Chester's Legion Post 964 upgrades planned; donors sought

CHESTERTOWN — Plans are underway to renovate a veterans headquarters in Chestertown, and a fund drive to raise money to accomplish the work is being launched this weekend. An open house is to be held Saturday at American Legion Post 964 to introduce the pending construction work to the public, and all are invited to stop by. The post is located just north of the Chester Municipal Center on Main St. in Chestertown NY. Harry Brundage, commander of VFW Post 5513, said Monday that the planned upgrades include providing access for those with mobility restrictions — including wider doorways, an entrance ramp and an accessible bathroom. "Our members primarily served in World War II, Korea and Viet Nam —these veterans and their guests are getting older, and more and more of them need these accommodations," he said. Plans also call for new energy-efficient windows, new interior walls, as well as electrical, plumbing and lighting upgrades. Also, the enclosed porch is to be reconstructed into a trophy room. Brundage said that the structure also needs basic improvements to remain useful, as it is many decades old. The local American Legion chapter owns the building, and the VFW Post 5513 uses it as well, for their meetings and other functions. The fund drive begins July 9, with a public announcement of the plans during the annual veterans memorial ceremony set for 5 p.m. in conjunction with Chestertown's Summerfest at the municipal center. The fund drive has a head start with a grant of $500 the Legion received recently from the Gore Mountain Region Community Fund. Brundage said the VFW and Legion posts were also reaching out to Queensbury Home Depot and Glens Falls National Bank to help sponsor the renovations, as they were major donors to the Veterans Memorial Plaza adjacent to the Legion Post. The Legion officials anticipate that the work — to be conducted by Mike Hill Contracting — should be completed by next spring, Brundage said. "We invite the public to stop in on July 9 and hear about our plans," he said. For more information or to pledge a donation, contact Legion Post 964 Commander Joanne Ellsworth at 494-3642 or Harry Brundage at 494-2525 or 532-0211.

Signup for our newsletter

Chester's Legion Post 964 upgrades planned; donors sought

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS