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Where do you shop for groceries? What works well, and what makes grocery shopping harder than it should be? How do price, selection, distance, hours, or transportation shape where you go?
Send your responses to publisher@lakevillejournal.com by Monday, June 8 at 10 a.m. or comment on Facebook or Instagram.
We’ll publish a selection in next week’s paper.
Last Week’s Question
Have you had a run-in with a bear? What happened, and how did you handle it? And what do you think towns and neighbors should be doing to keep both people and bears safer?
“I think Connecticut should make it mandatory for EVERY household, restaurant, school, hotel, campgrounds, etc. to have a DEEP approved bear proof garbage receptacle. Bears won’t keep wasting their time and energy to go back to a place when they figure out it’s not worth the effort to wrestle something they can’t get into. It will help push them back into the woods to forage where they belong.”
— Mary McDade Shaffer, Kent
“This 16-pounder chases them away.”
— Jake J. Feathers, North Canaan
“I have come across bears multiple times while outside on runs and it has been a matter of being aware (headphones out) and making some noise to have them quickly run off. It still increases my anxiety for the rest of the run though!”
— Maggie Windsor Gross, Sharon
“Anytime that I’ve come across a bear, it is turning to run. Even with my dogs, it usually leaves.”
— Susan Hervieux, Lakeville
“We just had a big one in our pond having a good time swimming. We don’t leave any trash cans out. I contact my neighbors when I see them. We live over the bridge on Kent Falls as I worry about the hikers but so far nothing has happened. Been here for 40 years!”
— Marion Whynott, Kent
“I had a sow charge while I was in the woods. All I had time to do was yell and wave my arms. She came at me fast, stood up looking at me and went back to her three cubs that are in their second year — surprised she was still so protective. I carry bear spray now because that day I was looking for antlers with my head down and unknowingly walked right into it.”
— Jim Vanicky, Cornwall
“They have become super curious with my kids and dogs. We had to put an electric fence up for our livestock.”
— Cluckers Farm, North Canaan
“Sounds like it’s time for a bear hunt.”
— Caitlyn Ellis, The Berkshires
“I had a bear come on my back porch and crack open a can of Sprite with its teeth!”
— Jessie Lawrence, Canaan
“We had one break into our garage and got a lot of damage this year. Last year one headed straight for a kiddie pool my son was in and we acted fast and grabbed my son and eventually scared the bear off. No amount of yelling and banging really seems to scare them off. I walked to my car a few weeks ago and then to my house and in those two minutes a bear came out of the darkness and my cameras went on to record. I must have been twenty feet from the bear and didn’t even realize while carrying in groceries.”
— Tam Curtis, Lakeville
“I’ve seen a lot of bears. Closest was at the end of my hammock while I was on it (2020 during Covid). He was as surprised as I was and we each ran in opposite directions. I’ve never had an issue as I do not feed birds, leave trash out or anything to attract them. I think a [hunting] season is overdue as they have no fear of humans and due to people being careless they associate people with food and are raising cubs to depend on dumpsters & trash, pet food and even small pets and livestock. All of that said, I love seeing them but would never intentionally attract them.”
— Brian Shippa, North Canaan
“Wiped out my chickens last year. Put up an electric fence. Praying it works. Definitely need a bear season.”
— Amanda Miller Levesque, East Canaan
“When you don’t have birdseed out, bear-proof trash cans out only for pick up day and cleaned grills, the bears just pass on through. There is a human problem, not so much a bear problem.”
— Lynn Gray, Kent
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While we would have loved to continue operating in Sharon, limited time and few available retail spaces put us in quite the pickle! That being said, we are so excited to welcome you all to the new location this fall. We will be offering all the wonderful foods you’ve enjoyed over the years while also adding new menu items to our repertoire. Our team is working tirelessly to make this new standalone Jam the best experience possible for our loyal customers, who we value so much.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support. We look forward to continuing to serve the Northwest Corner community in our new home for years to come!
Lee Kennedy
Colin Kennedy
The Jam Team
Sharon
Music hath charms
As Secretary of the 501(c)3 not-for-profit known as “The Music Lab”, I’m compelled to extend gratitude and appreciation to Robin Roraback and The Lakeville Journal for their November 13, 2005 article on our entity.Their willingness to visit and report on a local business with their objective views is a testament to their longevity as a local periodical.While The Music Lab certainly serves as a weekly meeting space for local musicians to gather and perform, we also serve the community as a learning institution for lessons, rehearsals, and music theory.Our mission statement, “To teach, inspire, and promote music in our community” could easily add the suffix “and our world”, given the broad reach we now have using the internet and social media. Many of our repeat patrons boast decades in composing and performing.In fact, some of us are professional musicians in local bands.And why?It is said that “music hath charms to soothe a savage breast.” In short, we gather because we believe that there is real power in music to calm, heal, and have a relaxing or emotional impact on people.Have you ever felt this way about a song or band? This is why I volunteer my time toward the betterment of this organization. Additionally, we provide event support and entertainment for local organizations (i.e. Railroad Days, VFW events, St. Martin Of Tours, NECS, etc.). Given the challenges of our daily lives, what better remedy is there to unify us with a mutually beneficial goal for a few hours each week?This is also the crux of our mission.Like The Journal, we feel it’s important for the community to know of our existence, purpose, and future goals for our growth.We ask that any person with an interest in music come and visit us on any given Thursday evening or call to schedule a private tour to view our facility and equipment.Then, perhaps, one may realize that the sentiment of our mission statement emphasizes music’s power to inspire, move, and transform people.Many thanks to Sean Claydon for his efforts in maintaining his dream, to Mark Yard for creating the weekly acoustic night, and to Jason Tindall for his consistent loyalty in hosting that event.To all the other musicians that are too numerous to mention though you know who you are, your dedication and donations are most appreciated that breathe true life into The Music Lab.
Geoffrey Klish
North Canaan
Housing: ‘One voice should not hold such sway’
Is there a reason that the author of the letter to the editor “Falls Village should not retreat on affordable housing” has signed his letter Lyman Whelan, Litchfield as opposed to Bob Whelan, President of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut?
There are a few errors that in his capacity as Board Chair and long time employee of Habitat he might be aware. The most important correction is that Falls Village Housing Trust has another better affordable housing project which has been generously supported by the CT Department of Housing (DOH), the rehabilitation of two structures on Prospect and Miner Streets in downtown Falls Village. There is ample room there for expansion. It’s on town water.
The River Road project has been twice rejected for funding by CT DOH.
Might I echo Lyman Bob’s own words, one voice should not hold such sway over so critical an issue as the providing of affordable housing! The meeting room could have been packed with an enormous chorus of sensible Falls Villagers in agreement that our Wild and Scenic River Road is not the appropriate location for a high density subsidized housing development. We want our development downtown, in our back yard, if you will, where our POCD directs, and where Prospect and Miner Streets are located.
Alas small turnout for these meetings seems to be a challenge for the village but surely does not reflect the care and concern of the towns folk. ‘Tis more the channel of communication.
D. Catherine Reville
New York City
Celebrating the Sewing and Mending Team at the Fix-It Pop-Up Event
The Fix-It Pop-Up event in Salisbury was a tremendous success. Local experts generously helped customers repair a wide range of items, creating a welcoming and resourceful atmosphere throughout the event.
My mother, Liudmila, and I are especially grateful to the volunteers at the Sewing and Mending table—Angela Lomanto, Barb Reeves, and Pat Palmer. Their kindness, efficiency, and creativity stood out. It was remarkable to see them help customers with such care, whether that meant matching the right thread color, choosing the right size of a cut, or simply offering thoughtful, attentive service.
Thank you Congregational Church of Salisbury and Scoville Library for organizing this event. We hope for more events like this in the future.
Natalia Smirnova
Liudmila Smirnova
Salisbury
From Left to Right: Pat Palmer, Angela Lomanto, and Barb Reeves at the Sewing and Mending Table.
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