2011 was a year of losses and achievements in Sharon

SHARON — 2011 was a year of many changes in Sharon. The town’s population decreased by approximately 6,000 — birds, that is. About 6,000 ring-necked pheasants escaped from Sharon Pheasant Farm in November. The Oct. 29 snowstorm had damaged the pheasant cages and the birds ventured out into the wider world. For weeks afterward, the jewel-toned fowl could be seen wandering around Sharon and environs. Although most succumbed to predators and motor vehicles, a few hardy members of the species could still be spotted on lawns and roadsides in late December. The year also saw the theft of copper drain pipes from the exteriors of the Sharon Historical Society and Hotchkiss Sharon Library buildings and from at least one private resident. State police said that copper thefts often increase in slow economic times with many people out of work. Copper has a high resale value.Along with loss came gain. The Black Goose Grill moved into the empty restaurant space in the Sharon Shopping Plaza, bringing a new venue serving breakfast and lunch, and dinner on some evenings. Owner Robert Caeners announced his intention to use as much locally produced meat and produce as he can find. Not long after opening, the eatery got its beer and wine license from the state.Across the street, the Cani brothers (owners of Mizza’s Pizza) purchased the former Sharon Motor Lodge in August for $400,000. Renovations are ongoing and their end result is eagerly awaited. One of the biggest Sharon stories of 2011 was the road rehabilitation work. The $6 million dollar project was completed before the cold of winter set in. Under the guidance of First Selectman Bob Loucks, approximately 33 of the town’s 56 miles of paved roads (and numerous culverts) were repaired.Work on the remaining 23 miles of roads is expected to continue into spring 2012, and will be paid for out of the regular road repair budget.In the summer of 2011, a car crashed into a plate glass window in the front of the Sharon Farm Market. The impact was so forceful that even the store’s office was pushed back and damaged. It wasn’t the first time that a car had jumped the curb in front of the store. A new plan was created and in December diagonal parking lines were painted in front of the farm market, package store and pharmacy.The annual summer book signing at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon was a huge success, thanks in part to the lovely weather. Hundreds of people stood under a tent, waiting to purchase books by local authors and have them autographed. The line of people waiting for Henry Kissinger to sign his latest book stretched the length of the tent.In July, a star attraction at the Sharon Soap Box Derby fundraiser for the fire company was an actual larger-than-life Tide soap box on wheels. Another highlight: the Kenny Funeral Home’s pink coffin racer (which did not incidentally finish dead last).John Perotti, a longtime Sharon resident who had recently retired as chairman and CEO of Salisbury Bank & Trust Co., ran on the Republican line for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in November. He was opposed on the ballot by petitioning candidate Howard Randall — butwon by four votes. The final tally was close enough that the state required a recount; it was determined that the four-vote lead was in fact valid.