Sports -- Friday, September 28, 2007  9:52 p.m.

Cornwall sinks Port Jervis in double overtime

Cornwall beat Port Jervis 12-6 in double overtime tonight, with a two-yard run by junior Lou D'Esposito that won it in the closing minutes.

The game was tied 0-0 at the end of the fourth quarter. The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime. In the second overtime, the defense held as Steve Henderson tackled the Port Jervis quarterback in the backfield.

"This was the first time in the seven years that I've covered Cornwall football that a game went into overtime, and the first time that I've seen two teams play four quarters without scoring," said Local sports reporter Ken Cashman.

See next Friday's paper for the rest of the story....

Sports -- Friday, September 28, 2007  8:38 p.m.

Halftime report!

Local sports reporter Ken Cashman calling in from the football game in Port Jervis....Score is 0-0! In the first quarter, Cornwall was stopped on the four-yard line. In the second quarter, Port Jervis tried a field goal that was wide. They intercepted again, but junior Ben Jebb sacked the quarterback and the defense held.

Check back after 9:45 p.m. for the final score.

BITS, Friday, September 28, 2007  2:54 p.m.

The Weekly Wrap

Nicky's to re-open: Andrew Doehla and his girlfriend Alexis Raccasi, both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, have agreed to lease the old Nicky's, and are planning to re-open the restaurant, under a new name, in December or January. Doehla, age 26, grew up in Cornwall-on-Hudson and has lived here his whole life. He is the son of Sharon Doehla of Milmore, Doehla & Milich Realty Associates, LLC.

Rusty reverses! You really can't believe what you read in the papers. It was reported earlier this week -- in the New Hampshire and Vermont papers and in The Boston Globe (and in the Local this morning) -- that Russell "Rusty" O'Dell, Cornwall's former police chief, had accepted a job as chief in Bellows Falls, Vermont. But now he's not going. The Reformer, the newspaper out of Brattleboro, Vt., reports that Rusty pulled out, sending a fax yesterday to the municipal manager, citing police department leaks to the media and concerns with the police department's budget. O'Dell was to start the job on Monday. Read more by clicking here.

Mill Street home burglarized:  More than $3,000 in jewelry was taken from a home on Mill Street on Monday. No one was home at the time, and it wasn't until the homeowners arrived home after work that they discovered the jewelry missing. Police Chief Todd Hazard says it appears the burglars went through a front casement window. There are no known suspects.

Reminder:  Reception and 40th birthday party for Police Chief Todd Hazard is tomorrow (Saturday) from 2-5 p.m. at Munger Cottage. The whole town's invited to come and meet the chief!

Friday, September 28, 2007

A new clubhouse for the golf club

By Ken Cashman -- The Storm King Golf Club is launching a new construction project on Saturday. But the afternoon ceremony won't be called a "groundbreaking," because the excavation has already started.

The membership is putting up a new clubhouse and is hoping to use it to attract more of its neighbors. Once the building is complete, the club will be looking to host outings for local organizations and offer social memberships to people who want to use the dining room but aren't interested in playing golf. There's also the possibility of corporate memberships that would give local business people a place to entertain their clients.

Read the full story in the September 28 issue of the Local.

A 1,000 foot wall to hold back the Hudson

Margaret Menge -- The rip rap isn't doing the job. So the plan is for the village to erect a wall - a 1,000 foot "mafia wall" at Donahue Memorial Park, to be sunk six feet into the ground, with one foot sticking up, just at the edge of the embankment.

The wall, says retiring DPW superintendent Bob Gilmore, has been talked about since 1981, when the village began to construct the park at the riverfront on land cleared by Con Edison. It's needed, he says, to prevent erosion of the park into the Hudson River. Over the years, the village has gotten grants to patch up pieces of the park that have been washed away. This wall -- called a "mafia wall" because it's constructed of concrete "mafia blocks" -- would mean no more patching; the wall would hold the water back.

Read the full story in the September 28 issue of the Local.

BREAKING -- Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Sollami to challenge Quigley to 'Lincoln Douglas' debate

Former town supervisor Jim Sollami sent a press release (below) to The Cornwall Local today, announcing he's going to challenge Republican nominee Kevin Quigley to a 'Lincoln Douglas' style debate to be held before the November election.

"If he's not on the line, I have no interest in debating," Kevin  Quigley said tonight when contacted by the Local. "We already had a debate...you organized it. You called for the forum, we all attended," said Quigley, referring to the Sept. 11 Candidates Forum moderated by The Cornwall Local.

Kevin Quigley, a Republican, is the only candidate whose name  will appear on the ballot in November for town supervisor. Jim Sollami, a Democrat, is running a write-in campaign, something he said last week he wanted to do to "free Cornwall from political machines." The general election is Nov. 6.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 24, 2007

'Kill Cops' graffiti on middle school

"Kill cops" was found written in black spray paint on an outside wall of the middle school, Police Chief Todd Hazard said today. It wasn't visible from the street, or from the drive in front of the school -- but school officials and police discovered it when they went up on the roof to look at other graffiti, in red spray paint, that could be seen from down below.

The graffiti was reported by the school district a week ago today. Chief Hazard says he thinks kids were up on the roof with cans of spray paint the weekend of Sept. 14-16. If caught, the perpetrators, he said, would be charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

BREAKING -- Saturday, September 22, 2007  2:40 p.m.

Cornwall Democratic Committee condemns MoveOn ad

The Cornwall Democratic Committee passed a resolution at their meeting on Thursday night calling the personal attack on General David Petraeus in the MoveOn.org ad in The New York Times "not only disrespectful but contrary to principles of free and open responsible debate." The resolution, passed by a majority of votes of the members of the committee, "calls upon all those who seek to promote constructive discourse on our Nation's foreign policy, regardless of their position on the Iraq war, to condemn such premature, intemperate and disrespectful speech."

Arthur Davidson is chair of the Cornwall Democratic Committee.

Click here to see the full text of the resolution.

BITS, Friday, September 21, 2007  4:38 p.m.

The weekly wrap

Cornwall, it seems, is at the very Center of the Universe for now. Read on...

Hall goes to high school

photo by Margaret Menge Rep. John Hall (D-NY-19). Student fotog Jessica Williams is in back in yellow with camera.

Camera guys and TV girls swarmed Rep. John Hall at Cornwall Central High School today, where he met with a senior economics class in the high school's auditorium to tell them about the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which cuts interest rates on student loans and increases Pell grants by $1090 over the next five years. And he also took questions from students. First one:

Student: "Is being in Congress cool? Do you like being in Congress?"

Rep. Hall: "I do. It's better than yelling at the TV."

Tune in to channel 12 or channel 6 tonight to see more....and, for a full report, see next Friday's Cornwall Local.

The General's "humble beginnings!"  Sat. at 9 p.m.

Fox News was here on Monday, with lights, cameras, window shades(!) to look into the "humble beginnings" of Gen. David Petraeus. They interviewed Gary Melrose, county legislator Alan Seidman and one or two more Cornwall residents for the Fox News special "American Commander: General David Petraeus." The special, says Fox, "takes an intimate and revealing look at General David Petraeus -- told by the people who know him best(!)"   It is scheduled to air tomorrow night (Saturday) at 9 p.m. on Fox News, channel 62 if you have Time Warner cable, and again on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Indy station RNN gets in on the act...

photo by Margaret Menge John E. Till, architect, giving an interview to RNN outside his Main Street office

RNN, an independent TV station out of Westchester, was also running around Cornwall with camera and mic today. Lauren Berry Brown of RNN interviewed Gary Melrose in front of the Stones Agency on Main Street, and then chatted with architect John E. Till (mid interview, above). The segment she's putting together, about Petraeus and his hometown, will air sometime between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. TONIGHT.  RNN is channel 12 or 22 if you have Time Warner cable.

Mary Tyler Moore film at Bannerman's Island

photo by Mary Hall Joseph Fiennes (in light gray sweatshirt) on the set of "Against the Current," next to Bannerman's Castle in late afternoon on Thursday, September 13.

A low-budget film starring Mary Tyler Moore, Joseph Fiennes and Elizabeth Reaser was shot up and down the Hudson River last week, with one scene shot on Bannerman's Island just before sunset on Thursday, Sept. 13. Cornwall girl and SUNY New Paltz grad Mary Hall took shots for us. Her brother Will Hall, works on the Island, for the Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc., and Mary got to ride along as Will picked up the cast and crew in a small boat and brought them into the dock on the north side of the island. The film "Against the Current" is about a man, played by Fiennes, who swims from Troy to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as a tribute to his dead wife.

Sports -- Thursday, September 20, 2007  6:17 p.m.

Cornwall defeats Goshen 41-0

click on the photo below to see more game pics

photo by Ken Cashman Alex Orchowski, a transfer student from Chicago, made a key stop behind the line.

By Ken Cashman -- Cornwall erupted in the third quarter and didn't let up through the fourth, defeating Goshen 41-0 in the second home game of the season. In the third quarter, quarterback Dave Boisture threw a 14-yard pass to Ben Jebb, the tallest member of the team. And Lou D'Esposito, the shortest member of the team, ran 58 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, junior Ray Wroten ran 61 yards for a touchdown. The defense posted its third shutout of the year.

Sports -- Thursday, September 20, 2007  5:15 p.m.

Halftime report!

Local sports reporter Ken Cashman calling in from the Cornwall-Goshen football game at Cornwall Central Middle School....The Dragons are beating Goshen 14-0 at halftime, with the first touchdown a pass from quarterback Dave Boisture to Rick Smith. The second touchdown was in the second quarter with a five-yard run by Lou D'Esposito.

Check back after 6 p.m. for the final score.

Primary -- Tuesday, September 18, 2007  9:50 p.m.

Quigley vanquishes Bunt in Republican primary

Kevin Quigley won the primary for supervisor of the Town of Cornwall today, defeating Helen Bunt 223-453 and winning 13 of 14 election districts. "I had good support around me," said Quigley after the last numbers were written up on the poster board in the Town Hall conference room."I thought everything went well. It was probably one of the more docile races...and I think that's important."

Quigley was endorsed this summer by both the Cornwall Republican Committee and by the local Conservative Party. He'll be the only candidate on the ballot in November for town supervisor, though Jim Sollami said this week that he's running a write-in campaign. "I'm not gonna worry, but I'm going to do whatever I can do to make sure nobody creeps up," said Quigley.

Primary Day -- Tuesday, September 18, 2007  12:33 p.m.

Voting slow for supervisor primary

Poll workers report that it's slow going at polling places today. Just two people had voted at Village Hall at about 6:30 a.m. (polls opened at 6), two at Town Hall by 6:45 a.m. (one of them a poll worker), and no one had voted at COVAC by 7 a.m.

Down in Mountainville, where districts 3 and 11 are combined at the Mountainville Engine Co. firehouse, 24 people had voted by noon. Barbara Devitt, veteran poll worker, said they had their first voter at 6 o'clock, "right on the dot."

Polls are open until 9 p.m. Only registered Republicans in the Town of Cornwall are eligible to vote. If Kevin Quigley wins it today, he'll run unopposed in November; if Helen Bunt wins, she and Quigley will face one another in the general election -- Bunt on the Republican line and Quigley on the Conservative line.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 17, 2007  10:45 p.m.

Yannone: use of River Bank's patio should stop

By Margaret Menge -- In a four-page letter to the Village Board that was read aloud at tonight's meeting, Ray Yannone called parking and the issue of The River Bank's patio a "serious situation" and said table service should stop. Now. "Use of the patio should stop immediately until the parking issues are resolved," he wrote in the letter dated September 12. In a phone call with the Local last week, Yannone said the shortage of parking that followed construction of The River Bank's patio on two village parking spaces was one of the reasons for the demise of Nicky's at the end of last month. "Let's just say it was another nail in the coffin," he said.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 17, 2007  10:24 p.m.

Village Square Improvement Project

(l-r) Edsall, Rose, Gosda, Gagliardo, Gioia

By Margaret Menge -- Five people were appointed by the Village Board tonight to a committee whose charge is to study and make recommendations on changes to the Village Square -- parking, traffic, lighting, tree placement, etc.

They are: Mary Ann Rose, Barbara Gosda, Susan Gagliardo, Rick Gioia and Rob Kirshner (not pictured above). Trustee Mark Edsall was named as the board's liaison to the committee.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 17, 2007  10:00 p.m.

Village DPW superintendent retires

Robert C. Gilmore

By Margaret Menge -- Bob Gilmore, the DPW superintendent in the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson for the last 25 years, submitted his letter of resignation to the Village Board tonight, just five minutes before the meeting of the board began. The letter was read aloud by Mayor Joe Gross.

Gilmore has been with the village's Department of Public Works for the last 36 years and is the longest serving village employee. The resignation is effective October 30, though Gilmore says he will be taking unused vacation time, so will only be on the job for another week or two. "I don't think anyone could find a more dedicated superintendent," said Trustee Peter Miller, commending Gilmore on his work with the village, and wishing him well in his retirement.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 17, 2007  5:59 p.m.

Wait, what? 

By Margaret Menge -- This sign, urging a write-in vote for Jim Sollami, sits on the stone embankment as you come up Quaker Avenue from Route 32. Some people might think Sollami is asking for their vote tomorrow, Tuesday, in the Republican primary. But Jim says no, that's not the case (no write-in votes are allowed in the primary). He told the Local by phone this afternoon that he's just getting a jump on his write-in campaign for town supervisor in the general election in November. "This is a traditional grass-roots campaign," said Sollami. "I'm starting to realize it's the only actual reform campaign you can run." He says he's been going door-to-door campaigning to "free Cornwall from political machines."

BREAKING -- Monday, September 17, 2007  2:47 p.m.

Hall: I regret that they used the language that they did

Rep. John Hall (D-NY-19)

By Margaret Menge -- Rep. John Hall said today that he regrets the language MoveOn.org used in the full page ad that ran in last Monday's New York Times (rhyming 'Petraeus' with 'Betray us') and says he wouldn't take money from MoveOn.org in 2008 unless he's satisfied that they won't be "misdirecting their efforts in such a way."

In a phone call with the Local this morning, Hall said the following: "I first of all disassociate myself from any attacks, including this one, on our military...I regret that they [MoveOn.org] used the language that they did...I also think the honesty of his [Gen. Petraeus'] testimony was demonstrated when he was asked if the war was making us safer and he answered, 'I don't know'."

Rep. Hall, who defeated Sue Kelly last November, says he hasn't ever received any contributions from MoveOn.org that he knows of. He told the Local that he thought any frustration or disagreement about the war in Iraq should be aimed at the administration, and not at the General.

BREAKING -- Sunday, September 16, 2007

Challenger: Petraeus' own congressman won't defend him

By Margaret Menge -- The Iraq war vet who's likely challenging Rep. John Hall in 2008 lashed out at the congressman yesterday in an article ( click here) for the online mag American Thinker. "One might wonder what kind of Congressman could sit back and watch in silence as his own District's favorite son is slandered by the cretins at MoveOn," wrote Kieran Michael Lalor, referring to the ad that MoveOn.org took out in last Monday's New York Times that called Gen. David Petraeus "General Betray Us." Lalor writes that MoveOn.org "mobilized an army of tie-dyed liberals from outside the district" to get Hall elected in 2006.

Rep. John Hall (D-NY-19), who lives in Dutchess County, has an unpublished number, and could not be reached for comment today. But Hall's press secretary in Washington, Meaghan Smith, says he has a written statement about Gen. Petraeus that he is submitting to the Congressional Record tomorrow.

What do you think?  Should Hall swear off taking MoveOn.org money in 2008 and ever after? Should he have spoken up earlier last week to defend Gen. Petraeus?

Readers of The Cornwall Local are encouraged to send e-mail with their thoughts to: editor.local@verizon.net.

Feedback from local Veterans

American Legion Post #353 Color Guard Bob Gosda, Tom Doyle and Tom Quinlan

By phone: on the MoveOn.org ad in the Times -- "I thought that was not very nice...I was definitely upset by that...My own personal opinion is that he (Gen. Petraeus) is a great man."

Bill Fulton

U.S. Navy

Korean War Veteran (radar operator on the U.S.S. Saipan)

Cornwall-on-Hudson

By e-mail: "Everyone should be behind Gen. Petraeus. He has one Hell of a Job in Iraq and I sure wouldn't want it. He is very smart and of course being from Cornwall we need locals to Stand Tall behind him. As a veteran I would Love to serve under him and the rest of the officers from Cornwall that are in Iraq also...I think we need a lot of newly elected people in Washington D.C. that will stop putting America down and stand for all of us and start earning their money that we pay them....God Bless Our Troops Around The World."

                                                                                              David E. Mac Morran                                                                                                     U.S. Navy                                                                                      Viet-Nam Veteran And Proud

from Cornwall (now living in Florida)

By phone: on the MoveOn.org ad -- "I just consider the source, you know. It's a free country, and these people have a right to do this. But it's despicable." On whether Rep. Hall should say something about the ad: "Oh yes...I would be disappointed if he didn't...I think he should come forward on general principles and say, 'That's out of bounds.'"

Edward C. Moulton, Jr.

Mayor, Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson, 1981-2007

Lt. Col., U.S. Air Force, retired 1972

By phone: "David Petraeus is the best American general we've had for probably the last 30 or 40 years... he has experience that is just immeasurable I think...All these things that they said about him...they are just so ill-informed. If anybody can find a solution to what's going on over there it's David Petreaus." On seeing the MoveOn.org ad: "I was angry. It was very uncalled for." On Rep. John Hall: "He should make a statement I think one way or the other about it." Hall, he says, has done good things for veterans as the chair of a Veterans Affairs subcommittee. "He is sensitive (to veterans' issues), and it would be great if he could come out and address this."

Jim Kline

Vietnam Veteran

Commander, American Legion Post #353, Cornwall

By e-mail: "Could not let this one go by!!!! The Move-on ad that you are referring to is beyond reprehensible. David Petraeus is an honorable man and has devoted his life to "Duty, Honor and Country." This attack is unforgiveable. It is one thing to disagree with his position, it is quite another to attack his character. I will not support any public official who does not have the ethics or courage to disassociate him or herself from this attack BTW - I will remember the phrase "the willing suspension of disbelief" and I believe many others will also. The General deserves respect because he has earned it. No one, not even the junior senator from our state has the right to imply that General Petraeus is a liar."

Tom Doyle

Sgt., U.S. Marine Corps, 1955 to 1958

Cornwall

By e-mail: on Hall -- "He (is) showing his true spots. I never believed in him."

Ed Flynn

Orange County Commander, American Legion

former commander, American Legion Post #353, Cornwall

Cornwall-on-Hudson

By phone: on the MoveOn.org ad -- "I think it was actually a disgrace...The public trusts the military and above all this is a man who's been sent over, and is doing the best job he can...I thought it was uncalled for...Give the man a chance." On whether Rep. Hall should speak up on this -- "I'm really not going to comment on that. It's up to his conscience, what he sees fit."

John Hussey

Lt. Col., U.S. Army Reserves

Commander at Abu Ghraib in charge of detainees in 2005 (after the scandal)

Cornwall

By e-mail: "I frankly don’t see how Congressman Hall could be in a position to turn down money from MoveOn.org, but I believe that a representative of integrity would have strongly disavowed their action. The Congressman has already missed the boat on a strong statement, and a statement inserted in The Congressional Record is probably only of interest to congressional historians and the Library of Congress but not many others.  We’ll probably never know, but I wonder if the good Congressman was involved in any way with the formulation of the ad or had advance warning of its message from his “constituents” at MoveOn.org. Congressman Hall will have an interesting time in his re-election effort on this side of the Hudson."

Rev. Thomas E. C. Margrave

Lt. Col., U.S. Army (Ret.)

Vietnam, 1969-1970

By e-mail: "Mr Hall. Instead of saying you wouldn't take money from MoveOn.org in 2008 unless you're satisfied that they won't be "misdirecting their efforts in such a way," maybe you should say "I won't take money from them because of their methods and I don't support their views." Maybe you do. I wish I could vote against you, but I no longer live in Cornwall. I hope your voters in the future remember your (stand?) on this matter. As a very strong supporter of our troops and our veterans, I SAY SHAME ON YOU. I'm not Fonda of you."

John W. Harrison

U.S. Navy Veteran Vietnam Era

Director, Rolling Thunder FL#1

Formerly Cornwall resident

By phone: "Anyone who heard what was said by MoveOn.org and didn't take action wouldn't get my vote. I'm glad that he [Congressman Hall] came across with it [his reaction], but today is the 17th and the statement was made on the 10th. Why did it take him a week to make up his mind?"

State Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson)

Ret. Lt. Col.

Served in the U.S. Army, 1944-1967

In person: on the MoveOn.org ad -- “Quite honestly I think it’s shameful…there’s no reason to believe that Petraeus is not a straightforward, honest leader. There’s been no indication of that…The diplomatic and political side of it? That’s not his.”

Supervisor Richard Randazzo (D)

Town of Cornwall

U.S. Amy

Served 1965-1967

one tour in Korea, near the DMZ

By e-mail: "What a wonderful thing it was to see a four-star General, the President's man, being called to account before Congress all the while being both praised and vilified in a free press! I cannot think of a greater demonstration of American strength for both our friends and enemies to behold. That is why I served, as my family has done since the Revolution. Do I think Mr. Hall should take money from MoveOn.org? No. Nor do I think a candidate for public office should take money from the National Rifle Association. Rather all elections should be publicly financed. Elections that are for sale are not free. Do I think Congressman Hall should have spoken up to defend Gen. Petraeus? I would like to think he can defend himself (he is a General after all!)  If he does require help, he has an immorally expensive Army to bail him out."

John Fort Dorsey

United States Submarine Service 1984-1990

Son of the Revolution, New York

resident of Cornwall

Sports -- Saturday, September 15, 2007

Dragons soar past Saugerties

photo by Ken Cashman Dave Boisture gets ready to pass; Lou D'Esposito blocks

Cornwall's passing attack helped the Dragons soar past Saugerties in tonight's game in Kingston. The final score was 27-0.

Quarterback Dave Boisture hit 12 of 15 passes, with seven of his throws going to Mike O'Rourke. Boisture's aerial attack helped the Dragons reach the end zone the first two times they had the ball. The boys added a touchman in the second quarter and more at the start of the final period.

The Sawyers, the Dragons' first league opponent, proved to be a feisty rival. They controlled the ball for most of the third period before the Dragon defense stopped them inside the 10-yard line. In the closing minutes of the game, they came within five yards of the goal line, but were once again unable to score.

Ray Wroten, Rick Smith and Lous D'Esposito scored the Dragon touchdowns. Lou gained 74 yards on the ground on nine carries. O'Rourke and Kevin Aurduino intercepted passes, while Tom Terrible recovered a fumble.

BITS -- Friday, September 14, 2007  7:30 p.m.

The weekly wrap

Rusty moving north? The Eagle Times says they've heard that former Town of Cornwall police chief Russell ("Rusty") O'Dell has been offered a job as police chief in a small town in Vermont, and is going up this weekend to hunt for a house. The job is in Bellows Falls, pop. 3100, very close to the New Hampshire border in southern Vermont. The village is said to be doing a background check before announcing O'Dell's hire.

Little League arson kid #2: Wesley Morel, age 19, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal trespassing (a misdemeanor) on Wednesday night for his part in the fire that burned down the Little League shed in February of last year. Morel, a 2005 graduate of Cornwall Central High School, had originally been charged with third degree burglary, a felony. He is due to be sentenced by Judge Frank Navarra on Nov. 14, and will be eligible for youthful offender status. If he's granted "YO" status by Judge Navarra, the record of his arrest will be sealed and he will not be considered to have been convicted of a crime.

Master Plan delay: Mayor Joe Gross said the village got notice from the Orange County Planning Department yesterday, asking for a 30-day extension on their review of the Master Plan for the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson. "If they give us the $15,000 we requested (for planning) it's ok," said Mayor Gross.

Crespi not off the hook: OK, the Orange County DA's office is going to fight for our girl, Ashley Thorpe. They've filed a 'notice of appeal,' giving heads up that they're appealing Judge Robert Freehill's dismissal of the felony assault charge against Jasmin Crespi, who socked Thorpe after a soccer game in Cornwall last year. One of the assistant DA's, John Geidel, says they'll be perfecting the appeal this fall. The misdemeanor assault charge against Crespi is still pending. The next court date is Nov. 5.

See you at the Fall Festival!  Tomorrow 10 a.m. to 6.

BREAKING -- Friday, September 14, 2007

People calls Clooney movie an Oscar contender

People magazine calls "Michael Clayton," the George Clooney movie shot in Cornwall last year, an Oscar contender. And it's not even out yet! The movie was shown earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival and apparently made a splash. It's scheduled for release on October 5 (the Destinta will be showing it).

The opening scene of the trailer shows Clooney running up what looks to be the side of Schunemunk Mountain from Otterkill Road, and the closing scene shows him staring up at the trees on the top of the rise of land just under the trestle. In between, there's a quick shot of his black Mercedes blowing up on Otterkill Road. Local camerman Rick Gioia, who worked on the movie, told the Local last year that the scene where the car blows up "frames the entire film."

No word on whether Clooney will be making it back to Cornwall to promote the movie, or for any other reason. A local resident says she saw him on a talk show complaining of the shoot up here. No wonder. Director Tony Gilroy (who's from Blooming Grove) shot scenes at dusk and at the first crack of dawn the week of February 19, 2006. It was Fa-reezing out there.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Friendly Forum for supervisor candidates

Helen Bunt and Kevin Quigley talk after the forum.

By Margaret Menge -- More than 75 people showed up for the Local-sponsored town supervisor Candidates Forum at Munger Cottage on Tuesday night, Sept. 11 -- and while no sparks flew between the candidates, members of the audience became audibly irritated when a four-part question about God was read to the candidates off a note card. One woman said, “that’s not what we’re here for,” and walked out the door.

To the question: both Bunt and Quigley said that they believe in God, with Helen saying, “God is everything to me….If I am homeless tomorrow, God is still everything to me.”

The rest of the questions*, submitted by those in attendance and read to the candidates by the editor, were more standard-issue. But first, the setting. The new room at Munger Cottage was almost full by 7:20 p.m., and by 7:25 p.m. the room fell quiet...

*Other questions concerned: Main Street, consolidation, geese, youth crime, Cornwall Commons, Kiryas Joel pipeline, staffing, water prices and time available to do the job. 

Read the full story in the September 14 issue of the Local.

Former Rep. Sue Kelly takes job as PAC treasurer

By Margaret Menge -- Former Rep. Sue Kelly has been named as treasurer of a political action committee that helps re-elect politically-moderate Republicans, one of the Capitol Hill papers reported this week.

The Tuesday Group PAC raises money for about 40 centrist Republican members of the House of Representatives. Kelly told the newspaper, The Hill, that she did not have enough money for her race against Democrat John Hall last year, and so wanted to make sure that her former centrist colleagues in the House have the financial resources they need in 2008.

BREAKING -- Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Cornwall-on-Hudson on Page 1 of today's New York Times

Cornwall-on-Hudson is the dateline on one of the stories in today's New York Times on General David Petraeus, with the small headline on Page 1, "Petraeus as a Local Boy" and the big headline, on Page A11, "Worried Town Recalls a Young Petraeus." Numerous locals are quoted, including Gary Melrose of Stone's Agency (who says he's worried that Petreaus could become "the fall guy" for the war in Iraq) and Ellen Kelly of Smitchger Realty, who dated David when he was a cadet at West Point! Also quoted is Cornwall's town historian, Janet Dempsey, who was David's sixth grade teacher at Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary.

The reporter who wrote the story, Paul Vitello, spent part of Monday afternoon at The Cornwall Local (Jan Dempsey found him at the library and brought him in). Vitello mentions the Local in his story, passing along a story that we heard about David.

Quick, buy the paper while there are still some on newssstands, or read the story online here:

www.nytimes.com

September 11, 2007

photo by Margaret Menge 6:15 p.m. Chadeayne traffic circle "But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them...As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself."  -- Book of Wisdom, 3:1,6 read by the Rev. Tom Margrave of St. John's Episcopal Church (walking to the podium, above).

BREAKING -- Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Rollover on 9W

William Von Hahsel of Cornwall was driving north on Route 9W coming off the mountain yesterday evening when he lost control of his 1995 Toyota pickup truck, hit two utility poles, and rolled over near Continental Road. He was flown by helicopter to St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie where he was listed as being in stable condition. Police Chief Todd Hazard says Vonhahsel, age 46, told them he was chasing a car that had cut him off when he lost control of his pickup.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 10, 2007

Town Board votes to reappoint assessor

By Margaret Menge -- Town employees broke into applause tonight after the Town Board voted to reappoint Ron Fiorentino, the assessor, to another six-year term. The board went into executive session after the regular monthly meeting, where they met with Fiorentino for a performance review and to discuss pending "tax certs." When Board members returned they voted 4-1 to reappoint Fiorentino to a second six-year term, to begin October 1. Only Al Mazzocca voted "no," saying today that he had concerns about the assessor's five-year plan to review all properties in the town, and that he thought the new supervisor should have a say in the appointment of an assessor.

"I am relieved," said Fiorentino. "I was shocked to see everybody here tonight." Gary Vinson, the building inspector, said he and other employees of the town were concerned that Fiorentino's reappointment was not listed on the Board's agenda, and that other assessors around Orange County had already been reappointed while Fiorentino had not.

Report -- Sunday, September 9, 2007

A1, like the steak sauce

By Margaret Menge -- Cornwall is a “growing affluent suburb of New York” according to Moody’s Investor Services, which just upgraded the town’s municipal bond rating from an A2 to an A1.

Moody’s analysts gave a number of reasons for improving Cornwall’s rating – listing the assessor’s effort to update the tax rolls and the continued expansion of the town’s $2 billion tax base, to include a cancer treatment center at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, and the Cornwall Commons 490-unit seniors-only development.

Moody’s also mentioned the town’s $2.2 million general fund balance, conservative budgeting and low debt burden (just 3.4 percent), and added that they expect the level of debt to decline further.

The report was issued last month before the town went out to bid on a serial bond for $1.5 million, to be put towards the Mine Hill Road drainage project, and to consolidate existing BANs (bond anticipation notes). Supervisor Randazzo says A1 is the highest rating Cornwall has ever received.

Sports -- Saturday, September 8, 2007

Game photos! Click the pic below to see the whole album from Friday night's game

Sports -- Friday, September 7, 2007

Dragons sink Burke in first home game of the season

The "Cornwall Crazies" stood the entire game, cheering for the Dragons.

Dave Boisture fired four touchdown passes in the first quarter as the Dragons downed Burke Catholic 52-6 on Friday night. It was Cornwall’s 17th straight win over a Section 9 opponent.

Boisture connected with Rick Smith for the first two touchdowns, he hit Kevin Arduino for the third score, and then Lou D’Esposito snared a screen pass and zig zagged through the defense to give his team a 26-0 lead. In the second half, Ray Wroten scored twice on the ground, Boisture snaked into the end zone on a keeper, and Dan Railey came off the bench to give Cornwall its final points of the evening.

Boisture completed 11 of 14 passes for 235 yards. Wroten led the runners with 78 yards on seven carries. The Dragons, who are ranked second among Class A teams in New York State, were greeted by a crowd that stretched from one end zone to the other.

September 7, 2007

Freshmen find their way on first day

By Ken Cashman -- Dr. Frank Sheboy had predicted that it wouldn't be hard to spot the high school freshmen on the first day of school. "You can't tell by size," he warned, "but look for the ones who seem less confident as they come through the door."

Sheboy is starting his second year as the high school principal. By 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 5, he was outside his office, ready to welcome the students back to school. Forthe next half hour, he shook hands with students, and answered questions for those bold enough to ask them.

Read the full story in the September 7 issue of the Local.

Feds tell Cornwall: Respect your geese

By Margaret Menge -- A lot of people may be looking to move out of Cornwall, but the Canadian geese seem to want to stick around. "They're permanent residents," Mary Beth Greene Krafft told the other members of the Town Board at Tuesday night's work session. "We need to learn to respect the geese that are here, we need to be understanding," she added, passing along advice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Read the full story in the September 7 issue of the Local.

Designer opens CC's Closet on Main Street

By Margaret Menge -- You could say the new kids clothing store on Main Street is a family affair, but it's actually three families - three women in particular - who've joined forces to bring urban fashion for kids to Cornwall.

CC's Closet opened up two weeks ago, with mini mannequins in the big front window that used to be decorated with dresses from Santiago Couture. Look close. These mannequins are wearing clothes that you won't find at Target or Children's Place or The Gap. Almost everything that's sold here was designed by Vera Etienne, who just moved into the Cornwall school district with her husband, Fritz, and two little girls, Chloe, age 7, and Caylee, age 4. Her clothes are street smart, everyday wear, almost all of it made in the United States, and most of it tag-less, for maximum comfort for sensitive kid skin.

Read the full story in the September 7 issue of the Local.

BREAKING -- Thursday, September 6, 2007

Laurel Avenue residents tell Board hospital is bad neighbor

Randy Clark, town councilman

Laurel Avenue residents called the renderings of the proposed Cancer Treatment Center at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital a “snow job,” saying they don’t accurately depict what its going to look like, and complained that the hospital is depleting the value of their homes and affecting the quality of their lives, with cigarette butts strewn on the street, delivery trucks running over their yards, overflow parking, and helicopters landing on the front lawn that blow sand and grit on them.

“The hospital cares nothing about the residents on Laurel Avenue. It’s about profit and the hospital. Well, we’re residents and we pay taxes. And we should be considered,” said Laurel Avenue resident Bob Farkas at Wednesday night’s hearing before the Town of Cornwall Planning Board.

Randy Clark, a member of the Town Board, said the hospital is straining the town’s services, as police are picking up escapees from the hospital who are wandering around on Laurel half naked and barefoot. “You haven’t been a good neighbor in the past, why should we allow this to proceed to the future?” asked Clark, who lives on Maple Street, near Laurel Avenue.

After listening to the public on September 5, the Planning Board agreed to keep the public hearing open until its next meeting on October 1. “We’re willing to work with the community,” Allan Atzrott, the president and CEO of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital said at the end of the evening. He said the hospital plans to submit a ‘new visual package’ of the plans for the Cancer Treatment Center later this month.

Read the full story in the September 14 issue of the Local.

BREAKING -- Tuesday, September 4, 2007    2:30 p.m.

Twenty-somethings charged with possession of Vicodin

Two people were arrested by Cornwall-on-Hudson police on Friday night and charged with misdemeanors after Vicodin, a schedule 3 narcotic, was found in their car. Lisa Travell, age 24, of New Windsor and Christopher Ledogar, age 29, of Highland Mills were pulled over on Hudson Street just after 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31 for an expired registration. After he was questioned by the officer, Ledogar handed over a bag containing about a gram of marijuana, and two glass pipes. Police found two bottles of Vicodin -- one in Travell's purse, and the other in the trunk of the Nissan Sentra. One had four pills in it, and the other five. Police Chief Charlie Williams says there have been other incidents in the village involving Vicodin, a prescription pain killer, but none recently. Both Travell and Ledogar were charged with criminal posession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and Ledogar was also charged with possession of marijuana, a violation. Both paid $100 cash bail and are to appear before Judge Frank Navarra on Sept. 12.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 3, 2007   ** Labor Day**

Firefighters douse brush fire in Black Rock

Firefighters drove up into Black Rock Forest this afternoon to douse smouldering brush and logs that had been left from a bonfire on Saturday night. Chief Pat Hines and Assistant Chief Kevin Hines of the Cornwall Fire Department responded, along with firemen in two brush trucks, to spray the charred and still smouldering logs and brush next to the Chatfield House at Arthur's Pond. Assistant Chief Hines said if the wind had been stronger and the night not as cool, the fire might have spread through the forest.

BREAKING -- Sunday, September 2, 2007

Airlifts after accidents on Storm King Mountain and Route 32

A man was airlifted out of Cornwall-on-Hudson early this afternoon after a motorcycle accident on Storm King Mountain that partially amputated his right leg. Frank Lungo, of Guttenberg, NJ, and his Ducati motorcycle had veered off the roadway and crashed into the wall between High Point and the gate on Route 218 at about 12:11 p.m. He was treated on the scene by members of COVAC, and a helicopter, landing behind Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School, flew him to Westchester Medical Center.

Earlier this morning, at about 4:14 a.m., a car went off the road on Route 32, went over an embankment, and rolled a number of times before coming to a stop. The driver, Michael Campo of Cornwall, was treated on the scene by COVAC for general trauma -- he complained of back pain and appeared to have an altered mental state. He was flown by helicopter to Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, the nearest trauma unit. The passenger refused treatment.

Sports -- Saturday, September 1, 2007  6:03 p.m.

Dragons swamp Red Hook

photo by Scott Strine Tom Terribile (17) nailed Red Hook's Oscar Gonzalez as he tried to run wide in the second quarter. Rick Smith (1), who had two interceptions in the game, was in position in case Tommy needed help.

The Dragons roared past Red Hook, 47-0, in the season opener this afternoon. Cornwall scored on its first possession when Lou D’Esposito skirted right end, made an inside cut, and streaked into the end zone from the 41-yard line. Lou carried just six times in the first half and tallied three touchdowns.

Cornwall jumped to a 14-0 lead at the quarter, and a 27-0 bulge at the half. On offense, the team displayed a full arsenal of weapons. Dave Boisture completed passes to six different receivers. Ray Wroten and Kevin Arduino ran for touchdowns; and Rick Smith (a transfer from Don Bosco) tallied twice – once on an interception and once on a pass from Boisture. The defense limited the Raiders to just four first downs.  

It was a good debut for Coach Marcus Hughes. “The kids played hard,” he said after the game, “and that’s all I could ask for.”

BREAKING -- Saturday, September 1, 2007

Nicky's restaurant closes

Nicky's restaurant in Cornwall-on-Hudson closed its doors for good last night. Employees of the restaurant had known of the closing for the last couple of weeks, according to sources, but most residents of the village were caught by surprise. The restaurant, on Idlewild Ave., and the ice-cream stand that faces the Bandstand on River Ave., were owned by Nicky Corea; Ray Yannone owns the building and property.

In meetings of the Village Board this summer, Yannone had complained that the restaurant's business was suffering because of a lack of parking in the village center. And he'd told the Local in July that he was considering restoring the old art deco movie theatre, and bringing movies back to the village.

Notice -- Saturday, September 1, 2007

Village Police: Gotta stop for pedestrians in crosswalks

Officers Lipsey and Maeng hand out fliers on Hudson Street the afternoon of Aug. 31.

Consider yourself forewarned. Village police officers handed out more than 1,000 fliers on Hudson Street on Friday, Aug. 31, reminding drivers that  state law requires them to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks. "Before  we start citing people, we want to make sure they understand the law,"   said Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Chief Charlie Williams.

Chief Williams says the village wanted to call drivers' attention to  pedestrians in crosswalks  in advance of the start of school on    Wednesday, Sept. 5.