Realizing A Dream

To the Editor:

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the supporters of our farm, Zoar Ridge Stables, during the three years it took to attain permission to expand our farm to include the boarding of horses. On Thursday, April 19, 2001, we received approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission to open a boarding stable at our farm on Morgan Drive. We are relieved and grateful for the decision. The procedure for getting town approval for our stable has been a long and painful experience. Many times we were tempted to give up our dream of running the stable. The idea of subdividing our farm and moving to a more farm friendly community was very attractive. We would not have persevered had it not been for our family, friends and supportive neighbors who refused to allow us to give up. Thoughts of selling out were reconsidered because of the people we didn’t want to disappoint, and the precedent of “giving up” that we didn’t want to set in what we have always known to be a horse friendly town.

We want to thank everyone who stood by us in the three years it took to gain approval for our farm. In particular we want to thank our neighbors Willie and Rosemary Zanfini of Stone Gate Drive, who had the courage to stand up against the animosity of their neighbors. Thanks to George Fitzgerald, Harvey Lannak and Rosemary Barret and Alice Miller of Morgan Drive, whose support has been indispensable. And all our other wonderful neighbors: Rich and Missy Desroches, Frank and Sally Kruel, Bob and Joyce Staudinger, the Colemans, and the Miles family, thank you.

Within the horse community, friends and strangers alike came to support us. They recognized that the neighborhood opposition, the false and misleading comments concerning the conditions of our farm, were an attack on all farm and horse owners’ rights. We cannot fully express our appreciation for the motivation, understanding and support provided by the horse community. These people stood by us throughout our three-year battle; we cannot thank you enough. Thank you so much Sten and Cara Leigh Wilson, Jane Nickerson, Dee Davis, Kathy Lasky, Lynn Purus, Sharon and John Folgers, Jody and Bob Boles, Jeannette Cebry, Heidi Fischer, and Jeff and Sue Racow. Our friends, who have no particular affections for horses, were also a wealth of support to us. Thank you Tim and everyone from the Newtown Color Center, Paul and Amy Sullivan, Gary and Mona Steele, Scot and Liz Koscinsky, and Cindy, Sharon and those I have inadvertently forgotten to mention.

 Finally, we want to thank everyone who guided us through the Special Exception process: our attorney Robert Hall, our engineer Alan Shepard, and all the hard working folks at the Newtown land use office.

Sincerely,

Annette and Brian Sullivan

5 Morgan Drive, Sandy Hook                                      May 2, 2001