Finding Time to Talk With and About Falls Village CT (aka Town of Canaan) October 11th, 2017
Falls Village CT is having a community conversation for residents, moderated by Jonothan Costa on Oct 11th,2017. Learn more online..and maybe chime in with ideas if from other towns to a FV Resident who could convey some of the ideas. FV is the hub in many ways with the HVRHS there (and our stellar Kellogg School, and FV Daycare which provides a nice option for teachers etc.)
Even though I am farther afield these days in Brooklyn NY I still have use of my family home in Falls Village. Let's keep in mind that not only do people live in the small towns of CT..they Are the Towns! (Even if not recognized and appreciated as such....in the hustle and bustle of needing to keep the town in Business.)
I started Acorns to Oaks Friends United Network and Team Outreach (A-20 FUN and A-2020 that's for the "Acorns to Oaks Team Outreach" with the 2 standing for the word "to" and also for "T" with the "O" to be 20 (and thus representing a group of twenty... I know not exactly crystal clear but it felt right and could always be tweaked.)
The entity of HVRHS and Region One is separate and distinct from the 6 towns that comprise them...The schools and Reg. One refer specifically to the Schools and Educational Organization thereof.
We cannot readily use those names to refer to the community, the people as citizens in those school areas and so on. Once I realized That Point, I felt something should be done to designate and even celebrate The People in the area.
Acorns to Oaks can speak to that important aspect of the community along the lines of both residents, visitors and events as well as nature and politics, health, and voluntary networks and policies (as well as the rules and regs.)
Forming an awareness of 'natural groupings such as Families of each grade or age made sense, so that became one way to organize 'socials for each age or grade level' to foster positive interactions and build bridges with local resources in a town as well as neighboring towns and even states.
I would like to update the vision now that the internet is part of my life as it is just about everyone's. I had articles in The Voice, The Lakeville Journal, and other publications but 20 years ago people did not realize it was really important to create networks and work together.
Now we have the COG (Council of Gov'ts for 20 towns in the NW Corner). We have far fewer students in many schools and even fewer people under 40. But we could work to create inroads using ideas such as in Change Here Now by Adam Brock. Some CT libraries hopefully could get that and encourage people to read up on that.
Non-profits have been learning that many people will someday need to part with their possessions (assets) and need to educate people for years on a regular basis to 'plan ahead and consider giving to a non-profit..."
More towns need to look at themselves in the light of needing many people to be a town, to help each young person from infancy onward if not pregnant women not work too hard and to have a lot of support including help to not smoke or do drugs, to have enough healthy food to eat and social support, transportation and access to resources.
These are not luxuries but critical investments in the future of a town. Over the years an active 'PTA type organization' but community based could keep people of all ages engaged in some civic groups and projects. Faith groups offer an array of opportunities without having to fight city hall. Likely every town Needs a church and one that will act as a quasi-community center.
Okay that's a start. Why not get some brainstorming going here from anyone near or far to 'keep that party going' in lil' old Falls Village. I did write a song (The Housatonic Song) about the six towns that comprise the regional school district (number 1).
The chorus lists the town as follows, Falls Village, North Canaan and Cornwall, Salisbury, Sharon and Kent. I think I put the song on my blog www.livfully.org and comments are welcome there also but it seems this is where people talk shop! A great start and thanks to Brian and any others who help him keep this going.
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