Cornwall kept active all year long

Cornwall kept active all year long

2024 in Cornwall began with a visit from Gov. Ned Lamont (D) at Mohawk Mountain, Jan. 11.

Riley Klein

CORNWALL — Looking back on the past 12 months, Cornwallians had a busy year filled with activity.

The year began with a visit from Governor Ned Lamont Jan. 11 to announce an intiative promoting outdoor recreation at state venues. Lamont cited Mohawk Mountain, a private ski lodge situated within a state park, as a prime model for public-private recreation ventures in Connecticut.

“We can make sure we bring people to our parks and maximize use out of that,” said Lamont. “You can come and really enjoy yourself here.”

Cornwall Park and Recreation proceeded to launch an indoor pickleball program for the winter months. Players filled the courts at Cornwall Consolidated School each Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

If that wasn’t enough to get the blood pumping, Cornwallians saw red when incidents of mail theft began occurring at blue drop boxes in the winter. Jim Young was the victim of a stolen and cashed check for nearly $4,000, and he was one of several.

In February, Cornwall was awarded a TRIP (Transportation Rural Improvement Program) grant for $868,000 to construct new sidewalks and traffic control measures in West Cornwall and Cornwall Village. First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said the goal in each section of town is to increase pedestrian safety and slow traffic down in those areas, particularly in West Cornwall.

As winter gave way to spring, the Little Guild animal shelter broke ground on a new multimillion dollar facility in West Cornwall. The project saw the old facility demolished in favor of a new 8,000 square foot state-of-the-art animal shelter. In the interim, the staff has set up temporary trailers and pens at Foote Field.

In May, Cornwall Consolidated School’s seventh graders earned state recognition for a civics project. Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas awarded the school with the “Red, White and Blue” distinction thanks to the group’s research on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Repairing stormwater damage was a recurring theme in 2024 with retaining walls and culverts being replaced around town. To address the impact of a turbulent climate and better plan for the future, Cornwall Planning and Zoning Commission hosted Trinkaus Engineering’s Steven Trinkaus for an info session at Cornwall Library July 10.

“The goal really is to have a site ... that acts like a forest or a meadow, which is what it was before you put a shovel in the ground,” said Trinkaus.

In autumn, the CCS Walk-A-Thon returned for its 20th year. Students trekked the hills of Cornwall for a cause, raising money for the class trip as well as the New York Marine Rescue Center.

Cornwall Transfer Station set up a fund for victims of hurricane victims in Asheville, North Carolina. Ted Larson and Dave Williamson traveled down with all the collected supplies in November and saw firsthand the level of destruction in the area.

Following the presidential election, Cornwall achieved the top voter turnout rate in the state with approximately 90% of active registered voters casting their ballots.

“I do believe we get a trophy for that,” said Ridgway.

Latest News

Rhys V. Bowen

LAKEVILLE — Rhys V. Bowen, 65, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sept. 15, 2025. Rhys was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on April 9, 1960 to Anne H. Bowen and the late John G. Bowen. His brother, David, died in 1979.

Rhys grew up at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, where his father taught English. Attending Hotchkiss, Rhys excelled in academics and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. During these years, he also learned the challenges and joys of running, and continued to run at least 50 miles a week, until the day he died.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kelsey K. Horton

LAKEVILLE — Kelsey K. Horton, 43, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, following a courageous battle with cancer. Kelsey worked as a certified nursing assistant and administrative assistant at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, from 1999 until 2024, where she was a very respected and loved member of their nursing and administrative staff.

Born Oct. 4, 1981, in Sharon, she was the daughter of W. Craig Kellogg of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and JoAnne (Lukens) Tuncy and her husband Donald of Millerton, New York. Kelsey graduated with the class of 1999 from Webutuck High School in Amenia and from BOCES in 1999 with a certificate from the CNA program as well. She was a longtime member of the Lakeville United Methodist Church in Lakeville. On Oct. 11, 2003, in Poughkeepsie, New York, she married James Horton. Jimmy survives at home in Lakeville. Kelsey loved camping every summer at Waubeeka Family Campground in Copake, and she volunteered as a cheer coach for A.R.C. Cheerleading for many years. Kelsey also enjoyed hiking and gardening in her spare time and spending time with her loving family and many dear friends.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eliot Warren Brown

SHARON — On Sept. 27, Eliot Warren Brown was shot and killed at age 47 at his home in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a random act of violence by a young man in need of mental health services. Eliot was born and raised in Sharon, Connecticut, and attended Indian Mountain School and Concord Academy in Massachusetts. He graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He and his wife Brooke moved to New Orleans to answer the call for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and fell in love with the city.

In addition to his wife Brooke, Eliot leaves behind his parents Malcolm and Louise Brown, his sisters Lucia (Thaddeus) and Carla (Ruairi), three nephews, and extended family and friends spread far and wide.

Keep ReadingShow less
Randall Osolin

SHARON — Randall “Randy” Osolin passed away on Sept. 25, 2025, at the age of 74. He was born on Feb. 6, 1951, in Sharon, Connecticut to the late Ramon (Sonny) and Barbara (Sandmeyer) Osolin.

He was a dedicated social worker, a natural athlete, a gentle friend of animals, an abiding parish verger, an inveterate reader, and an estimable friend and neighbor. He was a kind-hearted person whose greatest joy was in helping someone in need and sharing his time with his family and good friends.

Keep ReadingShow less