Home invasions aren't 'fun'


An alert Winsted policeman ended a night of "fun" for five area youngsters, concluding a night that started out at the Winchester boat launching area.

I refer to them as youngsters, but four 17 year-olds and one 18 year-old certainly should have known they were out of bounds when entering two area homes in the dead of night and busting mailboxes.

Who knows where they were headed when they passed Officer Chris Roy along the way. After a brief chase, Officer Roy managed to stop the vehicle, ending a night of terror for two families whose homes they forcibly entered.

Police Chief Nick Guerriero informed me a few days ago that the department has been inundated with calls along these lines but maybe not to the extent of this one.

Mailbox damage is an ongoing problem, something I can attest to. In fact, mine could be one of the boxes damaged during this spree, as it happened the same night.

Anyway, the Winsted Police Department and Officer Chris Roy are to be congratulated for a job well done.


u u u


A Gift For You: Tax refunds, insurance payouts, unclosed bank accounts — all these add up to some $3 billion in unclaimed cash and assets being held by the U.S. government.

Some of it might be yours.

If, for instance, you didn’t file an income tax return in the last couple of years because you didn’t owe taxes, you might have some money coming to you, refunds that you failed to claim by not filing a return. There’s a three-year window to claim such funds. After that, it’s the government’s.


u u u


Where’s Ralph?: Someone said to me recently, "Where’s Ralph Nader? If he’s running for the presidency, why haven’t we heard from him?"

That’s a question easily answered.

As soon as the Democratic ticket is straightened out and we have candidates from the two major parties going at each other, we’ll hear from Ralph. I’m sure he knows what he’s up against in his effort to be a candidate for the top office in the land. I’m also sure that he knows he is an underdog in the race. And I’m sure he knows he will have the opportunity to have his views known across the country.

He will be offering information that will not come from the Democratic or Republican candidates.

I enjoyed reading a portion of a recent column which appeared in the press. Here it is: "The people hear nothing about what McCain, Obama and Clinton will do about runaway drug, gasoline and heating oil prices, not to mention what these senators have already done in these areas of public outcry."

Whoever thought that the town of Winchester would have a native son run for president of the United States, not once but five times?


u u u


World’s Oldest: At the age of 111, Tomoji Tanabe was recognized as the world’s oldest male with a certificate from Guinness World Records. Tanabe says that he keep a daily diary, drinks milk, and avoids alcohol and cigarettes. Coincidentally, the world’s oldest person, a woman named Yone Minagawa, age 114, is also Japanese. In the past 10 years, the number of Japanese living past 100 has almost quadrupled and is expected to grow to over 28,000 this year.

Latest News

Thanks To You, Our Recent Donors

Thanks To You, Our Recent Donors

Your contributions over the last year have made delivering trusted, local news possible.

Listed are donors who generously made a gift to The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News between January 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026*

Keep ReadingShow less

Swift House committee learns of potential buyer at first meeting

Swift House committee learns of potential buyer at first meeting

Swift House in Kent.

By Ruth Epstein

KENT — The fate of the Swift House is once again front and center after the newly formed Swift House Investigation Committee held its first meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24 — and learned that a local attorney is interested in buying the historic property.

At the meeting’s outset, committee member Marge Smith said local attorney Anthony Palumbo has expressed interest in purchasing the building. “He loves it and said he’d be honored to buy it and maybe lease part of it back to the town. He would be OK with a conservation easement.” She said he supports several previously proposed uses, including a welcome center and exhibition space.

Keep ReadingShow less
history

Sharon median home price rises to $710,000 as inventory tightens

Sharon median home price rises to $710,000 as inventory tightens

119 Amenia Union Road — A four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home built in 1872 on 4.42 acres recently sold for $522,500.

Photo by Christine Bates

SHARON — The 12-month trailing median price for a single-family home in Sharon increased to $710,000 for the period ending Jan. 31, 2026 — its highest point since September 2024 as home values across much of Connecticut continued to edge higher.

The figure marks an increase from the $560,000 median recorded for the 12 months ending Jan. 31, 2025, and from $645,000 for the comparable period ending Jan. 31, 2024. While January and February are typically slow months, the 12-month rolling figure reflects a broader reset.

Keep ReadingShow less
real estate
google preferred source

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

Kent's towering snowman honors Robbie Kennedy

Kent's towering snowman honors Robbie Kennedy

Jeff Kennedy visits the 20-foot-high snowman located in the Golden Falcon lot in Kent that was created in honor of his late brother Robbie Kennedy.

Note: An earlier version of this article included a different photo.

Photo by Ruth Epstein

KENT – Snowman Robbie stands prominently in the center of town, just as its namesake — longtime Kent resident Robbie Kennedy — did for so many years.

The 20-foot-high frozen sculpture pays tribute to Kennedy, who died Feb. 9, at the age of 71. A beloved member of the community, he was a familiar sight riding his bicycle along town roads waving to all he passed. Many people knew him from his days working at Davis IGA, the local supermarket. He was embraced by the Kent Fire Department, where he was named an active emergency member and whose members chipped in to buy him a new bike, and by the Kent School football team where coach Ben Martin made him his assistant. At Templeton Farms senior apartments, he was the helpful tenant, always eager to assist his neighbors.

Keep ReadingShow less
community

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Help Wanted

PART-TIME CARE-GIVER NEEDED: possibly LIVE-IN. Bright private STUDIO on 10 acres. Queen Bed, En-Suite Bathroom, Kitchenette & Garage. SHARON 407-620-7777.

The Salisbury Association’s Land Trust seeks part-time Land Steward: Responsibilities include monitoring easements and preserves, filing monitoring reports, documenting and reporting violations or encroachments, and recruiting and supervising volunteer monitors. The Steward will also execute preserve and trail stewardship according to Management Plans and manage contractor activity. Up to 10 hours per week, compensation commensurate with experience. Further details and requirements are available on request. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to info@salisburyassociation.org. The Salisbury Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Keep ReadingShow less

To save birds, plant for caterpillars

To save birds, plant for caterpillars

Fireweed attracts the fabulous hummingbird sphinx moth.

Photo provided by Wild Seed Project

You must figure that, as rough as the cold weather has been for us, it’s worse for wildlife. Here, by the banks of the Housatonic, flocks of dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, tufted titmice and black-capped chickadees have taken up residence in the boxwood — presumably because of its proximity to the breakfast bar. I no longer have a bird feeder after bears destroyed two versions and simply throw chili-flavored birdseed onto the snow twice a day. The tiny creatures from the boxwood are joined by blue jays, cardinals and a solitary flicker.

These birds will soon enough be nesting, and their babies will require a nonstop diet of caterpillars. This source of soft-bodied protein makes up more than 90 percent of native bird chicks’ diets, with each clutch consuming between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars before they fledge. That means we need a lot of caterpillars if we want our bird population to survive.

Keep ReadingShow less
the ungardener
google preferred source

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