Report From the President

It was my great honor and pleasure to welcome a crowd of well-wishers on July 28th on the occasion of the dedication of the new Taconic State Park Visitor’s Center in Copake Falls during the Third Annual Meeting of Friends of Taconic State Park.  New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey and New York State Council on Parks Chair Lucy R. Waletzky shared ribbon cutting duties with Leslie Wood, chairperson of  the Copake Economic Advisory Board.    Also present were Garrett Jobson and Ray Doherty from the Office of Parks’ Taconic Region.  Ray and Garrett thanked Dr. Waletzky for her generosity in making the new building possible, and unveiled a plaque dedicating a young sugar maple in her honor.  With the ringing of the old train bell, now mounted on the roof, the building doors were open for the public’s inspection and tour.

 

Margaret Roach

The guests then walked over to the Copake Iron Works for the business portion of the Annual Meeting as well as a delicious pot luck picnic.  At the meeting officers were elected for the coming year, and the by-laws were amended to allow for the expansion of the Board of Directors to eleven members.  New board members are Brian Boom and Louise Peterson, both long-time residents of Copake Falls and devoted friends of the Park.  Treasurer Deborah Cohen reported that we have raised $105,00 of the $147,000 needed to construct the protective cover over the old furnace, and Edgar Masters gave a brief report on the progress of the engineering status of the cover,  saying that he is hopeful that the footings for the uprights can be dug in the near future. Margaret Roach, who could be found flipping burgers and hot dogs for the assembled, was thanked for all her efforts on our behalf.  She will be presenting her popular slide lecture, “Nonstop Plants: The 365 Day Garden,” as a benefit for us on Saturday, August 20^th (which also happens to be Copake Falls Day). 

The Friends group is thriving, with about  190 current members.  New members continue to join.  We encourage all of you “established” members to renew your membership.  Your continued support will make possible the restoration of the Copake Iron Works Historic District, an exciting restoration plan that will create economic, recreational and cultural benefits for all of us: neighbors and visitors, young and old, athletes and historians. 

With deepest gratitude for your interest and support,

Milbrey Zelley, President

Friends of Taconic State Park

Friends of Taconic State Park - July 28, 2011