Thanksgiving

‘On that best portion of a good man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.’
—William Wordsworth

As autumn comes to a close and the holiday season rushes in with all its annual appeal, people in our communities begin to exhibit a communal spirit that shows off the best in all of us. Thanksgiving marks the start of this time of reflection. There are parades on our Main Streets, bringing neighbors together to stand in the cold and wave at passing fire trucks and floats. Family get-togethers that often include friends and those alone during the holiday become celebrations of much more than roast turkey and pumpkin pie. The holiday unites us as families, neighbors and as members of a community.

We take the time to embrace those close to us as well as reach out to those in need.

Last week’s Page One article about Beverly Becker in North Canaan, who has been the driving force behind 17 years of Thanksgiving community dinners in the Northwest Corner, provided a heartwarming example of ‘kindness and love.’ With help from many churches and volunteers, Beverly’s dedicated team will again serve up a free Thanksgiving Day dinner at Pilgim House in North Canaan. She said she got the idea for community dinners when she “heard a priest read a passage about giving to people you don’t know and expecting nothing in return.”

In this week’s edition, on Page One, we tell the story of a homeless family of four that is living in a tent in the woods, huddled up during our cold nights under blankets, jackets and sleeping bags. For the Garcia family, the Gathering Place in Torrington, a drop-in center for homeless, is a place to get warm and wash clothes. The family gets meals at the Community Soup Kitchen in Torrington. It should not be overlooked that homelessness in Connecticut has risen by 14% in the last two years.

In 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday — to encourage people to unite in gratitude — the nation was engaged in the Civil War. Lincoln wished to “heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it...to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.”

As we come together this Thanksgiving, let us be grateful for all that we have, and that includes living in community that can come together and care about everyone, one that shares its bounty with the less fortunate and the lonely and unites us all in gratitude.

We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.


With gratitude

We are grateful, too, to our many readers, advertisers, supporters and donors. Without you, we would not be able to continue our mission of helping members of our communities make more informed and inspired decisions through our comprehensive news and arts coverage. Enclosed in this week’s edition is a pre-addressed envelope and appeal letter. With your continued support, we will be able to serve our communities for years to come. Please give generously.

Latest News

Amenia’s Elk Ravine Farm funds conservation through unique tours

Jim Archer of Elk Ravine Farm takes a seat on Billy the water buffalo on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Jim Archer doesn’t look like a typical “influencer.” He doesn’t have a podcast and he doesn’t take jet-setting trips to Bali for advertising shoots.

But he has amassed a following of more than 100,000 people across his Instagram and TikTok accounts. Archer shows off his unique collection of farm animals and produces educational content about ecology and the environment all from Elk Ravine Farm, his property on Smithfield Valley Road in Amenia.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sharon Dennis Rosen

SHARON — Sharon Dennis Rosen, 83, died on Aug. 8, 2025, in New York City.

Born and raised in Sharon, Connecticut, she grew up on her parents’ farm and attended Sharon Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She went on to study at Skidmore College before moving to New York City, where she married Dr. Harvey Rosen and together they raised two children.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between’ at the Moviehouse

Claire and Garland Jeffreys in the film “The King of In Between.”

Still from "The King of In between"

There is a scene in “The King of In Between,” a documentary about musician Garland Jeffreys, that shows his name as the answer to a question on the TV show “Jeopardy!”

“This moment was the film in a nutshell,” said Claire Jeffreys, the film’s producer and director, and Garland’s wife of 40 years. “Nobody knows the answer,” she continued. “So, you’re cool enough to be a Jeopardy question, but you’re still obscure enough that not one of the contestants even had a glimmer of the answer.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Haystack Book Festival: writers in conversation

The Haystack Book Festival, a program of the Norfolk Hub, brings renowned writers and thinkers to Norfolk for conversation. Celebrating its fifth season this fall, the festival will gather 18 writers for discussions at the Norfolk Library on Sept. 20 and Oct. 3 through 5.

Jerome A. Cohen, author of the memoir “Eastward, Westward: A Lifein Law.”Haystack Book Festival

Keep ReadingShow less