Millions in conservation funding awarded to Northwest Corner
Gov. Ned Lamont said the grants mark the largest round of open space protection awards, both by acreage protected and by dollars awarded, in more than a decade.
Gov. Ned Lamont said the grants mark the largest round of open space protection awards, both by acreage protected and by dollars awarded, in more than a decade.
SALISBURY — The Salisbury Association received a $1,592,500 state grant last week to preserve a 297-acre parcel of undeveloped land in the Housatonic Watershed known as Tom’s Hill.
The property is part of a larger land deal involving a multi-faceted effort by a coalition of conservation groups, including several Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s), to preserve and protect a large swath of more than 1,000 contiguous acres of scenic pastures, forests and farmland in Northwest Connecticut and Southern Berkshire County, from development.
In total, the state awarded $14.5 million in state grants for the purchase and protection of more than 2,626 acres of open space through 17 projects in 18 municipalities across Connecticut.
In the Northwest Corner, the Salisbury Association and the Kent-based Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC) were among the grant recipients.
The funds awarded to the Salisbury Association, to be administered by its land trust, are provided through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program, administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
“Thrilled,” is how John Landon, co-chairman of the Salisbury Association Land Trust (SALT) committee, reacted to news of the nearly $1.6 million state open space grant to protect and preserve Tom’s Hill.
“This would all not have been possible without the LLC that was created to buy the land from Bob Boyett and take it off the market to give us time to raise the funds,” said Landon. “We’re in deep debt and gratitude to them for stepping up and allowing us to have time to raise the money.”
Landon said the state grant represented 65 percent of the purchase price, which is the maximum amount awarded.
“We felt reasonably optimistic the state would come through with that amount. It moves us a long way toward completing the deal.”
He said the Salisbury Association also applied for a grant through the federal Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program, “which is only available to certain sites with higher elevations. Not all of Connecticut qualifies for that, but our area does.”
The Highlands grant, he said, would “top off” the state open space grant up to 90 percent of the purchase price, “and then we would have a small amount remaining to raise from private foundation.”
The goal, he said, is to finalize the land transfer to SALT by early 2025.
Tom’s Hill lies easterly of Salisbury’s Twin Lakes and westerly of the Housatonic River, rising above East Twin Lake to the summit of Tom’s Hill.
The parcel abuts large blocks of protected land, 540 acres to the northeast and 418 acres to the southeast, that link the property to the Housatonic River, containing outstanding viewsheds, scenic vistas and ridgelines. It represents prime recreation opportunities for scenic hiking, with complex terrain with ridges, knobs, cirques, benches and ravines.
Accessible via Twin Lakes Road, Tom’s Hill is almost entirely core forest, consists of a mixed northern transitional forest of hardwoods and conifers and includes at-risk habitats including forested swamps, freshwater wetlands and riparian lands adjacent to cold water streams.
Part of the Housatonic River Watershed, the property contains three miles of streams and riparian corridors that drain to East Twin Lake, an important fishery resource.
In addition to the Salisbury Association, the Kent-based Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy (NCLC) received two open space grant awards from the state for a total of $4.5 million towards the acquisition of the 650-acre Milde Farm in Litchfield and Torrington, and the 117-acre Glen Brook in Sherman.
Milde Farm is one of the largest undeveloped parcels remaining in Northwest Connecticut. The property contains farmland and core forest and supports diverse forest types including stands of conifer and hemlock, riparian forested wetlands and oak/mixed hardwood stands. The farms to the west and south are permanently protected by conservation easements held by the Litchfield Land Trust.
In making the announcement, Executive Director Catherine Rawson said the acquisitions “advance NCLC’s new strategic goals of increasing access and opportunities for people and communities to enjoy the region’s natural environment, while also accelerating the pace and scale of conservation to ensure we meet and sustain a goal of protecting 30 percent of our region’s land and waters by 2030.”
Gov. Ned Lamont said the grants mark the largest round of open space protection awards, both by acreage protected and by dollars awarded, in more than a decade.
“Connecticut is the fourth most densely populated state in the country, and it is critical that we set aside some of the gorgeous natural resources we have in the state and protect it as open space in perpetuity for everyone to enjoy for generations.”
Since the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program began in 1998, more than $161 million in state funding has been awarded to municipalities, nonprofit land conservation organizations and water companies to assist in the purchase of more than 43,000 acres of publicly accessible land, according to DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes.
“Open space preservation is more important now than ever,” she said. “These lands provide critical natural climate mitigation solutions, protect our important wildlife habitat and species, maintain healthy air and clean water, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities.”
The roof of the Grove was damaged by the tree, the event tent was punctured, a chef was injured and the Jubilee Luncheon was canceled Sunday, Oct. 12.
LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News Jubilee Luncheon fundraiser at the Grove Sunday, Oct. 12 was canceled after a very large section of a tree fell on the caterer’s tent at about 10 a.m.
Most of the catering staff heard the tree breaking up and got out of the tent in time, but the chef was hit by the falling limbs and sustained non-critical injuries.
A portion of the Grove’s roof sustained damage and branches came through the tent.
The Lakeville Hose Company responded to the scene. The chef was transported to Sharon Hospital by the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
“While we’re deeply disappointed to cancel our annual fundraising event, our first concern is for our caterer’s chef, who was injured in the incident and is now recovering at home,” said James Clark, Publisher. “We’re grateful there were no more serious injuries, and we deeply appreciate the understanding and support of our honoree, underwriters, and guests.”
The incident occurred during preparation for the event, which would have centered around the presentation of the Estabrook Community Leadership Award to Bunny Williams.
Food that The Marketplace had prepared for the event was donated to People’s Pantry in Great Barrington.
Emergency responders block Amenia Union Road in Sharon Saturday, Oct. 11, while responding to the vehicle crash.
Updated Oct. 13, 9:25 a.m.:
SHARON — Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, of Salisbury, died Saturday, Oct. 11, in a tragic car crash on Amenia Union Road in Sharon.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle crossed the southbound lane and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Shea Cassidy-Teti was in the back seat and sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead on scene.
Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road sustained damage to the front of the structure, which can be seen from the street through the trees. Oct. 13.Photo by Ruth Epstein
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.
In 1982 after graduating summa cum laude from Harvard College, Rhys returned to Hotchkiss to teach biology, where he met his wife of 35 years, Rebecca (Becky) Snow. After two years of teaching, he worked at a research field site in Borneo, then went on to the University of California, Davis where he earned a PhD in Animal Behavior in 1995.
Rather than follow an academic tenure track, Rhys preferred the solitary focus of field ornithology, and he spent several decades researching the ecology of bird species in California and on Cape Cod and the Islands. Rhys believed passionately in supporting biodiversity through habitat preservation. His proudest achievements, therefore, came through his work for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, in New Hampshire, where he served on committees and the Board of Trustees for twenty years, including three years as Chair.
Deeply intellectual and curious, Rhys learned Homeric Greek so he could read The Odyssey and The Iliad in their original language. An amateur Melville scholar, he would wax poetic about reading Moby-Dick for the umpteenth time.Rhys’s spirit was filled by the performing arts. Concerts by the Handel and Haydn Society and Boston Early Music Festival often brought tears to his eyes, while Boston Bluegrass Union shows delivered toe-tapping fidgetiness.
Rhys will be missed by his wife, Becky Snow, his mother, Anne Bowen, extended family, friends, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
A service will be held at The Hotchkiss School chapel on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at 1 p.m..
In honor of Rhys’s memory, donations can be made to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust.
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.
In addition to her husband and parents, Kelsey is survived by her two beloved children, Hunter Horton and Aryanna Horton, both of Lakeville; a step-brother, Jason Tuncy of East Hartford, Connecticut; her mother-in-law, Frances “Fran” Horton and her brother-in-law, Benjamin D. Horton III and his wife Penny of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and their son, Alec, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her father-in-law, Benjamin D. Horton, Jr. in 2017.
There are no calling hours. A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Millerton American Legion Post # 178, Route 44, Millerton, NY 12546. A time to celebrate Kelsey and share stories and memories. Memorial contributions may be made to The Jane Lloyd Fund. Please make checks payable to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (please note in memo line, The Jane Lloyd Fund) and mail to: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 800 N. Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257.
To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Kelsey’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.