Trustee Ellen Barnes, left, and Deputy Mayor Ted McCague of Lakewood listen to a presentation delivered by Jake Kane of the Chautauqua Lake Community Sailing Foundation regarding the services the organization provides for the community. P-J photo by Eric Zavinski

LAKEWOOD — The Chautauqua Lake Community Sailing Foundation has utilized the beach house and lakefront area at Richard O. Hartley Park to teach the community how to tame the lake in exchange for these in-kind services.

What amounts to what Trustee Ellen Barnes called the cost of $1 per year for the foundation to use the facility, the lease was advocated for the current year as a license agreement, and it was reviewed by the four members of the Lakewood Village Board of Trustees. Barnes asked for concrete information, including a financial report from the nonprofit and list of in-kind services to justify the continuing agreement.

Sailing Foundation Board Member Jake Kane listed the various services the foundation provides organizations throughout the community. Sailing classes or lessons are provided to Southwestern Central School and Jamestown Community College for physical education credit, the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Chautauqua Lake Yacht Club and the foundation’s 2018 state champion high school sailing team.

“We’re all about trying to practice sailing in the community,” Kane said.

By the end of his presentation, Kane agreed to submit a financial report, and all four trustees agreed to approve the 2019 license agreement for use of the Hartley Park facility and lakefront.

Kane said the foundation recognizes how many youth don’t actually participate in lake-related activities despite living so close to it. He said getting young people more involved with the “wholesome activity,” as it was described by Deputy Mayor Ted McCague, is the group’s primary goal.

“We’re trying to facilitate that (interaction),” Kane said. “It’s taking advantage of this incredible asset that we have.”

Skills one can learn from sailing include mathematics, knot-tying, navigation, swimming and sailing itself, Kane noted. He mentioned that sailing programs aren’t located in every aquatic community, and he encourages any residents to reach out to the foundation if they’re interested in learning how to sail.

In other news, the board of trustees authorized Lakewood-Busti Police Chief John Bentley to request sealed bids for a new marked patrol car and an unmarked sport utility vehicle.

Village Historian Susan Lane advocated for a bench to be placed in Lowe Park. She said it would be a historical amenity and noted that the history committee has left over funds to purchase it. The trustees liked the idea, and board approval could come as early as next meeting.

“They can sit and watch the magnificent sunsets we have,” Lane said.