Cornwall Chronicle

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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 changed 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.

Creative Kids Club, after school at UCC Parish House, Wednesday, October 28, from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M., grades K to 6. ...
10/22/2026

Creative Kids Club, after school at UCC Parish House, Wednesday, October 28, from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M., grades K to 6.

Blood Drive at the UCC, 8 Bolton Hill Road, on Monday, October 26, from 1 to 6 P.M. Please sign up at redcross.org. For ...
10/21/2026

Blood Drive at the UCC, 8 Bolton Hill Road, on Monday, October 26, from 1 to 6 P.M. Please sign up at redcross.org. For more information contact [email protected].

From Cornwall Park and Recreation:Community social hour, Wednesday, October 21, 2 to 3 P.M. at UCC Parish House. Drop by...
10/20/2026

From Cornwall Park and Recreation:
Community social hour, Wednesday, October 21, 2 to 3 P.M. at UCC Parish House. Drop by for snacks and drinks with friends.
Senior breakfast, Wednesday, October 28, from 9 to 10 A.M. at Cornwall Market. Must RSVP to Bethaney at [email protected] to attend.

On October 24 at 5 P.M., Harry Moses, longtime 60 Minutes producer, will discuss his new book with former CBS correspond...
10/20/2026

On October 24 at 5 P.M., Harry Moses, longtime 60 Minutes producer, will discuss his new book with former CBS correspondent Richard Schlesinger, Mad As Hell, How 60 Minutes Took on the Powerful and Made Television History, an account of one of the most influential news programs in American history. Registration is required at cornwalllibrary.org.

From Cornwall Park and Recreation:Halloween candy donations needed. Please donate candy to village residents. Drop off b...
10/19/2026

From Cornwall Park and Recreation:
Halloween candy donations needed. Please donate candy to village residents. Drop off before October 23 at town hall or CCS.

Cornwall Historical Society hosts the Norman Dorsen Lecture on Saturday, October 24, at 3 P.M.: Stories of Connecticut’s...
10/18/2026

Cornwall Historical Society hosts the Norman Dorsen Lecture on Saturday, October 24, at 3 P.M.: Stories of Connecticut’s Black Patriots, presented by author John Mills. Registration is required online at cornwallhistoricalsociety.org/events.

Non-Invasive SpeciesDo you remember the brouhaha in Cornwall over Airbnb? In 2015, the Chronicle published a cover story...
10/17/2026

Non-Invasive Species

Do you remember the brouhaha in Cornwall over Airbnb? In 2015, the Chronicle published a cover story under the headline “Invasion of Airbnb.” At the time, during the early days of online homestay rentals, there were heated public discussions about their impact on Cornwall and whether there was a need for regulations (safety inspections, for example) similar to those imposed on local businesses. We decided to do some investigating to learn where things stand now.

The state of Connecticut still has no state-wide regulations for short-term rentals, so local governments have discretion. Over the years, the Planning and Zoning Commission has discussed putting regulations in place but, according to P&Z Chair Anna Timell, “We always decide that as there have never been any complaints brought forward about specific Airbnbs, there is not actually a problem that needs to be addressed.” Hosts are, of course, subject to taxes and standard residential zoning and building codes.

Cornwall has definitely survived the “Invasion of Airbnb.” In 2015, the number of Cornwall listings on the Airbnb platform was reported to be about 10; the number is similar today. (The tax assessor reports 38 short-term rental properties in Cornwall, suggesting many short-term rentals are posted on other online platforms.) While they initially worried about the impact of Airbnb on their business, Stacey Marcin and Mark Hampson, owners of the Cornwall Inn, report their “business has been thriving, with record-breaking occupancies the last three to four years.” They have actually gained some bookings by listing rooms on Airbnb.

Airbnb also helps generate much-needed income for Cornwall homeowners. When her children left home over a dozen years ago, Amelia de Neergaard began listing rooms in her home on the platform; Airbnb rentals now generate a good portion of her income.

For the past eight years, Maria Bonetti has supplemented her income by renting out a one-bedroom cabin on her property during the warm months. In 2020, Becky and Alex Rehnberg purchased property with a guesthouse which had been used for short-term rentals. After a significant renovation, they started listing the three-bedroom cottage on Airbnb. According to Becky, they often host groups visiting family and friends in Cornwall who need overflow housing, as well as families who come in winter to ski at Mohawk.

While short-term rentals bring visitors who can patronize Cornwall businesses, some locals see a downside: a house dedicated to generating short-term rental income could represent a lost opportunity for long-term renters or residential buyers. It is not clear how many of the units used for short-term rentals would, in fact, provide suitable long-term affordable housing. Short-term rental properties in Cornwall run the gamut, including three guest houses on the property of the Cornwall Castle.

The shortage of affordable housing is a considerable problem in Cornwall and many towns, but the causes and the solutions go well beyond Airbnb.

—Jane Barnet

Weathering the Storm(s)Big storms in Cornwall are not new—think of the tornado of 1989 or Tropical Storm Isaias of Augus...
10/16/2026

Weathering the Storm(s)

Big storms in Cornwall are not new—think of the tornado of 1989 or Tropical Storm Isaias of August 2020. The recent July 4th storms which heavily damaged Salisbury mostly bypassed Cornwall, but don’t tell that to the folks on Yelping Hill. A group of a dozen or so locals and visitors were stranded that weekend by both downed trees on their access roads and a power outage in the area.

When a storm hits, the Cornwall selectman’s office activates the emergency plan, an organized, multi-point response to prepare, protect, and recover. Coordinated by Emergency Management Director Diane Beebe in tandem with many town offices, Cornwall responds to downed trees, blocked roads, flooding, trapped homeowners, and power outages. The town highway crew clears roads wherever possible, but is constrained when power lines are involved. The town works with its liaison at Eversource to prioritize power restoration, yet it can still be a lengthy process, especially in widespread storms. Cooling or warming centers are activated. Food is made available if necessary. The fire department responds to residents in need at any time of the day or night. It is a busy but well-coordinated effort.

In addition to this structured response, the citizens of Cornwall step up in many ways. Neighbors check up on one another. Residents report outages and service needs as they occur. Many people pitch in to help stranded motorists or blocked driveways.

Of course, all of this is based on being home in Cornwall. Returning home from what became a candlelight concert at Music Mountain, Allison and William Schweizer tried roads through Sharon, Goshen, and Falls Village before finally arriving home after two hours of detours and backtracking. Certainly not the finish on a relaxing night out that they had planned.

So what are the best things you can do to prepare for and weather a storm? Ask to be added to the selectmen’s office email list (write to [email protected]) to be kept informed. Subscribe to the Cornwall Community Network forum (groups.io/cornwallcommunitynetwork). You can also go to your Eversource and Optimum/Xfinity accounts and sign up for text alerts for outages. Keep a full tank of gas in your car. Ensure your generator is in good working order. Fill some buckets (or the bathtub) with water before the power goes out so you can flush as needed. Flashlights? Batteries? Full supply of medications? Non-perishable food (like canned goods, etc)?

All of these will help you through a storm and give you peace of mind that you are prepared. This writer purchased a small battery-backup unit to keep our internet modem working when the power goes out, as many times the internet remains active even if the power fails. The battery lasts long enough for us to call Eversource via Wi-Fi to report the outage or even call 911 if we have a severe emergency.

Hopefully you will never need to endure a 10-day power outage (thanks, Isaias), but everything you can do to prepare yourself will make any challenge easier to handle.

—Casey Cook

Walking Club. Every Friday, 10 A.M., meet at town hall. Everyone welcome; meet new people.
10/15/2026

Walking Club. Every Friday, 10 A.M., meet at town hall. Everyone welcome; meet new people.

Spinning WheelsThis year marks the 10th anniversary of the pottery studio tour Clay Way. Local potter Jane Herold served...
10/14/2026

Spinning Wheels

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the pottery studio tour Clay Way. Local potter Jane Herold served as chair of the annual event for six years, getting involved soon after she and her husband, painter and sculptor Robert Adzema, settled in Cornwall. While she started throwing and firing her beautiful, functional tableware and other works in the barn behind their house—filling orders for local chefs, international hospitality groups, and individuals looking to elevate their table settings—she recognized the need for community.

“Potters mostly work alone,” Jane explains. “One reason I got involved is because this event builds community.” Beyond that, Jane says the sale is also quite lucrative; some potters make up to $6,000 over the two-day event.

“No one potter could do the work of the group. Promoting together expands the reach significantly, and the tour attracts people from as far as New York City,” Jane says.

Besides bringing many people to Cornwall during a peak leaf-peeping weekend, another benefit of the event is that “the tour creates a stage for more established potters to support newer ones who may not have a studio of their own,” Jane shares. “This year, Todd Piker (owner of Cornwall Bridge Pottery) and I are both hosting three guest potters who will have the opportunity to show and sell their work more broadly.”

At one time, Sanah Petersen was one of those “newer” potters. Sanah has worked with Todd at Cornwall Bridge Pottery for seven years and has now taken the reins from Jane to become chair. As a past participant, she sees the value in the collective event. “It’s a special collection of potters with quality work,” she says. “The show is juried, so each artist’s work is considered before approval to participate.”

This year, the Clay Way tour includes nine studios and 25 artists. To visit each one, tour participants will enjoy the fall foliage while they drive from Wingdale to Washington, then stop at studios in Kent and Warren on the way to Cornwall.

More people visit Clay Way year over year. While growth is generally good, Todd offers that the event will always retain an intimacy and is not at all like an arts-and-crafts fair.

“People like to see the magic happen. See the kilns. Many people who come are potters themselves,” he shares.

The wood-fired kiln at Cornwall Bridge Pottery is a site to see: an impressive 35-feet long, 625-cubic feet capacity, with two “doors”—at the front and in the middle—where wood is fed in every few minutes once the kiln is firing.

On whether the 10th year will draw the largest crowd yet, Todd notes that “the scalability depends on how many cars can park in each of our driveways.” Luckily for Cornwall residents, both Jane and Todd welcome visitors at almost any time, and parking is typically abundant.

—Mare Rubin

📸: The scene at the 2025 Clay Way Studio Tour at Jane Herold's location.

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