KENT—An effort to build CommUNITY that started last year has taken on visual symbolism in 2024 with unified decorations in the town.
“A group of us formed last year with the idea of building community spirit in the town, working with businesses and non-profits,” said Chamber of Commerce Vice President Ellen Corsell. “We started talking about a unified design for the holidays. Of course, we have the greatest gift in the universe in Gary Kidd, [co-owner and manager of the vibrant 45 on Main].”
Kidd proposed lighted stars that could be placed before businesses. “He contacted, arranged and designed the stars with the people at High Watch,” Corsell reported.
High Watch, an addiction recovery center that has been in Kent since 1939, was eager to participate through its Hope House program. Hope House is an extension of the regular therapeutic program at the center, where guests become part-time employees on the 100-acre Joy Farm. On a property adjacent to the main campus, crops are grown, animals are cared for, and a woodshop is operated. Working on the farm gives High Watch guests a sense of purpose, which is important during early recovery.
Hope House manager Christopher Gregory was instrumental in helping with the stars, organizing Hope House guests. Hank Barlow oversaw production in the woodshop and helped to improve the design. “Hank is the star of this,” said Corsell. “There he was cutting up stars, cutting up stars …”
“High Watch donated so much time and labor—it is so supportive of Kent, and they want to grow the relationship,” Corsell continued.
Indeed, on Dec. 5, High Watch provided a dinner for the town’s emergency responders in a gesture of gratitude for the fire department and ambulance squad’s medical transports for its guests. In 2024 KVFD responded to more than 90 calls to High Watch.
Dr. Gregory Boris, the Vice President of Medical Affairs, at High Watch for the last six years, addressed the volunteers and their significant others at the dinner, saying he is “appreciative of how often you guys help us out.”
Meanwhile, even as High Watch was feeding volunteers and helping to create the stars, the community group was going around town looking for places to install them. “We looked for who had power, space and the best lawns,” said Corsell. “We got the first batch in place and got rave reviews. We have 54 now.
“Who doesn’t love a star?” she continued. “I always said Gary is our Pollyanna, [a character in a 1913 book who converts a dour town with her irrepressible optimism]. Pollyanna made her town ‘the glad town,’ but Gary has made us the ‘star town’ by creating this beautiful unity.”
Corsell said many in the town came together to make it happen. The Chamber helped finance them, High Watch helped to build them, a group got together at Town Hall to wrap them and other people helped to install them.
The CommUNITY effort evolved to counter the negativism and divisiveness that has been brewing in America in recent decades. An early effort was for the Chamber of Commerce to work with the fire department on the 2023 Parade of Lights, which drew hundreds of people to town.
“This year, the whole town celebrated again and there were even more floats, a hot dog party, bonfire and carol singing … people came from Burlington and Harwinton. The joy in town was so prevalent,” she said.
More communal events are planned for this spring, such as game nights and folk dancing.
