SALISBURY — Sandra Watson Schafer, 90, of Salisbury passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, June 24, 2024. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 6 at the Falls Village Congregational Church with the time of the service and a full obituary in next week’s paper.
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Kent seeks safer crossing for students on Route 341
Alec Linden
Oct 27, 2026
KENT — Town officials will seek help from school leaders and the state Department of Transportation to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Route 341 and Elizabeth Street, where students cross on their way between school and downtown.
Heather Brand, chair of the Kent Center School Board of Education, raised concerns about the crossing at the Board of Selectmen’s Oct. 20 meeting.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that the intersection itself is concerning,” she said.
The intersection has crosswalks but no other pedestrian safety measures. Brand said Kent Center School previously provided a crossing guard during arrival and dismissal, but the position was cut because no students had walking listed in their approved transportation plans.
Students nevertheless use the crossing to attend library events and walk around town, she said. For middle schoolers, navigating the busy roadway can be a challenge.
“It looks like Frogger,” Brand said.
The concern extends to students at Kent School, the boarding school west of the intersection on Route 341.
“Definitely the teenagers—the Kent School kids—are part of the picture,” she said.
Brand said the school board had discussed options including volunteer crossing guards, a four-way stop and a traffic light. Any changes, however, would require coordination with other agencies.
“We’re opening it up to the hive mind to figure out what to do,” she said.
First Selectman Eric Epstein said he would arrange a meeting with representatives of the town, both schools and the state Department of Transportation to discuss possible improvements. Route 341 is a state road.
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Sharon Center School outlines improvement goals
Patrick Stachniak
Oct 27, 2026
Sharon Center School
File photo
SHARON — Sharon Center School is working to strengthen students’ sense of belonging and engagement after findings presented to the Board of Education identified concerns about communication, support and trust.
Principal Carol Tomkalski and members of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team presented a strategic school improvement plan that sets measurable goals for academic achievement and school climate at the board’s Oct. 19 meeting. The board also received an update on long-term building cost estimates.
The leadership team includes teachers from primary school, middle school and special education. Tomkalski described the improvement plan as a “road map” for decisions affecting students.
“We have all put a lot of time into creating this plan and into the effort and the direction that we’re taking… It is a group effort,” said Tomkalski. “We have set measurable goals in our plan that identify the actions that we plan to take. And it explains how we will progress, monitor and adjust the work as necessary.”
According to Tomkalski, student performance has improved since the fall 2025 baseline in subjects such as math and language arts, with more than half of K-8 students meeting or exceeding standards.
However, the presentation identified areas needing improvement in the “culture and climate” category, which addresses belonging and engagement. These included communication, opportunities to have a voice, support, trust, leadership visibility and consistent responses to behavior.
In response, Tomkalski and the leadership team launched efforts to engage teachers and students beyond the classroom, including a project-based learning course connecting students in different grades and team-building through outdoor education. Most students, staff and parents surveyed agreed that Sharon Center School is a safe place to learn.
“We have been very thoughtful in the changes that we have made,” Tomkalski said. “It’s an opportunity for the teachers to engage with students in a way that isn’t the same as they may be experiencing in the classroom.”
The board also appointed a volunteer representative to the Region One Organizational Study Committee, which is examining the region’s K–8 school structure, programs and future educational needs.
The board also discussed the Building Committee’s work to estimate future costs at the school. Region One Business Manager Sam Herrick said third-party experts had described the school as being in excellent condition.
Herrick described the preliminary five-year cost estimate as a “worst case scenario.”
An internal review found that some work could be done more economically in-house.
“There’s still going to be the cost of doing things in-house… you still have to purchase things,” said Herrick. “We’d have the oversight of our electrical or plumbing contractor on a lot of these items. We still have to fine-tune some of those numbers, but we are pretty confident that we have the structure and the skeleton of that document.”
The discussion followed a contentious budget process earlier this year. Voters rejected the proposed budget 114–99 on May 8 before approving it June 29 by a vote of 90–12. The school’s $4.17 million operating budget remained unchanged between those votes, but the town established a separate $35,000 reserve from its undesignated account for school expenses if needed.
The completed cost plan is scheduled to be presented at the board’s next meeting Nov. 9.
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Regional luncheon brings seniors together at Town Grove
Ruth Epstein
Oct 27, 2026
Area park and recreation directors serve at the regional senior luncheon held at the Town Grove in Salisbury on Oct. 22. From left are: Bethaney Mastrocola from Cornwall, Lisa McAuliffe from Salisbury, Bryan Failla from Sharon and Matt Frasher from Kent.
Ruth Epstein
SALISBURY – The level of conversation was high at the Town Grove Thursday, Oct. 22, as seniors gathered from around the region for a meal and socialization. The awarding of raffle gifts added to the festivities.
The luncheon was hosted by the park and recreation directors from four towns: Lisa McAuliffe from Salisbury, Bryan Failla from Sharon, Matt Frasher from Kent and Bethaney Mastrocola from Cornwall. The event is put on semi-annually.
The goal, said McAuliffe, is to bring seniors together from the different towns and have them meet one another.
“The towns should do more together,” said guest Barbara Wiggins of Salisbury. “I’ve come every year since I’ve known about it. I see people I’ve never seen before.”
Salisbury residents Nancy Stoer and her husband, Rudi, were attending for the first time. “It’s great,” she said. “They should have it every week,” quipped her husband.
Cherie Schiffer of Amenia brought her mother, Vivian, and her mother’s friend Dottie Silvernail. She said they all exercise at the Town Grove weekly with others, many of whom were at the luncheon.
The reviews of the meal, provided by Theresa Freund of Freund’s Farm Market, were positive.
Chicken, vegetables, mashed potatoes, salad, apple cider donuts and pumpkin cupcakes were on the menu.
A new addition this year were briefings from representatives of two organizations of interest.
Cristin Rich of East Mountain House, based in Salisbury, talked about the program, which has been in operation for one year. It gives 24-hour residential care to those within two to three months of death.
Jane MacLaren described Chore Service, the program she represents, which helps seniors remain independent in their homes through assistance with errands, shopping, yard work, house cleaning and other nonmedical tasks.
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Carter Road residents seek traffic study, cite safety concerns
Patrick Stachniak
Oct 27, 2026
KENT — Carter Road residents called for a new traffic study at the Board of Selectmen’s Oct. 20 meeting, saying traffic had increased since the road was repaved and made it more dangerous.
Residents cited cars and trucks using the road to reach Route 7, poor visibility at blind corners and concerns about people leaving the nearby High Watch Recovery Center.
“These days I stop and look across to my mailbox then run across between cars… the box sits right at the edge of the road,” said Carter Road resident Ellen Altfest. “While I’m opening it, I do worry about being hit, traffic has grown since the last count.”
Resident Rob Colvin said the repaving of Carter Road had drawn more through traffic from Warren and businesses on adjoining roads.
High Watch conducted a traffic study in November 2023 as a condition of Planning and Zoning approval associated with an expansion completed earlier that year.
Altfest requested a new study examining conditions along Carter Road, including blind corners and the intersection with Route 7.
She also asked for an alternate board member with experience in traffic and public safety.
Beyond traffic, residents raised concerns about people leaving High Watch and seeking help from neighbors.
“When people leave a facility with no transport, sometimes without a phone, sometimes under the influence, it’s a danger to them and to the neighbors. What if it’s a freezing day in January?” Altfest said. “It puts neighbors in a difficult position.”
Another resident described being approached at a mailbox by a stranger who requested a ride to Massachusetts or access to a phone.
First Selectman Eric Epstein had not responded to a request for comment on the proposed study by press time.
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Veden captures more Falls Village stories in 39th film
Patrick L. Sullivan
Oct 27, 2026
FALLS VILLAGE — Local filmmaker Eric Veden has released Episode 39 of his video series documenting the people and everyday life of Falls Village.
Veden began the series in 2000, combining interviews with residents and footage of community events to create an ongoing record of the town’s people, history, businesses and traditions.
The latest episode opens with Gail Sinclair, who recalls first meeting her husband on a Windjammer cruise off Miami in 1964.
The native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, soon found herself married and living in Falls Village.
“I was a city girl. I knew nothing about the country.”
With two children at Lee H. Kellogg School, she decided to get involved with their education and wound up as president of the Parent-Teacher Organization.
Her husband, Sheldon, was a merchant mariner and away for two months at a time. When he was home, he developed an interest in beekeeping, so Gail had to learn it too.
The focus then shifts to Feather Blass, who says she comes from a long line of artists and artisans: blacksmiths, photographers, woodworkers and painters.
“I like to learn a little bit of everything and use all these skills.”
She runs One Tiny Light studio on Music Mountain Road. “I can make anything you have in mind, or help you make it.”
A quick tour of the studio reveals kilns, vises, table saws and torches, all of which she seems at ease with.
Next, highway foreman Tim Downs reflects on his life and work in Falls Village, beginning with buying a house in 1989.
“My wife and I bought the house. Then we got married.”
He worked in a machine shop until December 2003, when he became the town’s highway foreman.
Drawing on the knowledge of his predecessors, he learned the seasonal duties of the road crew in a snowy town with 30 miles of town roads.
In winter, the crew can’t do much road repair, so they focus on equipment maintenance.
“And we wait for it to snow.”
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Kent Town Hall gets new EV charger
Patrick Stachniak
Oct 27, 2026
Kent Town Hall
Leila Hawken
KENT — A new electric vehicle charger has been installed in the Town Hall parking lot, replacing one more than a decade old.
Voltpost, a private clean energy company, installed the new charger with the help of a $1.32 million state grant to update the EV infrastructure across Connecticut.
Kent Town Hall is one of 60 locations included in the grant provided by the Connecticut Innovative Energy Solutions program and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) in July.
First approved in 2025, the program partnered the state with Eversource and United Illuminating (UI), as well as the coalition Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut to fund private companies and build out clean energy and transportation infrastructure.
Voltpost, a New York City based company, refurbishes old utility poles and refits them with modular level 2 EV chargers. The use of existing infrastructure cuts installation costs anywhere from 25-85%.
The new charger is in the same location as its predecessor, directly beside the Town Hall building. EV drivers are required to download the Voltpost app to purchase the electricity for 75 cents an hour. On average, an EV takes around 6 hours to fully charge.
Initially planned to be finished by the end of 2025, PURA delayed the project and lowered the number of new chargers. While PURA has only confirmed three locations, including Kent, the authority is actively pursuing cities like New Haven and Hartford, but is also considering another town in the Northwest corner: North Canaan.
PURA has not yet announced an updated project timeline.
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