Cornwall slates municipal buildings for fiber internet

Cornwall slates municipal buildings for fiber internet

Cornwall Town Hall may be getting high speed internet later this year through the CEN Connect program.

Riley Klein

CORNWALL — Town employees and volunteers could see a boost in connection speeds later this year.

The Board of Selectmen discussed the plan and motioned to move forward with Connecticut Education Network internet Feb. 4.

CEN Connect is a state program that provides broadband infrastructure to municipal buildings and institutions. Grant funding is available to cover the cost of installation.

Through CEN Connect, Cornwall hopes to run fiber optic cable to Town Hall, both fire departments, the Transfer Station and the library.

Selectman Rocco Botto spoke with representatives of Litchfield and Goshen, which have already joined the Network and reportedly “love it.” It was described as fast, reliable and secure.

“It would be $135 a month and that covers all our municipal buildings,” said Botto. “Our only other obligation per site would be that $35 a month fiber maintenance fee.”

Each eligible site will be submitted to the Network for review and approval.

The internet comes from a main provider substation in Hartford. It was estimated that the rollout to Cornwall’s town buildings could be completed in about nine months.

The motion to move forward passed unanimously.

Committee Appointment

On Feb. 4, the Board of Selectmen appointed Richard Bramley to the Wastewater Management Project in West Cornwall Village Construction Committee.

Bramley is the town treasurer and has attended most of the Committee’s meetings since its inception.

Latest News

Falls Village film showcases downtown history

The newest video by Eric Veden follows a tour of town led by Bill Beebe, pictured above, and Judy Jacobs.

Provided

FALLS VILLAGE — Eric Veden’s 36th installment of his Falls Village video series includes an October 2024 Housatonic Heritage walk through downtown Falls Village led by Judy Jacobs and Bill Beebe.

In the video, participants gather at the Depot, home of the Falls Village–Canaan Historical Society. As the group sets out along Railroad Street, Jacobs notes that the Depot was constructed between 1842 and 1844 to serve the newly established railroad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gratitude and goodbyes at Race Brook Lodge
Duo al Rouh (Rabbi Zachi Asher, left, and Zafer Tawil) will explore the crossroads of art and justice, music and spirituality at The Gratitude Festival at Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield.
Provided

With the property up for sale and its future uncertain, programming is winding down at the iconic Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield, Massachusetts. But there are still events on the calendar designed to carry music lovers through the winter and into spring.

From Friday, Nov. 21, to Monday, Nov. 24, Race Brook Lodge will hold its Fall Gratitude Festival. Celebrating the tail end of fall before the colder depths of winter, the festival features an eclectic mix of music from top-notch musicians.

Keep ReadingShow less
Holiday craft fairs and DIY workshops: a seasonal preview

Ayni Herb Farm will be one of themany local vendors at Foxtrot’s Farm & Friends Market Nov. 22-23 in Stanfordville.

Provided

As the days grow shorter and the first hints of winter settle in, galleries, studios, barns, village greens and community halls across the region begin their annual transformation into warm, glowing refuges of light and handmade beauty.

This year’s holiday fairs and DIY workshops offer chances not just to shop, but to make—whether you’re mixing cocktails and crafting ornaments, gathering around a wreath-making table, or wandering markets where makers, bakers, artists and craftspeople bring their best of the season. These events are mutually sustaining, fueling both the region’s local economy and the joy of those who call it home.

Keep ReadingShow less