Home Care In Beacon Falls, CT

At least 99 sheep and one goose were rescued from a farm in Beacon Falls where at least five sheep and two lambs were found dead.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture took custody of the animals after searching the property on Lopus Road on Feb. 24 and finding unsuitable living conditions and other concerning evidence of maltreatment like excess growth of wool on the sheep causing skin conditions and bald patches and overgrown hooves preventing the animals from walking, according to the Department of Agriculture.

In their search of the farm, the department also found five dead sheep and two dead lambs, one of whom was found to have drowned after falling into a bucket of water shortly after it was born, according to a warrant permitting the search.

The surviving animals — including 65 adult sheep and 34 lambs — were taken to the department’s rescue and rehabilitation facility within the Department of Corrections’ facility in Niantic. Woodbridge Regional Animal Control also took custody of 15 cats that were voluntarily surrendered, the department said.

The department also found evidence of other dead animals, including animal carcasses and bones littered through some parts of the farm.

“The property had a great deal of debris, including trash and many empty beer cans,” according to the warrant.

The pasture was filled with debris, including pallets, fence posts, cat food containers, construction debris and general trash, the warrant said.

In a shed, the department found a newborn lamb that was visibly shivering. They rushed the lamb and its mother to an emergency veterinarian who was able to stabilize the pair that was apparently near death, the warrant said.

After they were stabilized at a Tufts veterinary hospital, the ewe and lamb were taken to the rescue barn in Niantic while the department tried to work with the owner to “further assess and resolve the situation,” the department said.

The owner of the farm told officials that he had not been feeling well lately and had been physically unable to move the carcasses of the dead sheep to places where they could decompose or do maintenance tasks like replacing heating lamps. He also told officials that his truck had broken down, meaning he couldn’t move animals to auction and therefore had more animals at the farm than he usually did, the warrant said.

The department was first alerted to concerns at the farm when a complaint was lodged on Feb. 22. Members of the department met with the owner of the animals the next day and removed an ewe and her lamb who were brought to a veterinarian “to receive critical treatment for survival,” the department said.

The rest of the animals were seized after the department searched the farm. They will all be evaluated and treated by state-licensed veterinarians and will remain in the department’s custody until the case moves through the court system.

Resources and support for animal owners facing hardship are available through the Department of Agriculture at 860-713-2500.

SEYMOUR — Residents can learn about plans for a connector road slated to be built between Route 67 in downtown Seymour and Route 42 in neighboring Beacon Falls at a public hearing next month.

The Seymour Board of Selectpersons scheduled the hearing for 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Seymour Town Hall.

Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said the town is hoping to secure a $16 million state grant through the Department of Economic and Community Development. Drugonis said a public hearing is required due to traffic patterns being changed with the new connector road.

“In order for us to get the funding we need to have a public hearing,” Drugonis said. ?“Haynes will do a presentation and Sheila O’Malley (Seymour’s economic development consultant) will do a presentation and they’ll be at the public hearing to answer questions about the project.”

Drugonis said O’Malley submitted the grant application in August. The application, however, was denied because the town didn’t hold a public hearing.

“With the grant we have to ensure the people are well aware of the project details,” Drugonis said.

O’Malley said the state Department of Transportation requested more public participation in the process, because a traffic pattern will be changing. Once the public hearing is held, both Drugonis and O’Malley said the grant application will be resubmitted to the DECD.

The town already secured a $3 million federal grant earlier this year from U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro to go toward building the road between downtown Seymour and Beacon Falls.

The road will open up a major development opportunity for Tom Haynes, of Haynes Construction, LLC, who, according to Seymour officials, wants to develop land behind the Seymour Stop & Shop into a multi-use development, similar to what Haynes did with Quarry Rock on Route 67 in nearby Oxford.

Drugonis said the additional $16 million would not only help with the road construction, but will also be used to build a walkway, and extend Seymour’s greenway into Beacon Falls. She said the biggest benefit to building a connector road is to alleviate the traffic in downtown Seymour, which is a nightmare at rush hour.

“The Route 67/Route 42 connector road is crucial to eliminating a lot of the traffic that is downtown,” Drugonis said. ?“If you try to get anywhere downtown between 4 and 7 p.m., you don’t’ go anywhere.”

Drugonis said the building project that Haynes is proposing is separate from the connector road, but once built she said it will have a lot of benefits.

“It’s not just a great opportunity for Haynes, but it will increase our Grand list, lower our mill rate and increase our tax base,” Drugonis said. ?“But the most important part is the traffic and the flow of downtown. It’s a bottleneck and by opening up this connector road, we’re going to eliminate the traffic jam of people trying to get on the Route 8 connector, by having them take the Route 67/Route 42 connector.”

Seymour town officials have been trying to get the access road off the ground for 20 years, seeing it as a major economic development project next to Route 8 and the Waterbury branch of Metro-North Railroad. Hayes’ land totals some 220 acres.

DeLauro said back at a June press conference held here that the Haynes project will combat a housing crisis in Connecticut.

“It’s about creating jobs, and it’s about creating market rate and affordable housing,” DeLauro said.

An informational kiosk describes life at High Rock Grove during the 1800s: “A dam on the Naugatuck River was built to divert water to the mills in Beacon Falls. The lake behind the dam was a popular swimming and boating area, and a network of trails, bridges and picnic areas filled the woods. Passenger trains brought visitors from New Haven and Waterbury in special picnic cars. A full brass band would play whenever a train passed. On summer weekends, hundreds of people could be found enjoying the river and scenery at High Rock Grove.”

The picnic train cars and brass band are things of the past, but not much else has changed since the 19th century, with visitors to the area seeking out the same adventures and respites now offered as the West Block of the Naugatuck State Forest in the wilds of Naugatuck, Oxford and Beacon Falls. It’s a place where visitors can explore the falls of Spruce Brook or hike along the peaceful banks of area reservoirs or to the top of craggy rocks high above Route 8 and those same railroad tracks.

The main parking area is located near Spruce Brook’s confluence with the Naugatuck River. The trailhead for a path marked with blue blazes is located along the southern banks of the brook, and unmarked paths run along the northern side. Those with a sense of adventure can navigate the brook bed by climbing over boulders and ledges and through deep pools.

NEW YEAR SALE: Only 99¢ for Unlimited Digital Access!

“Through this a beautiful mountain stream comes plunging down,” notes The History of the Old Town of Derby, 1642-1880, “winding around huge boulders which lie in its path, and leaping over rocky ledges, forming a series of charming little cascades, some of them hidden under the dense shadows of the woods.”

The first waterfall, a 15-foot plunge over a huge boulder, is the ravine’s main feature. Greg Parsons and Kate Watson of newenglandwaterfalls.com wrote a guide to more than 400 waterfalls across New England. They note the main falls is one of only two in New England where visitors can get behind the plunge due to a huge flat boulder and its overhang. They gave it 3.5 stars out of five.

“Depending on your own standards of what classifies as a waterfall, there are at least six or seven falls to be found here,” they note. “The ravine in which the falls lie supports an unusually large variety of plant life, which adds a lot of color to the area. Altogether, this is undoubtedly a contender for one of the prettiest ravines in all of New England.”

The blue-blazed trail continues to wind along the brook under the canopy of the hemlocks before reaching a crossing and an old woods road marked with white blazes. A bridge marks the entry into a huge waterfall that runs down a sheer cliff. Visitors can take an unmarked side trail that provides commanding views of the waterfall or hike along the flat ledges of the brook to the bottom of the falls and a small, cave-like depression where the water flows around you.

The trails around the four reservoirs located in the southwestern part of the block are easy to follow thanks to a multicolored trail system. Visitors can follow the blue-blazed path to explore Reservoir 4 or follow a red- and green-blazed trail that leads south to Reservoir 3. Each reservoir has a dam and spillway at its southern end, taking Pine Brook on its journey through the quartet of impoundments before emptying out into the Naugatuck River.

The paved Spruce Brook Road runs through the heart of the block for those who are less sturdy on their feet. Look for the trail marked with red diamonds near a small parking area that will bring hikers to the northern overlook. Toby’s Rock Mountain can be accessed from the blue trail that runs along Spruce Brook. There are views south and north along the Route 8 corridor which is surprisingly heavily forested and mountainous, something you might miss when driving along the busy highway.

Stats

Naugatuck State Forest, West Block — Naugatuck, Oxford and Beacon Falls

The bottom line: Trails run through the picturesque Spruce Brook ravine, to the top of a pair of stunning overlooks and loop around four reservoirs with pine groves and along paths that travel along the banks of the impoundments.

Length: Multiple trails through the eastern and northern portions of the block total 20 miles to make it a day of hiking.

Difficulty: The paths along the ravine and hikes roundup the overlook are moderately challenging. The reservoir paths are relatively easy.

Directions: Route 8 to Exit 24. Travel south on Route 852 and take a right on Railroad Avenue, cross the iron bridge, and over the railroad tracks. Take a right on Cold Springs Road. Visitors can either park at the gate or follow the unimproved and rugged road along the railroad tracks. Look for the parking area where the road turns and leaves the tracks. There is parking for the reservoirs along Route 42 in Oxford, and a paved portion of Spruce Brook Road can be accessed off the end of Hunters Mountain Road in Naugatuck. Go to tinyurl.com/naugystateforest for a map of the state forest.

Pet friendly? Leashed dogs are allowed and must be cleaned up after with the plastic bags disposed properly.

More for you

Nearby attractions

Black Hog Brewing in Oxford features 12 taps with a variety of ales and lagers, from a Cold Pizza pilsner to a Hogenator to a S.W.A.G summer wheat ale. The tasting room offers local snacks, and there is a rotating selection of food trucks.

Fire off some frustration at Oxford’s Yankee Paintball, with fields for 68-caliber paintball for teens and adults, and low-impact, 50-caliber action for kids 12 and younger.

In Naugatuck, Avenue Restaurant serves traditional Portuguese cuisine including clams with peppers, onions and Portuguese sausage in red sauce, octopus Galego style, and a Portuguese-style steak with fried potatoes and an egg.

BEACON FALLS, CT - The Diary of Anne Frank is coming to Woodland High School playing October 27th through October 29th.

The show is a theatrical adaptation of the bestselling novel, The Diary of a Young Girl. As World War II wreaks havoc across Europe, eight people are forced to go into hiding. In this “Secret Annex,” happiness, sorrow, and love all prevail. Anne Frank is discovering herself and understanding others during this two year period of survival. Food is low, money is being drained, but somehow the families always find a small light within their situation.

“It is always important that the community learns what can happen when you marginalize a group of people,” said Tom Simonetti, Woodland’s director. “We need to understand and connect with significant parts of history, such as Anne’s story, to prevent it from recurring.”

The set is an important aspect of this show as the annex is a character within itself. Set designer Claire Cummings is working to make the typical proscenium into a traverse theater. The audience will be sitting on the stage with the performers in the offstage area known as the wings to create an immersive experience. Thus, seating is limited, so those hoping to see the show are advised to pre-order their ticket online.

“It is a challenge to collaborate creative ideas when it comes to historical representation. We want the audience to feel the emotions of the show,” said Claire Cummings, set designer. “Bringing the audience on the stage is a unique experience that Woodland has never seen before.”

Anne Frank will be portrayed by Hannah Mudry, a senior who has previously been involved in four Woodland productions.

“I can’t wait to see how the audience reacts to this performance,” said Mudry. “Anne Frank’s story is so important to tell. She wanted people to hear it. She wanted her diary to get published.” The members of the Frank family are portrayed by Connor Doughney, Otto Frank; Hannah Semrow, Edith Frank; and Lily Rosenblum, Margot Frank.

The other members of the “Secret Annex” are Dylan Tyrell playing Hermann van Daan, Runiyah Albino playing Petronella van Daan, Evan Moore playing Peter van Daan, and EJ Nastu playing Alfred Dussel.

The ensemble features Zoe Kindt as Miep Gies, Tyler Polaski as Mr. Kraler, and Jeffery Guluzy, Korbyn Benham, and Reese Fernandes as the three men.

Reese Fernandes is also understudying for all male roles. Abigail Diamante is understudying for all female roles, except for Anne Frank. Standby for Anne Frank is Michaela Durrah.

The tech team is led by Julianna Fernandez, as Stage Manager. Set and property design is by Claire Cummings. Costumes are designed by Jamie Misuraca.

The Diary of Anne Frank will be presented on Friday, October 27th at 7 PM; Saturday, October 28th at 2 PM and 7 PM; and Sunday, October 29th at 7 PM in the Woodland High School auditorium: 135 Back Rimmon Rd, Beacon Falls, CT. Tickets can be purchased by calling 203-881-5551 or through presale by going to showtix4u.com and searching for Region 16.

A goose was also taken to the state's rescue facility at the prison in Niantic.

BEACON FALLS, Conn. — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture took 99 sheep, 15 cats and one goose into custody after they found them neglected on a farm last week.

The sheep and the goose were taken from the farm on Lopus Road to the state's rescue operations at the Department of Corrections facility in Niantic. The cats were taken in by The Woodbridge Regional Animal Control after they were voluntarily surrendered.

The sheep, including 65 adults and 34 lambs, will be evaluated and treated by state-licensed veterinarians and remain in the department's custody until the case works its way through the court system.

Officials said they received a complaint on Feb. 22. The caller said they could see several sheep carcasses being picked at by vultures from the street.

The state Department of Agriculture’s Animal Control Unit and Regulatory Services staff met with the owner of the animals, David Chestnitis, 65, on the next day to further assess the situation. The found sheep that had trouble getting up and that had not been sheered in several years. The property had debris strewn around and at least two dead sheep were at one end of the property.

Chestnitis told officials that he had been sick lately and was unable to move the carcasses. He said he did not have a veterinarian, "because he knows more than they do" and it was difficult to find a large animal vet "that sees more than cats and dogs," according to the warrant.

One ewe and her lamb were removed with permission of the owner and brought to a veterinarian to receive the necessary treatment for survival since investigators felt that it would not survive the night. It was one of two born recently and Chestnitis said the other had drowned. He also said, according to the warrant, that he had an inoperable heat lamp. Following treatment, the lamb and ewe were transported to the rescue barn in Niantic.

Investigators found several carcasses strewn around the property.

The remainder of the animals were taken on Feb. 24.

Sign up for the FOX61 newsletters: Morning Forecast, Morning Headlines, Evening Headlines

The investigation revealed animal welfare concerns, including unsuitable living conditions, excess growth of wool causing skin conditions and bald patches, as well as lameness due to overgrown hooves, the Department of Agriculture applied for and was granted, a search and seizure warrant for the remaining animals in question.

Related Articles

Related Articles

Doug Stewart is the Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].

---

Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

----

HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS

Download the FOX61 News APP

iTunes: Click here to download

Google Play: Click here to download

Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.

Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.