By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — The Callicoon Business Association emerged Monday night as Sullivan Renaissance’s top project, landing the $25,000 Golden Feather Award.
“This really is a shining light,” Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said before announcing the first-place winner of the “C” category – reserved for the biggest Renaissance efforts.
Monday’s awards ceremony at Monticello High School drew hundreds of Renaissance volunteers and supporters, with cheers ringing throughout the auditorium every time another group stood up to be honored.
“I can’t believe we’re starting the second decade of this Renaissance program,” NYS Senator John Bonacic noted. “... It really is paying off!”
“Go home and get plenty of rest,” advised Sullivan Renaissance founder Sandra Gerry at the end of the ceremony, “but don’t forget to water the flowers!”
CATEGORY A
Category A projects are made up of single elements such as a new sign or hanging baskets.
• First place ($3,000) – Roscoe-Rockland Fire District in Roscoe – firefighter/veteran memorial garden
• Second place ($2,000) – Friends of Dillon Park in Monticello – Alice’s Wonderland Entranceway
• Third place ($1,000) – Hudson River Healthcare in Monticello – Enhancement of Aesthetics for Health Care (CARE)
• Environmental Stewardship ($1,000) – Sullivan County SPCA – horse paddock improvements
• Historic Preservation ($1,000) – Luxton Lake Property Owners Association in Narrowsburg – plaque area and garden
• Best Garden Design ($1,000) – Eastern NY Federal Credit Union/SCVA in Liberty – building landscaping
CATEGORY B
Category B projects are made up of multiple elements such as park enhancements.
• First place ($10,000) – Cochecton Ambulance Corps – Ambulance Corps park
• Second place ($7,000) – Mountaindale Community Development Corp. – rails to trails gateway
• Third place ($5,000) – Rock Hill Business & Community Association – entrance beautification projects
• Historic Preservation ($1,000) – Livingston Manor Renaissance – Remember Refresh Recycle
• Best Garden Design ($1,000) – Highland Lake Fire Department – Eagle Scout landscaping project
CATEGORY C
Category C projects are at multiple locations that incorporate beautification as part of a long-term communitywide strategy.
• Golden Feather ($25,000) – Callicoon Business Association
• Silver Feather ($10,000) – Jeffersonville JEMS
• Planning Award ($5,000) – Liberty Pride
• Environmental Stewardship ($1,000) – Liberty Pride
• Historic Preservation ($1,000) – Neversink Renaissance
• Best Garden Design ($1,000) – Lumberland Parks and Recreation, and Narrowsburg Beautification Group
SCCC SCHOLARSHIPS
The Sullivan County Community College Foundation awarded one part-time scholarship of $750 to a volunteer involved in a Sullivan Renaissance project in her community who is attending SCCC.
• Bonnie Carnell of Monticello – Monticello landscaping
SULLIVAN RENAISSANCE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties awarded nine Sullivan Renaissance scholarships to volunteers who made a significant contribution to a Sullivan Renaissance project. These scholarships to the college of one’s choice range from $500 to $1,000.
• Jesse Fadis – Kenoza Lake Fire Department – Binghamton University
• Maya Grady – Narrowsburg Beautification Group – Drexel University
• Lauren Hazen – Town of Lumberland Circle Park – SUNY Oneonta
• Meaghan Hazen – Town of Lumberland Circle Park – SUNY Brockport
• Jonathan McCoy – Woodridge Kiwanis Club – Rochester Institute of Tech.
• Anthony Nittoli – Town of Mamakating – SUNY Fredonia
• Patrick Reiser – Lumberland Parks & Recreation – SUNY Oswego
• Erika Vorstadt – Erika’s Better Bags – SUNY Oneonta
• Matthew Young – Wurtsboro Renaissance – SUNY Plattsburgh
SHOWING OF FLOWERS
Special flower awards went to five communities this year.
Neversink Renaissance was recognized with the “Best Showing of Flowers Award” of $5,000. The judges were impressed by the “use of repeating colors and textures in hanging baskets, street containers and landscape beds” and the “balance of woody plants, perennials, annuals and groundcovers which gave dimension and visual appeal to the landscape.”
Other communities received $1,000 Judges’ Choice Awards: Roscoe Chamber of Commerce for “Most Bold and Dramatic Single Element,” Highland Lake Fire Department for “Most Outstanding Single Garden,” Jeffersonville JEMS for “Best Use of Space in an Urban Area” and Livingston Manor Renaissance for “Best Downtown Streetscape.”