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Kent library honors Sam Callaway as Volunteer of the Year
Ruth Epstein
Nov 10, 2026
KENT — Sam Callaway is this year’s recipient of Kent Memorial Library’s Volunteer of the Year Award. The presentation was made by library Director Sarah Marshall at Sunday’s Volunteer Luncheon held at the Community House.
Callaway, an architect, has provided extensive free architectural services over many years for the new library building, which is under construction.
“We wouldn’t be here without you,” Marshall told him.
In his short acceptance speech, Callaway talked of the incredible team he worked with, including the staff, board and volunteers.
“I’ve come to believe that libraries in small towns are the engines of those towns,” he said. “We have to make sure they exist.”
Several committee reports were given during the event.
The book sale met its fundraising goal despite moving from the library’s usual Main Street site to a temporary location on the Kent Green during construction. Marshall described the result as a great achievement given the move away from busier Main Street.
Marshall assured those gathered that with the new facility there will be a book sale next year. The sale, which runs every weekend from May to October, is a major fundraiser. Its used books are all donated.
Dana Slaughter, who co-chaired the annual cocktail benefit held every spring, said this year’s event brought in the third-highest proceeds.
The raffle, which offered three $1,000 prizes in gift certificates to local businesses, was also a success, said Julie Saxton, a Kent Memorial Library board member.
“It was great that we could keep it local,” she said, thanking the sellers “for harassing everyone who went by.”
Marshall noted that it was rewarding to be able to buy local gift certificates. One winner requested a $500 gift certificate from NAPA and another from Ace Hardware.
At the raffle drawing following the Pumpkin Run on Oct. 25, Kent Center School third-grader Nami Kahn mistakenly read one winner’s name as David Poirier, her music teacher. The ticket belonged to David Perugini of Thomaston — but the next ticket she drew really was Poirier’s.
Looking ahead, the library will be putting out a cookbook and is seeking recipes from townspeople.
Marshall said she will also be giving tours of the new library soon and that construction is progressing very well.
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Police Blotter: Troop B
Lakeville Journal
Nov 10, 2026
Police Blotter: Troop B
John Coston
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.
North Canaan DUI
A 21-year-old driver was charged with driving under the influence after a single-vehicle crash on Casey Hill Road early Nov. 3, state police said.
Troopers responding to an automatic crash notification found that Samuel Green had been driving north near the intersection with Route 44 when his Ford F-150 struck a Frontier utility pole, left the road and came to rest atop a dirt mound, police said.
Green, the vehicle’s sole occupant, had no reported injuries.
He is scheduled to appear Nov. 13 in Torrington Superior Court.
North Canaan possession of a controlled substance
Police arrested a Torrington man in North Canaan on Nov. 8 for alleged possession of a controlled substance after a routine traffic stop investigating an equipment violation. Police reported that they stopped Shane Murphy, 33, on Deely Road at 12:26 a.m. due to improper tail lights. During a roadside interview, officers learned that narcotics were in the vehicle, according to police. A search allegedly led to the discovery of “presumptive crack/cocaine.”
Police arrested Murphy without incident for alleged possession of a controlled substance and issued an infraction for a failure to illuminate tail light. Murphy posted a $1,000 bond and was assigned a court date later thatmorning.
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
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Sharon median home price reaches $710K, up 16% from a year ago
Christine Bates
Nov 10, 2026
This home at 88 Sharon Valley Road, set on 6.9 acres with several outbuildings, sold for $675,000.
Christine Bates
SHARON — The median sale price of a single-family home in Sharon reached $710,000 for the 12 months ending Oct. 31.
The median, which excludes condominiums, was 16% higher than the $610,000 recorded for the 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2025, and 5% above the $677,500 recorded for the corresponding period in 2024.
Sharon’s record 12-month median was $880,000, which was for the year ending August 2024.
Single-family home sales totaled 33 for the 12 months ending Oct. 31, down from 37 for the same period in 2025 and 40 in 2024.
The town’s highest 12-month sales volume was 87, recorded for the 12 months ending in May 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Annual sales over the past decade have typically ranged from 30 to 60.
Housing inventory was up in early November, with 33 homes listed for sale, including one condominium. Of those, 13 had asking prices above $1 million and 11 were listed below the $710,000 median sale price.
Land inventory remained stable, with 16 parcels available through the Multiple Listing Service, ranging in asking price from $133,000 to $2.25 million.
There were also 13 homes listed for rent in Sharon in early November, including five unfurnished dwellings.
October Transfers
1 Lovers Lane – 2 bedroom/3.5 bath home in a commercial zone transferred by Matthew and Brittany Hosier to 1 Lovers LLC for $650,000.
87 Sharon Valley Road – 3 bedroom/2 bath home built in 1870 plus a studio on 1.5 acres of land transferred by Todd Allen Barnes and Anna Helena Barnes to Kate Lascar-Tronquois and Brian Michael Budak for $625,000.
88 Sharon Valley Road – 4 bedroom/2 bath home with outbuildings on 6.9 acres transferred by Michael and Susan Clemente to Matthew and Brittany Hosier for $675,000.
249 Cornwall Bridge Road – 3 bedroom/1.5 split level home on 2 acres transferred by Darlene Melody Hardzog to R&S Investments and Solutions for $210,000.
29 West Main Street – the former home of barbeque restaurant When Pigs Fly South was transferred by 29 West Main Sharon LLC to Kennedy Foods for $350,000.
*Town of Sharon real estate transfers recorded between Oct. 1, 2026, and Oct. 31, 2026, provided by Sharon Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS and market statistics from InfoSparks. Note that recorded transfers may 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.
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Free help navigating Medicare options in Falls Village
Patrick L. Sullivan
Nov 10, 2026
Amy Wynn, left, explores Medicare options with Amanda Halle at the David M. Hunt Library Nov. 5.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE — Amanda Halle of the Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging (WCAAA) was at the David M. Hunt Library Thursday, Nov. 5, to offer assistance with Medicare enrollment.
Halle explained that WCAAA is a nonprofit agency based in Waterbury that offers free assistance for people trying to navigate the intricacies of Medicare.
Amy Wynn of Falls Village was one of them. She is currently on her husband’s health insurance but wanted to know what her options are.
There were several, and explaining them in detail is where Halle’s expertise showed.
Medicare provides health insurance primarily for people 65 and older. Original Medicare consists of Part A, which helps cover hospital stays, certain skilled nursing care and hospice services, and Part B, which helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, tests and medical equipment.
Most people pay no monthly premium for Part A but pay a monthly premium for Part B. Both have deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs.
People generally become eligible at 65, although those covered through their own or a spouse’s current employment may be able to delay Part B enrollment without a penalty. Enrollment in Parts A and B is handled through Social Security.
Halle said the Torrington Social Security office is very efficient and advised going in person rather than trying to do it all online.
Then it gets tricky.
People who choose Original Medicare can buy Medicare supplement insurance, also known as Medigap, to help cover costs Medicare does not pay. These policies have monthly premiums, and people typically buy a separate prescription drug plan, known as Part D.
The alternative is Medicare Advantage, which provides Medicare benefits through a private insurer and usually includes prescription drug coverage. People generally continue paying their Part B premium, along with any additional plan premium, deductibles and copays.
Halle said Advantage plans are often a good choice for people who are “relatively healthy, don’t have a lot of doctors, don’t have a lot of drugs, and are true advocates for themselves.”
Advantage plans also offer extras such as gym memberships or allowances for over-the-counter products, although those benefits might not be useful to every individual.
Halle went through the options for Wynn, who took copious notes and said she would think it over.
Halle emphasized the mission of WCAAA, which is to explain — free of charge — the complexities of Medicare to people either enrolling for the first time or considering changes to their coverage.
WCAAA personnel work closely with town social services agents, who are another source of information and help.
Halle will hold a session at the Falls Village Senior Center with town social services director Theresa Graney Tuesday, Nov. 17. Registration is required. Email socialservices@canaanfallsvillage.org or call 860-824-9855.
WCAAA’s website is wcaaa.org and the phone number is 800-994-9422.
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Roving Clover seeks $100,000 to replace aging book bus
Ruth Epstein
Nov 10, 2026
Heather Mathews’ Roving Clover book bus brings free books to children across the Northwest Corner.
Ruth Epstein
SHARON — Heather Mathews’ Roving Clover book bus has delivered thousands of free books to children across the Northwest Corner. Now, after repeated breakdowns, the aging green bus needs replacing.
Mathews is working to raise $100,000 to buy and convert another used bus. She said she has raised $45,000 toward that goal.
A teacher at Sharon Center School for 36 years and currently its reading interventionist, Mathews described the project during a presentation at the Taghhannuck Grange Saturday, Nov. 7. The Grange presented her with a $1,000 donation.
Mathews said transportation barriers can make it difficult for some Northwest Corner families to visit libraries. She wanted to help children get books during the summer, when the absence of classroom instruction can contribute to learning loss, often called the “summer slide.” She said the pull of screen time adds to the challenge.
“I wanted to break that cycle and get books into the hands of kids,” she said.
Mathews originally used the bus for tutoring. She bought it four years ago in Maine, when it was 24 years old and had 130,000 miles, and later transformed it into the Roving Clover book bus.
Her first stop was at the Memorial Day parade in Sharon in 2023. That summer, she loaded the bus with free books and traveled to town concerts, day camps, summer school, festivals and flu clinics — anywhere children could come aboard and get “as many books as they could hold.”
In addition to attending events in all Region One towns, she has ventured to Torrington, Barkhamsted and Millbrook. She is on the road from Memorial Day to Halloween.
“If someone calls, I go,” she said.
Over the years, she has made the interior of the bus a cozy retreat, with big, fluffy pillows where children can relax and read. Curtains provide a homey look, and lights cast a warm glow.
All the books are donated, and children may take as many as they wish. Mathews said she has distributed more than 90,000 books.
In her newsletter, “The Roving Clover News,” Mathews describes the used books she offers: “They are getting a second chance like the little green bus. The books are dropped off or I pick them up, sort them, clean them and pack them according to genre.”
She described the genres children enjoy, including graphic novels, historical fiction and nonfiction. Some parents are resistant to graphic novels, she said, but they can lead youngsters to explore other types of books.
The response has been heartwarming, Mathews said, describing children’s delight when choosing books.
“I was at a camp last summer, which had all types of amenities, and was so pleased when one boy came over and said about the bus, ‘This is better than the zipline.’”
When a child requests a book she does not have, Mathews often uses her own money to buy a copy from Oblong Books in Millerton.
But the bus has broken down several times recently, prompting the campaign to replace it. Mathews estimates buying another used bus and converting it for the program will cost $100,000.
For information about donating, visit therovingclover.org
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Region One weighs sports league shift, announces mental health grant
Patrick Stachniak
Nov 10, 2026
Housatonic Valley Regional High School
File photo
FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School is exploring alternatives to the Berkshire League as other schools consider leaving, potentially forcing the Mountaineers to travel farther and face tougher competition.
At the Nov. 2 Region One Board of Education meeting, Athletic Director Anne MacNeil outlined possible moves to other leagues. The board also heard updates on special education and the study of how the district’s schools are organized, and announced a $181,000 grant for student mental health services.
MacNeil said Housatonic may need to consider joining the Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) or North Central Connecticut Conference (NCCC), or pursue a broader merger involving the Berkshire League.
According to MacNeil, Nonnewaug High School has applied to join the NVL for the 2027-28 school year, seeking more competitive varsity games and more opportunities for sub-varsity teams. She said conversations with Lakeview High School officials indicated that school may also leave the Berkshire League.
“This is not something that I am jumping to do. I don’t want to change leagues,” MacNeil said. But, she added, “I don’t feel we have the luxury of having a strong choice.”
MacNeil has scheduled meetings with representatives of both leagues to discuss options, including a full merger with the Berkshire League. She said gathering feedback from coaches, administrators and families would be the next step.
Travel would be a significant consideration. According to MacNeil’s presentation, the average trip to Berkshire League schools takes about 43 minutes. That would increase to about an hour in the NCCC and 80 minutes in the NVL.
Board Chair Patricia Mechare, who represents Falls Village, questioned how longer trips would affect students’ schoolwork. She also raised concerns about competing against larger schools, including Torrington High.
“Can we be competitive?” Mechare asked. “No matter how much talent you may have… I would just hate to see kids get discouraged if all they did was lose.”
MacNeil said she believed the Mountaineers could compete and that games requiring longer trips would be scheduled on Fridays to limit disruptions during the school week.
Board members also asked about competing independently. MacNeil said that would require arranging individual games across all sports and would eliminate opportunities to compete for league championships.
“It sounds like we’re very much not in the driver’s seat and it’s sort of going to be dependent on how things shake out with these two schools,” said board member David Valcin of Salisbury.
Principal Ian Strever said administrators expect to know more later this month after meeting with the two leagues. Broader changes involving the Berkshire League would take effect in the 2028-29 school year, he said.
While the athletic discussions focused on possible changes ahead, Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley announced new funding for student mental health.
Region One learned that it would receive $181,000 through the Rural Health Transformation Grant. Brady-Shanley said the funding would support existing social workers and expand access to free telehealth counseling for students who need therapeutic support.
“It’s one huge exciting access piece to this grant,” she said.
The telehealth services would allow students to receive counseling at home, expanding access beyond the school setting.
The announcement came alongside an update from Pupil Services Director Rebecca Gaschel-Clark, who said special education enrollment had remained steady overall this school year, with 13 students entering and 13 leaving across the district’s towns.
In 2025, the board approved a 7.72% increase in the Pupil Services budget, bringing it to $7,522,557. That budget covers special education, counseling, nursing, speech and language assistance, and other student support services.
Gaschel-Clark said staff assignments had shifted as students’ needs changed. She emphasized collaboration between general education and special education staff.
“We’re always riding the wave and we’re always finding that if we’ve lost the need for services in some areas, we’ll usually find them in others. We’ve done a lot of reassigning,” she said.
She thanked staff for their flexibility in responding to those changes.
Mechare asked whether the district’s investment in student support services had become a draw for families considering moving to the area.
Gaschel-Clark said she had no data establishing that connection, but had heard positive feedback from families, including parents of preschoolers.
“And they felt really comfortable that they would get that same treatment and that same experience,” she said.
Brady-Shanley also reported that the district had completed its series of town halls gathering public feedback for the Region One organizational study and was finalizing membership of the committee that will consider reorganization options
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