Circuit-savvy students gear up for robot competitions

From left, Finn Malone, Adelyn Diorio and Jassim Mohdin work on this year’s competition robot.
Sava Marinkovic

From left, Finn Malone, Adelyn Diorio and Jassim Mohdin work on this year’s competition robot.
FALLS VILLAGE — It’s build season for the robotics team at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.
Strewn about the students’ workspace are wheels, cylinders, belts and drives; wooden frames and machined metal plates; parts scrapped from retired robots, and whiteboards crammed edge-to-edge with new designs. As they work at a feverish pace toward their March 7 competition deadline, there is electricity among the members of Team 716.
As members of the FIRST Robotics Competition, the team’s primary goal is to design a robot to operate on the FIRST competition circuit. Advertised by FIRST as “the ultimate sport for the mind,” this year’s contest takes the form of a team-based game in which robots — piloted remotely by humans — race to score points in a nautically-themed arena by completing tasks. The game, called REEFSCAPE, abstracts the complexities of a coral reef, wherein robots seed coral to reefs, harvest algae, and make deliveries.
The uniqueness of each year’s competition format means that teams must purpose-build robots, from the ground up, during the intensive build season. Currently in the season’s early stages — the game is only revealed to contestants in early January — the team is still working to nail down the final design of their robot.
“First, we prototype for about a week,” said team captain and HVRHS senior Jassim Mohdin as he tested the fit of a custom-machined part against the developing robot’s chassis.
“We draw up designs,” detailed Adelyn Diorio — working with teammate Finn Malone on a prototype coral pick-up mechanism — “then put them together and evaluate them on a matrix.” The matrix, populated by contributions from the entire team, includes parameters such as ease of build, simplicity, reliability and durability.
At the other end of the workspace, sophomore Byron Bell writes code that will be used to control the robot. He seeks to maximize the robot’s capabilities while keeping it reasonably easy to operate, noting that a driver will only be chosen from among the team after a “practice driving bracket” later in the season.
As the students bustle away, mentors Andy Brockway and Michael Ellington provide oversight with a light touch. “It’s truly a student-led effort,” said Ellington, who believes in allowing students the freedom to experiment, take creative risks and “develop their superpowers.”
Now in his ninth year serving as mentor, Ellington reports that this year’s team is the largest he has advised. Despite growing student interest, school staff and team mentors are concerned that the program may be at risk without a new coach.
Brockway, Team 716’s lead mentor, has advised the team for nearly 25 years; during the last five, he and Ellington have sought to bring on additional help and prepare for changes in leadership.
“Most people don’t realize just how competitive a sport it is,” said HVRHS principal Ian Strever. Under the current student-driven model, Strever said the most essential characteristic of leadership is not necessarily technical knowledge, but a “desire to work with students and coach them to believe in themselves.”
Echoing Strever, the team mentors pointed out that — while experience with mechanical, electrical and pneumatics systems are a strong asset — coaching involves the essential functions of team management: among them logistics, paperwork, scheduling and outreach.
“This program has so much to give,” Ellington said, observing that many students grow in skill, confidence and autonomy as they deepen their participation. Further, he has found reward in seeing the doors that the program has opened for special needs and at-risk students; many of whom discover paths toward personal development, college programs and future professions through their participation on the team.
By promoting mentorship of Team 716 to a coaching position and adjusting compensation to account for the time and dedication involved, Strever hopes to “find the right person in the community” to continue the storied 25-year legacy of robotics at HVRHS.
Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to Michael Ellington at 860-824-5123 ext.1283 or via email at mellington@region1schools.org .
Information on the upcoming regional FIRST competition, which is open to public attendance, is available at frc-events.firstinspires.org/2025/ctwat.
CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.
CVFD’s Ian Ridgway sat on the truck committee and said Greenwood was not just chosen for the price, but also for the design of each vehicle. He said their models had a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance, as well as extra storage space on board, compared to the next best bid.
After $100,000 in discounts offered by Greenwood, the combined purchase price for both vehicles was shown to be $1,200,408. The delivery time was estimated at 15 months.
CVFD raised $600,000 during its recent fundraising campaign, of which $500,000 will be given to the town to buy the trucks. That figure will be paired with $720,000 in town truck fund reserves. The additional donated funds will be used to outfit the trucks with equipment and tools.
“I want to praise the town of Cornwall,” said CVFD President Dick Sears. “We’re able to buy these beautiful new pieces of equipment courtesy of the tremendous citizenry of this town.”
FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.
She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.
Robin loved the beach, sunshine, and gardening, and was known for her strength, humor, and unwavering support of those she loved.
She is survived by her daughter, Sierra R. Zinke, and brothers, Darren Roy and Todd Roy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharon Thomkins Roy and Robert Roy, and her brother Nevin Roy.
No services will be held at this time.
SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.
At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.
“Mike” loved the sun, sand and water and spent many summers at Westport Point, Massachusetts with the kids and their best friends, the Bauers.She was the consummate hostess, and a wonderful cook.She also appeared in several plays with The Sherman Players and also a show or two on special occasions at The Kent Community House.She took enjoyment from working outdoors doing chores around her home in North Kent.She lived in that house until she sold it and bought a condominium on North Main Street in Kent in May of 2003.She lived in the condo until 2018 after which her light began to fade and her last 8 years were spent comfortably at Noble Horizons.
“Mike” leaves behind her children, Richard (Susan) of Lakeville, her daughter Nancy Rutledge (Jim) of Salisbury; two grandchildren, Chandra Gerrard (Sean) of Litchfield, Matthew (Larissa) of Lakeville; three great grandchildren, Addison, Emilia and Everett, all of Lakeville.
She was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Caroline in 2020.
All services are private.The Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in charge of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.
Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in June. Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury and Scoville Memorial Library.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.