NORFOLK — Well-known for housing five stained-glass windows designed by none other than Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Battell Chapel in Norfolk is also home to the Norfolk Food Pantry.
Volunteer Director Lynn Deasy said though the pantry has been in existence for decades, “it’s really taken shape in the past 15 years.”
A grant from the Draper Foundation Fund received about a year and a half ago allowed the pantry to purchase a new refrigerator, freezer and shelving over the summer. The Battell Chapel also features a commercial kitchen in which volunteers prepare meals to be handed out.
The pantry does not collect identifying information from its customers — “We don’t turn anyone away,” said Deasy — but many travel from Winsted and Torrington, and also over the nearby Massachusetts border to visit the pantry.
“I think they like that they can choose what to take,” said Deasy, referring to the layout of the Norfolk pantry’s offerings on open shelving rather than the pre-packed distribution in boxes or bags utilized by many pantries.
Donations come in mostly via local businesses and individuals, and range from seasonal produce from local farms and fresh eggs raised by town residents to nonperishable food and personal care items purchased from grocery stores. The pantry regularly stocks items for those adhering to gluten-free, low-sugar, and low-salt diets. Foods for special diets are most needed by the pantry, as are canned meats and soups.
Deasy said from July 2020 through June 2021, the pantry served an average of 33 people per five-week period, who were feeding 97 family members. From July 2021 through September 2022, however, an average of 56 people per five-week period visited the pantry to feed 180 family members (that last number is an average, as well: Deasy said there were weeks when the pantry fed up to 240 people).
Though located at the Norfolk United Church of Christ, the food pantry is one of the many programs run by Norfolk NET, a grassroots organization founded in 2017 with the purpose of being “a safety net of Norfolk resources.”
Norfolk NET connects “people who have the resources with people who need the resources,” said volunteer Kelly Hughes. Primarily a source for those in financial need, Norfolk NET also maintains a gifting board at the Norfolk Hub, a community center. People list services and items they have to offer; and a “Happy to Chat” table, also at the Hub, at which people can sit if they are interested in friendly conversation with passers-by.
There are a number of other resources in town aimed at easing the current burden of living. The room adjacent to the food pantry in the Battell Chapel holds the Clothes Closet, which operates during the same hours as the pantry and offers a large variety of previously worn clothing items, shoes and accessories for adults and children. All items are free and seasonally appropriate. Contributions of perishable items are accepted at the pantry itself during its hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
The United Church of Christ will host the benefit dance event “Foot Stompin’ for the Food Pantry” on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
FALLS VILLAGE — The Board of Selectmen at its Dec. 17 meeting heard concerns about the condition of Sand Road.
First Selectman David Barger reported a resident came before the board to talk about the road that is often used as feeder between Salisbury and Canaan.
“The person said there is not proper maintenance of that road and it is often the scene of accidents,” Barger said in a phone interview. “There is a problem with the canopy of trees that hang over it, making it hard to keep clear, but there is also the problem of speeding, which is terrible.”
As a former state trooper, he said he is familiar with the problem of drivers going too fast on that road, describing one case in which he had to charge someone for traveling way above the speed limit.
Barger said the town cannot reconfigure the roadway at this time, but officials and road crew members will keep an extra eye on it as a short-term solution.
In other business, Barger said the selectmen plan to call a town meeting sometime next month. Residents will be asked to take the remaining funds, which total $48,200, from the non-recurring capital fund to allow for Allied Engineering to perform engineering studies on the proposed salt shed. Money for construction has already been secured through a STEAP grant, which the town received in the amount of $625,000.
“We’re looking at critical infrastructure projects and this is one component,” he said.
At that town meeting, there will also be a vote to take $2,000 from the town’s discretionary fund to pay Cardinal Engineering for work on repair of the Cobble Road bridge.
About 40 people gathered on the lawn of the White Hart Inn on Sunday, Dec. 14, to mark the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
SALISBURY — Despite frigid temperatures, about 40 people gathered Dec. 14 on the snowy lawn outside the White Hart Inn for an evening vigil honoring the 20 children and six educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as well as victims of gun violence nationwide and around the world.
Organizers Lee and Sophia deBoer said that while this year marked the 13th anniversary of the 2012 massacre, it was the 14th vigil the community has held.
Sophia deBoer said the annual gathering is driven by both remembrance and personal experience.
In May 2009, while her daughter was finishing her senior year at Wesleyan University, a fatal shooting occurred on campus. The event, she said, reinforced her belief in the importance of public remembrance and collective reflection.
As the vigil began at 5 p.m., Sophia deBoer invited attendees to widen their focus beyond a single tragedy.
“As we take time to remember those at Sandy Hook, take time to remember all the mass shootings,” she said.
State Rep. Maria Horn spoke about the enduring impact of Sandy Hook, noting that recent mass shootings — including incidents at Brown University and in Bondi Beach, Australia — demonstrate the continued global scope of gun violence.
“The freshmen at Brown were the same age the Sandy Hook children would be now,” Horn said.
Horn noted that she has seen a shift in Hartford toward gun-safety measures, which she described as “a sign of hope.”
John Nelson of the Salisbury Congregational Church read from Amanda Gorman’s poem “Hymn for the Hurting,” offering words that spoke to collective grief.
Musicians Ed Thorney and Greg Reiss followed with acoustic performances of two songs from the 1960s — “Get Together,” by Chet Powers, and Stephen Stills’ “For What It’s Worth.”
The selections, they noted, continue to resonate in the context of modern social unrest and violence.
The names of the Sandy Hook children and educators were then read aloud. After each name, a bell tolled.
Louise Brown shared the story of her son, Elliot, 41, who lived in New Orleans and was shot and killed when he answered a knock at his door. Brown recalled words spoken by her daughter-in-law at his funeral: “I was lucky to have him. Most important in life is love. Nothing else matters.”
The vigil concluded with John Carter, retired priest at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, leading attendees in a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
As the gathering ended, church bells rang 26 times — once for each child and educator killed at Sandy Hook — closing the vigil in solemn remembrance.
SALISBURY — Kevin John Huber, 50, of Salisbury, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 9, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Celina (Gonzalez) Huber and a devoted father to Timothy and Sara Huber. Kevin was born on Oct. 2, 1975, the son of Kevin George Huber and Peggy (Wernig) Kern.
He grew up in Blue Point, New York, where his love of sports started as soon as he could walk. He was a graduate of St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip, New York. He attended the University of Bridgeport, where he was a four-year starter on the baseball team and forged friendships that would shape his future in the game. Following graduation, Kevin played professionally with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss Professional Baseball League before beginning a distinguished coaching career.
Kevin’s professional life was defined by his commitment to education, mentorship, and athletics. In 2001, Kevin founded the Connecticut Blue Jays, one of the state’s original AAU Baseball programs. For more than two decades, Kevin, with his business partner and close friend Patrick Hall, operated a highly successful baseball program that impacted hundreds of young athletes, including several who went on to play in Major League Baseball organizations.
Kevin’s coaching career spanned multiple levels, including positions as an Assistant Baseball Coach at the University of New Haven and Fairfield University. He ended his time in college coaching at Yale University, where he spent seven years on staff. Upon the birth of his children, he served for eight years as a Physical Education teacher at St. Theresa School in Trumbull, Connecticut, and at Our Lady of Fatima School in Wilton, Connecticut, where he inspired young students with his energy, humor, and emphasis on teamwork and personal growth.
In 2016, Kevin was named Head Baseball Coach at Salisbury School, where he proudly carried on a storied prep-school tradition. Under his leadership, the Crimson Knights captured Western New England Prep Baseball League Championships in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024, compiling an outstanding record of 113–33 over eight seasons. From 2023-2025, he spent the summers as Head Coach of the South Shore Clippers in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, further demonstrating his dedication to developing players and fostering a love of the game at the collegiate level.
In addition to baseball, Kevin was a dedicated member of Salisbury School’s Athletic Department, serving as Assistant Athletic Director, Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Cross Country Coach. His influence extended well beyond the diamond, as he was known for demanding excellence, fostering discipline, and building character in student-athletes across multiple sports. Kevin will be remembered for his exceptional baseball mind, his passion for mentoring young people, his humor, and the genuine relationships he built with players, colleagues, and friends throughout the New England athletic community.
Survivors, in addition to his wife and parents, include his son, Timothy Huber, and his daughter, Sara Huber of Salisbury; his brother, Brian Huber and his wife, Stacy, of Monroe; his sister, Nancy Tommasino and her husband, Matt, of Bayport, New York; nieces and nephews, Derek and Evan Huber and Grace and Lucas Tommasino; as well as many other family members, close friends, former players, and fellow coaches whose lives he profoundly touched.
A Celebration of Life memorial gathering will be held on Jan. 11, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Flood Athletic Center at Salisbury School, 251 Canaan Road, Salisbury, Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association heart.org/donate in Kevin’s name (heart.org/donate).
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
This year showed, once again, how essential The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News are to our communities. Throughout 2025, we heard from readers who told us our reporting helped them better understand the issues facing their towns. Local organizations shared that attendance at their events increased following coverage in our papers or features in our newsletter. Advertisers reported an increase in business after readers saw an ad or a story about them.
Our core mission remains unchanged — to deliver trusted local news. National policy shifts created significant uncertainty this year, and we focused on explaining their local consequences: from immigration enforcement and school funding to the loss of federal support for healthcare, the arts, and food access in our rural communities. But even amid heavier topics, there was much to celebrate – Sharon Playhouse’s launch of a program for emerging theater artists; community fundraisers for Project SAGE, the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, and the North East Community Center; and countless examples of neighbors stepping up to meet needs.
Transitions
This year was also one of important transitions in our newsroom. With John Coston’s retirement, we welcomed Christian Murray as Executive Editor. At The Millerton News, Nathan Miller became Managing Editor, and Aly Morrissey joined as a reporter. Along with a team of correspondents, they are reinvigorating coverage across eastern Dutchess County. With strong editorial teams in place across both papers, we are positioned for an ambitious reporting agenda in 2026.
Education initiatives
We remain committed to building the next generation of editors, reporters and readers. This year we launched a journalism curriculum and student newspaper — HVRHS Today — at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, giving students professional guidance and a platform for their voices. Our competitive summer intern program continued to draw talented young journalists, and we established a new partnership with Marist University to broaden future opportunities. None of this would have been possible without the support of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the 21st Century Fund, the William and Mary Greve Foundation, along with generous private donors.
We look forward to the continued growth of our education program.
Sustainability
Like many community newspapers, we continue to navigate financial and operational challenges. With the help of national, local, and regional foundations — including the Foundation for Community Health, the MacArthur, Tow, and Barr foundations, and new grants from the DJ McManus and Anne and Rollin Bates foundations — we’ve been able to stabilize operations and invest in our newsroom. Combined with community support, this funding sustains essential reporting and helps us build the capacity we need for the future.
Community Engagement
This spring we held the first Millerton Street Fair, modeled on our annual Salisbury Street Fair, convening nonprofits and community groups for a day of connection and shared purpose. And in November, we presented the Estabrook Community Leadership Award to Bunny Williams, recognizing her extraordinary contributions and bringing together supporters and neighbors in celebration of community leadership.
Looking ahead to 2026, our focus is on strengthening our reporting, deepening community engagement, and building a sustainable local news organization. None of this work is possible without you — our readers, subscribers, advertisers, donors and partners.
Thank you for your trust and support. It’s a privilege to serve our communities.
James H. Clark
CEO/Publisher
Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with questions, comments, concerns at 860-435-9873 x401 or jamesc@lakevillejournal.com.
News: Reach Executive Editor Christian Murray at christianm@lakevillejournal.com, Lakeville Journal Managing Editor Riley Klein at rileyk@lakevillejournal.com and Millerton News Managing Editor Nathan Miller at nathanm@millertonnews.com.
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