The annual classic car show drew big crowds in downtown Falls Village over Labor Day weekend. Hundreds of vintage vehicles lined the streets before hitting the road to avoid the rain.
FALLS VILLAGE — In 2023, the question of the former firehouse at 35 Railroad St. was finally resolved.
At a town meeting that ran concurrently with the municipal elections Nov. 7, voters approved the sale of the property for $300,000 to James Gillispie, who ran through his proposal for a gym. A related issue was also settled Nov. 7. The former firehouse encroached on the Falls Village Inn property. Voters approved a land swap with the Falls Village Inn, which makes 35 Railroad St. a legal lot and grants two easements to the Inn.
Also on Nov. 7, with an impressive 63.2% of registered voters turning out, Dave Barger was elected the new First Selectman in Falls Village. He is joined on the board by Judy Jacobs and Chris Kinsella.
In January, the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) approved an amendment to the town’s zoning regulations that allows for two types of cannabis manufacturing activities in the town’s Light Industrial Zone.
The amendment does not allow for any retail cannabis operation.
Housing and traffic dominated the discussion of the PZC’s draft of the 2024 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) at a meeting at Lee H. Kellogg School Saturday, Sept. 30.
The PZC held a discussion on the POCD with about 70 residents in March. Residents were asked to identify their top areas of interest, which turned out to be: “Community Character,” “Housing Affordability and Needs,” “Economic Development,” and “Village Center.”
This generally reflected the priorities identified by some 231 residents who responded to the January online survey.
During the Sept. 30 meeting residents expressed concerns about problems arising from increased activity in the downtown area and batted around ideas on affordable housing.
There will be a public hearing on the POCD Thursday, Jan. 26, on Zoom. The draft POCD is available on the town website.
The Center on Main named Brook Martinez as the Center’s new creative administrator, and Adam Sher said in March that the Center had three immediate goals: to hire the creative administrator, to develop an annual program of events and activities, and to “take care of the building.”
The Center hosted a variety of events and performances throughout the year, including the Joe Bouchard Band, “Folk Tails” from the Falls Village Children’s Theater, and a community forum with the candidates for the Board of Selectmen.
After numerous hearings, meetings and discussions, on April 10, the Board of Finance voted down a motion to recommend to town meeting a deal with Frontier Communications to extend fiber optic access to about 60 addresses in town for $350,000.
Frontier is in the process of building a statewide fiber optic network. As explained by company representatives, some addresses in Falls Village are too remote for the company to extend the service without a financial contribution from the town.
There were two well-attended public hearings on the matter.
In May, the Falls Village Housing Trust completed a deal to buy 17-21 Miner St. The property has five apartments in two buildings.
Trust president Jandi Hanna said the purpose of buying the property is to keep it as “organic affordable housing.”
The nonprofit FVHT will be in a position to apply to the state for funds for renovation. The FVHT also successfully applied for a $750,000 federal grant for infrastructure at the site of the River Road Homes.
On Memorial Day, five residents were recognized for their contributions to the town: Tim and Andrea Downs, for their continued participation in the AFS Intercultural Program; two town officials who retired, assessor Hazel McGuire and treasurer Linda Paviol; and the town’s emergency chief, Michelle Hansen, for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hometown baseball hero Steve Blass gave a talk at the South Canaan Meeting House on July 25. The 1971 World Series champ shared tales from his youth in Falls Village, his time as a major league pitcher, and his career in broadcasting.
“I can’t imagine growing up in a nicer place, a nicer area, nicer people and a nicer time,” said Blass.
LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.
Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, George, include son, George R. DelPrete II, daughter, Jena DelPrete Allee, and son Stephen P. DelPrete. Grandchildren; Trey, Cassidy, and Meredith DelPrete, Jack, Will and Finn Allee, and Ali and Nicholas DelPrete.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church, Lakeville, on Saturday, Oct. 4. May she Rest in Peace.
Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in care of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.
Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.
She was raised on her parents’ poultry farm (Odge’s Eggs, Inc.).
After graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, she worked at Litchfield County National Bank and Colonial Bank.
She married the love of her life, John, on Aug. 16, 1969, and they lived on Sharon Mountain for more than 50 years.
Shirley enjoyed creating the annual family Christmas card, which was a coveted keepsake.She also enjoyed having lunch once a month with her best friends, Betty Kowalski, Kathy Ducillo, and Paula Weir.
In addition to John, she is survived by her three children and their families; Sarah Medeiros, her husband, Geoff, and their sons, Nick and Andrew, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Shelby Diorio, her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Addie, Lainey and Lyla, of East Canaan, Connecticut,Jeffrey Perotti, his wife, Melissa, and their daughters, Annie, Lucy and Winnie, of East Canaan. Shirley also leaves her two brothers, Edward Wilbur and his wife Joan, and David Wilbur; two nieces, three nephews, and several cousins.
At Shirley’s request, services will be private.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Sharon Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 283, Sharon, CT 06069.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.
Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.
Ronnie is survived by her daughter, Jaime Silvernale (Wm. MacDaniel, Sr.) of Millerton, her beloved grandson, Wm. MacDaniel, Jr.; two special nieces, Shannon and Rebecca and a special nephew Sean Hosier. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Bradley C. Hosier, Jr. and her dear friend Ruth Fullerton of Millerton.
Visitation was private. A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held in the future. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree in Ronnie’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s artistic director, is delighted to announce the start of this musical organization’s 22nd year of operation. The group’s first concert of the season will feature Latin American early chamber music, performed Oct. 18 and 19, on indigenous Andean instruments as well as the virginal, flute, viola and percussion. Gevert will perform at the keyboard, joined by Chilean musicians Gonzalo Cortes and Carlos Boltes on wind and stringed instruments.
This concert, the first in a series of nine, will be held on Oct. 18 at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, and Oct. 19 at Trinity Church in Lakeville.
For those unfamiliar with Crescendo, the award-winning organization was founded in 2003 and brings lesser-known works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods — along with contemporary fusion pieces — to new life. Its performances often blend classical composition with nontraditional instrumentation for a refreshing new take on an established body of work.
Gevert, who is German, Chilean and American, is a conductor, keyboardist and musical scholar. As the multi-national, multi-lingual (German, Spanish and English) creative director, she is a veritable whirlwind of talent, professionalism and inspiration who conceives of new musical treats for her audiences. She also hires and nourishes local talent, sources internationally known vocal and instrumental professionals, and provides her audiences with well-researched program notes for each concert, packaged in lush, full-color programs that resemble illuminated manuscripts.
“It is the excitement about and dedication to the music, along with the prerequisite vocal and instrumental talent, that characterizes a Crescendo member,” said Gevert. “I don’t care about things like how old or young you are or where you’re from — it’s all about bringing these performers together to provide unforgettable musical experiences for its audiences.”
“Traditional audiences for classical music performances tend to skew older,” Gevert continued. “For that reason, I’ve embarked on an effort to reach younger listeners, and have done things like taken a Crescendo choral group to perform at Housatonic Regional High School. I’ve also launched an effort to recruit and train young singers in Baroque singing techniques so they can perform with our existing choral group.”
The upcoming 2025-26 season includes, among other performances, a solo recital and benefit concert on Nov. 22 by the international Baroque opera star and countertenor Nicholas Tamagna. The curated program will include works by Handel, Vivaldi, and Monteverdi.
Two dazzling Christmas concerts follow: on Dec. 6 and 7, Crescendo presents J.S. Bach’s “Sweet Comfort” cantata and Mass in G minor, featuring the full chorus and soloists with a period instrument orchestra. On Dec. 21, the annual Holiday Concert will be presented: “A Tapestry of Traditions: Unraveling the History of Christmas Carols,” with the entire Crescendo vocal ensemble and Gevert on organ.
For the full schedule, concerts details and ticket information, visit: www.crescendomusic.org
