‘Pay it forward’ next weekend to support area families, farms

Black Rabbit, in Lakeville, Conn., will participate in Nourish Neighbors March 14 to 16.
Sava Marinkovic
Black Rabbit, in Lakeville, Conn., will participate in Nourish Neighbors March 14 to 16.
On the weekend of March 14 to 16, Tri Corner FEED is inviting members of the community to share a meal with their neighbors. Fourteen local restaurants — spanning both Connecticut and New York — will be participating in the Nourish Neighbors initiative, encouraging visitors to “dine out and pay it forward” for the benefit of local farmers, food pantries and Tri Corner FEED’s Food Sovereignty Fund.
Participating restaurants include Panacea in Amenia, New York; Falls Village Inn in Falls Village, Connecticut; Deano’s, Mizza’s, On the Run, Black Rabbit, and the Woodland in Lakeville, Connecticut; Harney’s Tea Room, Oakhurst Diner, and Willa in Millerton, New York; Champetre in Pine Plains, New York; Sweet William’s and The White Hart in Salisbury, Connecticut; and Le Gamin in Sharon, Connecticut.
At these eateries, diners will have the option to “donate a meal” by way of a fixed or proportional monetary donation made at the time of their regular order, 100% of which will be passed along to Tri Corner FEED.
The fundraiser, conceived by Tri Corner FEED’s Community Advocates for Food Security, will advance the organization’s ability to address food insecurity by purchasing food at a fair price from local farmers and distributing it to those in need, according to Director of Food Programs Blake Myers.
“The food that’s grown in our communities should be accessible to those who live in them,” said Myers, continuing to note that even farmers themselves are often food insecure. “Their margins are so slim, and it is so expensive to produce things in a way that is good for the environment and for people,” Myers explained.
Although the bucolic junction between Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York is widely recognized for its relative wealth and affluence, Myers points out that up to 40% of people in the area make difficult decisions when it comes to food purchases, according to recent studies.
Exacerbating this issue is post-pandemic inflation, which has seen St. Thomas Episcopal Church’s Food of Life pantry in Amenia serving five times the number of weekly visitors compared to pre-pandemic numbers overall, including double the number of retirees.
While there is no shortage of energy or enthusiasm among pantry volunteers, funding remains an issue for small, charity-driven organizations. “Our numbers are still growing,” said fourth-generation farmer and pantry manager Charlie Paley, packing donation bags before a column of idling cars that stretched beyond sight; “what we really need are more donors.”
To this end, St. Thomas’ Priest-in-Charge AJ Stack describes Nourish Neighbors as “an innovative strategy” for raising both funds and awareness. Identifying a trend toward the positive perception of integrated, community-driven philanthropy, Stack believes that pulling local businesses, like restaurants, into such efforts is an effective way to reinforce that idea that “what we do stays within our community.”
“There is a huge need here, one that is only growing,” said Brigitte Harney, Manager and Buyer for Harney & Sons Fine Teas, who is hopeful that a novel fundraising initiative will help generate awareness. Alanna Broesler, owner of Millerton’s Willa, reported that there is excitement around the initiative, calling it “a great sign that so many restaurants are participating.”
“It’s almost like doubling the money that goes back to the community,” said Myers. By both encouraging patronage of local eateries and generating funds to make purchases from regional farmers, Myers said that this initiative “helps to build a stronger food system” on multiple levels. “We support businesses and farms, and we donate food to pantries,” said Myers, “so everything goes to the community.”
The rolling hills, quaint towns, and peaceful forests of the tri-corner area have been — and remain — an attractive place to live for a diverse range of people. From deeply-rooted multigenerational farmers to well-travelled artists, Myers believes that “everyone here sees something special about this area,” as evidenced by the “power behind our community-organized and supported initiatives.”
In line with the mission of Tri Corner FEED, Myer’s insists that it is critical to maintaining the region’s allure and diversity that all residents be ensured the food security that leads to abundant, healthy lives. And others can contribute as easily as pulling up their neighbors a seat at the dinner table.
LAKEVILLE — Barbara Meyers DelPrete, 84, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at her home. She was the beloved wife of George R. DelPrete for 62 years.
Mrs. DelPrete was born in Burlington, Iowa, on May 31, 1941, daughter of the late George and Judy Meyers. She lived in California for a time and had been a Lakeville resident for the past 55 years.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, George, include son, George R. DelPrete II, daughter, Jena DelPrete Allee, and son Stephen P. DelPrete. Grandchildren; Trey, Cassidy, and Meredith DelPrete, Jack, Will and Finn Allee, and Ali and Nicholas DelPrete.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church, Lakeville, on Saturday, Oct. 4. May she Rest in Peace.
Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in care of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SHARON — Shirley Anne Wilbur Perotti, daughter of George and Mabel (Johnson) Wilbur, the first girl born into the Wilbur family in 65 years, passed away on Oct. 5, 2025, at Noble Horizons.
Shirley was born on Aug. 19, 1948 at Sharon Hospital.
She was raised on her parents’ poultry farm (Odge’s Eggs, Inc.).
After graduating from Housatonic Valley Regional High School, she worked at Litchfield County National Bank and Colonial Bank.
She married the love of her life, John, on Aug. 16, 1969, and they lived on Sharon Mountain for more than 50 years.
Shirley enjoyed creating the annual family Christmas card, which was a coveted keepsake.She also enjoyed having lunch once a month with her best friends, Betty Kowalski, Kathy Ducillo, and Paula Weir.
In addition to John, she is survived by her three children and their families; Sarah Medeiros, her husband, Geoff, and their sons, Nick and Andrew, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Shelby Diorio, her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Addie, Lainey and Lyla, of East Canaan, Connecticut,Jeffrey Perotti, his wife, Melissa, and their daughters, Annie, Lucy and Winnie, of East Canaan. Shirley also leaves her two brothers, Edward Wilbur and his wife Joan, and David Wilbur; two nieces, three nephews, and several cousins.
At Shirley’s request, services will be private.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Sharon Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 283, Sharon, CT 06069.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
MILLERTON — Veronica Lee “Ronnie” Silvernale, 78, a lifelong area resident died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, Connecticut. Mrs. Silvernale had a long career at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where she served as a respected team leader in housekeeping and laundry services for over eighteen years. She retired in 2012.
Born Oct. 19, 1946, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Bradley C. and Sophie (Debrew) Hosier, Sr. Following her graduation from high school and attending college, she married Jack Gerard Silvernale on June 15, 1983 in Millerton, New York. Their marriage lasted thirty-five years until Jack’s passing on July 28, 2018.
Ronnie is survived by her daughter, Jaime Silvernale (Wm. MacDaniel, Sr.) of Millerton, her beloved grandson, Wm. MacDaniel, Jr.; two special nieces, Shannon and Rebecca and a special nephew Sean Hosier. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Bradley C. Hosier, Jr. and her dear friend Ruth Fullerton of Millerton.
Visitation was private. A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held in the future. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree in Ronnie’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
Christine Gevert, Crescendo’s artistic director, is delighted to announce the start of this musical organization’s 22nd year of operation. The group’s first concert of the season will feature Latin American early chamber music, performed Oct. 18 and 19, on indigenous Andean instruments as well as the virginal, flute, viola and percussion. Gevert will perform at the keyboard, joined by Chilean musicians Gonzalo Cortes and Carlos Boltes on wind and stringed instruments.
This concert, the first in a series of nine, will be held on Oct. 18 at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, and Oct. 19 at Trinity Church in Lakeville.
For those unfamiliar with Crescendo, the award-winning organization was founded in 2003 and brings lesser-known works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods — along with contemporary fusion pieces — to new life. Its performances often blend classical composition with nontraditional instrumentation for a refreshing new take on an established body of work.
Gevert, who is German, Chilean and American, is a conductor, keyboardist and musical scholar. As the multi-national, multi-lingual (German, Spanish and English) creative director, she is a veritable whirlwind of talent, professionalism and inspiration who conceives of new musical treats for her audiences. She also hires and nourishes local talent, sources internationally known vocal and instrumental professionals, and provides her audiences with well-researched program notes for each concert, packaged in lush, full-color programs that resemble illuminated manuscripts.
“It is the excitement about and dedication to the music, along with the prerequisite vocal and instrumental talent, that characterizes a Crescendo member,” said Gevert. “I don’t care about things like how old or young you are or where you’re from — it’s all about bringing these performers together to provide unforgettable musical experiences for its audiences.”
“Traditional audiences for classical music performances tend to skew older,” Gevert continued. “For that reason, I’ve embarked on an effort to reach younger listeners, and have done things like taken a Crescendo choral group to perform at Housatonic Regional High School. I’ve also launched an effort to recruit and train young singers in Baroque singing techniques so they can perform with our existing choral group.”
The upcoming 2025-26 season includes, among other performances, a solo recital and benefit concert on Nov. 22 by the international Baroque opera star and countertenor Nicholas Tamagna. The curated program will include works by Handel, Vivaldi, and Monteverdi.
Two dazzling Christmas concerts follow: on Dec. 6 and 7, Crescendo presents J.S. Bach’s “Sweet Comfort” cantata and Mass in G minor, featuring the full chorus and soloists with a period instrument orchestra. On Dec. 21, the annual Holiday Concert will be presented: “A Tapestry of Traditions: Unraveling the History of Christmas Carols,” with the entire Crescendo vocal ensemble and Gevert on organ.
For the full schedule, concerts details and ticket information, visit: www.crescendomusic.org