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After painter’s death, friends reflect on a life rebuilt
Christian Murray
Jun 17, 2026
Michael Moore with his son, Lucian. Friends and family say much of his life revolved around raising his son.
Provided
LAKEVILLE — Friends and coworkers say Michael Moore spent years rebuilding his life.
Now, they are grappling not only with the loss of a friend and employer, but with the loss of a father whose life had come to revolve around his 7-year-old son, Lucian.
The 40-year-old painting contractor was killed June 1 in Ashley Falls. Authorities allege that fellow painting contractor Cole Bushnell was responsible. Bushnell, 41, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and is being held without bail.
Friends say Moore had overcome addiction, regained custody of his son and built a business that employed people who, like him, were trying to get back on their feet. He was also talking about marriage after more than six months in a committed relationship.
For many who knew both Moore and Bushnell, the allegations remain difficult to reconcile. The two men had known each other since their days at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, worked together for years and remained close friends.
“They were best friends,” Moises Reyes, a painter who was employed by Moore, said.
Friends say Moore and Bushnell spoke daily, shared workers on larger jobs, consulted one another on estimates and occasionally helped each other financially when business slowed.
One friend and fellow painter, who has known both men since childhood but didn’t want his name disclosed, said Bushnell served as a mentor to Moore as the younger contractor built his own business.
“Cole was like a mentor to him,” the friend said. “Whatever job one got, they would run it by the other.”
Friends said it was not uncommon for the two men to loan each other money when cash flow tightened, a reality of running small contracting businesses.
“I saw it both ways,” the friend said. “Mike would help Cole. Cole would help Mike.”
That history has left many searching for answers.
“I don’t understand how it happened,” the friend said.
Rebuilding his life
Those closest to Moore acknowledge that he struggled with addiction during his younger years and had several encounters with the criminal justice system. But friends say those challenges became the foundation of a turnaround.
After becoming sober, Moore focused on rebuilding his life, establishing his own business and gaining sole custody of Lucian nearly four years ago.
“He got clean. He got his son back,” said Joey St. John, who worked for Moore but had been friends with him for nearly a decade.
Friends describe that achievement as one of Moore’s proudest accomplishments. They say much of what he did in recent years revolved around creating stability for his son. Lucian’s mother, they said, had her own personal struggles.
A father first
By all accounts, Lucian was the center of Moore’s life.
Friends describe him as a single father whose daily routine revolved around his son. He dropped him off at daycare in Winsted most days and picked him up at the end of the day.
Friends say Moore worked hard to regain custody of Lucian and was devoted to raising him.
“Lucian loved his daddy more than anything,” said Jacklyn Evon, whose husband grew up with Moore and was a friend.
Her husband, Bryan, attended Kellogg Elementary School in Falls Village with Moore in the 1990s, when there were only about 10 children in the grade, with just three being boys.
“They were like brothers,” she said, noting that Moore gave a lively speech at their wedding.
Following Moore’s death, friends and family members have rallied around Moore’s son.
Evon launched a GoFundMe campaign noting that Moore was Lucian’s sole caregiver, provider and primary source of support. The fundraiser seeks to help cover counseling, educational expenses, daily needs and long-term financial support for the boy.
“No amount can replace Michael or erase the pain of this loss,” the fundraiser states. “However, together we can help ease some of the burdens that now lie ahead for Lucian.”
The GoFundMe had generated about $18,000 in a week, with about 150 contributors.
Evon said that Lucian has a strong foundation but there is uncertainty ahead.
A crew left behind
Moore’s death has also left his workers grieving and uncertain about the future.
Many of the people Moore employed were themselves rebuilding their lives after addiction, incarceration or other setbacks.
Reyes said Moore gave him an opportunity after he completed rehabilitation in 2025 and began trying to turn his life around.
“He uplifted me,” Reyes said. “He pointed me in a better direction. I am completely heartbroken by this.”
Reyes said Moore believed in him and helped him develop skills that allowed him to earn a better living. Reyes was working at Burger King in Torrington before Moore hired him.
“If my motivation went down, he would help me,” Reyes said.
Today, Reyes is still trying to process the loss.
“It’s hard to wake up in the morning and concentrate,” he said, who now has to find a new job. “Every 30 minutes I feel grief.”
Meanwhile, St. John was also recovering from addiction and needed a job. “He’s like, ‘I’ll give you some days, come work for me.’ I said: ‘All right.’”
St. John said he became friends with Moore through their shared love of music and Moore’s passion for playing guitar.
Fernando, who didn’t provide his last name but worked for Bushnell, said he is struggling to process the alleged homicide and is now in therapy. He was the employee who was allegedly shown Moore’s body by Bushnell on June 1.
St. John, who had planned to spend the summer working for Moore, has been making deliveries through DoorDash while searching for another job.
Others remain uncertain about what comes next.
Coworkers say Moore looked after his crew, bought lunch, solved problems and treated employees with respect.
Remembering the man they knew
Many of Moore’s friends say his death came at a time when he appeared to have found a path forward.
They said the timing of his death was tragic, since he had got back on track and had rebuilt his life around his family and work.
“He poured all of his energy into his son,” Evon said. “And whatever he had left, he put into his business.”
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Witnesses, investigators reconstruct painter’s final day
Christian Murray
Jun 17, 2026
The greenhouse at the Ashley Falls property, where Michael Moore’s body was allegedly found.
Photo by Christian Murray
LAKEVILLE — Michael Moore started June 1 like most other workdays.
The 40-year-old painting contractor arrived at a Lakeville jobsite with his crew and began preparing a boathouse on Interlaken Road for painting.
Nothing appeared unusual.
By the end of the day, Moore would be dead, and longtime friend and fellow contractor Cole Bushnell, 41, would be at the center of a murder investigation that has shaken up local residents.
Based on interviews with Moore’s coworkers, a Bushnell employee who says he was shown Moore’s body, and comments from Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue, a clearer picture has emerged of Moore’s final known hours before his body was discovered at Bushnell’s Ashley Falls property.
A routine morning
Joey St. John, who had known Moore for nearly a decade and planned to work for him this summer, arrived at the Interlaken Road job in Lakeville at around 8:20 a.m. He drove fellow worker Moises Reyes with him from Torrington. Moore and his cousin Paul arrived in Moore’s vehicle from Winsted, St. John said.
“It was a normal day,” St. John said, noting that it was the crew’s first day at the job and they were scraping and sanding surfaces in preparation for priming.
Bushnell arrives
Bushnell arrived at the jobsite sometime between 10 and 10:30 a.m., according to St. John.
Moore and Bushnell had worked together for years and were close friends whose crews frequently collaborated on projects throughout the Northwest Corner.
According to Reyes, Moore hugged Bushnell when he arrived.
The gesture struck him only in hindsight. At the time, nobody thought anything of it.
The two men often left jobsites together to inspect potential work, prepare estimates, collect payments or discuss upcoming projects.
“They did it all the time,” St. John recalled.
Both St. John and Reyes said they saw Moore leave in Bushnell’s truck. Moore left his vehicle behind and told workers they were heading to New Marlborough, Massachusetts, to look at a job.
Reyes expected Moore to return later in the day as he typically did. Instead, it would be the last time he saw him alive.
Coworkers said Moore was a devoted father who routinely picked up his 7-year-old son from daycare after work. His failure to return would later alarm them.
A call to New Marlborough
While Moore and Bushnell were together, Bushnell’s crew was working the first day of a project in New Marlborough.
Among them was Fernando, who didn’t provide his last name and who had worked for Bushnell for roughly 2½ years after previously working for Moore.
Fernando said Bushnell called and texted him around 11:45 a.m., asking him and the rest of the crew to come to his Ashley Falls home. Bushnell told them there was pizza and urged them to hurry because he had somewhere else to be.
“A normal day, priming walls,” Fernando said of the work they had been doing before receiving the message.
The greenhouse
Fernando said they arrived at Bushnell’s property on Polikoff Road at around 12:30 p.m.
The first thing he noticed was a damaged fence. The workers were asked to repair a fence post and began unloading tools.
Then Fernando noticed blood on Bushnell’s face.
“When I see Cole, I see blood on his face,” Fernando said.
“‘What happened? What happened?’” he recalled asking.
At first, Fernando thought Bushnell had been involved in an accident.
Soon after, Fernando said Bushnell allegedly told him, “‘I’ve got a problem. Let me show you something.’”
Bushnell led him to a small greenhouse behind the house and the door was closed behind him.
According to Fernando, Bushnell lifted a mattress inside the greenhouse, revealing what Fernando described as a body wrapped in a tarp.
Fernando said he asked who it was.
According to Fernando, Bushnell allegedly responded: “It’s Mike.”
“I said, ‘What?’” Fernando recalled.
“It’s Mike,” Bushnell repeated, according to Fernando.
“I said, ‘What happened? What are you doing?’”
Bushnell reportedly replied: “‘This is not your problem, it’s my problem.’”
Fernando said he was shaken and wanted to leave immediately. He said the other workers never saw Moore’s body.
Fernando and the crew then left the property.
Fernando said he had no idea what had occurred before his arrival. However, Bushnell and Moore never arrived in New Marlborough.
Fernando then got into his van with his workers and drove to Troop B in North Canaan, less than two miles from Bushnell’s home. They arrived at Troop B before 1:30 p.m.
According to authorities, Bushnell followed Fernando and his colleagues in his vehicle but stopped after they pulled over on the side of the road. Once he drove away, they continued to the state police barracks.
District Attorney Shugrue later confirmed much of the timeline, including that a worker had been shown Moore’s body under a mattress in a greenhouse after arriving at the property.
Acting strange
According to reports, Bushnell’s fiancée said he appeared normal Monday morning. By noon, however, he seemed agitated.
She also told authorities, according to court records, that she received a text message from him telling her not to come home. Furthermore, she told police that Bushnell had been acting strangely and appeared paranoid in the days leading up to June 1.
Waiting for Mike
Back in Lakeville, workers grew concerned when Moore failed to return.
St. John said he called Moore twice around 2:30 p.m. to tell him he had to leave for a dentist appointment but received no response.
By about 4 p.m., Reyes said repeated attempts to reach Moore had also failed.
Reyes said he then called Bushnell directly.
“‘Where’s Mike?’” Reyes recalled asking.
According to Reyes, Bushnell responded, “‘I don’t f----ing know,’” before ending the conversation.
For the workers, the answer made little sense. Moore had left the jobsite with Bushnell that morning. They grew worried when he never made it back.
Police become involved
Connecticut troopers notified the Sheffield Police Dept., who responded to the Polikoff Road property and secured the scene before contacting the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Shugrue said that Moore was fatally assaulted inside the greenhouse and his body was then placed under the mattress.
At Bushnell’s arraignment, prosecutors said Moore suffered blunt-force trauma to the head and lacerations to his back, likely caused by a small knife.
However, Shugrue said last week that there were additional injuries, including wounds to his legs. “Lower legs and other parts of the body. He was struck and stabbed multiple times.”
Shugrue also said that investigators have recovered what they believe were the weapons used in the attack.
“There have been weapons recovered, but I’m not going to comment more on that, other than that they’re being forensically tested, and there’s significant amounts of material on those weapons.”
Bushnell was arrested June 1 and charged with murder. He was arraigned June 2. He has pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail.
Bushnell was not home when police first arrived.
Investigators arrested him when he returned to the property at 5:23 p.m. after being told there was a fire there, though no fire had occurred. Authorities believe confusion among nearby residents who saw emergency vehicles at the scene may have led to reports of a fire, prompting Bushnell’s return.
Court records state that when Bushnell returned, he was wearing clothing stained with a reddish-brown substance consistent with blood. He was taken into custody without incident.
According to court records, Bushnell had asked his fiancée the Friday before Moore’s death for access to the surveillance cameras at his home. The cameras had been in place for some time, and she told investigators he had never asked before.
On June 1, she noticed the cameras had been turned off and were facing different directions.
Questions remain
Although investigators have outlined portions of the case in court, many questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the full sequence of events between the time Moore left the Lakeville jobsite and the time Fernando arrived at Bushnell’s Ashley Falls home.
Shugrue has said investigators continue to gather evidence and await additional forensic results. However, investigators have noted that Moore and Bushnell went to the Ashley Falls property alone.
Investigators believe the dispute centered on money from a job that Moore and Bushnell were working on together. Shugrue said Moore was expecting to receive a $10,000 payment on June 1 related to the job, but Bushnell collected the money on May 31.
According to investigators, Bushnell believed Moore had been stealing from him and decided to get the payment. Shugrue said he believes Moore was unaware Bushnell had collected the money until the day of his death.
Investigators found no evidence that Moore had stolen from Bushnell.
“He thought Mr. Moore was stealing from him,” Shugrue said. “That did not appear to be the case.”
What’s next
Bushnell remains held without bail and is scheduled to return to Southern Berkshire District Court on July 16.
Prosecutors plan to present the case to a Berkshire County grand jury. If an indictment is issued, the case will move to Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield for a trial.
Shugrue said the case was particularly tragic because Moore and Bushnell had been friends since high school and were both fathers.
“A poor man has lost his life, and he’s got a young child, and a man who had a child as well is incarcerated, so it’s a very sad situation.”
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Infinity Bistro brings theater dining back to Norfolk
Alec Linden
Jun 17, 2026
The cozy digs inside the 19th century Infinity Hall are ready for hungry patrons following the Wednesday, June 10 soft opening.
Alec Linden
NORFOLK – Four months after the Norfolk Pub – the only full-service restaurant in town – shuttered its doors, another has sprung up inside the historic walls of Infinity Hall, bringing an à la carte menu and a community gathering place back to the heart of downtown.
Infinity Bistro held its soft opening on Wednesday, June 10, marking the first restaurant service the 19th-century music hall has offered since shutting down its own food offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisa Ludwig, general manager of Infinity Hall and a decade-plus veteran of the establishment, said she was pleased with the first night back, which had been advertised through social media and word of mouth.
“We were thrilled with the first night of our restaurant’s soft opening,” she said, noting that the strong turnout was largely due to local residents. “We received great support from the local patrons who were excited to see the restaurant return.”
Ludwig estimated that about 50 guests were served over the course of the evening.
She explained that the “soft opening” concept indicates that the business is still in the experimental phase as its services are rolled out.
“We’re using the first two weeks to conquer any hurdles that arise from doing something new,” she said, “and we appreciate the patience that our guests are currently showing, and we hope that continues.”
The menu currently offers American bistro fare, including shareable starters, salads, sides and mains, plus a selection of local and macro brews and an expanding list of wines and spirits. Dishes range from a $6 side salad or fries to the $18 NVFD (Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department) Firehouse Burger, which comes stacked with bacon, onion rings and cheese sauce.
Ludwig said that the menu remains a work in progress, and that she already had orders in for more wines and liquors as of Thursday afternoon.
She said the main adjustment will be the primarily QR code-based ordering system, designed to reduce wait times for rushed concert goers. While the restaurant will cater to the needs of the show audience, Ludwig said she remains committed to prioritizing its role as a community restaurant in a town where the only other food service stops at 2 p.m.
“If you don’t want to cook, come have a burger,” Ludwig said. “Come sit at the bar, have some wings – enjoy some time in town.”
Dining alongside his Norfolk-resident parents, Starling Childs said the speed with which the restaurant opened – conceived in late January and publicly announced less than a month ago during a packed public meeting – demonstrated “the flexibility and collaboration that makes Norfolk such a special place.”
His father, also Starling Childs, chimed in with a grin. “I’m just happy to be back in an air-conditioned, lovely space.”
As she chatted with patrons, bartender Leah Muller said the restaurant fills a much needed gap in dining options for locals and concert goers alike. “We don’t even have a Dunkin’ Donuts you can breeze through,” she said. “It’s 15 minutes one way or 15 the other.”
David Parks, the music venue’s head of security and an announcer, expressed his relief to have the restaurant back as he stood up from his meal. “You get to just depart once and have a great dinner and a show,” he said, thinking of concert goers who previously would have relied on the Norfolk Pub for a nearby dinner option before it closed at the end of January. “It’s a music and arts town, and this just adds to it,” he said.
Assistant Bistro Manager Brenda Horsefield said she was happy to see the cozy restaurant room brought back to life: “The space is worthy of people having a good time and enjoying a meal.”
Infinity Bistro is open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner service, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with reservations, once they go live after the soft opening period, cutting off at 8:30 p.m.
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Sharon Hospital awarded seventh consecutive five-star quality rating
Aly Morrissey
Jun 17, 2026
Sharon Hospital
File photo
SHARON – Sharon Hospital has once again earned the highest possible rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, marking the seventh consecutive year the hospital has received a five-star designation for quality.
The federal agency’s 2026 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings evaluate hospitals nationwide based on measures including mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience and timely care. Sharon Hospital received high marks across those categories, according to a June 12 announcement from Northwell Health.
“Earning this national recognition for seven consecutive years is a powerful reflection of the exceptional work happening every day at Sharon Hospital,” hospital president Christina McCulloch said. “I am incredibly proud of our caregivers, clinicians and team members, whose dedication to patient safety, quality and compassion continues to strengthen the health of the communities we serve.”
Sharon Hospital was one of seven Northwell Health hospitals to receive five-star rating this year. This recognition comesa month after Sharon Hospital received an “A” grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization focused on hospital quality and safety.
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Legal Notices - June 18, 2026
Lakeville Journal
Jun 17, 2026
Notice of Decision Town of Salisbury Inland Wetlands & Watercourses
Commission Notice is hereby given that the following actions were taken by the Inland Wet-lands & Watercourses Commission of the Town of Salisbury, Connecticut on June 8, 2026: Approved — Application IWWC-26-25 by owner Raccard Properties LLC for stormwater improvements including replacement of three culverts, construction of a landscaping feature, and electrical utility work. The properties are shown on Salisbury Assessor’s map 23 as lots 52 and 36 and are known as 70 Beaver Dam Road and 47 Hammertown Road, Salisbury, CT 06068. Deemed Exempt — Application IWWC-26-28 by The Lignin Group, LLC (Blake Morrison) to install two Docks, in two pre existing locations - each less than 50’ off the shoreline. The property is shown on Salisbury Assessor’s map 66 as lot 40 and is known as 27 West Shore Place, Salisbury, CT 06068. The owner of the property is SKATTUM JULIE G TRUSTEE JULIE G SKATTUM TRUST.
Any aggrieved person may appeal this decision to the Connecticut Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes § 22a-43(a) & §8-8.
Town of Salisbury
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission
Sally Spillane, Secretary
06-18-26
TAX COLLECTOR TOWN OF SALISBURY CT LEGAL NOTICE
The taxpayers of the Town of Salisbury are hereby notified that I have received the Warrant and the Rate Bill to collect taxes on the Grand List of October 1, 2025 with a levy of 9.80 Mills. Said taxes become due on July 1, 2026. If said Real Estate and Personal Property tax is over $100.00, it is payable in four installments due: July 1, 2026, October 1, 2026, January 1, 2027, April 1, 2027. Motor Vehicle tax shall be paid in one installment due: July 1, 2026. Payments must be received or postmarked by August 3, 2026. If said Real Estate, Personal Property and Motor Vehicle taxes are not paid on or before August 3, 2026 interest at the rate of 1.5% (18%annually) will apply. The minimum interest charge is $2.00. Taxes can be paid by mail addressed to: Tax Collector, PO Box 338, Salisbury CT 06068. WPCA Sewer use fees for the year July 1, 2026 are also due and payable by August 3, 2026. Tax office hours are Monday and Wednesday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am—3pm. There is a drop box in the vestibule of the Town Hall open 9am-4pm, Monday-Friday and a 24 hour drop box on the Factory Street back side of the Town Hall. Please check salisburyct.us for additional credit card payment information. FAILURE TO RECEIVE A BILL DOES NOT INVALIDATE THE TAX OR THE INTEREST. Please contact the Tax Collector’s Office 860 435-5189 or taxcollector@salisburyct.us if you do not receive a bill or have questions. Dated this 3th day of June 2026.
JoAnne D. Dodge, CCMC Tax Collector
Salisbury, CT 06068
06-18-26
07-02-26
07-23-26
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Classifieds - June 18, 2026
Lakeville Journal
Jun 17, 2026
EMPLOYMENT
HELP WANTED
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center is a year-round 120-person retreat facility that is located in Falls Village, CT. Want to work at a beautiful, peaceful location, with great people? This is the place to be! We are currently seeking positions for Seasonal Lifeguard(s), Cook, Retreat services associate (banquet server front of house) and Mashgichim (F/T or P/T) for our summer season. For more details please visit our website at Careers - Adamah or email a copy of your resume to rebecca.eisen@adamah.org
INSTRUCTIONS, CLASSES
GUITAR TEACHER Wanted. Teach an adult. Complete beginner in Sharon CT. Lesson time and pay rate flexible. 917-723-3696.
SERVICES OFFERED
Come sailing with us on Twin Lakes. Our 21’ sailboat can host 4-5 crew in a private charter for 2 hours out of O’Hara’s Marina, Salisbury CT. We offer sailing lessons too! www.nashallasailing.com 413-229-9042.
Héctor Pacay Landscaping and Construction LLC: Fully insured. Renovation, decking, painting; interior exterior, mowing lawn, garden, stone wall, patio, tree work, clean gutters, mowing fields. 845-636-3212.
Old Houses and Barns my specialty: Renovations and Re-pairs. 25 years serving the tri-state area. Licensed and Insured. Based in Canaan, CT. David Valyou 917-538-1617. davidvalyou@yahoo.com
TAG SALES
EAST CANAAN
Estate Sale Friday 6/19/26 1-5 p.m., Saturday 6/20, Sunday 6/21, 9-3. 22 Raymond Ave., Canaan, CT. Cash Only.
SHARON
TAG SALE! Sat, June 20 10-4 22 Dug Rd @Low Rd, Sharon. Housewares, books, clothes, toys/kids stuff, ski stuff, records & more! Free table & Lemonade with purchase! No early birds pls.
MERCHANDISE & SERVICES
HORSES & EQUIPMENT
Looking for a small farm to board my 22 year old mare ideally located near trails. She gets along well with other horses. No drama. Available to help with feeding and or turnout if needed. 860-786-2546.
REAL ESTATE
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or:rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
HOUSE FOR RENT
Millerton, rural, newly renovated house: 2 bedrooms, split air/a/c system, dishwasher, decks, views, pets considered. $2675. Call 518-567-8277.
MT RIGA LAKEFRONT CABIN: Private beach, canoe, kayaks, fishing $1,275 / Week 585-355-5245.
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