Lamont announces initiative promoting outdoor recreation

Gov. Ned Lamont made a stop at Mohawk Mountain State Park Ski Area for a press conference about outdoor recreation, Jan. 11.
Photo by Riley Klein

Gov. Ned Lamont made a stop at Mohawk Mountain State Park Ski Area for a press conference about outdoor recreation, Jan. 11.
CORNWALL — Gov. Ned Lamont visited the Northwest Corner on Thursday, Jan. 11, to unveil a new push to improve and promote outdoor recreation in the state.
Attendance at state parks has risen from about 10 million guests in 2019 to roughly 17 million guests in 2022, making state parks the top tourist destinations in Connecticut.
The press conference was held at Mohawk Mountain, a private ski lodge situated within a state park in Cornwall. Mohawk maintains a longterm lease of the land to offer year-round activities. Guests can hit the slopes in the winter months, hike the trails in the summer, or take part in community events throughout the year such as job fairs, craft fairs, and rummage sales.
Lamont’s outdoor recreation initiative was designed to improve on the existing amenities at state parks while supporting new public-private ventures that operate similarly to Mohawk Mountain.
As the second largest outdoor recreation economy in New England, Lamont said Connecticut will “do everything we can to protect and expand that open space.”
“We can make sure we bring people to our parks and maximize use out of that,” said Lamont. “You can come and really enjoy yourself here.”
The state has designated $80 million in funds to put toward the initiative. The funding will be used to improve and repair facilities while also seeking to partner with the private sector to improve activities and services at state parks.
To accomplish this goal, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) created the Outdoor Industry and Experience Office to head up the initiative and oversee the new Partnership for Parks program.
“DEEP is launching today a request for information where we’re going to be seeking concepts from nonprofits, from businesses and individuals who have ideas about public-private partnerships that we can launch that will expand the types of services and amenities that visitors to our state parks can enjoy,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes.
Dykes said potential partnerships could include equipment rentals, event hosting and increased concessions. Through this initiative the state intends to build on the success of existing agreements, such as the one at Mohawk Mountain, Essex steam train, and Farmington River tubing.
“In the Northwest Corner, we are very lucky to be so rich in natural beauty,” said State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64). “Our economic development is intimately tied to that natural beauty.”
“When you talk about outdoor recreation, when you talk about beauty, it starts with the Northwest Corner,” said State Sen. Stephen Harding (R-30). “Let’s work on our open space and preservation.”
“Come on down to Mohawk,” said Lamont. “I’ll be out there. Hope you are, too.”
CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.
CVFD’s Ian Ridgway sat on the truck committee and said Greenwood was not just chosen for the price, but also for the design of each vehicle. He said their models had a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance, as well as extra storage space on board, compared to the next best bid.
After $100,000 in discounts offered by Greenwood, the combined purchase price for both vehicles was shown to be $1,200,408. The delivery time was estimated at 15 months.
CVFD raised $600,000 during its recent fundraising campaign, of which $500,000 will be given to the town to buy the trucks. That figure will be paired with $720,000 in town truck fund reserves. The additional donated funds will be used to outfit the trucks with equipment and tools.
“I want to praise the town of Cornwall,” said CVFD President Dick Sears. “We’re able to buy these beautiful new pieces of equipment courtesy of the tremendous citizenry of this town.”
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.
Robin loved the beach, sunshine, and gardening, and was known for her strength, humor, and unwavering support of those she loved.
She is survived by her daughter, Sierra R. Zinke, and brothers, Darren Roy and Todd Roy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharon Thomkins Roy and Robert Roy, and her brother Nevin Roy.
No services will be held at this time.
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.
“Mike” loved the sun, sand and water and spent many summers at Westport Point, Massachusetts with the kids and their best friends, the Bauers.She was the consummate hostess, and a wonderful cook.She also appeared in several plays with The Sherman Players and also a show or two on special occasions at The Kent Community House.She took enjoyment from working outdoors doing chores around her home in North Kent.She lived in that house until she sold it and bought a condominium on North Main Street in Kent in May of 2003.She lived in the condo until 2018 after which her light began to fade and her last 8 years were spent comfortably at Noble Horizons.
“Mike” leaves behind her children, Richard (Susan) of Lakeville, her daughter Nancy Rutledge (Jim) of Salisbury; two grandchildren, Chandra Gerrard (Sean) of Litchfield, Matthew (Larissa) of Lakeville; three great grandchildren, Addison, Emilia and Everett, all of Lakeville.
She was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Caroline in 2020.
All services are private.The Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in charge of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
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.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in June. Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury and Scoville Memorial Library.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.