FOC Newsletter, Chairman’s Letter, Spring 2008

The mill restoration is temporarily stalled. Therefore, on April 3rd, Richard Remmer, Gil Bergen and I met with Ron Foley, Regional Director and Scott Fish, Chief Engineer, both of L.I. State Parks, to discuss N. Y. State Parks’ schedule for continuing work on the mill, which was suspended while State employees finish a project at Robert Moses State Park. Mr. Foley and Mr. Fish expect the work to resume at the end of May. They are also waiting for final pricing and delivery of the cypress to replace damaged beams. The logistics of replacing these beams are still being worked out, although N.Y. State intends to do that work with State employees who are familiar with post and beam construction. It remains unclear how much of the current work (replacing beams, shingles, roof and windows) will be paid by N.Y. State Parks’ operating budget. Another important piece to the mill project is the redesign of the dam and spillway to include a sluice way to power the mill. N.Y. State Parks has started on the specifications for that project and has made inquiries regarding permits with the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation, but the project is still in its infancy.

We also discussed the problems we are encountering in collecting the $50,000 grant that Assemblywoman Ginny Fields has secured for the Friends toward the mill restoration. Scott Fish advised us that he is still working with Ways and Means to free up the grant. The holdup remains a problem because the money can only be sent to to the Friends if and when the Friends control the mill site through a lease, which we are in the process of negotiating. I will keep you apprised of our progress. We remain hopeful that the money the Friends raised and the $50,000 grant can be reserved to make the mill operational.

Additionally, we have advised Mr. Foley and Mr. Fish of our work on the Ice House and have promised to keep them informed as the estimates and design work come in. Mr. Foley was optimistic that N.Y. State Parks might find funding if the work were to be defined in a Historic Structures Report.

Also at this meeting we brought Mr. Foley up to date on our Veterans Highway stream protection project. We all agreed that the best plan is to continue encouraging the Department of Transportation to restudy the problem from every possible angle.

On March 6, 2008, we lost a good Friend, Betty Kuss, who passed away. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Friends. She also collected and donated numerous Southside Sportsmen’s Club historic articles and documents that will be displayed at the park. She will be missed. Bob Giffen will be writing an article in the next issue of this newsletter in honor of Betty.

I would like to welcome our new treasurer, Marianne Kinane. I would also like to thank Bob Hoover for his many years of service as Treasurer. Bob will remain as a member of the Friends’ Board of Trustees.

Spring has begun to blossom in many ways at the park. Come and enjoy.

Sincerely,
Bob Labuski

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