Best Year End Gift Ever!

View, has received a large donation to its Moving Mountains campaign for debt retirement, which will allow it to retain the property at 3260 State Route 28 that housed the arts center for nearly 40 years. The restricted gift is for $365, 000 and is pledged over a five year period. The benefactors are a couple who have been long-time supporters of View, and they wish to remain anonymous.

According to Jennifer Potter Hayes, View’s Executive Director, the gift agreement allows View to retain the deed to the property and use it for mission related activities. It is hoped that by placing the property back in productive use, it will generate additional revenue for View.

The original concept for an Arts and Sciences complex on Route 28 in Old Forge included the use of the former Arts Center property in its plan. However, in early 2011, the Board of Directors of View reluctantly decided to list the property in its ongoing effort to pay down its debt. As discussions commenced with the donor in mid-2012, the Board decided not to renew its listing, but kept a For Sale by Owner sign on the property, which has now come down.

“This generous and creative gift allows View to retain this property and over time develop  it in a way that is compatible with our mission, at the same time freeing up funds to be used to pay down our mortgage,” says View Board President Helene McAleese.  “It honors the original visionaries of this project, while assuring future generations of the best and highest use of this site. We are indebted to our benefactors for their foresight,” she said.

Over the years, the donors, View Board members and staff, and community members have mentioned possible uses for all or part of this property, including a laboratory for Environmental Sciences, café and workshop space, wellness center, and senior activities center, among others. Over time, these ideas will be vetted for feasibility and compatibility with the mission of View. Community input will be welcomed.

“In the meantime,” says Potter Hayes, “we plan to spruce up the building facade and grounds in the spring, and continue to use the site for storage and overflow parking, as we contemplate the future.”

Deck the Halls



O Tannenbaum!

The lobby of View has been beautifully decorated for the holidays. The centerpiece is this 16-foot, balsam fir.

Executive Director Jennifer Potter Hayes brought the tree to View, with help from her family. She says, “View’s Christmas tree came from the Brandreth Park.  It was cut in an area on the upper Shingle Shanty Stream near the North Pond Flowgrounds. From the place where it was loaded onto my car, I drove about 14 miles on a dirt road to the nearest paved road -- North Point Road at the north end of Raquette Lake.  Not bad for my Subaru !!!! From there I just took it slow down Rt. 28 from Deerlands to Old Forge.”

 

Ye Merry Gentlemen!

The Subaru "Sleigh"

The tree was off loaded at View by Stephen Wick, Ed Booton, Alan Saban and Norm Rannels.




Some of Santa's Helpers

View staffers Tony Thornton, Jody Pritchard, Linda Weal, and Hazel Alexis helped Stephen get it upright (while I took photos from a safe distance).

Stephen spearheaded the decorating of the tree and the lobby. We hope you get a chance to stop by and see it. There are also some beautiful decorations outside!

Happy Holidays to all!

--By Leslie Bailey, View staff

 

Wild Life Exhibit opens at View

An opening reception for the new exhibit, “The Wild Life,” will be held on Friday, Dec. 7, from 5 to 7 pm. The reception is open to the public and will have music, light fare, and libations. Antlers, tails, furs, and any wild apparel is encouraged! 

"The Wild Life" is an exhibit of artwork that puts our “wild” neighbors front and center. Animals are the focus of all the work on display. Here’s a quick overview of what you will see: Wildlife photographs by acclaimed photographer Eric Dresser, watercolor paintings of animals and nature by Jeanette Fournier, oils and watercolors by JC Parker, paintings by avid outdoorsman Bob Ripley, paintings and sculpture by Tricia Zimic, and hunting weaponry by Dan Landis, Pa., Roy Painter, Pa., John Scifres, Ind., Charles Sinclair, Texas, and Joseph Weed, Ohio.

The exhibit will be on display through April 28, 2013.

Concurrent exhibits include photographs by Don Andrews from Dec. 8 to April 28; “The Artventures of Tom Yacovella” from Dec. 8 to Jan. 13; paintings and sculptures by Michael Ringer from Jan. 19 to Feb. 24, and paintings by William Wiatr from March 2 to April 21.

And there’s more.

Tricia Zimic will give a talk on Dec. 8 at 10 am in the gallery and she will answer questions about her powerful images.

Painting and sculpture by Tricia Zimic

 

And View will host a wild night on Jan. 19, from 8 pm to midnight, with an outdoor campfire, s’mores, music, and storytelling. Fun for all ages!

--Posted by Leslie Bailey, View staff