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11-24-2006 By JIM AUSTIN Editor The annual award honors individuals, families or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and generosity to state’s parks and historic sites. "Over the last 12 years, this award program has honored New Yorkers who have made lasting and significant contributions to safeguarding the unique natural heritage and precious historic resources of the Empire State," Governor Pataki said. "This year’s recipients continue the tradition of excellence and further a legacy of stewardship that will improve the quality of life for our communities and inspire future generations of leaders. "Jane Forbes Clark has played an exceptionally important role in preserving and improving the scenic, historic and cultural resources of Cooperstown and the Otsego Lake area, helping to enhance the quality and character of life throughout the region," Pataki said. ``It was a great honor to receive the award from the Governor,’’ Clark said this week. The award, she said, was recognition of her family’s vision for the preservation of Cooperstown that began with Edward Clark 135 years ago. ``It is a vision that has been followed by my family since the 1870’s,’’ she said. Asked if she had a favorite among the preservation efforts in which she has been instrumental over the years, she laughed and said that’s like asking a mother who her favorite child is. ``It’s all of Cooperstown. The whole family,’’ Clark said. In 2001, Clark was the recipient of the Preservation League of New York’s Pillar of New York Award and in 2003 she received the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. As president of the Clark Foundation and through her affiliations with several other organizations, Clark has provided support to community landmarks and initiatives in the Otsego Lake area, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Farmers’ Museum, and the New York State Historical Association and Fenimore Art Museum. She has also assisted community benefit and education efforts, such as the Cooperstown Beautification Program and local scholarship programs. In connection with the Leatherstocking Corporation, Clark has overseen the restoration of the Otesaga Hotel, one of New YorkÆs premier historic resorts and a mainstay of the area’s heritage tourism industry. Arnold Fisher, the other recipient of the award, is a leader in the preservation of military heritage through his chairmanship of the Board of the Trustees of the Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum _ the world’s largest maritime museum _ and the Intrepid Foundation, an organization that commemorates America’s Armed Forces and supports these brave men and women and their families. He also serves as the honorary chairman of the board of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. His other philanthropic causes include the Fisher House Foundation, the Veterans Bedside Network, and the Westchester County Vietnam Memorial. Fisher also sits on the board of the New York Chapter of the USO. He is one of four senior partners at Fisher Brothers, a leading New York City real estate firm. State Parks commissioner Bernadette Castro said, "New York State is not only blessed with an incredible array of outdoor resources and historic treasures, but it is home to remarkable people such as Jane Forbes Clark and Arnold Fisher whose tireless commitment to protecting and strengthening these assets distinguishes their efforts. By honoring and celebrating the dedication of these two individuals with the Parks and Preservation Award, Governor Pataki continues to raise awareness and promote environmental conservation and responsible stewardship throughout the Empire State." |
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