John Addison Berkey III

COREA, Maine — John Addison Berkey III, who was born in Santa Barbara, California, raised in Lake Forest, Illinois, and chose to spend his retirement years in Corea, Maine, died May 6 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was 78.
Although many obituaries refer to a peaceful passing, Berkey, according to his widow, Lori Berkey, left this world “kicking and screaming. He didn’t want to go.”
That same zest for living was evident throughout his lifetime. After college he entered the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and was discharged honorably five years later with the rank of sergeant.
Berkey published art books in Wilmot, New Hampshire, under the name, “Addison House.” And, although he was not trained as an architect or interior designer, he was commissioned to design 32 homes, mostly in the Millbrook, New York, area. He also was hired to design and furnish the interiors.
He then took a weary apartment house he owned in Hudson Valley, New York, and transformed it in six months into Bullis Hall Accommodations, which contained five suites. Relais & Chateaux soon came knocking at the door of the Bangall, New York, property and added it to their collection of the most exclusive hotels and restaurants in the world.
Nine years later, Addison and Lori moved to their beloved home overlooking Corea Harbor. It was a serendipitous find. Addison was familiar with the area, saw the house, noticed a cardboard sign turned over facing the ground, and discovered it was for sale.
The couple gutted the home and turned it into something elegant yet homey with heart-stopping views of the busy fishing harbor. Their neighbors, fishermen and community members, became fast friends.
In retirement, Berkey became very skilled at gardening and cooking – a dinner party invitation was highly sought after — and was often seen bicycling around the Schoodic Peninsula, a pursuit he continued until just a few years before he passed.
He cherished his wife, his family, his friends, and his cat, the late Walter. He often said his favorite pastime was sitting on the deck overlooking the harbor with a martini in hand.
Berkey was the son of the late John Addison Berkey II and Martha Rachel Fleming. He leaves a son, John Addison Berkey IV (Larson Campbell), of Charlotte, Vermont, and, a daughter, Perrin Berkey, of Millbrook, New York; three surviving brothers, Thomas Berkey (Michelene) of Colorado, Charles Berkey of Colorado and Maine, and David Berkey (Lucinda) of Washington state, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patti and Mark Kaiser of Hyde Park, New York. He was predeceased by a brother, DeGraff Berkey (Debra), of Arizona. He also leaves two granddaughters, Kitter and Piper Martin, and two grandsons, Hartley and Henry Berkey, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be no memorial service. His remains will be buried in Corea Cemetery. For those wishing to make a donation in his memory, please consider the Schoodic Food Pantry, P.O. Box 173, Corea, ME 04624, and/or Pals, 7110 Republic Airport St., No. 202, Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735.
A huge crowd with custom signs were present in Salisbury Saturday, June 14, for the “No Kings” protest.
The energized crowds, the custom signs and the constant show of support from passersby honking their horns reflected what many in the Northwest Corner want for this country — “No Kings.”
Such was the strong sentiment at rallies in Cornwall, Kent and Salisbury that mirrored the hundreds held across the country Saturday, June 14, to protest President Donald Trump’s policies and decrees.
The triangle at the junction of routes 7 and 4 in Cornwall Bridge was filled with more than 300 people, all there to express their fears about what direction the country is headed.
In Cornwall, Doug Craig, holding a huge sign of a crown being slashed, said he’s mainly concerned that Trump’s big bill “has too many hidden things.” Paul Bacsik of Sharon said, “We need co-branches of government, not one.”
Lori Welles of Cornwall believes, “There are so many things going on that people are in doubt about what is true. The Constitution is fundamental to protecting our society. The administration is lacking in humanity.”
The protest at Cornwall on Saturday drew more than 300 participants.Ruth Epstein
David Stoneback was appalled that those who broke into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, are being pardoned.
Ed Greene said his big concerns are how Trump is undermining the government and his lack of support for those who need help. “It’s an assault on all our programs.” His wife, Dinny Greene, added, “He’s dismantling the fabric of our society.”
Dick Sears, who was one of the organizers of the rally, walked along the edge of the grassy area chanting “Show me what democracy looks like” and later encouraged the crowd to answer “This is what democracy looks like.”
In Salisbury, hundreds gathered where Route 44 meets Route 41. Tom Zetterstrom described the scene: “A mosaic of all signs would have illustrated a broad spectrum of grievances appropriate for a Smithsonian archive about the waning days of our democracy.”
In Kent, an “Unhappy Birthday Party” was sponsored as part of the rally by the Democratic Town Committee on the Golden Falcon lot in the center of town. Participants lined Route 7 with similar signs to the other demonstrations.
Kent DTC chairman Patricia Oris energized the assembly, saying due process is the cornerstone of our democracy. She went though a litany of actions that have been taken under this administration, starting off each with the words, “How dare they” and the audience repeating the phrase. Some of these included the criminalizing abortion, the treatment of State Sen. Alex Padilla and a budget that rewards billionaires and takes food out of the mouths of children.
She mentioned the $40 million spent that day “to feed his ego on a ridiculous parade. I’m here to say we’re the true Americans. We are the patriots. We’re putting our feet down and saying enough is enough. We will survive. The power of the people is unbeatable. We are Americans and Americans bow to no king.”
A huge crowd gathered in Kent Saturday for its ‘Unhappy Birthday Party’ for President Donald Trump sponsored by the town’s Democratic Town Committee.Ruth Esptein
Carolyn Casey of Kent said she is afraid Trump will declare martial law, suspend habeas corpus and arrest everyone. Amanda Cernitz of Kent said Trump lied when he said he’d uphold the Constitution.
Lianna Gantt led the group in an “Unhappy Birthday Song” to Trump.
“Unhappy birthday to Trump,
The guy we want to dump.
He tramples on the Constitution,
What a mean-hearted grump!”
SHARON — After years of negotiations, Sharon Hospital is now officially part of the Northwell Health network. Christina McCulloch, the hospital’s president, said during a June 11 interview that the merger could help address some of the issues that plague rural healthcare centers.
“When you bring two organizations of this size together, you do have more leverage in many ways,” she said, pointing to staffing difficulties as a key area where the new partnership could offer real support. “When you’re looking at recruitment, which is certainly a challenge in Sharon and always will be due to its rural nature, having a partner will certainly benefit us.”
In early May the New York-based healthcare group finalized its union with Nuvance Health, which has operated Sharon Hospital since 2019, and also oversees hospitals in Danbury, Norwalk and New Milford as well as three additional facilities in the Hudson Valley. In a May 7 press release, Northwell President and CEO Michael Dowling described the merger as an investment in regional healthcare, while Margaret Crotty, who chairs the nonprofit’s Board of Trustees, is quoted as saying it is “an unprecedented opportunity a more integrated, regionally connected health system across Connecticut and New York.”
McCulloch shared their enthusiasm, reporting that now, six weeks after the merger was announced, “there’s really quite good energy around our relationship.” She said that several weeks prior, members of the Northwell leadership team visited the hospital to bookend the new partnership with a day of celebration. “You could just feel the energy and excitement about the partnership.”
The new, integrated healthcare system now employs 104,000 staff members across Connecticut and New York, including 22,000 nurses and 13,500 providers dispersed across 28 hospitals, 1,050 ambulatory care units and 73 urgent care centers. Before the merger, Northwell had already been the largest private employer in New York State for several years, according to its website.
No money exchanged hands as part of the deal, but Northwell pledged to invest at least $1 billion in Nuvance hospitals.
Hospital consolidation is a nation-wide phenomenon and has had critics in the past decade for causing hiked patient prices and deteriorating the quality of service at medical centers in certain instances. A 2020 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that patient experience generally worsened at hospitals that were acquired by larger systems, though the Harvard Medical School reported that the study’s lead author qualified that some cases of mergers improving hospitals cannot be ruled out.
McCulloch is confident that Nuvance joining the Northwell banner is one such instance. “It’s not about cutting resources and cutting services. It’s about optimizing what both of those organizations have, ultimately strengthening the access to care for everyone that lives in the community.”
She further explained that Northwell’s hospitals are consistently highly ranked and it was the only healthcare employer in New York to make Fortune Magazine’s 2024 rankings of best workplaces in the state.
McCullough said she was enthusiastic to work with such a decorated partner, as Sharon Hospital had also received its share of accolades, including receiving five stars from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services five years in a row and the only hospital in Connecticut to achieve the honor in 2024.
While integrating with Northwell is the immediate focus, McCullough said, the hospital has much planned for the future including bolstering its primary care capacities. “Primary care is the foundation of any community,” she said.
She mentioned that plans also exist to build up specialty departments, such as orthopedics and cardiology, the latter of which has already seen growth with the addition of cardiologist Dr. Sheri Harrison just over a year ago.
McCulloch assured that labor and delivery services at the hospital are guaranteed for a further five years. The maintenance of maternity services was established as a condition to the state attorney general William Tong’s agreement to the proposal.
McCulloch said she is grateful to be part of a broad and resource-rich network that can provide residents quality immediate care and prompt connections to additional services elsewhere if they are required. “Rural hospitals across the nation are closing and shrinking and having to make really difficult [decisions], just to be financially stable and be able to be there for their communities,” she said.
“Sharon hospital is really lucky to be a part of a larger organization so that we can benefit from those shared resources.”
The Sayler family, center, (Bridget, Dom, Zoe and Owen) is flanked by Judy Gafney, far left, of the Salisbury Housing Trust, and Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut officials David Sellery, executive director, and Bob Whelan, president, at right.
SALISBURY — One neighbor brought a cinnamon swirl bundt cake from Sweet William’s to welcome the Sayler family to the Selleck Hill neighborhood.
Another brought her recently born fawn.
The latter, a white-tailed deer that lives in the surrounding woodlands, had been a frequent visitor since Bridget and Dom Sayler purchased their 1,348-square-foot, single-family home on 2.6 acres for $195,000 from the Salisbury Housing Trust (SHT) on April 30.
But on this brisk, spring morning, the doe did not come alone. She made a surprise visit with her spindly legged fawn, eliciting glee from the small group that had gathered to talk about the SHT’s 17th sale of an affordable home in town.
The transaction marked the first collaboration between the Housing Trust and Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut. The deal made home ownership a reality for the Sayler family: Bridget, Dom and their three children, Zoe, 14, Owen, 12, and Lewis, 11.
Prior to the purchase, the Saylers had rented a house in Lakeville for 13 years.
“We were waiting in the wings,” explained Bridget, whose family has deep roots in the Northwest Corner. Her parents own and operate the family-run Clarke Outdoors in West Cornwall.
“When this house came up, Judy [Gafney] knew how much we love the woods and the creatures,” she said of the Housing Trust’s board member.
Housing Trust President John Harney said the deal was even sweeter because Bridget’s late grandfather, Vic Clarke, “was one of our childhood heroes who taught us all how to cross-country ski, hike, rock climb, paddle and love the outdoors…so supporting his granddaughter was of the highest importance to accomplish in memory of Vic. He would have loved this home.”
In 2000, the 2.6-acre property at 30 Selleck Hill was donated to Habitat for Humanity by Sally Ellsworth to ensure that the property would be forever affordable. On April 30, SHT sold the house to the Saylers and retained the land, which is governed by the trust’s ground lease.
David Sellery, executive director of Habitat for Humanity’s Northwest region,described his organization’s collaboration with SHT as a “meaningful first step toward building a broader coalition for affordable housing in our region.”
The Selleck Hill deal, he noted, is a great example of how collaboration can move the needle on affordable housing.
“By working together, we can do more for our neighbors than any one organization can do alone. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creative solutions that honor both the character of our community and the urgent need for accessible housing.”
Habitat’s board President, Bob Whelan, noted that Habitat and the Housing Trust employ the same model, “in that we continue to own the land and we sell the improvements. It gives the families the ability to build wealth, as we allow for appreciation on the home.”
The beauty of the concept, he said, is the ability to put the home back into an affordable housing situation down the road.
Dom Sayler, a teacher at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., noted that the property affords the natural setting the family had long been seeking, yet is convenient to town.
“The kids walk to the library, and Zoe enjoys the teen programs at Scoville. The fact that this area of land is available to our income level I find astounding. It would go for way more for just the land alone,” on the open market, he noted.
Another selling point of the home was its spacious basement, a popular hangout for the youngsters.
“There’s a woodstove down there and it’s very dry,” perfect for music practice, said Dom, who noted, “Our kids have a band…The Saylers,” with Zoe on bass, Lewis on drums and Owen on guitar.
All three children attend Salisbury Central School, and Zoe plans to attend Berkshire School next year.
Bridget, who works at The Hotchkiss School library, hugged Gafney as they parted ways and thanked her for helping to make the family’s dream of homeownership come true.
“I can’t imagine having someone else in our corner.”
Sellery reflected on meeting the Sayler family at their new home.
“And what a special moment with the doe and her fawn,” he noted “Truly a reminder of the beauty of life this land holds, and why it’s so worth preserving and sharing responsibly.”
Experienced Horse Equestrian: to train three-year-old white Persian Mare for trail riding. 860-671-0499 or 860-671-7024.
Help wanted: Small Angus Farm seeks reliable help for cattle and horses. Duties include feeding, fence repair, machine repair. Will train the right person. 860-671-0499 or 860-671-7024.
Order Fulfillment (Winsted, CT)Consolidated Textile Brands: Eco friendly warehouse looking for part time help with cutting fabric, packing, shipping, and other various tasks as needed. Attention to details and ability to lift up to 50 pounds required. Join our amazing warehouse team! Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 4 hours a day, 8 A.M. -12 P.M. This job begins immediately and runs through 12/31/2025, with potential to become permanent. Please send your job history when you contact us. kari@
sustainablestitches.com.
Sharon Congregational Church is seeking a pianist: to join our music team. We host a blended worship service; knowledge of traditional hymns is beneficial. The team practices once per week and on Sunday in preparation for our 10:30 worship. A stipend is available. call 860-364-5002 or e-mail PastorDawson06@yahoo.com.
The Cornwall Historical Society in Cornwall, CT is looking to hire: a docent to open the museum to visitors every Saturday from July 5 to Columbus Day weekend. Hours are from 9 to 3. Duties include greeting visitors, answering questions, and processing gift shop purchases. Anyone interested should contact Suzanne Fateh at: curator@cornwallhistoricalsociety.org. Hourly pay is $20. Visit our website to learn more about CHS.
Hector Pacay Service: House Remodeling, Landscaping, Lawn mowing, Garden mulch, Painting, Gutters, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Tree work, Brush removal, Fence, Patio, Carpenter/decks, Masonry. Spring and Fall Cleanup. Commercial & Residential. Fully insured. 845-636-3212.
NEED YOUR HOME CLEANED?: Diana and Juliet have been servicing the Northwest Corner since 1998. We offer guaranteed satisfaction and have great references. Please call 860- 605-0528.
ESTATE SALE: 188 Under Mountain Rd, Salisbury, CT. Sat 6/21 9-3 & Sun 6/22 10-1. Crossroads Estate Solutions. Contents of charming 1860 home! Quality antique furniture, many beautiful rugs, art, lamps, books, vintage linens, cookware, dishware, and decorative accessories. Patio sets, small tools, and more Well-kept and stylish, perfect for home furnishing, staging,or treasure hunting. Cash, credit, Venmo accepted. More details: EstateSales.Net.
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
Amenia: One bedroom, 1 bath, renovated 2nd story apt. with washer/dryer hookup & two outside decks. $1200 a month plus one month security. References required. Please call 845-373-9539, Ext. 100.
MT RIGA Two Bedroom LAKEFRONT: Log cabin. Private beach, canoes and kayaks. $1350/Week. 585-355-5245.
Canoe for Sale: 14 foot Kevlar canoe with removable pontoons that prevent tipping, two paddles and original cushions, roof rack, good condition. Original cost $2000; best offer over $500. Call 860-435-8848.
Millerton, NY
Estate Sale: Contents of a 2 Bedroom Household. Furniture, Dishes, Holiday Decorations and many tools of all kinds. 10 to 4: June 20, 21,27,28. July 11, 12. 5 Old Post Rd. Lot 7, Millerton, NY.