
Islay Sheil, sophomore at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, is an up and coming ski jumper with Salisbury Winter Sports Association.
Robin Roraback
Islay Sheil, sophomore at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, is an up and coming ski jumper with Salisbury Winter Sports Association.
SALISBURY — Islay Sheil, tenth grader at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) and Lakeville resident, has joined the long tradition of ski jumping in Salisbury.
Salisbury’s tradition of ski jumping began in 1925 when the Satre brothers, John, Olaf, and Magnus immigrated from Norway and brought ski jumping and cross-country skiing with them. According to local legend, one brother demonstrated by skiing off the roof of a barn. They established the Salisbury Outing Club which later became the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA). The first ski jumping competition was held in January of 1927.
The Sheils discovered the ski jump in December of 2020, when they came to Salisbury from New York City to escape Covid and find a “sense of community” during the pandemic. Their thoughts went to downhill skiing, but Billy Sheil read an ad about Holiday Ski Jump Camp in The Lakeville Journal and the family decided to see what it was about.
From that start, Islay began her path to competition with the help of longtime Junior Ski Jumping Coach, Larry Stone of SWSA. She made the Junior National Team in February of 2024 and went to Anchorage, Alaska to compete in March. She earned a bronze medal in the team event with Caroline Chor, teammate from the Ford Sayre Ski Club in New Hampshire.
Islay explained about ski jumping, “I like being in the air and flying. It is super cool.” She also “likes the sense of community.”
According to her father, “Islay trains in Lake Placid around twenty weekends a year.” This winter, Islay will go to Lake Placid for the months of January and February and train six days a week there. She will keep up her studies with tutors. “Ian Strever, principal of HVRHS, has been incredibly supportive,” commented Billy Sheil.
Islay has no problem with her schedule of training and school. “It’s not hard to fit everything in. I’m never behind in school. I make time for it all.”
Islay spends ten months a year training. “When there is no snow, ski jumpers train on aluminum or porcelain tracks, and the hill is covered with plastic. Sprinklers wet the surface to replicate conditions,” explained her father. “She also does dry land training, working on stretching and imitation moves called IMO’s that replicate jumping, along with light weight training and playing soccer and lacrosse to stay fit.”
It is a male dominated sport, “but the East has a great group of committed female jumpers who are making strides and supporting one another,” said Billy Sheil. “Islay really likes these girls and respects them.”
Islay feels that ski jumping attracts more males because “It’s the fight or flight risk. Your mind thinks it’s unsafe.” Referring to jumping from a height that most people would shy away from. She feels “Younger boys are less cautious, more fearless.”
Does her mother, Kristin, ever worry, seeing Islay poised to jump? “I have faith in her coaches.” She is confident they would not ask Islay to do something for which she is not ready.
“Islay recently returned from a ski jumping tournament in Chicago where she got to jump on a 70-meter hill, which “we don’t have in the East,” said her father. There she competed against girls from across the United States. On October 19-20 she went back to Lake Placid to train with U.S. National Team jumper Paige Jones.
Her goals for the future? “I want to be able to jump the 120-meter jump and to make the National Team.” But she added, “In a while, not right away.”
TORRINGTON — USA Waste & Recycling’s $3.25 million offer to purchase the Torrington Transfer Station was conditionally accepted by the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority Dissolution Authority at a meeting of its board of directors May 14.
Torrington Transfer Station was one of two facilities in the state, along with Essex Transfer Station, that was still owned by MIRA-DA following the closure of the Hartford trash-to-energy plant in 2022. Municipalities in these service areas were given until July 1, 2027, to establish alternative solid waste contracts.
The Northwest Hills Council of Governments has been working for more than a year to create a regional resource authority using the Torrington Transfer Station as a central hub for hauling. This public option was approved by MIRA-DA with a non-binding agreement in February 2025 and NHCOG expected to take over the facility by June 30, 2025.
The expense to MIRA-DA over the next two years for the public option was estimated by its board members at $2.9 million.
Days before a scheduled public hearing May 19 in Torrington to finalize the formation of the Northwest Regional Resource Authority, MIRA-DA accepted an offer from USA and entered into a term sheet for the private company to purchase the transfer station.
During public comment of the May 14 board meeting, numerous leaders from the Northwest Corner urged MIRA-DA to reconsider the private sale.
Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone spoke of the risks that exist when municipalities lose local control. “We have every confidence that the public option is the most responsible way to control costs.” She continued, “We stand at the ready to proceed with the establishment of this regional waste authority.”
Sharon First Selectman Casey Flanagan said, “The short-term financial implication for MDA may be unbalanced in the two proposals, but the public option will ensure price stability for the Northwest Corner towns for many years.” He said the private sale to USA would likely eliminate any hope for a public option in the future. “I can’t see another facility being permitted and we would be beholden to whoever the incumbent is.”
"This whole process has been extremely discouraging," said Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand. "I thought that the money partly came from us as 30- and 40-year members of MIRA, from our taxpayers. It's not from the state as far as I know."
Cornwall First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said, "We have to question why a private company would pay a premium price for the transfer station without a reasonable expectation of being able to get that money back with interest from their customers."
“Maintaining the status quo in Torrington with the transfer station is the way to go,” as evidenced by the unified voice of leaders in the region, said North Canaan First Selectman Brian Ohler. “If [USA is] given the chance to purchase that Torrington Transfer Station, they now own the entire trash cycle from residential pick, commercial pickup, streetside pickup to the hauling and now owning the transfer station.”
Falls Village First Selectman Dave Barger echoed the sentiments of his colleagues and emphasized the importance of public oversight. “I am concerned about the accountability and transparency and I think a public option keeps that alive.”
In support of the sale, Todd Arcelaschi, mayor of Winchester, explained his town opted out of the regional effort earlier this year in an effort to “blaze our path forward with municipal solid waste disposal.” He said the public option has gotten more expensive every year, from $86 per ton in 2019 to $130 per ton in 2025. “These costs are back breaking,” he said. “We need to keep those fees reasonable.”
Edward Spinella, attorney representing USA, said, “MIRA Dissolution Authority is to do two things: Have an orderly transition of the transfer station and, two, preserve assets and reserves. Our proposal does both of those things.”
Spinella continued, “This MIRA Dissolution Authority is not a regulator. It’s not for you to decide whether or not USA or any other company has too much market control.”
Following public comment, MIRA-DA board members entered into a nearly four-hour executive session. The board unanimously accepted the term sheet from USA.
Board member Michael Looney said, “This decision today is a difficult one given the many different interests that this board needs to balance.”
He said MIRA-DA requires the funds from the sale to “pay toward ameliorating our longstanding environmental impacts from our legacy of solid waste management.”
“We do need to recognize the fiscal and environmental benefits of having a larger amount of funds in the MDA reserve fund,” Looney said.
In its decision, MIRA-DA approved up to $50,000 to reimburse NHCOG for its legal fees accrued while developing the previous agreement.
Despite the setback, the City of Torrington held its public hearing for the formation of the Northwest Regional Resource Authority on May 19.
At the hearing, Raymond Drew, director of public works for Torrington, stated that establishing the NRRA offers long-term benefits for both the City and the broader region. He emphasized that it remains a worthwhile initiative, even though the City will not own any of the facilities.
In a follow up conversation May 21, Ohler said he is still in favor of a public option and NHCOG is planning a special meeting to discuss what comes next.
Joan Anderson Turnure, 91, died after a long illness on May 3, 2025, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT. She was the loving widow of Michael DeBurbure Turnure.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Church in Salisbury on June 1, at 1:00PM, followed by a reception at The White Hart Inn.
To view the whole obituary please visit www.kennyfuneralhomes.com.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
CANAAN — The Lord welcomed Liz home Sunday, May 4, 2025, after leading a long life of faithful service, to Him and to us. She loved life and people. While living in Dunnellon, Florida for her waning years, she remained attached to her roots in Canaan, Connecticut.
Though small in stature, Liz was big in heart. After a successful long career as a hairdresser, she remained active and involved. A consummate homemaker, baker, cook, reader and world traveler, Liz enjoyed her several Pomeranians, especially Queen Sheba and Sweet Pea, her final pups. Her hobbies included crocheting, gardening, walking and picking flowers for the table. Liz’s service to others included being a Life Lioness, a Daughter of Isabella, a VFW Auxiliary Life Member, a VA Gainesville Hospital Volunteer as well as service ministries of bereavement and bingo at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Her survivors include sisters, Stephanie Togninalli (Louis), and Elsie Zucco (Oliver) and many nieces and nephews, grand, great grand, and great great grand nieces and nephews, and her loving, longtime companion, Walter J. Fleck. In Heaven, Liz will join her beloved husband of over 40 years, Frank J. Zucco, parents, Alice and Dazzi Colli, and sisters Anna Smith, and Mary Tyler.
A 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, May 23, 2025. Services will be held and she will be interred with Frank in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Canaan, Connecticut at a later date. Elizabeth appreciated the love, prayers, and support she received throughout her life.