Housatonic FFA introduces new officers at annual picnic

NORTH CANAAN —Housatonic Valley Regional High School FFA held the annual alumni summer picnic at the former Lindell’s Lumber building July 25.

The change of scenery gave the picnic a new touch to stay out of the weather. Community members, past and present FFA members, family, friends, and alumni who show continuous support and provide the ability for events such as the picnic were in attendance.

The picnic began with a potluck meal as the newly inducted officers read off the activity reports from the previous year. They provided information and incredible accomplishments to all who attended, sharing essential updates to the coming year’s program, such as the generosity of the late Katherine Gannett, who included the FFA chapter in her will.

The funds donated to the FFA program were acknowledged to the audience and will be set forth to the program. Cricket Jacquier spoke about the current agricultural issues and the incredible worth the FFA program provides its students.

The prior school years FFA officers: President Kara Franks (Kent), Vice President Kayla Jacquier (East Canaan), Secretary Riley Mahaffey (Amenia), Treasurer Brandt Bosio (Canaan), Reporter Lauren Sorrell (Canaan); Parliamentarian Tyler Anderson (Sharon), and Historian Taylor Christen (Kent), passed down their responsibilities to the incoming 2024-25 HVRHS FFA officers.

The new officers were then officially introduced: President Chris Crane, junior (Canaan), Vice President Riley Mahaffey, junior (Amenia); Secretary Hayden Bachman, sophomore (Falls Village), Treasurer Tyler Anderson, senior (Sharon), Reporter Hannah Johnson, junior (Canaan), Parliamentarian Lauren Sorrell, junior (Canaan), and Historian Alanna Tatro, sophomore (Canaan).

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