CHERRY VALLEY—The Old School in Cherry Valley has been evolving for the past five years, and the effort is coming to fruition with a new post office and day care center under construction.

Last week, Governor George Pataki announced a grant of $98,960 to fund start up costs for the day care center, which will be the first of its kind licensed in northeastern Otsego County.

The Cherry Valley Community Facilities Corporation first decided to purchase the old school from the district over five years ago, said founding director June Barwick, who has seen the project through all stages and is stepping aside as Sam Dubben, Otsego County representative, takes the helm.

"June will be spending a lot more time in France," Dubben said. "She needed help so I stepped forward to help her."

Dubben is extremely pleased at the pace with which the project is moving on."

"He deserves a lot of credit," said Barwick. "He was instrumental in getting the senior meal site established."

The senior meal site was the first project tackled by the corporation as they gave the old school new life.

Since that time, Alexis Saba, now a senior at Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, began to apply for grants and hatch plans for The Old School Cafe. The space was renovated and is now a thriving hub on the weekends, with live music, poetry, films and dancing.

State senator Jim Seward said, "The Cherry Valley Community Facilities Corporation continues to produce good things for the community. The addition of a licensed child care program fills an important need for day care and further enhances the rehabilitation of the old school in Cherry Valley. I applaud their efforts and the support of the community for this significant achievement."

A previous grant of $415,000 from the New York State Dormitory Authority and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services supported the renovation of the one-story 1950's wing at the rear of the building where the day care center will operate.

Richard Saba, vice-president of the CVCFC, said construction of the post office, at the front of the building, and the day care center at the rear, will hopefully be completed by late October. The exterior is being renovated with funds from the NYS Environmental Bond Act.

"It's finally coming together," Barwick said. "It's been a long time. It seems like we're always saying thank you, but that's crucial."

Saba said that post office will span 4,000 square feet and will be handicap accessible, and the day care center will be 7,000 square feet.

"It will be one of the biggest day care centers in the state," he said.

It will include early morning care and after school care, he said.

The Old School has been rocking already, with beat poets and music playing to a full house.

"What could be better?" Saba said. "We're in the process of getting foosball and ping pong tables now."

Saba's got his eye on other nooks of the building already. There's a "quintessential dance studio" on the top floor with arched windows, he said, and eventually he's hoping to see a reading room with computers and municipal offices.

"Then we'll start on the art center," said Saba, a painter. "This whole project makes living here unique. When it's done, it will be an oasis."