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Cedar Grove, GCCA receive state funds

By Jim Planck

CATSKILL — A mix of arts, cultural, and historic preservation groups will receive solid funding boosts thanks to efforts by state Senator James Seward (R-Oneonta) to include a total of $90,000 in the state’s recently adopted 2008-09 budget.

Seward was on hand Friday afternoon at Catskill’s Cedar Grove - The Thomas Cole National Historic Site, one of the recipients, to announce the funding approvals and greet leaders from the respective groups.

Receiving $20,000 is the Greene County Council on the Arts, with $20,000 also going to Cole’s Cedar Grove, another $20,000 to GCCA as a conduit sponsor for Jonathan Donald Productions, and $10,000 each to the Heart of Catskill Association, the Athens Cultural Center, and the Greene County Historical Society.

Standing on the front verandah of Cedar Grove, with Cole’s beloved Catskills in the background, Seward stressed his belief in supporting the arts, adding, “This is one of my favorite views, right from this porch here.”

Seward said he is pleased to have the state “be a partner in the arts,” noting they “help boost the economy and promote tourism.”

“The senate funding helps local programs, and meets locally identified community needs that would not be possible without state assistance,” Seward said.

“Even in a difficult budget year,” he said, “it was important to deliver funding back to the community for important local services and programs that enhance the quality of life and offer economic benefits in tourism.”

Noting the effect of current economic times on the world of arts, Seward explained, “When it comes to local programs, the senate help reduces pressures on tight budgets — and arts budgets are always tighter in difficult economic times.”

The funding for the Thomas Cole Site will pay for interpretive exhibits, including an introductory film for visitors.

Cedar Grove executive director Betsy Jacks said the $20,000 funding fulfills the facility’s requirement for a “local match” on a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, adding, “so it was very important to get this.”

She said the film will provide visitors with an introduction to Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School of Painting, and is anticipated for unveiling in May 2009.

Grant funding for the Heart of Catskill Association will fund local advertising to promote downtown Catskill’s Second Saturday Strolls, encouraging residents and visitors to avail themselves of the benefits of downtown.

“Last September,” said Seward, “my wife and I were down (from Oneonta), and spent a lovely Saturday evening strolling Main Street Catskill, visiting shops and enjoying treats.”

“Main Street Catskill has really come alive, and it’s great to see that,” said Seward, “and a lot of credit goes to the Heart of Catskill Association and the Saturday Strolls for that.”

HOCA executive director Linda Overbaugh said the grant “is very important to us,” noting that the Second Saturday Strolls “have been very successful” and that the $10,000 funding will allow the group to take the activity “up to the second notch.”

In Athens, the senate dollars will help ensure historic preservation of the Athens Cultural Center building.

Owned by the Village of Athens, Village Trustee Chris Pfister — noting that he was “filling in” for his wife Carol Pfister, the ACC’s treasurer — said the $10,000 funding will allow ongoing restoration of the building to continue.

Pfister said a Main Street Revitalization grant last year helped fix the front facade of the building, but that the side and rear still need to be addressed.

“The whole street and atmosphere in that area has turned around,” said Pfister, “and now we’re able to take the next step forward.”

The Greene County Historical Society funding will go towards repair and restoration of the southern wall of the historic 1684 Bronck House, In West Coxsackie.

GCHS Board Chairman Theron Gunderman noted that the Bronck House, in consideration of its 1653 portion, is “the oldest preserved structure in New York State,” and that protecting the newer 1684 section was critical to the overall structure’s integrity.

The Society will use the $10,000 to help pay for the cost of determining the precise cause of why a portion of the foundation on the inside wall is separating from the outside one, Gunderman said.

“The engineering firm is in the process of giving us a needs assessment,” he explained. “This is a great start.”

The Greene County Council on the Arts will use the $20,000 senate funding to help renovate and improve the council’s historic building on Main Street, Catskill.

GCCA executive director Kay Stamer said of the funding, “We are absolutely delighted.”

“We need some serious work (at the building),” Stamer said.

“We’re hoping to upgrade the electric,” she said. “The sheetrock has to be replaced in some places. We have to replace the carpeting and, with any luck, we’ll get some facade work, also.”

“This (funding) is absolutely critical,” said Stamer.

Jonathan Donald Productions, via the Greene County Council on the Arts, will use its $20,000 funding to develop a television history of Greene County.

“The film will be in two parts,” said Donald, which will be two half-hour segments to be shown on WMHT when completed.

Donald said the first segment will start with paleo-Indian history and work its way up to the 1800s. The second segment will bring the history through the 1900s.

All speakers thanked Seward for his consistent efforts on the behalf of the arts, with several commenting that his work has also benefited them in the past.

“The programs identified as eligible for the awards,” said Seward, “improve the quality of life of many people in specific ways.”

“I am glad that the senate could assist,” he said.

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