Winter 2004-2005
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The quarterly newsletter about the environment and people of the Upper Delaware River Volume 17 Number 4 Published by the Upper Delaware Council, Inc. Winter 2004-2005 In This Issue... Economic Trends Forecast Page 1 Upper Delaware Profile: Nelia Wall, Shohola Township Page 2 Flood and Oil Spill Mar River Page 3 SUPPLY AND DEMAND: Pianning consultant Tom Shepstone, standing, discussed economic Grants Benefit Upper Delaware trends in the Upper Delaware River Valley at a November 17 program in Narrowsburg, NY Towns and Scenic Byway sponsored by the Visioning Committee of the Upper Deiaware River Corridor. Shepstone dis Page 4 cussed the valley's variety of resources and business opportunities, as well as strategies for meeting the demands of the valued metropolitan New York market. (Photo by David B. Soete) Pike County Environmentalists Honored; Upcoming Events Economic Trends Forecast for Page 5 Round-up of UDC Activities Upper Delaware River Valley Page 6 Does greed breed growth in a region or is tages that can appeal to business interests Park Service Seeks Interns; the other way around? as well, Shepstone argued. UDC Board Changes Guard That was one of the questions raised as Besides its close proximity to the 21 mil Page 7 citizens of the Upper Delaware River lion residents of the "metro" area, the Valley recently pondered how to maintain Upper Delaware offers a slower-paced Winter Eagle Watch Underway this area's rural character while assuring lifestyle, relatively inexpensive housing, Page 8 an economically sustainable future. good value labor, access from ttwo inter The Visioning Committee of the Upper states connected by a scenic byway, and a Delaware River Corridor sponsored a Nov. natural environment with nationally-recog The Upper Delaware 17 program with Honesdale, PA-based nized scenic and recreational qualities. ! welcomes submissions and ! planning consultant Tom Shepstone in The Upper Delaware also has one of the new subscribers (free>! which he analyzed economic trends per best supplies of hardwood timber in the Send items to Newsletterl taining to the river valley world, a rare commodity of bluestone, lEditor Laurie Ramie at thel abundant farmland, and plentiful water. I Upper Delaware Council,) "A key part of economic development is I 211 Bridge St., P.O. Box 192,, obviously understanding the market. There Shepstone identified a number of eco 'Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764. are two facets to it, the supply side and the nomic opportunities that those resources I Please update our mailing I demand side," Shepstone said. can support. J list by filling out the coupon i jOn Page 7. Thank you. j The resources of the river valley that Among them are tourism enterprises, have made it so attractive to metropolitan home occupations through telecommuting, New York area visitors, second home own niche agriculture, construction trades, out- ers, and retirees are marketable advan Please see TRENDS on Page 4 Most land along the Upper Delaware River is privately owned. Please be considerate and don't litter or trespass. Thanksl Upper Delaware Profile: Nelia Wall Upper Delaware Council, Inc. "It was a different life," Nelia Wall says of P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St. her post-college years pursuing acting and singing gigs in the competitive New York Narrowsburg, NY 12764-0192 City market. Telephone: (845) 252-3022 The life she ultimately chose for herself FAX: (845) 252-3359 shifted from bright lights to open spaces, and from relative anonymity in a city of mil The Upper Delaware is a free quarterly lions to playing an integral role in a com publication of the Upper Delaware munity of just 2,088 residents at the last Council, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organiza census count. tion comprised of member governments Since October of 2002, Wall has sen/ed from New York and Pennsylvania directly as Secretary of Shohola Township, PA, affected by the River Management Plan where she has lived since 1988. for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Responsibilities of her full-time position Recreational River. include budget development, bookkeep ing, and payroll administratton; all prepara- 2005 Officers ttons for the monthly Board of Supervisors' Chairperson John S. McKay meetings, communications, and the filing Vice-Chairperson Charles Wieland Nelia Wall, Shohola Township, PA of meeting minutes; clerical assistance and Secretary/Treasurer John B. Niflot scheduling for various township services; Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue, of New York Town Representatives public reception and outgoing correspon which she is an active member and her Hancock F. Gerald Mackin dence; representation of Shohola at rele husband is the chief. Jim Serio, Alternate vant functions and on several county- and Recent grants include $125,000 from PA Fremont John B. Niflot Jim Rodgers, Alternate state-level committees; and grantwriting, DCNR for future site improvements at Delaware Harold G. Roeder, Jr among other tasks. Rohman Park, $78,291 to the fire company Eric J. Nystrom, Alternate In short. Wall is the capable go-to person through the U.S. Department of Homeland Cochecton Larry H. Richardson for Shohola Township affairs. Security and $2,500 from the PA Bureau of John A. Reggero, Alternate She applied for the job left vacant by the Forestry to plant 20 flowering trees along Tusten Charies Wieland retirement of Shiriey Brunner after having Richardson Avenue last May. Ben Johnson, Alternate commuted for 11 years from Shohola to In addition to her successful granttwriting. Highland Lewis Schmalzle Middletown, NY, where she was a manag Wall has a talent for scoping out good Allan Schadt, Alternate er at Filene's department store. deals. She is ever mindful that tax dollars Lumberiand Nadia Rajsz A desire to work closer to home and to only stretch so far in a small township. John LiGreci, Alternate make a positive difference in her communi "You're spending someone else's money Deerpark Philip D. Chase ty motivated her so you have to be as responsible as you Melvin Decker, Alternate "When 1 interviewed with George [Fluhr, can. I like to tty to find a cheaper way to do Pennsyivania Township Representatives the supervisors' chairman], he told me that everything," she says. Lackawaxen John S. McKay they couldn't offer to pay me much but the Originally from Montclair, NJ, Wall left Brian Stuart, Altemate work would be rewarding," she says with a there in 1969 to attend Rollins College in Shohola Bruce Selneck George J. Fluhr, 1st Altemate laugh, "... and he was right." Winter Park, FL, where she double- Nelia Wall, 2nd Altemate Though this was her first foray into local majored in Theatre Arts and Education. Westfall Alan Bowers government administratton. Wall drew on Aspirations to act and sing took her to George R. Jerus, Alternate her business experience and willingness to New York City, where she supported her State & Regional Members learn new skills and programs. self by working in restaurants and retail New York William J. Rudge, DEC "I always felt like 1 brought a lot of exper while performing in Off-Broadway shows, Pennsylvania Dennis DeMara, DCNR tise dealing with people. 1 had the ability to musical theater, cabaret, with a rock band, David Lamereaux, DEP, Altemate talk and negotiate on a personal and pro and joining movie production crews. Del. River Basin Commission Carol Collier fessional level. I'm still learning the Meeting Donald Wall, a Scranton native Partner nuances and legalities of local govern who favored country living and operates a National Pari< Service Marie Rust, Reg. Dir. ment. I try to take as many classes as 1 can landscape excavation business, happily David C. Forney UDSRR, Alternate for the technical aspects," she says. changed her plans. Staff It's a constant educatton process as new The couple, wed for 17 years, live in a Executive Director. William E. Douglass programs like Pennsylvania's Uniform house they built on a 16-acre property in udcdoualass(5)hvc.rr.com Senior Resource Specialist David B. Soete Construction Code come into effect. Shohola with Donald's son, 20-year-old udcsoete(S>hvc. rr. com Wall serves on the PA State Association Jason. Donald's two daughters, Denise, Public Relations/Newsletter Laurie Ramie of Township Supervisors' Secretaries & 24, and Jessica, 22, and 18-month-old [email protected] Managers Committee, the Pike County granddaughter Alissa Marie, live in NJ. Office Manager. Carol Coney Road Task Force, the Upper Delaware Wall quickly fell in love with Shohola and udcconev(S)hvc.rr.com Council as Shohola's second alternate, the intends to stay involved in her community. Twin/Walker Creeks Watershed Conserv "It's beautiful and 1 wish it would stay this Printing Services: Courier Printing Corp., 24 Laurel Bank Ave., Deposit, New York 13754 ancy Board, and the Shohola Gardeners. way forever, but I know that it won't. I'm not In just the past ttwo years. Wall has against development but I continue to Printed in the USA on recycled paper. obtained over $350,000 in grant funding to explore plans to preserve our resources © Copyright 2005, Upper Delaware Council benefit the township and the Shohola while allowing growth," she says.*:* y Winter 2004-2005 The Upper Delaware Flood, Oil Spill Mar Delaware River Fall 2004 was an unkind season for the Delaware River as a near-record flood and a devastating oil spill wreaked havoc. Though Hurricane Ivan was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached the Delaware River Valley, the approxi mately six inches of rain it brought in a 12- hour period on Sept. 17-18 proved too much for the saturated soils, above aver age streamflows, and full reservoirs. The Delaware River at Bartyville, NY crested to 24.09 feet at 2:45 p.m.