Return to PennySaver pageGowanda PennySaver / September 24, 2000
'Good neighbors' - Cherry Creek Woodcrafters owners Martin Goldman and Michael Lord (from left), South Dayton Mayor Karen Strickland, and Water Committee Chairman Howard Brown show a map of the new village water system with the proposed new well site property the company has donated to the village. (Village Trustee Kerry Brooks is missing from photo.)
Story and photo
By Karen Blake
Cherry Creek Woodcrafters has once again proved to be a good neighbor to the people of the Village of South Dayton. In the spirit of cooperation, the company has donated 15 acres of land to the village to make possible the final steps of the long-awaited village water improvement project.
Village Mayor Karen Strickland expressed "our sincere gratitude" to Michael Lord and Martin Goldman, owners of Cherry Creek Woodcrafters. She said the "generous gift of land" will enable the village to comply with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations for sufficient land to ensure wellhead protection to upgrade the village water system.
Howard Brown, the chairman of the Village Water Committee, referred to the cooperation between the company and the village as being "what it's all about," stating "they have been very good to this community."
Cherry Creek Woodcrafters, incorporated in 1976, is a manufacturing plant located at the edge of the Village of South Dayton since moving from the Cherry Creek area in 1991. Over the years, it has "contnbuted much to the quality of village life," according to Mayor Strickland. In addition to sponsoring little league teams, the company donates yearly to the village community library and to the volunteer fire department. They contributed $10,000 to provide equipment for the village playgrounds, as well as letting company land be used for the annual tractor pull and other events.
The Village of South Dayton had been successful in applying for a Federal Housing and Urban Development grant to upgrade the water system. Strickland accepted the $400,000 grant from HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo at a ceremony in Buffalo last year. This water project grant was the culmination of a long process which the village and South Dayton residents had undertaken to improve the quality of their water.
Brown explained the water system improvements include: a new water well with sufficient land for wellhead protection; a water treatment facility located at the well site; a new water tank reservoir adjacent to the existing tank; and approximately 5,000 linear feet of street water mains.
The new deeper well will be located toward the Dredge Road on the donated 15-acre property east of the old Comstock Building. The well will replace the two currently used shallow wells, which will be used for back-up. According to Strickland, a geological survey had determined this was the best area for the new well to ensure a good quantity of water.
Brown said after the committee finalizes the selection of an engineer for the project, he estimates work could start in January and be completed by the end of next year.