Sullivan Renaissance

Bundling Great Improvement Energy

By TRACY DENMAN

	Contributed photo The North Branch fire house, before beautification. (Click for larger image)

The people out in North Branch have all kinds of things going on. Joan Kern is heading one project that’s been doing all kinds of great things. Folks there had a new Welcome sign put up on Route 28 to end some of the past confusion about where North Branch starts and Jeffersonville ends. Plenty of folks from the area have been giving donations to restore the Country Store and Old Firehouse. Folks plan to turn the firehouse into a place of firemen memorabilia and in honor of past firefighters. They had a Bowl-a-thon a while back that also brought in some bread, thanks to all the kids of North Branch and their pledges. Morning glories have also been planted and wreaths have been placed on NYSEG poles. To help out with the projects, Joan can be reached at 845/-482-3446.

	Contributed photo The North Branch fire house, after beautification. (Click for larger image)

As if that wasn’t enough, John Theodore has a little Sullivan Renaissance of his own. Since beginning on the project of creating a “Mini Park” at the new local firehouse in the Fall of 2000, John has been a busy little “eagle” (John started the project for his Eagle Scout project). To John, the Sullivan Renaissance grants and program seemed to fit with his program like two peas in a pod. John has raised tons of money for his cause as well as rousting up donations of trees, shrubs, plants and equipment for his park. He sure knows how to get people up and going—over 60 different people and businesses have donated time and efforts as well as monies for the cause. Post and rail fencing had to be installed, as well as a flagpole and even an antique firemen gong—how about that? John and his folks also made up a new flowerbed and placed a memorial stone in the center, dedicated to all deceased firemen. Raking, seeding and mulching of the lawn area was also underway. Anyone interested in helping John Theodore complete his project should call him at 845/482-4708.

They’ve really been working up a storm in Livingston Manor. Shirley Fulton has gotten all kinds of folks to pitch in. Their first order of business was fixing up the red caboose on the way to Route 17’s exit 96. Folks washed it, waxed it, weeded and mulched all around it. John Kelly painted some new “Welcome to Shandelee” signs, and George and Shirley Fulton, Beth Sturdevant and Mark Schumacher all turned out to help put them up. Back in April, the town had a successful litter pluck, thanks to help from younger folk from the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Student Council and several of the high school classes. The sophomore class recently ordered hanging baskets to place around the Waterwheel Junction. Glenn Carlson and Gary Wright put up 15 of the baskets in and around the town as well.

To pitch in, contact Shirley Fulton at 845/439-3938 or stop in for a chat at the Wildlife Gift Shop.