
Cody O’Kelly, owner and president of Hunky Hound Handlers, with his dogs Mia, a black lab, and Tepper, a Weimaraner, outside HHH Canine Lodge and Ranch at 332 Norfolk Road in East Canaan.
L. Tomaino
Cody O’Kelly, owner and president of Hunky Hound Handlers, with his dogs Mia, a black lab, and Tepper, a Weimaraner, outside HHH Canine Lodge and Ranch at 332 Norfolk Road in East Canaan.
EAST CANAAN — With cozy quarters, canine cuisine and professional handlers, HHH Canine Lodge & Ranch opened its doors in March.
The operation at 332 Norfolk Road in East Canaan is run by Cody O’Kelly, owner and president of Hunky Hound Handlers, who has recently expanded to include the location formerly known as Pooch Palace.
O’Kelly assured customers that the retail store at 11 Railorad St. will remain open and “continue offering raw food, gently cooked kibble options, supplements and nutrition guidance, and grooming, while the Canine Lodge & Ranch will handle boarding, training, and structured care.”
“The expansion isn’t just about adding more services — it’s about raising the standard for dog care in a way that makes sense,” O’Kelly said. “Everything we do is about helping dogs live their best lives in the real world — not just when they’re with us, but in their everyday lives with their owners.”
HHH is dedicated to the “real world approach” to dogs. “This means focusing on what actually works, not just what’s trending,” O’Kelly said.
O’Kelly’s inspiration came years ago. “It all started with a love for adventure and a realization that most traditional pet care wasn’t meeting dogs’ real needs.”
His Australian Labradoodle, Nikki, was his first hiking partner. “When she wasn’t up for intense trails, I started bringing other dogs along. That led to running a hiking service, which turned into a deeper passion for structured exercise, training and nutrition.”
HHH’s real world approach consists of balanced training in which O’Kelly said they “use clear communication — both rewards and corrections — to help dogs gain confidence, reliability and off-leash freedom.” Custom nutrition is important with “everything from raw feeding guidance to supplements that actually support a dog’s needs.”
Also key is adventure and movement. O’Kelly stresses “Dogs need more than a walk around the block. That’s why we prioritize pack hikes, structured outdoor time and confidence-building activities that help them thrive.”
HHH Canine Lodge & Ranch offers an “a la carte menu” of activities to choose from for the dogs staying there.
“We offer standard boarding, private luxury suites, and double kennels for multi-dog households. Dogs staying with us get structured outdoor time, enrichment activities, and a calm, balanced environment — not just a place to sleep,” O’Kelly said.
O’ Kelly will also offer workshops on topics such as nutrition and training.
HHH Canine Lodge & Ranch is open and ready for guests.
To contact HHH and ask about services, visit www.hunkyhoundhandlers.com and fill out the contact form to register or call or text 959-227-9013.
LAKEVILLE — The Hotchkiss School girls lacrosse won the 2025 Founders League championship with an 11-10 victory over Choate Rosemary Hall May 21.
The Bearcats battled back from behind by as many as four points.
MaryHelen McCooey scored the game-winning goal with about two minutes remaining.
The win marked the fourth consecutive Founders League title for Hotchkiss girls lacrosse.
The Marvelwood lacrosse team poses for a group photo May 20 after winning the HVAL title for the second year in row.
KENT — On Tuesday, May 20, Marvelwood School lacrosse defeated Woodhall School 15-9 in the Housatonic Valley Athletic League tournament final.
It was second straight HVAL championship win for the Pterodactyls and their fifth league title since 2018.
Marvelwood and Woodhall played twice this past season with Marvelwood winning both games. They met in the championship as the first and second ranked teams in the league.
In the pre-game huddle, Marvelwood Coach Zach Maizel pumped up his players and urged them to “be aggressive early.”
Eli Jamieson, No. 4, congratulates teammate C. Jones after a goal.Photo by Lans Christensen
Taking his message to heart, attackman Eli Jamieson scored in the first minute of game play. He scored twice more in the first period, which ended with Marvelwood ahead 6-3.
Woodhall played aggressively and stayed on the attack, but the first half ended 9-4 in favor of Marvelwood.
Jamieson was the key player on the Marvelwood squad, and he scored twice more in the final period to maintain the Pterodactyls’ lead.
Woodhall fought hard and possessed control for most of the final period, scoring five goals but falling to a final 15-9 Marvelwood victory.
HVRHS sophomore Ryan Segalla went three-for-three May 17 with Berkshire League gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. He was also on the gold-winning 4x400m relay team.
Berkshire League track and field wrapped up a season of competition with the league finals in Litchfield May 17. The BL festival followed with decathlon, heptathlon, steeplechase and hammer in Falls Village May 20 and Thomaston May 21.
The events included athletes from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Gilbert School, Lakeview High School, Nonnewaug High School, Northwestern Regional High School, Shepaug Valley High School, Terryville High School and Thomaston High School.
In the gold medal tally, Nonnewaug led with 12 golds, Housatonic won 10, Northwestern won six, Thomaston won six, Lakeview won five and Shepaug won three.
For Housatonic, Senior Mia Dodge won the girls 300m hurdles.
Mia DodgePhoto by Riley Klein
Sophomore Ryan Segalla won the boys 100m, 200m and 400m races.
Senior Kyle McCarron won the boys 800m and 1600m races.
The boys 4x400m relay team of Anthony Labbadia, Patrick Money, Kyle McCarron and Ryan Segalla won gold.
Junior Anthony Labbadia won the boys triple jump by a margin of more than three feet. He also earned second place in the boys 400m race.
Senior Patrick Money won the decathlon.
Senior Gabi Titone won the steeplechase. Junior Olivia Brooks took bronze.
The girls 4x400m relay team of Mckenzie Lotz, Harper Howe, Mia Dodge and Maddy Johnson took silver. The same team took bronze in the 4x100m relay.
Harper Howe took silver in the girls 400m race.
Gabi Titone took silver in the girls 800m race.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class S state track and field meet will be held in New Britain on June 2.
Patrick Money
Photo by Riley Klein
Lime Rock Park is slated to host the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Friday and Saturday, June 26 to 28, in Lime Rock, Connecticut.
SALISBURY — First Selectman Curtis Rand agreed to sign approvals for changes in traffic patterns and a “hauler parade” for Lime Rock Park’s NASCAR event June 26 to 28 after a lengthy and detailed discussion at a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen Wednesday, May 21.
Lime Rock Park is hosting a weekend of NASCAR events. In anticipation of a larger than usual crowd, park leadership has asked to have one-way traffic on Route 112 — Lime Rock Road — from the junction of Route 7 and Route 112 to White Hollow Road and the main track entrance between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and one-way traffic in the opposite direction between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28.
On Thursday, June 26, there will be a hauler parade. The trucks will form up at Salisbury School and proceed west on Route 44 starting at 4:30 p.m., with state police cars in the lead and bringing up the rear. Westbound traffic on Route 44 will be stopped as the parade gets underway.
Rand expressed frustration with many aspects of the plans. He was critical of park leadership for setting up arrangements with local businesses for the parade prior to coming to the town for a discussion.
Selectman Chris Williams said Lime Rock Park should have come to the town considerably earlier than the first notification a couple of weeks ago.
Selectman Kitty Kiefer said she has not heard anything positive from anyone she has talked to about the plans.
Lime Rock Park President Dicky Riegel and facility safety director Tom Burke, a retired State Police sergeant with Troop B, answered the questions and criticisms as they came.
Burke said there will be 30 state troopers both along the roads and at the track, and there will be 11 variable message boards deployed to alert motorists several days ahead of the events.
Asked why park representatives had not sent out plans to their immediate neighbors, Riegel said they couldn’t do that until they had an approval. With approval, the track will publicize the information about the traffic flow and the parade.
Riegel also apologized for not coming to the town sooner.
Public comment was uniformly negative.
After an hour or so, Rand asked the selectmen for their opinions.
Kiefer said she would deny both requests.
Williams said he would approve them but reiterated his earlier criticisms.
Rand made up his mind.
“I will sign these.” He said he was “going on good faith.”
“But if it comes up again I might easily say no.”