Dunkirk Observer
June 22, 2009

Dunkirk Middle School pupils learn about juicy careers

The life of an agricultural worker might not be the most desired position, but it can be fun, rewarding and profitable.

Recently, Grower’s Co-operative Grape Juice Co. Technical Director Steve Cockram and WJET-TV of Erie Meteorologist Tom DiVecchio presented before Dunkirk Middle School technology and home economics students to talk about the agricultural industry which surrounds them.

“Were promoting the agriculture industry, the grape industry in particular, and the potential careers that these kids can have in the grape or agriculture industries. Agriculture is the biggest industry in Chautauqua County, Erie, Pa., New York state, and Pennsylvania state,” Cockram said.

Read the full article here…

News Release: June 10, 2009
Contact: Andrew Dufresne, Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association, Westfield, NY
Telephone: 716-386-4833 716-640-4641 cell

Grape Heritage Planning Commission Begins Work

The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area Management Planning Commission has begun the task of developing a Management Plan for the Heritage Area.

“We’re off to a good start” said Commission Chair Kurt Lindstrom, Mayor of Silver Creek, “we’ve refined the boundaries for the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area and are moving forward on the Work Plan. Several steps have already been completed and the Commission is looking forward to completing the next steps.”

Lindstrom noted that the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area received its recognition from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation in 2006 after successful passage of legislation sponsored by Senator Catharine Young and Assemblyman William Parment. The Heritage Area, the 19th to be established in New York State, was the first to be recognized for its agricultural heritage.

“Development of a Heritage Area Management Plan is one of the requirements to receiving permanent status as a New York State Heritage Area” Lindstrom explained. “One of the first tasks was to clarify the boundaries for the Heritage Area. The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area will include: Town of Hanover, Village of Silver Creek, Village of Forestville, Town of Sheridan, Town of Dunkirk, City of Dunkirk, Village The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area Management Planning Commission has begun the task of developing a Management Plan for the Heritage Area.

“We’re off to a good start” said Commission Chair Kurt Lindstrom, Mayor of Silver Creek, “we’ve refined the boundaries for the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area and are moving forward on the Work Plan. Several steps have already been completed and the Commission is looking forward to completing the next steps.”

Lindstrom noted that the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area received its recognition from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation in 2006 after successful passage of legislation sponsored by Senator Catharine Young and Assemblyman William Parment. The Heritage Area, the 19th to be established in New York State, was the first to be recognized for its agricultural heritage.

“Development of a Heritage Area Management Plan is one of the requirements to receiving permanent status as a New York State Heritage Area” Lindstrom explained. “One of the first tasks was to clarify the boundaries for the Heritage Area. The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area will include: Town of Hanover, Village of Silver Creek, Village of Forestville, Town of Sheridan, Town of Dunkirk, City of Dunkirk, Village of Fredonia, Town of Pomfret, Town of Portland, Village of Brocton, Town of Westfield, Village of Westfield, and Town of Ripley.”

Lindstrom noted that there is a special relationship with the Pennsylvania grape growing communities of North East and Harborcreek and they will be involved in the process of developing the Management Plan. “While the state boundary may be a line that divides the two states and the NYS Heritage Area jurisdiction, the grape industry heritage is one common thread from Silver Creek to Harborcreek without division”, says Lindstrom.

Commission Member Martha Bills, Supervisor for the Town of Westfield, reported recent progress on New York State Department of State contract for a $75,000 Division of Costal Resources grant to assist in the development of the Management Plan. “The Grant Application involves the Town of Westfield and the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association, Inc. as partners in the grant. A municipality must be the lead agency for these kinds of grants. The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association is authorized to complete or have completed the Heritage Area Management Plan”, Bills noted.

“The Town of Westfield has been most helpful in cooperating to obtain these grant funds”, commented Andrew Dufresne, Executive Director of the Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association. “The association, heritage municipalities, other agencies and volunteers will contribute many hours and other forms of in- kind match to the planning process”, Dufresne adds.

“We expect lots of local citizen input in the process of developing the plan” Dufresne said. “One of the early tasks will be to convene a number of focus groups to provide input into the development of the goals and strategies for the Heritage Area. The New York State Heritage Area System has four major goals for the unique areas: to enhance economic revitalization, to provide recreation and leisure activities, to educate and interpret the heritage and to preserve the resources of the area.”

Some of the first focus groups to meet will relate to education and interpretation goals. “What is our story and how do we tell it? That’s one of the key topics for this focus group”, Dufresne said. “It will be great to hear from Concord Grape Belt Heritage Area museum directors, teachers, older grape growers, town and village historians and others on this topic. This information will also be valuable to the Association as we move forward with plans for a grape heritage discovery center.”

Anyone wishing to become involved in the management plan development process is encouraged to contact Dufresne at and4833@windstream.net or visit the web site www.concordgrapebelt.org