Latest News
Tom Carty
HILLSDALE — The Town Board is seeking candidates to fill the remaining seven months of the term of Tom Carty, a veteran of town government who has announced his retirement as a board member.
Carty is a two-term member of the Board and long advocate for the town’s improvement who is known for pushing efforts from building sidewalks to updating the town’s record-keeping.
In a press release, Hillsdale Town Supervisor Mike Dvorchak said: “Tom Carty along with his spouse, Howard Van Lenten, have been the dynamic duo of Hillsdale for over two decades. Their passion, tenacity and know-how have transformed our community forever.”
Carty also served as Hillsdale’s deputy supervisor during part of his nearly eight years on the town board.
Carty was integral to the hiring of a professional municipal planning firm to update Hillsdale’s Comprehensive Plan. He also helped boost Hillsdale’s energy efficiency with LED street lighting and an electric vehicle charging station, and helped create and oversee all the Citizen Advisory Committees that Hillsdale has today.
He also was a guiding force on several key town committees.
The town board is seeking candidates to fill the remaining months of his term, which ends Dec. 31, with an interim replacement. Please send inquiries to townclerk@hillsdaleny.com.
Leon Norrod Graham
SALISBURY — Leon Norrod Graham was born in Mercedes, Texas, on Oct. 30, 1940. He passed away on Sunday, April 20, in Salisbury.
Leon’s parents were Leon R. Graham and Mary Norrod Graham. He is survived by his brother, Sam, his niece Mary Louise Pozaric, her husband Nichola Pozaric and their two sons, Graham and Reese. His father graduated from college at 17 and went on to a long career in public education. He retired as an Assistant Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas. His mother, a graduate of Baylor University, held a master in Mathematics from the University of Texas and various elected positions in Austin and statewide teacher organizations. Leon followed in his father’s footsteps by skipping the first grade and marching through elementary, junior high and high school with one A after another, no matter the subject. In 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the United States set up special six week courses in advanced mathematics that summer for rising high school students. Leon was one of 25 students selected from Texas for the program held at Rice University.
Upon graduation from high school in 1958, he was admitted into the prestigious Plan II program at the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated with honor degrees in history and journalism. He later earned a master’s in history from Southern Methodist University.
In 1969, he relocated to New York City where he learned direct marketing at American Express. Subsequently he served as Executive Vice President at Columbia Record Club, moved to Scali McCabe Sloves where he assisted in setting up their direct marketing arm and from there became Executive Vice President of the BMG Record Club.
In 2004, following a major health crisis, he moved to Salisbury where, for several years, he was employed by The Lakeville Journal as an art, music, film and theater critic.
He was a Board Member of the Scoville Memorial Library and served a term as President of the Salisbury Forum.
He was very happy in Salisbury until his last years when recurrent health problems caused a diminution in his quality of life.
His family would like to thank the Noble Horizons Staff, the Hospice program that managed his last days and his long time care giver Mo Buri.
Cynthia Gardner Smith
LAKEVILLE — Cynthia (“Cindy”) Gardner Smith, 90, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury.
Born Aug.19, 1934, at Sharon Hospital, Cindy was the eldest of 5 children born to the late William B. Barnett and Mary L. (Tuttle) Barnett of Lakeville.
A life-long resident of Lakeville, Cindy graduated from both Salisbury Central School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School before earning her LPN degree at Yale New Haven Hospital. After graduating from nursing school, she worked at the Yale New Haven Hospital and Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, California, in the labor/delivery department and the pediatrics department.
Upon returning to Lakeville, she worked for a time at Community Health Plan and as the school nurse at Indian Mountain School, retiring after 17 years of service with the school. In addition to her career in nursing, Cindy extended her expertise in the care and well-being of children by providing childcare to local families which spanned two generations.
Cindy was a tenacious problem solver and an incredibly talented seamstress/ knitter who relished the challenge of anything that required manual dexterity and skill. She enjoyed sailing her sunfish on Lakeville Lake, loved travelling, birdwatching, and gardening.
Cindy was a life-long member of The Lakeville Methodist Church and very active in all aspects of the church. Cynthia was predeceased by her father (William B. Barnett), mother (Mary L. Tuttle Barnett), sister (Joan B. Loper), and twin brothers (William Barnett, Jr. and John Barnett).
She is survived by Clayton S. Smith, her devoted husband of 53 years, her son Darren G. Smith, brother Peter Barnett, sister/brother-in-law Marion and Fred Romeo, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m in Salisbury Cemetery. A Celebration of Cynthia’s life will be held later that morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Noble Horizons, followed by a reception with light refreshments in the Community Room at Noble Horizons. Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in care of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her honor to the Lakeville Methodist Church, PO Box 648, Lakeville, Connecticut 06039.
To offer an online condolence, please visit www.ryanfhct.com
Sally Vagliano Pettus
SHARON — Sally Vagliano Pettus died peacefully at her home in Sharon, in the afternoon of Tuesday, April 22. She was surrounded by her husband, Peter Pettus, and her three sons, Josh and Ian Findlay, and Justin Vagliano.
Raised in Gates Mills, Ohio, Sally attended Laurel School followed by Sarah Lawrence College. After graduating college, she became a quintessential New Yorker, ultimately dividing her time between the city and her beloved second home in Sharon.
Sally was a creator. A massively prolific artist, she produced pieces large and small, bronze and oil, public and private. She has forest paintings hanging in some of the most influential offices in the world and imposing cast bronze leaf sculptures installed in public parks and private gardens. She also designed physical spaces. From her own artist’s loft in Soho, New York, and cherished garden in Sharon, to her public-space designs that were considered for the 9/11 Memorial and a student center at the Indian Mountain School, her range was awe-inspiring.
Sally was a fantastic cook, very rarely using a recipe, and relying instead upon her constant, spontaneous imagination. A charismatic host, she loved having family and friends for dinner, normally around a table that she had envisioned and realized.
Sally leaves behind her devoted husband, Peter; her sons, Josh, Ian and Justin; her stepchildren, Charlton and Cybele Pettus; and eight grandchildren, Nathaniel and Grayson Findlay, Will and Caroline Findlay, Andrew and Alec Vagliano, and Georgica and Harry Pettus.
Her legacy of creativity and inspiration will endure in all who knew her. A bright fire has gone out, and it will be dearly missed.
The family plans to hold a private service in the upcoming months. In lieu of flowers, they have asked that any memorial donations be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Litchfield County (vnhlc.org) and to The Little Guild Animal Shelter (littleguild.org).
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
