HomeMy WebLinkAboutenfield chapter community council 2025Enfield New York Christian Hill to Enfield Falls, The Town of. Enfield, NY.
Enfield Historical Society and Sue Thompson 2002.
Chapter 9 – Government (a part of)
ENFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL
The Enfield Community Council (ECC) has been providing programming for
youth and adults for over 20 years. The history of this organization is rich with
stories, trials, joys, and hard work. Through the programs, almost every family in
Enfield has been touched.
FINANCES
When the Enfield Community Council was founded in 1975, one of the first
tasks was to investigate sources of funding for its programs. By the time the council
was incorporated in 1977, the nursery school contributions, United Way allocation,
and local fund-raising from council activities along with the previous DFY (Division
for Youth) moneys, provided funds for the programs.
In 1980 the first issue of the Enfield News hit the mail boxes. The purpose
was to get people involved with the council. This meeting had seven attendants
(Carol Barriere, Kyle Sumerskill, Pam Whittaker, Marnie Kirchgessner, Rhoda
Linton, Nancy Wurster, and Helen Jackson). Because of the growing need for
youth programs, the topic of the meeting was funds and financing. At this time
Marnie Kirchgessner agreed to attend a United Way meeting and has been our
representative ever since.
ENFIELD COOPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL
There was no nursery school in Enfield in the spring of 1974, although it
was a time when the importance of a preschool experience for young children was
already widely acknowledged. So when the local EOC (Economic Opportunity
Corporation) worker organized a meeting at Enfield school to talk about forming a
nursery school, many of us somehow heard about it and arrived at the school little
ones in tow! That summer, the first nursery school was held at the Enfield
Elementary School with Melody Johnson as the teacher. It quickly became
apparent that if our nursery school was to continue, we would need a permanent
location (space would not be available during the school year), our own equipment
(we were using the Pre-K equipment) and perhaps even a teacher (Melody's talents
were acknowledged by the Ithaca City School District and she was hired as the new
Pre-K teacher).
The summer of 1974 was challenging and exciting. We had lots of
enthusiasm and energy but not very much money. So for $.25 a box, we
purchased close to 100 ammunition boxes from the Seneca Army Depot. One of
the fathers with carpentry skills (Alfred Wurster) tore the boxes apart and
constructed some pretty respectable furniture. While the children were in nursery
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school parents could be seen on the Wurster front lawn scraping, sanding and
painting everything in sight a bright yellow. Garage sale acquisitions and discarded
chairs from the Ithaca schools gave us a pretty respectable inventory. Our first
home was in the Enfield Methodist Church and Joanna Sturgeon was hired as the
teacher for the fall of 1974.
Another important part of our philosophy is reflected in the name "Enfield
Cooperative Nursery School". Parent involvement was considered a key
component of the organization and every parent shared responsibilities of assisting
the teacher (two parents assisted at each session), and served on one of the three
committees. It was our view that the nursery school exists not only for the children
but also to meet the needs of adults. Thus parents and others often gathered for
workshops, informal discussions, and even for social occasions for all the families.
We also accepted a total of up to six children under the age of three, which meant
that we often had children in diapers. That fact, together with the frequent need to
move furniture and equipment to accommodate the shared space, first with the
church and then with the Enfield Valley Grange, kept the assisting parents very
busy indeed.
Children in the first two years (1974-1976) included Christina Albrecht,
Jeffrey Aramini, Greg Bock, Lenora and Audrey Brown, Brandon Carlisle, Cody
Cook, Josh and Troy Dixon, Jacob Evans, Renee Head, Brian and Ann-Laree
Jackson, Erik and Kristen Johnson, Neil McConell, Duane Miller, Christy Mobbs,
Gabe Newhart, Connie Pakkala, Shanon Pfaff, Robbie Rickerson, Erika Sturgeon,
Craig Tinker, Jason Westcott, and Jenny and Erica Wurster. Later they were joined
by Lauri Jo and Teddy Davenport, Megan Armstrong, Jennifer Hubbell, Laura Levy,
Meredith DeRidder, and Raymond Michael Hubbell, Mary-Ellen Jackson, among
many others.
As the children grew, the need for a nursery school seemed to dwindle.
However, in 1982, a few parents met to see about starting up a new group. Alice
Linton, Mary Cole, Janice Wright, Carol Barriere, and Sharon Houseworth, together
with their preschoolers, got together and started a new cooperative nursery school.
They obtained space at the old Enfield Firehouse (now the Community Building),
advertised for a teacher and signed up the children. The first teacher for the
nursery school was Dan Ruderman. He was only able to be with the group a few
months but the children really enjoyed him. Nina Redman was the next teacher.
Unfortunately, Nina moved to Pennsylvania the next year. However, luck
was on our side. Living right down the road from the firehouse was a very quiet
women named Elizabeth Saggese, who was hired for the position. Elizabeth was a
dream come true for the preschool. She continued on as the nursery school
teacher until 1988. When the new firehouse was built we lost the space for a year.
Unfortunately for us Elizabeth took on another job. However when the preschool
started back up in the "new" community building, two of the founding parents, now
that their children were in school, took over. Janice Wright became the preschool
teacher and Mary Cole, her aid. When Janice was offered a job at Cornell, Pat
Meeker, another local parent took over.
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The Nursery School was very similar to the nursery school that began in
1974. Parents were involved in all aspects of running and maintaining the school.
Raising money, assisting the teacher, field trips, and being part of committees were
all part of belonging to the nursery school.
As the children grew and the parents took jobs the numbers dwindled and
nursery school stopped for a few years. When it started back up, Jody Clark
became the new teacher, however because of parents working the nursery school
lost its "parent cooperative." Cathy Delsignore; another former parent from the
"cooperative" nursery school is now the preschool teacher. Members continue to
rise and fall, but there always seems to be a need for some type of preschool
program. Preschool was discontinued in 1996.
Summer Programs
Building on past experiences, the summer programs from 1975 to 1980
attempted to combine recreation with skill development and educational activities.
Programs were held at Enfield Elementary School. They usually lasted for about
six weeks and ran for about six hours per day with between 75 and 100 campers.
Most staff were usually hired from the local colleges, with Enfield teens gaining
work experience and earning money working as junior counselors. Community
Council volunteers took responsibility for the overall design and management of the
programs.
Swimming lessons were always a basic; water safety instructors were
always first on the list of camp staff to be hired. Bush's pond was always the swim
site during this time, which was a wonderful contribution to the community. Other
community residents also made a difference by their generosity -- Bob Battsford
even built and installed a floating dock for beginning divers!
Other activities included sports, nature hikes, overnight camping, arts and
crafts, organized games, field trips to farms and other places of interest in the town,
etc. One summer there was a special time set aside for an animal project which
included setting up a small animal collection in Helen Jackson's barn, for whose
care campers took responsibility.
From 1980 to 1995 the Community Council summer program continued to
grow. Children continued to benefit from a variety of activities. When the swim
program could no longer be held at Bush's pond they were and still are held at the
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company's pond. Hundreds of children have become very
good swimmers because of the instructors that taught the Red Cross swim
program.
The music/drama programs have been the most popular of the summer
camp. There have been many beautiful productions with costumes and props
made by the children. The art classes were also involved. This was a wonderful
opportunity for the children to perform and sing. In the past eight years most of the
productions were under the directorship of Jessica Connors, Ann-Laree Jackson,
and Elaine Howard who were in some of the earlier programs. Some of the
productions were: Grease, Your a Good Man Charlie Brown, Wizard of Oz (twice),
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Talent shows, Alice in Wonderland, Enfield Hall of Fame, Back to the Fifties, Enfield
Summer Cabaret and Sneeches.
We had an Enfield Drill team for three years that involved about 50 children.
The Enfield Drill Team was a marching percision team of youth 5 to 15 years old.
They wore beautiful outfits, all alike. We marched in several parades. The routines
were taught and instructed by Sandy Trutt with the help of all the parents.
For two years (1989-1990) Enfield Elementary School was under
renovation. Through much work and searching for a place for the children to have
a summer program, they were able to use the West Hill Alternative School in the
City of Ithaca. This required much organization and busing of the children. The
Community Council took care of all the expenses -- which really put a crunch on the
budget. However, the programs always seemed to continue no matter what
obstacles were in the way.
After School Program
In the Spring of 1975, the Enfield Cooperative Nursery School was well
established in the quarters in the Enfield Methodist Church. They had two morning
sessions per week with a qualified teacher and 18 enthusiastic preschoolers. By
now, the busy activity of constructing furniture for the school was mostly completed.
Since many of the Nursery School families had older children, it was a natural
progression that their interests expand to include recreational and instructional
activities for older children, and eventually, for adults as well.
Therefore, the nursery school families (for example Tom and Wilma Brown,
Marilyn and Bob Westcott, Ellen Ricketson, Dottie Miller, Joan Head, Alfred and
Nancy Wurster, Helen and John Jackson, Rosemary Dixon, Rosemary Tinker, and
others) joined with other community members (for example: Caroline Bingham,
Charlie Sheffield, John and Helen Smith, Myrt and Bob Battsford, Rhoda Linton,
and others), some of whom had long been involved with the Enfield Summer Day
Camp program. Proposals were submitted for state and local funds, and a
certificate of incorporation was drawn up, forming the Enfield Community Council.
Surveys were conducted that Spring and it became quite clear that there
was a great interest in instructional and recreational opportunities for youth, which
could be conducted right here in Enfield. Interest especially was expressed for
classes in dance, language, instrumental music and carpentry.
In the Fall of 1975, the first After School Program classes began.
Instructors were recruited from our own community when possible. Otherwise, we
would turn to the college communities to find young people with specific skills to
teach for us. Enfield Elementary School was conveniently located and provided
ample space for our new program.
In conjunction with the evening classes, the Enfield Community Library was
formed. The Finger Lakes Library System provided a deposit station of seventh
grade through adult reading materials, fiction and non-fiction. These books were
stored in the Enfield Elementary School Library which was open and staffed on
Thursday evenings as the Enfield Community Library. Additionally, the community
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library developed a schedule of special programs - guest speakers and films - for
some of those evenings.
In the Spring of 1976, all the After School classes of the Fall continued with
strong attendance, with some new ones added. Immediately, tap dance proved so
popular with the Enfield young people that the Community Council launched our
own Tap-Shoe-Exchange. With Linda Stillwell as the coordinator, parents were
urged to search for tap shoes everywhere - rummage sales and second hand
stores - and purchase all they could locate for $2.00 or less. The "exchange" would
reimburse for the purchased shoes, make repairs, and then loan them to students
for a refundable deposit of 50 cents or a contribution of an outgrown pair. In May, a
bake sale was held to help cover the cost of tap shoes. No child in Enfield who
wanted to tap was turned away for lack of proper shoes! Dance class enthusiasm
continued to increase and in response to poplar request, a boys-only dance class
began April 5th, 1976, with nine participants.
The dance instructor behind all of this enthusiastic revival of tap dancing
was Cindy Hassold, an Ithaca college physical education major. In June of 1976,
Cindy planned a gala recital for her students. After she went home one weekend to
New Jersey, she returned with a car load of wonderful glittery costumes -- all from
her own childhood performances. She outfitted her students and they performed
with glee for delighted parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents!
From that moment, Enfield children and parents were hooked. Cindy's classes
were more poplar than ever in the Fall of 1976, and Gymnastics and jazz dance
were added.
Although principals and politics changed at the Enfield Elementary school,
the After School Program continued through good times and bad. There were
years of large enrollments and other years of smaller enrollments. Programs
changed depending on interest, needs and staff hired.
The programs began to grow to a point where, with the help of Nancy
Zahler from the Tompkins County Youth Bureau and the Enfield Town Board, a
program coordinator was hired to arrange the various programs. As the years
passed and the programs changed as well, today at the Enfield Elementary School
there is now an after school day care five days a week with enrichment programs
added a couple of days a week. It's staff includes a director and a variety of other
workers for the programs. Enrichment programs are programs which provide
opportunities for experiences for children who, because of transportation and or
economic reasons would not have these experiences.
ENFIELD RURAL TEEN WOMEN'S PROJECT
As many children grew out of after school and summer activities sponsored
by the council, some young women, parents and other interested residents decided
to try to develop a project addressing the special needs of pre-teens and teen
women in the community. The Teen Women Project was an attempt to provide a
mechanism in which older teens (including Linda VanNederynen, Nikki White, Julie
Smith, Cindy Linton, Judy Rumsey, Becky Gunning, and Debbie Royce, among
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others) could assume responsibility to support the development of younger teens
(including Katheleen Eaton, Denise and Lisa Saulsgiver, and Carol Newhart,
among others) through spending time with them in cultural, social, education, and
recreational activities. Family outings, such as the uncomfortable "Father, Daughter
Softball Game," were also considered an important part of the program. The
purpose of the program was to enhance the lives of all participants as well as to
create a supportive network for teen woman and their families in the community.
The project was overseen by an Advisory Committee (including Shirley
Egan, Betty Howard, Rhoda Linton and Tracy Saulsgiver) and received funding
from the division for youth. The project was in existence from June, 1980 (with its
famous "Peas and Potatoes" growing and marketing project!) until June, 1981.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND FUND RAISERS
By October 1975, it seemed time to have a special event to celebrate the
accomplishments of the young people in the Summer Day Camp and the After
School Programs. Thus the tradition of the annual Enfield Harvest Festival began
on October 18, 1975.
It was a cold and drizzly morning when the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company
members began pitching tents on the Enfield school grounds. Fire Chief Mickey
Carlisle set up the hot dog grill. The dreary day, however, was soon transformed
into warmth and enthusiasm as masses of Enfield's residents began arriving to
participate in the festivities.
There were rides on the fire trucks, sirens screaming. The most newly
purchased fire truck was on display for the community to admire. A display on fire
prevention was presented by the Enfield Volunteer Fire Company.
In the gym, crafts people demonstrated their arts: weaving (Ruth Place);
spinning (Louise Hubbard); quilting (Nina Linton, Warena Ramsey, and others);
butter making (Edith Stoughton and Nellie Ruth McEver); ceramics and doll making
(Billie Spencer). The Tompkins County 4-H recreation Club demonstrated square
dancing with Robert Stalley calling. Everyone was invited to join in. There were
booths with games; the Buck Hill Buccaneers 4-H Club had a sponge toss booth,
and the Enfield Town and Country 4-H Club had an apple bobbing booth.
There were booths with good things to eat and drink: Alfred Wurster
pressed fresh apple cider; the Enfield Baptist Church sold homemade cakes, pies,
and cookies;The Enfield Nursery School sold baked goods, crafts and produce.
Betty Bullock's sixth grade class sold popcorn and donuts - a fund raiser for their
spring trip to Washington, D.C.
Jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts had a booth for puzzle exchanging. The Boy
Scout Troop gave a presentation on outdoor lore. The Enfield Valley Grange
offered antiques and other old treasures at their booth. To benefit the Enfield
Community Council, there was a raffle of donated items, including a quilted pillow
by Nina Linton and a live lamb from Jim Linton -- both won by a surprised and
smiling Helen Jackson!
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When the day of the wonderful festivities had ended and the tents and
booths were all packed away, no one would remember how cold and damp that day
had begun. Instead, everyone knew that this warm and spirited community event
would become an annual tradition.
The Community Councils first auction was organized and coordinated by
Pam Whitaker in June 1980. The money raised was to be used to match Division
for Youth Funds. It was held in conjunction with the Enfield Carnival. Over five
hundred dollars was raised. The auction has continued to be one of the ECC's
biggest fund raisers. Carol Barriere has been the coordinator for most of the years
through 1995.
The Fall Harvest Festival (another big fund raiser) has become not only a
fund raiser but an anticipated community event. Local vendors and crafts people
display and sell their goods while other festival goers enjoy hay and fire truck rides,
sample luncheons, chicken BBQ, games and displays such as wool spinning and
the Enfield Town Historian. The height of the festival has always been the raffling
of the Senior Citizens hand-made quilt.
The Harvest Festival and auction continue to be the Councils biggest fund
raisers. However over the years there have been bake sales and other events that
have brought in money for the youth program, including a "Run for Youth" fun run
and basketball game with a local radio station.
The Community Council has gone through many leaders, programs, trends,
eras, and changes. Through the years the main thing that keeps this organization a
working part of the community is the dedicated members that have sat for hours in
meetings, volunteered in programs, and helped with fund raisers. Whether
membership was large or small, all the work seemed to always get done. Now
children who started out in our programs are becoming ECC members, staff as well
as other town representatives and leaders. The Community Council is a great
example of the old proverb "It takes a whole village to raise a child". It is very
exciting to see the hard work of the ECC and other town programs pay off.
OFFICERS OF THE ENFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL
1981-1982 1984
President Ann Rider Helen Jackson
Vice President Pam Whittaker Carol Barriere
Secretary Dorothy Hunter
Treasurer Nancy Wurster Nancy Wurster
1985 1986
President Theresa Manheim Theresa Manheim
Vice President Debbie Ketchum Marnie Kirchgessner
Secretary Mattie Rumsey Chris Smith
Treasurer Roy Barriere Roy Barriere
Financial Director Rich Favaro Rich Favaro
Cty Youth Board. Helen Jackson Helen Jackson
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United Way Board Marnie Kirchgessner
1987 1988
President Carol Barriere Lura Arcangelli
Vice President Joanne Smith Marnie Kirchgessner
Secretary Barb Williams Barb Williams
Treasurer Roy Barriere Debbie Ketchum
Program Coord. Peggy Hubbell Peggy Hubbell
1989 1990-1991
President Marnie Kirchgessner Marnie Kirchgessner
Vice President Barenda Smith Roy Wollney
Secretary Helen Smith Helen Smith
Treasurer Rose Pellegrino Rose Pellegrino
1992 1993
President Rose Pellegrino Rose Pellegrino
Vice President Roy Woolney Dave Owens
Secretary Debra Traunstein Debra Traunstein
Treasurer Marnie Kirchgessner Marnie Kirchgessner
1994 1995
President Fredi Shapiro Karen Anderson
Vice President Dave Owens Fredi Shapiro
Secretary Jessica Connors Alicia Febo
Treasurer Marnie Kirchgessner
1996 1997
President Karen Anderson Joseph Schehr
Vice President Marnie Kirchgessner Marnie Kirchgessner
Secretary Alicia Febo Alicia Febo
Treasurer Tom Drew Tom Drew
1999
President Joseph Schehr
Vice President Dave Owens
Secretary Alicia Febo
Treasurer Jane Murphy
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