It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Lakeville Historical Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Lakeville, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work”
“We used Always Best Care for my mother. They provided basically anything we needed a”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of”
“Dear Rick, Over the past three plus years, my father Joseph Ceuch has lived at”
“Heather, I just wanted to thank Always Best Care in helping to provide care for”
“My mother was bedbound for months and had serious health related issues including kidney failure.”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of a personal”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company,”
“My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office”
“Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring and comforting my Mom. Your quality of”
“I have a very good providers from this Company”
“Bessie has been an exceptional Health Care Provider. She takes such pride in her work and truly cares about the people she is in contact with. She is dedicated, diligent, and is devoted to her job assignment. She not only takes care of my Mom, but she goes above and beyond her call of duty. Bessie has a unique ability to connect with every person she meets. No day goes by that my Mom is not pampered. Bessie make sure she's always comfortable. She makes exceptional meals for her 3 times a day, cleans her clothes, gives her showers, washes her hair and makes her look amazing every single day. Bessie is so beneficial to our family we can't imagine our family without her. I myself and my family members could never do what she does for our Mom. She has been with my mom and our family for almost 1 year and we don't know what we would do without her, she truly is a gift from God. She not only takes care of my Mom daily, nightly and weekly, she also takes care of her personal life and whatever life throws at her. She is a devoted caretaker and should be recognized with the utmost respect. Her dedication to improving the health and well-being of my Mom is commendable. You can't find anyone as special as she. Her life commitment has touched our lives through her delivery of exceptional care in a compassionate, respectful, and safe manner on a daily basis. She has become a member of our family and she has shown us the meaning of adaptability. Her strong faith in God, Forgiveness, and Believing in each other makes her the great person that she is. On behalf of our family, we would like to thank you for the extraordinary care and services your company has provided to us. Thank you for all you do”
“We used Always Best Care for my mother. They provided basically anything we needed a few hours a week, they were very thorough in asking about my mother's condition, and what were the needs that were required. It's more like bathing, medication, and companionship. We used them for about a week.”
“Thank you again to you, Susan and the rest of the care-givers and staff of Always Best Care for the outstanding service you have provided for our parents. ABC provided professional, first-class support that allowed our parents to remain in their home while relieving of us of concern for their care and is something we will never forget. You can be sure we will happily refer any family member or friend that is seeking care at home to Always Best Care.”
“Dear Rick, Over the past three plus years, my father Joseph Ceuch has lived at home assisted by the caregivers from your company Always Best Care of Greater Bristol. This letter is a personal thank you from my father and the entire Ceuch family on how your caregivers treated and attended to my father during this time. The caregivers became part of our extended family who shared in countless family events resulting in beautiful lasting memories. Caregivers Frances Boateng, Jeremy Turner, and Yanice Hernandez were awesome in their care of my father. I want to especially acknowledge Francis as a person who went above and beyond his responsibility and became part of the Ceuch inner circle. It was not uncommon for Francis on his off days to stop by during a family picnic to say hello...he is truly loved by my father. Again, I want to thank you for the loving care your caregivers provided my father. I would highly recommend your company to anyone interested in having a caregiver attend to a loved one. Thanks again”
“Heather, I just wanted to thank Always Best Care in helping to provide care for my step father, Daryl. It's unbelievable how the progression of his illness happened so quickly, however, Always Best Care was always ready to provide the level of care he needed as it increased. Most importantly, I'd like to thank his aide, Sue Malasics. She was wonderful to Daryl and took great care of his needs. I knew I did not have to worry with Sue there with him. She was always cooking wonderful homemade meals and desserts and I was happy to see how happy she made Daryl. I think she is a wonderful asset to Always Best Care. Should I know of anyone needing help in the future, I would recommend Always Best Care and Sue Malasics.”
“My mother was bedbound for months and had serious health related issues including kidney failure. My mother was also very demanding about her care and who she would allow into her home. After several attempts with various in-home care agencies my mother really responded well to Always Best Care Senior Services of Greater Bristol and we cant thank them enough for the high level of compassionate care they were able to provide during my moms final months.”
“I am a past client of this provider My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office manager. Soon after, I was introduced to the caregiver who would provide care for me. All 3 persons seemed very knowledgeable, experienced anf caring. I was certainly provided with quality service and much respect and compassion.”
“Our sister, Barbara has early-onset dementia , and was in sudden need of a personal care assistant until placement in a quality skilled nursing facility became available. We reached out to home health care agencies in her local area but, by this point, had already worked with several agencies for med reminders for Barbara (and 24/7 care for our Mom in another area of CT) and were a bit skeptical that that we’d find one that could provide consistent quality of care.When I spoke with Rick Downey of Always Best Care Senior Services in Bristol, he conveyed both confidence in his knowledge of health care and empathy in understanding the frustrations that families experience when seeking quality care for their loved ones. We were next contacted by their care coordinator,Heather Kozikowski, who came to our sister’s home to conduct an assessment and further explain the services offered by Always Best Care.A further testament to the exceptional quality of Always Best Care is the service and care we’ve received after Barbara is no longer a client; our thanks to Always Best Care for the excellent care of our sister, and the peace-of-mind it afforded our family knowing that she was in such kind and competent hands!”
“I am a retired registered nurse, and for several years, I have been the primary caregiver for my husbamd/ My husband suffers from dementia and is aphasic. On a Saturday morning in October of 2015, a sudden change in my health required an emergent hospitilization, which late resulted in an extensive rehabilitation stay. Upon my hospitalization, my son reached out to Always Best Care Senior Services of greater Bristol. The Always Best Care team assessed my husband, his needs, and had his care staffed within hours of my son's call. The care provided to my husband has been exceptional. The caregivers as well as the office staff have been attentive to our needs and have met all of our expectations. I would highly recommend Always Best Care to you and anyone who is in need of care for their loved one.”
“I had a very good experience ! I really appreciate the service that your company, Always Best Care, offered our family and especially the caring, loving attitude that Amber and Natalie displayed to Carol at all times. They were outstanding and you should be proud to place them in any situation with the full expectation they will represent your firm in a most professional manner. Thanks again for all your help.”
“My journey with Always Best Care began with a visit from the owner and office manager. Soon after, I was introduced to the caregiver who would provide care for me. All 3 persons seemed very knowledgeable, experienced anf caring. I was certainly provided with quality service and much respect and compassion.”
“Dave and staff, thank you or consistently caring and comforting my Mom. Your quality of care will be recommended to others. You went above and beyond what was expected.”
“I have a very good providers from this Company”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Steve Michaud Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Boathouse At Lakeville or visit Salisbury Historic District Commission, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Lakeville, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Lakeville, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Lakeville, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Never has a landscape played to a more appreciative cheering squad. Talk to Priscilla McCord about her garden, and she overflows with enthusiasm. From the beauty of the bristling hydrangeas to the buzz of the pollinators courting her asters, McCord has all sorts of good things to say about what has grown around her. Actually, she doesn’t really have to say a thing—sit down to talk with Priscilla McCord in her backyard, and the glow of true love speaks for itself.Her husband, Alan McCord, is equally smitten—in a diffe...
Never has a landscape played to a more appreciative cheering squad. Talk to Priscilla McCord about her garden, and she overflows with enthusiasm. From the beauty of the bristling hydrangeas to the buzz of the pollinators courting her asters, McCord has all sorts of good things to say about what has grown around her. Actually, she doesn’t really have to say a thing—sit down to talk with Priscilla McCord in her backyard, and the glow of true love speaks for itself.
Her husband, Alan McCord, is equally smitten—in a different sort of way. An abstract expressionist artist, Alan McCord didn’t have to think twice about where he might want to put down weekend roots when the time came to look for a second home—he had plenty of blissful memories of the regional rolling hills and august trees in Litchfield County from attending Salisbury School. So that’s how the McCords became the proud homeowners of the 10-acre landscape in Lakeville in 1990.
Priscilla McCord was a total novice when she came to the property. Actually, she was a green-wannabe, but had not yet received coaching in the specifics of how to dig in. And she was faced with a blank canvas waiting to be worked on. Meanwhile she yearned to garden.
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“I always loved gardens,” she recollects. But she was working in the city four days a week. “I thought: What can I do to really enhance my life?” Her answer was right at hand—she could study gardening.
When she makes a decision, Priscilla McCord seizes the moment. She asked legendary gardeners Fred and Mary Ann McGourty of Hillside Gardens in Norfolk to mentor her. For the next year, she couldn’t wait until her weekly Friday visits interning with the McGourtys and working at their nursery, Hillside Gardens, learning how to plant, divide perennials, amend the soil, and accomplish the other nuts and bolts of making things grow. The garden that sprouted up around the 18th century eyebrow colonial in Lakeville is the result of that focused education with two of the finest designers/plantspeople in the area, but it also has a lot to do with the professionals that collaborated to create the hardscape and make plant selections.
Mary Ann McGourty was a key factor in the design and she steered Priscilla McCord toward the types of plants that would be apropos in borders around the house—with an eye toward performance, color combinations, and season-long interest. Marc Tonan was still in high school at the time, but he worked with the McGourtys and played a key part in installing the McCord garden. Now with his own business—Consolini & Tonan Landscape Design LLC—he continues to provide maintenance—24 years later.
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Meanwhile, Alan McCord had his own battles to wage. He was single-handedly responsible for clearing the hillside that stretched behind the house. At first, suspecting that beauty lay beneath, he whacked a few tenuous paths into the densely overgrown yonder, penetrating trails in a terrain populated by the sorts of botanical bullies that Priscilla calls, “heavy bad shrubs.”
Sure enough, what he exposed revealed a landscape of gentle curves framing a scenic view. Fifteen years ago, with the help of some earth-moving equipment, he cleared the field entirely to create the sort of rural scene that captures the subtleties of light in these hills and inspires his art. Now, the property boasts 6 cleared acres. “I was the gardens, but he was the land,” Priscilla likes to say.
Following the field conquest, the McCords put in a pool—which required a garden all around. That’s when the eye-opener about hydrangeas happened. They started with ‘Annabelle’—which was less than satisfactory. “The leaves never look good and the flowers droop,” Priscilla sums up the essence of her discontent. The switch to Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’ brought the sort of results she could applaud.
Actually, the hydrangeas sparked an encore. The time came when the McCords decided to renovate their little eyebrow Colonial to raise the roof and build a second floor, enlarging the height and dimensions of the rooms, and creating an open veranda, all on the existing footprint.
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From a garden point of view, the addition created a second floor screened porch so that Alan could view his proud meadow on yonder hill. And a back bluestone terrace was also part of the configuration, so the family could enjoy their outdoors in close contact. Michael Trapp was the genius behind the project, furnishing the terrace with his signature heavy wooden pieces that feel sort of medieval meets modern-ish.
Since Mary Ann McGourty had retired, fortunately Priscilla had met Judy and Pat Murphy of Old Farm Nursery who expanded the garden around the newly renovated house. A storm water rerouting network had been part of the renovation project (actually, flooding issues were a major reason for the new construction), and a wall was a feature of the new layout, giving Old Farm Nursery a perfect excuse to stage some really dramatic plantings on the slope.
For the color theme directly behind the house, Priscilla preferred blues and pale pinks (with the exception of the spring peony moment when the garden screams hot pink) of asters, sedum, lamb’s ears, tree peonies, chelone, anemone, alchemilla, thalictrum and baptisia. The asters are carefully pruned back early in the season to create the chubby plants that form domes later on. And another late bloomer—the variegated phlox, Phlox paniculata ‘Nora Leigh’—is dense with flowers, but also mildew-free late in autumn. Along the side of the house, they went with a heavy dose of magnificent hydrangeas—with an emphasis on the new introduction Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky-Winky’ and H. ‘Limelight.’ ‘Pinky-Winky’ shimmers with dusty pink plumes the same shade as the nearby sedum. And ‘Limelight’ plays off that hue with the green-tinted bracts. It is achingly majestic. No wonder Priscilla is in love.
But gardens are now flowing all around the house, tucked into any spot that could use a little enlivening. They are the perfect accent—like a matching handkerchief in a suit pocket—making the barn red house grin. And it’s not only about autumn. For the opposite time of year, Judy Murphy created a woodland garden with primroses, painted ferns, and hellebores that perform early in the season. And Priscilla’s most recent triumph came when the roadside garden that she’s been tackling for years finally went over the edge from being a mess of brambles and poison ivy into becoming transformed into a carefully wrought banking of plants such as daylilies and ornamental grasses that thumb their nose at challenging conditions. In that garden, all of Priscilla’s dividing and conquering skills were accessed. The European ginger that came with the place has been a godsend for its multiplication talents. Flowering shrubs give the house a sense of privacy. Anything that claims a sizable footprint but covers ground has been enlisted to turn that roadside from scrubland into sublime.
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The project is ongoing. And that’s another aspect that Priscilla McCord loves. But the transformation puts her right over the moon. “It’s all that I ever wanted,” she sighs. “These gardens are really satisfying.” It’s a happy ending. It’s the saga of a Lakeville garden doing its best to thrill a particularly appreciative audience. But getting there was half the fun.
Restaurant Review: The Woodland, Lakeville??½ [Very Good-Superior]A sheaf of White Emperor lilies greets us in the vestibule. We step inside. Tall branches of flowering cherry fill a corner of the room with a haze of pale pink blooms. Bold floral statements so picture-perfect we can’t believe they’re real—but they are. As is the Oriental rug on the floor, its colors glowing like jewels in pools of light that fall apparently at random but are artfully positioned to illuminate our path, o...
Restaurant Review: The Woodland, Lakeville
??½ [Very Good-Superior]
A sheaf of White Emperor lilies greets us in the vestibule. We step inside. Tall branches of flowering cherry fill a corner of the room with a haze of pale pink blooms. Bold floral statements so picture-perfect we can’t believe they’re real—but they are. As is the Oriental rug on the floor, its colors glowing like jewels in pools of light that fall apparently at random but are artfully positioned to illuminate our path, our table, the menu and our food when it arrives, while the rest of the room remains discreetly and romantically in shadow.
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If I sound rapt, it’s because I am. For years I’ve been hearing about The Woodland but this is my first visit. I’m not sure what I expected. A log cabin in the wilderness?
The Woodland is not that. Nor is it a grand old country inn. It is, however, precisely what its fiercely loyal fan base wants it to be and, I quickly discover, worth a trip from anywhere for the rest of us. Determinedly unpretentious, exquisitely stylish in a friendly, low-key way, The Woodland is what it is by popular demand.We may be in the country but we’re not in Kansas. There’s a chef and a sushi chef and a menu that suggests we’re on a round-the-world cruise with an idiosyncratic sail plan and unlimited excursions ashore. Sushi, sashimi, pizza, guacamole, tagliatelle, steak tartare, vegetable tempura . . . stop, already. Mouths watering, we dive in.
Starting with the sushi menu, we order the eponymous Special Woodland Roll, with Cajun tuna, smoked salmon and sprouts, which sounds odd but turns out to be surprisingly good. Both fish are brilliantly spiced and set each other off beautifully. A few long, wispy sprouts, probably alfalfa, fringe the roll with a taste of green.
While restaurants of every stripe are getting their kitchens in a twist trying to present everything in small-plate format, The Woodland calmly proffers Appetizers, Salads, Entrées and Desserts. Many of the appetizers are hearty enough to qualify as small plates. For example, thick, rosy slices of medium-rare filet of beef tinged with char fill the mouth with the taste and memory of campfire cookery. Zingy ginger dipping sauce is served alongside. Tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, thyme and Parmesan Reggiano, richly flavorful and totally irresistible, arrives in a baking dish virtually begging to be shared.
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With starters like these if you want less than a four-course meal, all you need is a salad. “Asian spinach” is especially good, a perky jumble of fresh spinach, sprouts, onions and wild mushrooms, with grated daikon on top. Just don’t ask me what gives the vinaigrette dressing that special sparkle. All I can get from our waitress, who says it’s all she can get from the chef, is “Asian spices.” Ah, the mysterious East.
To come here for a few light bites is fun but to do so would be to miss a lot because, unlike at some restaurants, things don’t fall apart when it comes to entrées. At The Woodland, they’re interesting and numerous—13 on the regular menu, 10 on a list of specials that changes every day.
We try to stick to the regular menu, but a big, thick veal chop sails by on the way to another table and we have to have one. Juicy, medium-rare, it’s laved with a lovely au jus-based sauce perhaps enriched with the decidedly woodsy flavor of wild mushrooms. Sides aren’t listed because entrées come with a full complement of vegetables and starch—butternut squash and mashed potatoes for the veal chop. There are a few duplications but enough variety to keep things interesting. A pork chop comes with polenta, sliced hanger steak comes with sautéed spinach and house fries, and seared tuna arrives in a pretty coat of white sesame seeds, atop a bed of baby bok choy sautéed so gently it’s still vibrantly green and slightly crisp. With spicy aioli decoratively dribbled, all it needs is what it’s got—a mound of perfectly cooked white rice.
I can’t say the same for the BBQ spare ribs. With or without barbecue sauce (which is sparse), they are not smoky enough, spicy enough, juicy enough or tender enough to be persuaded (even with the help of a knife) to fall off the bone. What is it with these ribs? Are they a one-time goof, or do Woodlanders like them this way?
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It’s a mystery we leave unsolved and move on to steak tartare, a dish that’s been on and off menus for ages. Vegetarians may quake but in France in Brillat-Savarin’s day it was thought that the quickest, easiest way for the pale and ailing to absorb all the minerals and vitamins in a piece of beef was to chop it up and eat it raw. Of course, Parisian chefs couldn’t bear to leave it like that. First, they added parsley, chives or dill, and then—attention, mes amis—to make it more nourishing they broke an egg and slipped the yolk into a dent in the meat mixture, covered it up, and voilà, a clever surprise, a golden treat.
The Woodland’s steak tartare hides no golden surprises, but the meat is excellent, coarsely chopped and the right shade of red. (Too many spices or exposure to air can turn meat gray.) Served as an entrée, there’s enough to please Henry VIII.
The dessert list would knock his eyes out. Pecan pie, Key lime pie, rum-raisin rice pudding, root beer float, apple crisp, warm chocolate cake—14 temptations in all, with an à la mode option of Great Barrington’s SoCo Creamery ice cream. The coconut-cream pie is sumptuous, and the root beer nostalgic. Bananas Foster isn’t flamed but the hot fudge parfait is to be a kid again.
Plus, the adult dessert wine list includes a 1929 Tesseron Cognac X.O. Exception—at $90 a glass—awarded 100 points by Robert Parker, and described as “about as ethereal as anyone could ever hope to drink.”
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I consult my notes: “Sushi, who’d have thought?” “Rustic for sophisticates.” Large portions, generous pours, good service. Local favorite. Reserve well in advance.”
The Woodland
192 Sharon Rd., Lakeville, 860/435-0578, thewoodlandrestaurant.com
Lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 to 2:30. Dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5 to 9, Friday and Saturday till 10:15, Sunday 4 to 8:30. Wheelchair access. Major credit cards. Price range: appetizers $7 to $11, entrées $14 to $32, desserts $6 to $9.
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(This article was originally published on a different platform. Some formatting changes may have occurred.)
This article appeared in the May 2013 issue of Connecticut Magazine
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April 30, 2013
By Elise Maclay
The greatest proof of success for a restaurant is longevity.In an industry littered with the bones of broken dreams, even good restaurants often fail. But The Woodland Restaurant, set in a quiet location just outside the village of Lakeville, continues to thrive even after three decades.The restaurant has been managed by the same fam...
The greatest proof of success for a restaurant is longevity.In an industry littered with the bones of broken dreams, even good restaurants often fail. But The Woodland Restaurant, set in a quiet location just outside the village of Lakeville, continues to thrive even after three decades.
The restaurant has been managed by the same family over its long tenure as one of the most popular eateries in the area. Started in 1983 by Carol Peters in a former diner owned by her father, Anthony Peters, the restaurant’s building has been transformed a number of times as it has grown to meet the demand from the public. In 2003, it changed hands, but only within the family, as Ms. Peter’s brother, Robert, purchased both the building and the business.
Mr. Peters was by then an established veteran of the food industry. His father, noted real estate developer Anthony Peters owned, among many other ventures, the Interlaken Inn in Salisbury. “I always washed dishes at the Interlaken. When I was in grade school, I thought it was really cool to run dishes through a commercial dishwasher,” Mr. Peters confessed, reporting what must be one of the more unusual reactions of any young boy being asked to do the dishes. “I was fascinated by what went on in the kitchen,” he said.
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From this early foundation a desire developed to work permanently in the industry. Mr. Peters went on to study food service management and returned to Lakeville following his education to work in his sister’s kitchen at The Woodland.
“This used to be a diner when I was a kid,” he recalled. “I ate Spaghettios here—they came right out of the can.”
But those days became a thing of the past when the Peters family took over the property. First his sister and then his father made their adjustments to the property. Then, in 2003, when he purchased it, Mr. Peters undertook a “huge renovation.”
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He increased the size of the bar to accommodate at least 12 guests, opened up the tavern for more seating, and realigned the dining room to provide individual tables, booths, an extended banquette and a communal table. The night we were there, white floral decorations contrasted pleasantly with the burnished wood of the furnishings in the dining room.
While the renovation was underway, Mr. Roberts filled in his time by returning briefly to the Interlaken Inn, where he worked in the kitchen with chef Brandon Scimeca. “Brandon taught me a lot. I took some of his good ideas and thought, ‘Maybe I could do it like this.’”
Ever since those days, his three-page menu at the Woodland has been constantly updated and refreshed by a full page of daily specials. “Some things stay on the menu all the time,” Mr. Peters said, “but others change. The things that stay on are the items people always like, the things that bring them back.”
He loves to go to New York City on his days off to experience other restaurants, and to look for ideas that can enliven the cuisine at his own restaurant. He uses modern technology to help him in his canvas of other restaurants. “I use my phone to make note of the ingredients,” he said.
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Asked about the influences behind his cuisine, he said, “It’s an American restaurant, isn’t it. It’s a mixture of everything.”
He questions whether his formula for country success would work in a more urban area, however. “I don’t think it would work in the city, where there are a lot of ethnic foods,” he said. Instead, he adapts dishes to suit the tastes of his patrons. “I try not to be too pretentious and not to do anything that I don’t do well.”
Proof that his philosophy works was supplied in a recent restaurant review in The New York Times by Christopher Brooks. “If you can’t find something to please your palate on Woodland’s three-page menu, you must not be trying,” Mr. Brooks wrote.
Mr. Brooks must surely be right about a menu that offers appetizers such as charred tuna sashimi [$14], Tagliatelle with wild mushrooms, thyme and Parmigiano Reggiano [$11] and charred filet of beef with ginger dipping sauce [$11]. Also on the appetizer menu the night we visited were a Tuscan white bean soup resplendent with diced carrots, celery and a pinch of pepper and thyme in a tomato base [$7] and succulent sautéed veal sweetbreads with arugula and wild mushrooms [$14].
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Special entrees that night included such delicacies as a sushi and sashimi combo [$24], Beef Bourguignon [$21] and a ricotta ravioli with roasted Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, brown butter and sage [$18]. Guests choosing from the regular menu could pick from among dishes including sautéed filet of sole Meuniere or Almandine [$21], Weiner Schnitzel [$21] or strip steak served au poivre or grilled with crispy red onion rings [$32]. Hearty portions of sides accompany most of the entrees.
He has some items for vegetarians, as well, including an excellent vegetable tempura with ginger dipping sauce, an appetizer that could easily serve as a generous entrée, and an equally tasty stir fry. He said his soups are also frequently vegan “and go quite well.” He likes to use curry and spices to give his vegetarian soups an extra kick, and coconut milk to add some sweetness.
To accompany all this, guests can choose from a wine list that David Kamp, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and author of “The Wine Snob’s Dictionary” has termed “huge and shockingly adventurous.”
“I kind of got obsessed with the wine list for a while,” Mr. Peters said, “but I’ve calmed down a bit now.”
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Desserts are hearty and tasty—carrot cake, key lime pie, tiramisu, Rum raising rice pudding and more—and all priced at $6.
The Woodland is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, and the midday selections are no less enticing. Guests can select from among items that include the ever-popular roasted beets with mixed greens, toasted almonds, pickled red onion and ricotta salata [$12]; chicken salad with avocado [$12], grilled French ham and brie on peasant bread [$10], a spicy grilled shrimp and Pepperjack quesadilla [$10], and more.
The Woodland, located at 192 Sharon Road (Route 41) in Lakeville is open for lunch,Tuesday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; for dinner Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 8:30 p.m.
“I let the business dictate my hours,” Mr. Peters said. “We don’t get a later crowd here.”
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Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 860-435-0578. The Web site is www.thewoodlandrestaurant.com.
Nina DiSesa and her husband, Brian Goodall, used to own a 45-acre horse farm in Pawling, N.Y., but when they decided to give up riding, they chose a home on five acres near the center of Salisbury, in the northwest corner of Connecticut.“For Manhattan people, it’s easy to get cabin fever in a small town,” Mr. Goodall said. “Of all the places we’ve lived in the country, this is the one where that is least likely to happen.”Salisbury and its neighboring communities offer good restaurants and cu...
Nina DiSesa and her husband, Brian Goodall, used to own a 45-acre horse farm in Pawling, N.Y., but when they decided to give up riding, they chose a home on five acres near the center of Salisbury, in the northwest corner of Connecticut.
“For Manhattan people, it’s easy to get cabin fever in a small town,” Mr. Goodall said. “Of all the places we’ve lived in the country, this is the one where that is least likely to happen.”
Salisbury and its neighboring communities offer good restaurants and cultural attractions, he said, like summer theater in Sharon, Conn.; chamber music at Music Mountain in Falls Village, Conn.; and in the Berkshires, concerts at and dance at Jacob’s Pillow.
That is something you often hear from people who have second homes in Salisbury, a town of about 3,800, where lush wooded countryside, several lakes and a ski jump are complemented by upscale shops and restaurants and sophisticated and accomplished neighbors.
“There are very interesting people who live up here,” Ms. DiSesa said. “I also love the fact that the people at the post office know my name, and the dogs’ names.”
Steve and Jennifer Lehner, Upper West Side residents, bought a second home in Salisbury in 2015 and spend weekends, holidays and summers there. Mr. Lehner said the town appealed to his family because of “the charm of the area, the four seasons of activities and the mix of people.”
His three children ski, play soccer and hockey, and take swimming lessons in the town recreation program. “There’s a softball game on Sundays open to anyone,” he said, adding that he had struggled to get into games in Central Park.
The town’s biggest industry is education, with three private schools that draw students from across the country and internationally. The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, a village in Salisbury, is a coeducational prep school; the Salisbury School is a boys’ prep school; and the Indian Mountain School, also in Lakeville, is a coeducational school for prekindergarten through ninth grade.
Salisbury, like much of Litchfield County, was hit hard by the 2008 recession, and the real estate market is only now beginning to bounce back.
“We take forever to turn the ship around,” said Ted Murphy, a real estate agent in the town of Litchfield and treasurer of the Connecticut Association of Realtors. Since 2015, however, inventory levels in the county have dropped 40 percent, he said, and prices have started to rise.
Elyse Harney Morris, a second-generation real estate agent in Salisbury, echoed that view. Since the November election, million-dollar homes have been selling, and a home recently sold for $5.8 million. “But that’s not the typical sale,” she said. “The most active sale price is $500,000 and below.”
One element of Salisbury’s appeal to New Yorkers is that it is only about two hours by car from Manhattan, and traffic is rarely an issue. That was important to Ms. DiSesa and Mr. Goodall, who maintain an apartment in the city.
“We’re big theater people,” she said. “We go to the city to see our doctors and to see theater.”
Salisbury’s main appeal is to people who love the outdoors. Its three biggest lakes — Lakeville Lake (also known as Lake Wononscopomuc) and the Twin Lakes, Washinee and Washining — offer swimming and boating. The Housatonic River passes through town, as does the Appalachian Trail and a three-mile rail trail that is popular with bicyclists and hikers.
It also has six of Connecticut’s 10 tallest peaks, though at a little over 2,000 feet, they are modest compared with the 4,000-footers in northern New England.
One of the town’s hamlets, Lime Rock, is famous for its auto racetrack, Lime Rock Park.
Another landmark is the 150-year-old White Hart Inn, the town’s best-known gathering place, which was closed for several years but reopened in 2014 after it was bought by a group of investors, including the writer Malcolm Gladwell, the chef Annie Wayte and Meredith Rollins, the editor in chief of Redbook.
In addition, Salisbury boasts the lowest municipal property tax rate in the state, at $10.70 per $1,000 of assessed value. (No. 2 is Greenwich, at $11.20.)
Smaller homes in Salisbury are often available for $300,000 to $500,000, said Ms. Morris, the real estate agent. At the only condominium complex in town, Lion’s Head, prices range from $295,000 to $595,000.
The most desirable properties for weekenders and summer residents are lakefront homes and those with views of the Taconic Mountains, and prices for such houses start at $1 million.
“Anything on the lake, you’re paying a premium, even for a tear-down,” she said, adding that a lakefront lot of less than an acre recently sold for $1.2 million. After the recession of 2008, when prices for most homes in Salisbury fell 25 percent, lakefront property generally held its value.
“We’re seeing a lot of first-time second-home buyers,” said Pat Best, another real estate agent in town. “They’re happier if they can be under a million, and happier still under $500,000.” She added that she was seeing more and more young couples who have decided to buy homes in Litchfield County and rent in New York City.
Salisbury combines the quaintness of Norman Rockwell New England, the cachet of the Upper East Side and the enthusiasm for the outdoors of Vermont and Colorado.
While weekenders come for the outdoor activities, new residents like to talk about how friendly and welcoming the town is, about saying hello to Meryl Streep, a longtime resident, at the gas station.
“Salisbury is very comfortable in its own skin,” said Anne Young, a Californian who moved to town in 2014 and bought a home with her husband a year later. “The people here chose to be here.” Even the celebrities, she said, are approachable: “They let their guard down here.”
Part-time residents proudly say, “This is not the Hamptons,” adding that the social scene is very low-key and that natives mingle easily with newcomers and summer visitors.
“It’s not a pressure cooker,” Mr. Goodall said.
In addition to private schools, the town is served by the Salisbury Central School, which houses prekindergarten through eighth grade. It has 286 students; in 2016, 81.3 percent met state standards in English and 71.3 percent met state standards in math, compared with 55.7 percent and 44 percent statewide. Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, with 421 students from six towns, including Salisbury, had average SAT scores of 537 in English and 503 in math in 2016, compared with the statewide averages of 520 in English and and 502 in math.
Metro-North’s Harlem line runs regular train service to Manhattan from Wassaic, N.Y., about 15 minutes from Salisbury. The trip ranges from two hours to two hours and 20 minutes, depending on the time of day. A monthly ticket is $536; a round-trip peak ticket is $52.50 and an off-peak is $39. By car, the trip via Interstate 684 or the Taconic State Parkway is about two hours and 10 minutes.
Surprisingly for such a bucolic place, Salisbury was once an industrial center. It was a major producer of cannons, cannonballs and chains, using local iron ore, and it has been called the “arsenal of the Revolution.” But as Elyse Harney, Ms. Morris’s mother, tells it, the industry eventually ran out of charcoal to fire its forges and furnaces, and water power from the town’s lakes wasn’t sufficient. “Otherwise,” she said with a smile, “we could have turned into Pittsburgh.”
TORRINGTON -- Judge Michael Magistrali looked across his desk and welcomed the family who was about to officially become the adoptive family of seven-year-old Max."All the work has already been done by everyone sitting here today," Magistrali said. "This is the best part, the joyful part, the part that makes all of us very happy."Max was sitting next to his new brother Alexander, 8, who the couple adopted five years ago, and his adoptive parents, Shaffin Shariff and Kevin Vetter.AdvertisementAr...
TORRINGTON -- Judge Michael Magistrali looked across his desk and welcomed the family who was about to officially become the adoptive family of seven-year-old Max.
"All the work has already been done by everyone sitting here today," Magistrali said. "This is the best part, the joyful part, the part that makes all of us very happy."
Max was sitting next to his new brother Alexander, 8, who the couple adopted five years ago, and his adoptive parents, Shaffin Shariff and Kevin Vetter.
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Max went to live with Shariff and Vetter in May of 2010.
On Thursday morning, Judge Magistrali announced that the parental rights of Max's natural parents have been terminated and Max was now legally free become the child of Shaffin and Kevin.
"Do you think this is a good idea, Alexander?" Magistrali asked.
"Yes!" Alexander said jumping up from his chair and looked at the official document in the hands of Judge Magistrali.
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The process for Max started when he was just a year old.
"It has been a long journey," said Jennifer Birden, social worker with Department of Children and Families. "All told it has been six years."
Birden first got the case in 2005 and worked closely with Max and his biological parents.
One of the first steps for DCF is to try and keep the family together and prevent the need for the child to be removed from the family, but at the same time assess if the child is in imminent risk. DCF then continues to assess and evaluate if the family can meet the needs of the care of their children.
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Ultimately, it would be up to a judge to determine whether Max would be at risk to stay with his biological parents -- but for Max, there was a lot of back and forth before getting to today's adoption.
Birden worked as a team with Sandy Ruscoe, a social work case aide. The two spent a lot of time with Max over the six years.
"During the process of getting Max where he is today, legally free to be adopted, we were the constant in his life," Ruscoe said. "We were very involved and Max knew how much we cared and he developed a trust with us that was very important for him."
Shariff and Vetter were legally married in Canada before same sex couples could marry in Connecticut.
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The new law in Connecticut made it possible finally for them to adopt.
"We know several families that spent a lot of money adopting internationally, Vetter said. "Why do that when there is such a need right here."
Shaffin and Vetter first got Alexander after being given a bleak picture on paper about the health of the three-year-old. His foster parents adopted a trio of siblings and could no longer keep him.
"We knew as soon as he walked up the steps this little boy was feisty and resilient," Shaffin said. "He walked in as if he knew this is where he belonged."
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Today the road to adopting their second child, Max, had a happy ending. For Birden and Ruscoe, it was bittersweet. Max gave them a big hug and walked out the door ready for adventures with his new family.
Debbi Morello can be reached by email at dmorello@registercitizen.com or by phone at 860-489-3121, ext. 328. Read us atwww.registercitizen.com,http://www.registercitizen.com,> on Facebook.com/registercitizen, or on Twitter.com/registercitizen.
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