That Mysterious Boy with the Boot By Brian Rubin

So what's the story with that 'Boy with the Boot' statue, anyway?...

• by Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

DELHI, NY (01/20/2010)(readMedia)-- For folks who like walking uninterrupted above the crowds on New York City's Highline – they should check out the Catskill Mountains uncrowded trails, ski slopes, and main streets for real winter relaxation. The Western side of the Catskills is the first mountain range east of the Rockies that accomodates a snowline at 1800 feet above sea level. Winter weather systems that move through leave a clearly delineated line on the mountain tops where there snow precipitation really cranks it up a notch. Understanding that most folks in the metro area don't think snow if it's not in front of them, the Great Western Catskills Facebook page now includes a Photo of the Day section so you can remember just what the white stuff looks like and be inspired to plan a visit...

link to complete article is here: http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2010/January/14/Cats_StreamBuf-14Jan10.html

CATSKILLS – The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which operates the expansive reservoir system in the Catskills Wednesday started a new program, the Catskill Streams Buffer initiative to help residential landowners protect their property and preserve habitats along stream banks in the Catskill/Delaware watershed areas.

DEP is putting $3.6 million into funding the program and partnering with county soil and water conservation districts.

State Senator John Bonacic supports the effort.

“They are very vigilant in taking care of the watershed region and the purity of the water,” he said. “They are the best riverkeepers that we can have for New York City.”

DEP and the soil and water conservation districts will help landowners obtain permits for a project or provide access to financial support, labor and materials as part of the initiative. The program will also offer free planning assistance and educational seminars to help landowners understand how best to protect property from damage and keep a stable streamside area.

link to complete story here: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=887114&category=OPINION   var omniture_APvSTAFF;
Pete Grannis, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, made a wise decision late last year when he extended the public comment period on proposed rules to govern hydraulic drilling to tap into New York's vast reserve of natural gas.  Now, Mr. Grannis should act similarly, and accept the federal Environmental Protection Agency's recommendation to further study the potential cumulative effects of hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale region, a vast formation that extends from New York -- where it includes the New York City water shed, in the Catskills, and the state's Southern Tier -- into five other states. That's a drilling technique using a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals to fracture gas-bearing rocks deep underground and bring the gas to the surface...

link to complete article is here: http://sc-democrat.com/news/0001January/05/news3.htm

SULLIVAN COUNTY — December’s unveiling of a report on gas drilling by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) struck local advocates and officials differently....

link to complete article is here: http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100105/NEWS01/1050332/Massa++DEC+must+do+more+to+assess+impact+of+drilling

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has more work to do to address concerns about a controversial process for drilling for natural gas, U.S. Rep. Eric Massa said Tuesday....

Gas Drilling Debate: Gov. David Paterson must step up to protect environment

By The Post-Standard Editorial Board

January 06, 2010, 5:02AM

link to complete article is here: http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2010/01/gas_drilling_debate_gov_david.html

AP A DRILLING RIG extracts gas on a Pennsylvania farm.