The Renegades are back in town! Starting on Friday, April 7^th, the Renegades will begin their 29^th season of professional baseball in the Hudson Valley, and 3^rd as a New York Yankee Affiliate. Through the first two seasons in the Yankees’ system, several top prospects have spent time with the Renegades, including the Yankees #1 Prospect, Shortstop Anthony Volpe; Yankees #2 Prospect, Outfielder Jasson Dominguez, and the first Renegades player to make the Yankees big league roster, Shortstop Oswald Peraza.

While the baseball is great, the fan experience is even better! The Renegades’ focus is to bring affordable family fun to the Hudson Valley, and provide the community with a safe place to enjoy the atmosphere of Minor League Baseball. Even for those who are not fans of the product on the field, the Renegades have something for everyone, no matter who you are or what you enjoy. For kids, take advantage of the brand new Kid’s Club, and be sure to visit the Fun Zone full of games and entertainment for all ages. For college students, head over to the stadium on Thursdays, for free admission with a valid student ID. Adults, enjoy a drink at the exclusive Sloop Beer Balcony, featuring craft beers from the local Sloop Brewing Company. Fan of Fireworks? Stop by, as every Friday of the season features a post-game Fireworks show, guaranteed to light the night, and end the game with a bang!

Tickets are available now, and remain an incredibly affordable way to spend a night in the Hudson Valley. With prices ranging from $6-$22, all are welcome to enjoy the fun and be a part of this wonderful community. Opening Day is Friday, April 7^th, at 6:05pm, with games running all summer long, through the second weekend in September. Click Here to purchase your tickets now, or visit www.milb.com/hudson-valley for more information on the season ahead.

On Sunday, March 26th, the Danbury Hat Tricks welcome all fans to stay after the 3PM game against the Delaware Thunder to take to the ice and skate with your favorite players!

The Hat Tricks welcome all fans of all ages! Any fan 17 years or under is invited to use this link to register for a complimentary ticket to the game. 

The Danbury Ice Arena provides the option for skate rental at the arena for those who do not have their own. 

Any additional questions can be sent to Chris Lynch- clynch@danburyhattricks.com

The Hat Tricks look forward to welcoming all their fans to skate with the Hat Tricks!

You get a call. There's a panicked voice on the line. It's your grandson. He says he's in deep trouble — he wrecked the car and landed in jail. But you can help by sending money. You take a deep breath and think. You've heard about grandparent scams. But darn, it sounds just like him. How could it be a scam? Voice cloning, that's how.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a far-fetched idea out of a sci-fi movie. We're living with it, here and now. A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one. All he needs is a short audio clip of your family member's voice — which he could get from content posted online — and a voice-cloning program. When the scammer calls you, he’ll sound just like your loved one.

So how can you tell if a family member is in trouble or if it’s a scammer using a cloned voice?

Don’t trust the voice. Call the person who supposedly contacted you and verify the story. Use a phone number you know is theirs. If you can’t reach your loved one, try to get in touch with them through another family member or their friends.

Scammers ask you to pay or send money in ways that make it hard to get your money back. If the caller says to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or buy gift cards and give them the card numbers and PINs, those could be signs of a scam.

If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

With the filing deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service has urged everyone to remain vigilant against email and text scams aimed at tricking taxpayers about refunds or tax issues.

In day two of the annual Dirty Dozen tax scams campaign, the IRS again includes a warning about phishing and smishing schemes where cybercriminals try to steal a taxpayer’s information through scam emails or text messages.

“Email and text scams are relentless, and scammers frequently use tax season as a way of tricking people,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “With people anxious to receive the latest information about a refund or other tax issue, scammers will regularly pose as the IRS, a state tax agency or others in the tax industry in emails and texts. People should be incredibly wary about unexpected messages like this that can be a trap, especially during filing season.”

As a member of the Security Summit, the IRS, with state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry, have taken numerous steps over the last eight years to warn people to watch out for common scams and schemes each tax season that can contribute to identity theft. Along with the Security Summit initiative, the Dirty Dozen aims to protect taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from identity thieves and various hoaxes designed to steal money and information.

The Dirty Dozen is an annual IRS list of 12 scams and schemes that put taxpayers and the tax professional community at risk of losing money, personal data and more. Some items on the list are new, and some make a return visit. While the list is not a legal document or a formal listing of agency enforcement priorities, it is intended to alert taxpayers, businesses and tax preparers about scams at large.

Phish or smish: Avoid getting hooked by either
Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake communications posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and financial community, including the IRS and states. These messages arrive in the form of an unsolicited text or email to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and financial information that can lead to identity theft. There are two main types:

• Phishing is an email sent by fraudsters claiming to come from the IRS or another legitimate organization, including state tax organizations or a financial firm. The email lures the victims into the scam by a variety of ruses such as enticing victims with a phony tax refund or frightening them with false legal/criminal charges for tax fraud.
• Smishing is a text or smartphone SMS message that uses the same technique as phishing. Scammers often use alarming language like, "Your account has now been put on hold," or "Unusual Activity Report" with a bogus “Solutions” link to restore the recipient’s account. Unexpected tax refunds are another potential target for scam artists.

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail and will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media regarding a bill or tax refund.

Never click on any unsolicited communication claiming to be the IRS as it may surreptitiously load malware. It may also be a way for malicious hackers to load ransomware that keeps the legitimate user from accessing their system and files.

Individuals should never respond to tax-related phishing or smishing or click on the URL link. Instead, the scams should be reported by sending the email or a copy of the text/SMS as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov. The report should include the caller ID (email or phone number), date, time and time zone, and the number that received the message.

Taxpayers can also report scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or the Internet Crime Compliant Center. The Report Phishing and Online Scams page at IRS.gov provides complete details. The Federal Communications Commission’s Smartphone Security Checker is a useful tool against mobile security threats.

The IRS also warns taxpayers to be wary of messages that appear to be from friends or family but that are possibly stolen or compromised email or text accounts from someone they know. This remains a popular way to target individuals and tax preparers for a variety of scams. Individuals should verify the identity of the sender by using another communication method; for instance, calling a number they independently know to be accurate, not the number provided in the email or text.

Help stop fraud and scams
As part of the Dirty Dozen awareness effort, the IRS encourages people to report individuals who promote improper and abusive tax schemes as well as tax return preparers who deliberately prepare improper returns.

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should mail or fax a completed Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Mail:
Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center
Stop MS5040
24000 Avila Road
Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405
Fax: 877-477-9135

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the IRS Whistleblower Office for possible monetary reward. For more information, see Abusive Tax Schemes and Abusive Tax Return Preparers.

Taxpayers who can’t pay their tax bill by the April 18, 2023, deadline shouldn’t panic. The IRS offers several options to help them meet their obligations.

It’s important for taxpayers to file their tax return or request an extension of time to file at irs.gov/extension by the April 18, 2023, deadline – even if they can’t pay their full tax bill. Doing so will help them avoid a failure-to-file penalty.

This extension applies only to the filing deadline, not the payment deadline. Except for eligible victims of recent natural disasters who have until Oct. 16 to make various tax payments, taxpayers who can't pay the full amount of taxes they owe by April 18 should file and pay what they can. Making a payment, even a partial payment, will help limit penalty and interest charges.

For taxpayers who cannot pay in full
Taxpayers struggling to meet their tax obligation may consider these payment options.

Online payment plans
Taxpayers who owe but cannot pay in full by April 18 don't have to wait for a tax bill to set up a payment plan. They can apply for a payment plan at IRS.gov/paymentplan. These plans can be either short- or long-term.

• Short-term payment plan – The payment period is 180 days or less, and the total amount owed is less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.
• Long-term payment plan – The payment period is longer than 180 days, paid in monthly payments, and the amount owed is less than $50,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest.

Offers in compromise
An offer in compromise lets taxpayers settle their tax debt for less than the full amount they owe. It may be an option if they can't pay their full tax liability or doing so creates a financial hardship. The IRS considers a taxpayer’s unique set of facts and circumstances when deciding whether to accept an offer.

Taxpayers can see if they’re eligible and prepare a preliminary proposal with the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier Tool.

The IRS offers penalty relief to eligible taxpayers
Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they tried to comply with tax laws but were unable due to circumstances beyond their control.

Here’s what taxpayers should know about possible penalties and interest
Taxpayers who owe tax and don't file on time, may be charged a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty is usually five percent of the tax owed for each month or part of a month that the tax return is late, up to 25 percent. The failure-to-pay penalty applies if a taxpayer doesn’t pay the taxes, they report on their tax return by the due date.

Interest is based on the amount of tax owed and for each day it's not paid in full. The interest is compounded daily, so it is assessed on the previous day’s balance plus the interest. Interest rates are determined every three months and can vary based on type of tax; for example, individual or business tax liabilities. More information is available on the interest page of IRS.gov.

An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. An extension only gives taxpayers until October 16, 2023, to file their 2022 tax return, but taxes owed are still due April 18, 2023.

More information:
What if I can’t pay my taxes?
What Is the Due Date of My Federal Tax Return or Am I Eligible to Request an Extension?
Tax Topic 653, IRS Notices and Bills, Penalties, and Interest Charges

The Danbury Hat Tricks and Todd Alfa Romeo of Danbury are proud to announce an exciting promotion for Saturday, March 25th @ 7 PM, when the Hat Tricks take on the Mississippi Seawolves at the Danbury Ice Arena.

One fan will have the opportunity to take an on-ice shot from the far blue line to put it into through a target in the goal. If successful, the fan will win a 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia (taxes not included).

This contest is open to all fans over the age of 18. To participate, click this link, fill out the form, and you will receive a complimentary ticket to the game.

 As part of the promotion, with all participants there will be a series of drawings and contests to connect down to the final shooter.

To register, CLICK THE LINK HERE!

Todd Alfa Romeo of Danbury is located at 52 Newtown Road in Danbury and features a full selection of new Maserati & Alfa Romeo vehicles. There is also a strong line of reliable pre-owned vehicles. Todd Alfa Romeo of Danbury will get you into the automobile that fits your lifestyle and budget with competitive financing or lease plan.

Check them out online at www.toddalfaromeoofdanbury.com.

For further information on this event, go to www.danburyhattricks.com.

Support Connection, Inc. announces a free program:

 It’s Okay to Grieve, Let’s Talk: An Open Discussion for Men Living with Loss.

It will be held via Zoom video conference on:

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, from 7 - 8 pm (NY Time).

Open to men nationwide who have lost a spouse or partner to breast, ovarian, or any other gynecological cancer. Pre-registration is required. Must register no later than 5 pm (NY time) Monday, March 27, 2023.

To register, call Support Connection, 914-962-6402 or 800-532-4290. It is never possible to prepare yourself for the loss of a spouse or partner. Learning how to cope with the grief and the impact on your life is hard to do alone. Speaking with others who have also been through it is an excellent way to learn and feel less alone.
 
This program is open to all men who have experienced loss, regardless of how much time has gone by. The facilitator will lead the discussion, which will include the following topics:

• There is no one way to grieve: no right way, and no wrong way.
• Dealing with unexpected “trigger points” and reminders.
• Coping with loneliness.
• Giving yourself permission to move forward.

The open discussion format provides a safe and supportive venue to talk with others coping with similar challenges. Share concerns, experiences and information with others who have been there too.Discussion Leaders: Alan Bandes and Alan Forst are volunteer facilitators who have personally experienced the loss of their beloved wives to breast cancer.Support Connection, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization that provides free,  confidential support services and programs to people affected by breast, ovarian or gynecological cancer. Founded in 1996, Support Connection is based in Yorktown Heights, NY, but through their toll-free services they help people across the country. Services include: One-on-one counseling with professional counselors who are cancer survivors; Ongoing peer-to-peer support groups; Educational and wellness programs; Webinars; Social gatherings for cancer survivors; Information and referral services; A toll-free cancer information and support hotline. Learn more at supportconnection.org. Support Connection Breast and Ovarian Cancer Support: We’ve Been There. We Care.

Researchers have published a new study about how diabetes in youth under 20 years old is expected to increase in the next 40 years. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, and new calculations show that both types will increase significantly in the coming years. While type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented, early action can prevent or delay a lifetime of managing type 2 diabetes for kids, teens, and young adults.

Find out the latest research on the future of diabetes in youth:

There’s a growing type 2 diabetes problem in our young people. But parents can help turn the tide with healthy changes that are good for the whole family.

Until recently, young children and teens almost never got type 2 diabetes, which is why it used to be called adult-onset diabetes. Now, about one-third of American youth are overweight, a problem closely related to the increase in kids with type 2 diabetes, some as young as 10 years old.

Weight Matters

People who are overweight—especially if they have excess belly fat—are more likely to have insulin resistance, kids included. Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. Because of heredity (traits inherited from family members) or lifestyle (eating too much and moving too little), cells can stop responding normally to insulin. That causes the pancreas to make more insulin to try to get cells to respond and take in blood sugar.

As long as enough insulin is produced, blood sugar levels remain normal. This can go on for several years, but eventually the pancreas can’t keep up. Blood sugar starts to rise, first after meals and then all the time. Now the stage is set for type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance usually doesn’t have any symptoms, though some kids develop patches of thickened, dark, velvety skin called acanthosis nigricans, usually in body creases and folds such as the back of the neck or armpits. They may also have other conditions related to insulin resistance, including:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

Activity Matters

Being physically active lowers the risk for type 2 diabetes because it helps the body use insulin better, decreasing insulin resistance. Physical activity improves health in lots of other ways, too, from controlling blood pressure to boosting mental health.

Age Matters

Kids who get type 2 diabetes are usually diagnosed in their early teens. One reason is that hormones present during puberty make it harder for the body use insulin, especially for girls, who are more likely than boys to develop type 2 diabetes. That’s an important reason to help your kids take charge of their health while they’re young.

More Risk Factors

These factors also increase kids’ risk for type 2 diabetes:

• Having a family member with type 2 diabetes.
• Being born to a mom with gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).
• Being African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.
• Having one or more conditions related to insulin resistance.

If your child is overweight and has any two of the risk factors listed above, talk to your doctor about getting his or her blood sugar tested. Testing typically begins at 10 years old or when puberty starts, whichever is first, and is repeated every 3 years.

Take Charge, Family Style

Parents can do a lot to help their kids prevent type 2 diabetes. Set a new normal as a family—healthy changes become habits more easily when everyone does them together. Here are some tips to get started:

Mealtime Makeover

• Drink more water and fewer sugary drinks.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Make favorite foods healthier.
• Get kids involved in making healthier meals.
• Eat slowly—it takes at least 20 minutes to start feeling full.
• Eat at the dinner table only, not in front of the TV or computer.
• Shop for food together.
• Shop on a full stomach so you’re not tempted to buy unhealthy food.
• Teach your kids to read food labels to understand which foods are healthiest.
• Have meals together as a family as often as you can.
• Don’t insist kids clean their plates.
• Don’t put serving dishes on the table.
• Serve small portions; let kids ask for seconds.
• Reward kids with praise instead of food.

Getting Physical

• Aim for your child to get 60 minutes of physical activity a day, in several 10- or 15-minute sessions or all at once.
• Start slow and build up.
• Keep it positive—focus on progress.
• Take parent and kid fitness classes together.
• Make physical activity more fun; try new things.
• Ask kids what activities they like best—everyone is different.
• Encourage kids to join a sports team.
• Have a “fit kit” available—a jump rope, hand weights, resistance bands.
• Limit screen time to 2 hours a day.
• Plan active outings, like hiking or biking.
• Take walks together.
• Move more in and out of the house—vacuuming, raking leaves, gardening.
• Turn chores into games, like racing to see how fast you can clean the house.

Want to Limit Overeating? Limit TV Time

A recent study showed that when the amount of TV kids watched was limited, they lost weight—but not because they were more active when they weren’t watching. The difference was snacking: kids ate more when they were watching TV than when doing other activities, even sedentary (not physically active) ones.

Encourage your kids to reach for fruit, the original fast food.

Young kids and teens are still growing, so if they’re overweight the goal is to slow down weight gain while allowing normal growth and development. Don’t put them on a weight loss diet without talking to their doctor.

With alumni from all portions of Danbury’s hockey history in the building, the Danbury Hat Tricks gave their fans a show, defeating the Watertown Wolves 4-1.

Tobias Odjick opened the scoring and his three point game by scoring off a nifty feed from John MacDonald at the 2:52 mark of the period. Jonny Ruiz potted a goal off a pass from Michael Marchesan from behind the net to extend the lead to 2-0 before the intermission.

During the intermission, Danbury inducted three individuals into the Danbury Hockey Ring of Honor who played a major part in the 2013 Danbury Whalers Commissioner’s Cup Championship win. Steve Brown, who arrived during that season and ended up playing more games than anyone else in Danbury’s professional hockey history, Ed Campbell the Captain of the Whalers and former Danbury Trasher, and Alan Friedman, the President of the Whalers.

Watertown cut the deficit in half at the 8:04 point of the second. Parker Moscal set up Don Carter Jr. for a goal shortly after a power play expired.

Frankie McClendon stopped every other shot he faced, recording a 23 save victory while his offense picked up the pace in the third period. Michael Marchesan went first, tipping in a Kyle Gonzalez shot on a power play at the 7:47 mark. Brendan Dowler ended the scoring with a wicked point shot that rung off the post and in to conclude the scoring at 4-1.

The Hat Tricks improve to 36-6-5 on the season for 105 points, good for first place in the entire FPHL.

Danbury hosts Mississippi next Friday for the start of a three game weekend at the Danbury Arena. 

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here!

Fan favorites Sean McNall, Emily Ota, Luis Quintero, Kurt Rhoads and Nance Williamson return to the tent, alongside HVSF alum Duane Boutté (2018's Bake-Off), Carl Howell (2012's Romeo and Juliet) and Stephen Michael Spencer (2019's Cymbeline). Plus new-to-the-Tent talents from all over the country. Broadway's Tatiana Wechsler will star as Penelope in Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean, and Eva Steinmetz's world premiere. 

HVSF cannot wait to share the magic they make with you this year.

Meet the Company

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today announced that they are soliciting feedback for upcoming guidance regarding the tax treatment of a nonfungible token (NFT) as a collectible under the tax law. Today’s guidance also requests comments on the treatment of NFTs as collectibles and describes how the IRS intends to determine whether an NFT is a collectible until the further guidance is issued.

A nonfungible token (NFT) is a unique digital identifier that is recorded using distributed ledger technology and may be used to certify authenticity and ownership of an associated right or asset. Distributed ledger technology, such as blockchain technology, uses independent digital systems to record, share and synchronize transactions, the details of which are recorded simultaneously on multiple nodes in a network. A token is an entry of data encoded on a distributed ledger. A distributed ledger can be used to identify ownership of both NFTs and fungible tokens, such as cryptocurrency, as described in Rev. Rul. 2019-24.

Section 408(m)(2) of the tax code provides for a specific list of items that constitute collectibles for certain purposes. Acquisition of a collectible by an individual retirement account (IRA) or individually-directed account of a qualified plan is treated as a distribution from the account equal to the cost to the account of the collectible. Generally, collectibles also do not have as advantageous capital-gains tax treatment as other capital assets.

Until additional guidance is issued, the IRS intends to determine when an NFT is treated as a collectible by using a “look-through analysis.” Under the look-through analysis, an NFT is treated as a collectible if the NFT’s associated right or asset falls under the definition of collectible in the tax code. For example, a gem is a collectible under section 408(m); therefore, an NFT that certifies ownership of a gem is a collectible.

In Notice 2023-27, the Treasury Department and the IRS are requesting comments on any aspect of NFTs that might affect the treatment of an NFT as a collectible as well as certain comments specifically set out in the notice.

2023-50

Yoga Wellness Retreat

Enjoy a half day of Wellness, Restoration and Preservation

TULA Yoga For Wellness - Brewster NY

MARCH 25.2023

10 am - 2pm
WEIL PRESERVE 
Weil Preserve 3 Willow Lane North Salem. NY

$105/PP • $95/NSOLF Members

• 3 One hr classes. Guided Meditation, Sell Guided Nature Web, Lite Refreshments

• Yoga - Awaken the body and spine as you relieve cold weather stiffness and fatigue

• Subtle Energy . Support your energy through a sensory tour of taste. sound, vision, movement

• Restorative - Deep relaxation help the body & nervous system heal and restore balance

• 15 minute Group Guided Mediation - Nourish the heart & mind

*Beginners Welcome
Each class guided by Tula Yoga teachers

Info@tulayogaforwellness 914.806.3286

Sign up  www.tulayogaforwellness.com 

The Ridgefield Theatre Barn’s (RTB) An Evening of One Acts presents a fun-filled night of seven short shows that takes you on a spectacular rollercoaster between life, death, and most importantly, human relationships. Now, I know that sounds terribly cheesy, but stick with me. 

Each of the seven one acts throws the audience into a scene, some familiar, like an awkward conversation between coworkers, and some larger than life, like the Bible. 

Regardless of whether or not the setting is true to real life, however, you can always find something within the conversations that strikes a familiar chord. Arguments between parents and children, friends, and even strangers thrown together all unite to create a cohesive, recognizable through-line that makes for a truly wonderful evening!

The show opened with An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah by John Bavoso, which is an interesting premise from the get-go; what happens after a father’s attempt to biblically sacrifice his son goes wrong and they need to hike all the way back down a mountain together? The highlight of this scene for me was the characterization of David Tate as Abraham the father, against Issac, his son, played by Josh Adelson. Abraham, from his walking stick to his vernacular is a character plucked straight from the pages, while Issac… is not, with a hoodie pocket on the front of his long robes (a detail that amused me the whole length of the act) and bright red backpack. While at times I found myself wishing the text itself played up the contrast between tradition and anachronism more, I thought both performers did a wonderful job with the way they spoke and carried themselves to truly capture the dynamic. While it was definitely an unconventional choice for a first scene, it definitely threw the audience right into the deep end to prepare them for the scenes to come. Welcome to the show!

The next scene, No Good Deed by Ed Friedman, was like watching a chess game where one player is unaware they’re playing chess at all. Mark Hankla portrays the anxious, football-loving Benny who has just finished watching his coworker's one-woman show and wants to get out of the theater as fast as possible. (After, of course, making sure his coworker sees that he’s come so she thinks he's a nice guy.) In my opinion, Pamme Jones truly shines in this scene as Brenda, the aforementioned coworker, who's so convinced that Benny’s come to see her perform because he is attracted to her that she won’t take no for an answer. What follows is a fun back-and-forth between the anxious and uncertain Benny who only wants to go and the grounded powerhouse Brenda doing everything in her power to make him stay. 

Both actors take what is truly a nightmare scenario and make it fantastic to watch, and keep you thoroughly invested, rooting for both sides throughout the course of the conversation.

Third was Bassinette by Kate Katcher, Directed by Gregory Liosi and starring Cheryl Hughes, Sheri Rak, and Emily Volpintesta. It follows up on the running theme from the first scene of Child vs Parent, something that is consistently scattered throughout the One Act series as another detail that ties the night together. We follow an eccentric mother and daughter on their journey to pick up a free baby bassinet… except neither of them is actually pregnant. The main joke of the scene to me was the contrast between quite how paranoid the mother is in this scheme, even going as far as to blackmail her daughter into lying for her, and how easily the exhausted mother of two selling the bassinet is willing to believe them, no matter how quite how suspicious their story becomes.

A Roman soldier, a gossipy pilgrim woman, a hippie, an angel, and a man named Walt walk into a group therapy session is the premise of The Group by Chris Griffin and the fourth show of the night. It was the second out-of-reality sort of scene we’re given, and I think placing it in the middle was a great move. It definitely woke the audience up in a way, as you sit there trying to figure out alongside Walt exactly what is going on here. The two real scene stealers of this act for me were Taffy (Stephanie) Miller as Marianne and Thomas Stubbs as Cornelius. No matter where in the scene they were you could always look over and find the two thoroughly invested in each other, as they roll their eyes over the proceedings in a way that has you convinced they’re about to say ‘bless your heart’ and whisper about how stupid you are. Rachel Ames plays a terrific straight man to the chaos as Angela, the angel leading group therapy, against the aforementioned gossips, the difficult young hippie Jackie, played by Lindsay Clouse, and the panicky newcomer Walt, played by Bill Warncke, who can’t seem to figure out quite why he’s here.

Incorrigible by Bara Swain was a very sweet scene, while still being funny in its own right. It was a nice moment in the show to bring the audience back down to Earth from the heights of the previous. Janice Rudolph and Rachel Dalton play an offbeat, slightly immature mother and slightly too mature adult daughter running a tag sale (not a garage sale, that’s a big distinction) of the mother’s things. What’s fun about this scene is that throughout 90% of it, we don’t know what the scene is actually about. We know the basics, and the daughter keeps trying to bring it up, but through inappropriate jokes and any distraction she can think of, the mother refuses to let it be explained until the very end of the scene. It’s very touching as much as it makes you think and by holding off the explanation until close to the end, which I won’t spoil for you, you end up understanding a whole lot more than you would have at the beginning.

My two favorite shows of the night were actually the night’s two closing acts. Both of them had all the hallmarks of a fantastic one act: great jokes, great direction, and great performers. 

Rugby’s Angels by Joe Carlisle opens with some of the funniest ‘bad acting on purpose’ I’ve ever seen and just got funnier from there. Taking place in the nightmare scenario any performer will find themselves in inevitably one day, the audience sits in on the reading of three friends' terrible screenplay, which sounds suspiciously like another show by the name of well, I won’t spoil it but ‘Someone’s Angels’. Pamme Jones had already sold me on her performance capabilities in No Good Deed, but playing off Angie Joachim as the two actresses attempting to outperform each other for the best role she took it to the next level. Both were hilarious and hilariously over the top and I loved it. It was also awesome to see Mark Hankla in a second, more grounded role. In this scene, there was a level of confidence, if unearned, that he portrayed fantastically, somehow the straight man in a scene where he’s still totally absurd. I think I didn’t stop laughing once from start to finish.

Stealing a Kiss by Laurie Allen was the last show of the night and I think that was a genius move, as it was, in three words, delightful, delightful, and delightful. While the previous scene was hilarious through and through, this one had just a bit more heart, which, while funny, endeared you instantly to the characters. We open at a bus station, where Sue, played by Stephanie Hepburn, is sitting with her umbrella out, but it’s not raining, and Harvey, played by Larry Greeley, has a lot to say about it, much to her displeasure. I’m hesitant to give much more away, as part of the fun of the scene was watching how the conversation grew and the two characters began to warm up to one another, but let me tell you one thing: It’s fantastic. Hepburn and Greeley do an incredible, realistic job. I found myself totally lost in the performance and I’m convinced you will too.

An Evening of One Acts runs from March 10th until April 1st at the Ridgefield Theatre Barn (37 Halpin Ln, Ridgefield, CT 06877), so I recommend wholeheartedly that you get tickets before they run out! Doors open an hour before curtain at 8 pm and you are more than welcome to bring your own dinner to enjoy as you watch. Tickets are available at ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org or by calling the box office at 203- 431-9850. For more information, email info@RidgefieldTheaterBarn.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're wearing green today, you may like to know a little about the traditions and history behind the special day.

According to History.com, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in America. Records show that a St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. The parade and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration a year earlier were organized by the Spanish Colony's Irish vicar Ricardo Artur.

More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York City on March 17, 1772 to honor the Irish patron saint. Enthusiasm for the St. Patrick's Day parades in New York City, Boston and other early American cities only grew from there.

Learn more here.