The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Boutique to spotlight works of pumpkin carver
TORRINGTON — Rachel Kelly, owner of Kelly’s Crystals Boutique, is sharing the spirit of Halloween from her shop Thursday with a professional pumpkin carver, and continuing the celebration through the weekend.
Resty Nombrado, a pumpkin carver from Sayville, N.Y., who demonstrated his skills with carved watermelons at a previous Torrington festival, will set up in the window of Kelly’s Crystal Boutique starting at 5 p.m. Thursday and continue carving until about 8 p.m. His masterpieces will be on display in the window all weekend.
“We had Resty come to the strawberry festival a couple of years ago,” said Kelly, who belongs to Main Street Torrington with other business owners and residents including Ed Cannata. “Ed found this guy and he’s really amazing. He does such beautiful work, and people really liked him.”
“Rachel is always trying to keep the community involved in what she’s doing downtown,” Cannata said. “It should be a fun thing for people to see.”
Halloween is one of the boutique’s busiest holidays, Kelly said. “We’re dealing with a rush of online orders right now, for all kinds of things we sell from the boutique,” she said. “One of my primary things here is that we’re a crystal shop, and Halloween’s a time when people shop for them, for amethyst, rose quartz. ... Between our website and our Etsy shop, I carry about 50 different types.”
The pandemic has affected many types of businesses in the city, but Kelly said she’s doing well since opening seven years ago. “It’s quiet downtown, but I’ve been here so long that
I don’t rely on walk-ins; between online shopping and regular customers, I’m doing OK,” she said.
Nombrado’s carving skills also include other vegetables and fruits, which are illustrated in photographs he sent from a previous show.
“He’s been doing this for years,” Kelly said. “He and his wife come up from Long Island, and his family shows up so they can be together. They’re a wonderful family.”
The pumpkin carving is a way for Kelly’s to participate in the downtown celebration.
“I always like to do something this time of year,” she said. “My store
window has a nice overhang, so people will be able to stand outside and watch Resty while he works. We’ll have a spotlight on him in the window.”
Kelly also is welcoming trick-or-treaters with goody bags filled with candy, stickers and small toys for children. “Everything’s prewrapped and I’ll hand them out individually so people don’t have to worry about putting their hands in a big bowl or anything,” she said. “The store will be decorated, and after Resty is done carving, the pumpkins will be on display through Saturday.”
She’ll also offer give
aways and promotions for her store, which also sells handmade jewelry, and candles and soaps made by local artisans, she said. “For adults, I’ve got gift bags and surprise crystals for them with every purchase,” Kelly said. “Everything’s very Halloweeninspired.”
Kelly is joining downtown Torrington’s Halloween celebration, “Downtown’s Aglow,” which will feature more than 100 carved pumpkins by the students of St. John Paul the Great Academy on Prospect Street. The pumpkins are being displayed in storefronts along Main Street all weekend.
Starting at dusk Oct. 30
and 31 in the academy parking lot at 360 Prospect St., food trucks will provide refreshments for purchase. Residents are invited to stroll south along Main Street, where jack-o’lanterns will be displayed in storefronts.
Residents can vote for their favorites by phone as they walk, or later by computer, at the academy’s website, www.stjohnpaulthegreat academy.org/glow. Voting ends at midnight Oct. 31. The short walk ends at the Torrington Library, 12 Daycoeton Place. Guests are asked to maintain social distancing and wear face coverings. For more information, visit the website or call 860-489-4177 or 860-482-4433.
Gina Scherbner, a member of the school’s board of directors, said Downtown’s Aglow has been a wonderful way to bring people together. “The sponsorship and participation for this has been incredible, and we have a small group of volunteers helping out,” she said. “We have displays planned for Main Street from the school all the way down to the Five Points Gallery intersection.
“The displays are going to be amazing,” she said. “The Nutmeg and the Warner Theatre are having their lights on, and the Nutmeg’s having Nutcracker (costumed) mice dancing in the streets for Halloween. The historical society is also decorating their lawn and the house will be lit up.”
Halloween is on a Saturday, usually an opportunity for whole families and businesses to celebrate. Unfortunately, Kelly said, the pandemic has put a bit of a damper on that; and there’s a possibility of snow in the weather forecast for the weekend, she said. But she’s undeterred.
“I remain eternally positive,” she said. “I am going full steam ahead, even if we get a little snow. I look forward to seeing everyone come out for some fun.”
“Even with the snow forecast, people will be able to drive around and see everything,” Scherbner said. “We have the police helping us with traffic, and families can walk or drive through. We’re feeling a good sense of community by making this happen. With everything being canceled, it’s a great way to have something special for the little ones.”
Kelly’s Crystals is at 83 Main St. For information, call 860-307-2167 or email kellyscrystalsboutique@gmail.com.