FOC Newsletter, Chairman’s Letter, Winter 2010

Happy New Year! I would like to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2010.

Great news, the check for the $50,000 grant, sponsored by Assemblywoman Ginny Fields, has been received. It will be used toward the Grist Mill restoration. Ginny, her staff and Richard Remmer deserve a great deal of thanks for all their efforts in ensuring that the Friends received the grant.

Speaking of the Mill restoration, the next phase has begun. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP) is supplying the materials and labor to restore the timber and hurst frames and will also reapply the red cedar siding and roof. Upon removal of some old shingles it was discovered that the damage by powder beetles was more severe than had been anticipated. An order for additional materials has already been placed to avoid any delay in completion.

It has been a year since the hatchery was closed. Little effort has been made by the State toward rectifying the Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN) problem. Ginny Fields and her staff have been working diligently to enlighten the powers that be as to the significant negative impact of this action: a great reduction in the number of visitors to the Preserve and the resulting loss of revenue. On December 3rd, at Belmont Lake headquarters, Ginny made a presentation to the Long Island State Parks Commission during their quarterly meeting. She cited facts and figures from the last two years to verify the financial damage to the Preserve. She has also secured a $250,000 grant to be used for ground water and environmental studies for implementing solutions to the problems. Let’s hope we will see some progress in the near future.

On Saturday, December 12, 2009, members of the board met with Jackie Day of the Museums at Stony Brook who, funded by the Get Ready Grant previously awarded to the Friends, acted as a facilitator of a discussion intended to show the board the necessary steps for developing a strategic plan. Many topics concerning the Preserve and the Friends’ efforts toward preservation were discussed. We have not yet received Jackie’s evaluative report. Some suggestions for changes that emerged during our meeting will be followed up in the near future.

I would like to thank all who have responded to our recent fund appeal. We are encouraged by your support as we forge ahead with the projects you help us realize and challenges you help us overcome. Please continue to remember the Friends whenever possible.

Visit the Preserve; take a walk through a landscape that evokes a gentler time. Observe the interesting wild creatures, among them waterfowl and other birds that only visit here in winter.

Sincerely,
Bob Labuski

Current Chairman's Letter

Past Chairman's Letters:
Summer 2011
Spring 2011
Winter 2010-11
Fall 2010
Summer 2010
Spring 2010
Winter 2009-10
Fall 2009
Summer 2009
Spring 2009
Winter 2008-09
Fall 2008
Summer 2008
Spring 2008
Winter 2007-08
Fall 2007
Summer 2007
Spring 2007