Eric Sloane Museum in Kent hosted a day-long course Aug. 10 to teach attendees the art of carving wooden spoons by hand.Lans Christensen
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Family and loved ones gather on the ice at the memorial for Owen Simmons as Berkshire Rattlers Youth Hockey retire jersey no. 9. In the ice at Berkshire School's Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center, a "9" is surrounded by crossed hockey sticks and a turtle, symbolizing the nickname of Simmons, who died suddenly in June 2024 at the age of 13.
Photo by Riley Klein
SHEFFIELD — A touching ceremony was held ahead of the first game of Berkshire Rattlers Youth Hockey Nov. 9 in the memory of former player Owen Simmons.
The number 9 was retired by the Rattlers and enshrined in the ice in front of the team bench.
Rattlers Youth Hockey Board President Katrina Wilber presented the honorary no. 9 jersey to Simmons’ family at the site of the memorial in the ice.
“Owen was a Berkshire Rattler who embodied the idea of who we are as an organization,” said Wilber. “His light will forever shine down on us. May number nine forever be at peace.”
Simmons, of North Canaan, died suddenly in June 2024 at the age of 13. He had recently completed seventh grade at North Canaan Elementary School.
“Everybody has touched our family in a way that we will never forget and we are so grateful for it,” said Kristine Simmons, Owen’s mother. “From the bottom of our hearts we say, ‘thank you’.”
Crossed hockey sticks and the outline of a turtle surround the no. 9 in the rink at Berkshire School’s Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center. The turtle is to honor Simmons’ team nickname, Turtle.
“This would have been Owen’s first game of his ninth season of hockey,” said Kristine. “The friendships here ... you meant the world to him.”
Players from the Salisbury Redhawks, the Rattlers’ opponent for the season opener, presented the Simmons family with flowers.
Owen’s uncle, North Canaan Selectman Craig Whiting, carried out a ceremonial puck drop before the game got underway.
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Abigail Horace
Rebecca Broomfield
Abigail Horace, the creative force behind Casa Marcelo Interior Design Studio in Salisbury, has recently earned a coveted spot on Frederic Magazine’s second annual IT List, marking her as one of 12 up-and-coming designers redefining the design landscape. With a style that values functionality, spaciousness, and beauty, Horace’s work embodies a refined approach that has made her a standout in both Connecticut’s Northwest Corner and beyond.
“I didn’t know about Frederic until recently,” Horace admitted. “It’s very well done. A lot of designers I speak to say it’s their new favorite magazine, so it’s a really big honor to be in here.” Looking through the thick pages of the magazine — a lovely, lush, quietly powerful publication backed by the textile giant Schumacher— Horace reflected on her journey from Queens to Lakeville, from the constant rush of high-end design in New York City to this place, her place, which she has shaped, and which shapes her.
Horace grew up in Queens and tributes her father, a hobbyist photographer from the Dominican Republic, with much of her early inspiration. “He was only 20 when he moved to New York, so it was still so new to him.” Her father, full of enthusiasm for his new city, would take Horace with him on weekends to visit New York landmarks like The Chrysler Building, Radio City Music Hall, and the World Trade Center “which was my backyard,” said Horace. Horace also recalled a memorable trip as a child to Kew Gardens, a small, residential neighborhood in Queens. “It’s all mansions, beautiful homes with spiral staircases and gorgeous details,” Horace shared. “I remember one of our family friends was housesitting and we went to the house for something, I can’t remember what exactly, but the entry was just so grand.”
These days, grand entryways make up a large part of Horace’s diverse design portfolio, a portfolio with an attention to detail that sets her work apart. Named after her family, Casa Marcelo reflects Horace’s design philosophy: a space must not only look beautiful but should also resonate personally with those who live in it. “I like figuring out who [my clients] are,” she said. Her process involves an in-depth questionnaire that delves beyond color schemes and materials to uncover clients’ routines, travels, and cherished memories, folding these elements into each design. Horace also relies on clients’ artwork and often, on their book collections to give her tips on who they are. “There are a lot of people who are book people, that collect different types of books,” she said. “I’ll have clients who have a lot of political books, or autobiographies, or clients that have a lot of self-help books, or visual art books. So, you can really get a sense of what people like and what they like to do. I also like to know if my clients are entertainers, if they like to host or if they like to be homebodies. And I can tell a lot about people when I walk into a space.”
This personal touch has earned Horace a growing reputation through word of mouth, recently prompting Casa Marcelo to implement its first marketing strategy. Being centrally located in Salisbury (Casa Marcelo is at 7 Academy Street) has also bolstered Casa Marcelo’s visibility, attracting new clients and collaborators. Horace also sources locally whenever possible because, she said, “There are just a lot of great makers in this area.” Some of the sources she highlighted are DBO Home in Sharon, Ian Ingersoll in West Cornwall, and Elizabeth Eakins in Norwalk of whom Horace said, “she has the most amazing rugs and they’re all handmade. I love custom or handmade things and people who put love into their products.”
There’s a lot of love in Horace’s work but there’s also a lot of hard work, dedication, and an impressive amount of experience. At 37, Horace’s resume reads more like that of an industry veteran. “I don’t come from money or anything like that. Everything I have is because I’ve put my ambition into it,” Horace shared.
As she continues her ambitious work, Horace looks forward to embracing larger, ground-up renovation projects and expanding her presence within the community. She’s even co-founded a women’s business support group in Litchfield and Millerton with her friend Nina Embiricos who owns nearby Riga Yoga. “It’s an opportunity to mix everyone together, to help one another. I mean running a business up here is difficult in general so if we can help one another and promote one another, even if we’re just venting to each other, we can cross pollinate and share resources.”
Being named “a style trailblazer” by the Frederic It List may have come as a surprise to Abigail Horace but having worked for high end firms for ten years before launching her own business did more than prepare her for the demands of entrepreneurship— it sharpened her vision and deepened her sense of purpose. “I feel like I’ve always known I was going to have something bigger,” Horace shared, “but it’s kind of just starting now.”
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Lans Christensen
The living dead broke into dance at Falcon Field Thursday, Oct. 31, when South Kent School's Thriller Flash Mob returned for its annual night in the moonlight.
Magician Sandy Rhoades delighted a young Spiderman on Halloween in Falls Village.
Patrick L. Sullivan
Downtown Falls Village was chock full of trick or treaters on Halloween, Thursday, Oct. 31.
Assorted superheroes, sea creatures and at least one bush rollicked around the downtown area, taking time out from collecting candy to be wowed by Sandy Rhoades doing magic tricks, drop in at the Center on Main for a refreshing glass of cider, and to chase each other around.
There was a Jurassic Park setup, a sea anemone with accompanying jellyfish, and somewhat less esoteric displays from Great Mountain Forest and Adamah Farm.
Children also plied the residential streets for candy.
Over in Lakeville, streets were blocked off and children in costume were everywhere as darkness fell.
The children knew to make their way to the Grove around 7 p.m. for hay rides, cider and doughnuts, and, most importantly, a massive, free-form shaving cream fight.
Shaving cream was flying at the town Grove Oct. 31.Patrick L. Sullivan
The Grove was abundantly adorned with Halloween props, and Stacey Dodge, Grove manager, and Lisa McAuliffe, Recreation director, awaited the shaving cream combatants.
The children brought their own shaving cream. The Grove supplied towels.
This was a good thing, as by 7:30 p.m. there wasn’t a youngster in sight who wasn’t liberally coated with the stuff.
Somehow a reporter managed to get in the middle of it and emerge unfoamed.
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