[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RICHARD STEIN & HILARY BAUM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 30, 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize two pillars of 
the Riverdale community, Hilary Baum and Richard Stein, who this year 
are also being honored by the Riverdale Neighborhood House at their 
2019 Annual Benefit.
  Richard and Hilary are no strangers to Riverdale Neighborhood House. 
In fact, the Riverdale Press was founded by Richie's father, Dave, in 
part to help raise funds for the RNH pool. Richie's first paid job was 
as a counselor-in-training at the RNH camp. After getting his degree in 
architecture in 1971, Richard began working on a geodesic dome teen 
center for RNH and Hilary--whom Richie met at Cornell--was enlisted as 
construction superintendent. The couple recalls the project as one of 
the most fulfilling experiences of their lives.
  After the dome, Richard and Hilary established a design office in 
upstate Delhi, NY, but in 1976 their country life was cut short when 
Dave Stein's worsening heart condition made it difficult for him to 
continue at The Press. Despite vowing not to enter the family business, 
Richie became General Manager of The Press. Immersing himself in 
community affairs, he soon joined the board of RNH where he is still a 
member today. Over the years, he has served as assistant treasurer, 
treasurer, secretary and president.
  Returning to New York City also gave Hilary the opportunity to 
redefine her own career path. After taking courses with famed landscape 
architect M. Paul Friedberg at City College, she joined the staff of 
the Central Park Administrator during the early years of the park's 
restoration and the launching of the Central Park Conservancy, helping 
to establish the National Association of Olmsted Parks. Later, she took 
a job with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets 
where she began to develop expertise that eventually resulted in her 
forming Public Market Partners and crisscrossing the continent, 
consulting with towns and cities about creating or revitalizing their 
markets. In 1995, she co-authored her second book, Public Markets and 
Community Revitalization. Her passion for food and food equity also led 
to her working to bring healthy, locally sourced food to lower income 
neighborhoods commonly called ``food deserts.'' In Riverdale, Hilary 
became a driving force in the creation of the Hawthorne Valley Farm 
community supported agriculture (CSA) project at RNH and a board member 
at Friends of Van Cortlandt Park.
  Now that the couple has settled near their grandchildren--Luca and 
Anaia--in Philadelphia, their professional lives have come full circle. 
They are once again involved with architecture and development, aided 
by their daughter Annie, son Alex and son-in-law Mauro Daigle.
  Madam Speaker, Richie Stein and Hilary Baum have done a great deal 
for our community over the years. On this special occasion, I want to 
congratulate and thank them for all of their work.

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