Now that closets are cleaned out and drawers tidied like never before, thanks to COVID-19, there is a good chance that jewelry has turned up and been given a what-do-I-do-with-this look.
You might want to think of repair or redesign to rejuvenate the old, once-treasured pieces. With nowhere to go where they could draw admiring comments, why not assess and give your rediscovered jewels a new life?
Elizabeth’s Jewelry in Millerton, N.Y., has a repair and redesign service available. In addition to the everyday watch battery and watchband needs, she can help with restringing those pearls, repairing that clasp and redesigning something old and clunky into something that is totally 21st century. Or, maybe assessment would help make the right decision.
With 13 years of jewelry experience and lots of professional certifications, Betsy Trotta has been the proprietor of Elizabeth’s Jewelry in Millerton since 2004. Her business began in Millerton center (between what was then Saperstein’s and is now Westerlind, and Herrington’s hardware store), Trotta said during a conversation on Thursday, Jan. 28. Her grandfather had once run a little grocery store there. Her father’s law practice was housed in the building, and then it became her jewelry store.
In 2007, Trotta moved her business to its present location, next to the CVS pharmacy.
Bring it in
or DIY
Easy to find along Route 44 east of the center, the shop offers retail jewelry as well as capable and trustworthy repairs and advice. Trotta says that often people just want to know what they have. Is it valuable? Or, is its value only sentimental?
“We get those questions all the time,” Trotta said.
Elizabeth’s Jewelry offers complete jewelry cleaning services on premises. And the shop sells a variety of jewelry cleaning products.
If you’re staying at home, however, you can use products already on hand to clean and rejuvenate them, Trotta says.
Sterling silver can be cleaned with a simple paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water, applied with a soft cloth. Rinse in warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.
A solution of dish detergent and warm water will work for gold, diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Let the jewels soak for 10 minutes and use a soft toothbrush to gently clean. Do not use the soap mix on porous jewels such as pearls, emeralds, opals and turquoise, however.
Love is
all around
Because it’s a jewelry store there are stories of romance, appropriate for the advent of Valentine’s Day. A few years past, a young man was hiking the Appalachian Trail with his lady love, going the distance from Georgia to Maine, when he stopped off in Millerton and arranged for the creation of an engagement ring. Betsy shipped the completed ring off to Maine, and when the couple reached the northern terminus, the question got popped and the answer was affirmative.
“I really enjoy working with young people purchasing jewelry for the first time,” Trotta said, adding that she maintains an inventory of pieces that sell for under $50.
Antique jewelry can be found for sale in the estate cases. Or, customers can leave items on consignment.
Trotta said that the store remains quiet, but business is steady, since they re-opened in mid-June, and that people can make appointments to come in if they would like to be there without other shoppers.
To read more about the breadth of jewelry services offered by Elizabeth’s Jewelry store, go to www.elizabethsjewelry.com.
The Region One boys basketball team huddles up during a break in the game against Northwestern Thursday, Jan. 15.
Middle school basketball players battled on the courts of Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted Thursday, Jan. 15. Region One’s boys and girls teams took on Region Seven in side-by-side games. Region One’s team includes players from Cornwall, Falls Village, North Canaan, Salisbury and Sharon. Region Seven includes Barkhamsted, Colebrook, New Hartford and Norfolk.
The boys game was won by Region One 62-41. The girls game was won by Northwestern 27-14.
Athletes in both games played with intensity and passion.
The Region One middle school girls basketball team played Northwestern Jan. 15.Photo by Riley Klein
Canon Petero Sabune addresses the congregation at St. John’s Episcopal Church Sunday, Jan. 18.
SALISBURY — St. John’s Episcopal Church marked the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend by welcoming Canon Petero Sabune for a special service on Sunday, Jan. 18, followed by a visit to Salisbury School the next day.
King’s legacy and faith were central themes throughout the service. The first reading featured an excerpt from King’s final book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” including the oft-quoted passage: "Returning violence for violence multiples violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
In his sermon, Sabune said that many accounts of King’s life and influence often “forget about his faith and convictions.”
“He was a baptized disciple of Jesus Christ,” Sabune said.
After the service, Sabune was asked about ongoing protests and controversy in Minneapolis. He noted that King’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance was shaped by Mahatma Gandhi, who in turn drew inspiration from the writings of Henry David Thoreau.
Sabune said civil rights workers and protestors in the 1950s and 1960s underwent formal training in nonviolence. “They taught people how to get hit and not respond, what [civil rights figure and congressman] John Lewis called ‘good trouble,’” he said.
Reflecting on more recent events, Sabune said that when considering the circumstances that led to the death of Renee Good at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross, “I feel the pain, not just for Renee, but for Officer Ross.”
Music also played a prominent role in the service. The hymns were drawn from “Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African-American Hymnal.” Among them was “Precious Lord,” which King requested be sung the night before his death.
“Sing ‘Precious Lord’ and sing it pretty,” King told a follower.
Sabune’s visit to Salisbury followed a long journey that began with a bus ride from Tucson, Arizona, to Phoenix on Saturday, Jan. 17, followed by an overnight flight. The Rev. Johan Johnson, priest-in-charge at St. John’s and chaplain at Salisbury School, picked him up at 7 a.m. Sunday.
The two men have known each other for so long they cannot recall exactly where or when they first met. During an interview, Sabune paused to greet Johnson’s youngest daughter, whom he baptized.
As he headed toward the reception, where parishioners were waiting to greet him, Sabune was asked one final question:
“You going to get a nap in today?”
“Yes!” he said emphatically over his shoulder as he hurried up the aisle.
CORNWALL — A public hearing was held Tuesday, Jan. 13, to consider the creation of the West Cornwall General Business (WCBG) district.
The proposed zoning text amendment was submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission in response to longstanding difficulties faced by West Cornwall business owners seeking to modify nonconforming buildings that do not meet current zoning requirements.
The amendment would establish the WCBG district as a separate zone, distinct from the existing business district in Cornwall Bridge. Within the new district, applicants are seeking to reduce the minimum lot size from one acre to 10,000 square feet, narrow the minimum lot width from 100 feet to 50 feet, and eliminate minimum front, side and rear setback requirements.
Most buildings in the area predate modern zoning regulations and were constructed directly on property lines, planning consultant Martin Connor told the commission on behalf of the applicants, West Cornwall Development Group LLC.
As a result of their nonconforming status, Connor said, many property owners have been unable to make even modest improvements. He cited the Pink House as an example, noting that its owners currently store buckets and mops outdoors because they are not permitted to construct a small exterior storage closet behind the building.
Public comment was mixed, with residents voicing both concern and support. Some speakers raised questions about safety and the potential impacts of the proposed changes, while others said the amendment would help bring long-standing nonconforming properties into compliance and create a more business-friendly environment. One resident asked the commission to allow additional time to review the application.
First Selectman Gordon Ridgway spoke in favor of the proposal, saying the current zoning framework “makes it very hard for any business to expand.” He added, “Having large amounts of property being zoned as nonconforming is bad planning, especially as we have for years tried to revive our business centers.”
After closing the public hearing, the commission discussed the proposal during its regular meeting and considered modifications before voting.
Commissioners focused their discussion on the proposed setback distances, citing fire safety concerns tied to the village’s historic character and the age of many buildings.
“Most of these buildings are old. They’re not built with fire blocking,” said Christine Gray, a commission member.
James LaPorta, also a commission member, raised similar concerns about safety and setbacks. “To have a zero side setback, I think, is asking for trouble in the long run. I think five [feet] would be fine.”
Commissioners said eliminating side setbacks entirely could create long-term safety risks and discussed whether a modest buffer would better balance flexibility for property owners with public safety considerations.
Commissioners also emphasized that any future applications within the district would still require review and approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as other relevant boards, including the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency, the fire marshal and the Torrington Area Health District.
Chair Anna Timell moved to approve the application with a modification setting the side and rear setbacks at five feet, while reducing the front setback to zero feet. She cited the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development, which calls for reviewing and revising zoning regulations in business zones.
The motion passed unanimously.
Moving company
Commissioners also approved a site plan application for Karls on Wheels, a moving company proposing to locate at 26 Kent Road.
The plan includes no change to the footprint and no change in use, and does not permit self-storage on the site.
The application was approved unanimously.
Edward Aparo passed away peacefully at his home on January 7, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.
Edward was born on May 10, 1936 in New Britain, CT. He was the beloved son of the late Anthony and Rose Valenti Aparo and attended New Britain schools. On April 7, 1958 Edward married his school sweetheart Jean Ackerman beginning a devoted marriage that spanned 67 years. Together they built a life rooted in family, hard work and love.
Edward began his career working in the family business, Aparo’s Electric Motor Service Inc. where he learned the trade alongside his father. Following his father’s passing, Edward became the owner of the business, carrying on the family legacy with dedication and pride. Edward is survived by his loving wife Jean Ackerman Aparo, his sons Stephen Aparo and his wife Marie of New Britain, CT and Craig Aparo and his wife Valerie of Naples, Fl, his sister Arlene Aparo StGermain and husband Joseph of Hobe Sound FL and his cherished grandchildren Danny Aparo and wife Nicole, Tyler Aparo and Morgan Wilson and Jared Aparo all of New Britain.
Services with be private.
