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AMENIA — Amenia’s annual Celebration of Lights returns to Fountain Square and East Main Street on Sunday, Dec. 7, between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by the Town of Amenia.
The event will be followed by the traditional Amenia Fire Company parade that will begin at 5 p.m.Parade vehicles and participants should line up in advance at the fire company on Mechanic Street.
Family fun is assured, including kids’ crafts, photos with Santa, tree decorating and menorah lighting, a search for elves that promises prizes, music performed by Webutuck School students, hot chocolate, cupcakes and cookies being dispensed, a chance to write and mail a letter to the North Pole, and announcement of the Amenia Citizen of the Year.
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The Smithfield Valley Church on Smithfield Road in Amenia.
Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — Kick off the season in musical style with the Smithfield Christmas Concert and Tea on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m., at the historic Smithfield Church. The concert is presented by the Bang Family Concert series, and it will feature the 15-member Smithfield Chamber Orchestra playing an eclectic mix of classical, pop and jazz.
The concert and tea is a tradition that began 20 years ago. The chamber orchestra under the direction of Matt Finley has provided the music for the past five years. This year’s repertoire will include emphasis on jazz versions of holiday favorites.
Among the pieces to be performed are an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker,” a “Peanuts” theme, a sing along, carols, an original piece, and a holiday favorite from Irving Berlin.
The popular event is open to the public. A donation of any amount is welcome, although $20 is suggested to support producing more Smithfield Church concerts. Children are admitted free. The traditional tea reception with a grand variety of refreshments follows the concert.
For more information, visit https://thesmithfieldchurch.org/concerts. The church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road.
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Mary Ann Marschat
Dec 03, 2025
CANAAN — Mary Ann Marschat, age 88, a lifelong resident of Canaan, Connecticut, passed away on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27, 2025. Born in New York City on July 19, 1937, Mary Ann came to live with her grandparents at about 6 months old. Canaan offered a country life and a large extended family. She became a sibling to her youngest aunts and uncles.
While educated in the local schools, her career path was set at an early age. Mary Ann learned about business riding along with her grandfather in his cattle truck. She listened to his stories and learned “the ways of business.” She prided herself on being an independent businesswoman. She maintained her farm in Canaan on her own for many years and later worked with other local farmers to keep the land and farm structures in use. She also had rental properties and at one time had a small collectable business in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
While she never married or had children, Mary Ann was a lifeline for her older aunts and uncles as they grew older. She checked in on them, shopped for them and took them to doctor’s appointments.
She had a love of nature. She loved her animals, especially her cats. She often had several whom she babied with special food and care.
She had many friends in the Canaan and Sheffield area. She had an infectious laugh. You would recognize her New York birth with the “Queensisms” in her speech. She was a fixture at the local breakfast restaurants where she would share stories and her strong opinions. Her strong views sometimes masked her warm and kind heart.
She was predeceased by her grandparents, Mary Ann Weirauch Marschat and Stanley Marschat, her parents William Howard Marschat and Rose Keiser, her brothers William Howard Jr. and Lawrence, her uncles, Albert (Mildred, Mary), Stanley (Jean), and Raymond (Sylvia)and her aunts, Harriet Brewer (Pete), Gertrude Rohr (James), Audrey Beaupre (Tracy), Ruthe Martin ( Donald) and several cousins, June Marschat Kelly, Mary Lou Brewer, Stanley Marschat Jr., and William Rohr.She is survived by her cousins, James Rohr, Irene Edison, Robert Beaupre, Barbara Martin, Chris Martin and Anne Martin. She will be missed by her friends and family. Daisy Hill Farm will never be the same.
She was a parishioner at St Martin of Tours Parish. The funeral is planned for early next week. Funeral arrangements can be found at the website for Montano-Shea Funeral Home in Winsted, CT. https://www.montano-shea.com
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David Fitzgerald Morrison
Dec 03, 2025
SALISBURY- — David Morrison, beloved husband, father, friend, uncle, and brother, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 9, 2025, at age 57. A gentle, kind, funny, and very tall man, he adored his wife Frances and his sons, Walter and Henry. He achieved much success as a real estate investment management professional and loved a good spreadsheet, but his true passions were his family and friends.
Big Dave was a proud graduate of Williams College and collected an amazing group of friends there who remained a huge part of his life. He played basketball through high school and college and loved watching his sons play sports as a (loudly) vocal fan and stats keeper. He also served as their mentor, role model, and supporter of their passions. He was always up for golfing, sailing, fly fishing, boating and camping, even better with his boys. He excelled at planning adventures and hunting down the best of every type of cuisine.
A great dancer, he was especially talented after a barrel-aged boulevardier or a ‘Gansett. He loved telling stories full of self-deprecation and humor, which kept his friends and family in stitches. Even with all his silliness, he remained loyal and connected, generous and supportive, bringing joy to all who loved him.
Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, the youngest of 6 siblings, he is survived by his brother, Jimmy, and sisters Jane, Martha, and Ann. He spent many years in Pasadena, California and New York City; in his last year he described that he “was pinching himself” with happiness to be living in Salisbury and Boston. He will be missed in all those places.
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