CFA News The Newsletter of the Catskill Forest Association, Inc. Volume 26, Number 1 - Winter 2008 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Jude Zicot Tribute Forestry Awareness Day 2008 Calendar of Events 1st of a Series on Maple Sugaring Sullivan County Planners Workshop Mike’s Corner - A Forest Historian CFA News Volume 26, Number 1 Winter 2008 Editor: Jim Waters Published Quarterly Catskill Forest Association, Inc. 43469 State Highway 28 Table of Contents: PO Box 336 Arkville, NY 12406-0336 New Members……………………….........2 (845) 586-3054 Executive Director’s Message ..................3 (845) 586-4071 (Fax) Forestry Awareness Day ..........................3 www.catskillforest.org Tribute to Jude Zicot .....................4, 5 & 8 [email protected] Calendar of Events ............................6 & 7 Copyright 2008 Maple Sugar Formation (1) ..............8 & 9 The Catskill Forest Association, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced without permission. Bringing Planning to the Planners ....... 10 Board of Directors: Observations of a Forest Historian ........11 Robert Bishop II, President, DeLancey Membership Application….....Back Cover Susan Doig, Secretary, Andes David Elmore, Treasurer, Davenport Center Robert Greenhall, Margaretville Joseph Kraus, Gilboa Brandon Laughren, VP, Halcottsville Keith Laurier, Scottsville Robert Messenger, Kerhonkson Douglas Murphy, Stamford Gordon Stevens, VP, Margaretville WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Frank Winkler, Andes 2007 CFA Staff October Jim Waters, Executive Director James Bacon – Downsville Michele Fucci, Office Manager Tom Armstrong – Andes Ryan Trapani, Education Forester Greg Starheim – Gilboa Subscriptions: CFA News is mailed quarterly to members of the Catskill Forest Association. If you are interested in November joining CFA, give us a call or visit our office. Contact in- Jerome & Beverly Dally – Olive formation is located above. Please submit address changes Robert Taylor – Blenheim to Michele at the address above. Thomas Wiacek – Tillson 2008 Cover Photo: January Metnick Law Office - Margaretville -- Ryan Trapani — “The two that got away!” Lauren Davis – Margaretville Timothy Knotts - Roxbury John Duncan Monroe & Family – Andes Anthony Ix - Margaretville 2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Well, winter is definitely here! And it’s a beautiful one at foresters understand the importance of insurance and how much is that. Be sure to take the time to observe the beauty around you. enough. Don’t let this opportunity slip by. Those that live in the southern In this issue there are two additions. One, a series for our regions of our country only get to experience the winter beauty on maple syrup producers and another called “Mike’s Corner” written post cards! We get to enjoy all four of the seasons and very few by Professor Michael Kudish. Dr. Kudish taught at Paul Smith’s catastrophic events. We should be counting our blessings instead of College and has made the Catskill region’s natural history his pet cursing the ice and cold. project. Unfortunately I have some very tragic news to tell you. A Be sure to join us for Forestry Awareness Day on March forester, one that worked for CFA just out of school, board member 10th! (You must pre-register by March 3rd.) It’s a lot of fun and is and a good friend to all of us passed away in a horrible forestry acci- a comfortable way to meet your legislators and others like your- dent. Jude Zicot was also a forester to some of you. He was just 35 selves. Check out all the events and workshops planned for 2008 -- years of age, was growing a successful business, married to a lovely we’d like to see you there! person and raising a wonderful family. Please take the time to read the tribute in this newsletter and if you can find it in your heart, Naturally, make a contribution to the Zicot Fund by sending a check to CFA designated for Zicots. (No administrative costs will be deducted. Jim Waters The family will receive all of the funds.) CFA will be hosting an annual workshop each year for foresters in remembrance of Jude. Registration fees will go to the family. The first of these will help FORESTRY AWARENESS DAY March 10, 2008 Legislative Office Building (LOB) of the Empire State Plaza Albany, NY Who attends Forestry Awareness Day??? Landowners concerned about property taxes, foresters con- cerned about forest health, loggers concerned about local reg- ulations and emerging biofuel markets, sawmill managers concerned about energy costs and remaining competitive, for- est industry workers concerned about keeping their jobs in rural areas of upstate, students concerned about climate change and how managed forests are part of the solutions, environmentalists concerned about forests being broken up into housing tracts, government agencies concerned about water quality and invasive pests and plants, educators con- cerned that legislators and the general public are not getting the facts on how healthy forests benefit all New Yorkers. The day starts out with an issue briefing to prepare you for legislative visits. Participants sign up for pre-arranged visits 5-foot TREE TUBES available with representatives in groups of five. The afternoon session is designed to give examples of how this dialogue with legis- for only $2.00 each -- lators can be continued throughout the year. It ends with a legislative reception on the 3rd floor terrace. Of the LOB. Registration is free for all of CFA’s members, but it is still necessary to register. This can be done by call- ing Michele at CFA’s office (845) 586-3054. Regis- tration must be done by March 3, 2008. We can carpool. Due to heightened security, please bring photo identification with you. Also, do not bring anything that would not be allowed on an air- plane. While Inventory Lasts! Provide shelter from deer and lawn-mowers, in addition to speeding up growth. You can pick-up your tree shelters at our office. 3 this have happened?.....Did it really happen?........reality sets in.......What do we do?.......How should we act?......How can we help?...... It was a silent and even longer drive home and the questions will never fully be answered. We are all better for knowing him.....his friends at CFA will miss him dearly. But, his memory will carry on for times to come. CFA will be holding annual forester training workshops in his memory. Any proceeds from those workshops will be donated to the Zicot Fund. — Jim Waters . Jude Zicot — Teaching at one of CFA’s “Crop Tree Man- agement” Courses. Jude was hired by CFA when he graduated from SUNY ESF in 1997. He was hired on as the Natural Re- “The source Specialist and worked for CFA for about 3 years. family is His responsibilities included the firewood program, coordi- nating “The Game of Logging tm”, visiting private landown- what real- ers to encourage and offer guidance in their forestry activi- ly ties, workshops, woodswalks, helping with the newsletter, and the development of “The Forestry Institute for Teach- counts.” ers”. He decided to launch his own consulting forestry business and “retired” from our not-for-profit organization. After leaving CFA he remained an active member through- out his career. Jude became a member of our Board of Di- rectors in 2006. His help and guidance was very much wel- Jim, Ryan and comed and his friendship held dear. He was kind-spirited Michele, and quiet. He had a very unique sense of humor and had a smile that would melt steel. When he spoke up, all listened and took his comments very seriously. (When Jude was Though I spend my hours reflecting I serious - all listened!) Many of his ideas have been imple- have not been able to express the gratitude I have mented and will live on in our organization. Our friend was felt for you and many others until recently. I have a generous person and volunteered for many of our organi- zation’s tasks without expecting pay. been slowly contacting all the beautiful individu- Most recently he was helping with the training of als who have had a role in helping my children CFA’s new education forester, Ryan Trapani. Ryan wrote, and me. I say slowly, because I want to justly “The last time I was with Jude we were marking timber in express how your sweet compassion helped to Sullivan County. He was teaching me how to mark..... sustain and nourish us. Mostly we joked around, and he talked about his family. He Jim and Ryan, it seems eons ago the day was always talking about his family. He really loved his both of you stepped into our house to deliver family.....” Jude's belongings. It's strange but during those Ryan & I will never forget that afternoon call just incomprehensible moments of when I was learn- one week after Thanksgiving when we were told of his un- timely passing in a tree-felling incident. We knew Jude as a ing of Jude's death I caught a glimpse of your very safe worker. He always wore the proper gear, always expressive faces and knew you felt a deep sadness looked around and always was cautious. He took all of the too. With my whole heart I am so thankful Jude levels of “The Game of Logging tm” and even trained others. had the opportunity to work along side you and This is a dangerous and unthankful job -- TSI and tree har- that our paths met. Your compassion, vesting. generosity and willingness to trudge through all We drove to the site immediately and the rescue of Jude's files so I may receive compensation by workers and police had just left. It was very quiet and eerily means of a finders fee was more than I could have still.... quiet, just after a night and early morning of incredi- imagined.