By Anne W. Semmes
Merry Christmas Frank Parker III
For rounding up the funding for the replacement tree for that much loved 100-year Copper Beech felled by Hurricane Ida beside the First Lutheran Church. And John Conte of Fairfield House & Garden for finding that unusual Dr. Merrill Magnolia, a cultivar with white star-shaped flowers blooming in early spring. Arriving just as the giant crane was hoisting the Magnolia into its hole, so carefully directed by Conte, I saw the 18-foot tree find its rooting place. It will grow another 10 feet or so said Conte, showing me on a branch how many inches denote a year’s growth.
Watching are owners of the adjacent office building that was damaged by the fallen Copper Beech. That family and a tenant in throughout on a cold morning of last week was Frank Parker, with wife Katty whose Skaarup family the building had helped with the funding of $22,000 to replace the tree, along with funding from the Greenwich Tree Conservancy (GTC) with Peter Malkin helping personally. Add Eversource, Coldwell Banker, and two others not named. Frank, who has long worked in that next door building spoke of how “very fond” he was of that old copper beech. “I felt compelled to try to fill the void starting in early September and being on the board of the GTC makes me appreciate trees more for their beauty, being a habit for animals, giving us shade and storing carbon. I am pleased to help the First Lutheran Church to do God’s work.” Lutheran Pastor Evan Scamman who arrived in time to see the positioning of the Magnolia, had much praise for Frank’s fundraising efforts and procuring such a sizeable tree. “I had in mind we go to the nursery; we spend 100 bucks and we get a sapling. Thanks so much for making this happen. It’s really wonderful!”
Merry Christmas Reverend Marek Zabriskie of Christ Church
Thank you for inviting two outstanding businessmen to address “Using a Moral Compass to Guide Our Professional Lives” at your Sunday Forum last, featuring Reuben Mark of Greenwich, retired and long serving CEO of Colgate-Palmolive, and Tom Chappell of Maine, founder with his wife Kate of Tom’s of Maine, a personal care products company with its products made with nature-based ingredients, and now a subsidiary company of Colgate-Palmolive.
These men have a special bond as exhibited in their talk – their caring for their fellow men/women and their community. Tom and wife Kathy had founded their company in 1970 (with a $5,000 loan from a friend) with a statement that began, “We believe that people and nature are inherently worthy and deserving of our respect…So, we did many things…we have flextime for families who needed to work from seven to three…We established a parenting policy that included men to be able to go on leave for their new child…we dedicated five percent of our employees time to volunteerism in the community.” Reuben began with, “It’s important to know that Tom and I believe that love is a better motivator. And a lot of business is running on fear.” Reuben had begun his 25 years as CEO of Colgate-Palmolive when his company had fallen on tough times. So,’ he said, “We came up with four strategies, a product strategy…a geographic strategy…a financial strategy…and a cultural strategy, in this context a character strategy. And that turned out to be the most essential part…you evaluate the younger people in every subsidiary…you then track those people and make sure they get the appropriate reassignments… And what’s wonderfully interesting is that Tom was doing those things intuitively.” There was also a sharing of their love for their fathers that resonated. To hear their full talk you can visit https://events.locallive.tv/events/59434.
Merry Christmas to Natalie Pray and her ESU
Natalie Pray every year for the last 15 year, excepting last year because of Covid, has her English Speaking Union Christmas music event. Normally throughout the year Natalie offers us entertaining ESU lectures, the last being on the glorious sites where The Crown TV series is filmed in England. Her Christmas invitation read for members and guests as myself, of a performance by Jonathan Vaughn and Christopher Klaich of Classical, Broadway and Christmas Music by the Fireside.
So, there we were all 70 of us sitting fireside at the Field Club last Sunday lunchtime. And happy I was to have Louisa Greene of Avon Theater telling about the moving remake of “West Side Story” showing at the Avon, while on my left the tenor Chris Klaich was talking Broadway musicals – though he’s often singing hymns as a chorister at Christ Church. With the chocolate cake dessert soon ravished, Chris rose and Jonny Vaughn, known to many for his masterful organ playing at Christ Church, headed for the keyboard. And as Chris began with “Do You Hear What I Hear,” followed by “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” then, “The Christmas Song – Chestnuts Roasting,” the room was infused with the spirit of Christmas. Chris took a turn at the keyboard to join Jonny in the joy-filled piano duet of Sleigh Ride. Then Jonny pulled out all the stops in that magical solo from the Nutcracker ballet – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy; Danse des mirlitons. By the time Chris had us mesmerized with his “O Holy Night,” the handkerchiefs were coming out, and with their encore of “White Christmas” we were all singing, So, no surprise that on January 12 Natalie Pray will be presented with a Princess Royal Award in the presence of Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne at the 2022 ESU Gala. Congratulations Natalie, you are a town treasure.
Merry Christmas Choristers of the Greenwich Choral Society
Saturday afternoon the 100-plus choristers of the Greenwich Choral Society (GCS) will gather at 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Greenwich High School for their annual holiday concert this year called “Hope,” that which we all are in need of in these sorry days. The singers who have all auditioned for this honor come from several towns in Fairfield and Westchester Counties, all wanting to share this musical adventure just as those original 30 singers did for their first GCS concert in 1925. Since then choristers have brought their joy of music to Carnegie Hall and Caramoor; to the Ives Festival in Danbury; and to audiences in England, Italy, France, Austria, Hungary, Spain, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Greece. So, it’s no wonder that this year’s musical lineup has internationally known Christmas music. It begins with an Austrian carol, “Still, Still, Still,” and ends with that favorite “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Highlights include Bach’s lively Cantata No. 61. “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,” Gerald Finzi’s poignant “In Terra Pax, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on Greensleeves,” and of course “Silent Night.” Much loved Music Director and Conductor Paul F. Mueller has presided over the choristers for 26 seasons, counting this one, and is said to be retiring in two years. Soloists include soprano Meredith Lustig and Jennifer Andrews, baritone Justin Ryan, and tenor Nathan G. Silver. So, waste no time. Celebrate Christmas in song! Order your tickets online at www.gcs-ct.org with tickets starting at $25. And free for K-12 students! Or call 203-622-5136.
