Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

Friends of Ruggles Landing group formed

Friends of Ruggles Landing group formed
Friends of Ruggles Landing founding members, from left: Chris Jacques, Rick Martin, Christian Allyn, Tim Abbot, Kurt Stampfle, Steve Allyn, Lynn Fowler, Jack Anstine, Kathy Ducillo, and Aimee Davis. 
Photo by Riley Klein

NORTH CANAAN — Those passionate about the future of Ruggles Landing gathered at the Douglas Library on Tuesday, June 20, to form a non-profit organization intended to oversee the Housatonic River access site along Route 44 in North Canaan.

The group chose to name the site after Fred Ruggles, who was on the Housatonic River Commission for over 30 years and was instrumental in forming the Inland Wetland and Conservation Commission in North Canaan, to recognize his contributions to conservation in the area.

Of the 14 individuals in attendance of the meeting, ten stepped forward to form the incorporating board for Friends of Ruggles Landing. Roles within the group are still to be determined, but the formation of a nonprofit will enable them to begin negotiations with the state to offer public river access to the community.

“The next steps are all about an amenity that we can be proud of. The first public access in our town to our river,” said founding member and North Canaan Planning and Zoning Board Chair Tim Abbot.

“We’re the only town in the upper Housatonic wild and scenic area, which is all six towns in Region One and New Milford, that does not have access,” said founding member and North Canaan Selectman Christian Allyn.

Goals of Friends of Ruggles are to ensure the site is properly prepared for public use and to maintain the land through lawn mowing, picking up trash, posting appropriate signage, and monitoring use of the land.

“All we want to do is just clean up the site and make it user friendly,” said founding member Steve Allyn.

Currently, the property in question is owned by the state. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s position is that the agency is unable to tend to the day-to-day operations necessary to maintain a public river access site.

With the formation of a nonprofit to oversee Ruggles Landing, conversations with the state about demolishing the building on the property and other necessary steps to remediate the land can proceed.

“It’s not going to be a simple negotiation,” said Abbot. “That negotiation is going to take a little time, but I think we should aim for having a site that we’re excited to welcome people to next spring.”

Latest News

Early morning Kent crash sends car into ditch, disrupts traffic on Rt. 341

A blue SUV remains in a ditch after an early-morning crash along Segar Mountain Road in Kent May 27.

Ruth Epstein

KENT – A driver escaped with minor injuries after an SUV crashed into a utility pole and water line before rolling into a ditch along Segar Mountain Road early Wednesday morning, May 27, disrupting traffic for much of the day and affecting water service to a nearby residence.

The single-vehicle crash occurred around 4:30 a.m. near 36 Segar Mountain Road, just under half a mile east of the intersection with South Kent Road. State police said the blue SUV struck the pole, went over a guardrail and came to stop in a roadside ditch.

Keep ReadingShow less

Pauline King Garfield

Pauline King Garfield

EAST CANAAN — Pauline K. (King) Garfield, 94 of 77 South Canaan Rd. formerly of East Canaan, died Sunday May 24, 2026, at Geer Village.She was the wife of the late Duane Garfield who passed August 14, 2017. Pauline was born April 3, 1932 in North Canaan, CT in the former Geer Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Charles and Rose (Van Vlack) King.

Pauline spent her career at Becton Dickinson in Canaan, after being a stay-at-home mother for many years.She was employed at Becton Dickinson for 23 years. She enjoyed bus trips with her late husband Duane to the Casinos, spending time with her family watching the grandchildren grow up. Recently she made a comment to care givers that was “wait until I see that husband of mine for leaving me here, I am going to read him the riot act.” Over the years she enjoyed many crafts, but her favorite was crocheting gifts for everyone.

Keep ReadingShow less
A blessing for pets — and a lifeline for their health
Lazarus, a Eurasian eagle owl, poses with Dr. Laura, his longtime handler. The rescue raptor — known as the event’s “wow factor” for his striking presence and six-foot wingspan — will appear as the Raptor Ambassador at Rhinebeck’s Blessing of the Animals.
provided

For many pet owners, animals are family. On Saturday, May 30, that bond will be celebrated in a uniquely practical and heartfelt way when the Blessing of the Animals returns to Third Lutheran Evangelical Church in Rhinebeck alongside a free rabies vaccination clinic hosted by Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary.

The event, scheduled from noon to 4 p.m., is free for Dutchess County residents and open to dogs, cats and domestic ferrets three months and older. While the clinic itself provides an important public health service, organizers say the day has become about much more than vaccinations.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Local filmmaker Yonah Sadeh takes his lens to China

Filmmaker Yonah Sadeh on a shoot last year in New York City.

Matt Kashtan
When I was around 12, a family friend showed me how to use my family’s computer...from that point on, it was pretty much all movies. — Yonah Sadeh

Filmmaker Yonah Sadeh of Falls Village left May 8 for China, where he will shoot a short documentary.

“I got into a documentary film intensive program where we have two weeks to shoot, edit and screen a 10-minute documentary about a topic of our choosing,” he said.“I’ll be in Changsha, Hunan, making a film about a fifth-generation shadow puppet master.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Silvano Monasterios wows packed Cornwall Town Hall audience

Silvano Monasterios thrilled a sold out audience in Cornwall.

Natalia Zukerman

Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and producer Silvano Monasterios performed works from his upcoming “Solo in Paris,” his seventh album, on Sunday, May 23 at Cornwall Town Hall to a packed audience. Presented by Music Mountain in partnership with the Cornwall Town Hall and Cornwall Library, the concert showcased Monasterios’ signature fusion of sophisticated jazz harmonies and vibrant Latin rhythms. Throughout the performance, he moved seamlessly between intricate compositions and spontaneous improvisation. The concert built excitement for Music Mountain’s upcoming summer jazz series, which will bring an array of acclaimed performers to the historic venue. For more information, visit musicmountain.org

Author Courtney Maum to discuss new novel at Norfolk Library

Norfolk Library celebrates the release of Courtney Maum’s latest novel, “Alan Opts Out,” with a book launch party Tuesday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m. The author will speak about her book in conversation with WAMC radio producer Sarah LaDuke.

A graduate of Brown University with a degree in comparative literature, Maum is an acclaimed author of five books, including the romantic comedy “Touch,” a New York Times Editors’ Choice and NPR Best Book of the Year; “Costalegre;” and “I’m Having So Much Fun Without You.” Her memoir, “The Year of the Horses,” was chosen by the TODAY show as top pick for Mental Health Awareness Month. Vanity Fair listed her author’s guidebook “Before and After the Book Deal,” as a best resource for writers, and she has an eponymous Substack newsletter.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.