
More than 400 turned out for a HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury Saturday, April 5.
Ruth Epstein
More than 400 turned out for a HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury Saturday, April 5.
It was all hands on at two HANDS OFF! protest rallies Saturday, April 5, in the Northwest Corner.
Amid heavy rainfall, the lawn of the White Hart Inn in Salisbury was filled to the brim with citizens out to express their fear and anger with the Trump administration. This was one of legions of protests held around the United States that day.
Armed with signs proclaiming a wide range of messages, the more than 400 who turned out were passionate about the causes which they support.
“For me it’s the arts,” said Maura Wolf of Salisbury, noting specifically that such cultural institutions as PBS are at risk.
Sherie Berk worries about Social Security, the loss of grants and the loss of freedom.
Lisa Gold of Sharon said, “There is so much at risk. I can’t just stop at one thing,” while Mark Alexander of Falls Village said he’s focused, “on the whole nine yards being stolen. We’re losing our democracy if this continues. It was hard for me to decide what sign to make.” He eventually settled on one about Medicare.
In a poignant response, Jane Herold of Cornwall talked of her father who was a survivor of the Holocaust. “He didn’t ever think he’d see something like that twice in one lifetime. Fortunately, he didn’t live to see this, but I am seeing it. It’s very scary.”
Joanne Borduas, president and CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center, was among the speakers at Saturday’s HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury April 5. She spoke about the impact the federal funding cuts are having on healthcare. Ruth Epstein
During a short program, which was introduced by Sophia deBoer, who helped organize the event, Joanne Borduas, president and CEO of Community Health & Wellness Center, a federally qualified health center, spoke about the cuts being made in the area of basic healthcare and the negative impacts, especially to those on Medicaid. She said those clients will not be able to afford to pay for insurance. “As an organization that receives federal funding, we’re having to make drastic changes. Already we have had to close our dental services.”
Borduas ended on a strong and foreboding note. “The cuts will result in a matter of life and death.”
A woman from Stanfordville, New York, said she is one of thousands of farmers who have been affected by the removal of promised grants. Her message to the Trump administration: “Hands off our environment.”
One of the region’s strong environmentalists, Tim Abbott, referring to the current administration as the “Trump regime,” said land is important and access to nature is vital. He encouraged those present to skill up, not to comply, not to capitulate and perform defections.
Teen Alex Wilbur, representing the youth of the community, urged the crowd to stand up and protect those in the trans and LGBTQIA+ communities, expressing fear for the future. Wilbur shared a quote from activist Marsha Johnson who said, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
Lisa Gold of Sharon and Mark Alexander of Falls Village are among those who came out to Saturday’s HANDS OFF! protest rally in Salisbury. Ruth Epstein
State Rep, Maria Horn, D-64, spoke about her major concerns, including the loss of $1 to $2 billion of Medicaid funding, noting one in four Connecticut residents are covered by that program. She touched on other areas that are being cut, such as food. “We must protect our most vulnerable people. That’s part of our set of values.”
As a former federal prosecutor, Horn is extremely upset with the attempts being made to destroy the legal system.
Later in the day, a strong showing for HANDS OFF! was seen at the intersection of routes 4 and 7 in Cornwall Bridge. With an estimated crowd of 250, once again there was a sense of enthusiasm and commitment as signs were held high and waves to passing vehicles elicited much support.
Participants in Saturday’s HANDS OFF! rally in Cornwall Bridge wave to passersby.
Ruth Epstein
For Mike Nadeau, climate change is an important issue that needs to be addressed. “I’m concerned with what little democracy is left,” he said. Louise Riley of Kent runs Fishes and Loaves food pantry in Canaan, so it’s natural that food is of great concern to her. The pantry is receiving less food from governmental programs and is seeing increased demand, she said.
Richard Sears, who along with his wife, Brenda Singer, were among the organizers of the rally because they are witnessing the destruction of democracy in so many ways. “We need to stand up for the power of people,” he said. Gary Steinkohl said the administration is “imploding our society, democracy, economy, culture, beliefs — everything we’ve created — without reason.”
Looking around at the rally goers, Cornwall First Selectman Gordon M. Ridgway said, “These cuts impact everyone out here: veterans, farmers, people on Social Security. And they are made by someone not elected by anyone.”
Alice Quinn of Millerton joined the demonstrators at White Hart in Salisbury.Christine Bates
LAKEVILLE — The Hotchkiss School girls lacrosse won the 2025 Founders League championship with an 11-10 victory over Choate Rosemary Hall May 21.
The Bearcats battled back from behind by as many as four points.
MaryHelen McCooey scored the game-winning goal with about two minutes remaining.
The win marked the fourth consecutive Founders League title for Hotchkiss girls lacrosse.
The Marvelwood lacrosse team poses for a group photo May 20 after winning the HVAL title for the second year in row.
KENT — On Tuesday, May 20, Marvelwood School lacrosse defeated Woodhall School 15-9 in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League tournament final.
It was second straight HVAL championship win for the Pterodactyls and their fifth league title since 2018.
Marvelwood and Woodhall played twice this past season with Marvelwood winning both games. They met in the championship as the first and second ranked teams in the league.
In the pre-game huddle, Marvelwood Coach Zach Maizel pumped up his players and urged them to “be aggressive early.”
Eli Jamieson, No. 4, congratulates teammate C. Jones after a goal.Photo by Lans Christensen
Taking his message to heart, attackman Eli Jamieson scored in the first minute of game play. He scored twice more in the first period, which ended with Marvelwood ahead 6-3.
Woodhall played aggressively and stayed on the attack, but the first half ended 9-4 in favor of Marvelwood.
Jamieson was the key player on the Marvelwood squad, and he scored twice more in the final period to maintain the Pterodactyls’ lead.
Woodhall fought hard and possessed control for most of the final period, scoring five goals but falling to a final 15-9 Marvelwood victory.
HVRHS sophomore Ryan Segalla went three-for-three May 17 with Berkshire League gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. He was also on the gold-winning 4x400m relay team.
Berkshire League track and field wrapped up a season of competition with the league finals in Litchfield May 17. The BL festival followed with decathlon, heptathlon, steeplechase and hammer in Falls Village May 20 and Thomaston May 21.
The events included athletes from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Gilbert School, Lakeview High School, Nonnewaug High School, Northwestern Regional High School, Shepaug Valley High School, Terryville High School and Thomaston High School.
In the gold medal tally, Nonnewaug led with 12 golds, Housatonic won 10, Northwestern won six, Thomaston won six, Lakeview won five and Shepaug won three.
For Housatonic, Senior Mia Dodge won the girls 300m hurdles.
Mia DodgePhoto by Riley Klein
Sophomore Ryan Segalla won the boys 100m, 200m and 400m races.
Senior Kyle McCarron won the boys 800m and 1600m races.
The boys 4x400m relay team of Anthony Labbadia, Patrick Money, Kyle McCarron and Ryan Segalla won gold.
Junior Anthony Labbadia won the boys triple jump by a margin of more than three feet. He also earned second place in the boys 400m race.
Senior Patrick Money won the decathlon.
Senior Gabi Titone won the steeplechase. Junior Olivia Brooks took bronze.
The girls 4x400m relay team of Mckenzie Lotz, Harper Howe, Mia Dodge and Maddy Johnson took silver. The same team took bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Harper Howe took silver in the girls 400m race.
Gabi Titone took silver in the girls 800m race.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class S state track and field meet will be held in New Britain on June 2.
Patrick Money
Photo by Riley Klein
Lime Rock Park is slated to host the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Friday and Saturday, June 26 to 28, in Lime Rock, Connecticut.
SALISBURY — First Selectman Curtis Rand agreed to sign approvals for changes in traffic patterns and a “hauler parade” for Lime Rock Park’s NASCAR event June 26 to 28 after a lengthy and detailed discussion at a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen Wednesday, May 21.
Lime Rock Park is hosting a weekend of NASCAR events. In anticipation of a larger than usual crowd, park leadership has asked to have one-way traffic on Route 112 — Lime Rock Road — from the junction of Route 7 and Route 112 to White Hollow Road and the main track entrance between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and one-way traffic in the opposite direction between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28.
On Thursday, June 26, there will be a hauler parade. The trucks will form up at Salisbury School and proceed west on Route 44 starting at 4:30 p.m., with state police cars in the lead and bringing up the rear. Westbound traffic on Route 44 will be stopped as the parade gets underway.
Rand expressed frustration with many aspects of the plans. He was critical of park leadership for setting up arrangements with local businesses for the parade prior to coming to the town for a discussion.
Selectman Chris Williams said Lime Rock Park should have come to the town considerably earlier than the first notification a couple of weeks ago.
Selectman Kitty Kiefer said she has not heard anything positive from anyone she has talked to about the plans.
Lime Rock Park President Dicky Riegel and facility safety director Tom Burke, a retired State Police sergeant with Troop B, answered the questions and criticisms as they came.
Burke said there will be 30 state troopers both along the roads and at the track, and there will be 11 variable message boards deployed to alert motorists several days ahead of the events.
Asked why park representatives had not sent out plans to their immediate neighbors, Riegel said they couldn’t do that until they had an approval. With approval, the track will publicize the information about the traffic flow and the parade.
Riegel also apologized for not coming to the town sooner.
Public comment was uniformly negative.
After an hour or so, Rand asked the selectmen for their opinions.
Kiefer said she would deny both requests.
Williams said he would approve them but reiterated his earlier criticisms.
Rand made up his mind.
“I will sign these.” He said he was “going on good faith.”
“But if it comes up again I might easily say no.”