And the winner is…

By DONNA LUKIW

SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY — Towns and communities in Sullivan County last weekend celebrated the third annual Sullivan Renaissance project awards in which 31 groups participated in beautifying their communities by renovating parks or main streets, hanging baskets, planting gardens and constructing signs.

On August 10 at Fallsburg High School, awards were presented to groups that earned additional grant money for enhancing the towns.

Eligible projects had to send in applications by March and then finalize the projects by August 4, submitting a binder including before and after pictures of the renovations, receipts of the expenses, a list of all volunteers and groups participating and sometimes even a journal of day-to-day activity.

They were judged on aesthetic improvement, collaboration, youth involvement, permanence and an ability to be maintained.

Category C, which recognizes the biggest and most extensive projects, honored Town of Neversink with a first prize award of $25,000 for a corridor project involving 40 single elements including installing antique lampposts and landscaping in front of Daniel Pierce Library.

The Livingston Manor Renaissance project won a $10,000 second place award for park creation and work done on Main Street. The project created a Renaissance Park from an abandoned piece of land that now offers free movies.

Third place winner in the C category, winning $7,500, was Monticello DeHoyos Park. It won first place last year and continued this year with enhancements in landscaping and building an overlook. In two years, the park has been reclaimed.

In the B category that honors the medium-sized projects, Highland Beautification Committee won a $7,000 first place award for creating a park project in Barryville.

Youngsville received the second place $5,000 award for renovating Main Street, planting a garden and hanging more baskets.

The $3,000 third place award went to Long Eddy for park enhancement. The Basket Historical Society participated in this project and designed a playground for the park and painted a mural.

South Fallsburg in Bloom won the $3,000 first place award in the A category which attributes the smaller projects with only one required element. They planted a perennial garden.

Monticello Housing Authority won a $1,500 second place award, planting a garden and designing a sign at the entrance of Evergreen housing.

Lumberland Regional group of Sullivan First acquired $1,000 for renovating the town pavilion, providing hanging baskets and buying new picnic tables.

The Golden Feather Award for Outstanding Performance of $50,000 was awarded to Liberty for the best planning, organizing and developing. The award was made possible by the late Assemblyman Jacob Gunther III and was presented by his wife, Aileen Gunther.

A scholarship was given to Devon Brust from Bethel, a Sullivan Renaissance volunteer. He received a $1,500 scholarship and will be attending SCCC this fall.

The groups involved spent over half a million dollars to fulfill and complete the projects by fundraising, receiving donations and volunteering labor.

The groups and communities will utilize the grant money to further enhance and beautify their projects and towns.

Town of Neversink dedicated the money to David Pierce Library.

To participate in the project next year call 845/295-2445.