MILLERTON — Spring for Sound, hosted at the North East Community Center (NECC), will feature local bands performing to raise money for the community center. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 11.The Millerton Knights will perform at 3:30 p.m.The Millerton Knights is made up of Jonathan Grusauskas’ students, a group of local 6- to 11-year-olds who nurse their developing love for music every Tuesday and Friday behind the walls of The Music Cellar in Millerton.Reservations are required for Spring for Sound; email rsvp@oblongbooks.com. For more information, call Oblong Books & Music at 518-789-3797 or go to www.oblongbooks.com.
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Let's Hear It - October 1, 2026
Lakeville Journal
Sep 30, 2026
This Week
With colder weather on the way, households across the region are starting to look ahead to the cost of keeping their homes warm this winter. Home heating oil prices have surged in recent months, with prices reaching record levels in several states. For households that rely on heating oil, those increases could make a significant difference in winter heating bills.
Are rising home heating oil costs a concern for you this year?
Send your responses to social@lakevillejournal.com by Monday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. or comment on Facebook or Instagram.
We’ll publish a selection in next week’s paper.
Last Week’s Question
What approach should towns take toward data centers: ban them, regulate them, or allow them under existing zoning rules?
“It seems like not much good comes from the construction of data centers. Between the loss of open space, destruction of habitats, depletion of water sources and noise pollution-Ban them!”
— Johnny Martin, Millerton
“Ban. The noise alone would make me abandon my home.”
— Nat Baker
“Ban. The energy usage, water usage, noise pollution, and environmental damage are unacceptable.”
— Roxann Steinberg Whitaker
Hi. Yeah, I’m in cybersecurity... dont ruin this area. Please. Please do not allow these data centers to be built. I am quite literally begging you guys to be more intelligent than the rest of the country, we need a promise of a complete ban indefinitely. No loopholes, no backdoor, no way to get around it. No data centers!
— Caitlyn Ellis
“Seems the only way is to have them and regulate.”
— Joseph Zerres
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Letters to the Editor - October 1, 2026
Lakeville Journal
Sep 30, 2026
Kindness of our community is overwhelming
When our dog, Wally, ran away recently, we were overwhelmed by the kindness of this community.
Falls Village Animal Control put us in touch with the volunteers at CT Dog Gone Recovery who put us in touch with a local man who volunteered hours over several days to search for our dog with a thermal drone. Various neighbors called to check in or report hearing barking in the woods behind their homes. Several generously allowed us to search their properties. A local school bus driver called in a sighting. When, after six days, Wally emerged from the woods, smelly and hungry, other neighbors recognized him, called his name, and kept him safe in their kitchen until we could arrive.
We were deeply touched by everyone’s care and generosity. Thank you.
Peter and Alice Alderman
Falls Village
Thanks for supporting Summer Mountaineers
On behalf of the Summer Mountaineer Experience staff, our campers, and their families, we would like to publicly express our sincere gratitude to the organizations whose generous support helped make this summer’s program possible: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 21st Century Fund, Region 1 Athletic Fund, Sharon Community Foundation, and the Canaan Foundation.
This summer, 77 students from across Region 1 participated in the Summer Mountaineer Experience. Thanks to the support of these organizations, students were able to participate in meaningful experiences, such as rock climbing, canoeing, stream walking and making bagels, at no cost to their families.
One of the most rewarding parts of the Summer Mountaineer Experience is watching students encourage one another, try something new, discover something they enjoy, and form friendships with students they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.
Programs like this are possible because of organizations and community partners that believe in investing in our young people. We are incredibly grateful to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 21st Century Fund, Region 1 Athletic Fund, Sharon Community Foundation, and the Canaan Foundation for recognizing the value of giving our students the opportunity to build connection, confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness.
Thank you for your generosity, your commitment to our Region 1 students, and for helping make the Summer Mountaineer Experience another memorable summer for our Region One students.
Barbara Hockstader
Anne MacNeil
Jill Pace
Program Coordinators
Cardona neglected public school alternatives
Last Friday the Salisbury Forum sponsored a program given by the controversial former U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona. Yes, the same Secretary who championed the Biden administration’s gender ideology in classrooms and sports, as well as the unconstitutional forgiving of student loan debt. No mention of these banished concepts was mentioned.
Controversy still seems to cling to Dr. Cardona. Governor Lamont had made his company’s selection to head up an advisory panel for education planning. No competitive bids. No public comment. What an irony to choose someone this way. Especially someone chosen who is one of the biggest supporters of teacher’s unions.
The speaker’s perspective was strictly partisan. Whenever schools were said it was always with the qualifier “public school.” Neglected was no mention of other schools or home schools that parents may choose for their children.
If there was any sense of bipartisanship to this talk Dr. Cardona would have mentioned present U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s efforts. Her mission is to provide a choice for parent’s for their children’s education. Legislation passed in 2026- the Big Beautiful Bill- will allow taxpayers a credit of up to $1700 by contributing to state registered nonprofits that will award scholarships. The Education Freedom tax credit will be launched in January 2027.
It will allow donors to contribute to organizations that will fund scholarships for students. These scholarships can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, or home school costs. The scholarships would be given out by local nonprofits given the name, scholarship granting organizations or SGO’s in partnership with school districts. Connecticut is presently a non-school choice state however the administration has allowed the governors of each state to opt-in for this program.
The U.S. Treasury has said more information is to be released by the end of September. The scholarships can also aid public school districts via arts and music and after school programs. The argument that the Education Freedom tax credit would take away from public schools is misleading. This administration has it’s focus on a state level rather than the top heavy federal bureaucracy.
Joe Agli
Kent
A vote for Matt Corey for Lieutenant Governor
Matt Corey’s name probably sounds familiar when you think about Connecticut’s recent political landscape.He ran in the general election against Democratic representative, Chris Murphy, in 2018 and again in 2024. Still energetic and passionate about representing the citizen of our state, Matt has thrown his hat into the ring again.This time, as the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor alongside Ryan Fazio for Governor.
As a Navy veteran, small business owner, and longtime Connecticut resident, Matt brings a perspective that I respect. His campaign has focused on addressing several of these issues:
• Lowering business taxes and reducing red tape for small businesses, expanding manufacturing, and encouraging skilled trades and apprenticeships.
• Reducing electricity rates, taxes, and regulatory costs. Matt believes Connecticut’s high price tag for power hurts both families and businesses in our state.
• Moving Connecticut in the direction of a smaller, more efficient government that in turn will make our state a more desirable place for businesses to operate.
Connecticut needs leaders who are willing to listen to residents, stand up for common sense, and work to make our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Matt Cory brings that commitment, along with the energy, integrity, and determination needed to serve effectively.
As a member of my town’s Republican Town Committee, I am proud to support Matt Corey on Election Day – November 3, 2026.
Harriet Weiss
Salisbury
We need Harding for 30th
I am writing this letter to give my strong support to Stephen Harding as he runs for reelection to his position as State Senator of Connecticut in the 30th district.
Senator Harding is widely respected on both sides of the isle, because of his efforts to get the serious financial problems with the State budget under control and eventually eliminated. He has also been outspoken about protecting local government’s role in determining planning and zoning policies for their towns and municipalities. Both of these are issues that currently threaten the future of small towns in Connecticut. It is shocking to find out how serious these problems are. We must have Stephen Harding continue his leadership. A vote for him is a statement of how much you value life in the northwest corner of Connecticut.
Don Mayland
Lakeville
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Turning Back the Pages - October 1, 2026
Norma Bosworth
Sep 30, 2026
125 years ago — 1901
On Wednesday of last week, while William Brazee was lifting a heavy barrel from his wagon, he slipped and the barrel fell upon his leg and broke it. Dr. Bissell was called and gave the kind of attention needed.
On Friday last, while workers were jacking up the drug store building, preparatory to moving it, a corner of the foundation wall on which one of the jacks rested partially gave way, and the center of the building gradually began to settle. Timbers were immediately put in position as supports, but to no effect, for in a few moments the building broke in the center and went crashing down into the cellar, a complete wreck. None of the goods had been removed from the store, consequently bottles, jugs, cans, boxes and other goods too numerous to mention were crushed by the falling timbers, making a conglomerated mass, with many odors, which floated out to remote parts of the village. Dr. Knight estimates the damage done to his stock at about $1,000.
100 years ago — 1926
The auto may be a great blessing, but it has certainly done things to the railroads.
SALISBURY — Master Robert T. Mercer left on the 22nd to attend the Lenox School in Lenox, Mass. Mr. E.C. Mercer, his father, leaves tomorrow to see first World Series baseball game in New York and will begin his fall work Sunday, Oct. 8, in St. George’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. E.C. Mercer is driving a new Nash roadster.
Fire losses resulting from rubbish fires, which total high in Connecticut, may be materially reduced in the near future by the use of the gas-fired incinerator, according to the Connecticut Committee on Public Service Information. It has been estimated by the committee that approximately fifty per cent of all fires are the result of attempts to destroy rubbish in unprotected devices, chief of which is the back-yard bonfire.
LOST — 3 cows, black and white, with tags on ears, reward. Please notify Joe Brown, East Canaan, Tel. 179-2.
One day last week Miss Doris Peabody swam across the lake starting at the raft and finishing at the Hotchkiss Boat House. Miss Mignon Taylor rowing a boat accompanied her over the course.
50 years ago — 1976
A study of the Housatonic River for possible federal protection as a Wild and Scenic River was authorized by the House of Representatives Monday, and according to the Senate’s Interior Committee, was confirmed by the Senate late Tuesday. The omnibus bill now awaits only President Ford’s signature.
Don Stevens of Salisbury foiled a hold-up at the Lakeville Wine Shop Monday evening by grabbing the wrist of his youthful would-be assailant. The stick-up man, a slightly built person of about 20, concealed his hand in his jacket and pointed his finger to make it appear like a pistol. But to Stevens, who thought at first the attempt was a prank, the gesture did not quite ring true. He lunged and grabbed the wrist of the youth. The hold-up man turned and ran out of the store. As he crossed the parking lot of the Lakeville Food Center, a large wrench fell out of his pocket. He got into a car that Stevens said obviously had been waiting for him, and it sped off. Since the time was 6:45 and darkness was descending, Stevens could see only that the car was white. Only afterward, when he started thinking about it, did Don realize that he had had what might have been a close call. “I’m not a hero,” he said. He went home and had a drink.
Bonnie Evans welds. She also drives the experimental race cars husband Jack designs. The couple, owners of Mecca Development, recently moved to Sharon, from New Jersey, where they are closer to Lime Rock, a test track for Jack’s designs. The covered car she was welding is an experimental design for General Motors.
The Housatonic Valley Chapter of Future Farmers of America has received word that its application for Superior Chapter has won a gold emblem at the national level. A gold emblem means that the chapter is ranked in the top one per cent of all the FFAchapters in the country.
CANAAN — Local craftsmen and artisans have found an outlet for their work in a new little shop recently opened on Bragg Street. The shop, called Back Porch Arts and Crafts, is operated out of Mildred Mather’s home, and is run by Mrs. Mather and her daughter, Mary Monnier. Shop hours are 1-5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but Mrs. Monnier stresses that she will open the shop any day by appointment. Featured in the little shop are gift items made by local people of all ages. “It’s turning into a little guild,” said Mrs. Monnier. “We have things here made by people from six years old to 70.”
Ed’s Auto Parts, an auto supply store that has been located on High Street in Canaan for the past 13 years, moved last week to its new location on North Elm Street. Ed Hotchkiss of Torrington, who is co-owner of the store with Ed Bosio, also of Torrington, said that the firm’s previous rented quarters have become too crowded. The men own their new larger building.
25 years ago -- 2001
KENT — James Gadiel, 23, is among those missing and presumed dead after the attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11. He was the son of Peter and Jan Gadiel, and the late Ellen Gadiel. Mr. Gadiel was employed by Cantor Fitzgerald as a programmer. His office was on the 103rd floor of the north tower, which was hit by the first plane.
Actress Star Herrman and daughter Emma cut the ribbon for the start of the Crop Walk in Falls Village Sunday. The event raised $24,000 to feed the hungry worldwide. Many of the participants walked the full 10 miles.
SALISBURY — Susan M. Getzendanner died Sept. 11, 2001, a victim of the attacks on the World Trade Center. She was born during World War II in Newtown, Pa. and grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She eventually moved to New York City and then to Salisbury, going back and forth between the bustle of New York City and hiking or gardening on Mt. Riga.
CANAAN — The employees of Bicron want to wash your car. Proceeds will benefit the United Way of Northwest Connecticut Inc., which supports local organizations. The fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bicron parking lot off Barlow Street. Cost is $5 per car.
CANAAN — How often can you make one phone call and get two banks? Dial the number of the former People’s Bank in Canaan and a recording lets you know that the office has been sold and is now operated by Salisbury Bank and Trust Company. The voice goes on to offer options. “Press 1 to talk to People’s Bank, 2 to talk to Salisbury Bank.” The recording will be in place for 30 days, according to branch manager Amy Kiernan, in order to give customers old and new a chance to get used to the new phone number of 860-824-3070.
These items were taken from The Lakeville Journal archives at Salisbury’s Scoville Memorial Library, keeping the original wording intact as possible.
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Six months after ban, kratom remains a concern for local clinicians
Debra A. Aleksinas
Sep 30, 2026
NORTH CANAAN — Six months after Connecticut outlawed kratom — a substance made from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree and sold in smoke shops, gas stations and convenience stores for its stimulant and opioid-like effects — treatment providers say they continue to see people struggling with dependence and withdrawal.
At Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan, medical director Karen O’Flynn said more patients are seeking treatment for dependence on 7-OH, a potent compound derived from kratom.
“Here at Mountainside Treatment Center we are seeing a definite increase in the number of admissions for the treatment of 7-OH dependence, though we cannot know whether that is a direct result of the ban,” O’Flynn said.
Short for 7-hydroxymitragynine, 7-OH acts on the brain’s opioid receptors. Concentrated products containing the compound can cause tolerance, dependence and withdrawal.
The increase in treatment began before the ban. Mountainside recorded 184 admissions involving kratom use in 2025, up from 67 in 2024, The Lakeville Journal reported in March. Clinicians warned then that people already dependent on kratom could experience withdrawal if they suddenly lost access to it.
Connecticut classified kratom — including its leaves, stems and extracts, and 7-OH — as a Schedule I controlled substance effective March 25. Possessing or selling the product in the state is prohibited.
Access across state lines
The ban was quickly visible in North Canaan. The Lakeville Journal found that two local smoke shops had removed kratom from their shelves. Nevertheless, residents could still find it minutes away across the New York or Massachusetts borders.
That changed on the Massachusetts side Aug. 28, when a temporary one-year ban on all forms of kratom took effect. Four retailers have sued to block the measure, arguing that it treats traditional kratom leaf the same as concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products. The ban remains in effect while the case proceeds. New York continues to allow regulated adult sales of kratom.
“It’s not like Montana, where you have to drive four hours to get to another state,” said Jana Wu, Mountainside’s director of clinical integration.
Wu said she has heard from people obtaining kratom across state lines and online. Mountainside’s weekly clinician-led “Let’s Talk Kratom” support group draws participants from New York, she said, and its detox program is treating a growing number of people for kratom dependence.
Wu said Mountainside recorded a 50% increase in kratom-related treatment cases from March through September. She cautioned that the center cannot determine whether Connecticut’s ban caused the increase.
Some people who were already dependent on kratom may have sought treatment after the ban disrupted their supply and they began experiencing withdrawal. Mountainside cannot say whether that explains the rise. Wu said other possible factors include growing use, more potent products and greater recognition of kratom-related problems.
Mountainside’s numbers reflect people seeking care at the center, not kratom use throughout the Northwest Corner. Wu’s 50% figure covers kratom-related cases, while O’Flynn’s observation concerns admissions for dependence on 7-OH specifically.
Products found after the ban
Authorities have found prohibited products in Connecticut since March. In August, Greenwich police arrested a New York man accused of selling 7-OH from his vehicle and seized what they valued at about $20,000 in kratom products.
This month, Wallingford police announced the arrests of two smoke-shop employees after investigators found products containing 7-OH and 7-hydroxymitragynine pseudoindoxyl. Police said the products had remained on sale after the ban.
For people already dependent on kratom or 7-OH, removing the products from Connecticut shelves does not necessarily end their use.
O’Flynn urged families to carry naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, and to administer it in a suspected overdose even if they do not know what substance was taken. They should also call 911.
“Some of the substances coming onto the market require several doses of Narcan,” she said. “You will not harm someone by giving them Narcan, though you may precipitate sudden opioid withdrawal.”
O’Flynn said treatment providers are also watching whether people who can no longer obtain kratom turn to other substances.
“A ban on any substance, like a reduction in availability for any other reason, always carries a risk of people moving to other substances,” she said.
“Historically, this has led to different substances entering the market. Some can be more potent than the substances they replace and carry a greater overdose risk.”
How to talk with teens about kratom and other drugs
Kratom products are banned in Connecticut, but young people may still encounter kratom, or its potent derivative 7-OH.
Jana Wu, director of clinical integration at Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan, recommends starting conversations before a crisis. Ask teenagers what they have heard at school, online or from friends, rather than opening with an interrogation.
The goal, Wu said, is to keep communication open so teenagers feel comfortable asking for help. Parents can discuss the risks of dependence, the varying strength of products and the possibility of unknown ingredients. They can also make clear that a teenager can call them for help without fear of punishment.
Changes to watch for
No single behavior proves that a teenager is using drugs. Changes worth discussing include shifts in friends or activities; unexplained changes in sleep, appetite or energy; falling grades; withdrawal from activities once enjoyed; increasing secrecy; unexplained spending or missing money; and unfamiliar pills, powders, gummies, packets or vapes.
Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services lists nausea, vomiting, dizziness, agitation and drowsiness among possible effects of kratom use. People who use it regularly may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop.
If someone cannot be awakened, is breathing slowly or shallowly, or is making choking or gurgling sounds, call 911 immediately. Give naloxone if it is available and stay with the person until help arrives.
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Hedge your home heating oil now
Bill Schmick
Sep 30, 2026
The airways are chock full of stories bemoaning soaring gasoline and diesel prices lately. Much less attention is focused on rising heating oil prices this coming winter.
All the inflation data is reflecting how these rising energy costs are impacting your pocketbook. For diesel, which fuels the transportation industry and most of commercial America, the problem is even more acute than gas.
Some readers, depending on where you live, may also be facing another challenge besides higher gas prices. A close cousin to diesel fuel in the world of refined energy products is home heating oil. Around my town, regular gas is above $4.35, and diesel is now over $6.50 a gallon.
Diesel is now at an all-time high. Heating oil is following the diesel price higher. Fortunately, if there is a silver lining, many homes in the country run on gas or electric. The problem turns ugly in the Northeast, however. Over 4 million homeowners depend on heating oil, the most expensive way to heat a home and stay warm in the winter.
U.S. heating oil futures recently surpassed 2022 highs and have climbed almost 30% over the last quarter. Since the start of the year, they are up 120%. The Energy Information Administration forecasts the average price this year at $4.80/gallon, up 33% from last year. The catch is that prices vary widely depending on where you live.
In some states, heating oil use is greater than in others, such as Maine (50% of homes), Alaska (28%), Massachusetts (20%), and New York (15.53%), so the impact will be greater. I recommend calling your local oil company for a quote once you read this column. Don’t be surprised if the price is at least $2.00 or more per gallon above the government-forecasted average.
Before you ask, yes, you can blame the war in Iran. Part of the price increase is due to the closure of the Straits of Hormuz and other exit routes for crude oil and refined products out of the Middle East.
But some of the shortfall is also happening because the war that was supposed to be resolved on “Day One” of Trump’s re-election is still very much in contention. Ukraine is now able to hit Russian oil refineries thousands of miles away in retaliation for the devastation of its own energy resources over the last five years.
This matters because Russia is a major exporter of all kinds of petroleum products, including diesel and heating oil. As a result of the Ukrainian drone attacks, Russian production has fallen to the point that they have banned exports. This has created a supply shortfall for global customers, leading to much higher prices for diesel and heating oil outside the U.S.
Oil refiners in general, and U.S. refiners in particular, have been exporting some of their diesel and heating oil overseas to take advantage of price discrepancies between domestic and overseas markets. As a result, some refiners are experiencing even wider profit margins. There has been talk among legislators this week in Washington about restricting diesel exports from the U.S.
The Biden-era attempt to reduce LNG exports was a dismal failure. All it did was increase LNG prices worldwide. The same would happen if the government reduced diesel exports. Trump has not decided whether to restrict diesel exports, despite a massive lobbying effort this week by the energy trade.
The situation has escalated to a point where President Trump has asked Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to cease fire on Russian refineries. You may remember Zelensky; he is the same man the U.S. President and Vice President publicly humiliated in the Oval Office a year ago for not being grateful enough for U.S. assistance during Russia’s war of aggression.
Trump this week claimed in a post on Truth Social that “Ukraine has agreed not to hit Russian energy targets. Russia has agreed to do likewise.” Neither side has agreed yet, even after Zelensky met with the president at the United Nations assembly this week.
Zelensky reiterated his position that he would be willing to back off if Russia agreed to de-escalation as well, with assurances from his “partners.” Does that mean Trump is his partner again?
In any event, aside from praying for a mild winter, I suggest readers take advantage of your oil supplier’s standard pricing program, if you haven’t already. It is a way to hedge your upcoming fuel costs if administration-induced price spikes continue throughout the winter.
If you’re unfamiliar with hedging your oil costs, current program types include fixed-price plans, where you can lock in your per-gallon rate for the entire heating season (typically October through April). You pay the agreed price regardless of market changes. Premiums over spot prices are usually $0.10-$0.25/ gallon.
Price cap plans also set a maximum per-gallon price for the season. You pay the lower of the market rate or the cap. In this plan, the premium over spot you pay is typically $0.25 to $0.50 per gallon. Or you can take the risk that the war is over in the next month or so and opt for variable pricing, which is the spot market rate, without a cap or lock.
Bill Schmick is a founding partner of Onota Partners, Inc., in the Berkshires. Bill’s forecasts and opinions are purely his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Onota Partners, Inc. None of his commentary is or should be considered investment advice.
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