Festival organizers look to bring attention to nature

On the Bright Side

Discussion

COMMENTING ON STORIES:

Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.

Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.

Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.

RULES OF CONDUCT:

We reserve the right to remove comments that are unacceptable, to wit:

1. False and inacurate statements.
2. Personal attacks. Explicit name-calling.
3. Harassing, harmful, vulgar, obscene and defamatory language.
4. Threatening statements or statements that suggest violence.
5. Hate speech of any kind.
6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
7. Accusations of criminal activity.
8. Content that is harmful to children and minors in any way.
9. References to any type of sexual activity and other private matters.
10. Random and inflammatory statements that are off topic.
11. Advertising of any kind.
12. Typing in all caps.

WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE AND COURTEOUS COMMENTS THAT:

1. Create conversation on issues of interest and concern to fellow readers and local community members.
2. Express opinions and contrarian views.
3. Stimulate debate with respectful language.
4. Stay within the boundaries of these rules.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND OR TERMINATE ACCESS FOR:

1. Violating any of these Online Rules of Conduct.
2. Deliberately disrupting discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or spam.
3. Misrepresentation of identity or impersonating another user.

WE WELCOME:

1. Flagging violations of these rules that you observe to our attention.

MONITORING:

We monitor comments regularly Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approval of comments outside of this time (including weekends) will be sporadic.

comments powered by Disqus

July 26, 2012

Festival organizers look to bring attention to nature

Anonymous Staff Report The Daily Star Thu Jul 26, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

All things forest will be celebrated this weekend in Margaretville, as the Catskill Forest Association kicks off its third annual Forest Festival.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Margaretville Village Park, featuring a variety of forest-related activities.

Activities include Game of Logging, a professional logging competition sponsored by Bill Lindloff's Pro Cuts; a live sawmill demonstration by Hud-Son Forest Equipment; a firewood processor demonstration by Mountain Valley Nursery; a chainsaw carving demonstration and items for sale by Harnett Designs; a showcase of forest equipment, and displays by maple producers.

Various recreational opportunities, including a zip line across the Delaware River organized by Catskill Outback Adventures, will be available throughout the day.

Games and activities for youths will include face painting and hands-on activities. Live bluegrass music will be performed throughout the day.

Assorted Catskill forest products, including arts and crafts, wood products and more, created by local artisans, will be available for purchase.

Food available will include chicken barbecued by the Halcottsville Fire Department, and grilled beef dishes prepared by The Meadows BBQ. Other refreshments will be sold by Boy Scout Troop 180 and additional local food and drink vendors.

"The purpose of our festival is to increase awareness of the bountiful and abundant resources and benefits the Catskill Region's working forests provide," said Jim Waters, executive director of the Catskill Forest Association. "With plenty to do for young and old alike, we hope that our informationpacked, fun-filled family day will encourage and generate the interest that our natural resources truly deserve."

The CFA's Jim Waters and Education Forester Ryan Trapani will answer questions and discuss forest management education and services.

Waters called the nonprofit CFA "one of the fastest growing landowner organizations in the country," adding that "as such, we work hard to uphold our positive reputation."

Waters said the group seeks to provide unbiased, impartial information to landowners about stewarding the environment.

For more information about the festival, or to become a member of the CFA, contact Michele Fucci at (845) 586-3054, cfa@catskill.net or visit www.catskillforest.org.