For many folks, seeing the year 2010 come to an end will be met with mixed emotions, for it probably will go down as one of our less memorable years and also one many will be happy to put behind us. Among other things, it was the year that saw sweeping changes in those elected to Congress. It was also the year of large budget deficits, both federally and in many individual states, including New York. Closer to home, it will be the year that we bid farewell to what was a local institution, Rogers Environmental Conservation Education Center in Sherburne. And it looks as though our winter may be a severe one this time. However, the worst effect of this waning year will be that it will probably have a carryover impact on the new year.

Faced with nearly a $1B state budget deficit, our current administration and legislature are desperately trying to dig the state out of the deep debt hole that I can only attribute to the years of poor planning and overspending (too many pork projects?) on their part have buried us in. Unfortunately for those of us who cherish the natural outdoor resources that were once so abundant in the state, many of the programs and personnel under the charge of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have taken heavy hits from the Division of Budget knife, Rogers Center being just one of them.