Fran Kramer

Fran Kramer has lived in Cornwall since 2014. She and her husband have three children who have enjoyed the benefits of the Cornwall Library for many years.  Fran is an optometrist practicing in Newburgh.  She views serving on the library board as a way of helping to make our town and community a better place. 

K Brandt Knapp

K Brandt Knapp has a background in art and architecture. She co-founded BRANDT : HAFERD, a Harlem-based architecture and design studio, with Jerome W Haferd. They began their collaboration with a series of architectural installations – Curtain, the inaugural 2012 Folly at Socrates Sculpture Park, caesura: a forum, at Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, among others. Their work has been exhibited at various institutions & public parks, supported by various grants and they’ve been recipients of national awards – notably the 2019 Zero Threshold competition and in 2020 New Practices New York Award. Their collaboration shifted during the pandemic and they focused work toward combating isolation, diving deeper into design and art-making that concentrated on accessibility and place with a series of architectural studies and videos.

In January 2022, one week after her daughter, Lavin, was born, Brandt + family moved out of their 1 bedroom apartment in Harlem and moved to Cornwall, NY with their then 18m old, Rhys. She has been focused on family life since the move.

Brandt received her Master of Architecture degree from Yale School of Architecture. She studied both architecture and art at Arizona State University for her undergraduate degrees. She has taught architecture courses at UPenn’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design, MICA, NJIT, Pratt Institute, Barnard, and Columbia’s GSAPP.

Ezra Zohar

I grew up in Cornwall and now have a 9yo son at COH.  We’ve been frequent patrons since he was a toddler, and I credit the library for his genuine love for reading (and now writing!).  Every family should be so lucky. 

For toddlers, kids, adults, and seniors, our library is such a lovely piece of our Cornwall community.  I hope to join the board to work collaboratively with the other trustees on initiatives that add to the place we all love so much.

Marie Samples

I am excited to seek a position on the Library Board of Trustees. While this would be my first time serving in a public role in Cornwall, I am no stranger to either public service or our community. Since moving here in 1992, I commuted to New York City for my career as a forensic scientist while remaining deeply connected to Cornwall. Throughout my professional life, I have served on numerous committees, boards, commissions and working groups – both as a member and in leadership roles – always bringing dedication and hard work. As a long-time resident of our town and a dedicated library user, I have seen firsthand the vital role it plays in educating, connecting, and enriching our community. My experience with nonprofit organizations has reinforced my understanding of the importance of strong leadership, strategic planning and community engagement in sustaining and growing valuable institutions like our library. I would be honored to bring my skills and experience to the Board of Trustees to help ensure the library remains a vibrant, accessible, and innovative resource for all residents.