Crews row Lake Waramaug in Kent Invitational

The girls heat between first boats from Kent School, The Hotchkiss School, Simsbury High School, Sacred Heart Greenwich, and East Lyme High School was won by Kent.
Lans Christensen


The girls heat between first boats from Kent School, The Hotchkiss School, Simsbury High School, Sacred Heart Greenwich, and East Lyme High School was won by Kent.
NEW PRESTON — The 29th annual Kent Invitational boys and girls rowing regatta took place on Lake Waramaug Saturday, May 11.
This sun-filled day of racing featured eight high school teams: Kent School, The Hotchkiss School, Salisbury School, Farmington High School, Simsbury High School, Sacred Heart Greenwich, Brunswick School, and East Lyme High School.
Multiple rowing teams from each school faced off on the 1,500-meter course as hundreds of attendees took in the races from shore.
Kent Coach Eric Houston described racing conditions as “almost perfect,” aside from a slight tailwind, and thanked all the volunteers who contributed to a successful day on the water.
“There were some very good and close races today,” Houston stated.
For the girls, the race between first boat crews was won by Kent with a time of 5:12.1. Hotchkiss placed second in 5:23.2 and Simsbury took third with 5:29.7.
Kent won the girls second boat race as well in 5:32.8, followed by Hotchkiss in second place with a time of 5:40.2 and Farmington in third with 5:46.9. During this race, Hotchkiss’s boat caught a blade in the buoy line, which delayed them for a few strokes about midway through the course. They recovered and finished the race less than eight seconds behind Kent.
The girls third boat race was won by Kent in 5:43.7. Simsbury took second in 6:03.5 and Farmington placed third in 6:46.3.
The fourth boat race for the girls was won by Farmington with a time of 6:13.2, followed by East Lyme in 6:34.1 for second and Kent took third in 6:45.4.

The boys first boat race was won by Salisbury in 4:29.5. Kent followed closely behind, earning second in 4:30.3 and Brunswick took third in 4:33.4.
Kent won the boys second boat race in a photo finish, a half second ahead of Salisbury. Kent finished in 4:46.4, Salisbury finished in 4:46.9 and Brunswick took third in 4:51.8.
Brunswick placed first in the boys third boat race with 4:57.4. Kent followed in second with a time of 5:02.2 and Salisbury took third in 5:15.5.
The boys fourth boat race was won by Brunswick in 5:07.8, followed by Farmington in second with a time of 5:16.9 and Kent in third at 5:25.6.

Alec Linden
A popular Kent swimming spot has been closed for the summer after visitors continued to leave garbage behind.
KENT — A popular swimming, fishing, boating and wading spot on the Housatonic River has been closed for the rest of the summer after repeated incidents of overcrowding and littering, First Selectman Eric Epstein announced Friday, July 24.
In an email to residents Friday, Epstein said the eastern section of North Kent Road, a short lane that provides access to the swimming spot from Route 7, will remain closed through Labor Day, and possibly longer.
“People have to respect the area,” Epstein said. “If it’s not cared for, then it’s going to be an issue for everybody.”
The spot, which is a scenic and calm bend of the river flanked by a sandy beach, has been the center of access debates for years. Weekend crowding has raised concerns of safety, environmental health, emergency vehicle access and noise.
Most recently, the town closed the road during the middle two weekends of July following extensive littering and crowds of up to 200 people during the July 4 weekend, but left it open on weekdays. “During the week, it was no better,” Epstein said, prompting him to decide to barricade the road entrance from Route 7 for the rest of the summer.
The road was also closed at the end of last summer following similar instances of crowding and litter. At that time, officials stated conversations were ongoing among the various land managers at the site to find a sustainable solution that keeps the spot open while protecting it as a natural resource.
Those conversations are still happening, Epstein said, and that the goal remains the same. “I certainly don’t believe that would happen this year though,” he said.
He explained that complex ownership of the river and its banks at the site have made management difficult to strategize, but that progress is being made.
Groups with land and management responsibilities at the area include the town of Kent, the Wildlife Management Division of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Conservation, the Kent Land Trust, Eversource Energy, the Housatonic Railroad Company, the Housatonic Valley Association, the Housatonic River Commission, the Appalachian Trail Association and others.
Lakeville Journal
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Attempt to cash fraudulent check
Francis J. Golden, 36, of Leesville, Conn. was arrested July 21 at NBT Bank in Salisbury after Connecticut State Police from Troop B said he attempted to cash a fraudulent check. He was charged with second-degree identity theft, third-degree forgery, and interfering with or resisting an officer. Golden was taken into custody, processed, and transported to New Haven Correctional Center on a $51,000 cash-surety bond. He was scheduled to appear in court on July 22.
Intersection crash
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on July 22, a crash at the intersection of Route 44 and Route 272 in downtown Norfolk occurred when the driver of a Honda Civic LX pulled out from a stop sign and struck a Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Lauren Ralph, 21, of East Canaan. The Civic’s driver — Edward M. Hansen, 37, of Torrington — was found at fault for the accident and received a written warning for unsafe movement. Front airbags were deployed in both vehicles, which sustained significant damage and were towed by George’s Garage. No injuries were reported.
Car swerves off road
A Ram 1500 Big Horn veered off the road into a grassy area before striking an Eversource utility pole at about 7:30 a.m. on July 21 on High Street near the intersection of Sand Road in North Canaan. Kurt J. Stella, 55, of North Canaan, was traveling southbound approaching a turn when he said the driver of another vehicle driving in the opposite direction entered into his lane, causing him to drive off the road and hit the wooden pole, which sustained scraping and gouging damage. Stella’s vehicle was also damaged, with vehicle debris including a rear taillight lens and aluminum rim fragments. Stella evaded the scene, with his vehicle’s damaged rims causing visible gouges in the roadway on Route 7, Sand Road, Boinay Hill Road, Route 44, and New High Street before concluding on Housatonic Avenue. No injuries were reported.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Send mail to P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send to editor@lakevillejournal.com.
Alec Linden
HARTFORD — Residents in the Northwest Corner can expect road, bridge and drainage improvements over the next several years after the state awarded nearly $3.5 million in transportation grants to Falls Village, Kent and North Canaan.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s office announced Thursday, July 23, that Falls Village, Kent and North Canaan are among nine Connecticut towns sharing $10 million through the Transportation Rural Improvement Program, commonly known as TRIP. The state Department of Transportation program helps smaller communities pay for road, bridge and drainage projects that often do not qualify for larger federal transportation grants.
Falls Village will receive $561,600 to replace a bridge and culvert over Wangum Lake Brook on Cobble Road. The project will replace the bridge and the culvert — the structure that carries water beneath the road — to allow more stormwater to flow underneath during heavy rains. State officials said the work is expected to reduce flooding and improve travel along the frequently flooded route between Route 63 and Mountain Road.
Falls Village First Selectman Dave Barger said he was glad the town’s grant application had been accepted. “Now we have to move forward and see what kind of timetable we’re looking at,” he said.
Cobble Road has been closed to through traffic since March when the town closed a separate bridge after an assessment by the DOT identified damage.
A project to repair that bridge, which is much larger than the Wangum Lake Brook bridge and is located about a half mile west, is currently in the preparation phase. At present, Cobble Road is expected to remain closed until 2030 for that rehabilitation, although the timeline could change. Since the bridge is more than 120 feet long, it qualifies for federal funding.
Kent was granted $920,800 for a project to repave Bulls Bridge Road and improve drainage along a stretch from just east of Spooner Hill Road to just west of Old Stone Road. First Selectman Eric Epstein said there is no timetable yet for when construction will begin.
When it does start, “We’ll do everything in our power to keep [the road] from being closed completely,” Epstein said.
North Canaan will receive the largest award in the region — $1.85 million — for a project that will repave roads, repair culverts and other drainage structures, and improve stormwater drainage around North Canaan Elementary School, Town Hall and other municipal buildings. The work will cover Route 7 from the Route 44 intersection to the Massachusetts state line, as well as Bragg Street and Pease Street.
A statement released by Town Hall on Friday, July 24, said the improvements are intended to reduce flooding in problem areas and help roads better withstand heavy storms in the future. First Selectman Jesse Bunce said in a statement that “the grant allows us to make long-needed improvements to one of our Town’s most important transportation areas without placing that burden on local taxpayers.”
Bunce added, “Getting this TRIP funding is going to be a really great way to solve a lot of problems in the town.”

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.
Christine Bates
9 Jewell Street, a 2,758 square foot antique house with four bedrooms on 3.99 acres, sold in April for $870,000.
CORNWALL — The 12-month trailing median sale price for a single-family home in Cornwall rose 5% to $880,000 through June 30.
The median was up from $841,000 for the 12 months ending June 30, 2025, but remained below the $1.025 million recorded for the same period in 2024.
Single-family home sales have remained relatively stable. Fifteen homes sold during the 12 months ending June 30, matching the total recorded during the same period in 2024. There were 22 sales in the 12 months ending June 30, 2025.
Historically, Cornwall records between 15 and 25 single-family home sales annually. The rolling 12-month total peaked at 43 sales in August 2021.
Inventory remains limited. As of July 23, five single-family homes were listed for sale. At the same time, land inventory has grown, with five parcels on the market priced between $150,000 and $275,000.
Second Quarter 2026 Cornwall Transfers
April
9 Jewell Street – 4 bedroom/3.5 bath antique home on 3.99 acres transferred by Allison and Benjamin Lesch Trustees to Michael Clemens and William McPherson for $870,000
70 Kent Road -2.4 acres of vacant land transferred by Joseph Capone Jr to Jason Phillips for $105,000
June
39 Cemetery Hill Road – 5 bedroom/5.5 bath home built in 1989 on 6.47 acres transferred by Kirk and Cynthia Harrington to Joshua and Kristine Collins
373 Town Street – 3 bedroom/3 bath ranch on 30.26 acres transferred by Ella Clark Revocable Trust and Cristina Matthews Trustee to 373 Town Street LLC for $1,200,000
242 River Road – 2 bedroom/1 bath home on 29.88 acres transferred by Seamus Brown Estate Dewitt Brown Executor to Michael Trapp for $460,000
233 Sharon Goshen Turnpike – 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 7.24 acres sold by Elizabeth Silkes to Ian Gaule for $1,100,000
5 Wright Hill Road – 3 bedroom/1 bath ranch transferred by David Nickerson and Frances Mary Nickerson Estate to Cody Rodrigues for $200,000
Lake Road – 3.57 acres of vacant land transferred by William Lee and Nancy Berry to Katherine Freygang for $595,000
159 Kent Road -3 bedroom/2 bath home on 1.2 acres transferred by Hamilton South and Manuel Bellod to Silvio Villa for $162,591
* Town of Cornwall real estate transfers recorded from April 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026, provided by Cornwall Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS and market statistics from Infosparks. Note that recorded transfers frequently lag sales by a number of days. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
Aly Morrissey
SALISBURY — The Salisbury Association announced it will hold its rescheduled Fourth of July laser light show on Sunday, Aug. 2 at the SWSA ski jumps at Satre Hill. The original show was abruptly postponed after an intense storm blew through the region on July 4, knocking down trees and power lines.
“The Salisbury Association is so pleased to be able to continue our interrupted celebration of the country’s 250th birthday,” said Salisbury Association President Cynthia Walsh. “Our thanks to SWSA for hosting us on the hill and to everyone who helped with restoration and clean up after the storm,” she added.
Festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Taco Shack food truck will be on site – a new addition since the previous event was planned – while free ice cream sandwiches will be distributed and dance music will be played by DJ Slick-Rick. The laser light show will begin at 9 p.m.
Mia Dirocco
From nursing to neuroscience, local students pursuing careers in healthcare received scholarships from the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association for the 2026-27 academic year. The scholarship is awarded annually provided that students maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
SALISBURY — The Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association welcomed the largest class of scholarship recipients to its headquarters July 22, awarding 19 local students $10,000 each through its Educational Enrichment Program Scholarship.
“We’re very proud of all of you,” said SVNA board member Susan Knight as she welcomed students and their families for a reception and check presentation. “We think you are all amazing young people.”
The scholarship first began in 2023 after the merger between Salisbury Family Services and SVNA. The board said the applicant pool has increased from around three during its first year to 21 applicants in 2026.
The celebration marked the fourth and largest year of the initiative, with nearly $200,000 donated to area-students for the 2026-27 academic year. The scholarship is open to students from the Region One area pursuing degrees in healthcare-related fields ranging from nursing to neuroscience.
Recipients receive $10,000 annually, provided they maintain a 3.0 grade point average and submit proof of their academic performance. Funded through SVNA’s robust endowment, the scholarship allows the organization to reinvest in healthcare by supporting future healthcare professionals

The application process includes an in-depth essay describing each applicant’s career goals, personal experiences, and reasons for pursuing a healthcare profession.
“It’s helped a lot with my first-year tuition, and I’m very grateful,” said Madeline Mechare, a 2026-27 recipient. “I’m thinking of becoming a traveling nurse. I find it really exciting.” Mechare said she plans to major in nursing and will begin her freshman year at Eastern Connecticut State University this fall.
Gabriela Titone, who is entering her sophomore year at Marymount University studying psychology, said the scholarship is helping her prepare for a long educational journey.
“I’d like to be a therapist, so I also want to go to graduate school,” Titone said.“It’s nice to be able to have a scholarship that helps me for my undergraduate, because I have a lot of school ahead of me.”
For many students, the scholarship is what allows them to attend the schools of their choice.
Finn Cousins, who is entering his junior year at Fordham University studying psychology, said the financial support allowed him to transfer from the University of Connecticut after realizing it was not the right fit.
Cousins hopes to earn a doctorate in sports psychology and eventually work with a professional sports team. “Thanks to this community and their support, I’ve been able to transfer somewhere I really love, and I just feel like I’m in love with school again,” Cousins said.
His mother, Sara Cousins, said the scholarship made the transition possible.
“The scholarship gave him the financial freedom to transfer to a school where he’s much happier,” she said. “He feels like he’s more on track to do the kinds of things he wants to do.”
Many students said the awards enhance their college experiences.
“The scholarship is making it possible for me to live on campus this year,” said nursing student Kara Franks, who is entering her junior year at Western Connecticut State University. “If not for this scholarship, I would have to commute to school, so this is helping me focus on my studies.”
The award is aimed to invest in healthcare workers of the future, and board members hope some recipients will eventually be interested in returning to the Northwest Corner after graduating to fulfill the need for healthcare workers in the community.
“Hopefully some of you will come back and work in this area,” Knight said. “That would be wonderful.”

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.