MEET THE LEADERSHIP

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.

Loretta is a lifelong resident of Highland with strong roots in her community, an avid golfer and a retired Physical Education Teacher from the Highland School System. She has been an active participant in promoting activities that have improved the physical health of all ages through lifetime recreational sports and fitness programs. Loretta has achieved this goal by serving as a 20-year member and past chairperson of the Town of Lloyd Recreation Commission. She also chaired the building of Highland’s tennis courts at Tony Williams Park and has served as an active Board member of the HVRTA since 1999.

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.

Susan is a Hudson Valley native, a retired Physical Therapist. She and her husband, Alan, came to the Town of Lloyd in 1987. She took the Rail Trail's “Learn to Run” class and was hooked.  She joined the HVRTA Board to take a more active role in their community functions.  During her tenure, she has chaired races, Harvest Moon Walks, and developed children's activities for the annual Winterfest.

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.

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!

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.