Housatonic River Commission celebrates ‘Wild and Scenic’ status

U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes (D-5), center right, with Lynn Werner of the Housatonic Valley Association at the Housatonic River Commission event Saturday, Sept. 7.

Patrick L. Sullivan

Housatonic River Commission celebrates ‘Wild and Scenic’ status

SHARON — The Housatonic River Commission threw a bit of a party Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, at Housatonic Meadows State Park in Sharon.

The event was a celebration of the river’s designation as a Wild and Scenic River.

The federal status became official in 2023.

The Housatonic River Commission is composed of members from the seven towns included in the 41 mile Wild and Scenic stretch of the Housatonic: New Milford, Kent, Sharon, Cornwall, Falls Village, North Canaan and Salisbury.

Commission chair Bill Tingley thanked the organizations and agencies that worked with the Housatonic River Commission to protect the river, including the National Park Service, Housatonic Valley Association, Northwest Hills Council of Governments, FirstLight, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Tingley also thanked the volunteers of the Housatonic Meadows Preservation Action (HMPA) for their work on the park after DEEP, in 2021, removed some 100 trees, 75 pine and 25 century oaks, deemed hazardous.

After a subsequent outcry, DEEP, in consultation with the HMPA, began planting new trees on October 2022, and the Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation to oversee DEEP’s hazardous tree removal policies.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) with Lynn Werner of the Housatonic Valley Association at the Housatonic River Commission’s Sept. 7 event.Patrick L. Sullivan

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) was on hand, and in brief remarks praised “the people willing to help protect these resources” for future generations.

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5) also attended, and noted that the Fifth District contains not one but two Wild and Scenic Rivers (the other being the Farmington).

“This is a big deal,” Hayes said. “This is like an insurance policy.”

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) could not attend, but Tingley read a letter congratulating the commission on achieving the Wild and Scenic designation.

State Representative Maria Horn (D-64) was also on hand.

Music was provided by Hudson Crossing.

Latest News

Paul Winter to celebrate the winter solstice at Saint James Place

The Paul Winter Consort will perform at St. James Cathedral in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Saturday, Dec. 21.

Photo by Matthew Muise

Seven-time Grammy winning saxophonist Paul Winter, with the Paul Winter Consort, will return to celebrate the Winter Solstice on Saturday, Dec. 21, with sold out shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

A uniquely intimate solstice celebration, in contrast to the large-scale productions done for many years in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York, it promises to deliver everything audiences have come to love and expect.

Keep ReadingShow less
Developers withdraw application to expand Wake Robin Inn

Wake Robin Inn is located on Sharon Road in Lakeville.

Photo by John Coston

LAKEVILLE — Aradev LLC has withdrawn its application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special permit to redevelop the Wake Robin Inn.

In a letter submitted to P&Z Chair Michael Klemens on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 17, law outfit Mackey, Butts & Whalen LLP announced its client’s withdrawal.

Keep ReadingShow less
North Canaan antique mall fills resale niche

The 403 Group is located at 403 Ashley Falls Road, where the old This N’ That for Habitat used to be.

Photo by Robin Roraback

NORTH CANAAN — The 403 Group Antique Market is “A hidden secret, a little off the beaten path, but worth the drive,” said Carey Field, who has a booth called “Wild Turkey” there.

“It’s a really fun group of dealers,” Field said. “A really eclectic group of antiques and the prices are reasonable.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Shooting the breeze with Christopher Little

Martin Tandler

Little with his dog, Ruby.

"What I really feel lucky about is having had the chance to meet and photograph so many people who had a real impact on our lives,” said Christopher Little whose new memoir, “Shooting the Breeze: Memories of a Photojournalist” was just released. The book is as eclectic and colorful as the man himself and offers an intimate look into Little’s globe-trotting career spent behind the lens, capturing some of the most iconic figures, events, and human stories of the past half-century.

In 2021, the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas acquired Little’s photographic archive.

Keep ReadingShow less