Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

When buyers of real-estate developer John Roes seven condos walk into their new Manhattan homes sometime after May next year, Mr. Roe wants them to breathe deep and feel good about it. Thats because he has spared no expense on air quality.

The boutique building, called Charlotte of the Upper West Side, is being constructed with an airtight external shell. Fresh air, tempered, filtered and then treated with ultraviolet light, will be constantly pumped into each room, while the same amount of used air is extracted. If a resident is worriedsay they muttered God bless you to a sniffly dinner guest a worrisome number of times last nightthey can boost the air exchange in their unit by 120%. Buyers of Mr. Roes properties will be well aware of how special their air is: Marketing materials, which typically might describe the amenities and luxe touches, include elaborate diagrams and animations describing how the air system works.

The cost of all this magnificent air? The cheapest unit will list at $11 million, while penthouses will hit $18 million, Mr. Roe says. Those price tags are largely due to the location, size and luxury finishes of the units, but the air system wasnt cheap, either, Mr. Roe says. Still, like everything else in real estate that was once the preserve of the elitethink roof decks, gyms, stainless steelthese technologies were already on a path of increased adoption and lower cost. Covid-19 has poured accelerant on the trend.

Executives at some of the countrys largest developers say they believe that by 2030 such systems will be commonplace in all residential development. Buildings with a high degree of mechanical ventilation and energy efficiency will be routine. Indoor sensors will identify when air quality has dropped and automatically increase ventilation. Systems will aim to mitigate outdoor air problems, such as general pollution or smoke from wildfires, as well as indoor threats, such as a sick resident, a burned pot roast or overenthusiastic spraying of lemon polish. Homes will feature dynamic air systems with a crisis mode that can upgrade filtration and run a disinfection protocol. Once the threat has been neutralized, systems will return to status quo to save energy.

At the same time, questions remain about what technology is most effective and worth the cost in both dollars and energy use. Will home buyers care about air quality when Covid-19 is no longer affecting daily life?

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Clean Air: The Next Luxury Apartment Perk - The Wall Street Journal

Modera Kirkwood. Image courtesy of Mill Creek Residential

Mill Creek Residential is expanding its presence in metro Washington, D.C., with the groundbreaking of Modera Kirkwood, a 270-unit multifamily community located in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor in Northern Virginia. Leasing is expected to begin in early 2023.

It will be the 10th development community either leasing or under development by Mill Creek in the D.C. area. The others include Modera Mosaic, Modera Sedici and Modera Founders Row.

Situated at the corner of Washington Boulevard and N. Kirkwood Road in Arlington, Va., Modera Kirkwood will offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes with an average size of 830 square feet, private patios or balconies and select den layouts. Apartment interiors will have minimum 9-foot ceilings, wood plank-style flooring, stainless steel appliances and upgraded fixtures, quartz countertops, pendant lighting, tile backsplashes, in-unit washers and dryers, programmable thermostats and keyless entry. Bathrooms will feature double vanities and tile shower surrounds. Select homes will have front yards with stoops. The property will also have digital package lockers, controlled-access parking, additional storage, bike storage, building-wide WiFi; a pet spa and 24-hour self-service marketplace.

Mill Creek is designing and building the property to LEED Silver standards. The developer is also placing a special emphasis on health and wellness and will be including a spacious open-floor plan clubhouse with social and coworking areas; an outdoor courtyard with social zones for cooking, gathering, fitness and entertaining; and a fitness center with yoga and cycling rooms.

Joe Muller, managing director of development in the Mid-Atlantic region, said in a prepared statement the company has long admired the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. In addition to the location, Muller said Mill Creek is also excited about the focus on wellness and the planned indoor-outdoor symmetry for Modera Kirkwood.

Residents will be within walking distance of the 25 million square feet of office space in the Rosslyn-Ballston market as well as George Mason Universitys Law, Business and Policy schools, which is undergoing an expansion to create a technology and innovation hub that will cater to the nearby Amazon HQ2. Modera Kirkwood will also be near nightlife, dining and shopping options in the neighborhood, including Whole Foods and Trader Joes. The site is also close to two Metro commuter rail stations and major highways including Interstate 66, Lee Highway and U.S. Route 50.

In October, Mill Creek broke ground on Modera Frisco Square, a luxury multifamily community in Frisco, Texas, that will have 360 apartment homes, including 31 townhomes with private garages, when it is completed by spring 2022. Modera Frisco Square will be Mill Creeks 10th development community in the Dallas area.

The developer, which has more than 85 communities representing more than 24,700 rental units across the United States, is also building Modera Washington, a mixed-use apartment community with 341 units in Houston, and Modera Overlake, a 288-unit community in the Eastside submarket of Seattle. In Atlanta, work has begun on Modera Prominence Phase II, a 395-unit luxury residential tower in the Buckhead district.

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Mill Creek Begins Construction on Washington, DC-Area Community - Multi-Housing News

AvalonBay Communities Inc. has acquired a 15-acre property in downtown Somerville from Somerset Development, the next step in toward a new phase of the Somerville Station transit-oriented development.

Holmdel-based Somerset Development sold the site to AvalonBay, which has its New Jersey offices in Iselin, enabling AvalonBay to begin construction on a 374-unit apartment community, civic center, retail, New Jersey Transit parking facilities and more.

AvalonBay is very pleased to be developing another TOD rental community at the Somerville train station, within walking distance from the vibrant Somerville downtown, Ludivine OToole, AvalonBays development director, said in a prepared statement.

The project is part of Somerset Developments master-planned vision for a mixed-use transit village anchored by the Somerville train station.

This project is the product of more than 30 years of complex planning and collaboration among the borough, NJ Transit and various stakeholders, Ken Gold, Somerset Developments vice president of acquisitions and development, said in a statement. AvalonBays land acquisition means that the vision for this site is finally coming to fruition something that will be celebrated throughout the entire Somerville community.

In addition to the AvalonBay apartments, PulteGroup is building a new community of for-sale townhomes at Somerville Station. That plan includes 156 units, ranging in size from 1,004 to 1,930 square feet. Construction on this element is already underway, with the first closings expected in early 2021.

We are thrilled to partner with Somerset Development and AvalonBay to bring this long-anticipated redevelopment to life, PulteGroups Corey Wescoe, vice president of acquisitions, said in a prepared statement.

Among the parts of the AvalonBay project, the civic center will provide space for future borough government and board meetings.

After many years of planning the redevelopment of the whole landfill site, the borough council and I are happy to see the various elements of this exciting project starting to be built, Mayor Dennis Sullivan said in a statement.

The entire project comprises 80 acres bound by the railroad, South Bridge Street and Route 206.

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AvalonBay buys Somerville site from Somerset Development, ready to build apartments and more in transit-oriented development - ROI-NJ.com

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging the Senate to pass a roughly $741 billion defense bill that President Donald Trump has vowed to veto.

"This [National Defense Authorization Act] will unlock more than $740 billion for the training, tools and cutting-edge equipment that our service members and civilian employees need to defend American lives and American interests, McConnell said during a Senate speech on Thursday. "It will give our troops the 3% pay raise they deserve. It'll keep our forces ready to deter China and stand strong in the Indo-Pacific."

The National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA, which authorizes appropriations for the Defense Department and defense-related activities at other federal agencies, has passed without much fanfare on an annual basis for nearly 60 years.

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Trump and other conservatives have frequently accused social media giants like Twitter and Facebook of bias against the political right. But the issue is unrelated to national defense and the overarching aim of the NDAA, and Trump's demands regarding Section 230 have baffled some Republicans in the conversation over the defense bill.

Republicans, who have repeatedly bowed to pressure from the president on other matters and legislation, are largely moving forward in support of the bill despite Trump's demands.

The legislation "does not contain every policy that either side would like to pass," McConnell said, adding that a "huge number of crucial policies are included and a lot of bad ideas were kept out."

Trump has issued eight vetoes during his presidency and none have been overturned.

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Mitch McConnell urges Senate to pass the $741 billion defense bill Trump has vowed to veto - Business Insider India

Rea and Yafes Barkat moved into a Hells Kitchen rental shortly before their wedding three years ago, then relocated a bit closer to Central Park.

The area was congested, with no good place to walk their chihuahua, Monkey. We had Central Park, but no dog park, Mrs. Barkat said. I had to keep him on a tight leash. It was cars, tourists, pedestrians. There was always construction happening.

The couple, who are both 30 and met in high school in New Jersey, were interested in buying a home in a less frenetic area. A friend lived in CityLights, the first residential high-rise in Long Island City, Queens, a co-op known for its low sale prices and high maintenance fees.

The Barkats werent keen on spending so much on monthly maintenance and thought an apartment there would be hard to resell something they figured they would want to do in a few years, as they planned to move back to New Jersey. But they loved Long Island City, with all of its new condominium high-rises.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

A lot of people are, like, I dont want to live in Queens, but I feel Long Island City is New Yorks greatest-kept secret, said Mrs. Barkat, who works as head of sales at Luminary NYC, a tech company that promotes womens careers. (Mr. Barkat works at a hedge fund, and both are currently working from home.)

The couple, helped by their agent, Shan Chowdhury, an associate broker then at Halstead Property and now at Compass, sought a sunny one- or two-bedroom with an open floor plan in an amenity-filled doorman building, preferably for $800,000 to $1.2 million.

They knew they would get a washer-dryer, a dishwasher and the many conveniences common in new high-rises. In every place, however, something or the other was not fitting for me, Mrs. Barkat said, whether it was location, view or floor plan.

Among their options:

Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:

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A Couple Explore the Towers of Long Island City. Which of These Apartments Would You Choose? - The New York Times

ADDISON, TX - KWA Construction, a leading general contractor specializing in multifamily developments throughout Texas, has topped out on 880 LYN, a luxury waterfront community sprawling over 3.38 acres on Lake Carolyn in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. The nearly $46-million, five-story community developed by Legacy Partners and HGC Investment Management will offer 293 units ranging from 580-square foot studios to 1,945-square foot two-bedrooms.

880 LYN is an example of perfectly blending quality construction with top-tier luxury. As a coveted area for businesses relocating or establishing headquarters in the area, this property will offer everything working professionals and young families desire in a home, said Brian Webster, President of KWA Construction.

Designed by REES Associates, 880 LYNs stunning lakeside views are further enhanced with a variety of vacation-like amenities including a resort-style pool and spa with grilling stations and private cabanas, and a two-story, high-grade cardio and strength fitness center with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Other amenities include a demonstration kitchen, wine grotto, sports bar and lounge, card room, business center, video conference room and private party suite with a kitchen, living area and dining room seating 14. In addition, this community will have direct access to a new docking facility with water taxi service, paddle boards and kayaks for resident use.

Scheduled for completion in October 2021, the property is located near public transit including the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the Las Colinas Area Personal Transit System (APT), allowing easy access for commuters. Situated 15 miles from Dallas, the apartment complex is one of the latest projects in the rapidly growing area of Las Colinas that continues to lure companies from across Texas and out of state.

880 LYN marks KWA Constructions first project with the nationwide multifamily developer and property manager Legacy Partners, which has a regional hub in Dallas.

About KWA Construction:KWA Construction is a Dallas-based construction firm specializing in multifamily developments throughout Texas. As general contractors, our team of experts remains dedicated to passionately developing our people, building great places and creating better futures. Founded in 2004, KWA has been recognized as one of the fastest growing mid-sized companies in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal and recognized by the Better Business Bureau for our exemplary ethical conduct. For more information about KWA Construction, visit http://www.kwaconstruction.com

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KWA Construction Tops Out 293-Unit Upscale Waterfront Apartment Community in Las Colinas Area of Irving, Texas - MultifamilyBiz.com

WEST BEND The Common Council gave unanimous approval to the developers agreement for Trails Edge Apartments, a 120-unit project planned for just outside downtown West Bend on South Forest Avenue.

The developers agreement and specific details of what it requires are not yet available, as it was approved with technical corrections that must be made to the document before it is finalized. Generally, developers agreements lay out and define the specific rules, requirements and commitments of a project, which the developer has to meet and perform within the project timeline.

The council voted on the matter at its meeting Monday, but did not discuss the terms of the agreement in open session. There was a closed session to discuss the document right before the vote.

The Trails Edge Apartment project is a three-story, 120-unit apartment building planned for South Forest Avenue, according to West Bend Plan Commission documents. The 4.4-acre parcel for the apartments is on the west side of South Forest Avenue, south of Water Street. The project will be built just south of the Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel and office building currently being constructed at the Forest Avenue and Water Street intersection.

Plan documents show the development proposal was brought to the city by David Decker, through Trails Edge WB LLC, with agent Adam Hertel of the American Architectural Group, Inc.

According to City Administrator Jay Shambeau, the next step for the developer is to close on the property sale, which is expected to occur later this month. Construction is expected to begin during the spring of 2021, and the timetable has the apartment building completed during the third quarter of 2022.

The site plan for the Trails Edge Apartments was approved by the Plan Commission in October. Information presented then showed that the site is zoned for mixed-use development, and stated that the apartment project conformed to West Bends zoning requirements.

The 120-apartment building will have 108 standard parking stalls and four barrier- free stalls in a surface lot, as well as 124 underground parking stalls. Pedestrian access to and from the property is provided by public sidewalks at that location.

City information also stated that the property is within the citys tax incremental finance district 12, and will therefor benefit that district. TIF districts are areas of property that are removed from normal tax rolls for a period, with the money normally collected for taxes going instead to fund improvements within the district. The TIF districts are used to promote and assist redevelopment.

The site is part of the former Gehl property.

Continue reading here:
Trails Edge apartment project moves forward in West Bend - Greater Milwaukee Today

Lone Tree's first affordable housing development is planned to begin construction in March, pending approval from the city's planning commission and city council in the coming months.

The Koelbel & Co. affordable housing development at RidgeGate Station will be built adjacent to the newly opened light rail station east of I-25 and south of RidgeGate Parkway. A second RidgeGate Station apartment complex of 540 market-rate units is expected to break ground before the end of the year, catty-corner from the affordable development site.

Jennifer Drybread, the city's planning manager, called the project a milestone accomplishment for Lone Tree. The city has invested heavily in the growth of the region. In May 2019, the city cut the ribbon on three new light rail stations extending south to serve RidgeGate East before any new housing was built in RidgeGate East.

Drybread said providing mobility alternatives was integral to the whole design of the east side.

We're just starting to see the fruits of all that planning and forethought, Drybread said.

The complex is scheduled to open July 1, 2022, according to a site plan submitted by Coventry Development, the master developer of RidgeGate.

The four-story building will contain 67 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments available at prorated rents based on an applicant's household income.

The building will be steps from the RidgeGate Light Rail Station, the southernmost stop on the E, F and R routes for the Regional Transportation District light rail system.

The RidgeGate Station affordable housing building will have 39 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments and 10 three-bedroom apartments. There will be no studio apartments.

To qualify for funding assistance from the state, developers must provide a percentage of units in a proposed housing complex at rental rates determined on area median income (AMI) by county. Maximum rent rates for 2020 Section 8 Housing projects are provided in a price table provided from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) on its website, http://www.chfainfo.com/arh/asset/rent-income-limits.

More than half the RidgeGate affordable apartments will be available for a two-person household income making $40,000 per year or less, including 21 one-bedroom units ranging in rent from $562-$937 per month. An additional 11 two-bedroom apartments will be available between $675-$1,125 per month. Five three-bedroom apartments will be available for $780-$1,300 per month.

Close to 40% of the apartments (26) will be eligible for a two-person household income between $56,000-$64,000, or a four-person household making $70,000-$80,000 per year. Maximum rates for those units range from $1,200-$1,400 per month for a one-bedroom; $1,600-$1,800 for a two-bedroom; and $1,800-$2,000 for a three-bedroom apartment.

The five-building RidgeGate Apartments development a stone's throw away from the site of the affordable housing site received the green light from city council this fall. Both facilities are expected to welcome their first residents in 2022.

It really is a quality development, and it will fit in well the community, Drybread said. I think it's a good fit for Lone Tree.

Coventry Development agreed to provide 350 total affordable housing units in RidgeGate East, and Drybread expects the developer will exceed that number.

It's a start, Drybread said.

The 3,500-acre, master-planned RidgeGate East community was designed around the promise of light rail expansion through Lone Tree. The Southwest Village subdivision, a 2,200 single-family home development south of RidgeGate Station, is also currently in the planning process. When complete, planners estimate RidgeGate East will be home to more than 5,000 people.

The city and Coventry Development made mobility a priority in their conjunctive planning, aiming to give residents alternative transportation options, Drybread said. The city introduced the Link On Demand shuttle service, hired a new mobility manager, installed electric vehicle charging stations and cut the ribbon on the Leaf Pedestrian Bridge all within the past two years. RidgeGate East has intricate plans for trail systems leading to the East-West Trail, which connects Chatfield Reservoir with the Town of Parker.

It began with a vision for this area that I think was shared by the developer, Ridgegate, and Lone Tree in the comprehensive plan, which is to have compact, pedestrian-friendly, transit-friendly development, Drybread said.

The Lone Tree City Center is planned to develop north of the RidgeGate apartments. No formalized plans for that area have been submitted to city council yet.

For information or documents about development projects in the city, visit cityoflonetree.com/projects.

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Lone Tree affordable apartments to break ground in March - parkerchronicle.net

For Sale/Rent

Walk across the radiant heated floors and plunge into the heated pool all year long.

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

9 Drumhack Road, GloucesterPrice: $9,000,000Size: 10,400 square feetBedrooms: 3Baths: 6

Depending on your perspective, a compound comprising two-and-a-half acres, five structures, 10,400 square feet of indoor space, and 14 rooms in the main residence alone can either sound like a dream come true or a massive chore. Luckily, this Gloucester property takes care of all the mundanities so that its owners can fully relish the privilege of living on such a glorious estate.

Lets talk about the grounds: The Arts and Crafts-style home is stationed between lush woodlands and a rocky shoreline, with perennial gardens and pristine grass stretching out around it. How does it stay so green? A 24-zone irrigation system automatically waters the 1.5 acres of lawn. Outside the home, a curving heated pool looks almost like a natural pond. In keeping with its organic look, it contains no chlorineinstead, a computer controls the pools pH and water levels and antibacterial treatment. Since the heated pool can be entered from the inside of the building with its radiant heated floor, it can be used year-round, explains listing agent Keith Shirleyeven below freezing and in a snowstorm.

Bordering the swimming hole is a pool house, which sports a full wet bar, built-in grill, indoor-outdoor fireplace, a dining and separate lounge area, and an eight-person whirlpool spa. Before taking a dip, you can suit up in the dressing room, and before toweling off, you can rinse off in the multi-head shower and steam room. For those quarantining in Massachusetts this winter, the best news of all may be that the entire pavilion closes off with electric glass sliding doors at the push of a button.

Inside the granite and cedar-shingled primary home, the circumstances are not any less opulent. Softly burnished oak and pine woodwork appoint the library, where a wide bank of windows lets you get lost in the ocean and a great book at the same time. A plush, carpeted living room; a spacious, paneled study (which can double as a guest bedroom); and a grand drawing room furnished with a fireplace, balcony, and porthole-like windows distinguish the home. Though it contains three bedrooms, any guests seeking extra privacy can settle into the separate guest cottage. Covered in ivy, the storybook-style building offers a kitchenette, living room, bathroom, bedroom, and, says Shirley, some of the most spectacular views on the property.

For information, contact the Post Shirley Team, Engel & Vlkers Boston, killybrackenestate.com.

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including architects, builders, kitchen and bath experts, lighting designers, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.

Originally posted here:
On the Market: A Glorious Gloucester Compound on the Oceanfront - Boston magazine

It is a multigenerational home where East Lyme High School boys' cross country coach Sam Harfenist lives with his parents Marilyn and Michael and his soon-to-be 2-year-old daughter Anna, who accounts for a great deal of liveliness in the Glastonbury residence.

Like Sam and his parents did when he was growing up in Congers, N.Y., the family eats dinner together every night.

"I like my life. It's good," Harfenist said. "I can't ask for anything more."

In April, however, things became more complicated. Marilyn, then 70, wasn't feeling well, ultimately diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and advanced ovarian cancer.

The Harfenists were advised that the hospitals with the lowest rate of COVID-19 infections at that time were William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, but the local ambulance service would only be willing to transport Marilyn to Hartford, Sam said. So Sam Harfenist drove his car across the front lawn to the door, loaded his mother in the car and drove her to the hospital himself.

She remained hospitalized at Backus for 22 days, with no visitors allowed due to the coronavirus. The first night, a doctor told Sam and his father by telephone that Marilyn's life was in danger. Neither slept. By the next morning, things were more optimistic. Doctors began to break up the clot in Marilyn's lung. Throughout her hospital stay, first in the intensive care unit, she was able to speak to her family by FaceTime, although she would still need surgery and the ensuing chemotherapy to treat the ovarian cancer.

And suddenly Sam Harfenist realized that his everyday routine of teaching science and coaching cross country at East Lyme needed to change, at least temporarily, with Harfenist unwilling to take the chance of being exposed to the coronavirus and then transmitting it to his parents.

"Harf," as he became known to his runners over his 12 seasons as head coach, took the fall off from coaching, replaced on an interim basis by successful East Lyme girls' cross country coach Mike Flynn, who coached both teams. The Vikings had won three consecutive Class MM state championships headed into the 2020 season.

"It was the right decision," said Harfenist, 38, in a recent telephone conversation. "It still didn't make it any easier.

"As we moved closer to fall, it didn't appear the season was going to happen (due to COVID). Everything kept on changing. When everything was going to start, we found out the kids could be without masks while running. The school was very nice to me; I have an air filter and purifier and I have lots of plexiglass in the classroom. But unless I was going to coach from the top row of the bleachers ... I felt my family is very important. I don't want to be the person to bring it home.

"It was just a very, very difficult decision. We are very familial on our team. Steve (Hargis, East Lyme athletic director) was phenomenal in granting me leave."

Sam became a regular at his mother's chemo appointments at Hartford Hospital, allowing his 74-year-old father to stay at home and away from potential exposure to COVID.

He learned the specifics of ovarian cancer, which is difficult to detect in its early stages and easy to metastasize or spread to other organs.

And he wound up cooking the family's dinners.

"I treat it like a chemistry experiment," Harfenist said with a laugh of his time in the kitchen. "Generally, I don't succeed at the cooking piece. I can make eggs, pasta, I can make chicken. I cannot do really high-tech meals. Some forms of hamburgers. One thing I'm really looking forward to when the pandemic is over is going to a restaurant."

***

On a given day during past seasons, until COVID-19 altered the logistics this year, Sam Harfenist would have seven or eight cross country runners eating lunch in his classroom, covering various topics of conversation or using his printer.

"I like to think one of the things about our team, we have a good environment that kids want to perform," Harfenist said. "We're better than we look on paper."

In 2017, the Vikings began their run of Class MM state championships, first ending Norwich Free Academy's 60-meet winning streak during the regular season, then tacking on a victory at the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship behind individual winner Sam Whittaker. It was East Lyme's first state championship since 1970.

A repeat came the following year. Whittaker was the Class MM individual champion and Chris Abbey was second, leading the Vikings to the team title by an overwhelming 53-118 margin over runner-up E.O. Smith. Harfenist, at the time, called the title "equal, if not better than the first one."

Then came the 2019 season, without Whittaker, who graduated and went to run at Division I Bucknell. East Lyme placed three runners in the top 10, led by then-sophomore Luke Anthony in second, on the way to a third straight title.

The state championship meets were not conducted this year due to the coronavirus.

"Coach Harf played a large role within the team in and outside of practice," said Anthony, who helped fill the void left by Whittaker. "From reading out our splits on the track to team lunches, coach Harf was there to help us secure our three state championships."

Funny that Harfenist, a graduate of Clarkstown High School North in New York and Connecticut College where he majored in biochemistry, never ran growing up or thought of himself as coaching.

"I never intended to coach," Harfenist said. "I was (longtime East Lyme girls' track coach) Carl Reichard's student teacher a long time ago. He told me it was my civic duty to help the kids and he roped me into something I knew nothing about. I played basketball but I was not in the running game.

"I've done so many things from running. I made a bet with the kids once, if they accomplished something I would get into shape. I ended up running a marathon. ... When (former coach) Doug Sharples retired, I ended up taking (the cross country job).

"It wasn't necessarily something at the time I wanted. It's kind of a strange thing how it works out. It became very important."

***

For the first few months after his mother was diagnosed and began treatment she underwent four rounds of chemotherapy even before her surgery in July Harfenist told barely a soul about Marilyn's fight with ovarian cancer.

Then he thought, what if talking about it could help someone else?

"It's one of the silent killers," Harfenist said of what he's learned. "Even regular GYN appointments don't necessarily catch it. It's so hard to detect unless you're using sonograms and ultrasounds. If (this story) could help somebody get more regular testing, I would be happy.

"My mom did regular checkups. She's a breast cancer survivor. She would go to regular GYN appointments. Nothing like this ran in our family. Most ovarian cancers are not detected until stage three or four because the symptoms mask themselves as abdominal or gastrointestinal issues. Even though it's a lot less common, it's a lot more deadly."

Still, Harfenist remains grateful ... for the doctors at Backus Hospital who saved Marilyn's life, for the seemingly endless supply of food provided to the family by his colleagues in East Lyme, for the athletes who continued to check in with him and for his daughter Anna's endless chatter, which, he said, provides a diversion around the house.

"She's very inquisitive about the world around her. She likes to explore. She is a very happy kid," Harfenist said. "She knows how to wrap me around her finger, I think. She's pretty good at convincing me that she should get what she wants. She loves blocks and Elmo and Cookie Monster and our cocker spaniel, Jack.

"Having Anna in our family at this time is so incredibly valuable. She doesn't know anything is different. She'll still throw a tantrum when she wants. It's a good piece of normalcy."

Now, Marilyn has finished her chemotherapy treatments. Having resumed in-person learning this fall after teaching virtually due to COVID during the spring, Sam, who looks forward to coaching his runners once again next year, heads down Route 2 each morning from Glastonbury to East Lyme with Anna in the car headed for day care.

He calls the family's outlook "cautiously optimistic."

Said Harfenist: "Things are good and we should be happy. We're hoping for a long period of remission. Each day is important. We're taking it one day at a time. Hopefully, good things will continue to happen."

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Continued here:
East Lyme's Harfenist took a step back from coaching in a pandemic ... for good reason - theday.com