TRR photo by Fritz Mayer Farms, such as this one adjacent to Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, are a major part of Sullivan County’s social fabric, and planners are studying ways to preserve them.

Farmers’ input sought

Four towns to develop farmland protection plans

BY FRITZ MAYER

fritzmayer@riverreporter.com

SULLIVANCOUNTY, NY—When people consider the future of the economy in Sullivan County, many think about the rebuilding of the Concord Resort or the coming of gas drilling. But the biggest economic engine in the county now is agriculture, and officials at the town and county levels want to ensure that the agriculture sector stays strong.

As part of that effort, grants totaling $100,000 from the New York Department Ag and Markets went to the towns of Callicoon, Delaware, Bethel and Liberty to develop farmland protection plans. To help develop the plans, the county planning department sent out 523 surveys in early November to farms in those towns and the businesses that serve them. The response, however, was not as brisk as had been hoped for, with less than 20 percent returned thus far.

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Tips on giving gas drilling testimony

DEC hearing scheduled for December 4

By FRITZ MAYER

NARROWSBURG, NY—Keep your comments to the point and try to stay on track. That was part of the advice offered to residents who intend to offer testimony about gas drilling at a hearing on Thursday, December 4 at the Sullivan County Community College Field House.

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Highland man dies while hunting

Heart attack suspected

By FRITZ MAYER

TOWN OF HIGHLAND, NY—According to members of his family, one of the great joys in the life of Charles Hallock Sr. was hunting in the deep woods of Sullivan County with his family.

That’s what he was doing in the early evening hours of November 28, when he was reported missing. He had failed to come out of the woods after hunting with his grandson and others just south of Eldred Preserve of State Route 55 in Highland.

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Other stories in this issue:

• Berlin Township joins UDC
• Location, location, location
• Community Conversations: SEEDS seeks solutions
• Dealing with drug deaths
• What’s in that fracking fluid?
• Opening of garage doors biz in Jeff
• Pike County wants answers from pipeline company
• Future-tech

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S