Spring Glen, NY – For at least the third time in less than a year, vandals have struck the former Homowack Lodge, breaking a number of recently-replaced windows at the old resort. The vandals apparently struck sometime over the weekend, smashing windows that were closest to Phillipsport Road.

Aron Taub, a spokesman for the group who now owns the hotel complex, said that he was incensed by the latest incident.

“It’s really ridiculous and frustrating,” Taub said.

Taub went on to say that he hopes law enforcement authorities will catch the vandals and that the group is cooperating with police in order help collect evidence.

“We’re hoping that the state police will catch the people responsible for this,” he said. “We want to take the necessary steps to find the root of this.”

The Homowack had been the source of much controversy over the past year, as the group who currently owns the resort last summer had operated an illegal camp at the former resort. The Town of Mamakating had attempted to close the camp, citing numerous code violations, but were unsuccessful in doing so until the New York State Department of Health intervened in the case. Eventually, a Sullivan County judge ordered an evacuation of the property, and the residents reluctantly complied.

Over the past several months, however, the owners of Machne Bnos Square — as the lodge is now called — have been making a concerted effort to bring the property back into compliance with town and state regulations. They have made several appearances before the Mamakating Planning Board, where they have produced plans regarding the proposed camp. Taub said that the group, who are members of the Skver Hasidic dynasty, likely would not be able to bring the property into compliance in time to operate the camp this summer, though it remains to be seen whether the work would be completed in time.

Jim Sweeney, the attorney for the group, said that he, too, was upset by the vandalism, but that he has been heartened by the quick response from local officials, including the town building department.v “It’s a sad thing,” Sweeney said. “And it’s a disturbing thing. But one thing that is not disturbing, and is encouraging, is the response of the town officials. They reacted quickly.”

Sweeney indicated that the town zoning board of appeals recently granted a request for a caretaker trailer to be placed on the property, but that the group did not yet have it in place. Sweeney speculated that the presence of a round-the-clock caretaker might have prevented the vandalism.

“It’s unfortunate that it happened before the security is in place,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney said that the group will now look to pick up the pace when it comes to getting the trailer in place.

(Source: Shawangunk Journal)