Ambler Farm Holiday Greens Sale
The Ambler Farm Greens Sale is a beloved holiday event for so many families. Begin your holiday season by meeting your neighbors and leave the farm with new friends and freshly cut trees. Warm up by the fire with a cup of hot cider and a sweet treat – the holiday spirit will be burning brightly. General sales are open Saturdays, November 26th from 11:00 to 4:00 and December 3rd from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and Sundays, November 27th and December 4th from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.To choose your tree before they open to the public, customers can pre-order online by Sunday, November 20th. Pre-order pickup is on Saturday, November 26th from 9:00 – 11:00am. Ambler Farm is looking for a few helpers. Get in the holiday spirit and commit a few hours of your time to make the Greens Sale a success. For more information or to volunteer, please go to amblerfarm.org
Teen Creates Business to Help Local Artists and Local Charities
Luke Boylan may only be nineteen years old, but he has the business acumen of someone beyond his years. He has always had a passion for starting new ventures – while still in high school he ran an aerial photography company. Now a sophomore at Babson College, where he is concentrating on entrepreneurship and sustainability, Boylan is continuing to pursue business opportunities.In the spring of 2021, Boylan launched GivingArt, with the mission of promoting local artists and giving back to local charities. Boylan had seen artwork by Ridgefield artist Paul Siegel, who designs beautiful posters that highlight iconic landmarks in small towns. The posters sparked the idea to team up with Siegel and artists like him and help to sell their art while also supporting local charities. “I thought there was something very cool about art that highlights the community and also gives back to that same community,” says Boylan. For each poster sold, 30% of the proceeds go back to local charities.Artists pairing with GivingArt still make a profit on their artwork and often end up selling more volume. “Using my personal knowledge about marketing via social media and selling online, we’ve been able to increase sales in just a few weeks,” says Boylan. Meals on Wheels, which has been instrumental in assisting with GivingArt’s marketing efforts, has received a lot of the donations since the launch of the site. Going forward, Boylan is looking to bring more artists and charities on board so that they can both benefit. “I hope that this becomes a platform where local artists can post their work on my site and people can buy the art and give back to their community,” he says. Boylan wants to express his gratitude to the residents of Ridgefield for the support that they’ve shown. “I’m excited to see where GivingArt will go from here,” he says.For more information or to order a poster, please visit •
Meet the ArtistPaul Siegel
Longtime Ridgefielder Paul Siegel has had a 55-year career in the arts as a graphic designer and illustrator. His unique style depicts local scenes, in the Art Deco style of the 1930’s and 40’s, digitally creating beautiful posters. Siegel’s work has highlighted many towns in Connecticut and Massachusetts but he feels Ridgefield, with its carefully preserved past, is the easiest to make look great. Over the years, Siegel has contributed his artwork to many local organizations, including the Newtown Action Alliance; so working with GivingArt appealed to him. “I love seeing my work help a good cause,” says Siegel. In addition to GivingArt, Siegel’s work can be found on display on Main Street at Howard Hanna Realty and at thegreatamericanposter.com
