Ben and Jerry’s mending Sullivan County fences

LIBERTY, NY — The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce received executives of the Ben and Jerry’s Corporation on August 25, bearing apologies to the businesses of Sullivan County for their recent last minute concert cancellation.

According to a statement from the Sullivan Chamber, company representatives met with chamber CEO, Jacquie Leventoff, asking for the Chamber to provide them with creative ways that Ben and Jerry’s could give back to the community, in an effort toward “rebuilding a bridge between the ice cream establishment and county businesses.”

Walt Freese, chief marketing officer, Chrystie Heimert, public relations director and Sarah Sparks, integrated marketing manager met with Leventoff.

“We were assured that they would be meeting shortly with local vendors to ease the financial burden that these individuals experienced. Several ideas emerged from the meeting focusing on economic development projects for our county in the very near future,” reported Leventoff.

“We are confident of their sincerity in working with our community. Sullivan County and Ben and Jerry’s both experienced tremendous disappointment at the canceling of the festival. Now is the time for moving forward,” she said in the statement.