MINUTES
SENIOR & YOUTH RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
August 16, 2023
Present: Deborah Martin — Chair, Pam Stocking —Vice Chair, Marjorie Bogert, Cynthia Lampman (9:45 am), Jessica Knapp (10 am), Manuela Michailescu, Recreation Dept. Assistant Director Bethany Dennin.
Absent: Sandy Chipman.
The meeting started at 9:32 am.
Chair Deb Martin presented the Agenda of the meeting and called the meeting to order after establishing that we have a quorum (4 out of 7 members present at that time, 5 then 6 members later on).
The minutes of the June 21, 2023 meeting were reviewed (there was no July meeting); Marge Bogert made a motion to approve the minutes, Pam Stocking seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
Bethany Dennin presented the DIRECTOR’S REPORT (on behalf of Recreation Dept. Director Ashley Sweeney, who was participating to the Summer Program’s field trip to Howe Caverns); among the highlights:
• Summer Program
— it is very successful, despite rainy days (especially in August) interferring with the field trips; there are about 40 kids participating to a number of weeks in the first (July) and/or second period (August), or to all 6 weeks; they became like a family and for most it was hard to believe that for one week (the break between the July and August 3-week periods) they do not come to camp!
Program ends on Friday August 25th, visiting the Fire Department, having a BBQ, etc.
— thanks to Deb Martin (and members of the Commission who participated) for creating the Sing-Along with kids in the Town Park on July 14th.
• Heritage Day — on Saturday, October 7th starting at 11 am; Community Center is not going to be used this year; flyers are prepared and distributed (for Jennie Bell Pie Festival, etc.)
CHAIR PRESENTATION — CURRENT NEWS/UPDATES
• Sing-Along — was tough on July 25th at 12:30 pm (for adults, nobody stayed after the “Keep It Moving” exercise classes).
Marge Bogert stressed that the time was not good, when people rush to go home for lunch.
Deb agreed and said it’s probably better to try at 4 pm in the afternoon in the future, but not now.
• Heritage Day — Deb proposed some “brainstorming” regarding what “heritage” means, for Heritage Day; individual vs. community heritage; what is included (farming, stone houses, D & H canal, entertainment/Peg Leg, dairy, train station, rail trail, native Americans)
— focus was on the Art Show (to be organized at the Accord Firehouse) and on Cindy Lampman’s idea to use a symbol for the town
— Cindy presented her proposal (idea she got when seeing in Beacon a “hat” used as a symbol); for our town she is thinking of a circle, symbolizing all wheels (from farming, water wheels, mills, transportation, etc.); art teachers would be given handouts explaining what to ask kids to do, what to incorporate in paintings…
— Manuela mentioned that Route 209 is the “oldest road built for wheels” in America and recalled that at a Ulster County “towns parade” at the inauguration of the “Walkway over the Hudson” years ago each town was represented by an “emblem-placard” (created by a local artist); ours used to be in the Town Clerk’s office — to be checked what symbols were included in that Town “emblem”
— Bethany was enthusiastic about the idea to have music for the Art Show and having art teachers involved
NEW BUSINESS — UPCOMING EVENTS (from the Director’s Report)
• Heritage Day — on Saturday, October 7th, starting at 11:00 am.
For the Jennie Bell Pie Festival (to be held on Main Street), each contestant has to bring 2 pies to the Community Center by noon on Friday, October 6th; Marge offered to come by 1 pm and help with this activity.
— Deb mentioned that it would be nice to have a picture of Jennie Bell, something about the history of the Pie Festival, etc. (Manuela indicated that many years ago the Jennie Bell Pie Festival used to be an independent event at Kelder’s Farm, organized by our local Chamber of Commerce).
OPEN ISSUES / DISCUSSIONS — was the last point on the agenda:
• Summer Program — Manuela praised Ashley and Bethany for adding many new field trips to the program and for the exceptional diversity of the activities; she mentioned the cover story in Blue Stone Press (August 4, 2023 issue), “Rochester Kids on PBS show” (“Rochester kids were featured on the PBS show “AHA! A House for the Arts” television program during their July 18 visit to the Museum of Innovation and Science [miSci] in Schenectady”), with photos on page 17.
• Exercise Classes — Pam Stocking said that the exercise classes were pretty full recently.
• Heritage Day “Art Show” — Deb would further brainstorm with Cindy, talk to art teachers; also she would talk to Town Clerk/Historian/President of Friends of Historic Rochester Kate Gundberg about “heritage,” town’s emblem, coordinating efforts, etc. More to be discussed and finalized during the September meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 am.
Cindy Lampman made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Pam Stocking and approved unanimously.
Next meeting takes place on September 20th, 2023, 9:30 am, at the Community Center.
Submitted by
Manuela Michailescu
Secretary