Salisbury considers road safety audit

SALISBURY — In response to a petition from townspeople about speeding in town and other road safety issues, First Selectman Curtis Rand told the Board of Selectmen that he will be asking the state Department of Transportation to perform a road safety audit.

Rand made the remarks at the regular selectmen’s meeting Monday, Sept. 9.

Rand said the last audit was done eight years ago, and concentrated on sidewalks and pedestrian safety.

He threw out some ideas for consideration, including median islands on Main Street (Route 44) in Lakeville west of the Route 41/44 intersection and at the other end of town, by the Lion’s Head housing complex.

He also floated the possibility of extending sidewalks around Lake Wononscopomuc on Routes 41 and 44.

On trucks and noisy brakes, Rand said “No one is against trucks.” He said the majority of trucks go through town quietly and lawfully, but “then there are these cowboys.”

Selectman Kitty Kiefer said she was about “ready to stand out there with a hair dryer and a piece of paper” to get drivers to slow down.

Rand announced that Jada Wilson has joined the Town Hall team, training to be the assistant town clerk to replace the current assistant, Kristine Simmons, who will be taking over as Town Clerk when Patty Williams retires later this year.

Rand said the elm tree in front of the Salisbury post office suddenly lost its leaves.

He said he sent samples in for testing and the tree does not have Dutch elm disease.

“So we’ll leave it until next spring and see if it leafs out.”

The Grove Street affordable housing proposal is not ready for town meeting yet, Rand said.

Another item for a future town meeting is an encroachment issue on Housatonic River Road, where a stone wall built by property owners Jane and James Cohan is sticking into the town’s right of way.

Rand said the town crew said “that’s a nice wall, it’s not in our way at all” and the solution will likely be for the Cohans to pay $10,000 for an irrevocable easement.

But the matter has to go to the Planning and Zoning Commission before town meeting.

The selectmen appointed Howard Sobel as a regular member of the Historic District Commission, and Arek Feredjian as an alternate, at the commission’s request.

Kiefer said she attended a recent meeting with local and state officials and experts on hyrdrilla. She said she was “horrified” at how easily the invasive plant spreads.

Rand, who also attended, said he had recently kayaked around Long Pond and saw no hydrilla.

He did see a lot of dog droppings by the car-top boat launch and tennis balls floating in the vegetation.

He asked the public to clean up after their dogs and to refrain from chucking tennis balls where dogs won’t go to retrieve them.

Latest News

Celebration of Life: Michael R. Tesoro, M.D.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life to honor Michael R. Tesoro M.D. (May 20, 1941-—Dec. 25, 2024) whose vibrant spirit touched so many. We will gather on May 17 at 11:30 a.,m. at Trinity Lime Rock to remember Michael’s life with love and laughter.

A light fare reception to immediately follow at the church’s Walker Hall.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keith Raven Johnson

SHARON — Keith Raven Johnson, a long-time resident of Sharon, died on April 26, 2025, a month after his 90th birthday, at Geer Rehabilitation and Long -Term Care facility in Canaan.

He was born on March 21, 1935, in Ithaca, New York, the son of John Raven Johnson and Hope Anderson Johnson.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sue Ann Miller Plain

NORTH CANAAN — Sue Ann Miller Plain, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister, passed away on May 4, 2025, after a courageous battle with ALS. Sue Ann faced her illness with incredible strength, grace, and determination, never losing her spirit or her love for those around her.

Sue Ann was born on April 21, 1957, in Jersey City, New Jersey. She lived in North Canaan for 50 years where she built lasting friendships and began a life rooted in community and family.

Keep ReadingShow less
Joan Anderson Turnure

SALISBURY — Joan Anderson Turnure, 91, died after a long illness on May 3, 2025, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury. She was the loving widow of Michael DeBurbure Turnure.

Joan was born July 29, 1933, in Mexico City, Mexico, the daughter of the late Lawrence Anderson and Barbara (Ryan) Anderson. She grew up in Mexico and Maryland, later attending the Shipley School in Pennsylvania and earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from Vassar College.

Keep ReadingShow less