https://www.067nexgen.com/aits daily 0.75 2026-06-30 https://www.067nexgen.com/aits/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/37150587-eb66-4cba-be87-283e374db2ee/g_00000676__BEW0085.jpg Art In The Spotlight - Photo Finish In a Split Second Photojournalism differs from artistic photography by its code of ethics and regulations. “Our job is to inform people who can’t be where we are and show them exactly what we saw,” says Woolston. In the search for snapshots of fleeting moments, he has traveled around the world. From early conflict at the Polish-Ukraine border and humanitarian efforts in Haiti, to the Kentucky Derby and NFL games, his mentality is to report only what he sees, nothing more and nothing less. Getting the perfect photo to embody these moments takes a lot of skill and technology that can match the speed and sensitivity of the event. At the Kentucky Derby, Woolston used a complex remote system to control five cameras at points on the track while keeping three cameras on his person. At other times, he stood atop a 12-foot ladder at the back of a crowd with a telephoto lens. Time is of the essence after the photo is taken. Using his camera’s technology, he transmits his photographs straight from his camera to computers at his contracted company. The photo is only slightly edited to ensure high-quality printing by adjusting lighting and can be published within minutes. https://www.067nexgen.com/aits/anime monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/f2af8bf9-a03a-4edc-9ddd-a2d862123ae2/iStock-937528304.jpg Art In The Spotlight - Ever Evolving Anime - “One of the things my students want to learn the most is the ‘anime’ art style,” said Dylan Desmarais, Illustration Instructor at RPAC Art Center. “Drawing Anime is how I started, and it’s a great introduction to character design. https://www.067nexgen.com/aits/category/Beauty monthly 0.5 https://www.067nexgen.com/aits/category/Wellness monthly 0.5 https://www.067nexgen.com/aits/category/Fitness monthly 0.5 https://www.067nexgen.com/have-you-met daily 0.75 2025-12-19 https://www.067nexgen.com/have-you-met/hbi6agp6b00rus5l9dq7xih8kuvrzb monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/4586ebe2-b96c-496e-868e-2b3bd17d5062/westsmall.jpg Have You Met - Have You Met…Genee West With over eighteen thousand members in six years, the Facebook group “Support Local - Bethel, CT” has helped dozens of small businesses disseminate information about store hours, closing, and sales as well as allowing customers to post reviews. Started by Genée West, a Bethel resident of thirty years, in March of 2020, the Facebook group began with the pandemic. Having lived through the post 9/11 recession and seeing Bethel’s downtown suffer, West knew that the incoming pandemic would have the same effect on the now booming Greenwood Avenue commercial district, and sought to prevent that. Greenwood Avenue features a number of businesses, including a coffee shop, bookstore, ice cream parlor, barbershop, bakery, hairdresser, printer, lawyer, toy store, hardware store, as well as two churches and several pizza places. West described it as “living in a Norman Rockwell painting”. West majored in Marketing & Design at the Connecticut Institute of Art. She then worked as a designer for Pemberton Press. During her time with Pemberton, West worked on design for both books and magazine, enjoying working on both. After her time with Pemberton, Genée moved onto a different company, HEH Associates. She recounted how her department received an award from the Art Director’s Guild, and was invited to Windows on the World in the north tower of the World Trade Center for the ceremony on September 11th, 2001 at 7pm. Only one ticket was provided, and both her and the other person from her company refused to attend alone, so neither went. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/674dc4aa-ef49-48c3-9517-3f3141eb4415/5355159245888311380.png Have You Met - Have You Met…Genee West For her commitment to supporting local Bethel businesses, West has been awarded with an official recognition from the Connecticut General Assembly thanking her for her commitment to supporting the Bethel Community and local businesses as well as a proclamation making January third “Genée West Day”. West has done an incredible job supporting her local community and plans to continue to do so. She says that “[she] was just the rock that went into the water and the community is the waves” and will continue with the Facebook group as long as she can. Genée addressed the issue that businesses from surrounding towns often try to post in the Facebook group, to which she gently reminds them it is for Bethel businesses only. She has had a number of moderators, but not many who have stayed on long due to other commitments, a problem she understands all too well. The entire town is eternally grateful to Genée and her hard work with Support Local- Bethel. She is loved and recognized in every business she goes into. Genée West is truly a benefactress to this town. • https://www.067nexgen.com/noted daily 0.75 2026-06-30 https://www.067nexgen.com/noted/all-dat-xsbdb monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/1782840557626-KK9T21EL0OY8RMEQG2BK/NotedGreg.jpg Noted - All About the Experience This magazine has been a long time coming for us, and we are proud to welcome you to the inaugural year of 067 Nexgen, a magazine made for the community, by the community. It’s not your standard small town publication, as it is part of a college course at Central Connecticut University where it is designed by students to deliver a real product where community, business, and education merge in your mailbox. As a lifelong resident of the area, I’ve always enjoyed working with students, guiding them, and helping them hone their conceptual art and design skills. In 2021, along with Dee Dee Colabella, I founded RPAC Art Center with the mission to meet students where they are, guide them toward their goals, and teach strong creative fundamentals. We launched 067 Nexgen as a hands-on publication studies program to teach graphic design and journalism students every stage of magazine production from concept to print. We wanted to give these talented young people real-world experience and work they can add to their portfolios. I have been so proud of the talent, hard work, and dedication of these students. As you explore this issue, you’ll see that their writing and design skills are top-notch. I am so excited for their future and how 067 Nexgen will grow, and invite you, the community, to engage with us and offer feedback on how we can continue to offer this publication and tie together everything that makes us great. Greg Mursko Co-Founder of the RPAC Art Center Publisher, 068 Magazine and 067 Nexgen https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/5e8a37c7-ae4a-41c1-b83b-a10335aedea6/unnamed.png Noted - All About the Experience Ray Leite DAT Program Coordinator CT State CC – Naugatuck Valley https://www.067nexgen.com/noted/all-dat monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/ab5bbc93-1bbf-42b5-aafd-2cadd27a4170/IMG_20251027_201424949.jpg Noted - All DAT… Hidden among the 300+ degrees and certificates offered at the CT State Community College is a popular program referred to as Digital Arts Technology, aka DAT. This program offers students an opportunity to explore multiple facets of the creative field for digital artists. Focus areas include animation, audio, video, social media, web development, and graphics for both print and screen. Our team is passionate about the areas we practice and teach. We strive to include innovative ways to use and showcase the skills attained from consistently up-to-date curriculum. A high-tech classroom, professional audio production studio, variety of video and specialty image capturing equipment that students are encouraged to use, and access to industry standard software are ways we offer more for our students. And our most recent endeavor is making us DAT EXTRA! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/5e8a37c7-ae4a-41c1-b83b-a10335aedea6/unnamed.png Noted - All DAT… Ray Leite DAT Program Coordinator CT State CC – Naugatuck Valley https://www.067nexgen.com/067-history daily 0.75 2026-10-26 https://www.067nexgen.com/067-history/all-aboard-yk4tk-8n5fc monthly 0.5 2026-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/fbef2828-4e6b-446c-91fa-2e14e531f970/History1.jpg 067 History - Charles Ives Connecticut State Composer, Pulitzer Prize winner, and musical iconoclast Charles Edward Ives was born into a prominent New England family in Danbury, Connecticut, on October 20, 1874. His ancestry can be traced back to the founding families of the colony of Connecticut. More than six generations of Ives’s forebears had called the colony, and then state, of Connecticut home before Charles made his appearance on the family tree. Remembrance and a strong sense of home and place are meaningful and recurring motifs in Ives’s compositions. The tolling of the Danbury church bells he heard as a child, the clip-clop of horse hooves on Main Street in front of the old Ives House, baseball games and brass bands, and the hymns and patriotic tunes he grew up hearing his father play, all left indelible impressions and are part of the genius of Charles Ives. The old Ives House in Danbury (c 1790) was purchased by Charles’s great-grandfather, Isaac Ives, in 1829. A former school building, it was repaired, painted, and enlarged to house several generations of the Ives family as well as their staff. The original part of the home was already nearly a century old when Charles was born there to George E. and Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Ives. Always intended to be a multi-generational family seat, it was generally filled with cousins, nieces, and aunts of various descriptions moving in and out as circumstances required. It was remembered as a lively home that “smelled of beeswax, fruit, and lilies” in the summer, and as an Ives cousin would say, it was an “expandable house.” Expandable, and mobile, too: it moved from Main Street in Danbury up the hill to Chapel Place (1924), and then to Rogers Park (1966), and finally to its present location on Mountainville Avenue (1971). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/8d8265e8-6bc9-4ba5-b7d8-51893aa782be/History2.jpg 067 History - Charles Ives Sarah Wilcox Ives, Charles’s grandmother, would instill in him the tenets of Thoreau’s and Emerson’s Transcendentalist philosophy: individualism, passionate creativity, and a deep, abiding connection to nature and the land. These values remained with Ives throughout his life, informing and helping to create some of his greatest musical achievements. Pine Mountain (near Ridgefield, and part of the present day Ives Trail) was a much loved place for Ives. And, at least in the early 1900s, on a clear day you could see all the way to Long Island Sound from its peak. Charles and his brother J. Moss Ives constructed a small structure - more lean-to than cabin - and would hike to it and spend weekends there in the spring and summer. Parts of several notable compositions are dated and marked Pine Mountain in the margins, so it was also fertile ground for composing and sketching out new music. In 1908, Charles married Harmony Twichell, the sister of a Yale classmate, and the daughter of one of Mark Twain’s closest friends, Reverend Joseph Hopkins Twichell. In 1912, the couple bought a piece of land not far from Danbury in West Redding, from which Charles could still commute to the Ives & Myrick insurance office in Manhattan. In the coming years, a comfortable home and barn were built on the property and other small structures were added over time. The Iveses would remain in the country from late spring through the fall, and they would return to Manhattan for the winter. Harmony and Charles cherished their bucolic home life in West Redding. Today, the old Ives House is part of the Danbury Museum, and the West Redding Ives home is privately owned. Looking for Charlie? Walk the Ives Trail or listen closely to the quotidian sounds of your town, he’s there. In the truest sense, the rolling hills, iconic white steeples, and steady habits of Connecticut are threads that are deeply woven into the lasting musical legacy of Charles Edward Ives. • https://www.067nexgen.com/067-history/all-aboard monthly 0.5 2026-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/ee2b8efd-7d56-4012-84be-df66731ea41c/g_Sam2.jpg 067 History - All Aboard Never underestimate the importance of a rail line to an area. Railroads were essential to the development of our area beginning in the mid-1800s. Before we had trains with engines, horses pulled the passenger and freight cars along cleared roadways that later became lined with rails. The construction of the Danbury railroad was partially responsible for the expansion of the hatting industry, the growth of the Danbury Fair, the placement of Western Connecticut State University, the development of the local technology industry, and increased populations. When not everyone had a car, people relied heavily on trains. Beginning in 1852, Danbury had a two-way train service to Norwalk once a day. By 1886, the Danbury line was absorbed into the Housatonic Line, and residents could go to New Milford and onto Pittsfield, MA. From Danbury, people could now go by train to both Boston and New York City in a third of the time. From 1870 to 1925, a four-mile railroad spur was constructed between Branchville Station and where Ridgefield Supply was located (a replica of the station is currently on site there). The line was mostly used for people traveling to elegant hotels and their summer estates. After a bad accident on this spur, the line was eliminated. Today, this spur is now a part of the Rails to Trails System. Early on, Wilton had four stations on the Norwalk line: Branchville/Gilbert and Bennett, Cannondale, Wilton Center, and South Wilton/Kent/Hopkins. The Branchville station is still in use, the others have either been demolished or have been renovated for different purposes. To better understand the role of railroads, visit the Danbury Railway Museum, located in the New Haven Railroad’s former Danbury Union Station. In addition to several exhibit rooms, you can also ride the train and be trained as an engineer for a short ride in the railyard. No worries; a certified engineer is always by your side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/a987ed9b-0c12-40c3-bd46-6f36438764ae/g_inside3%281%29%281%29.jpg 067 History - All Aboard “The Danbury Railway Museum is best known for three things. We are the largest train museum in New England. We also house the only prototype for the first electric engine and all its related instruments. Getting this engine from Albany on a flatbed truck is a part of Danbury’s history,” says Barton. “Another fun fact about the museum,” continues Barton, “is that in 1950, Alfred Hitchcock came to town to direct Strangers on a Train. This psychological murder mystery included Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, and Robert Wagner. Hitchcock chose the location because of its unique architecture.” The Danbury Railway Museum is located at 120 White Street, behind the 38-foot Uncle Sam Statue from the Danbury Fair. This amazing piece of memorabilia was returned to Danbury after 35 years in Lake George. If you live in the area, you have probably passed the Danbury Railway Museum on many occasions but may not have stopped in. Put a visit on your to-do list for the future. The museum is open all year, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. You will find the friendliest of volunteers, acquire new train knowledge, and gain respect for travel by rail. • https://www.067nexgen.com/foodies daily 0.75 2026-06-25 https://www.067nexgen.com/foodies/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj-z8xss-jlknf-77ws7 monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/782e0ae7-efc7-4f86-bbe5-e9801d0d77b5/iStock-669789794.jpg Foodies - For Goodness STEAKS - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.067nexgen.com/foodies/a-pickled-delight monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/76002c19-c1c5-4291-9e68-1c9c0f062313/iStock-673742850.jpg Foodies - A Pickled DeLight Pickled Watermelon Rinds (The following recipe is taken from Huffpost) Rind from 1 pound of watermelon 2 tablespoons salt 1 cup cider vinegar (white wine vinegar will also work in a pinch) 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 1/2 tablespoons pickling spice https://www.067nexgen.com/is-that-a-thing daily 0.75 2026-06-25 https://www.067nexgen.com/is-that-a-thing/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj-z8xss-jlknf-shbe6 monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/80179784-08df-4b9f-b148-4929eb8d70e8/iStock-927513880.jpg Is That A Thing? - The Coop Connection - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/7cd7e74d-09e5-4cc2-b1e4-329b6e283add/RTC+5.jpeg Is That A Thing? - The Coop Connection - By providing a pathway to sustainable living, Rent The Chicken empowers renters with the knowledge and tools to embrace a more self-sufficient lifestyle. “We have so many success stories that highlight the positive influence Rent The Chicken has had on community bonding and empowerment,” Tompkins explains, reflecting on the lasting impact of their rental program. “Each local Rent The Chicken Affiliate Partner is a small business owner,” Jenn explains, emphasizing their commitment to community engagement. Through partnerships with schools, senior care homes, and families, Rent The Chicken offers tutorials and programs like “Hatch The Chicken” that inspire and educate participants of all ages. For those who want to take a crack at the hobby, renters can book a reservation on the website or over phone and a delivery person brings everything you need right to your home—which includes a portable coop, two to four egg-laying hens, and all necessary supplies. At the end of the rental period, renters can choose to adopt their feathered friends along with their coop and supplies if they’ve developed a passion for backyard chicken keeping. Otherwise, Rent The Chicken schedules a pickup. https://www.067nexgen.com/is-that-a-thing/get-your-goat monthly 0.5 2025-12-22 https://www.067nexgen.com/one-more-thing daily 0.75 2025-12-19 https://www.067nexgen.com/one-more-thing/jimmy-grashow monthly 0.5 2025-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/023b408f-8a28-48bc-a551-b101dfccd757/g_Jimmy+Grashaw-21.jpg One More Thing - Jimmy Grashow - 1942-2025 Jimmy Grashow, nationally acclaimed artist and Redding resident, passed away on September 15th. Last year, Jimmy graciously invited 068 Magazine into his studio, his home, and his world. We were honored to have had the opportunity to explore his working space. He laughed and shared stories behind each piece as he meandered through the cluttered chaos of his creations. https://www.067nexgen.com/shout-out daily 0.75 2026-06-25 https://www.067nexgen.com/shout-out/educating-and-empowering-k5td6 monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/4c78cb85-94d7-441b-97e6-9b820609b247/IMG_5203.jpg Shout Out - Heart of Women Award Goes to...Jill Rae - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.067nexgen.com/shout-out/educating-and-empowering monthly 0.5 2026-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/b61677d6-0bc8-43f6-9d29-0d0eb66a3d4b/iStock-1044482558.jpg Shout Out - Educating and Empowering - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.067nexgen.com/featuresjanfeb daily 0.75 2026-10-26 https://www.067nexgen.com/featuresjanfeb/weather-protection monthly 0.5 2026-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/71c2b519-c6d8-49b7-a47c-e95b10837a33/iStock-1182712445.jpg Current Features - Weather Protection Winter is the season when a not-so-jolly weather event can play havoc with your home. Ice dams, frozen pipes, misfired oil burners and extended power outages can all become winter woes that may significantly drain your wallet. What’s a homeowner to do? Fred Whipple, General Manager and Field Manager of Total Care, a home management company, creates a pre-winter checklist for the properties he watches over. For homeowners who flee for the winter, he has an additional list. “Each home has its own custom requirements,” says Whipple, adding there are some basics that should be on every homeowner’s to-do list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/4980745c-8389-43ab-82b5-c012cdf9b0dd/iStock-2259977380.jpg Current Features - Weather Protection Disconnecting garden hoses, shutting off indoor water valves leading to exterior spigots, scheduling professional tune-ups for furnaces, boilers, heat pumps and generators, sweeping chimney flues to avoid creosote buildup, sealing drafty windows and doors, and winterizing pools and irrigation systems—all are essential for protecting the home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/fa083b0d-60dd-4e77-8c1c-35af4ddf8c8a/iStock-1480114517.jpg Current Features - Weather Protection Unfortunately, Sheerin says homeowners don’t realize how extensive damage can be because it isn’t always visual. Aside from peeling paint, water stains and damaged drywall, water can seep into the attic, insulation, walls and ceilings. Repeated moisture can lead to rot and mold, making it important to determine where the water has traveled. Everything in its path must be properly dried and repaired. https://www.067nexgen.com/featuresjanfeb/holiday-hype monthly 0.5 2026-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/50eedfaf-de2d-428d-93bd-62b316bb4db0/iStock-471308233.jpg Current Features - Holiday Hype Tis the season when children write out their holiday wish lists. What was once a humble token – perhaps a small doll or an orange – holiday toys have evolved into big business. Every year, there seems to be one coveted item and the pressure to secure this high-in-demand gift can be one more thing to stress over during the season. drive the toy trend each year? What have been the big toys of years past, and what will be on every kid’s list this year? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/0c1bacc0-4908-4e47-a701-3fb838e85620/iStock-458697943.jpg Current Features - Holiday Hype Turn on the TV While the Christmas Wishbook remained influential for many years, the prominence of televisions in most homes shifted the market. The postwar consumer boom combined with tv ads drove sales, an influence that eventually reached the toy industry. In 1952, Hasbro made history with the first toy to be advertised on TV – none other than Mr. Potato Head, which went on to sell over 1 million units in a few short months. The explosive growth of Saturday morning cartoons in the 1960s and 70s gave toy manufacturers a dedicated, captive window to broadcast holiday wishlist ideas directly to kids. The Star Wars franchise launched its line of toys that quickly became collectibles. GI Joe action figures, marketed solely at boys, and Easy Bake Oven, for girls, were two toys that were specifically gender targeted. Perhaps one of the first truly viral toys was Cabbage Patch Kids. Each cherubic-faced doll was unique and came with its own adoption papers – this exclusivity drove the appeal. By 1983, Cabbage Patch Kids had officially taken off. Production levels couldn’t keep up with demand, leading to crazy resale prices and even violent altercations in stores. In the early 1990s, there was a similar frenzy surrounding Tickle Me Elmo, thanks to the help of PBS Kids, which put Elmo in nearly every toddler’s living room. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/35847563-0227-44c5-b6d6-ac999c40b8bd/iStock-2199614779.jpg Current Features - Holiday Hype Tech Talk By the late 1990s and early 2000s, toys were leaning toward technology. Even though the Atari 2600 debuted in the late 70s, desire for gaming systems really took off with Nintendo Entertainment and PlayStation in the 90s and then later, the Gameboy. The Sears Catalog had already started to see diminished sales when Amazon stepped in. Now, toys could not only be purchased from the comfort of your couch, but would arrive the next day, gift-wrapped, if requested. The last few years have seen the rise of collectible toys - things like Hatchimals and Labubus, where there are multiple varieties, making it enticing to amass a collection, with rare ones becoming even more desirable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/da34be7f-0b4d-4fd9-8d39-0d95a44d8f49/iStock-2248666958.jpg Current Features - Holiday Hype https://www.067nexgen.com/featuresjanfeb/masters-of-the-marsh monthly 0.5 2026-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/e7db30d7-b1d6-4f6b-b109-ecf506b635c7/Marsh4.jpg Current Features - Masters of the Marsh Along Connecticut’s shoreline, winding tidal creeks cut through fields of cordgrass, and the rising and falling waters of Long Island Sound transform mudflats, creating a hunting ground for some of Connecticut’s most impressive birds. At first glance, you may not see much movement when looking out into a marsh, but that doesn’t necessarily mean nobody’s home. If you look closer, you may just spot a heron standing motionless at the water’s edge or slowly stalking through the environment. These creatures are the true masters of this constantly changing landscape. While Connecticut’s coastal marshes may appear quiet from a distance, they are one of the most productive habitats in the state. Twice a day, the environment is reshaped by the tides. Mudflats are hidden beneath the water and revealed hours later. A feeding ground filled with crabs, fish, and other small animals has been created. These wetlands also provide a nursery habitat for fish and shellfish, help filter pollutants, and store floodwater along the coast. For herons, this sudden abundance of life is exactly what they have been waiting for. Meet the Masters: There are quite a few species of herons that can be found amongst Connecticut’s marshes, but each approaches this environment a little differently. The Great Blue Heron is the largest, standing nearly four feet tall. They move deliberately through shallow water before striking their prey with their long, spear-like bill. Although Great Blues are more often associated with freshwater ponds and rivers, they are also regular visitors to Connecticut’s coastal wetlands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/9ddcbe40-b0ee-4c10-a6f2-4179bde7fc63/Marsh5.jpg Current Features - Masters of the Marsh The Great Egret is second to the Great Blue in size amongst herons in Connecticut, and uses a similar hunting strategy. Their plumage, however, is different. These Egrets have an unmistakable brilliant white plumage, with long black legs and a yellow bill. The Snowy Egret, its smaller relative, can often be seen running through shallow water. It is easily recognizable by its bright yellow feet, which they use to disturb small fish and other hidden prey. Then there are Connecticut’s night-herons. Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons also use the marshes to their advantage. Despite their name, night-herons aren’t restricted entirely to nighttime. Juveniles can sometimes be found hunting exposed mudflats in broad daylight as they develop their hunting skills. This is something I have witnessed myself along Connecticut’s coast, where juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Herons can be seen slowly stalking crabs and other prey across the mud. While adults have beautiful and striking plumage, juveniles are dull brown, covered in light spotting. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features daily 0.75 2026-10-26 https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/americanicon monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/1f4996c2-2ce1-4180-b2bf-e0878a19b6de/Corvette2.jpg Past Features - American Icon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj-z8xss-jlknf-j8bts monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/1782839423054-5BG8TAC9P9Y8Z3DN4TUF/g_00000676__BEW0085.jpg Past Features - The Art of Photojournalism - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj-z8xss-jlknf-c7agf monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/52da991c-368e-4989-bb24-423e084d4f84/iStock-2159023552.jpg Past Features - History, Symbolism, and Connection to the American Flag - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/f452a0c7-ce29-4c03-bba6-fa5ac34d85ee/Flag2.jpg Past Features - History, Symbolism, and Connection to the American Flag - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj-z8xss-jlknf-tae9m monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/2c0e1601-02e0-4ed3-9959-d35804633842/IMG_3086.jpeg Past Features - To Serve and Protect - A Look at Local K-9 Units - Police officers notoriously have a special bond with their patrol partners and rightfully so, because sometimes their very lives depend on those relationships. That connection is a strong one, whether your partner has two legs, or, when it comes to K-9 units, four. K-9 police units first were used in Belgium in the late 1800’s. Since then, canine officers have become an integral component of many police forces – working alongside their human partners to keep communities safe. Ridgefield Police Officer Michael McKnight, who grew up in town, always knew he wanted to be a part of the K-9 Unit. McKnight’s high school football coach was Shawn Murray, who was responsible for reviving Ridgefield’s K-9 unit in the early 2000’s and served with his dogs Zeus and Loci. Lt. Murray worked alongside Officer McKnight, offering advice and support with this training. Officer McKnight had seven years on the job before joining the K-9 Unit. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements-3fgjj-z8xss monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/a79c3f76-8912-4407-b812-a6d0d606cd55/iStock-136402769.jpg Past Features - The History of Protest - By Dee Dee Colabella July/August https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/9c21e39e-4465-4186-ae52-bc43addb9e04/iStock-172412856.jpg Past Features - The History of Protest The Women’s Suffrage Movement The women’s suffrage movement centered on two core beliefs: women deserved representation in government and the right to vote. One of the defining moments of the movement was the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Organized by activists including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, it was the first major convention focused on women’s rights in the United States. The movement grew over decades with influential figures such as Susan B. Anthony advocating for equal political rights and social equality. The movement achieved a historic victory in 1920 with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote nationwide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/715dfb73-e1b5-4041-b73f-37941ee6d890/istockphoto-471728234-612x612.jpg Past Features - The History of Protest - Mid-Century Protest Movements The mid-20th century saw several powerful grassroots movements that reshaped American society. The Civil Rights Movement challenged segregation and racial discrimination through marches, protests, and acts of civil disobedience. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. became lasting symbols of the movement’s push for equality and justice. At the same time, opposition to the Vietnam War sparked protests across college campuses and cities throughout the country. Many Americans questioned U.S. involvement in the war and organized demonstrations calling for peace. Environmental activism also gained momentum during this era, leading to increased awareness about pollution and conservation. These efforts contributed to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and major environmental protections still in place today. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/ice-sculpting-artist-vs-the-elements monthly 0.5 2026-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/ad6a8780-17af-4568-be3b-a34b62cb2f47/IceCarve.jpg Past Features - Ice Sculpting - Artist vs the Elements From Hot Kitchen to Cold Freezer Bill Covitz, owner of Ice Matters, began his artistic journey in an unlikely place: the kitchen. After years working as a private chef in France and Belgium, he went searching for a new way to channel his creativity—and found it in ice. Having taken a class called Garde Manger or “cold kitchen” in culinary school, Covitz allowed this interest to turn into a new passion by learning skills from professionals in the field, eventually owning his own business. As an accomplished sculptor, he was Grand Champion at the 2004 National Ice Carving Association’s Nationals, placing first on both days of the 2-day competition. In March of 2006, he placed second in the world at the World Ice Art Championships. The year 2014 marked Norway’s 200th year of independence, and Covitz replicated buildings in ice for the Norwegian government, as well as created the stage and ice instruments for the celebration. Since 2006, Covitz has returned annually to Norway to continue building functional ice instruments and perform what he calls “ice music”—a fusion of sound, sculpture, and spectacle. https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/hat-tricks-keep-danbury-hockey-tradition-alive monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/6cbe9d2c-5f7e-4507-a817-5183015b8bb1/HatTricks_Mainlow.jpg Past Features - Hat Tricks Keep Danbury Hockey Tradition Alive - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/d53c9dc2-071b-41f7-a677-aabd7c4738b1/1862c55e-2157-40eb-8b8e-b368fa6df530.png Past Features - Hat Tricks Keep Danbury Hockey Tradition Alive - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/b339de0c-5ad5-4971-a2b3-42316db85fd6/HatTricks_sidelow.jpg Past Features - Hat Tricks Keep Danbury Hockey Tradition Alive - Make it stand out Last year, Galante served as a special advisor to the Hat Tricks, and that experience inspired him to come back in a more direct role. He says returning to professional hockey in such a major way has brought up a mix of emotions. “It’s definitely surreal,” he says. “It’s an honor. It’s very humbling to know people still think highly of me and my decision-making.” Hockey fans in Connecticut and beyond have been excited by Galante’s return to professional hockey, but there’s more to going to a Hat Tricks game than the game itself, says Doug Lattuca a broadcaster and director of communications for the Danbury Hat Tricks. Breaks in the game are filled with family-friendly activities such as the “Chick-fil-A Cow race,” “Todd Maserati Alpha Romeo of Danbury Chuck-a-Puck,” and “Peach Wave of Bethel Find the Yogurt.” There are loads of food and beverage concessions available, and the arena features The Axe Tricks Lounge, which offers local craft beer and is a popular post-game hangout for fans and players. This post-game player availability is another perk of coming to a Hat Tricks game, particularly for kids and die-hard fans of all ages. “After every game, our players come down and they sit at a table and they’ll take pictures and sign autographs,” Lattuca says. “Win, lose, or whatever may be, they’re down there every game to show love to the fans.” The price of attending a game, he adds, is also right. “There’s really not much that you can do for a family that’s under $20 a person nowadays.” As for what happens on the ice during the game, Galante is excited for some of the younger players he’s brought in this year, but stopped short of promising a return to as many fights as the Trashers were known for at their games. “The world is different. The sport is different. It’s not as rough and tumble as it used to be, but I do believe there’s a place for physicality,” Galante says. “A lot of people remember the Trashers for their hard-nosed style and the fights and everything else. That’s still part of hockey, maybe not as much as it once was, but it’s still part of it.” The game isn’t the only thing that has changed. “I definitely feel more pressure now than when I was a teenager,” Galante says. As an adult now, Galante feels a responsibility to give back to Danbury hockey fans who have given him so much and with whom he has grown up. “We have so many people that I know their families, I know their kids and grandkids,” he says. “Without the fans, the Trashers would have been nothing. Everyone always talks about what we’ve done for the fans, but what the fans have done personally for me, motivating me, energizing me—I feel a responsibility to help do my part, to put the best product on the ice for them.” • https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/the-truth-behind-the-headlines-a-guide-to-evaluating-news monthly 0.5 2025-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/6ba0cbaa-1579-497c-8b4a-417431c21748/LOW_Screens.jpg Past Features - The Truth Behind the Headlines: A Guide to Evaluating News - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/2ff51f8f-8fc7-46c2-b4a0-e79bc453cad3/iStock-91120566.jpg Past Features - The Truth Behind the Headlines: A Guide to Evaluating News Selection bias occurs when outlets choose which stories to highlight and which to ignore, shaping an incomplete picture of reality. Bias can influence how stories are presented—the same event can look completely different depending on the headline, images, and context. Even subtle word choices can signal bias: describing a political gathering as a “rally” versus a “mob” immediately changes the reader’s perspective. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/7c67bf3f-8df8-4c65-9104-7e854052631e/LOWMouths.jpg Past Features - The Truth Behind the Headlines: A Guide to Evaluating News Building Media Literacy Habits While good media literacy takes practice, it’s beneficial. Learn to read news from different sources—left-leaning, right-leaning, and international outlets. Look to see how different perspectives cover the same story. Spotting bias doesn’t mean throwing out the whole article. Pay attention to word choices, what gets emphasized, and what gets left out. Compare multiple sources on important stories while asking yourself what each one includes or ignores. Overall, this matters because it helps us form our own opinions instead of adopting someone else’s. In a world full of competing narratives, knowing how to think critically about what you read is becoming an increasingly essential and important skill. • https://www.067nexgen.com/past-features/for-the-love-of-wolves monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/89f3c453-1593-4be8-94e2-31a2f563cd55/amp_Wolf+Center-6.jpg Past Features - For The Love Of Wolves - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/25484b98-5947-4ea2-88fe-23928add5581/LOW_amp_Wolf+Center-33.jpg Past Features - For The Love Of Wolves - Make it stand out Mexican grey wolves were all but extinct in the wild due to over-hunting and conflict with humans, until in 1977 the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with the Mexican government, embarked on a plan to conserve the species and launched a captive breeding program with the seven remaining known Mexican grey wolves. The service released the first captive-born Mexican grey wolves back into the wild in 1998. Today, there numbers are roughly 240 individuals in the wild. Red wolves have a similar history. They were considered biologically extinct in 1980 and were placed in captivity to eventually release them back into the wild beginning in 1987. The red wolves were part of a pilot program for releasing wolves into the wild, and after that there was the iconic release of timber wolves back into Yellowstone beginning in 1995. The pup cross-foster program also began with red wolves. It’s been court ordered for the re-introduction and recovery planning, and researchers are waiting to see what areas can provide the best habitat, tolerance, and policies for the recovery of the red wolf population. Currently, red wolves are only living in the Northeast area North Carolina. “Wolves are a political hot potato, but there has been a re-commitment from the government, and as a result the first known breeding pair in the wild noted for the first time in a while,” said Howell. “The Mexican grey wolf program releases captive-born animals only through the initiative called cross-fostering; when pups no older than 2 weeks old are brought out of the facility, then inserted into wild dens. It takes a lot of coordination, as US Fish and Wildlife Service and the state wildlife agencies have to find where the wild wolves are denning, and it’s a broad, vast wilderness. Then we have to hope the birth of the captive pups line up with the wild newborns.” In 2019, the WCC participated in this effort by releasing two pups, Hope and Crumbo, into the wild. They were pups of wolves that remain at the center; Trumpet, the mother, and her mate Lighthawk who was moved from Arizona after a conflict between his family and local cattle. “In 2018 or 2019, we had a total of 21 puppies at the facility,” said Howell. “These pups, beyond being adorable, represent the future of the recovery of their species. It gives me goosebumps to think of adults released into the wild. That’s really what it’s all about.” The red wolf is even more critically endangered. There are only 14 known individuals in the wild. With WCC home to the majority, they are a key program to ensuring the survival of this species in the wild. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/9bed60ea-d89d-4f84-acaf-1a9bbbd79aba/LOW_Red_wolves_family_snow.jpg Past Features - For The Love Of Wolves “Our community is so supportive,” said Howell. “We have the police and fire department always calling us if there is road kill to feed the wolves, but sometimes even the neighbors would drive up with deer roadkill in the back of their Subaru! Of course, you don’t need to do that in order to help. If you see roadkill in New York, call 914-763-2373 and someone will come pick it up for the wolves.” To see the wide diversity of programs, live cameras, conservation efforts, and donation opportunities, visit nywolf.org • https://www.067nexgen.com/homepage daily 1.0 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/52da991c-368e-4989-bb24-423e084d4f84/iStock-2159023552.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/4c78cb85-94d7-441b-97e6-9b820609b247/IMG_5203.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/80179784-08df-4b9f-b148-4929eb8d70e8/iStock-927513880.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/194bb35d-fae5-48e1-a8a3-48dff689102b/IMG_3086.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/1f4996c2-2ce1-4180-b2bf-e0878a19b6de/Corvette2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/f80d4c62-4dea-4d73-b459-b550d6db445e/ConstantContactgraphic.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/dde50d89-645f-4a1a-bae4-a8bfcaac702c/NotedGreg.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/96a7bdb4-f112-4935-b61c-5349ad3ad594/C1_068Cov.jpg https://www.067nexgen.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2025-10-06 https://www.067nexgen.com/about daily 0.75 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/5f88c4e5-bed2-48d3-bc64-dd9da1769c65/C1_067_COV.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/ed0857bd-04f9-4412-a120-daac38544bfe/068Logo_Final.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/68e3f0c9413b853b37234905/e56792a7-dbda-4c44-a03a-f32674fd31ea/JulyAugust.jpg https://www.067nexgen.com/digital-magazine daily 0.75 2026-06-25