LJ Celebrates 125 Years

The Lakeville Journal’s 125th anniversary gave the newspaper, publisher of Discover Salisbury, the perfect reason to celebrate that milestone with multiple community events in August and September. They began with the opening of the exhibit at the Salisbury Association Academy building, “Life of a Community: The Lakeville Journal Celebrates 125 Years,” on display from Aug. 13 to Oct. 1. Then, on Aug. 14, it was the Anniversary Day Street Fair, free and open to all on Academy Street, with live music, stilt walkers, food stalls, games, free cake and a community tent showcasing area nonprofit organizations.

The Moviehouse in Millerton curated a film series of four great American classics about newspapers and reporting, from Aug. 17 through Sept. 14, drawing enthusiastic audiences for viewing and pre-screening discussion. On Aug. 21, The Sharon Playhouse presented a Patio Cabaret, “What’s in the Daily News?” featuring musical numbers, tap dancing and songs revolving around critics, reviews and current events.

On Sept. 16, The Salisbury Forum held a panel discussion on “The Future of American Journalism,” with Brian Ross, investigative reporter and Lakeville Journal Foundation board member, as moderator. The panel included Martin Baron, former executive editor of The Washington Post; Lakeville Journal Editor John Coston; and Subrata De, executive vice president of VICE News. The video of the evening can be watched online now at www.salisburyforum.org. It’s worth the time spent.

The events concluded with the Newsprint Jubilee Gala Reception, at the Town Grove in Lakeville, where more than 400 people gathered to celebrate local journalism. The host committee was legion and welcoming, co-hosts Carol Kalikow and Jim Montanari tireless in creating an event to remember. Honorary Chairs Meryl Streep and Sam Waterston attended and spoke about the importance of local journalism.

They both  received recognition awards of metal facsimiles of the first front page of The Lakeville Journal from Aug. 14, 1897. Streep said that The Lakeville Journal should last as long as the metal pages themselves.

All of the events happened due to the work of the Lakeville Journal Foundation board, especially the development committee headed by Salisbury’s Dan Dwyer, and so many community members who lent their energy to the celebrations generously. Thanks to all of them and to all in the communities The Lakeville Journal covers who took part in the festivities. Such community building is part of the core mission of The Lakeville Journal, which will strive to continue to serve the needs of its readers on into its 126th year and beyond.

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison

A welcoming stiltwalker delighted all, but especially the children, at the Lakeville Journal Anniversary Day Street Fair on Aug. 14. Photo by Sarah Morrison
Related Articles Around the Web

Latest News

Hotchkiss lacrosse ices Kingswood Oxford 19-0

LAKEVILLE — The Hotchkiss School opened the girls varsity lacrosse season with a big win in the snow against Kingswood Oxford School.

The Bearcats won 19-0 in a decisive performance March 26. Twelve different players scored for Hotchkiss, led by Coco Sheronas with four goals.

Keep ReadingShow less
HVRHS releases second quarter honor roll

FALLS VILLAGE — Principal Ian Strever announces the second quarter marking period Honor Roll at Housatonic Valley Regional High School for the 2024-2025 school year.

Highest Honor Roll

Grade 9: Parker Beach (Cornwall), Mia Belter (Salisbury), Lucas Bryant (Cornwall), Addison Green (Kent), Eliana Lang (Salisbury), Alison McCarron (Kent), Katherine Money (Kent), Mira Norbet (Sharon), Abigail Perotti (North Canaan), Karmela Quinion (North Canaan), Owen Schnepf (Wassaic), Federico Vargas Tobon (Salisbury), Emery Wisell (Kent).

Keep ReadingShow less
Thomas Ditto

ANCRAMDALE — Thomas Ditto of Ancramdale, born Thomas David DeWitt Aug. 11, 1944 in New York City changing his surname to Ditto at marriage, passed peacefully on Pi Day, March 14, 2025. He was a husband, father, artist, scientist, Shakespeare scholar, visionary, inventor, actor, mime, filmmaker, clown, teacher, lecturer, colleague, and friend. Recipient of numerous grants, awards and honors in both the arts and sciences, a Guggenheim and NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts fellow, he was a creative genius beyond his time. In addition to authoring scores of papers, he held several patents and invented the first motion capture system and the Ditto-scope, a radically new kind of telescope. He was a pioneer in computer generated video, film, and performance.

When not hard at work, he was always there to help when needed and he knew how to bring smiles to faces. He loved his family and pets and was supportive of his wife’s cat rescue work.

Keep ReadingShow less
Winifred Anne Carriere

SHARON — Winifred Anne Carriere passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 87. A resident of Sharon for many years, she later retired to Ancramdale, New York.

Born in New Haven to writers Albert Carriere and Winifred Osborn, Anne grew up in New York City. Raised in a Quaker family, she attended Friends Seminary, and The University of Wisconsin. Anne studied American Architectural History through Bard College’s University Without Walls. For her degree, she wrote a comprehensive history of the architecture of Sharon during its first hundred years.

Keep ReadingShow less