Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

I got my first taste of reenacting living history at Old Bethpage Village as a small boy growing up on the Island. I fell in love with history on those field trips to OBPV , Sagamore Hill the home of Theodore Roosevelt, The Vanderbilt Museum, Hayden planetarium and many other historic places. Those places helped instill the deep love for history that I now have. It is such a shame that some of these historic sites and many others across the nation are constantly being threatened. It is up to all of us to make sure that they survive. Money does not have to be the only thing that talks!! We have the power of the people!!! Without the preservation of History there is no hobby!!

[DougCooper]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Way to go all you squeaky wheels!! Great to see. Thanks to so many who worked this one...together. Can't wait to take the kids there on my next visit and tell them how it was saved by friends and others who care about what's important.

[KarinTimour]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

THIS IS FABULOUS NEWS!

Warm Congratulations to all of you, it is such a testimony to the power of people who really care about something, and who are willing to reach out to everyone they can think of to say "HEY, We need some action here!"

Democracy works.

You pulled it all together, figured it out, got to the people you needed to get to, MADE IT HAPPEN.

ALL OF YOU HELPED SAVE OLD BETHPAGE!!!!

Heartfelt Congratulations,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Rob Walker]

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

[Rob Walker]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Keep Old Bethpage Village Restoration Open and Alive No. 7



Update March 2, 2009





It was posted on Facebook “what can we do besides cross our fingers and toes” in anticipation of an agreement between Nassau County and CSEA Local 830; and the eventual acceptance of that agreement by the membership of the Union. There is something we can do … yes, we can keep this issue high on the minds of our community, our county legislators and our County Executive.



During economic times like these it seems that one of the first targets are museums – art museums, history museums and natural history museums. One of the speakers at last week’s Legislature meeting quoted a museum publication that stated that museums are seeing strong attendance in the face of a struggling economy even while retailers are reporting major losses. The article quoted goes on to say that there appears to be a long term trend away from a focus on material possessions toward a desire to do something meaningful for oneself and for others and that our current economic situation is amplifying this trend, as people choose to spend their reduced resources on family experiences that are relatively low in cost and high in value. The article asserts that “True, the needs to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless are greater than ever; but to feed the soul, to keep spirits up, to have a place of reassurance amidst the uncertainty of the times – these are essential human needs that museums fill.”



Old Bethpage Village was profiled in the Long Island Press this week in the cover article “You Don’t Know What You’ve Got … Till It’s Gone”. The article mentioned all of the potential budget cuts to museums, parks and youth services. Former Old Bethpage Village staff member Chris Daley, currently with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation was interviewed, as was the Facebook page creator Christopher Thomas. It was a very good article and coming off last week’s Conan O’Brien feature on Old Time Base Ball at Old Bethpage Village; it was another tremendous boost in publicizing the Old Bethpage Village crisis.



In the mean time, despite the tempest around them, our friends at Old Bethpage Village are preparing to open for school programs, which will begin on March 11th. During March the Village will only be open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm for the educational programs. The Village staff is planning on opening Wednesday April 1st for regular operations (Wednesday to Sunday) if all goes well in the next several weeks. The Museum Director reported to us that Old Bethpage Village Restoration has over 2,600 schoolchildren booked over the nine operational days in March, an equal number and growing in April and well over 6,000 scheduled in May. The first event planned for the Village is the annual Long Island Rabbit Show on Saturday, April 4th, always a hit, especially before Easter.



Hopefully we will soon hear some good news from Nassau County about our County Museums and Parks and can start planning for a successful 2009 at Old Bethpage Village.



Thank you all for your support!

[Rob Walker]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Good morning all,
Here is the lastest update from the Long Island Fair Committee on OBVR.



Keep Old Bethpage Village Restoration Open and Alive No. 6





Update February 24, 2009



It’s been a very active week. The Facebook page “Help Save Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Long Island, NY” has close to 5,000 members. The online petition to save Old Bethpage Village from closing has nearly 3,800 names, all in just six days, and it’s growing. The greatest boost came in the form of Conan O’Brien showcasing the 1864 Old Bethpage Base Ball sketch on his last New York show on Friday evening – his “personal favorite”.



Yesterday a group of ten volunteers and four staff members went to the Nassau County Legislature meeting in Mineola. They arrived about 9:15 am or so, some got tickets to get in right away, others had to wait for seats in the hallway and still others were unable to get in because of demonstrations on behalf of other program cuts. The meeting began around 10:30 am and continued until about 3:30 pm; the discussion during those five hours centered on program cuts at various agencies. The Legislature adjourned for an hour and reconvened at 4:30 pm. Around 4:40 pm speakers on behalf of Old Bethpage Village were able to make their presentations, including Mark Adler and Guy Smith of the 119th N.Y. Volunteers; Robin Heaney of the 14th Brooklyn Volunteers; Janet Demarest; Tim and Chris Van Wickler; and Jim McKenna. It was reported that all the speakers were very well received and at the end of Jim McKenna’s speech, all were informed that the Staff Layoff Resolution was removed from the Legislator’s Committee Hearings scheduled for that evening. We’ve been told that many of the Legislators expressed their desire to keep Old Bethpage Village open and agreed with our speakers that this museum is in fact a jewel in our County and is important to Long Island. It was later reported on News 12 and in Tuesday’s Newsday that some agreement between the Union and the County was in the offing, which may permit Old Bethpage Village to remain open so long as the entire CSEA votes to approve the amended agreement.



Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope all turns out well as the fate of Old Bethpage Village and our other Museums and Parks is decided in the next several days. Our thanks to everyone – Village Volunteers, 1800’s Base Ball Volunteers, Civil War Re-enactors; Staff and all of Our Friends for their support in writing letters, e-mails, signing petitions and spearheading so much of this grass roots effort.

[Rob Walker]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Karin gave all the details. The fight is far from over. The e-mails, petitions, phone calls and faxes are working wonders and the voice of the Living History community and history enthusiasts is being heard and heard loudly by the Nassau County Legislature. Several times in their answering the possible closing of the museums they mention saving Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Due to the hard work of many people from all over the Country and in some cases outside the Country, the Legislature is realizing the importance of Old Bethpage as a source of historical education in the New York area.

Thanks again to everyone here for their outstand effort to fend off the closure of the Village.

[CJDaley]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

I don't currently think that we're completely out of the woods -- until the Legislature has finalized and adopted their budget.

I think you're right, but this is a great step forward.

I remember in the early 90s when we were up against Disney and their "Disney's America" theme park in Northern Virginia, that petition and our efforts seem futile. I mean, what were a few thousand signatures going to do against the army of lawyers Disney had...yet we won.

Time and time again, I'm under the impression that the system DOES work. That you can get a small band of people together, write in to your legislature and change can happen.

The hobbyists on this forum and a few thousand other people proved that this week. All we need is a bit more persistence to make this stick.

Thanks Karen and the rest of the people on the ground making this happen!

[KarinTimour]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Rob Walker will be along here soon to give you more of the details, but this is what I've heard happened today at the hearings:

I just got home and it's been a really long day, so I'll limit this to the basics:

1. Thank you all for everything you did to help with the efforts on Old Bethpage.

2. There was a good showing at the hearings today.

3. The petition was presented (thank you to all who signed it).

4. Several people gave testimony in person.

5. The Nassau County Executive said a number of nice things, most importantly that he's sitting down with the Unions and hopefully things will get worked out. In the meantime, they have removed the motion from the docket to close Old Bethpage, the other museums, parks and recreation.

6. Personally, I'm very relieved that they addressed this at their meeting. I don't currently think that we're completely out of the woods -- until the Legislature has finalized and adopted their budget.

7. I've seen politicians do a U-turn in the dark of night before.

Am going to bed now, will hear what others have to say in the morning.

Sincere thanks,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[KarinTimour]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Yes, we know you helped already. Yes, we know it's Sunday night.

But we need you now as we have never needed you before.

We're on the eve of the vote as to whether to keep Old Bethpage open or not -- the vote that was tabled two weeks ago will be held this Monday.

Why should you care?
Historic spaces are being shuttered all over the country. Often, we hear only after it's too late or when nothing can be done. Pamphlin Park, The Old Statehouse, Morristown. All the museums in a given state.

This time we can do something. This time you can help fight for history.

We just need that little extra bit to get us over the top. This isn't a case of millions of dollars being needed.

And most of the Legislature is on our side.

It's those in the "middle of the road" who are waffling, but who have the votes to make the difference.

Help make up their minds.

"You can't teach history without Computers and Videoscreens"
Many of you have said how much you dislike the new Gettysburg Visitors' Center, the Animatronic Lincoln Museum with holographic Lincoln Ghosts and mannikins that tape loop the Gettysburg Address.

Old Bethpage is the opposite. It's real. The buildings are real, the living historians and live musicians are real.

It puts the lie to "we have to have automated computers to teach history." The chance to hold a hard tack, scrub on a washboard, sing along while someone plays an instrument, write with a slate pencil, gather kindling, touch a cow, chase a chicken, all of these are mesmerizing to today's children, and all can be experienced at Old Bethpage. Teachers see real improvement in schoolwork after a visit to the village.

Teacher Education
Not only does it inspire children, local teachers have been holding free workshops for each other to explain how to use the Village to teach math, reading, spelling and other topics. How to weave your lesson plans around the magic of the village. If this isn't an example of "use of local resources," and "added value" I don't know what is. Teaching consultants could get big fees for doing what local teachers are doing with each other for free.

Additional Source of Revenue
For those of you who aren't familiar with the village, they hold an 1870s fair every fall, and they've built a fair building to house it. An increasing number of couples, looking for an unusual spot for a wedding reception have been renting this building out. Until this year it didn't have a bathroom, so the rental fee was lower because any wedding party had to rent portable bathrooms to use it. If it had bathrooms, it could be rented at a higher fee, and more couples could use it on the weekends, thus providing an added source of funding. Wedding receptions are pricy events to hold, and a site with the Village's ambiance could command a healthy fee. Construction has already begun on those bathrooms, and they were to be completed this spring. If the village closes, this source of revenue will also be lost.

Why do I need to do something today?
You raised such an outcy two weeks ago, that the Legislature tabled the vote for two weeks, in hopes that you'd forget or get distracted.

These buildings aren't Disney Replicas, they aren't "based on an idea from Carl Sandburg of what a tavern looked like" -- they are the real deal. Buildings that were lived in and used by real people for 100 years (some of them nearly 200 years). Historic homes decay without constant vigilance. If the village closes, the buildings will be shuttered, the maintenance staff will be discharged and it will moulder, perhaps for years. Left alone to rot for years, some will decay past repair.

They were saved from being pulled down and gathered from every corner of Long Island. They were maintained through the Panic of the 1870s, the 1970s Recession, two World Wars and the Great Depression. Don't let it be said that our generation locked the doors and walked away.

Send a clear message that we didn't forget, and that we care about history, in every corner of this country. Yes, Long Island residents will carry the most weight on this vote. But even those of us who don't live on the Island can send a message that we travel, we spend money on historic sites and museums, and we vote.

What you can do:

1. Sign the electronic petition -- it takes less than a minute.

Link: http://www.petitiononline.com/saveOBVR/petition.html

2. Leave an email for a legislator -- cut and paste your favorite paragraphs from the arguments above. Or use your own words. Here's the link to all their emails:

Link: http://www.petitiononline.com/saveOBVR/petition.html

3. Leave them a message -- their phone mail will be open all night, and they'll be voting tomorrow.
Who needs to hear from you:
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi
Telephone: (516) 571-3131 Fax: 516-571-4000

Finance Committee Members:
Chair: Roger Corbin
Telephone: 516-571-6202 Fax: 516-571-6761

Vice Chair: Wayne Wink
Telephone: 516-571-6211 Fax: 516-571-6271

Ranking Member: John Ciotti
Telephone: 516-571-6203 Fax: 516-571-6732

Finance Committee Members:
Kevan Abraham
Telephone: 516-571-6201 Fax: 516-571-6187

Denise Ford
Telephone: 516-571-6204 Fax: 516-571-6264

Joseph Scannell
Telephone: 516-571-6205 Fax: 516-571-0291

Vincent Mascarella
Telephone: 516-571-6208 Fax: 516-571-6268

Richard Nicolello
Telephone: 516-571-6209 Fax: 516-571-6166

Judi Bosworth
Telephone: 516-571-6210 Fax: 516-571-0405

Additional Legislators (Will be voting Monday, not on the Finance Committeee)

Frances Becker
Telephone: 516-571-6206 Fax: 516-571-6133

Jeffrey Toback
Telephone: 516-571-6207 Fax: 516-571-6287

Peter Schmitt
Telephone: 516-571-6212 Fax: 516-571-6734

Norma Gonsalves
Telephone: 516-571-6213 Fax: 516-571-6746

David Meijas
Telephone: 516-571-6214 Fax: 516-571-6134

Dennis Dunn
Telephone: 516-571-6215 Fax: 516-571-6235

Judith Jacobs
Telephone: 516-571-6216 Fax: 516-571-6287

Edward Mangano
Telephone: 516-571-6217 Fax: 516-571-6277

Diane Yatauro
Telephone: 516-571-6216 Fax: 516-571-6158

David Dennenburg
Telephone: 516-571-6219 Fax: 516-571-3907


SAVE OLD BETHPAGE! WE CAN WIN!

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Ken]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

I wrote the County Executive a while back and just signed the petition and passed it along. I lived on Long Island all my like until moving to Delaware in the fall of 88. As kids my brother and I used to sit on the steps of this dilapidated, boarded up building on the corner of what was then Prospect Ave and Newbridge Ave. Little did we know that that building would be resurrected on a site in Old Bethpage and have its identity restored, Noon's (sp?) tavern

[Rob Walker]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Hello Again everyone,

Below is a link to a petition that is going to the County of Nassau to askk them to keep the Old Bethpage Restoraion Village open. If you can please go to the link and sign the petition electronically and then pass it on to anyone you can. Thank you all again for your help in the Museums time of need.

Link: http://www.petitiononline.com/saveOBVR/petition.html

Thank You!!!

[Rob Walker]

Keep Old Bethpage Village Restoration Open and Alive No. 5



Update February 17, 2009



A belated Happy President’s Day. It’s sad to think that on President’s Day our Nassau County government is still set on closing all of the institutions that promote and teach the history of our Long Island. As the newly dedicated statue of Theodore Roosevelt sadly looks out over Franklin Avenue from the restored Old Courthouse Executive Building, one could only imagine the disdain in President’s Roosevelt’s heart that those who dedicated a building and statue in his honor this past July now threaten the institutions of our past. Even Monday’s Newsday announced the closings of Old Bethpage Village, Garvies Point Museum and other museums, parks and preserves. Teddy Roosevelt made his legacy in the creation of the great National Parks, his initiatives went on to save our historic treasures, preserve Native American sites, and honor the great battlefields of our American Civil War. And there he stands in front of a building that houses a body that now threatens the treasures of their very own community.



Other alternatives should be sought by the Unions, the County Executive and the Nassau County Legislature to insure that Old Bethpage Village, Garvies Point and the other parks and museums do not close. Currently petitions are being circulated. These petitions can be found on the Facebook page initiated by Christopher Thomas. Continue to write and email the County Legislators, County Executive Suozzi and Union Leader Jerry Laricchiuta. The Legislators still seem dead set on voting on Monday, February 23rd for layoffs of all Museum Staff.



Thank you all for your support.



An updated copy of the flyer initiated by Karin Timour is noted below:





SAVE

OLD BETHPAGE VILLAGE



The Nassau County Legislature is scheduled to vote on Monday, February 23rd to CLOSE Old Bethpage Village and lay off all the Village staff.



* The Village is a major Nassau County and Long Island landmark.



* It inspires our children to read, learn and appreciate our history.



* Many of the buildings are over 170 years old. Without maintenance, they will deteriorate and be lost beyond repair.



Call or E-Mail the Nassau Legislature today, leave them a message.



Tell Them - Vote against Layoffs on Monday February 23rd.


What to say: “I'm calling to fight the closing of Old Bethpage Village. I heard there will be a vote on Monday to lay off the staff. I am strongly opposed to laying off the Old Bethpage Village staff.” Add something here about what the Village means to your family.

Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi 516 571-3131
Finance Committee Chair: Roger Corbin 516-571-6202

Finance Vice Chair: Wayne Wink 516-571-6211
Finance Ranking Member: John Ciotti 516-571-6203
Kevan Abraham 516-571-6201 Edward Mangano 516-571-6217
Frances Becker 516-571-6206 Vincent Muscarella 516-571-6208
Judi Bosworth 516-571-6210 David Meijas 516-571-6214

David Dennenburg 516-571-6219 Richard Nicolello 516-571-6209
Dennis Dunne 516-571-6215 Joseph Scannell 516-571-6205
Denise Ford 516-571-6204 Peter Schmitt 516-571-6212
Norma Gonsalves 516-571-6213 Jeffrey Toback 516-571-6207
Judith Jacobs 516-571-6216 Diane Yatauro 516-571-6218



Or e-mail them … go to www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/legis/index



The Committee to Save Old Bethpage Village

Thanks again to everyone on the AC for their support. Please continue to send out e-mails and letters and make phone calls.

Rob Walker
Company H
119th NYSV

Save Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Save Castle Williams, Governors Island New York

[KarinTimour]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

This is wonderful news!

We dodged the first bullet!

Ok, everyone just take a minute and savor it. Remember Jackie Gleason's heartfelt "How Sweet It Is!"

All of you on this list played an important role -- you answered the call when we needed help, and got the ball rolling.

If the people lead, the leaders will follow.

As Beth notes, they postponed the vote. Doesn't mean that they won't try to creep it back on to the agenda in two weeks. But now they've gotten a taste of how much the voters care about Old Bethpage.

This time is a gift for us to start to get a bit more organized and think strategically about what their next steps are likely to be (and what we will need to do to counter them).

Several of us were out leafletting in different parts of Long Island yesterday. I was going through southern Nassau county standing outside of grocery stores and kid's stores. A lot of people hadn't heard that anything like this was even being discussed. I moved 200 leaflets in a little over an hour.

I had a really hopeful feeling, however, by the time I was coming to the last of my flyers -- people started saying "Oh yeah, I got one of those flyers by email."

People who got the email were turning around and sending it to their own circle of friends, and it just kept building.

It's early days yet, but you all helped call in a pre-emtive (sic) strike on the idea of closing the Village.

WE CAN WIN!

Save Old Bethpage Village!

Thank you all for your help, time and effort,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[MBBursig]

Re: Save our History: Old Bethpage Village Restoration

I would just like to say that it is great to see so many people, on and off the AC, supporting this cause. As for you AC users, we have all come together, regardless of impression, unit, or categorization to meet the greater common purpose of history! Let us not loose sight of that fact alone.

Keep up the good work historians, teachers, and activists! Keep OBVR open! Nassau Residents (and non), "Give em' hell!"