Fishing Derby attracts hundreds to Tatro’s Pond

WINSTED — More than 125 children, along with parents and friends, were out at Tatro’s Pond Sunday, May 22, for the annual Elks Kids’ Fishing Derby.The day brought sunny skies and slightly cooler air than Saturday, which saw rain come down on the town’s 75th annual Rotary Pet Parade. Volunteer crews turned out in force to clean up Tatro’s Pond and the surrounding park and parking lot. Children ages 4 through 12 and their parents lined up along the shores on all sides of the pond in search of the day’s winning catch. And everyone helped devour more than 350 free hot dogs.The winning trout in both boys and girls divisions measured 18 3/4 inches. The boys winner was Jace Kinsman while Olivia Travaglin led the girls.The pond was originally owned by the Tatro family, who gave it to the Machowski family many years ago. The Machowskis later deeded the property to the town, with the provision that the town would take responsbility for maintenance. A volunteer group, Friends of Tatro’s Pond, has taken over the job of cleaning up the pond in recent years. Organizer Gary Peterson, a past exalted ruler at the Winsted Elks Lodge, has been organizing the event for the past three decades. He collects an assortment of prizes for the derby each year, including fishing gear, gift certificates and brand-new bicycles.

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Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation
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CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.

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SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

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