FOC Newsletter, Chairman’s Letter, Fall 2007

The Fall Gala was a success by all accounts. The Friends are very lucky to be supported by such an amazing group of volunteers and contributors. The Gala would not be possible without the generosity of merchants like Orvis, Parkview, and Morgan Macwhinnie; restaurants including the Irish Coffee Pub, Riverview, Snapper Inn, and The Idle Hour Deli; as well as artists such as Don Winter and Jamie Reason. Year after year these contributors come through. We had well over one hundred people in attendance and we raised over $13,000. Virtually all labor and almost every item, including the tents, was donated by members.

Work continues on the Mill. The State of New York is almost done with the footings. It is expected that the building will be lowered onto the new piers faced with old stone before this year ends. The next steps will be replacing the damaged timbers and supports and fitting the building with new shingles, windows and roof. The Gerry challenge grant has been matched and we can boast that the total funds deposited into the Mill special account exceed $100,000. These funds have been earmarked for phase two of the restoration which envisions a working Mill.

The Friends have retained the environmental firm P.W. Grosser Consulting to review and analyze the NYS Route 454 overpass. They have forwarded their findings to the Commissioner of NYS Department of Transportation and we are eagerly awaiting the response. If any of our members have an interest in that preliminary report please contact the Friends and we will forward a copy. The Friends and the Idle Hour Fly Fishermen share this long standing goal of eliminating the risks associated with either a major spill or repeated incidental runoff.

IPN remains a management challenge for the Preserve and the NYS DEC. Recent testing confirms the continued presence of the disease in the adult fish, but not in the hatchery. It is hoped that limits on wading and other measures will help minimize the spread back into the hatchery.

The equestrian community has always been a solid and diligent supporter of the Friends. Efforts will continue to maintain the trails and facilities for this active and symbiotic use. Whether you visit the Preserve on foot, carriage, or horseback, it is great to see horses out on the trails following in the same steps as President Teddy Roosevelt or President Grover Cleveland.

The Ice House needs attention and the Friends have retained a noted architectural firm that specializes in historical structures to start work on a plan to refurbish the building and possibly convert it into a library, research area, and document storage facility.

With a very strong, active and enthusiastic Board in place I feel that this is an excellent time to step down as Chairperson. It has been nine years since I was invited to succeed Assemblywoman Ginny Fields in that capacity and I feel quite strongly that a change will bring new ideas and strength to the Friends. It would be an honor to remain on the Board where I could focus on some of the projects listed above. I know that my successor will enjoy the same fantastic support from all of the Friends that I have enjoyed. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Richard Remmer

Current Chairman's Letter

Past Chairman's Letters:
Summer 2011
Spring 2011
Winter 2010-11
Fall 2010
Summer 2010
Spring 2010
Winter 2009-10
Fall 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008-09
Fall 2008
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2007-08
Fall 2007
Summer 2007
Spring 2007