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Historian brings Revolutionary War-era Canaan to life
Ruth Epstein
Jun 03, 2026
Dressed as a colonial officer, local historian Tim Abbott discusses local Falls Village residents who served in the Revolutionary War during the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society's annual dinner meeting May 27.
Ruth Epstein
FALLS VILLAGE – As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, local historian and war reenactor Tim Abbott used stories of soldiers, prisoners of war and ordinary residents to show how deeply the Revolutionary War touched the people of Canaan during the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society’s annual dinner meeting Wednesday, May 27.
Dressed as a colonial officer from Canaan, Abbott told attendees that 225 men associated with Canaan – which included present-day North Canaan and Falls Village before the towns split in 1858 – fought for independence from Great Britain, a figure he said represented roughly 25% of the town’s population at the time.
“It’s interesting to think about it in those terms,” he said, describing the Revolutionary War as the nation’s first civil war.
The Continental Army had a difficult time finding men to serve, Abbott said. Regiments were often made up of farmers, enslaved people and the poor, while wealthier people could pay others to take their place in military duty.
Abbott’s research materials include primary sources, such as payroll and muster lists. He also used compilations by the Daughters of the American Revolution, cemetery inscriptions and town records. His rule in research, he emphasized, is, “Trust, but verify.”
As with all wars, said Abbott, the Revolutionary War affected everyone – both on the battlefield and at home.
Nearly half of the 4th Connecticut Regiment was made up of men from Canaan. Abbott highlighted local soldiers, including Capt. John Watson, Benjamin Stevens and Charles Burrall.
One of the most tragic moments for Canaan was the Battle of the Cedars near Montreal in 1776, when thirty-seven locals fought – some of whom were killed – and all were captured.
A large contingent of area soldiers – from Salisbury, Cornwall and Canaan – were also at the Battle of Long Island and at Kips Bay, while records also place local men at Fort Mifflin near Philadelphia, where they battled in water up to three feet deep.
Abbott said that in addition to a Continental Army – the national army under George Washington – there were also local militias and state troops. State troops were often raised from militia units for short periods of service. For example, in November 1778, when British prisoners of war were being taken to Virginia from Massachusetts, Northwest Corner militia members escorted them for 14 days, handing them off to New York authorities in Sharon.
Abbott also explained the history of his uniform, which included a heavy dark brown wool coat with a red sash. The sash signified an officer’s rank, and was discontinued when the Americans adopted more conventional military uniforms with epaulets that held badges of rank.
On July 4, Abbott will be rowing across Lake Champlain from Crown Point to Fort Ticonderoga. “I know that my weekend will approximate only a fraction of what those soldiers endured.”
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Tong, Horn rally Democratic supporters in Kent
Ruth Epstein
Jun 03, 2026
“We have been in darkness before, and we’ll get beyond this period.”
— Attorney General William Tong
KENT – Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, the latest Democratic politician to campaign in the Northwest Corner in recent weeks, joined State Rep. Maria Horn of the 64th District at a Democratic Town Committee fundraiser in Kent, where the leaders criticized actions by the Trump administration while urging supporters to remain focused on the future.
Speaking at 109 Cheese & Wine, Tong, who is running for his third term as attorney general, emphasized the role states can play in pushing back against federal actions they believe exceed constitutional limits.
“We get to live the way we want to live,” Tong said, explaining that while certain powers are granted to the federal government under the Constitution, states retain authority over many areas of public life.
Tong said he has challenged the Trump administration when he believes it has exceeded its authority, noting that Connecticut has joined dozens of lawsuits against the federal government.
“We’ve told Trump we didn’t agree and that he has limited power,” he said.
He pointed to education and elections as examples of responsibilities that largely remain under state control.
Tong has also been outspoken on immigration matters, particularly the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which he said has been granted “tremendous power.” Tong questioned some federal enforcement tactics, including the presence of federal officers at airports, arguing that certain practices are difficult to justify.
“They have this power, but it seems they don’t have to be nice about it,” he said.
Tong criticized the administration’s tariffs, arguing that Congress – not the president – has authority over trade policy.
“He did it anyway until he was challenged,” Tong said. “But the Supreme Court agreed with us by a vote of 6 to 3. The justices agreed Congress is in charge of tariffs.”
Tong also discussed abortion rights, pointing to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion policy to the states.
He and other Democrats are fighting back on restrictions to the drug Methotrexate, which is sometimes used in abortion-related care but is also used to treat other health conditions like cancer, arthritis and lupus.
“I’ll fight for this tooth and nail,” he said.
Asked what gives him hope, Tong pointed to the Supreme Court.
“I’ve watched the justices operate and they continue to impress me with their command of the law, except two of them,” he said, adding that he has no other choice but to have hope.
“We have been in darkness before, and we’ll get beyond this period,” Tong said.
Running for a fifth term, Maria Horn said she originally threw her hat into the ring because of the irresponsibility she saw in the federal government. But now, she describes it as cruelty, corruption and destruction.
Horn said she is pleased that in the Connecticut General Assembly, members choose to be collegial.
“We listen and try to come to compromises,” she said. With a healthy fund balance, she added, elected officials have been able to establish policies that allow for addressing priorities, such as investing in free daycare for parents earning under a certain income. She said money has also been sent to municipalities to help them alleviate the pressure of rising property taxes.
“We listened to the people who said they wanted us to invest in kids and in their towns,” Horn said.
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Kent approves $16.9M budget, increases mill rate by 2.78%
Aly Morrissey
Jun 03, 2026
Kent Town Hall
Leila Hawken
KENT – More than 40 Kent residents turned out for the annual town budget meeting Friday, May 29, approving the 2026-27 spending plan by a vote of 34-11.
The approved budget will set the mill rate at 17.34, an increase of 2.78% from the current rate of 16.87. For a home assessed at $350,000, the increase is expected to raise annual property taxes by about $200.
The total budget of $16,933,279 includes a Board of Selectman budget of $5,285,669, a Board of Education budget of $5,307,470, and Kent’s share of the Region One budget, $2,783,359, which voters approved districtwide May 5.
Residents unanimously elected resident Steve Pener to serve as the moderator. Penner guided attendees through a series of budget-related motions, including the creation of a new capital project for paving Judd Avenue and Elizabeth Street and several transfers between completed and ongoing capital projects. All were approved.
Much of the discussion centered on questions and criticisms raised by resident Matt Starr, who challenged several budget line items and capital expenditures. Starr questioned the need for a new paving project and unsuccessfully proposed eliminating funding for new highway equipment and a $200,000 town asphalt line item. Both motions were defeated by wide margins following paper-ballot votes.
During discussion of the paving project, town officials explained that work on Judd Avenue and Elizabeth Street would be completed in conjunction with a sidewalk and paving project at Kent Center School.
Members of Kent’s Board of Education attended the meeting, and said they were pleased with the outcome of the vote.
“We feel very confident with our budget,” said BOE member Kate Symonds, adding that it will fully cover the year ahead. “We’re very proud of it.”
First Selectman Eric Epstein, who took office in November 2025, said he was relieved to have his first budget season behind him.
Epstein said he looks forward to tackling outstanding and upcoming projects, like Streetscape and sidewalk projects, to name a few.
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Water main break shuts down Off the Trail Café for days, discolors local water
Alec Linden
Jun 03, 2026
Off the Trail Cafe reopened Friday, May 29, after an unexpected closure due to a water main break in Falls Village.
Aly Morrissey
FALLS VILLAGE – A broken water main caused Off the Trail Café to close early Tuesday, May 26, and remain shuttered through Friday morning, while some residents reported discolored water at their homes and were advised to boil it as a precaution.
According to a notice issued by Aquarion Water Company on Tuesday, residents and businesses between 33 and 84 Railroad St., 100 and 107 Main St,, and 35 Water St. and 12 Warren Turnpike, were advised to boil potentially contaminated water before drinking while repairs were underway.
The coffee shop and eatery remained closed until Friday morning, and residents continued to report murky water on social media before repairs to the water main were made later in the week. The eatery and coffee shop reopened Friday at 8 a.m.
An Off the Trail Cafe staff member said she noticed a loss of water pressure on Tuesday morning and contacted the owners, who decided to close the business out of an abundance of caution. Owner Liz Ives said she also notified the state Department of Public Health as an additional safety measure.
While acknowledging that emergencies happen, Ives said she was not provided with advance notice that service might be disrupted and estimated the closure cost the business between $400 and $500 in lost revenue.
On Wednesday morning, several residents in the Beebe Hill Road area reported discolored water in a post to the Falls Village Facebook Forum page, including one resident who posted an image of a bathtub filled with brownish water.
Falls Village First Selectman David Barger said Aquarion has been investigating a number of leaks within the system near the center of town, including one believed to be affecting the area around the post office.
“It’s coming down from somewhere on Beebe Hill and they’ve been working in the area to identify the leaks,” Barger said. He said he did not know if the water main break was related to this ongoing work.
According to an alert on Aquarion’s website, the break was repaired by 4:15 a.m. Wednesday. Customers experiencing discolored water were advised to run cold water until it poured clear.
Barger applauded Aquarion for working through the night to fix the problem, while acknowledging the challenges it created for businesses and residents.
“When you’re a business and all of a sudden there’s no water, that affects you negatively,” he said. However, Barger added that Aquarian is typically “very good about notifying customers” and providing a window of time when service may be disrupted.
“It’s just one of those things,” he said. “When you have an emergency, you have an emergency.”
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Salisbury Central Middle School Band performs at Hartford Yard Goats baseball game
Lakeville Journal
Jun 03, 2026
James H. Clark
HARTFORD — Salisbury Central School students performed at the May 29 baseball game between the Hartford Yard Goats and the Altoona Curve at Dunkin’ Park.
The school’s fifth- through eighth-grade band, led by Rob Nellson, performed excerpts from five military service songs — Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force — before the first pitch. The chorus, led by Jennifer Moros, performed “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.
Region One to begin school study in September
Patrick L. Sullivan
Jun 03, 2026
File photo
FALLS VILLAGE – The Region One Board of Education voted Monday, June 1, to move forward with a broad organizational study that could shape the future of education in the Northwest Corner. The study will run from September 2026 to May 2027, with findings expected to be presented in June 2027.
The board also approved expanding the study from kindergarten through grade eight to include Housatonic Valley Regional High School, making it a K-12 review. Six member towns will decide this summer whether to participate. Communities that opt out will not be included in the study’s findings.
Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley emphasized that the goal of the study is to provide information, not to recommend a course of action.
Brady-Shanley said she and Region One Business Manager Sam Herrrick will run the study, drawing on state and local resources as needed, but do not intend to hire outside consultants.
“The purpose of this organizational study is to evaluate the Region’s K–8 structure to ensure long-term educational excellence, equity, and fiscal sustainability,” Brady-Shanley said.
The board highlighted the issue of declining enrollment in several smaller schools while operational costs continue to rise. The study will clearly outline the financial and educational realities of the Region’s current model so that each local board of education and community can make informed, data-driven decisions about their school, Brady-Shanley added.
Community identity will also be a focal point of the study and will examine the importance of local schools.
“We get a lot of questions, and we don’t always have the answers,” she said. “If nothing else happens at least we’ll be educated on the information.”
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