The Tug Hill Commission will honor six new Tug Hill Sages at its Annual Meeting/Dinner on May 31st at the Delta Lake Inn, 8524, Fish Hatchery Road, Rome, NY. “Tug Hill Sages” were first designated by the Commission in 1983. Sages are people who have lived a life close to Tug Hill and its traditions. Most Sages have been loggers, sawyers, fiddlers, conservationists, maple syrup producers, or have other similar ties to things Tug Hill. Tug Hill is a 2,100-square mile, 1.2 million acre region of New York State located between the Adirondacks and Lake Ontario. Larger than Delaware or Rhode Island, it is one of the most rural and remote sections of the State and the Northeast.

The Commission will be honoring the following on May 31st:

Irvine “Dutch” Buchal of Montague, who has served as Trustee of St Peter and Paul’s Church in New Boston and operated a dairy farm, logging business, maple sugar business, saw mill and is the curator of the Deer River Museum n Copenhagen. He is active with Flywheels and Pulleys, New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers’ Association and loves showing off his Lynn tractor and steam engines. Dutch has a real sense of community, he always looks for the good in people and enjoys helping out his new Amish

315-785-2380 / 2570 315-785-2574 (fax)

e-mail: tughill@tughill.org website: www.tughill.org

Dulles State Office Building

317 Washington Street

Watertown, NY 13601-3782

Chairman

Michael G. Yerdon, Sr.

Vice Chairman

Leona M. Chereshnoski

Secretary

Thomas E. Boxberger

Members

Jan J. Bogdanowicz

Roger W. Maciejko

Arnold E. Talgo

Kenneth W. Vigus

Executive Director

John K. Bartow, Jr.

Helping local governments and citizens shape the future of the Tug Hill region.

neighbors.

Bonnie and Don Colton of Lowville were original founders of THRIFT (Tug Hill Resources Investment for Tomorrow). They have a great interest in Tug Hill and have worked tirelessly to get others interested in the Region as well.

Chet Kwasniewski of West Leyden has a vast knowledge of the Tug Hill forest industry and loves to share his memories of the logging camps, driving dams, sawmills, contractors and logging roads from his early days. He and his brother started J& C Lumber Company in West Leyden in the 1950’s. Chet purchased and ran the West Leyden Hotel for 7 years and served as Town Justice for 23 years.

Arlene Moore of Lorraine has been an active member of her Tug Hill community her entire life. She helped run the Moore’s Store in Lorraine for many years, which was the hub of the town. Arlene is a member of the Lorraine United Methodist Church where she has served as the organist for 66 years and she has served as the town’s Historian since 2001.

Francis Yerdon of Redfield was actively involved in the effort to introduce land use planning in the original “nine towns” in the heart of Tug Hill in the early 1970’s. He has been an active member of the Redfield Fire Department, the Redfield Fish & Game Club, the Stave Mill Club, the Oswego County Sportsmen’s Federation, and the Oswego County Sportsmen’s Foundation. Fran is an avid hunter, trapper, fisherman and recreationalist, who is always eager to share his advice and knowledge of the Tug Hill region.

With the designation of six new Sages, the Commission has recognized a total of 32 individuals. Sages designated in 1983: John Constable Jr. (1916-2006) of Constableville; Truman Greene (1899-1983) of Boylston; Hunt Rowe (1898-1993) of Orwell; and Elwin Rowell (1908-1990) Osceola.

Sages designated in 1991: Livingston Lansing (1911-1992) of Boonville.

Sages designated in 1993: George Bibbins Sr. of Pinckney; Alice Clemens (1922-1999) of Osceola; Harold Petrie of Parish; and Courtney Winn (1921-2011) of Bernhard’s Bay.

Sages designated in 1996: Elva Maciejko (1923-2007) of Turin; and Neil Wright (1917-2007) of Osceola and Camden.

Sages designated in 1998: Harry Capron of Boonville; and Dr. Edwin Russell of Rome.

Sages designated in 2003: John Hughes (1913-2004) of Highmarket; Randy Kerr (1924-2010) of Croghan; Bernard Macklen (1921-2007) of Worth; Warren Mathis of West Leyden; and Robert Sauer of Camden.

Sages designated in 2006: Ray Chereshnoski (1940-2009) of Lorraine; Charlie Gallo of Camden; Neil (1929-2007) and Beverly Harden (1929-2012) of Camden; Louis Hodkinson (1920-2009) of Barnes Corners; and John Mahaffy of Boonville.

For more information about the Sages or the Tug Hill Commission’s Annual Meeting/Dinner, contact the Commission at 315-785-2380.