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North Canaan bears down on litter

NORTH CANAAN — An eye-opening volunteer trash pickup for Earth Day prompted North Canaan’s Board of Selectmen to consider a new dumpster ordinance in the Central Business District.

More than 70 volunteers participated in the town-led cleanup activity and removed litter from most neighborhoods in town, along with town parks and fields.

Selectman Craig Whiting set out with a team to pick up the year-old mess in the woods behind McDonald’s, which was caused by a bear breaking into the dumpster in 2023.

“We probably filled 12 to 15 bags of trash,” said Whiting at a May 6 meeting of the Board. “It was everywhere.”

He said there was “no reason” for the garbage to be left there for so long.

Whiting suggested the town implement an ordinance, which would create an avenue for holding businesses accountable.

“That’s something that we really have to look into especially now that the bear are out and active,” said Whiting.

Since the trash was picked up on April 27, the dumpster was once more ravaged by a bear. Whiting noted the McDonald’s staff, now under new management, picked up the new mess.

Affordable housing

First Selectman Brian Ohler announced at the May 6 meeting his plans to reconvene the town’s Affordable Housing Committee.

The committee, which began under the former administration, has become inactive. Ohler said the town needs to resume efforts on affordable housing and to do so, the committee needs to become active again.

He cited a 2022 town survey that showed, “74% of all respondents said that the cost of housing in town affects the town’s ability to attract and retain younger people or younger families,” and said businesses in town are struggling to find local talent to fill positions.

“We certainly have the workforce to give them jobs, but... housing is a big part of that formula,” said Ohler.

Ohler plans to begin the committee’s revival by contacting former chair Ashleigh Bergenty. He hopes to include Jocelyn Ayer, Director of Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity in future affordable housing discussions.

Creating a housing trust was also discussed as a way to tackle the issue.

“We need to hit the ground running,” said Ohler.

Riley Klein

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Lelah M. Somers

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DOVER PLAINS — Lelah M. Somers, 97, a longtime Dover Plains, New York, resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck, New York. Lelah was born on July 3, 1929, in Pawling, New York, to the late Byron and Lelah (Watts) Brill. Lelah grew up in Pawling and on Nov. 22, 1946, in Pleasant Valley, New York, she married James F. Somers, Sr. Mr. Somers passed away on Sept. 3, 1970. Lelah worked for New York State as a therapy aide for thirty-years and as a senior companion for New York State for thirty-two-years, with specific care provided to the mentally disabled.

She enjoyed taking care of the mentally disabled, was a wonderful mother to her four children, always putting her family first. She is survived by her son, James F. Somers, Jr. and his wife Donna of Dover Plains; two daughters, Doreen Monica of Wingdale, and Frances “Fran” Horton of Dover Plains, who was also her caregiver for many years; seven grandchildren, Debbie, Margie, Leah, Stephanie, Deirdra, Benji and Jimmy and several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and her step-son, Kenny Elliott. In addition to her parents and husband, Lelah was predeceased by her daughter and son-in-law, Carol “DeeDee” Maile and Gil Maile, her son-in-law, Stephen Monica, and her son-in-law, Benny Horton as well as her companion of over forty-years, Andrew “Mac” McAlravey and her siblings, Ferris Brill, Eleanor Barryann, Richard Brill, William Brill and Barney Brill.

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Provided

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Bleacher and Everard Photography

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