All hands on deck at FFA store

FALLS VILLAGE — Wednesday, Nov. 30, was the first of two production nights for the Housatonic Valley FFA chapter at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

FFA members plus faculty and parents (often FFA alums) turned out to make wreaths for sale in the FFA holiday store.

Tim Downs gave Mumyn Aiuba a tutorial on how to trim greens so they can be bunched together and then assembled into wreaths.

Aiuba, a junior and an exchange student from Mozambique, is staying with the Downs family in Falls Village.

Jennifer Markow ‘93 and son Simon were busy wrapping bunches of greens with green wire.

Mackenzie Casey joined them, and between wraps gave a quick rundown of what the FFA does with the proceeds from the sale of trees, wreaths, poinsettas and sundries.

The holiday store proceeds represent a significant chunk of the organization’s budget.

The money goes to events such as the FFA national convention, to cover travel and lodging.

Other uses include an alumni dinner, scholarships, donations to food banks, and field trips.

A second production night is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m.

FFA members past and present trimmed greens and made wreaths. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

FFA members past and present trimmed greens and made wreaths. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

FFA members past and present trimmed greens and made wreaths. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

FFA members past and present trimmed greens and made wreaths. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

FFA members past and present trimmed greens and made wreaths. Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
Related Articles Around the Web

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less