Livingston Manor gets its prescription filled

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY—For more than six years, residents in Livingston Manor have been without a pharmacy. Since the closure of the Central Pharmacy, residents have had to travel to Liberty to get their prescriptions filled which has proven to be a hardship, especially on senior citizens and those lacking transportation.

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Pharmacist Mark Wegener, left, and Gerard Ilaria of the Livingston Manor Development Corporation announce plans for the new Medicap Pharmacy that will occupy the old Siegel building in Livingston Manor. (Click for larger image)

On April 22, Gerard Ilaria of the Livingston Manor Development Corporation (LMDC) announced that a Medicap Pharmacy franchise would open on Main Street this summer in the renovated Siegel building. Medicap is an Iowa-based, apothecary pharmacy that focuses on patient care and health-related counseling and information. The franchise was recently purchased by LMDC. Medicap franchises can be found in 35 states and this is its first New York State store.

Town supervisor Pat Pomeroy introduced the franchise’s pharmacist Mark Wegener, a new resident to the area, who described the Medicap philosophy.

“Patients will benefit from a personal relationship with their pharmacist so they can receive the information and attention they need,” he said.

Dr. Christina Ortega of Catskill Regional Medical Center’s Livingston Manor Family Practices is delighted.

“Until now, my patients here on Pearl Street have had to travel to fill their prescriptions at the nearest pharmacy.”

The Siegel building was originally a blacksmith shop. Since 1910, it served as a general store operated by the Siegel family. Former town supervisor Lee Siegel and his wife Marge ran the store from 1946 to 1983 when they sold it. Since then, no viable business has been able to thrive in the building and it remained an eyesore and a symbol of the town’s stagnation.

Architect Michael Chojnicki of The Beechwoods designed the renovation, which is being constructed by Mark Dubrovsky of Bethel Design Consultants, Inc.

A branch office of Elliot and Pomeroy Real Estate and new rental apartments will share the space with the pharmacy that is slated to open this summer.