With the board meeting officially over, chocolate cake was being served to a small gathering Wednesday night. The occasion? An informal farewell for Sloatsburg resident Stephen Hoefer, who is retiring as a Sloatsburg Public Library Trustee after serving for five years. Where the library would be losing one of its most dynamic trustees, the Ramapo Catskills Library System (RCLS) would be gaining a financial whiz.

Hoefer has been a library board trustee since 2008 and in that time brought many intangibles to the table. As Manager of Administration and Finance for the Nyack Library, which itself has a budget almost twice the size of Sloatsburg’s, Hoefer was able to share his considerable facilities management expertise with the board, where he served as treasurer. Hoefer’s board efforts were the right thing at the right time — he was an instrumental member of the board during an important transitionary period that saw the library upgrade within and clean up without.

During Hoefer’s tenure, the library was re-roofed, had new copper gutters installed, saw significant tree work done, upgraded its computer room and improved its digital footprint, as well as reconditioned the staff kitchen. Currently, the library is working with the village to finally get repainted.

Hoefer had to resign his position to take on a significant new responsibility — on April 1 he will join RCLS as Fiscal Officer and Assistant Treasurer. RCLS works with member libraries in Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and southern Ulster counties, providing coordinated services, guidance, training, support and leadership that helps member libraries better serve their communities.

Many around the the area know Hoefer as one of the people behind BackHome Antiques in Tuxedo. Along  with partner Darrell Frasier, Hoefer has turned BackHome into one of Tuxedo’s must-stop places to shop. From the corner front door, the store opens up spaciously, revealing layers and layers of antiques and other collectibles. With two floors to wander through, the store contains any number of interesting objects, collectibles and just plain cool items. The store is located on Rt. 17 across from the Tuxedo Train Station.

Although he’s turning in his trustee cap, Hoefer will still lend a hand to the Sloatsburg Library in his capacity at RCLS.