What's Cooking on Undermountain Road?

Winterhouse, the design firm run by William Drenttel and Jessica Helfand from their home on Undermountain Road, is behind the Pizza Farm in North Canaan this Saturday. Learn more here

The Wassaic Project is A Must-See Happening

The Wassaic Project has got to be seen to be believed. The tiny hamlet of Wassaic (just south of the Metro-North station) has been transformed into an avant garde village with site-specific installations in an old cattle-auction barn; paintings, photographs, video, and sculpture fill seven-floors of a partially-restored granary. This weekend, hundreds of young artists are camping on nearby fields and there will be music and performances all day and night. It’s an authentic art-world happening.

The FVCT Returns to Housy

First Saturday Farmers Market

 Includes local crafts, maple syrup, vegetables in season,
preserves, and sometimes more.
 The first Saturday of each month June through October on the
green in downtown Falls Village at the corner of Main and
Railroad streets.
 Open 9 a.m. to noon
 Local gardeners sell your extra produce. We are also looking for
jams, jellies, pickles, or any homemade or handmade products.
 A small fee will be charged for space to benefit the Falls Village
Volunteer Fire Department.
 Don’t have time to sell your stuff: Fire Department members will
sell it for you for a percentage.
 All donations of produce and crafts will be readily accepted
 Sponsored by the Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department.
 Contact Kent Allyn at 860-824-5960.

Visit Sweet William's in Salisbury

It's certainly bittersweet that Jason Young has moved his retail bakery to Salisbury, but it is comforting to know that Falls Village is part of the DNA forever of Sweet William's Bakery. Read more at Rural Intelligence.com

The FVCT Goes to Cornwall

The Falls Village Children’s Theater presents:

Disney’s The Aristocats.

Performed by 18 children ages 5-8.
Absolutely adorable!

Friday, July 24th, 6:30pm
Cornwall Consolidated School
5 Cream Hill Road, West Cornwall, CT
Directed and Choreographed by Lanny Mitchell
Donations gratefully accepted at the door.
All proceeds benefit the Falls Village Children's Theater Company, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

Tradition at the Hunt Library

Falls Village Children's Theater Is Back Onstage--in Cornwall!

Click on poster to see larger version.

In Memoriam: Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton

A memorial service for Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton, who lost his life heroically saving the lives of others in the Housatonic River last month, will be held at the Sharon Center School on Sunday, July 12, at 1 PM.

Everyone's Invited to Graduation June 15

Falls Village is always at its best for 8th grade graduation. There's the slide show documenting the shared childhoods of the class who've been together since kindergarten, the flowers from local gardens decorating the stage, and a sense that a small neighborhood school provides kids with not only a good education but also a strong sense of themselves.

Spring Fling in the Village: June 6 - 7

Has Falls Village ever been this busy?

All events on Saturday June 6th, some continuing on June 7th as noted.

Music on the Mountain – Concert featuring middle school, high school and grads from Region One towns performing classical, jazz and chamber works. Tickets available at the door. Call HYSB 824-4720 for information. Gordon Hall at Music Mountain 2PM

Historic Beebe Hill One Room School House open for viewing 10AM to Noon

Congregational Church Annual Tag Sale, Bake Sale and Luncheon!
Come browse the eclectic offerings, and stay for lunch! 9 AM to 2PM


FOLKS/Falls Village Day Care Giant Tag Sale at Lee H. Kellogg School
Early birds 7AM – 9AM for $5 9AM – 4PM
Continues on Sunday 9AM -3PM. Most items 50% off. ‘Stuff a bag’ for $2.50 end of sale

Outside at the DM Hunt Library: Hunt’s Homegrown Plant Sale
Perennials, Annuals, Herbs, Vegetables, Trees and More
8AM to 4PM, Continues on Sunday 9AM to 1PM

Under the tent at the DM Hunt Library: Annual Used Book Sale
Hardcover to paper backs, including rare and collectible, audio and CD books
9AM to 4PM, Continues on Sunday 10AM to 1PM

Upstairs at the DM Hunt Library: Monthly Book Sale
New books at great discounts
10AM to 1PM

Enjoy Litchfield County’s best latte at the Toymaker Café
Open Weekends 7AM to 3ish

Fortify yourself with wonderful cookies at Sweet Williams bakery
Saturday 10AM to 3PM

Stop by the future Falls Village Community and Cultural Center, and view the children’s art show ‘My Impressions of Falls Village’ 10AM to 3PM

Farmers Market at the Town Green
9AM to Noon First produce of the season, all locally grown!

Antique Tool Show, Swap and Sale
At the Falls Village-Canann Historical Society Depot Museum
Refreshments available too! 9AM to 3PM

Morris Dancers Grand Processional
Main Street in front of Town Hall
Time 6:30 PM

Cheer on the Relay for Life Teams who are helping to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer! Event starts at 4PM Saturday and ends at 10AM on Sunday at the HVHRS track field. Last minute participants very welcome!

Click on the posters below to see bigger versions

All events on Saturday June 6th, some continuing on June 7th as noted.

Summer Camp Alternative Close to Home

Dominic Caiati will be offering two art programs this summer at Kellogg. Click on the image to read more clearly.

The Lakeville Journal Regrets . . .

Lakeville Journal publisher Janet Manko insists that the paper meant no disrespect by omitting the page about Falls Village in this week's Town & Villages supplement. It was a printer's error and it will be in next week's paper. Click on the image to see what the LJ meant to print

Memorial Day 2009

Has the weather ever been more perfect for a Memorial Day Parade? The highlight of the day was seeing the Fire Department's brand new state-of-the-art truck which will allow our volunteer force to protect us more efficiently and effectively. The Fire Department served up cookies and brownies and lemonade and the Falls Village Community and Cultural Center had fresh popcorn and an art project for the kids. The art show on the walls of the FVCCC was proof that the children who live in Falls Village cherish its special attributes as they demonstrated in works on paper called "My Falls Village."

Community Concert at Music Mountain: May 23

On the Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend, the youngest cultural organization in town, The Falls Village Children's Theatre, will salute the community's oldest cultural institution, Music Mountain, with a free concert of popular music from the the past 80- years. The show stars the professional performers Wanda Houston, Michael Brown and Lanny Mitchell as well as FV's own Vance Cannon.

Click on poster to see a bigger version

Fun for Everyone at Kellogg on May 19

Falls Villagers Congregate at Trade Secrets

Falls Village was well represented at Trade Secrets by Battle Hill Forge, the Falls Village Flower Farm, Bunny Williams's Treillage, Gardenalia's Cyd and John Emmons, and many local volunteers such as Deb Munson and Peter Felske. For more pictures. go to Rural Intelligence.



Chris Morley, Israel Fitch, and Leone Young

Be A Patriot

Jane Little-Bear writes from UnderMountain Farm:

Since last year I have been sending out Soldier Care Packages to the American boys and girls deployed abroad , of much needed essential items that they can not obtain, from food to toiletries, a pillow, a blanket and even a Teddy Bear to boost Moral. I have written to many many companies trying to generate support in items to send. My son is in Lee Kellogg Schooll in Falls Village and is spearheading a collection drive there to collect items to send as well as send letters and cards etc to Soldiers . My aim is to help keep the Soldiers healthy and happy until they come home, just knowing that regardless of viewpoints of the War itself, that they are still American boys and we still appreciate their sacrifices . They do get very homesick and oftem receive no mail at all. I wanted to ask you if you could put a little note on the Falls Village Blog to let people know about the Soldier Care Package drive at Lee Kellogg, and also I have been doing this for some time and am very happy to pick up items from people, however small, even a stick of gum goes a long way to putting a smile on a Soldiers face.
Thank You

Jane Little-Bear
Undermountain Farm
413 Route 7 North
Falls Village CT
860 824 7292

Signs of the Times in Salisbury

it's bittersweet news . . .
(Click on photo to read the sign)

Here's the letter that Jason emailed on Friday May 15 to his customers:

Sweet William's is expanding!

We are opening a new retail shop in Salisbury at 19 Main Street, next to Salisbury Wines, Kinderhook Realty and J Stack Clothiers. We hope to complete renovations and be open for business by July 1st. Initially we will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 8:30 am to 2 pm. And yes, we will be making our famous cream scones every day we're open! Our new bakery will also feature a refrigerated pastry case which will allow us to offer a wider selection of desserts in a variety of sizes. We will be adding brewed coffee, fresh iced tea and hand-squeezed lemonade and of course we will have all your favorite cookies, and some new ones you might not have tried yet!

So, what's happening in Falls Village?

We will continue to use our current space for baking cookies, wedding cakes and other large volume projects. Once the new shop opens we will no longer be selling retail on Saturday in Falls Village, but if you happen to find us in the kitchen making cookies, feel free to stop in. We'll probably have a few on hand to satisfy your cravings!

We will keep you up-to-date on the progress of our new shop and when our official opening date will be. In the meantime, hope to see you on Saturdays in Falls Village!

Thank you for your continued support,
Your friends at Sweet William's

860.824.8180
www.sweet-williams.com

Pennies from Heaven

Hunt Library booster nonpareil Mary Elling reports:
"The Student Council-sponsored Kellogg Kids Coin Drive for the Hunt and contributed $19.97/per student and they will celebrate with ice cream sundaes. The combined first and second grade class and fifth graders were runners-up and they will get ice cream cups. There was another collection bottle labeled “Help Kellogg Kids Coin Drive” at the Hunt’s circulation desk.
Patrons, especially from Erica Joncyk's beloved story hours, added an extra $53.03 for a grand total of $566.52. Jill Russell and Carol Mroz at the Falls Village Torrington Savings Bank branch deserve kudos for counting the coins."

4th grade winners of ice cream sundae party
Back row: Julie Horowitz, Noah Light, Quiet Thunder, Shelby Parsons
Front row: Brook Dodge, Grace Cohn, Justin Fitch, Olivia Wadsworth, Ciara McElroy


Scott Jasmine and Alex Pecha giving the Kellogg students' contributions to Margo Lewis, President of Hunt Board of Directors

The Historical Society Museum Is Now Open Every Saturday & It is Awesome!

Judy Jacobs and her colleagues at the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society have done a heroic job of cataloging the collection and creating displays that are esthetic and educational. Everyone who has made this little gem of a museum possible deserves congratulations. Please visit any Saturday from 10 AM - 1 PM. You will be awed and delighted.


Wouldn't you like to see this sign reproduced and posted at the borders on Routes 7, 63 and 44?


You get a real sense in the museum of the hard-working and dignified people who helped build this town


This is what a "cannonball" looks like that was made in Amesville when it was an industrial center



The Historical Society has lots of railroad memorabilia. After all, it was the railroad that determined Falls Village's destiny.


This hand-made mouse trap is a fine example of old-time ingenuity and craftsmanship.


The old switchboard that operators used to connect Falls Villagers to one another

Bingo for Education, Friday May 1

Time Out

I believe in free speech but I fear that the exchanges on this blog about the proposed cell phone tower have played themselves out for now. I hope those parties who want to resolve this situation will work together face to face for the good of all.

Loving Up the Library

Some two dozen volunteers showed up at the DM Hunt Library on Saturday morning ready to get down and dirty to make the library clean. They climbed on ladders to wash the windows inside and out, and they got on their knees to weed the perennial borders. They pruned bushes, raked the sod, dug up and divided hostas and left our library, the pride of Falls Village, looking tidy and terrific. Erica Joncyk sent in these photos.

Your Library Wants YOU!

SPRING CLEANING DISCARDS NEEDED FOR TAG SALE FUNDRAISER

Friends of Lee Kellogg School (FOLKS) and the Falls Village Day Care Center ask that when people do their spring cleaning and uncluttering, they help both local organizations by donating their usable items for a colossal cooperative tag sale to be held on the weekend of June 6th and 7th at Lee H. Kellogg School in Falls Village. Donated items, large and small, clean and in good working order, can be dropped off at Kellogg School (on Rt. 126/Main Street) June 2nd through June 5th from 3:30 to 630 p.m.

“This joint-effort tag sale has been a wonderful way for people to contribute to two worthy institutions, without having to purchase a fundraising item or give money,” says Laurie Wadsworth, member of the Day Care board and a FOLKS member.

Items such as furniture, clothing, books, videos, CDs, sports equipment, kitchen and house wares, lawn and garden gear, electronics, hardware, lamps, pottery, artwork, toys and games, etc. are welcome (no large exercise equipment, obsolete electronics, or damaged bulky furniture please). Spring cleaners are asked to set aside a corner of their basement, attic, or garage for tag sale items, adding good condition items that they no longer want or need to the corner pile as they clean. During the first week of June, these prepared items can then be brought to Kellogg School for the Tag Sale.

FOLKS is the volunteer parent and teacher group for Lee H. Kellogg School. The proceeds from the giant tag sale will be used to help support sports and arts programs, field trips, and special equipment purchases for student activities.

Funds raised will also support the Falls Village Day Care Center’s needs such as art supplies, science materials, playground equipment, books, music, toys and games, as well as capital improvements.