GREENING AND GATHERING’...Another Great Sullivan Renaissance Seminar

'GREENING AND GATHERING’

Creating Public Spaces: Gardens, Parks, Markets and Events

[FERNDALE] – Creating public spaces where people naturally want to congregate is a critical component of improving any community. Sullivan Renaissance is holding a seminar entitled “Greening and Gathering – Creating Public Spaces: from Gardens and Parks to Markets and Events” on Wednesday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the CVI Center in Ferndale.

Nancy Proyect, President of the Orange County Citizens Foundation, will speak about the concept of “placemaking” and the benefits of creating attractive and vibrant public spaces. The principles for creating great community places include:

• The community is the expert
• Create a place, not a design
• Look for partners
• You can see a lot just by observing
• Have a vision
• Start with petunias: lighter, quicker, cheaper
• Triangulate
• They always say “It can’t be done”
• Money is not the issue
• You are never finished

Many of these elements are already practiced by Sullivan Renaissance communities.

Proyect will also show photos of various places that have been on the Orange County Citizens Foundation’s “placemaking” tour and give some background on the projects.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Those interested in learning more about Sullivan Renaissance are also invited. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation. Additional funding has been secured by U.S. Representative Maurice D. Hinchey. Sponsors include Bold Gold Media Group/Thunder 102, Robert Green Dealerships, Sullivan County Democrat, The River Reporter and WSUL/WVOS.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.sullivanrenaissance.org/ or call 845-295-2445.

All American Soapbox Derby

Today I'd like to take my mind off all this rain by thinking about something as American as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie - a good, old fashioned Soap Box Derby. Originally, soapbox cars were built from wooden soap (or orange) crates and rollerskate wheels, and propelled by gravity so that most races are held on hills or inclined roadways. Nowadays, the cars have become extremely elaborate and creative, but are still motorless and enjoyed by children of ALL ages.

A county-wide Soap Box Derby will be held right here in Sullivan County next year, thanks to the efforts of the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce and Liberty Soap Box Derby, Inc. This exciting race will take place on Sunday, May 27, 2012 as part of the Memorial Day weekend festivities in Liberty. Liberty Soap Box Derby, Inc., is part of the larger All-American Soap Box Derby competition series, which culminates each August with a national championship in Akron, Ohio. The Liberty Soap Box Derby will feature two competitive groups - Stock division (ages 8 through 13) and Super Stock division (ages 10 through 17). The winner of each division will be invited, on an all-expense paid trip, to participate in the national championship in Akron, Ohio.

An informational meeting for interested racers and their parents has been scheduled for Thursday, September 8th, at 7PM at the Liberty Firehouse on Sprague Avenue. Sponsors/Underwriters are invited to attend as well. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce at 845-292-9797 or 845-292-5807.

(More of Barb Schmitt's images from other Hudson Valley Soap Box Derbies)

Yard Art...Beautifying Your Garden With Junk...September Workshop

“Salvage Art for the Garden” Workshop

Where: CCE Sullivan County

When: 9-16-11 @6:00

Fee: $10.00

CCE Sullivan County will be offering a new workshop called “Salvage Art for the Garden” on September 16th at 6:00 at the Gerald J. Skoda Education Center at 64 Ferndale Loomis Rd, Liberty, NY. Just when you thought all the excitement in your garden was gone with the summer breezes, add some whimsy and interest to carry you through the fall season. Sharon Roll, a master gardener from Orange County will be the presenter at this workshop. She will be sharing many creative ideas for your fall garden and each participant will make and take a project to hang in their garden after this workshop.

The fee for the workshop is $10.00; which covers the instruction, materials and a chance to win a door prize. Pre-registration and payment are required before the class. Come, bring a friend and enjoy a unique evening at Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County.

For more information call Susan Dollard at 845-292-5250.

WINDOWS ON BROADWAY Student Artwork Exhibit to Open this Sunday

[LIBERTY] – The work of area high school student artists will soon be on display in the windows of the Strong Building on Broadway in Monticello. An opening "Sidewalk Reception" is scheduled for Sunday, July 10 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

The Windows on Broadway Project is a collaboration of youth and adult volunteers who came together through a series of discussions about Monticello, the County Seat. Last fall the "12701 Youth Summit" was held at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello. Students from Monticello gathered for the day to talk about their community, what they liked and what they would change. From the summit emerged the Youth Appearance Corps and the idea of doing something to enhance and clean-up Broadway in Monticello. In February, the Monticello community meet at the fire house to hear about the progress on projects in Monticello and to "sign on" to volunteer. From that event emerged several committees, including one that would focus on storefronts.

A call for submissions went out to all Sullivan County high schools. The work was photographed, mounted and hung in the windows creating a sidewalk art gallery. The initial installation showcases the work of students from Monticello, Eldred and Liberty High Schools. Artwork from Livingston Manor and Roscoe schools will be included during the summer.

“Sullivan County has a wealth of young artistic talent. It is important to showcase their talents and work, and nurture and support them whenever we can. These pieces reflect the voice of our youth, and our contemporary culture,” said artist Laurie Kilgore, one of the project coordinators. In addition to the prepared artwork, the Youth Economic Group of Rural Migrant Ministries will use an area to document their work through images and photographs.

The installation is being done at the Strong Building on the corner of Broadway and Landfield Avenue. The space has been made available by Mark Vrancich, who owns the building and Nature Lounge, along with his brother Scott. “We were happy to see something go into that space that would add to the changes happening on Broadway," Mark Vrancich said.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception to see the work and meet the artists, some who will be in attendance. Refreshments will be served, catered by Nature Lounge. For information or to RSVP to the reception, contact Sullivan Renaissance at 845-295-2445 or info@sullivanrenaissance.org.

Sand Casting Workshop August 6th! This Sounds Like FUN

Talk about a FUN workshop. On August 6th, 2011 from 10-12 Noon, a sand casting workshop is being held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Liberty, New York. Here is the small blurb on it from their June newsletter. I am sure that the number of spaces for this great craft class is going to be limited, so get your reservations in today!

This class is FUN FOR EVERY AGE, children and adults alike. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Learn how to make wall hangings for indoors or outdoors. Embed your favorite found objects such as shells, pebbles, sticks, tile or even broken pieces of glass and pottery. Be as imaginative as you'd like and create a unique piece of art for your home or garden. This class will be taught by Susan Dollard, local professional artist and educator. A fee of $40.00 for materials must be paid ahead with pre-registration. For more information or to pre-register call Cindy at (845) 292-5250