FALLSBURG — Through the generous donation of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), a beautiful sign has been placed at the trailhead for the Benjamin Cosor Elementary School Hiking and Nature Trail behind the school building. A special thank you goes to Emily Devore for the initial work, and to SueAnn Boyd for seeing the sign through installation.
Newman Signs created the sign, and local contractor Pat Mickelson encased it in wood. Carpenters Brian Durban and Richard Stacey assisted in anchoring the sign.
An official opening of the Trail was scheduled for the last week of school in June, but it had to be postponed because of heavy rains. Administrator of the grant to restore and reconstruct the new trail and BCES teacher Leah Exner organized a brief ceremony to mark the unofficial opening on June 19, 2017. On hand were students from kindergarten through sixth grade chosen by teachers as among the most dedicated in the Extended Day Nature Class. Mrs. Exner referred to them as Guardians of the Trail, and they were decked out wearing protective equipment and safety gear.
The work that went into the design, building and placement of the sign was a small but vital part of the many busy hands of students, school staff, community volunteers, service agencies, Town of Fallsburg Parks Department, and local businesses that helped bring the BCES Trail from concept through to completion. Key to everything was the Sullivan Renaissance Healthy Community Grant that started the project in motion. Special thanks go out to all these people on behalf of the Fallsburg Central School District.