Route 7 roadwork begins in Cornwall

CORNWALL — Department of Transportation will be repaving Route 7 from West Cornwall down to the Kent for the next month or more. First Selectman Gordon Ridgway described it as a “pretty major project” during a meeting of the selectmen on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

“They will be milling the road up,” he said. “People can expect delays starting later this week through the middle of October. But at the end we will have a newly paved Route 7.”

Cornwall had previously been in contact with DOT about excessive speeds in this area. Selectman Jen Markow asked if it’s possible to include raised crosswalks to reduce speeds.

Ridgway noted that a Transportation and Rural Improvements Program (TRIP) grant was awarded for the raised sidewalks, which will arrive at a later date.

Town Hall roof

The selectmen have opted to push back roofing work on Town Hall, possibly until the spring.

Cornwall went out to bid to replace the roughly 35-year-old roof last month. Qualified bids were received, but the decision to delay the work was made to determine if insulation can be added to the historic building.

Insulating the roof would reduce wintertime ice accumulation, First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said, but it would have to be added in such a way to maintain the historic aesthetic of the 19th century building.

Ralph Dzenutis of Royal Construction, located in Cornwall Bridge, was hired to inspect the building for potential improvements. The cost of this inspection was estimated at approximately $1,000.

Ridgway noted adding insulation will increase the cost of the roof work, but “it’s better to do it right than fast.”

There was $150,000 allocated to town building repairs in the 2024-25 budget. Some of the funding has been put toward the Cornwall Bridge Firehouse repairs, but the selectmen were confident there would be more than enough left for the roof and insulation.

The new roof would not change the outward or inward appearance of the building.

Latest News

Cornwall saxophone sensation goes viral

Donald Polk, right, performed “Flight of the Bumblebee” at Cornwall Consolidated School’s winter concert. A video posted online by his mother has garnered millions of views.

Photo by Tamara Polk

CORNWALL — Donald Polk, an eighth grader at Cornwall Consolidated School, had only been playing alto saxophone for two years when he performed the notoriously challenging “Flight of the Bumblebee” at his school’s Winter Holiday Concert. His mother, Tamara Polk, posted a recording of the performance to TikTok, not expecting that Donald’s audience would quickly come to outsize that of a school auditorium.

When The Lakeville Journal interviewed Polk Saturday, Dec. 21, the young musician’s scorching saxophone solo had accrued more than 1.7 million views, 360,000 likes, and 2,500 comments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Terance Martin

NORTH CANAAN — Dr.f Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish. Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.

Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Washington, he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the US Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paul Winter to celebrate the winter solstice at Saint James Place

The Paul Winter Consort will perform at St. James Cathedral in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Saturday, Dec. 21.

Photo by Matthew Muise

Seven-time Grammy winning saxophonist Paul Winter, with the Paul Winter Consort, will return to celebrate the Winter Solstice on Saturday, Dec. 21, with sold out shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

A uniquely intimate solstice celebration, in contrast to the large-scale productions done for many years in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York, it promises to deliver everything audiences have come to love and expect.

Keep ReadingShow less
Developers withdraw application to expand Wake Robin Inn

Wake Robin Inn is located on Sharon Road in Lakeville.

Photo by John Coston

LAKEVILLE — Aradev LLC has withdrawn its application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special permit to redevelop the Wake Robin Inn.

In a letter submitted to P&Z Chair Michael Klemens on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 17, law outfit Mackey, Butts & Whalen LLP announced its client’s withdrawal.

Keep ReadingShow less