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Jane Sellery, left, and Karen Vrotsos discussed genealogy practices at the Scoville Memorial Library Thursday, Jan. 29.
Patrick L. Sullivan
Genealogist Jane Sellery guided seven researchers through the challenges of tracing Revolutionary War–era Salisbury residents during a program at Scoville Memorial Library on Thursday, Jan. 29.
The session was the second in a series tied to Salisbury READS, a community reading program centered on “Revolution Song” by Russell Shorto. The program is sponsored by the library and the Salisbury Association Historical Society.
Participants researched individuals whose gravestones are located in the cemetery behind Salisbury Town Hall, uncovering firsthand the complications that often arise in historical records.
Tracy Flynn of Salisbury researched Jacob Davis — who was also known as Jacobus Davis — and found that even basic identification can be difficult. In addition to variant spellings, Flynn discovered what appeared to be two men with the same name, likely father and son. One Jacob Davis lived from 1737 to 1797, while the second lived from 1762 to 1841, spanning the Revolutionary War period and beyond.
Sellery said such confusion is common. Birth and death dates can be hard to read on worn gravestones, and even when legible, the dates do not always match written records.
Census records present additional challenges.
Sellery noted that the 1900 census is often off by one year, depending on whether a person was born before or after June 1. Wording also matters: a record stating someone was “in the 68th year” means the person was 67 at the time.
The 1890 census is largely unavailable due to a warehouse fire in St. Louis that destroyed most of the records.
Other obstacles include inconsistent name spellings — such as “Hayes” and “Hays” — difficult handwriting, and records written in foreign languages or alphabets. Sellery said artificial intelligence can help in some cases, such as translating images of documents written in the Cyrillic alphabet.
Addressing immigration records, Sellery said the popular belief that officials routinely Anglicized immigrants’ names is largely inaccurate. Facilities such as Ellis Island relied on passenger manifests from incoming ships, which did not always match later naturalization records.
“It wasn’t, ‘Okay, we’re going to make you Green,’” Sellery said.
She added that some immigrants intentionally changed or concealed their identities, while others adopted American-sounding names to assimilate. In the 1920s, name changes became more common amid fears of prejudice, a trend that reversed in the 1930s and 1940s.
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Housatonic Valley FFA students raised funds at the holiday store earlier this winter. On Feb. 5, Holly Kempner accepted a donation from the FFA on behalf of the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE — On Feb. 5, the Housatonic Valley FFA Chapter donated a total of $1,200 to six local non-profits, with each organization receiving $200.
The recipients included Kent Food Pantry, Cornwall Food Bank, Fishes & Loaves in North Canaan, The Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville, the Sharon Food Bank, and the Jane Lloyd Fund — which provides financial support for cancer patients —in Salisbury.
Holly Kempner, who accepted a check on behalf of the Corner Food Pantry, said she was impressed by the FFA donation and the activities of the members.
“We serve a lot of people, including New York state and Massachusetts,” she said. “So we really appreciate it.”
For more than a decade, the Housatonic Valley FFA Chapter has supported local organizations, including the food pantries in Region One. These donations are made possible through the chapter’s Holiday Sale. The sale and class unit not only allows FFA members to give back to the community, but also provides valuable, hands-on experience in business management, marketing, communication, and teamwork.
Community members interested in supporting local food banks are encouraged to contact these food banks directly, as they are always in need of food donations and volunteer support.
Kellie Eisermann is the FFA Reporter for the 2025-26 school year. She is a junior and lives in Lakeville with her parents, Jonathan Eisermann and Aubrey Murphy. She plans to go into the family business, Four Seasons Pool Service in Millerton, and go to community college after graduation.
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Police Blotter: Troop B
Feb 11, 2026
Police Blotter: Troop B
John Coston
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.
Assault arrest
On the afternoon of Feb. 1, troopers were dispatched to a Route 44 address in Lakeville for the report of an active physical altercation. After investigating, officers arrested Christopher Race, 48, of Lakeville for three counts: disorderly conduct, third degree assault and second-degree strangulation/suffocation. No injuries were reported. Race was released on a $2,500 cash bond and was scheduled to appear in Torrington Superior Court the next morning.
“Failure to pay” charge yields hefty bail
On the afternoon of Feb. 2, Justin Demaraies, 44, of North Canaan turned himself in to Troop B on an active warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody on the charge of failing to pay for a home improvement job, and was subsequently released on a $10,000 non-surety bond. He is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on Feb. 17.
Car strikes snowbank
At around 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, Kaelyn Brennan, 37, of Sharon was driving east on Mudgetown Road when his Honda Accord ran off the road and struck a snowbank. Brennan was uninjured but his car was towed from the scene. He was issued a warning or failure to maintain lane.
Year old larceny, forgery warrant
On Feb. 5, the Department of Corrections transported Francis Corcoran, 67, of Bridgeport to the G.A. 18 holding area for Troop B officers to present their active warrant. Corcoran was processed for fourth degree larceny and third-degree forgery relating to an incident dated Feb. 19, 2025 on Bruey Road in Norfolk. Corcoran was held by the DOC on a $2,500 non-surety bond and brought to his arraignment the same day.
Disorderly conduct arrest
On the evening of Feb. 5, troopers were dispatched to an East Main Street address in North Canaan on the report of an active physical dispute. After investigating the scene, troopers arrested Francine Wabshinak, 58, of North Canaan for disorderly conduct. After processing, she was released on a $1,500 non-surety bond and was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court the next day.
Route 44 construction zone accident
At round 5 a.m. on Feb. 6, William Zygmont, 18, of Colebrook, was driving west through a single-lane construction zone on Route 44 in Norfolk when he turned on his hazard lights and pulled to the right to enter a driveway. A trailing Subaru B9 Tribeca, driven by Jefferson Muymuy, 23, of Queens, New York, then attempted to pass and collided with Zygmont’s 1994 Ford Ranger. Neither driver was injured but Muymuy’s Subaru had to be towed. He was also found to be driving with only a learner’s permit and was issued infractions for driving without a valid license and unsafe passing.
State line collision
On the afternoon of Feb. 6, N V Bulzacchelli, 89, of Millerton, was driving east on Route 44 over the state border from Millerton to Salisbury when a Subaru Forester pulled out in front of him from Stateline Car Wash, causing a collision. The driver, Rolando Cuccho, 23, of Lakeville, was found to be at fault for the incident and was issued infractions for operating a vehicle without a license and failure to grant right of way. Neither driver was injured, but Cuccho’s Forester and Bulzacchelli’s Chevrolet Malibu both were towed from the scene.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Send mail to P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or email editor@lakevillejournal.com
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Kent Park and Recreation Commission Chairman Rufus de Rham, left, and Park and Recreation Director Matt Frasher confer during the Park and Recreation Commission’s meeting Tuesday.
Ruth Epstein
KENT — The Park and Recreation Commission voted Tuesday, Feb. 3, to restore funding for staff salaries for the after-school program at Kent Center School, ensuring the after-school program will continue for another year.
The commission reinstated $9,722 in salary funding after reversing a decision made last month to eliminate the program as part of its proposed 2026–27 budget. Following nearly two hours of discussion, commissioners voted 4–2, with one abstention, to restore the funds.
The issue became a point of contention when the commission voted last month on a budget proposal that would “do away with the After-School Program,” according to the meeting minutes.
The move prompted several letters to the commission, including one signed by 34 residents, expressing deep concern.
“This announcement was made without prior communication to families who would be directly impacted by such a change,” the joint letter read. “This denies our town and families the opportunity for collaborative problem-solving about how to ensure that a stated priority of many residents—attracting and keeping families in our community—is also reflected as a financial priority of the town’s services.
“Additionally, reports that these reductions may be used to support administrative restructuring, including promotions or new positions, without clear explanation of how such changes would benefit working families, further undermines trust.”
In her own letter, resident Andrea Schoeny said, “It was shortsighted for the commission not to consider the impact” of such a move.
Parent Ginger Blake, whose son attends the program daily and who was at the meeting, said she was unaware that its closure was being considered. She was one of the 34 signers and found it disturbing that there was no response to the letter. “The lack of interest in what we want is stark,” she said.
Resident Cinda Clark, whose daughter also attends the program, said she understands it is not economically sustainable in its current form but noted that new families are expected to use it in the future. “It’s important to consider the broader public value. This is big for all of us. I consider it a program, not babysitting.”
In explaining the reasoning for the decision, Park and Recreation Director Matt Frasher provided extensive data on the history of the program. Enrollment is low, with only six families using the service.
Most of the children, an average of about five per day, are in the lower grades, with the older ones aging out to participate in other programs. He said there are also staffing shortages at times when emergency coverage is needed. The rate of $13 a day needs to be increased. A total of $25,000 is needed to run the program.
At the meeting’s outset, commission Chairman Rufus de Rham said, “We all agree the program is vital, but in other towns Park and Recreation is not always the operating force and it may not be the operating force here in the future.”
Commission member Kevin Frost said the town is subsidizing what he termed “a not insignificant loss.” He doesn’t think the Park and Recreation Commission should be the driving force and that parents should band together to seek a solution. Member Heidi Wilson said the program is just not working. “It needs to be completely reimagined. It cannot survive in its current format. We can work with other entities to come up with a solution.”
Before the commission voted to restore the funding, some members and residents questioned whether a new program model could realistically be put in place in time for the next budget cycle.
Clark said, “If you cut the budget, it seems like you don’t care. Seven months is a short time to implement a new model. If it’s not in the budget, we’re left without anything next year.”
Commission member David Schreiber argued that restoring the funds would provide needed breathing room. “Putting the money back in will buy us the time to create a subcommittee to come up with a viable solution,” he said. “If we don’t fund it, we’re putting the program to rest.”
Commission member Claire Love volunteered to head the subcommittee, which was endorsed by the commission.
Representatives from Kent Center School and the Kent Community Nursery School are expected to be asked to participate.
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