
A large gathering is held in front of Salisbury Town Hall Monday to protest the current administration in Washington, D.C.
Ruth Epstein
A large gathering is held in front of Salisbury Town Hall Monday to protest the current administration in Washington, D.C.
“Democracy cannot defend itself,”
—Maria Grusauskas, Falls Village
SALISBURY — The frigid winds and icy conditions did little to deter a hearty group from gathering on the steps of Town Hall Monday, Feb. 17, to protest the current administration in Washington, D.C.
Holding signs referring to “Musk-rats” and “Kleptocracy,” while chanting “This is what Democracy looks like,” participants expressed their strong concerns over what they believe is a deep threat to the future of the country under President Donald Trump.
Organizer Amy Lake said holding such a rally on Presidents’ Day was timely. “Up to this point, presidents have mainly obeyed the rule of law and if not, Congress and the courts used their constitutional power to override the overreach of the executive branch. This is not being done. Their silence is complicit. Democracy is in peril.”
She urged those who are outraged with the current situation to call their legislators and others leaders and make their voices heard.
As she looked around at the approximately 60 who came out, Lake said, “It feels good to be doing something and to be building community.”
Many motorists who drove by honked horns as a show of support.
Danila Larssen, who is the chairman of the Democratic Town Committee in Litchfield and president of the Greater Litchfield Young Democrats, talked of being scared and nervous. “We may be safe here in Connecticut and I acknowledge we are privileged, but we have to think about others elsewhere.”
Larssen was with Kay Munoz of Waterbury, vice-chair of the Greater Litchfield Young Democrats and a member of the Hispanic Democratic caucus. “It is important we show our communities we’re not just beacons of hope, but that we can do something,” she said.
Karin Gerstel of Salisbury noted she is the child of parents who were victims of the Holocaust. “When, years later, my mother was asked why people didn’t try to stop it, she replied she didn’t have an answer.” Then, after pausing, Gerstel said, “I’m glad my parents are not here to see this now.”
One of the younger participants was Maria Grusauskas of Falls Village, who said, “Democracy cannot defend itself. It’s important for people to stay informed nationally and strengthen their local communities.”
Julia Olff, also of Falls Village, said she came out because of her concern about what she sees as an abuse of power by the executive branch, “which has dismantled the justice department and cowed the GOP congress. The president is using autocratic techniques to censor free speech and foster hate speech.” But she was emphatic when she said, “A multicultural society is here to stay.”
Peter Coffeen of Norfolk was mainly interested in protesting the removal of funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “That agency was set up to do good for poor people,” he said.
Lake said many local individuals who would have attended had gone to Hartford where a large rally was taking place at the same time.
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.”