The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center held a groundbreaking for its new building on Saturday, October 24.
The little farmhouse on six-acres, built in 1902, was donated to create The Center after a 1949 fire in a migrant camp tragically killed two children. According to The Center, it has long been outgrown to fit its needs.
What’s needed is more space to be able to better serve its youth and teens. The plan is to have a computer lab and a library. The new building will offer a community education space for groups to hold lectures or seminars and to hold its Thinking Forward Lecture Series. The building will also offer indoor space for its low-cost summer program during inclement weather.
The by-invitation ceremony, began with a brief history, given by The Center’s board of directors vice president Dan Rattiner. Speakers also included LT Governor Kathy Hochul, Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Olga Elsehany of the County Youth Bureau, County Legislator Bridget Fleming, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren, and The Center’s board members.
Children presented thank you posters to builder Buddy Wines of RLW4 Builders in Southampton, who will build the new structure.
The ceremony concluded with The Center’s Executive Director, Bonnie Michelle Cannon, putting on a hard hat, helming a large bulldozer, and making the first strike for the demolition.
“The outpouring of love and generosity from our community and New York State has been amazing. We are so grateful that The Center’s dream of a new building is becoming a reality,” said Cannon. “The New York State grant award truly gave us the momentum that we needed to raise the additional funds to build. Special thanks to Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Empire State Development’s Denise Zani who helped guide us through the process. Our children and families thank you. We are feeling blessed.”
Talks to rebuild the center began four years ago. A campaign for donations started at events like the Jazz for Jennings benefit, Topping Rose House holiday dinners, gospel concerts, the annual golf outing. The center also applied for and received two state grants.
For more information on The Center, visit www.bhccrc.org.
