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A KVFD Mega Soaker took the place of a bonfire during Kent’s Fourth of July festivities.
Alec Linden
Hot weather forced the post-parade entertainment from a bonfire and s’mores to watermelon, popsicles and the “KVFD Mega Soaker,” which was more of a waterfall than a spritzer. Despite the last minute change, the Mega Soaker, courtesy of the Fire Department, proved to be a hit.
As kids and adults revelled in the spray, Town Clerk Darlene Brady, who helped organize much of the evening as a member of the USA 250 Subcommittee, said she couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. “It’s more than I could have envisioned or expected,” she said, “I’m really proud of the community.”
Kent residents sign a symbolic Declaration of Independence on July 4 at the Community House. Ruth Epstein
On Saturday, it was standing-room only during the signing of the Declaration of Independence at the Community House. Civic organizations had booths, the Lions Club provided hot dogs and soda and the 250 Committee provided a large flag cake baked by So Delicious bakery.
Town Clerk Darlene Brady explained the “Let Freedom Ring Project,” a tradition inspired by local artist and collector Eric Sloane that started years ago. In 1962, Sloane and his friend Eric Hatch pitched the idea of a coordinated nationwide celebration.
The suggestion was brought to the attention of then Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, who presented a resolution to the Senate. The matter was forwarded to President John F. Kennedy, who proclaimed the Fourth of July to be ‘National Bell Ringing Day’ through a resolution in 1963.
Late Saturday, after the storm passed, fireworks were held at Lake Waramaug, a bit later than planned.
Salisbury band plays patriotic tunes after a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Aly Morrissey
As always, Lou Bucceri assumed the role of Heman Allen, brother of Ethan Allen, who lived in Salisbury for about 20 years. Allen was one of more than 25 Salisbury men who lost their lives in the Revolutionary War. Bucceri read the Declaration of Independence in a booming, theatrical voice for the 24th year.
Bucceri said he keeps coming back year after year because, “It’s the Fourth of July!” He added that the event is a way to stay connected with the Salisbury Association, which sponsors the celebration. “And it’s great material,” he said.
Asked whether he has the Declaration memorized by now, he joked, “No…it’s far too long with too many grievances.”
A boat parade also took place, with vessels decked out in patriotic decorations as they cruised Lake Wononscopomuc, creating a colorful scene on the water for beachgoers.
Informational signs were posted throughout the Grove, highlighting Salisbury’s historic buildings and role in the nation’s early days.
As the storm rolled in, the laser light show at Satre Hill was canceled.
A lake boat is decked out in patriotic decor ahead of the boat parade at the Town Grove July 4. Aly Morrissey
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Actor and resident Sam Waterston speaks at the July 4 festivities in Cornwall.
Ruth Epstein
The actor said he had spent a good part of his life reading, writing and thinking about the words of Abraham Lincoln, who “never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence.”
Quoting the Declaration’s best-known passage beginning with “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” Waterston said he found those words to be most inspiring. Formulated by Thomas Jefferson, he noted, they mean every person possesses God-given rights that cannot be taken away.
A Fourth of July parade proceeds through Cornwall. Maxwell Murray
From the moment the Founding Fathers signed on to that premise, Waterston said there was a new country to live in, “a reason for being, a destination to head for, and a North Star to navigate by. You can’t beat that.” The audience applauded.
Waterston said the idea that all men are created equal promised “that no one could be deprived of the right to rise in life, follow their own path, seek their own happiness, speak their own mind, practice their own faith, have a free press, all that — and what it meant — that we would not tolerate anyone lording it over us.”
He concluded by invoking the oft-quoted line, “‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,’” and noted that “it applies just as much to us here today as it did when people from this very town mustered on this very green 250 years ago.”
A Fourth of July parade makes its way through downtown Falls Village.
Patrick L. Sullivan
Timolat began the reading and was soon interrupted by a blast from a cannon operated by Dusty Blass of D. Blass Excavation, followed by a shout “Happy Birthday!”
After a brief pause, with smoke lingering in the background, he continued.
The reading followed a parade, led by violinist Rachell Gall and guitarist Jim Stey, who played a colonial-era tune.
The parade also featured fire trucks – including one carrying Dave and Carmela Barger portraying George and Martha Washington – vintage vehicles, members of the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department, and members of the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society, who were also dressed in period costume.
Also in costume was Selectman Judy Jacobs portraying Betsy Ross.
Vintage vehicles joined the parade in Falls Village. Patrick L. Sullivan
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) led the Pledge of Allegiance, and students from Lee H. Kellogg School gave the crowd a preview of the time capsule they prepared.
The time capsule contains letters written by students, a copy of the latest town report, cards from local businesses, a brochure from the historical society, and pennies. Krista Barger, a paraeducator at the school, said that the students thought it important to include the now-discontinued pennies.
The time capsule will be buried in front of the historical society building on Railroad Street. Organizers are still deciding when it will be opened, though Barger said they are leaning toward 50 years from now, when the students who created it will be in their early 60s.
Falls Village celebrates Fourth with cannon fire, time capsule Patrick L. Sullivan
A bird’s eye view of an uprooted tree that fell on the Scoville Library lawn in Salisbury Saturday, July 4. Clean-up crews were out on Sunday, July 5 and throughout the week.
Nathan Miller
No tornado, but strongest warning came too late for Northwest Corner
On Saturday evening, the weather took an abrupt turn just after 7 p.m. as hurricane-force winds whipped through the region, with Salisbury and Falls Village in the direct line of the storm before it moved southeast toward Harwinton and Torrington.
The storms forced last-minute cancellations of fireworks and laser light shows in the area and created hazardous travel conditions with hail, heavy rain and strong winds. Emergency crews responded throughout the evening to blocked roads and downed wires.
Residents referred to the scene as “apocalyptic.”
While many believed a tornado was responsible for the extreme damage, meteorologists said there was no evidence to support those claims. Samantha Lankowicz, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Albany, said the most likely cause of the damage was strong winds.
“We looked over the radar and we didn’t see anything that would suggest there was a tornado – there were no strong signs of rotation,” Lankowicz said, adding that their radar did pick up strong, straight-line winds up to 60 and 70 miles per hour.
Although thunderstorms were predicted, most residents were not notified about the severity until shortly before the storm struck.
Meteorologist Jack Drake, who covers western Connecticut, said the storm was warned as “severe” about 30 minutes before it reached Salisbury, but it was not upgraded to a “considerable damage” warning until after it had already passed through Falls Village. He attributed the delay in part to limited radar coverage in Litchfield County, making it more difficult to assess the storm’s intensity.
Drake described the storm as a “classic discrete supercell” and one of the strongest to hit the region in recent years, estimating wind gusts may have exceeded 80 mph. He said highly localized summer storms remain difficult to forecast.
Nathan Miller
An aerial view of the damage in downtown Salisbury, where a tree was uprooted in front of the Scoville Library.
Towns declare local states of emergency
The Town of Canaan (Falls Village) declared a local State of Emergency Sunday morning as a result of the storm damage. First Selectman David Barger said the move could help relieve the financial burden of the storm if state or federal funds become available.
On Sunday afternoon, Salisbury, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton and Torrington followed suit, each declaring a local State of Emergency.
“We want to be able to utilize all of our resources,” Barger said, adding that town crews have been called in for overtime hours to support the clean-up.
He said he received calls from North Canaan and Kent town officials who offered their support.
“They stand ready to help us,” he said. “The towns in Region One have really been drawn together.”
Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand also expressed his gratitude for the community support.
“It’s incredible how many have offered help and expressed concern,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
No injuries reported
As of early Sunday afternoon, state police at Troop B in North Canaan had not received reports of any injuries from the storms.
Sharon Hospital lost power for a short period of time Saturday night but the emergency generators kicked on and services were not interrupted, hospital supervisor Elizabeth Barrows said.
While Barrows could not confirm whether the storm resulted in any injuries, she said the hospital saw a number of visits from patients who were unable to use their portable oxygen concentrators as a result of power loss.
Utility crews make repairs in Salisbury. Madi Long
Thousands left without power for days
More than 70,000 Eversource customers in Connecticut were without power Sunday morning after the storm. That number dropped to just under 15,000 by Monday evening, July 6.
However, progress was slow in the Northwest Corner. In Salisbury, 93% of customers remained without power as of 1 p.m. Sunday, with 2,792 of 3,006 customers affected. By Monday morning, 80% of Salisbury customers were still without power. By Monday night, 42% of customers were still out, or 1,272 people.
Falls Village was also heavily affected, with more than 50% of customers without power on Sunday. The number dropped significantly to 7% Monday morning.
Just under 20% of Sharon residents were impacted, with 415 customers without power as of Monday morning.
Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement that repairs in certain areas could take days due to the scale of the damage.
“The utilities have called down additional crews from Canada to help restore power in Connecticut as soon as possible,” he said.
Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand said he has been contacting Eversource regularly since the storm.
In addition to the power outages, downed wires remained an issue as of Monday night, creating single-lane roads in and out of Salisbury. Rand said between 30 and 35 poles snapped.
“We’re really beholden to Eversource and I’m reaching out all the time.”
LaBonne’s notified customers it was open in Salisbury on Monday, July 6.Aly Morrissey
Local businesses impacted by storm
Businesses in Salisbury and Falls Village were forced to close their doors due to widespread power outages. In Lakeville and Salisbury, establishments like Sweet Williams Coffee Shop & Bakery, Salisbury General Store, Provisions at The White Hart Inn, Roaring Oaks Florist, and The Woodland Restaurant had to close Sunday and Monday.
The Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station also closed Monday.
Rob LaBonne, owner of LaBonne’s Market, took to social media Sunday morning after the storm to tell customers the market was closed with power lines down in the parking lot and a loss of electricity and internet.
“The town is absolutely devastated,” LaBonne wrote on Facebook. “Trees and powerlines are slashed in half. The whole town is without power.”
He said electricians arrived late Saturday night to help the market owner empty refrigerator cases and restore power through a generator. The grocery store remained closed on Sunday but reopened Monday with power and internet to allow for credit card transactions. The parking lot remained limited with orange cones marking the downed wires.
Some businesses, including the transfer station, started to reopen Tuesday as power was restored.
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