Photo by Elias Sorich
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New director named for Little Rascals
May 08, 2024
SHARON — After a rigorous search process, Sharon Parks and Recreation announced on Friday, May 3, that Guy Gnerre has accepted a position as the new director of the summer Little Rascals Program, scheduled to begin in June. Matt Andrulis-Mette, Director of Parks and Recreation made the announcement.
Little Rascals has served the community for many years, offering summer employment for local youth and low-cost daytime recreational activities for children (ages 5-12) of families who live or work in Sharon. Beginning the day after school closes for the summer, the affordable summer-long program is located at the Sharon Town Beach on Mudge Pond. It operates daily, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Full or half-day participation is offered.
In addition to beach and swimming activities, the Little Rascals program offers a range of other fun pursuits, including arts and crafts, sports, and theme weeks.
Information regarding the program and registration procedures can be found on the Sharon Parks and Recreation website, sharonct.org. For more information please call 860-364-1400 or email sharon.rec.ctr@snet.net.
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KENT — The townspeople voted 120-21 at a special town meeting Friday, April 26, to enter a conditional agreement with Kent Affordable Housing for the transfer of 1.16 acres of land adjacent to the South Commons affordable housing project for the construction of about 10 additional dwelling units.
The parcel of land is surrounded by town-owned properties dedicated to municipal uses such as the transfer station, Park and Recreation and the Department of Public works. Much of the discussion at the meeting was dedicated to whether it is best to use the land for affordable housing—seen as a pressing need—or for possible future expansion of the other municipal uses.
It was noted that Kent, which has become a popular destination place for both daytrippers and second-home owners, will inevitably grow in coming decades. “It is not a question of if the Department of Public Works will need to expand, but when,” said resident Lynn Harrington.
Others echoed her concerns about the need to expand the transfer station, as well, which is currently grandfathered and does not meet existing codes.
First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer said there had been extensive negotiations with Park and Recreation and the Department of Public Works about the potential transfer of the land to Kent Affordable Housing and that the original request for 1.6 acres had been pared down to 1.16 acres.
“The parcel was trimmed,” he said. “Park and Rec and the DPW found it acceptable—not optimal, but acceptable. We came to the conclusion to allow Kent Affordable Housing to consider it under certain conditions. There are rigorous constraints and it can’t be transferred until it passes all of them.”
If Planning and Zoning and the Inland Wetlands Commission, for instance, cannot approve applications for development of the land, it will revert to town ownership. KAH must also go through application processes for state and federal funding.
In response to repeated comments that the town should be cautious about giving away property it might need for municipal needs, Lindenmayer said, “This has been ongoing for quite a while and other boards have looked at this. Do we want DPW and the transfer station to expand in the middle of town? There are no plans for those areas now. That parcel is available to expand South Commons. It’s contiguous to South Commons …and this is the best way, we think, to help our community.”
It was noted that there are wetlands on the property that the town would have to contend with before it could extend any municipal uses.
Justin Potter, president of Kent Affordable Housing, said use of the parcel for affordable housing is referenced in the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development while there is no mention of using it to expand the transfer station or the DPW.
He said the availability of sewer and water is crucial to the creation of high-density affordable housing. “Only a tiny portion of [available] land in town has public water and sewer. We went to Cardinal Engineering and it found the South Commons infrastructure could support additional units. The Department of Housing is only interested in projects of 10 units or more and here we have the existing infrastructure.”
Gary Ford, a member of KAH’s Board of Directors, said, “If you are talking about concerns and issues, we need to take into account three big problems. Young people have no place to live, a way disproportionate number of young people are living with their parents. Old people often move away because there is no place for them to go, and we can’t get enough workers for our retail and restaurants, because people in those jobs can’t afford to live here.”
Meghan Haney, who leases land from the Kent Land Trust for her Marble Valley Farm, said she has had multiple applicants for the farm from “great candidates who then withdraw their applications because they can’t find housing. It has definitely impacted my farm. I’ve had to cut back my scale of farming 50 percent in the last five years.”
But Lynn Harrington, former treasurer of Kent Affordable Housing, questioned the wisdom of transferring the land. She recounted the evolution of the town from a busy farming community to the destination town it has become today.
She listed reasons the parcel would not be appropriate for affordable housing and urged caution in giving away land that could be used for expanded municipal services. She mentioned other ways to provide affordable housing, including inclusionary housing, where the residents could set their own policies, and the imposition of a tax on the sale of expensive properties to create a fund for land acquisition. She said “no frills, deed-restricted” homes could be developed on the land.
Austi Brown recognized the “valid concerns” being expressed but noted that the need for affordable housing is acute. “The 10 units … is just a small portion of what is needed,” she said. “The need for affordable housing is now. There’s a lot of discussion about who applies for and get housing. We can’t limit it to just Kent, but most people who end up here have a connection to Kent.
Potter addressed the issue of funding, saying it would come from the state and federal governments. Operating expenses come from rents,” he said adding that local taxation will benefit because the land would come back on the tax rolls. KAH pays some $25,000 in taxes each year.
A sea of hands shot up when the question of approving the conditional agreement went to a vote.
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This historic home on Belgo Road was purchased by the seller for $425,000 in 2002 and was first listed for sale in October 2022 for $895,000.
Christine Bates
SALISBURY — Listed below are real estate sales during the month of April filed with the Town of Salisbury. Only transactions with a monetary value are included while transfers without consideration are excluded.
April 5, 2024
31 Belgo Road — a 1,852 square foot home built in 1820 with 3 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms sold by Katalin Banyai to Thomas Callahan and Luis Felipe Arroyo for $750,000.
April 19, 2024
14 Sunrise Ridge Lane — a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home sold by the estate of Geraldine Daniels to Jeanmarie and Felix Bustillo for $370,000.
April 26, 2024
500-508 Twin Lakes Road — four homes on 2 parcels totaling 8 acres with 310 feet of lakefront sold by 500-508 Twin Lakes Road LLC to Salisbury School Incorporated for $896,494.
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First responders cut the roof off a car to show how complex an auto accident scene can be. The drill was held at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on May 2.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE — The Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department staged a mock disaster drill at Housatonic Valley Regional High School Thursday morning, May 2.
The scenario was a two-car accident involving an adult woman driving alone and a second car with three high school students leaving an end-of-the-school-year party.
The party was hosted by adults, who took car keys from guests as alcohol was served.
The student who was driving had a spare set of keys, however. She had consumed two beers and decided to leave with two friends.
The drill proceeded step by step, just as if it was real. Andrea Downs from the Falls Village ambulance service provided narration and context.
Starting with a 911 call, with Judy Jacobs describing the scene to a dispatcher, the arrival of the first responders from Falls Village, the subsequent arrival of the Salisbury and North Canaan ambulances and the State Police, the drill ended with the student driver (played by Amber Ramcharran) being led off in handcuffs and a deceased victim (played by Aron Ladanyi) being removed from the vehicle after firefighters cut the roof off and placed in a hearse from the Newkirk-Palmer funeral home in North Canaan.
The third student victim was played by exchange student Tara Djeladin, and the solo driver by athletic director Anne MacNeil.
Downs also went through a phone call to Sharon Hospital to determine where the living victims should be sent, as they required a higher level of care.
She emphasized how remote the Northwest Corner is, noting that transport by ambulance to Waterbury Hospital would take a little under an hour and to Hartford, a little over an hour.
And that bumpy ride would be in an ambulance with paramedics working to stabilize the patient and dealing with any issues that might arise.
In the scenario, LifeStar helicopter support was not available.
The crash was staged on the football field, and students watched from the bleachers. Afterwards, HVRHS assistant principal Steve Schibi told the students to be careful as the end of the school year approaches.
“Don’t be a statistic.”
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