Habitat celebrates 20 years in the Northwest Corner

After eight homes and 20 years, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut is going strong.Habitat came to the Northwest Corner in the 1990s, shepherded by two local clergy leaders, the Rev. Dick Taber of Salisbury Congregational Church and the Rev. Chuck Bevan of St. John’s Episcopal Church.Several meetings were held with representatives from Habitat and a steering committee was formed. The committee initially focused on the Region One towns — North Canaan, Falls Village, Cornwall, Salisbury/Lakeville, Sharon, Kent — but eventually substituted Norfolk for Kent.The steering committee consisted of builders, architects, church leaders, Realtors, a social worker and others who had experience in providing moderate-income housing. This group also included people in need. One of the initial challenges was to convince Habitat officials that poverty was actually present behind the imposing Main Street homes of Litchfield County. The committee was succesful, and the northwest Connecticut chapter was officially welcomed into the Habitat family in July 1991.Then the fundraising began. Each chapter must raise its own funds for the houses it builds, and the homeowners must put in “sweat equity” by helping with the construction. Several high profile events sprang up, including an annual giant tag sale, a High Tea for Habitat, Artists Known & New, a concert featuring Ann Chamberlin, several dinner parties at the homes of Elaine LaRoche and Bunny Williams, two birdhouse auctions and six wine tastings.In 1992, Habitat acquired land on Route 7 between Cornwall Bridge and Kent to build its first home. Tom and Anne Hubbard gave the land to the Cornwall Housing Corporation, which then gave the land to Habitat. The Cornwall Fire Company burned down the existing structure — good practice for the firefighters — to make way for a new home.In 1996, Habitat built a three-bedroom home in Salisbury for a single mother with two children. The construction cost less than $50,000.Karen and Paul Bartomioli and their five children moved into a Habitat home in Falls Village in 2000. Next came a home in Salibury for Hal and Terre Lefferts and their three children in 2002.The next project for the Habitat chapter was a parcel of 12 acres on River Road, within walking distance of Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village. Rather than building a single house, the team planned four new homes on the property.The first was finished in 2002 and occupied by Katie Segalla and her three young children. The second, dedicated in 2003, went to Joette and Vinnie Viscariello. Leslie Light and her three children took the third. The fourth home was dedicated in 2010. Jennifer Shippa and John Clouser moved in with their two children.Habitat is currently building a home in North Canaan on land overlooking the Housatonic River, donated by the late Libby McClintock. Ashleigh Bergenty and Jeremy Kaminski have partnered with Habitat to build and live in the home.Another home is being planned in Norfolk.To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Summer Splendor, a wine tasting and auction, has been planned for July 16 in Salisbury. Music will be provided by Scott Heth’s jazz quintet and food will be offered by local restaurants. More details will be made available soon.For more information about the upcoming wine tasting fundraiser, volunteering or supporting Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut, contact John Pogue at 860-435-9626 or go online to www.habitatnwct.org.