NEWS RELEASE
FROM: Seneca Lake Byway, Inc.

Scenic Byway forms not-for-profit & Public Informational Meeting Scheduled Town of Hector – Seneca Lake Byway, Inc. was formed recently as the not-for-profit entity to speed up the nomination process in getting eighteen (18) miles of Route 414 in Schuyler and Seneca counties designated as a scenic byway in New York State.
Barry O’Neill, of Lodi, was named chairman of the 6 member board. Directors include: Steven Getman, of Interlaken, Bruce Adams, Victoria Kelly, George Kellogg and Chris Kimball-Peterson, all of the Town of Hector.

The group hopes to get the route, which runs from the Town of Hector line through the village of Lodi in Seneca County, designated as a scenic byway in order to: 1) Protect the economic and aesthetic interests of the residents of both towns; 2) Enhance business enterprise, e.g. agriculture, winery, Bed & Breakfasts, restaurants and recreation; 3) Improve the safety of roadway/byway access for autos, bicycles and walkers; and 4) Provide incentive for more timely highway maintenance, as well as State and Federal grants.

The process, which includes a nomination to be sent to the NYS Scenic Byway Advisory Committee, has been in the works for 5 years. The proposed Byway was first mentioned in the Schuyler Comprehensive Plan as a recommendation to increase the economic development of Schuyler County. The West Hector Community Association then formed a Byway committee to oversee the proposal and nomination.
As the nomination was underway, a recommendation by the Department of Transportation and the State Scenic Byway Advisory Committee included the formation of a not-for-profit entity to be the project sponsor and to implement the Corridor Management Plan as required through the nomination process.

Purpose of the organization:
Protect the economic and aesthetic interests of the residents of both Hector & Lodi; 2) Enhance business enterprise, e.g. agriculture, winery, Bed & Breakfasts, restaurants and recreation; 3) Improve the safety of roadway/byway access for autos, bicycles and walkers; and 4) Provide incentive for more timely highway maintenance, as well as State and Federal grants within the Towns.

Who can join?
All residents of Hector and Lodi and property owners are welcome to join.  Anyone can attend our public meetings.

CURRENT NEWS

The Board of Directors for the Seneca Lake Byway, Inc. will be holding a public informational meeting on
Thursday, June 12th from 7-9pm at the Valois-Hector-Logan Fire Hall on Route 414

A 2nd Brainstorming session
meeting will be held on
Wednesday, July 16th from 7-9 at the
Lodi Fire Hall on Route 414

The purpose for this meeting is to present an update on the scenic byway and to discuss issues and the Corridor Management Plan that is being devised. Also, the Board will be getting letters of support from the stakeholders and completing the nomination proposal.

Presently the Seneca Lake Byway has periodic meetings at the Finger Lakes National Forest Headquarters on Route 414.

All meetings are open to the public.

Board of Directors

Barry O'Neill
Chairman
jboneill@empacc.net

Chris Kimball-Peterson,
Director & Treasurer
Clkp329@aol.com

Steven Getman
Director

Bruce Adams
Director
pbadams@empacc.net

George Kellogg
Director
KelloggGL@Corning.com

Victoria Bond Kelly
Director & Secretary
vb25@cornell.edu