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 Even
though the weather was dismal, our latest home dedication proved to be
a warming and welcoming event. On April 28th, about fifty Habitat faithful
crowded into our new Selleck Hill home and had an opportunity to visit
with our new home resident partners, Hal and Terre Lefferts and their three
sons, as well as with Sally Ellsworth, who donated the building site.
The traditional "Golden
Hammer" was presented to Sharon and Ric Olsen for all their efforts in completing the
home. Joining in with praise, State Senator Andrew Roraback and Representative
Roberta Willis displayed an official citation from the Connecticut General
Assembly to the Olsens for their efforts.
Also thanked were
Construction Coordinator Jennifer Weigel and Site Superintendent Michael Zwerling.
Through their persistence, our affiliate completed this home faster than any
other we have done, and without any sacrifice of quality.
Rev. Barbara Schenk
conducted the actual dedication, with help from Cory Bush, Lyn Hart, and Rev.
Richard Taber.
[Top]
 This newsletter is dedicated to Sharon and Ric Olsen who have been major sources
of energy in the development of our organization, and who are now relocating
to Wyoming.
Sharon, one of our
founding board members, has shepherded our family selection and nurturing committee.
Her interest in success for our partner families is akin to the concern a mother
shows for her children. Thanks to her determination and creativity, we have witnessed
wonderful improvements in the lives of our partners. Sharon's husband, Ric, a
regular construction volunteer on all our homes, has also provided invaluable
assistance with our fundraisers. His perpetual positive attitude has helped move
us forward.
We thank the Olsens
for being there so often for us, and wish them Godspeed on their move to Wyoming.
[Top]
 Tallon Lumber of Canaan has announced that it plans to contribute 5% of its retail
hardwood flooring sales revenues to our affiliate. This wonderful gesture
is in addition to their promise to provide hardwood flooring to all of
our new Habitat homes. To date, Tallon has provided the materials and
installation of beautiful hardwood flooring in each of our last three
Habitat homes.
Tallon is a lumber
supplier providing a range of materials from rough-cut-lumber to siding, molding,
and hardwood flooring. Jim Tallon, the company's president, supports our efforts
to provide affordable housing in the region and hopes other suppliers will step
forward to do the same.
[Top]
 Our affiliate is pleased to be the recipient of two major grants from area community
foundations that are designed to accelerate the development of our property
on Lime Rock Station Road in Falls Village.
The first grant,
from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, is to expedite site plan development
of our fifth affordable home. BTCF is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life
in the counties of Litchfield, Dutchess, Columbia, and Berkshire.
Another grant was
recently awarded to us by the Torrington Area Foundation for Public Giving. This
grant will be used to offset costs derived from the subdivision of a portion
of our Falls Village land. Currently, a survey is under way by Lamb-Kiefer to
designate five or six suitable building lots. Torrington Area Foundation serves
the towns of Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Cornwall, Falls Village, Goshen, Hartland,
Harwinton, Litchfield, New Hartford, Norfolk, Torrington, and Winsted.
[Top]
 Our next building site will border an old sand and gravel mine near the Housatonic
River, located on Lime Rock Station Road in Falls Village. It is a challenging
piece of property, but with help from Tom Francoline and Nick DeAngelis,
plans have been developed to build four Habitat houses as well as a storage
barn for our own use on the twelve-acre parcel on the south side of the
road. Construction will leave a three-acre parcel, which will be sold
to raise funds to offset construction costs on the four homes. Restrictions
on this three-acre parcel will be set to preclude canoeists on the river
from being able to see the new homes.
We do not anticipate
that all four homes will be built immediately, as we hope to also build in Canaan,
Sharon and Norfolk - town that are in our service area but where we have not
as yet broken ground.
The visual impact
of the homes on Lime Rock Station Road will also be minimized by two factors;
first, most of the structures will be built below the road grade, and second,
they will be screened by a substantial tree buffer along the side of this country
road.
[Top]
We are most grateful that the Light Opera of Salisbury has once again selected
habitat for Humanity as the beneficiary of its fall production of Gilbert
and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance.
This perennial favorite
of audiences will be staged on Labor Day Weekend (8/31-9/1/2002) at the Walker
Auditorium at Hotchkiss School. As in the past, professional performers will
play lead parts, while local celebrities will take other parts and perform in
the chorus.
We urge you to attend
this performance. It is a way to enjoy operetta at its best, and to show your
support for affordable housing in our community. Seats will be priced at $20
(seniors and children under 12, $15) for Saturday, and $15 (seniors and children
under 12, $12) for the Sunday matinee. For more information and reservations,
please call Wendy at 860-435-6268.
[Top]
- Our thanks to Pamela and Farrell Bushing. Upon their
move south, the Bushings donated the entire contents of their Twin
Lakes home, which included crystal, silver, china, paintings, and fine
furniture, to your Habitat affiliate for ere-sales.
- If you are remodeling, please contact us regarding appliances,
windows and doors for us to recycle.
- Photos contributed by The Lakeville Journal and John
Pogue.
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