KENT — The selectmen announced at their meeting July 3 that the town will apply for the new round of Connecticut Small Town Economic Assistance Program grants (STEAP).“The state of Connecticut has offered another round of STEAP grants with a total budget of $20 million,” said First Selectman Bruce Adams. “We are going to take advantage of that and are submitting three applications for this money.” Catherine Bachrach, president of the board of Kent Village Housing for the Elderly, which operates Templeton Farms senior housing, said her organization was applying for a STEAP grant for exterior improvements to the barn on the Templeton Farms property. “The barn is used as an office and a common room for the Kent senior center and nutrition program,” she said. “A Masonic lodge rents the second floor of the barn.” Specific improvements would include replacing part of the roof and doing repairs to trim painting on the outside of the building and to the gutters. Additionally, there would be some interior repairs that would increase accessibility. Bachrach said the organization’s grant request would be for less than $100,000. If more money than that is spent, the project would be subject to prevailing wage laws.State statutes say that when projects cost more than a certain amount of money, contractors must pay their workers state-determined wages and benefits. This applies to new construction costs of more than $400,000 and remodeling/repair projects of more than $100,000.In many cases the prevailing wage statutes preclude a town from hiring local contractors who work at lower rates.The town will submit the application for the STEAP grant on behalf of Templeton Farms.Adams said two other STEAP grant applications are likely to be made as well. The first is for funds to pay for repairs to the town garage, including the roof, walls and doors. About $200,000 has already been set aside in the budget for this work. If the STEAP grant is awarded, that money will not have to be spent from the town budget.A third possible grant application for about $50,000 would be submitted on behalf of the Region One School District’s Athletic Facilities Committee, of which Adams is a member. It would be used to upgrade athletic facilities at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.All three applications combined would total $350,000, well under the limit of $500,000 that any one town can request. Applications are due Aug. 1.
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Riley Klein
The young GNH squad got valuable experience against a quality opponent in the season opener. In team totals, the Yellowjackets rushed for 208 yards and passed for 54 yards.
Woodland, coming off an undefeated regular season in 2025, took an early lead against GNH and ran up the score. Woodland's quarterback Evan Mastropietro threw two touchdowns and rushed for a third. Justin Pringle also completed a trifecta with a rushing touchdown, reception touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown for Woodland.
The game was played at Van Why Field in Winsted on a partly cloudy afternoon. It was about 72 degrees at kick-off time.Woodland scored four unanswered touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of play, starting with a 10-yard run by Pringle, then a 59-yard interception return by Pringle, then a 15-yard rush by Colby Marsan and a 60-yard pass from Mastropietro to Ryan Kenney.
GNH got on the board late in the first quarter when Airyn Berube rushed to the right and broke away for a 56-yard dash to the end zone. GNH often used a jumbo package with a full house in the backfield -- a familiar setup for coach Scott Salius and one the team leaned on last season.
Woodland added to its total with a 55-yard QB sneak by Mastropietro to bring the score to 35-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Woodland scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. First, Marsan capped off a long drive with a 2-yard run and then Pringle caught a 15-yard touchdown pass near the end of the half.
The Gilbert School marching band offered a preview of its seasonal routine at halftime, performing a steampunk‑inspired show centered around a large mechanical clock in midfield.
Due to the lopsided 49-7 score, the referees allowed the clock to run in the second half. After a scoreless third quarter, Woodland scored on the first play of the fourth quarter -- a 75-yard run by Daniel Keogh to bring the score to 56-7.
GNH strung together a long drive through the rest of the fourth quarter that brought the Yellowjackets right down to the goal line. As the clock expired, a last‑ditch throw hung over the end zone before the defense rose up for an interception.
Friday night football is coming to Falls Village for GNH's next game, which will be played at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. The Yellowjackets are scheduled to host the Granby/Canton co-op team Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m
Carson Riva battles a double teamRiley Klein
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