There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow

There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow

The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye

And it looks like it’s climbing clear up to the sky

Oh! what a beautiful mornin’

Oh! what a beautiful day

—Rodgers​ & Hammerstein

 

 

This time of year, every year, is a source of wonder, wonder at the number and kinds of activities available for us all to partake in and enjoy. Our print calendar (p. B4) is but a sampler—art shows, concerts, festivals, car shows, road races, live theater, bike races, house and garden tours, book readings, farmers’ markets, there really is something for everyone around here.

Last weekend, for example, Wanda Houston and The HBH Band—Kris Jensen, Scott Heth, Jay Bradley, and Rich Syracuse—delivered their unique jazz take on traditional and contemporary standards. At Music Mountain in Falls Village, for nearly two hours, they effortlessly moved from Cole Porter to Hank Williams to Roberta Flack and The Beatles and blew the room away.

And Wanda of course is simply wandaful.

Earlier that day, across the border in Millerton, the town had its afternoon Summer Stroll around Main Street, complete with a marching brass band, wine tastings, lemonade and face painting for the kids and sales at various businesses along the way. This was followed by a free concert at Eddie Collins Park, where the Steve Dunn Band did the musical honors. Food trucks, a petting zoo, games for kids, and beautiful weather made this an excellent family outing.

But in addition to all the wonderfully satisfying small-town fun we have to enjoy, some seriously important developments are taking place now, sometimes below the surface, an impressive assortment of investments in our future from both the private and public sectors.

Here’s just a few that have been covered in these pages: Lime Rock’s ambitious plans to take the park to a new level; West Cornwall’s plans to undertake a major sewer project; the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in the expansion of Camp Isola Bella; the investment in broadband here by Comcast, Frontier and the federal government; the funding of a $5.4 million federally qualified health care center in North Canaan; and the opening of the Norfolk Music Shed after a $10 million dollar renovation; Millbrook’s plans to redo significant stretches of sidewalk have been approved by the Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development; the Stissing Center in Pine Plains has undergone one renovation and will close again for a second multimillion dollar renovation; Pine Plains is now likely to get a major solar project; the Webutuck High School auditorium renovation is complete; Amenia is planning a major water project; and Millerton/North East is about to embark on a multimillion dollar sewer project.

It’s gratifying to think that our communities will robust enough going forward to be able to support the activities we hold dear for a long time to come.

Latest News

A scenic 32-mile loop through Litchfield County

Whenever I need to get a quick but scenic bicycle ride but don’t have time to organize a group ride that involves driving to a meeting point, I just turn right out of my driveway. That begins a 32-mile loop through some of the prettiest scenery in northern Litchfield County.

I ride south on Undermountain Road (Route 41 South) into Salisbury and turn right on Main Street (Route 44 West). If I’m meeting friends, we gather at the parking area on the west side of Salisbury Town Hall where parking is never a problem.

Keep ReadingShow less
Biking Ancramdale to Copake

This is a lovely ride that loops from Ancramdale north to Copake and back. At just over 23 miles and about 1,300 feet of elevation gain, it’s a perfect route for intermediate recreational riders and takes about two hours to complete. It’s entirely on quiet roads with little traffic, winding through rolling hills, open countryside, picturesque farms and several lakes.

Along the way, you’ll pass a couple of farmstands that are worth a quick visit. There is only one hill that might be described as steep, but it is quite short — probably less than a quarter-mile.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taking on Tanglewood

Aerial view of The Shed at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.

Provided

Now is the perfect time to plan ahead for symphonic music this summer at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Here are a few highlights from the classical programming.

Saturday, July 5: Shed Opening Night at 8 p.m. Andris Nelsons conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra as Daniil Trifonov plays piano in an All-Rachmaninoff program. The Piano Concerto No. 3 was completed in 1909 and was written specifically to be debuted in the composer’s American tour, at another time of unrest and upheaval in Russia. Trifonev is well-equipped to take on what is considered among the most technically difficult piano pieces. This program also includes Symphonic Dances, a work encapsulating many ideas and much nostalgia.

Keep ReadingShow less
James H. Fox

SHARON — James H. Fox, resident of Sharon, passed away on May 30, 2025, at Vassar Brothers Hospital.

Born in New York, New York, to Herbert Fox and Margaret Moser, James grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He spent his summers in Gaylordsville, Connecticut, where he developed a deep connection to the community.

Keep ReadingShow less