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09/11/2024 08:30 AMThings should be a bit quieter at Cory Needleman’s house in Ivoryton by now. With the start of the school year, her four children, who are between ages 3 and 8, will be in either school or preschool programs this fall.
However, even with the start of school, Cory still has a full schedule of activities. Cory is heading Rhythm of the River, the upcoming benefit for the Connecticut Audubon’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, in Old Lyme on Friday, Sept. 13.
“The river is so important. It combines all the towns around us,” Cory says.
Among the attractions, along with live and silent auctions, steel band music, and food from Coffees Country Market, will be the chance to see what Audubon has long been known for: birds. A Place Called Hope, a Killingworth facility specializing in the rehabilitation of birds of prey, will bring a barred owl, a peregrine falcon, and a kestrel for attendees to learn about at the event.
Rhythm of the River benefits the research, environmental, and educational programs of the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center. Cory already has personal connections with its children’s educational programs. Three of her four children went to summer camps.
“They did journals of what they did and what they saw. They had a blast,” she says.
In particular, Cory cites them learning about composting and looking at a hole in the ground with magnification to see the small living things which were inhabiting what looked like just an ordinary hollow.
Cory is eager for young parents to learn more about the varied offerings of the Roger Tory Peterson Center.
“I love its mission, its values, and helping nature. I want everybody to understand about its work,” says Cory.
The way Cory was introduced to the center is one which is familiar to parents: She met other mothers taking her children to the park who told her about its programs.
Cory gradually became more involved, first doing fundraising and later becoming a board member.
“I fell in love with the place and the amazing people who run it,” she says.
Yes, Cory does have a last name which is familiar in these parts. She is married to Dan Needleman, one of the two sons of Norm Needleman, the Essex first selectman and state senator for the 33rd District. Cory says that people regularly recognize her last name and sometimes give her messages which they would like her to relay to Norm.
“I tell them they better go straight to him. I might not remember,” she says.
Cory and Dan met at Manhattanville College. He was a baseball player, while she was a scholarship lacrosse and ice hockey player.
“Hockey in the winter. Lacrosse in the summer,” she says.
Cory had no trouble finding ice on which to play hockey. She grew up in Orangeville, Ontario, which is about 100 miles northwest of Toronto.
“Rinks in Canada are like Tim Hortons,” she says, referring to Canada’s ubiquitous donut shops.
Cory credits her family for encouraging her athletic career.
“They were so supportive, and I am so grateful,” she says.
Cory makes the trip to Canada with her own family, taking a nine-hour drive starting at 4 a.m. Cory now has both Canadian and American passports, but when it comes to rooting, she supports teams from both countries. Still, her impulse is to cheer for Canada.
“There are so many more Americans to cheer for their teams,” she explains.
Cory continued both sports at Manhattanville, recalling that her college hockey team practiced in a facility, Playland Ice Arena, which was also used for practice by the New York Rangers at that time.
In lacrosse, Cory was team captain in her last two years, setting many school scoring records in the process.
Cory and one of her three sisters both played at the same time on Canada’s U-19 national team which won a bronze medal at the 2003 Lacrosse World Championships. Recently, she coached the Valley Regional varsity girls’ lacrosse team for three years after serving as freshman lacrosse coach at Daniel Hand in Madison for a year.
On a recent morning, Cory had to go down to the basement to find her bronze medal to show a visitor. It was in a basket, along with a number of other medals she has won, many for road races, including half-marathons.
“I don’t look at these much,” Cory says as she rummages through a basket of ribbons and awards.
At the moment, Cory’s athletic activity is particularly limited because she recently had back surgery.
“I can’t pick up anything above a certain weight,” she says, and that includes small children.
The family also includes three rescue dogs, and anyone who comes to the front door of the Cory’s house knows about the pets. A sign requests that delivery people not ring the doorbell because then the dogs bark and could wake children who are sleeping.
“This house can get pretty loud,” Cory admits
Cory says that she used to make long-range plans—five-year, even 10-year plans—but she no longer does that. Cory loves where her life is now.
“I am here, where I want to be. Where I dreamed of for so long,” she notes. “The love and joy I have in my life is everything, and it is enough. I don't need more.”
The Rhythm of the River benefit for the Connecticut Audubon’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center is taking place at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center at 100 Lyme Street in Old Lyme on Friday, Sept. 13, starting at 5:30 p.m. For tickets and information, visit: ctaudubon.org/2024/05/rhythm-of-the-river-tickets. Tickets will also be available at the door.