introbio

"Sparring Buddies"

Welcome!

As the title of this site indicates, I'm a believer when it comes to the formation of "working outdoor coalitions" and "outdoor friendships/relationships." There is nothing as powerful as when many diverse outdoor groups or organizations, with vested interests in our environment, our freedoms, passive outdoor recreation and multiple-use lands come together for the common good. For families and friends getting together to enjoy the many different outdoor pursuits also brings diverse folks and "kindred spirits" together.

It is extremely important to preserve sensitive, unique, invaluable lands and the wise use of natural, renewable resources. The organizations that have been formed in order to protect our environment, our wildlife, our waters, our air, our history/historical places and our precious freedoms -- for the future and also current generations -- are also extremely important to me.

This website and my newspaper column of the same name -- that used to appear in the Mid Hudson Times and the Wallkill Valley Times in Orange County NY -- will focus on hunting, fishing, hiking/camping, trapping, shooting, outdoor gear, wildlife, habitat, conservation, our environment, wild game cooking, wild edibles, upcoming and important events/dates, Constitutional/Bill of Rights Issues, especially our 1st, 2nd and 4th Amendments and special products. I'll also be writing about experiences with those folks who some of us refer to as "public servants" and who turn out to be just plain ole' "snake-oil salesmen" who cater to big business, big bucks or those "special interests" who have the most money to contribute to campaigns. I'm in the process of looking for other venues that will carry my outdoor column.

I'll also share stories and pictures from family/friends hunting, fishing and other outdoor experiences. Stories are an important aspect of enjoying the outdoors. I'll never forget sitting around the kitchen table, at Grandma's place, and listening to the outdoor stories that Uncles would tell of their many, interesting outdoor experiences -- and I still enjoy them today.

This website is dedicated to my Father, my Uncles and my Brother who always took the time to share the outdoors with me and others. And especially my Mother and Aunties for their years of patient support, the food they prepared for our trips and the sleep they've lost over the years when waking early in the morning with us. Enjoy!

"Hunting Buddies"

Chris Bardin and Uncle Mike Cerone,
pause on a ridge, while deer hunting the
Stewart Buffer Lands aka
Stewart Buffer Hunting Co-op
in Orange County NY

"The Good Times"

(l to r) Yours truly, my Dad (a West Virginia
Coal Miner at the age of 16) and my Son
Frank III on an early Muzzle-loader hunt in the
Adirondack Mountains of New York State

I was born in Pennsylvania but moved to New York State with my Paternal Grandparents while in my teens. My initial interest and first exposures to wildlife and our great outdoors can be directly attributed to reading my Uncle Paul's old "New York State Conservationist" magazines that were neatly stored in a walk-up attic. My uncles and I shared and continue to share many great times in the woods. I've hunted and camped for many years in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. Each year, about ten of us would make our annual nine day pack-in/hunting trip to the Eastern Adirondacks.

An early retirement from IBM in the 90's, where I'd worked most of my adult career, as a Maintenance Engineer in Maintainability Engineering and Facilities Services. Part of my work at IBM was also in Contamination Control Engineering in semiconductor manufacturing. One of my last assignments was as the East Fishkill Site Shutdown Coordinator/Planner. As one who was especially interested in our environment -- my work at IBM was always very interesting and rewarding. I must say that I learned something new every day -- about the high-tech industry, big and small business, engineering, technical aspects of the hi-tech Industry, materials application, good people, management and most of all good friendship.

I've been an "active activist" since 1985 but became more active in 1987 when I joined and worked with the Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition (SPARC) based in Orange County, New York. The preservation of a 7,000 acre multiple-use recreational area west of Stewart Airport, in Orange County, has been a part of my life since then.

Ben Kissam, of the Town of Newburgh, founded SPARC in 1987. He was a great outdoorsman, a hunter, fisherman and a gentleman. He recognized the need to preserve the 7,000 acre Buffer Lands when he heard that a large development project was planned to be built there. He then formed SPARC.

I've written my share of Op Eds, letters to the editor, reports/studies and email documentaries but in 2000 I started writing my Outdoor Column that appeared in two Orange County Newspapers -- also under the by-line "Outdoor Liaisons." As of March 2003 it is currently not appearing in any newspaper. I've also appeared on Radio and regional TV mostly about the struggle and importance of preserving the 7,000 acre Stewart Buffer Zone, aka the Stewart State Forest or aka the Buffer Lands. I've hunted and explored the "Buffer Lands" with family and friends over the years and even back to my teen years.

I'm also of the opinion that hunters and their hunting dogs share a very special bond and from my own experiences treat their hunting dogs and other pets with more respect and caring than most non-hunters think. Some folks may disagree with me on this observation. My own hunting dog "Elke," a Standard Wirehaired Dachshund, shared a very special time in my life.

Enjoy, protect and preserve our great outdoors and all of its inhabitants -- in doing so we protect ourselves, our children and our children's children.

All of the best,

. . . . . Frank Carbone Jr.

"Why is it that I can feel safer in the deer woods
-- on the opening day of the firearm's season -- than
I can ever feel walking down the streets of some of our
big cities, at any time of the day or year."