Woodbury, Connecticut — Woodbury’s life as a ski area appears to be over.

The Republican American reports that the former Woodbury Ski Area has been sold to a local couple. Seymour Blackwood and Simone Pyne have purchased the property for $675,000 and intend to convert the base lodge into a home. They could run the lifts, as they are operational, but it’s unclear whether the new homeowners are skiers or riders. This move to make the base lodge a home likely means the end of public skiing and riding at the Woodbury ski area.

Woodbury opened in the early 1960s and was initially known as the Tapawingo Ski Area. In 1972, former U.S. Ski Team member Rod Taylor bought the ski hill and renamed it Woodbury Ski and Racquet Club. In the 2000s, they were the first ski area in New England to open for the season several times, beating out the heavyweights Killington and Sunday River. However, since Connecticut’s winters are underwhelming compared to its New England counterparts, they focused on adding many summer attractions.

The longtime owner of Woodbury, Olympian Rod Taylor, passed away in 2014, and the last year it operated for skiing was in 2016. The mountain did not open during the 2016-2017 season and was placed on the market in 2017. Numerous owners followed without any success in reopening the mountain. One proposal came from Art Powers, who wanted to turn the hill into a venue with various summer attractions. Before a deal could be finalized, Art died in a skiing accident at Stowe in February of 2021.

In 2021, it appeared like Woodbury would be revived. Eric Anderson, the owner of Quassy Amusement Park, bought the property and aimed to reopen the tubing park and the ski area. However, he was too preoccupied with running the amusement park and decided to put the properties back on the market in 2022. For more information about the life and times of Woodbury, check out New England Ski History.

Image Credits: Woodbury Ski Area, Skimap.org

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Associated Press

Las Vegas Aces (21-12, 10-8 Western Conference) at Connecticut Sun (24-9, 13-6 Eastern Conference)

Uncasville, Connecticut; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas Aces plays the Connecticut Sun after A’ja Wilson scored 30 points in the Aces’ 90-71 win against the Chicago Sky.

The Sun have gone 12-4 in home games. Connecticut ranks ninth in the WNBA with 19.6 assists per game led by Alyssa Thomas averaging 7.6.

The Aces are 10-5 on the road. Las Vegas is fourth in the Western Conference scoring 35.0 points per game in the paint led by Wilson averaging 13.9.

Connecticut averages 80.3 points per game, 2.1 fewer points than the 82.4 Las Vegas gives up. Las Vegas averages 9.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 6.4 per game Connecticut gives up.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Aces defeated the Sun 85-74 in their last matchup on June 22. Wilson led the Aces with 26 points, and DiJonai Carrington led the Sun with 19 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: DeWanna Bonner is averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Sun.

Wilson is averaging 27.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 2.7 blocks for the Aces.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sun: 6-4, averaging 80.9 points, 31.8 rebounds, 20.1 assists, 9.7 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.6 points per game.

Aces: 5-5, averaging 83.7 points, 30.9 rebounds, 19.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.8 points.

INJURIES: Sun: None listed.

Aces: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

A heartbreaking day felt in Georgia and across the country, including right here in Connecticut following a school shooting that left four dead and another nine hurt.

“When there is a school shooting, it absolutely is re-traumatizing for every family that has lost a child to violence, whether it’s in a school or not,” Scarlett Lewis, Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement founder, said.

After losing her six-year-old son in the Sandy Hook tragedy, Lewis launched the “Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement” which teaches people how to deal with difficult times in their life and grow from them.

“Why are our kids so angry? Because they’re in a tremendous amount of emotional pain and they don’t have the skills and tools to manage that pain. And so they take it out on other people,” Lewis said.

Nicole Hockley’s son Dylan was killed at Sandy Hook elementary and then she co-founded Sandy Hook Promise.

In a statement, Hockley wrote in part:

“This crisis demands action from all of us, no matter what divides us. By working together, we can create a future where all children are free from the threat of gun violence in their schools, homes, and communities.”

Sandy Hook Promise has promoted violence prevention programs and has called for new gun laws to help keep firearms from those who might be a danger to themselves or others.

Tougher gun laws is something Newtown Action Alliance is also demanding.

The shooting’s impact is being felt by others here in the state.

UConn alum and Connecticut Sun player Olivia Nelson-Ododa wrote on X, “never in a million years would I imagined this happening in my hometown.”

She adds her heart is broken and she is praying for people there.