NEVERSINK  — The Neversink Parks and Recreation Director Tanya Huggler discussed the potential of a summer camp with the Town Board during their regular meeting Wednesday night.

“I have made a rough draft of a business plan, I did a very formal needs assessment in our community,” detailed Huggler. “Over 50 families are interested [in the idea.]”

Huggler said she had spent a lot of time doing research into the regulations, as well as reaching out to local camps for their input and advice.On top of all of this, she also put in a Grant Application through the Sullivan County Youth Bureau.

In terms of funding, it would come from self-funding from the families with children in the camp.

“I wouldn’t be asking for town money to make it run, the cost would be split over the number of children,” she said.

The Parks and Recreation Director had also secured a $5,000 grant from the Sullivan County Youth Bureau towards the camp with more coming in January.

This funding is intended to cover trips, equipment and potential subsidation for families who may not be able to afford the experience.

“I’ve also spoken to Tri Valley Central School District Superintendent, Erin Long, who is super excited that we were in the works of doing this,” said Huggler. “Because she said there’s a lot of grant money available that we could partner with the school to have the summer camp and their summer program and hopefully fund the entire thing so it would be no cost to families at all.”

“I’d like to hold it at the Grahamsville Fairgrounds just because we have all the different activities we can do there and...during fair prep, we’d have it at the Route 42 Park.”

Supervisor Chris Mathews wanted to assure it would be no cost to the taxpayer, which was confirmed.

“Now you’re speaking my language,” Mathews affirmed.

Supervisor grateful for community outreach

The Supervisor took the time to recount of the dangerous wildfires that had occurred in the Sundown area and Grahamsville Fire District over the weekend. According to him, over 600 acres had been lost.

“I just want to say how incredible it was to see the volunteers [firefighters, EMS, first responders, rangers] for days on end,” Mathews stated. “They absolutely exhausted themselves working [to put out] the fire.”

Mathews also took the time to thank the town’s Highway Superintendent, Preston Kelly, for manning a bulldozer in the effort against the flames, among other things.

Throughout the town, people came together thanks in part to an online post put out by Town Clerk Staci Conjura, who announced of the acceptance of donations at the firehouse.

“It went viral to say the least,” admitted Mathews. “The amount of people that showed up was heartwarming, it was incredible, it was awesome.”

Conjura stated that it all started as her kids wanting to make sure their “daddy and his firefighter friends” were fed while they were fighting the fire.

“It was amazing,” stated Conjura. “The feeling of unity is one that I have not experienced before and it was really tremendous and the people that worked beside me were phenomenal.”