AMESVILLE — Last week’s closing of the Great Falls recreation areas had little effect as people simply ignored signs and barriers on Sunday, July 12.
The Housatonic River at the Great Falls is between the Amesville section of Salisbury on one side and the town of Canaan (Falls Village) on the other.
The water below the falls moves very quickly, with cross currents and with plenty of rocks and hollows under the surface of the water that create suction and whirlpools. In recent years, there has been at least one drowning death every year or two in the river here or in Kent near Bull’s Bridge.
On a normal summer day, the falls in both towns attract dozens of people to the shores of the Housatonic River seeking to escape city heat by swimming and having picnic meals by the side of the river. Trash and noise and unsafe parking have been significant problems in Salisbury, Falls Village and Kent, to the point where Kent has taken extreme measures to close off access points to the river.
The water on its own is dangerous. The Housatonic at the Great Falls is a Class 3 rapids; according to www.paddling.com, Class 3 indicates “numerous high and irregular waves; rocks and eddies with passages clear but narrow and requiring experience to run. Visual inspection required if rapids are unknown. Open canoes without flotation bags will have difficulty.
“These rapids are best left to canoeists with expert skills.”
Adding to the complexity of the water there is the presence of the First Light hydropower dam. Sometimes the power company “diverts” water from the river to generate power; at those times, the water level is low and the large rocks are exposed. But when the water is no longer diverted, as was the case the last two weekends, the river reverts to its fast-flowing Class 3 state.
This year, with much of Kent closed off and with the COVID-19 quarantine forcing people to seek social activities out of doors, the Great Falls in Salisbury/Falls Village has seen extraordinary use, problematic amounts of litter and unsafe parking and at least one water rescue.
The most recent was during the July 4 weekend, when a young boy was carried away from his parents by the fast-moving water. The boy managed to grab onto a rock; he was rescued from there by volunteers from Salisbury, Falls Village and North Canaan.
In response, the first selectmen of Salisbury and Falls Village contacted First Light and asked them to close off the access points to the river, including the parking area and boat launch beneath the falls and the iron bridge, across from the power plant.
The safety precautions and new signs were largely ignored last weekend.
At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, a sawhorse and caution tape at the entrance to the picnic area and boat launch had been moved out of the way, and the parking lot was overflowing. Several groups of people were observed having cookouts, while others wandered around or made their way into the falls.
The First Light power station was not diverting any water, so the flow in the falls and river was robust.
Approximately 50 cars (and half a dozen motorcycles) were parked along Housatonic River Road on the Amesville side of the river, from the intersection with Dugway Road up past the locked gate to the boat take-out area above the dam.
Cars were parked a few yards from signs reading “No Parking Either Side” and in front of caution tape and a large sign reading “Area Closed.”
On the Falls Village side, another 20 or so cars were parked by the bridge, where there are no signs.
And at the Appalachian Trail parking lot a short distance away on Water Street in Falls Village, one of the cones and the caution tape had been moved and someone was having a picnic.
All told, there were about 100 cars parked in the area.
There were very few people observed wearing masks. There were a lot of family groups, judging by the number of children. Many were lugging coolers and blankets, and crossing caution tape to get to the trails leading down to the falls.
In recent years, new trails have been created by heavy use as visitors slide down the hillside to get to the base of the falls.
First Selectman Henry Todd of Falls Village said on Monday morning, July 13, that he went down to the falls on Sunday around noon.
He said the town is going to put signs up on the Falls Village side to try and get the message out.
He added that the overcrowding makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to operate.
Todd said he was trying to get First Light officials on the phone.
“It’s just got to stop.”
On Monday afternoon, July 13, Rand said in a phone interview that he has now asked First Light to close off the picnic area and boat launch on Dugway with something more substantial than sawhorses, traffic cones and tape.
He also asked First Light to put up “No Parking” signs along Dugway from Brinton Hill Road to Sugar Hill Road.
Photo by Alexander Wilburn
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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