Habitat volunteers refurbish small house for new occupants

SALISBURY — A team of volunteers from Habitat for Humanity took three truckloads of old carpet and other detritus to the transfer station, preparing the little green house at 25 Academy St. for use as affordable housing.The work began Friday, Aug. 19, under the supervision of contractor and landscape architect Rick Bette of Goshen.Bette has been involved with Habitat for two years, he guessed. He joined up after meeting John Pogue, whom he referred to as “Mr. Habitat.”“He has a way of finding people,” said Bette, an amiable man with a quick grin.Bette worked on two Habitat houses on Lime Rock Station Road in Falls Village.Selectman Jim Dresser came by in the late afternoon, after the volunteers had departed, and took a fourth load to the transfer station. Bette briefed Dresser, a member of the Affordable Housing Commission, on the state of the roof.A couple of nests of yellowjackets were a problem.When finished, the house will have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and bath. The commission is trying to promote cooperation between town government and the various nonprofits that provide affordable housing. In this case the town owns the building, the Salisbury Housing Committee administers, and Habitat supplies the labor.