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.