Latest News
Wake Robin proposal would destroy Lakeville
My husband and I have attended almost every Salisbury Planning and Zoning CommissionZoom meeting regarding the Aradev proposal to redevelop and expand the Wake Robin Inn in Lakeville. Despite repeated attempts by the developer to adjust their hotel expansion plans to accommodate the many objections to it, we think the current proposal, if approved, will still destroy Lakeville.
During the Wake Robin hearings, the Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission has never acknowledged that Lakeville is a village located within the Town of Salisbury. We have our own statistical geographical place that is subject to its own census count, possesses its own zip code, and is defined by a clear boundary. When it comes to municipal governance, Lakeville is part of the Town of Salisbury, but the village has its own history, identity, and local characteristics that distinguish it from Salisbury. Most importantly, we are smaller.
In the 2020 census, the population of Salisbury was 4,194 and the population of Lakeville was1,059 (about 25 percent that of Salisbury). An expansion of The Wake Robin Inn from its current small size into a large, high-end hotel with a party event room, a restaurant seating 180 people, and a destination site for party events, would be a shocking change for Lakeville to absorb. It would cause direct harm to the surrounding residential neighborhood, not to mention harm toLakeville as a whole. We say this because an expansion of this size will lead to an increase in automobile traffic and traffic congestion, noise and light pollution, and a noticeable increase in trash and delivery trucks necessitated by the operations of the hotel. All of these things would have an impact on the quality of life of those living in the vicinity of the hotel, and lead to a devlaluation of our homes.
Lakeville already has a destination site for large parties—the Interlaken Inn. Unlike the WakeRobin, with only 12 acres, however, it sits on 30 acres, and its restaurant seats 60 people, not 180. Importantly, the White Hart Inn, located in the business section of Salisbury, is also a destination site, but it offers only 16 rooms, with restaurant seating for around 75 people (with additional porch seating is available when weather permits).
In the end, everyone needs to ask, what good is there in permitting a hotel expansion and renovation in the middle of a zoned residential area that’s currently remarkably quiet? And what good does it do our village to become a destination site for parties?
We urge the Planning and Zoning Commission to do the right thing and vote this proposal down.
Laurie Fendrich
Peter Plagens
Lakeville
Save our universities and protect our future
Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, attacked the state university system, first targeting New College, a small liberal arts college in Sarasota. He appointed politicians instead of academics to the boards that govern Florida’s higher education. He directed them to purge hundreds of general education courses he considered left leaning.These courses now have become elective and don’t count toward graduation requirements. Professors fled the state, and Florida faces a serious teacher shortage. This was considered by conservatives as a blueprint of what to do across the country.
Trump now is attacking private and public universities. At Brown University in Rhode Island, they are now permitting government oversight of admissions which could reduce the number of minority and female students accepted, instead of choosing the brightest students. Universities count on federal grant money to fund department chairs and research, but that should not give Trump the right to control them academically.
The U.S. was considered the brain drain of the world as the top students from abroad fought to come to our universities. On graduation the brightest were offered jobs at medical laboratories and businesses and often they became Americans. Many American winners of the Nobel Prize are foreign born and naturalized citizens. With Trump’s attack on our universities and research institutions, European countries are now welcoming our scientists, three Yale professors have already moved to a university in Canada.
Like many blue states, Connecticut sends more tax money to Washington than we receive in federal benefits. We have many colleges and universities in Connecticut. We must create laws to protect them from Trump’s demands for money and federal academic control. Our Connecticut university graduates are the future doctors, lawyers, nurses, researchers, scientists and politicians who help make us a powerful country.We must protect our future.
Lizbeth Piel
Sharon
Resource: Learning Center courses
Arriving in Salisbury in 1990 with a new baby, my long medical training just completed and about to launch my solo practice, I was tantalized by periodic articles in The Lakeville Journal about the class offerings at the Taconic Learning Center. Semester after semester I’d choose the most interesting classes I’d take someday, when I would have time to sit for a couple of hours and learn.Of course life only got busier, and it wasn’t until 32 years later, after retirement, kids grown, that I was finally able to enroll in some TLC classes.In the three years since I’ve enjoyed about a dozen classes, subjects as disparate as Zen Buddhism and The Roberts Court.I’ve learned more history, of the Middle East and the U.S., than I ever did in school.I’ve spent glorious winter mornings listening to Stravinsky and Miles Davis. I’ve participated in lively discussions of literature.And, best of all, I’ve met so many interesting and learned people, both teachers and participants.
TLC classes are offered from 10 to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. for up to eight weeks.There is a break in the middle of each class for refreshment.No homework, no quizzes, no final exams. Attendance is not taken.The cost is $60 a year, for as few or many classes as you like. Go to www.taconiclearningcenter.org/index3.php for more info, the list of course offerings, schedules, and registration.We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful resource for learning, right here in the Northwest Corner.
Hope to see you in class!
Laurie Slotnick
Salisbury
Trump’s leadership is decimating our country
The Trump cartel is decimating our country. It has reached the level of such criminality and toxicity its hard to recognize the United States. Now the gerrymandering happening in Texas is the latest despicable crime being committed. Republicans are trying to deliver five new GOP congressional districts to Donald Trump by cracking Democratic districts. Doing this will let King Trump cling to power which is what his administration is all about.
Does anyone wonder what will come of the meeting between Putin and Trump? Putin is a tyrant and dictator without regard for anything but power and money. King Trump greatly admires him and seems to be following Putin’s playbook with his own administration. The contrast between Trump’s reception of Zelensky, a leader trying to save his country, and Putin, a corrupt and cruel overlord shows King Trump’s affinity for total dictatorship. Trump’s minions are at his beck and call no matter how illegal or immoral his orders are.
Where are all the jobs, lower food prices and gas prices, infrastructure repair, and tax cuts for working Americans instead of his billionaire cohorts? King Trump’s plan to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the only agency that monitors big banks and corporations predatory practices, will hurt working families. He clearly doesn’t care about childcare, healthcare, and grocery and gas prices.
King Trump has bashed diversity, equity, equality, and inclusion initiatives. DEI officers have been fired and private institutions are being pressured to end DEI practices. Isn’t our country supposed to reflect an acceptance of all people regardless of ethnicity or sexual orientation? We have moved so far away from the ethics that made our country a place of freedom. We have fought wars, laid down lives in defense for liberty and King Trump is tearing all that down. Not just him, but all his henchmen, groupies, puppets,and stooges hanging on his coattails.
King Trump is a master of chaos so he will continue to deflect, lie, cheat, and make billions of dollars for himself and his cartel. We, the people, will continue a downward slide watching him say to us “Let them eat cake.”
Gretchen Gordon
Sharon
125 years ago — August 1900
Edward Downer of Colebrook caught a turtle last week Wednesday which weighed forty-four and three-fourths pounds. He was fishing for small fish in a pond near his house when he caught the turtle.
SALISBURY — Mr. Hortie, brother of W.W. Hortie, has entered the employ of the Cutlery Handle Co.
Canaan now has a black bear; must be the one seen here recently.
Mrs. Choulet living on the farm of E.E. Swift near Norfolk has a Bantam rooster which, after insisting on setting for two weeks, was accommodated by having six odinary hens’ eggs placed in the nest. From these he now has four nice chicks, which he tends to with motherly kindness, scratching for them during the day and brooding them at night.
100 years ago — August 1925
Taconic was again visited by a disastrous fire a little after midnight Monday, when the beautiful mansion of Mr. Herbert Scoville was burned to the ground. Calls for fire apparatus were sent to Lakeville, Canaan and Sharon, and all companies responded in remarkably quick time. It was a fine exhibition of what could be accomplished by pumping outfits and had the fire been discovered a little earlier much of the building might have been saved. No estimate of the loss can be given at this time but it will reach at least half a million dollars. The building was filled with many very valuable contents among which were antiques that were practically priceless in fact many are of the opinion that the contents will constitute a larger loss than that of the building itself. Many cars and several hundred people gathered at the spot but little could be done except to express sincere sympathy for Mr. and Mrs. Scoville in the loss of their beautiful home. The couple left last Sunday and were to sail for Europe this week.
SALISBURY — The many friends of Reginald Kelsey will be interested to know that he is to broadcast songs from Station W.T.I.C. Hartford on Monday evening at about 6:00 standard time.
The new pumper engine of the Lakeville Hose Company arrived Monday afternoon by rail and was unloaded on Tuesday afternoon. The new engine is a beauty and one of which the entire town can well be proud. The new engine is not a chemical engine. Technically it is called a triple combination pumper and hose car with a booster tank. It is fitted with a rotary pump capable of delivering 620 gallons per minute.
NOTICE — Any one who is interested in joining a National Rifle Club, communicate with the undersigned at once. With the proper number of members we can get a large issue of free equipment from the U.S. War Department. If you wish to join tho you do not shoot a rifle, join as instruction will be given members. Capt. James W. Farmer, Taconic.
Miss Sadie Frink took a trip to Niagara Falls recently.
50 years ago — August 1975
A new study of Connecticut lakes shows that those in the Northwest Corner have deteriorated considerably since a similar survey was taken 35 years ago. The study, undertaken by scientists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station in New Haven states Lake Wononscopomuc is among the bodies that has shown severe deterioration while East Twin Lake Washining and Bantam Lake have suffered moderate eutrophication.
Jacob Orth of the South Ellsworth section of Sharon called The Lakeville Journal last week telling us of his ripening cantaloupe and muskmelon patch, which he described as totaling some 300 melons. Orth, who has been trying to grow melons for the past 10-12 years with little success attributed this year’s triumph largely to Mother Nature with this season’s warm temperatures.
Students at the North Canaan Elementary School will notice some changes when school reopens on Sept. 3. Among the changes are a lengthened school day and new bus schedules. The new day will run from 8:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m., a half hour longer than last year. All students will be dismissed at the same time this year with no late bus run.
After more than a year of delay, plans have finally been made to move the Canaan portable classrooms to their new site near the Canaan town hall. Canaan contractor Richard Bunce has agreed to move the building the short distance to its new location. Once moved, the buildings will undergo alterations to turn it into additional office space for the town hall. The space is needed for boards and commissions that presently have no permanent quarters.
FALLS VILLAGE — The new school bus, purchased to replace a five-year-old bus previously in use, was delivered to Lee H. Kellogg School last Thursday. The new bus will seat 55 passengers and the padding on the bus meets the safety requirements of state standards. Its purchase price was $10,742 with a trade-in.
25 years ago — August 2000
A special thank you to Richard Bianchi of Canaan for returning a Lakeville Journal vending machine that he found on his property. The machine was taken from in front of Paramount Laundry in Canaan.
CANAAN — “Can we eat on the playground?” was a question frequently asked of parents at McDonald’s restaurant for the last seven years. Dismantling began on the brightly-colored tube slide and ball pits of the “Playplace” on Saturday. The playground and picnic tables will all be removed from the little island in the middle of the parkling lot. McDonald’s owner Joseph Deutschle said the equipment had outlived its usefulness and there are no immediate plans to replace it.
CANAAN — The town pool closed for the season Aug. 14. While the weather has not been conducive to swimming of late, residents will be out of luck if the temperature rises. A Labor Day closing was moved up when the underground wiring to the pool’s filtration system was “fried.” Town officials are blaming a power surge, which they believe occurred following a power outage on the morning of Aug. 14.
The first Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance Service barbecue will be held Sept. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cornwall Auto Body at the intersection of routes 7 and 126. Money raised at the event will help pay for a new ambulance to replace the current rescue vehicle, which is the oldest in-service ambulance in Connecticut.
Back to school in Region One — progress and peril
As high school students in Region One head back to school at the close of a magical summer in Northwest Connecticut, there is much to celebrate from the past year. Housatonic Valley Regional High School will begin the new academic year with the completion of an ambitious capital improvement project that included major upgrades to their auditorium, lunchroom, and tennis facility.Students will also have access to a comprehensive on-site health clinic and they will be greeted by an exciting array of learning opportunities including a new ceramics program and journalism internship opportunities available through a partnership between Housie and The Lakeville Journal. And the school’s Academic Bowl team will start the year as defending champions in several of the state’s competitions.
But make no mistake about it: storm clouds are looming. After half a year of turbulence ushered in by President Trump’s campaign to remake American education, the effects are now hard to miss — even here in our small rural high school. In late spring, Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley informed the Region 1 Board of Education and local town school boards that the federal government was discontinuing a grant to EdAdvance. This $8.7 million grant was canceled because it allegedly violated civil rights laws, promoted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and undermined student well-being.It enabled 32 schools, mostly in rural areas of Litchfield County, to serve 7,000 students and its cancellation will have palpable results
The loss of any adolescent mental health services in our high school is a gut punch to students. Their mental health needs have only grown in recent years due to the lingering effects of COVID, rising school violence, increasing economic uncertainty, and unrest in higher education. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in five adolescents aged 13–18 experiences a mental health disorder. The Centers for Disease Control reports that nearly one in four adolescents has seriously considered suicide.These problems are particularly acute in rural areas like ours. With the near absence of private mental health providers in this corner of the state, the Trump administration’s rollback of student mental health services amounts to an attack on the health and safety of our entire community.
Unfortunately, replacing this lost federal funding will not be easy. Region One’s costs — many of which the district has little control over — continue to rise. So far, the region has largely succeeded in sparing student-facing programs, asking voters to approve only a 4.5% budget increase for the coming year. This is despite a significant rise in electrical costs, an almost double-digit increase in employee health insurance premiums, and a steep jump in the number of eligible dependents opting into the Region One health plan.
But the chaos coming from Washington extends far beyond budget cuts. A recent Supreme Court ruling allows parents to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ curricula if they believe it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Region One educators will now return to school facing the challenge of how to update and monitor policies in order to comply with this ruling.Such “opt outs” can entail considerable administrative burden to say nothing of their potential impact of various school populations. Most worrisome, these developments come at a time when educators are already wrestling with other critical issues—such as school safety, cellphone use, and artificial intelligence in schools. The confluence of all these challenges ensures that RegionOne school boards and administrators will have a full plate this year as they work to ensure that students continue to have the resources and programs they need to build on the successes of recent years.
The author is a retired historian and clinical social worker in the Northwest Corner.She represents Salisbury on the Region One Board of Education.