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During a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, Supervisor Paul Feiner, the Town Board and Gerard J. Byrne, commissioner of parks and recreation, recognized the students for their hard work and dedication to the project. A short video clip featuring the work that students did in the classroom as well as their recent visit to the barn last week was shown during the 15-minute presentation.
The sizable restoration and repair project was carried out under the supervision of BOCES instructor Richie Thomas and in collaboration with the town. The barn is part of the old Gaisman Estate and was formerly owned by Henry Gaisman, inventor of the Gillette safety razor blade. Workers from Greenburgh’s Parks and Recreation Department took over 53 aging windows from the barn earlier this year and brought them to Thomas’ classroom on the BOCES Center for Career Services campus in Valhalla. The work included reglazing, masking, priming and painting.
A $25,000 grant from the Lanza Family Foundation helped fund the cost of the project. The collaborative initiative is seen as a way for students to accrue work-based learning hours prior to their graduation in June. The volunteer hours are also a state Education Department mandate. Thomas said he was delighted to take on the project and the opportunity to teach his students in-demand skills that could some day help them land good-paying jobs. BOCES Principal James Matera said the students gained authentic work experience through the project and the chance to restore a part of their community for future parkgoers to enjoy.
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