Rogers & Tartaro On Main Street : New York and Connecticut Business Litigation Lawyer & Attorney : Rogers & Tartaro Law Firm : Commercial Litigation : Westchester County NY, Fairfield County CT

Signs of the recession are apparent in downtown Ridgefield. There are vacant storefronts downtown when, a year ago, there were none. The vacant storefronts evidence the fact that, indeed, Ridgefield is not immune to feeling the pinch of the economic downturn in our state and country.

As a community, however, we don’t see the evidence that many of our neighbors struggle to feed their families. The Ridgefield Food Pantry, located in Town Hall, reports that as the effects of the Great Recession linger, more and more Ridgefielders turn to the food pantry to supplement the food they can buy to place on their family table. Many Ridgefielders need the Food Pantry’s assistance now, whereas a few years ago, they were among the many people donating food to the Food Pantry.

Please consider making a donation of food or a supermarket gift card to the Ridgefield Food Pantry. A donation of $5.00 is not diminished by administrative fees; and, a jar of peanut butter will help fill a child’s hungry tummy. Even the smallest donation to the Food Pantry makes a huge difference in whether our neighbors go to bed hungry or are able to feed their families during this very difficult time.   

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In addition to its small-town charm and sense of community spirit, Ridgefield is fortunate to have an abundance of excellent restaurants. 

Many of these wonderful eateries will offer some of their finest fare at The 12th Annual Taste of Ridgefield.  Held at the Ridgefield Community Center on Sunday, Jan. 30, the event will feature offerings from 30 restaurants and businesses in town.

The “Taste” raises funds for the Rotary Club of Ridgefield, which uses the money to support dozens of local charities.  My partner Angelo Tartaro and I are proud to be members of this worthwhile organization, which provides many admirable services for the Town.

The first serving is noon to 2:30 p.m., $35 advance, $40 door; second serving is 4 to 6:30 p.m., $40 advance, $45 door.

Whether you're a true "foodie," or someone who just enjoys a pleasant meal out, The Taste offers something for everyone, including a fun (and delicious) opportunity to support the community.  Please contact our office if you are interested in attending.

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I'd like to start the New Year off on a lighter note. Even for lawyers there is more to life than "The Law."

Bringing a dog into your home requires a true commitment of time, energy and patience. But, it's a true joy to dog lovers. And there’s something very special about the bond between a shelter pet and its owners.   

In addition to saving a life (many rescue or shelter animals are often scheduled to be euthanized), the pet you bring home often enriches yours. Our family dog has a special role for a disabled family member - - not quite a therapy dog, but close. It's fascinating to watch as genuine, lasting bonds are formed based on canine instincts and human patience.   

Bev and I have both had the pleasure – and challenges – of opening our homes more than once to rescued pets. My family and I recently added Maggie, a lab mix, to our family.

There’s been an interesting learning curve for all parties involved, with the rules and regulations for Maggie clearly laid out. There is a consensus ad idemof our unspoken contract; we assume Maggie knows she will have to accept the repercussions from any damages (for example, to the carpet or, in our case, to a remote laid carelessly on a table).      

Interested in learning more about pet rescue and adoption?  Visit petfinder.com

 Toby Rogers

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Last week, I was invited to participate on a panel for a “Social Media Boot Camp.” I was asked to present material from my blog and answer appropriate questions from the audience. The event was jointly sponsored by the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgefield Library.

Joining me on the panel were Maria Miranda of Miranda Creative, a social media-based advertising and branding agency, and Kerry Anne Ducey, the author of Talk of the Town, the popular blog about the town of Ridgefield.

I was pleased to learn that the turnout was the largest the Ridgefield Chamber had ever seen at an event like this. There was apparently great local interest in the topic of the escalating field of social media.   

Although I was a featured guest on the panel, I learned a great deal that morning. There are scores of social media vehicles emerging every day, and the tools and methods available are overwhelming. As an attorney, however, I recognize that these amazing capabilities raise an array of issues that test our laws and create opportunities for conflict. Privacy issues are of course inherent with anything online, but there are questions about content control and ownership, defamation, litigation impact and employment practices, among others. 

I understand that the attendees left with a great deal of knowledge and even more questions than we had time for. The one question most had was, “can you do this again?” My thanks to the Chamber and Library for giving me the opportunity to participate in a very educational and useful event.

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In addition to our busy legal practice, my partner Beverley and I have many outside interests.  Here's a story the town blog recently ran about Bev:

http://www.ridgefieldctblog.com/?s=beverley+rogers

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As attorneys, we are legally and ethically precluded from soliciting business. However, I have found that my involvement in community organizations and activities has contributed to many new opportunities, and eventually, new business.

As Bob Burg wrote in his book Endless Referrals, “All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust."

The key to all successful networking, and especially for those in the legal profession, is establishing trust. I’ve found that doing so requires time and frequent contact. However, meeting members of our local Chamber of Commerce networking group each week became difficult due to our conflicting schedules, so I suggested a different approach, and co-founded an online networking group. We still provide networking opportunities and mutual support and encouragement, but it’s all through the internet (specifically, LinkedIn). In effect, we act as a virtual Board of Advisors for one other.

We are still in the early stages of its development, but I welcome comments, anecdotes and suggestions, and will post about the group’s progress.
 

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Everyone loves a good story, and Books on the Common has plenty of them – including a nice one of their own.

Bev and I are avid readers and browsers - - we are not all law, all the time - - and we are going to enjoy the convenience of frequenting our new Main Street neighbor, Books on the Common.

The longtime Ridgefield bookseller recently relocated to Main Street after 25 years at their previous address at Copps Hill Common. The store has moved to historic 404 Main Street, into the space that belonged to Bedient’s Hardware for 100 years. According to the Ridgefield Press, owners Ellen Burns and Darwin Ellis are looking forward to many years in their new Main Street location.

As business owners ourselves, we applaud the efforts and success of Burns and Ellis. It takes a lot of hard work and knowledge to maintain an independent business in any situation, but in today’s economy it is especially challenging. In fact, some of the fixtures in the new store are from other local bookstores that did not fare as well.  According to the Press, Burns said the proprietors of those stores were happy to have a piece of their own history continue in another independent bookstore. 

We are pleased to call them our Main Street neighbors and wish them much success. 
 

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This blog often reports on the issues that transpire within small towns. Every once in a while, events happen in towns like ours that make you forget the conflicts and appreciate the value of living here. In Ridgefield, that would be our Family Fourth and Sale-a-bration — two of the best and most beloved free events in town.

As Mack Reid of the Ridgefield Press put it, the Sale-a-bration was “an opportunity for shoppers and strollers to reconnect with that smaller-town Ridgefield of the older, simpler days.” Over 30 vendors and non-profit organizations put out their wares and interacted with locals and visitors.

And each year on July 4, more than 4,000 people gather on the fields of Ridgefield High School to share food, friendship and fireworks. Sponsored by Ridgefield Bank and Carnall Insurance, the sight of neighbors and local vendors sharing snacks and smiles with one another truly incites feelings of community, which one doesn’t often see in the pattern of everyday living. The businesses present at the celebration, such as Ancona’s Market and Chez Lenard, have been staples in the town for years, and their owners often greeted many customers by name.

Participating in and/or sponsoring local events is perhaps one of the most astute, yet simple, business practices any company can employ. There is much to be said for the public appreciation for the businesses that provide the entertainment and joy that illuminates the faces of young and old alike.
 

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Image: Fireworks over the East Village of New York City; David Shankbone, Wikimedia Commons.

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Within the “Musings” category of our Blog, I am allowed, on occasion, to go completely off-topic. It’s our way of providing the seasoning that makes for a tastier soup.

An unfortunate report of telephone troubles at the Ridgefield Library severe enough to be covered by RidgefieldPress.com reminded me of my recent adventure with a service provider that shall remain nameless. The adventure involved a much less severe problem, to be sure, but the story is amusing.

We had a technical issue. The way you resolve a technical issue is to open a “trouble ticket” with the service provider’s customer support department. Trouble tickets, I was assured, would be closed within one business day.

After the first trouble ticket, I received no feedback but my own testing told me the problem persisted.

After the second trouble ticket, I received a robotic telephone message that the ticket had been closed. But, my testing revealed the problem still persisted.

After the third trouble ticket, I talked to a human who assured me that the problem could not be solved and that we would have to live with the situation.

A few weeks later, while ruminating on my own, it occurred to me that the manipulation of a parameter that we (the customers) control (a suggestion never made by the service provider) might solve the problem. And, it did.

The measure of customer service according to the service provider (closed trouble tickets within one business day): 100%. Customer service according to the customer (me): 0%.

 Image: Wikimedia Commons: “At the Telephone” 1906 sheet music cover of “Blanche Ring’s Telephone Song.”

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For a small Connecticut town, Ridgefield has an impressive number of cultural resources.  Unfortunately, however, the economic downturn is having an impact on our local arts.  Sponsorship for non-profits like The Ridgefield Playhouse and CHIRP summer concerts has declined, and the future of many programs is at risk.

These organizations are not just sitting idly by, however.  In addition to aggressively campaigning for sponsorships, groups are getting creative.  

After receiving notice of a grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Aldrich Museum has teamed up with the Ridgefield Playhouse to create the “Look. Listen. Stay.” campaign. The initiative will entice visitors to Ridgefield by offering discounts on special cultural programs, restaurants and stays at local inns.  “Look. Listen. Stay.” will run four times, once per month, launching on May 15. The Chamber of Commerce is also participating in the campaign by soliciting its members to offer incentives as part of the package. 

Many of these businesses compete against one another but recognize that cooperation is a stronger tool. Spirited competition and neighboring businesses working together both help vitalize a community. 

Image: Crowd at dusk in front of Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art.

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