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Scout repairs fallen tombstones
Sep 24, 2025
Daniel Moran is working to clean up and set upright the graves at St. Mary’s Church old cemetery in Norfolk as his Eagle Scout project.
Ruth Epstein
NORFOLK — The gravestones at the Old St. Mary’s Church cemetery in Norfolk will be brought back to the condition they deserve, thanks to the efforts of Boy Scout Daniel Moran. The 16-year-old junior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School has chosen this as his Eagle Scout project.
Moran said his objective is to lift up the stones that have fallen or are tipped over and set them upright, as they should be. “I wanted to do something along the lines that my brother did.”
A group of his fellow Troop 22 scouts, his parents, and some residents were there on Sunday for the second session of cleaning up the site. The focus was on clearing a huge tree that had fallen during the recent storm, toppling one of the stones off its base. Moran’s older brother John mapped out all the veterans’ graves in the town’s five burial grounds and placed a flag and plaque on each one for his Eagle Scout project.
Richard Byrne of the church’s cemetery committee was present, explaining the Ryan family established St. Mary’s Church in 1856 and donated the land, which is a bit down the road from the church on North Street, for a cemetery. Several Civil War veterans are among those laid to rest there. The plot, a little over an acre, is no longer an active cemetery, but a newer one is just across the road.
Byrne expressed his deep gratitude for what Moran is doing, saying, “It’s been really run down and something needed to be done.”
Also present was John Anderson, who lives next to the cemetery. “I’ve always taken an interest in this place. This is a great project.”
Pastor Bruce of St. Martin of Tours churches in Norfolk, North Canaan and Salisbury gave the project a blessing and said, “I can’t say enough about Daniel’s work.”
Christian Allyn came to help eliminate some of the invasives at the site.
Looking on was Sandy Rhodes, scout commissioner of Troop B.
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CORNWALL — Plans for a wastewater treatment plant in West Cornwall are one step closer to reality.
At its regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Board of Selectman moved forward with engineering firm Natural System Utilities’ proposal to design and build the facility.
First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said the cost came in under budget and the timeline indicates the plant could be up and running by winter 2028.
“We interviewed four different firms, narrowed it down to two, of which one voted to submit a proposal,” said Ridgway. “First step is design. Second step is getting the permits.... and then the construction. So, if everything goes right you’d have testing and startup in February of 2028.”
The project is partially funded by Department of Housing and Urban Development, which awarded $3 million to the town. Remaining costs, up to $3.25 million, would be financed by a general obligation bond of the Town of Cornwall.
Natural System Utilities’ estimate to design and build the plant was less than $2 million.
The plant will be located in the grassy plot between the post office and the design studio in West Cornwall.
Design of the pumping system and pipes to connect to the wastewater facility will be done separately and has not yet been planned.
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FALLS VILLAGE — At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Selectmen Monday, Sept. 8, the selectmen said farewell to outgoing officials.
BOS appointed Dick Heinz to the Housatonic River Commission effective immediately through the remainder of Ellery “Woods” Sinclair’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025, and to elect Mark Gozonsky as the alternate to the commission, through Sept. 7, 2028 (also effective immediately).
Sinclair sent a letter resigning from the commission, and the selectmen thanked him for his decades of service to the town.
The selectmen also made public a letter thanking long-time Planning and Zoning Commission member Ruth Skovron for her service to the town.
“Your commitment to promoting the orderly and coordinated development of the town, and efforts to balance growth with the preservation of the community’s character, have been invaluable,” the letter read in part.
The selectmen approved a request from the Off the Trail Café to allow live music on the town Green, during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month.
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Kent to vote on several ordinances
Sep 24, 2025
KENT — The Board of Selectmen and seven Kent residents gathered on Thursday, Sept. 18, to discuss several ordinances on the table for town vote scheduled on Oct. 2:
Section 17-11, “Restriction of Commercial Bus Travel,” prohibits the passage of tour buses on Bulls Bridge Road and Spooner Hill Road in order to restrict their access to South Kent Road coming from the south or west. The ordinance does not include in the ban buses relating to school activities, and it can be suspended when Route 7 or Route 341 are closed.
Section 17-10, “Placement of Material in Public Right of Way,” restricts residents from depositing material of any kind in the roadway without the intention of immediate removal.
Section 2-17, “Purchasing Ordinance,” gives the town sole discretion in any solicitations, proposals or bids relating to the purchase of services, equipment or goods for the town. Purchases under $25,000 may be made as administrative action by the first selectman in consultation with the relevant department that requires the purchase, while those over $25,000 will be decided by a competitive bidding process which will be posted on the town website and circulated in a newspaper.
A fourth ordinance will be voted on during the Nov. 4 election.
Section 11-16, “Regulation of Cannabis Ordinance,” bans any retail operation for recreational cannabis in town, but allows for medical dispensaries on the basis of approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
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