SHERBURNE – The 33rd annual Winter Living Celebration at Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne was greeted with good weather Sunday as more than a thousand came in a show of support to keep the center from closing.
The celebration was sponsored by the non-profit group, The Friends of Rogers Inc. and organized by the center’s Department of Environmental Conservation staff, whose jobs will be eliminated by Dec. 31 as part of Governor David Paterson’s plan to save $250 million by laying off 898 state workers.
The event was rescheduled from its regular January date after organizers were informed in November by the DEC that the center’s buildings and public facilities would be shuttered at the end of the year.
Rogers Director Marsha Guzewich, whose position is also being cut, said the notice came as a shock to those working there.
This weekend’s celebration, which has been a three-decade tradition, became a final opportunity for supporters to bid Rogers one last farewell. It was the center’s last scheduled event of the year, and may be the last one ever.
Rogers was established as New York’s first game farm in 1909 and its original DEC Director, John Weeks, recalled when the agency first began operating wildlife and nature educational programs in 1968.
“Rogers had long been a game farm when it was closed down for a short period of time. Even back then, the community was devastated and also just like now, people fought to keep it open,” he said. Weeks explained that a number of community organizations stepped forward to support the game farm until the state stepped in. He said those organizations convinced the state to conduct a feasibility study at the game farm, which later led to the decision to create the Rogers Environmental Education Center run by the state.
Weeks served as the facility’s first director until 1973.
“I have to question the state when I see them taking an action like this. I think they’ve underestimated the value and heritage of what Rogers has offered and still offers our communities today. It’s been instrumental in directing environmental education in the state,” he said.
Sunday’s event including a wide range of outdoor activities, like horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, story telling, performances by the Susquehanna String Band and a special guest appearance by popular signer/songwriter Tom Chapin, who agreed to perform at the event to show his support.
Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch of the 107th District took part in the activities Sunday, too.
“The sad fact is this has been an executive decision conducted at a time when the legislature wasn’t even in session,” said Crouch, criticizing the governor’s office.
Crouch said he strongly supports keeping Rogers open and has sent letters to the DEC and the governor requesting they reconsider.
“There wasn’t even an opportunity to have a discussion about the decision,” he said.
Guzewich said all staff attended the event along with 40 volunteers and dozens of environmental and educational exhibitors.
Laurie Trotta, president of the Friends of Rogers, said she hopes the higher than average crowd – estimated at around 1,500 – would help keep the center open.
She said the DEC has requested a special meeting with the group this week. She said she hopes a partnership can be formed with the agency in restoring at least some services.