President’s Letter · November/December 2026 · Holiday Issue
A Message of Hope
Every year, our Holiday Issue is also our philanthropy issue.
The holidays are the time of year when we think especially about gratitude, and so many of us in this community have SO much to be grateful for. Our cup truly runneth over. That’s why, in addition to showcasing beautiful things and interesting people, we’ve always made it part of our mission to draw your attention to benevolence around our community, and to the ways each of us can make an impact here at home. This festive season especially, we think of those who aren’t as comfortable, and whose holidays may not be quite so merry and bright.
So every year, our Holiday Issue is also our philanthropy issue. In these pages you’ll meet major philanthropists Dede Bartlett and Marcy Syms; people spreading messages of goodness, like Angela Sullivan, Dan Levine and Bryan Perri, as well as highlighting this issue’s featured charity: Community Fostered, which supports local foster children - making sure hundreds of them wake up to wishes fulfilled each holiday season.
We are particularly pleased to be bringing you the newscasting and journalistic giant Scott Pelley as our November/December 2026 Holiday Issue COVER FEATURE.
We were taken with Scott’s message of hope. As you’ll read in his interview:
“What gives me hope is that I believe the vast majority of people have empathy for their fellow man and have kindness in their hearts. And I can prove it. I’ve seen it.”
Scott Pelley
We’ve been publishing Bedford & New Canaan Magazine for six-and-a-half years now, and we’re proud to have presented you with up-close-and-personal getting-to-know-you interviews from a wide range of our area’s most famous and fascinating residents, including such luminaries as Martha Stewart, Chevy Chase, the late Clive Davis, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Will Reeve, and homegrown NFL star Zach George. Just this year, our Cover Features included the Humphries sisters, Alex Coco, Ross Mathews, Michael Kelley, and Carrie Coon.
Still, interview-ing the man who may fairly be considered America’s most famous and formidable interview-er was a special treat!
And we are most impressed with the way Scott has dedicated his life to ‘truth, justice, and the American way’. Scott has been our observer-in-chief for decades, and his work has had direct positive impact in a wide range of human circumstances.
Pausing to consider the Holidays, we too wish to convey a message of hope…and to relay that, on our very local level, we see proof of goodness in the charity and generosity of the people who make up our community.
And, like Scott, we feel that the best result of the work we do is the way our readership has responded to contribute and volunteer for charities we feature in each issue, including VOICES Center for Resilience, Welcome Baby, Stronger Than You Think, The Pantry, Epic Soccer, and Dr. Jessie Stone’s Soft Power Health…just this year.
We’re honored to be able to introduce you to the great people who live amongst us, and grateful for the opportunity to do good in the community wherever we can. We are:
‘Always Local! Always Positive!’
Very Truly Yours,
Casey Kaplan
B&NC Mag President