Spring Glen, NY – For at least the third time in less than a year, vandals have struck the former Homowack Lodge, breaking a number of recently-replaced windows at the old resort. The vandals apparently struck sometime over the weekend, smashing windows that were closest to Phillipsport Road.
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Aron Taub, a spokesman for the group who now owns the hotel complex, said that he was incensed by the latest incident.
“It’s really ridiculous and frustrating,” Taub said.
Taub went on to say that he hopes law enforcement authorities will catch the vandals and that the group is cooperating with police in order help collect evidence.
“We’re hoping that the state police will catch the people responsible for this,” he said. “We want to take the necessary steps to find the root of this.”
The Homowack had been the source of much controversy over the past year, as the group who currently owns the resort last summer had operated an illegal camp at the former resort. The Town of Mamakating had attempted to close the camp, citing numerous code violations, but were unsuccessful in doing so until the New York State Department of Health intervened in the case. Eventually, a Sullivan County judge ordered an evacuation of the property, and the residents reluctantly complied.
Over the past several months, however, the owners of Machne Bnos Square — as the lodge is now called — have been making a concerted effort to bring the property back into compliance with town and state regulations. They have made several appearances before the Mamakating Planning Board, where they have produced plans regarding the proposed camp. Taub said that the group, who are members of the Skver Hasidic dynasty, likely would not be able to bring the property into compliance in time to operate the camp this summer, though it remains to be seen whether the work would be completed in time.
Jim Sweeney, the attorney for the group, said that he, too, was upset by the vandalism, but that he has been heartened by the quick response from local officials, including the town building department.v “It’s a sad thing,” Sweeney said. “And it’s a disturbing thing. But one thing that is not disturbing, and is encouraging, is the response of the town officials. They reacted quickly.”
Sweeney indicated that the town zoning board of appeals recently granted a request for a caretaker trailer to be placed on the property, but that the group did not yet have it in place. Sweeney speculated that the presence of a round-the-clock caretaker might have prevented the vandalism.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened before the security is in place,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney said that the group will now look to pick up the pace when it comes to getting the trailer in place.
Very simple solution, hire security.
Is this vandalism suspected to be the work of local teenagers or is there some reason to believe that another chassidus is involved?
if it was against haredim it is only normal that people would want to vandalize, and rightfully so.
it a hareidi protests than he is a hooligan
The vandals are doing this bec they dont want them back. If I was Mr Taub I would make sure its up and running this summer just to show these pests that they arent in control.
They should have continued paying off the local people/inspector like all the owners before them did. It has been in the same condition for a long while only thing that changed was that the new owners didn’t know who to take care of properly. I have some good memories of that place, so sad. end of an era!
It will be up and running no matter what. They have no regard for the law and have run the illegal facility before.
In the Summer of 1977, I stayed at the Homowack. It was a fine hotel. Some twenty years later, for Pesach, I made the decision of staying at The Tamarack Lodge, instead of the Homowack. The latter decision was a very bad mistake. The Tamarack had numerous health code and other violations, and was so cited by the local authorities. There was no working heat in that hotel, and it was very cold that Pesach. The service in the dining room was atrocious, and at least one of the waiters hated Jews, and acted in a contemptuous manner to the guests. There was even a fire on the 1st Seder night, and we all had to run out in the cold, onto the main lawn. Someone whom we met at the hotel, managed to reserve the one remaining room at the Homowack, for the last 3 days of Pesach. I wish that we could have done so, as in its prime, it was a far superior resort. Incidentally, the authorities finally closed The Tamarack several years later.
Invest in a good fence and a number of cameras, they are very inexpensive to get a system that has 10 cams and records to a hard drive and can store 2 years of vid. less than $1k, google them or look on ebay plenty of good systems around, i recommend it for all shuls as well, due to the recent vandalism and thefts etc, it can also help prove or prevent the child molesters!
Vacant properties invite vandalism. It’s that simple. Read your homeowner’s policy. It says if the has is vacant for more than x days, you have to notify the insurer, and then the insurer can cancel the policy or jack up the rates. Summer homes that are not occupied year round are also much more expensive to insure because of the greater risk of vandalism, theft, fire and undetected leaks.
Hi Eva Levy (#) :
You obtained your information from the “Times Herald Record” the local, notoriously anti Jewish, newspaper. Knowing the source you may reconsider your passing of judgement against fellow Jews on their say so.
If they would have security at the camp instead of the security at the yeashiva in new square
This would not happen
you can do it the normal way and you can do it the new square way
I worked as a bellhop at the Homowack, and I knew every square inch of the property. The main building was constructed first, and then wings were added over the years. Each building or wing, is on an entirely separate plumbing and electrical system than all the others. Doors in each wing have different locks, therefore different keys. I believe the Emerald wing which was mostly green was the first.
Then the 3 story Elite wing, the only one with an elevator, was added onto it. Then they added on and on the other way until the final addition, the Paradise wing. Decorated in mostly blue, and sporting huge stone bathtubs, it was the jewel of the resort and the priciest rooms. If that wing is where these kids are camping, it is the safest spot in the entire resort, and easily separated from the rest of the premises utility wise.
Many residents hate the Hassidic. Why? I am not Jewish, but I will defend thier right in America to freely express thier religion. I have worked in Hassidic bungalow colonies in NY and I can tell you these people are harmless. All they want is freedom of religion. Is that too much to ask of American citizens? Trying to take a vandalized, run down property and put it to use is wrong? What will happen? They will spend money in your community, hire craftsmen to help repair the buildings, and they will not commit crimes such as those already perpetrated upon them.
I guess your local community is already doing great right now, so selling more grocerys or giving some work to those that need it is not as important as your hatred.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves. To attack people that are going to improve your local economy and save a derelict property is shamefull to say the least….
All they want from you is to be left alone to thier religion. Is that too much to ask?