With the help of a front page story in the January 25th edition of the Southern Dutchess News and enthusiastic boosters, Friends of Carnwath attracted an overflow crowd for their January 28th meeting. In attendance were town dignitaries from the Town Board, The Town Planning Board, The Senior Citizen Garden Committee, the Town Arts & Culture Committee, and the The Town Historian. Also attending were neighbors and supporters of Carnwath, The Sports Museum leaders, a County Legislator (wearing several hats), and the Kolbs from Kolb's Community Farming. The President of the Friends group, Donna Lenhart, the Vice President, George Gumbel, the Secretary, Todd Bowen were in attendance. The Treasurer, Sandra Vacchio, who resides out of state, was unable to attend. (Ms. Lenhart is the assistant to the Senior Center Director in the TOW Senior Center and Mr. Bowen is a Recreation Assistant in the TOW Parks & Recreation Department.)
The President outlined her goals for the group: Rebuilding the organization, creating a web-site, working to fill board positions, developing a new logo, community outreach, scheduling work days. A new set of "by-laws" was discussed but not presented, and the desire for the organization to become a 501(c)3 organization was discussed. Ms. Lenhart also explained that the mission of the Friends group is to "Keep after the Town" and that the Town of Wappinger is responsible for the infrastructure and capital requirements for the park of 99.7 acres and the Friends group would be responsible to help restore and beautify the park. Ideas abounded - from fixing the stairway to the administration building to building an Inn, to the Carriage House and Chapel being used for event space/music venues and the desire for more volunteers and an outreach to young people. It was discussed that the town has included $10,000 in the 2023 budget for Carnwath - and that there is a potential for grants to help with the infrastructure requirements, though some current grants may not be able to be applied to this specific project. It was also explained that the Friends group currently has approximately $43,000 in its account.
A Website designer has been hired and he presented some of his ideas for a website.
The Sports Museum will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 29 for the Ralph Holt Learning Center - a Youth Center with computers available to young people, funded by a grant from the county. It will be open on the weekends between 1:00 and 4:00 and volunteers are needed to help.
Some discussion about the possibility of seasonal Certificate of Occupancy for the sports museum and chapel ensued with no clear resolution.
So Net: Lots of Money, Volunteers and willingness to participate in more meetings desired.
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