Swan Lake wins Golden Feather

By FRITZ MAYER

BETHEL, NY — Volunteers from the Swan Lake Renaissance committee erupted into chants of “Swan Lake, Swan Lake,” after Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther announced that the group had won the $50,000 Golden Feather prize.

The Sullivan Renaissance awards were handed out in a ceremony at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Monday, August 14.

The Swan Lake project was the development of a new park on the shores of Swan Lake, complete with boardwalk and gazebo. Angela Streppone, a member of the Swan Lake committee, said the effort involved the whole community and has made a big difference in the small hamlet. “You see people picking up litter now, and showing pride,” she said.

Developer Tony Murolo, who is developing an upscale subdivision on Swan Lake, donated the land for the park.

Several hundred volunteers were on hand last night as $142,000 of grants was handed out to dozens of groups who’ve been working on projects to beautify their communities.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey told the crowd that the efforts had “raised the bar” as to what was possible in Sullivan County. State Senator John Bonacic said Sullivan Renaissance was the “best beautification and education program in the state.”

Of the 43 Sullivan Renaissance projects that were started in the spring, 38 were completed. Two projects, one in Highland and one in Youngsville, could not be completed because of flooding.