Dan Lancaster, Comcast’s construction head for the Sharon project, at left, confers with Rich Phipps, owner of R&R Broadband, contractor for the work, on Thursday, Feb. 22.
SHARON — After years of community-wide surveys, expert planning, public meetings, and coordination of multitiered elements legal and logistical, the work of the SharonConnect Task Force, town officials and Comcast and construction crews is nearly completed.
The last big construction job needed for the project, now judged to be 80-90% completed, was happening on schedule when Dan Lancaster, Comcast’s construction head for the Sharon project, paused for an interview Thursday, Feb. 22. That was the day contractor crews were stringing cable line from West Cornwall Road through the forest to two homes along Route 7.
Rich Phipps, owner of R&R Broadband LLC, was on the job with his crew doing the contracted installation work, involving pulling the cable line through pole to pole down the steep forested incline from West Cornwall Road.
“We’re getting close; we’re almost there,” Lancaster said, noting that 27-30 miles of cable had been strung throughout the town on utility poles, with an additional 7-8 miles of underground buried cable. For Thursday’s job on Route 7, 2,400 feet of cable, just about an entire reel, was needed to cover the distance.
While the project’s initial approval came in February 2023, with the contract with Comcast signed March 2, Lancaster said that it was July before pole permissions were in place, so the underground installation began first.
Jointly providing additional information about the project’s history, SharonConnect Task Force co-chairs Jill Drew and Meghan Flanagan along with the town’s project coordinator, Nikki Blass, indicated that work began March 9 with the stringing of Caroline Drive that took three days to complete. In that one instance, pole permissions were already in place.
While a specific date for completion has not yet been determined, Drew said that the construction phase is winding down. She noted that at least one home received its installation on Super Bowl Sunday.
Looking ahead, Drew said that Comcast is planning to hold at least one community meeting, perhaps in April, at which company representatives will answer any questions, offer technical advice and show residents how to use the Comcast website.
In the spring, the task force is planning a celebration at the Town Beach on Mudge Pond to mark completion of the project, giving a special cheer because Comcast has agreed to install service at the site to enable Wi-Fi calling for the first time. Drew said that cell service at the beach has always been all but impossible, so the service will enhance safety and convenience.
Veterans’ Field has also been wired for internet and Wi-Fi as a part of the project, Drew noted.
There have been challenges to the project along the way, although Drew said that they were not unexpected.
“We do now better understand why universal access [making high-speed internet available to every single address in town] is so hard to achieve. The application process for licensing more than 700 individual utility poles took months,” she said, noting, however, that the issue was expected.
“The Comcast project managers have been great to work with and the people working in Sharon are terrific,” Drew said. Lancaster had returned the compliment, praising the diligent work of the SharonConnect Task Force members and the town as being crucial to the needs of the project. Lancaster brings a history of 37 years of experience with Comcast.
Problems have arisen, however, when residents have contacted the corporate offices, particularly when trying to subscribe for Xfinity mobile phone service in connection with their service packages. Drew cited complaints about interfacing with robots online and by phone bringing frustration to the new customers, who are also suffering delays and confusion when they are ready to sign up for service packages.
Drew suggested that residents needing help with service packages might call 800-934-6489 or go online to: www.xfinity.com/learn/deals/internet
Praising Lancaster as a “can-do” person, Drew went on to applaud the Comcast project team serving the Sharon project, specifically Matt Skane and Elizabeth Calabrese, for being “accessible and responsive.”
As the project winds down, the task force members continue videoconferencing with the Comcast project team every two weeks, identifying specific addresses where issues exist and seeing that those issues are resolved, keeping the homeowner informed along the way.
Reflecting the good relationship built between Comcast and the town, Drew said that Skane and Calabrese were successful in convincing Comcast to add addresses to the project at no additional cost to the town.
Comcast technicians who do the in-home installations, Dan Dodge and Steve Wabrek, have also earned praise from residents for their patience and clear explanation of the service.
‘Night and day’
Asked for comments about their satisfaction with the new high-speed internet, two residents termed it “night and day.”
Ellsworth resident Larry Rand wrote that several weeks ago, Comcast had installed a new modem in Rand’s home, replacing a wireless system.
“We immediately went from download speeds of 1-70mbps (upload 10mbps) with daily rebooting to a dependable download speed of 250-350mbps (upload 50-80mbps). It has been like going from night to day.”
“We are thankful Sharon decided to extend Comcast coverage to areas like ours,” Rand said.
“I felt like I took off a blindfold that I had not realized I was wearing in the first place” said John Brett of Drum Road. He said that his connectivity went from 2.03mbps for a download (upload .035mbps) to 356mbps (upload 11.6mbps).
“You get the idea, basically night and day,” Brett said.
Kate Stiassni, a Boland Road resident with a long driveway, is no less pleased. “I think this SharonConnect is a great story,” she said, crediting a group of “smart, dedicated Sharon residents” for their years of effort to solve the problem of poor internet service.
Stiassni’s service was connected during the summer. A builder by profession, she indicated that she can now send and receive heavy architectural files. As a textile artist, she can send high-resolution images of her works without cringing when she hits the “send” button. Her musician son said that he is no longer stressed by her internet service when he visits. She herself can now download a book in under five minutes rather than the previous rate of five hours.
“I am a pretty normal person with pretty normal everyday needs who can now live convincingly in the 21st century,” Stiassni said.
“We are thrilled to have access to the internet via Xfinity,” said resident Joan Lewis, who lives on Herb Road, noting that several providers had been tried in past years before the Comcast project, but ultimately her service had involved “pinging off a nearby cell tower.”
“Thanks to the SharonConnect task force, and Xfinity’s technician Steve Wabrek, we have finally joined the rest of Sharon enjoying all things high-speed internet has to offer,” Lewis said, noting that she had scheduled her recent activation in February for her birthday as a gift to herself.
FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.
She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.
Robin loved the beach, sunshine, and gardening, and was known for her strength, humor, and unwavering support of those she loved.
She is survived by her daughter, Sierra R. Zinke, and brothers, Darren Roy and Todd Roy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharon Thomkins Roy and Robert Roy, and her brother Nevin Roy.
No services will be held at this time.
SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.
At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.
“Mike” loved the sun, sand and water and spent many summers at Westport Point, Massachusetts with the kids and their best friends, the Bauers.She was the consummate hostess, and a wonderful cook.She also appeared in several plays with The Sherman Players and also a show or two on special occasions at The Kent Community House.She took enjoyment from working outdoors doing chores around her home in North Kent.She lived in that house until she sold it and bought a condominium on North Main Street in Kent in May of 2003.She lived in the condo until 2018 after which her light began to fade and her last 8 years were spent comfortably at Noble Horizons.
“Mike” leaves behind her children, Richard (Susan) of Lakeville, her daughter Nancy Rutledge (Jim) of Salisbury; two grandchildren, Chandra Gerrard (Sean) of Litchfield, Matthew (Larissa) of Lakeville; three great grandchildren, Addison, Emilia and Everett, all of Lakeville.
She was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Caroline in 2020.
All services are private.The Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in charge of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.
Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in June. Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury and Scoville Memorial Library.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
TORRINGTON — Roger D. Ovitt, 91, of 35 Berry St. Torrington, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family.He was the husband of Barbara (Webb) Ovitt of Torrington.Roger was born June 28, 1934 in Amenia, New York, son of the late Ronald and Edna Lucy (King) Ovitt.
Roger had worked for 36 years as a crusher operator for the former Pfizer Corporation in Canaan. After retiring from Pfizer in 1992, Roger joined his brother, Brian, and began a new career as a house painter. Roger enjoyed this venture with his brother.He was an avid fisherman.Roger also loved to garden.He took great pride in the flowers and vegetables that he raised.
In addition to his wife, Roger is survived by his children;Donald Ovitt and his wife Alissa of Clarksville, Tennessee, Jennifer Godburn and her husband Stephen of Sarasota, Florida, Valerie Bachman and her husband Paul of Torrington, Connecticut, Stephanie Follett of Ashley Falls, Massachusetts, and Nelson Roddy and his wife Mary of Lakeville, Connecticut.Roger is also survived by his sister, Eleanor Hineman of Connecticut, and his three brothers; Robert Ovitt of Southfield, Massachusetts, Brian Ovitt and his wife Alice of Sheffield, Massachusetts, and Gary Ovitt and his wife Cheryl of Sheffield, Massachusetts; his brother-in-law Charlton Webb of Winsted, Connecticut;12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Roger was predeceased by his daughter, Penny Fallon, sister Joy Eichstedt, brothers Ronald, Carlton, Jerry, Wayne, and Raymond Ovitt, his grandson Shawn Bachman, his great-grandsonEli Green, and his step-father Edwin Mansir.
A Celebration of Roger’s Life will be held on Saturday Jan. 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home 118 Main St. North Canaan, CT 06018.
Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the service begins at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations in Roger’s memory may be made to Connecticut Chapter of theAlzheimer’s Association 10 Executive Drive Suite 202 Farmington, CT 06032.
