Singer and board member Wanda Houston is one of the performers in the lineup for the benefit.
Lee Everett
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Donna Aakjar
Feb 26, 2025
CANAAN — Donna Aakjar passed away peacefully on Feb. 20, 2025 at Noble Horizons. Born on Dec. 14, 1941, at Geer Hospital in Canaan to Maybelle Voorhees and Louis Peder Aakjar, Donna’s life was a testament to education, service and a deep love of the arts.
She attended North Canaan Elementary School and the Housatonic Valley Regional high before graduating from Southern Connecticut State College. Donna began her career teaching fifth grade at Sharon CenterSchool. While teaching, she earned a master’s degree in Library Science and became the first librarian in the newly renovated basement library. Later, the library was relocated upstairs and, several yearsthereafter, was completely redesigned under her guidance.
After retirement, Donna continued to nurture her passion for reading by working in the children’s department at Oblong Books. Throughout her career, she touched countless lives, and in her later years, many came forward to express their gratitude and admiration for her contributions. She also served on the board of NCCC and was president of a chapter of the NEA. An avid lover of the arts, Donna’s legacy is further enriched by the joy she shared with others-so much so that for her epitaph she requested the words of a former student: “She read to us with such joy.”
Later in life, Donna became a devoted animal lover, cherishing her poodle Honey Bun and her cats Gracie and Rosie. She is survived by her sisters; Nancy Perry, Sheffield Massachusetts and Maryann Aakjar of Boston; her nieces, Donna Perry of San Antonio, Texas and Linda Snyder of Hiram, Georgia, and her grandniece, Madison Snyder of Powder Spring, Georgia.
A beloved sister and aunt, Donna was cherished by all her knew her. Our heartfelt thanks go to the staff at Geer Lodger-especially those on the Hillside Unit for their compassionate care. Memorial services will be held in the spring.
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Perscis Sackey of South Kent School posed next to his and his classmates' photography.
Nathan Miller
A modest group of artists and bird lovers got together at the Millbrook School Friday, Feb. 21, for the first ever Firefly student artist showcase.
The exhibition featured art from student artists from private and public high schools in New York and Connecticut including Millbrook School, Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Hotchkiss School, Kent School and South Kent School.
The art covered a wide range of media and subject matter, but all works focused on an appreciation of nature and the environment. Photographs of landscapes and wildlife covered the walls, surrounded by paintings, pottery and sculpture.
The Friday night exhibition opening started out with presentations on bird populations from Marvelwood School students Jonah Maeras-Garcia and Irine Dumitrascu and their avian ambassador program faculty advisor Laurie Doss.
They talked about Marvelwood’s purple martin restoration project.
The purple martin was at one time numerous across the midwest and eastern U.S., but the loss of hollow trees to nest in has reduced the birds’ numbers significantly in the past century.
In 2006 when Marvelwood started the avian ambassador program, student bird researchers counted only a few dozen Martins in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut. Today, after nearly ten years of building and improving martin housing, the Northwest Corner is home to over a thousand purple martins.
Following the presentation from Marvelwood School was the keynote address from Sharon audubon director Eileen Fielding.
The talk, titled “Bending the Bird Curve,” focused on the threat climate change poses to bird habitat in the U.S. and necessary strategies for preserving bird populations.
Fielding said the bird population has decreased by 2.8 billion since 1970 due to pollution and habitat loss.
Continued warming will further shrink bird habitats nationwide, Fielding said. To illustrate this, Fileding showed a model of wood thresh habitat in North America.
The wood thresh, Fielding said, spends winters in South America and migrates to the deciduous forests of the eastern U.S. every summer.
However, deciduous forests are sensitive to rising average temperatures, and much of the habitat for the wood thresh faces serious threats from just a three degree Celsius jump in global average temperatures.
After the talk, the group of students and naturalists walked through the cold, dark night across Millbrook’s campus to the exhibit hall where the art was on display. Student artists ate cheese, strawberries and spoke with the visitors about their art projects.
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Robert E. Battis
Feb 26, 2025
GREENWICH — On Feb. 17, 2025, the world said goodbye to a man whose laughter was as infectious as his spirit was inspiring. Robert “Bob” E. Battis, born on Sept. 17, 1935, in Amesbury, Massachusetts, to the late, George and Laura “Milly” (Burke) Battis. Bob lived a life filled with humor, dedication, and a love for his family that knew no bounds.
A natural-born storyteller, Bob had a knack for spinning a yarn that could leave you doubled over with laughter one moment and deeply moved the next. His jokes were the highlight of every family gathering, and his passion for UCONN Basketball and local high school sports added an extra layer of excitement to every game season.
Bob served his country proudly in the United States Army as an expert marksman from 1958 to 1960. He was part of the 1959 rifle team that won the Prix LeClerc competition in Germany. He was a man of many talents, and he applied his dedication to everything he did. He was born on a farm and spent most of his life in agriculture. He was a nutritionist for over 30 years at Blue Seal feeds, becoming a familiar and friendly face to all he encountered. He was a member of the Guernsey Cattle Club and the Holstein Association, and showed dairy cattle in 42 states and in Canada. When he was young, he was part of the Box Car boys, who cared for show herds on trains as they traveled the country.
Even after retiring, he continued to work part-time for NAPA Auto Store in Greenwich, a testament to his tireless work ethic. But work was not his only passion. A proud member of the Battenkill Country Club, Bob was an avid golfer and recorded two hole-in-ones with his cadre of golf buddies. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and dancing with his beloved wife, Nancy.
However, what mattered most to Bob was his family. He was the loving husband to his wife, Nancy Battis; a dedicated father to his children, Dave Battis, Leslie (David) Battis and Susan (Robert) Battis; a doting grandfather to Daniel Cronin, Lydia Beers, and Sean Battis; and a proud great-grandfather to Izabella Cronin. He is also survived by his sister, Marie Peckham, and her three children. His love for his family was a beacon that guided him through life.
As Mark Twain once said, “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” Bob embraced this idea, blending his love for work, hobbies, sports, and most importantly, his family into a life that was rich, fulfilling, and inspiring. His jokes, stories, and infectious laughter will forever resonate in the hearts of those who knew him.
Family and friends may pay their respects to Bob and his family from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Flynn Bros, Inc. Funeral Home, 80 Main St., Greenwich, NY, 12834.
His memorial service will be held the following day, Friday, March 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment with full military honors will follow his service at 11:30 a.m. at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd, Schuylerville, NY, 12834.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Easton-Greenwich Rescue Squad, PO Box 84, Greenwich, NY, 12834.
We invite all who knew Bob to share their memories and upload photos to his memorial page at www.flynnbrosinc.com. Let us come together to celebrate a life that was filled with laughter, love, and a dedication that inspired us all.
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