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The Falcons, who had shot one of their best rounds of the season a week earlier, added 30 strokes to their score on Wednesday, May 15. They still had enough room for error in a 221-246 win over Immaculate at Redding Country Club.

“After coming off one of their  best outings of the year it was a little disheartening,” aid Barlow coach Rodney Loesch. “But we have a little over a week to get ready for the SWC tournament.”

No golfer shot under 50. Barlow still had the medalist for the match as Sabrina Thomas had a 51 for nine holes.

Jessica Calzone was next with a 56. Completing the scoring for the team, Kate Valenti and Alexandra Amente each shot a 57.

Also playing in the match, Colleen Yost had a 69.

Barlow, now 8-3 overall, plays in the South-West Conference tournament on Tuesday at Orange Hills Country Club at 9 a.m.

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Playing at Whitney Farms in Monroe, the Falcons posted higher than usual scores for the most part. Having the medalist, however, helped in a 174-180 win on Tuesday, May 14.

Max Hayes led the way with a two-over-par 38 for nine holes. No one else broke 40.

Next was Mason Mobilio with a 42, Kyle Rivard shot a 44.

Completing the scoring for the team was Andrew Bindelglass with a 50. Also playing in the match, Robbie Frierson turned in a 52.

Although Barlow sixth golfer Jake Sullivan shot a 47 his score was not factored into the total.

Barlow, now 11-4 overall and 10-0 in the South-West Conference, plays in the SWC tournament on Friday at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury.

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Blood Pressure Screening will be on Tuesday, May 28, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Lounge. This is a free service for Ridding residents.

Every Tuesday at 1 and 6 p.m., Adele Moros teaches an art class using the medium of one’s choice with emphasis on composition, color, value and design. Adele is a multi-media artist whose works are included in a great many corporate and private collections. She is a creative instructor with patience and understanding of the desires of a new student. Stop in on any Tuesday, and she would be happy to discuss any questions regarding her class.

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A Memorial Day ceremony will take place at noon with the invocation by the Rev. Marilyn Anderson, rector at Christ Church, Episcopal at the auditorium, with parade step-off at 12:15. The parade will proceed along Route 107 to the Redding Green for flag-raising by local Boy Scouts and wreath-placing by local Girl Scouts at the Memorial Stone. This memorial honors the veterans of World War I.

The benediction will be given by Father Joseph Cervero, St. Patrick Church pastor.

This annual event is a Sanford family tradition, now being chaired by Hank Sanford.

Mr. Sanford said his father, Earl, started the Memorial Day observance and after he died, his brother Marshall took over the duties. With Marshall’s passing, Hank Sanford stepped in and has remained true to keeping the parade and observance brief, with the focus on children.

His father’s goal was to have the young people in town understand what Memorial Day is all about, said Mr. Sanford.

As a result, only veterans and youth groups like the Scouts and the Redding-Easton Boys & Girls Club’s teams march, as well as members of all three town volunteer fire departments and the Weston volunteer department. The Board of Selectmen is always invited as well, and state and federal dignitaries may march, but absolutely no speeches are allowed as part of the Memorial Day observance, said Mr. Sanford.

“I would like as many townspeople to be there as possible,” said Mr. Sanford on Monday.

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This year students will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare on Friday, May 31, Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2.

Ms. Ponturo said that for this production she wanted to get as many students involved as possible.

“There is much more collaboration,” she said. “I have this vision of a bigger artistic team.”

In the past, parents had given their time to volunteer for the play, said Ms. Ponturo. This year she sent the message out to students for them to help.

Emily Chung, senior, took on the role of set designer and Danielle Parisot, senior, choreographed the dance routines.

A group of students are also lending their talents with music, stage crew and mechanics.

Ms. Ponturo said participation for the drama is also increasing. She said students have a preconceived notion about performing Shakespeare.

“I cut the script, put in live music, we have modern costumes and the students actually understand the humor,” she said.

Parent Aimee Pardee is in charge of costumes and Will Ponturo is the music director for the fourth year in a row.

Mr. Ponturo said  this is the biggest group of students he’s been able to work with and that they are the “best group so far.”

“We’re going to have an extreme range in sounds and highlighting certain characters with different music,” he said.

Last year Ms. Ponturo directed the students in “Hamlet.” She said she alternates between a drama and a comedy.

“This is a completely different tune,” she said.

Each student who tries out for the play gets a part. Of the 28 students, seven are seniors who will perform their last show in the Barlow auditorium.

Brynn Gilchrist, a senior, said she doesn’t want this to be her last play at Barlow but she is glad it’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Brynn has been part of the theater program at Barlow for the past four years and said she’s made a lot of friends there. Her last role at Barlow will be playing Titania.

“She is fun and sassy,” said Brynn.

Colin Megna, a senior, will play the role of Nick Bottom.

“I love my role, it’s pretty funny,” he said.

Colin said  since this is the last play he will perform in at Barlow, it is bittersweet.

“It’s kind of sad but at the same time it’s my favorite play, I love the role and it’s my favorite director. We’re going out with a bang,” he said.

Thomas Ordway, a senior who will play the role of Puck, said this is only his second year doing the drama and wishes he had done it his freshman and sophomore years.

“I feel like I missed out not doing the full experience,” he said. “It really is bittersweet.”

Jon Gregg, a senior, said he’s had an amazing experience over all during his time in the theater program at Barlow.

“I’m excited but sad,” he said.

Jon will play the role of Peter Quince as his last performance.

But as the seniors take their bows, more students are becoming interested in the theater program, be it on stage or behind the scenes.

James Ordway, a freshman, said this will be his first drama at the school. James participated in the fall and winter productions.

“I like Shakespeare. It’s interesting to me. Some people don’t get it, but it clicks for me,” he said.

Sarah Pardee, a junior, said reading “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in sophomore year English was one of her favorites.

“I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to do the play,” she said.

Sarah was originally cast as Moth but was reassigned to Hermia.

“I love the role. It’s a lot of fun and interesting,” she said.

She said switching roles was stressful because she didn’t know the new lines but she is learning them.

Students are rehearsing the play every day after school until opening night. Dress rehearsals started this week.

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Aquarion plans to clean up a two-acre site near the West Redding Firehouse off Umpawaug Road due to damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. — Kaitlin Bradshaw photo

Anyone driving along Umpawaug Road just before the West Redding firehouse has seen the devastation left by last fall’s Superstorm Sandy. Fallen and broken trees litter the landscape.

Leendert DeJong, Aquarion’s manager of watershed and environmental management, said Aquarion, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Nature Conservancy own the Centennial Forest watershed land, which is managed by a conservation committee. The majority of the land is Class II, which is adjacent to Class I, the land that serves as a buffer around reservoirs to protect the watershed.

Mr. DeJong said Sandy left behind “severe devastation” of the 130 to 140 acres of white pine forest, including on the Redding site. The company’s plan is to change the white pine forest to a hardwood forest, he said.

The company’s plan for the Umpawaug site is to take down some damaged trees but leave fallen or snapped off six-inch diameter or larger trees on the ground “to keep deer browsing down there, and to prevent soil erosion,” said Mr. DeJong.

Jerry Milne, a state forester with the DEEP, said most of the white pines were planted in the 1930s by the water company to protect the water supply, but a monoculture was created, leaving the white pines subject to insect infestation. The wet winds from Sandy brought many down because the white pines were so close together “and never became wind-firm,” he said.

He said the removed trees will be stockpiled at the site behind the firehouse and then loggers will take the trees away.

Before a timber harvest takes place in a state forest, said Mr. Milne, there is a review for rare, threatened or endangered species. None have been identified.

The work on the site is slated to begin in June and to take two to three days.

David Pattee, Conservation Commission chairman, said the town has a  trailhead that starts on Umpawaug and is now blocked by trees.

“ I hope the logging group makes it a passable trail,” he said.

Mr. Milne said the logging crew would do that.

First Selectman Natalie Ketcham asked if there are plans to replant trees at the Umpawaug site. Mr. Milne said the forest will regenerate itself because of all the seeds already there, such as black cherry. The area will be treated for invasives, he said.

“There will be a natural hardwood forest within a few years, depending on the deer,” he said. He added it would take 40 years for the forest to grow back to its original size.

“Forest are dynamic ecosystems and are always changing,” said Mr. Milne. “Now there is an artificial forest planted by the water company.

Earlier, Mr. DeJong said there is a misconception that the tree work the company is doing [a lot along Route 58] is a commercial enterprise. The company has hired a logging company and is selling the white pine wood in Canada. Mr. DeJong said expenses versus revenue “may even out” or expenses could be more than revenue.

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Pitcher Emily Marshall allowed only one run in a Joel Barlow High softball game against Weston last Wednesday, May 15. Barlow won 13-1 and with the win qualified for the state Class L tournament.—Rocco Paul Valluzzo photo

A strong finish to the regular season allowed the Joel Barlow High girls softball team to qualify for the state Class L tournament.

The Falcons won six of their last seven games, including their last three, and improvied their record to 9-11 overall.

It was the Falcons’ Senior Night when they hosted Weston last Wednesday, May 15. They held the competition to just a run in a 13-1 win that ended after six innings due to the mercy rule.

Weston jumped out to a 1-0 lead after one full inning. The Falcons tied the game at 1-1 in the second when Kerianne Gibney walked and came around to score on a ground ball by Jordan Williams.

In the third inning Barlow scored five runs. Gloria Davey and Victoria Shea started off the inning with back to back walks, followed by Devan Delallo, who reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Emily Marshall drove in a run with a ground out, followed by four singles by Allie Grimes, Gia Tuccinardi, Jordan Williams and Ashley Pruzak for four more runs as the inning ended with Barlow ahead 6-1.

In the fourth inning shortstop Grimes made the play of the game when she speared a line drive while moving to her left on a ball headed for center field. In the sixth the Falcons would end the game on the mercy rule when they scored seven more times, helped in part by a bases-clearing triple by Shea.

It was a one-hitter for Marshall. The three seniors, Pruzak, Shea and Delallo combined for five hits and five runs.

The last game of the regular season came the next day as Barlow hosted New Milford. Avenging a 6-5 loss earlier in the season, the hosts won 9-3.

The Green Wave put the pressure on early with a lead-off single. The second batter bunted and an errant throw went wide past first base. Right fielder Williams hustled in to back up and proceeded to throw the runner out as she tried to advance to second. The next batter grounded to Marshall, who threw to Pruzak at home for the force out. Pruzak in turn delivered the ball to Shea at first for the double play to end the inning.

In the second inning New Milford would strike first when it scored three runs on three his and two stolen bases. Barlow answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame when it strung together six straight hits by Marshall (double), Grimes, Zoe Marcelino, Tuccinardi, Gibney, and Pruzak. In the third inning Tuccinardi and Davey both made outstanding catches in the outfield to keep New Milford off the board.

In the fourth  Barlow would add two more runs and take a 5-3 lead when Marcelino, Tuccinardi, Pruzak and Shea all singled.

The Falcons added the final four runs in the game in the fifth inning. Marshall and Pruzak singled, Grimes hit a double and Tuccinardi, Gibney, Davey and Shea all reached on errors.

In the top of the seventh Williams made her second outstanding defensive play of the game when she left her feet at full speed to nab what would have been an extra base hit down the right field line.

Marshall only gave up one hit over the last five innings.

Barlow begins the state tournament next week.

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Joel Barlow High’s Tara Dooley competes in the long jump at the South-West Conference girls track finals on Monday. Barlow was runner-up with 81 points.—Scott Mullin photo

Despite losing a number of key members from last year’s senior class, the Joel Barlow High girls track team improved its overall standing at the South-West Conference championship on Monday.

The Falcons had many strong performances. When all the points were added up they were runners-up with 81 points at Bethel High. It was the second time in three years they finished as runners-up.

Defending champ Weston won its eighth straight title with 132. Brookfield was third with 74.

The meet started off strong with the 4×800 meter relay of senior captains Bea Blackwell and Jillian Marini and juniors Caitlin Neary and Olivia Wilson taking second in nine minutes, 52 seconds, a personal best for the season. Juniors Gillian Blackwell and Christie Kushnir, sophomore Kerri Eden and freshmen Grace Blackwell came together for the 4×100 meter relay and placed fourth with a time of 50.57.

Barlow continued its streak of strong performances when junior Lindsay Doyle took home a gold medal with a winning time of 16.06 in the 100 meter high hurdles. Grace Blackwell also claimed the top spot in the 100 meters with a time of 12.78.

In the 1,600, Wilson placed sixth with a time of 5:38. Sophomore Hannah Brozdowski got eighth in 5:40, both girls scoring for the team. Gillian Blackwell also added to Barlow’s total score by coming in sixth in the 400 in 60.9 seconds, a personal best.

Doyle continued her day of strong performances in the 300 meter hurdles, taking second in a time of 47.2, bettering her own school record.

In the 800, Bea Blackwell ran a 2:25 in a fast field to place fifth. Grace Blackwell ran a 26.26 in the 200, good enough for fourth place.

Finally in the meet’s last running event, the team of Grace Blackwell, Marini, Bea Blackwell, and Gillian Blackwell ran the 4×400 meter relay in a time of 4:09 for fifth and a new school record.

Although Barlow did not have many girls participating in the field events, those that did compete brought in valuable points for the team. In the discus, junior Milo Barer placed fifth with a throw of 103’ 11’’, a new personal best.

In the shot put, senior Sam Scavo had a toss of 28’ 11”, good enough for eighth. Senior captain Tiffany Fernandes took third place in the high jump by clearing 4’ 10’’. Gillian Blackwell also got 4’ 10”, another personal best, taking fourth based on number of attempts.

Finally in the pole vault, freshman Kyleigh Dumas placed fifth at a height of nine feet.

“This is a special group,” said Barlow head coach Dan Spinner. “In the beginning of the season no one thought we were capable of what we did today. They got the job done and we couldn’t be happier.”

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The third-seeded Falcons had twice lost to their opponent, including by a 4-3 score in the regular-season finale on Wednesday, May 15. They still had one more chance to redeem themselves in the South-West Conference semifinals the next day.

A few adjustments to their lineup would do the trick as they turned the tables on their second-seed opponent for a 5-2 upset win and advance to the title match for the sixth straight time.

The Falcons were represented at first singles by Paige Twombly in both matches. Although she lost to Mary Kate Fornshell in the earlier match she won a close 6-4, 7-5 decision over her opponent in the semifinals.

It was also close at second singles. Shelby Vertula picked up her second win over Barlow’s Ali Kudej in as many days, this time 6-4, 6-4.

Barlow coach Eileen Stirling moved Jessica Levine up to third singles for the semifinals and the latter won a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Tara Boyd. The two teams ended up splitting the singles matches as Kara Duggan defeated Barlow’s Olivia Massey 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 4 spot.

The Falcons swept the doubles matches in the semifinals. Alyssa Lyon and Alyssa Gontzes teamed up for the No. 1 spot and defeated Mary Alice Devaney and Lauren Sell 6-4, 6-2.

Sarah McCain and Maddy Frierson, who were at first doubles a day earlier, moved to second doubles and posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over Colleen O’Connell and Meredith Peloso.

It was close at third doubles. Barlow’s Chaisen Petrino and Allison Remmell split sets with Grace Cogquillo and Ali Luchint. The former took the opener 8-6 but lost the next 5-7. A tiebreaker would decide it as the Barlow pair won 12-10.

For the second straight year Barlow would meet Newtown in the finals on Monday. Due to heat the match was stopped after four contests were completed, with Newtown taking them all to win its second straight title.

Stirling felt Twombly played the best match against Caroline Kelly to date despite losing a 6-2, 6-4 decision. The Nighthawks also won second singles with Lauren Beier defeating Kudej 6-3. 6-1.

Newtown swept third singles as Mia Terracino shut out Massey 6-0, 6-0. The lone doubles match to be completed was the No. 1 spot with Julia Frattaroli and Stephanie Roman posting 6-2, 6-1 scores over Lyon and Gontzes.

The Falcons, now 12-6, take part in the SWC individual tournament this week before starting state Class M competition.

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