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Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration
You kept Old Bethpage Village Restoration Open and Alive No. 8
Update - March 12, 2009
On March 9th The County of Nassau and the CSEA Local 830 after a month of negotiations came to an agreement to prevent the layoff of hundreds of county employees, which of course means Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Garvies Point Museum and the other currently staffed county museums and parks will remain open. Old Bethpage Village is scheduled to open to the general public on Wednesday, April 1st, with the first weekend program scheduled for Saturday, April 4th. The agreement between the County and the Union needs to be ratified by the Local 830 membership and the County Executive is also seeking to entice over 300 county workers to retire with what seems to be a very generous incentive plan. I know that a least one of Old Bethpage Village’s long time staff members will be retiring this spring and will be sorely missed.
I would like to thank everyone that made their pleas to keep Old Bethpage Village open known to the County Executive, Nassau County Legislature, CSEA Local 830 and to the news media. In particular thanks to Christopher Thomas, his brother Tim, Alison, Tara and all of the people who created and wrote into the Facebook page and who created, signed and commented on the petition. The petition was presented to the Nassau County Legislature at the last Legislative meeting and will be formally presented with all of the additional names, totaling nearly 5,000 names, to the County Executive’s Office next week. The other petitions initiated by the NY Mutuals and the 14th Brooklyn Regiment will also be presented to the County Executive and Legislature. I am also grateful for the help of people like Frank and Frankie Ruiz of the 14th Brooklyn Regiment for their support in so many ways, including clueing in Channel 2 News and writing some excellent posts and some great grass roots support. My thanks to Eric Miklich and Tom Fesolowitch from the NY Mutuals and leaders of the internationally known Old Bethpage Village Old Time Base Ball League for their support on their website and for initiating a nationwide historic base ball movement to keep OBVR open. Aren’t we all glad Eric didn’t take a swing at Conan when he charged Eric on the pitcher’s mound? FYI. Some awesome Base Ball Matches and the L.I. Rabbit Show are planned for Saturday April 4th … keep that in your plans.
I need to thank Karin Timour for her assistance in getting out the word that we needed to contact our Legislators and to Rob Walker of the 119th N.Y. Volunteers for his updating the Long Island Historical Re-enacting community. My sincere and great thanks goes out to Mark Adler, Captain of the 119th N.Y. Volunteers, for coming to the Nassau Legislature and organizing support from the 119th and from the Model A Ford Club of Long Island. Thank you everyone who came down in support of Old Bethpage Village at our Nassau County Legislative meetings and made themselves heard, despite waiting hours to be heard. Robin Heaney, Guy Smith, Chris and Tim … thank you for your words to our Legislators. Beth Chamberlain & Christine Scott… thanks for coming to the Legislature and for your constant support. Chris Daley, all the way in Tidewater Virginia, thank you for initiating support among the greater Civil War Re-enacting community. I’m glad I hired you way back when … really glad!
And the greatest thanks goes to Janet Demarest who has supported the Save OBVR from the moment she was called, from helping to organize, speaking so eloquently at both County Legislative meetings and for being a very good friend through this all …. Janet, Thank You. And to my friend Robert Hansen, Secretary-Treasurer of the Agricultural Society of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties … my sincere thanks for your personal support, advice, editing and organization. Robert … thank you for getting me through this!
I know I’m missing someone and I apologize in advance. Without the help of many concerned citizens and dedicated volunteers I do not believe we could have kept Old Bethpage Village open. Nassau’s Museums and Parks were created for the enjoyment of all its citizens for all time. Let us hope that in the future our museum and parks do not fall victim to such circumstances again. We’ll keep everyone informed as new and better things develop.
And Conan O’Brien, wherever you are, Thank You for airing that wonderful Base Ball sketch at the most important time in Old Bethpage Village’s life. We were glad to have you visit … come back any time you want!
Jim McKenna
You kept Old Bethpage Village Restoration Open and Alive No. 8
Update - March 12, 2009
On March 9th The County of Nassau and the CSEA Local 830 after a month of negotiations came to an agreement to prevent the layoff of hundreds of county employees, which of course means Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Garvies Point Museum and the other currently staffed county museums and parks will remain open. Old Bethpage Village is scheduled to open to the general public on Wednesday, April 1st, with the first weekend program scheduled for Saturday, April 4th. The agreement between the County and the Union needs to be ratified by the Local 830 membership and the County Executive is also seeking to entice over 300 county workers to retire with what seems to be a very generous incentive plan. I know that a least one of Old Bethpage Village’s long time staff members will be retiring this spring and will be sorely missed.
I would like to thank everyone that made their pleas to keep Old Bethpage Village open known to the County Executive, Nassau County Legislature, CSEA Local 830 and to the news media. In particular thanks to Christopher Thomas, his brother Tim, Alison, Tara and all of the people who created and wrote into the Facebook page and who created, signed and commented on the petition. The petition was presented to the Nassau County Legislature at the last Legislative meeting and will be formally presented with all of the additional names, totaling nearly 5,000 names, to the County Executive’s Office next week. The other petitions initiated by the NY Mutuals and the 14th Brooklyn Regiment will also be presented to the County Executive and Legislature. I am also grateful for the help of people like Frank and Frankie Ruiz of the 14th Brooklyn Regiment for their support in so many ways, including clueing in Channel 2 News and writing some excellent posts and some great grass roots support. My thanks to Eric Miklich and Tom Fesolowitch from the NY Mutuals and leaders of the internationally known Old Bethpage Village Old Time Base Ball League for their support on their website and for initiating a nationwide historic base ball movement to keep OBVR open. Aren’t we all glad Eric didn’t take a swing at Conan when he charged Eric on the pitcher’s mound? FYI. Some awesome Base Ball Matches and the L.I. Rabbit Show are planned for Saturday April 4th … keep that in your plans.
I need to thank Karin Timour for her assistance in getting out the word that we needed to contact our Legislators and to Rob Walker of the 119th N.Y. Volunteers for his updating the Long Island Historical Re-enacting community. My sincere and great thanks goes out to Mark Adler, Captain of the 119th N.Y. Volunteers, for coming to the Nassau Legislature and organizing support from the 119th and from the Model A Ford Club of Long Island. Thank you everyone who came down in support of Old Bethpage Village at our Nassau County Legislative meetings and made themselves heard, despite waiting hours to be heard. Robin Heaney, Guy Smith, Chris and Tim … thank you for your words to our Legislators. Beth Chamberlain & Christine Scott… thanks for coming to the Legislature and for your constant support. Chris Daley, all the way in Tidewater Virginia, thank you for initiating support among the greater Civil War Re-enacting community. I’m glad I hired you way back when … really glad!
And the greatest thanks goes to Janet Demarest who has supported the Save OBVR from the moment she was called, from helping to organize, speaking so eloquently at both County Legislative meetings and for being a very good friend through this all …. Janet, Thank You. And to my friend Robert Hansen, Secretary-Treasurer of the Agricultural Society of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties … my sincere thanks for your personal support, advice, editing and organization. Robert … thank you for getting me through this!
I know I’m missing someone and I apologize in advance. Without the help of many concerned citizens and dedicated volunteers I do not believe we could have kept Old Bethpage Village open. Nassau’s Museums and Parks were created for the enjoyment of all its citizens for all time. Let us hope that in the future our museum and parks do not fall victim to such circumstances again. We’ll keep everyone informed as new and better things develop.
And Conan O’Brien, wherever you are, Thank You for airing that wonderful Base Ball sketch at the most important time in Old Bethpage Village’s life. We were glad to have you visit … come back any time you want!
Jim McKenna
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