The Mid-Hudson Civic Center (MHCC) has been a public institution for 43 years. And while expenses and competition for charitable donations have increased, MHCC President Danielle Anderson said her focus is on ensuring its survival for another 40 years.

Infrastructure costs, including boiler upgrades and IT systems, fire system roof and Zamboni repairs, reached over $600,000 in recent years

That's why she was disheartened to learn of a petition circulating on on Change.org, reported on by WRRV, questioning the management of the center, Anderson said. The petition established by Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner requested evidence that an April 15, 2016 rally for then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump was paid for and asked for the restoration of lower rates and available hours for a skating program at the McCann Ice Arena.

"We did receive payment in full for services rendered in April," Anderson told the Hudson Valley Post in a phone call Tuesday.

Anderson provided a copy of a letter dated Jan. 10, 2018 addressed to Tyner indicating payment from the Trump campaign was received April 19, 2016.

Anderson's letter said infrastructure costs, including boiler upgrades and IT systems, fire system roof and Zamboni repairs, reached over $600,000 in recent years.

Rising costs and declining program participation necessitated an increase in ice skating prices in 2017--the first time in 10 years, according to Anderson.

"Anything that was discussed with the parents was delivered on in full."

In a letter to Tyner reprinted on the Change.org petition site, author and former Hudson Valley Magazine Editor-in-Chief Joanne Michaels said members of the Dutchess County Figure Skating Club (DCFSC) were asked to pay $1,000 fee for unlimited ice time but that their ice time was cut anyway.

Anderson disputes the account, saying MHCC "over-delivered" on its commitment to the DCFSC.

"Anything that was discussed with the parents was delivered on in full. There was a decline in programming. There were less than 20 girls, and I still left the program open," Anderson said.

She said MHCC is hosting a wide variety of programming in the convention center to generate revenue.

"We have broadened our scope of what we are. We're not just a concert venue. We can transform into almost anything. We're one of the largest venues in the Hudson Valley," Anderson said.

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