Foundation takes control of Verkhovyna, but finds resort property vandalized (09/09/01)

Foundation takes control of Verkhovyna, but finds resort property vandalized

by Andrew Nynka

GLEN SPEY, N.Y. - With estimates of $180,000 in damage, an ongoing police felony investigation and over 11 tons of trash already removed, the Verkhovyna Resort, once owned by the Ukrainian Fraternal Association (UFA), is in the hands of the Ukrainian American Cultural Foundation (UACF). UACF officials claim, however, that first the resort was thoroughly pillaged, ransacked and vandalized.

The damages apparently occurred from June 6 to August 24 while a summer camp, Camp Achim Hasidim, occupied the grounds as the sale of the resort transferred ownership from the UFA to the UACF. A ruling by Sullivan County Supreme Court Justice Burton Ledina had nullified the contract of sale between the UFA and David Willner, head of Camp Achim, and stipulated that a Ukrainian buyer must be given an opportunity to purchase the estate (see "Ukrainian foundation purchases Verkhovyna," The Weekly, June 17).

Justice Ledina granted permission to Mr. Willner to hold a summer camp on the premises during this summer as long as Mr. Willner cleared up any outstanding health violations incurred by the UFA on Verkhovyna's grounds and was issued all necessary permits in order to run a summer camp.

Steve Kapczak, a member of the UACF board and Verkhovyna's executive director, stated that the repairs done by Mr. Willner were cosmetic at best and done only to alleviate pressure from the state health authorities. According to Mr. Kapczak, the court stipulated that if Mr. Willner wanted to prepare the grounds for an eight-week summer camp he would need to repair the current septic and water systems.

"They dropped a concrete [septic] tank in, but it was never hooked up. It was made to look like it was installed so they could get their permits, but we don't know where the septic leaches to," Mr. Kapczak related. "As far as the water chlorinator for the water system, they installed it but it doesn't work properly," he added.

Asked to comment on the extent of damages, Mr. Kapczak and fellow UACF board member Oleh Kolodiy cited door knobs removed and thrown out, rooms vandalized and filled with garbage and an overpowering stench, mattresses and furniture either thrown out or simply thrown outside of rooms and left to rot in the open, shower knobs removed and water left running indefinitely, videogames thrown into the woods and smashed, structural damage to buildings, doors ripped off hinges, new doorways cut into existing walls, window screens cut apart (apparently to put in air conditioners), windows broken, water damage to ceilings and carpets from improperly installed and improperly situated clothes washers, not to mention the damage done to carpeting and wood floors throughout the facility.

This reporter visited the resort to examine first-hand the damage described by UACF officials.

The extent of damage is even more dramatic when one compares videotape shot by the UACF prior to the closing of the resort sale between the UFA and UACF on June 6 (Mr. Willner and UFA President Ivan Oleksyn neglected to be present for the videotaping), and again on August 24, when the UACF took over ownership of the resort and Camp Achim vacated the premises.

Among the scenes on the videotape is footage of the resort's main dance hall and the adjoining bar with rooms on the second floor. The difference in the appearance of these rooms from June 6 to August 24 is quite remarkable. The August 24 "after" footage shows graffiti on the walls, including a swastika, broken doors, trash strewn about, a pile of sawdust in one of the rooms, broken furniture, broken windows and torn window screens. The June 6 "before" footage shows no broken furniture, doors, windows or screens, and no trash or sawdust.

Richard Ranne, a native of Glen Spey who has spent time working on the estate grounds for both Mr. Willner's camp and now for the UACF, said the furniture that is missing or scattered about the resort grounds was either thrown out or simply left outside to rot by order of Mr. Willner himself.

Mr. Willner would not return The Weekly's repeated phone calls for comment, although he has made several public statements. "This damage could not have been done in eight weeks. All they're doing (the UACF) is shifting the mismanagement," he told two local newspapers that have been covering the Verkhovyna story.

According to the UACF's lawyers, the Dekajlo Law Firm, Mr. Willner tried to leave the resort grounds with his $30,000 security deposit before the new owners could step in and evaluate the estate's condition. Upon seeing the damage, the UACF's attorneys held Mr. Willner's security deposit, with the result that Mr. Willner has asserted a claim against the UACF that seeks to have his deposit returned.

As the case proceeds in court the UACF's attorneys are hopeful that not only will Justice Ledina side with the UACF but that his ruling will also assess the damages done to Verkhovyna.

At press time neither Lumberland Chief Constable Steve Crum nor the New York State Department of Health could be reached for comment. No representatives from Camp Achim Hasidim would return repeated phone calls regarding the matter.

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