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Thursday, May 15, 1986, p. 11.
Related story here

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PROFILE

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Peri Ann Hennig

By TOM RUE

CALLICOON -- Life and energy seem to be dominant themes in talking with Peri Hennig -- living life to its fullest, at the same time drawing on a seemingly bottomless well of personal motivation.

Recently elected president of the board of directors of the Delaware Community Center (DCC) in Callicoon, Peri continues to find time for other activities. She is currently a full-time student at the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz. "I've always maintained a 3.6 grade point average," she added with a touch of pride in her voice. She also waitresses full-time at a local eating establishment, to put herself through school.

So where does she find the time to do all these things, and still volunteer for a position which was called by her predecessor "a full-time job in itself"? That remains a mystery, but somehow she's managing.

Like over a hundred other concerned residents, Peri attended the annual meeting of DCC on April 22nd. But unlike the rest, she wound up being chosen to head the center in a time of severe financial crisis.

"I decided to go to the' meeting because I wanted to see what was going on with the center," she explained.

Peri did not expect to accept a demanding position. "To be honest, you know how I got to be president.'?" she laughed. "Joyce [Sykes] and those guys at the end of the table wrote it down, and next thing I knew they were saying 'yea' and 'nay'."

One motive in serving, she admitted, is that the man who made the original bequest to build the center, the late Grover Hermann, was a distant cousin. "So I kind of felt obligated that someone in the family should try to help out."

Peri's major at SUNY is elementary education. 'Td like to be a teacher, but I'd also like to have some other income," she stated.

She relates to children on a level where they feel appreciated. At her former residence in Hortonville. Peri said that' neighborhood children often came for visits to see if she could come out and play. She would build snow figures with them, take them to the Tastee-Freeze, or delight them with stories.

"I just like to go and laugh and have a good time," Peri claimed. But her actions demonstrate that her concern for others is deeper than that one sentence alone lets on.

She worries about the toll she sees substance-abuse taking on people she knows. "I am totally against drug abuse in the area. I've seen it in school, most of my friends smoke pot. I feel there's a need in that regard. Someone should fund an awareness program so that younger kids can realize the dangers of drugs."

Peri is also a member of the Upper Delaware Volunteer Ambulance Corps in Callicoon.

At the same time, she knows how to enjoy herself. A member of the Callicoon ladies' softball team. Peri also jogs' four miles a day, "except when it rains or is cold" she acknowledged with a laugh. Even more than these activities though, she said simply, "I love to lay in the sun."

Nature is something else Per~ enjoys. A few weeks ~ and a few friends got up at three in the morning to! the mountain and look for Halley's Comet. Like others, however, she said they were disappointed.

Peri said that she has been getting tremendous support from members of the community concern center's crises. So much so in fact, that people ha stopping her on the street to give suggestions and v encouragement while she is out jogging.

Lately she has even taken to disguising herself when goes out to run. "If I put my glasses on and pull ~ back, people don't know me," she laughed.

But that doesn't always work, since Peri seems to be to a good percentage of the people in town, and aren't so easily fooled.

One reason why Peri is able to keep herself much of the time is that's how she was brought up. Peri is the daughter of Bill and Sue Hennig, former owners of the Cochecton General Store, where Peri said she work 80 to 90 hours a week. "It seems like I'm running here or there. but that's all right. I'm used to it.

"I always say, 'I'm not going to rush any more,' when they ask for help, I say. 'Yes, I'll do it'."

At 22. Peri's productiveness and dynamic community spirit are an inspiration.

To contribute to the Community Center or for information on the center's activities, contact her at 914/887-xxxx.