Ridgefield meets Ridgefield
2,958.3 miles west of Ridgefield, Connecticut is a close-knit community rich in history, town pride and steeped in holiday traditions. They have a downtown hardware store, a walkable town center, coffee shops, and engaged local officials.
Welcome to Ridgefield. Washington.
Curiosity prompted Ridgefield resident Jack Bouffard to embark on a family adventure. What was life like in another Ridgefield? Was Ridgefield Washington’s local hardware store as charming as ours? How did they honor local veterans? Was there a Chamber of Commerce? American Legion? What were local law enforcement and town government like? How about the townsfolk?
With a mission of “comparing town notes” and sharing some of (our) Ridgefield with our namesake, the Bouffard family boarded a plane to Portland, Oregon. After driving 25 minutes north, they arrived in a Clark County city called Ridgefield, Washington.
What souvenirs did the Bouffard family pack in their bags to share with their soon-to-be new friends?
* Gourmet popcorn from The Prospector Theater
* Ridgefield’s signature 300th Anniversary Plate
* Ridgefield’s signature 300th Anniversary Mug
* Maps showcasing our Museum in the Street
* Fairfield County Bank tote bag
The Mayor of Ridgefield, Washington
“We met a bunch of Ridgefielders!” says Jack who spent Veterans Day with the townsfolk; among them: Jennifer Lindsay, Mayor of Ridgefield.
Jack says he reached out to the Mayor via email to arrange a meeting. “She wrote back within an hour and suggested we meet for coffee at Seasons Coffee Shop.” Once the meeting was confirmed, Jack asked First Selectman Rudy Marconi for a favor. “I told Rudy I needed something from his office to give the Mayor of Ridgefield, WA.” Why not a piece of history? Rudy gave Jack one of Ridgefield’s 300th Anniversary commemorative plates as well as an anniversary mug.
With plans to attend Ridgefield, Washington’s annual Veterans Day ceremony which began at 10:00 am on November 11, Jack says that he, his wife Maria, and stepdaughter Dusya Kotereva met Mayor Jen at Seasons Coffee Shop at 9AM.
The gifts represent the best of Ridgefield, CT
Jack came bearing hometown gifts. “We gave her a Fairfield County Bank tote bag containing a bag of Birthday Cake Prospector Theater gourmet popcorn and the plate from Rudy Marconi,” says Jack.
The Bouffard's also gave Mayor Jen a map displaying Ridgefield’s Museum on the Streets walking gallery. “We told her about Ballard Park, the Keeler Tavern, Lounsbury House, and the Battle of Ridgefield,” says Jack who adds, “We shared the story of the skeletal remains that were discovered last year and how they were paraded down Main Street to their final resting place.”
As the hour went on, the coffee shop became busy with locals gathering for the Veteran’s Day ceremony at Overlook Park, many of whom stopped by the table to say hello to the Mayor (who happily introduced her new friends from CT!)
The Police Department
Within walking distance from the coffee shop was the Ridgefield, Washington Police Department. With additional hometown souvenirs in hand, Jack, Maria and Dusya walked with the Mayor to the Police Department. “We wanted to deliver a 300th Anniversary mug and a few bags of Prospector Popcorn to the Chief of Police,” he says. The door to the Police Department was locked, as the two officers on duty at the time were out on patrol, so the group headed to their next stop.
Ridgefield Hardware
“We took photos outside of Ridgefield Hardware with Mayor Lindsay and the two City Council members before going inside the hardware store,” says Jack.
While inside, Jack pointed out to one of the hardware store employees that Ridgefield, Connecticut’s Hardware’s website is Ridgefieldhardware.com and Ridgefield Washington’s hardware store is ridgefieldhardwarewa.com “Because our store had the Ridgefield Hardware website first!” Jack proudly says.
“The employee said their store gets calls all the time for services the Connecticut store offers because the customer entered Ridgefield Hardware dot com without the WA.
The Veterans Day Ceremony, (finally) meeting the police, and more Prospector popcorn for the fire department
Ridgefielders began to gather for Ridgefield Washington’s Veterans Day ceremony in the park and the Bouffard family became immersed in Ridgefield, Washington’s annual Veterans Day tradition. They met local teachers and high school students who were singing at the ceremony. “We also met some firemen and gave them a bag of Buffalo Cheddar Prospector popcorn!”
The Bouffard's get cited
Both of Ridgefield’s on-duty police officers arrived at the town’s Veterans Day ceremony giving Jack an opportunity to give them Prospector popcorn and a piece of Ridgefield history. “Officers Andrew Marvitz and Nic Siem arrived, and we gave them three bags of popcorn and the 300th Anniversary mug to take back to their chief and fellow officers, and we took some photos with them,” says Jack.
Ridgefield’s Act of Kindness - the grand finale
Well, let’s just say, Thanks to Jack, Maria and Dusya, our Ridgefield community will be welcomed with open arms in Ridgefield, WA.
Jack explains, “Officer Marvitz presented us with a card that cited us for an Act of Kindness. It’s a program the Ridgefield Washington Police Department has for officers to recognize acts of kindness in the community and issue the card, which is good for a free coffee at a shop across town!”