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Former members of the United States armed forces warmly receive tokens of gratitude from Sharon Central School students during a Veterans Day ceremony held on Monday, Nov. 10.
Alec Linden
SHARON — Sharon Central School students took the lead in welcoming nine of Sharon’s military veterans to the school’s gymnasium for its annual Veterans Day assembly dedicated to honoring the community members who have served the nation.
After SCS pupils and staff filled the gym at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, teacher Jill Pace offered a brief introduction before promptly turning the podium over the student council, whose members handled the morning’s proceedings. Overall, 12 members of the council — Amaira Rashid, Franklin Galvin, Chris Galvin, James Smith, Charlotte Olsen, Jack Flanagan, Sam Norbet, Jack Plouffe, Paige Bailey, Colin Bailey, Eivin Peterson and Guiseppe Socci — took turns leading the assembly through the Pledge of Allegiance, a brief history of the “Star Spangled Banner,” and several encomiums to the veterans in the room.
The servicemen were then called one by one to the stage to briefly share their stories, with several even fielding questions from the enthusiastic crowd of elementary and middle schoolers. Tate Begley shared that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1994-1998 and was a military police officer on U.S. bases on the west coast.
“How did you become a veteran?” came a voice from the crowd when he opened the floor for questions. “By serving my country,” he replied.
Other questions were slightly less topical. “What’s your favorite food?” asked one student of John Perotti after he had finished explaining the meaning of his decoration from a year spent serving in the Vietnam War. “Burgers!” he replied enthusiastically.
Jim Hutchinson, Bob Loucks, Brian Kenney, Ray Aakjar, and Dave Peterson also detailed their time in service in places like Vietnam, Africa, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
Robert Hock relayed that he had spent 1963 to 1965 in the Navy stationed in Turkey where he “never saw a ship.” Instead, he intercepted communications from communist countries in the Eastern Bloc.
The final veteran to take the podium was Justin Rios, whose daughter sat amongst her peers in the crowd. Rios has been in the Army for 14 years, and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. He had a message to the students: “If you see a Vietnam veteran, let them know they’re welcome.”
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Troop appreciation
Nov 12, 2025
Provided
Former First Selectman Martin Lindenmayer visits with students of Kent Center School Monday, Nov. 10, as part of the school’s Veterans Day ceremony. Lindenmayer served as a member of the U.S. Navy and later specialized in defense intelligence and technical special operations.
Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley greets veterans at Lee H. Kellogg School Monday morning, Nov. 10.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE — Ten Falls Village veterans came to the Lee H. Kellogg School Monday morning, Nov. 10, for a Veterans Day breakfast in their honor.
The veterans gathered in the library, enjoyed coffee and doughnuts, rose for the Pledge of Allegiance, and smiled broadly as the students in grades K-2 sang “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”
Afterwards the veterans posed for photos with their children or grandchildren.
The following veterans were in attendance at the assembly: Doyle Barger, Eric Carlson, Lou Timolat, Robert Christinat, William Fox, James Gulyas, Roy Jensen, Peter Pixley, Mike Poole and Sandy Rhoades. (Hope Gallagher was unable to attend.)
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Route 44 construction on track for September 2026 completion
Route 44 construction on track for September 2026 completion
NORFOLK — The construction of massive retaining walls on Route 44 in Norfolk, known as Project 97-95, has created challenges for motorists and the Connecticut Department of Transportation team alike.
The work involves stabilizing the slope and replacing the old masonry retaining walls with two new retaining walls.
Reducing the busy east-west highway to one-way alternating traffic, controlled by temporary signal lights, has caused delays to drivers and added time to truck routes.
Project 97-95 began in April2024 and was originally slated to take five years to complete. Amy Hare, DOT’s chief engineer on the project, said changes to the original plan have reduced that time by two years. “We anticipate meeting the September 2026 project completion date.” The current construction budget is $37,546,399.
Hare explained, “Driver behavior is still one of the toughest challenges we face. We’ve collaborated with State Troopers to provide traffic calming presence periodically, we revised signal timing several times to create a safer traveling path and utilized flaggers when on-site activities require additional driver direction.”
Old Colony Road, a side road off Route 44 that became a shortcut for impatient drivers, has been closed to through traffic at the discretion of the Town of Norfolk due to safety concerns. Hare added, “From what I understand from the Town representatives, the observed speeds were unacceptably high, and there were several near misses.”
“Another challenge we are anticipating facing is the classic ‘Icebox’ weather this winter,” continued Hare. “We anticipate winter activities to include forming the front face of both retaining walls, setting rebar, and then pouring the concrete face.”
Hare and her team have worked closely with the Town of Norfolk.
“As a team, we are saddened to see First Selectman Riiska leave his position but are looking forward to working with the incoming First Selectman Henry Tirrell to bring this project to success.”
To report a problem or raise a concern, call 860-594-2560 or email: DOT.CustomerCare@ct.gov
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