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Town Meeting set for North Canaan budget

NORTH CANAAN — The Board of Finance and residents in attendance heard final presentations of spending plans from the schools and selectmen at a public hearing May 15. The proposed budgets will be voted on at a Town Meeting May 30 in Town Hall at 7 p.m.

Overall, the combined education and town budgets show reduced spending. North Canaan’s spending totals in 2024-25 are set at $13,344,971.70, a reduction of $51,150.13 (0.38%) compared to last year.

North Canaan’s Region One assessment is down compared to last year. The 2024-25 total is $5,565,923, a reduction of $136,960 (2.4%) from last year.

North Canaan Elementary School saw an increase, largely due to the hiring of a new teacher. NCES showed a bottom line of $4,536,112.70 for next year, an increase of $110,075.87 (2.49%) over 2023-24.

The selectmen’s spending proposal showed a total of $3,242,936 in municipal expenses, a reduction of $24,166 (0.73%) compared to 2023-24.

Since the initial spending proposals were put forth in March, the selectmen have added funding to two line items. Housatonic River Commission’s request for $400 was approved, and Women’s Support Services was assigned $1,500.

Riley Klein

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Helen K. Roux

Helen K. Roux

COPAKE FALLS­ — Helen K. Roux, 84, of Copake Falls, New York, passed away peacefully on Aug. 28, 2026 at Sharon Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Sharon, Connecticut.

Born in Sharon on Aug. 30, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Helen Kilmer. Helen grew up in Millerton, New York, where she formed deep roots in the community. On Oct. 29, 1961, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Roux, who survives at home. Together, they shared nearly sixty-five-years of marriage, devotion and family. Helen was a remarkably kind and sweet person who consistently put the needs of others ahead of her own. Throughout her life, she held several local jobs, concluding her career in the kitchen at Hotchkiss School. She deeply loved the students and staff at Hotchkiss, and her warmth left a lasting impression on the school community. Helen found great joy in the simple pleasures of life, especially playing games. She cherished card games with her family and in her later years thoroughly enjoyed spending time on her laptop.

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Lee Strattman

Lee Strattman

EAST CANAAN­ — Lee “Chip” Strattman, Jr., 72, of 243 East Canaan Road died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Barbara (Paviol) Strattman. Chip and Barbara would have celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary next month. Lee was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on Oct. 20, 1953, son of the late Lee and Joan (Liner) Strattman, Sr.

Lee was a self-employed handyman. He helped many families in the northwest corner with household problems. He loved being outdoors, boating, fishing, and camping with his family were things he enjoyed. He also loved spending time playing his guitar and listening to music. His family described Chip as a man who “loved being busy.” He channeled that energy into maintaining his home and his yard.

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Lakeville Open Horse Show raises funds for next generation of riders

Rider and horse jump over fence in competition

Jazmine Bona and The Great Gatsby compete in the jumpers

Aly Morrissey

MILLBROOK — The annual Lakeville Open Horse Show brought riders and equine enthusiasts to Riga Meadow at Coole Park Farm in Millbrook on Sunday, Aug. 30, for the 69th annual fundraiser hosted by the Lakeville Pony Club.

Horses and ponies with names like Pop Tart, Trigger and The Great Gatsby competed under a late-August sun, with ribbons and prizes distributed to riders of varying experience levels.

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Two vehicles stolen in Salisbury amid break-in spree

Three suspects in car theft caught on surveillance at local gas station

Photos shared on Facebook by state police at Troop B in North Canaan show three suspects in a car theft and break-in spree that occurred in Salisbury and Falls Village early Friday morning, Aug. 28. Anyone with information is asked to contact the station.

Connecticut State Police Troop B

Several vehicles were broken into and two were stolen during a series of related incidents in North Canaan and Salisbury overnight Thursday, Aug. 27, into Friday, Aug. 28, according to state police.

Trooper Spencer Bronson, North Canaan’s resident state trooper, announced in a Facebook post Friday that several vehicles in the Barlow Street area had been entered and rummaged through. There were similar reports from residents in Salisbury.

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Housatonic tops Torrington 2-0 in soccer scrimmage

Gustavo Portillo heads the soccer ball

Gustavo Portillo goes for a header

Riley Klein

TORRINGTON -- The Housatonic Valley Regional High School boys varsity soccer team opened its 2026 preseason with a confident, high‑energy showing in Torrington Friday, Aug. 28.

HVRHS scored a pair of second-half goals against Torrington High School and maintained a clean sheet defensively in the scrimmage. The friendly match was played on a sunny afternoon at Robert Frost Athletic Complex with the temperature around 79 degrees.

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Bear Mountain rescue prompts warning about hiking preparedness

Undermountain Trail

An after-dark rescue on the Undermountain Trail on Monday, Aug. 24 prompted officials to warn unprepared hikers from setting out close to sundown.

Alec Linden

SALISBURY — A nighttime rescue involving approximately 18 emergency responders has prompted local officials to warn hikers against entering the Bear Mountain area without adequate supplies or enough time to return before dark.

Crews were dispatched to the Undermountain Trail trailhead on Undermountain Road shortly before 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, after two hikers called 911 to report that one of them, a 62-year-old woman, was experiencing numbness on one side of her body.

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