It’s unaffordable if you can’t afford it

All around us we are reminded about a growing problem of affordability for many people in our own community. This past weekend the issue of housing affordability was again on center stage. The Salisbury Forum held a discussion about how housing has become out of reach for many residents in the Northwest Corner and in  communities just beyond our region. Add on property taxes — another affordability hurdle for homeowners. Connecticut and New York ranked in the top five most expensive states, according to the latest Tax Foundation analysis. Massachusetts is right behind New York.

The Foundation for Community Health, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and its Fund for the Northwest Corner have announced a grant program in partnership with the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity to move housing initiatives ahead with a collaborative approach. (See story here). At Sarum Village in Salisbury, officials broke ground on new affordable housing units at Sarum Village III. (See story here.) Earlier this month, Salisbury publicized its 2023 Affordable Housing Plan that lays out a path for the coming decade. Officials in Kent and Sharon this month are focused on discussing solutions, and every town in the Northwest Corner has aimed discussion on the topic.

The problem is equally vexing in eastern Dutchess County, where affordable housing projects find their way on government meeting agendas on a regular basis. Amenia is a typical case in the region. Twenty-nine percent of homeowners and 45.9% of renters in Amenia are “cost-burdened” with regard to housing, meaning that they put more than 30% of their income toward housing costs. To meet the demand, three new affordable housing projects are currently being pursued in the town. Town of North East Supervisor Chris Kennan and Councilwoman Meg Winkler have met with administrators at North East Community Center (NECC) about ways to incentivize affordable housing.

According to the latest Connecticut ALICE report from Connecticut United Ways,  39% of Connecticut households continue to live below the ALICE Threshold — with income above the Federal Poverty Level but below the basic cost of living. In the Northwest Corner and in eastern Dutchess County, seven percent of residents have incomes below the Federal Poverty Level, and an additional 31 percent have incomes that fall below the ALICE criteria. 

Not only do families need a roof over their head, they need transportation to get to work. Absent mass transit in the rural stretches of our towns and counties, that means they need at least one reliable car. But shelling out for a new car is not an option for many as the reasonably priced car is slipping out of reach. According to a recent survey, the bottom 20% of workers reduced their purchases of new cars to its lowest level in more than a decade.  Food banks have felt the strain, amplified by the pandemic. But the increased demand for food that began then has persisted, continuing to stress area food banks in 2023. Having an increased percentage of income spent on the most basic needs — housing, food, transportation — is bad for the economy. It’s also a problem down the road.

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Legal Notices - February 19, 2026

Legal Notice

Notice of formation of Glynevian Gundogs LLC. Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 9/25/2025. Office location: Dutchess County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Business Name and Address. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

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Classifieds - February 19, 2026

Help Wanted

PART-TIME CARE-GIVER NEEDED: possibly LIVE-IN. Bright private STUDIO on 10 acres. Queen Bed, En-Suite Bathroom, Kitchenette & Garage. SHARON 407-620-7777.

The Salisbury Association’s Land Trust seeks part-time Land Steward: Responsibilities include monitoring easements and preserves, filing monitoring reports, documenting and reporting violations or encroachments, and recruiting and supervising volunteer monitors. The Steward will also execute preserve and trail stewardship according to Management Plans and manage contractor activity. Up to 10 hours per week, compensation commensurate with experience. Further details and requirements are available on request. To apply: Send cover letter, resume, and references to John Landon at info@salisburyassociation.org. The Salisbury Association is an equal opportunity employer.

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Amenia trails project public hearing set for Feb. 19
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — A proposed hiking and biking trail system will be the subject of a public hearing at Amenia Town Hall on Route 22 this Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m.

Northern Red Oak LLC, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, seeks to build 10-12 miles of public trails on land at 426 Old Route 22 and two additional vacant parcels.

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Speed cameras gain ground in Connecticut, stall in Dutchess County

A speed enforcement camera in New York City.

Photo courtesy NYC DOT

Speed cameras remain a tough sell across northwest Connecticut — and are still absent from local roads in neighboring Dutchess County.

Town leaders across northwest Connecticut are moving cautiously on speed cameras, despite a state law passed in 2023 that allows municipalities to install them. In contrast, no towns or villages in Dutchess County currently operate local automated speed-camera programs, even as New York City has relied on the technology for years.

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In remembrance:
Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible
In remembrance: Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible
In remembrance: Tim Prentice and the art of making the wind visible

There are artists who make objects, and then there are artists who alter the way we move through the world. Tim Prentice belonged to the latter. The kinetic sculptor, architect and longtime Cornwall resident died in November 2025 at age 95, leaving a legacy of what he called “toys for the wind,” work that did not simply occupy space but activated it, inviting viewers to slow down, look longer and feel more deeply the invisible forces that shape daily life.

Prentice received a master’s degree from the Yale School of Art and Architecture in 1960, where he studied with German-born American artist and educator Josef Albers, taking his course once as an undergraduate and again in graduate school.In “The Air Made Visible,” a 2024 short film by the Vision & Art Project produced by the American Macular Degeneration Fund, a nonprofit organization that documents artists working with vision loss, Prentice spoke of his admiration for Albers’ discipline and his ability to strip away everything but color. He recalled thinking, “If I could do that same thing with motion, I’d have a chance of finding a new form.”

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Strategic partnership unites design, architecture and construction

Hyalite Builders is leading the structural rehabilitation of The Stissing Center in Pine Plains.

Provided

For homeowners overwhelmed by juggling designers, architects and contractors, a new Salisbury-based collaboration is offering a one-team approach from concept to construction. Casa Marcelo Interior Design Studio, based in Salisbury, has joined forces with Charles Matz Architect, led by Charles Matz, AIA RIBA, and Hyalite Builders, led by Matt Soleau. The alliance introduces an integrated design-build model that aims to streamline the sometimes-fragmented process of home renovation and new construction.

“The whole thing is based on integrated services,” said Marcelo, founder of Casa Marcelo. “Normally when clients come to us, they are coming to us for design. But there’s also some architecture and construction that needs to happen eventually. So, I thought, why don’t we just partner with people that we know we can work well with together?”

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