Community and Chickadee

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:08:36 GMT

Small Local Businesses Connect Us

The roots of Chickadee are buried deep in the legacy of my parents, this community, and the times we live in. This history intertwines with 54 years of my family's first business, The Village Groomer, which was born out of the politics of the Viet Nam war. My father was a teacher in Canton, and 'Mr. Salzberg' taught history, but he also talked very openly about the issues of the day, the cost of war, President Nixon, and sending our young people toward the ultimate sacrifice. He lost his job as a teacher for his opinions and dedication to his students, and after a quick internship with a groomer, The VG was born. I come from that fabric, and I'm extraordinarily proud of my parents. Whether it was local town politics and advocating for me to be able play boys' baseball in Norwood in the early 70's, volunteering for political candidates, attending Peace Corps events, or simply registering people to vote, they were involved. They taught us the important lesson of having agency and a voice in the Democratic process, regardless of party.

The meetings began in the grooming room at our first Village Groomer location, smack dab in the middle of downtown Walpole, next to the alleyway beside the original Betro Pharmacy. There was a small room off the grooming area where my father made beautiful candles. People would gather to talk about everything, debate anything, commune, and it was the 70's, so you fill in the blanks. What these early days at the shop created was a vibrant community, and whether it was on Candle Night, or just stopping by for pet food, my dad held court behind the counter, often times telling inappropriate jokes and reviewing local restaurants.

My mom was more behind the scenes back in those days, but she was knee deep in the culture of building community.

After 25 years of my parents running the Village Groomer, and my stewardship from 1994-2023, I closed the grooming salon in 2023, and merged the business with Chickadee, which I opened in 2010. Health challenges and stress finally caught up with me, and I needed to slow down. It was a difficult decision, but when my blood pressure tapped out at 180/100 after an incredibly stressful week, the decision was made for me. God got my attention, and I listened

What I realized over the next year or so was that I had lost an incredibly important piece of my peace, and that was the community my parents and I created and enjoyed for over 50 years. I was just too busy and strung out to see it. I missed the catching up at the counter, hearing about peoples' kids, sharing the joy of new grandchildren with people I'd known since I was a little kid. It was a generational joy that I had lost because I was just too busy. My time didn't belong to me anymore. It belonged to what I DID, what I managed, and what I wrestled with to keep the train moving. Three years ago, I stepped off the train, and I am so grateful for that decision.

Slowing down, being mindful of my health, and choosing to intentionally recreate and revitalize that piece of community I had been missing as part of my life and my vocation, was the best decision I could have made. Not everyone shared my sentiment, and I received pretty angry mail, inappropriate things sent to my home, vicious reviews online about my character, and I even had to involve local police. I truly had no idea how mean people could be, but guess what? My community lifted me up. The people that know my heart saw through all of it, saw the positivity of the changes and supported me. For that, I will be forever grateful.

That is what community does. It's a safety net for our hearts. A quick stop to a safe place to tap into something that brings us a laugh, a story, a picture, a pet. With intention, I have spent the last three years trying to recreate that vibe. A space you can walk into and feel that feeling of being exactly where you should be for that moment. I don't know if my parents knew that is what they were creating. Did they know that's what they were teaching me? I guess it doesn't really matter in the end. It's just who they WERE.

My hope is that when you come to Chickadee to pick up some bird seed, a bag of feed, a gift for a friend, you feel my parents' hand reach through the last 57 years, and hold yours for a second. They would be as happy to see you as I am, every time that door opens.

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Community and Chickadee

Small Local Businesses Connect Us