Please find the most up to date notices from the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson.
ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT
OPen Call for Projects ends on August 18, 2023
NYF provides an opportunity for stakeholders and community members to submit projects.
Calls for Projects Reminder & Business Survey Reminder
Open Call for Projects ends on July 21, 2023.
Virtual Office Hours will be held on Thursday July 13 11-1pm
Survey is open to responses until July 21, 2023 at www.cornwallnyf.com
Find out more about the Call for Projects here:
https://www.cornwallnyf.com/call-for-projects-1
Dear Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson residents,
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR HIKERS:
The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson will be conducting an “oil and chip” repair to the roadway that leads off of Bayview Avenue to the Donahue Farm Property on Monday, July 1, 2024. This roadway is the ingress/egress to the Esty & Hellie Stowell Trailhead at Storm King and is overseen by Scenic Hudson. The Village’s plan to improve the roadway to the parking lot at the trailhead have been signed off on by Scenic Hudson. Why are we doing this? Because the Donahue Farm Property is owned by the Village and we are required to maintain it. Having our DPW equipment remove snow and maintain access to the trailhead puts a severe beating and wear-and-tear on our fleet of vehicles. By utilizing “oil and chip” treatment – or commonly referred to as “chip seal” or “bituminous seal coat” – the existing roadway is covered with “a layer of oil and stone that seals blacktop and provides a wearable surface at a fraction of the cost of resurfacing.” Ergo, Monday – the roadway to the trailhead will be CLOSED. You can walk in to gain access to our hiking trails. But the roadway will not reopen until Tuesday, July 2, 2024.
If you have been to the farm property of recent, you’ll also notice that the Village – in concert with Scenic Hudson and our very own volunteer-led Donahue Committee – recently razed the kennel building. This is part of our improvements and beautification efforts and tied to the recent awarding of project monies from the NY Forward grant. We worked around some mature growth trees and will restore landscape to nature until the Donahue Committee puts forth a plan to erect a structure in the kennel’s footprint that supports our long-term property improvement goals.
Make sure to swing by the Hudson Highland Nature Museum’s Wildlife Education Campus (WEC) on the Boulevard. The Village was able to assist in repaving the parking lot last Fall, improving drainage issues in the process, and recently had a local business (Foley Landscaping Contractors) construct a new paver walkway and repair the steps leading into the WEC.
I have nine months and four days left in office. I will make the most out of every moment left. With a multitude of FEMA and USDA storms-related projects to proctor and oversee, as well as stewarding the NY Forward projects through engineering and design assessments and bids and contracts, there is a lot left to handle. Make no mistake about it – this Village Board is up to the daunting tasks ahead. Buckle up. Trust me -- you’re going to like what you see in the Village.
On behalf of your Village Board,
James A. “Jimmy” Gagliano
Mayor
It is with heavy heart that we share in announcing the passing of Cornwall resident and Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Paul “Buddy” Bucha. Captain Bucha was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH) for his gallantry in action in the Binh Duong Province of the Republic of Vietnam between March 16th and 19th in 1968 – the peak of combat operations and U.S. force deployments during the Vietnam War. The MOH also represents the nation’s highest award for conspicuous courage and heroism. For details related to Captain Bucha’s uncommon valor while serving as commanding officer of Company D, please visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s webpage. Reading his citation will leave you humbled and appreciative of the sacrifice and courage exhibited by him and his men during fierce combat actions near Phuoc Vinh.
I was honored to first meet him during the mid-Eighties when he spoke at a formal cadet company dining-in. As a young cadet, to me his prepared remarks and words of encouragement were beyond inspiring and were, in part, the reason I decided to join the Infantry. West Point’s natatorium (indoor pool) is also named in his honor, as he served as captain of the Division I intercollegiate Academy swim team before his graduation in 1965. A longtime resident of Ridgefield, CT, we were lucky to share him in the greater Cornwall area when he returned to a family home near his beloved alma mater several years ago. It was then that he stopped in to the mayor’s office to visit with me and yet again leave me humble and inspired. His famous words resonated yet again. “The Medal of Honor, he once said, “is proof that ordinary men and women have within them the potential to challenge fate and literally change the course of history. It only requires the courage to try.” What a sober challenge and one he more than answered in 1968.
President Lincoln famously challenged our fledgling democracy that “[a]ny nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.” With this in mind, I have ordered all flags on Village properties to be lowered to half-mast position today, Friday, August 2nd until Tuesday, August 6th. I have also spoken with Supervisor Josh Wojehowski and members of the “Hometown Heroes” committee for Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson. In coordination with American Legion Post 353, we will seek to have Captain Bucha be our first nomination for recognition via banner along our main streets when the first batch of nominees is considered and selected.
Please keep Captain Bucha’s family – especially his wonderful wife Cynthia – in your thoughts and prayers. And reflect on Captain Bucha’s humility when he was presented the MOH from President Nixon and flatly advised the president that “[t]he medal that I wear, I wear on behalf of others, not myself.” Stirring words indeed. Rest in peace, Captain Bucha. A grateful nation and your greater Cornwall community will never forget your heroism and sacrifices on our behalf.