The Catskill Chronicle

Photos by Leni Santoro

[MONTICELLO] – Helping to beautify communities while learning leadership skills is what the Sullivan Renaissance Intern Program is all about. Last week leadership took on the form of a stream clean-up of the stream that runs behind Burger King and the Bank of America at the end of the WalMart parking lot on Anawanda Lake Road in Monticello.

Along with specific gardening and landscaping training, this year’s interns have explored topics such as the history of Sullivan County, environmental issues and the role of the media. Meeting sessions have included: a visit to Bethel Woods, an interactive workshop led by county historian John Conway and a visit to the Center For Discovery’s “Thanksgiving Farm.” In addition, the interns have also attended a Sullivan County employment orientation and an introductory “Gardening 101” session presented by Tri-Valley teacher Robert Hayes and horticulturalist Vivian Ginsberg.

While their primary job involves assisting community projects with flower gardens and beautification projects, as part of the Sullivan Renaissance Intern Program’s inaugural leadership initiative component found this year’s young people cleaning planning and managing the clean-up of the stream on Anawanda Lake Road in Monticello.  

The interns formed committees, each with a different task, and got to work analyzing the problem of dumping in the stream. Their plan for the clean-up began with a brainstorming list that included the problem – the stream does not have a name, litter and pollution, appearance is saying – “Throw your garbage here. Nobody cares.”…It is a reflection on Sullivan County.

They then analyzed what could be done, including: making people aware, naming the stream, adding improvements such a meditation garden and getting the businesses in the area to be more involved by suggesting they encourage people to use recyclable bags instead of plastic and getting carts with wheel locks or coin slots as other businesses have done to prevent carts from ending up in the stream. Of all the trash removed last week plastic, cans and carts were some of the biggest offenders.

The stream and the surrounding area is now looking much improved thanks to the time and commitment of these young people. And it has a new name. Formerly known only as an un-named stream on county maps the interns considered several names before deciding on Anawandakill. Anawanda was chosen because it is located on Anawanda Lake Road and “kill” because it means river in Dutch. the new title of Anawandakill was recently supported by resolution of the Town of Thompson Town Board. Federal approval is next.

Now in its fifth year, the Sullivan Renaissance Internship Program collaborates with the Center for Workforce Development (CWD) and the Sullivan County Personnel Department to provide internships to 21 students whose work supports community development projects in Categories B and C of the Sullivan Renaissance Program. Sullivan Renaissance funds the program through the CWD, which administers it. Interns are supervised by the Renaissance groups that hire them.