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.
Ryan Segalla takes a fadeaway shot over a defender.
FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s boys basketball team defeated Pine Plains High School 60-22 in a scrimmage Tuesday, Dec. 9. The non-league preseason game gave both sides an opportunity to run the court ahead of the 2025-26 varsity season.
HVRHS’s senior-heavy roster played with power and poise. The boys pulled ahead early and kept their foot on the gas through to the end.
By halftime the score was 33-8. Junior varsity players subbed in for the second half, but not before the starters got some in-game dunk practice. By the end Housatonic totaled 60 points to Pine Plains’ 22.
Nick Crodelle dribbles the ball up the court during the game.By Riley Klein
Nick Crodelle led the Mountaineers offensively with 13 points. Anthony Labbadia and Wyatt Bayer scored nine points each. Anthony Foley scored eight points. Owen Riemer and Ryan Segalla each scored seven points. Peyton Bushnell hit a three-pointer. Jaxon Visockis and Henry Berry each scored two points.
HVRHS begins Berkshire League competition on the road at Nonnewaug High School Tuesday, Dec. 16, with a 6 p.m. tip off.
Anthony Labbadia By Riley Klein
Owen Riemer block By Riley Klein
Katie Moore delivers toys to the Stuff a Truck campaign held by the Kent Volunteer Fire Department last weekend. Donated toys are collected so that parents, who need some assistance, may provide their children with gifts this Christmas. Accepting the donation are elves Fran Goodsell and Karen Iannucci
KENT — Santa’s elves were toasty warm as they collected toys for the children of Kent.
Keeping with annual tradition, Fran Goodsell and Karen Iannucci manned the Stuff a Truck campaign sponsored by the Kent Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7. Sitting in front of a fire pit in the firehouse parking lot between donations from residents, they spoke of the incredible generosity displayed every season. That spirit of giving was clear from the piles of toys heaped on a table.
“This is always so gratifying,” said Goodsell, noting that certain businesses, including High Watch Recovery Center, Wilson’s, and Kent and South Kent schools needed a “shout out” for all they’ve done. She said South Kent School focuses on gifts for older children, which is a group that often is overlooked.
Unwrapped contributions are sought for children 1 to 15 years old who might otherwise find little or nothing from Santa, they said. The bounty will be set up at the Community House on Thursday, allowing parents to come and take what they want. If there are still items left, grandparents are invited to “shop.”
The atmosphere was festive Saturday, as a stuffed dog began barking a Christmas tune whenever someone walked in front of it. A large decked-out bear posted at the parking lot entrance reminded passersby of the event. Visiting children were able to get a close-up look at the fire truck and walk through the firehouse if they wished.
Goodsell and Iannucci were very grateful to those who donated wood for the fire pit. “And so many asked if they could bring us coffee or hot chocolate,” said Iannucci.
Goodsell said many who came talked about having grown children who were recipients of the gifts when their families were struggling. “They are so glad to be able to give back,” she said.
Housatonic Valley Regional High School
FALLS VILLAGE — Principal Ian Strever announces the first quarter marking period Honor Roll at Housatonic Valley Regional High School for the 2025-26 school year.
Highest Honor Roll
Grade 9
Katelyn Holst-Grubbe (North Canaan), Meriel Hughes (Salisbury), Noell Laurry (Kent), Keely Malone (Sharon), April Puerto (Salisbury), Solomon Schmidt (Salisbury), Alastair Schnepf (Wassaic), Olivia Simonds (North Canaan), Marisol Vaughn (Kent), Emery Wisell (Kent).
Grade 10
Mia Belter (Salisbury), Louise Faveau (Salisbury), Addison Green (Kent), Aryanna Horton (Salisbury), Eliana Lang (Salisbury), Lily McCabe (Salisbury), Alison McCarron (Kent), Katherine Money (Kent), Mira Norbet (Sharon), Abigail Perotti (North Canaan), Owen Schnepf (Wassaic), Schuyler Thompson (Falls Village), Federico Vargas Tobon (Salisbury).
Grade 11
John DeDonato (Salisbury), Natasha Dennis (North Canaan), Adelyn Diorio (North Canaan), Sydney Howe (North Canaan), Daniel Lesch (Cornwall), Finian Malone (Sharon), Meadow Moerschell (Kent), Ishaan Tantri (Salisbury).
Grade 12
Lily Beurket (Cornwall), Ryder Conte (Falls Village), Shanaya Duprey (North Canaan), Evelyn Flores-Hernandez (North Canaan), Madelyn Johnson (North Canaan), Alexa Meach (North Canaan), Ibby Sadeh (Falls Village), Alex Woodworth (Salisbury).
High Honor Roll
Grade 9
Anna Ayer (Salisbury), Cody Bodwell (Cornwall), Lainey Diorio (North Canaan), Emma Duffy (Sharon), Carter Finney (North Canaan), Elden Grace (Salisbury), Joanna Haratyk (Torrington), Ava Humes (North Canaan), Tyler LaPlante (North Canaan), Sawyer Margerelli (Salisbury), Lola Miller (Falls Village), Grace O’Brocki (Salisbury), August Olson (Falls Village), Elexis Petkovich (North Canaan), Donald Polk (Cornwall), Justin Sorell (North Canaan), Gia Torzilli (Gaylordsville), Scarlett Visconti (North Canaan), Jaxon Visockis (Salisbury).
Grade 10
Krystin Ackerman (North Canaan), Paige Beeman (North Canaan), Max Bochnovich (Salisbury), Nico Bochnovich (Salisbury), Logan Bronson (Cornwall), Lucius Bryant (Cornwall), Zaira Celso-Cristobal (Sharon), Winter Cheney (Cornwall), Tess Churchill (Salisbury), Niki Clark (Salisbury), Caitlin Devino (North Canaan), Luca Floridis (Salisbury), Samuel Garcia Pulido (North Canaan), Beatrice Gifford (Kent), Angel Gonzalez (Salisbury), Kartel Henry (North Canaan), Paul Losh (Falls Village), Wyatt Merwin (Salisbury), Logan Miller (Falls Village), Sadie Morales Chapell (Salisbury), Nova Pratt (North Canaan), Karmela Quinion (North Canaan), Vilija Salazar (Kent), Juliette Trabucco (Kent), Payton Wagner (North Canaan), Olivia Whitney (North Canaan).
Grade 11
Adelaide Almeida (Salisbury), Hayden Bachman (Falls Village), Byron Bell (Cornwall), Sophia Camphouse (Sharon), Olivia Claydon (North Canaan), Georgie Clayton (Salisbury), Sophia DeDominicis Fitzpatrick (Sharon), Christian DeDonato (Salisbury), Layla DiDomenico (Kent), Carmela Egan (Salisbury), Kellie Eisermann (Salisbury), Levi Elliott (Millerton), Lydia Fleming (North Canaan), Guadalupe Flores-Hernandez (North Canaan), Grace Graney (Falls Village), Alexa Hoadley (Kent), Jonas Johnson (North Canaan), Aiden Krupa (Torrington), Makenzie Lidstone (Salisbury), Francisco Mendoza Ratzan (North Canaan), Daniel Moran (Norfolk), Jackson Olson (Falls Village), Logan Padelli (North Canaan), Gustavo Portillo (North Canaan), Darwin Wolfe (Falls Village), Nathan Zani (Ashley Falls), Ivy Zheng (North Canaan).
Grade 12
Hayden Bell (Cornwall), Genesis Bravo Guilcashina (North Canaan), Olivia Brooks (Salisbury), Victoria Brooks (Salisbury), Mia DiRocco (Cornwall), Anthony Foley (North Canaan), Anna Gillette (Salisbury), Julissa Gonzalez (Cornwall), Kierra Greene (North Canaan), Adam Hock (Kent), Sara Ireland (Salisbury), Hannah Johnson (North Canaan), Riley Mahaffey (Amenia), Simon Markow (Cornwall), Madeline Mechare (Falls Village), Madison Melino (Austerlitz), Daphne Paine (North Canaan), Celeste Trabucco (Kent), Silas Tripp (Falls Village), Ayden Wheeler (Amenia).
Honor Roll
Grade 9
Jonathan Bindley (Cornwall), Cullen Bonis (Kent), Phoebe Conklin (Salisbury), Connor Crane (North Canaan), Isabella Curtis (Norfolk), Jessica Davis (North Canaan), Ciri Dean (North Canaan), Lyla Diorio (North Canaan), Patrick Hafner (Falls Village), Ryan Hinman (North Canaan), Harrison Morey (North Canaan), Jenaveeve Wagner (North Canaan).
Grade 10
Lyla Banffy (Kent), Jackson Brammer (Sharon), Peyton Bushnell (Falls Village), Alisa Christiansen Madsen (North Canaan), Lilliana Hurley (North Canaan), Chase Kading (Millerton), Ayden Lemmy (Falls Village), McKenzie Lotz (Ashley Falls), Christopher Piscitello (North Canaan), Camila Sanchez Guerrero (Cornwall), Henry Skuza (Millbrook), Giovani Solorzano-Lemus (North Canaan), Nathan Young (Cornwall).
Grade 11
Bennett Wyatt Bayer (Salisbury), Sofia Bindley (Cornwall), Selena Black (Cornwall), Karen Chavez-Sanchez (Salisbury), Riley Heady (Sharon), Carson Riva (North Canaan), Ryan Segalla (Salisbury), Alanna Tatro (North Canaan), Juan Xeche Coche (North Canaan).
Grade 12
Peter Austin (Kent), Katherine Crane (North Canaan), Richard Crane (North Canaan), Nicholas Crodelle (Sharon), Mollie Ford (Falls Village), Nicolas Gonzalez (Salisbury), Maureen Graney (Falls Village), Taylor Green (Kent), Marc Hafner (Falls Village), Chloe Hill (Salisbury), Abram Kirshner (Kent), Logan Labshere (North Canaan), Eric Lopez Espinosa (Salisbury), Owen Riemer (North Canaan), Ava Segalla (Salisbury), Cole Simonds (North Canaan).
NORTH CANAAN — The Board of Finance elected its officers at the first meeting of the new term on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Doug Humes was re-elected as chair, and Brian Johnson was elected vice chair.
The board also filled a two-year vacancy by unanimously appointing Christian Allyn, who was sworn in immediately by Town Clerk Jean Jacquier.
Members then reviewed several budget line items that have exceeded their appropriations and will require the approval at a town meeting.
First Selectman Jesse Bunce, who attended the meeting, said the Board of Selectmen will likely call for that town meeting when it convenes on Monday, Dec. 15.
