Additionally, in September 2000, he established the Woodstone group of companies to develop 5,000± acres in Bethel, NY, now known as the Chapin Estate.  With this as his background, it was only recently that he received the offer of a lifetime – one that even Howard Schoor couldn’t refuse.  A keen buyer had an eye on Howard’s custom built home in the Chapin Estate, although it wasn’t for sale.

As one of the principals of The Chapin Estate in Sullivan County, Schoor built himself a most unique home overlooking the Toronto Reservoir.  The entirely south facing estate was a stunning masterpiece that according to David Knudsen’s Sullivan County Real Estate blog, was “…one of the few houses here in Sullivan County that truly qualified as a trophy property.”

Although Schoor’s estate was not listed on the market for sale, he was made an offer he couldn’t refuse.   According to David Knudsen, “The reported sale has been buzzing around real estate circles here for weeks…”  The much talked about sale speaks great volumes not only to Howard’s skill as a land developer and home builder with a vision, but also to the magnificent value these Chapin Estate homes possess.  For Schoor, as a developer of this project, nothing could be a greater testament and compliment to honor his work at Chapin.

Knudsen commented in his blog covering the Howard Schoor offer, “Property falls into two categories-those that are on the market and those that aren’t…Some owners of special properties have no interest whatsoever in selling…But many respond with ‘We haven’t considered selling but make me an offer I can’t refuse’.”

Such an offer was made…..and Howard could not refuse.  This sale highlights, what a special place the Chapin Estate is.  Speculation now has it that he is planning a new home at Chapin which will overlook Toronto Reservoir.

The Pasch Consulting Group, was selected for their expertise in search engine optimization, social networking and online sales generation.  The company has hundreds of clients from around the United States and Canada who have utilized their Search Engine Optimization  (SEO) sales strategies.  The company was founded in 2005 by Brian Pasch CEO, a season veteran of the direct marketing industry.  For additional information visit www.paschconsulting.com .

The Pasch Consulting Group will be focusing on developing strong Internet visibility for Howard Schoor’s new invention.  PCG will be working in conjunction with another New Jersey website design firm; Jennings IT Services.  Joe Jennings, CEO of the company will be responsible for the ecommerce design and integration of the product website with the third party logistics companies.

Innovation from NJ Entrepreneur

Howard’s invention is classified as an automotive driving accessory and will be released in September 2009.  The details on the product are being kept under wraps, but here is a few things we know:

• The product will be released after Labor Day Weekend
• The price is set to be sold for under $15
• Industry experts predict that the product will be a top seller this holiday season due to its universal appeal and affordable price tag
• The product will be sold via national TV and Internet direct sales

Brian Pasch, CEO of the Pasch Consulting Group commented on the opportunity saying ” We are very excited about Howard Schoor‘s new invention. We see the product as a “must have ” accessory for every car in the USA and eventually around the globe.  This is a product that would could see in national department store chains and a product that would appeal to women, men and teen drivers.  ”

Consumers interested in being on the VIP product alert list can add their name to the email notification list by clicking here: Howard Schoor Email List

March 9, 2009

RE: Schoor sentence badly engineered

Dear Editors:

ASBURY PARK PRESS FOUND GUILTY by New York State Psychologist and friend to victim, Howard M. Schoor. Yes, Mr. Schoor is a victim.

My dear editors, for a moment separate yourselves from wanting to sell newspapers or defending your lapse in judgment when you printed the “Schoor sentence badly engineered” editorial on February 11, 2009.

When you stated, “Howard Schoor, a prominent engineer who admitted bribing a public official…” you lied. The facts are as follows:

The Court records (from both the Plea and Sentencing) indicate: Schoor DePalma “the firm” provided engineering and consulting services to the Township of Ocean Sewerage Authority (TOSA) in a professional and proper manner. The Court heard, and the U. S. Attorney agreed, that: Kessler and Weldon solicited Mr. Schoor, not the reverse. Mr. Schoor did not benefit from the offense. Since February of 1992, some eight years prior to the solicitation, Mr. Schoor had no involvement in the day-day operations of Schoor DePalma; he didn’t even have an office there. Messrs. Kessler and Weldon never approached anyone at TOSA to influence a vote for or against Schoor DePalma. Schoor did not know that Kessler or Weldon had some scheme among themselves. The words of Judge Cavanaugh at sentencing and the government’s response:
“There’s no benefit to anybody. This whole thing to me is just – I don’t – quite frankly, I hardly get it.” And here are the words of Mr. Nobile (Government), “Your Honor, the record indicates that Mr. Schoor received nothing personally from the turnover of this $15,000 gratuity…” And here again, the judge is clear regarding what went into his sentencing. “And the instance alone (referring to the gratuity) has me a bit confused anyway. And there was no bribe; No one seemed to have received much of a benefit, I guess, except these two guys that got the $15,000. Schoor DePalma didn’t get anything for it, other than the headaches that we’re dealing with now.” “There was no gain or benefit, no victims really.”

Clearly, the record discloses, there was no bribe. Contrary to perhaps your good intentions and worthy desire to be champion of the people in exposing public corruption (which I admire as a purpose). you are, here, disingenuous, at best, in regard to Mr. Schoor. The facts do not support your editorial position.

You might want to hold onto your view that because money changed hands, it is for the reason you think, but in doing so you have judged against all evidence to the contrary, and that, unfortunately, puts you in the category of biased against Mr. Schoor and renders him victim of that prejudice. You must certainly admit that The Honorable Dennis Cavanaugh was the single individual, having read Briefs and having listened to arguments from both parties, in the best position to reach an unbiased judgment.

I don’t know your politics, nor do I know the politics of your county or state. I do know, however, that in all walks of life, forces beyond the surface influence attitudes and behaviors as they just might have on your opinion page. I would hate to think your inaccuracies were more than simply a rush to judgment based on lack of facts rather than on some other more unconscionable and devious agenda. I will give you the benefit of that doubt and not carelessly accuse you of a destructive nature that may not exist in the essence of your being. I wish you would give Mr. Schoor that same benefit. Who knows, it may even sell more papers.

It’s a hard, tough, often-unconscious world we live in. Perhaps, instead of expressing your disappointment in the sentence of Mr. Schoor for a one-time error in judgment where neither he nor his former company received any benefit, you could focus on all the good this extraordinary human being has done for society with his personal efforts and financial support of organizations such as Collier Youth Services, Centra State Healthcare, Temple Beth Shalom, The Sisters of the Good Shepherd, the American Heart Association, etc. In this instance, perhaps the public’s money would have been better spent on the pursuit of deeper truths.

I always cringe when people are lumped together and sacrificed to the zeitgeist of the times without due press process in the pursuit of facts. As you say, in your February 11th Editorial, “How about justice?”

Sincerely,

Jaqueline H. Becker, Ph.D.
JHB:bb

Howard Schoor, 70, a founding member of the Schoor DePalma engineering firm, was sentenced in federal court on Feb. 10 to two years’ probation for paying a $15,000 “gratuity” to Stephen Kessler, the former chairman of the Township of Ocean Sewerage Authority (TOSA).

Schoor must perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $7,500 fine for his admission to the crime. The crime carried a maximum sentence of.five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to Justin Walder, Schoor’s attorney.

Schoor DePalma engineering is now known as CMX and Schoor has no connection to the firm.

“I think it was a fair and appropriate sentence under the circumstances,” Walder said. “Mr. Schoor has had no prior involvement in the criminal justice system. He is 70 years old. He has been an ideal citizen with his philanthropy and charity, and besides giving money to worthwhile causes, he was active in working with them.”

In his plea deal, Schoor said he made the payments to Kessler without the knowledge of anyone at Schoor DePalma.

Additionally, it was the government’s finding that Schoor DePalma would have been awarded a contract to perform sewage projects in Ocean Township regardless of Kessler’s vote, because the majority of TOSA members also voted in favor of the firm.

gmnews.com

Schoor is a friend of mine – a fact I am proud of. He did not admit to bribing a public official, as stated in the opening sentence, but to giving a gratuity. There is a significant difference. The prosecution found that Schoor had long sold his interest in the engineering firm and was, in fact, only serving as honorary chairman.

The claim that the payments were made to enable the firm to receive more than $850,000 in work was false and slanderous, to both the individual and the firm. The government established that the firm received no benefit as a result of the act, which is why the firm was never indicted. In fact, Schoor Engineering previously had held the contract for about 20 years and was awarded the contract by an almost unanimous vote each year.

Schoor’s gift to a long-term relationship was wrong — he will be the first to admit It. In fact, he did and he is paying an appropriate penalty. Shame and discrimination for a man of his stature is a steep price to pay.

One of his greatest laments throughout the process was the need to resign from the boards of the various charitable organizations that he has supported for decades. The pall of indictment prevented him for raising monies for these organizations. One of his first comments to me after the sentencing was that he could finally resume those charitable activities publicly. Even good people commit errors in judgment.

Eli Kramer
MANALAPAN

Asbury Park Press

by Brian T. Murray/The Star-Ledger
Monday February 09, 2009, 5:17 PM

The 70-year-old founder of a prominent engineering firm, one of New Jersey’s biggest government contractors, was spared a prison term today for paying what federal authorities called a $15,000 “gratuity” to two corrupt Ocean Township officials.

“There’s just no way this man should be in jail and I’m not going to put him there. He’s 70 years old and has never committed a prior offense,” said Judge Cavanaugh, prompting Schoor’s friends and family to openly applaud.

They took turns hugging Schoor as he left court, ending a case that, when he was initially indicted in 2006, ignited speculation among New Jersey political insiders that a larger public corruption case would follow because of Schoor’s extensive dealings with public officials for 40 years. The firm has worked statewide on projects ranging from the Asbury Park waterfront redevelopment to the Jersey Gardens Mall and the Turnpike’s Interchange 13A in Elizabeth.

But federal authorities absolved the firm of any wrongdoing, Schoor said he acted alone and the $15,000 payment was never linked to any project involving Schoor DePalma or any attempt to influence a public agency.

“Quite frankly, I don’t get it,” Judge Cavanaugh said of the case. “There’s no bribe. … Schoor DePalma didn’t get anything for it.”

Federal prosecutors claimed the payment, made between 2000 and 2001, rewarded two members of the Township of Ocean Sewerage Authority for helping the firm get work in the past. The case stemmed from a larger public corruption probe in Monmouth County that netted a dozen officials, including former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance Weldon.

But Justin Walder, Schoor’s attorney, said his client gave the money only to Kessler and not as a bribe.

“My client and Kessler had become friends, and Kessler ran into a number of problems, including a divorce, and had financial troubles. He asked for money, and my client helped him out. … It was never a bribe,” Walder said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Nobile, arguing that the payment was illegal and merits prison time, said the plea-deal given to Schoor already took into consideration his minor role in the corruption scheme.

Cavanaugh pointed to more than 30 years of charity work by Schoor, saying society is better served having him free on probation. He also ordered Schoor to perform 250 hours of community service.

Less than 2 hours from Manhattan, in the heart of Sullivan County, lies some of the most spectacular and untouched real estate in the region – the Chapin Estate. The Chapin Estate is pretty incredible, a 2,500 acre estate with lakefront on two of the largest lakes in the area, Toronto and Swinging Bridge. It has the feel of the pristine Adirondack lakes, but is 4 hours closer to the city.

Development has been quite limited. The first phases (The Peninsula, Top Ridge, Misty Acres and Swinging Bridge) had 195 parcels, with a minimum 5 acre lot size. A new phase, the Preserve at Chapin is being developed with 188 non-lakefront parcels on 1,518 acres. There are extensive covenants to maintain the natural environment as well as protected eagle nesting areas and preserves for wildlife.The developers have exercised tremendous restraint, and could have probably made a lot more money with higher density or more extensive development. But from the beginning, they have taken their responsibility as stewards of the land very seriously, and the result is an unparalleled natural setting. One of the most telling things about Chapin is that both of the principals in the development, Howard Schoor and Steve Dubrovsky, have built houses here for themselves..

Chapin is in the exclusive league of world class developments, like 3 Creek Ranch in Wyoming, the Ford Plantation in Georgia, Hammock Dunes in Florida or Corde Valley in California. Yes, Chapin is pricey, but in that class of real estate, it is surprisingly affordable. 5+ acre lakefront lots run from about $400,000 to $1.2 million. On some of the Adirondack lakes, a tear down on a nice lakefront parcel can easily run upwards of $1 million. Chapin also has 5+ acre non-lakefront parcels, with access to all of Chapin’s amenities, starting around $150,000. There are no townhomes or condominiums, only single family homes.

The Chapin Estate is large and quite varied. There are lakefront lots on both Toronto Reservoir and Swinging Bridge Reservoir, along with a variety of non-lakefront options, from open meadow property to creekfront parcels to very private wooded sites. All of the lakefront lots available from the developer on Toronto (with the exception of 2 larger 8 to 9 acre parcels priced at $1M+) have sold, but a handfull of resales from current owners are available. Both developer and resale lakefront lots are available on Swinging Bridge. In general, Toronto is more expensive than Swinging Bridge, but a resale lot on a cove on Toronto might well be priced less than a ‘straight on’ lakefront lot on Swinging Bridge.

Chapin does not have any spec homes for sale, as all construction is custom. They do have their own builder but unlike in some developments, you aren’t required to use the on-site builder; you can bring in your own. However, there is an architectural review process to ensure that homes blend into the natural environment. For example, only natural exterior materials are permitted — no brick, stucco or vinyl siding is allowed. If your dream is a very modern, Hamptons-style glass and steel house at the lake, it just wouldn’t pass muster. Using Chapin’s builder, you can expect construction costs starting at about $250 per square foot. An elaborately detailed home, with wood carvings, hand painted tile work, and dramatic custom features can run to more than $400 a square foot. One of the great features about Chapin is that you can build two structures on your property, a main house and a guest house. So if your budget is somewhat limited now, you might choose to start out with a smaller house now which will become your guest house when you build your main house later.

There is no golf course planned for the property, but there are a number of excellent courses within a 15 or 20 minute drive. Chapin has a private Lake Club on Swinging Bridge. The first phase is open with an outdoor pool, lakeside pavillion that serves brunch on weekends, boat docking facilities for non-lakefront homeowners, a swimming beach and a large deck on the lake where yoga and Pilates. Tennis courts are planned. And while the use of snowmobiles and ATV’s is discouraged on the Chapin property, there is access to neighboring state land.

Like all great things, there are a couple of downsides. Property taxes at Chapin can be very high. The house pictured at left, a 4 bedroom, 3,600 sq. ft. lakefront home on Swinging Bridge, has an annual tax bill of about $28,000 Even a modest 2,500 sq. ft. non-lakefront home at Chapin can get hit with property taxes around $20,000. How you view this depends greatly on where you’re coming from. New Jersey and Long Island homeowners aren’t particularly surprised, because they come from areas with notoriously high propert taxes. But Floridians who have homestead exemptions on their primary homes, and homeowners in New York City (where residential property taxes are surprisingly low relative to value) are often shocked.

Another factor, which isn’t really a downside as much as a consideration, is that there is a requirement when purchasing a lot from the developer that you start construction within 5 years. There is an option to get a couple of years’ extension for a fee, but given this build time requirement, buying and holding for investment really isn’t a great option here. From the beginning, Chapin has been focussed on building a community and discouraging speculation in property here.

Resale Property. The Chapin Estate is now 7 years old, and we’re starting to see some resale properties come on the market. Over the past year there have been 3 lakefront houses on the market, ranging in price from $1.99M to $3.15M. As of January, 2009, there were two lakefront houses on the market in the upper $2M range, with a third possibly coming to market soon in the low $2M range. There are also 3 or 4 non-lakefront houses, ranging in price from $699K to $2.3M. Lakefront resale lots range in price from about $400,000 to $1M.

The Next Steps

If you think Chapin is something you’d be interested in, I’d be happy to get you more information as well as arrange an appointment to show it to you – and most importantly, help you decide if its right for you. Please give me a call at 845-468-5710 or drop me an email at davidk@beechwoods.net. Note that there is no price difference whether you work with Chapin directly or with an independent broker. There are also some resale lots and houses listed with brokers outside of Chapin that I can arrange to show you, as well.

Please note that if you’ve had any contact with Chapin directy — via email, phone or have previously visited the property with their sales staff — they consider you their customer and will not permit an outside broker to work with you. If you haven’t yet had direct contact with Chapin, and would like to consider having me represent you in the purchase of property from the developer or property listed thorugh their resale arm, Chapin Realty, please get in touch with me before contacting Chapin. If, however, yoiu have had contact with Chapin, but would also like to consider other options as well as Chapin resale properties listed through outside brokers, please do get in touch with me and I’d be happy to discuss options listed through outside brokers.

If you’d like to read more about lakefront in Sullivan County, or other higher end property options here, you may want to read my pages on lakefront and higher-end property.

I look forward to hearing from you. Please give me a call at 845-468-5710 or drop an email to davidk@beechwoods.net.

Located just two hours north of New York City, and less from Northern New Jersey, the Chapin Estate is a thoughtfully planed gated community. Originally an 18,000 acre private wildlife preserve, today’s Chapin Estate encompasses more than 2,500 acres of unspoiled wilderness, including two boating and fishing reservoirs, a private trout fishing stream and miles of hiking trails which are also suitable for mountain biking and horseback riding. The Toronto and Swinging Bridge Reservoirs combine for approximately 2,000 acres of pristine water among a heavily wooded landscape. Fishing, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and swimming are just a sampling of some of the favorite pastimes. The Chapin Estate adjoins more than 13,000 acres of forever wild forestlands owned by the State of New York.

The newest phase of The Chapin Estate, Top Ridge III is now open, with roads and infrastructure in place. This section includes a limited number of properties featuring lakefront, lake view and private trout fishing stream-front lots. Many of these lots have unobstructed water views across Toronto Reservoir and are perfect to enjoy the brilliant sunsets and spectacular beauty of the Catskills in autumn. “At-the-lake” wooded lots start at $155,000 and “on the lake” properties are priced from $595,000 – $1,300,000.

“The Chapin Estate is more than just a place to have a summer home,” says Scott Samuelson, Director of Sales “It is a year round community where the winter is just as beautiful as the summer, and fall as enjoyable as spring. If you enjoy and appreciate the outdoors, love wildlife, hiking and fresh mountain air, then the Chapin Estate is for you.”

Leaf peeping season in beautiful Sullivan County is underway – peak color will last through early November, so make an appointment now to see the Chapin Estate in its autumnal splendor – You may never want to leave.

http://www.chapinestate.com

photo

By ELSA BRENNER
Published: September 21, 2007

IN August 1969, Bethel, N.Y., was a once-in-a-lifetime weekend getaway for some 400,000 people who swarmed Max Yasgur’s 600-acre farm for the Woodstock Music & Art Fair to hear rock acts like the Who, Jimi Hendrix and Country Joe McDonald.

These days, Bethel is among the fastest-growing towns in Sullivan County, town officials say, and has a thriving second-home community; its full-time population of just over 4,500 expands to about 10,000 in late spring, summer and early fall. Second-home owners are drawn because it’s only about a hundred miles from Manhattan and because of its many lakes and ponds and the availability of land for development.

The rural town includes the hamlets of White Lake, Kauneonga Lake, Smallwood, Bethel, Mongaup Valley, Briscoe and parts of Swan Lake. And while Woodstock patted itself on the back as three days of peace and music, most of those heading to Bethel today care much more about the peace (and quiet) and not quite as much about buzz saw electric guitars.

Suzanne and Stuart Novy, for instance, spend most of the week trying to block out the din of Jersey City. But on Fridays, they pack up to head north to their second home on Black Lake.

At their custom-built, three-bedroom house on six wooded acres, which they have owned since 1999, nothing much louder than the swish of a canoe paddle is heard. “All week we listen to traffic screaming down the highways and people talking at each other,” said Ms. Novy, who lives with her husband in a busy condominium complex in the Port Liberté development in Jersey City. “What we need more than anything else on Saturday and Sunday is silence.”

Mr. Novy, who owns a moving business, whiles away much of the weekend in a rowboat, smoking a cigar and fishing for bass. Ms. Novy, an instructor in an X-ray technician school, says she is content “talking to the rocks” and otherwise communing with nature.

Come evening, she said, they “say good night to the world” by breaking open a bottle of red wine on their dock and watching the beavers build dams.

The Yasgur dairy farm today forms the backdrop for the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which opened in 2006. A sprawling complex, the center has parking for 10,000 cars and this summer featured performers like Bob Dylan, the country singer Brad Paisley and Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Prompted by an “onslaught of new development proposals” in the last year, partly spurred by the performing arts center, said Harold Russell, the town supervisor, Bethel has placed a temporary moratorium on subdivisions over five lots. “We’re a small town that needs to catch our breath,” he said.

The Scene

Part-time residents like Eileen Grossman, a retired United Airlines flight attendant who owns a second home there with her husband, Stephen Rubin, a lawyer, said that when going out for dinner or an evening’s entertainment, she rarely puts on more than blue jeans, a T-shirt and lipstick.

Residents of Scarsdale, N.Y., Ms. Grossman and Mr. Rubin are now empty nesters. Several years ago, anticipating visits from children and grandchildren, Ms. Grossman said, they built a rustic one-story, four-bedroom, six-bathroom house with four fireplaces on five acres in Chapin Estate. Chapin is Bethel’s most upscale community, and its 2,500 acres sit on the Toronto and Swinging Bridge Reservoirs, where swimming and boating are allowed.

Blending farmland with new residential and commercial development, Bethel is also home to the Sullivan County airport on a 600-acre hilltop five miles from Monticello, and the Sullivan County Industrial Park, a 750-acre site owned by the county and its industrial development agency. Monticello Gaming & Raceway, which has year-round harness racing and video gaming machines, is in the neighboring town of Thompson.

In addition to playing host to children and friends, Ms. Grossman and Mr. Rubin spend long weekends exploring on foot, monitoring the progress of bald eagles that have similarly nested in Bethel and are awaiting the arrival of future generations. At night, they share dinners with other second-home owners or visit the Bradstan Country Hotel, for cabaret entertainment.

Pros

Many houses are clustered around lakes and have spectacular views. Sullivan County’s many waterways — Lake Superior, Toronto Reservoir, White Lake, Silver Lake, Sicans Pond, Chestnut Ridge Pond, Woods Pond and Filippini Pond — offer a broad range of fishing and boating. In addition, Bethel is just 20 miles from the Delaware River.

Cons

Carolyn Ledwith, who owns a second home in Bethel with her husband, Henry Sladek, said she has had to stock up at a supermarket in Monticello on her way to their weekend house near Lake Superior. As the summer population has grown, though, new shops and restaurants, like Benji & Jakes, which specializes in brick-oven pizzas, have sprung up near old standbys like the Front Porch Cafe. And don’t expect to get anywhere fast; those back roads wind endlessly through the countryside.

The Real Estate Market

The region offers a wide range of prices for second-home buyers.

Ms. Ledwith, who runs a cleaning service in Manhattan, and Mr. Sladek, an emergency preparedness officer for the Justice Department, were cramped in their New York studio apartment. Unable to afford a larger home in Manhattan, they bought a three-bedroom, one-bathroom Cape on an acre near Lake Superior State Park in Bethel three years ago for about $150,000 that’s now worth $200,000, according to Darren Wiseman, an agent at McKean Real Estate in White Lake.

The houses where Ms. Grossman and Mr. Rubin live represent the market’s high end. At the gated Chapin Estate, houses start at 2,000 square feet and reach as high as 15,000. The average 4,000-square-foot house would cost about $1 million, not including the land, said Scott Samuelson, director of sales for Chapin Estate. Along the water, a five-acre lot might sell for $600,000 and an eight-acre lot for $1.3 million. In July, a five-acre lot sold for $800,000. “Our market includes buyers who might have been attracted to the Adirondacks,” Mr. Samuelson said, “but don’t want to travel that far to their second home.”

At Black Lake Estates, a three-bedroom house with three bathrooms on five lakefront acres recently sold for $925,000, said Linda McKean, an owner of McKean Real Estate. It was on the market for five months. In other lake communities, many cabins are being torn down and replaced with larger, year-round houses. “But anything going for under $150,000,” she said, “would be a seasonal home or a handyman special.”

LAY OF THE LAND

POPULATION 4,522, according to a 2006 estimate by the Census Bureau.

SIZE 90 square miles, according to the Census.

LOCATION The Bethel area is just under 100 miles northwest of New York City.

WHO’S BUYING “Lots of empty nesters from Manhattan, New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut and Westchester,” said Linda McKean, a broker at McKean Realty in White Lake, one of Bethel’s hamlets.

GETTING THERE The trip from Manhattan takes about two hours. Connect to Interstate 87 north and take Exit 16 (Harriman), then follow Route 17 west. Just past the center of Monticello, take Route 17B and continue west into the Bethel area.

WHILE YOU’RE LOOKING Bradstan Country Hotel (1561 Route 17B, White Lake; 845-583-4114; www.bradstancountryhotel.com) has rooms, suites and cottages for $175 to $200 a night from June through October and $140 to $165 the rest of the year.

Correction: September 28, 2007

The Havens column last Friday about Bethel, N.Y., wrongly included two hiking trails. The trails, Mount Will and Androscoggin River, are near Bethel, Me., not Bethel, N.Y. The writer added the information using an online source but without sufficient research.

http://travel.nytimes.com

For those who love the sport and are looking for a custom estate with private fly fishing streams and fishing lakes, an exceptional opportunity exists at The Chapin Estate, a unique gated collection of new custom designed north western and Adirondack inspired homes in Bethel in Sullivan County. The developer, The Woodstone Group, is offering a select number of premier properties on the lake as well as multi-acre wooded properties.

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “While at the end of a serene morning on the lake nothing need be sacrificed in terms of personal comfort and style in the many custom designed lodges and luxury cabins adjoining 13,000+ acres of “forever wild” forest and the sparkling waters here at The Chapin Estate. The best part – this piece of paradise is only two hours from Manhattan and even less from northern New Jersey. And what better time of year to see the glory of this location than now and into the summer, when fly fishing season is in full swing?”

The Chapin Estate offers miles and miles of untouched beauty, streams and lakes perfect for angling. Samuelson notes, “Our wooded views, picturesque untouched waters and miles of preserved trails rival the north west. In particular, our residents enjoy fishing our streams, fishing and boating on our lakes, with many more great fishing spots within easy reach. Our on-site Nature Trail Guide also guides visitors as they discover our region’s natural treasures.”

For both dedicated and curious anglers, Sullivan County hosts the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, located in Livingston Manor. “The Center offers many programs and workshops for anglers,” notes Samuelson. “These range from lessons on stream ecology to demonstrations on how to make an old-fashioned cane rod. What’s more, the Center offers some excellent catch-and-release fishing of its own, right on the banks of its runs and streams, all set on a beautiful 50-plus acre parcel.”

Writer and fisherman Austin Frances, in his most recent Catskills fishing book, Land of Little Rivers, describes the Catskills as a Mecca for American fly fishers. “Like the humble mountains whence it flows, the typical Catskill trout stream has been created on a personal scale that intensifies the feelings of privacy and intimacy with nature so prized among anglers,” he writes. Frances’ claims are backed by the many fly fishers who arrive in the Catskills every spring and summer to enjoy the lakes and rivers where prize-winning bass, trout, shad, walleye and many other freshwater fish abound.

Named a “Sportsman’s Paradise” by Field and Stream Magazine, Sullivan County’s fishing season has begun with state game managers describing the current bass population as “outrageous.”

Samuelson concludes, “I invite prospective luxury second home purchasers to come up and enjoy a personal tour of our community, our acclaimed home designs and our natural wonders from century’s old forests to more than 2,000 acres of glistening lakes.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.” Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property.”

Once a property is chosen, purchasers work with Steve and award winning professionals renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a truly custom designed and finely crafted home. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its natural setting. Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate, and all of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.
Those who wish to enjoy summers of fly fishing and outdoor fun in a spectacular untouched, wooded setting, all just a short drive from Manhattan and northern New Jersey, should take a tour and learn about owning a custom home at The Chapin Estate. To set up an appointment, please contact The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900. For more information, please visit www.chapinestate.com.

To take a tour and learn more about purchasing a lot and building your dream home in one of the most beautiful areas of Sullivan County, call our sales office at 845-583-4900, or visit our Website, www.chapinestate.com. As Mr. Samuelson sums it up: “There’s something special in every season here at the Chapin Estate.”

http://www.chapinestate.com

The concierge service perfectly compliments the properties of The Chapin Estate, which range from “on-the-lake” to “at-the-lake” locations among 20,000 acres of untouched forest and the sparkling waters of boating reservoirs in

beautiful Sullivan County, the “Gateway to the Catskills.” The service will be available at various price levels, with many services also offered on an as needed basis. According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin

Estate and also an area resident, the new concierge service was a natural extension of the community’s goal of offering its residents a second- home community above and beyond comparable vacation properties.

“The Chapin Estate began as a vision to provide estate purchasers with a second home closer to Manhattan and New Jersey than those found much further north. Within just two hours, purchasers can reach Sullivan County via Route 17 and Interstates 84 and 87,” Samuel explains. “This focus on comfort and convenience led us to explore other ways to better serve our residents, and to that end we are proud to introduce The Chapin Estate Concierge Service. Whether it’s signing for packages, delivering groceries, securing tickets to one of the headline performers at the soon-to-open Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts, or decorating a home for a party, our new service can help in every way.”

Situated on boating lakes, which combine for approximately 2,000 acres of pristine waters surrounded by 15,000 acres of woods, Chapin Estate residents enjoy a myriad of activities, from hiking, bird watching, fishing and sightseeing to swimming in the private Chapin Estate Lake Club.

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in thewoods.” Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains,

“The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property. Our collection consists of “on-the-lake” not on the lake, properties which are priced from $595,000 and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property we offer “at-thelake” properties priced from just $155,000.”

Once a property is chosen, purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, an award-winning builder renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines, to create a true custom designed and finely crafted home. For those who seek to realize their dream of a grand custom home that reflects their personal style and taste, The Woodstone Group offers individually designed homes. Available custom designed features can include an open family room with oversized windows, cathedral ceilings, a gourmet-style kitchen with granite countertops and separate eating area, first level master suite, recreation room, patios and wrap around decks.

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

http://www.chapinestate.com

According to David Schoner, vice president of Coldwell Banker New Homes & Condominiums, one of the nation’s largest, award winning residential brokerage firms, it is “an opportune time to buy a home.” He states, “Homebuyers today have more choices than we have seen in years, which creates excellent negotiating potential and a ten times healthier real estate market than what we have experienced in the past ten years. The days of the easy, quick sale are gone. Buyers can be selective, choosing a home that represents for them the best value based on location, aesthetic quality of the home, amenities and price.”

He continues, “Sellers are more receptive and more willing to negotiate now, especially in the resale market where a home may need improvements or updating. There are deals available and great values in the home buying market. A home, statistically speaking, is the biggest investment one will probably ever make – and now is great time to invest in a home for one’s future.”

Schoner points out economists feel the current housing market is healthier and more stable than the quick “turn around years.” He states, “Home values historically appreciate. While some years have seen greater appreciation than others, over time, a home is still the best investment and one that owners can immediately utilize through excellent home equity programs for home improvements, larger purchases and even college or higher education needs. New homes tend to appreciate faster than existing homes due to their latest design features, energy efficient construction and incorporation of the latest lifestyle needs.”

While some areas of the state have seen the market “slow down,” there are areas that continue to see strong sales. Schoner has coined these areas “marquee locations,” for he points out they are in established areas with good schools, convenient transportation and everyday needs. Many are found in northern New Jersey and along New Jersey’s Gold Coast. “Purchasers who need to be near New York, but do not want to pay the City’s higher prices, have found exceptional value and a great variety of choices here,” notes Schoner. “From new condominiums to renovated ones as those found at Carlton Towers in Passaic to renovated luxury apartments to custom townhome collections like those at Dwight Gardens in Englewood and the award winning Heights at Tenafly, we have seen steady and strong sales in this market segment.”

He continues, “Builders and the State understand the importance of urban areas. The State has created ‘Transit Villages’ where residents live and work close to commuter services. Any town with commuter rail or bus service into New York and / or major state business areas has seen home sales remain strong.”

A market segment that is actually contributing to healthy re-sales is the “older baby boomers.” According to John Maione, the creator of the award winning Maione Homes’ Clove Hill Manor in Sussex County, active adults are a driving force behind “great deals” in New Jersey. He explains, “Most of our purchasers resided in their former home for a good 30 plus years prior to buying at Clove Hill Manor. They made their money on their investment and were able to negotiate and sell their home faster and at a more reasonable price than those who need to make money on the sale of their home. Therefore, homes by sellers who are downsizing or moving into an active adult community represent one of the best deals on the market today.”

Other good investments and deals are found at vacation communities, especially those in established areas. According to the National Association of Realtors, vacation and investment home sales both set records in 2005, accounting for almost half of all residential sales. Howard Schoor, principal of The Woodstone Group, the creators of The Chapin Estate, a collection of rustic, Northwestern style estates set among 20,000 acres of untouched forest and boating reservoirs in beautiful Sullivan County, New York, feels this segment of the market continues to be strong. Schoor states, “Executive level baby boomers are taking advantage of the continued low interest rates and investment potential of a second home. Many choose a second or vacation home that is close to their primary residence. It saves owners money in travel and allows them more time enjoying their vacation retreat. The Chapin Estate, for example, is within two hours of Manhattan and even less from northern New Jersey.”

Michael Skea, region vice president of sales and marketing for K. Hovnanian Homes, one of the nation’s largest and most respected home builders, concludes, “A home is a solid financial investment under almost any circumstance, but for most of us, the financial benefits aren’t the only reason why we buy a home. We buy a home so we have our own sanctuary to enjoy with family and friends. It would be naïve to say that today’s homebuying environment doesn’t have its challenges. It does take longer to sell a home, but that provides buyers with more time to plan the purchaser of their new home. Overall, the changes in the real estate market are good. There’s nothing healthier than taking advantage of a stable economy to buy a new home.”

Skea said K. Hovnanian is offering a variety of homestyles ranging from large estate homes in Morris County to townhomes in Bergen County to condominiums with a view of New York City in Port Imperial. The company also offers active-adult homes in Passaic and many other counties.

All agree that price is the ultimate commodity. Schoner states, “If homes are priced right, they will sell. Sellers need to be flexible and willing to negotiate. It is a buyer’s market. Serious buyers need to study the values, determine which homes are priced right and make reasonable offers.”

“Homebuyers have a lot of choices on the market,” agrees Skea. “While they may have to slightly temper their expectations there’s something for everyone. With the regulatory picture in New Jersey, home prices will remain largely stable because supply can’t meet demand. In short, it really is a great time to buy a home.”

For additional information on the real estate market, please contact David Schoner, vice president of Coldwell Banker New Homes & Condominiums, at (973) 240-5460; John Maione, president of Maione Homes and the creator of Clove Hill Manor in Sussex County, at (973) 875-1651; Howard Schoor, principal of The Woodstone Group, the creators of The Chapin Estate in Sullivan County, New York at (845) 583-6500; and Douglas Fenichel, regional director of public relations for K. Hovnanian Homes, New Jersey’s largest home builder, at (732) 623-6979.

http://www.chapinestate.com

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, the community offers something extraordinary in the Catskill Mountain area of New York, which already has been coined the new Hamptons by National Geographic. He explains, “We have created a community that is at its core naturally appealing and inviting like a hidden paradise. At its grandest, The Chapin Estate is a thriving hot spot complete with world class entertainment and resort inspired luxuries.”

He continues, “Our owners can’t stop talking about what they have found here among more than 20,000 acres of pristine, forever wild forest and more than 2,000 acres of glistening lakes perfect for boating, fishing and swimming. So much so that more than 50 percent of our buyers are family and friends of those who purchased here. Most came for a visit and after spending the day exploring our woods, swimming and fishing, relaxing on the deck watching the sun set over the lake, chatting by the custom built stone fireplace at night or attending a concert at the newly opened Bethel Woods Center for the Arts – they purchase a property of their own.”

Samuelson adds, “But that’s not all. We continue to evolve and offer more and more luxuries for our residents’ enjoyment. Phase I of our custom designed Lake Club is now open and includes a beautifully landscaped outdoor pool with lounging deck, outdoor pavilion with soaring stone fireplace, rest rooms, showers and changing facilities. A full catering kitchen offers snacks and our internationally themed Sunday brunch.” Samuelson explains Lake Club Lifestyle Directors from the internationally acclaimed American Leisure Corporation, renowned for the management of world-famous resorts, manage and coordinate the Chapin Lake Club’s many events and activities.

In addition to the Lake Club, The Chapin Estate offers miles and miles of untouched beauty. Samuelson notes, “Our wooded views, picturesque untouched lakes and miles of preserved trails rival the north west – but we are here in New York. We installed a Nature Trail Guide, which maps and guides visitors through the region’s natural treasures. The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.”

Samuelson continues, “Performances at the new Bethel Woods Center for the Arts have been exceptional. We just hosted our first special pavilion for residents and friends during the recent Crosby, Stills and Nash concert and the buzz hasn’t stopped. Our residents will continue to receive priority seating at other select events and performances.”

Samuelson adds, “The area is accommodating its growing luxury second home market. We see new restaurants and boutiques joining our dozens of fine golf courses, quaint antique shops, art galleries and studios, and such favorites as local farm stands.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “country lodge,” “cabin in the woods,” or “dream estate home.” Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that purchasers select a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property and their needs. Our collection consists of ‘on-the-lake’ properties and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property not on the lake, we offer ‘at-the-lake’ properties.”

Purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, award-winning builders renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a true custom designed and finely crafted home. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its setting. Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the aesthetics and environment of The Chapin Estate. All of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.

“The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and needs of the individual purchaser,” adds Dubrovsky. “Whether it’s a floor to ceiling stone fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase, the creation of a magnificent tree in their home, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a built-in ski rack, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing will limit our residents when it comes to creating the home of their dreams.”

Samuelson adds, “But why take our word for it. We invite prospective luxury vacation home purchasers to visit and experience The Chapin Estate for themselves.” The Sales Office is open daily. To set up an appointment, please contact The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900 or visit www.chapinestate.com.

http://www.chapinestate.com

BETHEL, N.Y., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Second homes remain a solid investment, as evidenced by sales at The Chapin Estate, a collection of rustic, Northwestern-style estates set among 20,000 acres of untouched forest and the reservoirs in Sullivan County, N.Y.

More than 120 of the “on the lake” and “at the lake” properties are sold, with more than 50 estates built or underway within this naturally preserved site in the Catskill Mountain region, according to Howard Schoor, principal of The Woodstone Group, the developer, http://www.chapinestate.com/.

“We see high interest by executive level baby boomers taking advantage of the continued low interest rates and investment potential of our homes — a unique, collection reminiscent of the Northwestern — but within only two hours of Manhattan and even less from New Jersey,” Schoor says.

Perfect to create a “custom dream cabin or estate home in the woods,” the community’s setting is further enhanced by architectural and construction guidelines to protect its environment. All homes also incorporate indigenous materials.

For information, go to http://www.chapinestate.com/ or call (845) 583-4900.

The Woodstone Group

CONTACT: Pamela J. Principe-Golgolab of PNA Associates Inc.,Tel./Fax: +1-908-879-9661, pnaassociates@earthlink.net, for The WoodstoneGroup

Web site: http://www.chapinestate.com/

Source: PRNewswire

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “The Chapin Estate is such a unique and beautiful community, it needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated.  Now is the ideal time to visit.  We invite prospective luxury second home purchasers to set up a personal tour and enjoy our acclaimed home designs, our natural wonders found in century’s old forests and our more than 2,000 acres of fully stocked glistening lakes, perfect for fishing.”

Samuelson continues, “What’s more, Phase I of our custom designed Lake Club is now open and includes a beautifully landscaped outdoor pool with lounging deck, outdoor pavilion with soaring stone fireplace, rest rooms, showers and changing facilities.  A full catering kitchen offers snacks and our internationally themed Sunday brunch.”  Samuelson notes that residences enjoy the services of the Lake Club Lifestyle Directors from the internationally acclaimed American Leisure Corporation, which manage and coordinate the Club’s many events and activities.

In addition to the Lake Club, The Chapin Estate offers miles and miles of untouched beauty.  Samuelson notes, “Our wooded views, picturesque untouched lakes and miles of preserved trails rival the north west.  Our residents enjoy fishing and boating in the lakes.  For nature lovers, we have installed a Nature Trail Guide, which maps and guides visitors through the region’s natural treasures.  The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.”

The Catskill Mountain area of New York has already been coined the new Hamptons by National Geographic and Samuelson agrees.  “The area is changing to accommodate its growing luxury second home market.  We see new restaurants and boutiques opening in the area.  What’s more, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts just opened providing an exceptional venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.  Already the New York Philharmonic Orchestra has performed, and The Chapin Estate hosted a special pavilion for its residents and friends during the recent Crosby, Stills and Nash concert.  Our residents will receive priority seating at other select events.”

Samuelson adds, “We enjoy literally dozens of fine golf courses, quaint antique shops, and great restaurants in Sullivan County.  Add to this mix the many nearby art galleries and studios, playhouses, and such local favorites as the farm stands, and the entertainment is endless.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “country lodge,” “cabin in the woods,” or “dream estate home.”   Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that purchasers select a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property and their needs.  Our collection consists of ‘on-the-lake’ properties and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property not on the lake, we offer ‘at-the-lake’ properties.”

Purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, award-winning builders renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a true custom designed and finely crafted home.  Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its setting.   Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the aesthetics and environment of The Chapin Estate.  All of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.

“The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and needs of the individual purchaser,” adds Dubrovsky.  “Whether it’s a floor to ceiling stone fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase, the creation of a magnificent tree in their home, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a built-in ski rack, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing will limit our residents when it comes to creating the home of their dreams.”

Prospective purchasers, who wish to experience the hottest luxury vacation retreat in a spectacular untouched, wooded setting, all just a short drive from Manhattan and northern New Jersey, should take a tour of The Chapin Estate.  The Sales Office is open daily.  To set up an appointment, please contact The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900 or visit www.chapinestate.com.

<a href=”http://www.chapinestate.com” target=”_blank”>http://www.chapinestate.com</a>

Prospective purchasers are invited to experience the joys of summer during personal tours now conducted on weekends at the community.

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “The Chapin Estate is such a unique and beautiful community, it needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. What better time of year to see the glory of this location, then during the summer. We are inviting prospective luxury second home purchasers to come up and enjoy a personal tour of the community, our acclaimed home designs and our natural wonders from century’s old forests to more than 2,000 acres of glistening lakes to some of our interesting wildlife.”

Samuelson continues, “What’s more, our exclusive Chapin Lake Club is under construction and will be completed soon. It’s a private club that will include a clubhouse with outdoor pavilion and landscaped tiered stone patios, an in-ground pool with lounges and changing facilities all overlooking the lake, boat slips, children’s play area and so much more. We will have a Lake Club Lifestyle Director who will coordinate all events and activities.”

In addition to the Lake Club, The Chapin Estate offers miles and miles of untouched beauty. Samuelson notes, “Our wooded views, picturesque untouched lakes and miles of preserved trails rival the north west. Our residents enjoy fishing and boating in the lakes. For nature lovers, we have installed a Nature Trail Guide, which maps and guides visitors through the region’s natural treasures. The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.”

Samuelson adds, “Once again this summer, the community will host its country-style barbecue with plenty of good food, music and great conversation.”

The Chapin Estates’ location in Sullivan County, considered the “Gateway to the Catskills,” offers residents so many recreational choices nearby as well. The much anticipated Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will open July 1, 2006 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and will provide a venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers. Samuelson adds, “Already, rumors are swirling that the New York City Ballet is considering a move to the Center for its summer season.”

Samuelson continues, “We enjoy literally dozens of fine golf courses, quaint antique shops, and great restaurants in Sullivan County. Add to this mix the many nearby art galleries and studios, playhouses, and such local favorites as the farm stands, Strawberry Festival and the Fly Fishing Museum, and the entertainment is endless.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.” Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property.”

Once a property is chosen, purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, award-winning builders renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a truly custom designed and finely crafted home. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its setting. Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate, and all of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

Prospective purchasers, who wish to enjoy a summer of relaxation and outdoor enjoyment in a spectacular untouched, wooded setting, all just a short drive from Manhattan and northern New Jersey, should take a tour of The Chapin Estate this weekend. To set up an appointment, please contact The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900. Or, for more information, please visit www.chapinestate.com

http://www.chapinestate.com

Prospective purchasers are invited to experience the joys of summer during personal tours now conducted on weekends at the community.

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “The Chapin Estate is such a unique and beautiful community, it needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated.  What better time of year to see the glory of this location, then during the summer.  We are inviting prospective luxury second home purchasers to come up and enjoy a personal tour of the community, our acclaimed home designs and our natural wonders from century’s old forests to more than 2,000 acres of glistening lakes to some of our interesting wildlife.”

Samuelson continues, “What’s more, our exclusive Chapin Lake Club is under construction and will be completed soon.  It’s a private club that will include a clubhouse with outdoor pavilion and landscaped tiered stone patios, an in-ground pool with lounges and changing facilities all overlooking the lake, boat slips, children’s play area and so much more.  We will have a Lake Club Lifestyle Director who will coordinate all events and activities.”

In addition to the Lake Club, The Chapin Estate offers miles and miles of untouched beauty.  Samuelson notes, “Our wooded views, picturesque untouched lakes and miles of preserved trails rival the north west.  Our residents enjoy fishing and boating in the lakes.  For nature lovers, we have installed a Nature Trail Guide, which maps and guides visitors through the region’s natural treasures.  The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.”

Samuelson adds, “Once again this summer, the community will host its country-style barbecue with plenty of good food, music and great conversation.”

The Chapin Estates’ location in Sullivan County, considered the “Gateway to the Catskills,” offers residents so many recreational choices nearby as well.  The much anticipated Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will open July 1, 2006 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and will provide a venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.  Samuelson adds, “Already, rumors are swirling that the New York City Ballet is considering a move to the Center for its summer season.”

Samuelson continues, “We enjoy literally dozens of fine golf courses, quaint antique shops, and great restaurants in Sullivan County.  Add to this mix the many nearby art galleries and studios, playhouses, and such local favorites as the farm stands, Strawberry Festival and the Fly Fishing Museum, and the entertainment is endless.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.”  Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property.”

Once a property is chosen, purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, award-winning builders renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a truly custom designed and finely crafted home.  Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its setting.   Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate, and all of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

Prospective purchasers, who wish to enjoy a summer of relaxation and outdoor enjoyment in a spectacular untouched, wooded setting, all just a short drive from Manhattan and northern New Jersey, should take a tour of The Chapin Estate this weekend.  To set up an appointment, please contact The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900. Or, for more information, please visit www.chapinestate.com
<a href=”http://www.chapinestate.com” target=”_blank”>http://www.chapinestate.com</a>

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “The Chapin Estate provides luxury vacation home purchasers, who love the rustic style of the Adirondacks or the northwest, with a home closer to Manhattan and New Jersey. Within two hours, purchasers are here in Sullivan County, coined the ‘Gateway to the Catskills.’ Route 17 and Interstates 84 and 87 provide easy travel throughout New York and the tri-state area. What’s more, for most, we’re easier to get to than Long Island or the Jersey Shore.”

Samuelson notes that this time of year, The Chapin Estate and the Catskill Mountains come alive. Samuelson explains, “With the warmer weather here, our location rivals the beauty of renowned, upscale vacation hot spots in the Adirondacks and north western states, but it is so much closer. We offer vista wooded views, picturesque lakes and miles of winding trails for nature lovers to see our eagles, deer, foxes and a full array of wild life.”

He adds, “We have just installed a Nature Trail Guide that maps and guides visitors through the community to help them find some of our natural treasures.” The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Since The Chapin Estate is situated on boating lakes, which combine for approximately 2,000 acres of pristine waters among a heavily wooded landscape – its residents enjoy world class fishing. Samuelson explains, “Right now, our lakes are naturally stocked with trout. The lakes provide wonderful fishing through the summer as residents fish for trout, large and small mouth bass, pickerel and perch.”

What’s more, the builders, The Woodstone Group, will soon introduce The Chapin Estate Lake Club, a private club that will include a clubhouse with outdoor pavilion and landscaped tiered stone patios, an in-ground pool with lounges and changing facilities all overlooking the lake, boat slips, children’s play area and so much more. “We will have a Lake Club Lifestyle Director who will coordinate all events and activities for our residents,” adds Samuelson.

In addition, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which is within five minutes of the community, will open on July 1, 2006 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, providing an exceptional venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.

“That’s not all,” points out Samuelson. “we offer an exclusive Concierge Service to further enhance our residents’ vacation. Whether they need groceries sent, the air conditioning set prior to arrival, tickets to the Bethel Woods performances, or reservations at the latest restaurants springing up in the area, we are available to assist their every need.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available five plus acre properties upon which purchasers can create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.” Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property and their individual needs. Currently, on our priority list are a limited number of multi-acre wooded properties.”

Once a property is chosen, purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, award-winning builders renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a true custom designed and finely crafted home. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its setting. Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate. All of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.

“The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and desires of the individual purchaser,” adds Dubrovsky. “Whether it’s a floor to ceiling stone fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase of tree logs, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a built-in ski rack, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing will limit our residents when it comes to creating the home of their dreams.”

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

Prospective purchasers, who are searching for a luxury vacation home that’s a short drive from Manhattan and New Jersey, should look no further than The Chapin Estate. To preview the priority properties now available, please contact the Sales Associates at The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900 or visit www.chapinestate.com.

http://www.chapinestate.com

Schoor states, “Like the statistics point out, we see high interest in our community by executive level baby boomers who are taking advantage of the continued low interest rates and investment potential of a second home. What’s more, The Chapin Estate is within two hours of Manhattan and even less from northern New Jersey. One of the main reasons the community is so popular is we offer a unique, gated collection of custom designed homes in a natural preserve with lake and mountain views reminiscent of north western states, but close to our purchaser’s primary residences in the metropolitan area.”

Schoor notes that another reason for the continued strong sales at the community is its resort style atmosphere with its on-site amenities, Concierge Service and the surrounding area’s new establishments. He explains, “Purchasers buy a second home to relax and enjoy their vacation. The Chapin Estate offers classic, sought after amenities. Our lakes combine for approximately 2,000 acres of pristine waters among a heavily wooded landscape. Our residents enjoy boating and world class fishing. Right now, our lakes are naturally stocked with trout and through the summer, residents will fish for trout, large and small mouth bass, pickerel and perch. We have a newly installed Nature Trail Guide that maps and guides visitors through the community to help them find some of our natural treasures including eagles, foxes, deer and a variety of flora and wildlife. The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.”

Schoor continues, “This summer, our exclusive Chapin Estate Lake Club will open. The private Club will include a clubhouse with outdoor pavilion and landscaped tiered stone patios, an in-ground pool with lounges and changing facilities all overlooking the lake, boat slips, children’s play area and so much more.” Schoor notes that residences will enjoy the services of a Lake Club Lifestyle Director who will coordinate a variety of events and activities.

The Catskill Mountain area of New York has already been coined the new Hamptons by National Geographic and Schoor agrees. “The area is changing and growing to accommodate the trend in the luxury second home market here. We see new restaurants and boutiques coming to the area. We are also offering an exclusive Concierge Service to further assist our residents and provide them with the extra attention to make their vacation time more relaxing and enjoyable. What’s more, in July, the Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, providing a future venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “country lodge,” “cabin in the woods,” or “dream estate home.” Steve Dubrovsky, principal of The Woodstone Group and the acclaimed custom home designer for The Chapin Estate, explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that purchasers select a property and then build a custom Adirondack-style home to suit that particular property and their needs. Our collection consists of “on-the-lake” properties which are priced from $595,000 and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property not on the lake, we offer “at-the-lake” properties priced from just $155,000.”

Once a property is chosen, purchasers work with Dubrovsky and The Woodstone Group, award-winning builders renowned for handcrafted homes that have been showcased in national magazines including Home Magazine, to create a true custom designed and finely crafted home. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty and balance with its setting. Dubrovsky points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate. All of the homes incorporate indigenous materials in their designs.

“The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and desires of the individual purchaser,” adds Dubrovsky. “Whether it’s a floor to ceiling stone fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase of tree logs, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a built-in ski rack, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing will limit our residents when it comes to creating the home of their dreams.”

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

For additional information on The Chapin Estate, please call (866) 583-4900 or visit www.chapinestate.com. For additional information on trends in the second home market, contact Howard Schoor or Steve Dubrovsky of The Woodstone Group at (845) 583-6500.

http://www.chapinestate.com

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “The Chapin Estate began as a vision to provide luxury vacation home purchasers, who love the rustic style of the Adirondacks or the west, with a home closer to Manhattan and Bergen County. Within two hours, purchasers can be here in Sullivan County, also known as the ‘Gateway to the Catskills.’ Route 17 and Interstates 84 and 87 provide easy travel throughout New York and the tri-state area.”

Samuelson notes that this time of year, The Chapin Estate and the Catskill Mountains come alive. Samuelson explains, “With spring here, our location rivals the beauty of renowned, upscale vacation hot spots in the Adirondacks and western states, but it is so much closer. We offer vista wooded views, picturesque lakes and miles of winding trails for nature lovers to see our eagles, deer, foxes and a full array of wild life.”

He adds, “We have just installed a unique Nature Trail Guide that maps and guides visitors through the community to help them find some of our natural treasures.” The trails are perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Since The Chapin Estate is situated on boating lakes, which combine for approximately 2,000 acres of pristine waters among a heavily wooded landscape – its residents enjoy world class fishing. Samuelson explains, “Right now, our lakes are naturally stocked with trout. The lakes provide wonderful fishing through the summer as well, as residents fish for trout, large and small mouth bass, pickerel and perch.”

What’s more, the builders, The Woodstone Group, have broken ground and begun construction on The Chapin Estate Lake Club, a private club that will include a clubhouse with outdoor pavilion and landscaped tiered stone patios, an in-ground pool with lounges and changing facilities all overlooking the lake, boat slips, children’s play area and so much more. Samuelson notes that the Lake Club will open this summer and will undoubtedly become a focal point for community activity. “We will have a Lake Club Lifestyle Director who will coordinate all events and activities for our residents,” adds Samuelson.

In addition, the nearby $65 million Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open on July 1, 2006 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, providing a future venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.” Samuelson explains, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property. Our collection consists of “on-the-lake” properties which are priced from $595,000 and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property not on the lake, we offer “at-the-lake” properties priced from just $155,000. Once a property is chosen, we then work with the purchaser to create a true custom designed and built home.”

The Woodstone Group, an award-winning builder renown for its handcrafted homes, is creating the stunning homes at The Chapin Estate. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes with yesterday’s charm and today’s amenities, and their work as illustrated by the homes at The Chapin Estate is no exception. Each home is specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty.

For those who seek to realize their dream of a grand custom home that reflects their personal style and taste, The Woodstone Group offers individually designed homes priced from the $750,000’s. Available custom designed features include an open family room with oversized windows, cathedral ceilings, a gourmet-style kitchen with granite countertops and separate eating area, first level master suite, recreation room, patios and wrap around decks. “The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and desires of the individual purchaser,” adds Samuelson. “Whether it’s a fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a built-in ski rack, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing will limit our residents when it comes to creating the home of their dreams.”

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

Samuelson further points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate.

Prospective purchasers, who want to experience the wonders of winter just a short drive from Bergen County and Manhattan, should look no further than The Chapin Estate. To preview the available properties, please contact the Sales Associates at The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900 or visit www.chapinestate.com.

http://www.chapinestate.com

According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, the new concierge service was a natural extension of the community’s goal of offering its residents a second home community above and beyond comparable vacation properties.

“The Chapin Estate began as a vision to provide estate purchasers with a second home closer to Manhattan and Bergen County than those found much further north. Within just two hours, purchasers can reach Sullivan County via Route 17 and Interstates 84 and 87,” Samuel explains. “This focus on comfort and convenience led us to explore other ways to better serve our residents, and to that end we are proud to introduce the Chapin Estate Concierge Service. Whether it’s signing for packages, delivering groceries, securing tickets to one of the headline performers at the soon-to-open Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts, or decorating a home for a party, our new service can help in every way.”

The Chapin Estate Concierge Service is available a la carte for help securing transportation, reservations, event tickets, car rentals, floral arrangements, pet sitting, handyman and maintenance services at the community and a plethora of other items. In addition, The Chapin Estate is offering custom personalized services. Samuelson explains, “Since many of our residents come up on weekends or spend a week or two here, we will be offering weekly home checks with owner notification and key holding, delivery receiving, property lot cleanup, driveway snowplowing and lawn cutting, to name a few.

“However, we want to offer more and we envision our service as able to handle any request our residents might have,” Samuelson continues. “If a member of the community requires a masseuse or a personal trainer, we’re here to help. If they need to find a talented landscaper, or if they just need to know of a good restaurant nearby, we can help with that, too.”

The Chapin Estates’ concierge service provides the perfect compliment to the community’s idyllic location. Situated on two boating lakes – the Toronto Reservoir and the Swinging Bridge Reservoir, which combine for approximately 2,000 acres of pristine waters surrounded by 15,000 acres of woods – its residents enjoy a myriad of year-round outdoor activity.

Samuelson elaborates, “In the fall, the community is ablaze in color and just perfect for hiking, bird watching and sightseeing. Winters, of course, allow for skiing, ice skating, snowy vistas and the ideal holiday setting. While this past summer, residents fished in the lake, enjoyed horseback riding adventures in the scenic landscape, and many enjoyed the community-wide country barbecue, which provided everyone with the opportunity to mix and mingle over good food and great conversation.” Samuelson adds, “Coming soon is the private Chapin Estate Lake Club, which is sure to become a focal point of activity. And the nearby Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open in July 2006 with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, providing a future venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.”

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.” Samuelson explains, “The Chapin Estate offers purchasers the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit their particular needs on that property. Our collection consists of “on-the-lake” properties which are priced from $595,000 and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property (five acre minimum) not on the lake, we offer “at-the-lake” properties priced from just $155,000. Once a property is chosen, we then work with the purchaser to create a true custom designed and built home.”

The Woodstone Group, an award-winning builder renowned for its handcrafted homes, is creating the Western and Adirondack-inspired homes at The Chapin Estate. Staffed by their own in-house artisans, Woodstone delivers homes with yesterday’s charm and today’s amenities, and their work as illustrated by the homes at The Chapin Estate is no exception. Each home is specifically designed and built to reflect each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty. Samuelson further points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate. He states, “All of the homes include indigenous materials from the property incorporated into the construction of the home.”

For those who seek to realize their dream of a grand truly custom home that reflects their personal style and taste, The Woodstone Group offers individually designed homes priced from the $750,000’s. Available custom designed features may include an open family room with oversized windows, cathedral ceilings, a gourmet-style kitchen with granite countertops and separate eating area, first level master suite, recreation room, patios and wrap around decks. “The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and desires of the individual purchaser,” adds Samuelson. “Whether it’s a stone fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing limits our residents from creating the home of their dreams.”

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

Prospective purchasers, who wish to enjoy a unique level of personal service in a beautiful natural setting, all just a short drive from Bergen County and Manhattan, should look no further than The Chapin Estate. To preview the available properties, please contact the Sales Associates at The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900. Or, for more information, please visit the website at www.chapinestate.com.

PR CONTACT:
Pamela J. Principe-Golgolab
PNA Associates Inc.
pnaassociates@earthlink.net
Tel./Fax: (908) 879-9661

http://www.chapinestate.com

The Abramsons were one of the first to purchase at The Chapin Estate, a collection of rustic inspired second homes and permanent residences artistically placed on wooded properties ranging from “on-the-lake” to “at-the-lake” locations among 20,000 acres of untouched forest and the sparkling waters of two boating reservoirs in Bethel, New York. Already, more than 120 properties are sold. And a number of them are friends and family of the Abramsons, who visited, saw the beauty and investment potential, and decided to purchase a home of their own at The Chapin Estate.

“We just fell in love,” states Carole. “There is nothing else like it. We looked all over in Connecticut and upstate New York. But none offered us the amount of property, the peace, woodsy charm and quiet that we found at The Chapin Estate. We live in the heart of Manhattan with other apartments as our view. When we come here on weekends, we feel transformed. We can actually hear the quiet and see so many stars in the sky.”

She adds, “It truly is a paradise.”

The Abramsons chose a lake front property upon which they, together with Mr. Dubrovsky of The Woodstone Group and its team of seasoned craftsmen, created a truly unique custom home, fashioned with indigenous natural materials and inspired by the wooded surroundings. Dr. Abramson notes, “We love the woods that surround our home so we decided to bring that into the home.” Dr. Abramson is referring to the custom crafted tree that rises from the floor to the ceiling in the foyer of their home. Its tendrils meander on the ceiling forming an intricate web of beams and trusses. Other hand crafted touches include wide plank hardwood floors, oak stairs with solid tree-shaped oak railings, a plethora of carved decorative woodland creatures and a floor to ceiling stone fireplace with stone hearth.

The Abramsons find their home is perfect for entertaining with large great room and gourmet kitchen fully equipped with top of the line appliances, granite countertops and fine wood cabinetry. Dr. Abramson explains, “We spend holidays and vacations here with family and friends. The home provides us with the space for any type of entertaining, whether inside by the fireplace or outside on the deck. It’s all year long.”

The Abramsons chose a floor plan with a first level master suite, which according to Carole, is “the size of our entire old house.” She adds, “While our bedroom is just off the great room, it seems miles away. It’s our haven with handcrafted woodwork, moldings and stone fireplace. The master bathroom is a real retreat with its custom tile, multi-head shower and large whirlpool.”

Carole loves the way the whole home takes advantage of its surroundings and scenery. She states, “Our bedroom overlooks the lake and the study overlooks beautiful landscaping. Every room, deck or area has its own special scene.”

Dr. Abramson adds, “With my hectic work schedule, it’s a pleasure to come here. I feel like I’m on a mini vacation every weekend.”

Even the Abramson’s son with his family purchased a property across the lake from them. The families enjoy boating across the lake to visit each other. “And our lab is in absolute heaven when we are here,” remarks Carole.

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s idyllic setting is perfectly embodied in the available properties upon which purchasers can create their “dream estate home,” “country lodge,” or “cabin in the woods.” According to Scott Samuelson, director of sales for The Chapin Estate and also an area resident, “The Chapin Estate is unique in that we offer purchasers, like the Abramsons, the opportunity to purchase a property and then build a custom home to suit that particular property and their individual needs. Our collection consists of “on-the-lake” properties which are priced from $595,000 and, for those searching for a multi-acre wooded property not on the lake, we offer “at-the-lake” properties priced from just $155,000. Once a property is chosen, we then work with the purchaser to create a true custom designed and built home that reflects each purchaser’s unique lifestyle and personal desires, while always accentuating the collection’s natural beauty.”

For those who seek to realize their dream of a grand custom home that reflects their personal style and taste, The Woodstone Group offers individually designed homes priced from the $750,000’s. Available custom designed features include an open family room with oversized windows, cathedral ceilings, a gourmet-style kitchen with granite countertops and separate eating area, first level master suite, recreation room, patios and wrap around decks. “The most important feature of every custom home at The Chapin Estate comes from the ideas and desires of the individual purchaser,” adds Mr. Samuelson. “Whether it’s a fireplace in the family room, a solid wood staircase, a mural painted on the tile in the master bath, a built-in ski rack, a sauna or a custom wine cellar, nothing will limit our residents when it comes to creating the home of their dreams.”

Purchasers can also choose from an array of appropriately priced pre-designed home plans full of appointments and amenities.

Mr. Samuelson further points out that the community’s architectural and construction guidelines and covenants protect the environment of The Chapin Estate.

Prospective purchasers, who, like the Abramsons, are searching for their piece of paradise just two hours from Manhattan and Bergen County, New Jersey, should look no further than The Chapin Estate. To preview the available properties or for more information, please contact the Sales Associates at The Chapin Estate at (866) 583-4900 or visit www.chapinestate.com.

PR CONTACT:
Pamela J. Principe-Golgolab
PNA Associates Inc.
pnaassociates@earthlink.net
Tel./Fax: (908) 879-9661

http://www.chapinestate.com

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060126/NYFNSN01 )

This is the setting for The Chapin Estate, a true nature lover’s gated collection of rustic inspired estates transforming New York’s beautiful Catskill region. Please see http://www.chapinestate.com.

Principle Howard Schoor of The Woodstone Group states, “We are creating this community following a unique ‘harmony-with-nature’ philosophy. It boasts two boating lakes amidst a painstakingly preserved wooded landscape with fishing, swimming, hiking and biking. Coming soon will be a private Lake Club and a community Concierge Service.”

A short distance from the community are numerous golf courses, restaurants, galleries and antique shops. The Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts will open this summer and provide a venue for world-class, award-winning productions and performers.

The splendor of The Chapin Estate’s setting is embodied in the available properties …

Developer Howard Schoor said he’s not going away anytime soon.

That’s what the Holmdel resident, who is the founder of Manalapan’s Schoor DePalma, one of the region’s leading engineering and consulting firms, told reporters at a press junket held Monday at Showplace Farms on Route 33 in Millstone.

Schoor made the comment in reference to a Millstone-based nonprofit organization’s appeal of the township zoning board’s unanimous vote to grant a variance that would allow the construction of a pet memorial park on Showplace Farms.

“I already have $150 [thousand] to $200,000 invested in this project,” Schoor said. “If the township overrides the board’s decision, I’ll seek remedy in the courts.”

The fate of Showplace Pet Memorial Park depends on the Township Committee upholding its zoning board’s decision and the project receiving final site plan approvals, Schoor said.

The committee will hold a hearing on the matter at 6 p.m. May 18 at the Millstone Municipal Building, Millstone Road.

If everything goes well, Schoor said, he and his partners — Larry Nicola, a regional cemetery/crematorium operator, and Bix DiMeo, who oversees the daily operations at Showplace Farms — would invest more than $1 million in developing a pet cemetery and crematorium on 16.5 acres of the 140-acre farm.

“We would start construction in the fall,” Schoor said.

Showplace Farms is currently used to stable horses that compete in races at the Meadowlands, Schoor said. The facility also opens its horse pool to dogs from the local area that have medical complications, according to DiMeo.

“I can see the headline now: ‘Showplace Farms goes to the dogs,’ ” Schoor said.

Schoor made the comment referring to the current situation with the Millstone residents who created a nonprofit organization through a Web site, www.noincinerator.com, to garner support and funding for appealing the zoning board’s decision to grant the variance for the pet cemetery.

The nonprofit’s attorney, Lewis Goldshore, said the group’s legal objections to the zoning board proceedings include failure to properly notify residents; improper rezoning of a parcel of land; failure to show that the project would be inherently beneficial; and failure to prove the site suitable for a pet cemetery/crematorium and without substantial detriment to the public good.

A press release from www.noincinerator.com states that not only do residents object to the land use, but also to the potential pollution and traffic such a facility could produce.

“We take care of over 400 horses here,” Schoor said. “Eighty percent of them race and are worth more than half a million dollars. We would never do anything to harm these horses. Why would we put something on 14 acres that would be a detriment to the other 125 acres?”

With regard to the potential pollution the incinerator could produce, DiMeo said people are wrongly comparing the animal crematorium to a municipal waste incinerator.

“There won’t be anything but organic material going into the crematorium,” DiMeo said. “These animals are 98 percent water and about 2 percent carbon. There’s nothing toxic going into the crematorium.”

Schoor produced a statement from Lester Jargowsky, director of the Monmouth County Health Department and a Millstone resident.

“The relative health risks are extremely small,” Jargowsky said in the press release. “There is more environmental harm in a residential fireplace than in an animal crematorium.”

With regard to possible traffic the pet cemetery could create, Schoor said, “We’ll be lucky if we have half a dozen cars a day. We’re located on the state highway, so traffic won’t impact the local community.”

With regard to the aesthetics of the property, Schoor said that the entrance to the facility will be tree-lined. There would be meandering paths throughout the property, and sitting areas among the ash-scattering gardens. All of the existing farm buildings, once used for horse auctions, would be renovated and covered with stucco.

“This will be the most upscale facility in the country, if not the world,” Schoor said.

Schoor said the proposed animal crematorium would have two 15-foot smokestacks that stick out of a 30-by-50-foot building. One of the facility’s three ovens would be big enough for horses.

When asked if the facility would accept road kill from local areas, DiMeo said, “It’s not in our business plan, but if Monmouth County officials called us up and asked us to do them a favor, we wouldn’t say no.”

For those who would like to ensure the proper handling of their animals, Schoor said, the facility will allow pet owners to watch cremations. The facility will also have a chapel for services, along with a 30,000-plot cemetery, a mausoleum and indoor niches for cremated remains, Schoor said.

“We’re really going to make this a destination point for people who love their animals, a real tourist attraction,” DiMeo said.

Schoor said the state of New Jersey currently has two licensed and operating crematoriums. Showplace Pet Memorial Park would join them in the National Association of Pet Cemeteries, Schoor said. The facility would also be subject to federal, state and local environmental regulations.

“We will have to get a clean-air permit,” Schoor said. “We’re already in the process of applying for one.”

With regard to comments made on www.noincinerator.com stating that an animal crematorium would reduce property values, Schoor said, “If anyone had a vested interest, it would be me. I’m the largest tax payer in the township.”

DiMeo said, “When anyone hears the word incinerator, red flags go up. But, the people who are giving out wrong information about this kind of incinerator are the ones to blame.”

Schoor said, “We think there is a tremendous need for this. It doesn’t seem anyone is objecting to the pet cemetery, just the crematorium, but that’s an intrinsic part of this kind of facility.”

When asked if he is considering more than just profits with this project, Schoor said, “Sure, I’m a developer, but there are other things in life that motivate projects other than profits. This really isn’t a project for us, but our children and our grandchildren.”

Schoor, a civil engineer, founded the design and engineering firm Schoor DePalma Inc. in 1968. His firm handles more than 5,500 projects a year in areas that include transportation services, land development planning, public works services, environmental services and building services. The firm provides engineering and consulting services to more than 500 commercial and government clients in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, according to the firm’s Web site.

“If Howard Schoor wants something done, it gets done,” DiMeo said. “The pet industry is growing in leaps and bounds, and having a pet cemetery in Millstone could put it on the map. We could be in the forefront of a billion-dollar industry.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about Showplace Farms or its proposed pet cemetery can call DiMeo at (732) 446-3100.

http://examiner.gmnews.com

Contact:
Brian Graff, Managing Director (212) 213-2009
Brian Maney, Director, Corporate Communications (301) 951-6122

By Maureen Flanagan

Schoor DePalma, Inc., based in Manalapan, NJ, provides engineering and consulting services to more than 500 commercial and government clients in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. This leading design and engineering firm, founded in 1968 by civil engineer Howard Schoor, handles over 5,500 projects a year in areas that include transportation services, land development planning, public works services, environmental services and building services. The company’s wide expertise, contributions to regional development programs and reputation for on-time, on-budget delivery have earned Schoor DePalma a long-standing loyal customer base in addition to top industry rankings and national recognition for superior capabilities and performance.

In an August 9, 2004 transaction, Schoor DePalma was recapitalized by Trivest Partners, LP, a Miami-based private equity firm. Trivest acquired the stock of Schoor DePalma from the company’s management shareholders and its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). In support of the recapitalization, American Capital Strategies, Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS) provided a financing package of $32.5 million.

“Growing and highly profitable, Schoor DePalma has been generating financial and operating results that consistently meet or exceed top quartile results among engineering firms in its markets,” said Brian Graff, American Capital Principal. “Under the leadership of CEO Stephen DePalma, Schoor DePalma is implementing an aggressive growth plan that will continue to spur sales and profits as the economic climate improves.”

Since 1997, American Capital has invested more than $3.3 billion in the middle market. Its current portfolio includes 100 companies in a wide range of service and manufacturing industries. For more information about American Capital’s portfolio click here.

Schoor DePalma’s range of services enables clients to consolidate with a single provider for an entire engineering project. By consolidating, the client obtains a highly coordinated professional team with a consistent record of completing jobs on time and on budget – the most critical factors cited for selecting an engineering firm. The result for Schoor DePalma is high customer satisfaction and longstanding relationships.

In the private sector, Schoor DePalma provides engineering for all phases of commercial, corporate, and residential development. This includes conceptual layouts and land surveys, site selection and design, redevelopment and reuse, and construction administration. Schoor DePalma also specializes in mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, geotechnical and structural engineering, traffic studies, utility designs, landscape design, environmental impact statements, feasibility studies, and regulatory agency interaction.

In the public sector, the company serves local counties and communities as a designated Engineer Of Record (EOR) and Planner Of Record (POR), effectively giving Schoor DePalma the status of the premier outsourced engineering contractor in that region. The company’s public sector infrastructure engineering services include utility and rate studies, parks and recreational analysis, environmental studies, roadway, drainage, and potable and wastewater services. Schoor DePalma recently started work on its largest contract to date, the North Avenue Corridor Improvement project sponsored by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for Union County. Schoor DePalma has been recognized through a host of industry awards for its client services and is viewed as an outstanding developer of young, talented engineers. It has been ranked in the top 20% of the 500 outstanding design firms in the nation (Engineering News-Record) and consistently appears among the top firms listed in “New Jersey’s Finest” (NJBiz Magazine) and “Best Civil Engineering Firms to Work For” (Construction Engineering News).

Schoor DePalma’s regional markets have been estimated to account for some $15 billion in annual sales. This is expected to increase as demographic trends, recovery in the overall economy, and the improving health of municipalities spur continued real estate and other development activity. The company’s core New Jersey market is benefiting from a major school construction program and increased infrastructure spending in response to real estate development. As state municipalities recoup financial strength, Schoor DePalma will benefit from increased municipal spending, while its designation as EOR and POR in municipalities across the state provides enhanced opportunities.

The company is working to expand its footprint with recently acquired Pennsylvania and New York offices. It continues to develop business from Boston to Washington, DC.

Positioned for capitalizing on the design and engineering needs for a growing regional infrastructure – and equipped with the resources to provide them – Schoor DePalma is building for a bright future.

http://www.americancapital.com

BY LINDA DeNICOLA

Staff Writer

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — So many things are bigger today — houses, people, fast food meals, SUVs, merged telecommunications companies and, over the last few years, bank corporations.

The Community Bank of New Jersey, with headquarters on Route 9 in the township and branches throughout western Monmouth County, is being bought by Sun Bancorp Inc. of Vineland for $83.2 million. The deal will create a larger community bank corporation, but one that will continue to cater to the needs of the community.

According to Howard Schoor, one of the founders of Community Bank, a key point in the merger is that the combined company is still going to be a community bank, but one that is going to be bigger and better than either of the two banks alone.

“Sun has the same philosophy and culture regarding customer service and what our role is in the community. I believe what I’ve said to others, that this was the right time for the right reasons with the right bank,” Schoor said. “We are pretty excited that this will be good for customers, shareholders and most of our employees. There is always some consolidation and cost savings with back office personnel.”

Schoor explained that by back office personnel he means the staff members who process checks and manage interaction with the federal reserve. Those jobs will be consolidated, he said.

“We anticipate that all of the front line staff will remain the same. The Community Bank has Saturday lobby hours and most have Sunday hours. That won’t change,” he said, adding that Sun has 70 branches and wants to be the premier community bank in every town it serves.

“When you pick up the phone you can talk to the branch manager, unlike some banks where you can’t even reach your local branch on the phone,” Schoor said, adding, “It’s not about getting every efficiency out of the system so you can make more money.”

The only physical thing about the merged bank that will change is the name. It will carry the Sun National Bank name, Schoor said.

When the deal is finalized sometime in early summer, the new bank will have $3.2 billion in assets and will offer customers more in the way of products. Schoor explained that there are regula­tory approvals to come and since both companies are listed on the stock ex­change the Securities and Exchange Commission has to review the action.

“It’s fairly perfunctory,” he said.

The present Community Bank, whose holding company is Community Bancorp of New Jersey, has branches in Freehold Township, Freehold Borough. Colts Neck, Howell, Manalapan, Matawan and Shrewsbury.

Sun has four branches in Monmouth County. According to Schoor, Sun may close branches in Freehold and Eatontown and merge them with the Freehold Township branch. Two other branches, in Red Bank and Manasquan, will remain, as well as eight branches Sun has in Ocean County.

Thirty years ago, a cash-strapped client offered engineer Howard Schoor a 50% interest in a race horse named “Farm Nibble” to settle a bill of a couple of thousand dollars owed to his engineering firm. At the time Schoor had never even ridden a horse, but he accepted nonetheless.

What started as a chance foray turned into a passion that later made good business sense, too. Today, Schoor owns one of the largest training farms on the East Coast for harness horses, which has its own race track and a dozen horses. Showplace Farms, his 140-acre facility in Millstone, has a capacity of 450 horses, an all-weather track, a heated indoor swimming and therapy pool for horses, and blacksmith and tack shops.

Schoor, 64, is better known as the founder and chairman emeritus of Schoor DePalma of Manalapan, one of the state’s largest design and engineering firms. Over the 35 years since its founding, it has grown to 13 offices in three states, 650 employees and $76 million in revenues last year.

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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

WHEREAS, those who dedicate their time, effort and skills to help others are among the most valued members of any community; and

WHEREAS, the State of Israel Bonds in Highland Park, New Jersey, will honor Howard M. Schoor with its State of Israel Peace Medal on June 19, 2003; and

WHEREAS, the State of Israel Peace Medal is awarded to an individual whose commitment and contributions to the State of Israel and the community at large has been demonstrated through continual giving of themselves; and

WHEREAS, a man of many talents and accomplishments, Mr. Schoor is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Schoor DePalma, Inc., the Founder of SGS Communities, and Founder and Chairman of the Community Bank of New Jersey. An active participant in numerous local charitable and civic community activities, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of Collier Services and the Regional Board of the American Heart Association. In addition, he has served as Honorary Campaign Chair of Centra State Healthcare Foundation’s Radiation Therapy Center, Trustee of the Centra State Hospital Foundation, the Monmouth County .iultiple Sclerosis Foundation, and as a Director and Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Monmoutiz County; and

WHEREAS, he has lived by the principals of brotherhood, benefiting all in the community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby recognize and commend

HOWARD M. SCHOOR

as an individual who best exemplifies the true meaning of public service to his community and the State of Israel, and join with the State of Israel Bonds to congratulate him and extend best wishes for the future.

GIVEN,    under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this nineteenth day of June in the year two thousand three and of the Independence of the United States, the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

This fund is meant to assist former graduates of Collier High School and Collier Group Home who have reached age 21, have not qualified for other assistance, and may have had to postpone their plans for postgraduate studies due to personal difficulties such as health concerns or financial hardship. The intention of the fund is to augment one’s ability to enter a training program or school which will further one’s education or job readiness or advancement. $500 Scholarship.

PFC Grad to Grad Scholarship

This scholarship was created by a former student to honor Collier High School graduating seniors who have displayed perseverance and resilienc’~ and to assist them in pursuing their education beyond high school. The scholarship is awarded to a student, with financial need, who will attend a technical, vocational or two-year college. $300 awarded one-time only.

Sr. Eileen Groogan Scholarship

The purpose of the scholarship is to promote post high school collegiate opportunity for seniors who are students at Collier High School or seniors in residence at Collier Group Home. This renewable scholarship is awardec on the basis of academic merit and financial need. $500 renewable up to four years.

Howard M. Schoor Humanitarian Fund

The Fund, established in honor of Mr. Schoor’s outstanding contribution to Collier Services as the first President of the Collier Services Foundation Board, is used to assist children and families, in any of the Collier programs, who have a compelling need not addressed by other resources.

Campership

The Campership program provides the means for at-risk, economically-disadvantaged children, who live in Monmouth County, to attend Collier’s Kateri Day Camp. $310 per two-week session.

Project Eco Scholarship

The scholarship provides special education students, who have financial need that is not addressed by other resources, with the opportunity to attend a special education, counseling and camp program at Kateri Environmental Center. $3,150 for six weeks.

Eugene F. Croddick Memorial Fund

The Fund, established to honor Mr. Croddick’s dedication to the mission of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and Collier Services, is used to assist graduates of Collier High School or Collier Group Home in achieving their educational goals. $500 Scholarship.

JET Scholarship

The scholarship pays for an at-risk teenager to participate in a Job Experience and Training program, under the supervision of a professional social worker, at Kateri Day Camp. $3,150 for eight weeks.

For more information, contact the Development Office.

http://www.colierservices.com

By Steve Israel
Times Herald-Record
sisrael@th-record.com

Bethel – Call him The Cowboy Donald

He’s the steer-wrestling builder of one of the most spectacular luxury home developments this side of Montana – 6,000 rolling acres of wild Sullivan County woods and water. More than 100 rustic homes, many with a price tag of a million bucks or more. Carved eagles inside, real ones outside. A $200 million development deal.

Catskill cowboy Steve Dubrovsky is a savior, say folks ranging from his hometown of Bethel all the way to Washington, D.C.
“A credit to our county,” says Sullivan County Attorney Ira Cohen. “He’s bringing a whole new class of people here.”
“Something we can all hang our hats on,” says Assemblyman Jake Gunther about the gated development called the Chapin Estate.

“It’s going to make life there very special,” says former United Artists president David Picker, who’s having a lakefront home built by Dubrovsky.

Wait. Hold your horses, say some folks in the neighboring little Hamlet of Smallwood.
Politicians bow down to the rodeo champion, they say. When Dubrovsky wanted a town road leading to his land closed, the town closed it, they say. His company is marketing land near the Chapin Estate in Bethel – owned by the Bethel supervisor.

“If this isn’t a case of a developer having a Town Board in his pocket, I don’t know what is,” says Smallwood’s Harold Saltzman.

Dubrovsky swears on his leather saddles that he plays by the rules. So does Bethel, which reopened the road after pressure from Smallwood. Its supervisor now abstains from Chapin business.

Call this Catskill cowboy whatever you want. But know this: the man rodeo champ Smokey Smith calls “one tough bulldogger” has mastered the art of the development deal.

And it all began with a gamble worthy of “The Donald.”

Dubrovsky plunked down $5 million on property with a reservoir that was draining. The trees couldn’t be cleared without a huge forestry program penalty. He had no guarantee the lots of at least five acres each would sell at their six-figure prices.

“I’ve had a lot of sweat run down my butt,” says Dubrovsky, sitting in his office near the Woodstock festival site, a converted red barn where a lasso hangs on a coat rack.
So the Catskill cowboy went to work.

When Dubrovsky wanted the electric company that owns the Toronto Reservoir to stop draining the water, he called U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Assemblymen Jake Gunther and John Bonacic.

He and his partners donated some $35,000 to them – and Gov. George Pataki – over the last few years, with most going to Bonacic and Schumer. Dubrovsky held a fund-raiser for Schumer at his woodsy headquarters where carved raccoons grace a wagon wheel chandelier. A Bonacic staffer toured the Chapin Estate last week.

The water level of the lakefront homes, which once dropped so low you could see brown dirt, is now full and bright blue.
When he needed the town and county to help him avoid penalties from cutting down trees, he drove to tiny town halls in his GMC Yukon. The county convened a meeting for him.

Attorney Cohen found a part of the law that allows most of the penalty to be waived. The land went back on the tax rolls. Dubrovsky’s company, Woodstone, paid all of the taxes for the first phase of development, which amounted to $190,000. He got back $53,000 through the part of the law that waived the exemptions.

That means $365,000 for Bethel, the county and the school system each year –- compared to $291 if the 35-home first phase of the estate plan had remained undeveloped.

“It’s economic development and it protects the water and the land,” says Dubrovsky. “Why shouldn’t they support me?”
“Who can complain about that?” asks Cohen.

“The guy’s fearless,” says Picker, the former movie mogul. “He’s jumped off a horse to wrestle the steer down. He has a vision. He’s willing to take risks.”

The son of a professor of Yiddish has been taking risks since his bar mitzvah. That’s when his uncle gave him a horse to ride on his family’s former chicken farm in Farmingdale, N.J. A neighbor saw Dubrovsky riding in circles. A real man wouldn’t do that, the neighbor said. A real man would jump off a horse and corral a steer. Even though his mother was furious, cowboy Dubrovsky was born. When he made $300 for 10 seconds of work, he was hooked.

But Dubrovsky was also a kid who liked to play with wood building blocks – “and concoct all sorts of structures,” says his mom, Gertrude.

So when he saw the empty concrete chicken coops on his family’s farm, he had an idea.
Why not turn them into houses and sell them – for $50,000 to $60,000. Not a bad price some 35 years ago in rural Jersey.

Soon, the Jersey cowboy was building, bucking and not going to college.

He sketched homes when he hit the rodeo trail – particularly the log and stone mountain homes he saw in the great Northwest. Back in Jersey, he added those touches to ranch homes he helped build. When he saw a story in Forbes magazine about a down-on-its-luck county just two hours from New York City, he headed to Sullivan.

Dubrovsky discovered the untouched 6,000 acres of woods, wildlife and water that were part of the estate of Manhattan businessman Chester Chapin.

He hooked up with two partners to raise the $5 million to buy it – Dan Silna, who had turned part ownership of the old St. Louis Spirit ABA basketball team into a fortune and already had three Dubrovsky homes and Howard Schoor, who owns a New Jersey engineering firm and builds 600 homes per year.

Together they spend thousands on ads in The New York Times, thousands more for billboards on Route 17. Dubrovsky turns up at all sorts of town meetings to win approvals and, he says, to “keep the towns comfortable.”

He dines with cable magnate Alan Gerry, who’s building a performing arts center within walking distance from Dubrovsky’s office. Then he chows down with the regulars at Blanche’s Diner in Mongaup Valley. He trades his sneakers for cowboy boots for a fund-raiser for Pataki and a town meeting with Schumer. Why, he’s even moving his longhorns to the Estate for “window dressing.”

All reasons why you can call Steve Dubrovsky The Cowboy Donald, the master of the art of the development deal. He’s earned the title.

President and CEO: Stephen DePalma

Headquarters: Manalapan

Founded: 1968

NJ Employees: 540

Business: Engineering and Design Consulting

Vision 2005: The Next Generation. It’s not a new science fiction television show, but a comprehensive strategy to propel Schoor DePalma from a $45 million engineering firm in New Jersey and Philadelphia to a $115 million mid-Atlantic company by 2005. And the plan relies heavily on developing the skills of its 540 employees.

Schoor DePalma, an engineering and design-consulting firm, launched their strategy from a solid foundation. The company already provides generous medical and dental coverage, a 401 K retirement plan, flex time, and work-from-home arrangements. The company’s employee stock ownership program allows the company to refer to its employees as coowners.

To achieve the Vision 2005 goals, Schoor DePalma has embarked on an ambitious professional development program and employee recognition/reward effort.

Schoor DePalma begins with a comprehensive tuition reimbursement program where all expenses for job-related courses, seminars and workshops are reimbursed on a sliding scale according to the participants grade. An A gets 100 percent reimbursement and a $50 cash bonus.

The firm has also started its own in-house professional development program called the Schoor DePalma Academy, offering a series of courses and workshops on communication, presentation, management, leadership and diversity t

raining. The courses are all provided internally and offered regularly Since the training programs began in 2001, 93 percent of the company’s co-owners have participated.

How do you build a company that speeds ahead while much of Corporate America is mired in a slow-motion economy? Ask Stephen DePalma, CEO of Manalapan’s Schoor DePalma, the state’s largest engineering and design consulting firm. its revenue grew from $50.5 million in 2000 to $66.4 million last year.

“All of our growth has come from our people doing a good job,” DePalma says. “And with positive word of mouth, our clients come back year after’ year. ” Indeed, 90% of Schoor DePalma’s 2001 revenues came from existing clients, with new customers accounting for the remaining 10%. “It’s a lot easier to sell a satisfied client another service than to go out and grow new clients,” says Anthony Cimino, the firm’s senior executive vice president.

Schoor DePalma has 13 offices in three states, including nine offices in New Jersey, three in Pennsylvania and one in Armonk, New York, where the company acquired engineering firm JWE Engineering last May. The company’s workforce has grown from some 400 workers in 1999 to about 600. DePalma aims to operate throughout the mid-Atlantic region and to push revenue to $115 million within several years.

Schoor DePalma has grown its order book to some $46 million worth of projects. That’s up 38% from last year. While nearly half the company’s work is for public agencies, DePalma plans to steadily increase the share of privatesector contracts.

Founded by Howard Schoor as Schoor Engineering in 1968, the company began life with $2,000 in startup capital. That was just enough to launch the firm in an era in which the economy was enjoying good growth. DePalma, a long-time company employee who was Schoor’s hand-picked successor, became CEO in 1992.

Schoor, who currently holds the title of chairman emeritus, pioneered employee stock ownership in 1984 by cutting his stake in the company to 25% and offering the rest to employees. Today, every Schoor DePalma worker owns a piece of the company through an employee stock plan that accounts for 22% of the engineering firm’s total shares. Schoor himself retains a 5% interest and the remaining 73% of the stock is in the hands of Schoor DePalma’s 60 principals.

DePalma, 52, views the company as more than simply a provider of design and engineering services. He says Schoor DePalma seeks to improve the quality of life in the communities its projects serve. That goal infuses the five-year growth plan, called “Vision 2005,” that the company launched in 2000. In it, projects located on so-called brownfield sites – former industrial locations rife with pollutants – are to becompletely cleaned up and freed from any stigma of contamination.

One such project is in Deptford in Gloucester County, where Schoor DePalma is working on a 100-acre former strip mine site called the Sharpies Pit Redevelopment Project. Plans call for a total of 16 outdoor soccer fields, an outdoor stadium and an indoor practice facility at the site, where more than 500 tons of contaminated soil have already been carted off. In Long Branch, Schoor DePalma transformed the site of a former natural gas plant to Jerry Morgan Memorial Park, which opened last March.

In Somerset County, Schoor DePalma has been working with county officials to develop plans for a former public works garage in Bound Brook that was severely damaged by Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Schoor DePalma is making an environmental assessment of the site, which once housed an automotive manufacturing company.

Carl Block, the 19-year mayor of Stafford in Ocean county, has worked with Schoor DePalma throughout his tenure. The company is currently engaged in water and engineering work for the municipality. “I knock on wood, I haven’t had a problem when they do the work,” says Block. He is most impressed with the firm’s ability to meet time and cost targets and to handle unforeseen circumstances with aplomb. For a company that takes pride in upgrading the quality of life for its clients, such flexibility is essential.

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Careful planning and careful expansion have helped engineering design and environmental services firm Schoor DePalma Inc. to grow 65 percent between 1999 and last year.

No wonder Schoor DePalma is hoping to keep it up.

The Manalapan-based firm — which has a significant presence in Voorhees — was founded in 1968 by civil engineer Howard Schoor, who now serves as a consultant. Day-to-day planning, as well as marketing, finances, mergers and acquisitions are handled by CEO Steve DePalma, who joined the firm in 1972 after a mutual acquaintance suggested they meet.

DePalma said one of the reasons he was attracted to the company was Schoor’s belief in rewarding good people. And that’s more than management paying lip service to the empowerment movement. Twenty percent of the company is owned by the employee retirement plan, with management holding the rest.

Judging the firm’s client list, there’s a good deal of wealth creation going on at Schoor.

Some of the major projects overseen by the firm in recent years includes the construction of Exit 13A of the New Jersey Turnpike into the New Jersey Garden Mall, Admiral Wilson Boulevard, the Connell Corporate Center IV in Berekely Heights, and clean-up of old manufacturing plants for utility companies.

It also serves as engineers of record for more than 60 communities in New Jersey and 15 in Pennsylvania, handling everything from writing a waterfront redevelopment plan for West Deptford Township, reviewing downtown beautification projects, drainage problems to sidewalks.

“We have a lot of large jobs,” said DePalma. “But we also do lots of smaller projects that provide a little better quality of life for people in the communities we serve.”

The firm helps developers prepare the massive environmental impact statements needed to build many projects, with internal departments specializing in environmental work and clean-up, land development, transportation and traffic engineering, water and waste water, parks and recreational planning, among others.

The staff of 600 in 13 offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania includes geologists, biologists, geohydrologists, engineers and scientists. “An environmental impact statement is more than words on paper,” said DePalma. “A lot of analysis goes on. Regulations governing the environment have gotten very challenging.”

DePalma, naturally, believes multi-layered regulations can drive up the costs of a projects — for everyone. “I think there has been a lot of redundancy over the years, at the local, county and state level,” he said. “Ultimately, the consumer pays for that redundancy in the cost of their house or rents at a shopping center.”

He doesn’t see regulations becoming more lax anytime soon. “The pendulum may slow down,” he said. “But it really doesn’t swing back.”

To help a developer navigate through the approval process with numerous regulatory agencies on all levels of government, Schoor DePalma has brought in numerous experts.

“We have people who understand the policies, who help to make submissions to agencies,” said DePalma. “When new regulations are being written, we very often get calls from regulators asking what we think.”

Bob Kelly, county engineer for the Public Works Department in the county of Camden, likes the work he sees being done by Schoor DePalma.

“They are an innovative, growing company whose people know the lay of the land,” Kelly said. “They have developed a core of quality technical people they can call on at a moment’s notice. And that makes them better adaptable for their clients needs.”

That has been a very deliberate part of the company’s rapid growth, said DePalma, figuring which experts they need to compete for projects and bringing the people on board.

Of the firm’s employees, about 450 are technical experts in their fields.

Growth aside, DePalma said the firm tries to maintain a smaller firm atmosphere. “We operate a lot like we did when we were a small firm of 30 to 35 people, except now we have lots of departments with 30 to 35 people,” he said. “We communicate a lot and try to keep people in the know, let them know what is going on.”

He looks to continue growth at a pace of about 15 percent each year, a goal the firm has exceeded since 1994. The company, which grossed $40.5 million in 1999 and had reached $66.7 million by 2001, placed 22nd on the Business Journal’s annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in South Jersey.

http://www.bizjournals.com

By ROBIN KEATS
CORRESPONDENT

MANALAPAN – This week marks the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the 1938 attack by Nazis upon the Jews that is widely considered the presage to the Holocàust.

Last night, many of New Jersey’s political, business, religious and civic leaders recalled the era of the Holocaust at a testimonial dinner and tribute to Howard M. Schoor by the Center for Holocaust Studies at Brookdale Community College.

The evening was also a fundraiser for the Holocaust center’s various programs.

Center officials said they expected to raise about $100,000.

The event, held at the Excelsior banquet hail, honored Schoor’s commitment and contributions to the Holocaust center.

“Howard Schoor. is one of the extraordinary, quiet leaders in our Jewish community who has never sought recognition and is a man who lives by his actions,” said David Nussb~um, executive threetor of the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County.

Schoor, a Colts Neck resident, is the founder of the engineering and design firm Schoor DePalma and is founder and principal of SGS Communities, a residential construction company.

He is also the chairman of Community Bank of New Jersey.

“I went to Vad Yashern (the Israeli memorial to the Ho]ocaust) in 1978, to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., shortly after it opened and, recently, to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York,” Schoor said.

“And I came away with the overriding thoughts of ‘How could the Holocaust have happened and where was America while it was taking place?’”

Schoor said he believes these questions should never have to be asked again.

“It doesn’t matter if it is the persecution of blacks or whites or any race or Jews, Christians or Muslims. No ethnic cleansing anywhere! We need to stand up against such things, whether they are in Kosovo or East Timor,” he said.

“It’s essential that we remember the tragedy of the Holocaust, but what is distinctive about the Holocaust center at Brookdale is that it applies the lessons learned from it to America’s past and present,” said state Sen. Joseph M. Kyrifios Jr., R-Monmouth, one of the evening’s featured speakers.

Money raised at last night’s event wifi be used to help send four American teachers each year to Vad Yashem, where they wifi learn to teach about the Holocaust tostudents in the United States.

Funds also will be used to underwrite the Howard Schoor Film Series.

Four films, most likely including “Farewell: The Last Jews of Corfu,” about the decimation of 90 percent of Greece’s Jewish popula-. tion by Nazi Germany, will be presented at the center at Brookdale next year.

But as the last Thanksgiving of the 20th century approaches, I want to express my thanks and appreciation to all Standardbred owners by singling out one of them. There are so many unsung heroes in our sport, let this man’s action serve as an example for all of them, realizing that many, many names and stories could be chronicled here.

I don’t know Howard Schoor personally. To the best of my memory, we have only met once. But I have been fascinated by and admired his unselfish action from a distance for a long time. His story may not be new to you since it has been told before, and although it seems so unique, it is most likely “no big deal” to Mr. Schoor; but I think that it is a big deal.

Howard Schoor has been in Harness Racing more than 30 years, watching and hoping as his horses took to the track, year after year. He may have had the thrill of his racing life in 1998 when his Day In A Life captured the Meadowlands Pace. He also owned standout trotter Rule The Wind and watched as that trotter became a sire in New Jersey.

New Jersey was further impacted by Schoor’s vision when the real estate builder/developer created Showplace Farm and clearly affected the way people would race horses and look at farm training for years to come.

In my view, Schoor’s greatest impact, though, comes not on the racetrack. The owner of Colts Gait Farm has been friend and benefactor to Sisters of the Good Shepherd for the last 12 years, and it is through his efforts that the Sisters’ good work continues to touch lives.

As I indicated, the story of Howard’s relationship with the Sisters and their Collier Services has been told before, that he went to their facility to check out a leaking hot water heater and ended up helping them with a fund-raising event for their charities.

The fund-raising event, which by now has multiplied several times over, has brought in tens of thousands of dollars for such causes as Collier High School, Kateri Environmental Center, Sheppard Day Care Center and a group home.

Then there was the story of Colts Gait Kateri, a fairly uneventful trotting filly out of a mare once owned by a priest,
who scented to race beyond her bloodlines and brought thousands of dollars to the Sisters through Schoor’s 10-percent tithing pledge.

Did it matter that Howard Schoor is Jewish. when he and wife Frances impacted so many lives with their generosity and gifts? I hardly think so!

Did he do it because he thought it would bring hint good racing luck? I don’t know, but I doubt it.

I think that he did it simply because he thought it needed doing. It was the decent thing to do; no real lengthy thought process involved here.

I am certain that there are many “Howard Schoors” and similar stories among people in our sport. It is unfortunate that the general media and public doesn’t know about that part of Harness Racing. I guess it isn’t sensational enough to pass muster with the powers that be in TV/radio and the written media.

There is no substitute for helping your fellow man, be it in racing or in life.

Howard Schoor clearly remembers life beyond racing, and he has continued to incorporate a quiet decency into his life. He probably wouldn’t like to hear this. but he is a person to be admired, appreciated and emulated.

As we prepare to sit down with our families this Thanksgiving, or to care for our horses. or to prepare for another day of racing. I’m hoping we may think of people like Howard Schoor and think of ways that we, too, may make our world a better place.

And remember, the greatest gift we have to offer is to offer ourselves.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

‘Til the next time,

Fred J. Noe

USTA Today

The Colts Neck home of Howard and Frances Schoor does not merely look as if it. was built for art—it was. Known locally as “the place with the dinosaur,” the California Contemporary house was designed by Santa Barbara California architect Barry Berkus, a major art collector himself, with the thought of its display potential for art. The fine fit of their varied collection of abstract and representational painting and sculpture is apparent to even the casual viewer. However, the Schoors feel the place would be incomplete if a familiar piece was moved, a reflection of a collecting ethic of displaying and living with their art. Howard also enjoys a varied professional and business career that his art patronage complements.

Howard Schoor, born and raised on Staten Island, graduated from Lafayette College with an engineering degree. 1-us early work on the approach roads to the Verrazano Bridge, one could say, almost literally paved the way for the subsequent westward migration of
Brooklyn and Staten Islanders to New Jersey. Later work for a northern New Jersey consulting engineer preceded his opening his own business in 1967 and the 1968 founding of the firm now known as Schoor De Palma Inc. Starting as a tiny organization working on subdivision development, Schoor De Palma became over the next 30 years, one of the largest engineering firms in the public sector, specializing in municipal engineering and infrastructure consulting.

Long experience with builder developers and delicate client-representations in the approval pn~cess stirred yearnings in Howard to, in effect, represent. himself, carrying through the development. piocess to completion. Seven years ago he undertook the exciting and challenging move of forming SGS Comnmiiities, a residential home builder. After five years as a j)rivate company, D.R. Horton, a public company headquartered in Arlington, Texas, bought the firm in December, 11)96. Howard serves as vice chairman of D.R. Horton Inc.-New Jersey, which builds about 300 homes per year in the state. The company targets two markets, the “move-up” buyer of his second home and the boomir age-restricted adult housing community. A number developments are built or planned in central Ne Jersey, their Horton provenance readily recognizab by the “Grande” in the name.

Howard is also chairman of the board of the new Community Bank of New Jersey, headquartere in Freehold. The bank handily exceeded capit; requirements, forming with the plan to provide loca centered financial service in a market with their CloS( involved participation.

Showplace Farms, Highway 33 in Millstone, i home to Howard’s equine pursuits. He has bred an raced trotters and pacers since 1969; Showplace i the largest standardbred training center in the Unite States. Floward has enjoyed the good fortune a the pinnacle of success in the field, his horse Day i~ a. Life having won the $1,000,000 Meadowlands pac this July.

The Schoors lived in Matawan for about 20 years raising three children. One, Debra, became so fon( of Atlanta during her college years that she relocatec there. Two remain local, James, an engineer. and Barbara, an architect for SGS. The Schoors buill their Colts Neck house in 1986. It is a large, threE story structure with rn~w surfaces of varied size am shape, all painted white, a veritable “canvas” for ar art, cot lection.

Howard has collected paintings and sculptur€ simultaneously, the latter make some of the boldem statements on their spacious, hill-swept grounds. H€ was the first patron of recently-deceased Middletown artist Sid Martin, four of whose large, blown-fiberglas~ sculptures grace the Schoors’ sculpture garden. The dinosaur is one of two works by Jim Gary, a Colts Neck-raised sculptor, in front of his house. Howard takes particular pleasure in the contrast of the ancient shape of the animal fashioned from recycled automobile parts, and the modern form of the house.

The grounds also portray a leisure pursuit, golf, in the presentation of a putting green and a practice hole of 100 yards. The latter reflects a sense of whimsy, also present in some of their art, by its downhill location and the presence next to the tee of a container marked “Divot Repair Mix.”

Respectful of the masters, Howard collects only contemporary works, understandable in one whose career has embraced current shaping of the landscape. He collects for display and enjoyment, rather than for forethought of their appreciation. Years of careful looking have developed a skilled eye. Howard enjoys recognizing the artist of previously unseen works l)y identifying often subtle stylistic statements of their creators

The integration of house and art can be seen in the placement of several key works. The Schoors face in their vestibule Too Buck Tim, an early acquisition by John Chamberlain, who made a career of crushed automobile sculpture. Jules Olitski’s large, non-representational Cleopatra fills a space, visible from the front door, between the first and third floors, which Howard now feels is unimaginable without it. A steel beam by Serge Spitzer, an artist whose current work is often of construction-site size, extends from a wall in the front hall. Rather than focus on meaning Howard passes it with endless fascination.

The whimsical is represented at the end of a first floor corridor by a two-piece trompe l’oeil of a partial figure at a sink. Its fool-the-eye quality has been demonstrated by some visitors thinking a sink was present! Red Grooms, better known for room-size installations, is present in a box construction of a west em desert scene titled Tont~o Condo. A group of horsemounted Indians can disappear with the movement of a lever which replaces them with a scene of model-n housing!

Howard takes pride in sharing, having lent. art to museums, and his charitable work. He assists a temple in Manalapari, but his most notable benefaction has been the founding and an 11 year tenure as president of the Collier Services Foundation. In his time, funding went from a modest four figure sum to $2,000,000.

Howard’s art of life is manifest in family, career, collecting and charity. He is also proud of his creative side, visible in his collage Home Depot in the Summer, made from packaging materials of various supplies. Its mounting in the garage lacks the presence of his collection, but Howard enjoys it coming and going daily.

by Randall Gabrielan

Sealed N Delivered was the betting favorite to win the $1 million Meadowlands Pace. But after racing first-over into a strong headwind down the backstretch, the colt faltered in the turn and finished 10th, beaten 11 1/2 lengths. After the race trainer Chris Ryder said he planned to scope Sealed N Delivered. Later he revealed the colt had flipped his palate.

Rustler Hanover was also bet down fairly low and avoided any catastrophic breaks in stride, which plagued him in last year’s Breeders Crown and the North America Cup last month. This time he was beaten simply because he didn’t fire, said driver Paul MacDonell, although a pus pocket on a foot had also bothered the colt before the elim.

The thrill of victory on Meadowlands Pace night belonged to those associated with Day In A Life. With a savvy frontend drive from Luc Ouellette, the colt by Life Sign held off a late rally by Fit For Life—another son of first-crop sire Life Sign—to win the race in 1:51.1 for owners Howard Schoor and Peter Heffering and trainer Monte Gelrod.
Day In A Life started from post four while Rustler Hanover was just to his inside (post three) and Sealed N Delivered was outside in post eight. In the North America Cup final Day In A Life had broken stride when the starting gate wing bounced back and hit him. Ouellette had driven him that day. This time he had to deal with another scenario behind the gate: a slightly rank colt.

“When I got behind the gate he was taking me pretty good, and I decided to pace out with him,” Ouellette said. “When I regained the front with him, I didn’t want to end up in the three hole. I saw the :56 (for the half) and felt pretty good. Halfway down the lane, I felt I was a winner. I hadn’t pulled the plugs.”

“Mine had as good a shot as any of them coming into the race,” said Gelrod, who trained the 1997 Meadowlands Pace runner-up At Point Blank. “Sealed N Delivered was the one to beat. He’s a fast, very powerful horse. But he gets real tired in the final 30 yards down by the wire. I watched him very closely many times and I noticed that.

“I was more concerned winning it on the lead than sitting a two hole to Sealed N Delivered,” continued Gelrod, “because I know if I’m on his back I would run right by him. Day In A Life doesn’t like to cut the mile. He wants a target, an opening to aim for. When there’s no one in front of him, he loses interest and thinks the job is done. In the stretch we were home. But just past the wire we’re beat.”

George Brennan, who rallied Fit For Life through a :26.2 final quarter, saw the finish the same way as Gelrod. “A few more feet, and I’d get him,” he added.

Dragon Again also had plenty of gas left in the tank for the final quarter mile, but he had farther to come than Fit For Life (another 2 1/2 lengths), and was also caught behind the floundering Sealed N Delivered and Rustler Hanover. He finished third. A victory by Dragon Again would have meant sweet revenge for driver Ron Pierce, who had lost the drive on Sealed N Delivered after the North America Cup, and it could have been a huge moment in the career of Ohio trainer Kelly O’Donnell. “I wish we could have had better luck,” lamented O’Donnell, 40, who was starting his first horse in the Meadowlands Pace.

Day In A Life’s triumph sent a happy throng to the winner’s circle, including Marty Granoff, whose Val d’Or Farms shares ownership of Fit For Life. Granoff is also a close friend of Schoor. Schoor’s partner Heffering had stayed in Canada to prepare 400-head of cattie for a sale but Schoor, an engineer, developer, and the operator of Showplace Farm, merely had to drive up the turnpike to the track and was joined by family and friends for the trophy presentation. After owning horses for 30 years, it was Schoor’s greatest moment as an owner.

Schoor had become an owner of Day In A Life after Heffering invited him to buy an interest in the horse. Day In A Life was a $23,000 yearling at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg. As a two year old he began his racing career at Rideau Carleton, but showed enough potential in a 1:56.2 win at Woodbine on Aug. 1 that Heifering bought the colt and turned him over to Bill Robinson. Geirod took over as trainer when the colt came to the U.S. shortly before the Governor’s Cup.

Day In A Life put together a slate of 13-6-2-1 as a freshman and earned $91,980. His 1998 season has thus far yielded five wins and three seconds in 11 starts and $589,250 in earnings.

By FRANK DRUCKER

When Howard Schoor paid his first visit to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Wickatunk, N.J., it was purely a business call. The leaky water tank was on the blink, and Mr. Schoor, an engineer, was summoned for help. And help he did.

Now, a decade later, when Howard Schoor pays a visit to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, it’s generally a social call. For both the water and the endowments are flowing very well for the Sisters these days.

Howard Schoor well remembers how it all happened. “I got a call from a benefactor of Coffier Services, which is run by the Sisters,” he explains, “asking for some help with a water heater. Subsequently, I was invited to the annual Christmas cocktail party, where I learned about Collier Services and what it does.” If the name itself sounds familiar, it’s because the Collier family is well known for its newspaper and magazine ventures. Some 65 years ago, the family donated 210 acres of land.

Today, Schoor serves as the foundation’s president. Frances, his wife, is on the board of directors. Thanks in large part to the Schoors, the Sisters’ endowment has increased from $9,000 to approximately $850,000.

The Schoors also host the Sisters’ benefit, now annually held on the first Saturday of June at their 45-acre standardbred horse farm, Colts Gait Farm, in New Jersey. Howard Schoor has been a successful owner and breeder of harness horses for many years, and one particular trotting filly has more than done her share for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

Colts Gait Kateri, named for the environmental center and Native American Catholic Kateri Tekakwitha, whose cause for sainthood currently is being advanced, was a modestly bred horse “who didn’t even look like she’d make it to the races,” according to Schoor.

“So I asked for divine intercession,” Schoor says. “You see, Colts Gait Kateri’s mother, Julie C., was owned by a friend of mine, Father Thomas O’Connor, who worked with the nuns at Collier.”

Father O’Connor has owned many harness horses over the years, but Julie C. was not among the better ones. At times, O’Connor has kept his horses at Collier. And on the occasion of a transfer one year, O’Connor asked Howard Schoor to keep Julie C. at Colts Gait Farm. Schoor agreed, and bred her to his top staffion, Rule the Wind. The result was Colts Gait Kateri.

“When she didn’t begin her career well, I told the Sisters I’d tithe 10% of her winnings to Collier,” Schoor explains now. “I figured I could use all the help I could get.”

It worked. Seemingly overnight, Colts Gait Kateri became a star. As a two-year-old in 1992, she made $68,314, winning eight of eleven races. The Sisters came to refer to Colts Gait Kateri as “their” horse, often going to races to cheer her on.

Today, Colts Gait Kateri has earned more than $119,000.

Howard Schoor, a 54-year-old Jewish man from Staten Island, has been nothing short of a godsend for the Good Shepherd Sisters. Yet, he honestly believes it is the other way around.

“I guess the reasons I became involved with the Good Shepherd Sisters are twofold,” says Schoor. “First, my wife and I were fortunate to raise three children without any problems, and when I saw the programs at Collier and how they’re directed to the needs of troubled children, I began to realize how lucky I was.
“Second,” he adds, “there was, and still is, a real feeling of satisfaction for me in giving. You can see, feel, and sense it right away.

“My attitude toward charitable endeavors is simple,” Schoor says. “I started out with nothing, and I’ve become fairly successful, so I give something back to society, which has allowed me to be successful.

“There are a great deal of social needs in our country that are not addressed by government,” Howard Schoor explains. “Those of us who can need to give something back— in our own way.”

SISTER ELLEN KELLY of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd here carries a datebook filled with constant reminders. There are circles around special meetings, highlight marks over important phone numbers and asterisks beside coming horse races.

Harness races, to be specific.

“It’s a big part of our business,” Sister Ellen said. “It helps us pay the bills.”

The nuns have a stake in a 3-year-old filly named Colts Gait Kateri. Every time Colts Gait Kateri wins a race, Collier Services — which provides a broad range of social services for children and is run by the sisters — gets 10 percent of her earnings.

“We root for her all the time,” Sister Ellen said. “It’s exciting for all of us, and it’s also our way of saying ‘thanks’ to her.”

In the last two racing seasons, Colts Gait Kateri has earned $114,322 in purses, contributing $11,432 to Collier.

“I believe that God really wants these children to be helped,” Sister Ellen said. “And one of the ways He’s helping them is through this horse.”

Colts Gait Kateri is part of a stable owned by Howard Schoor in Colts Neck Township. He says the financial arrangement is appropriate since it was providence that brought both the filly and the sisters into his life.

Mr. Schoor, who heads an engineering company with offices throughout the state, first met the sisters 10 years ago, when he was called to the Collier retreat here in Marlboro Township to fix a leak in the water tower. When the time came to pay the bill, he found that the charity had a skimpy $9,000 in endowments and a heap of other bills.

“At that point we didn’t have an active fund-raising board,” said Sister Ellen, whose datebook then was filled with more problems than promise. “We didn’t have any funds to fall back on at all.”

While Mr. Schoor was getting acquainted with the sisters, a priest working with the nuns, the Rev. Thomas O’Connor, who owned several standardbreds, learned that he was being transferred to run his own parish at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in Freehold Township. But the horses had to find a new home. So just before his departure, Father O’Connor gave Mr. Schoor one of them, a little-known mare named Julia C, who had earned just $4,127 in her career.

Mr. Schoor eventually bred Julia C to his top stallion, Rule the Wind, and the result was Colts Gait Kateri. The filly’s name is a composite of Mr. Schoor’s Colts Gait Farm and the Kateri Environmental Center, the summer camp run by Collier Services.

Since Colts Gait Kateri did not come from strong racing bloodlines, it was originally thought she would fare no better than her dam, Julia C. To everyone’s surprise, she rose to stardom, winning the first five races of her career last season. Her biggest payday came when she captured the $60,000 New Jersey Stakes final for 2-year-olds at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill.

Sister Ellen and the other nuns and children at Collier often visit Colts Gait Kateri in her stable or even venture to various tracks to see the filly compete.

On June 15, two vans crammed with nuns and lay people from Collier traveled to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford to cheer her on in the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 3-year-olds.

In that race, Colts Gait Kateri led until the top of the stretch, keeping her fan club on the tips of their toes, until she broke stride and finished seventh.

“We felt so bad for her,” Sister Ellen said. “But we know she’ll bounce back.”

Despite the loss in the final, Colts Gait Kateri did win two of the three Sire Stakes preliminary legs worth $33,000 each, bringing Collier $6,600. And after a bout with a nervous condition, the filly came back on Aug. 5 to win a race at the New Jersey Sire Stakes Fair in Cowtown. At the New Jersey Futurity on Aug. 17 at Freehold, she finished fifth.

“So far it has worked out very well,” Mr. Schoor said. “The horse has won some money for the nuns, and the nuns have become good friends of the horse. I think some of them are even reading racing entries in some of the newspapers.”

There are plans to continue the benefaction, even after the trotter is retired. Colts Gait Sadie, a full sister to Colts Gait Kateri, will continue to race for Collier.

“Howard has been so wonderful to us,” Sister Ellen said. “His creativity has done more than just raise money for these kids — it has brought attention to their needs.”

Through annual benefits held on Mr. Schoor’s 45-acre farm in Colts Neck, he and his wife, Frances, have raised nearly $800,000 in the last 10 years for Collier.

Mr. Schoor, who is Jewish, said he just got “hooked” on helping the Roman Catholic charity.

“I’ve been pretty successful in my life,” he said. “I raised three good kids with no problems. When I see kids who don’t have a family or any other means of support, I just feel the need to give something back.” Support for Camp and School

His support is helping Collier send about 400 children, ages 7 to 12, to the Kateri summer camp for two weeks. About 140 others, between the ages of 13 and 19, are enrolled in high school classes at Collier.

“These kids would be dropouts without school,” Mr. Schoor said. “They just couldn’t get along in their local school systems.”

“There are so many reasons why I’ve pledged an awful lot of time and money to this organization,” Mr. Schoor added. “The sisters are the main reason, though, because they’re really beautiful people who are performing a truly beautiful service to their community.”

Sister Ellen said that human or horse, “not a day goes by when we don’t pray for one of our benefactors.” She added, “Believe me, they’ve helped change a lot of things around here.”

These days, when she reaches for her datebook, Sister Ellen searches for the first asterisk next to Colts Gait Kateri.

Photo: From left, Nicole Francis, former Kateri camper; Paul Wojtowicz, former trainer; Colts Gait Kateri, a 3-year-old filly; Sister Ellen Kelly and Joan Keeler, Kateri Camp director. (Equi-Photo)

http://www.nytimes.com

Schoor, a civil engineer who has owned and bred trotters for 20 years, met the sisters when he fixed
their leaky water tower. Seeing their need for help with programs for disadvantaged kids, Schoor — who is Jewish — became a major fund-raiser, bringing in nearly $1 million for the Catholic charity.

Lately, a key contributor has been Colts Gait Kateri, named after Schoor’s Colts Gait Farm in Colts Neck, N.J., and Kateri Environmental Center — the nuns’ summer camp for kids.

“It’s like you’re sharing some of the excitement with people who normally wouldn’t he involved in racing,” says Schoor.

He credits “divine guidance” for the filly’s strong showing, winning $114,322 in 15 outings. The sisters get their cut, 10%, off the top.

“The nuns,” says Schoor, “don’t know from net.”

USA Today

By Assemblymen DOYLE and NEWMAN

Adopted May 10, 1979

WHEREAS, Showplace Farms, a 140 acre complex in Millstone, Monmouth County, offering the finest in equine boarding, therapy, security and training, is the largest horsetraining farm in the Northeast and will conduct a gala opening day celebration on Sunday June 3, 1979; and,

WHEREAS, Two races, an open pace and an open trot, will be run that afternoon as a benefit for Multiple Sclerosis and Showplace Farms will contribute $500, along with the $100 entry fees, in cooperation with the harness horse industry’s continuing efforts, throughout the nation, to eradicate this dread disease; and,

WHEREAs, Showplace Farms, conceived and owned by Howard M. Schoor, a standardbred owner and president of one of New Jersey’s leading civil engineering firms, fulfills the need of the horse owner who does not wish to finance and manage his own training facility; and,

WHEREAS, Standardbred breeding, training and racing comprise a large segment of New Jersey’s horse industry, an industry worth more than a billion dollars annually to the State, to which Showplace Farms makes a significant contribution; and,

WHEREAS, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to note the auspicious genesis of an enterprise so clearly committed to the public interest and to the State of New Jersey; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

That this House hereby congratulate Showplace Farms upon the celebration of its grand opening and extend best wishes for future prosperity; and,

Be It Further Resolved, That a duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker and attested by the Clerk, be transmitted to Howard M. Schoor, owner, Showplace Farms.