Hallelujah! The Falls Village Inn Reopens

It's kind of like a fairy tale the way Bunny Williams stepped in to help redecorate the inn for new owners Colin Chambers and Susan Sweetapple. And everyone seems VERY happy with the results! You can read more about it on Rural Intelligence

Special Board of Ed Meeting December 7

From Andrea Downs:

The Board of Education will be having a special meeting tonight at 6pm to discuss the budget situation for FY 2011/2012. We are
currently looking at a significant increase in our portion of the high school tuition for next year. We have 47 in the high school. This is going to have an impact on both the local school and town budgets. We invite you come and be part of the process early. The Board of Education has already been in communication with both the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen and we hope to have several of their board members at the meeting tonight.

The meeting will only last one hour, we have our regular board meeting starting at 7pm. We hope many of you will come and be part of the process.

I do apologize to those of you who would rather not receive these e-mails. I have included everyone in my address book that has a connection to either Falls Village or Lee H. Kellogg school in hopes that anyone who wants to participate can. Please spread the word.

The FVCT Holiday Show - December 4

The Annual Tree Lighting

Halloween Party on Oct. 31 @ 4 pm

Our Hometown Fall Festival - October 23

Words & Music at Music Mountain Oct. 3

This year the D. M. Hunt Library’s free Words and Music Program is for and about kids of all ages at Music Mountain in Falls Village on Sunday October 3 at 2:00. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and video cameras to record their children's performance on the historic Music Mountain stage.

Falls Village native and Bennington College graduate, Jon Grusauskas, will direct his Millerton Knights Children’s Ensemble in traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms like samba and salsa to funky versions of Michael Jackson and more. The musicians, ranging from 8 years old to younger, know their music well and play trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, drums, percussion, and keyboards.

Hunt Children’s Librarian, Rita Delgado will ask children in the audience to join her on stage and teach them American Sign Language to tell Goldilocks and the Three Bears to the audience.

The program will close with a tribute to well-loved books for or about children that were turned into musicals. Broadway actress, playwright and author, Betsy Howie, will read short passages from Dicken’s Oliver Twist, J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and William Steig’s Shrek! Then Callie Carter, Lydia Downs from Falls Village and Brianna Hoyt of Salisbury will sing a song from each of the musicals inspired by these classic books.

Hunt Library Auction & Cocktail Party - September 25

It's the best party of the year, for the best possible cause: our beloved David M. Hunt Library.
And the live auction promises to be the best in memory!

Click on the image to read the details

Tuesdays at Six

The 12th annual speakers series sponsored by the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society is well underway at the South Canaan Meeting House. Here's the lineup for the rest of the summer.

July 20 Malcolm McKenzie, head of the Hotchkiss School, speaks of "International Aspects of Education."

July 27 Linda Ruggles, a historian at the University of Maryland, talks about "The Hartford Convention and the War of 1812."

August 3 John Demos, a professor emeritus at Yale, discusses "Cornwall's Heathen School-Hope and Betrayal in the Early Republic."

August 10 David Ward, an historian and assistant librarian at Hotchkiss, on the "Battle of Gettysburg: The Principle Commanders."

August 17 Alfred Dietzel, an historian, discusses "An Unfinished Journey: Women Who Changed America."

All sessions take place at the South Canaan Meeting House near the junction of Route 7 & 63. Admission is free. Musical prelude at 5:45. Program from 6 - 7.

Save the Date September 18: Annual Peddlar's Flea Market

FVCT presents "Cinderella" on July 23

These little kids will break your heart.

Happy Anniversary Jacobs Garage!

Jacobs Garage has been part of life in Falls Village for 80 years! More than taking care of our cars, Denny, Judy and Dave take care of our jangled nerves when our cars break down with their incredible kindness. And they take good care of our village with all their work for the Historical Society. Let's hope Jacobs Garage is around for another 80 years.

Commerce Comes to Main Street

The downtown revival has begun! Just a few weeks about the Falls Village Inn was purchased and it was learned that decorator Bunny Williams will work with the new owner on the inn's redecoration, Patricia Walsh has rented the old Town Hall space and will be opening a Country Store/Antiques Center any day....

It's Not Too Late to Join Chubby Bunny's CSA

Chubby Bunny, the wonderful farm on Undermountain Road, still has shares available in its CSA. If you want to eat the freshest, healthiest local produce and be part of a sustainable community, visit the Chubby Bunny website or visit Dan & Tracy Hayhurst at the farm.

"13" Comes to Housy on June 25

Cookie Day at the Hunt Library - June 12

The library will be serving food and asks that you RSVP so they have a head count: 860-824-7424

Downtown Sales Mayhem June 5 & 6

What a weekend it will be: Both a plant sale and a book sale at the Hunt Library, a tag sale and bake sale at the Congregational Church, and a mega-tag sale at the Kellogg School. Bring cash!
Volunteers organizing the plant sale on Friday afternoon.

The quiet before the storm at the Congregational Church.

The Annual Kellogg Tag Sale

Behind the Scenes with FVCT : A Video Preview of "13"

Click here for a video preview of the upcoming performance of "13" at Mt. Everett Regional School.

Free Concert at Music Mountain - May 22

FVCT presents the musical "13" in the Berkshires: June 4 - 6

The Falls Village Children's Theater (FVCT), the five-year-old northwestern Connecticut not-for-profit troupe, is expanding to the Berkshires, where it will present the Broadway musical "13" at the Consolati Performing Arts Center at Mt. Everett Regional High School in Sheffield, MA, on June 4 - 6.

A musical about contemporary adolescence, "13" is the story of Evan Goldman of New York City whose parents get divorced, and he must move with his mother to Appleton, Indiana, where he will have his bar mitzvah away from his family and friends. Evan's new best friend in Appleton, the nice girl next door, knows that her hometown is, as she sings, "The Lamest Place in the World." A classic fish-out-of-water story, Evan's songs include "Being A Geek" and "A Little More Homework." When it debuted three years ago in Los Angeles, Variety said, "If the prospect of watching an all-teen company enact an all-teen musical accompanied by an all-teen band makes you cringe: Chill, dude, "13" is sheer bliss...Librettist Dan Elish's simple narrative about middle-school outsiders tiptoeing their way through a minefield of cliques and gossip is the framework for a celebration of the kind of teen spirit that soars rather than smells."

Featuring a cast of 18 experienced actors from the tri-state area who range in age from 12 - 17 under the direction of former Broadway dancer Lanny Mitchell, "13" is a funny, buoyant look at a young man's culture shock in his own country on the eve of his becoming a man in the Jewish faith. It is a poignant, exuberant and universal tale about trying to find one's place in the world. A five-piece high-school band will perform the score.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students (the show is rated "PG"), and they are available at Tune Street in Great Barrington, MA, the Canaan Apothecary in Canaan, CT, the Falls Village Citgo or online at FVCT.org.
The show is a fundraiser for the not-for-profit FVCT.

Falls Village Children's Theater presents "13"
Consolati Performing Arts Center at Mt. Everett Regional School
June 4 at 7 p.m.
June 5 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
June 6 at 2 p.m.

Bingo for Scholarships - May 7

Take the Survey

Our neighbor Ruth Skovron encourages everyone to take this survey to have input into the economic development of the northwest corner and to save our village centers

At Long Last!

Are burgers and beer in our future?

What's Cooking in Falls Village?

Erica Joncyk, the new director of the D.M. Hunt Library, is helping to organize The Falls Village Day Care Cookbook Volume 2, and she is inviting everyone to submit recipes:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! One and all!! You may have heard through the grapevine that there is to be a second edition of Friends of Falls Village Day Care Cookbook! Remember the first one? Back in 1990, Norma DeMay (formerly Grusauskas), Jean Bronson, Fran Chapell and Karen Lindquist put together a treasure of a cookbook. I know because my copy is so stained, written in and 20 years later, with out a cover. It is the only cookbook that I know of that when mentioned at a local party and one of the people at the party wasn’t around in the ‘90’s to have purchased one, that there is a collective sigh of ‘aw too bad for you’ from the ones who do have a copy. There are so many fantastic recipes that my family grew up with and continues to use in their lives and I trust, will pass those recipes on to their children.
Here is a great opportunity for all Falls Villagites to gather their favorite recipes and share them with their neighbors. Those of you who have contributed before and may have changed their recipes to fit our now ‘healthier life styles’, please submit those changes….we would love it! Melissa Lopes has spear headed this fundraising project and her timing couldn’t be better to help the Day Care earn some needed funds to keep our excellent Day Care center running smoothly. The committee has decided for the sake of continuity to bestow the title of Friends of Falls Village Day Care Cookbook, vol. 2. You can pick up recipe forms at the D. M. Hunt Library right here in town or the Douglas Library in North Canaan. Even if you don't have a recipe, you can pre-order your cookbook by sending your check payable to FVDCC". Our hopes are to gather 200 recipes and the target date to get all of the recipes in is April 30th, 2010 so we can have the cookbook published by September 1st, 2010. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Melissa at mannymelissa@sbcglobal.net.
Thank you and can’t wait to read your recipes,
Erica Joncyk

Click on the form for a full-size version to print out

"Guys & Dolls" is a Smash Hit!

The kids (and parents) have done it again! You have two more chances to see "Guys & Dolls" at Housy at 2 and 7 pm on Saturday, April 10.

"Guys & Dolls" Opens Friday Night

There's no question that "Guys & Dolls" will be a hit as the FVCT raises the curtain on its 5th all-town musical. The only question is how fantastic it will be!

Easter Egg Hunt - April 3

For the Love of Our Library

Zoë Fedorjaczenko reports that the Chocolate & Chile library fundraiser was a huge success:

What do you get when you take twelve simmering crockpots of chili (from vegetarian to venison) made by organizations (from the Fire Department to the Historical Society), add fifteen chocolate desserts (from Scotch truffles to white chocolate cheesecake) and ten different selections of artisanal chocolate (from Chocolate Springs Café to Berkshire Bark), mix in silent and live auctions (with items from a hand knit bamboo yarn scarf to a Harney Tea gift package), toss with a Name that Tune game (with composer Joshua Stone), and combine with in a cold month - otherwise known as Chocolate & Chili in the Village - 2010 style. That’s what those who attended this Falls Village event to benefit the D. M. Hunt Library enjoyed on Saturday at the Old Town Hall in Falls Village. This event brought together the talents of many local bakers and chili-makers; it was even hard to find a parking space, an unusual circumstance in this small town. For all of us on the C/C committee, I thank everyone who came, contributed to, and worked on making this event a fun way to end winter’s tough month of February and benefit the library. We’ll see you next year!150 people (from Falls Village to Kent) in a spacious site? You get a hot time

TONIGHT! Chocolate & Chile Fundraiser for the Library

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTY AT THE OLD TOWN HALL. TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR!

Save the Date: March 5

“FREE MONEY” FOR Friends of Lee Kellogg School (F.O.L.K.S.)

The ever-creative parents at the Lee H. Kellogg School have come up with a new, easy way to raise funds for school trips and other "extras." Here's their press release:

Without spending anything extra people can now help FOLKS (Friends of Lee Kellogg School) raise funds to go towards fieldtrips, cultural programs and guest artists, special classroom items, playground and afterschool program items, as well as financial assistance to help insure that all students can participate in school programs and trips. Guaranteed contributions from participating retailers go directly to FOLKS, the volunteer parent and teacher group for Lee H. Kellogg School, through the new Scrips Card program.

“I’ve raised over $60 for FOLKS in the last two months alone without even trying and without pleading for anyone to buy a ticket, an ad, a pie, or anything. I just used the Scrip cards at the check-out when I did my grocery shopping and also when I bought office supplies,” explained Amy Wynn, a Kellogg School parent.
“At every turn, we are asked to buy something for a fundraiser in our small community. This program is a great alternative that can ease this burden throughout our region. We are asking that people try it at least once and see how good it feels to know you are helping raise needed funds by simply doing your everyday shopping and paying for it with your Scrips cards,” encouraged Margaret Caiati, FOLKS coordinator for this program. “Our goal is to get at least 80 people paying for $100 of their grocery bill at Stop ‘n Shop with the Scrip cards each month for the next three months. This would meet our initial goal of raising $1,000 this spring for field trip and cultural program funds,” she added.

The Scrips cards are easy to order and use and there is no extra charge. To help FOLKS raise funds, all one has to do is purchase Scrips Cards - which are basically gift cards - through the FOLKS Scrips program. The Scrips card purchaser receives the exact value paid for the cards; there are no added fees. The specific retailer for each type of card donates from 2% to 17% of each purchase directly to FOLKS. The whole community beyond Kellogg School and Falls Village is encouraged to participate.
The Scrips cards can be used for things bought each week such as groceries and drug store items, seasonal items like home improvement/gardening items and clothing, as well as gifts for holidays and special occasions. The Scrips Program has over 250 retailers to choose from, such as Stop ‘n Shop, CVS, K-Mart, Best Buy, Lands End, Applebee’s, Amazon.com, TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble, Staples, ITunes, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, Home Depot, and many more. A full list of retailers and the order form is available at the FOLKS webpage housed at www.kelloggschool.org.

Questions about the FOLKS Scrips program and ordering cards can be directed to Margaret Caiati at (860) 824-1415 or mcaiati@comcast.com.

A Hot Time in A Cold Month

The D. M. Hunt Library in Falls Village will turn up the temperature with Chocolate & Chili in the Village on Saturday, February 27th at the Old Town Hall from 6 to 9 pm.

For the past two years, Friends of the D. M. Hunt Library has held its winter fundraiser Chocolate in the Village – an event featuring all things chocolate – at the library. This year the Friends have added chili to the mix and will hold the newly named Chocolate & Chili in the Village at the Old Town Hall.

As before, this event will feature dozens of delectable chocolate creations made by Falls Village’s accomplished culinaristas. Chocolate treats from sweet to savory - amazing baked goods, truffles, chocolate tortilla chips with cranberry salsa, chicken with mole sauce, chocolate cherry “mice” – are just some of what chocolate cravers can sample.

For those looking to heat things up, there will be at least ten tempting chilis to tingle the taste buds. All of the chilis will be made by local community organizations including Falls Village’s Fire Department, Daycare Center, Historical Society, Great Mountain Forest, Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, and Toymakers Café. These groups will compete to be named Best Chili.

Joshua Stone, Falls Village’s own award-winning composer, will host “Name that Tune” a musical game which was so popular last year – with prizes of course. A live and silent auction where you can bid on gift certificates for chocolate desserts, chocolate and chili “flavored” hand knit scarves, books and more will round out the event.

Tickets are $25 per person and include all the chocolate and chili you want, beer and wine, and ten tickets to vote for best chili. All proceeds benefit the library. For information and to reserve tickets call the library 860-824-7424.

The Rec Commission Wants You

If you would like to help make Falls Village a wonderful place to live and play, you might consider joining the Recreation Commission, which is looking for new members. Click on the image to read the particulars.

That Small Town Magic

Mary Elling who lives on Point of Rocks Road writes:

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU to whatever good soul decorates the little-
bridge's little-tree for many holidays throughout the year!!!!!
You are obviously whimsical, kind, thoughtful and a lovely, generous
person(s).
It makes me smile every time I cross the bridge.
All of us who live in Falls Village or Amesville are very lucky that
you believe in good deeds.
People who drive over the bridge for the first time must think what a lovely community this must be.
And it is.
Happy New Year to Everyone!"