By Susan Monteleone
ELDRED — August 12, 2003 – Fond friendliness abounded at the Town of Highland’s 150th anniversary bash this past weekend.
“We are the big sister to Highland, and we just celebrated our 150th anniversary in Shohola, Pennsylvania last year. We have a great working relationship with Highland,” stated Shohola Supervisor George Fluhr. “We work very well together. Our fire departments work well together, as well as our townships, and we will continue to work together.”
Lumberland Supervisor John LiGreci added, “The Town of Highland was formed from the Town of Lumberland. We are the ‘middle sister,’ and we share so many things. Highland began with a piece of us, and we – to this day – still share those same pieces. Lumberland and Highland will work together, as always – and even better than before.”
The two towns share many interests, said LiGreci: senior citizens groups and the Eldred Central School District, for example.
LiGreci and Fluhr both presented Highland Supervisor Allan Schadt with proclamations of congratulations for the 150th birthday of Highland.
Also presented were proclamations from Governor George Pataki and Congressman Maurice Hinchey.
A guest of honor was Senator John Bonacic.
“This is a spectacular town. Highland is a little piece of heaven,” he remarked. “I congratulate the Town of Highland on their 150th birthday, and I look forward to the 200th birthday. Highland has everything someone is always looking for: it is peaceful and quiet, you can get in touch with your soul and just get away from it all in Highland.”
Next on the list of speakers was Sullivan County Legislator Kathy LaBuda, who first presented the official Route 97 scenic byway sign for display in the Town of Highland. The second one was a proclamation from the Sullivan County Legislature in honor of the 150th birthday celebration.
“We simply want to say a very happy 150th birthday to the Town of Highland. It is a day to be very proud,” stated LaBuda.
“Today is a very proud day for the Town of Highland,” agreed Schadt. “Mostly, everything went off in a good way. We have had some changes in the program, but all in all, it is a great day. It is a day that we are all proud to be associated with the Town of Highland, and I am very proud to be the supervisor of such a great town. We have a lot to offer the community and the many visitors that come here – it is a great place to live.”
The day’s events included historical presentations by John Conway, the Sullivan County Historian; Mary Curtis, the Town of Delaware Historian; and Peter Osborne, the director of the Minisink Valley Historical Society. Music was played throughout the day by Chestnut Creek Ensemble, and in the afternoon, a mini-carnival with craft vendors was set up. Fireworks concluded the festivities.