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A hungry starfish appears in “The Ghost Net: An Environmental Musical of the Sea” at CCS June 3.
Riley Klein
CORNWALL — The Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater transformed the gymnasium of Cornwall Consolidated School into an underwater wonderland Tuesday, June 3.
The troupe performed “The Ghost Net: An Environmental Musical of the Sea” with participation from students in all grades and a few teachers.
The 10-scene musical takes the audience on a journey from land to sea showing the impact of pollution on marine habitats. A girl, Marina, saves wildlife as she is guided underwater by a horseshoe crab with a broken tail, a sea turtle who swallowed plastic, a seagull with a tangled wing, an oil-soaked duck and others. Ultimately, she helps defeat the evil Ghost Net and save her friends.
Students played different roles by grade.
Kindergarten and 1st-graders played clams avoiding a hungry starfish.
2nd- and 3rd-graders played the minnows in a school of fish.
4th- and 5th-graders were tropical fish at a coral reef party.
6th-, 7th- and 8th-graders played trash creatures in the “Slimy Sludge Rap.”
Director Leslie Elias and cast fielded questions from students after the show, like “What is that thing in your pocket?”
“Wireless microphones,” Elias explained.
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A survey distributed to Kent residents earlier in the year that found that 44% of respondents opposed or strongly opposed the retail of psychoactive cannabis products in town, compared to 29% in favor.
KENT — At the June 4 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Land Use Administrator Tai Kern and Planning and Zoning commissioner Sarah Chase presented the selectmen with a draft ordinance surrounding the regulation of cannabis retail in Kent.
Kern explained that addressing the issue via town ordinance rather than through zoning regulations enables the community to have more input, as the adoption of an ordinance would require a town vote.
The draft ordinance as it stands largely responds to a survey distributed to Kent residents earlier in the year that found that 44% of respondents opposed or strongly opposed the retail of psychoactive cannabis products in town, compared to 29% in favor. The draft outlines only the proposed ban on retail in town and does not address other aspects of cannabis cultivation or use.
Chase, who chairs the Cannabis Regulation Subcommittee of P&Z, noted that the specificity and complexity of regulating the retail of cannabis products, of which there are many types, is better suited for an ordinance than zoning regulation.
The cultivation of marijuana plants is another layer to be considered, she said, given that the survey results showed broad support or ambivalence for small-scale private grows. She mentioned that a large-scale cannabis or hemp agricultural operation would be a more complicated issue, but that Kent is an unlikely choice for such a farm due to climate and topography.
A moratorium on cannabis licensure in Kent was renewed in May to allow the town time to consider its options. The moratorium is due to expire Dec. 1, 2025.
The selectmen plan to resume the cannabis conversation in July.
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Weight was added in the form of heavy blocks at the tractor pull Saturday, June 7, in Kent.
Lans Christensen
KENT — On Saturday, June 7, Connecticut Antique Machinery Association held its third annual antique tractor pulling event.
A damp and dreary day did not deter the 40 entrants who brought their vintage tractors.
Ranging in age from the 1930’s through the 50s and 60s, tractors were either totally “stock,” with original factory specifications, or modified in some manner to increase pulling capability.
Tractor pullers await their turn at CAMA June 7.Lans Christensen
Lans Christensen
Bill Grieger and his son Evan brought their 1939 and 1955 Allis Chalmers tractors from Bethany, Connecticut, for the event. Bill said he likes the stock tractors because “they can still be used for work as they always were.”
Ed Hull, from Derby, Connecticut, talked about his 1940 Farmall tractor.
He said, “Found it in the woods. Had to build a road to get it out.”
The sled pulled by contestants was initially loaded with 3,500-pounds of blocks. More weight was added as the pulls progressed.
Weather ultimately shortened the event, which was called during the 6,500-pound class. Higher weight classes, extending up to 11,500-pounds, were rained out.
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Housatonic Valley Regional High School Honor Society members stand with their lighted candles during the June 4 ceremony.
Ruth Epstein
FALLS VILLAGE — In a candle-lit ceremony filled with words of wisdom and inspiration, 30 Housatonic Valley Regional High School students were inducted into the Eleanor Roosevelt Chapter of the National Honor Society on June 4.
Following the processional onto the auditorium’s stage, Principal Ian Strever welcomed guests and said that the event was different from a graduation ceremony in that individuals, rather than an entire class, were being celebrated. He told the inductees that “We take immense pride not only in your scholarly achievements, but in the integrity and compassion you demonstrate daily. You communicate with clarity and confidence, you advocate for yourselves and others, you approach challenges with creative problem solving and you demonstrate genuine care for our global community and environment.”
Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley gave an address in which she talked of leadership which is not just about personal achievements, but acts of humility. “Lead wisely, lead courageously and most importantly, lead with your heart,” she advised.
The students then participated in a somber ritual of lighting candles. Four students spoke of the four qualities upon which the members have been selected: scholarship, service, character and leadership.
Manasseh Matsudaira, this year’s valedictorian, speaking on scholarship, pushed for creating a new word, “scholaring. Scholarship is not a trait we possess or some ethereal goal to achieve, it is an activity we get to engage in” He said scholaring is not confined to eight periods, but one can scholar about pretty much anything. “It’s not defined by what one studies but how they study,” he said.
Katerin McEnroe lit a candle for service. “To give service simply means to give what you can to whomever you can as frequently as you can,” she said. Examples could be smiling at someone in the hall, complimenting a stranger in public or holding the door for a person behind you. She challenged her fellow inductees to do at least one act of service every day.
Speaking about character was Andy Delgado, quoting Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who said, “Character is destiny.” Delgado said the choices he and his classmates have made were products of their character. “The people we are today, and the choices we make today, determine our future and our success.”
Salutatorian Tess Marks, in speaking about leadership, turned to Eleanor Roosevelt, for whom the chapter is named. Marks said she asked herself what traits the former first lady might have listed as those of a leader and quoted her as saying, “Good leaders inspire people to have confidence in their leader. Great leaders inspire people to have confidence in themselves.” Building on that, Marks said she believes great leaders must have empathy, for as Roosevelt also said, “For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others.”
Honor Society adviser Peter Vermilyea administered the oath, whose words the students repeated. He then gave a brief history of the chapter, explaining that in 2019 National Honor Society members chose to name the chapter in honor of Roosevelt, who was a friend of Housatonic. She spoke at the school on two occasions, including the 1958 induction ceremony. She later wrote about her visit in her “My Day” newspaper column, calling the school “exceptional.”
The program always includes the highly anticipated naming of honorary inductees. This year the school’s administrative assistant Katie Wood, who is retiring, and executive secretary Julie Lang, who will retire in the near future, were bestowed that honor by Strever. He said they have shown him the kind of hospitality that makes Housatonic feel like home. As graduates of the school, they care for it like a member of their families.
Strever noted they are not just colleagues, but have become friends.
A reception followed in the cafeteria.
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