2010: A good year in Falls Village

FALLS VILLAGE — Tiny Falls Village experienced an economic boom in 2010. Well, maybe not a boom, but three new retail businesses started up.

The Crossroads Deli opened in May, with Mike and Nancy Hodgkins taking over the convenience store and filling station business (at the junction of routes 63 and 7) from Pat Fife. The deli quickly developed a steady morning business, with locals gathering for coffee and conversation, and tradesmen coming in for breakfast sandwiches.

Many of those workmen were busy at the Falls Village Inn. Colin Chambers of Greenwich bought the inn in April, and with Sue Sweatapple and a large supporting cast began the renovations. The inn’s taproom opened for drinks with a light menu of updated classics in December.

Across the street, Jacobs Garage is expanding, adding a new building with five bays.

And around the corner, Patricia Walsh opened her Country Store in the former town hall at 107 Main St. With the Falls Village Children’s Theater at 103 Main getting closer to completing its renovation, and Krazy for Kazu’s occupying the space at 100 Main that formerly housed the Sweet William’s kitchen, downtown Falls Village is experiencing a renaissance.

The town is facing some tough decisions entering the new year. The number of students at Housatonic Valley Regional High School who live in Falls Village has increased significantly, and the choices facing the town — how to come up with the $315,000-plus portion of the Region One School District assessment — are all unpleasant.

The Volunteer Fire Department  needs about $2.3 million to finish the new firehouse on Route 7 — adding another layer of financial headache for the selectmen and the Board of Finance.

And Falls Village and Salisbury are teaming up to repair the Iron (or Amesville or Water Street) bridge, which is under unfriendly scutiny from the state.

The town received the thanks of the family of Evan Hunter Gillette, a 40-year-old man who found the grave of an ancestor, Ebenezer Harris, in Root Cemetery on Canaan Mountain.

Gillette died in the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001. A stone honoring him is in the Root Cemetery as well, and during the 2010 Memorial Day ceremonies a wreath honoring him was laid at the War Memorial.

The Great Mountain Forest, which straddles Falls Village and Norfolk, kept a higher profile than in recent years, sponsoring lectures and workshops.

And the D.M. Hunt Library was everywhere, with author appearances, fundraisers and book sales galore.

In the election, Falls Village and the 63rd District will continue to be represented in the state Legislature by Republican John Rigby,  who despite being in Afghanistan managed to defeat Democratic challenger William Riiska 4,242 to 4,207, in one of the state’s tightest contests.

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