Getting ready for Renaissance

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — With the judging for this year’s Sullivan Renaissance awards only two weeks away, members of Jeff Enhances Main Street (JEMS), including young gardeners Sawyer, Austin and Rianne Erlwein and Brad Hemmer got busy spreading the mulch around the most recent plantings at the gazebo, which will be the village’s entry in this year’s contest.

Entering in the “C” category, which features the biggest and most extensive projects, the gazebo will be up against a number of fine entries this year. They include a mural replica of the New York Ontario and Western Railroad in Mountaindale, beautification of the triangle intersection of Route 55 and Denman Mountain Road in Grahamsville, Loch Sheldrake’s array of flowers, plants and a gazebo and Livingston Manor’s new sidewalks, new trash cans and plantings.

Last year the Town of Neversink walked off with a $25,000 first place prize for a corridor project involving 40 single elements, including installing antique lampposts and landscaping in front of the Daniel Pierce Library. Second place ($10,000) went to Livingston Manor for its park creation and work on Main Street. Third place ($7,500) went to Monticello for the work on DeHoyos park.

The gazebo and the plantings are a beautiful addition to Main Street in Jeffersonville.