DeRisi joins Scoville as children’s coordinator
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Patrick L. Sulllivan
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North Canaan Events Committee chair Jenn Crane, center, leads a preliminary planning session for this year’s events in North Canaan on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Community members and town officials joined.
l. tomaino
NORTH CANAAN — The North Canaan Events Committee (NCEC) held a meeting Tuesday evening, Jan. 13, to begin mapping out plans for 2026, a year expected to bring expanded programming tied to major national and local milestones.
Christian Allyn, a resident attending the meeting, noted that 2026 will be “a big year with the 250th,” referring to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Jenn Crane, chair of NCEC, said that with a busy regional calendar expected in 2026, the committee wants to be mindful of other towns’ events to avoid scheduling conflicts. She stressed that the discussion was informal and not a formal meeting.
The meeting went on to discuss more than 20 area events, and some of the highlights include:
The George Washington’s Birthday Ball, scheduled for Feb. 21 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre. The event, hosted by Friends of the Canaan History Center, will feature live music by Relatively Sound, with “small bites” provided by Freund’s Farm. Guests will also be greeted by costumed historical figures circulating throughout the evening, wearing period attire on loan from Sharon Playhouse. Tickets are $50 per person.
The event will also feature a “Tipple Table,” a colonial-era tradition offering George Washington’s beer recipe brewed by Norbrook Farm Brewery, along with wine from Land of Nod Vineyard & Winery.
In March, the annual Egg Hunt is scheduled for March 28 at Lawrence Field. Town Clean Up Day will follow on April 25 in recognition of Earth Day.
In May, NCEC will assist the Friends of Douglas Library with their annual plant sale, and the first vendor market of the year is planned for Sunday, May 31.
June will feature cemetery tours and Summer Talks presented by the Falls Village–Canaan Historical Society. On June 13, the Canaan History Center will reenact the raising of the Liberty Pole on the Corner Green, adjacent to Bunny McGuire Park, with hot dogs and apple pie served. NCEC will also spearhead the Community Tag Sale on Father’s Day weekend, June 20–21.
Summer programming continues in July with the return of Summer Nights of Canaan, including a carnival, fireworks and parade. The Bitterman Center will host a dinner featuring traditional colonial foods.
Canaan Railroad Days will take place Aug. 6 to Aug. 9, highlighting the town’s locomotive history with events centered around the Canaan Union Depot.
A car show is planned for September at North Canaan Elementary School. Crane said organizers have also asked NCEC to coordinate a vendor fair in conjunction with the event.
Pumpkin Fest and the annual scarecrow contest are scheduled for October. The Calico Fair will be held the first Saturday in November at Pilgrim House, followed by Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28.
The holiday season begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving with Winter Fest’s Parade of Lights. A vendor market will be held at the elementary school prior to the parade.
December planning includes the annual holiday house decorating, business window painting and Letters to Santa programs.
Concluding the meeting, NCEC Chair Jenn Crane said, “So, now it is all about filling these events and collaborations.” She added that volunteers are needed to support the events and prevent cancellations.
For more information visit www.northcanaaneventscommittee.org
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Sharon is the best place in the world to live
Sharon, Connecticut, is the best place in the world to live.
I’ve lived here for the past five years — originally from New York moved to Millerton in 1997 and found Sharon to be a very beneficial place to live. First of all, the townspeople are amazing. You have many shops and doctors such as Dr. Colite, the dentist.
He is a very caring person and understanding. For instance, I need a great deal of dental work and he offered to give me time payments however it wasn’t necessary I was very impressed because in the city that would never happen.
The hospital is another blessing. I have never had such a wonderful experience at a hospital in my life. I have a family that lives in Florida, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law came to visit me and fell in love with this town. When they went back to Florida she sold her home and bought a home in Sharon.
However, they moved and about six months later my mother-in-law had a serious problem. She was bleeding internally and was rushed to Sharon Hospital. What they did was a miracle. They called Dr. Cole and his skill stopped the bleeding so fast that she did not need a transfusion.
She needed extra help and is now in Sharon rehab center. We had found the care here is special and we appreciate everything that this town has to offer and I hope that the people of Sharon would feel the way that my family feels about Sharon, Connecticut.
Angelo Prunella
Sharon
Honor Yerkes and keep Salisbury Ambulance
Just before her death in 2019, Franny Yerkes made a generous gift to her beloved Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service (SVAS), where she served for thirty years as both an EMT and Secretary of the Squad. Her goal was to help ensure the long-term health and viability of SVAS by supporting the substantial costs of training and certification for Squad members and new recruits.
From this gift, the Franny Fund was created. Over the past five years, it has paid for training tuition and related expenses that would otherwise have been borne by individual members. Through additional contributions from Franny’s family and friends, the Fund has grown, and an endowment has now been established to keep the Franny Fund healthy and active in perpetuity.
SVAS is funded entirely by private donations and does not charge for its lifesaving services. If you value this remarkable organization that serves this very special town, please consider joining me in contributing to the SVAS Franny Fund Endowment. Donations may be sent to SVAS, P.O. Box 582, Salisbury.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 for the endowment.
I know Franny would be deeply pleased to see how her Fund continues to support the Squad she loved so much. Thank you.
Lee Hayes
Warren, Rhode Island
A New Chapter for Sharon Hospital: Our Commitment to the Northwest Corner
At Northwell Health, we are incredibly excited and deeply committed to our new hospitals in Connecticut, including the future of Sharon Hospital. We understand that Sharon Hospital is more than just a building; it is a cornerstone of this community, a place of healing, comfort, and trust built over generations.
We hear the concerns about healthcare access in rural areas – the challenges of a “health care desert,” the distances, and the need for reliable, local services. That’s precisely why our commitment to Sharon Hospital includes being a community partner, listening intently to community needs and ensuring you have reliable local care.
That commitment includes the preservation and advancement of vital services, including comprehensive women’s health services. We understand that the availability of obstetrics is profoundly important, and we are committed to maintaining these services at Sharon Hospital. Our goal is to ensure that future generations can continue to be safely born and compassionately cared for right here in Sharon.
As Attorney General William Tong rightly emphasized, “miles and minutes matter when it comes to labor and delivery,” and we believe every family deserves access to safe, local maternity care. At Northwell Health, we don’t believe in a “hub-and-spoke” model of care where patients requiring most specialized services are referred into only the most advanced facilities. We’ve always believed in care being provided as locally as possible, so long as local expertise can provide such care safely. We believe that obstetrical care at Sharon is evidence of this commitment.
But our commitment extends far beyond that. We will maintain Sharon Hospital as a full-service community hospital, ensuring 24/7 surgical capabilities and a robust, full-service emergency department. Our plan isn’t just about maintaining; it’s about improving services and enhancing access in the community. Northwell is incredibly committed to ambulatory network development – we are today a network of 28 hospitals and 1,050 ambulatory practices. While enhancing care for the community will always be viewed through the lens of capabilities at Sharon Hospital, ensuring the right care is being provided in the right setting is also a part of our commitment. At Northwell, nearly 80 percent of our patient encounters take place outside of a hospital, with a focus on providing services in the most efficient and patient-centric environment possible.
This acquisition is backed by significant investment. Northwell has committed to injecting at least $1 billion across Nuvance hospitals in Connecticut and New York over the next five years, a process that we’ve already begun, ensuring capital, expertise, and support for long-term fiscal stability and critical growth investments at places like Sharon. We’re also integrating advanced systems, like a unified electronic records management system, to enhance care coordination.
Our partnership with the Connecticut and New York Attorneys General, as well as the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, reflects our shared goal: to safeguard the interests of Connecticut patients and providers, ensuring accessible, quality healthcare for this community for years to come.
Northwell Health is honored to become an even greater part of this community, and we are grateful for the community’s engagement and partnership. We are confident that, together, we will not only secure Sharon Hospital’s future but elevate its capacity to serve, providing the essential, high-quality care this vibrant community deserves.
John D’Angelo, MD, Northwell Health President and CEO
Kevin Beiner, Northwell Health Chief Operating Officer
Sharon
One year into Donald Trump’s second term
One year into the Trump administration and we’ve seen the majority of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol invaders pardoned.
One year into the Trump administration and we’ve seen an increase in worldwide violence directed towards people of color, Hispanics and people of Asian and Jewish descent.
One year into the Trump administration and we’ve listened to threats of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico, taking over Greenland through whatever means necessary, an invasion of Venezuela and now possible further military actions in Iran.
One year into the Trump administration and we’ve seen I.C.E. troops move into several “sanctuary” cities which either have Democratic Governors or Mayors, or states which voted overwhelmingly Democratic in the last election. We’ve witnessed these I.C.E. soldiers act in alarmingly violent behaviors.
One year into the Trump administration and now we’ve witnessed the blatant killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good. Whatever situation she found herself driving in during an ice storm cost her her life. Mrs. Good could have been any of our daughters, sisters or Mother. Where does an I.C.E. officer get off calling her a “Fuc…in Bitch”? If these officers are sufficiently trained why didn’t they simply shoot out her tires and take her into custody for whatever infraction they perceived? Why are these I.C.E. officers so violent?
What has happened to this country? Could all of these overtly violent behaviors been sanctioned and unleashed by one man?
If so everyone who voted for Donald Trump has the blood of Renee Nicole Good on their hands.
Jim Wexler
Sharon
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A pinch of salt
Jan 21, 2026
The Salisbury Conservation Commission enjoyed reading the Lakeville Journal’s December 22 article, “Northwest Corner Municipalities Weigh Salt Usage as Winter Returns” and is grateful for his thoughtful research.
It so happens that the Conservation Commission was working on a similar article — that it hoped to get out before the summer — entitled “A Pinch of Salt.”Here are more thoughts on the road salt situation, especially as it pertains to Salisbury.
It is winter, and who knows what might fall from the skies onto our roads and make them unsafe for travel.Fortunately, Salisbury has nine cracker-jack members of the Highway Department, akaThe Road Crew, and after our discussion with Crew Chief, Russell Hoage on November 10th, and then with Hoage and Thomas Brazee, Road Chief, in December, we feel confident telling you that Salisbury’s roads will be safe for school buses, emergency vehicles, town trucks and private vehicles this winter while environmental issues are forefront on minds and being addressed.
The Salisbury Highway Department monitors three different weather apps 24/7 to determine when and where they need to tend to ice build-up on our 60 plus miles of town roads to make winter travel safe. They are on call around the clock.The microcosms at higher elevations, such as the top of Belgo Road, typically need earlier attention than the lower roads. Before the salt/sand mixture is applied to the roads, the crew uses articulating plows to scrape off as much snow and ice, creating conditions needing less melt. (Bear in mind that the State maintains Routes 41, 44, 112 and parts of 7 with pure salt for a no-snow mandate.)
Salisbury’s roads are maintained using Salisbury’s signature gorgeous orange trucks.A recently purchased truck cost about $300,000.The Salisbury Highway Department is building the body for this truck, saving the town a lot of money, which will be stainless to prevent corrosion.
Hoage orders about 800 tons of sodium chloride a year from Apalachee Salt in Rochester, NY for about $102,000.The salt is carefully stored in a shed that has a separate bay for sand.A mixture of 2 buckets of sand to one bucket of salt is used.Hoage feels this is the best balance of melt to traction to keep roads safe, costs down and have as little sodium chloride run off as possible.
While we certainly want safe roads in the winter, we also want to protect our water sources for safe drinking water and aquatic life.
The condition of having too much salt, or fertilizer, sewage, industrial waste, or silt build up in water, which then causes algal blooms and depletes oxygen, is called eutrophication.Eutrophication is harmful to aquatic life and to the plants and organisms that filter water and make it safe to drink.
It is interesting to think that several of Salisbury’s modest rivers and streams flow to the Atlantic Ocean.If one is standing at the Scoville Library, one can see the Wachocastinook Brook and maybe hear the Salmon Kill.They are both cold-water streams known for supporting trout, that come from high elevation Riga Lake and South Pond, and both flow into the Housatonic, which is a source for Long Island Sound.When we act locally by keeping chemicals out of our water, we are also acting globally and keeping pollutants out of our oceans.
The Highway Department asks everyone to slow down! And during storms, please travel only if necessary.
Please reach us at conservationcommission@salisburyct.us for comments and suggestions.
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