Jonathan Ryan, left, and his father Christopher Ryan, of Ryan Funeral Home, are pleased to offer their services to the Lakeville/Salisbury area. They have reopened 255 Main St as a funeral home after it was closed for twenty years and used as a family residence.
LAKEVILLE — Ryan Funeral Home is back in Lakeville after a two-decade hiatus.
The Lakeville branch of their business, Ryan Funeral Home, is located at 255 Main Street at the corner of Lincoln City Road.
“We are happy to be part of the community and continue caring for the community as has been for over ninety years,” the Ryans said. “We are here for personal service, and we take pride in that.”
The big brick house on Main Street was built almost 90 years ago in 1935 and was the location of the Burdick Funeral home. In 1945 G. Roger Newkirk bought the business and it became Newkirk Funeral Home.
Newkirk operated it until 1973 when Frances Gomez bought the business, operating it from 1973-1990, still under the name of Newkirk Funeral Home. Besides Lakeville, there was also a branch in Canaan.
Patti Gomez Majesky, daughter of Frances Gomez and his wife, Patricia, described what life was like in that 1973-1990 period when the family lived with the business.
Majesky said her mother got tired of having to move furniture around whenever the house was needed for a funeral. She recalled putting up a Christmas tree only to have to take it down the next day for a service. She said, “We got really good at moving furniture around.” It was a relief to just have the house as a family house when her father sold the business.
In 1990 Gomez sold the Canaan part of the business to Robert Palmer (Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home) while retaining the house in Lakeville as residential space for his family.
The most recent incarnation of the Ryan Funeral Home dates to the reopening of 255 Main Street at the end of 2023. It had been closed as a funeral home for more than 20 years and the father and son team are happy to reopen with services to the Lakeville/Salisbury area.
With this reopening, the business has stayed in the family. Patti’s son, Jonathan Ryan, is the grandson of Frances Gomez. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer as is his father. His father, Christopher, worked for Gomez from 1987-1989.
Christopher graduated from Mortuary school in 1986 and has been practicing ever since. Mortuary school involves two years and earns an associate’s degree. A one-year apprenticeship is required after graduation.
The Ryans have a branch in Torrington; Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home. Jonathan is mostly based there. Before Christopher Ryan bought it in 2007, it was in the same family for four generations and was known as Gleeson Mortuary. Christopher said that some of the original family still helps out at funerals.
“Funeral homes tend to stay as family businesses,” he said.
The Ryans pointed out that many people are pre-planning their funerals. They said it can be a tremendous help to children and other relatives who may not know just what was wanted by their loved ones. In most cases money for a pre-paid funeral is held in trust and the funds are released when a death certificate is confirmed.
Christopher Ryan said of the future of funeral directors and embalmers, “There is going to be a shortage over the next 20 years. Not enough candidates are coming in to replace the current funeral directors.” At the same time, “with baby boomers aging, the death rate will be rising in the next 20 years.”
Jon and Christopher Ryan carry the main load of the business between them. They hire part-time staff as needed. “Mostly retired gentlemen” who are looking for extra work. He added, it is “not always easy to find people available” because they can’t predict when deaths may occur and can’t promise regular dates. Jon’s mother, Patti, still helps out when needed.
The Ryans said they are there to guide people through what can be one of the most difficult times in their lives. They are proud to “Provide personal service, meet with families directly, and take care of them.”
They offer cremations, funerals, burials, and celebrations of life. Jonathan Ryan said people “don’t necessarily need to come to the funeral home.” He said he and his father are happy to come to your home or meet with you online by Zoom. They are “bringing the business into the new century while maintaining their personal touch,” said Jonathan.
Ryan Funeral Home can be reached at (860) 435-2700, by cell at (203) 231-4677, or online at www.ryanfhct.com.
Lakeville Journal
HARTFORD — Salisbury Central School students performed at the May 29 baseball game between the Hartford Yard Goats and the Altoona Curve at Dunkin’ Park.
The school’s fifth- through eighth-grade band, led by Rob Nellson, performed excerpts from five military service songs — Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force — before the first pitch. The chorus, led by Jennifer Moros, performed “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE – The Region One Board of Education voted Monday, June 1, to move forward with a broad organizational study that could shape the future of education in the Northwest Corner. The study will run from September 2026 to May 2027, with findings expected to be presented in June 2027.
The board also approved expanding the study from kindergarten through grade eight to include Housatonic Valley Regional High School, making it a K-12 review. Six member towns will decide this summer whether to participate. Communities that opt out will not be included in the study’s findings.
Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley emphasized that the goal of the study is to provide information, not to recommend a course of action.
Brady-Shanley said she and Region One Business Manager Sam Herrrick will run the study, drawing on state and local resources as needed, but do not intend to hire outside consultants.
“The purpose of this organizational study is to evaluate the Region’s K–8 structure to ensure long-term educational excellence, equity, and fiscal sustainability,” Brady-Shanley said.
The board highlighted the issue of declining enrollment in several smaller schools while operational costs continue to rise. The study will clearly outline the financial and educational realities of the Region’s current model so that each local board of education and community can make informed, data-driven decisions about their school, Brady-Shanley added.
Community identity will also be a focal point of the study and will examine the importance of local schools.
“We get a lot of questions, and we don’t always have the answers,” she said. “If nothing else happens at least we’ll be educated on the information.”
Christine Bates
Situated on 29.5 acres, 100 Rabbit Hill Road in Warren sold for $750,000 in April with a market value of $435,700, according to the town assessor’s field card.
WARREN — Warren, a rural community bordering Lake Waramaug, saw its 12-month trailing median price for a single-family home rise to $905,000 for the period ending April 30, 2026.
The figure represents a 35% increase from the $669,250 median recorded for the 12 months ending April 30, 2025, and a 76% increase from the $515,000 median recorded for the year ending April 30, 2024.
The 12-month rolling average of home sales through April 30 was 17, compared with 20 during the previous 12-month period. With only about 650 housing units, Warren’s small housing stock often results in months with little or no sales activity. For instance, during the first four months of 2026, just four properties changed hands, including vacant land.
Meanwhile, at the end of May, only five single-family homes were listed for sale, four of them priced above $1 million. Eight parcels of land were on the market, with asking prices ranging from $150,000 to $3.5 million for a one-acre lot on Arrow Point Road.
Seasonal rentals remained readily available at the end of May, with eight furnished summer homes still on the market. Since January, four furnished summer homes have been rented through local real estate agencies, with monthly rents ranging from $8,500 to $20,000, roughly in line with last year’s activity.
Warren Transfers from January through April 2026
57 Curtiss Road – 3 bedroom/1.5 main house with 1 bedroom/1 bath unit over the garage on .97 acres. It was sold by Caroline Farnsworth and George Smith, co-executors of the estate of Virginia Smith, on Feb. 9for $520,000.
Sacket Hill Road – 26.59 acres of vacant land. It was sold by Karen Miles Hambleton Executor Estate of David Miles to YWC Properties LLC on Feb. 9 for $175,000.
100 Rabbit Hill Road – 3 bedroom/1 bath home with acreage sold by Dorothy Yodkins Executor Estate of Minerva Smalley to 100 Rabbit Hill Farm LLC on April 1 for $750,000.
89 North Shore Road – 4 bedroom/4 bath home on 2.25 acres built in 1954. It was sold by Margaret Cabral Trustee of Marital Trust U/A Doar Stoll Blinn on April 20 for $3,300,000.
* Town of Warren real estate transfers recorded between January 1, 2026, and April 30, 2026, provided by Warren Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS and market statistics from InfoSparks. Note that recorded transfers may lag sales by a number of days. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
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Lakeville Journal
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Vehicle hits tree after sliding on gravel
On the evening of May 21, Mira Trezza-Leven, 51, of New York City was driving west on Lovers Lane in Sharon when she drove over a gravel patch going downhill and lost control, running off the roadway and striking a tree. Trezza-Leven reported minor injuries and was evaluated by Sharon EMS responders. Her Tesla T3 was towed from the scene. She was ultimately issued a written warning for failure to maintain lane.
Disorderly conduct and resisting arrest
Just after 1 p.m. on May 25, troopers responded to an address on Moses Mead Road in East Canaan on the report of an active disturbance. After investigating, troopers arrested Christopher Fasolo, 37, of East Canaan for disorderly conduct and interfering with officers. Two victims aged 69 and 75 were listed and stated to be uninjured in the incident. He was held on a $10,000 cash bond, and was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court the next day.
Car strikes utility pole
Monica Garay, 44, of Sharon, was driving north of Jewett Hill Road just north of the intersection with Calkinstown Road on the evening of May 27 when her vehicle veered across the southbound lane and struck a utility pole. Garay’s Toyota Camry was disabled by the incident, and she left the scene via a pickup from a friend with suspected minor injuries. Garay was issued a misdemeanor summons for evading responsibility and failure to maintain lane.
Disorderly conduct arrest in Salisbury
At around 1 p.m. on May 27, Victoria Deluca, 44, of Salisbury was taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant for an incident that occurred on May 21. Deluca was processed for disorderly conduct and subsequently released on a $500 non-surety bond. She was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on May 28.
Disorderly conduct arrest in Salisbury
At approximately 6 a.m. on May 28, troopers placed Tyler Kilventon, 35, of Salisbury, under custody on an active warrant dating to an incident two days before. Kilventon was processed for disorderly conduct and was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court the next day.
Two car collision on Route 7
On the afternoon of May 28, Russell Lowell, 66, of East Canaan was traveling north on Route 7 in North Canaan just south of the intersection with Sand Road when a Subaru Forester pulled out of a driveway without granting right of way, causing Lowell to collide with the driver’s side of the vehicle. Lisa Spadaccini, 71, of Falls Village was found to be at fault for the incident, and enforcement action is pending. Both her vehicle and Lowell’s Ford Explorer were towed, and both drivers were transported by North Canaan EMS to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital with suspected minor injuries.
Single car accident on Route 4
Just after 6 a.m. on May 29, troopers responded to Route 4 in Sharon near Hidden Lane on the report of a single vehicle accident. Upon investigating, troopers gathered that Alexander Paparazzo, 32, of Woodbury, Connecticut, lost control of his Saab 9-2X Aero and drove off the roadway, striking a wire rope guardrail. Paparazzo was uninjured, but his vehicle was towed from the scene. He was issued an infraction for failure to maintain lane.
Tree limb collision
Shortly after 9 p.m. on May 29, John Miller, 41, of Washington, D.C., was traveling north on Route 41 near the intersection with Cobble Road in Salisbury when he struck a large tree branch in the roadway. Witnesses stated the branch fell approximately 30 seconds before the collision. The branch also brought down several power lines. The Mercedes-Benz M35 Miller drove was disabled, but he was uninjured in the incident.
Car strikes CT welcome sign
Riley Clark, 25, of Ancram, New York was across the New York/Connecticut state line on Route 44 early on May 29 his Toyota Camry ran off the roadway. The vehicle struck approximately 20 feet of guardrail rope and the Connecticut welcome sign before coming to a rest. The Camry was disabled, but Clark was uninjured in the incident. Clark was issued a written warning for failure to maintain lane.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Send mail to P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send to editor@lakeville
journal.com.
Patrick L. Sullivan
Students in grades 7 and 8 perform an original composition for ukelele and xylophone at the May 26 concert.
FALLS VILLAGE – Audience members were treated to a dynamic performance during the annual Spring Concert and Arts Celebration at the Lee H. Kellogg School Tuesday, May 26. Students alternated between ukuleles and xylophones while creating their own melodies within a traditional 12-bar blues progression.
With two small groups of four and five students positioned on either side of the stage, “The Ukuphone-Xylele Blues” showed off the young musicians’ ability to switch instruments and improvise without missing a beat.
The fifth and sixth grade also performed musical pieces that involved improvisation. The fifth graders used a pentatonic scale and xylophones.
The sixth graders, using xylophone and percussion, worked around a four-chord progression that the students picked.
A determined fifth grader, Emmet King, sat at the piano and flawlessly played “Kumbayah” and “Lone Star Waltz.” Music teacher Danielle O’Neil said Emmet had only been studying the piano for a matter of weeks before the performance and was making significant progress.
In addition to the music, the hallways were adorned with student art attached to the walls above the lockers, turning the event into a visual and performing arts experience.
Emmet Kingplays "Lone Star Waltz" at the concert at the Lee H. Kellogg School May 26.Patrick L. Sullivan
Debra A. Aleksinas
A recent report by Northeast Aquatic Research revealed that while overall water quality remains strong at Lake Wononscopomuc, several indicators warrant continued monitoring and proactive management.
SALISBURY — Researchers are warning that Lake Wononscopomuc is at a “critical time” as concerns grow over declining water clarity, nutrient pollution and the long-term condition of Connecticut’s deepest natural lake.
The announcement came during a 90-minute Zoom meeting of the Lake Wononscopomuc Association on May 26, attended by several dozen residents, lakefront property owners and association members.
Discussion centered around a newly released lake management report, prepared by Northeast Aquatic Research (NEAR) and posted on the lake association’s website. Researchers noted that while overall water quality remains relatively strong, several indicators warrant continued monitoring and proactive management.
For area residents and weekenders who visit The Grove during the summer, this means the water is currently safe for recreational use, although scientists and researchers are closely monitoring the water quality.
“We’re very concerned,” said NEAR representative Kendra Kilson. “The lake, from my perspective, isn’t doing great. This is a very critical time and we need to keep an eye on it.”
Overall, water clarity in Lake Wononscopomuc remained “fair to good” during 2025, according to the report. But researchers also documented substantial oxygen loss in deep waters and elevated nutrient levels in some tributaries, findings likely to renew discussion of septic-system impacts, watershed management and other measures aimed at protecting the lake.
Oxygen loss ‘substantial,’ depletion a concern
The lake, which reaches a depth of approximately 100 feet, is monitored closely for even subtle changes in water quality, like oxygen levels and water clarity.
Last year, researchers observed significant oxygen depletion in deeper parts of the lake, particularly by late season. When oxygen levels deplete – a state known as anoxia – nutrient levels can tend to become more concentrated, which can contribute to algae growth and declining water clarity over time.
George Knoecklein, founder and principal scientist at NEAR, said water clarity remains one of the most important indicators of lake condition.
“I like to use water clarity as part of a general overarching description of the condition of the lake,” he said.
The lake’s clarity measurements in 2025 generally ranged between three and four meters. When it dips below two meters, the lake doesn’t support recreational use, Knoecklein said, adding that two meters or less can lead to cyanobacteria blooms, which may produce toxins harmful to people, pets and wildlife. Five meters of clarity are desirable.
“All in all, it’s not great, but it’s not terrible,” he said.
The findings prompted discussion among attendees about the potential sources of nutrients entering the lake and what measures might be taken to address them.
“I’d like to get some idea of where the pollutants are coming from and which are the more serious sources that we can do something about,” said association treasurer Arthur Strang. Others echoed that sentiment, identifying it as a priority before any large-scale mitigation efforts are considered.
Knoecklein cited stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff, fertilizers and aging septic systems as potential contributors.
Multi-million dollar mitigation strategy revisited
The long-debated question of sewer expansion around the lake was discussed, an issue periodically raised as a possible way to reduce nutrient inputs from shoreline properties.
“I remember it was very hard to get homeowners to spend money for the sewers,” said Susan Strang, recalling prior discussions.
Tino Galluzzo, association vice president, noted that any future sewer project would likely require widespread participation among property owners to be financially feasible.
Bill Littauer, who is serving his 25th year as president of the lake association, said past attempts failed due to costs. “It was determined to be far too expensive, millions of dollars.”
Knoecklein said sewer infrastructure could help reduce nutrient inputs over time but noted that some of the lake’s challenges have become increasingly self-sustaining.
He described the lake’s anoxia as “its own monster.”
“The thing about a sewer system is once you hook up, your rates go up,” he said. “But I also see milfoil doing poorly in lakes that are sewered,” citing Highland Lake in Winsted as an example.
As an alternative, he suggested that aeration systems, which introduce oxygen into deeper water, may deserve consideration as a future management tool.
Knoecklein requested historical information on past lake studies so it can be determined whether recent conditions represent a long-term or annual trend. He also said, “It would be good to know where the sewers around the lake end and where the septic systems start.”
The good news: still no evidence of hydrilla
While the discussion focused on water quality, the report also contained encouraging news regarding invasive species.
Despite the spread of hydrilla elsewhere in Connecticut, researchers found no evidence of the invasive aquatic plant in Lake Wononscopomuc during the 2025 monitoring season, and periodic monitoring will continue this year.
Since hydrilla was discovered in nearby East Twin Lake four years ago, town and lake officials have taken extensive precautions to prevent its introduction into Lakeville Lake, including closing the boat launch to reduce the risk of accidental introduction.
Researchers also recommended conducting future end-of-season monitoring later in the fall, possibly in November or even December, to better capture seasonal turnover patterns that appear to be shifting.
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