It was a rainy, chilly Sunday night when I sat down in a striped booth with Bill Colgan at his Grasslands Café in Lakeville next to the post office.

Behind the counter is the petite dynamo, Bianka Langner Griggs, who manages every aspect of the store’s rooms of colorful merchandise. Most days you can find Bianka helping customers, answering the phone, and rearranging inventory. 

On a weekday morning Lann Rubin, the founder of the North East Ford Dealership, explained his 33-year automotive career, from working as a night time manager while still in high school to owning, operating, and building the Ford dealership in the Town of North East on Route 44.

Sarah Khoshaba never meant to become a restaurateur.

Feeling absolutely fabulous as a result of getting a fresh cut and dye and my eyebrows done just so, I was able to sit down with the very busy Loren Whiteley and talk about the ins and outs of running a hair salon.

Located on Route 22 about four miles south of the village of Millerton, with bucolic views of former cow pastures, Round III is that increasingly rare family-run, sit-down restaurant.

“It’s bittersweet,” shared Cindy Dunleavy, one of North Elm Home’s two owners in Millerton, NY when talking about her and partner John Scutieri’s decision to close their beloved store and retire.

With corporate consolidation on the rise, many families with pets have struggled to provide their fur babies with the top-notch, compassionate care they deserve.

Standing at the counter while taking notes, I realized the store, on Gay Street in Sharon, CT, was a community hub, an essential part of the town.