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It was standing room only in North Canaan Town Hall Monday, June 23, for the joint public hearings and town meetings.
Riley Klein
NORTH CANAAN — The air was hot in North Canaan Monday, June 23.
About 150 people filled Town Hall for joint public hearings and town meetings. The initial line to check in and receive paper ballots extended into the parking lot.
The agenda items were to approve a two-year resident trooper contract and a tripartite ordinance changing the positions of town clerk, tax collector and treasurer to appointed four-year roles rather than elected two-year terms.
While most speakers engaged in conversation about the tripartite ordinance, no vote was taken that night. The issue was tabled to allow for further discussion before voting on the topic.
The resident trooper contract passed by a vote of 128 yes to 20 no. The total annual expense to the town was set at $133,602, a reduction of nearly $30,000 from the previous contract. Tropper Spencer Bronson will continue in the role.
As for the tripartite ordinance, supporters and opponents presented their sides during the public hearing.
Those in favor of empowering the selectmen to appoint the town clerk, treasurer and tax collector noted the move is a trend in Connecticut. It allows towns to hire qualified professionals to fill the roles regardless of whether or not they are residents of the town, which is not the case for elected officials. Proponents felt the change would give more oversight of the positions in terms of hours and continuity of service to the town.
Emily Minacci, current treasurer serving in her eighth term, spoke in favor of the change. She said she is taking another job and hopes to see a capable replacement fill the position. “I don’t want to exit and, excuse me, screw the town,” she said. “I don’t take it lightly. I am completely for going appointed. It’s extremely important.”
Kristine Simmons, a North Canaan resident who was appointed last year to serve as town clerk in Salisbury, explained how electing these positions limits the candidate pool. “If you’re going to be on the ballot, you have to be an elector in the town,” she said. On the issue of oversight, Simmons noted the current situation with Town Clerk Jean Jacquier, who has been absent from work since February. “In my job, I’m appointed, I have to answer to my selectmen. If you’re elected, you can basically do whatever the frig you want.”
Opponents criticized the move as an undemocratic power-grab by the selectmen. There was concern that the appointees would be beholden to the selectmen instead of the voters. Others were concerned about costs and spoke of the need for more time to review and discuss the change, with some citing issues in the language of the ordinance.
North Canaan resident Lynn Fowler said Sharon’s selectmen began discussing the appointment of town clerks in November 2024 and had yet to hold a public hearing (see Sharon coverage on Page A3). “I do believe this vote needs a lot more exploration and explanation,” said Fowler. “The stakeholders and taxpayers of [North] Canaan are asked to rush to a vote on not one position but three with not enough information. I’m very concerned what the costs will be.”
Geoff Drury, attorney and resident, said, “Efficiency may sound like an all-purpose virtue, and it may be so in a business context, but when it means giving fewer people more control over more aspects of a supposedly democratic form of municipal governance, it can easily become an anti-democratic means of perpetuating control and restricting healthy change.”
After a roughly one-hour public hearing, the session was closed. First Selectman Brian Ohler motioned to table the topic to a later date.
“I acknowledge as your first selectman that there are still questions,” said Ohler, explaining that the extra time will be useful to “get more information, have more public hearings” and “if it is determined that it should be a question on the ballot in November, we can determine that at a future date.”
The motion passed and the meeting was adjourned.
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Scholarships awarded to HVRHS students
Jun 25, 2025
FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School announced June 12 the winners of various awards and scholarships in 2025.
Dedication of White Oak: Rosemarie Nanni, Katherine Wood
Molly McDowell Award / Academic Bowl MVP: Daniela Brennan, Tess Marks, Manasseh Matsudaira, Elinor Wolgemuth, Harper Howe, Sara Huber, Jassim Mohydin, Junxin Zhang, Katelin Lopes, Leontine Galvin, Lola Moerschell
Norma Lake Award: Tess Marks
Frank N. Ruotolo Award: Elinor Wolgemuth
Taconic Learning Center Adina Simonson Award: Junxin Zhang
Robert Rumsey Memorial Award: Harper Howe
Gordon P. Heyworth Award: Sara Huber
Le Prix Sandi Vanausdal: Lola Moerschell
Seal of Biliteracy for French: Sara Huber, Katelin Lopes, Tess Marks, Lola Moerschell
Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish: Daniela Brennan, Manasseh Matsudaira, Diana Portillo, Elinor Wolgemuth
Ron Viafore ArtsAlive Award: Mikayla Pfeifer
David B. Armstrong Memorial Art Prize: Ava Gandarillas
Jack Sparling Memorial Award: Bernice Boyden
Holly Adams Award: Lola Clayton
Frida Kahlo Memorial Award: Rosemary Koller
Housatonic Musical Theatre Society Award: Katelin Lopes, Andy Delgado, Tess Marks, Niya Borst, Elinor Wolgemuth
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Tryston Bronson
Eric Whitacre Student Composer Award: Lou Haemmerle
National Choral Awards: Austin Bachman, Niya Borst
John Philip Sousa Award: Katelin Lopes
Director’s Award for Band: Manasseh Matsudaira
CAS Arts Awards: Harper Howe, Kaylin Clark
Kent Center School Scholarship Fund
Moira Dolan Award: Lola Moerschell
James Gadiel Award: Junxin Zhang
Grohmann Award: Patrick Money
Yovanovitch Award: Zachary Bezzera
Kent Quilters Award: Mikayla Pfeifer
Ruth Mainland Award: Kyle McCarron
I. Kent and Fulton Scholarships: Tess Marks, Sara Huber, Lola Clayton
Kara Zinke Memorial Scholarship: Junxin Zhang
HVR Faculty Association Scholarship: Harper Howe, Daniela Brennan, Sara Huber, Amelia Dodge, Junxin Zhang, Katelin Lopes, Tyler Anderson, Bakary Toure
HVR Faculty Association Val Bernardoni Scholarship: Gabriela Titone, Tess Marks
Housatonic Youth Service Bureau: Taylor Terwilliger
Pat Pallone Chamber of Commerce Scholarship: Daniela Brennan, Kaylin Clark, Dylan Deane, Amelia Dodge, Abigail Hogan, Ellanor Karcheski, Rosemary Koller, Katelin Lopes, Liam MacNeil, Taylor Terwilliger
Knights of Columbus Council #1520 Scholarship: Daniela Brennan
Adam S. Michalek Scholarship: Amelia Dodge
St. Joseph’s Circle #650, Daughters of Isabella Scholarship: Daniela Brennan, Amelia Dodge
Canaan Northwest Lions: Taylor Terwilliger
Cranford Book Club Award: Liam MacNeil
Kent Lions Club Scholarship: Junxin Zhang, Zachary Bezerra
J. Kenneth Athoe Memorial Scholarship Montgomery Lodge #13: Amelia Dodge, Daniela Brennan
Berkshire Litchfield Environmental Council Scholarship: Manasseh Matsudaira
Mad Gardeners Scholarship: Tyler Anderson, Madeline Collingwood
Henry P. Becton Scholarship: Lola Moerschell
Burkhart, Lindsay, Brockway Robotics Scholarship: Jassim Mohydin
Ben Guy Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Anderson
Sharon Woman’s Club Scholarship: Tyler Anderson, Katerin McEnroe, Olivia Peterson
North Canaan Elementary School PTO Scholarship: Ellanor Karcheski, Diana Portillo, Abigail Hogan, Amelia Dodge, Kylie Leonard, Daniela Brennan, Harper Howe, Dylan Deane
Suzanne Dunn Memorial Scholarship: Sara Huber
Elliott Family Foundation Scholarship: Sara Huber, Daniela Brennan, Amelia Dodge, Gabriela Titone
Couch Pipa Post #6851 VFW Scholarship: Amelia Dodge, Kyle McCarron, Liam MacNeil, Daniela Brennan
HVRHS Student Government Association Scholarship: Lola Moerschell
Falls Village Scholarship Association: Tessa Dekker, Justin Diaz, Katelin Lopes, Olivia Robson
FFA Alumni Scholarship: Tyler Anderson, Olivia Robson, Madeline Collingwood
John Rich Scholarship: Tyler Anderson
Clarke B. Wood Scholarship: Madeline Collingwood
FFA Chapter Scholarship: Madeline Collingwood, Dylan Deane, Tyler Anderson, Olivia Robson
Katie Gannett Scholarship: Madeline Collingwood
Northwest Conservation District Scholarship: Tyler Anderson
Sharon Woman’s Club Art Award: Hyde Beach, John Orellana Garcia
Greater New Milford Board of Realtors Jay Solomon Memorial Award: Lola Moerschell, Junxin Zhang
Cornwall Woman’s Society Educational Grant: Manasseh Matsudaira, Rose Fitch
Northwest Community Bank Scholarship: Jassim Mohydin
Salisbury Rotary Club Foundation Scholarship: Amelia Dodge, Sara Huber, Tyler Anderson, Daniela Brennan, Junxin Zhang
Isaiah Lamb Scholarship: Dylan Deane, Rosemary Koller
Sharon Land Trust Scholarship: Manasseh Matsudaira
NBT Bank William Ash Scholarship: Daniela Brennan, Amelia Dodge, Liam MacNeil, Jayme Walsh, Kyle Leonard, Tess Marks
Harry Hyatt Memorial Scholarship: Dylan Deane, Sara Huber, Tyler Anderson, Katelin Lopes, Kyle McCarron
Rhoades-Robinson Fund Scholarship: Tyler Anderson
R. Frederick Perkins Scholarship: Junxin Zhang
Jean Perotti Scholarship: Katelin Lopes
Berkshire Bank Eleanor S. Sellew Scholarship: Daniela Brennan, Dylan Deane, Liam MacNeil, Amelia Dodge
Magda M. Johnson Scholarship: Dylan Deane, Liam MacNeil, Amelia Dodge,Daniela Brennan
Mary S. Trant Scholarship: Dylan Deane
Anthony Dichello Scholarship: Daniela Brennan, Kylie Leonard, Tessa Dekker, Khyra McClennon, Amelia Dodge
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
Frances H. Ducci Scholarship: Junxin Zhang, Gabriele Titone
Healthcare Auxiliary Scholarship: Gabriela Titone, Muireann Kelliher
Warren Prindle Visual Arts Scholarship: Elinor Wolgemuth
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
George and Lucille Buterbaugh Scholarship: Gabriela Titone
Margaret Derwin Scholarship: Katerin McEnroe
Teddy Lee Drumm Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Anderson, Bernice Boyden, Andy Delgado, Olivia Peterson
John and Mary Finn Memorial Scholarship: Patrick Money
Charles and Antoinette Picken Memorial Scholarship: Harper Howe
Diane Knox Cable TV Advisory Council Scholarship: Sara Huber
Ann and Stan Segalla Family Scholar-Athlete Scholarship: Amelia Dodge, Patrick Money
Housatonic Valley Institute Silas C. Beers Scholarship: Manasseh Matsudaira
Keri Perotti Memorial Sports Scholarship: Gabriele Titone
Keri Perotti Memorial Community College Scholarship: Olivia Robson
HVRHS Alumni Scholarship: Tess Marks
Canaan Fire Company Scholarship: Brandt Bosio
Claudia and Stephen J. Segalla Memorial Scholarship: Daniela Brennan, Jassim Mohydin
Sharon Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary Scholarship: Tyler Anderson
Edward M. Kirby Scholarship: Tyler Anderson, Bernice Boyden, Amelia Dodge, Harper Howe, Sara Huber, Manasseh Matsudaira, Gabriela Titone, Elinor Wolgemuth
Hausman Fund: Sara Huber
Salisbury Pythian Building Fund: Elinor Wolgemuth, Gabriela Titone
Clyde G. Skelly Scholarship: Khyra McClennon
John Hoffman Scholarship: Junxin Zhang
Dr. Paul W. Stoddard Scholarship: Manasseh Matsudaira, Tess Marks, Jassim Mohydin, Katelin Lopes
The Henry W. and Lou V. Burgess Award: Bradyn Holst-Grubbe
U.S. Air Force Outstanding Achievement in STEM Award: Jassim Mohydin
Jacobs Garage Technical Studies Scholarship: Liam MacNeil, Tyler Anderson
Olde Yankee Street Rods & Classic Cruisers and Kiwanis Club of Sheffield: Liam MacNeil
EdAdvance Scholarship: Tess Marks
Litchfield County Tax Collectors’ Association Scholarship: Tess Marks
Citation Awards: Manasseh Matsudaira (Valedictorian), Tess Marks (Salutatorian)
Senior Class Council:
President: Tess Marks
Vice President: Katelin Lopes
Secretary: Tessa Dekker
Treasurer: Lola Moerschell
Senior Class Advisors:
Kurt Johnson and Anne MacNeil
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SALISBURY/SHARON — Members of the Transfer Station Recycling Advisory Committee, known as TRAC, discussed the potential benefits of bringing a unit-based pricing system to Sharon and Salisbury’s waste management programs at a June 18 meeting.
TRAC Chair Barbara Bettigole said that the new system could help achieve the group’s mission statement: “Our charge as a Committee is reducing the amount of waste we produce and increasing the efficiency of recycling,” she said.
Bettigole noted that other towns in Connecticut have utilized unit-based pricing, also known as “pay as you throw,” alongside large scale composting operations to reduce refuse output. “That’s made the biggest impact on waste reduction.”
Brian Bartram, longtime manager of the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station, said that unit-based pricing offers residents “more control over what they’re paying to get rid of their garbage.” He qualified, however, that the current system has been controversial as larger households that produce more waste are benefited by the fixed, yearly price that enables them to discard as much trash as they like.
Smaller households, such as solo homeowners or older couples, produce far less waste, he said, and may appreciate paying for only what they produce rather than paying the same yearly sticker cost.
Bartram mentioned Kent Transfer Station has already piloted such a system, known as the orange bag system, and it “sounds like the experiment isn’t terrible,” he said. Kent First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer acknowledged there has been some pushback, but the transition has been an overall success.
Bartram said Massachusetts is “way further ahead than Connecticut” in terms of unit-based pricing, which Salisbury Selectman Kitty Kiefer said she had first-hand experience with as a one-time resident of the state. She relayed that it was widely accepted and seemed to function well.
Salisbury/Sharon is applying for a Sustainable Materials Management grant from the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which offers preference to unit-based pricing programs. The funding would potentially be used to improve composting services.
“Expansion is one good word that can cover it all,” Bettigole said of further developing commercial food scrap diversion operations.
Several participants in the meeting emphasized that lobbying restaurants and private schools in the towns will be vital in establishing an effective, widespread composting program.
Bettigole reported that a pilot effort by LaBonne’s Market has been paused due to issues with “what they thought were bear proof containers.” An effort at the Indian Mountain School, however, has been very promising, she said.
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No wakes to be seen on Lake Waramaug on a stormy Friday evening in June.
Alec Linden
KENT — A Tuesday, June 17, public hearing to discuss banning wakesurfing on Lake Waramaug was held with relative civility compared to other recent meetings on the topic.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit all wakesurfing on the lake, as well as the use of any technologies on wake boats that are used to enlarge the wave. The ordinance calls for a $250 fine per infraction.
The boats themselves are not banned in the ordinance’s language, only the activity.
Breaking with the more split opinion demonstrated in previous public debates, Kent residents spoke largely in favor of the proposed ordinance, citing what they saw as risks to public safety and the lake’s ecology resulting from the sport.
The ordinance in question was drafted over the course of two years by the Lake Waramaug Authority and finally passed at a June 6 meeting. After the initial meeting adjourned with no opportunity for public comment, several citizens grew angry and accused the Authority of operating un-democratically in producing its proposed ordinance.
On June 17, the first two speakers, Kent residents John Amster and Amie McKay, spoke out against the proposed ordinance, suggesting that the issue be left to the state to delegate so it could perform its own research.
Amster doubted the validity of a town-commissioned study conducted by environmental consulting firm Terra Vigilis, alleging that the data from that survey was narrow in scope and didn’t adequately address the impact of wakesurfing on water quality and public safety. “It can’t possibly be the big risk everyone is making it out to be,” he said, claiming that he sees very little wakesurfing actually occurring on the lake.
McKay noted that the study didn’t actually suggest a ban, but rather recommended implementing strict depth and distance regulations when using a wake boat in surf mode.
After those testimonials, however, the remainder of the public commentary swayed largely in support of the ordinance.
Kevin Brady, a longtime member of the Lake Waramaug Association, a 110-year old stewardship organization, said that there can’t be compromise regarding the sport because it presents a “serious hazard to other lake users.” He estimated that there are approximately 40 wake boats on the lake at present.
Lakefront-homeowner Christopher Spring, another member of the Association, alleged that his family has limited use of their dock due to safety concerns from large wakes. “We don’t go on our dock on the weekends anymore because it’s just too darn dangerous frankly,” he said.
Several longtime lake-users recalled a decades-long period of poor water quality in the 1970s and 1980s and expressed the importance of keeping the lake’s ecology healthy. “I have seen the lake at its very best as a kid,” said Jim Hicks, who spoke several times throughout the meeting. “I have also seen the lake at its worst.”
Kent is the first of the three towns in the Interlocal Commission – a coalition of the first selectmen of Kent, Warren and Washington that governs the Lake – to hold a hearing on the issue. For the ordinance to be passed, it will have to pass a vote in each town.
Kent residents will vote on the proposed ban in-person only at a 7 p.m. town meeting Friday, June 27.
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