LIFE

Pastor Brian (full title: Rev. Dr. Brian R. Rajcok, PhD), the lead pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church on Lovely Street in Avon, thinks psychedelics can be a pathway to the divine. “Psychedelics have been used for thousands of years for spiritual purposes,” he says. “It’s not just a discovery from the ‘60s. It goes back to the peyote ceremony, the ayahuasca ceremonies. And what can indigenous spiritualities teach Western people? That’s something I think could be really va

The warm, sunny early evening of June 20 at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center proved to be the perfect setting for the fourth Annual Juneteenth Celebration. The free event and largest of its kind in the Farmington Valley was supported by four local towns that banded together, Avon, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury. The towns were represented by tents set up by their local libraries.

Local police departments once again participated in the Connecticut Law Enforcement Torch run this June. Now in its 40th year, the event involves three days when local officers along 10 different routes – or legs– run through their towns. Those legs ultimately converge for a final run to kick off the Connecticut Special Olympics Summer Games.

America’s birthday at 250 years is also referred to as its semiquincentennial and it has been celebrated across the country, all throughout the year. Valley towns have been busy with multiple activities, from readings of the Declaration, to historical lectures, to plays and reenactments, to grand festivals with fireworks or parades. They have commemorated this historic event in ways as unique as their towns.

A little rain didn’t prevent General George Washington from leading the 2026 Memorial Day Festivities in Avon, an event that also featured Betsy Ross and other historical figures.'

At 6'8", Connor Harris is the tallest player in Banana Ball, not counting the guy who plays on stilts. Banana Ball is baseball with the bunts, mound visits and other boring parts replaced with choreographed dances, trick plays and fan participation (if a fan catches a foul ball, the batter is out). Last year they sold out two games at Fenway Park, two more at Yankee Stadium, and filled many other major league ballparks along with some football stadiums. There's a very long wa

When she started in June, Rev. Ali Hager became the first female pastor in the 267-year history of West Avon Congregational Church. She says delivering her one-hour sermon every Sunday at 10 a.m. is the easiest part of her week, but preparing for it takes about 15-20 hours. In addition to writing the sermon, she works with the staff on the music, the "children's moment," and the Children's Chapel (formerly known as Sunday School).

This story was originally posted on Sept. 24, 2025 By Carl Wiser Staff Writer Sure, you can hike to Heublein Tower, but everyone does that. Instead, try the nearby Tanager Hill trail, where you'll find vernal pools, a farm pond, and a wide variety of bird-friendly habitats before reaching the top of Talcott Mountain. It's one of 14 trails owned by the Simsbury Land Trust, a nonprofit with a team of vigilant and knowledgeable volunteers who maintain the trails and advocate f