The Mayor of Greenwich's Best of 2024
And Through the Decades, Newspaper History
We asked our regular contributors for their “best of” lists for 2024. Here is the Mayor of the Village of Greenwich Amanda Hurley’s list:
By Amanda Hurley
Special to Journal & Press
As we wrap up 2024, I want to start by thanking everyone in Greenwich for your support, feedback, and willingness to roll up your sleeves to make our community stronger. Over the past year, I’ve learned a lot from your experience, historical knowledge, and ideas. It’s been a true team effort, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished together.
Water Upgrades
On my very first day as mayor, we broke ground on the long-awaited water infrastructure upgrade project. It was a messy process (to put it lightly!), but I want to personally thank all our residents for their patience and grace throughout the construction. This spring, we’ll be finishing up by returning the sidewalks to concrete, restoring grassy areas, and paving the roads curb to curb where the water project took place.
Flower Power
Spring also brought fresh life to our public spaces, thanks to our incredible volunteers. The Greenwich Gardeners, led by Sandra Herbst, designed and maintained our parks, filling them with vibrant flowers that brought joy to everyone who passed by. Debbie Anderson worked her magic with the planters that brightened Main Street, adding bursts of color and cheer. Lisa Perkins led the charge to “glow up” the gazebo, bringing fresh paint, new lights, and inspiring holiday décor that made our community proud.
Housing Block Grant
This summer, Greenwich (the Village and Town) became the first Pro-Housing Community in Washington County—a recognition of our efforts to create policies that support housing development. This designation will make us more competitive for grants like NY Forward and DRI. Speaking of grants, we applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to help income-eligible residents with essential home repairs. While we weren’t awarded this round, it’s common to miss out on the first try. We’ll resubmit it in the spring/summer and encourage anyone needing ADA accessibility updates, water connections, heaters, roofs, or other repairs to get on our list.
Fire Camp
The summer also brought a fantastic opportunity for kids in the community with the Greenwich Fire Department’s (GFD) free Fire Camp. My son participated this year, and it was a highlight of his summer. He had so much fun learning the basics of fire safety, practicing with a real fire hose, and even exploring fire trucks. The camp sparked ongoing discussions about fire safety in our home—conversations about creating escape plans, testing smoke detectors, and other precautions we can take as a family. The camp gave him a hands-on understanding of what it means to be a firefighter while building confidence and teamwork skills. He’s already looking forward to joining the Junior Firefighter program one day! Programs like this highlight how deeply invested GFD is in both our safety and the next generation, and we’re so fortunate to have them.
New Businesses
We also celebrated a thriving downtown with the openings of Whistle Bell Bottoms, Clutch Market, Whipple City Health and Wellness Center, Windy Hill Wellness Cannabis Dispensary, and Green Art Supply. Each of these businesses contributes to the vibrancy of Greenwich, offering unique services and experiences that draw both residents and visitors. Whistle Bell Bottoms brings charm and creativity to our retail offerings, Clutch Market serves as your one-stop-shop for locally sourced products, everyday essentials, and quick, quality food. Their diverse selection of handpicked items is curated to meet the community’s every need. Whipple City Health and Wellness Center provides critical support for physical and mental well-being, while Green Art Supply, an art supply thrift shop, offers affordable and sustainable resources for artists and fosters creativity in our community.
A Dispensary Opens
Windy Hill Wellness has added a new and exciting dimension to our local economy, with a portion of its cannabis sales directly benefiting the village through state revenue-sharing. As I shared during their grand opening, this business represents more than just economic growth—it’s a commitment to investing in our community’s future. These funds will help support vital infrastructure projects, public services, and other initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all Greenwich residents.
New York Forward
This fall, we submitted a joint application for the NY Forward and DRI grants, aiming to revitalize Main Street and create more housing. The NY Forward application included a variety of exciting projects such as creating more housing at Mill Hollow, adding a boat launch and park in Mill Hollow, expanding outdoor event and atrium programming space at the library, additional housing on Main Street, and transforming the taproom and an outdoor atrium at Argyle Brewing. If we are awarded, there will be an opportunity for residents and business owners to propose additional projects that align with the vision for a more vibrant and connected downtown. We’re hopeful of hearing results by the end of the first quarter, and if awarded, work could begin in 2026.
DPW Dedication
In October, I had the great honor of dedicating our DPW building to the late Leo Flynn, who served this village for 50 years with incredible dedication and heart. Leo wasn’t just a DPW employee—he was a member of the Greenwich Fire Department, mentor, coach, and beloved community member who touched so many lives here in Greenwich. His legacy will continue to inspire and remind us of the value of community service.
Tree City USA
To keep Greenwich “The Emerald Village,” we’re exploring a Tree City USA designation. While some may see this as just “beautification,” trees play a crucial role in stormwater management, cooling, and quality of life. With several large, old trees on Main Street being removed during the water project, this initiative will ensure we maintain and grow our tree canopy responsibly. To qualify for funding through the Arbor Foundation, we’ve adopted a new tree ordinance, created a tree committee, and celebrated our first Arbor Day on October 12th with a tree planting in Memorial Park.
Animal Control Codes
We also updated our animal law to better define what types of animals can be housed within village limits, balancing the needs of animal owners with the peace and safety of all residents. This was a collaborative effort with Animal Control Officer Shannon Celeste and included public hearings to ensure everyone’s voice was heard.
Biking and the Water Protection
We have also been actively working on an interactive Bike/Pedestrian Connectivity Plan with the Town of Greenwich. Residents identified unsafe areas for walking and biking, helping us address over 100 specific concerns. In September, we kicked off our Drinking Water Source Protection project. This plan will help protect our water supply by identifying potential contaminants and solutions in collaboration with landowners, the Town of Easton, and other partners. The plan should be nearing completion in the spring and then we will present it to NYS DEC.
Thunder Mountain
Our Parks and Recreation Group has been busy too. Volunteers cleaned up Hayes Reservoir, clearing trails and planning for future improvements like invasive species removal and better hiking and biking access. Other exciting ideas include a potential dog park on Rock Street, better kayak access, and pond stocking for fishing.
Improving Recycling
Finally, we’ve been working to improve our recycling program to ensure it operates as efficiently as possible while meeting environmental standards. One key area of focus has been addressing the issue of mixing wet, non-recyclable materials with recyclable ones. This not only makes sorting more challenging but can also contaminate otherwise recyclable materials, rendering them unsuitable for processing. To tackle this, we’ve prioritized educating residents about proper recycling practices, such as keeping paper and cardboard dry. On rainy days, we encourage folks to either store recyclables until they can be kept dry or place them in covered containers to prevent water damage.
Looking Ahead to 2025
In the coming year, we’ll continue to build on this momentum. Key projects include upgrading the Wastewater Treatment Plant to meet DEC standards, replacing a portion of John Street sidewalks, and planting more trees. We’ll also explore adopting Animal Safe Harbor Laws to help residents care for their pets during emergencies. Parks and Recreation will remain a focus as we expand opportunities for outdoor activities in our green spaces. And of course, we’ll keep pushing forward with initiatives to make Greenwich safer, more connected, and vibrant.
A Big Thank You
This recap is just a snapshot of the administrative work we’ve done this year. Behind the scenes, our incredible DPW, Fire, and Police Departments keep this village running day in and day out. From clearing roads to responding to emergencies, their dedication and hard work never cease to amaze me.
Thank you all for an amazing year, and here’s to a happy, healthy, and successful 2025! As always, feel free to reach out to me directly with your ideas or concerns—I’m here to listen.
Amanda Hurley is Mayor of the Village of Greenwich.
Through the Decades
About 60 Years Ago
January 14, 1965
Henry Robertson, son of Mr. and Mrs. James H Robertson, East Greenwich, has a tendency to throw “Dr. Spock’s Book of Baby and Child Care,” which most mothers rely on, way off balance. Early this fall he lost his first baby tooth and now has his first permanent tooth. He is only four years old and is two years ahead of the average child. But his parents weren’t too surprised as he got his first baby tooth at three months of age and all 20 teeth at one and a half years of age.
An ad from 60 years ago…
Journal History
You may have read our recent pieces on former Journal & Press editors. We left off at the point where HC Morhous died and then the Tefft family would purchase the paper in an estate sale. Here is an announcement that ran in the competing Granville Sentinel on that subject. Needless to say, this small paper had a lot of serious editors in its history.
More soon.
Thanks for this recap of the year, Amanda! A lot of positive things have happened in Greenwich and it's good to recognize them! Thank you, too, for the great job you have been doing and all the time, energy and care you have given to the job.
I also want to be sure to recognize for the planter effort, that Erin Luciano of Lot 21, was the floral designer for the planters and facilitated the planting. We had a great team of pruners, fertilizers and emergency waterers and the biggest heroes were the Village DPW team who really kept the planters watered! Looking forward to this year!