To the Editor:
Last fall I was a recipient of the “Gateway to Wilderness” award, given by Adirondack Wild. I was honored and humbled to receive this award, along with Sheila and Ron Cuccaro.
This award was also especially meaningful because one of the founding partners of Adirondack Wild, David Gibson, has been very helpful to me in dealing with sensitive Adirondack issues for many years.
David, along with Dan Plumley, was very helpful to all of us in White Lake in saving our trees along the Route 28 Corridor.
David Gibson was Executive Director for 23 years of the “Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks.”
The late Barbara McMartin wrote in her book “Perspectives on the Adirondacks” about David, “He is a consensus builder capable of working with other groups.”
This is an expertise that is truly an asset for the Park.
In the summer of 2010, David Gibson, Dave Plumley, Ken Rimany and Peter Brinkley partnered to form a new environmental group “Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve.”
Last September Adirondack Wild held their fall meeting at View, at which time I was fortunate to also meet partners Ken Rimany and Peter Brinkley.
They all work together as one. It is really great to see.
Paul Schaefer, who started “Friends of the Forest Preserve” in the 1940’s (a hero for everyone who loves the Park), mentored Gibson, Plumley and Rimany.
Paul Schaefer has left us, but his legacy lives on in the partners of the Adirondack Wild.
One important focus of the group is to mentor young people, to train college students on different aspects of the wilderness including advocating for it, a very worthwhile endeavor as the young, and generations to come, will be at the heart of preserving the Park.
Adirondack Wild is on the front line in a quiet and persuasive way for continued Park preservation.
Thank you, Adirondack Wild, from all of us who cherish this treasure. You have done Paul Schaefer proud.
Shirley Cornish, Old Forge
