At a September 3 meeting of Coalition of Forward-Facing Ellenville (COFFE), group member Zach Baum gave a brief report on his success getting the Kingston-based NoVo Foundation involved in a long-running project to bring a youth center to town. Baum said he had brought a $15,000 check from NoVo to pay for a feasibility study on what it would take to get such a center up and running in the village of Ellenville. Baum noted that a youth center has become a kind of “white whale” in the community’s wish list, something sought after for decades but with little success.

Baum said he met twice with NoVo. “I pitched them Ellenville as similar to Kingston,” he explained, “which is their main focus, but smaller.”

Ellenville and Kingston do share a history of comparative poverty and a concentration of minority groups. The need for a Youth Center, a place where youngsters can go for after school activities is largely recognized in our community. The issue is the cost.

Baum added that Boys & Girls Club, an organization that runs a number of youth centers, might consider starting one for Southern Ulster County. Baum added that there were several locations in the village that should be studied with this concept in mind. Member Debbie Briggs brought up the inevitable second issue. “How would the village, (which is broke), sustain a youth center?” Staff would have to be paid on a regular basis, and this would be an ongoing issue. Boys & Girls Clubs charge a registration fee per child and annual fees on top of that. These vary by district and are governed by the numbers of children signed up as well as other varying conditions. Baum noted that a homegrown Ellenville club was one option to be studied as well.

Sue Nibe, Village Trustee and Kiwanis Club organizer, mentioned that the village did a walkthrough of the Kimble Hose Fire Company building a few years ago with a representative from the Boys & Girls Club. Baum said that the Ellenville NAACP would be invited to partner in the effort.

Arts Center on Canal

The former Woolworth’s Building on Canal Street, currently empty, is a target for a potential Arts Center. Kelly O’Brien, recently returned to the US from a stint in the UK, laid out the need for a space for artists. She listed possible uses running from gallery space, to studio space, to A/V storage areas. Having such a space right there on Canal Street next to the Shadowland Theater and surrounded by restaurant row, could be a significant addition to the village. O’Brien said that while she and her husband have some of the necessary funding, they seek more. “We don’t want to underfund this.” They are in discussion with banks and at this early stage are open to talking with potential donors and investors.

O’Brien said that “This came out of the Ulster County culture survey recently completed. It looked at unmet needs for culture and art and we attended and heard repeatedly that there was a lack of work spaces for artists.” For more information you can contact Kelly at kelly@kellyobrien.art.