A Vision in Ink

Up about 100 feet on the right side of Railroad Street we come across Nerdy Visions. Opened in 2020 in the heat of the pandemic Nerdy Visions is a very proud new member of the North Canaan community. Nerdy Visions is a new twist on a tattoo parlor. Owner Joe Murph lends his “Vision” to help people envision themselves with new tattoos. Tattooing is nothing new to Murph, he’s been in the business since 2011 at various shops around the state, although North Canaan is the first shop of his own. Hailing from Danbury, Conn., Murph spent a lot of time in the area as a kid and young adult at Lone Oak Campsites in East Canaan, so when the time came to open his own place, he knew he wanted it to be North Canaan. Not only because he loved the area, but also because it was an untapped market.

The nature of an untapped market is both tantalizing and horrifying, is it untapped because nobody’s tried, or is it because many have tried and all have failed? Well in this case it’s the former because North Canaan has never seen a tattoo parlor. It’s a daunting thought as it’s not a very “Canaan” business in the sense that it’s not a traditional business: it’s not an auto repair shop, a doctor’s office, or a quarry. With that in mind, I asked if fitting into the community has been an issue thus far. The answer was a resounding no. The only real backlash they faced was on social media, “I can remember all the derogatory remarks when I was first opening, and there were even people saying ‘they won’t last.’” This is something that caused Joe to get rid of his Facebook page, you can still find him on Instagram @nerdyvisionsgallery, because of all the negativity from people that have no clue who he is or what he’s about. He found that negativity isn’t something he was particularly interested in as positivity is the theme behind his business, “I want to portray myself as the hand that extends rather than the one that slaps away.”

Video game nights are a community element Nerdy Visions have offered. Tyler, one of the apprentices at the shop, is the one who has put most of the planning on his own shoulders. He’s hoping to hold video game nights on a more regular basis soon, with Friday night events for all ages. From 7 to 11 p.m., Nerdy Visions will open its doors to anyone that wants to come to play or watch video games, ranging from your classics such as an N64 up to Playstation or the Nintendo Switch. These events are child-friendly, sober events that way everyone can have a good time together. The main event is a tournament with one grand prize for the winner. Nerdy Visions has quickly become part of the community and it’s thanks to efforts such as these game nights, little things that show they not only want to stay in business but want to be accepted as a true part of the community.

Panther tattoo by Tyler Barker. Photo courtesy of Nerdy Vision

Tomie horror manga tattoo by Raf Luiz. Photo courtesy of Nerdy Vision

Heath Ledger’s Joker by Joe “Murph” Atherton.

Panther tattoo by Tyler Barker. Photo courtesy of Nerdy Vision

Latest News

Barbara Meyers DelPrete

LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.

Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti

SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.

Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.

Keep ReadingShow less
Veronica Lee Silvernale

MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.

Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.

Keep ReadingShow less
Crescendo launches 22nd season
Christine Gevert, artistic director of Crescendo
Steve Potter

Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s artistic director, is delighted to announce the start of this musical organization’s 22nd year of operation. The group’s first concert of the season will feature Latin American early chamber music, performed Oct. 18 and 19, on indigenous Andean instruments as well as the virginal, flute, viola and percussion. Gevert will perform at the keyboard, joined by Chilean musicians Gonzalo Cortes and Carlos Boltes on wind and stringed instruments.

This concert, the first in a series of nine, will be held on Oct. 18 at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, and Oct. 19 at Trinity Church in Lakeville.

Keep ReadingShow less