CoH’s Special Events Committee is planning
You may have heard about a new local event … “the Cornwall Community Awards”. If you did, you may have wondered what it was, who was planning it and what the purpose was.
Elizabeth Bruschi would love to explain.
She’s a member (one of the co-chairs) of the Cornwall-on-Hudson Special Events Committee, a group started in 2016 by Dominic Cordisco and Mike Trainor. Its original functions were to fund raise, host movies at Donahue Park, and host the CoH New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Those two events, have been successful for many years now, so, naturally, it was time to expand the committee’s offerings.
“There is demand in Cornwall to do more things,” Bruschi said last week. “And we, as an organization, want to do more.”
So they’ve been partnering with other community groups, doing things like providing a band for the CoH Gazebo during ArtWalk (which is a Cornwall Arts Alliance/Chamber of Commerce venture) sessions; and working on the WinterWonderland by hosting the CoH tree lighting.
They have also been fundraising — Bruschi hosted the first of a dinner series this past summer that she hopes to expand in 2024.
But as they have been doing these things, including fundraising for events, she and other committee members, including Buffy Elliot, decided to create an event that would not only be fun for residents of the town and village, but also serve as a fundraiser, and recognize some of the folks who “do so much for Cornwall”.
The “Cornwall Community Awards” was found. It will take place at Storm King Lounge and will honor people in categories such as public service, preserving history, years of community service, business leaders and more, with both individual and group honors.
Now first, Bruschi wants everyone to know that the name of the celebration (The Corn Ball) was “not a mockery of the word Cornwall in any way” — in fact, it’s a simple combination of Cornwall and Ball. (“After the Village New Year’s Eve ball and because we wanted to have a ball, she says.)
“It was just a play on words,” Bruschi said.
The event was set to take place this month, but has been postponed until March in order to give the organizers a little more time, and to quell any concerns about the event.
“In light of recent revelations surrounding the negative and hurtful connotations associated with the term “cornball” from a situation that occurred many years ago, we have made the decision to undergo a rebranding. Our commitment to fostering positivity led us to drop the controversial name, opting instead for the “Greater Cornwall Community Awards.” This change reflects our dedication to preserving the integrity and honor of the event, ensuring that it remains a source of pride and celebration of our community and the people who make it the greatest place to live.”
And, delaying it a bit will allow them to collect more nominations of those hard workers; although, they’ve already received over 40. The nominations are open through February.
You can find all the categories and a form with which to make nominations at www.cornwallonhudsonspecialevents.com.
“We’re looking at the event now as the kick-off event to Cornwall’s ‘busy season’, from early Spring all the way through late Fall,” Bruschi said. They’re looking at a $100/person ticket which will include entertainment, an open bar and hors d’oeuvres.
Also at the group’s website, and on their social media pages, you can keep up with events in the greater Cornwall area. On the website is also a link to donate to the group — and its events — through the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties.