Scenic Hudson has announced that it plans to raise $500 million to preserve 65,000 acres in the Hudson Valley. Scenic Hudson focuses on preserving the strategic parcels of land, usually near the Hudson River, and allowing the public to access and enjoy use of the property. To date, they have conserved 6,084 acres in the Mid-Hudson region, including Ulster County. In Ulster County, the following Scenic Hudson parks are open to the public: Black Creek Forrest, Esopus Meadows, Franny Reese Preserve, Shaupeneak Ridge and Sleightsburgh Point. This effort is a very ambitious and worthy undertaking. Maintaining scenic landscapes in the Hudson Valley and opening them for the public to access is a vital part of preserving our heritage.

High Ground Realty achieved yet another milestone this week in launching the landmark New Paltz Real Estate website NewPaltzRealEstate.com. This domain name is memorable and we think your experience with the website will be unforgettable also. This site makes it even easier to find homes, condos, townhouses or vacant land in New Paltz. It also boasts improved navigation and several new homebuyer and homeseller tips. All of the expert content included on the website was authored by High Ground Realty. Many new features and additional information will be added to the site periodically, so make sure you check back often to see what is new. Don’t forget to take check it out and bookmark the new site to make it easier to share your discovery with others.

All Ulster County Homeowners should check to see if they are eligible for the 2007 Middle Class STAR Rebate program. The deadline to apply for the rebate is November 30, 2007. Applications have been sent to eligible households in the mail and the fastest way is to apply online. Unless you receive the enhanced STAR exemption, you must apply for the rebate. Those with an enhanced STAR exemption automatically receive a check in the mail. The amount of the rebate varies according to income and municipality. Anyone who is eligible for the 2007-2008 STAR exemption can qualify for the rebate. If you are an Ulster County Real Estate owner who meets these requirements, don’t miss this opportunity to get some hard earned money returned to you. For more information, visit www.nystax.gov