Your guide to Peace Prize Get dancing!THE LAKEVILLE JOURNAL, Thursday, March 5, 2020 local dining winner Front Compass Page A3 Page A5 Page A10 Daylight Saving begins Sunday 12 PAGES IN 1 SECTION VOLUME 123 NUMBER 30 © 2020 The Lakeville Journal Company, LLC Periodical Rate Postage Paid at Lakeville (Town of Salisbury), Connecticut 06039 THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020 $1.25 Covering The News In Connecticut’s Northwest Corner And Its Environs Since 1897 Pam Vogel to Region One issues retire from precautionary measures Region One By Patrick L. Sullivan for Coronavirus spread This letter was released by shifting from containment to FALLS VILLAGE — Region the Region One School District “pandemic planning.” One Superintendent Pam Vogel administration on Feb. 28. We had good discussions announced her retirement at the Dear Parents/Families in about what we can do now end of the current school year at Region One, and do consistently, so that the All Boards Chair Committee This letter is to let you know all of our students and staff meeting Wednesday, Feb. 26. that steps are being taken in have better chances of staying The announcement came in the our schools to try to prevent healthy. While we do not form of a letter read by ABC chair or intervene as much as we yet have the Coronavirus in David Valcin of Salisbury. possibly can to address the Connecticut, we are having The announcement happened Coronavirus. high numbers of absences immediately after the committee All agencies continue to due to the flu. conducted an executive session follow the guidance from the Precautionary measures with Vogel on her mid-year Center for Disease Control that we can take for the evaluation. (CDC) on specific strategies Coronavirus are those that In the letter Vogel cited family for schools. we can also take to try to re- concerns as the reason for step- While the Coronavirus duce the number of persons ping down. In a phone interview news is concerning, it is im- who contract the flu. with The Lakeville Journal on PHOTO BY LANS CHRISTSENSEN portant to know that there Dan Donza gave tips on winter driving at a workshop at Lime Rock Park on Saturday, Feb. 8. We have agreed that we Thursday, Feb. 27, she elaborated. are other respiratory viruses, will follow these plans in all She said her family is in Iowa such as the flu (influenza) cur- of our schools: (and in Texas in the summers). “It’s Tips for staying safe on icy roads rently circulating in schools. 1) We are asking that difficult to see them.” Her mother Fever, coughing, and difficulty each adult use anti-bacterial is in poor health, she added. breathing are symptoms By Lans Christensen the students would get to experi- products (safe for classroom At the ABC meeting, Vogel should sit high enough in the associated with all of them. ence 75%, including those safety use) on all high-touch sur- got a hug from Valcin after he seat that he or she can see the Therefore, anyone exhibiting and control features that are only faces daily, such as desks read the letter. Catherine Tatge of LIME ROCK — Important front of the car. these symptoms should not be needed in extreme situations. and doorknobs. This is very Cornwall said she was saddened driving basics were at the heart Hands should hold the steer- assumed to have Coronavirus. How many drivers can actually important. by the news. of this year’s Winter Driving ing wheel at what would be 3 and On Thursday, Sam Her- experience spin-outs and loss of Custodians will do what “You’ve made a huge contri- Clinic at Lime Rock Park, held 9 on a clock. rick, our Business Manager, control in completely safe con- they can, but we are asking bution,” she said. on Saturday, Feb. 8. This might seem pretty el- and I and custodians from ditions and with an instructor for all teachers/staff to help Valcin said that Vogel’s tenure Head instructor Dan Don- ementary, coming from three our schools met with two seated next to them? with this throughout the brought about a “sea change” at za, with Rick DiOrio and Ben instructors with extensive rac- representatives from the The class broke up into three school day. Region One. Haymann recapped driving ing experience. The workshop Torrington Department of groups, each with an instructor, 2) Computer teachers will Pat Mechare of Falls Village, essentials with the 12 students underscored the importance of Health. We heard more in- and headed to Paddock A and the be given a disinfectant spray who has been critical of Vogel, gathered in the building known paying attention to those basics formation about the Coro- Autocross course for real hands- for computer keyboards. praised Vogel for “going above as the Infield Chalet. — and to not underestimating navirus, what we might ex- on driving challenges. 3) School nurses are asked and beyond” in terms of effort. Seating position, for example, the part the driver plays in pect, and considered more There were three distinctly to communicate with stu- “I appreciate your commit- is a critical element in car con- driving. precautionary measures we different classes: A loss-of-con- dents to remind them to cover ment.” trol. The seat back should be as As DiOrio explained, “Racers can take in our schools. We trol demonstration. Braking, their cough and to not touch Vogel thanked everyone and close to upright as comfortably are trained to use 100% of the car are in “containment” mode both straight-line “panic” brak- their faces or eyes, as contact wished them luck in the search possible,” Donza said. “With and understand the combination which is to slow the spread. ing and crash avoidance with from hands to face are the for a new superintendent, adding arms outstretched, your wrists of what you can do and what the However, the Department should fall on the top of the car can do.” braking on corners. that there was a “wonderful” of Health stated that we are See COVID-19, Page A8 steering wheel.” Most drivers use only 40% of candidate sitting next to her. See DRIVE, Page A9 She was referring to Assistant Very important: The driver the car’s capability. In the clinic, Superintendent Lisa Carter. Middle school On the cusp of spring? sports effort “A fox jumped up one winter’s night continues And he begged the moon to Nature’s give him light.” By Patrick L. Sullivan — Traditional Notebook Tim Abbott FALLS VILLAGE — Rep- This is the time for foxes to resentatives of the six towns in frolic. Like the great horned owls Region One voted to establish a that call to each other through the regional middle school sports darkened woods in winter, this they have enough fur for her program at a meeting of the is their mating season. I’ve seen to leave the den, but only then Middle School Sports and Activ- numbers of foxes dashing across to drink water. While the pups ities Committee on Wednesday, the road after sundown, as many are nursing she will lose about Feb. 26. as three in succession on one a quarter of her body weight, memorable occasion. Several even after increasing her daily See SPORTS, Page A9 nights later I saw the carcass of caloric intake by about 20 mice one that had been struck near or their equivalent in other prey. that same spot. It should not Other foxes, including the male Supporters speak be so perilous to be a fox when but also female helpers, supply out for football the urge is strong and much of her and the cubs with food until PHOTO BY PETER MONTGOMERY the waiting world lies still. I am they are about six weeks old and The early months of the year are the right time to prune fruit trees— but be sure not to prune By Patrick L. Sullivan mindful to slow down when I she is able to leave the den for too aggressively, as was the case with this apple tree. travel these roads after dark. longer periods. Red foxes mate for life. Their I haven’t seen any foxes FALLS VILLAGE — A crowd kits are born tiny and blind. around our house, but there was It’s winter, and time to care for fruit trees of about 30 filled the library Unable to thermoregulate for a skunk on my front porch last at Housatonic Valley Regional the first week or so, they huddle week. Aside from the lingering, By Peter Montgomery below 40 degrees. Tackle the tasks tree needs only 3% of the blos- High School Monday, March 2, with their mother for warmth. telltale aroma, there was a me- all at once, or spread them over the soms it produces, to bear enough to urge the Region One Board of The vixen stays with them until andering set of tracks in the The goal of caring for your later winter weekends. fruit for an abundant crop. An Education to continue its football snow leading out from beneath fruit trees and growing better Prune your trees ever-increasing canopy means program. the porch, wending out to the fruit is easier to achieve than you An overgrown apple tree pro- more fruit buds and leaves are On the agenda at the board’s street and around a tree before might think. duces small fruit because the sun drawing on a diminishing amount regular meeting was “Discussion ambling back to the steps. This Here are a few simple winter cannot penetrate the canopy to of available nutrients.