Combined middle school sports to begin this fall

FALLS VILLAGE — Region One School District Athletic Director Anne MacNeil told the Middle School Athletics and Activities Committee on Wednesday, May 26, that she is proceeding with scheduling  for fall of 2021-22 on the assumption that it will be “a relatively normal-looking school year.”

This school year would have been the first year of the new regional middle school athletics plan, in which middle school students play on Region One teams rather than teams from the six kindergarten to grade eight schools.

But the COVID-19 pandemic put all that on hold.

MacNeil said in a phone interview Thursday, May 27, that coaching jobs are posted on the Region One website (www.region1schools.org). She told the committee that she has not received many applications yet, and is trying to get the word out.

MacNeil said she has asked the K-8 administrators to notify faculty members (many of whom also coach) that the jobs are open.

The fall sports will be cross-country and soccer. On the activities side, middle school students will be able to participate in the artgarage after-school program at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

Coaches need to have a coaching permit and first aid certification; MacNeil said for certified teachers this is an easy process.

For non-teacher candidates, it is a little more complicated and involves some course work. However, coaching candidates can get an emergency permit that allows them to coach while completing the course work.

MacNeil said she is happy to assist anyone in that process.

The committee discussed the name and uniforms for the middle school teams. They will wear blue and gold, same as the high school, and use the high school’s team name, the Mountaineers.

MacNeil said calling the teams the Region One Mountaineers will build camaraderie and establish continuity between the middle school and high school sports programs.

Latest News

Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Roger D. Ovitt

TORRINGTON — Roger D. Ovitt, 91, of 35 Berry St. Torrington, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family.He was the husband of Barbara (Webb) Ovitt of Torrington.Roger was born June 28, 1934 in Amenia, New York, son of the late Ronald and Edna Lucy (King) Ovitt.

Roger had worked for 36 years as a crusher operator for the former Pfizer Corporation in Canaan. After retiring from Pfizer in 1992, Roger joined his brother, Brian, and began a new career as a house painter. Roger enjoyed this venture with his brother.He was an avid fisherman.Roger also loved to garden.He took great pride in the flowers and vegetables that he raised.

Keep ReadingShow less