SUNY Delhi Architecture Club Designs Corridor Kiosks A new partnership between the SUNY Architectural Design and Building Program, the Central Catskills Collaborative, and the Friends of Catskill Interpretive Center is bringing change to the long-dormant site of the proposed Catskill Interpretive Center. The Catskill Park, unlike the Adirondack Park, has no museum, interpretive or welcome center. In the early 1990s, New York State, the Catskill Center, and others worked to secure a site for a Catskill Interpretive Center in Mount Tremper adjacent to Route 28. The site was improved with a bridge and an entry road, but in 1995 the project was put on hold by the state. In 2003, the year before the Park’s centennial, the Friends of the Catskill Interpretive Center formed to encourage the state to construct the much needed facility. And in 2008, a group of seven communities along the Route 28 corridor formed the Central Catskills Collaborative. The Collaborative is currently undertaking a scenic byway nomination for the corridor and favors the provision of more information about the area’s resources along the corridor. In 2009, Diane Galusha gave a presentation at a meeting of the Collaborative on the Catskill Watershed Corporation’s Watershed Commemorative Program, which resulted in the construction of six interpretive kiosks at the reservoirs. Following the presentation, the Collaborative and the Friends (with assistance from NYS DEC, who is the leasee of the Mount Tremper site) agreed to pursue the construction of an interpretive kiosk on the site. This led to the partnership with SUNY Delhi, which official began when a group of students from the college architecture club and Professor Z.I. Sanchez visited the site in October. The club concluded that the grassy mound in the entry area would be the best site for the kiosk, and they returned to the studio to begin the design process. Over the next few months Peter Manning, Catskill Center Regional Planner, visited the studio and provided assistance to the students. In early February, the architecture club hosted a design critique and invited members of the Collaborative and the Friends to select a design prototype for the Mt. Tremper site. Four architectural schemes were presented, each one innovative and unique, leaving the guests from the community with difficult choices to make. The guests offered recommendations for each prototype by matching the individual designs with sites in the Catskills where kiosks are needed, including trailheads and roadside parks. In reaching consensus on the Mt. Tremper kiosk, the group chose Grant Egelston’s design for factors that include its prominent architectural presence at this gateway location, the sheltering of display panels, and the inclusion of seating. During the spring, the kiosk project will be advanced by students in Professor Floyd Vogt's construction class, with the goal of erecting the structure by semester’s end. In the coming weeks, the Friends and the Collaborative, working with NYS DEC, will be raising awareness and building support for this essential project. In the meantime, the partners are thankful for the contributions of SUNY Delhi, who is playing a key role in bringing the Catskill Park one step closer to getting the greater recognition it deserves. For more information, please contact Peter Manning, Regional Planner, Catskill Center (845)586-2611 ext. 104 or pmanning@catskillcenter.org. New Trail Set To Open In Woodridge - 8/30 The Fallsburg O&W Rail Trail Committee is inviting the public to attend a ribbon-cutting and trail dedication on Sunday, August 30th at 11AM in Woodridge. The ribbon-cutting will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial Park on Roosevelt Avenue in downtown Woodridge, next to the gazebo and rail-trail sign. A brief ceremony will mark the official opening of a 2-mile section of the former Ontario and Western Railroad right-of-way to the public as a recreational trail. Light refreshments will be provided, and musician Paul Lounsbury will perform an original song called "To the Mountains by Rail." Following the ribbon-cutting, the public is invited for a leisurely walk down the trail, which ends at the Neversink River where a railroad trestle once stood. Volunteers will provide a shuttle service back to the park. The Woodridge trail will be the third segment of the O&W rail-trail open to the public within the Town of Fallsburg. A 2.5-mile segment from Mountaindale to Woodridge, and a separate 3-mile segment from Hurleyville to South Fallsburg have been open and actively used as recreational trails since the mid-1990s. Opening of the Woodridge segment is the culmination of three years of hard work by volunteers who make up the Fallsburg O&W Rail Trail Committee, headed up by Mountaindale resident Allen Frishman. Overcoming several setbacks, volunteers cleared trees, widened the trail, removed debris, and replaced two culverts washed out by heavy rains to make the trail accessible. In preparation for the official opening, volunteers with Woodridge Kiwanis and Woodridge Renaissance last year erected a gazebo and a sign with interpretive information, and brought in several truckloads of fill to create a beautiful trailhead lined by split-rail fencing. That project was funded through Sullivan Renaissance, earning the group a third-place prize in their category ($5,000). For more information on this event, or the rail-trail in Fallsburg, please call Allen Frishman at (845) 434-8811 or Helen Budrock at Sullivan Renaissance at (845) 295-2462. Mountaintop Community Recreation, Cultural Resources, and Scenic Quality Strategy Meeting - June 29th The Mountaintop Community Recreation, Cultural Resources, and Scenic Quality Strategy is a region-wide planning effort to develop a locally driven master plan that identifies resource enhancements, integration and protection of the resources that have attracted people to the area for generations. At the same time, the project integrates the economic vitality of the small, rural mountaintop communities that rely on these resources to attract tourists to the area. The Strategy covers the nine mountaintop municipalities located in Greene County - the Towns of Ashland, Jewett, Halcott, Hunter, Lexington, Prattsville, and Windham, and the Villages of Hunter and Tannersville. A comprehensive inventory of historical, recreational, recreation business retail, arts and cultural, & scenic resources was conducted and built into the strategy’s development. Catskill Center Regional Planner Peter Manning serves on the Project Advisory Team and has provided technical assistance on inter-municipal cooperation and public process. Aaron Bennett, Director of Programming at the Catskill Center, is a member of the project’s recreation focus group. This project is a fine example of regional planning in the Catskills. It illustrates how unique resources in each community can be collectively and efficiently promoted for tourism and outdoor recreation. The Mountaintop Strategy also ties in well with the proposed Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway in Hunter, another project the Catskill Center is helping to coordinate. This Scenic Byway is an important precedent for the Catskill Park, demonstrating how a diversity of resources can be "packaged" into an enhanced traveling experience. Two years in the making, the final draft of the Mountaintop Strategy will be presented to the public in an effort to build support and activity around its comprehensive recommendations. The public meeting will take place on June 29, 6-8 PM at the Hunter Elementary School. For more information, please click here (94Kb PDF). TRACTION FOR LIFE : The Catskill Mountain Region As you may not have known, the Sundance Channel came up to the Catskills in cold January to film Lisa Rainwater, Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, about her work. This week - in celebration of Earth Day - the "Traction for Life" series airs on Sundance and is also live on their website. Below is the link to the video (60 seconds). Please forward to your friends, colleagues and family - and encourage them to donate to keep our work going! So join Sundance Channel and Subaru as they hit the road and visit the Catskill Mountain Region and reveal the inspirational stories of people who are making a difference. TRACTION FOR LIFE : Catskills Video: Lisa Rainwater of the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development talks about importance of protecting and preserving the natural water supply. Catskill Center's Annual Leaf Pack Training - March 13-14th This FREE workshop, administered by The Stroud Water Research Center in partnership with The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, will take place at The Catskill Center office in Arkville. This free training will introduce participants to the stream monitoring protocol developed by Stroud Water Research Center. The training will prove useful to teachers, environmental conservation groups, and interested individuals looking to investigate their local streams and watershed. During the two days of training, participants will learn watershed and stream ecology concepts, learn to identify benthic macro invertebrates, and visit a local stream to conduct the full LeafPack® experiment. The training provides participants with numerous lesson ideas, demonstrates how this project satisfies numerous NYS Learning Standards, and can provide up to ten hours of in-service credit for participating teachers. All participants will have the opportunity to join the LeafPack Network, a web-accessed database allowing participating individuals or groups to compare data across New York state and elsewhere. Additionally, any participant implementing this project in the NYC Watershed will receive a free LaMotte LeafPack® kit ($170 value) containing all the materials you will need to get started. Space is limited to 20 participants - so register now! For more information on the project, visit the Leaf Pack Project web site and to register, contact Ben Murdock, Catskill Educator. "DRAFT 2009 NYS Open Space Conservation Plan" Released for Public Comment The DRAFT 2009 Open Space Conservation Plan is now available for public comment. We encourage you to review this draft Plan and provide comments, so that the final Plan submitted to Governor Paterson later this year represents the best strategy for how our State, our partners and we, as citizens, should move forward to conserve our common outdoor heritage. New Plan Identifies Conservation Priorities The newly revised document demonstrates our state's renewed commitment to plan, prioritize, and enable citizen and government actions to conserve vital and threatened open spaces. The plan provides attainable priorities to coordinate and focus our many efforts. We urge you to read the plan and discover how open space conservation can be used to respond to climate change, foster green, healthy communities, connect people to nature and recreation, and safeguard & enhance our state's unique natural & cultural heritage. To view and/or download the 2009 Open Space Plan, visit the NYS DEC website. Public Comment Period Public comment is encouraged and will be accepted from January 7, 2009 through 4:45 PM, February 27, 2009 Please review the plan and submit comments to: Francis E. Sheehan Assistant Director NYS DEC Division of Lands and Forests 625 Broadway, 5th floor Albany, NY 12233-4250 You may email comments to: osp2009@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Public Hearings The public is welcome to attend one of the scheduled hearings. The hearings scheduled for the Catskil Mountain region (NYSDEC Regions 3 and 4) are scheduled as follows:    Region 4 on January 21st at the Region 4 NYS DEC Regional Headquarters in Schenectady (located at 1130 North Westcott Road)    Region 3 on January 22nd at Bear Mountain State Park (Overlook Lodge) Each hearing date will use the following schedule unless noted otherwise: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Workshop 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Public Hearing 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Public Hearing For all other Dates and Locations of the hearings, click here (NYSDEC website). Public Announcement from the Delaware County IDA ...NYC Watershed Study Do you have an opinion about the New York City Land Acquisition Program? Delaware County has embarked on an analysis of the New York City’s Land Acquisition Program as it relates to our local economy. To that end, we have contracted with Downeast Development Consulting Group of Halifax, Nova Scotia to help forecast the local economic impact of the city’s acquisition program. Delaware County is fully committed to understanding the issues related to land acquisition, responding in whatever way it can to capitalize on the benefits of that program as well as mitigating those issues that compromise our economy. Downeast Group, as part of the analysis, will provide updates at their website as they progress throughout the analysis. In an effort to share information as well as seek input, Downeast Group has set up a "blog" site at www.downeastgroup.ca/blog. The county, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and the Downeast Group are very interested in your thoughts regarding this analysis. Be advised that if you wish to remain anonymous, create a user name other than your own when filling in the "user name box". If you don’t have a computer but still have an opinion, don’t despair, the county, the county chamber and the Downeast Group will be conducting open community meetings the week of November 17, each beginning at 6:30 pm at the town high school: November 17: Walton November 18: Delhi November 19: Stamford November 20: Margaretville Image shown is of the Emory Brook, Brush Ridge Unit of DEP land in the Town of Middletown Details Announced For Meeting On Natural Gas Drilling The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has finalized logistics for a series of meetings to give the public an opportunity to participate in the analysis of the potential environmental impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells in New York's natural gas-bearing Marcellus and Utica shale formations. DEC had previously announced that six meetings would be scheduled throughout the Southern Tier and Catskills in November and early December. Now finalized, the locations are: Thursday, November 6, 2008: Allegany-Limestone High School Auditorium/Theater, 3131 Five Mile Road, Allegany, NY14706. Wednesday, November 12, 2008: Haverling High School Auditorium, 25 Ellis Avenue, Bath, NY 14810. Thursday, November 13, 2008: Southside High School Auditorium, 777 South Main Street, Elmira, NY 14904. Monday, November 17, 2008: Broome County Community College, West Gym, 901 Upper Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13902. Tuesday, December 2, 2008: SUNY/Oneonta, Hunt Union Ballroom, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY 13820. Thursday, December 4, 2008: Sullivan County Community College, Fieldhouse, 112 College Road, Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759. NOTE: Each meeting location listed below will open at 4:30 p.m., with the formal meeting beginning at 5:15 p.m. Brief remarks by Department staff will be followed by public comments starting at 6 p.m. As a first step of its review, DEC recently released a draft scope that proposes issues to be covered in the analysis. The forums give the public the opportunity to review and comment. Document Availability - In addition to the DEC's website at www.dec.ny.gov/energy/45912.html, copies of the draft scope, a Glossary of Technical Terms and related materials are available at locations listed on the attached file. For additional information on Natural Gas Drilling/Exploration and Marcellus Shale in the Catskill Mountain Region, visit the Regional Issues page on our web site. Catskill Center to Participate in Three Fall Conferences Three important conferences will be held in the region this fall, beginning with Catskills Local Government Day on October 22 at the Frost Valley YMCA. Now in its eight year, this collaboration between the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the NYS Department of State features a different theme each year. This year the focus is on improving recreational opportunities in the region. The morning agenda gathers a series of speakers who will cover a variety of trail-related projects, including scenic byways, a greenway, an art trail, as well as snowmobile and mountain biking trails. Peter Manning, Catskill Center Regional Planner and David Gilmour, Catskill Center Consultant Planner, will give a presentation on Catskill Scenic Byways that are in the works. The Department of State will conduct land-use training sessions on regulating signs, junk, storage containers, and outdoor wood-boilers for code enforcement officers and planning board members. Alexander "Pete" Grannis, Commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will be the keynote speaker during the lunch hour. The day concludes with a panel on the recent planning efforts of the State DEC and DOT, the New York City DEP, and the Greene County Watershed Assistance Program. To get more information or to register for Local Government Day, please visit the Catskill Watershed Corporation’s website at www.cwconline.org/news/events.html. The following day, October 23, the DEC will host Catskills Environment & Economy Day at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center. With conference planning assistance from the Catskill Institute for the Environment (CIE), this summit will feature speakers on forest management, agricultural "buy-local" campaigns, bird and fish populations, and the ecological threats of acid rain, climate change, and invasive species. A morning panel on Threats to the Catskill Environment will be moderated by Dr. Sam Adams of CIE, and Lisa Rainwater, Catskill Center Executive Director, will moderate a panel on Community Based Economies and Natural Resource Management. The day’s concluding discussion will be led by DEC Regional Directors, Willie Janeway and Gene Kelly. For more information please contact the DEC at (845) 256-3018, or to register (845) 256-3094. On November 2 & 3, the popular Main Street Forum will once again be held in Liberty. The Catskills’ Historic Preservation Conference will be held on the first day (Preservation Sunday); for more information on this conference, please contact the Liberty Museum & Arts Center at (845) 292-2394 or info@libertymuseum.com. The following day (Main Street Monday) is unique because it integrates the day’s events within the fabric of Liberty’s downtown. Plenary sessions are held in the Liberty Museum & Arts Center, while panels take place in a variety of businesses, and local foods are served. As in previous years (this is the seventh), participants can choose from a mix of programs that include state funding opportunities, case studies, how-to sessions, a walking tour, and a "meet-the-speakers" track. Peter Manning, Catskill Center Regional Planner, will present "The Corridor Redevelopment Approach in the Catskills." Robert Elliott, NYS Deputy Secretary of State, will deliver the keynote during the lunch hour, and at 5 PM a NY Main Street Association Roundtable will be held. Dinner is "A Taste of MAIN STREET" and the conference concludes a reception/ presentation on alternative energy in downtown areas. For agenda and registration information, please click here for registration form, and here to view the agenda. These conferences offer a range of events for everyone from planning board members to naturalists to those active in chambers of commerce and business associations. And it’s all here in the Catskills this fall. We hope to see you there. DEC Finalizes Catksill Park State Land Master Plan - Balances Recreation and Wilderness Protection on State Lands The plan guiding the future management of the state's 292,000 acres in the Catskill Forest Preserve has been finalized, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The update to the Catskill Park State Land Master Plan has been the subject of extensive public comments and reviews and the new version strikes an appropriate balance of protecting the wilderness and expanding recreational enjoyment. Among other changes, the plan adds a "Primitive Bicycle Corridor" for recreation and includes invasive species management to address emerging threats to resources. "This finalized Master Plan incorporates the significant public input we received throughout the development process and will assist DEC in managing the Catskill Forest Preserve to balance public needs with the protection of our precious resources," Commissioner Grannis said. "We will also continue to work with our partners like the Catskill municipalities and New York City to foster new opportunities for recreation and connecting New Yorkers to nature in this unique region, while ensuring that the resources are protected for this and future generations." The Catskill Forest Preserve is part of the Catskill Park, which consists of 705,500 acres of public and private lands. Since its creation in 1885, the Forest Preserve has grown from 34,000 acres to nearly 300,000 acres of public land within Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Forest Preserve lands are protected under Article 14 of the state constitution as "forever wild" and cannot be logged, leased or sold, and must be managed to protect wilderness values. The state pays property taxes on DEC land. The original Catskill Park State Land Master Plan was developed in 1985 and classifies state forest preserve lands within the Park based on their physical character and capacity to accommodate human use. This resulted in four land classifications: wilderness, wild forest, intensive use and administrative. The Plan also designates management units and directs DEC to develop individual unit management plans that guide management activities and public use of those units. In 2003, a proposed draft revision of the Catskill Park State Land Master Plan (CPSLMP) was released for public review and comment. In response to the input received, DEC revised the draft and proposed a new version in April 2008 for additional public review and comment. This final plan reflects that input. Revisions recognize existing and future mountain biking opportunities on state lands in the Catskills and commits DEC to preserving bike trail corridors. Specific changes from the original plan include the following: - Create a new land classification - Primitive Bicycle Corridor - to encompass approximately 156 acres. The Master Plan reclassifies four trail corridors (100 feet wide) through existing or proposed new wilderness areas, mostly in Greene County, that will allow the public to use a bicycle but will otherwise be managed according to wilderness guidelines. These corridors are along old roads and have had historic bicycle use: Indian Head Wilderness: Mink Hollow Road - its entire length through the Indian Head Wilderness (3.2 miles); Indian Head Wilderness: Overlook Turnpike from the Overlook Mountain Wild Forest boundary to Platte Clove and Prediger Road (4.5 miles); Hunter-Westkill Wilderness: Diamond Notch Road - its entire length through the Hunter-Westkill Wilderness (3.2 miles); Blackhead Range Wilderness: Colgate Lake -Dutcher Notch Trail, an old road including Colgate Lake Wild Forest to Stork's Nest (2.4 miles) - In Wild Forests, allow for bicycle use on roads open to the public, state truck trails, old wood roads, foot trails, snowmobile trails, and horse trails, unless such use is deemed unsuitable through the Unit Management Planning process. - Increase the size of the Colgate Wild Forest from 600 acres to 1,495 acres, utilizing the 2,400-foot contour as the boundary. This will provide increased opportunities for recreation appropriate in Wild Forests, including bicycle use. - Include invasive species management, as the original Master Plan did not contain any reference to this emerging threat. DEC and its new Office of Invasive Species will work with the Catskill Region Invasive Species Partnership to help identify and educate the public about invasive species. In addition, DEC may take necessary actions to control exotic invasive species where there is potential for significant degradation to the native ecosystem. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Emily Lloyd said: "The Catskill Park lies almost entirely within the New York City watershed. DEC's management of these lands is important to the future of the City's water supply and vital to the region's economy. We are glad to see this revision of the Master Plan come to fruition and we feel it balances long-term conservation and recreational use." Russell Thorpe, President of the Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club said, "We are very pleased that this Master Plan is responsive to comments by cyclists to preserve current and future mountain biking opportunities in the Catskill Forest Preserve, promote cycling as a health benefit, and contribute to local economies. Primitive Bicycle Corridors enhance the experience of mountain bicyclists by connecting wild forest areas and maintain the potential for recreational access and development of trail systems throughout the Catskill Forest Preserve. We look forward to working with DEC to identify and develop new mountain biking areas in wild forest areas consistent with the new plan." Neil Woodworth, Executive Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, said: "This is a very balanced plan that expands responsible recreational opportunities while protecting the Catskills, one of New York's greatest and most beloved natural resources. This plan will create new mountain biking opportunities while protecting hiking trails on steep slopes of the Catskill High Peaks and will expand the Catskill wilderness to protect the summit of Hunter Mountain and the Escarpment Range." Edward K. Goodell, Executive Director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, said: "By reallocating and strengthening the wilderness and wild forest areas within the Catskill Forest Preserve, this plan manages to simultaneously balance the needs of various users and remain true to the 'forever wild' designation in the state constitution." Lisa Rainwater, Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, said: "The Catskill Center commends the DEC for developing a thorough and fresh 'green' print for the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve. For generations to come, residents and visitors alike will benefit from the plan's many advances, including increased protection of sacred places and the introduction of four Primitive Bicycle Corridors designed to challenge mountain bikers traversing the rugged Catskill Mountain wilderness. The Center also applauds the DEC for its aggressive posture in working toward eradicating many of the invasive species that threaten our native habitat." Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management Offers Wide Array of Programming for Communities Many, if not most, members of planning boards and zoning boards of appeals in the Catskill Region are volunteers serving their communities. These dedicated individuals make important decisions that affect the qualities of our landscape - the downtown areas, the highway corridors, and the surrounding countryside. Recognizing the significant role of the hundreds of board members across the state, New York State has passed legislation requiring planning and zoning boards to complete four hours of training per year. While this has placed additional responsibilities on local communities, public agencies and other organizations are rising to the challenge and providing some diverse training opportunities. In Sullivan County, where some of the region’s greatest development pressures are felt, the county’s Division of Planning and Environmental Management (DPEM) schedules monthly training events and issues a newsletter to help board members find appropriate, interesting and convenient training opportunities. The DPEM staff has worked with local and regional groups from the Catskill Forestry Association and the Watershed Agricultural Council to New York State Department of State and Department of Environmental Conservation. Topics have ranged from zoning law to the National Flood Insurance Plan. Recent events included Stephen J. Small discussing the financial benefits of land conservation. Later this year, the well-known planner Randall Arendt will speak about highway corridor redevelopment and conservation subdivision. The newsletter lists events organized or cosponsored by DPEM as well as relevant events organized without their assistance. DPEM strives to find a broad range of topics that cover the basics as well as more specialized information; however, it is up to each municipality to decide what training they will accept as qualifying for the 4 mandatory hours. For more information on the county’s programming, or to be placed on the mailing list for the newsletter, please contact Heather Jacksy at 845-794-3000 extension 5028, or e-mail planning@co.sullivan.ny.us. Hip E Living Introduces E-Waste Recycling in Woodstock Fundraiser Proceeds go to The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development Woodstock, NY -- Hip E Living, Woodstock’s eco-lifestyle store, introduces its E-Waste Recycling Program that begins on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22. Funds raised through the program will be donated to The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, a member-supported, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization promoting the Catskills’ natural, cultural and economic resources through conservation, education, planning and art. After opening Hip E Living in May 2007, co-owners Joanna Black and Matt Garrison have been researching ways that their store could start giving back to the community. The E-Waste Recycling program is the first in a series of programs that they plan on introducing at the Hip E Living store. "We thought it appropriate that we introduce our first environmental initiative for Earth Week. We know that, like us, many Woodstock residents and business owners have a collection of old cell phones and ink cartridges stashed away in drawers," says the duo. The program’s introduction also marks the one-year anniversary of Black’s and Garrison’s decision to open up shop in Woodstock, as well as the launch of their e-commerce site www.hipEliving.com. The funds raised from the program will be donated to The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and will be used to support the organization’s environmental and educational programs for the community. "We are excited to be involved in this program, and to be partnering with a proactive green business in our region that is taking direct action to protect our environment. Hip E Living’s E-Waste Recycling Program is a great way to bring Earth Day awareness together with spring cleaning. We appreciate the support this program will provides for our efforts to protect the vital ecosystems and vibrant communities of the Catskills," said Deborah Meyer DeWan, Interim Executive Director of The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. How the Hip E Living E-Waste Program works: The Hip E Living E-Waste program has been introduced to protect the environment and give back to our community. 1. Hip E Living invites residents and business owners to donate their E-Waste - used cell phones, inkjet printer cartridges, iPods, MP3 players, and digital cameras (and their accessories too) - at the Hip E Living Woodstock store, located at 65 Tinker Street. Donations can also be dropped off in the "drop box" located on the front door of the store. NOTE: To reset a phone to factory settings (i.e., permanently erase all data) before donation, visit www.phonescoop.com and enter the make and model of the phone along with the word "reset." 2. Every month, Hip E Living will arrange for all the donated materials to be shipped to a sorting facility in the United States. That e-waste will then be tested and sorted into three categories: Refurbishing, Parts, Recycling and safe disposal 3. Once sorted, each item will be assigned a dollar value. This value is calculated based on the market value and condition of the item. Should a donation not be suitable for refurbishing, a value will be calculated for the parts and recyclable content. 4. A check is then mailed directly to The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. For more information on the Hip E Living E-Waste Recycling Program, please contact Joanna Black at 646-912-2681 / info@hipEliving.com. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to Hip E Living at 65 Tinker Street, Woodstock NY 12498, beginning April 18, 2008. DEC RELEASES NEW DRAFT OF CATSKILL PARK MASTER PLAN Revisions Balance Recreation and Environmental Protection on State Lands A new proposed Catskill Park State Land Master Plan has been released that incorporates significant changes to balance recreational opportunities with enhanced environmental protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. The revised draft plan will guide the future management of the State’s 292,000-acre holdings within the Catskill Forest Preserve and is being made available for public review and comment until May 19, 2008. Key revisions focus on trails open to mountain biking, boundaries of the Colgate Wild Forest and the control of invasive species. "This revised draft Master Plan will assist DEC in continuing to manage the Catskill Forest Preserve in ways that are sensitive to public needs and protect the region’s natural resources for the future," Commissioner Grannis said. "DEC has worked hard to evaluate and incorporate the public feedback received on the initial draft and has made significant changes in response to that public input. It was important to make these changes available to the public before final adoption of the plan. I encourage citizens, local governments, environmental groups, businesses and other stakeholders to review and comment on this important resource management document." The Catskill Forest Preserve is part of the Catskill Park, which consists of 705,500 acres of public and private lands. Since its creation in 1885, the Catskill Forest Preserve has grown from 34,000 acres to nearly 300,000 acres of public land within Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. Forest Preserve lands are protected under Article 14 of the State Constitution as "forever wild" and cannot be logged, leased or sold, and must be managed to protect wilderness values. The state pays local property taxes on all Forest Preserve lands. The original Catskill Park State Land Master Plan was developed in 1985 and classifies forest preserve lands within the Park based on their physical character and capacity to accommodate human use based on four land classifications: wilderness, wild forest, intensive use and administrative. The Plan also designates management units and directs DEC to develop individual Unit Management Plans that guide management activities and public use of those units. In August 2003, a proposed draft revision of the Catskill Master Plan was released for public review and comment. In response to comments received in writing and at public meetings, DEC has incorporated several changes into the revised 2008 draft Catskill Park State Land Master Plan. The most significant of these reflect comments about bicycle use - the revised draft recognizes existing and future mountain biking opportunities on state lands in the Catskills and commits DEC to preserving and enhancing bike trail corridors. The changes would: Create of a new land classification, "Primitive Bicycle Corridor." This classification allows continued use of mountain bikes along corridors through existing or proposed wilderness areas and provides links to communities and opportunities for bicyclists to undertake larger backcountry loops through the Park. The Department proposes the reclassification of four trail corridors (100 feet wide) through existing or proposed new wilderness areas (mostly in Greene County) that would allow the public to continue to use a bicycle, but would otherwise be managed according to wilderness guidelines. These corridors encompass a total of approximately 156 acres and are along old roads that have historically been used by mountain cyclists: A. Indian Head Wilderness: Mink Hollow Road (its entire length through the Indian Head Wilderness, 3.2 miles). B. Indian Head Wilderness: Overlook Turnpike from the Overlook Mountain Wild Forest boundary to Platte Clove and Prediger Road (4.5 miles) C. Hunter - Westkill Wilderness: Diamond Notch Road (its entire length through the Hunter - Westkill Wilderness, 3.2 miles). D. Blackhead Range Wilderness: Colgate Lake -Dutcher Notch Trail, an old road (Colgate Lake Wild Forest to Stork’s Nest, 2.4 miles). In Wild Forests, allow for bicycle use on roads open to the public, state truck trails, old wood roads, foot trails, snowmobile trails, and horse trails, unless such use is deemed unsuitable through the Unit Management Planning process. The original draft proposed a positive signage requirement - roads and trails open only if so posted. This change - open unless signed closed - makes it consistent with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan. Increase the size of the Colgate Wild Forest from 600 acres to 1,495 acres, utilizing the 2,400' elevation contour as the boundary. DEC staff determined that the terrain surrounding Colgate Lake was suitable for increased opportunities for recreation appropriate in wild forests, including bicycle use. Include provisions for Invasive Species Management. The original draft did not contain any reference to this emerging threat. DEC’s new Office of Invasive Species will work with the Catskill Region Invasive Species Partnership to help identify problems and educate the public on invasive species. In addition, DEC may take necessary actions to control exotic invasive species where there is potential for significant degradation to the native ecosystem. These actions can include mechanical control, biological control, and the use of pesticides, and will require an environmental review under the State’s Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) as well as publication in the Environmental Notice Bulletin and approval by the Director of the Division of Lands and Forests. "We are very pleased that DEC has responded to public comment by cyclists as a user group to preserve current and future mountain biking opportunities in the Catskill Forest Preserve, along with the creation of a new land use classification," said Russell Thorpe, President of the Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club. "Primitive Bicycle Corridors will enhance the experience of mountain bicyclists by connecting wild forest areas while maintaining the potential for recreational access and development of trail systems throughout the Catskill Forest Preserve. The Primitive Bicycle Corridors will allow mountain bicyclists to undertake larger back country loops through the Catskill Park, creating opportunities for the area to become a cycling destination with benefits to individuals’ health and to local economies." "The Catskill Center views the revised plan as an important step forward for the Catskills," said Deborah Meyer DeWan, Interim Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. "It strikes an appropriate compromise between new and easier access for cyclists, while protecting large blocks of wilderness in the Catskill Forest Preserve. The revisions also incorporate the important inclusion of invasive species management options to help address threats to the area’s unique ecosystem." DEC is accepting comments on the revised draft Catskill Park State Land Master Plan until May 19, 2008. Comments should be addressed to: Peter J. Frank, Bureau Chief, Forest Preserve Management, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4254, or by email to lfcat@gw.dec.state.ny.us. The draft plan will be posted on the DEC website www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5265.html. Local Students Participate in Worldwide Environmental Conference Students from Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School will showcase the unique role of the Catskills in preserving water quality at an upcoming conference in New York City. Fourth and fifth graders Joseph Pelham, Susannah Simpfenderfer, Sydney Shuster, Justin Valentine and Jeffrey Vining will participate with Science teacher Debbie Valerio in the 2008 YouthCaN conference. "The students are looking forward to sharing their experiences and knowledge with others," says Valerio. YouthCaN is a world-wide, youth-run organization that seeks to connect and educate individuals on environmental issues. Conferences take place in Belarus, Lebanon, Japan, Florida, and New York City, with students from Texas, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Slovakia, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Novosibirsk participating via telecommunications. The New York conference takes place at the American Museum of Natural History and expects participation from over 1,000 students and educators. At this conference, the Windham students will give presentations and demonstrations about their role in stewardship of the Watershed as well as their participation in the Green Connections program. Green Connections is a year-long partnership between Catskill and New York City schools, using the Watershed as a point of common interest and study. Windham has participated in the program for the past three years. Green Connections is administered by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and receives funding and support from the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the USDA Forest Serice. State-City Agree to Major Expansion of Recreational Access to Catskill Watershed Lands Approximately 11,000 acres of New York City-owned land adjacent to State Forest Preserve land in the Catskills will be open to hiking, hunting, fishing and trapping without the need for a City permit under a cooperative agreement between the City and the State. State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis and City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Commissioner Emily Lloyd announced that DEC will patrol the City watershed property to enforce regulations, help protect the environment, and further assist in the management of these lands. The change will be in effect for the 2008-2009 hunting season. "As a long-time angler on streams in the city watershed, I know how important it is to the local tourism economies and the sporting community to have consistent access policies when it comes to city and state lands within the Catskill Park," DEC Commissioner Grannis said. "This agreement is a tremendous step towards eliminating barriers to recreation on city-owned lands, and easing the way for people to enjoy the region." NYCDEP Commissioner Lloyd said: "The City of New York is committed to working with its partners in the watershed to improve recreational and economic development opportunities. We are particularly pleased to join with DEC in introducing a recreational access program while vigilantly protecting the high quality of New York City's water supply." New York State owns over 200,000 acres in the City's watershed west of the Hudson River, the vast majority of which is located within the Catskill Forest Preserve. This forested land has been successfully managed by DEC for many decades to allow residents and visitors to enjoy passive recreational activities without the need for State access permits. Generally, City permits are required for access to City-owned land in the watershed. Under this agreement, scheduled to begin in fall 2008, the applicable DEC hunting, fishing and trapping licenses will be the only permits needed on these city lands. No permit will be necessary for hiking. Dennis Lucas, Chairman of the Coalition of Watershed Towns and Supervisor of the Town of Hunter, said: "I applaud the opening of these significant tracts of land to hunting, fishing, hiking and trapping in the same manner as State-owned land. This is of critical importance to the economy and cultural heritage of our beautiful Catskill Mountains. We are hopeful that this is the beginning of a rejuvenated partnership to keep the water clean forever while promoting vibrant local economies." For more information about the Catskill Forest Preserve, go to the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov. For more information about NYCDEP's Watershed Recreation Access Permit, go to www.nyc.gov/dep. - NYSDEC Press Release - 11/15/2007 Outstanding Watershed Teachers, Projects Cited Five classroom instructors were hailed as "Outstanding Watershed Teachers," and six others were recognized for special achievements in 2007, during the 40th Annual Conference of the New York State Outdoor Educators Association. The conference, held in Hunter, Greene County November 2-4, was coordinated by the Ashokan Field Campus of SUNY New Paltz, which is itself celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2007. The Watershed Educators Network distributed the awards to the 11 teachers at a luncheon ceremony Friday. The Network is an affiliation of organizations and schools providing classroom lessons, outdoor learning, teacher training and cultural experiences related to the New York City water system and Watershed which supplies nine million people with more than a billion gallons of clean, fresh water each day. The awards were presented in observance of the 10th anniversary of the NYC Watershed Memorandum of Agreement which established many partnership programs and helped launched a host of water and environmental education initiatives. Honored with Outstanding Watershed Teacher Awards were Bob Connick of Mahopac High School; Eileen Kline of South Kortright Central School, Pat Ryan of PS133 in Queens, Joyce Valenti of Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School, and Michele Yokell of PS 116 in Manhattan. These five teachers were noted for their dedication and long commitment to watershed education, their creativity and resourcefulness in devising lessons and student projects, their enthusiasm in sharing their work with colleagues and community, and for truly going "above and beyond." Six teachers who were instrumental in the success of two unique Watershed projects in 2007 were named recipients of Special Watershed Achievement Awards. Four teachers participated in the Mountaintop to Tap Trek in which 12 students from the New York Harbor School in Brooklyn, and Sidney Central School in far western Delaware County hiked, floated and rowed more than 100 miles from the source of the City's water in the Catskills to Central Park in New York City. The trek took place over three weeks in July and was sponsored by Stroud Water Research Center and many other organizations. Teachers accompanying the students for all or part of the trek were Tizoc Gomez and Sara Scott of the Harbor School, Todd Paternoster of Sidney Central School, and Ed McGee of Andes Central School. Also receiving awards were two teachers who coordinated the production of a 40-mintute video documentary on the history of the community of Shavertown, which was among those claimed for the Pepacton Reservoir. Colleen Heavey and Wendy Redden, who teach at tiny Andes Central School, were honored for directing this project which involved ACS media students. Presenting the awards at the conference were Aaron Bennett, Director of Education at the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development; Kim Estes-Fradis, Education Director for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection; Diane Galusha, Education Coordinator at the Catskill Watershed Corp.; and Rochelle Gandour, who directs the Trout in the Classroom program for Trout Unlimited. The teachers received a special certificate and a one-of-a-kind hand-turned wood item made by John Perella (Katroc Woodworks) of Neversink, Sullivan County. The Catskill Center Honors Greene County Historian Raymond Beecher On Saturday, July 14th The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development held its 38th Annual Membership Meeting on the grounds of the historic Erpf House in Arkville. Nearly 100 people gathered for the afternoon and enjoyed a catered picnic lunch and folk music by James Krueger and Henry Hermann. The 2007 Alf Evers Award For Excellence was awarded to Raymond Beecher. In 2002 Raymond Beecher was declared "A Greene County Treasure" by the Greene County Legislature. He has belonged to the Greene County Historical Society for more than half a century and has served as the society’s president and chairman of the board. He was also chairman of the Greene County Bicentennial Committee. He initiated the Greene County Historical Sites register and has contributed countless hours of work to that project. Mr. Beecher was appointed as County Historian by the County Legislature in 1993 and has served that post ever since. He provided leadership and financial support to purchase and begin restoration of Cedar Grove, Thomas Cole’s long-neglected home in Catskill. His vision helped make certain that Cedar Grove would become not just a museum dedicated to Cole’s life and works, but also an extremely active cultural center with speaking events, exhibits and other activities year-round, attracting some of the finest art historians and exhibiting many important artworks. Mr. Beecher is also the acclaimed author of several books, including: Kaaterskill Clove: Where Nature Met Art; Under Three Flags; Out to Greenville; and Around Greene County and the Catskills (with Harvey Durham). He is presently writing a history of Greene County’s river towns, which he refers to as his "last book" - but those who know Raymond Beecher and his indefatigable spirit refuse to believe that it will, indeed, be his last. In recognition of his distinguished career, he was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters by Hartwick College. Raymond Beecher is much more than "A Greene County Treasure;" he is a Catskill Mountain treasure. Summary of Storm Damage to Trails in Region 4, Greene County The snow that fell on April 15 and 16, 2007, coupled with high winds have caused broken tree tops and blown-over trees in the Forest Preserve blocking trails with varying levels of severity. The following information is based upon reports received from Hikers, Volunteer Trail Maintainers, DEC Trail Crews, and DEC Forest Rangers. General Trail Conditions Based Upon Elevation: 2400' to 2600': Trails in this elevation range may have a moderate amount of fallen tree limbs and an occaisional blown-down tree across them. The trails may be followed with relative ease and fallen material may be stepped over, climbed over or through, or detoured around before resuming passage along the trail. Trail markers are relatively frequent and easily visible. 2700' to 3500': Trails in this elevation range are likely to be covered by broken tree tops up to several feet thick, with little, if any of the trail tread visible. Trail markers are obscured or on downed trees. For example, the Escarpment Trail, between the Norway Spruce plantations near the Elm Ridge Lean-to and the summit of Windham High Peak, passes through an area of the mountainside that, from the air, appears that every standing tree has a broken top. In addition to the broken tops covering the trails, they are supplemented with numerous blown-down trees. 3500' and up: Trails here are likely to be through Spruce-Fir and may have four feet of snow cover. The trees are covered with snow and ice, bent over and frozen in the snow cover lying on the ground. Trails and trail markers are covered by snow or a combination of bent-over or broken trees. The DEC Trail Crew from North Lake (4), a Volunteer Trail Maintainer and DEC Forest Ranger have nearly completed clearing the Spruceton Trail to the Hunter Fire Tower. A portion of the Hunter Mountain Trail to the Devils Acre Lean-to has been cleared. Forest Rangers have posted "Trail Closed" signs at the following trailheads: Roaring Kill: Pecoy Notch Trail, Mink Hollow Trail Prediger Road: Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail, Devils Path Trail Notch Lake: Devils Path Trail (Plateau Mtn. and Hunter Mtn.) Becker Hollow: Becker Hollow Trail Diamond Notch North: Diamond Notch Trail, Devils Path West Kill: Devils Path (west end) Barnum Road: Black Dome Trail "Trail Closed" signs are posted at the following locations: Elm Ridge Lean-to: Escarpment Trail Batavia Kill Trail/Black Dome Trail Junction: Black Dome Trail Moving the Catskills Forward with the New Spitzer Administration As Eliot Spitzer's new gubernatorial administration began making plans for their first months in office, The Catskill Center submitted comments detailing priorities for the Catskill region that should be addressed by the new administration. Governor Spitzer will have a unique opportunity to address many important needs and priorities for the Catskills, and especially for the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve - a vitally important and unique area of the State. The Catskill region deserves special attention from Albany for many reasons, not least of which is that it provides drinking water to half of the State's population and is a wilderness area with a storied past in close proximity to one of the world's largest cities. Several ways the Governor can have a positive impact on the Catskill region from both an environmental and economic viewpoint are detailed below. Funding for land protection, public land stewardship, and environmental protection and remediation will be needed in increased amounts. The Catskill Center and other conservation organizations are calling for the new administration to increase the State's dedicated Environmental Protection Fund to $500 million by the year 2010. Out of this fund, we look to the State to make more funding available for fee acquisition of priority parcels in the Catskill region and invest more in public land stewardship. Additionally, the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) should also accept/purchase more conservation easements on important privately owned properties in the region, and the State also must develop a policy of making payments in lieu of property taxes uniformly on all classifications of State conservation land (ex. State Parks, State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, Unique Areas, Special Use Areas, etc.), not just on Forest Preserve lands, which will make local governments and taxpayers more supportive of State land purchases in the future. Similarly, the State should support an increase in funding earmarked specifically for NYC Watershed land acquisition, allocating $350 million under the upcoming 2007 Filtration Avoidance Determination. There also needs to be a mechanism and funding for non-profit land conservation organizations to participate more fully in watershed protection efforts. In regard to the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve, The Catskill Center is supporting the completion of the Catskill Interpretive Center at the site on Rt. 28 in Mount Tremper already invested in by the State; release and implementation of the revised Catskill Park State Land Master Plan; and dedicated funding for the implementation of Action Items identified in the 1999 Catskill Forest Preserve Public Access Plan. It may also make sense for the State to create a new DEC Region that includes those portions of DEC Regions 3 and 4 in the Catskill Park, integrating the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve personnel of DEC Regions 3 and 4 into one consolidated office. This would go a long way in helping to make the management and administration of the public Forest Preserve more consistent and progressive across the entirety of the Park. His smart growth policy is critical to the Catskills and there are many ways he can help revitalize our communities. The new administration should provide incentives for local open space planning, including grants for comprehensive plans, zoning, and inter-county or inter-municipal planning initiatives; provide matching funds for county-level planning for sustainable economic development; and legislation authorizing establishment of local open space funding measures (like the Community Preservation Act). There should also be expanded incentives for businesses to retrofit existing buildings in hamlets and villages, and more robust support for other Main Street revitalization efforts that promote "Smart Growth" across the Catskills as an alternative to large-scale development like casinos, mega-resorts resorts, or heavy industry. The State should complete a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes all the potential impacts of casino development and determine the appropriate mitigation for impacts identified in the EIS. From a natural resources standpoint, we would like help from the State in addressing some of the most pressing threats to the environmental integrity of the Catskill Mountains, including acid deposition and mercury accumulation in wildlife, invasive species, forest pathogens, stream degradation, and climate change. The State should take the lead in conducting a professional regional biodiversity assessment for the Catskill region, and help to create an online repository of scientific data and research pertaining to the ecology and environment of the Catskills. NYSDEC's ability to achieve many of these recommendations, and the myriad other responsibilities of the agency, are hampered by funding limitations and staff shortages. The Catskill Center has long advocated for an increase in NYSDEC staff levels, and putting in place the funding and tools necessary to fully execute the agency's responsibilities for environmental protection across the state. The Governor has laid out an ambitious agenda and we applaud him for it. We look forward to working closely with him and his staff so that together we can revitalize our rural communities and provide the environment the protection it deserves. Catskill Center Joins Casino Lawsuit ARKVILLE - The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development joined a group of community and conservation organizations in court recently challenging the federal approval for a massive casino development proposal slated for Sullivan County's Monticello Raceway to force federal officials to complete a comprehensive assessment of the congestion, sprawl, pollution and other community impacts that would result. With The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) leading the way, The Catskill Center, The Sullivan County Farm Bureau, the and Orange Environment, Inc., jointly proclaimed that the U.S. Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) dodged its legal responsibility to protect Catskill residents by failing to require a full environmental impact evaluation of the proposed Las Vegas-style gaming development. They are asking a judge to stop development plans from moving forward until full measure can be taken of the impact on nearby communities and the environment. Plans for the half-billion-dollar facility, to be built by Empire Resorts, Inc. and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, include 766,000 square feet of floor area - equivalent to roughly 13 football fields -- 4,200 casino gambling positions, a 600-seat theater, and a parking lot for 4,800 cars and buses. Nearly six million visitors a year are projected - 40 percent more than visit Grand Canyon National Park each year. The National Environmental Policy Act requires a full environmental impact statement (EIS) for all developments of the size and scope of the proposed Monticello Raceway casino. But instead, the BIA accepted a far less comprehensive review called an environmental assessment (EA). "Empire Resort's environmental review disregards the most current traffic, pollution and economic information on the Catskills region. Decisions should not be made based on decade-old analysis," said Tom Alworth, executive director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. "The community has a right to have their key concerns addressed before ground is broken on this development." The groups say BIA is shirking not only the law, but also precedent. The BIA previously required full environmental impact statements for similar Catskill casino schemes, including an earlier proposal by the St. Regis Tribe itself to build at the nearby Kutsher's Sports Camp. The co-plaintiffs also attest that the information Empire Resorts provided in the EA submitted to the BIA is outdated and incomplete, ignoring the impact throughout the region of sharply increased traffic on Rt. 17 and the resulting pollution in Orange County (an area that already fails to meet federal air quality standards) in particular. They say it also relies on outdated studies based on economic data and market conditions ten to fourteen years old. Nor does it fully take into account the cumulative impact of several other casino projects planned for the county. This lawsuit will be jointly litigated by Whiteman, Osterman & Hannah, LLP and NRDC. Catskill Region Counties and Towns Plan for Land Protection Several of the counties and towns comprising the greater Catskill region, especially those in the south and east part of the region, are beginning to feel increased development pressure as it spreads out from the NY City metropolitan area. Other municipalities in the lower Hudson Valley and Long Island have long felt the effects of growth pressure and many of them began planning and funding the protection of their remaining open spaces when it was almost too late and the price tag was high. In our region, some governments are now trying to get ahead of the curve and begin this important work before it is too late to protect and maintain the scenic quality, important ecological areas, working farm and forest lands, and outdoor recreation opportunities that define them. Two Catskill region counties, Sullivan and Ulster, are now in the process of drafting comprehensive Open Space Plans, and The Catskill Center is an active participant in both efforts. The Sullivan County Open Space Protection Plan is being prepared by the Sullivan County Division of Planning & Community Development, with assistance from partners such as The Catskill Center, The Nature Conservancy, NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, and others. The plan will assess major open space resource categories, including agriculture/farmland, water resources, biological resources, cultural/historical/recreational resources, and scenic resources. The County received a NY State Quality Communities grant to help fund the preparation of the plan, which is expected to be completed late in 2007. In Ulster County, the Planning Board is working together with the County Environmental Management Council to prepare an Open Space Plan that will replace an earlier plan that was prepared in 1972. This draft plan also inventories the County’s various natural, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources; provides a broad overview of the importance of open space planning; looks for inter-municipal linkages; and sets forth a planning methodology that communities can use to assess land protection opportunities and achieve their goals. The Catskill Center has submitted many comments during development of the draft plan, and has helped initiate an ongoing dialogue between county planners and land trusts working in the county. Additionally, there are three Ulster County towns that have gone so far as to establish there own funding source for open space protection. The towns of Gardner, New Paltz, and Marbletown all placed funding measures on their ballots before the voters in last November’s election, and all three won - some by the slimmest of margins (the New Paltz measure passed 783 votes, the Marbletown measure passed by only seven votes, and the Gardner measure won by only one vote!). These bond acts provide $1.5M for Gardner, $2M for Marbletown, and $2M for New Paltz to protect their most important farmland and natural areas. These are the first towns in the seven-county Catskill region to pass such municipal open space funding measures. What all of these counties and towns have in common is that they are embracing the concept that protection of our important natural resources and scenic rural character can go hand in hand with sustainable economic development and planned growth - a concept that has always been championed and promoted by The Catskill Center for our beautiful mountain region. - by Chris Olney This article appears in the current edition of The Catskill Center News, which is available to our membership. To join as a member of The Catskill Center, and to receive the benefits associated with it, CLICK HERE. Budrock is Recipient of "Pride" Award On Sunday, May 7, 2006 the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce held its 15th annual Sullivan County Pride Awards at the Villa Roma resort in Callicoon. At the event, nineteen individuals were recognized for their business and community involvement, including The Catskill Center's Assistant Director Helen Budrock. Budrock was nominated by the Fallsburg Town Board and Sullivan County Legislator Ron Haitt to receive the Sullivan County Pride Award for the Town of Fallsburg. A resident of Hurleyville since 1996, Budrock was honored for helping Fallsburg with several projects. "Helen's dedication to her community has been unmatched," said Fallsburg Supervisor Steve Levine. Through her work at The Catskill Center, she recently helped the Town secure over $50,000 in planning grants to update its master plan and engage in a feasibility study to complete and expand the O&W rail trail through the town. She also helped develop a plan to revitalize the downtown business district in Hurleyville, resulting in over $70,000 in grant funds leveraged to date. As a community volunteer, Helen is currently a member of Hurleyville Sullivan First (a local beautification group), and is a former member of the Fallsburg Planning Board. Of the award, Helen said "Pride of Sullivan County to me means simply giving back to your community and being proud to be a Sullivan County resident. Creating healthy, vibrant communities has an awful lot to do with having a strong sense of pride in where you live and caring about making it better." She added, "I am proud of what I have accomplished locally both as a planner and as a community volunteer. Beyond Sullivan County, I am proud to be an employee of The Catskill Center because I see every day how the work we do contributes to improving quality of life in the Catskills."