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Russell Shorto to discuss ‘Revolution Song’ at HVRHS March 27
Christian Murray
Mar 25, 2026
Housatonic Valley Regional High School
File photo
FALLS VILLAGE — Russell Shorto, author of “Revolution Song: The Story of America’s Founding in Six Remarkable Lives,” will appear at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Thursday, March 27, for a live discussion.
The event, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature Shorto in conversation with local historians Peter Vermilyea and Rhonan Mokriski, focusing on the nation’s founding and the individuals who shaped it.
Revolution Song is this year’s selection for Salisbury READS, an annual collaborative program that encourages the community to read a chosen book together and participate in discussions and related events.
Shorto is director of the New Amsterdam Project at The New York Historical and a senior scholar at the New Netherland Institute. He is the author of eight books of narrative history, including the national bestseller “The Island at the Center of the World.”
Vermilyea, an award-winning history educator and author, teaches at Housatonic Valley Regional High School and for the University of Connecticut. His next book, “Litchfield County in the Revolutionary War,” is scheduled for publication in spring 2026.
Mokriski, a co-founder of the Troutbeck Symposium, has been teaching at his alma mater, Salisbury School, since 1996. For his dedication and innovative approach to teaching, he was named the 2024 Gilder Lehrman Connecticut History Teacher of the Year.
The program is presented by the Salisbury Forum in partnership with the Salisbury Association, the Troutbeck Symposium and the Scoville Memorial Library, in connection with Salisbury Commemoration 250 and CT 250.
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Tick threats rising across state as biodiversity declines
Ruth Epstein
Mar 25, 2026
Dr. James Shepherd displays illustrations of various tick species during a talk at the Policy Potluck at Sharon Audubon on March 19..
Ruth Epstein
From 1999 to 2004, there were 31 cases of Lyme Disease reported in Ontario, but by 2022, there were 1,478.
SHARON – With the arrival of spring comes thoughts of flowers and gardens — and, unfortunately, ticks.
The disease-carrying arachnids were the focus of the latest Policy Potluck session hosted by Sharon Audubon on March 19.
The speaker was Dr. James Shepherd, an infectious disease physician at Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital, specializing in tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. He teaches climate change, biodiversity loss, and other global processes shaping infectious disease. Shepherd is also the owner of Smokedown Farm, which was once the largest hop grower in Connecticut, but is now transitioning to native and novel fruits.
Connecticut, said Shepherd, is one of the most tick-infested states. Ticks feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians and often transmit disease.
He named a variety of ticks, including the blacklegged, Lone Star, Asian longhorned, Gulf Coast and American dog ticks, noting they are transmitting a whole new set of diseases, besides the commonly known Lyme disease. “We’re seeing a wider biodiversity of pathogens,” he said.
Projecting maps on a screen, Shepherd displayed the types of ticks found in various sections of the United States, noting that incidences of Lyme disease are moving northward into Canada. In 2000, cases were largely concentrated in New England. From 1999 to 2004, there were 31 cases reported in Ontario, but by 2022, there were 1,478. The main reason is due to migratory birds, such as robins, along with mice and chipmunks.
Scientists believe the increase in Lyme disease is also linked to decreased biodiversity, driven in part by suburban expansion.
Researchers have linked the spread of tick-borne disease to declining biodiversity and habitat disruption across the Northeast. Shepherd spoke of the dilution effect, notably studied in Lyme disease, that concludes that high biodiversity reduces the transmission of pathogens to humans.
He presented a slide depicting the idea put forth by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, that when many species exist in a community, vectors (like ticks) are more likely to bite hosts that are not good reservoirs for the disease, preventing the pathogen from spreading efficiently.
He said biodiversity is taking another hit from the rise of invasive species, which provide ideal habitats for ticks and their hosts. Japanese barberry is a prime example.
Climate change is also a major factor, as is habitat fragmentation, the process in which large, continuous natural habitats are divided into smaller patches, usually by such activities as road construction or urban development. This separation restricts wildlife movement, reduces population sizes, and disrupts ecosystems, acting as a major threat to biodiversity.
“We got problems,” Shepherd declared.
So what can people do? Shepherd asked. He then listed activities that often don’t work, such as excessive landscaping, deer fencing and spraying, which restricts biodiversity. He suggested having more respect for the environment by installing native plants, reducing habitat fragmentation, monitoring biodiversity and using personal protection.
Shepherd has worked in Nigeria, Botswana, India and Bangladesh, implementing national HIV and TB treatment programs and supporting COVID-19 treatment in refugee camps for both the U.S. government and the World Health Organization.
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Cornwall to vote on waste authority, infrastructure
Riley Klein
Mar 25, 2026
Cornwall Town Hall
Riley Klein
CORNWALL — Voters will weigh whether to join a regional waste authority and approve $80,000 in infrastructure funding at an April town meeting, as local officials also prepare for major anniversary celebrations and Town Hall repairs.
The Board of Selectmen discussed the proposals and a range of other updates at its regular meeting Tuesday, March 17.
The town meeting is scheduled for April 17 at 7 p.m. at Cornwall Consolidated School. Voters will consider whether the town should join the Northwest Resource Recovery Authority, as well as two proposed transfers of $40,000 each from unassigned interest in the capital projects fund to support building repairs and the highway department.
The Northwest Resource Recovery Authority is a regional solid waste coalition formed in 2025 and based in Torrington. The authority is expected to assume operations at the Torrington Transfer Station. Salisbury, Goshen and Torrington have already approved membership, while several other Northwest Corner towns are expected to vote on joining in the coming months.
The proposed budget transfers follow a recommendation from the Board of Finance, which advised allocating a total of $80,000 in accrued interest from the capital projects fund to address infrastructure needs.
Selectmen also reviewed plans for a series of events marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The celebrations will begin Memorial Day weekend with the opening of a Revolutionary War-era exhibit at the Cornwall Historical Society. Additional events include “Militia Day” during the first weekend of June, featuring reenactors encamped on the Village Green, and a Fourth of July parade through the village. Programming will continue at the Cornwall Agricultural Fair in September, followed by a historic tour in October.
On the infrastructure front, First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said construction to replace the roof at Town Hall is expected to begin April 1 and take approximately two months. The project will also include installation of insulation.
“It should not interfere with town activities, but it will take a great deal of time,” Ridgway said.
The town is also transitioning its municipal website to a “.gov” domain using the CivicPlus platform, which is already in use in Kent and Sharon. The change is part of a statewide mandate requiring all municipalities to adopt .gov domains by mid-2027.
In other business, officials said Hammond Beach at Cream Hill Lake is seeking lifeguards for the summer season. Those interested can contact Town Hall for more information at (860) 672-2709.
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Median home prices dip to $770K
Christine Bates
Mar 25, 2026
Built around 1900, 21 Lakeview Ave., a 2,618-square-foot home, recently sold for $712,000— above its $685,000 asking price — after just 11 days on the market.
Christine Bates
SALISBURY — The 12-month trailing median sale price for a single-family home in Salisbury, excluding condominiums, fell to $770,000 for the period ending Feb. 28, 2026, its lowest level in almost four years.
That figure represents a 19% decline from the $947,500 median recorded for the 12 months ending Feb. 28, 2025, and a 15% drop from the $896,000 median for the comparable period ending Feb. 29, 2024. The rolling 12-month median in February was the lowest since October 2022, when it stood at $688,500.
Single-family home sales in Salisbury, measured on a rolling 12-month basis, remained within their typical historical range. A total of 48 homes sold in the 12 months ending Feb. 28, 2026, unchanged from the same period a year earlier. That compares with 52 sales in the 12 months ending Feb. 29, 2024.
In recent years, annual single-family home sales in Salisbury have generally ranged from 45 to 55 transactions. These figures remain well below the historic peak of 117 sales recorded in the 12 month period through May 2021 during the pandemic-era surge.
Inventory rose in February. As of March 21, there were 16 single-family homes and one condominium on the market. Of those listings, seven were priced above $1 million.
In addition, six parcels of land are currently listed on the MLS. The seasonal rental market is also beginning to pick up, with summer furnished rentals coming online.
February transactions
87 Canaan Rd., Unit 6A – 3 bedroom/3 bath condo built in 1990 sold by Christopher Drew Trustee for Melinda Sweet Trust to Marsha Bobalik Smith for $875,000
21 Lakeview Ave. – A 4 bedroom/2.5 bath home on .7 acres sold by Athene Charlotte Alison Clayton to Ashley Sharpe Adkins and Craig Anthony Adkins for $712,000
50 Main St. – 4 bedroom/1 bath antique home built in 1908 on 1.4 acres sold by Jonathan Newcomb, Thaddeus Newcomb and Zachary Newcomb Trustee Deborah Newcomb Irrevocable Trust to Ellen and Darren Berger for $2,000,000.
87 Canaan Rd., Unit 2G – 2 bedroom/2 bath condo built in 1980 sold by Charles and Margaret Vail to Helen Ong for $415,000
60 White Hollow Rd., Unit 6 – Garage sold by LRP Garages LLC to VRB Storage LLC for $350,000
25 Fowler St. – 2 bedroom/1 bath 873 square foot house sold by Robin Lassy Roman Trustee Robin Lassy Roman Revocable Trust to Michael Conlogue and Paige McIntire for $399,900
98 Interlaken Rd. – 1 bedroom/1 bath cabin on 2.7 acres sold by Paul Bruce Reisman Trustee Reisman Family Trust to Interlaken Inn Associates for $250,000
104&106 Sharon Rd.- Wake Robin Inn and a cell phone tower sold by Wake Robin LLC to Aradev LLC for $3,500,000
* Town of Salisbury real estate transfers recorded between Feb. 1, 2026, and Feb. 28, 2026, provided by Salisbury Town Clerk. Transfers without consideration are not included. Current market listings from Smart MLS and market statistic from InfoSparks. Note that recorded transfers frequently lag sales by a number of days. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Salesperson with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY.
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Police Blotter: Troop B
Lakeville Journal
Mar 25, 2026
Police Blotter: Troop B
John Coston
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Car rolls on Route 63
On the morning of March 13, Xavier Lewis, 27, of Wolcott, Connecticut was traveling south on Route 63 in Cornwall when he struck the right embankment, causing the car to roll over into the southbound lane. Lewis was uninjured, but was issued an infraction for operating an unregistered vehicle.
Warrant served for domestic dispute
On March 16, troopers arrested Jamie Duryea, 35, of North Canaan for an active arrest warrant relating to a domestic incident on Feb. 16 of this year. Duryea was processed for threatening in the second degree and disorderly conduct at the Troop B barracks before being released on a $5,000 non-surety bond. She was scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court the next day.
Truck breaks train crossing signal arm
On the afternoon of March 16, troopers responded to an accident involving an Estes Express Lines commercial truck at the North Canaan Railroad Street track crossing. The truck had come to a stop under the lowering warning signal arm, jamming it and causing it to separate from its base. The driver, Henry Bodon, 34, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, was uninjured but was issued a warning for improper railroad crossing.
Assault
Troopers responded to a call of an active disturbance at a Salisbury residence on Main Street on the evening of March 17, eventually arresting Shannon Budds, 55, of Colchester, Connecticut. Budds was placed under custody and charged for third degree assault and disorderly conduct. She was held on a $7,500 cash bond and was ordered to appear at Torrington Superior Court the next day.
Icy slide out on Route 44
On the morning of March 17, Josiah Rodriguez, 22, of Bristol, Connecticut was driving east on Route 44 near the Blackberry River Inn in East Canaan when he lost control of his Honda Accord on black ice. The vehicle slid backward across the road, impacting an embankment on the westbound shoulder, then sliding back across the road before stopping on the eastbound shoulder with disabling damage. Rodriguez was uninjured but was issued a warning for traveling too fast for conditions.
Housy teacher arrested on disorderly conduct charges
On March 20, John Christinat, 65, of New Marlborough, Massachusetts turned himself into Troop B on an active warrant for his arrest stemming from an altercation between himself and a 15 year old student at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Sept. 3 of last year.
According to the warrant, which was signed on March 18, Christinat was found at fault for disorderly conduct by Trooper Jean Colon Carattini, the presiding officer over the case. The warrant also states that the student involved, who was uninjured in the incident, was reported to have autism. Christinat was released on a $1,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on April 2
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Send mail to P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send to editor@lakevillejournal.com
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Beth Harlan
Lakeville Journal
Mar 25, 2026
Beth Harlan
Beth Harlan
SALISBURY — Beth Harlan, 75, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, and Salisbury, Connecticut, passed away on March 2, 2026, in New York City. Her son, Zachariah Harlan Warner, and daughter-in-law, Olivia Baribeau, were by her side.
Born on July 22, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio, Beth brought a wonderful combination of energy, intellect and humor to those around her. She earned her Associate’s Degree from Stephens College in Missouri in 1970, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Emerson College in Boston in 1972, and a Master in Social Work from the University of Connecticut in 1993.
After college, her travels and life experiences included time in Ohio, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City before ultimately setting roots in the Salisbury area in 1980.
During these travels, Beth explored her creative side, dabbling as a television personality with on air appearances in Ohio & Atlanta and pursuing stand up comedy in Los Angeles where she took acting classes alongside Robin Williams. While at Emerson College, she was a member of a comedy group that included Jay Leno and her comedic nature stayed with her throughout her life.
Beth ultimately settled professionally as a social worker demonstrating her empathy for others and her ability to listen but her most treasured and defining role was that of a mother to her beloved son, Zach. Her love for him was constant and unwavering, and she took immense pride in her time as a mother to Zach and all that life brought to them along the way.
As Beth was fighting pancreatic cancer, the dedication and spirit that she demonstrated to ultimately be a part of Zach’s wedding this past September was remarkable and demonstrated her grit and spirit. Beth is also survived by Zachariah’s wife, Olivia Baribeau of NYC, as well as her brother, Dr. Stephen H. Harlan, DDS of Dayton, Ohio;her nephews, Chad Harlan of NYC and Paula and Seth Harlan of Cleveland, Ohio; her step-children, Silas Warner of West Hartford, Connecticut, Ian and Beth Warner of West Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Eugenie Warner of Lakeville;her ex-husband, Scott Warner of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and other extended family, all of whom she held close to her heart.
Beth will be remembered for her energy, intellect and her sense of humor. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Beth’s memory to the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health Center who graciously assisted Beth with her cancer treatment this past year. A celebration of life will be held in Salisbury, CT at a later, yet to be determined, date.
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