Spring 2008 - Columbia Land Conservancy

CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
SPRING/SUMMER/2008/CONSERVANCY NEWS
M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C H A I R
As this issue of the CLC
Newsletter prominently
features our work with the
farm community, Board
Chair Michael Polemis
has graciously yielded his
regular column to me, cochair
of CLC’s Agricultural
Committee. Included in
this issue are descriptions
of two projects to ensure
the continued availability
for agricultural use of two
Jean-Paul Courtens
long-time family operated
farms (see pp.6-7). There is also a brief description of
our commitment to be supportive of a strong and
healthy agricultural sector as a central component of
our newly adopted strategic plan.
Farming in Columbia County today is active, energetic
and diverse. While the most obvious result of all
this activity may be the food and fiber products that
are created and agriculture’s important role as a centerpiece
of the local economy, the working farms also
define the landscape.
Our farmers act as stewards and play an active role
in creating the strong sense of place shared by all of
us who live here. Agriculture is a key part, if not the
key part, of why Columbia County looks the way it
does today. Agriculture is one of the many ways people
interact with the land. Most farmers in Columbia
County are excellent stewards of their land. While
our farmers manage productive and high quality
In This Issue:
operations, they do so in a way that maintains open
vistas and a pastoral landscape. At the same time,
actively farmed properties provide a safe and healthy
environment for highly diverse plant and animal
ecosystems. These unique features are precious; they
are not inevitable, and they should not be taken for
granted. At CLC we support agriculture for all of the
above reasons.
CLC has been working for many years to create
awareness of the importance of agriculture for our
county. We will continue to do so, and will work
even harder to ensure that agriculture gets the
support it needs from the community in order to
flourish. While our farmers and farms are strong,
access to services as well as to land remains a challenge.
Today, land is starting to pass from farming
to non-farming landowners. CLC has strong ties to
both groups, and we hope to help create mutually
beneficial connections between them. It will be
important for the entire community not only to
support the idea of farming, but to understand and
actively support policies and practices that farming
needs in order to thrive.
As a farmer I proudly serve as a trustee of the
Columbia Land Conservancy because this organization
reflects my values. I love the land, I love its
diversity, I love seeing people on the land, and I
love it when people can live off the land (farming
and eating). CLC is helping us to keep it that way;
no I will re-phrase: it helps us do it even better.
Jean-Paul Courtens, Roxbury Farm
525 Acres of Farmland Protected in Ghent
If you drive along Route 9H in Ghent, you probably
have seen a sign reading “Gallagher’s Stud” and may
have wondered what it means. Gallagher’s Stud is
a 525-acre farm on Legget Road that raises both thoroughbred
horses and champion Black Angus cattle.
Farm owner Marlene Brody wanted to ensure the
property’s long-term protection as a working farm
and created a plan with CLC to achieve her goal.
The property is comprised of two separate parcels,
each of which is now subject to a conservation easement
held by CLC. A conservation easement is a voluntary
agreement between a landowner and a conservation
organization (see page 6). In this case, the conservation
easement will allow for agricultural uses of
the property while limiting the number and location of
future residential structures.
“The land planning that goes along with the conservation
easement document is a very important part of
our work with the landowner. We try to locate any
reserved house sites to limit the impact on the property,
both visually and in terms of the resources we are
trying to protect,” Tony Colyer-Pendás, CLC’s Director
of Conservation Programs explained. “Since the terms
of the conservation easement will apply to future owners,
we need to make sure we think beyond how the
property is being used today and consider what needs
a farmer might have in the future.”
For the protection of agricultural lands, CLC uses an
agricultural conservation easement which is designed
The Gallagher’s Stud Farm was protected with two conservation easements conserving 525 acres of fields and forests.
to be “farm friendly.” While the agricultural easement
does not require that the property be actively farmed,
it is drafted to encourage agricultural uses on the property.
Under the terms of the agreement, landowners
may construct additional fences, barns, and equipment
sheds as necessary for farming.
“We are not farmers, and we don’t see it as our job
to tell farmers how they should farm. Rather, our
mission is to protect Columbia County’s working landscapes,
and conservation easements are an excellent
tool to keep good agricultural land open and available
for farming in the future,” stated CLC’s Executive
Director, Peter Paden.
C O N S E R VA T I O N E A S E M E N T S
3 Conservation Easements-Five conservation easement projects
totaling nearly 1,000 acres were completed in the final weeks of 2007.
6 Farmland Protection - With land pressures increasing, CLC is
doing its part to help local farmers.
9 Strategic Plan Update - After 12 months of work, a new five-year
plan is nearly complete. Take a sneak peak here.
10 Education and Events - With the return of warm weather,
CLC heads outside with a new twist on the Country Barbecue and
opportunities to explore Columbia County.
12 Public Conservation Areas - We are looking for volunteers
to help at our public lands with new hiking trails.
14 Organizational News - CLC is please to welcome two new
staff members to our freshly renovated offices.
16 Vital Support - Thanks to our volunteers, members, and supporters
who help make our work possible.
On the Cover:
Working farmland is important to
the local economy, environment,
and quality of life. The Old Chatham
Sheepherding Company is the largest
sheep’s milk dairy in the country.
Its fields and pastures are protected
by a 263-acre conservation easement
held by CLC.
Conservation easements can be used to help keep land open for farming in the future.
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CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
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C O N S E R VA T I O N E A S E M E N T S
Protecting New Lebanon’s Character,
One Property at a Time
The northeast corner of Columbia County is rich in
cultural and natural history. New Lebanon was home
to one of the largest and most vibrant Shaker communities
throughout the 19th century and the Shaker
name has been given to a 495-acre wetland system
which is home to a variety of rare plants. With all
this local history, Helen Burton and Tod
Houghtlin felt a deep sense of responsibility
when it came to making decisions
for their 181-acre property.
“For Tod and me, placing a conservation
easement on our property
was a way to show the respect we
feel for the landscape around us,”
commented easement donor Helen
Burton. “We are thankful that we
can pass this special place on to
those who follow us."
Located on Canaan Road in New
Lebanon, their property is what many
think of as the classic Columbia County property:
an historic farmhouse with open meadows and
woodlands rising to the ridgeline. The hay fields,
stonewalls, and hedgerows on the property indicate an
agricultural heritage. The steep slopes and woodlands
climbing up the ridgeline provide important wildlife
habitat and drain into the Shaker Swamp, just across
Route 22. The property is also visible from the Mount
Lebanon Shaker Society National Historic Landmark.
“When we accept a conservation easement, it is
important that we can document that by conserving it,
we will be protecting resources with conservation
value and providing a benefit to the public,” noted
Tony Colyer-Pendás, CLC’s Director of Conservation
Programs. “The Burton property clearly warranted protection
because of its visibility from public roads and
Mount Lebanon, and its relationship to the ecological
communities associated with the Shaker Swamp and
surrounding Taconic Ridge.”
The Town of New Lebanon has also
recognized the value of protecting properties
such as the Burton’s. Among the
objectives of its recently adopted comprehensive
plan is to “Preserve scenic
vistas of the area’s natural beauty
including vistas of woodlands, fields,
ridgelines, hillsides, hilltops, and valleys.”
The conservation easement on
this property will help the town achieve
these goals by limiting residential
development to the existing house site and
a second reserved site which is clustered close
by, leaving the majority of the property open.
The easement is part of a “Neighborhood
Conservation Block” that is comprised of five other
protected properties in close proximity totaling
approximately 540 acres. Collectively, these properties
contribute to the protection of the scenic
landscapes that help define New Lebanon’s rural
character, while protecting important wildlife habitat
and local water quality.
Helen Burton and Tod Houghtlin have protected 181 acres in New Lebanon with a conservation easement. The conservation of this property
will help buffer the Mount Lebanon Shaker Society National Historic Landmark and Shaker Swamp from incompatible development.
174-acre Easement in Austerlitz
Protects Ridgeline Along Route 22
The hamlet of Austerlitz lies in a valley carved by the
Green River and flanked by the wooded slopes of the
Taconics. Historically, people settled in the valley,
taking shelter from winter winds, and relied on the rich
bottomland soils to grow their crops. In more recent
times, development has pushed up the ridgelines to
capture the sweeping views afforded by those building
in prominent locations.
A174-acre conservation easement along Route 22 in Austerlitz
will help protect the area’s rural character.
Not all landowners subscribe to this approach to
land development. CLC recently received a 174-acre
easement donation from Jim Murray and Eleanor
Saunders, protecting a highly prominent ridgeline
along Route 22 near Harvey Mountain. The easement
property also contains frontage along the Green River.
“Ridgelines are important, not only scenically, but
also for wildlife. Many species, including bear and bobcats,
use ridges as migration corridors to move around,”
notes CLC’s Marissa Codey.
The proximity of this conservation easement to
Harvey Mountain State Forest and a 542-acre easement
donated to CLC in 2005 helps create a larger block of
conservation land, improving the wildlife habitat value.
“We chose not to reserve any future residential
development on this parcel,” remarked landowner
Eleanor Saunders. “We have another adjacent parcel
where we can build, and felt that conservation was
the best plan for the ridge.”
As with all conservation easements, the property will
remain on the tax rolls. Owners of conserved land may
receive a tax credit from New York State, but it is up
to each assessor to determine the appropriate tax assessment
for parcels subject to a conservation easement.
Chatham Family Conserves Farm
Highland Farm on Highland Road is a Chatham landmark.
Home to the Behrens family since 1946, its
rolling hills and wooded trails have been well known
for generations first as a dairy farm, and more recently
as a sheep and horse farm. The family has now donated
a second conservation easement to CLC as a means
of conserving the core of the property prior to selling
it to new owners.
This 88-acre easement lies across the road from an
86-acre parcel protected with an easement in 2003. The
new easement protects two prominent ridgetop fields,
a DEC regulated wetland, and a tributary to the Stony
Kill, all within a stone’s throw from the Ooms
Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond.
As Director of Conservation Programs, Tony Colyer-
Pendás, explained, “This transaction was quite complicated.
It involved the transfer of the property out of the
family over a period of several years. We worked with
Wini Behrens, her daughter Gail, their advisors, and
the new owners of the property to structure the deal.”
The terms of the easement reflect the agricultural
nature of the property, and are written to give future
farm operators the flexibility they need when it comes
to placing agricultural infrastructure on the landscape.
In keeping with CLC’s view of recognizing Columbia
County as a “working landscape”, the easement will
allow for any type of agriculture, as well as sustainable
timber harvest.
Important agricultural resources are being protected by a second
conservation easement on Highland Farm in Chatham.
“It was not an easy decision to sell the farm, but the
conservation easements give us some peace of mind
that the property’s essential character will remain,”
stated Gail Day.
C O N S E R VA T I O N E A S E M E N T S
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CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
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F A R M L A N D P R O T E C T I O N
Supporting Farmland Protection
As the 2008 growing season gets underway, CLC
will be working with two local dairy farms to secure
330 acres of prime agricultural lands. The two farms,
Chaseholm Farm in Ancram, and Shaker View Farm
in New Lebanon, both received farmland protection
grants through the New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets for the purchase of their
development rights (PDR).
While the two farms are at opposite ends of the
county, they have many similarities. In both cases,
they are family-run farms whose owners have solid
reputations in the dairy business and share a commitment
to keeping their land in farming.
Larry and Barbara Benson, the owners of Shaker
View Farm, have been working their land since 1965.
Through their excellent management of their Jersey
cows, the Benson’s farm was recognized as a dairy of
distinction. Now looking at retirement options,
the Bensons want to make sure they have made
provisions that will help keep their land open and
available for farming in the future.
“We’ve spent almost half a century caring for our
farm, and its important to us that the property continue
to be farmed,” stated Larry Benson.
CLC worked with the Town to prepare the application
to the state, which required both local and
county endorsements. The $513,150 grant will cover
75% of the appraised value of the non-farm development
rights on the property.
“Our job now is to work with the Bensons to draft
a conservation easement that will protect the farm’s
agricultural resources and work with the community
to raise the remaining 25% of the development rights
value in local matching funds,” explained senior land
protection manager Marissa Codey.
In the southern corner of the county, Barry and
Rosemary Chase were also looking for a way they
could ensure the stewardship of their farm would
continue in the future.
The Chase’s farm is known as Chaseholm Farm,
a 340+/- acre dairy farm in both Dutchess and
Columbia Counties; this grant will protect the
Columbia County portion (133 acres). The farm
was one of several that were studied by Conrad
and Claudia Vispo as part of the Farmscape Ecology
Program’s efforts to document the ecological
133 acres of Chaseholm farm in Columbia County will be protected through the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program.
A conservation easement will allow for additional agricultural structures while protecting the farm’s soil resources.
benefits of working farmland.
“We’ve invested so much of our lives to making
this land as productive as possible; it will mean a
great deal to know that someone will be able to farm
Shaker View Farm in New Lebanon was awarded a $513,150 NYS
and Barbara Benson.
it fifty years from now,” reflected Barry Chase.
“With their knowledge and willingness to help
with the state grant process, the Columbia Land
Conservancy provides a real service to farm families,”
added Rosemary Chase.
Every year, the Conservancy is approached by
farmers throughout the county interested in learning
more about the purchase of development rights and
other programs that can help them keep their operations
viable. CLC offers its services free of charge.
Our efforts have helped secure over six million
dollars, and enabled the protection of 5,300 acres of
viable farmland in the county.
CLC is part of a broad partnership of organizations
working to support the vitality of farming in
the Hudson Valley. Each year we participate in
legislative meetings organized by Farm Bureau and
American Farmland Trust to gain support for agricultural
initiatives at the state level. As a result of these
efforts, farmland protection funding has grown to an
anticipated $30 million, two and a half times what
was budgeted five years ago.
Working farms are important to the local economy,
environment and quality of life. Supporting
farmers in their application for PDR funding is one
way towns can help ensure a future for farming in
Columbia County. This year, our staff assisted three
towns, Ancram, Chatham, and Taghkanic, with
applications to the state for assistance in developing
municipal level farmland protection plans. The Town
of Chatham received a $25,000 grant in the first
round of funding which will build on the Chatham
Agricultural Partnership’s efforts to help the town
retain its agricultural heritage.
CLC is actively exploring new ways to support the
local agricultural economy. For more information on
farmland protection grant, prepared by CLC on behalf of Larry
farmland protection programs, contact CLC’s land
protection staff at 518-392-5252 or visit our website
at www.clctrust.org.
Please help us raise the required 25% local
match for the Benson Farm in New
Lebanon and Chaseholm Farm in Ancram.
Your gift can help ensure that these farms
will be protected and available for future
generations of farmers. Send your contributions
to CLC at P.O. Box 299, Chatham, NY
12037, and be sure to note which farm you
want you are supporting. All donations
towards these PDR projects are fully taxdeductible
to the extent provided by law.
Ways You Can Support Farming
in Columbia County
• Understand and be tolerant of farm operations
• Support “farm friendly” zoning and local initiatives
in your town
• Express your support for increased farmland protection
funding and the Community Preservation Act
to elected officials
• Buy food locally at farmers markets, roads stands, and
farm stands
• Join a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm
• Contribute Funds to a PDR project
F A R M L A N D P R O T E C T I O N
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CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
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C O N S E R VA T I O N E A S E M E N T S
What is a
Conservation Easement
A conservation easement is a tool that allows a
landowner to permanently protect his/her land
through a legal agreement, written in the form of
a deed. Through the conservation easement, a
landowner donates the majority, or entirety, of the
property’s development rights to a qualified nonprofit
land trust or governmental entity. There are
six important points to understand about CLC’s
conservation easements:
1) The property is still owned by the easement
donor. The landowner can sell, lease, bequeath,
or mortgage land protected by a conservation easement.
The landowner can still farm or conduct
conservation forestry on the land, in addition to
home-based businesses and rural enterprises
(assuming that zoning allows for this) and is not
required to allow public access.
2) They often entitle landowners to significant state
and federal income tax deductions. For donated
easements, the landowner may be able to deduct the
value of the conservation easement against as much
as 30 percent (and in some cases 50 percent) of their
adjusted gross income for up to six years, beginning
in the year the easement is donated. Pending new
federal rules may allow significantly increased tax
benefits. However, if a landowner protects only
a portion of the property, the deduction may be
substantially reduced (the landowner should discuss
this with his/her financial advisor).
being protected. It should be noted that the more
residential buildings retained under the terms of the
easement, the smaller the landowner’s tax deduction
likely will be.
4) The property stays on the tax rolls. Landowners
may work with the town assessor to determine if the
easement warrants a reduction of property taxes.
Many communities in the country are recognizing
that conserved land helps balance open space and
development which, in turn, helps maintain a strong
fiscal base in a municipality.
A conservation easement does not necessarily lead
to lower property taxes in Columbia County, and in
most cases it has not done so. However, a landowner
may choose to place some or all of the land under
the Agricultural or Forestry “current use” programs
and receive a property tax reduction as provided
in those programs. A New York State Tax Credit is
available to landowners whose land is restricted by
a conservation easement that provides an annual
refund of 25% of the property taxes paid on that
land, up to $5,000 per year.
5) They are tailored to meet each landowner's individual
vision for his/her land. All landowners who
protect their land with a conservation easement
work closely with the Conservancy to develop a plan
that meets their conservation goals and need for
future development. Public access is not required.
However, some landowners elect to establish a
public trail as part of their conservation easement.
This generally increases the potentially available
income tax deduction.
Planning for the Future.
During the past 15 months, CLC
has been engaged in an intensive
strategic planning process. Under
the guidance of Linda London, of
London Associates, six board and
staff work groups have endeavored
to re-focus the work of the
Conservancy to better serve the
conservation needs and desires of
the community. Our new five-year
strategic plan was approved by the
Board of Trustees on April 19, 2008
and will be rolled out to the public
by mid-year. The substance of this
plan, however, is already incorporated
into our 2008 work goals.
Conservation Strategy
This year, CLC will be dedicating
significant resources to compiling a
comprehensive natural resource
inventory of the county. The information
gathered will be analyzed
using computer mapping software
known as a geographic information
system (GIS). The results will help us
evaluate and prioritize potential conservation
projects throughout the
county. This information will also
be shared with town and county
boards and organizations. Grants
from the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation
and the Land Trust Alliance Partnership
Program will pay for this strategic
conservation plan.
Agricultural Support
Agriculture is vitally important to
the local economy and has been a
defining force in shaping Columbia
County’s countryside. Working
with local farmers to identify ways
in which the Conservancy can help
agriculture thrive is central to our
mission. From securing funding for
farmers through the New York State
Farmland Protection Program
(see page 6) to finding ways to put
fallow land back into production,
CLC sees the value in supporting
agriculture as a means of conserving
our landscapes.
Community Resource
Towns throughout the county are
examining what they can do to
help shape the future of their communities.
In almost every case,
community surveys reflect that
what people like and want to maintain
about their towns is the rural
character, farms, and open spaces.
Our staff is frequently called upon
to share perspectives and insights
on approaches municipalities can
employ to retain the desired land
use patterns. CLC will continue to
promote sound land use planning
and practices that will help communities
guide growth so as to be
compatible with the conservation
of the natural resources the county’s
farms and wildlife depend on.
In response to the community
feedback we received during the
strategic planning process, CLC will
be stepping up its communication
with our members and the general
public. We will be looking for new
opportunities to learn what the
conservation needs of the community
are and to broaden public
awareness of what CLC has to offer.
This is just a brief overview of the
highpoints of CLC’s strategic plan
for the next three years. As the goals
and objectives of this plan are implemented
in the coming months, it is
the feedback we receive from local
leaders in farming, town and county
government, conservation, and our
membership that will guide our
efforts to save the farms, forests,
and landscapes that make Columbia
County so special.
S T R A T E G I C P L A N U P D A T E
Conservation easements give landowners the ability to create a lasting conservation plan for their land.
3) They do not prohibit all development. A limited
number of residential buildings, including supporting
structures (e.g., recreational buildings, guest
houses, tennis courts, agricultural structures,
garages, storage sheds, swimming pools, etc.) may
be allowed. Future development is located to minimize
any negative impact on the land resources
6) The Conservancy staff and Board will maintain
confidentiality. All easement negotiations are confidential
unless the landowner requests that we
inform identified individuals in the community.
The easement becomes public knowledge after it is
completed and filed at the County Clerk’s office.
Support Local Conservation: Become a member.
Conservation in Columbia County is at a critical point. CLC has the opportunity to expand its role supporting
the conservation vision of the community. With the support of our members, we will continue to serve
as a conservation resource for Columbia County; hosting 175 free outdoor education programs, providing
access to 3,000 acres of scenic natural areas, and accepting and stewarding conservation easements for private
landowners while implementing exciting new initiatives under our strategic plan. For information on becoming
a member, please contact Marcia Cary at 518-392-5252 ext. 202, or email Marcia@clctrust.org.
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E D U C A T I O N & E V E N T S
Join Us for the 18th Annual “Unshad” Country Barbecue
For the past 18 years, every Memorial Day weekend,
CLC’s members and supporters have gathered to celebrate
rural land protection and enjoy good music, food,
and friends. On May 25th, the event will return to
Kinderhook Farm, where grass-fed beef is
raised on 817 acres of protected land. Loyal
attendees will notice a few changes to this
year’s events from past few years. For one
we are calling the event “Unshad” and
won’t be serving the shad or the roe.
Why “Unshad”
The Shad Bake without shad Well, it’s
true. In recent years, the number of adult
shad harvested from the Hudson has
declined by nearly 70 percent. The NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation
has instituted emergency shad fishing
regulations in hopes of reversing this serious
decline in the Hudson River’s shad
population. In an effort to do its part to help the shad
fisheries in the Hudson Valley recover, CLC has chosen
not to serve shad at the Country Barbecue.
We will, however, be serving a variety of farm fresh
food from local producers. CLC is proud to be a partner
in the Columbia County Bounty program, which serves
PLATINUM
Columbia Historic Homes
Metz Wood Harder
GOLD
Local 111 Restaurant
SILVER
Ed Herrington, Inc.
Gabel Real Estate
McTeigue & McClelland Jewelers
Old Chatham Sheepherding Company
May 25th is the date
for this year’s Country
Barbecue.
as a resource for both farmers and consumers looking
to make local food connections. For more information
on where you can find local foods, visit www.columbiacountybounty.com.
Entertainment and Activities
We’ve lowered the ticket price this year as
much as we can to encourage more people
to come and share in the experience.
Children will enjoy a variety of hands-on
activities including a petting farm, live
bird demonstration, kite flying, and many
other activities. Adults can participate in
demonstrations such as fly tying, stone
arch building, blacksmithing, and much
more. There will not be a silent auction this
year, but the band Too Blue will return to
provide great bluegrass and swing music
you can dance to. So put on some sturdy
shoes and come out and enjoy the party.
For information on tickets and a complete list
of activities and sponsors, visit our website at
www.clctrust.org or call 518-392-5252.
A special thanks to all the local businesses and
individuals who have contributed to the 18th Annual
Country Barbecue (as of April 11, 2008):
BRONZE
A.T. Promotional Designs
The Bank of Greene County
The Circa 1799 Barn
Columbia Tractor, Inc.
Country Gentleman Real Estate
Hawthorne Valley Association
Hudson Valley Appraisal Corp
Katchkie Farm/Sylvia Center
Kinderhook Bank
The Kinderhook Group, Inc.
LaVelle and Finn, LLP
MBH Farms
Park Row Art Gallery
Rapport, Meyers, Whitbeck, Shaw
and Rodenhausen, Attorneys
Richmor Aviation, Inc.
Ruges GMC
Taconic
Vico Restaurant and Bar
Windy Hill Farm, Inc
Participants in CLC’s education programs have the opportunity to visit our public conservation areas and learn more about the natural
resources they protect. CLC offers a variety of weekend and evening programs that are open to the public, free of charge.
Upcoming Programs
CLC’s free outdoor education programs reach over
3,500 children, adults and seniors, providing the opportunity
for people of all ages to connect with nature,
explore the rural landscapes around them, and learn
about land stewardship, forestry, and agriculture.
FATHER’S DAY FISHING
Sunday, June 15th - 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm. at the
Schor Conservation Area
Join us for our annual Father’s Day Fishing event.
This catch and release program is a great way to learn
how to fish or develop your fishing skills.
WATER CHESTNUT: TAKE IT OUT BEFORE IT
TAKES OVER!
Friday, June 27th-10:00 a.m. – 2:00 pm. at the Schor
Conservation Area
Saturday, June 28th - 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the
Ooms Conservation Area at Sutherland Pond
The densely growing water chestnut can effectively
choke a body of water. Come join us for an educational
program and workday on the water as we remove this
non-native, invasive species.
CLC partnered with Claudia and Conrad Vispo of the Farmscape
Ecology Program to explore some of the County’s public lands.
E D U C A T I O N & E V E N T S
FARM ECOLOGY WALKS
First Saturday of the month June through October
2 p.m. at the Hawthorne Valley Farm Store.
Hosted by Hawthorne Valley’s Farmscape Ecology
Program, CLC a proud to co-sponsor this series which
will examine the variety of flora and fauna at
Hawthorne Valley Farm. For information on this series
call (518) 781-0243 or e-mail fep@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.
All programs are free of charge thanks to support from
the T. Backer Fund, the Mellam Family Foundation,
and hundreds of individual supporters. For more information
contact Jenny Brinker at 518-392-5252 ext. 210
or jenny@clctrust.org.
Kinderhook Farm will host this year’s 18th annual Country Barbecue which will offer entertainment and exhibitions for people of
all ages. Local foods will be the centerpiece of this annual celebration of conservation and working landscapes in Columbia County.
Building nest boxes for Bluebirds has become a spring tradition
at CLC. This year, 45 participants including two scouting groups
spent an afternoon at our workshop. People can either bring
their boxes home or donate them to be placed at one of our
public conservation areas.
10
11

CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
SPRING/SUMMER/2008/CONSERVANCY NEWS
P U B L I C L A N D S
What’s New at Our Public Lands
Public Conservation Areas (PCAs) are properties that
CLC owns or manages for public access. Free of charge,
these sites are open year-round, from dawn to dusk, for
hiking, bird watching, cross country skiing, and fishing.
We use these properties as outdoor classrooms for our
education programs, and they provide important wildlife
habitat. Trail maps and directions to each of our
PCAs can be found on our website, www.clctrust.org.
As part of his bequest to CLC, former trustee Jon Schor donated
142 acres of beautiful woodlands to become a public conservation
area. Two volunteer workdays are scheduled with a goal of
formally opening the property to the public this year.
CLC’s public lands are maintained by our Public Lands Crew-
Pete, Pres, and Piers. They manage nearly 2,000 publicly accessible
acres with 16.5 miles of hiking trails throughout the county.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers contribute hundreds of hours each year to
help us protect what is important to the community.
Contributions range from outdoor work building trails
and conservation area improvements, to providing
professional services and legal assistance, to assisting
with educational programs.
Each year CLC partners with members of the Columbia County
Sportsmen’s Federation who volunteer their time to help coordinate
the hunting lottery for the Greenport Conservation Area.
High deer populations are threatening the health of the herd
which are overgrazing the understory of the woodlands.
CLC IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
FOR THE FOLLOWING TRAIL DAYS:
May 3rd
HAND HOLLOW CONSERVATION AREA
New Lebanon
June 7th
SCHOR CONSERVATION AREA - Canaan
June 27th and 28th
HAND HOLLOW - New Lebanon
invasive plant removal
July 12th
GREENPORT CONSERVATION AREA - Greenport
August 2nd
HIGH FALLS CONSERVATION AREA - Philmont
September 13th
GREENPORT CONSERVATION AREA - Greenport
October 4th
SCHOR CONSERVATION AREA - Canaan
November 1st
BORDEN’S POND CONSERVATION AREA - Ghent
Please join us in thanking the following volunteers for
making a difference in our community by donating
their time to land conservation. (This list includes
those who have volunteered from October 1, 2007 to
April 8, 2008).
PCA Assistance
Peter Blandori
Mike Brenner
Arlene Brown
Elisabeth Grace
David Haines
Marty Helmer
Joanne Klein
Pat Liddle
Bernadette Orr
Brin Quell
Sheila Rourke
Wendy Power Spielmann
Rebecca Stowe
Ray Tillman
Sue Trevellyan
Office Assistance
John Bickerton
Eva Barham
Arlene Brown
Sean Cummings
Lucy Eldridge
Elisabeth Grace
Deirdre Leland
Bernie Orr
Charlene Paden
Frank Rhyner
Susan Wendelboe
Otter Vispo
Professional/Business
Services
Concra Appraisal
Associates
David Crawford,
Crawford Engineering
Wendell F. Cook
Home Inspections
Ron Davis, Sr.
Al DeKray
Flint Law Firm
Jane Ellen Hamilton
Hudson River
Tractor Company
Rapport, Meyers,
Whitbeck, Shaw &
Rodenhausen, LLP
Mark Twentyman
Jim Waterhouse
V O L U N T E E R S
Sigel-Kline Kill Update: With the support of 90 community
members, CLC met a $40,000 anonymous challenge grant,
leveraging a dollar for dollar match. As a result, we have just
$50,000 left to raise for improvements prior to opening the site
to the public. Call our office at 518-392-5252 to find out how
you can help.
With funding from the Berkshire Taconic Community
Foundation’s Quailwood Fund, CLC will create a parking area
and informational kiosk at the trailhead for the Schor
Conservation Area in Canaan.
Cedar bridges add a rustic feel to the new “yellow” trail as it
winds south from the entrance kiosk to a spectacular Hudson
River overlook.
Visit our website at www.clctrust.org to find out
more about upcoming volunteer opportunities
or to fill out our volunteer information form.
You can also contact our volunteer coordinator,
Marcia Cary, at 518-392-5252 ext. 202 or
marcia@clctrust.org.
Noah O’Leary from Boy Scout Troop #102 of Hudson coordinated
a volunteer work party at the Borden’s Pond Conservation
Area. About a dozen scouts along with their leaders constructed
a cedar bridge crossing a stream on the trail.
12
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CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
SPRING/SUMMER/2008/CONSERVANCY NEWS
O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L N E W S
New Staff Build
Organizational Capacity
Nancy H. Goody joined
the Columbia Land
Conservancy staff in
early April as the organization’s
first Development
Officer. Nancy will
focus her efforts on
major donor work with
the staff and board, as
well as overseeing events
and membership efforts.
She will work closely
Nancy Goody
with the communications
staff to help bring more awareness of CLC’s efforts
to the public.
Nancy joins CLC with 13 years of wide-ranging
fundraising experience. She has served as the chief
development officer at non-profit organizations in
Ithaca, New Paltz, and Albany, including the
Paleontological Research Institution, the Mohonk
Preserve, and Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.
“Working at the Columbia Land Conservancy gives
me the opportunity to bring my fundraising expertise
to an organization directly aligned with my beliefs and
interests,” remarked Goody. “I grew up exploring the
woods and riverside in the Hudson Valley. My family
treasured open spaces and the natural world, and
passed that respect on to me. Now I can do the same
for others.”
Prior to her development work, Nancy had a career
in historic preservation. She holds a bachelor of arts
from Clark University in geography and a master of
science in historic preservation from Columbia
University’s school of Architecture and Planning. In
the early 1980s, she was the first director of technical
assistance for Historic Albany Foundation.
She and her husband,GreggBell,liveinAlbany.
David Diaz was hired in
March as the new Land
Protection Manager.
David lives with his wife
in Ellenville (Ulster
County) where he is
currently a member of
the Ellenville Planning
Board. David spent the
last 4½ years with Scenic
Hudson as part of their
Land Protection Team
David Diaz
and was responsible for
their conservation easement management program.
Prior to that he worked for eight years as the Natural
Resources Supervisor with the Prospect Park Alliance
in Prospect Park (Brooklyn).
David earned his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental
Science from the SUNY College of Environmental
Science and Forestry in Syracuse. He grew up north of
Syracuse in the Town of Clay.
“I am excited to be working for CLC,” commented
Diaz. “Columbia County reminds me of Onondaga
County, where I grew up in central New York.”
David will be working on new land protection projects
and implementing an outreach program designed
to provide useful land management information to
landowners whose land the Conservancy has already
protected with conservation easements.
Ways to Help!
There are a number of ways you can help protect
the county’s rural heritage and provide public
open spaces for future generations:
• Volunteer – help out at public conservation
area workdays, during special events, and with
membership mailings
• Protect your land – ensure your property will
be available for limited residential development,
agriculture, forestry and wildlife habitat
• Become a member – over 80% of our program
support comes from our membership
• Host neighborhood gatherings – these gettogethers
allow interested landowners to talk
about conservation opportunities in their area
• Donate a tradeland – The Conservancy accepts
donations of a wide variety of property and
other appreciated assets to enhance its
conservation efforts throughout the county.
Please contact Nancy Goody at 518-392-5252
ext. 204 or email nancy@clctrust.org or more
information on ways you can help.
The Renovation and Restoration of 49 Main Street
After a year of sawdust, paint and spackle, the first phase of renovations of our office at 49 Main Street are nearly
complete. Our staff is very pleased with the results that have yielded a pleasant workspace as well as new public
meeting spaces, finished with environmental friendly materials. With partial funding from the New York State
Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and the Hudson River Bank and Trust Community Foundation, CLC is poised to
begin phase two which will focus on the restoration of the exterior of the building. If you would like to contribute
towards the final $44,000 needed for our building fund, contact Peter Paden at 518-392-5252 ext 213 or peterpaden@clctrust.org.
With the interior renovations nearly complete, CLC will begin
work on the exterior of the building this summer. If you would
like to contribute, contact Peter Paden at 518-392-5252 ext 213.
Improvements to CLC’s offices included creating a ground floor
conference room to provide an accessible meeting space for
CLC and other community groups.
Leave a Lasting Gift to Conservation:
Planned Giving Enhances Local Land Conservation Efforts
A planned gift to CLC will be of great assistance to our
efforts to help the people of Columbia County protect
the lands we all treasure.
You can join a growing
number of people who have
established living legacies
through their Wills with the
following language:
“I give to the Columbia
Land Conservancy, a New
York nonprofit corporation,
having its principal offices at
49 Main Street, P.O. Box 299,
Chatham, NY 12037, the
sum of $____ (or alternately,
____% of my estate) for its
general purposes (or for a
specific project that you
have discussed with a CLC
staff person).”
We can also work with you
and your legal and financial
advisors to create a charitable
remainder trust (CRT) that
will allow you to receive a tax
deduction the year of your
donation and receive the
CLC relies on the support of many individuals. Your
support will enable us to provide conservation services
throughout Columbia County.
income from your gift during your lifetime, with the
remainder directed to CLC, or to create a charitable
lead trust (CLT), in which the
income is directed to CLC
during your lifetime and the
trust property passes on to
your heirs.
The generosity of individuals
who have donated land for
resale as part of our Tradeland
Program has played a key role
in the extraordinary success of
the Columbia Land Conservancy.
The Conservancy
accepts donations of a wide
variety of property and other
appreciated assets to enhance
its conservation efforts
throughout the county.
If you would like to discuss
these or other planned giving
options so that you can play a
central role in the long-term
protection of locally important
lands, please contact Peter
Paden at 518-392-5252 ext.
213 or peterpaden@clctrust.org.
O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L N E W S
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15

CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
SPRING/SUMMER/2008/CONSERVANCY NEWS
V I T A L S U P P O R T
16
The Board of Trustees and staff of the Columbia Land Conservancy would like to extend our sincerest thanks to
everyone who made contributions to the Conservancy since our last newsletter. Reflected below are contributions
received between October 1st, 2007 and March 31st, 2008. Every effort has been made to produce an accurate listing
of supporters of the Conservancy. Please contact Lauren Haberland at 392-5252 ext. 214 or lauren@clctrust.org
to note any changes for the next issue of Conservancy News. CLC is pleased to report that we have 100% board
giving during each year.
LEGACY CLUB DONORS
VISIONARY $25,000 & ABOVE
Michael and Barbara Polemis
SUSTAINER $10,000 TO $24,999
Anonymous
Lowell Johnston and Frances Olivieri
Ronald E. Logue
and Kathleen M. McGillycuddy
Gregory Long and Scott Newman
Caroline and Guy Merison
Peter and Charlene Paden
CONSERVATOR $5,000 TO $9,999
Anonymous
Glenn H. Epstein
Mimi and David Forer
Marilyn, Allan, and Madeleine Glick
Alice and Richard Gochman
The Griffin Family
Madeline and Ian Hooper
James E. Johnson Jr.
Stephen P. Schaible and Daron S. Builta
Judy and Marty Scherzer
GUARDIAN $1,000 TO $4,900
Anonymous (4)
Kevin and Mary Albert
Robin D. Andrews and Chris Lastovicka
Amy and Bradford Barr
Susan and Arthur Bassin
Drs. Saida and Sherwood Baxt
Matthew and Elissa Bernstein
Bill Stratton Building Co.
Paul and Lauren Blum
Walter and Besse Craigie
Margaret Davidson
Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster
Kristin Gamble and Charles Flood
Robert and Rae Gilson
Marc I. Gross and Susan Ochshorn
John C. and Chara C. Haas
Warren L. Habib and Alexis P. Walker
Tim Hosking and Audrey Sokoloff
Rachel E. Hyman
and Gentry Prescott Rouse
Michael Irwin
Lea and Jay Iselin
Ann M. Israel
Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation
Sharon Kaufman
Cindy and Jim Kuster
Bob and Marilyn Laurie
Mark A. and Ellen Levy
MBH Farm
Andrew and Courtney McDonnell
James and Lyn McFarland
The McGraw-Hill Companies
Mr. and Mrs. Emil Meltz Jr.
Mill Hill Farm, Inc.
Adelia Moore and Tom Gerety
Henry and Sue Neale
Sharon Pearson and Michael Rietbrock
Seth Rosenberg and Catherine Lebow
Brian and Lindsay Shea
Gretchen Stearns
and Richard Weininger
Bill Sussman
Bill Zifchak and Maggie Evans
DONORS
BENEFACTOR $500 TO $999
Anonymous (2)
Jeffrey Glen and Rosina Abramson
Colan Anderson
Bank of America
Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Berg
Alan and Susan Bowers
Laura and Robert Bradford
Peter Brest
Randy M. Correll and Paul F. Occhiputi
David de Weese
Alison Fox and Zach Feuer
Meyer and Florence Frucher
Thomas Goldsworthy
and Stephen Futrell
John and Ila Gross
Philip M. Herrera
William Hibsher and Richard Orient
Marissa and Edward Hoe
Robert and Susan Ihlenburg
William and Mary Janeway
Maureen Killackey and Bruce Pinkernell
Ellen T. Kirch and Kate Bartley
Eric Lane and Joyce Talmadge
Lael M. Locke
Robert and Linda O'Mara
Joseph Pierson
Bonnie Podolsky and Doug Rich
John and Anne Pope
Terry Porter
Barbara Reisman and Eric Scherzer
Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Jr.
Diana Steele and Eric Heyer
Adele and George Wailand
Julia and Nigel Widdowson
Martin and Lisa Zaretsky
PROTECTOR $250 TO $499
Anonymous (3)
Lynn Ahrens and Neil Costa
Stewart Alpert
Dan and Marie Bernadett
Mr. and Mrs. Bitel
Kamala Brush and Lucy Baruch
Gale and Judy Bury
Al and Brenda Butzel
Richard W. Charnoff
Columbia Cafe Company
Kevin and Jean Decker
Gary Delemeester and Jeffrey Daly
John, Patricia and Michael Duffy
Benjamin Feldman and Frances Stern
Julie Fenster
Susan H. Fisher
Judi Francis and Roy Sloane
David K. Freeman
Max and Elisabeth G. Gitter
Michael and Anne B. Golden
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
John Graham and Lorin Lear
Jean D. Hamilton
and Richard N. McCarthy
Jane Hassler
David and Susan Hills
Jan Hopkins and Richard Trachtman
Randy and Eric Hustvedt
IBM Corporation
Sibyl Jacobson
Michael Jakob and Melanie Weston
James Romanchuk & Sons, Inc.
Barbara and Warren Johnson
Marion and Irwin Kaplan
Katchkie Farm
James and Marcia Kelly
Robert Kettenmann and Marilyn Wiles-
Kettenmann
The Kinderhook Group, Inc.
Lorraine Coyle Koppell
and G. Oliver Koppell
Sharon Kirkorian and John Debes
Alison and John Lankenau
Nina and Tim Lannan
Deborah E. Lans
James E. Lieber
David and Lauren Lieberman
Braddock B. Linsley
May and William Louie
Deborah Melamed and Vicki Passman
Deborah Mintz
Richard Morrill
Dr. and Mrs. Joel Moses
Ingegerd Mundheim
Jeffrey Murdock
Lesley Oelsner and Lew Kaplan
Marilyn Oser
Ann Patman and Thomas Neufeld
Petersen Geller Spurge, Inc.
Judith and Richard Phelan
Grant and Alice Platt
Rita Putnam and Jed Wheeler
Alden Y. Warner III
Richard and Tracie Rosen
Richard P. Rubinstein
and Katherine Kolbert
Barbara and Earl W. Schultz
Linda Schupack and David Good
Jack Shainman
Singerman and Post
Taconic Farms, Inc.
Carol M. Ublacker
Mario and Donna Verna
George H. Vollmuth and Janet Langlois
Edward and Vivian Wachsberger
Alan Wanzenberg
Maria and Walter B. Whitcher
Bob and Leah Wilcox
Charles and Joanne Young
CONTRIBUTOR $100 TO $249
Anonymous (8)
Stuart Abrams and Caroline Downey
Brenda Archer Adams
Judi and Andy Adler
Michael Adlerstein
Kathleen and Frank Albert
American Express Foundation
Ted Ansbacher and Barbara Nash
Architectural Bureau
Karen and Jeffrey Arp-Sandel
John Ashbery and David Kermani
Joseph and Margaret S. Atkinson
Peter and Faye Auld
Austerlitz Historical Society
Arthur Baker and Jacqueline Wilder
Bob Balcom
Karen and Sy Balsen
Rose Barer and John Lach
Daniel Bauman
Mr. and Mrs. John Beauchamp
Larry and Carol Biernacki
Peter Blandori
Walter Blank
Evelyn Bolwell and Dr. Paul Grandsire
Sara S. Brandston
Mike Brenner and Joanne Klein
Shirley and Martin Bresler
Ms. Sally R. Brody
Drs. Ken Bromberg
and Philippa Gordon
Joe and Sue Browdy
Arlene M. Brown
James and Lucinda Buckley
Anthony Calnek and Linda Sugin
George Carmel and Margaret Jacobs
Katy Cashen
Meg and Jim Cashen
Peter Cervi and George Zeno
Claverack Housing Ventures, LLC
Anthony R. Concra
Courtney Costello and Ned Benkert
Crossley-Redmond Realty, LLC
Amy Davis
Nan and Richard Davis
Daniel DeKimpe
Kevin Delahanty
Margaret della Cioppa
DePreter DeSigns
Sally J. Dessloch and Allan R. Cox
Jeremy Dodd and David Ruede
Robin Dropkin
Constance Duhmel
Cornelius and June Dwyer
E.C. Contracting
Rabbi Judith Edelstein and James Meier
Jane Ehrlich
Jeremy and Amy Epstein
Henry N. Eyre Jr.
Face Stockholm
Patricia Falk
Diane K. Fenton
Financial Security Assurance, Inc.
Joan Fitzgerald
Eva and John Francis
Marty Friedman and Sarah Allen
Max Friedman and Thomas Romich
Christine Friello-Ryan
Georgene Gardner
Martha H. Garvey
General Electric Foundation
Ms. Mimi Gingold
and Mr. Al Gerhardstein
Marla and Gary Gidlow
Chris and Sarah Gilbert
Steven Gilborn and Karen Halverson
Mr. Howard L. Gleason Sr.
Harriet Goldberg
I. Michael Goodman and Judith Uman
Linda Gottesman
Lee Gould
Fayal Greene and David Sharpe
Ms. Rebecca Greer
David and Joan Grubin
Maggie Hand-Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hartman
Don and Carol Hegeman
Harry Heleotis
Dr. and Mrs. Paul Herzberg
Susan and Pavel Hillel
Lara and Matt Hitchcock
Peter E. Hobday
Dassie and Arthur Hoffman
IBM Corporation
George and Karen Jahn
Jan Hird Pokorny Associates, Inc.
William and Mary Janeway
Carla Jenkins
Jennifer and Erick Johnson
Peter Jung
Gloria and Mike Kadish
David Kassel and Michelle Conrad
Erna Kauffman
Ken and Chris Kehrer
Joan C. Kelly
Jennifer T. Kennedy
and Nicholas Raposo
Kinderhook Bank
Dave King and Franklin Tartaglione
The Kleinstein Family
Jeff and Donna Knight
William and Mary Koch
David Konigsberg
Jack and Marian Krauskopf
Annik LaFarge and Ann Godoff
Peggy Lampman and Ian Nitschke
Joyce and Jim Lapenn
Paul and Elizabeth Lardi
Ann Lauterbach
Miles Cary Leahey
and Patricia C. Mosser
Deirdre Leland and Frank Rhyner
Mark and Jill Leinung
Patricia Liddle and Martin Helmer
Lippera's Bistro and Tavern
Paul and Barbara Lusman
Jane and David Mack
Don and Marnie MacLean
Marilyn and Arthur Margon
Elizabeth T. Martin
Jim McCabe
Barbara McCullough
Michael and Joyce McGovern
James A. McKay
Lockhart McKelvy and Ken Wright
Kevin and Anne McKenna
Linda and Dan McNeill
Jonathan and Jane Meigs
Deborah Melamed and Vicki Passman
Ilse Melamid
Robert Mellman
Don and Terry Meltz
Russell Miller
Melanie and Norman Mintz
Robert Murdock and Dez Ryan
Dr. Thomas and Michele Levin Naidich
Anne and Victor Navasky
Rose Marie Nehrig
Joyce Nereaux and Gerald Moore
New Bristol Farm
Margaret E. O'Neil
Martin E. Parker
Michael and Pat Peskoe
Pfizer Foundation
Matching Gifts Program
Joseph Pierson
Martin C. Ping
Mr. Stephen M. Poppel
Chris and Jenny Post
Wendy Power Spielmann
and Gary Spielmann
Mary L.B. Rankin
Dan and Maxine Rapoport
Kristina Reichenbach
Renate F. Reiss
Jay Rohrlich and Patti Matthews
Carole Roseman
Deirdre and Alfred J. Ross
Roxbury Farm, LLC.
Ernest Rubenstein
and Tova Friedlen Usdan
Harvey and Constance Rubin
Roberta Bernstein
Gilbert P. Schafer, III
Paul and Phyllis Schlesinger
George and Theresa Schnepf
Karen and Steve Schutzer
Michael Schwab
Richard L. Schwartz
Ellen Kay Schwartz
and Edward M. Spiro
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred L. Scott
Joel Seaman
Russell and Frances Selby
Lori Selden and Mark Young
Richard and Ann Lewis Seltzer
Donald Sheff
Robert and Laurie Winfrey Shnayerson
Peter Silverman and Janet Heettner
Ann Freney Simmons
Barbara and Edwin Simonsen
Camilla Smith and Martin Kenner
Janis Smythe
Joy and Michael Solomon
Chester Stark and Roberta Reynes
Robert B. Stecker Jr.
The Steeves and Sklar Family
Mary and Brad Stein
Lowell Steinbrenner
Linda Stillman and Steven Finley
Stoddard-Truslow
Denise and Davin Stowell
Eugenie Sullivan
Fritz and Dorthea Sulzer
T. Rowe Price
Associates Foundation, Inc.
Patrick and Valerie Thaddeus
Ray Tillman and Brin Quell
Mr. and Mrs. Courtland W. Troutman
Glen and Janet Tryson
UBS Matching Gift Program
Van and Tina Van De Water
Gregory Vogler and David Highfill
John Wapner and Cynthia Bobseine
Mary Warlick
Alden Y. Warner III
Robert Weber
Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Weil
Mr. Francis M. Weld M.D.
Noel Werrett and Rosemary Werrett
Donald Westlake
Henry and Linda Whiteman Family
William Morris Agency, LLC
Eric and Evelyn Wilska
Wings Travel Services
Terry and Hendel Winters
Nancy Wolf and Charles Sims
Margaret M. Wormley
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
John and Mary Young
Jim Zarroli and Bart Ziegler
Jeff Zimmerman
MEMBER $25 TO $99
Anonymous (18)
Albert West Art and Antiques
Frank F. Ambrosio
Matilda Ammendolea
Animal Care Clinic
David and Susanne Appel
Apple Hill Farm Dressage Center
Janine Ardohain
Jay Aronson
Pam Banks
Matthew and Maryhannah Barberi
Donna Barrett
Andy and Paige Bart
Nancy Lord Beal
Jane Beaven
Robert and Marcia Becker
Anita C. Bjork
Steve Blair
Daniel and Sally Block
Arlene Boehm and Jack Harrell
Jens and Spee Braun
Lynda Brenner
Ralph Brill
Paul M. Brown
Jerry and Joan Bucci
Ruth Buchholz
Paul Buckhurst and Maria Oliveira
Barbara Bullock
Paul and Jennifer Burghardt
Carol and Drannon Buskirk
Julie and Ian Cadenhead
Jim and Anita Cartin
George and Lillian Cavallero
Cegielski / Tosler Family
Terry Cerezola
John Chinchar
Thomas Cirocco
Drs. Audrey and John Clarkin
Gregory Coccetti
Russ Cohen
Raymond Coll
H. Jon Collins
Columbia County
Sportsmen's Federation
Eric Corbett and Nancy Williams
Cynthia Craig-Olds
and Benjamin Greeley
Douglas Culhane
Thomas and Alyson Dachelet
Ann Davidson
Chet and Deborah Davis
Terry and Pam DeGeyter
Joseph Dembo
Joe Deyo
Nancy B. Dill
B. Docktor
Stuart Dods
Charles D. Donohue
Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Duckworth III
Doug Dudfield
Dutch Desserts, Inc.
Erin Edwards and Scott Stackpole
Lucy R. Eldridge
Robert and Cecelia Elinson
John and Ann Marie Farrell
Eugene Fasano
Richard and Susan Mills Feenstra
John Fenn
Mark Fitzsimmons
Rao and Frances Gaddipati
George N. Hoover, IV Excavating
Germantown Garden Club
Charles and Mary Joan Gerson
Sheldon and Deanna Gilman
Jessie Gilmer
M. J. Gladstone
Len Gochman
Edward and Linda Godfroy
Adrienne and Lawrence Goldberg
Lora Goldman
Allan and Ruth Goldstein
Elisabeth Grace
Elaine and Arthur Greenberg
Abner Greene
Judy Grunberg
Nancy Hagin
Randall Hahn
Jane and John Hanna, Jr.
David F. Harris Jr.
V I T A L S U P P O R T
17

CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
SPRING/SUMMER/2008/CONSERVANCY NEWS
V I T A L S U P P O R T
18
Alan Hartell
Jeannette E. Herrick
Peter and Diane Hogan
Bill and Judy Hollister
Mary Ellen Holtzman
Kat Houghton and Jen Sassenger
Katharine Houk and Seth Rockmuller
Hudson Garlic
Ruth R. Imber Ph.D
Mrs. Palmer Irving
J. Calle Packaging Films, Inc.
Susan Laird Jervis
Curtis and Jeanette Johnson
Don and Michelle Johnson
Alice and Bob Jones
Jones Family Farms, LLC.
Julie Kabat
Sara Kahn and Margaret Gearity
Drs. Nathaniel and Ruth Karush
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Keating
Deborah Keehn
Harry Kendall and Joan Krevlin
Catharine Kennedy
Timothy Kennelty
Mitchell and Elaine Khosrova
David King
Sandra Kingsbury
and Theodore Timreck
Pamela B. Kline
Reinhold and Geraldine Kluge
Charles Knauss
Steven and Barbara Kolodny
Charlotta Kotik
Lydia and Bernie Kukoff
L. Kanner Flooring Systems, Inc.
Lenore Ladenheim
The Laing Family
Ed LaMance and Ken Silver
Mr. Robert J. Lambert
Cari Lang
Agnes and Tony LaSalvia
Dr. and Mrs. Cavin P. Leeman
Gary Leggett
G. Lehan
Dennis and Marjorie Lenz
Karen Levine and Alan Gelb
Ellen Winner and David Lewis
Lucy Liben
Little Seed Gardens
Maria and Henry Livingston
Bob Loyche / Main Care Energy
Judith Luhmann
Dan and Clellie Lynch
Lynden B. Chase Land Surveyor
Greg Macosko and Sharon Zane
Deborah Maine and Lynne Stevens
Karen Malina and David Levow
Anthony Manto
Charlene Marchand
Robert and Doris Martino
Rebecca McBride and Robet Gruber
Jim and Catherine McHugh
Barry and Sara McWilliams
Suzanne Michael Ph.D
Dr. Albert Miller
Gary and Kathleen Millett
William Moore
Ruth A. Moser
Mountain View Animal Hospital
Ginny and Steve Nightingale
Alan Nisselson
John Norton
Mark O'Berski and Michael Minchak
Susan and Faruk Ortabas
Thomas and Karen Palchanis
Carol Peckham
Barbara Peduzzi
Laura and Eric Perlman
Marsha Powell
Anne M. Primavera
and Louis Primavera
Peter and Elizabeth Puchner
Abby Rand and Robert Hollingsworth
Patsy P. Ray
Michael Roland and Lynn Rothenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert G. Roleke III
Shelia Rorke
Steven A. Rosen
Victoria Rosenwald
and Daniel Esterman
Robert and Stephanie Ross
Drs. Julia and Albert Rothenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Merritt Safford
Margaret Saliske
Claudia Samowitz
Alex Schneider
Kathryn J. Schneider
Rachel and Steffen Schneider
Charles and Lucy Scholpp
Roald and Beverly Schopp
Carolyn and Bill Schroth
Ruth and Tom Sedlock
Peter Siegfried
Guy Sliker
Cynthia and Jeremy Smith
Diane Smook and Bob Peduzzi
Ann Songayllo
Larry L. Steele
Marjori and Peter Stoll
Rebecca G. Stowe
Susan G. Baer, CPA PC
Kathryn Szoka
Jane V. Talcott
Henry Tepper and Jane Henoch
William O. Thomas
Ellen Thurston
Dee Ann Veeder and Robert Wohlfeld
Village Green Properties, LLC
Mr. and Mrs. R. Vincini
Dr. David William Voorhees
David and Tina Weisenfeld
Anne and Steven Weisholtz
Susan Wendelboe
Dolores and John Winkler
Ruth and George Wittlinger, Sr.
Stephen B. and Judy B. Wood
Margot Yondorf
Darrin, Kelly & Dylan Zempko
Fred and Micki Zucker
FRIEND UNDER $25
Anonymous (2)
Anne Carriere and Bill Leicht
Al and Stevie Clementes
Peggy Sowle
GIFTS IN HONOR OF
Marc Barrie Moorer
Barbara Barrie
William Evan Moorer
Barbara Barrie
Sheldon Evans
Diana Evans Berman
Cavin Leeman
Eve and Harry First
Peter R. Paden's Birthday
Phil and Barbara Karmel
GIFTS IN MEMORY OF
Joseph Lettieri
Lucy Lettieri
Rosie Sherman
Amy Davis
Henry Staats Sharp
Katherine Sharp Borgen
John Szarkowski
Philip Rickey
HAND HOLLOW CONSERVATION
AREA IMPROVEMENTS
Ronald E. Davis, Sr.
N. Richard and Monique Gershon
Andrew Rosenthal and Shari Levine
SIEGEL-KLINE KILL
CONSERVATION AREA
Anonymous
Bank of America
Avelina Bardwell
Amy and Bradford Barr
Barbara Barrie
Dr. Jill Berman
Lauren Brattburd
Tiffeny Cantu and Alfonso Cantu
Alice and David Caputo
Catherine Casey and Stuart Newby
Steve Clearman
Jan and Lloyd Constantine
John R. Cooley
Alice Corbin
Donna Cosenza
Diane K. Davis
Michael Dufficy
Norma Edsall
John Fishman and Jeanne Lunin
Cono and Eileen Fusco
Cheryl Gilbert
Hsinchin Gin
Raymond P. and Marie M. Ginther
Andrew Goodman
Stanley Gotlin and Barry Waldorf
Warren Gran
Ms. Rebecca Greer
Cathy Grier and Michele Steckler
Jean D. Hamilton
and Richard N. McCarthy
Craig Hancock
Ellen and Eric Harris-Braun
M. Hartzband
Heidi Hill, Bob Park and Jacob Park
Nina S. Hill
Francis and Elizabeth Iaconetti
Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Irose
Tony Jones
Elizabeth Kadatz
Sara Kahn and Margaret Gearity
Susan Kargman and Bob Siegel
Andrew Kelman
David Klafter and Nancy Kestenbaum
Kathleen Kosnick
Kersten Kup
Joan Kuster
Deena Lebow and Rodney Greenblat
Jay Lesenger
Lael M. Locke
Bob Loyche / Main Care Energy
Larry and Janie Machiz
Maximum Home and Garden Inc.
Amy McCabe
John McGowan
Jack Meyers
Spencer Moccio
Jason Mogel
Eva Kantor and James C. Morel
Peter Namuth
Robert and Ilene Patrick
John and Janet Piwowarski
Ann Prival and David Greenstein
Brian J. Quinn
Gilbert Raab and Carol Calvin
Venetia Reece
Roger Rosenthal
The Tembeckjian Family
Lisa and Jonathan Sack
Martin Schemer
Peter Schlegel
Scott and Taitia Shelow
Harvey Siegel and Susan Hogan
Shirley C. Siegel
Matthew Sikora
Taconic Research
Archaeological Consultants
Ray Tillman and Brin Quell
Bill and Scotti Tomson
Laurence M. Turk
and Fergus W. O'Brien
Willard and Marion Ulmer
Gary von Bieberstein
Walter and Dorothy Von Bieberstein
Uel and Marion Wade
Jerold Weaver
The Wellspring Foundation
In memory of Diana B. Clark
Jerome Wemitt
Ma'lis and Peter Wendt
Linda and Ralph Zagaria
Ira Zimbler
49 Main Street
Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation
New York State Council on the Arts
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Judy Anderson
Bob Gailbraith
Mellam Family Foundation
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Roy Kirch
Silvanus Lodge
OPERATING ENDOWMENT
Erik C. Esselstyn
GENERAL OPERATING
Birch Swinger Fund
The Educational Foundation of America
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation
The J.M. Kaplan Fund/Joan Davidson
New York State Council on the Arts
T. Backer Berkshire Taconic Fund
CONSERVATION EASEMENT
GRANTORS FROM 1988 TO PRESENT
Nancy E. Abraham
and Colin M.L. Brown
Alan Devoe Bird Club
Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Asbornsen
Frank Assumma and Karen Kaczmar
Andrea Barnet and Christopher White
Arthur and Susan Bassin
Saida and Woody Baxt
Chiara Baxt Gelfand
Rebecca Baxt
Winifred M. Behrens
Frank and Helene Bitel
Robin K. and William L. Blum
Peter R. Borrelli
Gian Andrea Botta
Michael B. and Barbara S. Braunstein
John and Miriam Brush
James E. and Lucinda H. Buckley
Helen Burton
Kimberly and Kurt Butenhoff
Albert and Brenda Butzel
Miles and Lillian Cahn
Susan and David Cathers
Meg and Jim Cashen
Tony and Gail Cashen
Tom and Nancy Clark
J. D. and Denise C. Clayton
Anthony Concra
Lawrence and Marcia Coon
Wesley Coon
Neil Costa and Lynn Ahrens
Max Dannis and Linda Gatter
Joan K. Davidson
Lucio DiTrolio
Ruth Dufault
Peter Dufault
John and Patricia Duffy
Alan and Donna Eckhardt
Betty Ann Engstrom
David A. Emil
and Jennifer Jenkins Crichton
Anne and Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr.
Theodore Feldman and Alice Shedlin
Kenneth and Audrey Ford
Dall and Ana Marie Forsythe
Damanik Realty Trust
Dorothy Fowler
Randall Fried
Elizabeth Gilmore
Max and Elisabeth G. Gitter
Howard L. Gleason, Sr.
Marc and Ilana Green
Margaret and Aden Gokay
Julie Goldweitz and Barry Sirmon
Barbara Gould
Arlene Goranson
Michael and Vanessa Gruen
John and Chara Haas
Joseph and Diane Haley
Hawthorne Valley Association, Inc.
Highland Farms, LLC
Linda Kay Hinchliffe
Hollowville Land Management Inc.
Michael Hosier
Sarah P. Huntington
Indian Ovens, LLC
Philip and Ann Ingalls
Josephine Lea and John Jay Iselin
Lowell Johnston and Frances Olivieri
Stanley and Sally Joseph
Peter L. Keane
Frank Lampman
Helen S. Lampman
Larry Lampman
Walter Allen Lampman
Eric Lane and Joyce Talmadge
Robert and Marilyn Laurie
Dr. Robert Leather
Wayne and Nancy Letourneau
Gregory Long and Scott Newman
Asbjorn Lunde
Mabey Farm, LLC
Marlene Brody Revocable Trust
Vincent and Anne Mai
Anthony Masciarotte
Linda and Dan McNeill
Roger and Jacqueline Miner
Anna Barbara and Roger Mitchell
Mont Vert Properties
Lance Morrow
and Susan Brind-Morrow
James Murray and Eleanor Saunders
The Nature Conservancy,
Eastern New York Chapter
Clarissa and Charles Ortel
A.S. Peabody
Pine Knockin’s Farm
Michael and Barbara Polemis
Poole Hill Farm, LLC
William D. and Judith A. Powers
G. Stewart Ray, M. D.
Renate and Tjark Reiss
George Rickey
David and Margaret McG. Rockefeller
Rothdale Farms Partnership
Jurgen Schnackenberg
Jonathan Schor
Barbara Titus-Schultz and Earl Schultz
Fritz Schwarz
Thomas Schwarz
Evelyn Shaw
Kate Johns Shaw and Jason Shaw
David and Marna Sherman
Silvernails, LLC
Bernard Springsteel and Marcia Pollack
St. Joseph’s Center
Charles Sukenik
Tory Hill Associates
James Tufenkian
Renato and Eleanor Valente
Vivian and Edward Wachsberger
Carl G. Whitbeck, Jr.
and Catherine K. Whitbeck
Robert and Leah Wilcox
Mrs. I.T. Williams
Robert and Barbara Willner
Martin Zaretsky
LAND DONORS
Stewart and Susan Alpert
Beth Bardwell and Jon Holtzman
Thomas W. Bark and Phillip S. Battaglia
Sandi Burrows and Thomas Meacham
Laurence Cherkis and Richard Feintuch
Dr. Sol Cohen
Leslie Cooper
Mitchell Deutsch and Eve Silverman
Richard Gerzof
Stephen Gerzof
Roger Goldman
Emanuel Goldstein, M.D.
Gordon Harris
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hayes
G. Francis and Edna Kuster
Gerald Leach, All Points Realty
Leona B. Mancher
National Wildlife Federation
Mrs. Henrietta Rabe
George Rickey
Salisbury Bank and Trust Company
Estate of Jonathan L. Schor
Robert and Eli Allan Sherwood
Wendy Trefelner and Art Steinhausen
Mrs. Teresa Stier
Mrs. I. T. Williams
“NEXT GENERATION” PROTECTED
PROPERTY OWNERS
The following individuals currently
own property that was previously protected
with a conservation easement.
We thank them for their recognition
of the importance of protected land
and their continued commitment to
land stewardship.
George and Marie Allen
Steven and Susan Anderson
Richard Bitel
Susan Brennan
Andrea Botta
Benjamin Brown
Chris Cashen and Katie Smith
Elizabeth Cashen
Jim and Elise Cashen
Richard Clandorf
Rene and Lisa Deleeuw
Robert and Roxanna Donnelly
David L. Dubrow
East Ancram Farm, LLC
Alan and Judy Fishman
Dennis Gaffney and Kathryn Ray
The George Rickey Foundation/
George Rickey Estate
Wendy Gardner and Fabian Friedland
James and Martha Gevlin
Todd Gitlin
Marita Lindholm Gochman
Ira and Ellen Halfond
Kenneth Hess
Ed and Marissa Celli Hoe
Joseph Holtzman and Carl Skoggard
Cynthia Hoogs
Nathan and Elizabeth Hoogs
Jon and Helen Isherwood
Neil Jensen
Kinderhook Farm, LLC
Patrick LaFrieda
Peggy Lampman
Kenneth and Janet Leshner
Mark and Ellen Levy
Van Mackey
Andre and Melissa Marcou
Mattia Marricco and Giovanni Marricco
Malcolm and Sophie McConnell
Andrew and Courtney McDonnell
John Middlebrooks
Millcreek Productions, Inc.
Millenium Modulars, Inc.
Ted Miner and Lynn Cross
Joseph Monroe and Lindsay Evans
Trevor Moran
Ingegerd Mundheim
John Oleksak and Ronald Carbone
Mario Ontal and Plummy Tucker
Carsten Otto and DeWayne
Steven Paynter and Luz Maria Roman
Jeremy and Iva Peele
John and Valerie Carter Reilly
Peter Reiss
Michael Resnick
Max and Hannah Sayah
Stephen Schaible
Robert Schumer and Ruth Oxenberg
Susan Seidel
Shekomeko Creek Farm, LLC
Michael and Alexandra Shuman
Stone Creek Development
Theodore Tenenzapf
and William Michelotti
Alan Thewless
Richard and Julie Valliere
Jeffery and Beth Walsh
Alan Wanzenberg
Donald and Abby Westlake
Matt and Amber Whiteman
Ann Winsor
James and Jennifer Winter
Eric Wolf
Wonbuddhism of USA, Inc.
Lea Zawatski
V I T A L S U P P O R T
19

CONSERVANCY NEWS/SPRING/SUMMER/2008
Mission Statement
The Columbia Land Conservancy works
with the community to conserve the
farmland, forests, wildlife habitat and
rural character of Columbia County,
strengthening connections between
people and the land.
Vision Statement
The Columbia Land Conservancy will be a dynamic
force in supporting and sustaining a strong and
vibrant rural community, where agriculture plays a
central role in the economy, where development
respects historic traditions and natural resources,
and where there are accessible open spaces and
abundant,healthynatural lands and wildlife habitats.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Michael Polemis, Chair
Brenda Adams, Vice Chair
Wendy Power Spielmann, Vice Chair
Paul Spencer, Vice Chair
Sheldon Evans, Treasurer
Gale Bury, Secretary
Jean-Paul Courtens
Max Dannis
Judith B. Grunberg
Sven Huseby
Don MacLean
Andrew McDonnell
Scott Newman
Ruth Piwonka
Marty Scherzer
STAFF
Peter R. Paden, Executive Director
Heidi Bock, Land Protection Associate
Linda Bolluyt, Land Protection Associate (part-time)
Jennifer Brinker, Environmental Educator
Joyce Carroll, Public Lands Coordinator
Pete Carroll, Public Lands Crew
Marcia Cary, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
Marissa Codey, Senior Land Protection Manager
Tony Colyer-Pendás, Director of Conservation Programs
Tom Crowell, Communications and Outreach Manager
David Diaz, Land Protection Manager
Piers Forestier-Walker, Public Lands Crew Leader
Nancy Goody, Development Officer
Lauren Haberland, Events Coordinator
Prescott Haley, Public Lands Crew
Jessica Holmes, Director of Finance and Administration
Susan Van Tassel, Accounting Coordinator
Emily Warrington, Outreach Associate (part-time)
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