Weaving and stitching at Kent Arts Association
A detail from a fabric-crafted wall mural by Carlos Biernnay at the annual Kent Arts Association fiber arts show.
Alexander Wilburn
A quilt by Litchfield-based artist Karen Griska.Alexander Wilburn
Latest News
Grumbling Gryphons prepares for summer children’s theater
Ruth Epstein
May 13, 2026
CORNWALL – Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children’s Theater is gearing up for another summer season of entertainment, education and hands-on theater programs for children.
Founded 46 years ago by Artistic Director Leslie Elias – a Cornwall actress, playwright and musician – the company focuses on participatory theater and experiences for children.
“I saw a need for participatory theater,” Elias said. “I love bringing together children, mythology and theater while working to empower young people.”
Elias said environmental themes are also woven into some productions.
From Monday, July 6, through Thursday, July 9, Grumbling Gryphons will partner with the American Mural Project for “Curtain Up!” a musical theater program featuring art, singing, dancing and a production of “The Ghost Net.”
The production will take place Thursday, July 9, at 1:30 p.m., with the American Mural Project’s giant mural serving as a backdrop.
The program is open to children ages 7 and older.
To register, visit americanmuralproject.org/summer or call 860-379-3006.
A second theater camp will run July 27 to July 31, at Grumbling Gryphons headquarters on Lake Road in Cornwall for children ages 6 and up. Participants will work with professional performers and present a show Friday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m.
More information is available atgrumblinggryphons.org or by emailing grumblinggryphons@gmail.com.
Scholarships are available for Region One students for both programs through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Applications are due June 15 at berkshiretaconic.org/grants/arts-fund-for-region-one.
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The Berkshire mountain that inspired Moby-Dick
Patrick L. Sullivan
May 13, 2026
Author John Dickson speaks at the D.M. Hunt Library May 9.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE — When Herman Melville created his great white whale, Moby-Dick, he was probably thinking of Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. At least, that is the opinion of author John Dickson, who spoke at the D. M. Hunt Library Saturday, May 9, to discuss his book, “Herman Melville in the Berkshires.”
Readers may be surprised to learn that Melville bought a home, known as Arrowhead, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and lived there from 1850 to 1863. Arrowhead, also known as the Herman Melville House, is a museum today where Dickson volunteers.
The author posits that Melville had the images of snow-covered fields and a looming Mount Greylock in mind when he envisioned Moby-Dick. In the famous novel, the whale is described as “a snow hill in the air,” not a coincidence, according to Dickson.
Dickson said Melville was unusually observant and spent considerable time exploring nature and absorbing what he saw for later use.
“It’s right out there,” Dickson gestured. “He went for walks or on horseback or in a cart, alone and with friends. The things he saw made their way into his books.”
When Melville arrived at Arrowhead, he already had an initial draft of “Moby-Dick,” which he set aside as he dug into his new home.
Inspired by his new surroundings, he picked it up again.
Dickson said a group of women were responsible for moving the book along. Melville’s wife and three sisters “took his scribblings and copied it.” They went back and forth and produced 12 drafts by hand.
Writing the book required an enormous amount of paper. Dickson said it was fortuitous that nearby Lee, Massachusetts produced a whopping 40% of the paper manufactured in the United States at the time.
Melville spent time with other authors during his Arrowhead years, including Nathaniel Hawthorne. Dickson said Melville was inspired by his walks with the older, more established writer.
Today, “Moby-Dick” is largely considered Melville’s masterpiece, but it was not a commercial success when it was published in the U.S. in 1851. By the time Melville published his first work that was not about the sea – “Pierre” in 1852 – “Moby-Dick” was already out of print.
Melville left Arrowhead in 1863 and moved to New York City.
Dickson said alert readers can follow in Melville’s footsteps and see Mount Greylock, the Ice Glen Trail in Stockbridge, and other areas that inspired him.
“For the most part, they’re all still there.”
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Sharon Hospital extends ‘Straight A’ patient safety streak
Debra A. Aleksinas
May 13, 2026
Nurses at Sharon Hospital, which just earned an “A” grade for patient safety, pause to celebrate National Nurse’s Week, observed annually from May 6 through 12. From left: Carrie Coulette, Cheryl Crump, Ann Meach, Christina Kontogiannis, Katie Weiser, Trish Marinan
Provided
Connecticut as a whole ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Spring 2026 report
SHARON — Two hospitals serving the Northwest Corner have earned top marks for patient safety in the latest ratings issued by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization focused on hospital quality and safety.
Sharon Hospital and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital each received “A” grade in Leapfrog’s Spring 2026 Hospital Safety Grades, which evaluate how well hospitals protect patients from preventable medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
For Sharon Hospital, the recognition continues a streak of consistently high marks. The hospital has maintained “Straight A” status since Spring 2024, meaning it has earned an “A” grade in every grading cycle for more than two years.
“Earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects the dedication of our care teams and colleagues who work every day to keep patients safe,” said Christina McCulloch, president of Sharon Hospital, in a statement released May 6.
“Maintaining ‘Straight A’ status since Spring 2024 demonstrates the consistency of that commitment and our focus on continuous improvement for the patients and families we serve in Sharon and throughout the region.”
Leapfrog issues grades twice a year, assigning hospitals letter grades from “A” to “F” using up to 30 national performance measures related to patient safety.
The ratings are based on factors including infection prevention, medication safety, staffing levels, hand-washing practices and rates of preventable medical complications.
Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, praised Sharon Hospital for maintaining high marks over multiple grading periods.
“Sharon Hospital deserves recognition for its unwavering focus on protecting patients and delivering safe care, earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for five consecutive cycles,” Binder said. “Sustaining this level of excellence over time shows a true, organization-wide commitment to making patient safety a top priority every single day.”
Connecticut as a whole ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Spring 2026 report, with 64.3% of hospitals statewide receiving an “A” grade. The state had ranked fourth nationally in the previous grading cycle, which was released in Fall 2025.
Among the 18 Connecticut hospitals receiving top grades this spring were Sharon Hospital, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Hartford Hospital, Danbury Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital.
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, based in Torrington and part of the Hartford HealthCare network, also serves many residents in the Northwest Corner, particularly in Winsted, Norfolk, Colebrook and surrounding communities.
Sharon Hospital, part of the nonprofit health network Northwell Health, remains the primary acute-care hospital for much of the rural Northwest Corner and nearby areas of New York and Massachusetts.
Leapfrog officials said national patient safety data showed improvements this year in several key areas, including reductions in healthcare-associated infections and advances in medication safety systems designed to catch prescribing errors before they reach patients.
The organization noted that its Hospital Safety Grade is the only national ratings program focused exclusively on preventable patient harm and safety performance.
Hospital safety grades for individual hospitals can be viewed at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
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Local farmer shares lessons from decades of agricultural experience
Ruth Epstein
May 13, 2026
Allen Cockerline delivers a talk about his 50 years of farming experience in the region May 7.
Ruth Epstein
SALISBURY — Local farmers Allen and Robin Cockerline shared insights into thefarming industry and their decades-long agricultural journey during a talk at the White Hart Thursday, May 7. The event was part of the inn’s ongoing speaker series.
“I was smitten with dairy farming as a child,” Allen Cockerline said of a passion that has guided him through about half a century and across multiple states.
Today, he and his wife operate Whippoorwill Farm in Salisbury, where they raise grass-fed Angus cattle —an approach Cockerline said was once viewed skeptically in the industry.
Raised in Middlesex County in Massachusetts, Cockerline grew up in a region once dominated by small dairy farms, many with herds of just six or eight cows. Over time, he gravitated toward vegetable farming and eventually opened his own farmstand in Concord, Massachusetts.
His work later brought him to Litchfield County, where he managed a Falls Village farm purchased by Tom Coolidge with the intention of raising sheep. The operation later transitioned to dairy farming, and Cockerline remained there for 23 years before starting his own venture.
While he was able to secure easy financing with the help of the late John Rice, a loan agent for farmers, it was a challenging endeavor.
“I remember someone telling me that he thought it was easier getting into farming than getting out of it,” Cockerline said. “It’s a commodity business. You can do everything right and work on scale and it still doesn’t always work.”
In December 1999, as milk prices declined, the couple left the dairy business and purchased property on Salmon Kill Road, where they began raising grass-fed beef instead of grain-fed cattle.
Cockerline said many people doubted the viability of the approach.
“If it failed, we knew it was on us,” he said.
He said a tipping point came with the release of Michael Pollan’s book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” which inspired people to think about the food they consume — expanding demand for grass-fed beef.
Today, Cockerline manages about 350 acres, much of it rented free of charge. His herd numbers approximately 80.
He said it takes about 30 months to raise a proper steer, allowing for the meat to marble and become tender.
To his surprise, customers now travel from across the region to purchase their meat in large quantities.
Cockerline gives back by working with students at Hotchkiss School’s Fairfield Farm, teaching them about growing crops that help supply meals at the school.
The event was sponsored by the Salisbury Association, Sharon Audubon, and the conservation commissions of Salisbury, Sharon and Cornwall.
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Kent springs into Restaurant Week
Alec Linden
May 13, 2026
Ruth Epstein
Diners took advantage of some proper May weather at the Villager Restaurant on Tuesday during Kent Restaurant Week. Restaurants across Kent, Gaylordsville, Cornwall and Warren celebrated Northwest Corner cuisine in their own styles between May 1 and 9.
Jam Food Shop approved for retail space in Salisbury
Alec Linden
May 13, 2026
File photo
“If we’re going to have something that’s more retail-directed, I love it. The town needs it and I think it’s a great thing.”
Bob Riva, P&Z Secretary
SALISBURY — Jam Food Shop, a popular deli and specialty grocer currently located in Sharon Farm Market, could be eyeing a move to Salisbury, according to a recent decision by Salisbury’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
During the Commission’s regular meeting on May 4, members voted to allow 19 Main Street, the downtown address that currently houses Neo Restaurant and Bar, to be permitted for retail rather than restaurant use. The application, which is publicly available on the P&Z’s website, lists Jam as the party requesting the zoning change.
Jam leadership declined to comment on the potential move, and details surrounding the business’s intentions remain unclear following the zoning approval. Neo also declined a request for immediate comment.
In a letter to the P&Z commission dated April 28, Jam co-founder Leonora Kennedy indicated a potentially significant move after operating in Sharon for more than 15 years, outlining her vision for a new location.
“This location will offer the same Jam experience, with the benefit of limited indoor/outdoor seating,” Kennedy wrote. The letter said renovations to the restaurant’s interior would be “cosmetic,” and that Jam plans to use the existing kitchen, including some equipment.
If finalized, the business would continue to be counter-serve only, with no table service. Food would be made on site, and goods from other producers would also be available, according to Kennedy’s letter.
The Salisbury building has flipped between retail and restaurant use in the past, noted attorney William Grickis during the May 4 meeting, who represents Kennedy and Jam Food Shop.
The space has been zoned for restaurant use since the Lockup Restaurant opened in 2016. Prior to that, it was zoned for retail.
Salisbury’s P&Z commissioners said they would be eager to welcome the popular food shop, if plans move forward.
Chair Cathy Shyer said the application presented a “great new business for town.” Secretary Bob Riva said while he is disappointed to see Neo leave, he welcomes the opportunity for more shopping on Main Street.
“If we’re going to have something that’s more retail-directed, I love it,” Riva said. “The town needs it and I think it’s a great thing.”
Jam has operated from within the Sharon Farm Market since 2010 after its founding in 2008. The business’s plans to either move or expand – or both – have yet to be officially announced.
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