MEET THE LEADERSHIP
President
Peter Bellizzi
Peter is a resident of Highland and has been dedicated to maintaining and improving the Rail Trail including finding new railroad artifacts along the trail. He serves as President of the Rail Trail and champions Boy Scout projects to enhance the trail.
Vice President
Eric Norberg
Eric has served on the board of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail for almost 12 years. Eric currently serves has Vice President of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail. Eric is a Senior Director of Global Business Development on Private Equity for CWT based in New York. Eric and his wife also own and operate an Inn in the Hudson Valley of New York.
Advisor
Claire Costantino
Claire is a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley and has been a highly active member of the Highland Community. She became interested in converting the abandoned New York, New Haven Rail bed into the Hudson Valley Rail Trail when husband Ray brought forth the idea. Since joining forces with him in 1995, she has served on various rail-trail committees as well as President of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail Association. Along with her interest in the rail trail, she joined the board of Walkway Over the Hudson and along with seven others saw the project to completion when Walkway was opened to the public in 2009. Through the years she has also served as a Highland PTA president and Hudson Valley Chapter of Woman in Construction. She was the chief fiscal officer of Rebena Construction and president of CRC Enterprises a women-owned general contracting firm.
Treasurer
Christine Wolcott
Winter or summer, quiet weekdays or bustling weekends, Chrissy loves the Rail Trail! Most mornings you’ll find her and her dogs walking this beautiful slice of heaven that runs through the village of Highland. When she’s not walking her dogs, Chrissy works in nonprofit human services development. She enjoys performing good deeds and stewarding the natural world. Come say hi to her on the Trail!
Corresponding Secretary
Marie Sidgwick
Marie has lived in Highland all her life with the exception of a few years in the Bahamas and England. She has been a member of the Rail Trail Board for ten years. Marie is proud of seeing the Rail Trail go from a dream to a reality. She is currently the Corresponding Secretary and has also served as the Treasurer and contributed to various committees over the years.
Recording Secretary
Loretta Miller
As a lifelong resident of Highland and a retired Physical Education Teacher, Loretta's interest in the HVRTA was evident. She's been an active participant in promoting activities to improve the physical health of all ages through lifetime recreational sports and fitness. She's achieved these goals by serving more than 20 years as a member and chairperson of Town of Lloyd Recreation commission and chairing the building of Tennis courts at Tony Williams Park. For more than 20 years she's been actively involved in Rail Trail events and activities, but most of all she enjoys walking on the Rail Trail with all its beauty.
Director
Rafael Diaz
Manhattan native Rafael Díaz is a retired writer/editor on international business and sea kayaking. An avid runner who has run in some 25 countries, part of the draw to move to Highland was its Rail Trail. Rafael taught our Learn-to-Run program that had over 200 graduates. He writes our newsletter, brochure and posters; plus is our safety coordinator. After turning 80, he continues to enjoy the Rail Trail now as a walker in all four seasons.
Director
Frederick B. Pizzuto
Fred has been a lifelong resident and supporter of all things Hudson Valley. Fred has taken on various leadership roles in our community for the Town of Lloyd, Ulster Legislature, the Town of Poughkeepsie, and Dutchess County, and today volunteers his time for Knights Templar Adonai Lodge 718, American Legion, Lloyd Historical Society, and countless other volunteer work. He is a Vietnam era veteran and an lover of our beautiful region. If you’ve been in the Hudson Valley for more than a minute, you’ve probably met Fred.
Director
Erik Hazelton
Erik Hazelton is a fish biologist with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He was born and raised in the Quiet Corner of Connecticut and attended SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York. He was previously a conservation projects manager for the Housatonic Valley Association, and a fellow for the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Division of the National Park Service. He appreciates having easy access to the rail trail and how quickly the rail trail connects the community to nature. You might find him walking, biking, running, or birding on the rail trail, he also enjoys his free time skateboarding, paddling, hiking, gardening, and graphic design.
Director
Patricia Scott
Patricia Scott was raised in Highland. After teaching and traveling world wide, Pattie completed her teaching career in Highland where she presently resides. An avid gardener, she can often be seen maintaining the rail trail flower burm on Rt 299. She is also a member of the Town of LLoyd beatification committee. Pattie is often seen on her daily walks on the rail trail, taking in all the natural beauty our rail trail offers.