Board of Directors

Bonnie Bellow, President

Bonnie retired from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after almost 19 years as Public Affairs Director in the New York regional office, and went on to support non-profit organizations as a communications consultant. Since 2017, she has been the Communications Advisor to the Environmental Protection Network, a
volunteer non-profit organization of EPA alumni that provides technical assistance to disadvantaged communities, and clear and accurate environmental and public health information to reporters, environment groups and others. Bonnie previously managed her own media production company and was the Associate Producer of the Academy

Award-nominated documentary, Rosie the Riveter. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Northwestern University. Her roots are in New York City, but Bonnie has made a real second home in
Sharon for over 35 years.

Dave Barger - Vice President

Dave Barger has been a resident of Falls Village for almost 40 years and has two daughters who attended the Lee H. Kellogg School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. He served the State of Connecticut as member of the Connecticut State Police for 24 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2000. Dave then went on to a position as Deputy Chief and then Chief of the Department of Public Safety at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, from which he retired in 2015 after 15 years of service. Dave is currently serving in his first term as a member of the Canaan Board of Selectmen. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice Administration from SUNY Ulster.

Sarah Weihman, Secretary

Sarah lives on the Hotchkiss School campus in Lakeville, where her family is immersed in boarding school life. Her two sons attended Salisbury Central School and Indian Mountain School, and now her eldest son is now a freshman at Hotchkiss. Sarah has a MA from Dartmouth College and Master of Architecture and Landscape Architecture degrees from University of Virginia. She has run her own design practice, Drake Design Studio, for 18 years. In 2021 she founded Paradis Sport, a company that makes sustainable activewear that is designed by women for women and made in the USA. Prior to joining the HYSB Board, she was on the Buildings and Grounds Committee of Blithewold Mansion and Arboretum in Bristol, RI, a member of the Sidewalk Committee in Duxbury, MA and a Class Agent at Deerfield Academy.

Adam Higgins, Treasurer

Adam is a Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer for Salisbury Bank & Trust. He joined Salisbury Bank in 2007 and has held positions in the Trust Operations and Commercial Credit Departments. He volunteers his time reading to elementary school children in the Everybody Wins program at the Sharon Center School. He is a member of the Canaan Exchange Club and also serves as board member and treasurer for HYSB. A graduate of Bryant University, Adam holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance.

Charles Brown

Ron Dower

Raised in North Canaan, Ron graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 1960. After college at Holy Cross, a year with Catholic Extension Volunteers, graduate school at Boston College and serving in the United States Navy, he returned home to teach social studies, coach and eventually serve as a guidance counselor at his alma mater. Ron has been privileged to serve this community with many caring people on the HYSB board, the Canaan Foundation board, the Northwest Y trustees board, the Arboretum and Landscape Committee at the high school and various ministries with his church.

Barbara Hockstader

Barbara lives in Lakeville, CT, where she had previously spent summers and weekends and since March of 2020, is full time home! Barbara has two sons, one of whom attended Housatonic Valley Regional High school for his freshman year, while the other completed 8th grade at Indian Mountain School. Now, both boys are at The Berkshire School. Barbara has worked in the education technology startup world for her whole career, most recently helping to launch Kikori, a social emotional learning platform and approach for K-12 school districts and outdoor education organizations. She also helps to run the Summer Mountaineer Experience, an outdoor-education and SEL focused summer program open to all Region 1 middle school students, and helped to launch The Hub, a new community building event series sponsored by The Salisbury Association. In prior years, Barbara built the First League's Lego Robotics program to PS 333 in NYC and also served as a Mentor for the StartEd Education Technology Accelerator program.

Matt Andrulis Mette

Matt has served on the HYSB board since 1999 when he accepted the Director of Recreation and Youth job for the town of Sharon. As the now current Director of Parks and Recreation for the town of Sharon, Matt oversees recreational programming for residents of all ages. The town has several recreational facilities under the director’s supervision. Matt works closely with all the regional towns in coordinating programs and services for all of our area residents.

Steve Schibi

Steven is the Assistant Principal for Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Steve joined the board several years ago and has been an educator for 30 years.. He has been involved in athletics and has served as an athletic director as well as Dean of Students at Lewis Mills High School. Steve is involved with the Burlington Lions Club and the Harwinton Youth Sports Association, where he has served as vice president.

Directors Emeriti

Lance Beizer
Val Bernadoni
Martha Bruehl
Elizabeth (BJ) Christinat
Ruth Epstein

Jill Gibbons
Lisa Harmon
Hugh Hill
Diane Johnstone
Bonnie Kinsman

Paul Ramunni
Rae Schwarz
Rev. Richard Tabor*
Jeanne Wardell
Roberta Willis

*deceased