Creativity Connects Ridgefield
What fuels a vibrant, connected, and creative community? What makes people feel good about living in Ridgefield?
When locals share the creativity that they uncover in the nooks and crannies of their community it brings about connectivity and makes us all feel good. Believe it or not, you discover creativity every day as you walk, shop, work, and play in Ridgefield.
Creativity connects us.
Meet Kevin Briody, an Emmy-Award-winning songwriter and musician
Is there a person or organization using creativity to provoke change in Ridgefield?
David Griffith and Judy Silver created a reading curriculum at Ridgefield High School that has become immensely popular and helps create a more vibrant reading culture in our students. Together, they've changed the narrative by promoting books that resonate more naturally with their students, and creating a reading room where students can hang out, read, and discuss in soft chairs and less academic lighting. By breaking the traditional mold, they've created greater access to all the worlds that a good book offers us.
How does creativity connect you to Ridgefield?
I am connected to Ridgefield not solely by creativity, but by the art that is born out of that creativity. When people create, and then share that creation with our community, then it becomes art...and art is what connects us to each other, and to our surroundings. It's the sharing part that connects us and helps to create our community culture.
Any place in town where you go for inspiration and creativity?
I find an immense sense of place at Tiger Hollow early in the morning. I go there to run on the softer and more stable turf, which is more gentle on my old knees. There I find quiet and expansive beauty. I often see RHS athletes doing their daily individual workouts to get better - and I am inspired. I feel rain, and wind, and sunshine, and the heat rising off the turf on hot summer mornings. It's a time for me to run and think. I often feel blessed to be there, and when I'm alone, sometimes I even let out a big Montana-type-holler of gratitude.
Is there an organization in town that makes you feel good?
I feel good when I think about our American Legion Post 78 in town. I coach the Senior Legion 19U Summer Baseball team, so I've gotten to know the organization and some of its members over the years. In addition to providing the opportunity for dozens of teenage ballplayers to enjoy the game each summer, Post 78 orchestrates many civic services during the year. Running the Veteran's Day Ceremony at The Ridgefield Community Center each November, as well as decorating the cemeteries in town during Memorial Day, are examples of how the American Legion adds to our community and to our perspective. These people, led by Commander George Besse, volunteer to travel throughout the state in order to honor veterans during funeral services. Post 78 also sponsors the Boys State and Girls State programs that offer the opportunity for high school students to explore and learn about our state and our government in order to help develop future leaders of our community. Each year members of the legion decorate the Main Street lamp posts with garland, bows and lights just to add to the beauty and joy of the season. Much of what the American Legion does is done quietly, but they do it for the right reasons, and I am thankful.
Finish this sentence: When I think of creativity in town I think of …
When I think of creativity in town I think of Rachel Valpone and her energy, Megan Searfoss and her sense of humor, Chris Curnan and his keen eye, Pete Mclean and his outside-the-box thinking, Pamme Jones and her passion, Tim Salem and his open-mindedness.
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The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HamletHub or LIFEWTR.