
Author Nancy Kricorian reads from her book “The Burning Heart of the World” at Roeliff Jansen Library on May 8.
Olivia Geiger
Author Nancy Kricorian reads from her book “The Burning Heart of the World” at Roeliff Jansen Library on May 8.
On May 8, Nancy Kricorian discussed and read from her latest book, “The Burning Heart of the World” at Roeliff Jansen Community Library in Hillsdale, New York.
Kricorian was interviewed by Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, the curator of mycology at The New York State Museum and author of “Forest Euphoria: On the Abounding Queerness of Nature,” to be published May 27, 2025.
Kricorian’s latest novel is fourth in a series of books focused on the post-genocide Armenian diaspora experience.
“I am to be a voice for my people,” stated Kricorian who grew up in an Armenian community in Watertown, Massachusetts alongside her grandmother, a genocide survivor.
April 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese Civil War and the 110th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Published in April, Kaishian’s novel tells a story of an Armenian family from Beirut. Across four generations they have lived through the Lebanese Civil War, the Armenian genocide, and the 9/11 attack on New York City.
Of the book, Kricorian stated, “It is about women who struggle to cope and take care of their families in times of mass violence. It is also about the way that these traumas reside in the bodies of those that survive them.”
Sorting through the wreckage of mass violence and existential threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity, these stories provide a homeland to displaced people.
In 2014, Kricorian did an Armenian heritage trip. She expressed an intense feeling when looking at flowers on the side of the road or walking along the bridges, realizing that her grandmother had seen those same flowers and walked those same roads. She felt deeply rooted in place and history — yet also confronted by the reality of uprooting and displacement.
With each section of the book broken down by geographical regions, Kricorian worked to replicate this feeling with immersive and sensory writing that drops the reader amidst the flowers. The use of nature as a literary tool is woven throughout her writing, particularly through the recurring image of birds.
Throughout Armenian folklore, birds are often used as a symbol for the community’s ability to rebuild their nests elsewhere when their homes are destroyed and the flowers are no longer familiar.
The novel begins with a passage from Armenian musicologist Gomidas:
“My heart is like a house in ruins,
the beams in splinters, the pillars shaken.
Wild birds build their nest where my home once was.”
As a part of her research for this novel, Krikorian signed up for an intro to Arabic class. A portion of the class focused on Lebanese food in New York City. The chef who taught the course shared, “I came here like a wounded bird from a burning country.”
Kricorian used that line in her novel. Like a bird, she gathered pieces of insight and information from the dozens of Armenians she interviewed to cultivate this piece of art — a nest of words, experiences, traumas and laughter.
Olivia Geiger is an MFA student at Western Connecticut State Universiry and a lifelong resident of Lakeville.
This two chimney colonial home on Bulls Bridge Road built in 1824 was owned by South Kent School Corporation and sold for $407,000 in May.
KENT — The highest median price level over the last ten years on a rolling 12-month basis achieved in Kent was in August 2024 at $753,000.
Currently there are 13 single family homes listed for sale in Kent with eight over $1 million and the rest all listed over the current median price of $450,000.
Transactions
42 Yuza Mini Lane — 5 acre approved building lot sold by Genny Azcona Paolo Pension Associates, Victor Paolo Defined Benefit Plan to Brian Charles Roberts for $440,000 recorded March 13.
21 Bridge St. — Mixed use retail with two 2-bedroom apartments above sold by Engine 22 LLC to 21 Bridge Street LLC for $925,000 recorded March 27.
20 South Road — 2 bedroom/1 bath home sold by Barbara Soch to David Lee and Deborah McKenzie Bain for $280,000 recorded April 9.
473 Kent Hollow Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath house on 1.2 acres sold by Roberta Moran to Ivin Ballen and Meghan Petras for $390,000 recorded April 25.
9 Bulls Bridge Road — 4 bedroom/2.5 bath house on one acre sold by South Kent School Corporation to Ronald and Xiao Xiang MacFarlane for $407,000 recorded May 12.
45 Stone Fences Lane — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home on 3.88 acres sold by David and Augusta Kapelman to Jonathan D. Agnew for $850,000 recorded May 21.
39 Gorham Road — 3 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 5.3 acres sold by Edward A. and Randie S. Berman to Francis P. and Debra A. Zarette for $1.3 million recorded May 21.
22 Oak Ridge Road — 3 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 5 acres sold by John Paul and Rose Pezzulo to Kevin Lacerda for $1.55 million recorded May 21.
* Town of Kent real estate transfers recorded as sold between March 1 and May 30, 2025, provided by Kent Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Active search for unidentified motorist
A vehicle described as a light blue Toyota Prius missing the front passenger headlight was traveling east on Route 44 on the afternoon of May 20 near the intersection with Walton Street in Salisbury when it veered off the road and hit the guard wire on pole 3011. A witness identified the driver as an older white female. The case remains active and under investigation, and Troop B requests anyone with information to contact the station at 860-626-1820 or Trooper Colon #1159 at jean.colon.carattini@ct.gov.
Individual arrested on third offense in six days
After being arrested twice on criminal trespass and breach of peace charges at an Upper Main Street residence in Sharon on May 18 and May 21, Esperanza Acevedo, 31, of Poughkeepsie, New York was arrested again on Upper Main Street on May 23. Troopers were responding to a report of a man yelling and banging on a door attempting to gain entry to a residence when they found Acevedo, charging him with third degree burglary, first degree criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and violation of a protective order. Acevedo was released on a $20,000 cash bond and was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on May 27.
Motorcycle chase leads to arrest
Just after 7 a.m. on May 30, a trooper observed a motorcycle traveling recklessly on Route 63 in Goshen and initiated pursuit. Troopers eventually found the operator in North Canaan, who was identified by his driver’s license as Tristan Gibson, 33, of Waterbury. Gibson was processed for eight charges: first degree reckless endangerment, disobeying the signal of an officer, engaging police in a pursuit, unsafe passing, operating a motorcycle without a license, operating a motor vehicle with no insurance, and two counts of reckless driving. Gibson was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on June 13.
Pedestrian struck in LaBonne’s parking lot
On May 31 at about 11 a.m., Joanne Taber, 81, of Salisbury was backing up in the LaBonne’s Market parking lot when, while focusing on a father and son behind her Toyota Prius, she failed to see and struck Vera Engelhorn, 69, of Millerton. Vera reported injuries and was transported to Sharon hospital by Salisbury EMS for evaluation. Taber was issued an infraction for improper backing.
Resident drives through senior living facility garage door
Around midday on May 31, Richard Collins, 89, of Salisbury entered his Subaru Forester and made to exit the Noble Horizons facility’s parking garage. Collins stated that his foot slipped onto the accelerator and he drove through the garage door. Collins was uninjured in the incident, and declined medical services.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Contact us by mail at P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send an email, with “police blotter” in the subject line, to editor@lakevillejournal.com
Resident Chris Garrity speaks at Kent’s Town Meeting May 30.
KENT — Despite a few vocal residents protesting certain components of Kent’s fiscal year 2025-2026 spending plan, the budget passed with an overwhelming majority at the Friday, May 30, Town Meeting.
There were 54 registered voters in attendance.
The selectmen’s operating budget is $5,317,818, up 3.63% or $186,282 from the last fiscal year’s number. The Board of Education’s Kent Central School budget totaled $5,197,492, which marks a 1.49% or $76,335 increase. The Region One assessment, which was decided separately and was passed at a May 6 referendum, is $2,611,729, up 3.36% or $84,818.
Total education expenditures are $7,809,221, which is 2.11% or $161,154 higher than last year’s numbers.
Total municipal spending for the upcoming fiscal year is $16,477,809 which is almost 5% and $800,000 more than the fiscal year ’25 town budget.
Several other motions were read and passed at the May 30 meeting. The first motion of the evening, to accept supplemental bills for the motor vehicle tax in two yearly installments rather than one, passed unanimously after some clarifying discussion. Starting with the supplemental motor vehicle tax list of 2024, bills will be due July 2025 and January 2026, and follow that pattern in subsequent years.
Voters approved the renaming and allocation of funds to several Park and Recreation Commission projects, such as the awaited Emery Park Swimming Area Project which would bring public swimming back to Emery Park for the first time since it was prohibited in 2019.
A motion to eliminate the Highway Parking Lot funding line of $70,000 in the Five Year Capital Plan to be distributed towards other projects, such as the replacement of garage doors for the Highway department building and the purchase of a new mower, also passed despite resistance from resident Chris Garrity who stated that taxed money should be used for the purpose it was originally voted on.
Resident Matt Star raised a motion to eliminate the town employee insurance opt-out lines in the budget, which funds an option for already-insured employees to receive a paycheck bonus rather than insurance as a benefit. The motion ultimately failed, with nays decidedly outnumbering the yeas. TK potential numbers
Garrity took the stand again to voice his concern that only $100,000 would be allocated from the town’s Unassigned General Fund, which has a June 30 estimate at $3,438,230, to balance the mill rate. In last year’s budget, $500,000 was moved.
After the town meeting concluded, the Board of Finance briefly met to set the mill rate at 16.87 mills, up 1.28 or an 8.18% increase from last year’s 15.59 after a unanimous vote.
SHARON — Access stickers for the town beach on Mudge Pond will become available starting June 11.
Regular stickers will cost $30 per household, with each additional sticker within the household an additional $15. Seniors (65 or older) pay $10, care givers $15 (for families who already have a sticker), and Airbnb property owners $50. The non-resident price is $150.
Stickers for boaters, kayakers and paddleboarders will be available at $20 each with the completion of a wavier for each person who would be using the watercraft.
The Selectmen’s office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 28 for sticker purchase, cash or check only. Stickers may also be bought via mail, using a form available just inside the back entrance of Town Hall, or available to download from the town website at www.sharonct.gov. For mail-order stickers, a stamped, self-addressed envelope is required. (TK is there no other way to purchase?)
Proof of residency is required for all renters, regardless of prior sticker purchases. Proof can come in the form of a lease, a utility bill with the renter’s name and address, or a note from the landlord confirming tenant status.
To purchase a sticker on or after June 11, visit Town Hall Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.