Hi there! Since you're probably 'visiting' to learn more about me..... 

• I've been a Shandaken resident since 2005, grew up in Woodstock (p/k/a Hilary St. John), and am now comfortably-settled in Fox Hollow. With my husband Zenka Darrow, we've raised two children here -- along with cashmere goats, ducks and an expanding sugar bush/ forest/fiber farm. Our Son Zaia (31), lives in Boiceville, and is the GM for a popular local 'watering hole' in Woodstock. Our daughter Zenona (22), is a recent graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, and is looking forward to establishing herself as a Catskills textile artist. 
• I'm locally educated -- graduated from UCCC with an environmental policy degree that involved extensive field work in the Ashokan and Hudson River watersheds. Next attended Marist College, majored in both political and environmental sciences, minor in economics. A  few elective credits shy of receiving a paralegal certificate, too. Small scale and rural economic development initiatives were a focus of my specialized degree, which is why I chose SHARP for my college internship. 
• My career objectives have always been locally-focused and community-oriented, with sustainability and equity at the forefront. I have over two decades of experience in municipal planning and development consulting, including 10 years working full-time advising land use boards in Ulster county, Westchester County (also working primarily within NYCDEP Watershed). As a Senior Planner (AICP), my ongoing municipal assignments included technical / substantive review of  applications; site plans, special permits, ZBA variances, zoning change petitions; review (and revisions to) local land use laws such as wetlands & watercourse regulations, stormwater, affordable housing, etc.; and all facets of the SEQRA / EIS process. For the company, I provided department oversight, project and budget management, RFP / RFQs.
• What about locally? I served on Woodstock's Planning Board in my 20s, have been a NYS Lic RE Salesperson since 2004, participated in the Pine Hill Main Street Planning / Historic District Designation process, am Co-Founder and Treasurer of the 501c(3) non profit organization that operates the Phoenicia Farmers Market, and a member of the Shandaken Comprehensive Plan Committee.  
• Recently, along with several other involved Shandaken citizens, I 'graduated' from Pace University Land Use Law School's training program "LULA" - Land Use Leadership Alliance. This particular LULA training focused on the Esopus and Rondout Watersheds and included organizations, governmental and community leaders from those towns. We learned regionally-specific information and networking with local policy makers from several agencies.     
•  I'm running for Supervisor because I'm qualified and fully committed to guide our town collectively into the future by balancing growth and making changes for climate resiliency, while protecting and enhancing existing quality of life. Seniors need better access to a range of services, youth need better access to healthy activities, we need more housing that is quality and affordable, and all of us need to benefit more from our tourist industry than we are impacted negatively. 
• There are many opportunities available for Shandaken that need to be grabbed now! Immediate actions can be taken to address housing issues; existing land use regulations and processes can be better utilized to the community's advantage; coordination and cooperation of community partners can be improved to reduce overlapping efforts and ease participation fatigue. And of real importance to me as changes happen - clear attention to details and processes, greater accountability of town spending, and more transparency on town activities, especially what occurs outside of public meetings.
• I'm not an enrolled political party member; I'm here to work hard for all of Shandaken. In elections, party support is necessary. I'm grateful to the Shandaken Republican Party for putting their faith in me. If you're not comfortable voting for me on that line on Election Day, November 7, 2023, you can always choose to "Write-In" my name. Please feel free to reach out with any questions on my experience, positions, opinions, etc. I am looking forward to hearing from you!