While some people might call it gratuitous and probably a bit self-serving to congratulate a billionaire on successfully investing his own funds, along with a great deal of public money, in the development of his own property, we're going to have to chance it.

A good many pundits around the region are sitting back this week saying they knew all along that Alan Gerry and his Gerry Foundation had the proper course and heading for this project two years ago. If you ask them they'll say they had no doubt that a man of Gerry's business reputation would carry this off. That's what they'll say now.

But in truth, a lot of cold winter days and skepticism have piled up between Gerry's announcement of the property purchases in 1997 and last Tuesday's local announcement of that a $40 million performing arts center was two years away. Over those years there had been rumors of plans, including a theme park, a museum and Hollywood Bowl-like amphitheater and other variations along those themes. As time rolled by with no announcements forthcoming, some people began to speculate that Sullivan County's only home-grown billionaire had taken on too much at once and had become mired in the details of the effort. They said Woodstock was beginning to look like many other dreams that have been launched with high hopes and fallen along a rocky roadside in Sullivan County.

While indicators were beginning to pick up, the major, tide-turning projects always seemed to stay a couple of problems away, just out of reach. Whether it was casino gambling, resolving the Concord's problems or even changing Route 17 into an interstate, we were looking at an unknown number of years before resolutions would be at hand. Would Woodstock be another of these interminable uncertainties?

So who could blame Sullivan residents for their "I'll believe it when I see it," attitude about announcements of new and spectacular projects. We wanted something and we wanted it now.

No doubt, some skepticism will remain after last week's gubernatorial give-away visit. In fact, much can and probably will happen in the two years predicted before the completion of the new center.

But the fact remains that the doubt and speculation of recent years is over. Alan Gerry is on record with a major plan now. New York State is behind him to the tune of $15 million and the whole thing is supposed to be done for the summer of 2003; no ifs, ands or buts.

For the first time in a good many years, Sullivan County residents can start worrying about "when" instead of "if" a major project is going to come to fruition; and that in itself is a pleasant change.

The commitment of Gerry, Governor Pataki, State Senator John Bonacic and Assemblyman Jake Gunther may have sparked a "new beginning," as Visitors Association chair Bill Sipos termed it, that Sullivan County has been seeking for so long.

And while the congratulations are going around, it's also appropriate for the rest of us to stand back and look in the mirror. So, now as new stage lights rise above what is expected to be an attraction of statewide, if not national renown; as the first realized steps in the county's "new beginning" become history, those who stayed on and kept the home fires burning should get some credit. Okay, the lights are coming up...take a bow.

David Hulse, News Editor