Most of Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s senior football players caught up with The Lakeville Journal Thursday, Sept. 11. Back row from left, Cole Simonds, Owen Riemer and Wes Allyn. Front row from left, Cohen Cecchinato, Tyler Roberts, Hunter Conklin and Nick Crodelle. Not pictured is Logan Labshere, who was absent from school that day.
FALLS VILLAGE — This football season, eight Housatonic Valley Regional High School seniors will play for the Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic co-op team.
This class marks the first grade of HVRHS students to spend four years with the GNH team, which Housatonic joined in 2021.
The players got a taste of the postseason in their first two years, advancing into the state tournament in 2022 and 2023 before entering a rebuild year in 2024. This season, they’re ready to make a comeback.
Wes Allyn was named captain of the co-op team. At 6-foot 4-inches and 210 pounds, Allyn has proven himself a force on both sides of the ball as starting tight end and linebacker. He is being recruited by college programs in the region and said he was offered a roster spot at University of New England.
On being named captain, Allyn humbly said, “There’s a ton of seniors on the team that deserve captain just as much as I do... I just get to go out and do the coin toss.” When asked if he’ll choose heads or tails, he said, “[Coach] Big Sal said heads but I’m kind of a ‘tails never fails’ guy.”
Owen Riemer was the leading touchdown scorer on GNH last year, playing nearly every snap as either running back, wide receiver, defensive back, punter or kick returner. Riemer took a beating as the primary ball carrier and almost didn’t return this year for the sake of his body. But his love for the game and his teammates drew him back for one last ride.
“I just missed it, so I had to play,” said Riemer after rejoining the team before the first game of the regular season.
Nick Crodelle is listed at quarterback this year. Crodelle played some snaps as back-up QB last season and said the GNH offense is ready to take on Naugatuck Valley League competition. Crodelle is also listed as a defensive back and running back.
“The offensive line is probably the best we’ve seen in the last couple years,” said Crodelle. “We’re running ‘full house’ this year, so a lot of backs in the backfield.”
Tyler Roberts and Cole Simonds will be two of those backs in the backfield, and they both expect to play on both sides of the ball as defensive corner and safety respectively. Simonds started at safety most of last season. Roberts made impactful plays last year, including a late fourth quarter onside kick-off recovery against rival Torrington High School under the lights with a packed crowd.
Looking ahead, Roberts said, “I just want to make the most of it as my last year. I haven’t really been a big contributor and I want to contribute more.”
Hunter Conklin, Logan Labshere and Cohen Cecchinato are three of GNH’s senior linemen. Coach Scott Salius said this summer the linemen are the most important component of a varsity team and he has high hopes for the big men up front.
Conklin said the experience and athleticism of the line will help on both offense and defense.
“Being big and strong is just as important as being fast,” Conklin said.
“As long as they stay disciplined, that’s the most important thing,” added Riemer.
GNH began the regular season with a non-league game at Plainville High School Friday, Sept. 12.
NVL competition begins at Woodland Regional High School Friday, Sept. 19.
GNH’s home opener is scheduled against Derby High School Friday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. at Gilbert School’s Van Why Field.
“Hopefully we win,” said Conklin. “And make memories with the guys that I’ll think about for the rest of my life.”
WOODBURY — Nonnewaug High School claimed twin titles in the Berkshire League soccer tournament finals.
The school's girls and boys teams were named league champions after finishing the regular season with the best win/loss records. Winning the tournaments earned each team a plaque and added to the program's success in 2025.
Both of Nonnewaug's varsity teams faced off against their counterparts from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in the tournament finals in Woodbury Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The boys game was played first. Housatonic took a quick 2-0 lead with goals from Gustavo Portillo and Jackson McAvoy. Nonnewaug responded in the second half with three consecutive goals: first from Cash Medonis then two from Vincenzo Rose. The Nonnewaug boys won 3-2.
The Nonnewaug girls team celebrates as victors in the Berkshire League tournament final Oct. 28.Photo by Riley Klein
The girls game followed. Nonnewaug and Housatonic traded goals early on and the score was tied 2-2 at halftime. Nonnewaug scored twice more in the second half to win 4-2. Housatonic's goals were scored by Ava Segalla. Rosie Makarewicz scored twice for Nonnewaug and Hailey Goldman and Aubrey Doran scored once.
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference soccer tournaments begin Oct. 31. Both Housatonic teams qualified for the Class S tournament and both Nonnewaug teams qualified for the Class M tournament.
TORRINGTON — Joan Jardine, 90, of Mill Lane, passed away at home on Oct. 23, 2025. She was the loving wife of David Jardine.
Joan was born Aug. 9, 1935, in Throop, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Joseph and Vera (Ezepchick) Zigmont.
Joan graduated from Harding High School.
She was a working artist for much of her adult life, starting her career studying plein air impressionist oil painting at the Cape Cod School of Art. Her work evolved to include a more representational style, and eventually a large body of abstract pieces. Her award-winning work has been shown in galleries and juried art shows throughout southern New England.
She is survived by her daughter Leslie and her husband George, brothers Joseph, Victor, and their families, nephews Gregory, Christopher, and their families, daughter-in- law Huong, and the extended Jardine family. She was predeceased by her son Douglas, and brother Michael.
A memorial service will be held at All Saints of America Orthodox Church, 313 Twin Lakes Road, Salisbury, Connecticut on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the All Saints of America Orthodox Church, PO Box 45, Salisbury, CT 06068.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
The ofrenda at Race Brook Lodge.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, the Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield will celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead: El Día de los Muertos.
Mexican Day of the Dead takes place the first weekend of November and honors los difuntos (the deceased) with ofrendas (offerings) on an altar featuring photos of loved ones who have passed on. Elements of earth, wind, fire and water are represented with food, papel picada (colorful decorative paper), candles and tequila left for the beloved deceased. The departed are believed to travel from the spirit world and briefly join the living for a night of remembrance and revelry.
Music and events programmer Alex Harvey has been producing Día de los Muertos at Race Brook for the past three years, and with the closing of the venue looming, the festival takes on a deep and personal meaning.
“The anchoring gesture of Race Brook, long before I arrived on the scene, has always been to cultivate a space that thins the veil between the worlds. Something otherworldly is hiding in the mountain’s towering shadow: the whispering spring-fed stream, the dense lineage that founder Dave Rothstein brings, the woodsmoke that rises every night of the year from the firepits. This space communes with the spirits,” said Harvey.
“And so we cradle a special ache in our hearts as the leaves turn and the beautiful dance of Race Brook’s project of cultural pollination draws to a close. Fitting, then, to return for one last activation — Día de Los Muertos — a celebration of the end of things. A remembrance of those who’ve made the transition we are all destined for, but also a time when we honor many types of loss. And while we will all mourn those who aren’t there in the flesh, we will also, with humility, come as mourners for the space itself,” Harvey continued.
The event will be a night to remember, to celebrate and to release with ritual, music, and communal remembrance. Participants are invited to bring photos, talismans and offerings for the ofrenda (offering), as well as songs, poems or toasts to share in tribute to loved ones who have passed.
Mexican American musicians Maria Puente Flores, Mateo Cano, Víctor Lizabeth, Oviedo Horta Jr. and Andrea from Pulso de Barro, an ensemble rooted in the Veracruz tradition of son jarocho, will be performing.
Translating to “Pulse of the Clay,” their name reflects a deep connection to the earth and to the living heartbeat of culture itself. Through a synthesis of Mexican, Cuban, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican traditions, Pulso de Barro merges poetry, rhythm and communal song as pathways to coexistence with nature. Their performances feature the jarana and leona (stringed instruments), quijada, cajón, maracas, and marimba (percussion), the tarima (percussive dance platform) and a call-and-response of folk and original versadas.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. in the Barn Space with a Fandango de los Muertos featuring Pulso de Barro, a Race Brook favorite. At 8 p.m., the Open Mic for the Dead invites guests to speak directly into the spirit world — through word, music or memory. The night culminates at 10:30 p.m. with a Fandango for the Dead, a participatory music and dance celebration. Bring your instruments, your voices and your dancing shoes.
Race Brook Lodge is a unique rustic getaway destination for relaxation, hiking, live music, workshops, weddings and more. Sadly, it will be closing for good later in 2026, ending a storied chapter of Berkshire music, art, culture and well-being.
Come experience an evening that honors lost loved ones and the end of a Berkshire institution. The cycle of life endures. Surely, resurrection is in the cards for Race Brook Lodge.
For Tickets and info, visit: rblodge.com
