-e-fair features Indie Fashion, local food and rising musical talent and offers the opportunity to enjoy deep discounts on designer clothes, accessories, jewelry, food and more.  It could aptly be described as an alternative mall open for one special day only!

For the last two years, the-e-list has presented the Insane Insidewalk Sale, a highly successful, extreme shopping event, which over 900 Shoreline shoppers attended.

This year, the-e-fair, a mid-winter festival and celebration of all things local, will be held in a 15,000 square foot sound stage at Sonalyst Studios, one minute off I 95 in Waterford (exit 81).

Thirty Shoreline shops and designers will be selling their wares at 30 – 75% off retail prices and a cadre of food trucks including The Cupcake Truck, The Grilled Cheese Truck and The Beach Street Sandwich Truck will also be on hand.

Plus some of the Shoreline’s best restaurants, including The River Tavern at Chester and Liv’s Oyster Bar in Old Saybrook, will be tempting your palate.  Local beer, wine, coffee and chocolate milk will also all be offered.

Two concerts round out the day, the popular Mystic band Barefoot Truth will perform at 1 p.m., and rising NYC star Rene Lopez will take the stage at 4 p.m.

The event runs from 11a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes activities to keep the entire family amused including a photo booth, henna tattoos, a craft booth staffed by the educators at the Florence Griswold Museum, and more.

In the event of snow, the-e-fair will be held Sunday, Jan. 30, at the same time.

Entry tickets are $15 or $10 for teens and free for kids

Editor’s Note: Sonalyst Studios is located off I 95 at exit 81, 215 Parkway North, Waterford, CT.  For more information and a list of participating retailers, visit www.the-e-list.com/the-e-fair

Atlantic Seafood, 1400 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook

Whoever heard of a seafood store having a fulltime chef on staff? Well Atlantic Seafood Market, located at 1400 Boston Post Road in Old Saybrook, has one. His name is Jerry Doran, and he is not only a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, he was once the head chef of the Four Seasons restaurant in Boston.

Owner Lisa Feinman with Chef Jerry Doran

Atlantic Seafood Owner Lisa Feinman says, “Having a trained chef on staff is a huge benefit. He has a critical eye on everything we sell in the store.”

Another unique thing about the Atlantic Seafood is that Feinman does not think it pays to advertise. “I do not believe in advertising,” she says. “What’s important is when someone says that we have a good product, and then this word of mouth will slowly and effectively grow the business.”

Feinman, who presently lives in Westbrook, purchased the Atlantic Seafood store as an existing business back in March 2005. Since then she has not only expanded the square footage of the store, but brought the store’s reputation to the point where for the last three years in a row, it has been recognized as the best seafood store along the shoreline by the weekly Shoreline Times newspaper. The store was also voted this year, “Business of the Year” by the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce.

Currently, the staff of Atlantic Seafood consists of nine to ten persons, a number of them part time. One of the part timers serving seafood customers is Bob Chase, a licensed Connecticut attorney. Chase says that he “loves working with the product, the fish.” He says he “grew up in Newport and learned about fish from his father.” Chase praises the store as having “a very pleasant working environment.” Also, he maintains a legal practice, while not behind the fish counter.

A seafood delight!

Owner Feinman claims two principal distinctions of her store, “We have a really fresh product, and we are nuts about having no preservatives with our fish.” Another attribute that she touts, “All of our dressings are made from scratch.”
When asked what kind of fish customers prefer throughout the year, Feinman (everyone calls her “Lisa”) ticks off a four-season review. In winter she says the store’s freshly made, hot soups are popular, as is salmon, which is always a favorite. In summer she says that boiled lobsters, steamed clams, swordfish and scallops, as well as other seafood that can be cooked on the grill, are favorites.

Spring she says “is a big seafood time of year.” In fact, in this season Atlantic Seafood hosts a six week course on cooking seafood, conducted by a number of expert chefs. Customers are welcome to take the course, and the tuition fee is nominal. Then in the fall Feinman says, “Since there is no more grilling outdoors, people are more into comfort food. The favorites are baked fish, like cod and haddock.

As for her own experience in running a business, Feinman says that she has always been in retail. Also, she says, self confidently, “I always knew I could run a business.”

To substantiate this, she calls attention to an article about the store, published in a July 2007 issue of the New York Times. The Times wrote about the store, “To have fish any fresher, you would have to catch it yourself.”
Speaking of the freshness of the fish sold at Atlantic Seafood, the Lisa says, “We buy off the boats, and we know the boats we buy from. We also have drivers that pick up our fish in Rhode Island and New Bedford, Massachusetts, and everything is shipped overnight.”

Then, she repeats what could well be the store’s mantra, “We do not ever put our fish in preservatives.”

Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Best of 2010 award recipients (L-R): Judy Sullivan, Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Barbara & Len DiBella, Luigi’s Restaurant, Diana Melville, Chamber of Commerce President and Sal DiBella.

OLD SAYBROOK – Four annual Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Awards were presented to deserving members at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner Meeting & Silent Auction held Thursday Dec. 9, 2010 at the Saybrook Point Inn.   Over 150 members enjoyed the evening celebrating the Chamber’s 2010 accomplishments. 

The 2010 Award recipients are:

• Business of the Year – Luigi’s Restaurant, 1295 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook
• Non-Profit of the Year – High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme
• Volunteer of the Year – Dory Rosen
• Rookie of the Year – Apple Rehab Saybrook, 1775 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook

“The Old Saybrook Chamber is very proud of our 2010 award winners.   These four recipients exemplify commitment and dedication to the community,” said Judy Sullivan, Executive Director of the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the Old Saybrook of Commerce and its programs, visit www.oldsaybrookchamber.com.

The sign for Tissa's Le Souk de Maroc in Old Saybrook

On the outside, Tissa’s Le Souk de Maroc, inhabits an unassuming old-fashioned soda fountain at 2 Pennywise Lane in Old Saybrook.  On the inside, shelves lined with tangines (a Moroccan clay cooker) and Moroccan spices take you into a new world.  Kathleen Benjdid and her husband Mohammed, mix Moroccan, Mediterranean, and American specialties. 

There is something for everyone at Tissa’s market.

“It is Moroccan fusion between Mediterranean food and other types of food.  We also make the good “old fashioned” turkey sandwich,” Kathleen commented.

Moroccan cooking uses ras el-hanout, a blend of 21 different spices.  “The cuisine has developed to preserve food.  There are many different influences like Arabic and French,” Kathleen said.

Tissa’s has been in business for almost six years, but seven months ago, the tiny shop sitting across from Staples, the office supplies store, on the Boston Post Rd., needed to expand and found a new, larger location at the James Soda Fountain.

Inside the Store

The store now serves traditional ice cream and “Moroccan Delight” ice cream with flavors like sesame fig and orange cinnamon.  The Mediterranean pastries one will find are rose bud cookies (phyllo honey cookies), baklava, date truffles, and mamoul cookies (North African shortbread cookies).  Now, Tissa’s offers “tangine parties”, where people can bring their friends and enjoy a home-cooked Moroccan meal at home.

“We have combined Moroccan and Mediterranean fusion with confections and ice cream,” Kathleen notes.

She continues, “We are working very hard on the market side of our business right now.  We have moved to this beautiful historic building with an Old Fashioned Ice Cream Soda Fountain and I thought how great it would be to introduce more of the confection side of the Mediterranean and the Middle East to combine with the ice cream.”

This delicious fusion of flavors from the East and West is sure to please any palate!

Tangines (Moroccan slow cookers) in Tissa's Le Souk de Maroc

Editor’s Note:  Tissa’s is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For further information, call 860-395-1781 or visit www.tissascountrymarket.com

New Metro North M-8 Rail Car

Delivering on a promise she made to Connecticut commuters shortly after taking office, Governor M. Jodi Rell today boarded the first set of new M-8 rail cars for a test run. Accompanied by officials from the Department of Transportation, the Governor traveled from New Haven’s Union Station to Fairfield for some first-hand testing of the M-8 rail cars, which are to begin entering regular service next month. 

The Governor highlighted the testing with the announcement that the state would be increasing its order for M-8s from 300 units to 342 units, with the additional cars to be paid for with funds already set aside for such purpose.

“Five years ago I laid out a vision for remaking Connecticut’s commuter rail system,” Governor Rell said at a trackside ceremony before the on-board testing began. “The centerpiece of that proposal was a new fleet of rail cars for Metro-North’s New Haven Line – one of the busiest commuter lines in the world. Since the first M-8s arrived last Christmas, much has been done to ready these cars for New Haven Line service. For commuters, the wait is nearly over.

“For many years, our commuters have traveled in cars dating to the mid-70s,” the Governor said. “These older cars have traveled many miles supporting millions of commuters – but it is clearly time for a new fleet. Soon more than 300 of these M-8s, bright in their red and steel colors, will cruise the New Haven Line.”

Interior View of New M-8 Rail Metro North Rail Car

To date, the state has received 22 M-8s. The cars are undergoing extensive testing in the New Haven Rail Yard as well as on runs between New Haven and New York. Testing began in late December 2009, when the first M-8 cars arrived, and has been on-going with engineers from the car builder, Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. of Japan, and the entire project team working virtually around the clock.

“The Department and Metro-North Railroad are aggressively working to place a set of M-8 rail cars in regularly scheduled train service in December,” said DOT Commissioner Jeffrey A. Parker. “The M-8 rail car is the most complex rail car in the United States, utilizing both DC-third rail and AC-overhead catenary propulsion systems. Getting the M-8s ready has been challenging, but has placed Connecticut’s rail fleet in the forefront of the commuter rail industry.”

The new M-8s feature more open and brighter interior space, high-back seating for all seats and a distinctive vestibule area. There are four, 110-volt outlets for every row and an American with Disabilities Act- (ADA-) compliant lavatory as well as other passenger-oriented improvements such as larger windows, brighter lighting, arm and headrests and an automated announcement and signage system.

The M-8 fleet also incorporates many safety, environmentally friendly and energy saving features. Regenerative braking systems use the braking effort of the electric traction motors to return electricity to the power grid system. Thermally insulated car bodies and window sealants/gaskets are more efficient, while the stainless steel car body is compliant with the latest federally mandated crashworthiness guidelines.

Pictured l-r: Judy Sullivan, Executive Director of the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce; Travis Knight; Todd Roberts, physical therapist and owner, Roberts Physical and Aquatic Therapy; and Amy Fratianni, office manager, Roberts Physical and Aquatic Therapy.

The Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce held a  monthly “Coffee Connections” networking breakfast at Roberts Physical and Aquatic Therapy on Friday, Nov. 12.  Guests were treated to a surprise visit from former NBA Star and UConn basketball player, Travis Knight. 

The morning breakfast meetings were implemented this year in response to member requests to complement the organization’s evening networking events.  The next “Coffee Connections” will be held on Jan. 28, 2011 at Webster Bank, 723 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook. 

For more information on the Chamber and its  monthly member networking events, please contact Judy or Karen at (860) 388-3266 or visit www.oldsaybrookchamber.com.