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Wallkill Valley Land Trust
Serving the Towns of: Rosendale, Gardiner, New Paltz, Shawangunk, Esopus, Lloyd, Marlborough, Plattekill
February E-Newsletter
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Board of Directors
Robert E.
Taylor,
President, New Paltz
David
Rossetter,
Vice-President,
Gardiner
Allan G.
Bowdery,
Secretary,
New Paltz
James H.
Ottaway Jr. Treasurer,
New Paltz
Bradford
Barclay,
New Paltz
Rob Hare,
Esopus
Seth Hollander,
Gardiner
Carol B. LeFevre,
Gardiner
Angela Sisson, Shawangunk
Raymond D. Smith, Jr., Gardiner
Johanna
Sokolov,
Gardiner
Staff
Christie Ferguson,
Executive Director
Amy R.
Poux,
Development
Associate
Yinmei (May) Lin,
Office
Manager & Development Assistant
Lynn Bowdery,
Land
Steward
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Join us on Facebook!
Become a fan of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust!
And invite your friends to become fans too.
You will enjoy photos and information about our Conservation Easements, projects we are working on, and local events.
You can also share photos and comments
about why you LOVE this area!
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Hudson Valley Food Network
By
Meghan E. Murphy
Do
you know seven spots to get fresh, raw milk in the Hudson Valley?
Or
the fishmonger who will bring your order direct
from the sea to your table?
Or
where to pick up a whiskey-cured barrel for that experimental batch of home
brew?
That's
because you haven't yet visited
the Hudson Valley Food Network.
The
inspiration for this site was simple. I saw farmers struggling to reach their
audience. I also saw many people hungry for local foods.
The
Hudson Valley Food Network connects them through a Facebook-style social
network. Members can post events, become 'friends,' and share stories about
their farm experiences.
There
are already nearly 400 people gathered on the site. They are nutritionists,
beekeepers and cheesemakers. They are also computer programmers, state
assemblymen and photographers.
As a
journalist whose traveled and told stories for almost 10 years now, I've
discovered that if more people only knew where to get local eggs, they would
buy them.
The
network is a place that takes the mystery out of CSAs and raw milk for the
average Jane, and a friendly community where anyone can ask a question.
The
network is also a place where farmers' customers gather.
Wouldn't it be great
if a farmer could market less and grow more?
That's another goal of the
network.
Most
importantly, though, the Hudson Valley Food Network is about sharing knowledge,
whether it's between two communities trying to get farm fresh food in schools,
or two cheesemakers frustrated over new laws for raw milk.
The network
is a place for food lovers to meet, share and grow.
Join
us today at
www.hvfoodnetwork.com
Thanks!
Meghan
E. Murphy,
Hudson Valley
Food Network |
 Your Questions about the Rosendale extension of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail answered!
Who owns the
Rosendale extension of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail?
The Wallkill Valley Land Trust partnered with Open Space
Institute to purchase the land during a tax sale in August 2009. The rail trail, from the Town of New Paltz border to north of the Trestle in Rosendale is owned solely by WVLT. The remaining rail
trail, including a mile and a half in the Town of Ulster is owned by both OSI and WVLT. There is one small section that was not part of the purchase, and discussions are underway on how to connect the trail through this parcel.
What is the "plan" with
the Rosendale extension of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail?
A preliminary engineering report for the Trestle, and several
trail condition evaluations layout the repair and restoration needs of the 11.5
miles of acquired rail trail. WVLT and OSI have applied for several large and small grants in order to raise the funding needed to complete the decking
across the Trestle, opening it up to public use, and complete the other necessary repairs. WVLT and OSI are working closely with the Town of Rosendale on the progress of this project.
The cost estimates for the work needed ranges from $500,000 to
nearly a million dollars. As daunting as those estimates seem, we are confident
that with the support of the local communities, in-kind donations, and
volunteer dedication, we will be able to achieve the rail trail and Trestle repairs
and restorations within the next few years. Once the work is completed, the land will be handed over to the towns, and the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association, a not-for-profit organization with dedicated volunteers will maintain and advocate for the rail trail, as they currently do in Gardiner and New Paltz.
How can I help?
Do you want to be in the loop with updates, events, and goals?
Please let us know and we will add you to our Rosendale "rail trail" email
list.
Know of individuals, organizations, or businesses that will
want to be involved with this project? Forward them this e-newsletter, invite them to join us on Facebook, or send them to our website! Want to make a donation to support the restoration of the Trestle in Rosendale? Click here!
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Winter Activities, Eagle Visits
Notably, we are experiencing a white winter in Southern Ulster County! This time of year might seem bleak at the first glance, but
many birds and animals can be quite active. The majority of the wildlife remaining in the area, as well as our winter visitors, are not nesting or attending to young,
but scavenging for food.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
collects observations of plants, animals, weather, and other natural phenomena
year-round for the Hudson River. Know as the
Hudson River Almanac, observations contributed by volunteers have been compiled
since 1993. If you would like to look through the archive, they have the weekly
postings beginning in 2003 on the NYS DEC website for the Hudson River Almanac.
Looking through the archive of sightings in southern Ulster
County since January 1, 2010, Bald Eagles have delighted many observers in
Gardiner (sighting on January 9), the Town of Esopus (sighting on January 23),
in Rosendale on the Rondout Creek (sighting on February 9, 2010), and Highland
(sighting on February 13). Also in January, twelve volunteers took part in the
Ulster County Survey of Waterfowl Count. The group saw 6,439 individual birds
in eight and a half hours representing 11 different species! There have been more
then just birds out and about though! Near Mohonk Preserve, a volunteer sighted
a bobcat cross the road in mid-January.
The Great Backyard Bird Count in its 13th year,
took place February 12th to 15th, 2010. This program, organized by the
National Audubon Society, allows bird enthusiasts from all over to submit
sightings. The information gathered helps the National Audubon Society and the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology understand and study the health of our bird
populations.
The data is still coming in, but so far the Great Backyard
Bird Count has received reports of 597 bird species observed, with a total of
10,969,276 individual birds counted! For more information, visit the Great Backyard Bird Count website.
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Wallkill Valley Land Trust
PO Box 208
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845)255-2761
www.wallkillvalleyLT.org
info@wallkillvalleylt.org
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