Development has begun at 135 Millerton Rd., Sharon. As seen from the Sharon Land Trust nature trail across the street, construction of a long, winding driveway on the farm has begun.
SHARON — Paley Farm’s new owners have begun to develop a multi-million-dollar home on the property despite pending resolution of an injunction request to block construction.
In March 2022, a couple from New York purchased 187.33 acres of protected farmland at 135 Millerton Rd. Since then, the owners, David and Liza Bainbridge of Rye, have received approvals to construct a residence on the historic farm.
The land known as Paley Farm was owned by the Paley family going back to 1939. In 1982, the Paleys moved to the location of the current Paley Farm Market and sold the original farm on Millerton Road.
In the early 1980s, farmland in the state was being swallowed up by developers. Morris Paley set out to protect his family’s farm with the help of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOA) and American Farmland Trusts.
The team succeeded in conveying the development rights of three parcels totaling 187.33 acres to the DOA, thus conserving the land for farming. In total, the state paid more than $300,000 for the conveyance. The New York Times reported on this effort under the headline, “Trust Acts to Save a Farm in Sharon.”
With development rights now in the hands of the state, Paley sold the property to Timothy and Patricia Parry. The land changed hands twice more in the 1990s and made it to 2022 when the Bainbridges bought the farm in its protected state. Land sale records show the purchase price in 2022 was $1,475,000.
The land is still used as a farm today, specifically for hay production. The hay is harvested by a nearby dairy operation that requested to remain unnamed.
After purchasing the plot, the Bainbridges applied to DOA for building approval in November 2022. The application proposed a two-story home with a two-car attached garage, pool, outdoor spa, septic system/leach field, well, electricity installation including buried utility lines and three utility vaults, back-up generator with transformer and wood-clad fence, driveway, driveway court, and garage court.
Sharon Land Trust (SLT) and a group of concerned citizens took steps to intervene in late 2022 and early 2023. When lobbying efforts to DOA, state legislators and the Council of Enviornmental Quality yielded no results, the group offered to buy the farm from the Bainbridges.
By summer of 2023 a verbal agreement to purchase the land had been reached at a cost of $1.5 million, set to close on or before Aug. 31 of that year. On Aug. 17, 2023, DOA approved the Bainbridges’ application to build, and the land sale agreement was abandoned.
In its decision, DOA stated, “the Department has determined that the proposed residence does not materially decrease the acreage and productivity of arable land for crops and that due consideration was given to the impact of any decrease in acreage or productivity of arable land upon the total farm operation.”
The Bainbridges have continued to seek building permits in 2024. Most recently, on July 15, a building application was approved by Sharon Land Use Administrator Jamie Casey, who reported that the applicants met all planning and zoning requirements. The application was not put before the Planning and Zoning Commission since dwelling construction is considered a by-right activity of landowners and does not require a special permit.
Permits were issued to the Bainbridges to construct a foundation, valued at $371,000, and a wood-framed home valued above $3 million. More than $30,000 in permit fees were issued to the Town of Sharon by the Bainbridges.
Before the permit approval, on July 5 legal proceedings were filed by SLT and Carol Flaton (concerned citizen) with Torrington Superior Court. SLT and Flaton are represented by Cohen & Wolf P.C. of Danbury and the Bainbridges are represented by Halloran & Sage LLP of Hartford.
The plaintiffs claim DOA “misconstrued the 1984 conveyance and applicable statutes” in its decision to approve construction.
The filing states the Connecticut regulatory definitions have changed over time and DOA must consider the language in place at the time of conservation (1984). A statute in the regulations allows for “other improvements” that are directly incidental to agricultural enterprise, but the language of this statute has been modified since the conveyance went into place.
“Thus, whether the residence materially decreases land for crops is irrelevant — the only relevant consideration is whether a proposed residence is ‘directly incidental to farm operation’,” the filing states. “Neither Morris Paley nor the Department of Agriculture in 1984 intended to allow for large weekend homes in the middle of prime farmland.”
SLT requested a court-ordered injunction take effect to prevent construction on the property while court proceedings are ongoing. On Aug. 9, Torrington Superior Court requested accompanying documents for the injunction. The Bainbridges received a summons to appear in court Sept. 26 for an opportunity to dispute the injunction. The plaintiffs expect to learn if the group has standing to bring the case at the Sept. 26 hearing.
In the interim, Judge Walter A. Menjivar permitted the defendants to begin driveway construction. Development of Paley Farm began Aug. 12.
When contacted, David Bainbridge offered no comment. Ken Slater of Halloran & Sage LLP confirmed he was representing the Bainbridges but declined to comment on the ongoing case.
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64) described the situation as “very disappointing.” She noted that the conveyance of development rights at Paley Farm was among the first such easements in the state. In conversations with DOA, she gathered that the department “felt like it didn’t have the authority to enforce it the way they wanted to.”
Sharon Land Trust Treasurer Allen Reiser worried about the precedent this sets. He said there are several other properties in Sharon protected by 1980s conveyances that could be developed if DOA allows.
“As a land trust obviously we’d love for as much land as possible to be preserved. But this is a property the State of Connecticut paid, in today’s dollars, a million dollars to be conserved and they’re not enforcing the easement properly,” said Reiser. “It rubs me the wrong way as a taxpayer and it rubs me the wrong way as a Sharon Land Trust member. That being said, we recognize and support the ability of property owners to build and modify residences to whatever extent is allowed by local zoning rules.”
SALISBURY — Joseph Robert Meehan the 2nd,photographer, college professor and nearly 50 year resident of Salisbury, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizon on June 17, 2025. He was 83.
He was the son of Joseph Meehan the 1st and his mother, Anna Burawa of Levittown, New York, and sister Joanne, of Montgomery, New York.
He is predeceased by his wife, Elsie Lynn Meehan who passed away in November of 2023.
He leaves behind a son, Joseph Cortese, of Upton Massachusetts, his wife Mary and grandchildren, Michaela (Cortese)Donabedian, her husband Sevag and his great grandson, Ari, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
His grandson, Joseph Cortese, of Barrington, Rhode Island, and his granddaughter, Jaclyn Cortese of Tamworth, New Hampshire.
He also leaves behind his daughter, Kathleen Cortese Zito and husband Dominic, their three children, Michael, Alessandra, and Mathew Zito of Broomall, Pennsylvania.
After teachingpsychology at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, starting in 1968, his40-year career in photography started in the mid to late 70’s and has included assignment work for a wide variety of commercial and editorial publications. Over a thousand of his photographs have appeared in newspapers, books, magazines and on web sites for clients such as Nikon, and Hasselblad cameras, SanDisk memory cards, Tiffen Filters, Fujifilm, Eastman Kodak, the U.S. Army, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Museum and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
His work ranged from the beauty of the Salisbury areato an expedition photographer for arctic animal studies in the high Canadian Arctic, photographing Inuit hunters in Northern Greenland to landscape work in other extreme locals such as Death Valley, California.
Portfolios of his work have featured in such magazines as Outdoor Photographer, Shutterbug, Rangefinder and Popular Photography and his style has been characterized by the New York Times as “…alive with color and sparkling with light.”
He also served as the technical editor of Photo District News for over a decade, writing about new technologies and products and was the former editor of the Photography Yearbook. He has authored over 20 books on photographic technique many of which have received “best book” awards and have been translated into several languages.
Born in New York City, he was a 1959 graduate of Levittown High School, Levittown, New York.
He received his baccalaureate degree with honors from Columbia and a Master of Arts degree from Manhattan College. He has taught photography on the college level in the U.S., England and at the National Academy of Arts in Taiwan and gave workshops at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida.
His eye always saw the beauty of the Salisbury area through alens and he captured those images in an area that he and his wife Lynn loved.
When they were not on/in and around the lake, he and Lynn didn’t miss any of their grandchildren’s big events.Joe took great pride in photographing all these memorable events.
His beautiful images will always be here for all to appreciate.
Funeral services are under the direction of Newkirk-Palmer funeral home and a graveside service will be held this Friday, June 27, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 18 Cobble Road, Salisbury, Connecticut.
STANFORDVILLE, New York — It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Florence Olive Zutter Murphy, who went home to be with the Lord on June 16, 2025, at the age of 99.
She was born in Sharon, Connecticut on Nov. 20, 1925, and was a long time resident of the Dutchess County area.
She was a devoted mother, loving wife to James Francis Murphy, who passed on Oct. 11, 1971, and a dear friend to many.
Florence, who was also known as Flo, managed a dairy farm for many years on Carpenter Hill Road in Pine Plains, New York. She is remembered for her delicious home cooked meals.
After raising her children she became an avid square dancer, racketball and tennis player. She then discovered her love for bike riding. She enjoyed embarking on bike tours well into her mid 80’s. When Flo wasn’t out riding her bike she could be found taking care of her property. She loved gardening, clearing the woods and building rock walls one stone at a time.
Florence was an amazing woman of great integrity, strength and tenacity. She was adored, respected and greatly loved by her family and those who knew her.
Florence is survived by her seven children — Bonnie June Chase, James Albert Murphy, Donna Sue Strauss, Jackie Lynn Merwin Disher, Glenn William Murphy, Lori Lee Mora and Clint Evan Murphy as well as 16 grand children and 20 great grand children.
She will always be remembered and greatly missed.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
Chore Service hosted 250 supporters at it’s annual Garden Party fundraiser.
On Saturday, June 21, Mort Klaus, longtime Sharon resident, hosted 250 enthusiastic supporters of Northwest Corner’s beloved nonprofit, Chore Service at his stunning 175-acre property. Chore Service provides essential non-medical support to help older adults and those with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life in their own homes.
Jane MacLaren, Executive Director, and Dolores Perotti, Board President, personally welcomed arriving attendees. The well-stocked bar and enticing hors d’oeuvres table were popular destinations as the crowd waited for the afternoon’s presentations.
Jane MacLaren, Executive Director of Chore Service, and Mort Klaus, host of the Garden Party eventBob Ellwood
The Garden Party is Chore Service’s only major fundraising event of the year, so it was not only a wonderful social activity, but a vital support mechanism to keep our most vulnerable residents in their homes.
First to present was MacLaren, who underlined the organization’s mission, thanked all caregivers for their important work, and said, with gratitude, to all donors, “Our accomplishments are your accomplishments.”
Ellen Ebbs, a Litchfield resident and Chore client, delivered a powerful and deeply personal testimony, sharing how the organization’s services transformed her life after a serious fall left her “disabled, dependent, and depressed.” Her story resonated with the audience and highlighted the vital impact of Chore’s work.
Priscilla McCord, outgoing Board Chair of Chore Service and Patrick Roy, incoming Chair.Bob Ellwood
Patrick Roy, high-energy incoming Chair of the Board, as well as First Selectman of Roxbury and Chief of its police force, told the crowd of his “Fragile List” — those in the community a step away from losing their independence, and how he ensured that this group was adequately taken care of. Priscillia McCord, outgoing Board Chair after twelve years of unstinting service, asked for donations for Fund the Cause, urgently needed to support the recently-expanded transportation services before funding runs out in September. As Patrick Roy said, “In rural towns like ours, our clients depend on us for basic services — to get to their medical appointments, go grocery shopping, as well as life-enhancing activities like going to the library and getting a weekly lift to visit family and friends.” Both Roy and McCord emphasized the area of greatest current concern — that of an upcoming decrease in federal funding, something we will learn more about in August.
Chore Service supports the towns of Cornwall, Falls Village, Goshen, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, Norfolk, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury/Lakeville, Sharon, Warren, and Washington.
For those interested in accessing services or providing them, please contact Chore Service at (860) 435-9177. To learn more about the organization or to donate, go to www.choreservice.org.
Sally Haver has lived in the Berkshires, on and off, since the mid-’70’s and her horse lives in Amenia.
The mission statement of the Berkshire Bach Society (BBS) reads: “Our mission is to preserve the cultural legacy of Baroque music for current and future audiences — local, national, and international — by presenting the music of J.S. Bach, his Baroque predecessors, contemporaries, and followers performed by world-class musicians.”
Its mission will once again be fulfilled by presenting a concert featuring Dane Johansen on June 28 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 29 Main Street, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Terrill McDade, Executive Director of BBS, said, “Dane is a supremely talented musician and a musical poet. Audiences will hear his cello speak in three different musical dialects: those of Bach, Gaspar Cassadó, and Benjamin Britten. They will experience and be able to find the idiom that means the most to them. The music is classical, contemporary, and modern. It is contemplative, energetic, lyrical, rhythmic, and, in the end, philosophical. The audience is in for that rare musical treat of an intimate recital of profound music interpreted by a solo player who gives them something to think about —whether consciously or sub-consciously.”
McDade added, “Berkshire Bach believes it is very important to present live performances of a variety of Baroque music throughout the season, especially in this time in our society. Music has restorative power, and when played by fine musicians, can provide moments of respite and reflection that do us good.”
Johansen’s recital on June 28 is a case in point. The sound of the cello — so close to that of the human voice —makes us feel better somehow — refreshed in our spirit, hopeful, better able to carry on in difficult times,” said McDade.
Johansen grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. He graduated from Juilliard and is a member of the Cleveland Orchestra, which he joined in 2016. He has performed all over the world as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. He was a member of the Escher String Quartet and a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist.
The concert will conclude Berkshire Bach’s thirty-fifth season, which opened with the film “Strangers on the Earth,” also featuring Johansen as he walked the Camino de Santiago — the ancient 600-mile pilgrimage route extending through France and Spain — with his cello strapped to his back in 2014. He stopped in towns along the way and played the six Bach Cello Suites in local churches.
The concert will begin at 5pm. Tickets are available at: www.bershirebach.org/events.
