Laurel Fest winners honored

WINSTED — Attendees at the July 2 Board of Selectmen’s meeting at Town Hall were treated to a visit by Winsted’s new Laurel Queen, Bethany Scott, and her court, first runner-up Patricia Schlosser and second runner-up Brynne Beneke, who were officially awarded scholarships in honor of their recently bestowed titles.Scholarship donations from the Laurel City Commission were presented by commission member Debbie Angell, who introduced the new queen and her court to the board, followed by a proclamation from Mayor Maryann Welcome honoring the young ladies, who won their positions June 10 during the 78th annual Laurel Festival.Angell noted that Laurel Queen Scott will attend Gordon College this fall to study psychology. Schlosser has enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and will report to Parris Island in September, while Beneke will attend San Jose University to study sports nutrition. The winners earned scholarships of $1,200, $1,000 and $800, respectively for their achievements.In addition, Schlosser was awarded a $200 Geizha Ahles scholarship, named for the former Laurel Queen and Laurel City Commission member who died from a rare form of cancer in 2010 and is remembered for her positive spirit and dedication to the community. Angell also donated a laurel plant to Town Hall Monday night to pay tribute to Winsted as the Laurel City.“On behalf of the Laurel Commission we present to the town a laurel plant to be planted in front of Town Hall,” Angell said, adding that she would volunteer to plant the perennial.Angell thanked selectmen and the public for supporting the annual Laurel Festival “so that we may celebrate our state flower in our fine community known as the Laurel City.” Selectmen and townspeople responded by giving this year’s Laurel Queen and court a round of applause.

Latest News

Classifieds - December 4, 2025

Help Wanted

CARE GIVER NEEDED: Part Time. Sharon. 407-620-7777.

SNOW PLOWER NEEDED: Sharon Mountain. 407-620-7777.

Keep ReadingShow less
Legal Notices - December 4, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF CANAAN/FALLS VILLAGE

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Les Flashs d’Anne’: friendship, fire and photographs
‘Les Flashs d’Anne’: friendship, fire and photographs
‘Les Flashs d’Anne’: friendship, fire and photographs

Anne Day is a photographer who lives in Salisbury. In November 2025, a small book titled “Les Flashs d’Anne: Friendship Among the Ashes with Hervé Guibert,” written by Day and edited by Jordan Weitzman, was published by Magic Hour Press.

The book features photographs salvaged from the fire that destroyed her home in 2013. A chronicle of loss, this collection of stories and charred images quietly reveals the story of her close friendship with Hervé Guibert (1955-1991), the French journalist, writer and photographer, and the adventures they shared on assignments for French daily newspaper Le Monde. The book’s title refers to an epoymous article Guibert wrote about Day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nurit Koppel brings one-woman show to Stissing Center
Writer and performer Nurit Koppel
Provided

In 1983, writer and performer Nurit Koppel met comedian Richard Lewis in a bodega on Eighth Avenue in New York City, and they became instant best friends. The story of their extraordinary bond, the love affair that blossomed from it, and the winding roads their lives took are the basis of “Apologies Necessary,” the deeply personal and sharply funny one-woman show that Koppel will perform in an intimate staged reading at Stissing Center for Arts and Culture in Pine Plains on Dec. 14.

The show humorously reflects on friendship, fame and forgiveness, and recalls a memorable encounter with Lewis’ best friend — yes, that Larry David ­— who pops up to offer his signature commentary on everything from babies on planes to cookie brands and sports obsessions.

Keep ReadingShow less