Please find the most up to date notices from the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson.
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 5th 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 28th. 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
December 4, 2020
Dear Village Folks:
Well, we could certainly use a little cheer this year. So, I’m pleased to announce that the Village’s very own, John and Jackie Gioia, will lead us in some holiday songs Sunday night, at 6 p.m., Sunday, December 6, as we light the Village tree.
While we can’t have visits with Santa at the firehouse in 2020, due to COVID-19, we’re hoping Santa might be able to find some time to help us the light the tree.
Please wear your masks and practice social distancing.
The event will also be live-streamed on the Village’s Facebook page, thanks to the Cornwall-on-Hudson Special Events Committee.
We’ll see you Sunday night!
All the best,
Brendan Coyne
October 15, 2021
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,
June 30, 2022
Mayor’s Message (Independence Day and Infrastructure Repairs Edition):
Well, as the kids would say – “It’s been about a minute.” Which translated for us Boomers and Gen. X’ers means … It has been ages since my last drafted “mayor’s message.” Please do not interpret that to mean that there is nothing going on. We have been busier, as the saying goes, than a cross-eyed rooster on an anthill.
You might have noticed the multitude of infrastructure projects underway in the Village. Some have been long-planned, such as the impending full milling and paving by NYS of 218. You’ll see workers retrofitting and pouring concrete for curbs and sidewalks adjacent to crosswalks, according to ADA-compliance standards. Note that we, the Village DPW, took on repaving the stretch of Hudson that isn’t part of 218, from Academy to First Street, last month. And you have probably seen sidewalk projects that we have contracted for repairs and/or replacement along Idlewild Avenue, as well as the length of Second Street from St. Thomas R.C. Church down to Academy.
Monies spent on critical infrastructure such as transportation byways (of which pedestrian footpaths and vehicular thoroughfares are included) are certainly well worth it. Of course, we cannot replace or “make new again” everything all at one time. But hasn’t precluded us from putting together short-term and long-term plans that “triage” levels of immediacy. Goal here is not to gouge you with taxes – but to be smart about our budget and time/money investments with our department personnel. Believe we have found the appropriate “sweet spot.” In areas where we simply cannot replace sidewalks this season, we have contracted out for concrete-cutting to smooth jagged edges and limit the dangers posed by the asymmetry of broken or lifted concrete.
We will also continue our “re-foliation” efforts in parks and along streets. You’ll notice some of the plantings last Fall along Hudson Street were strategically placed (not under power lines) and carefully selected for their indigenous, non-invasive, and height-restricted qualities. These trees are not just aesthetically pleasing, they help the environment and contribute to our community’s sustainability and resiliency.
Here are some photos to highlight the above efforts:
Water Superintendent Trainor providing me site walk-throughs at the Chestnut and Mill Streets water main and sidewalk projects (both in the Town) today.
Second Street sidewalk replacement (one).
Second Street sidewalk replacement (two).
Hudson Street sidewalk replacement (by Cumberland Farms).
Mountain Road and Hudson Street (218) NYS sidewalk repair.
Church Street and Hudson Street (218) NYS sidewalk repair.
Idlewild (near River Avenue intersection) concrete repair and polishing
Idlewild and Park Street sidewalk replacement.
Hudson Street planting (one).
Hudson Street planting (two).
Great news for those who love Cornwall’s Independence Day celebration. Word on the street is that following the 2020 cancellation due to the pandemic and last year’s streamlined (no fireworks) 2021 version – We’re BACK BIGTIME in 2022! For entire schedule and information about Monday’s events, go to: www.cornwall4th.org
One last scheduling note: The Cornwall-on-Hudson Special Events Committee advises that due to the threat of rain on Saturday, “A League of Their Own” is being moved up to Friday (tomorrow). Movie begins right after sundown, around 9:30 p.m. at DMP.
As you can well see – lots going on ‘round these parts. Stay safe and healthy. And, have a wonderful Independence Day weekend. Village Hall will be closed on Monday.
Mayor James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents, visitors, and friends,
Autumn is here. The smell of pumpkin lattes wafting through the crisp Fall air colliding squarely with football season and teachers and children heading back to classrooms for a new school year.
Couple of quick notes: Tonight (Tuesday) begins the time adjustment for our weekly bandstand concert series in Village Square. The time adjustment takes advantage of better daylight hours in September and moves concerts for rest of month up to 6:00 p.m., with concerts concluding at 7:30 p.m. Tonight’s performance will be by the wonderful duo, ONE NIGHT ONLY. Hope to see you there. Next week’s performance will feature STRINGS ATTACHED.
Secondly, if you’ve been following Village board meetings, you know that we are in process of passing a Tree Preservation Law. The Cornwall Conservation Advisory Council, under the able leadership of Carla Castillo, worked diligently to fashion a solid piece of legislation focused on “land development activities” and “clearing activities” . The Town recently passed this legislation with little to no opposition. Counsel for the Village reviewed the law and made some minor tweaks -- tailoring it to Village-specific considerations. The proposed law is posted on the Village website. Go to drop down “Welcome,” find “Village Board,” and then “Proposed Laws” to read the document. There will be a public hearing scheduled for September 16, 2024, allowing for written or public comments related to the proposed legislation. Any issues/concerns – you may also stop in at Village Hall, 325 Hudson Street, to confer with the mayor. This is NOT designed to make difficult the life of the fictional “Mrs.McGillicuddy.” No one will interfere with her removal of a nuisance tree on her private residential property. We all reside in a beautiful region of the state and we want to endeavor to protect our green spaces. Necessary fine balance here for sure. Check out the proposal and come see me with questions.
On behalf of your Village Board,
September 8, 2021
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 10th, and are to remain in this position until Monday morning, September 13th. 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 11th. 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.