Little Guild breaks ground for future animal shelter
Architect Christopher Nardi and his son Everett break ground for the new home of The Little Guild in West Cornwall.
Jennifer Almquist
Alex Echavarria, canine behaviorist at The Little Guild, holding Cookie who would love a home.Jennifer Almquist
The new temporary home of the Little Guild at Foote Field on Furnace Brook Road in Cornwall.Jennifer Almquist
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Beth Harlan
Millerton News
Mar 25, 2026
Beth Harlan
Beth Harlan
SALISBURY — Beth Harlan, 75, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, and Salisbury, Connecticut, passed away on March 2, 2026, in New York City. Her son, Zachariah Harlan Warner, and daughter-in-law, Olivia Baribeau, were by her side.
Born on July 22, 1950, in Dayton, Ohio, Beth brought a wonderful combination of energy, intellect and humor to those around her. She earned her Associate’s Degree from Stephens College in Missouri in 1970, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Emerson College in Boston in 1972, and a Master in Social Work from the University of Connecticut in 1993.
After college, her travels and life experiences included time in Ohio, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City before ultimately setting roots in the Salisbury area in 1980.
During these travels, Beth explored her creative side, dabbling as a television personality with on air appearances in Ohio & Atlanta and pursuing stand up comedy in Los Angeles where she took acting classes alongside Robin Williams. While at Emerson College, she was a member of a comedy group that included Jay Leno and her comedic nature stayed with her throughout her life.
Beth ultimately settled professionally as a social worker demonstrating her empathy for others and her ability to listen but her most treasured and defining role was that of a mother to her beloved son, Zach. Her love for him was constant and unwavering, and she took immense pride in her time as a mother to Zach and all that life brought to them along the way.
As Beth was fighting pancreatic cancer, the dedication and spirit that she demonstrated to ultimately be a part of Zach’s wedding this past September was remarkable and demonstrated her grit and spirit. Beth is also survived by Zachariah’s wife, Olivia Baribeau of NYC, as well as her brother, Dr. Stephen H. Harlan, DDS of Dayton, Ohio;her nephews, Chad Harlan of NYC and Paula and Seth Harlan of Cleveland, Ohio; her step-children, Silas Warner of West Hartford, Connecticut, Ian and Beth Warner of West Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Eugenie Warner of Lakeville;her ex-husband, Scott Warner of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and other extended family, all of whom she held close to her heart.
Beth will be remembered for her energy, intellect and her sense of humor. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Beth’s memory to the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health Center who graciously assisted Beth with her cancer treatment this past year. A celebration of life will be held in Salisbury, CT at a later, yet to be determined, date.
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George Ernest Phillips
Millerton News
Mar 25, 2026
AMENIA — George Ernest Phillips, 100, a lifelong area resident died peacefully on March 16, 2026, at Sharon Center for Health and Rehabilitation. From 1955 to 1972, Mr. Phillips owned and operated the Edgewood Restaurant in Amenia, with his wife Anne, and he was also a real estate broker for many years as well.
Born Sept. 13, 1925 in Poughkeepsie, New York, he was the son of the late Royal and Elizabeth (Piltz) Phillips. He was a graduate of Amenia High School and attended Cornell University. Mr. Phillips served his country in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946 in the Golden Acorn Infantry Division as well as in the 3rd Army of General George S. Patton. He also assumed a variety of roles during his time in the 87th Infantry Division, including platoon messenger and platoon sergeant. On Veterans Day in 2019 he was one of 108 veterans nationally that received a pin and certificate in recognition of 75-years of continuous service to his local legion post, the Millerton American Legion Post 178. Mr. Phillips also documented his experiences in a book, “Stories of My Life”, which he presented to the Amenia Historical Society.
On Feb. 3, 1953, in Cornwall Bridge, he married Frances Anna “Anne” Sprossel who passed away on May 21, 2024. He will be dearly missed by his loving family and many caregivers.
Mr. Phillips is survived by two daughters, Diane Phillips of Wakefield, Rhode Island and Debra Phillips of Pine Plains, New York; four grandchildren;David Fletcher and his wife Amber, Peter Faggella and his wife Megan, Daniel Faggella and Shannon Fierro and her husband Frank; five great grandchildren, Dominic and Leah Fletcher, Charlotte and Joseph Fierro and Hannah Faggella and several niece and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, Mr. Phillips was also predeceased by three brothers, Royal Phillips, Webster Phillips and Chester Phillips.
Calling hours will be held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday March 27, 2026, at Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY. The Millerton Legion Post 178 will conduct a service at 1:00 p.m. The United States Army will render Standard Military Honors at 1:15 p.m. A funeral service will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor William Mayhew will officiate. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Mr. Phillips’ honor, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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Valerie Anne Euvrard
Millerton News
Mar 25, 2026
AMENIA — Valerie Anne Euvrard, 75, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her home in Amenia, New York, on March 17, 2026. Valerie worked at the Waldorf Restaurant in Sharon as a dishwasher for many years before embarking on a long career in the food service department at the Wassaic Developmental Center in Wassaic. Valerie retired from New York State in 2000.
Born July 6, 1950 in Sharon, she was the daughter of the late Walter E. and Leah (Martyn) Euvrard. Valerie attended Webutuck High School in Amenia, and was a longtime member of the Stone Church Grange in Dover Plains. Valerie was also a longtime member of the Sharon United Methodist Church in Sharon, and the North East Baptist Church in Millerton. For many years Valerie enjoyed bowling at the Early Bird League at Cove Lanes in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Valerie was an avid greeting card designer and her family members always looked forward to receiving one of her custom designed cards. She also enjoyed playing games on her tablet and spending time with her loving family. Truly a kind soul, she will be dearly missed by all.
Valerie is survived by her siblings; Wayne Euvrard and his wife Cami of McCormick, South Carolina, Jeffrey Euvrard and his wife Patty of Derby, Connecticut, Dara Simmons and her husband Bob of Amenia, New York, and David Euvrard and his wife Nora of Sharon, Connecticut; her nephew, Sean Russell and his fiancé Amanda Bezio of Palenville, New York; two nieces, Kayla Renee Kuniegel and her husband Justin of Bath, Pennsylvania, and Ashley Dautrich and her husband Mark of Torrington, Connecticut; her great-niece, Parker Wright and her great-nephew, Dawkins Wright and several cousins. In addition to her parents, Valerie was predeceased by her brother, Glen A. Euvrard in 2019.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY. A funeral service will take place at 12 p.m. at the funeral home. Rev. Dr. Anna C. Camphouse will officiate. Burial will take place privately at Hillside Cemetery in Sharon, CT, at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 172, Sharon, CT, 06069 or North East Baptist Church, P.O. Box 531, Millerton, NY 12546 or Wassaic Fire Company, P.O. Box 287, Wassaic, NY 12592. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Valerie’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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Jonathan Clapp Webster
Millerton News
Mar 25, 2026
Jonathan Clapp Webster
Jonathan Clapp Webster
CANAAN — Jonathan Clapp Webster, a physicist and resident of Canaan since 1978, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, at the Geer Nursing Home in Canaan. He was 88 years old.
Jonathan designed experiments for industrial, medical and scientific uses, including MRIs, lasers, fiberoptics and telescopes. He began in the 1960s with apparatuses he made in a machine shop and transitioned in the 1970s to designing computer simulations. Most of his career was with Perkin Elmer Corp. and Hughes Danbury Optical Systems.
Born in Boston on Jan. 25, 1938, Jonathan was the only child of Henry Kitchell Webster, Jr., a metallurgist, and Madeleine Clapp Webster, a piano teacher. He grew up in Windsor, Vermont and attended Kimball Union Academy. He earned a B.S. in physics from Boston University in 1962 and did graduate work in physics at the University of Bridgeport.
Jonathan inherited his love of mechanical devices. His great-grandfather, Towner K. Webster, invented components for grain elevators in Chicago and founded Webster Industries which still manufactures machine parts today. Towner’s son, Henry Kitchell Webster, was a popular writer. His novel Calumet “K” describes the challenges his father faced in the manufacturing business, including natural disasters, financial panics, labor disputes and business chicanery.
Henry Kitchell Webster’s three sons all worked with machinery of some kind. Jonathan’s uncle Stokely interrupted his painting career to design control systems for Grumman F6F fighter planes during World War II. His uncle Roderick curated the astrolabe collection at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium.
Jonathan’s father worked at Cone Automatic Machine Co. which made machines that operated using only mechanical principles - no computer technology. He taught Jonathan to build things at a card table in the living room. When their projects got too large, they took over his mother’s laundry table in the basement.
In 1963, Jonathan married Jacqueline Beyer, a fellow physics student. They lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut where their two children were born. In 1978 the family moved to Canaan, buying the Charles Pease house on Honey Hill Road where they had a large garden and a workshop where Jonathan made furniture and windows. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1991 he married Caroline Besse, whom he met at a contradance. Their first date was a “dawn dance” in Brattleboro, Vermont, where they danced all night. In 2007, when Caroline wrote a biography of Quaker peace activist Lee Stern, Jonathan typeset the book. His experience moving slugs on a Linotype machine in high school needed considerable upgrading. He did this by reading LaTeX typesetting software manuals at breakfast every morning at Collin’s Diner in Canaan.
Jonathan had many interests besides science. He did extensive climbing in the White Mountains and Adirondacks and volunteered as a guide and trail maintainer for the Appalachian Mountain Club. He played the fiddle, attending the Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp in the Catskills every summer for 25 years. He was a Tolkein enthusiast, reading the entire Lord of the Rings aloud to each member of his family and listening to it on audiobooks when he could no longer read.
Jonathan is survived by his wife, Caroline, his children, Ronald and Alice, grandchildren, Rowan, Lily and Pearl, stepchildren, Nancy, Carla and Bill, and step-grandchildren Jules, Amanda, Erik and Charlie. Following the family tradition, Ronald is a computer programmer and Rowan is an engineering student.
The family is extremely grateful to the staff of the Geer Nursing Home for their professional care and for their kindness. Services are private.
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David Munro Vickers
Millerton News
Mar 25, 2026
LAKEVILLE — David Munro Vickers, 80, passed away on Feb. 22, 2026, after a brief illness. He was the loving partner of Diane Landucci, with whom he shared more than 20 years in Lakeville, Connecticut.
David was born on Oct. 15, 1945, in Queens, New York, the son of John Marter Vickers and Ethlyn Marie Munro Vickers. He served in the United States Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.
David later moved with his family to Lakeville, where he went on to hold positions at LeBonnes Market, Noble Horizons, Hotchkiss and Lime Rock Park.
One of David’s great passions was baking cookies and cakes for his many friends in the community. He also had a lifelong tenderness for wildlife and quietly enjoyed caring for the many creatures around him. With birdseed and other treats left outside for squirrels, birds, chipmunks, and the occasional turkey or deer, no visitor ever left his yard hungry.
He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the UConn Huskies.
In addition to Ms. Landucci, he is survived by his son, Grant Vickers of Lakeville; his nephews, Damon Vickers of Martha’s Vineyard and Jeremiah Brimlow Vickers of New York City.
David will be remembered for his quiet kindness, his generosity toward both people and animals, and the warmth he brought to those around him.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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Patricia Benedict Blakey
Millerton News
Mar 25, 2026
CORNWALL— A woman of great faith has passed. Patricia, “Pat” Benedict Blakey of Cornwall, passed quietly at her home on March 12, 2026. She was predeceased by her husband, Jerry Blakey; their daughter, Karen B. Fisher; her sister, Nancy B. Lawrence; and her parents, Lester and Jean Benedict.
She is survived by her son David Blakey of Cornwall Bridge, daughter Lori B. Welles and her husband David G. Welles of West Cornwall, granddaughter Melissa Root and great-granddaughter Devyn Root ofTerryville, and niece, Pam B. Hart and husband Doug of Belencia, California.
Pat was born in 1934 and spent her life in Cornwall with her family in the community she loved. Pat graduated from HVRHS in 1952 and began working at Torrington Savings Bank as a teller and secretarial assistant. In 1955, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Blakey. As a young couple, Pat and Jerry became members of the First Church of Christ, Cornwall, now UCC Cornwall, and quickly became active members in the church and community. Pat was a Sunday school teacher, superintendent, and then, for thirty years, the church secretary. As a young mom, Pat worked as an assistant and teacher at a private day care in Lakeville and then in the Special Education Dept. at Kent Center School.
From 1977 to 1997, Pat worked at Marvelwood School in Cornwall and Kent; she became the head librarian in 1987. Pat loved to be around books, kids, and young adults, and they knew she would listen with a compassionate ear or offer a shoulder to cry on. Pat felt it was important to expose Cornwall’s young adults to the world outside the town. Trips to the Cloisters in NYC became an annual outing. She helped create a youth group in the 70s and organized many get-togethers and events. Pat was one of the creators and organizers of the UCC’s Memorial Day Carnival.
She and Jerry would always volunteer for the famous Cornwall Rummage sale and ran the men’s department into her eighties. After the tornado of ‘89, Pat and Jerry opened their garage, and she organized meals for the workers and volunteers during the clean-up. If there was a need in the community, Pat wanted to fill it or figure out a way to get things done.
During the late 1970s, Pat and Jerry began the medical equipment loan program in Cornwall out of their house. The program continues to this day, now housed at the UCC in Cornwall. Fielding phone calls, getting directions, and then organizing inventory as the program grew, Pat made it happen. Pat, with Jerry, also volunteered for Operation Overflow in Torrington and spent many years volunteering at the Torrington soup kitchen.
In her free time, she traveled with Jerry, was an avid reader, loved flowers, and spending time with her family.
Pat received the Citizenship Award in Cornwall for community service. The UCC Living Waters Award, honoree of the HVRHS Alumni Hall of Honors, the Public Service award from the State of Connecticut, and many more recognitions and awards. She was a Girl Scout Leader, served on the Cornwall Library Building Committee, a member of the Cornwall Housing Corporation, and a member of the Cornwall School Board.
In Pat’s words, “We’re just a volunteering couple of fools!” She will be missed, but her good work will live on.
A Celebration of Life will be on April 18th at 2:00, at the UCC Bolton Hill Rd. Cornwall CT.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, UCC CT, or to the Cornwall Food and Fuel fund.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
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