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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-24DRC201240w24 Page 1 of 6 Dryden Recreation Commission Town of Dryden October 24, 2012 Members present: Jeff Humphrey (Chair), Sharon Todd, Vicki Wilkins, Steve Meyer, Monica Armstrong Community Association Member; Wendy Martin Town Board Liaisons: Linda Levine and Steve Ste] IcK Jr, {not present) Dryden CSD Liaison: Abby Adams (not present) Town Recreation Director: Melissa Bianconi Minutes Recorder: Erin A. Bieber Meeting called to order at 7 P Reading and approval of Meeting Minutes; Board reviewed and voted on minutes from May 901, May 23rd, (no meeting in June), July 2SLh, August 22,1 ,J, and September 26th V. Wilkins moved to approve the minutes, S Meyer seconded the motion all in Favor Andy 2epp - The Finger sakes Land "trust, The Emerald Necklace Background: "f he Land Trust has worked with the Town of Dryden in the past, Ellis Hollow Creek Road has a parking lot constructed by the Town of Dryden, and a network of a couple miles ol'trails with a little kiosk Land trust owns 3 sites Etna - access to Fall creek with bird watching and dog walking Park Preserve - off Irish Settlement - the subject of the proposed grant Corner of Pinkney and Lower Creek road will have a parki ng area Park Davies - behind antlers, wooded track 100 Acre Conservation easement on either side of Hurd road, owners have put limits on the land but have wooded trails The context of the current request - for 5 years they have been working with town and county to create the Emerald Necklace Haniniond hill south takes you through Robinson Hallow Stato Forest, Caroline and Shindagin Hollow, DanbyState Forest, Connecticut Hill, and Texas State forest- we have a wealth of land, about 5 0,0 00 acres. Much of the current land is from depression era Farm buyouts which are mixed in with deer camps and wood lots that are now being developed, Much of the land consists of small sections. Upper Irish Settlement Road has the heart waters of Six Mile Creek which is the Ithaca water supply isThe Land Trust doesn't want a lot of housing there and they are working toward maintaining the network of trails and preserves, watershed protection, wildlife, etc. DRC2012 -10-24 Page 2 of b The Ray K bark Preserve was able to make 2 acquisitions that equal about 1,50 acres Rex Berntsson owned about 170 acres both sides of Irish Settlement. The land Trust was able to buy the land. The east side wil I be retai ned as a preserve and the west side they hope to sell to DEC as an addition to the Yellow Barn Skate Forest This acquisition led to hopes of an integrated with the potential of getting people out of their cars and using multi -use trail systems They have a commitment from NYS that will permit them to build a % mile trail that will connect to the Hammond Hill parking area and then after the sale of the west side, the trail can continue through the Yellow Barn State Forest. Since submission of the proposal ,,.., the project has entered the world of engineers and contractors - cost has gone up substantially One special feature about that area is that it rernains natural and beavers have affected the stream whose depth can vary From 6" to 4 ft. (lower photo - the pond has disappeared as the bearers have moved up stream) The Land Trust has built a parking area on Irish Settlement which is separate From existing parking area that is about 3a mile down the road. Bottom photo page two shows a model (at the Ornithology Lab) of the boardwalks. Kiosk will be built as part of the site interpretation. It's intention to explain where you are, the recreational opportunities and natural resources. The Aria] photo with design added shows the parking area, a wet ineadow, and the creek which requires a 50 ft bridge - Planning on overlooks allowing the heron rookery to be visible Upon com pletLon they will work west on Yellow Barn Road. The concept is the system would eventually go into Ellis Hollow. They need two land owners and Cornell to agree but have had a lot of positive feedback on the idea. (At this point, Mr Zepp ]aid out the blue prints that have been drawn up for the project.) A lot of material is necessary but labor and locust are the two inest expensive parts of the scenario. Volunteer labor will be accepted but the efficiency is not the hest With the contractors. He is hoping that they can move forward soon (this fall) and be able to dedicate the whole trail froin Irish Settlement to Hammond Hill sometime next summer. Since project is in the Town of Dryden, the residents of Dryden will get most of the benefit, It is a different project for the Land Trust. Melissa - is there any information on the number of people from Dryden that are using Land Trust preserves or will use that area? I'hey have trail registry data which is not the most accurate since many visitors fail to sign in and they have Land Trust membership information. There is a history of the land owners perm ittirig usage by local people. DRU01240 -24 Page 3 of 6 . Bianconi questioned the role the town ]DPW plays in the maintenance of the area? A. Zepp doesn't know of any Formal arrangements. W. Martin questioned the project budget and the moneys that are pending. Can any part of the project be staged so they don't have to have all of the money upfront? A. Zepp - There are some areas that can be staged but they really need most of the inoney before they can begin; the boardwalk has to be built as a single unit which is a majority of the necessary funds. A Zepp - They are not going to walk away so even without Funds From the Town the project will be done. However, the down side of not helping with the funding is that they won't he able to do more For the town until they are able to pay off the debt For this project. (the broader vision for the Town won't happen until the moneys are available) W. Martin wondered about the previous request from the Town ($10,000) and whether that was still the figure that they needed. A. Zepp reported that the original project estimate of $74,000 and 1t is now up to $136,700 so any additional funds from the Town will be greatly appreciated. The boardwalk is the central Feature that needs to get done and it has to be done all at once. W, Martin - tried to figure out what amount the town might be able to he] p with If they need $45,700 to start the project and assuming they got the $15,000 From another M T, leaves about $35,000 that they need to move forward. Who besides the town might still put in? V. Willdns - asked about a former request by the land trust to burr the land. What was the outcorne? A, Zepp - No decision was made by the TB. Most recent conversation with Supervisor MA S, if the town gets money From the state they might be interested in providing more. M. Bianconi pointed out that the resolution is needed tonight due to the fact that the town is trying to finalize the budget by Friday. Budget will get finalized the third Thursday in November. She recommends that the Land Trust tries to get something out of the Town and then try For the Community Grant From the Recreation Commission next year. A. Zepp is hopeful that future plans could include a long trail that connects with the Jim Schug trail with national parr quality interpretive literature. The Trail is not being pushed by NYS because it is not secure - land owners can pull out and paint blazes usually mark the trails (Finger Lakes trails) M. B ianconi - wants to see that other groups are putting in. We don't want to be the sole support A. Zepp stated that the county, Cornell and Borg Warner have a] I put in $25,000 for the purchase of the land, DRC201 -10 -Z4 Page 4 of G 0 7:41 - Andy left 5. Todd - wants to make sure the amount requested is high enough but doesn't want be too high that the TB won't even consider it. The money referred to earlier from the state is here but is being used for other purposes - like the reserve fund PSI. Bianconi warned the Commission that the Budget is very tight. What is the Town Board expecting the Rec Commission to request; $10,00N V. Wilkins - Can we tap into our reserves? M. Sianconi indicated the reserves are supposed to be for town projects but this is not a town project. Maybe $15,000 might he a good number which would match the M&T grant? However the request is written, it has to display the percentage of use that the Dryden residents might get out of the project M. Bianconi made the point that this project addresses the other side of town. S. Todd - The entire section of trail is in the Town of Dryden and thus we are obligated to help. W. Martin wants to present the information that we have to the Town Board so they understand what the recreation Commission is requesting, S. Todd questioned why the Land Trust did not qualify last year for the community grant? They did not have all the information last year, The Recreation Commission has $35,000 that they can use as a community grant which they can give ali to one group if they want to. Bianconi - the Rec. Cornmission sets their own priorities when it comes to the community grants and thus they can decide what they want. M. Armstrong - you won't get the money if they are a] ready taking money from the fund balance. Give the Town Board a range, then they have less chance of rejecting the request, Budget defense - there is no open meeting that department heads can come to and explain why they need the money that they are asking for, so the Rec Corn mission can't go to the Town Board and defend their desire for the money, W. Martin = the trail is an asset to the whole town and inay increase the number of people that might move into the area J. Humphrey pointed out that if we get $10,000 and then the Rec Commission can pitch in $25,000 through the Community Grant, IS The Town of Dryden Recreation Commission offers the following resolution for adoption: Whereas, DRC012 -10 -24 Page 5 of 6 The Town of Dryden Recreation Commission is charged with researching and recommending additional recreational facilities in the town of Dryden, Whereas, The recreation commission has gathered information regarding the Finger Lakes Land Trust's Roy HI Park Preserve boardwalk which is located in the Town of Dryden, Whereas, 'rliis boardwalk is a pivotal pied linking Ellis Hollow, Hammond Hill, Yellow Barn and Varna in the Emerald Necklace corridor of Forest lands which have potential to be a unique state and regional attraction, Whereas, Dryden Recreation is dedicated to the be] ief that the expansion of this trail system into a comprehensive one will benefit the community and residents in many wags, such as environmental education, health benefits, habitat preservation, multiple recreation uses (e.g., cross country skiing, wildlife viewing, hiking, photography, etc.], Whereas, Numerous public and private federal, state and local agencies and individuals have committed significant funds averaging approximately $15,000 each to support this Roy H. lurk enhancement project, Whereas, Having completed the parking lot, the Finger Lakes Land Trust is currently $37,000 short of their $136,700 goal for the Boardwalk phase of the project which must be constructed in its entirety, Whereas, The Dryden Recreation Commission unanimously strongly supports the Roy H. Park Boardwalk enhancement project, Thee Dryden Recreation Commission hereby recommends that the Town of Dryden financial Iy participate in supporting this project with an amount no less than $150000. V, Wilkins made a motion to recommend the Rec. Commission resolution W. Martin seconded the motion and the resolution was unanimously passed, DISC and DYC merger: lvl. Bianconi - had a set oCregulations that was a merger of the two groups that everyone has read. Y. Wilkins expressed concern about the increased amount of "power" or °control" that seems to carne from the new group DRC 012mlO�24 Page 6 of 6 19 M, Bianconi pointed out that County and State Funding tends to be directed toward youth development so if the Commissions kept separate names- recreation and }youth commission The Town is now the primary fonder oflocal recreation, V. Wilkins questioned how critical it was to have a }youth on the Board versus getting feedback another area. Section 9L states that the Commission does not have to place a youth on the Board but can get their information frorn an advisory group of youth, Parts of the agreement between the two groups are intentionally vague with the intention of providing more flexibility, Vice Chair position is in case the Chair is not attending. S. Todd painted out that the Village of Freeville and Village of Dryden are singled our in the agreement - has to do with the fact than the two towns have boards. The agreement also indicated that the Villages have votirng power whi ck they don't - ection 9C - that will be changed. M. Bianconi pointed out that Maylon Perkins (the 'ro n lawyer) will look at the agreement before it is approved, S. Todd - another problem was that the agreement states they are charged with assessing the needs of the "`youth community" which for the Rec. Commission needs to be changed to the "needs of the comm unity ° 0 J. Humphrey and A Hianconi are meeting with the Youth Commission on the 7th M, Armstro rig moved to close the meeting, S, Meyer seconded the motion, The meetingadjoucried at 913M, Respectfully submitted, 4 Erin A. Bieber • • Finer Lakes Lard 'gust Bem sson Milher Property Town of Dryden - — ,c —0'.16- ' � A `} • r J Kiosk design Boardwalk design concept • • • a.s MT—Ew �- oiad�z I-Koy H. Park Preserve Board Walk - Conce t Plan I Finger Lakes Land Tract • • Berntsson property (#63.-1-18) in context of neighboring conserved lands 164.17 calw1ated acres 812 Irish Settlement Rd Town of Drydeai, Tompkins County, NY c May 2007 natural color aerFal photograph Map prepared by Kiser Edebtein, 0 0 500 1,000 Feet Finger Lakes Lard Trust I I I 21 October 2610 D2ta sources, NO'S GIS Clearinghouse Roy H..Park Access Enhancement Project - Detailed budget of site improvements Project 13ud et Categories Expenses Boardwalk & Bridge materials /construction $1363700.00 Signs, entrance, boundary, and registry box $550.00 Kiosk with interpretive panel S3,675.00 Bench with Plaque $12000.00 Gravel Connector Trail, ADA, 250 feet* 5200.00 Parking Area & Split Rail Fence $1000.00 Native Trees for screening $535.00 Total S16.33260.00 Roy H. -Park Access Enhancement Project - Detailed Revenues Revenues Total Support/Revenue Revenue Status Amt. requested fromM &T Charitable Foundation $15,000.00 pending Legacy Foundation $5;000.00 granted Anonymous gift $10,000.00 pledged Tompkins County Tourism Captial Grant $22,510.00 granted Town of Dryden Community Grant $10,000.00 pending Tom and Maria Eisner Fund of the Community Foundation of T ompk -ns County/ Howland Fund $5,000.00 granted US Fish and WildlifeService $500.00 granted ivYS Conservation Partnership Program $22,519.00 granted' Thompson Family gift $20,000.00 granted David Ruppert (*portion of larger gift) $25,000.00 granted Tom Reimers $7,000.00 granted Additional Funds to be raised $35,731.00 Total $163.260.00 The Land Steward NEWS[ EfTLi' OF THE FINGER I AKFS I AND TRUS] working to protect the natural rateyrity of the Finger Lakes Region Vol. 24, Nu. 3 - Sumawr 2U12 Canandaigua Farmland Protected i 100-Acre from Development Easement in-, Jim Hicks and Gary Wyffels have a great deal in common. Both farm land Ellis Hollow on the west side of Canandaigua lake that has been in their respective ' _ families for more than 100 years. Both have watched development encroach on their farms as housing complexes sprawled southward from Emerald Canandaigua, turning scenic lake -view farmland into subdivisions of single - family homes. And now, both have taken steps to ensure that their family farms will be permanently protected from development and used only for agricultural purposes. In May, the Land Trust completed conservation easement agreements on the 135 -acre In June the Land Trust Wyffels Farm and the 82 -acre I ticks Farm, both located in Canandaigua in Ontario announced that it had County. The agreements limit future. development on the properties while allowing for negotiated a conservation traditional land uses such as agriculture and forestry. Most imlxotant. the easements are binding for future owners of the properties, thereby protecting the land in perpetuity. easement covering 100 6Both conservation easements will be held and monitored by the Land Trust, which acres of beautiful woodland 1)w holds more than 90 easements in 12 counties throughout the Finger Lakes region, in the Ellis Hollow area east "We're grateful to the Wyffels and Hicks families for their wonderful commitment to the land and their community," stated Land Trust Executive Director Andy Zepp. of Ithaca. "The protection of these farms will help ensure the continuation of agriculture in Canandaigua, while also helping to maintain Canandaigua Lake's water quality." he property includes 3,:400 feat of the agreements came about through a public: - private partnership between the Land frontage on Hurd Road and adds Trust and the Town of Canandaigua. The Tm vii was able to secure a grant from New a valuable link to the Emerald York State's Farmland Protection Program that helix:d defray a significant ix►rtion of the Necklace corridor of for(-,I lands costs associated with the easements. The Town's Open Space Reserve Lund was also a south of Cayuga Lake.. uaurce of funding for the projects. The easement donors are Thomas conmuedrsj page,) Seeley, an Ellis Hollow native, and his wife Robin Hadlock Seeley. Both are biologists at Cornell. In addition to beef cattle, fruir trees, produce, hay fields, and several Recognizing the importance of acres of vineyards, the Hick Farm also features spectacular views of conserving forested lands throughout Canandaigua f ike and a rugged wooded gorge. the Finger Lakes, the Land Trust has worked to establish an Lmerald Necklace of protected forest in the hills south of Cayuga Lake. Protecting uplands. especially ` wooded lands with streams and steep slopes —as the Seeley property features --is vital to the larger picture of watershed health. The Land Trust to seeks accom- plish its aims through a combination land of purchases from willing ,< owners and, increasingly, through conservation casements worked out bemeen the Land Trust and landowners who wish to protect their properties from future ck .1o}sment. t ontmurxl art pad LU U L.LJ r M-MW a hundred -forty six miles— that's the current amount of boundary line that Land Trust staff and volunteers are responsible for maintaining and monitoring on our own land as well as conservation casement properties. With the completion of each successful land protection project, this responsibility grows, as does the need to reach out to neighboring landowners, address invasive pest species,, maintain hiking trails, and host an ever- increasing number of visitors to our preserves. Vie recent addition of Jason Gorman to our growing team of conservation professionals is a big step forward in terms of our capacity for addressing thew. issues. Jason is our second full -time land manager and will be working alongside other staff and more than 150 dedicated stewardship volunteers. Long -term stewardship is perhaps the land Trust's most important responsibility. If there is not a strong organization standing behind its conservation easements, they may end up being little more than pieces of paper. And if our nature preserves are not Rtanaged wall, the special qualities that set them part may be lost forever. To ensure the continuity of our protection efforts, each year the Land Trust adds to its stewardship fund to support land management programs. This carefully managed account provides an ongoing income stream, guaranteeing the resources we need to address future challenges — whether that may be the feral hogs you'll read about in this issue or the wayward preserve neighbor who thinks that our conservation land is the perfect place to discard cast -off appliances. As we oversee this growing network of conservation lands, we're also creating new opportunities for the public to get out to some of the region's natural gems. Near Skaneateles Lake, we're creating a network of lands that will he linked by a • hiking trail with scenic views of the lake. In Tompkins County, we're working on the development of a handicapped - accessible boardwalk and wetland overlook that will also provide the first link in the Emerald Necklace Greenbelt. On Cayuga Lake, we'll soon formally open to the public 1,900 feet of natural shoreline across the lake from the village of Aurora. And near the south end of Canandaigua Lake, we'll soon be restoring native grasslands for birds and developing an interpretive site that will provide information on thousands of acres of adjacent public land. Everyone is welcome to get involved in our stewardship programs, and I encourage you to participate in our upcoming workdays at the VanRiper Conservation Area in Seneca County on Thursday, September 61h and Friday, September 7th (see page l I for details). Please also consider making a contribution to the stewardship fund. Your financial support can ensure that those special places you love will continue to inspire you, your uhildren's children, and generations to follow. —Andy s'1 VanRiper Conservation , . ., '. � � I ;, s` Dlease join us to celebrate the opening of the K.. 1 Area and the Whitlock Nature, Prc-sene on the western Shore of '` '`� • '� Cayuga Lake. The Land Trust purchased the 68 -acre VanRiper iq.. 7 pr.►pcYty for less than its fair market value in early 2011. File 15 -acre f Whiticx:k property which adjoin, the parcel —was donated to the - Y �'� ;,�"„ ,, Land Trust by Louisa Whitlock and her family in early 1998. Together, it +. • .�, + r the VanRiper arxl Whitlock properties protect 1,900 feet of pristine. 'y` • ; ,: �• ` , i. lakeshore. The Land Trust constructed a I! mile loop trail that provides :.•, access to the lake, as well as a parking area and interpretive kiosk. AI All are invited to join us for a dedication of the trail, followed by ►brief tour. Refreshments will be served. For directions, nd parking 1 instructions, please visit file Land Trust's �vebsite after -septemhcr I st t at wwvvJlh.org or call the office 607-275-9487. T The Land Trust has thus far r.►i%ffi $11 million trnv,ud a goal of - ,f,.. S 1.2 million, If you would like. to make a < - oration or wish further '^ ��_; , _ information, ph contact Kelly Makosch al 607 2' i 4487, or b}' e.m jil at kcllymakoschoflf org - - 0. may. � fs.• 'fir �— `....� - ��— ^�'�is_`� _ - `' �— �= Easement Gift Continues Skaneateles Farling Tradition A small --yet significant—parcel of 22 acres of USDA DA prime farmland in Niles, Cayuga County, &as been added to the protection of the Skaneateles Lake watershed and the scenic beauty of the rnger Lakes landscape as a whole. nab DeWitt, owner of Lakeview auto in Skaneateles, urinated a conservation easement to the Land Trust on farniland he cnvris ir) ilie highlnnds abr) %V. k:uiYatele.s taker just off State Route 41,x. The DeWitt iarniI v leas Iived on and iarmed Lana in the oreo sine: the 18th century, making them one of the earliest farming settlers in the region. A member of the Skaneateles Lake Association, flab f ae" itt has a .strung sense of stewardship responsibility far the land that he owns. 'A.Vhether it's 500 acres or 20 acre.s. loon prutec:tion is the appropriate action," he said. "And I think there is value in conserving smaller pieces of land_" DeWitt his been a supporter of other Land Trust projects in his area, iaduding the rrearby Ruilar Presti ,-rve mn Rear Swamp Crock and the High Vista Preserve across tdie lake_ Route 41,x, on the west side of Skaneateles Lake, is an emerging targt:t area iOc develapers wanting to take advantagc of sweeping views of the lake and the hills to the east. II is r3 pretty, n,roi route, with intriguing, byways for bicyc I ists--some say it's the most scenic= FnLtl(-. in the Firsger I ake5.'v1r'hotcver the case, agriculture is the main land use along the road, and farms keep the roatlwirde vir%vw rxfresn and spcx-taoarlar for visitors and residents alike. The [3AMtt easement cns41re5 that the land wvi II remain in agricultural use_ DeWiii leases the field try forming neighbors- ,W rl and Cindy- Cuykendal1. The Cuyke. ndaIIs pare negoliiitirig Etta y, the property fmm DeWitt. In doing so, they will buy into the conservarion easement as W01, ensuring tht� ofrenr agricuhtural future of that piece of the earth forever - 11he 22-acre property has conservation value to the Land Irusi as part of a general prognam to prole.ct wafer quality in thr Skaneateles watershed (the main source of water for the City r)f Syro(:uwej {ind to pre%c.!ne4e open space filrmisincd s} to residents and tourists in the Finger Lakes_ "Of course it's important that we retain our best farmland for the future'," s£iid Andy qpp, thry Land Trust's executive diret_tor_ " Wp,re delighted tar work- wit I1 1316 tri help make. fhis happen." —Lbelr McLane I 00 -Acre Easement in Ellis Hollow Forges another Link... conrinuec1 crorn cover Land development pressures around Ithaca are nor new, of course_ "()r the 50 -plus years that I've known the com- munity, I've seen marry beautiful fields ranrl is.Frt,�sked hillsides 6come filler! with houses as Ellis Hollow went from farmland to suburbia;" Seeley said- '71 wanted to prc)rer:t a gViCt and beautiful hart of the Hollow, and I knew that the best way to do sea %ws to own it. So I let the old-timers know that I'd be inter, ested in buying their land if they ewer Wanted tr> w1l it and this worked out." The .Seeley property lies across Hurd Road from inother forestland conserva- tion easement establisher) in 2009 by Steve Keast, also, an Fllis Hollow native 0ad `leek y's childhood friend_ The. twin ;i4 erncnts represent tile. fruition of a concern They shared about envimnmen- ia3l changes to the Jand in this grooving area. "By working tog-other,' Seeley said, "we achieves! something that nei- ther of us could have afforded on our cnvra; prx.atec:ting the woods on both sides of the road_' The Secleys and Kyeasts bought the land of rata nhandoried € {-irm in the 1990s, with the Seeleys on Cho, myth sid(- of the mad and the Keasts on the south. The Hurd Iarm, fur whir.h the road is named, was an early farrn in the area but was abandoned in the late. 1 300s, as st) many marginal, upland farms were at about the sanva time. In the meantiMer the land has reforested -ind the original homestead is gone, The',rule -ys arc more-than-usually active managers of their woodlands. By thinning, in selected spots, they have creikk -d a modest sugarbush cif 150 maple trees :And look fonvard to sugar harvests as they move gradurilly toward retirement from their crowded academic scheduJes. they reguliirly rernove invasive plants notably mulriflora row and Furopean buckthorn —to keep these aressive plants at bay. Their forest also supplies Ihern with a I I the %-v inter firewood they need to keep their hnu %viirm. "M;,astly, though, I enjoy the wcx)d by studying Elaerrrr" 5e ley said. The; hurn:rn history of the land intrigues hirri as an Ellis I lollcnv rmtiue.: Hard farm - house cellar holes, barn foundatiearls, springs, old logging paths, pilots of stones from cleared fielrJt. The natural history of the (4d warm interests him, too, He notes old fields, nuw4r "filled In nicely" with sugar maples, and shady hemlock stands on the Steep slopes of creeks running through the wocxfs_ Linder the terms of the conservation easement, forest managerneril pr;xtcus awrrieliJeui rrn fkgP,? 8 SUMMER 2012 • 3 Canandaigua Farmland Protected from Development 4:orrtinocd frcarrr cover - Mt-TcAvn is so pleased.1a have iinaIIy secured these farms and preserve them for future g nerations," s {aid Canancl.aigca:E Ton.%rn Supervisor Barn (1- &,ella. "I hope these projects serve as encourEgernenl to other municipalities to pursue their own preservation efforts," The Hicks Rkrm, Irra:.atod (in {.oye Road, is adjacent to the Bristul Horhor Resort, but it is also near other protected lands, which help provide a buf#cr against development, The origins I homestead, which has been ira the family since the late 1700s, E iwers 53 acres and is owned jointly by the four Hicks siblings. Jim Hicks and one rar his brOffier a E4:h (nvn adjoining parcel;; that together r_ornpri A-1he other 11) acres covered by the conservation easement. Jim mariag es than farrT,, having given up an engineering c:amef to "play in I he dirt," as he puts it. It is a reIatively small Ixtat diverse operation--,z iew Beef cottic, fruit trees, produce., hay fields, and soveral acres of e Eno rErrls, including Concord grapes for Welch's juice and Riesling grapes that are supplied In meal wineries. The propert�, also fc atures spe.(. ac'ular views of Canandaigua take and a rrrg erl woodkf gorge. M a ,,E-verlt Ii-general ion farmer, Jinx 1 "eels a bond with the land and has a keen desirtz to preserve it for future generations. It was irnpartaant tc i mf- that the farm be taken cart: of, and not ­4 I>y Ifle �;ayside like so many rather Bares," said Jim. Six miles northeast of the Hicks Farm, slang !'middle Cheshire Road, (,-dtary wid Joan VVvffels tend to hay fields and frtsttire. land firr I)eef cattle that roam their 135 ac;req. tlae gnizing cattle provide a sr,c nic: nand peaceful backdrop in ail area of intense rvsi der it411 development —the Wyrhels F {irrn is surr+at i(fi -cf on three sides by large housing subdivisic,rrs. "I have been approached by tl-tr.e hig housing davelopers Ito sell tfiC (lend :" said (I)ry. 'But l just love this place, my family iive� s Al ,I!oL;Ilcl nab, and some Things are rnore TT1fX)Ttarlr than niorl'°y.- The �-Vvh -(d L. faialllv has been farming this i)rcrfaerly s.ijwe the I:Ete t800salid has grO%V11 or r,iiceff suwt ,AX)tJI eve. rything in .her intervc°nint; yc irs. Fear ex,araple, C;.ary notes thilt hiw f.rrrTa Way thc lint in ( ),il,irio COLI131V to grow— suy '�irv, A i sign of tINr.r Liml et1'aic. [lie c herni('Ms and fertilizers on sloe t.arnl. 1 7I, Farm? enc:ludes Several acres of Veaf,vdrJs, including Coerr ordgt ,,IPI,5 ror Welch s ruic:e ?nd Rie5hog mpe.s thm �tre ;elpp ied fo IuLal WitWOOS. ' TItE IY .,1.. As the next generation displays same nascent interest in %.vorkirig I he land, Gaiy sees a bright future ahead. "f rctc.Or, this farm is gcw)d fur the lake, gurA i(:)r the tcnvn, i)rid gcx-xi fool our family," Fie Maid_ With the Wyffels and Hicks casements, the Lanr(I Trs j t has completed 16 land protection projects withIn the C-On {MILigtra I.ake 1Valershed. Other accomplishments include the establishment of Grimes Glen COLmty l}rrk in Naples, and the urgtanir tiara's parinership with the Tolvn of 4[.)uth Bristol to secure lands adjacent to its scenic overlook on County ROLdC 12. —leff Tono)e The Land Trust gratcfully ac-knovvledgeq Affomey Robert L. Besanf -.�rwy if Orr'fa.ard Park fear pr-oviding pro bona legal keryic:i!�.s in support of these projects. M Conservationist of the Year: Peter L n r+e ed°acated, kra wI dgeable, invalu- ukle.. true ic:adcr, Psnyonc 160 ov -,% car hsas w+ .)rked with Peter I orTdw. uses these words. to describe hirrr_ And it's; no minder- his profe, iorlal find per- sonal life for the lass 20 }+.irs has been dedicated to the health and well -being of the larid. eater, ind people or the Ke -Lilco and Canandaigua Lake water- sheds—Peter's interest in c;onwrvtition and the outdoors began when his fannily r oVed from suburban Fairport to rural Canandaigua when he was twelve years old, With Canandaigua Lake and the Firiwtol Hills trs .a bac:kdrepfi, Ile lx- r-amr' an enthti5ia51!ic Fisherman and downhill skier. His family spent lots of time on the lAo ,end also ;at his grcndfathcr's hobby farm in Bainbridge, NY_ He attended St. Lawrence rind Cornell, for his hachelors rind masters degrtT, respectively. In 1990, Peter went to work for the Keuka Lake Associal ion (KLA)_ His wcirk there eventually led to a partnership of all eight munie_ip Mies in ihe-. 1Geuk,t Lake watershed and tlne developmeYni of 4a c omprehc'nsive. watcrshed plan for the lake which, acc ordirig to the KIA "is ,considered one of the best in the country_" Peter has stayed can as a volunteer and sadv Y)r to the KI.A, even after leaving them as a staff member_ As a cori- suli.ml lie hags lake n a leadership role can many projects, from water qual- IIV monitoring to the development of a water- shr�ci Iarid ear. guide:, and he has served as an advi- sor on nUm OTOL15 tvc.hni- cal issues. I le. al-k-3 edited the Canandaigua Lake Mrtershed hia"Jgcment flan zinc{ advised municipal offidak .jnd volun- tto r51n that water5hed as wel I. Hired by Ccafnell Cooperative Extension (CCL of Yates CoLiniv inn the early 19905, Peter was instrumental in irnplerrtr�ntia18 a farrnllncl prOtK:tiorn program and advising the +,vino and grzipe industry on hand use and agricul- tural issues_ The program -gip ImrtrrershiIi of Yatc-, C n ounty, the Finger Lakes Lad Trust, :arid Ne %w York State has }teen successful in protei2ting ewer 1,10() acre, of prime farmland in the county. Whi le at CC T, I'eHer iiIso brought to Yates County a Iraining and certification program developed by PACE U11iversity c'aal led tfae Land Use Leadership AI ianc er bringirig together municipal offi- cials from the Keuka Lake wvfatershtxi to tc.ac:h them about fare eland prolec- tion, water quality. and Isnnd u%e low. Pt:tt!r recently left CCL Yates and is now working for 1 h sl'atew ide r:oopernI ive exbrmsion system out of Cornell Univer -ity, "Peter was and is a monumental Darr of CCE,` says lessica Spence, a long -time UC:F employee sand ckAleague, "Ht, has a tremendous rapporl With the cnrrntY le.gi laturc and excels In building partnerships in the carrrmunity. I le has set za slrorig precedent for CC and an excellent ioun- dotion txp gLiide.. Lr5 Into tht. future." The Lance Trust is hrrnored in ixr6 -sent the 2012 Consmationist of the Year Avvx(I to Peter lrrndre. — Frraify F+N.m err,. Outreach arrd Volunteer of the Year: Steve Lewandowski Stcve Lcwandow51ki's connect it-in I Ihe,. I...and Trust goes lack RP the very first ycar5 the organization was in exisie'nc:e_ Ike sen,ed on the hoard (A dire c-tom starti nil in 1991 and first broughi attention to the need to conserve the Hemlock and Canadice Lake water0led Rinds. In fact, as rounder of the Coalition for Hemlock anei Canad'ace, Steve w-is awarded the Land Trust's Conservationist of the Year in 1997_ More Fecently, he receive(.iThe Nature Conservancy's Friend of the Land Award for his tin Ae5s work in that area_ That iorc}jt.Lt has note borne fruit, since the wt tershed forests have been iwgfaired by the New York State Deportment of Envirr nrnenmi Conwrvation. To the casual cah5erver, Steve's path in c_onwrvatic n and watershed pmtecttiorl may seem a bit circuitous. He was an English literature major at Hamilton College and then want on to Washington University k) do g aduate work in philosophy, He continues to wt+riie lxpetry and Iias published 10 volumes. But, as he says, "it turns out I'm the �me persona in whic-hr --ver thing I'm doing, whether it's wrhing pern$ or doing a watershed ; kjdy." Steve worked For the US Soil Conservation Service mow the Nalural Resource Conservation Servicel for 24 years. whvre he learned vital lessons in science and ercg.inmring through hands• on experience. Luer since ieaving that federaI job, hes been m akin,'; a gift of his experience through ernvircvnrnenuil educalion anti management plan consulting in the I -inger Lakc5. Some of his most recent Work has involved data gathering and ccampuler rncuieling of wvatcrshod Stream chemical ,pollution loads. For many years, Stcwc has been active wviih the Canandaigua LakeW;atershed Association and bas served fin town boards and planning coLrncilS to make his VAMI)le voice heard. Ht- recently undertook an anrbilious project for the Lana trust involving a study of the Rrrchcological background of a parcel of fprcxfpmrty at thc south end of CatnandaangLra I-Ac donated to the Lanni Trust by Constellation Brands last year. It was rumcared That there had bccn historic use of rNr site by Nati %ke Amearic;ans, and Steve set out to try k-i confirm or deny those rurr om- "As a volunteer, Steve really wvcnt above and beyond for this study," says Andrew is pp, Land Trust EXe.c:utivc' birector. "I to did numerous interviews and spent many hours on re- m-,irch, compiling an important refererice. document that will ti#irve the Land Trust well," Thank you, Steve! —Frr ily E1srraan, Clulreac:h and Membership Manager SUMMER 2012 * 5 SCENES from Around Our Region... • Paddlers on a recent Coold rrip to the Land Trusl3 Cora Kwpfe Dirkinmrr Conservation Area on 5kanpalries Lake Mark Cljti o (second froi. i the le,,), k-,) ding a ;?jj-c ' walk espCLO7f1v i0r ��enilins and childreo v the Roy Ff. Park Preserve. in Tompkim Counry 6 % THE LAND STFWARD (�Lifr to right) Volunteers rom Reirner5, Munika l4bod, Catherine Lusardi, Eor Hryff, )ohrr Serriaj�i, and Hob Comeau at the Sirege Hill Nature Preserve in Chr.,mang County • Ir apsymmoj!SIA • 1 � Place �1ILLt stamp _ _ Ilerc Finger Lakes Land Trust ` n W L. I,Oltil Strect Ithaca, New York 14810 Honor a bend or lovetl one with a gilt membership or a special contribution. GIFT MEMBER For I name - Addrrss City _— _ — Statr _ /.ill NI MOR1AL CONTRIBUTION For (name) — — — — — — q,,,,otc%:t 1t Io %upp,m thy Finger i.akC1, Land li-ua and IFicir eltortYES! the t1( cil spaces and �;ticil places (d mit wgl- )11. I'lca poi d nw n:!„rnr., I.,It ) all+lalWtlurtr,"11>- J I'kasr ,; ud my inl„n1an,„ Amm, philu,vl s;r.,r.1;. Name _. Oau! — -- _ v.tt term r>rn. w• kl Add(_•.. — MAL, _ /Ip -- — t�'t'[rSl'li...lf�ie'!t 1'111ht'r :.�!><Cti 1.11141 Ita'I J VISA NIt. v. rroail: mart•• I it.olt Print, .trt1 Ftoldt'r -4 \.11m rrr:� ,icdrr! rJtic t - E E 7. deft to righr, sran cling l land Inist members fien Kersting and Betsy Dsdington worth (sea fed) members 10hrn Confer. Ed I fart, Advi5ury Council member Lyrrrr Leopold, and Board President Stu Schvveizer iro Of to left) Land Trusl Director of Sfevv drdship Chris Olney and Cornell Outdoor Education fxf.,c.wrve Directur Todd Miner with members of Cornell'.s f rra fheta Po fraternity, who volurueered to he% move and resct it bridge at the Erna Preserve in Tompkins County a 5' Imo"- .. — - I 11� Woodland Gift adds to Emerald Necklace The Land Trust has sold a 35 -acre property in Danny, Tompkins County, with the proceeds to be used in support of local land conservation projw -,;, as well as for the long- terra monitoring of a conservation casement on the property itself The property is Ir�catud on Olsefski Rood within Deputmrl Hollfyw, ai county - d ign7ied Unique Nnlurat Area (UNA), and it is in close proximity to another property which is also protected by a 1.and Trust helLl eosernen#. FPrisc.iI La N net zel -Wilson donated the parcel to the Land Trust in lanuary 2011, with the rinclerst{znding that it wouId ever,hwIIy be soIri wi115 cc rr'strict ofl5 th;iI limit MrrMMc..ilon of any' structures to the area outside of the L NA. ilie buyer is an outdoorsman who plans to use the land for rec-reatiorl- Pro>tection tyf the land, which features a mix of hardwood and coniferous forest, eviI I lie Ip maintain water quality with!n the Six -Mile C reek ww,rtemhed, the source of Ithaca's drinking water supply. The land is aIso within the Emerald Necklace Cre�-nhell, an effort to link 50,000 acres of existing f)uhh(: open space that extends in an arc around Ithac.-i through portions of four countirs, "This easement is a great addition to the FnrE-rilrl Necklace," said Land Trust Executive Director Andrew /-epp- "thanks to the goncrosity of PriscilIs), we're able to take another step towards ensuring a future= that w i I I ifir.Iude clean water, scenic: countR- side,. and productive. habitat for fish and wildlife." — Krishna Ramaoujon 100-Acre Easement in Ellis Hollow Forges another Link... c€ ntinuf -%9 front page 3 that the Seeleys ore already following will continue, including tree; thinning for various purposes and lirrrite.il iirrrbr:r har- vesis. Tam Seel L-y recenlly concluded a small timf.Wer wale Oi white ash troxs "in ,srrticipation of the arrival of the emerald ash lboreC an ash trop killer working its way into the knger l ekes. 111. Seeleys are keenly interested in maintaining the heollb and cha1_actcr • of their woods. Ruti ine fr,resi Mil inte.n3nCe is a way of life for them But Tom Sccley is partic:ul,irly pleased that, under tile. ea-w- -ment he worked olrl kvith the Land Trust, a spacial Fr.iri of his property could be set aside as an Fnvironrriental Protection Zone- This part of the %wcxls c onlains trees not loW€poi on the old Hurd farm, Y)rne d old as 140 years, Thiq section of the prmjwrty is toff- limits to Io g irtg, pe.rmanentdy. "Tom is one of the most thoughiful aad inforined land(nvners I've ever. met;," said Director of Land iProteldion David Diaz. "Anil ihat's most a.pparenf when you walk his VM07.ing land with hire. Torn knows e.very nook t-ind c.rrnny of his land and the valu6- of conserving them for future generations," — EL-err McLane Thc� bind gust gratefully acknowdedgkos Morrrey Carrie Pollak and If-gal Assistant Michelle Morris of the hew firm of Willer Mayo,, LLP in Ithtrc:a for providing Earn b no k-gal services it) sijppor� of [his PrgjP1.1- Wild Pigs: Our Hogs Goo Wild Fcx the ussjnd^; cif yrars, the hunt of the L-urasian Iic r;ar :.Srjc scrcora, also kn n.vn as the wild boar) presented the ulti- matc challenge to heroes and thosie. who aspired to become heroes- Theme fier4:e. animals, once found in most parts of Eurasia and along the rim cif North Atric:a, were pursued by gutsy hunters from Ireland to Japan. WiId boar �lre ca viny and formidable olaii -ime s: they have keen senses, run last, are highly intel Iigcnt, and are ezrre.mely aggressive when confrrnnied. it4 -iles have razor- -sharp tasks up to rive irxalles IunW females lack tusks bur hit(- vi(:o(iusly- A man who was able to snake a [till from horsel )ack- -0r, even more daringly, on foot —tivon 8re.at .rr_t:L1im from his l +ers, With its fmr* heavy body, long face. and ridge of hair along the backbone fa ft-oture. that has earned it the nickname (if "razorback" in some parts of the U -5J, the wild boar Jook5 primitive and menacing, quite unlike a harnyard porker - Once noble uppone.nts of ancient champiarrs, wild boar and their kin have becorne wrium, pests in many parts of [lie world- In the U.S., free- running swine may be escaped domestic pigs; irnp:irk -. it Furasian boar, or hybrids of [he twc)- In cximmon parlance, these anima Is are usually known as feral pigs, which is an inaccurate moniker because only same: of theca arc Icral- that is, donresUi;ikled t,nimaIs that have escaped from c iiptivity, To avoid confusion, scientists U.w the blanket term "wild pig.;" io refer to this motley group Of arliln.rls- '4 +ild 5,.vine have long, he?en a pmb l m in the South, in parts of (.alifornia, and in Hawaii; ncnv r* sire breeding in at least six New York counties and have been sighted in several more. Ironically; they are spreading rapidly on this vontincnt for the same raison thtlt they have dis41- ,K)rNI franc many areas of their native range- their hurrt is a dangerous and exc.iting test of skill and nerve - Mon—y animals :arcs deliberately released info the wild by hunters, ,end rrr.,ny others are esc:afwes from game presences- The pigs that have been found in our state seem to be mostly of the bitty -r L�Urtr fugi[ives from hunting ranches in New York and F nnsyfvania- The same aggression that rnAk -S wi Id pigs such sought - aftcr game anirn;- is olso makes them a dare -ger to pets, live - Mock, and people, I ur[herrncirt, their close genetic iies to domestic 1) i&s make them dangerous w -vtors fear diseases ghat ft'arma_y-5 have worked fianf to eradicate from [J,eir livestock, Several cases of pscudorables, fatal to mt ny.domestic w1imals, havebeen found in Nevv)-brk's wild 0.i-ine . f� - Hcnvcvcrr the greatest threat is not to humans or their '"nln ls',, lout to thv environment. Pigs, vOierher ck mfr sties ter wild, are .ranlln,nchous ;ind messy. and eat just atx)ui everything in their paths. A sounder of pigs can root up a corn field or .a Iay. -n in no time, or damage fragile wr -tland ecosystems with I heir ,%,;) I I owing- Thciy are rav'enou5 rxnnivores, dcnrouring anything from roots ;u,d seedlings to bird eggs, sriakws, acid even fawns. As wfldliie disease biologist Justin Canso ski says, "They'll etlt tIn}'thing with a ca[orie. in it- Thn —'re laving rototillers -" In areas when-. they've. heicume cndemic, wild swine are proving difficult to eradicate. Eurasian I)cxlr reproduce only once a y ,esar, but domestic pigs have beery sel :i:tive-ly brcxi to maximize reproductive capiwity. Cons quently, many wild Pigs in the U.S. reach sexual malurity etarlier, have larger litter 5iZ(-',, :u,cf are able to breed twice as often ors thf�ir F4rra5aan counterparts- In addition, their large size and .iggrr�%sivcmess mean that they have eery fev+., prtxlators, and their in Lei ligenc.t! rneoris that they can evade aImmi any gala, In fact,. the more they're humeri, the more wary they become and the hard-of they are to ca[ch. Covernrne..nE agencies attempling to rerncavt: the animals are carefuJ not io reveol the exact locations of pig pcafaulsdicros, lest overeager hunters make is hard job even harder - In classical myth, the C alydonian boar was a monster sent by Diana to torment ark impic-pus, people. It ravaged their vineyards and c ;raps, causing a great famine, ;ind could only be killed by the concerip.c} efforts of many heroes- New Ybrk s current population of wild swine is smal'l, but without heroic efforts, we will soon Ix faced with a Haig pixiblem of Cinlydonian proportions. Unfortumitelyr time and circ lrn. iimce8 sire not on our 5ade. Aninlal c.'Wltrul efforts have suffered from a l;ac:k (if funding. At the sarne lime, more and rnort. slnimals are being or are escaping in in the wild - S[ephen D itch koff, an expert or) kriId swine in Alabama —a state wi[h an exponential y increasing pig Fac pupation— %varns of iniminent di&-tstc;r: "In New York, yn)u don't have long heforc: the problem bec`tarrle.% very fravc. hiwr. to ten years would he my gu €mss," If you e a wild pig, please nor ify Ihf� New York .Mate [apartment of LnvirorimerrtA Conservation +.,instructions at %, v%%, w-(fc� :.ny.gc)%,Ianimals�r70843.htmi} an&or the USDA at 1-866-487-1297 -quc4ine Stuhmifier STAFF Developments W the're delighted to announz:e the hiring of Jason Corman, who will he Filling e Land Trust's first. full- time. dedicated Land Steward pnsiiion. Jason will assist Director of Stewardship Chris Olr�€:y in martaaging the Land Trust's growing rietwork of consc R.-at ion lairds now over 4,070 acres of nature prese. rves and another 111,500 acres under conservation casement throughout the organization's vast 1.2- county service area. An avid birder arid nature Inver, Jason has a bti the €or's d ree in conservation biology it im SUNY Cortland. In addition to his voILrnieer stewardship v --urk with the Land Trust for the past iour years, Jason has helped out as wi aviar7 monitoring technician at the. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and worked for N7 Audubon Society of New York as as seasonal grassiand bird technician_ Please join us in weIcorning Jason. In our \- Vestcm lakes rt ioll, part -time Senior FiOd Representative Betsy Landre. has left for a full -time position as as senior planner with the Onlaario County Planning Depa3rtfflent_ Betsy's hard work and dedication were unsurpassed. She was also a juy to work with, and we will miss her nearly_ Betsy's work will by taken over by Land Protection S� . ialist Elizabeth Newhold, who will be expanding her duties to includ- the Western Lakes regl o rl.. Please join us in wishing la.son a hearty welcome and wishing Betsy all the bc5t in her npw position. .rd of Directors and Advisory Council Grog We are Asu e.xc:iIed to announce this Mary Jo Yunis has joined the Land Tru5Cs Board of Directors. Nliiry }n is President of Yams Realty, Inc„ a commercial real estate company luraiecf in Elmira. She has worked for the rompany for over 20 years. Prier to returning to her native Elmira, she worked as a C.P.A. for Frns1 and Young in New Fork City. She graduated maga.3 rum Jaudc from Roston College with 11 Ii.S_ in accounting and currently serves on the beards of 1lie Clemcns Center, as treasurer, and Chemung C.ounly Planning. We. are also pleased to welcome Liz Thorndike io our Adviu)ry C:a(Ancil. Liz is the founder, former executive direm)r, and a former board member of the Center for Environmental Informioi „n in Rochester. She is also c-040LIFider of the Cayuga I arke Water5hed Network. Her work in the public woor has included Irving as commi5510Fier of the Adirrandack ? Lrk Agency, for nearly 16 years and, rnore. recently, as a board member of the New York State Energy Research and Developmeni Authority. Since i 996, Liz has served as a Vvsiti rig Lecturer at C:nrnelI university, developing and teaching a course on "Wilderness and WE- .ilands; Sustaining; the. 'Built Environment_” In looking forward w her place on the organization's Advisory Council, Liz s.tad, "The Finger Lakes Land Trust plays a criticiiI role l y inst, ring a sustainoirle landscaape and largely involving the privtaie sector in achieving this gcml_ As with imly a few areas. the environment is the ecvniony of the Finger Lakes region, and thtL Land Trust catalyzes support fur this economy in the rmst c'ffet;tive way." Welcome aboard Mary Jo and Liz? i{i • THE L.ANO STEWARD Lurch Craig FROM Rachel f fall BeNy Darlingtan rrc{ %v. Jean Oafiington Thomas Egan FR(W Ronald Egan Joseph Z+volensky F W(wl mattherww Zvofunskp Tom Eisner "Mm Pearson Edu atirrrr David Hamlin FROM f3f}rPfi1lP l Jaf77lin John Higinbotham MUM 6, Yvonne and a! a avrc nc e Chavez Shecla Kin bury PROM Ruth and l eer Hopkins Carl Leopold FROM Amy Taffy Dr. Robert Morris FRO110 lvtard and C eon Beck Laura Lee Smith FROM James an(i Janis Smith Edward J Thnrripson FRQ] A K 'rlfirim Thompson Linda Underhill ROM .V,wy J food • • 1 a Ik `; Summer 2012 • a 8keks'. Saturday, August 18, 8.00Pl - 11.OUpm, Star Gazing and Observatory Tour at the glees Observatory. A unique app artuni.tyd to see the stars high atop the Bristol I fills at the University of Rochester's obsewarory! Learn about celesri,l budic--� arid deep space objects while gazing through the 24 -inch telescope, Spare is limitcd and registration is rear +i red, please call 607 - 275 - 9487. Meet at the Gminett Huuse at 6604 East Gannett Hill Road in Naples. Saturday, September 8, 10-00arn, A Forest Regenerates: Tornado Aftermath at Kingsbury Woods. In April 2011, a tornado touched down in Danb, affecting a swath of hnd including the Land Trust`s Kingsbury Woods Conservation Area- Join forest ecologist Peter marks for an examination and interpretation of the forcst more than a year later. Fronn Ithaca, go souih ran K1. 966. About 2 miles past Ithaca College, mAke a right canto (umfcart Road. Go 1.6 miles and turn right ran Jersey E--lill Rd. At the split in the road, continue to follow Hersey Hill Kd la left). Go a short distance and park i:n the parkirig areas on the right, just before the bridge; the 1raiI is on the left opposite the parking area. Saturday, September 29, 10 :00am, Fall Fungus at the Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve. Join mycologist Kathie Hedge ag5iin this yvarr to e.xplorc the curious fungus kingdorn that sproijtN around us in the fall. Please register by emaiIing info flli -card, or waling 607- 275 -9487. From Ithaca, foIIo w Ellis I If) II uw Road 2 -5 miles past East Hill Shopping Plaza- Turn left on Genung road, then right on Ellis Hollow Creek Road - Preserve eral.riinc:e Is located 0.2 rniles past intersection, nn left Slide of road. Events are free and open to the public, For detailed dire tiorls �md information call 607 -27S- 94267; or visit w ww.fllt.rirg- Walk,, go ruin or shine sea please dress approprialely{ for the weather and be sure to bring water and snacks. Please see i he sutimier is *ue of The Land Steward and be stare to check your local papers for more events in this series. T1 M&T Bankis ar ,i cncrous sponstw nr 1he i ;ind trust$: Talks and Treks series- Volunteer Work Days Thursday, September 6th AND Friday, September 7th, 9:00atm- .00pm a VanRiper Conservation Area — NYS Route 89, Town of Romulus, Seneca County 'V'olun3eem are needed to help install a large new kiofk at the Lana Trust's new VanRiper Conservation Area and the zidjac-ent Whiflock NAure. Rrescrve. With their beautiful woodlands and uri 1poiled shoreline, help us MAe these protected properties an inviting place for the public to come and enjoy Cayuga Lake. Tools and work gluves will be proviciecl. Park at the new pi)rkirig lot On the east sine taf Route 89 if construction of the new parking area rs finished; ii nol, then park on the shot ldt�r of North Cayaga Lake Read, just Gaff Route 69 on the west side. Bring your own lunch and wafter. Please R2 VP 1)(--fore the work dates 14.a Iasron Gorman (josun;orman flll -org) or Chris Olney ;chrisulncy 'f h.orgjr or c Ssfl 607 - 275 -9487. Directions to our Preserves may be found on our vmbsite at wwvw flit. or z Finger Lakes Land Trust � �� Finger lakes Officers= Stu Schweizer, PreSidenl I Land Trust `� � 202 F. C- ij41rl �tfL3et Howard Hartnett, Vice President IIthaca, �Y 14155(] Steve Green. Secrmary Burch Craig, treasurer Board Mrrnhers: RclurnService fReque5"W Rolx.rt Rmnc:ato Doug Sutherltind Marti Nlacinski Jan ,SL]Winski Ed%mard F. Ptemo, II fScrE,Werner Chris l'roulx Marianne Young Donald Sic =ker Mary JoYunis Advisory Council; Jarrre5 Byrnes John Fitzpatrick lames Fralick Alexa Gifford Barbara Hamlin .Alhcrt kw -rger Lynn Leupold Rnherr Mrazek Cornelius B. tvlurpby, Jr. Richard Raines Mark Stash Liz Thorndike Jarnes Walsh baVid 'lofrr Staff; Ajidr(w ?rpp, Executive Director Abbey C-hernela, Offi(e Manager D.ivid Diaz, Director of Laird Prorer..trnn Karen Edtlslein, G(S f'roJrric Manager Emily Usnian, Ofirrearh and Membership Manager Jasun Gorman, Laird Stc ward Kelly Makosch,: Oirerror of DevAopmeat. Elizabeth NrL held, Land f utecGUri sp F a1i �r Chris Olney, Direcfor of Stew- ardshrp Kris West, Sen or f-Wd Kepresentatrve Newsletter Editom. Eton McLane Mishna k IInAnujan Newsletter Layout; 1Vc�sthill C;raphics, Inc. Advisors: legal (Jojj 7sei_ Elizabeth Bixler; Randy ,4Mzrr-us; Miller Mayer, LLP; POer M[Iller; Richard Ruswick; True, Walsh, Sc_huberk LLP Forestry C:onsuffant_ Michael DeMunn Stewardship :Advisor, Beby Darlington r I Finger Lakes Lana Trust 2112 F. Court Stmt Ithaca, New York 14850 l'h, 607-27-1-9487 Fax; 607 -2' 5 -0037 erroik infoOnit.org■ WWW411t.m K%mbarar 0'- rthw + New York. Summer 2012 Calendar • u SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 8:00pin- 1-1:00pm Star Gazing; acid C:)E rvatc ry Tour at the Mf-es Observatory (seer page. 1 i for details) THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 &'FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 4:011am- 3:00pm Votunteer work clays at the WnRiper (- on.w- rvartion Arca 'R.w armSp ! 1 for derails} SATURDAY SI=PTEMBER B, 10:00am A I crest Rcgcrremtes :16mad+o Atterrmith al Kingsbury Wcx)d,% {.see page l P f6r detail -0 SATURDAY, SEPTLMBER 22, 11:00am WnRiper Conservation Area Dedication (.see pa e 2 for details) SATEJRDAY, SEPTFMBER 29, 10.00am 1=a1l Fu€guis al the 1111is HolIo% -%, Nature PrescRu {see page l7 for defallsi PLEASE 5FF PALL l i F06 THE SO iEDUIF OF OUR 2012 Sf.1- 44M£R T,ALK5 & TREKS ,SERIB & VOLUNTEER WORK PAYS - Sec our 4veb site for ,maps and pr'totos of thc preServes- VVALKS Gib RAIN, S(J!V OR SN0" PLEASE ERIING SNACKS AN F) WATLK, AND WEAR STURDY SHOES- CALL THE LANDTRUS`i AT (607) 275 -9487 FOR DETAIIL5.