Planning ahead for extreme weather

CORNWALL — A summer of heavy rain left roads and bridges worse for wear in Cornwall. 

WMC Engineers recently took boring samples of land near the retaining wall for the Mill Brook crossing on River Road. The abutment was damaged by raging rapids  and is in need of replacement.

“I have not yet gotten the results whether they hit ledge or just large boulders. In Cornwall, you get one or the other if you go down far enough,” said Ridgway. 

WMC was hired to design the new retaining wall. Ridgway said the plan is to remove the rock wall currently in place and build a reinforced concrete wall.

Designs are expected to be completed by the end of September. Once received, Cornwall will seek bids for the work.

“We’re compiling a list of qualified contractors, giving them a heads-up this project is in the works, so hopefully we can get a bid proposal out by the first of October,” said Ridgway.

Once a contractor has been selected, a town meeting will be required to approve the work. The Board planned to add this to the annual town meeting scheduled for Nov. 3.

The board discussed options for addressing and preventing flood damage in town, which has become more regular in recent years.

“Between the health of our forests, the size of our culverts, the extreme weather that we seem to be having regularly… different events all seem to be hitting some records,” said Ridgway. 

Deficiencies in Cornwall’s culvert system were noted during rains in July this year, causing the board to consider updates in preparation for the future.

“If we can make it so that water can go directly to the river… that would have a couple wins. And the [Housatonic Railroad Company] was very interested in participating in that,” said Ridgway.

Ridgway discussed programs at the state level aimed at improving resiliency to extreme weather events. 

“We might be able to borrow some ideas or latch on to some programs,” he said.

“Better to get out in front of it,” said Selectman Janet Carlson.

Latest News

Haystack Festival brings literary minds to Norfolk

The Great Room at Norfolk Library filled to capacity for the Haystack Festival.

Jennifer Almquist

Just after noon on Sunday, Oct. 6, attendees of Norfolk Foundation’s Haystack Festival spilled out of the red Shingle Style Norfolk Library into brilliant October sunshine, emerging from the final book talk of the weekend (excepting an event for young readers later in the day). The talk, which was a conversation between horse experts journalist Sarah Maslin Nir and author David Chaffetz, was rife with equine puns and startling facts. The tongue-in-cheek use of the word “cavalier” brought laughs from the engaged audience, while Nir disclosed that horses eat for a full 16 hours a day.

The talk brought levity and humor to the festival’s conclusion, while also diving into the serious history of the relationship between society and horses. Chaffetz explained horses were fundamental in the formation of large empires: “We don’t see empires until horses became fundamental to the political state.” Nir elaborated that the “wild” horses in North America are not native, but feral horses descended from animals brought by Spanish imperialists. “No tea grows in England,” she explained, “it is the result of empire – and so are horses.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Project SAGE's solemn vigil

"The Red Sand Project" is intended to draw attention to often overlooked domestic violence issues in the Northwest Corner.

Natalia Zukerman

To mark the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Project SAGE held its annual community vigil on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Community Field in Lakeville. Project SAGE is a community-focused organization dedicated to supporting, advocating, guiding and educating victims of relationship violence through a range of services and outreach programs.

A large group of people gathered quietly in the center of the field where they were handed packets of red sand. Red Sand Project, created by artist and activist Molly Gochman, is a participatory artwork that uses sidewalk interventions and earthwork installations to encourage people to reflect, connect, and take action against the vulnerabilities that contribute to human trafficking, modern slavery, and exploitation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Northwest Corner artists unite for Clay Way Tour Oct. 19-20

Pottery of all sorts will be on display at the Clay Way Tour, featuring 26 area artists.

Provided

Now in its 8th year, The Clay Way Studio Tour is an annually held event featuring some of Connecticut’s best potters. Twenty six artists will show their work among nine studios.

The Tour takes place in Litchfield County Connecticut and Wingdale, New York Oct.19 and 20 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Potter and organizer Jane Herald explained the origin of the tour.

Keep ReadingShow less