PINE PLAINS — The controversial solar farm project at Pulvers Corners will come before a judge in state Supreme Court in Carmel on Tuesday, March 19, where a group of residents is seeking an injunction prohibiting work on the site.
The group, Preserve Pine Plains, filed an Article 78 action against the town Planning Board and certain property owners and developers of the project, which envisions a 10MW Tier 3 solar complex consisting of 24,000 solar panels on farmland at Pulvers Corners and located at 454 Bean River Road.
Article 78 proceedings put the action of an official or agency under review by a court.
Carson pilot program
Meanwhile, the Town Board on Thursday, Feb. 22, held a special meeting at Town Hall to discuss a pilot program with Carson Power LLC, the New York City firm proposing the Tier 3 solar farm, that would amount to a “payment in lieu of taxes” to the town.
Town Supervisor Brian Walsh said the program would provide a payment to the town “above and beyond land taxes.”
At Thursday’s board meeting, the board members voted against accepting the initial monetary terms of the pilot agreement with Carson, and said they plan to retain an independent consultant to assess the situation.
Meantime, the board voted to halt any tree clearing on the site until there is a signed pilot agreement.
According to a primer published by the American Bar Association, payment in lieu of taxes agreements are gaining popularity with alternative energy projects like wind and solar. Under them, governments can assign tax liabilities based on the assessed value, or amount of electricity generated, or based on a rate per megawatt.
Another path is for local taxing authorities to negotiate a payment agreement. Walsh indicated that the pilot program with Carson could lead to a yearly payment.
March 19 court date
The future of the Pulvers Corners project will be the subject of oral arguments before Supreme Court Justice Gina C. Capone on March 19, following filing of memorandums scheduled through the beginning of March by sets of attorneys involved in the case.
Mindy Zoghlin, of the Zoghlin Group LLC in Rochester, who represents Preserve Pine Plains, filed in support of the group’s petition Friday, Feb. 16.
The group claims the Town Board failed to take a “hard look” at “significant adverse impacts” with respect to community character and town planning documents. It also claims the Planning Board failed to take a “hard look” at the project’s impacts on plants and animals and on aesthetic resources and “ignored identified areas of environmental concerns.”
Those named in the suit, besides the Planning Board, are Pulvers Corner Solar 1 LLC, Pulvers Corners Solar 2 LLC, Nexamp Inc., Carson Power, Carol Giardino, Diane Weck, Lucie M. Giardino and John Does.
The town is represented by Warren S. Replansky, and is expected to file a response Monday, March 4.
Early this month, New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting denied Hecate Energy LLC’s bid to build a 60MW solar farm, known as Shepherd’s Run, at the at the intersection of routes 23 and 7 in the Town of Copake. In the denial, the agency granted the Town of Copake’s move to stop the project because the company had lost control of land initially included in the project. Hecate may reapply to build a smaller 42MW facility.
KENT — Jo-Anne H. Meeker of Kent-Cornwall Road, passed away on May 24, 2025, at home. She was the loving wife of the late Robert E. Boyden and the late John G. Meeker.
Jo-Anne was born May 15, 1933, in Stamford, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Henry and Genevieve Hoyt of Lempster, New Hampshire. She graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1951. Jo-Anne worked as a secretary in several medical fields before retiring from the New Milford Hospital Pathology Department.
Jo-Anne is survived by her sister, Charlotte and her husband Charles Pike, her children, Robert Boyden and his wife Caron, grandson Cade, Christina Boyden, Nicholas Boyden and his wife Devin, grandchildren Birdie and Hoyt Boyden.
Graveside service was held May 31, at Flanders Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kent Volunteer Fire Department 28 Maple St, Kent, CT in Jo-Anne’s honor.
The Kenny Funeral Home has taken care of arrangements.
TORRINGTON — Mrs. Faye H. (Harmon) Lawson, 88, of 116 Mill Lane, Torrington, died Monday, March 26, peacefully in her home. She was the wife of the late Peter G. Lawson. Mrs. Lawson was born on Jan. 15, 1937, a daughter of the late Leon and Evelyn (Bouton) Harmon.
Mrs. Lawson worked as a legal secretary and served on several boards and commissions in her community through the years. Faye spent her life living in the Northwest Corner enjoying the beauty and friendships she cultivated and treasured.She had a deep appreciation of creativity, curiosity, art, imagination and family. She was an avid gardener and took great joy and pride in the fruits of her labor.
She leaves as survivors her children; Lori A. Lawson of Torrington, James M. Lawson (wife Kathy) of Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and Abigail S. Lawson of Torrington; three grandsons, Graham, Taylor and Jordan Lawson; and her brothers Gordon E. Harmon (wife Marge) of Collinsville and Frederic “Rick” (wife Lisa) Harmon of Maitland, Florida. She is predeceased by her brother, Leon Harmon (wife Marion) of West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. Memorial donations may be sent toAnimalKind at PO Box 902, Hudson NY 12534-0902 or Connecticut State Police Academy Alumni Association at PO Box 1945, Meriden, CT06450-0899
To send the family online expressions of sympathy kindly visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com
SHARON- — Anthony Costa, Jr., born on March 2, 1930, to Marian Cataldo Costa and Anthony Costa, Sr. in Fairfield, Connecticut, died surrounded by love on May 16, 2025. He was raised in Fairfield, attended the Fairfield public schools, and served as an altar boy at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.
Tony is survived by his loving wife, Dominica, his children; Janet (Thomas) O’Donnell, Jeffrey (Teresa) Costa, and Jonathan (Wendy) Costa, as well as seven grandchildren; Amy, Sean, Jonathan, Mary Kate, Carl, Jacob, and Hannah. He was formerly married to Shirley Wells, the mother of his children.
Tony attended New Haven State Teachers College, the first of his family to graduate from college.He went on to obtain a master’s degree in education at Fairfield University and began his extensive career in education, teaching at schools in Fairfield and Stratford. His teaching was interrupted by his service in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. Upon his return from Korea, he was named principal of the Sharon Center School in Sharon, Connecticut. In 1970, Tony became an Assistant Professor of Education at Fairfield University and subsequently became a full professor. He taught educational psychology, teacher preparation, and placed and supervised student teachers, influencing scores of future educators. After 47 years on the faculty, he retired in 2017 at the age of 87. During his time at Fairfield, Tony enjoyed many years as the university’s head golf coach, combining his love of the sport with his dedication to teaching. Not only did he instill a love of golf in those students on the golf team, but also in his family and friends.
In 1998, Tony married Dominica Schaller and cherished 38 years of joy and partnership with her. They traveled, attended the theatre, and nurtured invaluable friendships.
Tony was the epitome of grace and happiness. His smile, his warmth, and his compassion for and interest in people made all those whose lives he touched better for having known him.Tony was a gentleman, a loving husband to Dominica, a caring father to his children and grandchildren, a devoted friend, a golf enthusiast, a wearer of fedoras, and a man of substance. He will be truly missed.
A celebration of life will be held in Tony’s memory at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield, CT, on Saturday, June 21st, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Tony’s memory to First Tee-CT (www.firstteeconnecticut.org), a youth development organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of young people through the game of golf. All donations in Tony’s name will be earmarked for the Bridgeport, CT, chapter at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course.
MILLERTON — Marguerite C. “Peg” Brusie, 91, a fifty-three resident of Millerton, formerly of Copake,died peacefully on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Sharon Hospital in Sharon. She was employed by Sharon Hospital as a unit coordinator, retiring after twenty-six years of service. In 2010, she organized a reunion for the Sharon Hospital retiree’s which became an annual event.
Born Dec. 10, 1933, in Copake, she was the second daughter of the late Chester and Georgiana (Holmes) Pulver. On March 10, 1954 in Millerton, she married the love of her life, Howard J. Brusie. Mr. Brusie predeceased her on April 27, 2010.
Peg was an avid reader and knitter. She liked crafts of all kinds as well. She also enjoyed making floral and holiday arrangements for her family and friends. Her greatest joy was spending time with her beloved family.
Peg is survived by her daughter-in-law, Nancy Wells Brusie of Millerton; two granddaughters, Melissa Dipper and her companion Robert Matthews of Ancramdale, New York, and Amanda Dipper Hurn of Millerton; three great grandchildren, Byron Hurn of Philmont, New York and Lucia and Savannah Hurn of Millerton; her niece, Melissa Clum of Ancramdale; her nephew, William Clum also of Ancramdale; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Brusie of Copake Falls, New York and Karen Brusie of Hillsdale, New York and several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her son, Howard J. Brusie, Jr. of Millerton on May 4, 2016, her sister and brother-in-law, Jeanette and William R. Clum of Copake and Ancramdale; her brother, Kenneth Pulver of Millerton; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and Gerald Cooper of Glendale, Massachusetts; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sheila and Louis Finger of Lincolndale, New York and two brothers-in-law, Gerald Brusie and Richard Brusie.
Graveside services and burial will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 10 a.m. at Copake Cemetery, 1669 County Route 7A, Copake, NY. Rev. Zora Ficarra- Cheatham will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Peg’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
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