Sullivan Renaissance kicks off season

Theme is ‘many shades of green’

By FRITZ MAYER

FERNDALE, NY — Signs of spring were sprouting early at the Sullivan Renaissance 2008 Winter Conference and Expo, as vendors and displays featured blooming flowers and goods for the garden at the CVI Building in Ferndale. The event, held on February 9, kicked off the eighth season of this volunteer-fueled program to beautify Sullivan County.

The theme this year was “many shades of green” and emphasized the growing trend here and across the country to embrace green technology, renewable energy and sustainable development. The theme was reflected not only by the vendors, but also in the workshops being offered for volunteers, as well as the remarks by the keynote speaker.

The speaker, Bob Elliot, the former mayor of Croton-on-Hudson and now the New York State Deputy Secretary of State, introduced to an overflow audience of more than 150, a term not many may have heard before?heritage tourism. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”

Elliot said heritage tourism includes “eco-tourism, cultural tourism, agri-tourism, and they are all legitimate businesses to build an economy on.” He said that tourism is not only the second-largest industry in the county behind agriculture, it is also the second-largest industry in the state.

Elliot, who helped rebuild the sagging communities along the Hudson River, said growing the heritage tourism industry involves making use of “smart growth” practices, and that, he said, “has to be a bottom up process; local governments must lead the way.”

He was also effusive in his praise for the work being done by Sullivan Renaissance and the group’s legion of volunteers, who have made great strides in moving the county in the direction of smart growth and sustainability.

Visit www.sullivanrenaissance.org to find out more about Sullivan Renaissance and how to participate in its programs.