![A Bloody Good Bloody Mary Mix](https://millertonnews.com/media-library/come-taste-andy-williams-award-winning-bloody-mary-mix-at-labonnes-market-on-june-25-where-the-mix-is-now-being-sold-in-bottl.jpg?id=48208498&width=980&quality=90)
Come taste Andy Williams’ award-winning Bloody Mary mix at LaBonne’s market on June 25, where the mix is now being sold in bottles.
Photo by Cynthia Hochswender
The history of the Bloody Mary cocktail is vague, with no one really certain how it got its name or who invented it in the first place.
But one thing we do know is that Salisbury, Conn., native Andy Williams has invented a particularly delicious base mix for the cocktail, which is now being sold at the LaBonne’s markets, including the one in Salisbury.
Williams has been working at area bars since 2001, starting when he was 16 at The Boathouse in Lakeville, Conn., when it was still owned by Danny O’Brien. Williams is now on duty at Lakeville’s Black Rabbit Bar and Grill on weekends, where he serves up his very tasty tomato-based beverage with or without vodka (the tamer version is, of course, known as a Virgin Mary).
The perfect Bloody Mary mix took about a decade to perfect, Williams said. It has nine ingredients, including tomato juice and celery salt (and the requisite stalk of celery — no one seems to know how that cocktail tradition got started either, in case you’re wondering).
He’s very specific about his vodka — he likes to use Tito’s, which adds some smokiness to the drink.
Other ingredients include citrus juices, A1 sauce, Worcestershire sauce, horse radish and Tabasco — but Williams promises that he’s found a happy balance between too hot and not hot enough.
The ideal Bloody Mary, he said, is one that can help cure you of a hangover without scorching your windpipe.
One ingredient you will not find in a Williams Bloody Mary: filet mignon.
“I’ve been to many competitions where there will be an entire steak in the Bloody Mary.”
Williams sticks to more modest garnishes: a pimento-stuffed green olive, some fresh citrus, perhaps a cocktail onion.
“And if it’s for a contest, sometimes I’ll add a couple of grilled shrimp.”
The mixture is popular enough that LaBonne’s (where Williams is also an employee; and in his spare time he does a blog called Simply Sports) is now selling the mix at all its stores.
There will be a tasting at LaBonne' in Salisbury on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The mix costs $9.99 for 32 ounces (enough for about five Bloody Marys).
Look for it at the store in the front cooler, next to the fruit juices. It sells out quickly. Williams said he generally makes eight or nine bottles every Thursday.
“I make it in small batches, so you can taste the freshness.
“Once you taste it,” he promises, “you will never want to try another Blood Mary mix.”
You can place individual orders for the mix by calling Williams at 860-318-5800.
And as for the history behind his signature drink, Williams subscribes to the idea that bartender Fernand Petiot mixed the first Bloody Mary in Paris at what would become Harry’s Bar. The drink debuted in 1921, which Williams notes is 100 years ago.
MILLERTON — Hikers and cyclists have reported rattlesnakes on the Millerton rail trail.
A notice on the village website warned people to keep a watchful eye for the venomous snakes. Rattlesnakes like to lay on sunny rocks for warmth, and the rail trail can be a great place for a snake to catch some rays.
Millerton Chief of Police Joseph Olenik has since checked the rail trail for snakes. He said there haven’t been any more sightings. “People should still be cautious,” Olenik said. “We’ll still keep watching out there.”
Travelers on the rail trail should remain alert and mindful of their surroundings at all times to avoid danger. The police department recommends limiting headphone use, avoiding tall grasses or rocky crevices that may obscure the view of hands and feet, keeping dogs on leashes, and avoiding traveling alone whenever possible. If there is a rattlesnake on the trail, the best thing to do is leave it alone and maintain a safe distance.
Rattlesnakes can be identified easily by the hollow rattle at the end of their tail. The snakes use this to make noise and alert predators.
If bitten by any snake, call 911 immediately and do not move. When bitten by a rattlesnake it’s important to remain calm and rest until help arrives. Remove any tight clothing or jewelry that could restrict blood flow. Do not attempt a compression bandage or tie off the wound. Do not try to suck out the venom or use ice on the bite.
Sightings of rattlesnakes should be reported to the Millerton Police by phone at 518-789-6355 or by email to chief@villageofmillerton-ny.gov.
MILLERTON — Marion Leffingwell, 91, an eighteen-year resident of Hudson, New York, and a fifty-six-year resident of Millerton, died peacefully on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 at Livingston Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Livingston, New York. The following obituary was composed by Marion.
Marion was delivered into this world by her grandmother, Cora Hoysradt, on May 1, 1933 at the family home in Ancramdale, New York. She was the daughter of the late Foster and Myra (Selfridge) Hoysradt. On March 29, 1958, she married her beloved husband, Grove Leffingwell, Jr. Together they lived many happy years in Millerton. Grove passed away on July 6, 1979. Marion was predeceased by her parents and loving husband, and two sisters, Doris Frink and Betty Clinch and her loving companion Vernon “Vern” Keesler. She is survived by her sister Betty Lou Shufelt of Ancramdale and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
A graveside funeral service and burial will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Irondale Cemetery in Millerton. Pastor William Mayhew will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 111 Humane Society Rd., Hudson, NY 12534. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Marion’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
Eric Schnall
On Aug. 9, the White Hart Inn in Salisbury, Connecticut will continue their speaker series with a celebration of Eric Schnall’s debut novel, “I Make Envy on Your Disco.”
Just released in May, Schnall’s novel has already earned praise for its poignant observations and lyrical prose. “Disco” is the second winner of the Barbara DiBernard Prize in Fiction, an annual prize for books published by Zero Street Fiction, part of University of Nebraska Press, committed to LGBTQ+ literary writers with commercial potential. “They publish books very successfully and thoughtfully,” said Schnall. “It’s been a balance to embrace the box while not wanting the box to be exclusive, if that makes sense,” he added in reference to his novel being labeled or branded as a “gay” book. “I’m getting incredible notes from people,” said Schnall.
“Some are from gay men who are seeing a version of themselves through this character but, you know, the book has resonated with women as much as men which is really interesting and amazing.”
Set in 2003, the novel follows Sam Singer, a 37-year-old art advisor who leaves a boyfriend and dog back in New York to travel to Berlin, a city with its own identity crisis. Amidst graffiti-stained streets and techno clubs, Sam’s isolation transforms into deep connections with Jeremy, a lonely wannabe DJ; Kaspar, an East Berlin artist; and Magda, the enigmatic hotel manager. It’s a story of longing, connection, and self-discovery, capturing the spirit of Berlin and the essence of midlife transformation.
Schnall began writing the novel 20 years ago after a trip to Berlin with his partner, Architectural Digest Executive Editor, Shax Riegler. Since then, the journey to publication has been long and at times, emotionally taxing, but Schnall believes, “the moment for it is really now.” His narrative captures the pulse of Berlin with a steady backbeat of nostalgia and longing. “My feeling as a reader, and I read constantly, is we all project onto a novel. I like the idea of that. There is a lot of specificity to the story and to Sam, but I wanted to leave what I call ‘empty space’ so that readers can project onto it.”
Readers will indeed project onto it, exploring the cobblestoned alleys and streets of Berlin before social media and cell phones, when around every corner was a new universe. Born and raised in New York City, there is a grit to the Berlin of 2003 that spoke to Schnall. “It’s not easy, if you grow up in New York, to have a city surprise you and also confound you. There is just something about it.” Schnall also has deep ties to this area¬ — his parents bought a home in Salisbury in the ’80’s and Schnall and his partner bought their home around the corner ten years ago. Both of Schnall’s parents passed away recently; his mother in April 2023 and his father in February, 2024. So, while there has been a lot of excitement and momentum around the book, Schnall is taking it slowly. “I’ve been really trying to pace myself,” he said. “Also, I’ve been following the book. It’s had a nice life so far and it’s really resonating with readers, and to me that’s just thrilling.”
The launch event at The White Hart will feature a conversation between Schnall and Jenny Jackson, author of the acclaimed novel “Pineapple Street” and VP executive editor at Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Their meeting through a mutual friend at The White Hart Inn exactly a year ago sparked a friendship, making this event a full-circle moment of literary camaraderie.
Eric Schnall has had a multifaceted career in theater that spans over 25 years. His first job on Broadway was as an assistant to the producers of “Rent.” He then went on to work as producer and marketing director on such megahits as “The Vagina Monologues,” “Fleabag,” and “Hedwig and The Angry Inch,” for which he won a Tony Award as co-producer of the Broadway revival. “When your first shows are “Rent” and “The Vagina Monologues,” you realize Broadway is a business,” Schnall explained. “I was excited by culturally and politically interesting work that was also commercially successful.” Broadway’s intense demands made it hard to find time to write, however, so Schnall had to learn to do both simultaneously, often writing in hotel lobbies or kitchen tables at 4 or 5 a.m.
“I’m a morning person, so I wrote most of the book in the wee hours,” Schnall said.
Schnall has a few projects that he’s currently developing but said, “There’s a lot of good work being produced on Broadway right now, but financially, it’s challenging. So, for now, I’m glad I also have the book to concentrate on.”
Come and be a part of this special evening at The White Hart Inn where you’ll meet a wonderful local author while immersed in the world Berlin, and discover the heart, humor, and depth of “I Make Envy on Your Disco.”
For tickets, visit https://www.oblongbooks.com/event/white-hart-eric-schnall.
Clear skies over the Dalmatian Islands in Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Croatia.
Island hopping, usually done by boat, can also be accomplished with a little more exertion.
When friends Marci Grady and Sonja Koppenwallner asked Sherie Berk if she would like to join them for a week-long swim in the Dalmatian Islands, she agreed without a second thought. With an itinerary mapped out by STREL Swimming Adventures, from June 15 to 21, they swam for up to five hours each day.
Berk learned to swim during childhood summers in Sharon, Connecticut, but did not take up the sport competitively until age 55. She went on to become a United States Masters Swimmer with four world rankings, 16 top ten rankings, and an All-American Honor. For Berk, swimming is a total release of tension. “It’s like meditation,” she said.
Her weekly training – three or four sessions at the YMCA in Canaan, Connecticut – did not change in anticipation of the island swim and Berk worried that she had not adequately prepared.
Regardless, she boarded a plane to Split, Croatia, consoling herself that it was not a race.
The Dalmatian Islands are located off the coast of Croatia, in the Adriatic Sea. The crisp, blue waters are some of the cleanest in the Mediterranean. “I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful this place is,” said Berk.
Sherie BerkProvided
Her days in Dalmatia commenced with breakfast spreads of fresh fruit, eggs, and European pastries. After fueling up, Berk, Grady, Koppenwallner, and twelve or so others boarded boats for rides to their morning starting points. They set off swimming around 10 am, boats following to provide water and rest if necessary.
At noon, they stopped for lunch, usually on the boat, with gorgeous buffets assembled by a private chef. Once, the midday interlude included a hike (just in case they cared for some additional exercise). Then back into the water for a few more hours of paddling, to cover a daily distance of approximately four kilometers.
Active travel allowed Berk to fully immerse in her environment. Instead of admiring the glittering sea from afar, she felt the salt soak into her skin. By four pm they returned to the hotel, utterly exhausted, but drenched in awe.
Evenings were time to unwind, dining at restaurants along the water and marveling at the expanse of rocky coastline. A meal of fresh fish and a few glasses of wine repeatedly revived the swimmers and readied them for another day.
Over the course of a week, a multi-generational community formed through mutual struggle and appreciation of natural beauty. The oldest in the group, 70-year-old Berk is not slowing down. She has her eye on an island hop in Greece next year.