Town Supervisor Receives 2019 Lifetime Arts Achievement Award

TOWN OF BABYLON, NY - Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer recently received the 2019 Senator Owen H. Johnson Lifetime Arts Achievement Award. The honor was bestowed upon him by the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA) during their first ever Celebration of the Arts event last month.

According to the group, Schaffer received the award for his "steadfast and vocal support for BACCA." Read the group's full reasoning below:

Under Supervisor Schaffer, the partnership between the Town of Babylon and BACCA has not only endured but has grown stronger. This partnership has enabled BACCA to fulfill its mission to be a town-wide advocate of the arts, a provider of educational programming, and a promoter of outstanding and diverse theatrical, music, cultural and artistic entertainment. Under the Supervisor’s auspices, BACCA maintains its main office at Old Town Hall in Babylon Village, utilizes the Old Town Hall Court Room as a performing and exhibit space, hosts the Annual Long Island Bluegrass Festival at Tanner Park in Copiague, conducts BACCA’s long running and very popular art classes at the Town Hall Annex in North Babylon, and for many years hosted the Annual Paumanauke Pow-Wow Festival at Town Hall Park in North Lindenhurst. In addition, Supervisor Schaffer ensures that an annual administrative grant is in the Town’s annual budget and BACCA events are published in the Town’s Annual Recreation Program publication. The Town of Babylon's, and specifically, Supervisor Schaffer’s vocal public support of BACCA greatly enhances BACCA’s standing in the public’s eye and enables it to continue growing and blossoming into one of Long Island’s premier arts and culture advocacy organizations. Without Supervisor Schaffer, BACCA, as we know it today, would not exist. For over 45 years, the Babylon Citizens Citizens Council on the Arts has been an integral part of the Town of Babylon. Thanks to Supervisor Richard Schaffer, it will continue to be so for another 45 years.

"BACCA has been a cherished institution within our community for over four decades and I am proud to have worked closely with them during my career to help advance arts and culture within the Town of Babylon," Schaffer said

He has showed his support by allowing the group to use town facilities for their events and helping promote their cultural programs. The award is named in honor of the late New York State Senator Owen H. Johnson, who was also a strong supporter of BACCA. Councilman Terry McSweeney and Receiver of Taxes Corinne DiSomma joined with other local officials and community leaders in recognizing Schaffer at the event.

"This award is particularly meaningful to me as it is given in memory of Owen Johnson, who was a dear friend and outstanding public servant," Schaffer said. "I sincerely thank BACCA for this honor and look forward to helping them continue their role as a town-wide advocate for the arts for many more years to come."