Published on January 24, 2004, Page D5, Watertown Daily Times

CATERPILLAR, WATER STUDIES RECEIVE WALKER FELLOWSHIPS
by Corey Fram, Times Staff Writer

Information provided by Carl G. Colton

POTSDAM, Caterpillars and drinking water are going under the microscope thanks to a fellowship research program.

Two studies have been funded by the T.Ur ling and Mabel Walker Research Fellowship Program, administered by Merwin Rural Services Institute at Potsdam State University College. The projects were chosen from a dozen proposals because they included community involvement.
'Mapping and Monitoring of Tent Caterpillar Populations in Commercial Sugarbushes' will be led by St. Lawrence University biology professors William P. and Rebecca Y. Rivers, who received $4,320. The professors will work with Cornell Cooperative Extension and maple producers to measure and monitor Eastern and forest tent caterpillars that invaded the area. How and whether they harm surgarbushes isn't completely understood.

'We don't really, really know. It's not easy to say, "Here is exactly what will happen in our area." based on what happened in say, Michigan,' said Stephen F. VanderMark, a horticultural and natural resources educator with Cooperative Extension. Some maple producers have already decided not to tap this year because their trees lost foliage from the caterpillars. Whether that is a cost-saving decision may be determined through the study, Mr. VanderMark said.

(The rest of the article related to the water study and private wells on the St. Regis Indian Reservation.)

Tom and Mabel Walker, are close friends of Carl and Mary Colton (Canton, and 49 West Shore Road). Tom is a former Mayor of Watertown, and both are actively involved in many areas of public service in Watertown and Northern New York including the Walker Cancer Center at the House of the Good Samaritan, SUC-Potsdam, Syracuse Symphony, Northern New York Community Foundation, to mention a few. Tom and Mabel will be pleased to know how one of their grants will be used and how it will more than incidentally benefit Sylvia Lake. (C.G.C.)