Kent P&Z hears preliminary discussion of library expansion
Leila Hawken
Latest News
Sharon Playhouse season marquee goes up
Aly Morrissey
May 27, 2026
Aly Morrissey
SHARON –The Sharon Fire Department helped install the Sharon Playhouse summer season marquee Tuesday, May 19, unveiling this year's MainStage and YouthStage productions.
"The moment our marquee goes up for the season is when we finally feel like 'Game On! It's showtime," said an enthusiastic Michael Baldwin, the Playhouse's education and community director.
"We're so grateful for the Sharon Fire Department for their support each year."
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Teo Tacos officially opens doors on North Canaan's Main Street
Christian Murray
May 27, 2026
North Canaan’s newest taco spot opens its doors May 21 at 85 Main St.
Madi Long
NORTH CANAAN – Teo Tacos officially opened its doors Thursday, May 21, at 85 Main St., bringing a new family-run Mexican restaurant to downtown North Canaan.
Owned by Carlos Gomez, who is originally from Mexico, and his wife, Yesica Gomez, from the Dominican Republic, the restaurant occupies the former McMuckle’s Market space near the train station. Customers began arriving shortly after the doors opened at noon Thursday, with about 10 people stopping in during the first hour, Yesica Gomez said.
Among the first customers Thursday was Sarai Perez of Bristol, who came specifically to support the new business.
“I’ve known her for a couple of years and I know that she cooks very good,” Perez said. “So I wanted to be one of the first to come here and try out her food.”
The husband-and-wife duo, who live in Torrington, said they were drawn to North Canaan because of the town’s strong sense of community.
“We would always travel through North Canaan,” Carlos Gomez said last month. "We saw the town, and it always looked like a happy town. There are always people walking around, and we love to see that.”
The couple had originally planned to open April 30, but Yesica Gomez said delays related to fire marshal inspections and required approvals pushed the opening back until May 21.
Inside, bright orange walls, wood tables and large arched mirrors create a casual dining atmosphere. The menu features tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, chips and salsa, and guacamole. Yesica Gomez said the restaurant also plans to introduce a breakfast menu in the coming days.
Teo Tacos seats about 40 people and does not serve alcohol. The restaurant is located near Trackside Tacos, which opened in July 2025.
The restaurant’s name, Teo Tacos, is a tribute to Carlos Gomez’s mother, Teodora, who still lives in Mexico.
Teo Tacos will operate from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Monday. The restaurant will be closed Tuesdays and open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays.
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Farmers market brews up success in Colebrook
John Coston
May 27, 2026
Founders Devin Grosso, left, April Carter, middle, and Lisa Auclair attract a large crowd at the inaugural farmer’s market May 20.
John Coston
COLEBROOK – More than 100 people turned out Wednesday, May 20, for the inaugural Northwest Farm to Fork farmers market at Norbrook Farm Brewery, where 12 vendors gathered under the venue’s new pavilion to sell locally grown food, baked goods and farm products.
Held at 204 Stillman Hill Road on the Colebrook-Norfolk line, the market featured a mix of local farms, food vendors and live music.
Fifteen-year-old Bailey Carlotto of Sheffield’s Rolling Rock Farm brought her gentle chicken, “Blondie,” for visitors to pet. Ty Ford, an East Canaan farmer, offered locally raised meats, rhubarb and baked goods. And The Stead Farm in Barkhamsted brought an assortment of lamb products, many of which sold out early.
“I’m just happy to see farmers coming together with the locals,” said April Carter, a fifth-generation farmer in Torrington. “It’s nice to have an easy, relaxing evening.”
Carter is one of three women who teamed up to launch the market after Norfolk’s farmers market closed last year. The other two founders are Devin Grosso and Lisa Auclair, both of Norfolk.
Grosso said the market will be held every third Wednesday through October, with 18 vendors expected at the June 17 event.
The atmosphere was festive, with live music and a beer truck.
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Salisbury reverend announces retirement after seven years
Patrick L. Sullivan
May 27, 2026
Rev. Dr. John A. Nelson of the Salisbury Congregational Church will retire Sunday, June 14 .
Patrick L. Sullivan
SALISBURY – Rev. Dr. John A. Nelson of the Salisbury Congregational Church will retire Sunday, June 14, after leading the church through the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of renewed community engagement and growth.
“I wanted to retire as thoughtfully as possible,” he said, noting the decision came after “two years of thinking and praying about it.”
Nelson came to the Salisbury church in April 2019, just months before the pandemic transformed church life and forced congregations nationwide to rethink how they gathered and worshiped.
One of the defining challenges of his tenure came shortly afterward, when the church had to quickly adapt to pandemic restrictions. Nelson said the congregation initially spaced choir members six feet apart and made services available on YouTube.
The first attempts at streaming were less than seamless.
“It was a lot of work,” Nelson said. “It was awkward. The quality wasn’t great.”
Over time, however, the church developed more polished recorded services that included music, lay readings, sermons and pre-recorded music.
“I taught myself video production,” he said.
In addition to the logistical hurdles of navigating the pandemic, Nelson said the church also grappled with the spiritual health of the congregation. He said it was clear that people were distressed.
“My phone wasn’t ringing off the hook, but the pandemic was so front of mind for everybody,” he said. “It was so destabilizing spiritually, economically. There was an abiding sense of fatigue.”
Some lasting changes emerged from that time period. Nelson said the experience made church leadership realize the importance of finding ways for people to participate in worship or church meetings using Zoom or a streaming service.
Today, church meetings are now all hybrid, and the services have eight to 10 regular watchers. Nelson said this benefits “people who can’t get out or who live at a distance but want to stay connected.”
Under Nelson’s leadership, the church also established two Bible study groups — one for men, one for women.
“Those are really important for the participants,” he said.
Nelson also pointed to a “visioning” process as one of the highlights of his time in Salisbury.
“It’s been one of the better ones I’ve experienced,” Nelson said.
The effort included forming small groups, hiring a consultant and developing an action plan focused on increasing “the visibility of the church as a hub of spiritual activity, of faith, of the community, of learning and of music.”
“Let’s see how quickly we can wear the carpets out,” Nelson remembers saying.
One visible result of that project includes the church’s First Friday concert series, held at noon on the first Friday of each month.
“These have been just phenomenal concerts,” said Nelson, who is a musician himself. “We’re lucky that [music director] David Baranowski has so many talented friends.”
The church also launched a NetZero initiative that included upgrades to lighting, heating and cooling systems, as well as the installation of an electric vehicle charger aimed at reducing emissions.
As he prepares to step away from ministry, Nelson said he believes the church is in “a really strong place.”
The congregation currently has 170 members, with average attendance around 75 people.
“That’s an energized church,” he said.
Nelson credited much of that success to the church leadership, which he described as “thoughtful and positive.
In his retirement, Nelson plans to spend more time with his wife, Angela Lomanto, their children and grandchildren. He will also focus on beekeeping, traveling, woodworking and taking piano lessons.
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Police Blotter: Troop B
Lakeville Journal
May 27, 2026
Police Blotter: Troop B
Police Blotter: Troop B
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Asleep at the wheel accident
Michael Maston, 20, of Torrington was driving west on Route 128 in Cornwall at approximately 8 a.m. on May 16 when he fell asleep, veering off the road and striking a tree. Maston reported no injuries but the Jeep Liberty Sport he drove was towed. He was issued a written warning for failure to maintain lane.
Stop sign semi-truck crash
Near midday on May 16, Lawrence Carlson, 65, of East Canaan was driving a semi-truck belonging to Laurelbrook Farms on Route 7 in Falls Village. At the same time, Jacob Ellison, 20, of Guilford, Connecticut arrived at the intersection with Route 7 from Page Road, and failing to stop, collided with the semi. The truck was undamaged, and Ellison’s Toyota Tacoma sustained minor damage. Neither driver was injured. Ellison was issued a written warning for failure to obey a stop sign.
Operating under the influence arrest
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 16, troopers were dispatched to Railroad Street in North Canaan on the report of a driver slumped over the wheel. Upon arriving, troopers determined that the driver, Kenneth Whitman, 68, of Ancram, New York, showed signs of intoxication. He was placed under arrest for illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and was released on a $500 non-surety bond. He is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on June 5.
Collision with oncoming vehicle
On the afternoon of May 18, Kerry Magrath, 50, of Meriden, Connecticut was driving a GMC Terrain SLE south on Route 7 just north of the intersection with Page Road in Falls Village. While rounding a curve, she drifted into the oncoming lane as another vehicle, a Subaru Forester driven by Lisa Spadaccini, 71, of Falls Village, rounded the curve in the other direction. Spadaccini tried to evade, but was still struck. Neither driver was injured, and both vehicles were driven from the scene. Magrath was issued an infraction for failure to maintain lane.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Send mail to P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send to editor@lakevillejournal.com.
Correction
In last week's Police Blotter, Troop B incorrectly identified Nicholas Brazzale of Salisbury as the operator of a 2016 Ford F250 involved in a collision with a motorcycle. Troop B later clarified that the operator was Brian Brazzale, 34, of Sharon.
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Kent median home price remains above $600,000 amid limited inventory
Christine Bates
May 27, 2026
Built in 1979, 132 South Kent Road has a primary bedroom on the first floor with a fireplace and three bedrooms upstairs. It sold for $555,000 in April well under the median price of $607,500 for the Town of Kent.
Christine Bates
KENT – Kent’s housing market remained relatively stable this spring, with home prices holding steady despite a limited number of sales and continued tight inventory.
The 12-month trailing median sale price for a single-family home in Kent — excluding condominiums — was $607,500 at the end of April, unchanged from January, February and March. The figure reflects a market that has leveled off after several years of sharp price increases during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even with the recent stabilization, prices remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. The current median is 35% above the $450,000 median recorded during the 12-month period ending April 30, 2025, and sits just 3% above the $590,000 median recorded for the comparable period ending April 30, 2024.
Kent’s highest trailing 12-month median price was reached in July 2024, when it climbed to $753,000.
Sales activity has also remained relatively consistent in recent months. A total of 28 single-family homes sold during the 12-month period ending April 30, 2026, averaging roughly two to three sales per month during the first four months of the year. By comparison, 23 homes sold during the previous 12-month period, while 32 homes sold during the year ending April 30, 2024.
The market remains well below the pace seen during the height of the pandemic-era buying frenzy, when annual sales peaked at 81 transactions during the 12-month period ending May 2021.
Inventory began to expand entering the spring selling season. In mid-May, 14 single-family homes were listed for sale in Kent, up from seven listings in March. Four new properties priced above $1 million entered the market during the previous week alone.
Despite the increase in listings, lower-priced inventory remains scarce. Only three homes were listed below $1 million in mid-May, and none were priced below the town’s current trailing 12-month median price of $607,500.
Homes in Kent also continue to sell close to asking price, typically closing at between 98% and 100% of their listed value.
March & April
Transfers in Kent
Richards Road – Approximately 5 acres of vacant land transferred by Philip Helmut Mader and Helmut Mader to Jason Dubray on March 3, 2026, for $215,000
80 North Main Street, Unit #B2U2A1 – 1 bedroom/1 bath first floor 858 square foot condo transferred by Margaret Doncecker on March 20, 2026, to Old Town Hall LLC for $310,000
80 North Main Street – 2 bedroom/2 bath condo transferred by Susan Guillen to Gregory and Judith Sheridan on April 1, 2026, for $395,000
132 S. Kent Road – 4 bedroom/2.5 bath colonial on 2.469 acres transferred by Kathy M Brown, Kathy P Brown, James Palmer Jr, and Scott Palmer to Caterina Conti on April 28, 2026, for $555,000
* Town of Kent real estate transfers recorded between March 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026, provided by Kent Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS and market data from Info Sparks. Note that recorded transfers frequently lag sales by a number of days. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
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