HVRHS announces fall sports awards

FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School celebrated its Fall Sports Awards on Thursday, Dec. 4. Athletic awards were presented to athletes.

The Tyburski Award is given to an outstanding freshman and the Stevenson Award is given for junior varsity sportsmanship. Four Year Awards go to seniors for competing in a sport each year of high school.

Football awards for the Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic co-op team were presented at the football dinner. HVRHS’s Wes Allyn was named to the Naugatuck Valley League defensive second team.

Boys Soccer

Most Valuable: Abram Kirshner, Gustavo Portillo

Most Improved: Jackson McAvoy

Sportsmanship: Adam Hock

Tyburski Award: Raymond Houghtaling

JV Most Improved: Justin Sorrell

Stevenson Award: Federico Vargas Tobon

Girls Soccer

Most Valuable: Ava Segalla

Most Improved: Vilija Salazar

Sportsmanship: Meadow Moerschell

Tyburski Award: Lyla Diorio

JV Most Improved: Lola Miller

Stevenson Award: Keely Malone

Girls Cross Country

Most Valuable: Olivia Brooks

Most Improved: Hannah Johsnon

Sportsmanship: Grace Graney

Tyburski Award: Sophia Paz-Cortez

Boys Cross Country

Most Valuable: Silas Tripp

Most Improved: Nico Bochnovich

Sportsmanship: Bailey Williams

Tyburski Award: Elden Grace

Volleyball

Most Valuable: Sydney Howe

Most Improved: Lydia Fleming

Sportsmanship: Richie Crane

Tyburski Award: Sophia Funk

JV Most Improved: Grace O’Brocki

Stevenson Award: Caitlin Devino

Golf

Most Valuable: Jonas Johnson, Daniel Moran

Most Improved: Jacoby Reeve

Sportsmanship: Logan Miller

Tyburski Award: Ava Humes

Stevenson Award: Nick Sartorini

Four Year Awards

Cross Country: Hannah Johnson, Silas Tripp

Boys Soccer: Everet Belancik, Graham Belancik, Henry Berry, Adam Hock, Anthony Labbadia, Eric Lopez Espinosa,

Girls Soccer: Madeline Mechare, Ava Segalla

Football: Wesley Allyn, Hunter Conklin, Nick Crodelle, Logan Labshere, Owen Riemer, Cole Simonds

Volleyball: Victoria Brooks, Katie Crane, Richie Crane, Anna Gillette, Chloe Hill, Abby Sherwood

Latest News

Swift House committee learns of potential buyer at first meeting

Swift House in Kent.

By Ruth Epstein

KENT — The fate of the Swift House is once again front and center after the newly formed Swift House Investigation Committee held its first meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24 — and learned that a local attorney is interested in buying the historic property.

At the meeting’s outset, committee member Marge Smith said local attorney Anthony Palumbo has expressed interest in purchasing the building. “He loves it and said he’d be honored to buy it and maybe lease part of it back to the town. He would be OK with a conservation easement.” She said he supports several previously proposed uses, including a welcome center and exhibition space.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sharon median home price rises to $710,000 as inventory tightens

119 Amenia Union Road — A four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home built in 1872 on 4.42 acres recently sold for $522,500.

Photo by Christine Bates

SHARON — The 12-month trailing median price for a single-family home in Sharon increased to $710,000 for the period ending Jan. 31, 2026 — its highest point since September 2024 as home values across much of Connecticut continued to edge higher.

The figure marks an increase from the $560,000 median recorded for the 12 months ending Jan. 31, 2025, and from $645,000 for the comparable period ending Jan. 31, 2024. While January and February are typically slow months, the 12-month rolling figure reflects a broader reset.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent's towering snowman honors Robbie Kennedy

Jeff Kennedy visits the 20-foot-high snowman located in the Golden Falcon lot in Kent that was created in honor of his late brother Robbie Kennedy.

Photo by Ruth Epstein

KENT – Snowman Robbie stands prominently in the center of town, just as its namesake — longtime Kent resident Robbie Kennedy — did for so many years.

The 20-foot-high frozen sculpture pays tribute to Kennedy, who died Feb. 9, at the age of 71. A beloved member of the community, he was a familiar sight riding his bicycle along town roads waving to all he passed. Many people knew him from his days working at Davis IGA, the local supermarket. He was embraced by the Kent Fire Department, where he was named an active emergency member and whose members chipped in to buy him a new bike, and by the Kent School football team where coach Ben Martin made him his assistant. At Templeton Farms senior apartments, he was the helpful tenant, always eager to assist his neighbors.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Classifieds - February 26, 2026

Help Wanted

PART-TIME CARE-GIVER NEEDED: possibly LIVE-IN. Bright private STUDIO on 10 acres. Queen Bed, En-Suite Bathroom, Kitchenette & Garage. SHARON 407-620-7777.

The Salisbury Association’s Land Trust seeks part-time Land Steward: Responsibilities include monitoring easements and preserves, filing monitoring reports, documenting and reporting violations or encroachments, and recruiting and supervising volunteer monitors. The Steward will also execute preserve and trail stewardship according to Management Plans and manage contractor activity. Up to 10 hours per week, compensation commensurate with experience. Further details and requirements are available on request. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to info@salisburyassociation.org. The Salisbury Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Keep ReadingShow less
To save birds, plant for caterpillars

Fireweed attracts the fabulous hummingbird sphinx moth.

Photo provided by Wild Seed Project

You must figure that, as rough as the cold weather has been for us, it’s worse for wildlife. Here, by the banks of the Housatonic, flocks of dark-eyed juncos, song sparrows, tufted titmice and black-capped chickadees have taken up residence in the boxwood — presumably because of its proximity to the breakfast bar. I no longer have a bird feeder after bears destroyed two versions and simply throw chili-flavored birdseed onto the snow twice a day. The tiny creatures from the boxwood are joined by blue jays, cardinals and a solitary flicker.

These birds will soon enough be nesting, and their babies will require a nonstop diet of caterpillars. This source of soft-bodied protein makes up more than 90 percent of native bird chicks’ diets, with each clutch consuming between 6,000 and 9,000 caterpillars before they fledge. That means we need a lot of caterpillars if we want our bird population to survive.

Keep ReadingShow less
Stephanie Haboush Plunkett and the home for American illustration

Stephanie Haboush Plunkett

L. Tomaino
"The field of illustration is very close to my heart"
— Stephanie Plunkett

For more than three decades, Stephanie Haboush Plunkett has worked to elevate illustration as a serious art form. As chief curator and Rockwell Center director at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, she has helped bring national and international attention to an art form long dismissed as merely commercial.

Her commitment to illustration is deeply personal. Plunkett grew up watching her father, Joseph Haboush, an illustrator and graphic designer, work late into the night in his home studio creating art and hand-lettered logos for package designs, toys and licensed-character products for the Walt Disney Co. and other clients.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.