Latest News
Interior of the new Qianxum Performing Arts Center.
Providee
LAKEVILLE — The Indian Mountain School officially opened a new performance space last week.
The new Qianxun Performing Arts Center is where the old gym used to be.
It seats 290 people and the acoustics are excellent — not anything like an echoey gym.
On Saturday evening, Feb. 1, the school was celebrating the Lunar New Year. It is the Year of the Snake.
Students surged to and fro, most of them decked out in Chinese garb — brocaded silk jackets and the like.
Danny Tieger, Director of Performing Arts at the school, showed a reporter the spacious backstage area and noted that the seating is retractable, which provides maximum flexibility for different uses.
Before Saturday’s lineup of Lunar New Year performances, Sarah Smith, Assistant Head of School for External Relations, took the stage to thank the major donor, Limin Kong, and her daughter Qianxun “Tiffany” Zhao — IMS class of 2023 — for whom the facility is named.
Smith said that Limin Kong is a former Indian Mountain School parent and trustee.
“And even a faculty member when she stepped in to teach Mandarin for a term.”
Her daughter, Qianxun Zhao, is a student and musician at Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
“What was once an old gym has been reimagined into a space where creativity will flourish, where our students will find their voices, and where they will develop lasting friendships,” said Smith.
Keep ReadingShow less
Overlooking Woodridge Lake, 300 East Hyerdale Drive was sold for $2.25 million.
Corado Galizia Courtesy of Stephen Drezen, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
GOSHEN — Unique Goshen is a town with a continuum of home prices ranging from affordable to over a million dollars and many sales of building lots.
The most expensive house sold last year in Goshen was $2.25 million on East Hyerdale Drive in Woodridge Lake — one of only six houses sold over a million dollars during the year.
By the end of January, eight pieces of land were for sale and only six houses, with two over a million dollars.
December
40 Sherbrook Drive Woodridge Lake Lot 413 — 4 bedroom/2 bath home sold by Estate of Albert Downey Stancs to Jason and Melanie A. Mancarella for $550,000.
300 East Hyerdale Drive Woodridge Lot 516 — 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 0.82 acres sold by Amy S. Heller to 300 Ehyer LLC for $2.25 million.
Cornwell Drive, Woodridge Lake Lot 783 — 0.8 acres sold by Rebecca C Godson to Ed & AJ Building and Remodeling LLC for $78,000.
*Town of Goshen real estate sales recorded as sold between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, provided by the Goshen Town Clerk. Property details provided in town tax cards. Note that recorded transfers occur after the actual real estate closing and will also include private sales. Current market activity from Smart MLS. Transfers with no consideration are not included. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in Connecticut and New York.
Keep ReadingShow less
FALLS VILLAGE — The Housatonic FFA chapter officially donated $4,800 to five food banks and one nonprofit organization in a brief ceremony at Housatonic Valley Regional High School Friday, Jan. 31.
Chapter president Chris Crane said the sales from the FFA’s holiday store allowed the organization to make $800 donations to Cornwall Food and Fuel, the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville, the Kent Food Bank, Fishes and Loaves in North Canaan, the Sharon Food Pantry, and the Jane Lloyd Fund.
Representatives from most of the organizations were on hand to accept the real checks and to pose for photos with the FFA officers and a large prop check.
The food bank people all said that need continues to go up. Kathy Meara of the Corner Food Pantry said that the last distribution served 138 families, up from 80 to 90 in recent years.
Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley thanked the students for their efforts, and the FFA and agriculture education programs in general.
“There is so much education and experience here that goes beyond the walls of the school,” she said. “And that is truly where the work takes place.”
Keep ReadingShow less
Civil War veteran Milo Freeland is featured in Falls Village—Canaan Historical Society’s new exhibit honoring Black History Month.
Provided
FALLS VILLAGE — Just in time for Black History Month, the Falls Village—Canaan Historical Society has added an exhibit about Milo Freeland, a Black man who served in the Civil War with the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
This is the unit that was the basis for the 1989 film “Glory.”
Judy Jacobs of the Historical Society said Freeland was from Sheffield, Massachusetts, and East Canaan, Connecticut.
In the early 1990s, Walt Arbo was walking his dog at the Hillside Cemetery in the East Canaan section of North Canaan when he spotted a headstone that was broken and tipped over.
It was the headstone of Milo Freeland, and it now resides at the Historical Society.
A replica was made and installed at the cemetery in 1996.
Karl Munson of Falls Village reattached the surviving pieces, but Jacobs said the missing section has not been found.
Arbo has done considerable research on Freeland, and states that Freeland was the first Black man from the North to enlist in the Union Army in the Civil War, signing up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Feb. 16, 1863.
Jacobs and historian Peter Vermilyea aren’t so sure if Freeland was the first Black recruit, but agree that Freeland was certainly among the first Black volunteers.
But then there’s the headstone inscription:
“Milo J. Freeland
Died April 16, 1883
Aged 43
A member of Co. A
54th Mass. Voll’s
The first Colored Man enlisted from the North in the rebellion of 1861”
The historical society is open Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon or by appointment.
Vermilyea will give a talk about Black soldiers at the Hunt Library in Falls Village Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
Keep ReadingShow less
loading
