Millions of state dollars earmarked for infrastructure projects in Northwest Corner

Millions of state dollars earmarked for infrastructure projects in Northwest Corner

$1 million in state funding has been approved for River Road pavement and embankment stabilization.

Debra A. Aleksinas

Three Northwest Corner communities — Falls Village, Salisbury and Sharon — are among 46 small towns statewide due to receive a total of $30 million in state grants to help with numerous infrastructure improvements.

The grants, announced last week by Gov. Ned Lamont, are being provided through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program, also known as STEAP, a state program managed by the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management that delivers grants to small towns for economic development, community conservation and quality-of-life capital projects.

In addition to the grants from the state, each municipality is also contributing funds, bringing the total spent on the 48 projects to $43.4 million in a combination of state, local and other funding sources.

Pavement, embankment work for Sharon

Sharon received $1 million in state funding, the maximum amount, for River Road pavement and embankment stabilization, which will be matched by $700,000 from the town.

Upon learning of Sharon’s inclusion in this latest round of STEAP grants, First Selectman Casey Flanagan expressed appreciation for “everyone who supported this project throughout the application process.”

Since August of 2023, he said, a portion of River Road has been limited to one lane of traffic due to a failure of the road.

“Correcting the problem with a long-term solution and reopening the road has been a top priority for the Board of Selectmen and our road foreman.”

Given the high cost of the project and the town’s limited resources, said Flanagan, “we were unable to address the problem as quickly as we would have liked. And while this grant award likely won’t cover the total cost of the project, we are confident that our volunteers on the Board of Finance will work with us to allocate the necessary additional funding.”

“Critical municipal infrastructure” in Falls Village

Falls Village’s $620,051 grant award, which will be matched by $155,014 from the town, is approved for “critical municipal infrastructure.”

Falls Village First Selectman David Barger said his town’s STEAP grant will fund, “in a broad sense, things that are critical to infrastructure and sustainability within the town,” such as a new salt shed, interior work including painting at the town’s senior center and a new trash compactor for the transfer station.

“We will also be looking at a way to secure an area for food waste at the transfer station,” said Barger, who noted that he is “very pleased” with the grant distribution.

“It is refreshing to know that the state came through with STEAP grants, especially for the towns here in the Northwest Corner.”

Recreational improvements in Salisbury

Salisbury was awarded $328,000 for recreational improvements at the town’s Recreation Department,which will be matched by $82,000 from the town.

In making the announcement, Lamont noted that Connecticut’s small towns “are such an important part of what makes Connecticut such a special place to live and work. By partnering with each town,” he said, “we can help get these infrastructure projects completed so these towns can continue to thrive, remain competitive, attract businesses and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

Latest News

Rhys V. Bowen

LAKEVILLE — Rhys V. Bowen, 65, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sept. 15, 2025. Rhys was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on April 9, 1960 to Anne H. Bowen and the late John G. Bowen. His brother, David, died in 1979.

Rhys grew up at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, where his father taught English. Attending Hotchkiss, Rhys excelled in academics and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. During these years, he also learned the challenges and joys of running, and continued to run at least 50 miles a week, until the day he died.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kelsey K. Horton

LAKEVILLE — Kelsey K. Horton, 43, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, following a courageous battle with cancer. Kelsey worked as a certified nursing assistant and administrative assistant at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, from 1999 until 2024, where she was a very respected and loved member of their nursing and administrative staff.

Born Oct. 4, 1981, in Sharon, she was the daughter of W. Craig Kellogg of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and JoAnne (Lukens) Tuncy and her husband Donald of Millerton, New York. Kelsey graduated with the class of 1999 from Webutuck High School in Amenia and from BOCES in 1999 with a certificate from the CNA program as well. She was a longtime member of the Lakeville United Methodist Church in Lakeville. On Oct. 11, 2003, in Poughkeepsie, New York, she married James Horton. Jimmy survives at home in Lakeville. Kelsey loved camping every summer at Waubeeka Family Campground in Copake, and she volunteered as a cheer coach for A.R.C. Cheerleading for many years. Kelsey also enjoyed hiking and gardening in her spare time and spending time with her loving family and many dear friends.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eliot Warren Brown

SHARON — On Sept. 27, Eliot Warren Brown was shot and killed at age 47 at his home in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a random act of violence by a young man in need of mental health services. Eliot was born and raised in Sharon, Connecticut, and attended Indian Mountain School and Concord Academy in Massachusetts. He graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He and his wife Brooke moved to New Orleans to answer the call for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and fell in love with the city.

In addition to his wife Brooke, Eliot leaves behind his parents Malcolm and Louise Brown, his sisters Lucia (Thaddeus) and Carla (Ruairi), three nephews, and extended family and friends spread far and wide.

Keep ReadingShow less
Randall Osolin

SHARON — Randall “Randy” Osolin passed away on Sept. 25, 2025, at the age of 74. He was born on Feb. 6, 1951, in Sharon, Connecticut to the late Ramon (Sonny) and Barbara (Sandmeyer) Osolin.

He was a dedicated social worker, a natural athlete, a gentle friend of animals, an abiding parish verger, an inveterate reader, and an estimable friend and neighbor. He was a kind-hearted person whose greatest joy was in helping someone in need and sharing his time with his family and good friends.

Keep ReadingShow less