Sarah Cooke Picton

SALISBURY — Sarah (Cooke) Picton, age 76, of Salisbury, died June 17, 2024, at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center in Canaan of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. Sarah and her loving husband, Jim Picton, had fourteen golden years together.
Sarah Herritage Cooke (she dropped “Herritage” when she married, and yes, they did spell it with two ‘r’s) was born in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 2, 1947, the youngest of four siblings to the late Richard Caswell Cooke and Caroline Myers, both of Richmond. She was predeceased by her oldest sibling, Caroline, and Caroline’s husband, William Dinsmore Holland, both of Cookeville, Tennessee. She is survived by her brother, Richard Caswell (“Caswell”) Cooke, Jr., and his wife, Mary Davis Cooke, both of Lawrenceville, New Jersey; also her sister Anne Gordon Cooke of Richmond. Anne’s husband, Rev. Charles Daniel Curran, Jr., predeceased her. Sarah also leaves many devoted nieces and nephews, one of whom, Lawrence Curran, predeceased her. Sarah had no children of her own, but two loving godsons, Peter Boyd of Charles City, Virginia, the son of Sarah’s longtime friends Julie and Randy Boyd, and Gordon Cooke of Derry, New Hampshire, the youngest son of brother Caswell. It should also be said here that there was not a better-loved pair of cousins either side of the Mason-Dixon Line than Willson Craigie (yes, two ‘L’s) and his wife, Susan Craigie, both of Richmond, whose friendship with Sarah and husband Jim figured prominently in their lives and grew deeper over the years.
In fact, as children, Sarah, Willson, and sister Anne would spend part of each summer together at Cricket Hill, the rural cabin, pond, and stream retreat father Dick fashioned for the family. Many stories emanate from that time, which must have made a deep impression on Sarah who, when she finally began to loosen her grip on reality, would often tell visitors that she lived at Cricket Hill still — which, in a way, must have been true. On Sundays when it didn’t rain (it never did, in the lore), Dick would conduct outdoor services under the weeping cedar, mostly consisting of hymns sung a capella.
Although not religious in later life, Sarah grew up attending Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal, a church her great-grandfather helped to found in the 19th century. She attended St. Catherine’s, an Episcopal Diocesan school beginning in 6th grade, graduating 12th grade in 1965. Hollins College followed, a female-only school at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where Sarah thrived (she and her schoolmates were known as “Hollie Collie Dollies”), earning a bachelor’s degree in art history with a minor in math.
At this point, work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was available, and although Sarah eventually took a job there, the urge to travel and see more of this country was overwhelming. Sarah struck out for the West. A series of visits over the next few years led her to jobs on a dude ranch in Wyoming, a sojourn in California (think: camping next to an avocado plantation), bartending in Denver, and a job with the Denver Art Museum, organizing fundraising shows and concerts in Larimer Square. She took credit for, among other things, introducing Bluegrass to the country music fans there when she organized a concert with Hot Rize, a group still heard on the radio today.
Though she loved the clear skies and surrounding natural beauty of Colorado and Wyoming, Sarah yearned to be closer to the New York art world, and so moved to New York, taking an apartment next to an old school friend in a third floor walk-up in Hell’s Kitchen (as she liked to remind us). Sarah was an artist, working in pencil, ink, and watercolor. She sketched every day, drawing from photographs and from life. In New York, she designed a line of greeting cards and sold them to Caspari, Inc. Many years later, after retirement, Sarah re-started her card business, marketing her work to local shops. But in New York, the card business didn’t cover all the bills, so Sarah found work at the Betty Parsons Gallery. After working at the Parsons gallery, Sarah was offered, and quickly took, a job as office manager and general jobber for Jasper Johns.
The relationship with her employer and the artists and “buzz” surrounding him was so successful that Sarah settled into Manhattan for good, moving to Connecticut only after Johns did. They were both fond of each other; Sarah stayed on for about 28 years, retiring finally to spend more time with husband Jim who, as one of the contractors who took care of the Johns campus, had to answer to Sarah’s ironclad rule before proceeding with any work, and fell in love with the boss in the process. Three years after first husband Bill’s death, Sarah allowed Jim into her life. They were subsequently married, in 2014. Visits to Cape Cod and to Maine, and a trip to Ireland to celebrate Sarah’s seventieth birthday, were among the pleasures of retirement, before Alzheimer’s became evident.
A memorial gathering and simple service will be held for Sarah in Salisbury and also Richmond, after summer. Notice will be published so that all who wish may attend these remembrances. Those who wish to make a charitable contribution in Sarah’s memory may consider the Housatonic Valley Association, a local conservation organization Sarah liked to support: Housatonic Valley Association, 150 Kent Road, PO Box 28, Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754.
Aradev LLC’s plans to redevelop Wake Robin Inn include four 2,000-square-foot cabins, an event space, a sit-down restaurant and fast-casual counter, a spa, library, lounge, gym and seasonal pool. If approved, guest room numbers would increase from 38 to 57.
LAKEVILLE — The public hearing for the redevelopment of Wake Robin Inn is over. Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission now has two months to make a decision.
The hearing closed on Tuesday, Sept. 9, after its seventh session.
Michael Klemens, chair of P&Z, had warned at the opening of the proceedings that “this might be a long night” due to a last-minute influx of material from experts hired by Wells Hill Road residents William and Angela Cruger to oppose the project, but this turned out not to be the case.
These 11th hour submissions set a sour tone to the start of the meeting, with commissioner Robert Riva stating that it was “not very professional to pull this stunt on this Commission.” Riva said he had diligently reviewed the already substantial documentation provided by both the applicant and the opposing experts, and was surprised to find a “dump” of additional information submitted just hours before the meeting’s start time at 6 p.m.
Tensions were quickly eased, however, when William Cruger offered his concise summation of his platform’s opposition to the expansion, which is the second iteration of the project after an earlier version was withdrawn late last year.
“It’s important for you all to hear from me that there was never any disrespect intended to the Commission, the commissioners, and to the process,” Cruger said. He defended the last-minute submissions as an effort on the part of the experts to be thorough in their analysis: “Our intention… has been and remains to do our best to get whatever we think will be helpful in your deliberations into the record.”
The Crugers formally entered the hearing process as intervenors for the first application from Aradev LLC, the applicant, in the fall of 2024, meaning they and their hired consultants had full party status in the hearing proceedings. During this cycle, however, they chose not to petition for intervenor status, yet during this round of hearings their role has been similar. Klemens described them as having “almost intervenor status — not quite.”
William Cruger summarized the consultant’s findings for Aradev’s revised application, noting they found it to be “virtually identical in scale to the previous proposal.”
“Our position is that the proposed expansion would absolutely negatively impact the usefulness, enjoyment and value of the surrounding properties,” he said.
Aradev’s attorney Joshua Mackey countered by saying that the special permit conditions would elevate the currently non-conforming hotel in the zone, describing it as a “community asset that is improved, regulated, and safeguarded for generations to come.” He characterized Aradev as “the next steward of this storied property.”
After Mackey and Aradev co-founder Steven Cohen concluded their remarks, Klemens closed the hearing with no public comment, which he had stated would be the case at last week’s hearing session on Thursday, Sept. 4. Klemens said that P&Z will begin deliberating the proposal in early October after the commissioners have had the chance to review the information in the record.
A total of 45 letters, including the Crugers’ experts’ testimony, were submitted since the Sept. 4 meeting alone, alongside hundreds of pages of application materials and additional testimony.
As the Commission deliberates and reviews, all of this information is available for public viewing on the “Meeting Documents” subpage under P&Z’s section on the town website, www.salisburyct.us.
The Commission must issue a decision on the application by Nov. 13, the end of the statutorily defined deliberation window.
The Weavery is Stanton Home’s oldest activity space, featuring a collection of vintage and modern floor looms. It offers opportunities for building dexterity, creative expression, and social connection through fiber arts.
Stanton Home is holding its annual Harvest Roast fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Great Barrington, an evening of farm-to-table dining, live swing music, and community connection.
For nearly 40 years, Stanton Home has supported adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential programs, therapeutic services and skill-building activities.
“Here in the Berkshires, adults with diverse abilities often face barriers like limited housing, tricky transportation, and fewer opportunities for meaningful work,” said Executive Director Peter Stanton. “Stanton Home flips that script. Our mission is to partner with adults to pursue healthy, self-determined lives.”
The Harvest Roast features locally grilled meats, roasted vegetables from Stanton’s own gardens, warm apple crisp with SoCo Creamery ice cream, and beverages —all set to the swing and gypsy jazz rhythms of the Lucky 5 Band.
“The Harvest Roast is a celebration of what makes our community strong, inclusive, and vibrant,” Stanton said. “Every ticket and sponsored table supports programs that make a lasting difference.”
Guests will begin in the gardens with a signature cocktail before gathering at long farm tables for a shared meal and celebration.
“Though this night matters, the work is year-round,” Stanton added. “People can help by shopping locally at the farm store or buying handmade weavery goods, pitching in with time or skills, gardening, lending a hand at events or by partnering with Stanton’s programs like composting or sourcing local goods. Folks can also speak up for inclusion in their workplace or community circle. Even the smallest action helps keep the mission alive.”
Tickets are $125 per person. Proceeds support Stanton Home’s inclusive programs. Reserve at donorbox.org/events/771775/steps/choose_tickets or call 413-441-0761.
Following the memorable benefit reading last season of Charles Busch’s Tony-nominated Broadway hit, “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” the Sharon Playhouse will present a one-night-only staged reading of his riotous comic melodrama “Die Mommie Die!” on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
The production —a deliciously over-the-top homage to classic Hollywood mid-century thrillers — continues the Playhouse’s artistic partnership with Busch, who reprises his iconic role of the glamorous yet troubled songstress Angela Arden.
The playwright and performer is no stranger to the Playhouse and, luckily, he’s supported by a truly stellar powerhouse cast of top-notch comic actors — some returning to the Playhouse stage, and some making their debut. The cast includes Richard Kind; two-time Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen, who was part of the original New York cast; Tony Award winner Celia Keenan-Bolger; Andrew Keenan-Bolger; and Claybourne Elder.
The production also marks a fortuitous alignment of talent and history. It is directed by Sharon Playhouse Artistic Director Carl Andress, who performed in the play’s Los Angeles premiere in 1999.
“I have a long and happy history with this particular show,” Andress said. “At the Sharon Playhouse, we’re thrilled to offer unforgettable, one-of-a-kind live experiences. With Charles Busch and this phenomenal cast, ‘Die Mommie Die!’ will surely light up the Olsen Stage with laughter, wit and glamour.”
The original music is by Lewis Flinn, whose score for the 2007 Off-Broadway production is being adapted specially for this event.
The play is a classic Charles Busch concoction that, like all his work, lovingly and intelligently spoofs some of the greatest talents and tropes of stage and screen. The original production was praised by critics as his “funniest, most accomplished and, without question, raunchiest work.”
In 2003, Busch won the Best Performance award at the Sundance Film Festival for the film version of “Die Mommie Die!” His indelible contributions to American theater have been recognized with countless awards and he was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
The event promises to be an unforgettable night of laughter, glamour and theatrical fun, with all proceeds going to benefit Sharon Playhouse’s productions and educational programs. The funds will help ensure that the Playhouse continues to thrive as a cultural destination for audiences and artists alike.
For tickets, visit: sharonplayhouse.org. Running time: 90 minutes.
Richard Feiner and Annette Stover have worked and taught in the arts, communications, and philanthropy in West Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. Passionate supporters of the arts, they live in Salisbury and Greenwich Village.