Monday, December 31, 2007

False Alarm

If you read last week's Lakeville Journal, you could have the mistaken impression that the Falls Village Children's Theater (FVCT), which is working to transform the Emerson Building into the Falls Village Community & Cultural Center (FVCCC), is trying to steal money from the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department which is planning to build a new headquarters on Route 7. This is an understandable misinterpretation. Rather, the FVCT and FVCCC were trying to make sure the Board of Selectmen gets the maximum amount of money from Hartford for our town.

Both organizations are eligible to receive STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) Grants from Hartford. In the past, the town has applied for and received STEAP grants for the Day Care center expansion, the new (unfinished) pool, and for exterior renovations to 107 Main Street (the old Town Hall), which will commence shortly. None of these grants were construed as taking money away from the Fire Department.

This year, as in years past, all the eligible small towns in Connecticut can apply for up to $500,000 in STEAP money, which is primarily a reimbursement grant that is for capital projects only. You have to spend the money before you get all but the first $50,000. Since, as I understand it, the Fire Department has not yet used the STEAP funds it was previously granted (and, in fact, has had to apply for an extension or will lose those funds entirely), the FVCT thought this might be a good time for the town to put all its muscle and enthusiasm behind the renovation of the FVCCC, which is conceived as a place that will revitalize Main Street and be used for events by groups in town such as the Fire Department, Historical Society, Rec Commission, Ladies Auxiliary, Girl Scouts, the Library and the Falls Village Children's Theater Company. Anyone who attended the jam-packed Christmas party at the Senior Center understands how much we need a community center. Anyone who has read the Town's 2002 Plan of Conservation and Development knows that "one of the strategies of the plan is to reinforce the [town] Center's role as the community focal point, create a destination for residents and visitors, and provide an important foundation for community character and spirit. This will also provide important benefits in terms of economic development."

The FVCT and the board of the FVCCC humbly and courageously approached the Board of Selectman in December to ask the state for the entire $500,000 on its behalf. This move was seen as expedient; it was not meant to show any disrespect to the Fire and Ambulance Departments. The FVCT and FVCCC believed that the renovation of 103 Main Street is the type of project the state likes to fund and that the fire department's project is apparently stalled and thus the state would be unlikely to give it more money until it spends what it has already been granted. The FVCT and FVCCC were merely trying to make sure the town gets all the money it is entitled to from Hartford in 2008.

You can be sure that when the FVCCC opens its doors it will be enthusiastically hosting dances, Bingo parties and other fundraisers for the Falls Village Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Departments. There are no men and women in Falls Village more altruistic, dedicated and courageous than our first responders.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

It's A Wonderful Life

Denise Cohn is our George Bailey. As I look back at the past year in Falls Village, it's impossible to imagine the town thriving without her. Just twelve months ago, Denise galvanized the community to raise $150,000 to buy the old Emerson Building to convert it into a community and cultural center. She rallied us twice to attend Town Meetings to get support for the project. Without Denise, there would have been no production of "Cinderella," no Village Voices singing at Memorial Day, no Falls Village Children's Theater Summer Camp at HVRHS, no Scarecrow Contest on Main Street, no after-school classes for kids at Geer Village nor Friday night dance classes for adults. There would not be a new roof on 103 Main Street or holiday lights on its facade. In her spare time, Denise helps find homes for rescued dogs, attends Board of Finance meetings and offers advice and friendship with passion and good humor. Denise is not always an angel but she always fights the good fight. Without her, we wouldn't have such a wonderful life.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

It Takes A Village


It's difficult to fathom that more than a few of the children who sang at last night's Kellogg School Winter Concert may have been hungry. But according to our town social worker, BJ Christinat, there are many families who are struggling to get by this winter, especially as heating fuel costs skyrocket. Though it is not a formal program, BJ suggests that anyone who would like to help our neighbors should purchase gift cards to Stop N Shop or to a gas station, which any strapped family in Falls Village could use. If you drop the cards off in BJ's mailbox at Town Hall, she will make sure they will be put in the hands of families who need them most.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Who Knew?

Am I the last taxpayer in Falls Village to know that the town provides "free" sand to all residents for their own driveways? Am I the only person who still buys bags of sand at Lindell's? Well, no more. Yesterday, as I was off to Lindell's, a friend told me about this town policy. I didn't believe her, so I emailed the First Selectman who told me that "each household in the Town of Canaan may take two five gallon buckets of sand off the sand pile for each storm." (The sand pile is at the Town Garage on Railroad Street.) Let it snow . . .

Thursday, December 13, 2007

SUNDAY'S PERFORMANCE IS SNOWED OUT

If you are a musical theater buff and have never heard of Mulan, you're forgiven. This 1998 Disney musical originated as an animated film and has never been produced on Broadway. If the words "Disney musical" make you cringe because you think they suggest antediluvian entertainments with helpless princesses waiting for princes to validate their lives, listen to what high school teacher Vance Cannon has to say about Mulan: "She is the Disney princess who is most empowered, most independent, most active in creating the action and the story. Things do not happen to Mulan; she makes them happen. And I believe this is the reason there are Mulan pictures above Erica's desk at the library" This weekend, you can witness this young heroine save the day surrounded by a cast of 30 students (from Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Lakeville, New Milford, Sheffield, Sharon and Salisbury) when the Falls Village Children's Theater Company's school presents Mulan at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

At Long Last

At last night's Board of Selectmen meeting, Pat Mechare announced that bids have been accepted and contracts have been sent out to the four separate contractors who will repair and restore the exterior of 107 Main Street, aka Citizens Hall. The town had a tough time finding contractors because they have to meet strict requirements mandated by the state. Work on the new roof is expected to begin in January. The project is being financed by a STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) Grant and the deadline to complete all work is June 30, so the building will sparkle by summer. It's another important step in the much hoped for renewal and revival of Main Street.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

The Sugarplum Fairy

One of the remarkable things about Falls Village is how many people without children, or whose children are now adults, volunteer to help make life entertaining, interesting and stimulating for the kids who are growing up here. Like a Sugarplum Fairy, weekend resident Susan Dempsey (below with Caira McEvoy) has been organizing a holiday card-making and cookie-decorating party at the Hunt Library for a decade. She baked the plain, old-fashioned butter cookies from scratch and supplied all the embellishments that the kids used today to decorate cookies and cards. While the faces of the participants have changed over the years, one thing has stayed consistent besides Susan's generosity and devotion. "No matter what," she said wryly, "the girls always gravitate to the pink frosting."

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas

The closest thing Falls Village has to Santa's Workshop is Sweet William's Bakery , which is tucked behind 100 Main Street. Baker Jason Young and his ebullient assistant, Sharon Hamilton, are busy baking extraordinary gingerbread men, snowman cookies and other sweets that make great holiday gifts. He'll package your presents in tins or baskets and tie them with ribbons so you're good to go. Jason has lovingly decorated his humble storefront with greenery and sparkling lights, which make you wish more than ever that his shop were right on Main Street, where Sweet William's could really shine.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

'Tis the Season . . .


It was an uncommonly sad weekend in Falls Village, but it had a cheerful coda. At sunset, hundreds of villagers arrived at the Senior Center for a performance of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by the Falls Village Children's Theater. Then everyone gathered by candlelight on the Town Green to sing "Silent Night" and witness the lighting of the tree that was donated in memory of Stephanie Timolat and Ella Fitch by Jody Bronson of Great Mountain Forest. Afterwards, everyone trooped back to the Senior Center (bursting to capacity and proving how much we need the new community center) for an abundance of excellent pizza (provided by Nancy Hodgkins and the Rec Commission), carols by the Village Voices (under the spirited direction of Josh Stone), and presents for every boy and girl in the room from Santa Claus (and his esteemed elf, Betsy Howie.)
Two cast members from "Twas the Night Before Christmas" enjoy pizza after performing at the Senior Center (and earlier in the day at Geer Village.)

The Village Voices, which is sponsored by the FVCT, sang snappy arrangements of Christmas classics

Santa checked his list twice and discovered that there are no naughty children in Falls Village, only nice ones.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

In Memoriam: Stephanie Timolat


Lara Mittaud remembers her lifelong friend:

It is a rare and precious gift to have a friend whom you have known for longer than you can remember, with whom you can laugh, confide, or run off to Europe with only a few weeks' worth of planning. Stephanie Timolat, who passed away yesterday morning from her 6-month fight with cancer at age 26, was that friend to me. I had the pleasure of first meeting Stephanie at her third birthday party, which was attended by most of the children at the Falls Village Day Care. From then on, whether it was burrowing through her trunks of dress-up clothes, sewing Renaissance dresses with her mother, Carol, so that we could attend a RenFair in proper attire, borrowing lumber from her dad, Louis, to build our 'house' for the Lee H Kellogg Colonial Fair in 8th grade, chasing down our train at the Paris train station, or laughing about our lives over a cup of chai tea, Stephanie was the source of so many wonderful and vibrant memories. Her many passions - art history, painting, guitar, her horses, vintage cars, just to name a few - were contagious. She brought such energy and enthusiasm to the things and people she loved that one could not help but love them too. I know she not only has touched my life in an indelible way, but the lives of so many others in this community. Her bright smile, sweet and gracious demeanor, and fervent energy for living will be so, so missed. My heart is with her, and my love goes out to her family during this time.
--Lara Mittaud

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Fa-la-la-la-la Village

There is nothing like Christmas in Connecticut, and Falls Village is kicking off the season on Sunday, Dec. 2, with an afternoon of holiday happenings:
3:OO - "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by The Falls Children's Theater Company at Geer Village
3:00 - Lessons and Carols at the South Canaan Meeting House (wear warm clothes.)
5:00 - "Twas the Night Before Christmas" performed at the Senior Center
5:30 - Tree lighting and caroling with the Village Voices under the direction of Joshua Stone on the Town Green. Hot cocoa donated by Mountainside Cafe; Hot cider and cookies donated by Toymakers Cafe
6:00 - Children's pizza party and presents from Santa Claus at the Senior Center

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Thankful, Grateful & Blessed


I am thankful to live in a town where Norman Rockwell could have found inspiration.

I am thankful that seven years ago John Harney Jr. found me my log cabin on Dublin Road, which was the perfect house for me.

I am thankful that my neighbor Sievert McCabe has helped me clear some trees to give me a beautiful summer view of Sugar Hill and the Housatonic.

I am thankful that Annie and Greg Bidou opened Toymakers Cafe five years ago, which has become a home away from home for me and so many others.

I am thankful for Mountainside Cafe, which is always filled with familiar, friendly faces.

I am thankful to live in a town where you never have to eat breakfast alone if you don't want to.

I am thankful for Sweet William's Bakery, which has made gift-giving a no brainer and proven that a talented entrepreneur can operate a business on our Main Street.

I am thankful for Cookie and Erica, who oversee the happiest (and probably the most boisterous) library in New England.

I am thankful for being asked to serve on the board of the Falls Village Children's Theater, which has brought so many people together and given so many children self confidence and a belief that anything is possible with hard work.

I am thankful for Chubby Bunny Farm, which makes it easy to eat well from May until November.

I am thankful for Music Mountain, which fills our hills with the sound of music.

I am thankful for living so close to the Appalachian Trail.

I am thankful for living near a power plant that produces clean, green energy.

I am thankful to every person who makes a donation to the Falls Village Community & Cultural Center, which will be the crown jewel of a revitalized Main Street.

I am thankful that if I need to call 911 that I will know some of the rescuers (Jeremy, Andrea, Linda et al) coming to my aide.

I am thankful that Camp Isabella Freedman has made spirituality available just a bike ride away and brought young, idealistic organic farmers into our town.

I am thankful that I can buy healthy, delicious grass-fed beef from my friends Robin and Allen Cockerline.

I am thankful that I live within walking distance of Bunny Williams' so I could work with her on Sunday mornings on her latest book.

I am thankful that I can have my oil changed at Jacobs Garage and have a discussion about historic preservation while paying my bill.

I am thankful to live in town brimming with artistic souls whose creativity and ingenuity were evident at the first annual Scarecrow Contest.

I am thankful to live in a town where generosity of spirit is the rule not the exception.

I am thankful to call Falls Village my home.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Sun Will Come Out . . .


The Falls Children's Theater Company
has selected Annie Jr as its third annual spring musical, which will be performed at HVRHS in April. As with its pioneering productions of The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella, any child who lives in Falls Village or attends the Lee H. Kellogg School can participate for free. Auditions will be held in early January and every child is guaranteed a part in the show, which has 33 roles and 24 musical numbers. Lanny Mitchell will again be the director and choreographer, and Joshua Stone will be the musical director.

Monday, November 12, 2007

It's Possible!

Last week, as workers began putting on a new roof and copper gutters at 103 Main Street, the board of the future Falls Village Community & Cultural Center (FVCCC) sent out its fall fundraising letter. In case yours got lost in the mail, here is what it said:
Dear Friend and Neighbor,

New England is filled with historic church buildings, and the one we are restoring has a quirky grace and unexpected grandeur. We invite you to help preserve this architecturally significant landmark in Falls Village, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.. The one-time Methodist Episcopal Church was built 106 years ago, and the elegant shingled structure is sadly showing its age. We need your support to save it.

Our goal for the building (which many of you knew as Emerson Booksellers) is to transform it into a year-round community and cultural center, where a variety of not-for-profit groups will be able to host art exhibtions, lectures, dances, concerts, meetings and parties.. The center will also be used by the Falls Village Children's Theater, which initiated this project, for classes and rehearsals.

To make this dream a reality and bring the building up to code as a public venue will cost at least $450,000. We have already secured and met our first $40,000 matching challenge grant from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation and we will be seeking others. But generous support. from individuals and businesses will be crucial to our capital campaign.

We will use the money we have recently raised to replace the roof this fall, so we can protect the historic interior, including original woodwork, chandeliers and stunning stained glass windows. But before we can open the doors, we have many expensive projects such as installing two mandated handicap-accessible bathrooms as well as re-shingling the exterior, restoring the stained glass windows, updating systems, and renovating the kitchen.

If you have never been inside 103 Main Street, call 860-824-5582 to schedule a private tour. The century-old structure is unlike any other in our region and a unique opportunity to create a much needed 300-person hall that will bring together residents of the Northwest Corner of Connecticut as well as nearby towns in Massachusetts and New York State.

We believe the Falls Village Community and Cultural Center will help enhance our region's quality of life. It is a big dream but with your help we know It's Possible!

Sincerely,
The Board of the Falls Village Community and Cultural Center


If you would like to make a donation, send checks to the "FVCT Fund"and mail them to the FVCCC, PO Box 93, Falls Village, CT 06031
The Falls Village Community and Cultural Center is supported by the Falls Village Children's Theater, a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit corporation

Friday, November 9, 2007

"This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land"


I woke up this morning to something very disturbing. "Anonymous" left a hostile comment on this blog about one of the Board of Education members, which I immediately removed. Since I started the Falls Village Blog last April, I have tried to make it a positive force in the community. Eventually, I realized that it would have to touch on politics and "issues" or it would just be a corny online bulletin board and a cheerleader for my favorite causes. I tried to contribute to the electoral process by running profiles of the all the Board of Education candidates so that voters would have something to base their decision upon besides party affiliation and hearsay. I did not consider this to be an open invitation for name-calling.

One of the miracles of Falls Village is that people with very different backgrounds and political philosophies can work together and get along. I saw this backstage last spring at the Falls Village Children's Theater production of "Cinderella." I saw this at the Ladies Auxiliary Calendar Dinner. I saw this at Community Day at Isabella Freedman. I see this at Toymakers Cafe, where people who seem to have next-to-nothing in common have breakfast together.

I pray that the Board of Education and the parents can find common ground. In a town this small, everything is personal. We are all names, not numbers. Falls Villagers feel a deep, visceral attachment to every inch of our town. I understand how difficult it is for the Kellogg parents to not be involved in every aspect of how the school runs. Many of them are there every week doing some sort of volunteer work that is integral to Kellogg's educational mission, and they cannot accept that they are limited participants in governing their school.

Most of the parents and board members have worked harmoniously on other causes. They have to come up with a way to do so at Kellogg. Most of them are amazingly committed, passionate, altruistic people. They have to figure out a way to feel and act like they are on the same team. They need to keep in mind the words of the great Woody Guthrie: "This land was made for you and me."

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Win, Place & Show

Every vote really counted in the Kellogg Board of Education election. While incumbent BOE president Andrea Downs was the clear favorite with 118 votes, 93 voters chose Democrat Beckie Seney who bested challenger Republican Ross Grannan by just four votes. In the Region 1 Board of Education elections, Maggie Ruotolo decisively beat Gale Toensing 183 to 112. With a total of 321 voters showing up at the polls or submitting absentee ballots, First Selectman Pat Mechare proved more popular than her fellow BOS members: She got 229 votes while Chuck Lewis got 158 and Pete Lawson got 119. Ironically, the most popular candidate in Falls Village is our Tax Collector, Jean Bronson, who got 278 votes, which is more than any other candidate in either a contested or uncontested race.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Election Day or 'Groundhog Day'?

Where to elect there is but one,
’T is Hobson’s choice,—take that or none.
--Thomas Ward, English poet (1652-1708
)

Do you remember Groundhog Day, the 1993 movie in which Bill Murray wakes up to find that he must relive the same day of his life over and over and over again? Well, that is what Election Day is like in Falls Village. (To refresh your memory, I have supplied a clip from YouTube.) It doesn't matter who you "vote" for or if you vote because no matter what you do First Selectman Pat Mechare will continue to run the town with support from the Board of Selectmen, Pete Lawson and Chuck Lewis. These dedicated public servants have been at this forever: Pete ran the town from 1979 until 1997, and Pat has been on the BOS since 1995. It's not just a non-election for the BOS. You can "vote" for Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, and the Board of Finance, too, but you have no choices. The only way to express your preferences is to vote and not vote judiciously, which would send a message to some candidates that they do not actually have a mandate from their fellow citizens. However, you do have a choice when it comes to electing constables (you can vote for four from a field of seven) and you do get a choice for the Kellogg and Region One Boards of Education, but the Kellogg election is fraught because you only get one vote although there are two open seats. (To review the BOE candidates see the blog posts of Oct. 30 and Oct. 24) How the Kellogg race will play out is anybody's guess. But for the most part, the election is a fait accompli.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Postcard from Pine Grove

Mark Alexander, the former Kellogg art teacher and extraordinary puppetmaker who lives year round at the Pine Grove Association, spent Halloween parading in New York City. Here's his report:

"Whewww! Pine Grove sure is quiet after last night's tremendous ear ringing NYC Halloween Parade! This year the parade theme was Wings, so I made sequined wings and cool hats with embedded lights. It was tremendous. Weather was perfect, about 60*, so crowds were the thickest I've ever seen. I admit I get all keyed up by the literally millions of viewers and TV lights. Very fast paced and high spirited stilt dancing and spinning for 22+ blocks of Avenue of the Americas. I think I'm finally getting better at arabesques. They were much more predictable last night, and I actually pulled a few of them out of pirouette-like spins. Katherine and I were assisted by a sherpa friend named Bella. She was also wearing sequined wings and colorful costume, but not being on stilts she was able to carry water and gear on the parade route for us, and about half way through she was able to help me quickly fix a problem with my stilt pants snagging and tripping up my stilts. I've moving much slower, remaining in my bathrobe most of the day, but I've been grinning ear to ear constantly. Here's a picture from last Sunday's performance at a church in New Jersey, added here just for the contrast. I love contrasts."
--Mark

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

In Memoriam: Tom Carney


The Mountainside community is mourning the unexpected and heartbreaking death of Tom Carney. Terence R. Dougherty, the president and CEO of the Mountainside Foundation, remembers him:

"We are all shocked and saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend, Tom Carney…..Tommy, as he was known to so many, died suddenly on Saturday, October 27th of a massive heart attack at the young age of 42. Tommy and his beloved wife, Carole, lived on Belden Road. Tommy managed the Mountainside Café located on Route 7. He was so much more than a Restaurant Manager. The Mountainside Café is owned by the Mountainside Foundation that operates the residential substance abuse treatment center up the road in Canaan. The Café is staffed by clients of Mountainside who have completed their stay and moved on to a transitional phase in which they reside on the Mountainside property and work in various jobs at the Café. So, in addition to his position as Manager of the restaurant, Tommy was a mentor for all of the people who worked there and were under his care. He has helped countless numbers of people with his compassionate and comforting way. So many grew to love him and spoke often of how much he helped them in their recovery.

His shocking, sudden death has devastated his family, friends and everyone at Mountainside. Tommy and Carole were married in August 2006. Like Tommy, Carole works in the health-care field. They were in the process of adopting a child. Tommy was too young . . . and too needed by Carole, his family and the countless numbers of people who looked to him for care and leadership.

Tommy . . . we will never forget you.
Love from All of Your Friends at Mountainside


There will be a service at St. Joseph’s Church on Main Street in Canaan on Friday, November 2nd at 4:00 PM

Meet the Candidates, Part II


In addition to the three-way contest for two seats on the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education that oversees the Kellogg School [see October 24 posting], two fine women--the incumbent Maggie Ruotolo and Gale Toensing--are vying to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Education, which is responsible for Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Here are their responses to questions posed by the Falls Village Blog.


Margaret R. Ruotolo
Occupation: Retired Educator
Education: BS, Early Childhood Education' MA, Education
Volunteer Activities:
Current: Region One Board of Education, Falls Village Representative - Secretary - Member of Policy, Personnel and Long-Range Planning
Committees and Ag Ed Council; Zoning Board of Appeals member; Republican Town Committee member; Justice of the Peace
Past: Lee Kellogg Board of Education member for 17 years; Falls Village Recreation Commission chairperson

What makes HVRHS an excellent school?
Within an atmosphere of professionalism and personal attention, Housatonic has offered its students comprehensive and challenging programs for over 60 years. The school is fortunate to have the support of taxpayers in the six-town region who view their school with pride. The school is a learning center for our students providing for their academic and social needs. The staff is committed and caring and works with our students on a more personal basis that creates a comfortable environment when students seek advice or require extra help with academic and/or personal problems. The school offers a wide range of courses and activities and students have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. For example, our Envirothon team recently placed first in an international competition and the Ag-Ed program was cited by a state evaluation team as “second to none in the state”. Other recognitions have been awarded in the areas of academics, music, art, drama and /or sports. Our students are fortunate to have so many opportunities to provide growth as they prepare for their aspirations.

What are the high school's weaknesses?
While I support comprehensive programs to serve a diverse student population and to meet the needs and interests of our students, the per pupil cost at Housatonic is high. There is a need to routinely revise and publish curriculum that meets the needs of our students and will provide them with skills appropriate for the 21st century. I believe we need to improve parental involvement and communication. We have to improve educational opportunities for the academic, general and review levels of instruction.

How can those weaknesses be addressed?
Housatonic was recently evaluated by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and received a published report of their findings. The staff and the Board have already begun to use the recommendations from this report to affect positive change that addresses each of the above concerns. Dr. Gretchen Foster formulated a NEAS&C Response Committee made up of faculty members. They will chair seven sub committees to study the mission statement, curriculum, instruction, assessment, leadership, school resources and community resources. If reelected, I will serve on the curriculum committee. It will be our job to insure that curriculum is written for all departments in a consistent format. The Board is in the process of creating a long range plan apart from but interwoven with the high school’s response committees. It is our goal to use the NEAS & C report to identify strengths and weaknesses, collect data from both the response committees and from taxpayers by holding meetings in each town, analyze all information and then develop and implement actions plans to address challenging trends and issues within our school. This project should help us to plan for decreased enrollment, create a justified spending plan, update curriculum to accommodate changes in job skills and give all students an equal opportunity for improving their academic knowledge and test scores and to improve communication with stakeholders by involving them in the decision-making process.

Why are you the best person to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Ed?
I am the incumbent who would like to continue my service on the Region One Board of Education. My main goal is to improve student learning. Working on the beginning stages of the long range plan has proven to be an exciting process which I would like to complete. My past board experience and my professional training enhances my understanding of board issues. I support a comprehensive program for the students and fiscal responsibility for the taxpayers. My voting record documents my position. I will continue to listen, be flexible, and to accept the challenge of change. I will make every effort to work with all stakeholders of this school community as we offer the best of tradition at Housatonic and develop the highest educational practices. My participation in civic activities in Falls Village over the past 24 years is a model for students and encourages active citizenship.

Gale Courey Toensing
Occuplation: Journalist
Education: Master of Fine Arts in Writing, Vermont College, Norwich University
Volunteer Activities: Like all Falls Village moms, when my son attended Kellogg School I volunteered there all the time, and I've been a volunteer EMT with our town's ambulance service for the past six years. But from 1994 until January 2007, when I covered Falls Village as a reporter for the Waterbury Republican American newspaper for almost a dozen years, and then for The Corner Report. I couldn't serve on any town boards or commissions, because it would have been a conflict of interest. During that time, however, I also covered the Region 1 Board of Education and observed the work of three superintendents, three principals, seven board chairmen, and a shifting cast of board members. I wrote hundreds of stories about academics, administrators, board members, budgets, contracts, events, Freedom of Information issues, negotiations, students, teachers and more. Those years gave me unique insights and an institutional knowledge about the Region 1 Board of Education and the workings of the high school that few other people have.

What makes HVRHS an excellent school?
We have several measures -- most recently the New England Association of Schools and Colleges report and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test results -- that show Housy to be a good school. But I believe we can go even beyond excellence to make it an outstanding school, and I think we have many of the elements to do so. At the core of the learning experience is what happens between students and teachers, and we are fortunate to have excellent students and teachers at Housy. (I include the principal in the category of teacher because I see the role of the principal as "principal teacher" or educational leader -- with additional administrative duties). Surrounding and supporting our students and teachers are parents and a community that believes public education is one of the foundational elements of a democratic society and is willing to finance it generously, currently to the tune of almost $17,000 per pupil. We also have a hard working administrative team, and a fine facility in which learning can take place.

What are the high school's weaknesses?
There has been a lack of focus on academic performance, particularly the lackluster performance on the Connecticut Academic Performance Test (CAPT). The New England Association of Schools and Colleges found structural interference in the principal's authority, low morale, a disconnect between the school's mission statement and educational implementation of the mission, a lack of "ownership" of the school, and other weaknesses.

How can those weaknesses be addressed?
Through accountability, better learning and instruction, and communication.
Accountability: The board of education's role is to set policy that will provide the best possible learning and instruction for our students, and present budgets that will support those policies. The board is ultimately accountable for what goes on at the school. For my town, specifically, in addition to the by-law requirement to report to the Kellogg Board, I plan to keep the finance and selectmen boards ahead of the curve on budget information. For example, Falls Village is facing a big student increase next year and again two years from now at the high school. The boards need to know that as far ahead as possible for their planning. I also plan to post monthly reports from the Region 1 Board of Education meetings on the town's website. Also, in an effort to engage parents and community members more with the high school, I will hold meetings as often as they want to discuss what's happening at the high school. For the region In general, I really believe the tax-paying public has a right to know how its money is being spent and how and why decisions are made on the board. I believe more than ever in transparent government. And I think the most important question the board needs to ask before making every single decision is: How does this enhance teaching and learning for our students?
Better learning & teaching: The latest CAPT results showed an average of 48.9 percent of Housy sophomores failing to meet state goals in math, reading, science and writing. Our best students excel and we have extensive services for kids with special learning needs, but we need to hone in on how we can enhance learning for the so-called "average" students. That will require research, and some fearlessly honest, open discussion and debate, and it should involve the entire school community, including teachers.
Communication: I think communication is the key to meeting all challenges -- including accountability and improved teaching and instruction. The board has been criticized -- most recently by the Lakeville Journal -- for not communicating with the public. There is a perceived lack of effort on the board's part to engage the public, and a perception that it is reactive rather than proactive. I think this should and can be changed, and the tool for change is communication. I have a number of concrete suggestions that I'll raise at the appropriate time. One of the things I suggested to the superintendent when she was hired a few years ago was the need for strategic planning. That project is getting underway now. Strategic planning is not only a way to define and analyze issues and recommend solutions or improvements, it's also a great energizing process that engages people, gets them talking, thinking, and acting. In the early 1990's there was a massive strategic planning effort that involved probably more than 100 community people, and it rippled out. That plan needs to be pulled off the shelf, dusted off, and reviewed before proceeding. What were its goals and recommendations? How much of it has been achieved? How have needs changed? But, in fact, strategic planning should not be a project that occurs every couple of decades -- it should an ongoing process, and that's something I will encourage.

Why are you the best candidate to represent Falls Village on the Region 1 Board of Ed?
Because I have the knowledge, energy, and passion to bring new ideas and challenges to the board. Because from my years as a reporter, I know what the hard questions are and I have the courage to ask them. Because I'm willing to take calculated risks rather than rest with the status quo in order to become excellent, which is my overarching goal for the students, teachers, administrators and the board.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Hay Fever

The First Annual Scarecrow Contest sponsored by the Falls Village Children's Theater demonstrated that Falls Villagers have unlimited ingenuity and imagination. It proves that this is a tight-knit town bursting with creative souls and that bodes well for the future of the not-for-profit Falls Village Community & Cultural Center, which will be getting a new roof this week, the first step in the long road to transforming the glorious Emerson Building at 103 Main Street into a hub of artistic activity for every resident of the town and surrounding communities.

Here's a sampling of the nearly 50 scarecrows that were installed this morning and now line Main Steet, the Town Green and Beebe Hill Road.

"Greenman," by Valerie Case
"Bob," by Shayne and Darin Dodge

"Over the Falls," by Grace, Stu, Stuart & Jenna Burns

"Gone With the Wind" by Rebecca, Patty and Guy Rovezzi

"Teaser," by Dominic Caiati
"Dead Polly," by Caira McEvoy, Mairead Hodgkins and Emily Hennesy

"Chercrow," by Sharon Hamilton, Garth Kobal and Ray Rigon

"Barbie," by Jessy, Jordan and Eric Haggard & KImberly Rock

There was dancing on Main Street in front of the future Falls Village Community and Cultural Center (FVCCC)

FVCT Board members Noelle LaMuniere and Denise Cohn selling cider and donuts in front of the FVCCC

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Rain Delay


The 1st Annual Scarecrow Contest, sponsored by the Falls Village Children's Theater, and Community Harvest Hoedown, sponsored by the Friends of Lee Kellogg School, have been postponed until Sunday in hopes of better weather. Some 45 scarecrows--with names such as "Chercrow", "Hanna Scaretana", "Over the Falls", "Darth Wader" and "Mummy Dearest"--will be erected on Main Street and Beebe Hill Road.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Meet the BOE Candidates


This year's Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education election is peculiar, because you only get to vote for one of the three candidates, although there are two open spots. The Falls Village Blog sent a questionnaire to the three candidates: Andrea Downs, Ross Grannan, and Beckie Seney. Here are their responses in alphabetical order by last name: Their answers are rather lengthy, which suggests that all three are thoughtful, serious and committed candidates.

ANDREA L. DOWNS
Education: Associate Degree, Business Administration; Paramedicine Certificate
Occupation: Paramedic, Supervisor
Volunteer Activities: Canaan Board of Education, 4 years, chair 2 years; Education Connection Board of Directors, 4 years;
Falls Village Volunteer Ambulance, 10 years (Co-Captain 2 years, Captain 1 year);
Falls Village Volunteer Fire Dept., 6 years;
Republican Town Committee, 10 years, chair for 1; Girl Scouts of Connecticut, scout for 10 years, leader for 10 years; Falls Village Congregational Church, Board of Deacons 8 years, chair for 2.
Religious Education Committee, 8 years, chair for 6;
Recreation and Berkshire United Soccer coach, 5 seasons; CYB coach, 7 years, 2 teams for 6 of those years.
Lee H. Kellogg School Building Committee, 1999 renovation

Number of years in Falls Village: 18

Children: Two attending Kellogg school. Jeremy is 13 and is in 8th grade. Lydia is 11 and is in 6th grade.

What do you think are the Kellogg school’s greatest assets?
Unquestionably the children of Kellogg school are the greatest asset. The children are the reason that so many people work so hard to preserve and maintain the wonderful school that we have. Other great assets are our staff and parents. I have always believed in the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” When you put all of these noted assets together [that] makes Falls Village a pretty remarkable place.

What do you think are the Kellogg School’s biggest challenges?
I believe the biggest challenge in our near future is our need to control costs while addressing a decreased enrollment. Now having said that, I also understand that enrollment trends tend to be cyclical and this is not new territory for Kellogg School. I feel it is important to continue to maintain our many learning opportunities currently offered at Kellogg while balancing the increased costs of energy, benefits, and an aging physical plant. One of the benefits of a small school is our ability to be flexible and consider options not available in a larger school system.

What is Kellogg’s role in the community beyond its’ educational mission?
Kellogg is a place of pride for all who live in Falls Village. Many people in our community attend the 8th grade graduation ceremony each year out of tradition. You do not have to have children in this school to feel a part of its community. Kellogg’s proximity to other public buildings in Falls Village such as the library, town hall, historical society, and fire dept. make this a natural gathering place. Many events are held annually at this location such as town meetings, the Falls Village Fire Dept. and Ladies Auxiliary dances, and Memorial Day celebrations when the weather does not cooperate. Various recreation programs use the indoor and outdoor facilities regularly. Currently Kellogg School is the only building in town large enough to accommodate large groups of people.

Why should you be elected to the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education?:
I believe that I should be re-elected to the Board of Education because all of my decisions are made with children in mind. I understand that my job on the board is primarily budgets and policy but I must always think about how these decisions will impact the learning of the children. In the past four years I have worked very hard to control the costs at Kellogg School. I have negotiated both certified and non-certified contracts. I feel we were able to negotiate contracts that meet the needs of all our union employees while considering the financial impact to our town. For the first time in the history of Canaan (Falls Village), we were able to negotiate four year contracts realizing a significant savings. I have also worked very closely with staff to control costs in areas such as energy, benefits and plant costs. I have put a great deal of time into rewriting and updating policy. During the first two years I spent time working with other board members and staff to rewrite two of the largest sections of the policy manual. More recently I have worked on policy pertaining to No Child Left Behind, Bullying and Wellness. This is not always an easy task. Many times the law and what the staff and the board feel are best for children are not in alignment. This is a delicate balance that must always be met. If I am re-elected to the Board of Education I will continue to work hard to maintain Kellogg School as the quality school that it is. I feel that giving the children of our community a strong educational opportunity is the greatest gift any community can give their young people. I am a strong proponent of public education and I will continue to work hard to keep Kellogg School a school of choice.


ROSS GRANNAN
Education: 4 plus years of college level classes.

Occupation: I have worked in Blown Glass for 19 years (full-time for 5 years, part time for 14 years) and have worked full-time as a Real Estate Appraiser for 14 years.

Volunteer: I served on the Planning and Zoning Board for three years.

Children: I have two children in Lee H. Kellogg School; Larry and Karl. Larry has attended Kellogg since 2000. I have been highly impressed with the staff and the education my two sons have received. When I tell friends and family that live outside the area about the school they are not only impressed with the class size but the quality of the staff. I feel privileged and secure to have my children enrolled at Kellogg.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's greatest assets?
Without question, the greatest asset at Kellogg is the staff, both certified teachers and the non-certified staff. This group of highly talented teachers and staff has brought Kellogg to a level of education that surpasses all expectations. They have been through 6 changes in principals in the last decade, many changes on the Board of Education and regardless of the challenges they face, and their dedication to the children of Kellogg is phenomenal. An equal asset is the support of the community and the parents. The belief in Falls Village is to support our school and keep the education level high.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge facing Kellogg School is rebuilding the lines of communication between the staff, parents, administration and the town in general. Kellogg School is still an outstanding institution for learning and that of course is because of the excellent teaching staff. The staff is still in place and good teaching still goes on. The problem lies with the Board of Education and the administration and the unilateral recent actions involving the classroom reconfiguration. This was an example of the lack of openness and communication that needs to be changed. It is dysfunctional and somewhat self-serving. Declining enrollment should not result in knee jerk cuts in school programs and staff. I want to look at the big picture. I want to look ahead, see what we can do to attract more families to town, and work with everyone to maintain the same level of expectations for our Kellogg students, our faculty and our town, like we used to. We need to think outside the ‘’box’’, we need creative solutions, not simplistic financial reactions. The parents and teachers need to be able to address problems and solutions with the board of education without feeling like it is falling on deaf ears. Without a team approach the chance of moving forward and dealing with future issues is sure to bring further division, something this community strives to avoid.

Why should you be elected the the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education?
There are several reasons why I should be elected. One of which is my goal to bring back the relationship the board of education used to have with the teachers, parents and community (as mentioned above). I will bring to the board of education a solid and respectful relationship with the teaching staff. I truly respect them and I am receptive toward their needs. I want the staff to know they have support from the board of education that they can trust the BOE, rely on the BOE and that it is possible to rebuild the relationship they once had. - After all, without this truly amazing staff, what's left of Kellogg? I will also bring openness and collaboration back to the board of education. In Kent Allyn's letter to the editor he describes a board of education that used to be. Yes, agendas and minutes used to contain all that was discussed in a board of ed. meeting. Last year the new configuration, the biggest change in 14 years, never made an agenda or a set of minutes! Yet the board of education publicly acknowledged they supported it 100% - but how do you support something you have never discussed (according to the minutes, any way) would the public have come to a board of education meeting had they known this was happening? - Absolutely, the library would have been full. Sadly, no one knew but the board of Ed and the principal. In addition, I have run my own business for more than fifteen years and I am quite familiar with the bottom line. In my business I have seen thousands of commercial buildings and single-family homes. I look at 60-year depreciation of costs of structures and yearly maintenance costs as well. One of my first tasks is to find out what the status of the Kellogg building itself. I feel my work in the private sector can offer something to the Board that they may not have at this time. I will bring to the BOE the ability to look at the big picture, look ahead at what is coming and approaching issues with an open mind. I am also willing and able to work with the whole community - teachers, staff, the board of education, the Selectmen, the Board of Finance and the taxpayers.

BECKIE L. SENEY
Education: Bachelor of Music Therapy, Psychology minor – Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA, 1992. Master of Science in Communication Disorders – Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, 2004.


Occupation:
Speech-Language Pathologist, Region One School District (full-time) and New Milford Hospital (per diem).

Volunteer Activities:
Present:
Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education, 2004-present. Current Vice-Chair.
Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department, 1998-present. Current Firefighter I/EMT-B; current member, Board of Directors; Past EMS First Lieutenant and Past EMS Co-Captain.
Emergency Medical Services Institute, Inc. Board of Directors, 2005-present. Current Secretary.
American Heart Association Basic Life Skills Instructor, 2007-present.
Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association Professional Advisory Committee, 2006-present.
Past:
Falls Village Day Care Center Board of Directors, 2001-2005. Past Vice-Chair.
American Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor, Connecticut Child Care Instructor, 1999-2004.

# of years in Falls Village: 10; I moved here in 1997 from Schenectady, NY. I previously lived in Virginia for a year as well.

Children: 2 step-children, Ryan (24) and Heather (22), both Kellogg and HVRHS alumni. Ryan earned both his B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Heather is finishing her Bachelor’s in English at the University of Connecticut.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's greatest assets?
Kellogg School has two assets that stand out amongst its many strengths – one is the staff, whose dedication and experience is unsurpassed. The other is the active involvement and support of the parents and the community as a whole.

What do you think are the Kellogg School's biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge faced by the school and the board of education right now is the declining enrollment, with the multi-faceted implications of that shift. This shift has the potential for impacting programs (curricular and extracurricular), staffing, physical plant, etc. This is not something new; enrollment is cyclical, and Kellogg experienced just such a decline in the 80s. The challenge is maintaining Kellogg’s outstanding educational program which prepares our students for secondary education opportunities while controlling costs.

What is Kellogg's role in the community beyond its education mission?
Kellogg’s educational mission is its primary role, however, in this close-knit community, the school serves other purposes. It is in many ways the heart of the community, where events such as town meetings, fire department fundraisers, and athletic events are held. But it goes beyond the physical building - the students of Kellogg are the future of Falls Village, as well as the state and the country. The children of our community learn more than academics there; they learn citizenship, respect, responsibility, integrity. The skills learned by the students, modeled by the staff and parents, will shape Falls Village for years to come.

Why should you be elected to the Canaan (Falls Village) Board of Education?
I believe that I bring a strong background in policy development combined with experience in education to this board of education. As an employee of the Region One School District, I have a thorough understanding of the unique structure of our tiny district and the regional one from which we purchase services, and the impact of the policies the board develops on the day-to-day operations of a school. I understand the concepts of due diligence and the board’s role of governance, not management. But the biggest reason I believe that I should be elected to our board of education is that I care deeply about the children and I want them to have the best educational opportunities we can offer them.

Monday, October 22, 2007

S is for Synchronicity


Without planning, it seems that Falls Village is having a de facto Fall Festival this coming weekend. The Falls Village Children's Theater has signed up 42 individuals, families, volunteer organizations and businesses to make scarecrows, which will be erected on Main Street and the Town Green on Saturday morning with voting from noon till 3:30 PM with prizes awarded in five catgeories: Scariest, Funniest, Most Theatrical, Best Look-alike, Most Falls Village. The FVCT will sell cider and donuts out of the future home of the Falls Village Community & Cultural Center (which will be getting a new roof next month and still needs donations to pay for the project.) F.O.L.K.S. , the Friends of Lee Kellogg School (aka the PTA), has organized a Community Harvest Hoedown on Main Street, which will be closed to traffic, so there will be dancing in the street in front of Town Hall from 2 - 4 PM. In the evening, the Falls Village Congregational Church will hold its annual Halloween Ham Dinner, and on Sunday morning Falls Village Day Care will hold its second annual pancake breakfast in the Senior Center. It's a harmonic convergence demonstrating that Falls Villagers (despite their differences) share a common commitment to children, charity and community. Raindate: Sunday, Oct 28. Call 824-4303 if the weather is questionable.

Friday, October 19, 2007

B is for Bunny (Too)

Without a doubt, New York interior designer Bunny Williams's home at 1 Point of Rocks Road is the most photographed house (and garden) in Falls Village. And Bunny is, without a doubt, a rock star of design--she's sort of the Mick Jagger of the decorating world--because she has impeccable taste and her rooms are never trendy or tiresome. She has just published a new, sumptuous coffee-table book called Bunny Williams' Point of View, which is a retrospective of her extraordinary career. Though Bunny's clients often live like royalty (or like rock stars), the book is surprisingly practical and laced with a common sense approach to interior design that can be used by people with limited (or unlimited) budgets. I was lucky enough to help Bunny write this book and spent many Sunday mornings in her cozy living room working on the manuscript. I got to observe up close how Bunny lives and she is disciplined, gracious and grounded. Her house seems lavish at first, but it is unbelievably comfortable whether you are a human being or a canine, for her dogs all have their favorites chairs and sofas. I learned many things from working with Bunny, but the most important lesson was that a home must be welcoming in every sense of the world. She tries to teach all of her clients this but they don't always get it. Bunny believes that when you invite someone into your home, they should feel at home too. Bunny tried to convey this to a reporter for The New York Times which published a story about her called "Can Taste Be Taught? on the cover of its "House & Home" section this week, but the reporter had difficulty accepting that Bunny's philosophy is relevant to ordinary people. Trust me, it is. Though Bunny is an authority on the high life, she is also very down to earth.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

B is for Baking

Kimberly Rock, the proud mother of a Kellogg kindergartner, sent in the following report and pictures.

You may have spotted the Kellogg kindergartners on Monday traipsing down Main Street hand-in-hand on their inaugural field trip of the school year. They were led by former-fifth grade-turned-Kindergarten teacher extraordinaire Candy Stiewing (pronounced “STEE –wing”), veteran teaching assistant Cristine Dakers and a couple of chaperoning parents.

Mrs. Stiewing and Mrs. Dakers are teaching the newest students at Kellogg about “community”. And what better way to start,then to visit Jason at Sweet William's Bakery? Owner Jason Young had the children eating out of his hand. He charmed them with stories of his earliest baking memories with his mother and said that some of his best recipes are variations passed down from her. The gigantic mixer was a crowd pleaser, and the kids enjoyed taking turns cutting out cookies from fresh dough–but if you asked the five-year-olds what their favorite part of the trip was, you’re most likely to hear about the yummy taste of Jason’s delicious creations.
>

Friday, October 12, 2007

Day by Day

One reason Falls Village is such a family friendly town is that it not only has a wonderful day care center but it has one of the few in the region that accepts infants. This Sunday, Falls Village Day Care celebrates its expansion with an open house from 1 - 3 PM. There will be facility tours, pumpkin and face painting, and refreshments.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Fall Fashions at Whippoorwill Farm


Robin and Allen Cockerline's Whippoorwill Farm was the improbable yet perfect setting for Karen Stone [right] to present her latest Country Couture collection to her friends, neighbors and growing clientele on Sunday evening. Karen has an unabashedly cinematic notion of fall, and she takes traditional fabrics and cuts them to create seasonal clothes with a romantic yet thoroughly modern sensibility. As Karen explains: "For autumn, I offer menswear woolens in feminine shapes...tweed, plaid and houndstooth skirts...necktie paisleys in a shirtdress (that will take you anywhere) pinstripes in a tidy sheath." As the Cockerlines [left] poured wine and served their tender grass-fed beef on sliced baguettes in the dining room, Karen was doing brisk business in their living room, which she had transformed into a chic salon with her own transcendent paintings on the walls. She gives her customers a choice of fabrics that she has hand-picked in New York and takes measurements so that each skirt, dress and jacket will fit like a glove. The shopping process is intimate and individualized, and Karen had a handout for customers so they would understand her modus operandi. "Although the clothing is generally made-to-order, you may find a sample garment that is perfect on you. Rule #1, Do not judge a dress on its hanger. Please try it on ... I do not design with 'hanger appeal' in mind, as they must in ready-to-wear. Therefore, something that looks a bit shapeless on a hanger may reveal fabulous subtleties when you put it on. You will not find sizes on the samples . . . . . . There is no such thing as true sizes anyway (have you noticed that?) Just explore, try it on, we'll pin it, talk about it, look at fabrics, dream up something great."
Karen Stone PO Box 24, Lakeville CT 06039 / 860.435.9789