February 16, 2022

 

SPECIAL NOTICE: In Memoriam Charles P. Obremski

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

It with heavy heart that I report to you the passing of the Village’s 24^th mayor, Charles P. Obremski on Monday, February 14, 2022. The following is the family’s posted obituary on the Quigley-Sullivan funeral home site:

Charles P. Obremski was born on September 11, 1946 in Passaic, New Jersey to Charles J. and Anna (Tichansky) Obremski. He died on February 14, 2022 in Newburgh, New York. Charlie is survived by his wife of 49 years, Nancy (Howell); his sons: Gregory and Christian (Alexandra); his grandchildren: Anna, John, Elisabeth, and Maria; and by his sister Maryann.

Charlie was a graduate of Boston University and New York University School of Law. He maintained a law practice in Cornwall, New York for nearly 50 years. He was a retired Army Major with the New Jersey National Guard and served as a Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Auxiliary Police Officer. He was also Mayor of the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson from 1977-1979. Charlie was a patriot who loved the Constitution and the rights afforded therein. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 18th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 337 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY. Based on new CDC guidelines adopted by NYS, fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but unvaccinated individuals must continue to wear masks and be socially distanced in the funeral home. Burial will be private. End.

I have directed all four Village flags to be lowered to half-mast position through this weekend. Black mourning bunting supplied by Storm King Engine Company #2 has been applied to two sides of Village Hall to honor our former mayor. Was privileged and honored to meet with Mayor Obremski when the Village hosted a former mayors’ summit in May of last year at Village Hall. The attached photograph is from that event and also depicts former Cornwall-on-Hudson mayor, Edward C. Moulton, Jr. and former Town supervisor and Village trustee, Richard Randazzo, as the three share a laugh.

On behalf of the Village Board, we wish Godspeed to Mayor Obremski and pray his family finds peace, comfort, and solace in his legacy of service to our nation, and this Village, and realizes just how much this somber news has impacted our community.

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

December 29, 2021

 

SPECIAL NEW YEAR’s EVE NOTICE

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

Yes, Virginia, there WILL be a 2022 Times Square-like ball drop this year in the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. Village’s Special Events Committee is pleased to announce they are planning both an in-person celebration and livestream viewing option for those who cannot attend or choose not to. Livestream, via YouTube, can be accessed using below link on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2021, beginning around 11pm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcGsBtKV4CQ

There will be music provided and a hard-stop at 12:30 a.m. to respect our neighbors.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in person or virtually.

On behalf of the Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

November 23, 2021

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

As we head into the Holiday Season, and on behalf of our Village Board, and all of our staff and employees, I’d like to wish each of you a peaceful and reflective Thanksgiving. There is an old adage that goes: “There is always, always something to be thankful for." We are all supremely blessed to be part of this wonderful Village of COH community.

Couple of quick items:

Reminder that the Village tree-lighting takes place on Sunday, December 5^th at 5:30 p.m. -- the day after the Town’s. The Gioias (John and Jackie) will entertain us with Christmas songs and holiday cheer. We anticipate the annual visit by our special guest visiting from the North Pole. And Storm King Engine Company #2 will serve refreshments at the bandstand – as opposed to the firehouse – this year.

Hanukkah: Hanukkah begins at sundown on November 28^th. Lighting of the first menorah candle will be celebrated at the Village Bandstand starting at 5:30pm on that date.

Lastly, you may notice that the one-sided Village welcome sign on Hudson Street (across from DB Mart) received a special addition this afternoon. Clayton Boone, the “artisan woodcarving craftsman whiz” from Sugar Loaf, NY crafted the original sign, at the behest of former Mayor Brendan Coyne. Today, Mr. Boone installed a wood panel to the backside of the sign that thanks travelers for visiting our beautiful Village and features the waterfront gazebo depicted in the Village seal. I’d like to thank Mr. Coyne, as well as the current Board who approved the addition (with much of the project funded by generous donors), for what I truly believe is a value-added piece of landscape artwork. Please see the attached photographs of the sign, the artist, and DPW Superintendent Dave Halvorsen and the members of DPW who helped with installation – Tom Lyons and Patrick Cody.   

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

October 22, 2021

 

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

With our last Village Board business meeting (10/18) available to view online and The Cornwall Local’s “Around Village Hall” feature in this week’s edition, no need for a detailed recitation of Board activity and all the exciting developments around our wonderful community.

Thought it would be fun – as we enter the 2022 budget plenary season – to share Cornwall-on-Hudson’s proposed budget for 1942. Think about this: In 1942, our great nation had just recently entered the Second World War. Gas was a whopping 20 cents per gallon, the typical American home set you back a cool $3,775, a new car was $920, and a ticket to the movie was 30 cents.

Take a look at the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson’s proposed expenditures for ’42, crack a smile, and have a great weekend, all.

On behalf of the Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

October 15, 2021

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

Tons of exciting events happening this weekend. Let me give you a quick rundown:

This Saturday morning (October 16th between 9:00am - 1:00pm) at Dock Hill Creek along Dock Hill Road, “Trees for Tribs” is teaming up with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson to plant 60 trees and remove invasive species in and around Dock Hill Creek. If interested in participating, please meet at Pagenstecher Park at 8:59:59am. Please be prepared with gloves, sturdy shoes etc. and bring a shovel, pick axe or pruning shears, if able. Event will follow Orange County DOH COVID guidelines. If you are interested in volunteering for this effort or would like more event details, please contact the Cornwall Riverfront Committee at cornwallriverfront@gmail.com.

Also, this Saturday, between 9:00am and 4:00pm, Cornwall-on-Hudson will hold its annual Village-wide yard sale. Please register beforehand at (845) 534-9367.

The Cornwall Special Events Committee announces RAIN DATE RESCHEDULING: Beetlejuice will now be showing on Sunday due to the wind and rain forecast for tomorrow.

Details: Beetlejuice this Sunday, October 17 at Donahue Farm, 42 Bay View Avenue, Cornwall on Hudson. Music and food with the Farmhouse Market Food Truck from about 5pm on. Halloween Costume Contest with prizes at 5:30. Movie starts around 6pm. Walk if you can - parking is limited.

Special note: Village DPW curbside bulk pickup scheduled for Monday, October 18th.

October Village Board business meeting will be Monday, October 18th, at 7:00pm.

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

On behalf of the Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

September 8, 2021

 

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

As we rapidly approach our nation’s somber observance of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, thought it important to mention a few things.

Firstly, I have directed that all American flags attached to poles and located on Village properties (Village Hall, the Bandstand, Donahue Memorial Park, at our water facilities, and in front of SKE2 firehouse) be lowered to half-mast beginning on Friday morning, September 10^th, and are to remain in this position until Monday morning, September 13^th. This will honor the nearly 3,000 Americans who perished on that fateful morning – and the scores of first responders in New York City (403 in total) who died while attempting to save others’ lives. It is also a solemn acknowledgement of the scores who have died of 9/11-related illnesses. I have friends and coworkers (two FBI colleagues) who perished when the Towers toppled. I have friends and colleagues who have expired from 9/11-related illnesses and maladies. And I have teammates and fellow servicemembers who have died in far off lands, while taking the fight to the terrorists.

All of us of age have poignant stories of where we were when our world was shattered that still September morning in 2001. Some of us have vivid recollections of the sights, sounds, and horrors we witnessed and experienced that clear, blue-sky morning in Lower Manhattan. I was not privileged to know 10-year FDNY veteran firefighter Kenneth Kumpel of Ladder 10. But our paths may have crossed, unbeknownst to either of us, that morning near the World Trade Center, before Ken made the ultimate sacrifice while attempting to save others. A member of the Cornwall Fire Department, Ken and his wife Nancy have two wonderful sons, Greg and Carl. As was chronicled in a recent New York Post piece on the FDNY’s 9/11 legacies, both sons are now firefighters with the FDNY. https://nypost.com/2021/09/06/firefighters-honor-legacy-of-their-fdny-parents-killed-on-9-11/ We are proud to call the Kumpel family – Cornwall’s own. We shall never forget Ken’s heroism and sacrifice.

If able to, please attend the memorial service at the traffic circle in Town at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, September 11^th. Let’s never forget the significance of this day and never ever forget the sacrifice of our brave and selfless 9/11 heroes and heroines.

 

On behalf of the Village Board,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

Mayor

September 7, 2021   ***IMPORTANT MESSAGE***

 

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

I trust that this message finds everyone safe and healthy in the wake of Tropical Storm Ida’s flood-inducing rainfall. Please know that Village Public Works employees, along with SKE2 volunteers, have been working relentlessly to ensure that clogged culverts, storm drains have been cleared, basements have had floodwaters pumped out and waters redirected, and yard debris continues to be removed. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

I also just conferred with Town Supervisor Dick Randazzo and followed up with a telephone call to the Manager of Orange County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Emergency Planner, Dominick Greene. Mr. Greene advises that there may be funds available for “individual assistance” from FEMA. He encouraged us to manage expectations, as there will be “needs based” assessments. This translates to the construct that bases relief monies on your household income level, as well as your existing insurance coverage. Items such as structural damage, loss of furnace, or electrical panel compromise are considered priorities. Other appliances, say a second refrigerator in your basement are obviously lower-priority losses. FEMA allows 22 days from disaster event for the County to submit a list of residents’ claims. Keep in mind, any individual claim may or may not be entertained. But we would be derelict in not compiling a list for submission and ascertaining what, if anything, can/may be replaced by FEMA.

With this in mind. I must have said list turned over to Orange County NLT Monday, September 20^th, 2021. Therefore, any resident interested in submitting for potential claim consideration MUST have the below information emailed to the Village Hall Clerk at clerk@cornwall-on-hudson.org NLT COB (4:30 p.m.) on Friday, September 17^th, 2021.

Residents who sustained damage to their property, please provide ONLY the following general information:

Name, address, email address, telephone number and a brief description of the damages you have incurred.  Please include a general description of flood damage; location such as basement, first floor, second floor; and types of damage and loss, i.e. electrical, furnace, finished basement, personal property, etc. 

The state of emergency for the Village of COH was lifted this morning. Thank you for your patience during our response to this weather event.

Stay safe and healthy.

Very respectfully,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

September 2, 2021

 

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

 

This is a weather emergency, State-of-the-Village edition of my usual update messages. The tropical depression known as Ida certainly did not impact us as destructively as it did the Gulf Coast and even parts of New York City and Long Island. But the record amounts of rainfall have led to serious flooding in places and washed out portions of local roadways. Some of our water facilities – especially the Taylor Road wellfields – continue to remain submerged and subject to flooding. Blessedly, there were no reported power outages and though some storm drains in our roadways were overwhelmed by the volume of rainwater, we seem to be in “okay” shape infrastructure-wise. We have power and safe, clean drinking water. Some of our neighbors in the Town of Cornwall and surrounding communities did not fare so well.

New York State has declared a state of emergency that includes Orange County. This is important for us, as it makes us eligible for reimbursement from NYS and/or FEMA for any necessary municipal road or facilities repairs caused by storm damage.

With this in mind, and because a state of emergency need be declared, locally, in order to issue any necessary emergency orders for public safety, I have issued a DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY, which is attached. In doing so, I have consulted with the Attorney for the Village, the Village Clerk, and the Village Board. I have also interfaced with DPW and Water Superintendents Halvorsen and Trainor. Most importantly, I have crafted this declaration with specific guidance from Cornwall OEM Emergency Manager and Deputy EMS Coordinator for Orange County, NY, the Village’s own Kurt Hahn. We will continue to coordinate with all appropriate local, state, and federal officials, in order to identify any potential forthcoming hazards and mitigate storm damage.    

It is times like this that we should appreciate our Village employees from the Department of Public Works, as well as the Water and Police Departments. Next time you see one, make certain to thank them for their 24/7 availability to help keep us all safe and efforts to ensure we all maintain Village services in the wake of natural disasters such as Ida.

Stay safe and healthy.

Very respectfully,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

August 20, 2021

 

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

 

Been a month since I sent a dispatch from 325 Hudson Street. And, while there has been considerable coverage of the Village Board’s doings within the pages of The Cornwall Local and I continue to greatly enjoy the multitude of folks who take me up on my open invitation and stop inside Village Hall to meet face-to-face, it is important that I use this medium to share some important items in the conduct of our Village government. 

I made a tough call – but the RIGHT call – to place Village facilities (Village Hall, DPW Building and our Water Treatment Plants) under a 14-day mask mandate on Tuesday. The CDC and the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) released a countywide alert that acknowledged the uptick in hospitalizations related to the Delta variant – and they “strongly urge” and “recommend” indoor masking for “ALL PERSONS” (vaccinated or unvaccinated). This pertains to all Village facilities – for employees and visitors alike.

Would like to acknowledge local elected officials’ support of a DASNY grant that we were just awarded from New York State. While it will take some time for it to wind its way through the bureaucratic process, we will be receiving $50,000.00 in monies directed to our pavilion project at the waterfront in Donahue Memorial Park. Thanks to Supervisor Randazzo, Assemblyman Schmitt, Legislator Kevin Hines, County Executive Neuhaus, and especially NYS Senator Skoufis for their efforts in helping us secure this windfall.

At Monday’s Village Board Meeting (which are all available online through our streaming service), resident Maureen Buckley made an impassioned plea to encourage the Village to reconstitute a “welcome wagon” for Village newcomers. Her enthusiasm truly inspires me. Anyone else interested in participating in the formation of a committee to tackle this effort to welcome newcomers, please email Mrs. Buckley at: MACJLB66@gmail.com.

Mixed emotions here – We will miss Ms. Wynn Klosky, who is stepping down from her position on the Planning Board. We also welcome Mr. Garry Michel, who was appointed by the Village Board to fill her vacancy. We also bid farewell to Building Inspector Bill Horton. Former Code Enforcement Officer Benny Maggio returns next week to help us fill the vacancy until the end of the year. Know someone interested in position? Contact us.

Also, on Monday night, the Village Board approved the official Village seal (finally). Check out the attached image of the seal, replete with image of the gazebo and Hudson River.

Have a safe and healthy weekend, all. I am truly inspired and motivated by all of you.

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano

July 16, 2021

 

Dear Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, neighbors, and friends:

 

We continue to navigate the loosening of pandemic-related restrictions for Village functions and events. Especially as pertains to the safety and welfare of our children -- we must get this 100% right. Questions have recently arisen regarding our mask-requirement policy for youngsters attending Summer Playground (Camp) at COH Elementary School, and why we required them while Town Camp (at Lee Road School) does not. I have spoken with Village Camp Director Jenna Park and have news to deliver: 

We continue to operate under the guidance put forth by the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH), and while some discretion was allowable, we followed what the OCDOH “strongly recommended” and elected to err on side of complete caution. Ms. Park has continued to interface with the OCDOH and they are, as of today, satisfied with our continued precautions and see no reason that Summer Playground cannot move to *mask optional* policy beginning Monday, July 19^th. This adjustment pertains to campers only. Our staff and counselors are allowed to be unmasked only if they are vaccinated.

We will continue to conduct daily screenings at COHES that involve temperature checks and will continue to operate in “pods” that cloister the same children and staff together throughout the summer. Parents are certainly allowed to require their child remain masked indoors, if so inclined. Sunday evening, the Summer Playground director will send out a message to all camper parents on the REMIND app, advising of this change.

We are comfortable moving in this direction and will adjust accordingly as new guidance is provided or facts on the ground change. I, for one, know how brutally hot the un-air-conditioned gym at COHES can be. This should be a welcome change for our campers.

As with any topic that you need clarification from the Village on, I am always available to discuss an issue or concern and more than happy to engage. Finding solutions should always be the preeminent charge of this office. I am humbled for the opportunity.

Have a safe and healthy weekend,

James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano