The West Point Visitors Center stayed open late on March 24, for a very good reason.

It was likely the first time that the stunning facility had been used for a public meeting, and definitely the first time it was used for a meeting that specifically pertained to Highland Falls. It was well attended, and well received, with about 100 community residents and local leaders joining together for a question-and-answer session with four familiar faces.

Sitting in front of the wall of windows in the facility, the Hudson Valley in all its glory behind them, were West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) President Mark Bieger, West Point Garrison Commander Col. Dan Stuewe, Highland Falls Mayor Jim DiSalvo, and Town of Highlands Supervisor Bob Livsey. Hosting the event was WPAOG’s Erin Helle, she’s the executive director of Strategic Development and Partnerships. She’s also a familiar face in Highland Falls as WPAOG has grown its presence in the Highland Falls community over the last few years.

“Thank you for choosing to spend the night with us,” Helle said as the Visitor Center filled up. “This is a space for honest questions and thoughtful conversation.” She took a few minutes at the start of the event to recognize the many people in the room who contribute to life in the Town of Highlands – from educators to first responders to the military community to volunteers to small business owners.

“You are exactly why we are here,” she said. “You give us purpose, motivation and drive.”

And by “us”, she meant not only WPAOG, but the local leaders at the table. Before introducing those at the table, Helle spoke briefly about the WPAOG’s Hudson Valley Program (the overall reach into Highland Fall), noting “we are just getting started”. She explained how they have reopened The Park Restaurant, opened Westy’s, the Bean & Barrel Café and Annie’s Attic, saying those establishments have created 45 local jobs, and brought in $1.2 million in taxable revenue over the past year. And she added the construction of the Shade’s/Park buildings is underway at the town Planning Board level.

Before the audience asked some questions, Helle had five pre-submitted for the panel. The first tackled what is next for the AOG, and it was a biggie. “Will HVP be involved in the acquisition of the Highland Falls Marina?”

Bieger answered it, saying simply saying first, “we are not looking to take this community over”, but adding “We are very excited to possibly acquire that piece of property”.

“The marina offers some amazing opportunities for the benefit of Highland Falls,” he said, adding that the purchase of the property “is really in concept right now”, and that there are “partners and cruise lines interested”.

Later Bieger was asked if the WPAOG is considering the purchase of other local properties. “We’re always looking for opportunities, but we’re not looking to grab as much property as possible,” he said. “But we are open to any ideas that might exist in the community.”

The second question went to Col. Stuewe, who was asked how he views the role of the West Point Garrison in the Town of Highlands. He was succinct. “I see the town and village as an absolutely essential partner in us enabling the mission of the U.S. Military Academy. Our mission to support West Point doesn’t stop at Thayer Gate.” Later Stuewe urged all community residents to either attend or view the quarterly CLIF (Community Leaders Information Forum) meetings to witness the ongoing cooperation between the municipalities. (They are available to see on the West Point Garrison & Community Facebook page.)

Mayor DiSalvo got a hard question – but a familiar one - for his first chance to speak – about Highland Falls’ ongoing problems with brown water. He said what he has said frequently at Village Board and other community meetings – “it all comes down to money”.

“We do experience brown water in certain areas of the village,” he said. “It is not the water coming out of the plant; it’s the distribution system. Even if I replaced every main, we have old laterals – made from galvanized and brass pipes. The modern way to replace those is with PVC. But it all comes down to money – we know we are going to have to continue to take one section at a time.”

Water and other infrastructure issues came up again later, with Fort Montgomery’s Annie Scott asking if AOG was “committed to helping with the infrastructure in the village?”.

Helle answered, saying “absolutely – infrastructure is the foundation of any development. I can’t bring somebody in here without good infrastructure.” But, she added that AOG can only and will continue to “play a support role – bringing people to the table who can help”.

Bieger made reference to West Point’s ongoing Founders Day events he attended in March, saying wherever he goes he is getting questions about Highland Falls and AOG’s investment in it. “We have 56,700 graduates – when we can, we activate that network for positive gains.”

Later, the supervisor admitted that when WPAOG first announced it had purchased some Highland Falls properties, “I had my misgivings”.

“But as many meetings as I have been to, and with the expertise you have shown me and offered to me, I am not a doubter anymore. This is going to happen.”

Highland Falls’ John Dodson spoke about the combining of some services in the communities to help make things like wastewater treatment more efficient and less costly. Highland Falls’ Olga Anderson spoke about the addition of light industry to the community – like a proposal several years ago for a business incubator in town. Village resident James Ramus thanked AOG for their “vision and effort” and asked Stuewe about how Main St. could see more cadets. Others in the audience noted they’ve recently seen quite a few groups of cadets walking toward establishments like Hacienda or studying together in the Bean & Barrel Café.

Highland Falls’ Jennifer Rhyne called some of the new businesses “wonderful additions” and wondered what will happen to them as the Schade’s/Park construction happen. Bieger said he hopes the business relationships will be able to continue, in the new space, but added “that will be up to them”. (For the record, owners of both Annie’s Attic and Bean & Barrel said they were well aware of construction coming and that their current storefronts wouldn’t be available forever. “The rug was not pulled out from under us,” they said.)

Other village residents asked about other Main St. projects, like the proposed hotel and the NY Forward projects. DiSalvo said he will continue to give updates on those as things take place. Others – Trish Willis and Charmagne Wright – thanked WPAOG for the creation of the CONNECT program at the Highland Falls Intermediate School, and resident Jim Titolo echoed that, as well as encouraged WPAOG and West Point Garrison to create “long term liaisons” to the community outside the gate because of frequent turnover on post. “It’s hard to always have to start over,” he said.

In the audience at the meeting there were quite a few other elected officials, including Town Council members Rich Sullivan, Nancy Sporbert and Michael Leahy and Village Board members Jim Ramus, Peter Carroll and Jen Gargiulo. There were also quite a few former members of both boards – Barbara Charlie Murphy, Annie Scott, Joe DeWitt, Michael Bosch, Merv Livsey. As well there were the leaders of local civic and service organizations – such as Olga Anderson and George Biskup, and Highland Falls Police Chief Jason Torpey, along with representatives of West Point’s Military Police. Quite a few of the residents who asked questions at the meeting are West Point graduates themselves who have made Highland Falls home.