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P&Z approves cannabis regulations
Mar 13, 2024
NORTH CANAAN — Recreational marijuana licenses are now regulated in North Canaan.
Following a Monday, March 11, public hearing at Town Hall, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) voted unanimously to permit eight of the nine license types recognized in Connecticut.
Chairman Tim Abbott said the state will be notified within 14 days, at which point the regulations will go into effect.
The sale of recreational marijuana in North Canaan was approved by voters in the November 2023 election. Nearly 60% of registered voters turned out and the measure was approved by a 17-vote margin.
Under the new regulations, licenses will be permitted in three district types and all licenses will require a special permit.
Industrial Zone license types include cannabis delivery service; cannabis food and beverage manufacturing; cannabis microcultivator (indoor grower up to 10,000 square feet with the ability to expand to 15,000 square feet); cannabis product manufacturer; and cannabis transporter.
All Industrial Zone license types will be limited to a maximum of one establishment per category.
Commercial Zone and Central Business District license types include cannabis dispensary, cannabis hybrid retailer, and cannabis retailer.
A maximum of one dispensary license and one hybrid retailer or retailer license will be granted. If a dispensary (medical sales only) becomes a hybrid retailer (medical and retail sales), no additional cannabis retailer licenses can be approved in town.
All license types are buffered with setbacks: No cannabis establishment may be located within 1,000 feet of a public of private school nor within 500 feet of any charitable institution, church, convent, hospital, licensed child care center, licensed dependency treatment center, military installation, playground, public library, public park, public recreation trail, recreation center or facility, or veterans’ home.
An overlay zone will be applied to the Central Business District specifically for retail/medical/hybrid operations. Two areas of Central Business will be eligible for these license types regardless of buffers.
On-site consumption of cannabis or any cannabis product is prohibited in all licensed establishments. P&Z also set limits on the hours of operation for each license type. The one license type not permitted under the regulations is cannabis cultivator (large-scale growing operation).
The regulations can be viewed at www.northcanaan.org
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Billy Sheil
A team of Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) members flew to Anchorage, Alaska, recently to compete, volunteer, support and officiate at the 2024 Junior Nationals (JN) ski jumping tournament.
The competitor was Islay Sheil, a member of Team SWSA who jumped in the U16 division, earning a bronze medal in the team event with teammate Caroline Chor from the Ford Sayre club in New Hampshire.
Islay earned a place on the 2024 Eastern JN team during Jumpfest’s Eastern U.S. ski jumping championships in Salisbury.
SWSA directors Matt Bannerman and Serena Taylor volunteered as markers, and SWSA President Ken Barker served as assistant technical delegate. Carley Bannerman, another SWSA jumper, and Islay’s parents, Billy and Kristin Sheil, filled the rolls of “jumper support.”
The Eastern division team enjoyed even more success by the competition’s end. The U20 and U16 boys division swept the podium against competitors from the four other divisions. This was a first for any division in the competition’s history.
The JN, which is the premier event for jumpers 20 years old and under, marks the official end of the ski jumping calendar, and the warming temperatures have brought SWSA’s training sessions to a close for the season.
To learn more about SWSA, visit jumpfest.org
Islay, center, flanked by fellow Junior National ski jumping competitors.Billy Sheil
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Mountaineers get set for spring
Mar 13, 2024
Riley Klein
FALLS VILLAGE — Spring sports are right around the corner.
Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) is set to field teams in five different sports for the 2024 season: baseball, lacrosse (girls), softball, tennis (boys and girls), and track and field (boys and girls).
Spring competition will begin with varsity softball hosting H.C. Wilcox Technical High School Saturday, March 30, at 10 a.m. Pete Foley will become head coach this season with Kaleigh Selino moving to the role of assistant coach.
HVRHS softball will be a team to watch this season after a generational state playoff run last year led it to the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) quarterfinal game for the first time since 1990. Just two seniors graduated from last year’s team, leaving a 2024 roster of determined athletes with considerable postseason experience.
Tennis will retake the court Monday, April 1, for opening matches against Northwestern High School with service beginning at 3:45 p.m. The boys will be at home and the girls will be away. Last season, the boys finished with a record of 6-8 and the girls ended at 8-7. The boys are coached by Jeff Tripp and the girls are coached by Bill Markey.
Girls lacrosse will begin the 2024 season April 1 at home against Haddam-Killingworth High School. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Girls lacrosse graduated seven seniors last year, leaving head coach Laura Bushey a fresh lineup for this spring.
HVRHS baseball, led by head coach Darryl Morhardt, will look to improve on a tough season last year. A roster full of promising young talent gives reason for optimism in the season to come, including freshman Wyatt Bayer who brought some serious heat while pitching for Housatonic’s summer league team in 2023. Opening day baseball will be Tuesday, April 2, at 3:45 p.m. with an away game at Northwestern High School.
Track and field athletes will be coached by Alan Lovejoy. Last season, five competitors qualified for the CIAC championships: Kyle McCarron, Ava Segalla, Harper Howe, Sara Huber and Mia Dodge.
All five will return for the 2024 season, which will begin on the road with a meet against Wamogo High School and Nonnewaug High School. The meet is scheduled to take place Tuesday, April 23, at Plumb Hill Track in Litchfield beginning at 4 p.m.
Home games for all spring sports will be played on the fields and courts behind HVRHS. For full schedules, visit ciacsports.com.
Haley Leonard will return to HVRHS softball as a senior captain this spring.Riley Klein
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KENT — Following a presentation by the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC), the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to support a grant application by the NCLC at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Representing the NCLC was Maria Grace, director of stewardship for the Kent-based organization. She sought a letter of support from the town to be submitted with an application for a Trails Grant, available through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Three nature preserves are located in Kent, Grace reported, with 34 total nature preserves found in seven towns in the Northwest Corner.
The purpose of the grant will be to devise a plan for long-term sustainability and to assess improvements that might include reaching out to a wider range of potential trail-users such as mountain bikers or equestrian groups.
“We want to create a replicable planning document to help other groups,” Grace said, adding that expressions of community support from member towns are important.
Towns that have provided letters so far include New Milford, Sherman, Sharon, Litchfield and Torrington. In addition, the Falls Village Land Trust has signed a letter.
“We’re hoping the plans to be developed will lead to implementation,” Grace said.
First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer said, “It’s needed; it’s a great opportunity.”
Internet expansion
Beginning what will be a long process that could extend broadband access to all residences and businesses in the town, a broadband subcommittee is coming together, reporting to the Board of Selectmen.
The selectmen approved an appropriation to the committee of up to $800, beginning the process of surveying the town’s residents with a questionnaire to measure their interest and need for stronger connectivity and adequate internet access.
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