Ridgefield's Talk of Our Town

Among the Contributors

Kerry Anne Ducey

KERRY ANNE DUCEY founded Ridgefield’s Talk of Our Town (www.ridgefieldctblog.com) in 2009 and is a freelance writer for Ridgefield Magazine, voted the 2008 Publication of the Year by the CT Press Club. Kerry Anne served as Managing Editor for Ridgefield Connecticut’s Ridgefield at 300, a commemorative coffee table book, published by Morris Media Group.

Prior to her writing career, Kerry Anne graduated summa cum laude, earning a master’s degree in elementary education.  She taught in various schools throughout NY and CT for nearly twenty years.  In her spare time, Kerry Anne and her husband, Ken are busy raising three children as well as serving many charitable organizations including Young Life and the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association.

Charlotte Alston Legg

Culture and living, food and fun, CHARLOTTE ALSTON LEGG brings commentary and content to Talk of Our Town.  A Strategy, Branding and Communications consultant with a long track record in Corporate America, Charlotte now helps companies in their early phases, or with new products ready to launch, to develop the best positioning, message  and plan for growth.  Finding the right angle is her specialty, and using the written word to help organizations be most successful is her passion.

Her work on Talk of our Town covers the spectrum, from the rock walls of Ridgefield to scavenger hunts for dinner parties, Charlotte writes about what makes life in our town most unique.   You can read more of Charlotte’s writing for Production Collective and on her own blog, The New Now.

Dave Tyler ~ Health and Wellness

As a Holistic Health Counselor, DAVE TYLER is your personal advocate for living a passionate and energetic life. His website, Ridgefield Wellness, provides a wealth of inspiration, information and motivation for living a healthy lifestyle.

In 2009 he graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where he studied under the expert guidance of today’s top health and wellness professionals. 

Whatever your concerns are, Dave is here to help you find which food and lifestyle choices will work best for you and the life you desire.  While most dietitians dwell on calories, carbs, fats, proteins, restrictions and lists of good and bad foods, Dave works with clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible, fun and free of denial and discipline.

Olga Adler ~ Interior Design

OLGA ADLER is the principal of OLGA ADLER INTERIORS,an interior design firm in Ridgefield, Connecticut.  Known for her fondness for simple forms, love of color and  unique accessories, Adler has won acclaim for her refreshing approach to classic design. Her European sophistication and American sensibility shine in creations.

“My approach to interior decorating is lifestyle-driven. I enjoy being able to work with my clients in a wide variety of design styles so their homes reflect their lifestyle and personal tastes, not necessarily mine,” explains Adler.

Terri Woods Garlick ~ Everything Ridgefield

Coming Soon!

Barbara Poole ~ Business Development/Career

BARBARA POOLE is an entrepreneur and CEO of Employaid.com, a career and business development super site for corporate employees and entrepreneurs at all stages of their career. Barbara founded Employaid to bring what she knows about branding, revenue growth and marketing success to the field of career development. Since the launch of Employaid, Barbara has been quoted in Business Week, the Wall Street Journal, MSNBC/Today Show blog, the NY Post, ABC News Now, and other media outlets.

Earlier in her career Barbara left corporate HR and was Senior Consultant and Director of Business Development for MOHR Development, an international training and management consulting company. She also was National Practice Director, Revenue Improvement, for the Retailing Unit of Arthur Andersen Business Consulting. In addition, for 14 years, Barbara was president of her own firm, Poole Resources, where she worked with small businesses and Fortune 50 companies to grow company and individual performance. She has lived in Ridgefield for 15 years.

On Talk of Our Town, Barbara offers a unique and candid perspective on how work and career are affected by our current economy.  She also addresses the importance of  Social Media and it’s relationship to branding, job search, small business start-ups and more.  Barbara loves to tackle tough issues and will be delighted to answer reader questions.  Click HERE to learn more about Barbara’s company, Employaid.

Monica Brown ~ Wine

MONICA BROWN, a wine and cheese enthusiast, is the proprietor of Cellar XV Wine Market which she opened in 2002. Cellar XV is a specialty wine shop designed for the daily-basis wine drinker. Most of the 130 bottles in the store average $15, with a focus on small, family run wineries.

In 2009, Brown launched no. 109 Cheese and Wine, located across the street from Cellar XV at 88 Danbury Road. This Cheese and Specialty food store grew out of Monica’s love and passion for good food and brings together her experiences growing up on a Simmental cattle ranch in Kansas and more than 20 years working in the restaurant and wine industries.

Mitch Ancona ~ Beer

A true aficionado, MITCH ANCONA has been passionate about beer and the art of brewing for more than 25 years. His ambitious blog conveys his knowledge and enthusiasm for the craft, and his store, Ancona’s Wines & Liquors, features one of the largest beer selections in the area. Ancona’s is consistently recognized for its distinctive global selections by beer publications, from Foam Improvement (“where to purchase great brews”) to Beer Advocate, who gave the store an A+ rating.

Mitch is also an ardent photographer whose favorite subjects are his wife and two daughters. Their photos can be seen in the store and on his blog.

Kristen Jensen ~  Photography

As an artist, I attribute the modern, candid style of my lifestyle photo assignments and portrait shoots to my vast experience in the fashion modeling industry. Coupled with years of international travel to many elegant locations and assisting with some of the top fashion photographers in the industry. This is where my passion for photography and my editorial style was created and developed.  Check out Kristen’s own blog, filled with the things that make life beautiful and fun by clicking here.

Joe Ancona Jr.~ Everything Food

After more than 80 years, the third generation of Anconas continues to deliver the highest quality of food and customer service that has earned them the esteemed title of “Top Family Business in Connecticut” by the University of Connecticut Small Business Center.  Today, JOE ANCONA JR. is at the helm of Ancona’s Market.  He brings his food expertise to Talk of Our Town and we are proud to have him part of our online community.

Joe is a “townie”.  He has lived in Ridgefield all his life, attending Branchville Elementary School, East Ridge Junior High School and graduating from Immaculate High School in Danbury in 1981.  Joe returned to the business in 2005 after completing his studies in Architecture, graduate studies in business and a career in real estate development.  He is proud to call himself a “green grocer”. You can learn more about Ancona’s Market by clicking here.

John Barricelli ~ Sweet & Savory Recipes

JOHN BARRICELLI, a graduate of The Culinary Institute,  is a third generation baker who owns & operates The SoNo Bakery & Cafe in Norwalk, Ct.  John spent  eight years working in production & appearing on Martha Stewart’s TV show- a natural progression to hosting his own show on PBS:  Everyday Baking from Everyday Food.  His new book: The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook, the Best Sweet & Savory Recipes for Every Occasion (Clarkson Potter, NY),  has been named one of 2010’s “Most Exciting Food Books” by Publishers’ Weekly.