SERVING CRAGSMOOR, ELLENVILLE, KERHONKSON, NAPANOCH, LACKAWACK, SPRING GLEN, ULSTER HEIGHTS, WAWARSING AND ALL NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES
ELLENVILLE, NEW YORK
12428
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2006
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Elliott Auerbach and Iris Friedman.
On The Road
Scenic Byway Links Ellenville, Wawarsing with Nine Other Area Communities

On Wednesday, September 27, a group of state and local officials along with community organizers and interested citizens came to the Wallkill View Farm Market in New Paltz, NY to announce the creation of the Shawangunk Mountains Scenic Byway. The Byway, an 82-mile stretch of roads that includes eleven municipalities from southern Ulster and northern Orange County, is meant to create a regional identity and makes the area part of the state's "I Love New York" campaign.

Notable figures that were present included: State Assemblypersons Kevin Cahill, Nancy Calhoun, and Clifford Crouch, State Senator John J. Bonacic, New Paltz Mayor Jason West, Town Supervisors from several of the participating areas as well as Village of Ellenville Manager Elliott Auerbach, Iris Friedman (representative for Ellenville), and Town of Wawarsing Supervisor James Dolaway.

Asked about the importance of the day, Iris Friedman responded, "When I heard about the idea it was just thrilling to think that we were finally acknowledging this place and its grandeur. And Al had a plan.

"Al" is Al Wegener, the man who is responsible for the Byway's existence. Mr. Wegener is the executive director of the Shawangunk Mountains Regional Partnership, an inter-municipal entity that will manage the Byway.

The Byway effort began in 1997 through Mr. Wegener's bicycling hobby. "I got interested in it to provide shoulders to make roads safer for bicycling. I was doing a lot of long distance bike riding and that's what got me interested. Then one thing led to another. What's really amazing is that it was initially a 12-mile stretch of road and it just expanded as more people became interested and got involved."

That stretch of road now runs through the towns of Shawangunk, Rochester, New Paltz, Crawford, Gardiner, Marbletown, Montgomery, Rosendale and Wawarsing as well as the villages of New Paltz and Ellenville.

When Elliott Auerbach was asked about his involvement, he quickly credited Ms. Friedman's energy in championing the cause for the Village and Town. "If it wasn't for Iris I wouldn't know Al Wegener today. It was Iris who first brought it to Village Hall. She was really at the forefront of making the Village part of what the Byway is meant to be. She got Al to come to the Village Board meeting, which was very helpful in understanding his ideas.

Ms. Friedman concluded the day saying that, "We have an end-product that is only the beginning of a spirited new relationship that has never existed before in the area."

A diagram of the Shawangunk Mountain Scenic Byway is available on the back cover of this week's print edition.

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