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Sharon Town Hall is located on Main Street.
Leila Hawken
SHARON — A town meeting is set to be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, to authorize First Selectman Casey Flanagan to formally accept the $1 million in funds the town received in the 2025 round of Small Town Economic Assistance Program, commonly known as STEAP grants.
The funds, matched by $700,000 from the town, are dedicated towards the repair of River Road, which has been limited to single-lane travel since the structural failure of the roadway in the summer of 2023.
Sharon’s award of $1 million was the maximum amount allocated to any one town in the program.
Thursday’s vote is to allow Flanagan to sign the agreement for the grant, and does not involve the additional movement of funds.
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The little ones attending the mom’s group at Sharon Hospital were surprised by a special visit from Mrs. Claus last week. The children received a few special gifts and treats from the North Pole. Mothers interested in joining the group at Sharon Hospital can contact Candy Osborn at candy.osborn@nuvancehealth.org
KENT — The Planning and Zoning Commission took several actions Thursday, Dec. 11, approving new cannabis regulations, updating parking provisions related to affordable housing and electing new officers.
Cannabis regulation
The commission voted unanimously to adopt a new section of its regulations governing cannabis establishments.
Recreational retail cannabis establishments remain prohibited townwide under an ordinance approved by voters in the Nov. 4 election. The newly adopted regulations establish parameters for other cannabis-related uses — including cultivation and production facilities — which would be subject to special permit approval.
Under the regulation, all cannabis establishments are prohibited in residential zones, with one exception: cultivation may be permitted in the Rural Residential 1 zone. The regulation is set to take effect Jan. 1.
Affordable Housing regulation fix
The Commission voted to remove two stipulations on parking in its affordable housing Section 6400.
Land Use Administrator Tai Kern explained that the section was out of date, as it was meant to be removed when P&Z revised its parking regulations in Section 8200. The removal was intended to remedy conflicts between the outdated regulation and the newer parking code, which had caused issues in a recent application.
New officers
Following the departure of longtime chair Wes Wyrick in November, the Commission rearranged its officer suite during the Dec. 11 meeting.
Karen Casey was elected as the new chair. She was previously vice chair.
Sarah Chase was elected as vice chair. Donna Hayes was elected as secretary.
“I’m honored,” said Casey after she was voted into the leadership role, “especially to have Sarah standing right behind me.”
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Jean Bouteiller raises one of the wreaths as Bill Dinneen looks on during Saturday’s Wreaths Across America ceremony in Cornwall. Dinneen organized the event.
Ruth Epstein
CORNWALL — In a season devoted to celebrating the living, a hardy group gathered Saturday, Dec. 13, to honor those who served their country and have since passed.
Dozens made their way through the snow-covered Cornwall Cemetery, undeterred by light snowfall, to take part in the town’s first Wreaths Across America ceremony, organized by local resident Bill Dinneen. People of all ages attended, many noting that they had family members who served.
Wreaths Across America has a long tradition of placing holiday wreaths on veterans’ headstones in cemeteries nationwide. In his remarks, Dinneen said ceremonies are held in all 50 states, U.S. territories and 26 American cemeteries overseas. This year, he said, 7,600 locations are participating.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence for fallen veterans, followed by remarks from Dinneen.
“The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear...Today, we show a unified front of gratitude and respect across the United States of America as we remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”
Dinneen recognized the many veterans in attendance who had answered the call to serve their country, thanking them and saying it was an honor to know them.
Nine ceremonial wreaths were on the ground in front of Dinneen and he asked individuals to come up and place them each on a stand. They represented the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, merchant marine, first responders and all POWs and MIAs.
Dinneen encouraged those in attendance to go and place a wreath on a veteran’s grave, say the name aloud and take a moment to thank them for their service. “It’s a small act that goes a long way toward keeping the memory of our veterans alive,” he said.
He had raised enough funds to sponsor 175 wreaths. An additional 85 wreaths were added to the Cornwall Cemetery order and those were placed on Sunday at the North Cornwall Cemetery.
“I have sponsorships coming in already for next year,” said Dinneen. “Fantastic! I am so humbled.”
The Cornwall Cemetery is home to graves of veterans going as far back as the Revolutionary War.
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