Chester Conservation Council

06/01/2026

The Sugar Loaf Historical Society reminds visitors to Knapp's View to stay to the paths this time of year, as rare/protected ground-nesting birds have eggs and chicks in their nests in the higher grasses.
Knapp's View hosts two relatively rare ground-nesting species, the Bobolink and the Meadowlark, that aren't found in many other spots in Orange county; the Sugar Loaf Historical Society's founders were the first to identify this parcel as habitat for these two species, back in the 1970s.

05/15/2026

From "Sugar Loaf, NY" :
On the subject of PRESERVING Sugar Loaf, which is part of our NYS Education Department incorporated organization's explicit mission:
Most residents miss the fact that BESS sites (like the one being proposed IN SUGAR LOAF, on Sugar Loaf Mountain Road) are really being installed to set the ground for DATA CENTERS.
In fact, Blackstone finances Aypa Power - the company seeking to build a massive BESS on Sugar Loaf Mountain Road :

A data center campus in north-central Georgia consumed more than 29 million gallons of water without the local utility company initially realizing it, triggering low-pressure water flow to its host community, Politico reported Saturday.

The 615-acre Fayetteville-based data center campus, codenamed “Project Excalibur,” was found to have one water connection installed without the knowledge of the Fayette County water system, and another that was not linked to its developer’s account and therefore was not being billed, according to the outlet.

https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/11/project-excalibur-data-center-quality-technology-services-blackstone-29-million-gallons-water-fayetteville-georgia/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRxXdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEMDJJd0NCMzlFR3A1RTlRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEesFokz7CE72u2ITidjQXKbwpS_y-UMCrrUHQAZVbt5wezvTxPvPdOicp79z8_aem_OyKT9nWHxi06pO3tcKvPmw

05/15/2026

From "Sugar Loaf, NY" :
On the subject of PRESERVING Sugar Loaf, which is part of our NYS Education Department incorporated organization's explicit mission:
Most residents miss the fact that BESS sites (like the one being proposed IN SUGAR LOAF, on Sugar Loaf Mountain Road) are really being installed to set the ground for DATA CENTERS.
In fact, Blackstone finances Aypa Power - the company seeking to build a massive BESS on Sugar Loaf Mountain Road :

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1351940423457196&set=a.639899304661315

A data center campus in north-central Georgia consumed more than 29 million gallons of water without the local utility company initially realizing it, triggering low-pressure water flow to its host community, Politico reported Saturday.

The 615-acre Fayetteville-based data center campus, codenamed “Project Excalibur,” was found to have one water connection installed without the knowledge of the Fayette County water system, and another that was not linked to its developer’s account and therefore was not being billed, according to the outlet.

https://dailycaller.com/2026/05/11/project-excalibur-data-center-quality-technology-services-blackstone-29-million-gallons-water-fayetteville-georgia/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRxXdtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEMDJJd0NCMzlFR3A1RTlRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEesFokz7CE72u2ITidjQXKbwpS_y-UMCrrUHQAZVbt5wezvTxPvPdOicp79z8_aem_OyKT9nWHxi06pO3tcKvPmw

04/22/2026

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/22/states-strip-power-cities-counties-00868763?fbclid=IwY2xjawRV50BleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYdW5ZZzZkc0V1enhkWDZJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrUX8cZuRPTBYChXiROGoNQvU3iVqfTWHtsktrYlhjhO0jPdXxQ1Lj0T9JKe_aem_Wnn8obHTHQu-mzZodxfrww

Climate change and the energy transition are driving a wave of state laws overriding local governments, with both parties driving their preferred policies.

04/08/2026

"I'm afraid the strain was more than he could bear. "
(Tombstone, 1993)

12/29/2025

Exactly how and why Chester's "Municipal Conservation Advisory Council" began. Beware:

11/09/2025

Thanks for the $13,500.00 bill for your sign,
Sugar Loaf Community Foundation.

Sincerely, Town of Chester TAXPAYERS

08/21/2025

Useful and comprehensive LYME DISEASE/Tick-Borne disease info:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PESGhUGfpsQltJiCRIJPi

Tales and Trails · Episode

07/16/2025

https://www.chroniclenewspaper.com/news/local-news/former-employee-sues-town-GA4828967

Former Town of Chester account clerk Nicole Griffin has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Chester and Town Clerk Linda Zappala, for retaliation. The filing said Griffin’s position was eliminated due...

07/02/2025

https://midhudsonnews.com/2025/07/02/orange-county-to-buy-sugar-loaf-performing-arts-center/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLR64hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFWOWYzZ0c5UktXUU5EVDAyAR6Wk4GLPSzxNkuaAg7t3vMZrg-VQCnQFUZaKVZLvAc2Fs61IMZjzSouNp8Ffw_aem_uhaY7OoJ1dacskM6ffJ35w

SUGAR LOAF – The Orange County Legislature voted on Tuesday to purchase the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center from the Town of Chester for more than $1.3 million. The 20,000 square foot facility has a seating capacity of some 900 and can accommodate a variety of activities, said County Legislature...