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GOOD MORNING, UH, AND WELCOME TO THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON.
MY NAME IS TOM DRAKE AND I AM THE MAYOR OF THIS AMAZING VILLAGE HERE.
HERE WITH ME TODAY ARE OBVIOUSLY FRIENDS, UH, AND, AND RESIDENTS AND AND FAMILY IN THIS VILLAGE, BUT ALSO HERE WITH ME TODAY ARE CONGRESSMAN GEORGE LATIMER, NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN, MARY JANESKY, GREENBERG TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLEN HENDRICKS HASTINGS ON HUDSON VILLAGE, TRUSTEE DOUGLAS ALLGOOD.
AND THEN I GO TO THE STORYTELLING OF WHY WE'RE ACTUALLY HERE TODAY.
SO THE FIRST GROUP WOULD BE JEN D BONVAN, TORAH, LAURA HEISLER MITTEN, AND LARA WEITZMAN FROM THE HASTINGS RAINBOW FAMILIES.
DIANA PAN FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTING FOR AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, ALSO KNOWN AS SPICE.
IS THE OTHER STUDENT HERE YET, OR NO? IS OLIVIA HERE? UH, HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
MAYA, JUST YOU, UH, FROM THE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL, AFFINITY CLUB COMMANDER RICH PESCI FROM ADMIRAL FARRAGUT, AMERICAN LEGION POST 1195 WITH A FEW MEMBERS TOO.
JOSE AND ROB LEE, UM, JOSH SOW, UH, JOSH SUNNY WICK FROM RIVER TOWN'S ART COUNCIL.
DAN SPRAGGA, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE HASTINGS LITTLE LEAGUE.
AND JANET LOKEY FROM RIVER TOWN'S ROTARY.
SO IN THE BEGINNING OF 2026, I, I BEGAN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP OUR ANNUAL VETERANS BANNER PROJECT THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.
UH, WE BEGAN THE PROJECT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, LISA O'REILLY, A A FORMER RETIRED, UH, UM, VILLAGE EMPLOYEE.
WE BEGAN THE PROJECT A FEW YEARS AGO AS A PROJECT WITH THE EIGHTH GRADERS WHO HAD TO DO A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT IN, IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND IN AN EIGHTH GRADER, HARRY ROMERO BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION THAT HE THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO BANNERS, UH, HONORING OUR VETERANS, UH, HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS.
AND BEING A VETERAN, HE OBVIOUSLY GOT ME, UH, WHEN I WAS A VILLAGE TRUSTEE, AND WE RAN RIGHT AHEAD WITH IT.
AND LISA O'REILLY, IF ANYBODY KNOWS LISA, JUST WAS BOTH FEET AND ARMS AND EVERYTHING INTO THIS AND JUMPING RIGHT IN.
AND, AND WE WENT FULL STEAM AHEAD.
AND I BEGAN TO, YOU KNOW, TO ORGANIZE IT FOR THIS SPRING, UH, AROUND JANUARY.
THEN I STARTED TO JUST WONDER ABOUT HOW MANY, HOW MANY BANNERS DO WE HAVE ON OUR LIGHT POLES HERE IN THE VILLAGE, BECAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH.
AND, AND I REALIZED THAT WE HAVE A BANNER THAT REPRESENTS OUR VETERANS.
UH, IT'S POSTED, THE BANNERS ARE POSTED.
THEY'RE POSTED NOW, UH, FOR JULY, BUT THEY ALSO POST EVERY NOVEMBER IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY.
AND THEN EVERY MAY IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY TODAY, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, WE HAVE THE PRIDE BANNERS THAT GO UP, UH, HONORING OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY HERE IN THE VILLAGE AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO US.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO HAVE BANNERS THAT ARE SUPPLIED BY THE PARENTS, UH, PARENTING THE CHILDREN OF COLOR.
UH, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE SAMPLES OF THEIR BANNER.
THAT'S ALSO UP DURING THE MONTH OF JULY OR JUNE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE RIVER ARTS BANNERS THAT GO UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR JUST DISPLAYING OUR, OUR HISTORY AND OUR, IN OUR DEEP-ROOTED, UH, COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THE NUMBER WAS SURPRISING TO ME, 'CAUSE THAT'S ONLY FOUR DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE ON A LIGHT POLE.
SO THEN I BEGAN TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER.
AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, THESE ARE BANNERS THAT ARE DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN FIVE CORNERS.
AND REALLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO TODAY IS TELL A STORY AND TELL A STORY ABOUT WHERE THIS VILLAGE IS AT OUR NATION'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY, UH, I IMAGINED 180 OR 147 YEARS AGO WHEN THE VILLAGE WAS CREATED, BUT 250 YEARS AGO WHEN OUR NATION WAS CREATED, THAT THE BANNERS WOULD BE MILITARY AND POLITICAL BANNERS, AND THAT'S ALL YOU WOULD SEE.
YOU'D SEE POLITICAL LEADERS, MILITARY LEADERS, AND THAT'S ALL WE'D HONOR.
AND I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHOW WHAT THIS COMMUNITY HONORS TODAY HERE IN HASTINGS ON HUDSON, THIS IS JUST A SMALL CROSS SECTION OF THE BANNERS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, YOU CAN ASK VILLAGE CLERK ANTHONY COSTANTINI.
WE WENT THROUGH MOST OF THEM THE OTHER DAY.
THERE ARE A LOT THAT WE DISPLAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND WHILE YOU LIVE HERE, YOU SEE THEM EVERY DAY.
WHEN YOU DRIVE TO TOWN, YOU'LL SEE THEM AT FIVE CORNERS.
BUT IF YOU'RE A PERSON PASSING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY WHO'S DRIVING UP BROADWAY OR DRIVING UP WARBURTON OR COMING DOWN TO SHOP AT ONE OF OUR STORES OR EAT AT ONE OF OUR RESTAURANTS, YOU SAY, HUH, THIS IS WHAT THEY DO IN HASTINGS.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT WE'RE SO SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR IN THE VILLAGE.
YOU ALSO SEE, UH, SCHOOL PLAY BANNERS THAT ARE UP THERE.
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SEE, UH, SIGNUPS FOR HASTINGS LITTLE LEAGUE AND THE HASTINGS REC BASKETBALL LEAGUE AND THE, THE, UH, SWARM SWIM TEAM FOR THE POOL EVERY SUMMER.YOU SEE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.
YOU SEE THE REVOLUTIONARY HASTINGS AND THE BATTLE OF EDGAR'S LANE, WHICH WE JUST, THAT GROUP WHO ARE HERE, EILEEN CHARLES AND ANDREW BWIN JUST DID A HUGE CELEBRATION OF AMERICA, TWO 50 AND EARLY JUNE, OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY AND VILLAGE HALL, YOU SEE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BANNER THAT REMINDS US EVERY, UH, NOVEMBER OR OCTOBER OF FIRE PREVENTION MONTH.
AND THEN WE HAVE HOMECOMING EVENTS, THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND THE BOOSTERS CLUB, HOMECOMING EVENTS, BANNERS, AND THEN RIVER TOWN'S ROTARY CHAPTER IS EVEN HERE.
AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A PERMANENT, UH, PLACE SIGN AS YOU'RE COMING SOUTHBOUND ON BROADWAY, UH, RIGHT NEAR ZINZER PARK, THAT THAT DENOTES THE RIVER TOWN'S, UH, PRESENCE, RIVER TOWN'S ROTARY PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YES, WE WERE FOUNDED ON, ON NOVEMBER 18TH, UH, 1879, AND WE ARE IN OUR HUNDRED 47TH YEAR.
SO WE SHOULD BE THROWING A BIG PARTY IN THREE YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY OUR VILLAGE CLERK IS READY FOR THAT.
AND THE VILLAGE MANAGER, MARY BETH MURPHY, YOU'RE READY FOR THAT.
UH, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY AS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN OUR NATION AND ESPECIALLY OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M HONORED HERE TO STAND TODAY AS YOUR MAYOR, AND I'M PROUD TO STAND WITH EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY IN CELEBRATING OUR VILLAGE AT 250 YEARS AND HOW FAR WE'VE COME AS A COMMUNITY.
THE FIRST SPEAKER THAT I'M CALLING TODAY, UH, IS THE HONORABLE CONGRESSMAN GEORGE LATIMER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
AND, UH, IT, IT'S ALMOST HARD TO IMAGINE THAT TOMORROW THIS NATION WILL BE 250 YEARS OLD.
THOSE OF US OF A CERTAIN AGE, REMEMBER THE, UH, BICENTENNIAL, THE 200 YEARS.
AND IF SOMEBODY SAID TO ME THEN WHEN I WAS 22, UH, IN 50 YEARS, I GO LIKE, COME ON.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BUT HERE WE ARE.
AND, UH, THIS NATION HAS SURVIVED AS AN EXPERIMENT.
AND FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY'RE IN THIS ROOM AND AS MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE ARE DIFFERENT, UH, WAYS TO LOOK AT WHAT THAT EXPERIMENT IS LIKE.
AND I TEND TO LOOK AT IT AS A STORY OF RESILIENCE.
THE ABILITY TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO OVERCOME THE THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR WAY.
LEMME GIVE AN ANALOGY OF IT, THAT'S PRETTY RECENT.
WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD IN COLLEGE, THE NEW YORK KNICKS WON THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1973, 19-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT, THEY HAD WON TWICE FOR THOSE OF YOU OF A CERTAIN AGE.
THEY HAD WON TWICE WITHIN A FEW YEAR PERIOD.
SO I WAS KIND OF THINKING, YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA SEE A LOT OF THESE OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE.
I DIDN'T THINK IT'D TAKE ME TO 72 TO SEE THE NEXT ONE.
AND, UH, AS WE WATCH THIS AMAZING SWEEP, AND I'M A BIG KNICKS FAN, I'M LISTENING TO ALL THE GAMES, NO MATTER WHAT I'M DOING, UH, I WILL ADMIT, AND IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO BE HONEST, YOU CAN ADMIT IT TO A COUPLE OF THOSE GAMES.
I STARTED GIVING UP ON 'EM A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE HALFTIME, YOU'RE DOWN 29 POINTS.
I TURNED IT OFF, SAID A FEW WORDS, AND I'M NOT GONNA SAY IN A PUBLIC MICROPHONE, AND STORMED AWAY, UH, OBVIOUSLY TO FIND THAT THEY HAD COME FROM BEHIND LATER ON AND WON THE GAME AND, AND WON THE SERIES AGAINST A TEAM THAT BY ALL ACCOUNTS WERE A BETTER TEAM, UH, ON PAPER.
AND, AND I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE COMEBACK IN THE LAST GAME, GAME FIVE, WHEN THEY WERE DOWN BY NOT AS MUCH, BUT THEY WERE COMING BACK DOWN THE HOME STRETCH, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THIS IS A MIRACLE.
AND THEN I REMEMBERED AS A SPORTS FAN, I HAD SEEN ONE OTHER, THE MIRACLE, THIS IS NOT A NEGATIVE TO THE YANKEE FANS.
YOU GUYS HAVE 26 WORLD SERIES AS A MET FAN, THE BOTTOM OF THE 10TH, GAME SIX AGAINST THE BOSTON RED SOX.
YOU'RE DOWN TWO RUNS, YOU, YOU, ONE MORE OUT, ONE MORE STRIKE, AND YOU'RE ELIMINATED IN THE BOSTON.
RED SOX WIN THE WORLD SERIES, AND WITH TWO STRIKES ON THE BATTER, HE GETS A HIT, NEXT GUY GETS A HIT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE METS WIN THAT GAME AND THEY WIN THE OTHER.
SO I SAW A SECOND MIRACLE IN MY LIFE.
HOW DOES THAT RELATE TO WHERE WE ARE HERE TODAY? WE ARE IN A DIFFICULT TIME IN THE COUNTRY.
COUNTRY HASTINGS IS DOING PRETTY WELL.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY'S DOING PRETTY WELL, BUT AS A NATION, WE'RE DIVIDED AND WE SEE A LOT OF DIFFICULTY IN OUR, IN OUR, UH, DISAGREEMENTS, IN OUR IDEOLOG IDEOLOGICAL DISAGREEMENTS, IN THE CHALLENGES OF THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH.
AND, UH, UH, A LOT OF UNHAPPINESS, A LOT OF DISAPPOINTMENT.
AND UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT'S WHEN YOU TURN THE TV OFF.
YOU SAY A FEW CURSE WORDS AND YOU DROP OUT OF THE PROJECT AND YOU STOP WATCHING THE GAME.
BUT THEN YOU THINK ABOUT 250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY, YOU ASK YOURSELF, I ASK MYSELF, HOW DID THEY FEEL IN 1862 WHEN THE CIVIL WAR, THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES WAS NOT GOING WELL FOR THE NORTH AS A NORTHERNER, UH, AND AS THE THE SIDE THAT ULTIMATELY WON AND THE SIDE THAT ENDED SLAVERY, UH, I CONSIDER THAT THE, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT WAR.
AND IN 1862, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT WAR WAS NOT DOING WELL.
THERE WEREN'T, UH, UH, UH, CELL PHONES AND UH, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA TO TELL YOU IN, IN DAILY MOMENTS WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
BUT THE REPORTS COMING BACK WERE THAT, UH, THE UNION FORCES WERE LOSING BIG BATTLES.
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AND IT LOOKED AS IF THE SOUTH WAS GONNA SUCCEED IN SEPARATING AND MAINTAINING THEIR PECULIAR INSTITUTION OF BLACK SLAVERY IN 1942.ALSO BEFORE MY TIME, SOMEBODY IN THE ROOM MIGHT HAVE BEEN ALIVE AT 42 IN 1942, BUT IF YOU WERE, YOU WERE LITTLE.
AND, UM, IN 1942, IT DIDN'T LOOK VERY GOOD.
HITLER WAS RUNNING RAMPANT OVER THE EUROPEAN CON, UH, CONTINENT.
HE AND THE NAZIS WERE MARCHING GOOSESTEP UNDER THE LARK OF TRIUMPH IN PARIS AND JAPAN WAS ISLAND HOPPING WITH CONTROL OF THE PACIFIC.
IT DIDN'T LOOK VERY GOOD FOR THE FORCES OF FREEDOM IN 1942.
IN 1812, THE BRITISH CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AND BURNED THE WHITE HOUSE CHASING JAMES AND DOLLY MADISON OUT OF THE VERY WHITE HOUSE THAT, UH, IS UNDERGOING SOME RENOVATIONS RIGHT NOW.
AND YET, SOMEHOW THE EXPERIMENT SURVIVED.
SOMEHOW THE HISTORY BOOKS CAN TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE FACT.
AND WE WERE BORN INTO AN AMERICA WHERE WE SURVIVED THE WAR OF 1812.
AND WE, UH, SO WE SURVIVED AND, AND WENT BEYOND THE CIVIL WAR, AND WE MADE REFORMS THAT WERE LONG OVERDUE, WE'RE STILL NOT THERE YET.
AND THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE, THE HORROR OF WORLD WAR II PULLED OUT OF THE DEPRESSION, THE END STORY.
WE KNEW THE DAY THAT WE WERE GOING TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOW THOSE THINGS TURNED OUT.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW THIS STORY TURNS OUT, BUT WHAT I REMIND, I HAD TO REMIND MYSELF WHEN THE KNICKS WERE DOWN, WAS THAT I SAW A TEAM GO FROM NOWHERE TO SOMEWHERE AGAINST ALL THE ODDS, AND IT COULD BE DONE AGAIN.
AND I HAVE TO TELL MYSELF AS FRUSTRATED AS I AM WORRYING ABOUT DELANEY HALL, AND ARE PEOPLE, UH, GONNA BE AIR CONDITIONED ON A NIGHT, LIKE LAST NIGHT BEING STUFFED TOGETHER IN AN INHUMAN SITUATION AS I WORRY ABOUT HAITIAN, UH, PEOPLE, TPS BEING SHIPPED BACK TO PORTER FRANCE TO AN UNKNOWN FUTURE, A DANGEROUS FUTURE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE WILL GO ON, THAT WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIND A WAY THROUGH AND WE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
BECAUSE DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IS STILL THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT KNOWN TO MANKIND.
YOU'RE SITTING HERE IN YOUR HOME COMMUNITY ON A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE AFTER LAST NIGHT.
YOU'D BE STAYING IN AN AIR CONDITIONED HOME, HOPEFULLY, UH, SLEEPING IN LATE, BUT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN THAT, IN, IN THAT NATION TOO.
I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE 50 YEARS TODAY FROM THE TRICENTENNIAL, BUT I BELIEVE AMERICA WILL BE HERE 50 YEARS FROM TODAY.
AND WE WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS ERA AND WE WILL SAY, YES, IT WAS DIFFICULT.
YES, IT WAS DARK, BUT AS AMERICANS, WE GOT THROUGH IT.
I APOLOGIZE, MATT, I JUMPED RIGHT OVER YOU BEFORE AND, AND I DIDN'T INTRODUCE YOU.
MATT TURK WILL BE SPEAKING LAST, UH, WITH OUR GROUP TODAY IN, IN, IN OUR HONORING TODAY AND ALSO PLAYING FOR US.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN, MARY JANE CHIMPSKY.
AND ON A DAY WHEN, WHEN YOU DRIVE THROUGH MOST OF THE RIVER TOWNS, YOU, YOU THINK THAT THE WHOLE PLACE WAS EVACUATED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CARS ANYWHERE.
THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYONE WHO IS STILL IN TOWN IS STILL HERE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING THE INTEREST AS WELL AS THE LOVE OF AIR CONDITIONING TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE 250 YEARS OLD PUTS US IN A CATEGORY OF EMERGING RESPECTABILITY OF LIFESPAN IN TERMS OF OUR NATIONS.
WE ALL KNOW FRANCE GOES BACK ABOUT 1500 YEARS, AND ITALY WAS LESS THAN 250 YEARS.
SO WE ARE SOMEWHERE, WE'RE SOMEWHERE RESPECTABLE NOW.
WE'RE NOT JUST THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK WHERE ALL THE OTHER NATIONS CAN LOOK AT US AND SAY, BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WELL, WE HAVE COME OF AGE, BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE NOW AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BECOME? AND AS GEORGE POINTED OUT, WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TENSION IN THE COUNTRY AS TO WHAT AMERICA IS AND WHAT AMERICA IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
UM, I WAS THINKING ABOUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOST EPITOMIZES THAT TENSION IS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
AND THE PERSON WHO GETS CREDIT FOR
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BEING THE PRIMARY AUTHOR, THOMAS JEFFERSON, HE WROTE ALL OF THOSE GREAT ASPIRATIONAL LINES WE LEARNED ABOUT IN SCHOOL.BUT HE ALSO OWNED A LARGE NUMBER OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE.
AND UNLIKE MANY OF THE FOUNDERS, HE NEVER EMANCIPATED THEM, OR AT LEAST MOST OF THEM.
WHERE, WHERE DO WE GO WITH THIS THINKING FOR AT LEAST 40, 50 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN, THERE'S BEEN A CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY IN THIS COUNTRY AMONG CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO PURPORT TO BE INTELLECTUALS THAT THE CONSTITUTION AND ALL OF OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INTERPRETED AS IF WE ARE STILL IN THE 17 HUNDREDS.
SO LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR ALL OF US HERE IN THE ROOM.
LET'S DO 1776, SINCE WE'RE BASICALLY AT THE 250TH PEOPLE CALL AMERICA A CHRISTIAN NATION BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE WERE FOUNDED.
WELL, THE, THERE WERE VERY FEW CATHOLICS IN THIS COUNTRY OUTSIDE OF MARYLAND, WHICH HAD BEEN FOUNDED IN THE 16 HUNDREDS AS A REFUGE FOR OPPRESSED CATHOLICS.
YOU THINK OF THE PHRASE, ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT BASICALLY LAPS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION RIGHT OFF THE TOP.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO LIVED IN THIS AREA, WHICH BECAME THE RIVER TOWNS WERE ENSLAVED.
YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT AND WHAT WE WERE DOING TO NATIVE AMERICANS AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN YOU THINK OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SHOW UP YET, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE ONE OR TWO CELEBRITIES HERE AND THERE.
MY PEOPLE DIDN'T COME OVER UNTIL THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
WE HAD A LOT OF JEWISH REFUGEES COMING OVER IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS AND EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
AS THINGS GOT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT IN THE PARTS OF EUROPE THAT THEY CAME FROM, WE EVENTUALLY HAD HISPANIC AMERICANS COMING UP FROM MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND SOUTH AMERICA.
WE WENT DOWN INTO WHAT WAS PART OF THEIR TERRITORY IN THE AMERICAN WEST.
AND THEN THEY DID WHAT ALL PEOPLES DO.
THEY GRADUALLY MIGRATED THROUGH ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
WE HAD ASIAN AMERICANS WHO CAME MOSTLY IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS, AND WE SAW HOW THEY WERE TREATED, HOW THEY WERE DENIED CITIZENSHIP AND ALL OF THAT RACISM ENDED UP LEADING TO THE JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS DURING WORLD WAR II.
THANK GOD THAT ALMOST ALL OF THEM SURVIVED THAT.
BUT GOING BACK TO THE IDEA, IF WE GO BACK TO AMERICA AS IT WAS IN 1776, I DARE SAY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF US IN THIS ROOM, OR AT LEAST PART OF THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WOULD NOT BE WELCOME HERE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE AMERICA WE WANT TO GO BACK TO.
AMERICA WAS ALWAYS, AND THOMAS JEFFERSON WOULD PROBABLY BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU THIS, IF HE WERE HERE TODAY, AMERICA WAS PRIMARILY A POLITICAL SCIENCE EXPERIMENT BASED ON AN IDEA THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO BELONG.
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST CONTRIBUTIONS THEY CAN BASED ON THEIR ABILITIES AND NOT ON OTHER EXTERNALITIES.
I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT GIVEN HOW DIVERSE ANY ROOM IS IN THIS COUNTRY AT THIS POINT, THAT THE VAST BALL MAJORITY OF US UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS WHAT AMERICA IS, AND WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN IN OUR POWER, GREAT OR SMALL, TO ENSURE THAT AMERICA CONTINUES ALONG THAT ROUTE.
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THANK YOU ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHAMSKY.UH, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS, OR FIRST SPEAKER FROM THE COMMUNITY NOW IS LAURA HEISLER MITTEN FROM HASTINGS RAINBOW FAMILIES.
I'M ONE OF THE LEADERS OF HASTINGS RAINBOW FAMILIES, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY GROUP REPRESENTING OUR VILLAGES, LGBTQIA PLUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ALLIES.
THE HISTORY OF THIS STILL YOUNG COUNTRY HAS NOT UNBALANCED, BEEN GOOD TO LGBTQIA QS PLUS PEOPLE.
IT WAS FOUNDED ON THE GENOCIDE, DISPLACEMENT AND GHETTOIZATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX DIVERSE CULTURES WHO HAD LIVED HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND WHOSE DESCENDANTS STILL LIVE IN DIRE VIOLATION OF THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CULTURAL CUSTOMS. MANY OF THESE CULTURES INCLUDE AS MANY AS SEVEN GENDERS.
AND THE ERASURE OF THESE WAYS OF BEING WAS PART OF FORCED COMPLIANCE TO A NEW ORDER FOUNDED ON THIS LEGACY.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT THE UNITED STATES TODAY STRUGGLES SO MIGHTILY TO UPHOLD THE HUMANITY OF ALL PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
OUR COUNTRY WAS OF COURSE ALSO FOUNDED ON PROTEST AND RESISTANCE, AND THAT TRAIT ALSO RUNS THROUGH OUR HISTORY AND IS LED TO BRIGHT SPOTS OF PROGRESS FOR LGBTQIA TWOS PLUS AMERICANS, AND A GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCE OF MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR SURE, BY COMPARISON WITH THE PAST, WE ARE ENJOYING ENORMOUS FREEDOM AND ACCEPTANCE, AND YET THE DEEP BIAS AGAINST ANY OF US WHO DEFY AMERICAN CULTURALLY DEFINED NORMS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN THIS PURITAN NATION PERSISTS.
IT IS EVIDENT IN THE GRIM STATISTICS OF SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE AMONG LGBTQIA TWOS PLUS YOUTH.
36% OF LGBTQ PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR, INCLUDING 40% OF TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE RATES WERE HIGHER FOR YOUTH OF COLOR.
IN THIS GROUP, 90% OF LGBTQ PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE SAID RECENT ANTI LGBTQ PLUS LAWS, POLICIES AND DEBATES CAUSED 'EM STRESS OR ANXIETY.
THIS WEEK'S SUPREME COURT DECISION ALLOWING STATES TO BAR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM PLAYING SPORTS ALIGNED WITH THEIR GENDER IS A BLOW TO THE FREEDOM OF ALL AMERICANS.
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ACROSS MODERN HISTORY HAVE BEEN USED AS CANARIES IN THE COAL MINES OF RISING AUTHORITARIANISM, AND WE SHOULD ALL BE HOLDING THE STRESS AND ANXIETY OF OUR YOUNG QUEER SIBLINGS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
HASTINGS ON HUDSON IS NOT IMMUNE TO THESE ISSUES.
OUR VILLAGE HAS SEEN BULLYING THREATS AND HATE SPEECH AGAINST OUR LGBTQIA TWOS PLUS NEIGHBORS AND THOSE WHO DEFEND THEM, INCLUDING TEACHERS IN RECENT YEARS.
AND THAT IS WHY IT IS SO POWERFUL, SO CRUCIAL, SO POTENTIALLY LIFESAVING THAT OUR VILLAGE LEADERSHIP HAS HEARD THE CALL FOR VISIBLE SIGNS OF SUPPORT FOR OUR HUMANITY AND PRESENCE HERE IN RECENT YEARS.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE VILLAGE APPOINTED AN LGBTQIA PLUS LIAISON TO THE MAYOR AS WELL AS AN LGBTQIA PLUS LIAISON WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE HAVE ALL GENDER BATHROOMS IN ALL CIVIC BUILDINGS.
FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW, WE HAVE EARNED A PERFECT SCORE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS LGBTQIA PLUS EQUITY INDEX FOR EQUITY IN CIVIC LIFE, THE RAINBOW FLAGS THAT FLY FROM LAMPPOSTS DOWNTOWN, THE GROWTH AND VILLAGE WIDE POPULARITY OF OUR ANNUAL PRIDE FESTIVAL, WHICH DRAWS HUNDREDS, REALLY THOUSANDS OF, UH, FAMILIES AND KIDS OF ALL AGES.
AND MOST RECENTLY, OUR RAINBOW CROSSWALK NEAR THE TRAIN STATION HAVE SIGNALED LOUDLY TO OUR FAMILIES, BOTH GAY AND STRAIGHT, THAT THIS IS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN BELONG.
PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE CITING THESE VERY THINGS AS THE REASON THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF HASTINGS.
THEY TELL US THIS EVERY YEAR AT FRIDAY NIGHT PRIDE.
EVERY YEAR WE HAVE FAMILIES COME UP AND SAY THEY ARE MOVING HERE BECAUSE THEY ATTENDED PRIDE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THE KINDNESS AND INCLUSION THAT THEY SAW MADE THEM WANNA STAY.
THE FEELING THAT YOUR HOMETOWN SEES AND WELCOMES YOU IS PRICELESS.
UH, NEXT TO SPEAK IS DIANA PAN FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTING FOR AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION.
AND I THINK OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UH, ARE GONNA BE COMING UP HERE WITH HER.
OLIVIA W. WONG, RIGHT? I'M SORRY, AMAYA FROM THE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL AFFINITY CLUB.
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THANKS TO MAYOR DRAKE FOR THE SPECIAL DISPLAY OF UNITY AND HASTINGS.AS A REFLECTION OF THE MULTIFACETED COMMUNITIES COMPRISING UNITED STATES.
I'M DIANA PAN RESIDENT AND PARENT TO TWO CHILDREN RAISED IN AND BY OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING SPICE, THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS FOR INCLUSIVE EDUC, UH, CURRICULUM AND EDUCATION.
SO HISTORY'S RETELLING, OFTEN EMPHASIZES PARTICULAR PERSPECTIVES WHILE OMITTING OTHERS.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE BANNERS AROUND HERE, RIGHT? UM, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TYPICALLY OMITTED FROM OUR COURSE INSTRUCTIONS.
AT ITS CORE INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM CALLS FOR INCLUDING EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCES, INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, PEELS AWAY THE LAYERS TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE HOW OUR COLLECTIVE LIVES, BACKGROUNDS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE INTERCONNECTED, UM, ON THIS LAND.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, A MORE RE RECENT RULING, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, VERY ABBREVIATED.
I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO A LECTURE.
SO FROM ENSURING CITIZENSHIP TO EMANCIPATED, FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICANS TO CODIFYING IT, UM, THROUGH A US BORN CHINESE AMERICANS CONTESTATION TO SECURING CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS FOR THE MILLIONS OF SOUTHERN AND EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS DURING THE LARGEST IMMIGRATION PERIOD IN US HISTORY, THESE INTERCONNECTIONS DIRECTLY REFLECT THE VISION OF OUR NATION'S FOUNDERS WELCOMING THE TIRE, THE POOR, THE HUDDLE MASSES, AND BECOMING ONE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN HASTINGS ON HUDSON, WHERE WE CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY AS UNITY AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS NEIGHBORS AS ALREADY REMARKED BY OTHERS THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COUNTRY, AND IT IS BOTH SOBERING AND UPLIFTING TO BE AMONG FRIENDS AT HOME.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO THESE WONDERFUL STUDENTS WHO ARE STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO SHARE SOME WORDS.
MY NAME IS MAYA AND I'M A RISING SENIOR WHO ATTENDS HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MAYOR DRAKE FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WE APPROACH OUR NATION'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.
I THINK IT'S INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON DEMOCRATIC IDEALS, IDEALS THAT DICTATE EVERYBODY, NO MATTER THEIR COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK, SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RECEIVE THE SAME LEVEL OF RESPECT.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE MY PLATFORM IN THE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL AFFINITY CLUB TO PROMOTE THIS IDEAL OF RESPECT, WHETHER THAT BE WITH OUR EASTERN PERSPECTIVES HONORS ENGLISH COURSE THAT WE HAVE ADDED TO OUR CURRICULUM, OR ETHNIC CLOTHING AND CULTURE MEETINGS THAT WE HOST.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THIS IDEAL OF MUTUAL RESPECT TOGETHER AND UNIFIED AS ONE NATION.
HI, MY NAME IS OLIVIA HUANG AND I'M ALSO A LEADER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AFFINITY CLUB, AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANNA ADDRESS A BIT OF WHAT MS. CHOMSKY SAID EARLIER ABOUT HOW 2,250 YEARS AGO, AMERICA WOULD NOT BE A PLACE WHERE MANY OF US HERE, INCLUDING ME, WOULD NOT FEEL WELCOMED OR EVEN BE WELCOMED.
UM, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AMERICA IS A DIVERSE NATION AND IT'S ONLY GETTING MORE DIVERSE AS WE APPROACH THE NEXT 250 YEARS OF AMERICA.
AND SINCE 250 YEARS AGO, WE'VE MADE AN INCREASED, WE'VE MADE IMMENSE PROGRESS, NO DOUBT.
BUT AS WE APPROACH THE NEXT 250 YEARS, I WANNA ASK, WHAT MORE CAN WE, WHAT MORE CAN WE, WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE? AND HOW CAN WE MAKE, UM, THE NEXT 250 YEARS A PLACE WHERE, UM, WE GET MORE DIVERSE AND HEAR MORE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND BECOME A NATION THAT, UM, IS WELCOMING FOR EVEN FOR EVERY EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
UM, SO YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COMMANDER RICHIE PESCI FROM ADMIRAL FARGATE AMERICAN LEGION POST 1195.
THANK YOU MAYOR DRAKE, ON BEHALF OF THE VETERANS HERE IN HAST ON HUDSON, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING US IN THIS 250TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
WE'RE PROUD TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY'S HISTORY AND FUTURE.
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TO SPEAK IS DAN SPRAGGA FROM THE HASTINGS LITTLE LEAGUE.MAYOR DRAKE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
I'M PROUD TO BE REPRESENTING HASTINGS LITTLE LEAGUE, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE A MAYOR LIKE, UH, MAYOR DRAKE HERE.
UH, UM, FIRST, FIRST FOR SOME CHILDREN IN TOWN, HASTINGS LITTLE LEAGUE, UH, FOR SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL IS A DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, BUT FOR MOST, UH, IT'S JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
IT'S THE FABRIC OF THE TOWN AND, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO LEARN SOME IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS.
UH, NEXT UP IS JOSH WICK FROM RIVERTOWN ARTS COUNCIL.
THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, FOR HAVING ME.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SPEAKERS, UH, AND ALL THE THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TODAY SO FAR.
UM, I JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS JOSH WICK.
I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF, UH, RIVER RIVER ARTS, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, IT IS WAS FORMERLY CALLED RIVER TOWNS ARTS COUNCIL, FOUNDED IN 1963.
OUR FIRST ACT OF PUBLIC ARTS SUPPORT WAS, UM, BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, WHICH IS A SCULPTURE THAT SITS IN FRONT OF OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY, UM, BY INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SCULPTOR JACK LIP S**T.
SO RIVER ARTS COMMISSIONED TO HAVE THAT CAST AND INSTALLED.
AND IT WAS OUR FIRST DISPLAY OF OUR LOVE OF THE ARTS AS A COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, THAT FACT WAS ACTUALLY WHAT DREW ME TO THIS TOWN, UM, TO FIND A PLACE THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, TO REFER AGAIN TO THE CONSTITUTION, OUR FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, HAVE ATTENTION, PROBLEMS, COULDN'T GET PAST THE FIRST ONE.
SO I'M NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR, BUT I KNOW THAT ONE AT LEAST THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS TOWN.
SO WE PICKED TASTINGS, WHAT BETTER VILLAGE TO SETTLE DOWN IN.
AND I'M SO HAPPY TO CALL ALL OF YOU NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.
AND, UH, ONTO OUR FINAL SPEAKER, SINGER, PLAYER, UH, MATT TURK.
UM, THE TURK FAMILY ORIGINALLY SETTLED IN ST.
I'M, UH, FOURTH GENERATION JEWISH AMERICAN, AND OUR SON LEO IS FIFTH GENERATION JEWISH AMERICAN.
MY TWO GREAT UNCLES, MY TWO GREAT UNCLES FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS A KOREAN WAR VETERAN.
I LOVE ISRAEL AND I'VE BEEN THERE OVER 20 TIMES IN THE LAST 35 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
JEWISH HATRED, ALSO KNOWN AS ANTISEMITISM, IS A HORRIBLE DISEASE.
WE THANK THIS TOWN FOR SUPPORTING US AND STANDING BY US AS WE NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.
I LOVE HASTINGS ON HUDSON AND APPRECIATE THE VILLAGE AND MAYOR DRAKE FOR SHOWCASING WITH BANNERS, OUR SHARED VALUES AND OUR SUBTLE DIVERSITY IN OUR AMERICAN FABRIC.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE.
I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY 250TH YEAR CELEBRATION ON OUR 4TH OF JULY.
PLEASE JOIN ME AS WE SING TOGETHER.
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, OH, BEAUTIFUL.
FOUR SPACIOUS SKIES, FOUR AMBER WAVES OF GRAVE FOR PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTIES ABOVE THE AMERICA.
GOD SHARED ALL GRACE ON THE, AND
[00:35:01]
CROWN THY GOOD WITH BROTHERHOOD FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.THEIR MAY GOD THY ALL SUCCESS BE AND DIVINE.
I I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THAT
UM, BUT A FEW MESSAGES I HAVE TO SAY, THIS WAS NOT PART OF MY CLOSING.
UM, BUT THERE WERE SOME MESSAGES THAT WERE MADE TO ME THAT WERE VERY CLEAR TODAY.
AND I THOUGHT PLAYING MY SAXOPHONE AT PRIDE NIGHT WAS GONNA BE THE END OF MY COMMITMENT TO THAT, BUT I GUESS NOT.
UM, BUT WHAT I LEARNED TODAY IS, IS THERE'S MORE TO DO AS A VILLAGE.
THERE'S MORE TO DO AS A MAYOR.
THERE'S MORE TO DO IN CONGRESS THAN THE NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY.
UH, AND, AND WE WERE TOLD THAT VERY CLEARLY TODAY BY JUST A SMALL CROSS SECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO STILL FEEL MARGINALIZED AND STILL FEEL LIKE THEY NEED HELP IN CERTAIN WAYS.
SO THERE'S NO LINE IN THE SAND TODAY.
WE CONTINUE AND WE CONTINUE WORKING AND TRYING TO HELP THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE RIGHT HERE IN HASTINGS AND ALL AROUND THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
SO I, THAT'S ONE OF MY LESSONS THAT I'VE TAKEN AWAY FROM TODAY.
UH, AND I DO PLAY THE SAXOPHONE, BUT NEVER AGAIN WILL I DO THAT
UM, I HAVE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND I ESPECIALLY THANK OUR VILLAGE STAFF, UH, FOR HELPING PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY DPW SUPERINTENDENT MIKE GUNTHER, PARKS AND RECREATION SUPERINTENDENT AARON HURST.
THEN WE HAD TO GO TO A PLAN B CREW, UH, WHO MADE MOVING INSIDE HAPPEN, WHICH IS VILLAGE TREASURER AND CLERK ANTHONY CONSTANTINE.
AND, UM, WE'RE AS A TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR, RAF IAN, AS WELL AS ARTS COUNCIL MEMBER SAL SCHIANO, WHO ACTUALLY CAREFULLY HUNG ALL OF THESE.
HE'S A CURATOR AND HE DID AN AMAZING JOB.
UH, MUCH BETTER THAN I WOULD'VE DONE.
I CAN TELL YOU, UH, I WOULD'VE DONE SO THEN WE HAD TO GO TO A PLAN C LAST EVENING 'CAUSE OUR AIR CONDITIONING FAILED IN THIS ROOM LAST NIGHT.
AND, UH, I WAS CALLED A LITTLE AFTER 8:00 PM BY RAF IAN AGAIN.
SO THANK YOU TO RAF, OUR TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR AND DPW EMPLOYEE, SEAN GUNTHER, WHO WORKED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY TO GET THIS ROOM BACK AND COOL FOR US TO ENJOY TODAY.
THEY, THEY HAD A LATE NIGHT LAST NIGHT.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY.
STAY COOL, STAY SAFE AND HAVE A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EVERYBODY.