POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Rob Rolison dedicated one of the City of Poughkeepsie’s busiest intersections to an intrepid neighborhood leader. The intersection of Main and Academy Streets in now “Carmen’s Corner” in recognition of Carmen Lara’s decades-long efforts to keep the three-hundred block of Main Street clean and safe. Lara resides on the block bearing her name and can regularly be found picking up trash around the intersection. Miss Lara also “engages passers-by with greetings and well-wishes, adding a certain charm to the area” said Rolison.
Rolison chats with Lara …
… and unveils the sign
Lara’s efforts to help the neighborhood doesn’t stop with cleaning. As the crowd was gathering for the surprise unveiling, Lara said “I wish I had some food to hand out to everyone that needs some” at which point Frankie Flowers, a well-known community activist who helps those in need, offered to stop by later in the afternoon with donated food to hand out to the less fortunate.
As Rolison gathered the crowd of storekeepers and residents closer for the dedication that was kept secret from Lara, he ran off a list of Carmen’s good deeds and said “Carmen Lara has been taking care of this corner for many years and she does it out of the kindness of her heart just to make the place look a little bit better.” As Lara listened intently, Rolison continued “In the spirit of Thanksgiving we couldn’t think of a better time to do this just to say thanks to this fabulous woman.”
After the street sign was uncovered by the mayor declaring it “Carmen’s Corner” the spry 68-year-old lady responded in her usual humble way saying “Oh lord, I can’t believe all of this is just for me…I do my thing for the neighborhood.”
