A rendering of the path and solar ribbon the Desmond-Fish Library had planned to install in Garrison.
Desmond-Fish cites cost, search for new director
The Desmond-Fish Public Library in Garrison has dropped immediate plans to add a “ribbon” of solar panels to its landscaping but continues to pursue town approval for a walking path and enhanced gardens on its 11.5-acre campus.
In a May 13 letter to the Philipstown Planning Board, which is reviewing the project, Anita Prentice, president of the library board, attributed the removal of the solar installation to costs and delays in grant funding and to the library’s need to focus on hiring a new director after the departure in April of Jen McCreery, who took a job in Chatham.
Zoom-bomber spews racist language
The Desmond-Fish Public Library in Garrison said it was a victim of a racist “Zoom-bombing” during a virtual event for children on Saturday (Jan. 2).
An interloper gained access to the video-conference and immediately changed his or her screen name to match existing participants to avoid detection, said library Director Jen McCreery. After an indecipherable rant, the user was identified and removed but managed to return to interrupt the event with racist, sexist and lewd language, she said. The user was again identified and removed but returned to post in the written chat.
The gathering was the culmination of a “bake-off” contest for children and teenagers ages 4 to 14. It was co-hosted by Justice McCray, a librarian who has been outspoken in the Black Lives Matter movement, but McCreery said it was unclear if McCray was a target of the abuse.