Some drama, some fun

NORTH CANAAN — On the surface, it seemed like 2012 was a quiet year. But there were a lot of changes — some for the better and some not so much, depending on one’s perspective.Some may have wanted snow, at least enough to make it look like a real New England winter; but the lack of weather-related issues was a welcome respite, especially after the October 2011 storm. Blessings were counted here as the community rallied to help victims of Superstorm Sandy with major shipments of supplies. The holidays brought the traditional outpouring of help in the way of donations of food and holiday gifts. There were two major fires: a blaze that quickly destroyed the Moses Mead Road home of Michael Subklew and Rudy Molina in January, and a June barn fire at the East Canaan home of Susanna Zeitler, ignited by a neighbor’s illegal brush burning. The latter prompted a temporary ban on open burning.In a dramatic May accident, a cement-truck driver rolled over, escaping serious injury but destroying a fire hydrant and utility pole on High Street/Route 7 after he avoided a child on a bicycle. A July accident, that could have been serious, involved a pickup truck struck by a train when the truck’s driver failed to yield at a railroad crossing. On a happier note, there were so many ways people found to give to the community. The Canaan Fire Company was a force unto itself, shouldering not only the tremendous day-to-day burden of emergency response, but also making plans for worst-case scenarios with a huge mass-casualty drill.And of course the fire company worked hard at keeping the volunteer spirit alive, with a fireman’s muster and parade, and by welcoming seven newly certified firefighters. The junior corps ended the year by filling a fire truck with food donations.Lone Oak Campsites, sort of a community within a community, reached out to the town with its series of Make-a-Wish fundraisers.Dr. Thomas Livingstone and his staff offered a free dental clinic for children.The religious community was shaken up by the closing of Christ Church but also by the emergence of the grassroots Community Mission.Energy grant money was spent at North Canaan Elementary School and Town Hall on new windows, doors and other ways of being more green.Bigger and better was the focus at the VFW post, where leaders are striving to make it once again a community center.Expansions are also under way at Mountainside Addiction Treatment Center; and Beckley House, where efforts continued toward a big addition to senior independent living. Canaan Child Care Center also moved forward with plans to build a new facility.Debate continued over what to do with the old Laurel Grange Hall and a proposed dog park.Business changes included the closing of Canaan Apothecary, Town Line Pizza and Higby’s Restaurant, and the opening of Limey’s Restaurant at Canaan Country Club and the Main Street Restaurant (in the former Higby’s).Land-use issues dealt with this year included the removal of the 55-plus designation at the Blackberry River Commons condos, a move the developer hopes will help them sell; and the use of a piece of agricultural land on Trescott Hill Road that became a battle between neighbors. An air-quality permit was denied to the Century Acquisitions plant by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, after a long battle by neighbors here and in Sheffield. That issue continues.At Troop B, state troopers decried the consolidation of dispatch services to Litchfield. A blue emergency call box, dubbed “Trooper Smurf,” was installed in front of the barracks that could be unstaffed at times. Finding a lighter moment, troopers involved in the discovery of a major marijuana producer in town assembled the evidence, and used a cannabis plant to cover the “S” on a “Spot Check” sign for a press photo.