Dont Mess with Belleayre

I know its been a while since I wrote a column and for that I apologize. There have been so many reasons to write, yet time escapes me. Perhaps 2011 will provide a bit more time to write about economic issues that surround the Hudson Valley.

Today I received my daily email blast from Belleayre Mountain. It read 51 trails open. It would seem that "mother nature" has been very good to Belleayre this year.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, since I wrote about Belleayre slightly over two years ago, I wanted to share that the fight is still on. Belleayre Mountain is an economic development engine that has been running for years. It is a tourist destination for many who enjoy skiing in the winter time. In the summer time it has a great many attractions including swimming at its beach and night time concerts.

Rather than work together to create a true "snow capital" of New York, management at nearby Platekill Ski Center [15 minutes west] and at Hunter and Windham Mountains [15 / 20 minutes north], have continued to beat up on Belleayre Mountain by trying to close it down. Their reasoning to have Belleayre closed down is feeble at best. They say that a state subsidized mountain jeopardizes their own business and distracts skiers from going to their own mountains. While distraction may be true one has to wonder if Belleayre has other true attractions that brings skiers to its mountain rather than the other three. I am a skier and have skied at Belleayre and at Windham. I truly enjoy skiing at Belleayre over Windham. I prefer the trail structure at Belleayre. Platekill's trails are too steep for me and Hunter has just too many people on its trails. I have been to both of those mountains but not to ski. Recently, Belleayre launched a marketing campaign together with local small businesses to attract more people to the area. That's just good business for everyone in the local area. That is what economic cooperation and vitality is. The owners of Windham, located in Florida, claim that taxpayer money is being used to do this. Rather than curse the idea, Platekill, Hunter and Windham may want to development marketing campaigns with other economic organizations like Chambers of Commerce to do the same thing.

Belleayre Mountain is one of three State "owned" mountains. The other two mountains, both in the Adirondack Park are Gore Mountain, home to New York's only gondola and Whiteface Mountain, with its steepest vertical drop in the northeast. Recently Gore and Whiteface were transferred to ORDA [the Olympic Regional Development Authority]. Effectively they are owned by the State yet managed, fiscally, by another organization. Its an old "State Budget" trick that has been used by New York State for many years. Governor Mario Coumo did something similar when he sold the New York Prison properties to the New York Dormitory Authority, the same organization that effectively owns and manages public and private universities here in New York State.

Moving Belleayre into the ORDA or creating a new Authority to fiscally manage it may be a good thing. Of course, naysayers would disagree claiming that it still would have undue financial discount influence. We should embrace the positives and use the State's resources to create national and even international advertising. Lets stop the bickering and create a marketing organization with all four organizations to promote Catskill Skiing!

In early December DEC announced layoffs at Belleayre just as everyone was gearing up for its peak season. The timing could not have been worse. The attached link brings you up to date on Belleayre's status. We appreciate RadX's video and thank them for providing it on Youtube for everyone to see.



We hear all to often that the State does not do enough for economic development and for tourism and to that I would agree 100%. To choke off funding for Belleayre and let it die a slow death is not only wrong to the local economy, its also illegal.

Dont mess with Belleayre!

Is Bigger Better Bottle really Better?

Recently the New York State Legislature voted on a bill called the "Bigger Better Bottle" bill. Signed into law during the first week of April by Governor Paterson, provisions mandate that "unique electronic scanner bar codes for containers sold and returned in New York". This provision caught the entire business community off guard and has created a real mess in the bottling industry.

In Saratoga Springs, the Ball Metal Container Corporation manufactures approximately three billion 12 once aluminum beer and soft drink cans each year for approximately 400 different brands of beer, soda and juices. In fact, well over 300 million cans have been made this year already. Steve DiLoreto, Plant Manager at Ball states, "We build inventory all year to supply our customers through the summer". Further he states, "obviously we can't scrap all those good cans." Seventy five percent of all inventory is used in New York State alone.

Not only does Ball have to create new labeling for the 400 brands but has to get corporate approval from clients who are not even in the United States all of which takes time, energy and money. Some estimates internally state that the retooling alone will cost over $500,000. Small bottlers in New York also are affected by this as well.

"The New York bar code was added to prevent out-of-state containers from being brought into New York to claim the deposit.", said Erin Duggan a spokewoman for Governor Paterson. She added, "The Governors Staff has been meeting with distributors and the industry once they realized the magnitude of the provision and closely examining the implications of this new law."

The new law goes into effect June 1st. Clearly cans and bottles will not be ready for the fast paced summer season.

Keep Belleayre Open!

2008 has been a whirl-wind year for the Belleayre Ski Center located in Highmount, NY. Belleayre is one of three state owned ski resorts here in New York, under the assipices of the Department of Environmental Conversation [DEC]. The other two resorts are located in the Adirondack mountains; Gore Mountain and Whiteface Mountain. Each of the three mountain resorts are unique unto themselves.

Belleayre, affectionately known as "New York's Winter Snow Park", has constantly come under fire by opposition groups since 1984. Since that time, a group of local business leaders and residents [both full timers and second homeowners] recognized the economic importance that Belleayre plays to the local economy. Local, in this instance, is defined as the businesses in the surrounding towns as well as Delaware and Ulster Counties. Local groups have been created to help promote Belleayre. They are; The Belleayre Conservatory and Coalition to Save Belleayre. The Belleayre Conservatory was established to provide a venue for summer programs at Belleayre. Most notably they have brought some of the best entertainment to the Catskills. This year alone they featured entertainers such as Ronan Tynan [the Irish Tenor] and Brian Wilson [from the Beach Boys]. The Coalition to Save Belleayre also presents a yearly award, "The Spirit of the Catskills" at the annual Snowball gala held at the Summit Lodge at Belleayre every January.

Opposition forces have resumed their attack on Belleayre this year through politics at the State Level. In March, long time advocate of Belleayre and local State Senator John Bonacic said he opposed proposed cuts by DEC to Belleayre. "Unit Management Plans (UMPs) are exactly that - plans. They are rarely, if ever fully implemented or fully funded in one year. The State has made the decision to be in the ski business. The State has reaffirmed that decision in 1999 and 2000. If we are going to be in the ski business, we ought to do it well. If the DEC is now claiming that we need the money in the budget to fund every element of a UMP, then that means there will be no long term planning for the growth of our parks and recreation system in the Catskills – and that is bad public policy," Bonacic said.

In June, with the help of Senator Jim Seward, who represents neighboring Greene County, home to Hunter and Windham Ski Resorts, offered a Senate bill which was presented to Legislators to create a "blue ribbon commission" that would examine all NY State owned recreational facilities. While "all" meant facilities like Bethpage Golf Course, Saratoga National Golf Course, Jones Beach, the Jones Beach Amphitheater among others, the spirit of the commission was to focus on Belleayre.

Coalition to Save Belleayre Chairman Joe Kelly reacted with increased frustration to the news that legislation forming a blue ribbon commission to study the state's participation in the recreation industry was passed by the New York State Legislature. "This legislation was pushed through by Greene County real estate interests in protectionist efforts to grab an ever greater share of the skier visits to the Catskill Region," said Kelly. "We call on Governor Paterson to veto this legislation and urge all Belleayre Mt. supporters to call and e-mail the governor on this matter." On September 5, Governor Paterson vetoed the legislation. While the bills were overwhelmingly passed by both houses, insiders have indicated that there will not be a vote to override the veto.

Unfortunately, the opposition has not stopped with the veto. Earlier fears announced by Senator Bonacic concerning DEC funding cuts occurred. In particular, this included funds used for the Belleayre Fall Festival which draws over 16,000 visitors to the mountain and for that matter the region over two days in October. Noting that the cancellation of the annual October Festival came in the same week that Governor Patterson vetoed a blue ribbon commission to study the fairness of Belleayre's operation, Kelly said that some people in his organization believe the budget cuts were related to the lobbying Greene County that was done to curtail Belleayre's operation. "We certainly hope that this is not the case. But it makes no sense to cancel one of your biggest money-making events in a single year," said Kelly. "And once you are open and operating, it makes absolutely no sense to only operate part of your capital investment," he added. "I don't know if people in state government are caving to pressure from Greene County to hold Belleayre Mt. back, but we certainly intend to look at that possibility."

While endangered, supporters of Belleayre including that of US Senator Charles Schumer have called upon State DEC leaders to restore funding. Schumer wrote, "Belleayre Mountain Ski Center is bursting with economic benefits for Ulster County and we cannot let it fall to the wayside," Schumer said. "I hope that the DEC will heed the community's call and commit to a full ski season at Belleayre so that we can keep the jobs and revenue generated by the ski mountain." Meanwhile, a local tourist attraction, the Delaware and Ulster Railroad whose yard and headquarters are located just "down the road" in Arkville offered its property for the Fall Festival. Organizers, opted to hold the event [October 11 and 12] rather than canceling it.

Belleayre Mountain is willing to work with the other ski areas in the region; Hunter, Platekill and Windham to develop a joint marketing plan. Tony Lanza, Belleayre Mountain's Superintendent has advocated for joint marketing for years. In addition to joint marketing he has proposed a joint or combination "ski ticket". This idea has grown in popularity in other states such as New Hampshire, Colorado and Utah.

The bottom line is that should Belleayre lose funding by DEC it would create a regionally significant blow to the economy which is the last thing the Hudson Valley needs right now.

Our Fish in the Hudson

Shad is a fish that has found its home in the Hudson River for decades for spawning its eggs in the spring time. While you wont find HUGE fishing boats in the River like what are featured on the Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch you will find quite a few recreational sized fishing boats with fishing poles hanging from all sides throughout the River.

The shad population has been dwindling for at least the last twenty years. The River which once had millions of shad is now so scarce that many restaurants do not even offer the fish or its roe on their menus. The Hudson River Maritime Museum, located in Kingston, no longer offers an exclusive Shad Fest in May either. Fran Dunwell, NY DEC Director of the Hudson River Estuary Program reports that older shad are not in the River as much as they used to be. Additionally, allot less baby shad are being hatched in the Hudson now than what was shown in the past and statistics continue to show the number falling.

This past Thursday Governor David Paterson, D-NY declared that New York will do its best to turn the tide in the hopes of returning the herring to a respectable population again. Paterson will direct the New York DEC to impose stricter controls at water intakes along the Hudson. This includes not only power plants but the water supply systems that span the Hudson as well. Dunwell estimates that more modern intake screens and systems could reduce fish kills by 90 percent.

Additionally, Gov. Paterson called for stricter federal rules to reduce the dieing population with commercial fishermen in the Atlantic. Dunwell said that the State will also add more inspectors to the ocean fishing fleets to see how many shad are being accidentally caught and to insure that they are set free in the ocean.

Finally, the State announced a public-private partnership, setting up a network of monitors to insure that the shad are healthy enough to breed. These seven monitoring stations along the Hudson will be located at; Castle Point on the NJ side of the River, the George Washington Bridge, Piermont Pier, Norrie Point, Tivoli Bays [North and South], and Schodak Island. The sensors will provide readings on river temperature, oxygen levels, salinity, weather, tidal changes, and various types of pollution. For more information on the monitoring system check out: http://www.hrecos.org