Mamakating, NY - Hasidic Group Takes New Tack to Open the Homowack Lodge as a Girls Camp |
|
| |
News Source: Times Herald Record
Text Size
|
|
Mamakating, NY - The Hasidic group involved in a standoff with authorities last summer over occupying the former Homowack Lodge in Sullivan County is renovating portions of the resort and attempting to get permits to run a girl’s camp.
Last summer, the camp occupied the sprawling grounds in Summitville without a permit and faced off in court with the state Department of Health and the Town of Mamakating.
Officials called the buildings, which had numerous fire code and safety violations, “a death trap.” The attorney general’s office obtained a court order to evict the campers in August after the group refused to leave voluntarily during a several-week standoff. Ahavas Chaverim Gemilas Chesed Inc., the listed owner, has submitted plans with the town and hired Goshen attorney James Sweeney for help with getting the permits.
Sweeney confirmed that the group is seeking to reopen a girls’ camp this summer, but emphasized that the owners have several hurdles to overcome. The renovations have begun, he said.
The group needs to get a special use permit from the town, variances, a zoning change and a permit from the Department of Health and clear up numerous fines and violations with the Department of Environmental Conservation.
According to plans submitted with the town, the camp would occupy three buildings known as Elite 1, Elite 2 and Paradise and several recreational areas, but not the main area of the hotel.
The application says the camp wants to use 158 rooms, and a total of around 632 people would stay there.
Sweeney said the actual number of campers would be closer to 350.
Read the full story at Times Herald Record 
More of today's headlines
“New York, NY - The city is getting ready to welcome Egypt's boy pharaoh back to the city he wowed in 1979. An exhibit of artifacts from King Tutankhamun's tomb will...” New York, NY - Pharaoh's Treasures to Return to NY City
Jerusalem - Protesters Try Breaking Into Restaurant Selling Chametz
Total20
Read Comments (20) — Post Yours »
1
Apr 04, 2010 at 11:23 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Our President wanted to send Hillary Clinton and George Mitchell to Ellenville and Skwere and have shuttle diplomacy to break the Gridlock.
Skwere asked him not to because the President wanted to recommend a moratorium on new construction in all jewish areas before any negotiations could begin with the local Planning Board
2
Apr 04, 2010 at 11:25 AM GIVE THEM A CHANCE Says:Report as Inappropriate
LET THE HEALTH DEPT. be clear in what they need & give them a reasonable chance nobody needs a abandoned lot
3
Apr 04, 2010 at 11:36 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I'd love to see the good old anti semites or our very own self hating jews come out from the winter hibrination. As you see they are trying to do it legal. But you'll find issues more than the court / inspector does.
4
Apr 04, 2010 at 11:37 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Its amazing that the camp has NO plans to open at the Homwack this year they already signed contract at another location and the media decided to write up a bogus story to nash Skver again, yes we are. In golus
5
Apr 04, 2010 at 11:52 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
They have worked over there all winter but will probbely not use the place this summer they rented another place already
6
Apr 04, 2010 at 11:55 AM Yerachmiel Lopin, FrumFollies blogger Says:Report as Inappropriate
We shouldn't have to choose between an empty lot and a firetrap. I think this affair is another sad reflection on the quality of leadership in Skver.
7
Apr 04, 2010 at 12:17 PM mos Says:Report as Inappropriate
Is this for real? Will the media ever stop to find wrong stuff on that skvere group, the had manger of this camp Chaim B told me recently that he just signed contract to open the camp this year by Exit 98 because the construction is far from finish and he dosent wanna even file for a permit before its a goundred percent finish, so how can they write that bluff? I think this sholuld show us all how false all the reports are
8
Apr 04, 2010 at 12:50 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Is this for real? Will the media ever stop to find wrong stuff on that skvere group, the had manger of this camp Chaim B told me recently that he just signed contract to open the camp this year by Exit 98 because the construction is far from finish and he dosent wanna even file for a permit before its a goundred percent finish, so how can they write that bluff? I think this sholuld show us all how false all the reports are ”
If something chulilah happened to your daughter in camp because it had no safety provisions, how quick would it take for you to sue Skwere. B"H there are such things as safety codes to protect all. Sure you could argue withe the need of some items but 90% are great. Be happy they are enforcing these issues. Otherwise they never would be done.
9
Apr 04, 2010 at 01:10 PM Realist Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ We shouldn't have to choose between an empty lot and a firetrap. I think this affair is another sad reflection on the quality of leadership in Skver. ”
With friends like you on our side, your name says it all. YERACHEM KAYL!!
10
Apr 04, 2010 at 01:58 PM MazelKGH Says:Report as Inappropriate
Stop with the "anti-semites" rhetoric, PLEASE! There is no question that the place is extremely dangerous to inhabit. It was lousy even when it was still a hotel many years ago. But now with children involved, someone in Skver is either on drugs or knows someone that is.
11
Apr 04, 2010 at 03:29 PM proud skvere Says:Report as Inappropriate
our rebbes father who opened skvere never allowed anyone to go to camp. when I grew up we look down at girls from skvere who went to camp so I still can not get used to the idea of sending our girls to camp so maybe this closing should of been a sign from heaven that we shouldnt of changed our mesoraha as we never changed with singing in skvere girls still dont sing we are proud of it
12
Apr 04, 2010 at 03:31 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I wish Rabbi Bentzion Dunner would still be here he would of helped us since he bought the camp for us he gave the tzeduka so the rebbe can have a place for the girls what a tzadik he was
may he rest in lichtiga gan eden
13
Apr 04, 2010 at 04:20 PM Former DOH employee Says:Report as Inappropriate
As a former NYS DOH employee who dealt directly with similar situations, I can guarantee everyone that the DOH is not anti-semitic. They apply their rules universally.
It seems, according to the comments, that there is some confusion about opening this year in this location. My guess from these comments is that they are trying to fix up the Homowack, but at the same time are planning an alternative location for this summer, if renovations are not completed in time. Good for them. I hope that they are able to open this year or next, with DOH license, and that the girls should have a fun and safe summer.
14
Apr 04, 2010 at 06:18 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ LET THE HEALTH DEPT. be clear in what they need & give them a reasonable chance nobody needs a abandoned lot ”
But sometimes, fear and prejudice outweigh reason. That statement is meant for both sides.
15
Apr 04, 2010 at 09:15 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
The Skvere have a long history of trying to operate their mosdos with minimal adherence to health and safety rules. With all the money they collect, its really a shame that they cannot provide their yinglach with the best facilities.
16
Apr 04, 2010 at 09:55 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ our rebbes father who opened skvere never allowed anyone to go to camp. when I grew up we look down at girls from skvere who went to camp so I still can not get used to the idea of sending our girls to camp so maybe this closing should of been a sign from heaven that we shouldnt of changed our mesoraha as we never changed with singing in skvere girls still dont sing we are proud of it ”
Wht are you talking about....the skvere have had summer camps for the yinglach since the 1970s and the girls since the late 1980s. The alte rebbe was a progressive in this regard although until recently they never had such problems with the building codes
17
Apr 07, 2010 at 08:29 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Wht are you talking about....the skvere have had summer camps for the yinglach since the 1970s and the girls since the late 1980s. The alte rebbe was a progressive in this regard although until recently they never had such problems with the building codes ”
The boys' camp started in '77. The girls' camp started only around '07.
18
Apr 07, 2010 at 02:53 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ As a former NYS DOH employee who dealt directly with similar situations, I can guarantee everyone that the DOH is not anti-semitic. They apply their rules universally.
It seems, according to the comments, that there is some confusion about opening this year in this location. My guess from these comments is that they are trying to fix up the Homowack, but at the same time are planning an alternative location for this summer, if renovations are not completed in time. Good for them. I hope that they are able to open this year or next, with DOH license, and that the girls should have a fun and safe summer. ”
they are just idiotic
19
Apr 07, 2010 at 07:02 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Wht are you talking about....the skvere have had summer camps for the yinglach since the 1970s and the girls since the late 1980s. The alte rebbe was a progressive in this regard although until recently they never had such problems with the building codes ”
NO girls camp in Skver till the last few years. They finally saw that if you do not offer entertainment B'HETER the girls will do it B'ISSUR and that's much WORSE!
20
Apr 07, 2010 at 08:29 PM LocalYokel Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ As a former NYS DOH employee who dealt directly with similar situations, I can guarantee everyone that the DOH is not anti-semitic. They apply their rules universally.
It seems, according to the comments, that there is some confusion about opening this year in this location. My guess from these comments is that they are trying to fix up the Homowack, but at the same time are planning an alternative location for this summer, if renovations are not completed in time. Good for them. I hope that they are able to open this year or next, with DOH license, and that the girls should have a fun and safe summer. ”
Well, the DOH is probably not anti-semitic but it's pretty obvious that some of the locals, including a pompous fire chief, are acting like anti-semites.
That's not to say that Sqwere is doing all it should, at least to avoid Chillul Hashem.