Housy lax places second in league tourney

Runner-up trophy for the Western Connecticut Lacrosse Conference 2024 tournament goes to HVRHS.
Riley Klein
Runner-up trophy for the Western Connecticut Lacrosse Conference 2024 tournament goes to HVRHS.
WATERTOWN — St. Paul Catholic High School defeated Housatonic Valley Regional High School 13-12 in the riveting Western Connecticut Lacrosse Conference championship game Tuesday, May 21.
The lead changed hands every quarter and the game came down to the wire. HVRHS had a scoring chance with less than 30 seconds to play, but St. Paul held strong and claimed the title.
HVRHS's Lou Haemmerle lines up against fellow all-conference midfielder Vanessa Longo.Riley Klein
This anticipated showdown between the top two WCLC teams featured a total of 10 all-conference players. St. Paul had six: Emily Walker, Jocelyn Kennedy, Vanessa Longo, Jaylie Hernandez, Corinne Mola, and Samantha Sein. HVRHS had four: Lou Haemmerle, Marissa Zinke, Sophie Nason, and Lola Clayton (injured for title game).
Played on neutral ground at John J. Mills Complex in Watertown, conditions were toasty at game time, about 83 degrees with high humidity and no shade. Ice packs were in high demand for players seeking relief from the heat during timeouts.
Sophie Nason kept HVRHS in the game by saving at least eight shots.
The score see-sawed throughout the game with neither team leading by more than two points at any time.
HVRHS led 4-3 at the end of the first quarter, but St. Paul was on top 9-8 at the half. The Mountaineers then reclaimed the lead, up 12-11 going into the final quarter.
Both teams were running on fumes by the fourth. St. Paul scored early to tie it up at 12. The Falcons scored again with seven minutes to play and proceeded to stall and drain the clock.
HVRHS had a chance to tie with seconds remaining.Riley Klein
With 30 seconds remaining Lou Haemmerle forced a turnover and sprinted the length of the field. The Mountaineers charged with time ticking away. Haemmerle sent a pass to the inside, which got broken up before reaching its target. A last-ditch shovel shot was blocked by St. Paul goalie Samantha Sein and the final buzzer blared. St. Paul won 13-12.
St. Paul was led in scoring by star midfielder Emily Walker with seven goals and two assists. Walker, due to graduate next month, scored more than 300 goals in her high school career. Vanessa Longo scored three, Jocelyn Kennedy scored two, and Gigi Arroyo scored one for St. Paul in the title game.
Marissa Zinke scored four times for HVRHS. Lou Haemmerle scored three times with three assists. Tessa Dekker and Isaly Sheil scored twice, Chloe Hill scored once. Sophie Nason had at least eight saves (according to the tally of a Lakeville Journal reporter).
Sportsmanship prevails.Riley Klein
Rufus Wainwright will perform at The Stissing Center on Friday, Aug. 1.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright will return to his Dutchess County roots for a special benefit concert supporting the Dutchess County Democratic Committee on Friday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. at The Stissing Center in Pine Plains.
The Rhinebeck-born, Millbrook School alum has earned international recognition for his lush vocals and genre-blending compositions. With ten studio albums, two operas, and a GRAMMY nomination for Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, Wainwright is a beloved and lauded artist who has collaborated with musical legends from Elton John to Joni Mitchell.
The evening will support local Democratic candidates in what organizers describe as a critical election year.
“I’m thrilled that my good friend Rufus is returning to Dutchess to help raise funds in a critical local election year,” said Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago (D-19, Stanford), who is up for re-election this year after flipping his seat in 2023. “Rufus and I have cheered each other on since high school, and I’m grateful that he supports our work here in Dutchess. It’s going to be a really special night — and I suspect a bit of a reunion for us Millbrook alums.”
Michael Dupree, Chair of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee, emphasized the urgency of individual actions. “With the cruelty and chaos in Washington and overseas, we must ensure there are smart, compassionate people leading local government,” Dupree said. “The Republican candidate for County Comptroller is publicly anti-LGBTQ — and I haven’t seen any Republican elected officials this year at any of the many Pride events in Dutchess. Both send a very clear message, and we’ll make sure voters know about it.”
Tickets are available through the Dutchess County Democratic Committee at secure.actblue.com/donate/outfordutchess-rufus
The Farm at Pond Lily in Elizaville will be the site of The Ancram Center’s 10th Anniversary bash.
The Ancram Center for the Arts is marking a milestone this summer with a celebration of its 10th Anniversary Season. The Anniversary Bash will be held on Friday, Aug. 2, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Farm at Pond Lily in Elizaville, promising an unforgettable evening of performance, community, and one-of-a-kind experiences.
Hosted by honorary co-chairs Joan Osofsky of Hammertown and Taylor Mac, the evening will spotlight a lineup of celebrated guest performers including David Cale, Matthew Dean Marsh, Kate Douglass, Maria Christina Oliveras, and a possible appearance by Taylor Mac himself.
A vibrant roster of emcees will guide the festivities, featuring longtime Ancram favorites James Occhino, Danielle Skraastad, Drew Ledbetter, Andrus Nichols, and MaConnia Chesser.
Adding to the evening’s excitement is a silent auction packed with unique experiences, from a curated night out in NYC and a private pontoon party on Copake Lake to a stay-and-play trip to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and an exclusive Santa Fe opera getaway.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to the Ancram Center, this anniversary celebration promises a night of heartfelt performances, community spirit, and generous surprises in a stunning setting.
For tickets and more information, visit www.ancramcenter.org
Betsy Vorce and preservationist Edward F. Gerber, trustee of Historic New England.
At Norfolk Library on July 22, Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of Historic New England, and Melvin Chen, Director of Norfolk Chamber Music Festival discussed the rich tradition of music and arts festivals and their role in preserving culture.
Edward F. Gerber, a trustee of Historic New England, sponsors “Connecticut Preservation at Work,” a series of conversations with civic leaders, preservationists, and educators. Speaking to a full house, Gerber introduced Cipolla as, “a lifelong preservation and arts advocate protecting our cultural fabric.”
Cipolla has held leadership roles at the National Park Foundation, the Municipal Art Society of New York, David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, Fidelity Capital, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and has taught at Columbia.
Historic New England is the oldest, largest, independent preservation organization in the United States, with 38 history museums, farms and landscapes, and a collections center in Haverhill, Massachusetts that houses 1.5 million archival documents, plus 125,000 decorative arts objects. Cipolla shared plans for a “bold transformation” of their historic shoe manufacturing factories into Haverhill Center, a “cultural catalyst for the region that will reverberate internationally.”
Cipolla introduced Chen. “What I find spellbinding about chamber music is that connection, that warm intuitive partnership among musicians. Why is Norfolk important to artists and audience?”
Chen garnered global acclaim for his own musical performances, taught at Bard and was artistic director at Hotchkiss School Summer Portals. He received a doctorate in chemistry from Yale, and a double master’s degree from Juilliard in piano and violin.
Chen responded, “Norfolk is a small town, perhaps an unexpected place to have a major summer music festival. Early families Battell, Eldridge, Stoeckel had a vision for Norfolk. They commissioned architect Ehrick K. Rossiter in 1906 to build our Music Shed. Norfolk Chamber Music Festival is a natural outgrowth of that original vision.”
Ann Havemeyer, Director of the Norfolk Library and Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of Historic New England.Jennifer Almquist
Chen went on to say, “The important part of what we do is educating the next generation. When our young musicians arrive from around the world, I tell them they follow in the footsteps of great musicians who performed on our stage: Rachmaninoff, Caruso, Kreisler, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Percy Grainger, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Sibelius.”
Vin Cipolla observed, “Something special happens in summer festivals that is irreplaceable in the field. Has the Norfolk experience affected your own music?”
Chen smiled. “It is rare in the life cycle of a professional musician to have the luxury of time to work on a piece. Here musicians delve deep, perform for an audience, then meet their audience.”
“At a time of much pressure,” observed Cipolla, “we are blessed with an abundance of festivals, yet we must be vigorous supporting them. What does preservation mean to you?”
Chen replied, “We are responsible for the programmatic preservation of the original spirit of Norfolk, while strengthening the current role of classical music in society. We have extraordinary talent here. I am optimistic that if we educators continue to encourage the creativity of young musicians and artists, people will be drawn to the arts and music.”
For more information on Historic New England Events visit: historicnewengland.org
Young artists express creativity at Canaan Arts Space’sgrand opening.
NORTH CANAAN — This past Sunday, July 27, Canaan Kids Artspace celebrated its grand opening party at the historical Colonial Theatre at 27 Railroad St.
The Canaan Kids Artspace is a nonprofit organization run by Executive Director and Founder Breetal Graves that aims to make art accessible to all children while also caring for the environment. The organization values creativity and hopes to push children towards self-discovery and exploration through their artwork.
At the grand opening, kids took part in activities like arts and crafts, face painting, curated music and games. The light drizzle stopped nobody from enjoying posing for live watercolor portraits, eating ice cream, or romping through a cardboard box maze.
In particular, the fog machine attached to the speakers was a big hit, prompting squeals of joy every time it went off.
Guests were given the choice to move between stations both inside and out, with different activities at each. While all stations were welcoming, the freedom given to each kid to choose their own interests and expression of self felt particularly in line with the mission of Canaan Kids Artspace.
Canaan Kids Artspace offers additional programs like an after school art club that gives kids age six through 10 more opportunities to manifest their creativity. More information can be found at canaanartspace.com.