Housatonic Valley Regional High School renovations nearly finished

The auditorium at Housatonic Valley Regional High School is brighter and has new, very comfortable seats.

Patrick L. Sullivan

Housatonic Valley Regional High School renovations nearly finished

FALLS VILLAGE — At an open house Monday, Nov. 4, visitors took in the results of the $5.64 million renovation project and chatted with teachers and staff in the various departments at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

The auditorium was almost finished. (There is still some audiovisual equipment to be installed in the auditorium and cafeteria.)

There are separate rooms at the back for lighting and sound crews.

And the hall has new, comfortable seats.

The entire room is noticeably brighter.

Music teacher Tom Krupa was enthusiastic, noting with the new sound equipment he can record concerts and shows directly from the control board, instead of using a hodgepodge of devices.

He said he will now be able to put separate microphones on up to 256 musicians.

HVRHS senior Harper Howe led a tour of the recent renovations.Patrick L. Sullivan

Region One Business Manager Sam Herrick listed the different projects, including the auditorium, cafeteria, bathrooms, the cupola on the top of the building, HVAC, a new generator, fire alarms, circuit breakers and numerous masonry projects.

Herrick emphasized at several points that the items being replaced or areas renovated had not seen significant changes in as much as 60 years.

He thanked facilities Manager Jeff Lloyd for acting as “clerk of the works,” keeping track of numerous details and keeping in constant touch with himself, High School Principal Ian Strever and Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley.

He noted the original idea was that the overall project would take two years, but it was mostly completed in one year and “within budget.”

HVRHS seniors took small groups on tours. Harper Howe of North Canaan led a group that included two reporters and Pat Mechare, chair of the Region One Board of Education.

The tour included the new and improved cafeteria, which had new seating and tables and was also noticeably brighter.

Latest News

The Hydrilla Menace: Twin Lakes group buoyed by DEEP’s assault on invasive hydrilla in 2025

A detail of a whorl of hydrilla pulled from the shallow waters at O’Hara’s Landing Marina in fall of 2024.

Photo by Debra A. Aleksinas

SALISBURY — The Twin Lakes Association is taking an earlier and more aggressive approach to fighting the spread of invasive hydrilla in East Twin Lake by dosing the whole northeast bay, from May through October, with low-level herbicide treatments instead of spot treatments.

The goal, said Russ Conklin, the TLA’s vice president of lake management, is to sustain herbicide concentration over the 2025 growing season.

Keep ReadingShow less
Frederick Wright Hosterman

KENT — Frederick Wright Hosterman passed away peacefully in his home in Kent on April 16, 2025. Born in 1929 in Auburn, Nebraska, he was the son of farmers. He attended a one-room schoolhouse just outside of Brownville, Nebraska, adjacent to his family’s farm. The little brick schoolhouse is still standing! After graduating from high school, Fred attended the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), eventually earning a master’s degree in agronomy. He took a job with Monsanto in Buffalo, New York, where the company was a pioneer in applying biotechnology to agricultural sciences. In Buffalo, Fred met his future wife, Dorothy. Fred and Dorothy moved to New York City for several years in the early 1960s, before settling down in Norwalk. In Norwalk, Fred and Dorothy had three children. The family later moved to Kent. In 1980, Fred and Dorothy divorced, and Fred bought a large tract of land on Carter Road in Kent. He built a house there, largely by himself, which he maintained until his death at age 95. After taking early retirement, he spent the following decades working on his property, adding various buildings, woodcrafting, landscaping, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nancy (Case) Brenner

CANAAN — Nancy (Case) Brenner, 81, of Canaan, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, following a long illness on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

Nancy was born on April 10, 1944, to the late Ray Sargeant Case Sr. and Beatrice Southey Case. She was the second youngest of five children, predeceased by her three brothers, Ray S. Case Jr., David E. Case and Douglas C. Case, and her sister Linda (Case) Olson. She grew up in New Hartford and Winsted, where she graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 High School.

Keep ReadingShow less