Cornwall Chronicle

Cornwall Chronicle The Cornwall Chronicle is a monthly newsletter that covers current and historical stories about Corn

The Cornwall Chronicle was founded in 1991 by Tom Bevans, aided and abetted by his wife Margaret. Tom was outraged – he was a man to whom outrage came often and easily – by the inadequacy of the coverage Cornwall received in the local press. Bevans, a talented graphic artist who had been in charge of design at Simon & Schuster, created a publication that, in format and content, has scarcely change

d since the first issue. Spencer and Bobby Klaw, who took over as publishers when Tom and Margaret could no longer manage it, matched the Bevans’s dedication to the Chronicle. Both were retired editors, he of the Columbia Journalism Review and she of American Heritage. Leadership of the paper eventually passed to an editorial board of 8 to 12 members (see below for the current roster) aided by a cadre of volunteer editors, writers and artists, who have produced 22 years of issues without ever missing a month. Cornwall is densely populated with good writers, some of whom have spent most of their careers as reporters, editors or authors. Many former writers for Time, the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Times and other publications have contributed to the Chronicle. But most writing is done by people who have never set foot in a newsroom or a publishing house, such as a social worker, a farmer and a salesman of foundry products. A print edition of the Chronicle is distributed free to 1,100 Cornwall residents plus 250 out of town subscribers. The paper has a no-advertising policy, and all the revenues of the not-for-profit publication are provided by donations from readers.

Cornwall Briefs• Storms happen in summer and winter. The Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department reminds you to be prepared: ...
09/06/2026

Cornwall Briefs

• Storms happen in summer and winter. The Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department reminds you to be prepared: always have extra batteries, water, medications, and non-perishable food on hand.
• Reminder from the folks at the transfer station. Please check in before placing something in the Swap Shop. It’s a place to find treasures to brighten your day, not a receptacle for every sad, tired, or decrepit item in your house.
• Planning & Zoning vacancy. The town has an opening for an alternate member on the Planning and Zoning Commission, a possible six-year position. Contact the selectmen’s office for more information.
• Summer paving continues. Paving work on South Town Street is expected to commence sometime in mid-to-late September.
• Two pickleball courts are being installed at Foote Field. Enjoy the pickle!
• 9/11 observance at the Ag Fair. In recognition of the 25th anniversary of September 11th, the agricultural fair will hold an observance at noon, including a moment of silence and flag lowering.
• 250th anniversary quilt on display. The community’s 250th anniversary quilt, stitched by local quilters, will be featured in a special exhibit at the library.
—Ben Lesch

Monthly events from Cornwall Park and Recreation:Senior Luncheon: Wednesday, September 9, at UCC Parish House, noon. RSV...
09/05/2026

Monthly events from Cornwall Park and Recreation:

Senior Luncheon: Wednesday, September 9, at UCC Parish House, noon. RSVP by September 6 to [email protected] or call/text Bethaney Mastrocola at 860-419-5337.

Community Social Hour: Wednesday, September 16, 2 to 3 P.M. Drop by the UCC Parish House for a snack and drinks with friends.

Senior Breakfast: Wednesday, September 23, 9 A.M., at the UCC Parish House. MUST RSVP by September 20.

From Cornwall Park and Recreation: Soccer signup: Deadline September 4. First- and second-grade soccer, Saturdays from 9...
09/04/2026

From Cornwall Park and Recreation: Soccer signup: Deadline September 4. First- and second-grade soccer, Saturdays from 9 to 10 A.M. Third- to sixth-grade soccer Saturdays TBD. Participants will have drills and skills, 3v3 games, and a scrimmage at the end. Must register on time to receive a T-shirt or jersey. Free. Register at cornwallparkrec.org.

The legendary Labor Day Weekend Benefit Art Sale returns. Cocktail reception at the library on Friday, September 4, from...
09/04/2026

The legendary Labor Day Weekend Benefit Art Sale returns. Cocktail reception at the library on Friday, September 4, from 6 to 8 P.M. Sale continues Saturday, and Sunday, September 5, and 6, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., and Monday, September 7, 11 A.M. to 2 P.M.

Cornwall Garden Club: Ketchup Making Workshop with Ann Gold on Saturday, September 5, from 10 A.M. to noon. A hands-on w...
09/02/2026

Cornwall Garden Club: Ketchup Making Workshop with Ann Gold on Saturday, September 5, from 10 A.M. to noon. A hands-on workshop on how to make homemade ketchup with tomatoes from the garden. Attendance limited to 15. Suggested donation of $20, cash or check made out to the Cornwall Food and Fuel Fund. RSVP by September 2: [email protected].

The 20th Annual Cornwall Artists Open Studios will be held Saturday, September 5, 1 to 5 P.M. For a list of the particip...
09/02/2026

The 20th Annual Cornwall Artists Open Studios will be held Saturday, September 5, 1 to 5 P.M. For a list of the participating artists, directions to their studios, and a map, go to Cornwallct.org > History and Culture > Arts and Artists.

🎒 Hello, September! ✏️
09/01/2026

🎒 Hello, September! ✏️

Reduce, Reuse, RejoiceI used to dread going to the dump. The hauling to the car, the fear that I’d make some ecologicall...
08/29/2026

Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice

I used to dread going to the dump. The hauling to the car, the fear that I’d make some ecologically indefensible mistake and throw a can in the wrong bin; it was a chore that I would put off, then assure myself that, no problem, that stinky bin could wait a couple of days. Then, one glorious and life­changing day, the swap shop opened. Of course I’ve always loved the rummage sale, with its super-affordable wares…­but free wares? Suddenly I couldn’t wait to go to the dump. Given my deep appreciation, I felt it was time to recognize the folks who brought the swap shop to life.

The swap shop came to be “sometime around 2016,” according to Ted Larson, station operator. He and his crew recognized the public’s desire for a way to encourage the valued mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Tasked with this, a crew headed by John LaPorta and Wayde Wolf built the structure, and the donations flooded in.

I could go on and on about the treasures I’ve found: a perfectly good shop vac the day after my crawl space flooded, dozens of cloth napkins for my son’s wedding, the world’s cutest needlepoint chair for shoe-donning in the mudroom. But I’m not the only one. My fellow August editor Stephen Soba cherishes the perfect condition 19th-century ironstone tureen he found. Lory Bevans adores the porcelain brown-spotted cow creamer festooned with a blue ribbon, courtesy the shop. Julie Beglin’s family still quotes the book they discovered called How to Talk to Girls, including the archaic and inexcusable advice to “walk her home, even if she says no.”

None of these miraculous finds would be possible without the dedication of the tireless volunteers who tend the shop, vetting donations, and keeping it clean and orderly. Ted was quick to say that although his staff helps, it’s the volunteers that make the shop a success. “The swap shop is a great opportunity for the public to get rid of stuff in a positive way,” says Ted. “If you can wait for it, it will show up.”

And sometimes you don’t even need to wait. Last summer I was browsing the shop the morning my toaster broke. And there it was: a gleaming, practically new toaster. As I was gathering up my prize, long-standing transfer station employee Steve O’Neil advised, “Let’s make sure it works; here’s an outlet.” I asked him if, by chance, he had a slice of bread, to which he replied “Nope.” Well, maybe the swap shop doesn’t have everything.

—Susie Lilly Ott

🎨 August's Featured Artist - Jonathan Arnold 🎨
08/29/2026

🎨 August's Featured Artist - Jonathan Arnold 🎨

Cornwall Town-wide Open Studios, Saturday, September 5, from 1 to 5 P.M. If you are an artist with a studio in Cornwall ...
08/26/2026

Cornwall Town-wide Open Studios, Saturday, September 5, from 1 to 5 P.M. If you are an artist with a studio in Cornwall and want to participate, contact Dave Colbert at [email protected].

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30 Pine St
Cornwall, CT
06753

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