Pumpkin Run packs playful wear and perfect weather
Costumed runners set off from Kent Green Boulevard Sunday, Oct. 26, for the Pumpkin Run.
Lans Christensen
Start of the Kid’s Race.Lans Christensen
Latest News
125 years ago — December 1900
Miss Emma Ayres came nearly being burned to death on Tuesday. She was putting some wood in the stove and her apron caught fire and an instant later her dress was ablaze. She had presence of mind to remove her clothing, but it was a narrow escape.
Mr. and Mrs. William Conklinwere presented with a beautiful silver set this week, it being their 25th anniversary. The members of the K. of P. Lodge and other friends were the donors of the gift which was an evidence of the high esteem in which this worthy couple is held.
Chester Barnes, about whom reports have been brought to the authorities to the effect that he was discharging firearms at passersby from his house on Canaan mountain was Thursday taken into custody and was examined by Dr. Hamant of Norfolk and Dr. Cobb of Falls Village as to his sanity. The decision reached was that Barnes was not actually insane, but was the victim of constant hallucination which caused him to think that some one was going to kill him and rob him of his pension of $12 a month. Barnes, it appears, is a veteran of the civil war, belonging to the Nineteenth Connecticut regiment, and has lived a solitary life on Canaan mountain ever since the death of his wife twelve years ago.
100 years ago — December 1925
The Lakeville Fire District Committee have just ordered from the Connecticut Power Company the installation of six new street lights on the Hotchkiss School road. This will make a well lighted street the entire distance from the village to the cement road near Hotchkiss. The expense of installing and caring for the lights will be paid by the Hotchkiss School.
Donald M. Thrall, while motoring to Lakeville last Thursday night, ran into a good sized doe near Norfolk and quite badly injured the animal. The doe sustained a broken shoulder and other injuries. Don did not want to leave the doe to suffer and for a time was puzzled as to what course of action to follow. He decided to get the doe off the highway, and he had quite an exciting time in so doing, owing to the struggles of the animal. He finally accomplished the task, but was still averse to leaving the animal by the roadside. He finally got out a heavy Stilson wrench from his car, and using that as a club, he struck the doe on the forehead, killing it instantly. With the help of a couple of passing autoists he loaded the animal into his car and brought it to Norfolk, where he hunted up the game warden and made a report of the affair. Don’s worst grievance is the fact that the game warden confiscated the doe and wouldn’t even give him any portion of it, and Don is wondering just what the warden did with the venison.
The remains of Bryant S. Keefer, who died at Shelby, Ohio, were brought to Millerton and the funeral took place on Monday, according to Masonic rites. Mr. Keefer for many years was connected with the Millerton National Bank, and later was one of the firm of the Morse-Keefer Co., which a number of years ago was engaged in the manufacture of bicycle spokes at Salisbury.
50 years ago — December 1975
A petition filed last week in Litchfield Superior Court by Peter Reilly’s defense attorneys claims that a person with “possibly two motives” for harming Reilly’s slain mother has no alibi for the night of the murder.
Canaan’s newest store, a small independent grocery, opened this week on Railroad Street on the site of the former Helbling’s Delicatessen. The new little store, known as Casey’s Market, will be operated by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Casey of Church Street.
A memorial park will be dedicated to the memory of Michael Dunn on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the North Canaan Elementary School. Michael, the five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Dunn of Housatonic Avenue in Canaan, drowned early last summer. The park, located on a knoll overlooking the school’s kindergarten wing, has been made possible through funds donated by friends and neighbors of the family.
A CBS television crew will be on hand this Sunday afternoon to film a dance at North Canaan Elementary School for the Peter Reilly Legal Defense Fund. The dance, from 2 to 6 p.m., will feature “The Departure,” the band in which Peter Reilly plays. Admission price is $1.50.
25 years ago — December 2000
Members of the Salisbury Band serenaded Jimmy DuBois at his home before playing holiday tunes at the town’s tree lighting festivities Saturday on the Green near the White Hart Inn.
CORNWALL — Norman Dorsen of Cornwall and New York City is one of five people who recently received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award from President Bill Clinton in celebration of Human Rights Day.
These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.
Keep ReadingShow less
Matthew Caulfield Schwab
Dec 10, 2025
SALISBURY — Matthew Caulfield Schwab died unexpectedly on Nov. 11, 2025, while traveling abroad for work.
He was a man of quick wit and a big heart who read everything he could get his hands on. He never turned down a good argument and always had something delicious cooking in the kitchen.
His absence will be acutely felt by his family for the remainder of their lives.
Keep ReadingShow less
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) congratulates Cornwall Tax Collector Jean Bouteiller, left, and Town Clerk Vera Dinneen during a retirement party held in their honor Sunday.
Ruth Epstein
CORNWALL — Townspeople bid farewell to two beloved town employees Sunday, Dec. 7.
Town Hall was packed with well-wishers who came to express their appreciation to recently retired Tax Collector Jean Bouteiller and soon-to-be retired Town Clerk Vera Dinneen.
“Like Patty Rovezzi at Cornwall Consolidated School, Vera is the heartbeat of the town,” said Jennifer Markow. “Vera certainly has her pulse on the town,” agreed Marianne Winslow. Susan Kelsey came from Falls Village to offer her congratulations. “I work in many town halls as a title searcher and I enjoy coming here. I love them both.”
Bouteiller served in the position for 18 years; Dinneen was assistant town clerk before taking on the top post 20 years ago. Both were elected. The tax collector’s post is now appointed and will be held by Rebecca Juchert-Derungs. Kathryn Lee will succeed Dinneen.
In his presentation, First Selectman Gordon M. Ridgway talked about how the two women served efficiently, impartially and fairly. “They made sure the nuts and bolts of the town were done right. They brought warmth to the town hall. Day in and day out, they made sure things happened.”
Ridgway said this was not a sad event, but one filled with appreciation. He said while they are irreplaceable, thorough and meticulous, there are good people taking their places.
The two were presented wooden bowls made by Peter Russ. Looking at them closely, Ridgway said, “They are made from a variety of grains, just like the variety of people in town.” The staff gave them each a basket filled with puzzles, books and other items to keep them busy.
State Rep. Maria Horn, (D-64) from Salisbury, said she was there to bring them boring gifts. “This town, when you walk in, feels like a community,” she said. “There are warm exchanges because of the tone you set.”
She presented each of them with a proclamation from the General Assembly. Dinneen’s listed all the positions she’s held and volunteering she’s done, saying, “Vera exemplifies dedication, compassion and civic spirit. In Bouteiller’s, she said, “Jean exemplifies craftsmanship, stewardship and community spirit that have profoundly benefited Cornwall.”
In thanking everyone Bouteiller said, “If you have to be a tax collector, I couldn’t do it in a better town than Cornwall. She said she was grateful that her dog could come to work with her, quipping some residents may miss the dog more than they’ll miss her.
Dinneen said she was overwhelmed by the turnout. While she’s leaving the job, she’s not leaving town. “I’ll be around,” she assured those in the room.
Keep ReadingShow less
FALLS VILLAGE — For Region One Business Manager Sam Herrick and his staff, the budget process begins well before the New Year’s ball drops.
The process is a complex one involving a spending plan broken down into three components: Housatonic Valley Regional High School, pupil services (primarily special education) and the Regional School Services Center, or central office. It covers the towns of Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury and Sharon.
Herrick explains that “Resident student enrollment is the driving factor for tuition assessment percentages,” meaning a towns’ share of the budget is based on how many of their students are enrolled at the high school. The percentages determined for pupil services and RSSC are based on total school population, so they generally have a bit less fluctuation.
Enrollment figures are determined by how many are signed in on Oct. 1 of the previous year. For Oct. 2025, there were 906 in the six elementary schools and 300 at Housatonic for a district-wide total of 1206. This compares to 930 in the elementary schools on Oct. 1, 2024 and 327 at the high school, totaling 1257.
The enrollments for the elementary schools as of Oct. 1, 2025 (compared to Oct. 1, 2024) are: Cornwall, 122 (117); Falls Village, 102 (96); Kent, 201 (197); North Canaan, 338 (353); Salisbury, 328 (361); and Sharon, 115 (133).
Herrick said a draft budget will be presented to the Region One Board of Education on March 9 and the public hearing is scheduled for April 9. This will be followed by a district-wide referendum in May.
Keep ReadingShow less
loading
