Senior projects put craft and curiosity on display at Housy

FALLS VILLAGE — Seniors at Housatonic Valley Regional High School showcased a wide range of hands-on skills and career interests as they presented their Capstone projects on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Levi Elliott of Millerton restored a 1993 Dodge 350D two-wheel-drive dually truck, working under the guidance of his mentor and advisor, Roger Ellwood of Sharon, whom Elliott described as being “like a grandpa.”

The truck had been stored in a barn in Tennessee, meaning structural rust was not an issue, though there was some surface rust and a few dents. Elliott replaced the five-speed manual transmission and the truck bed and described sandblasting as “the dirtiest job” of the entire process.

The electrical system, he said, “was a mess,” requiring him to start from scratch with help from a friend. Elliott estimated he has invested about $6,000 in the restoration, noting that comparable trucks can sell for as much as $16,000. He plans to register and insure the vehicle once he earns his driver’s license.

Matt McGuire of North Canaan, who hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement, centered his project on learning about state police work. He contacted the State Police Troop B barracks and was paired with advisor Trooper Lance Carlson, a K9 officer and HVRHS graduate.

Through the project, McGuire learned about the range of situations troopers encounter during their shifts, including traffic enforcement and responding to injured animals in the roadway. He also gained exposure to fingerprinting, dispatch operations, and the Ford Explorers used by troopers. McGuire noted that Carlson’s vehicle includes “a bed in the back for the dog.”

Asked why he wants to become a police officer, McGuire said simply, “I like helping people.”

Christopher Race of Lakeville, a baseball player, took a different approach, choosing to make both a bat and a baseball from scratch. His first attempt at crafting a bat from a block of maple using only a hammer and chisel was unsuccessful. After gaining access to a lathe and receiving training, he produced a 33-inch, 30-ounce torpedo-style bat.

Race also created a baseball using leather, a bouncy ball for the core, and extensive string wrapping. Reflecting on the process, he said he learned that “projects don’t always go as planned, so you have to adapt to reach the goal.”