Fall 2008 - Columbia Land Conservancy

volume 18 | number 02 | fall/winter 2008 

Early Morning Mist on Jon’s Pond at the Schor Conservation Area 

www.clctrust.org

CONSERVANCY NEWS | FALL/WINTER/2008 

FALL/WINTER/2008 | CONSERVANCY NEWS 

M E S S A G E F R O M T H E C H A I R 

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 

One of the great strengths of the Columbia Land 

Conservancy is the depth and diversityof our programs. 

Many of the over 1,700 land trusts in the United States 

focus exclusively on accepting and holding conservation 

easements. We believe easements to be a critical 

tool in land conservation and 

have taken over 140 easements, 

protecting 20,190 acres of land. 

Some own or manage one or 

more parcels of land for the 

enjoyment of the public. CLC 

operates seven public conservation 

areas totaling 1,764 acres. 

Many land trusts are solely dedicated 

to farmland protection. 

CLC has negotiated the purchase 

of development rights 

(PDR) of 5,500 acres of farmland 

from active farmers, 

helping them in their efforts 

to continue farming their land. 

Education is an important 

priority for a number of land 

trusts. CLC offers educational 

programs to over 3,500 children 

and adults each year at no cost 

to the participants. A few land trusts promote thoughtful 

land use planning, encouraging development that 

is compatible with sound conservation values. CLC 

has worked with a dozen towns in Columbia County 

on a variety of issues and has on staff a trained landscape 

architect and planner. 

Michael Polemis 

Sometimes we are asked why we have taken on so 

much, why we don’t limit our focus to one or two of 

these areas. We believe that if we are to succeed in our 

mission to conserve and to“connect people to the land” 

they are all important. Easements will help to ensure 

that land with high conservation value will not be 

overdeveloped. A vital and diverse 

farm economy will help sustain the 

working landscapes, woodlots, 

natural habitats and open lands that 

have long characterized this county. 

Our public conservation areas and 

our educational programs strengthen 

peoples’ connection to the land 

and deepen their awareness of the 

importance of conservation. Good 

land planning and practices are 

essential if we hope to ensure that 

this wonderful place that we call 

home will continue to be cherished 

and sustained. 

CLC is viewed as a model within 

the land trust community for the 

breadth and quality of our work. 

All of you who have supported us 

over the years may take pride in 

that. As 2008 draws to a close we 

are all faced with a challenging and uncertain future. 

I know you share my view that the work CLC does has 

never been more important and needs your renewed 

support and if you haven’t joined us yet, now is the 

time. We depend almost entirely on our members to 

fund our work; we can’t do it without you all. 

AND FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Those of us who live in Columbia County are blessed 

to live in an area of exceptional beauty, arguably the 

last place in the Hudson Valley that retains so many of 

the qualities that are our heritage – scenic landscapes, 

sculpted in large part by farm fields and pastures; villages 

and hamlets that are home to many; substantial 

amounts of open, undeveloped land; exceptionally rich 

and varied ecosystems and wildlife habitat. 

We are blessed in another way as 

well: we have the ability to ensure that 

these qualities will endure. Many people 

are working hard to see that that happens. 

No one is working harder than 

the board and staff of CLC. We have 

emerged from our year-long strategic 

planning process, with renewed energy 

and focus, determined to pursue our 

mission on multiple fronts. As illustrated 

by the contents of this issue of our 

newsletter, we are exploring new conservation 

easement and farmland protection 

projects, working with communities across the 

county on a wide array of open space and land use planning 

projects, improving our conservation area network 

and providing environmental and outdoor learning 

experiences to as many people as we can. 

Peter Paden 

Now, as end of the year approaches, our darkened 

winter days are accompanied by a darkened economic 

outlook and resulting uncertainty about our ability to 

move forward with our work. 

The prospect of an economic slow-down brings 

with it a silver lining: we have a little more time to 

put our conservation house in order – to identify the 

land that most needs to be protected from inappropriate 

development, the good farmland that should 

be secured for continued agricultural 

production, the land best suited to 

be a public open space or an ecologically 

sensitive preserve. Our communities 

have a little more time to 

implement good land use practices 

to ensure that development will go 

forward in a manner and in locations 

consistent with the community’s 

vision for its future. 

I’ve heard experienced financial 

hands say it’s a good time to buy when 

the market is down. It’s a great time 

to invest in conservation. I hope that as you reflect on 

the blessings of living in this wonderful place, you’ll 

agree and contribute as generously as you can to help 

us keep our fires burning. 

F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R 

In This Issue: 

4 Legacy Gift - Austerlitz is to gain a new public conservation area 

thanks to the leadership of one committed resident. 

5 Land Protection - A 64-acre parcel is protected in New Lebanon 

and landowners gather to celebrate the protection of 20,000 acres. 

8 Conservation Around the County - A new county-wide 

study will help focus conservation efforts and a Taghkanic farm looks 

to the future with conservation. 

10 New Public Lands - CLC honors the community vision of Jon 

Schor with a new public conservation area in Canaan. 

12 Organizational News - A new hire provides assistance to communities 

and CLC benefits from summer help. 

14 Get Outdoors - See pictures from recent education programs and 

find out about upcoming programs. 

16 Vital Support - Thanks to our volunteers, members and supporters 

for helping support our mission. 

On the Cover: 

The 233-acre Schor Conservation Area 

was formally opened to the public this 

past August. 

The Columbia Land Conservancy is the only land trust dedicated solelyto protecting what makes Columbia County such a special place. 

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C O N S E R VA T I O N P R O J E C T S 

Austerlitz to Benefit 

from Gift to the Community 

Conservation at the community level has been a guiding 

principle at the Columbia Land Conservancy for many 

years. It can take many forms, but all require a common 

ingredient: leadership by individuals from within the 

community. Bob Herron, a life-long resident of Austerlitz 

whose family roots in the community extend back generations, 

exemplifies this type of leadership. 

Recently, Mr. Herron announced his intention, as 

part of his estate planning, to bequeath 39-acres in 

Austerlitz to the Columbia Land Conservancy, as well 

as to endow the expense of taking care of the property. 

“This is an incredible gift to the community, and we 

are delighted that Bob has entrusted us to steward this 

property in the future,” remarked Peter Paden, CLC’s 

Executive Director. 

Located on the west side of Route 22, the property 

is caddy-corner to the Austerlitz Historical Society property, 

another organization that has benefited from 

Herron’s leadership. The property features a large open 

meadow with 1,700 feet of frontage along the Green 

River and a beautiful wooded ridge on the far side of 

the river. According to Mr. Herron’s wishes, the property 

will be managed by CLC as a public conservation 

area. As with all of CLC’s public lands, it will be available 

year-round, free of charge, for non-motorized 

recreational use by everyone. In addition, the historical 

society will have the right to use the field for historical 

re-enactments and other events. 

“The Conservancy has a tremendous reputation in 

our community for its ability to manage land for the 

public. I believe in the future we will see a trend 

towards the re-settlement of our hamlets, and it will 

become increasingly important to have dedicated 

green spaces within walking distance of where people 

live,” Herron stated. “I take comfort in knowing that 

my land will be well cared for and available forever to 

the community I love.” 

Leave a Lasting Gift to Conservation: 

Planned Giving Enhances Local 

Land Conservation Efforts 

We need your help. Together we can establish new 

public conservation areas with miles of trails, protect 

hundreds of acres of farmland, and conserve important 

wildlife habitat. Your gift can make a huge difference 

in our efforts to help the people of Columbia 

County protect the lands we all treasure. You can make 

gifts during your lifetime or in your Will as part of 

your planned giving. 

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).” 

Like Bob Herron, you also can leave a lasting legacy 

to your community. If you would like to discuss this 

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. 

Comprised of the Varney-Ferry Farm and the Kinne Woodlot, these 39-acres in Austerlitz will become a new public conservation area. 

New Lebanon Ridgeline Protected 

With their recent purchase of 64 acres in New Lebanon, 

Francesco and Jennifer Imbrogno have joined a group 

of more than 165 others in Columbia County who 

own permanently protected land. The wooded property 

was originally donated to CLC as a ‘Tradeland’ 

(see accompanying article) by Thomas Bark and Philip 

Battaglia, meaning it was donated with the understanding 

that it would be protected and sold, with the 

proceeds being used to help further CLC’s land conservation 

efforts. 

Donated as a tradeland, these 64 acres in New Lebanon are 

now protected. 

Prior to placing the property on the market, CLC 

staff carefully assessed the land and drafted a conservation 

easement that would protect the important conservation 

resources. This conservation agreement has 

now become permanently associated with the property 

and will apply to all future landowners as well. 

“We fell in love with the landscapes of Columbia 

County. Working with the Conservancy to buy this 

property subject to a conservation easement made it possible 

for us to realize a dream,” said Jennifer Imbrogno. 

The conservation easement limits future residential 

development to a pre-defined area of the property. The 

ridgeline, which is visible from the Mount Lebanon 

Shaker site, will be kept free from development, protecting 

the important scenic resources of the property. 

This ridgeline also serves as a potential wildlife corridor. 

“Tradeland donations and sales help further local 

conservation in two ways,” notes Tony Colyer-Pendas, 

Director of Conservation Programs. “First, the donated 

parcel is directly protected, and, in addition, the 

proceeds from the sale of the property will help the 

organization fulfill its mission throughout the county.” 

Thank you to both the Imbrognos and Mr. Bark and 

Mr. Battaglia for their contributions to local conservation. 

CLC’s Tradeland Program Benefits 

Donors, Protects Rural Landscapes 

The generosity of the individuals who have donated 

land for resale as part of our Tradeland Program has 

been an important factor in the extraordinary success 

of the Columbia Land Conservancy. CLC accepts 

donations of a wide variety of property and other 

appreciated assets to enhance its conservation efforts 

throughout the county. Here’s how: 

Generally speaking, tradelands are properties that 

are donated to the Conservancy, specifically for resale. 

These properties may or may not have significant conservation 

characteristics. 

All proceeds from the sale are applied to our conservation 

work throughout the county, thereby contributing 

to the protection of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, 

of acres of additional land—donors benefit from 

the knowledge that their gift will leverage the protection 

of land that otherwise might not have been protected. 

For property donations, the Conservancy staff and 

board of trustees evaluate the property’s natural resources 

and, if deemed to be of long-term conservation 

importance, protect the property with a conservation 

easement when selling it to a conservation buyer. 

The Conservancy has accepted donations of properties 

as small as 10 acres, as well as sites including more 

than 100 acres. CLC can also accept houses and appreciated 

assets (e.g., stocks, art, furniture, antique cars, etc.). 

Such donations are often recognized by the I.R.S. as 

charitable gifts and the appraised value may be applied 

towards the donor’s federal and state income taxes. 

Donations of land are often also a useful and potentially 

integral part of family estate planning. 

If you would like to help protect the rural character 

of Columbia County through the donation of a 

tradeland property or, more generally, in connection 

with your estate planning analysis, contact Tony 

Colyer-Pendas at 518-392-5252 or tony@clctrust.org. 


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Land Owners Celebrate 

Conservation of 20,000 Acres 

This summer landowners from around the county 

gathered to join the Columbia Land Conservancy 

in celebrating the conservation of 20,000 acres of 

privately held land with conservation easements. 

This achievement reflects a commitment to conservation, 

farming and the land expressed by well over 

a hundred individuals who have approached CLC 

with a desire to permanently protect their land. 

The event was held on the historic Willowdale Farm 

in Claverack, a 215-acre farm protected by Dr. and 

Mrs. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr. that has been in the 

Esselstyn family since 1681. 

Joined by members of CLC’s land protection staff, 

all of the invited landowners had one thing in common—they 

live on land that has been protected 

with a conservation easement held by CLC. People 

attended from all corners of the county. For many, it 

was the first time they had met. However, the shared 

interest in conservation and protecting Columbia 

County’s precious agricultural, scenic, and natural 

resources made for easy conversation. 

The Conservancy used the occasion to announce 

the launch of a newsletter called Conservation 

Minded, a new resource CLC will be providing to its 

conservation easement owners. 

While every conservation easement is unique to 

the property it protects and the conservation goals 

of the landowner with whom it was drafted, rural 

landowners face many common issues and challenges. 

Conservation Minded is designed to provide 

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 

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 


Conservation easements are one way to protect important resources while allowing the land to remain on the tax rolls. 

Willowdale Farm in Claverack hosted a gathering of conservation 

easement landowners. 

“We were delighted to meet people with whom 

we share a common bond,” said Peter Reiss, a conservation 

easement owner from Claverack. “We are 

so pleased to work in partnership with CLC on the 

long-term care of our land. It was inspiring to share 

stories and discuss issues of common interest related 

to conservation.” 

Voluntary agreements will ensure the conservation of over 20,000 

acres of farms,forests and scenic lands in Columbia County. 

useful information about land management and 

stewardship to people whose land the Conservancy 

has protected with conservation easements. 

“Accepting a donated conservation easement is 

really just the beginning of conserving a property,” 

noted Senior Land Protection Manager, David Diaz. 

“The best way to ensure that a property’s conservation 

values are protected over time is through good 

stewardship, and that requires access to information 

about numerous issues such as stream erosion, pond 

management, control of invasive species, responsible 

timber harvesting, and the like.” 

With over 20,000 acres currently protected by 

these voluntary agreements, CLC has established a 

working relationship with more than 165 landowners. 

Diaz will act as the primary point of contact between 

the landowners and the Conservancy. 

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). 

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 being 

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. 

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. 

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Conservation with a Focus 

If you want to see where in Columbia County the 

best farmland is, the most fragile ecosystems, or most 

productive aquifers, you have to embark on a bit of 

scavenger hunt between various agencies and departments. 

Now, thanks to grants from the Land Trust 

Alliance and State Department of Environmental 

Conservation’s New York State Conservation Partnership 

Program from the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, 

CLC is embarking on an 18 month project to compile 

this type of information. The project will enable 

CLC to collect all of the existing data and create 

overlay maps for the entire county. 

The information gathered will be analyzed using 

computer mapping software, which is part of a geographic 

information system (GIS). CLC will use the 

resulting information to evaluate and prioritize conservation 

projects. CLC will also make the information 

available to municipalities and community groups. 

“By looking at important natural resources such as 

agricultural soils, wildlife habitat, and water resources 

on a county-wide basis, we will be better able to focus 

our work to achieve the greatest conservation impact, 

and we will also be able to assist communities to 

identify and achieve their conservation initiatives,” 

stated CLC’s Executive Director, Peter Paden. 

CLC identified the need for this type of study in 

the county last year in the course of CLC’s organizational 

strategic planning efforts. 

“We met with representatives of the farm community, 

municipal officials and other conservation 

organizations and asked how CLC could provide 

more value and be more effective,” explained Tony 

Colyer-Pendas, CLC’s Director of Conservation 

Programs. “Through those conversations, the need 

Mapping Columbia County’s farms, forests, and other natural resources will help CLC evaluate and prioritize conservation projects. 

for a centralized source for natural resource information 

on a county-wide basis became apparent.” 

CLC will be working with Mayes-Wilson, a 

nationally known conservation consulting firm to 

complete the study by the middle of next year. 

GIS technology will be used to create a centralized database of 

natural resource information for Columbia County. 

Tagkankic Farm Seeks Farmland Protection Funds 

Third generation dairy farms are becoming increasingly 

scarce in Columbia County. Dean and Michelle Zapp of 

Delapenta Farms, Inc. in Taghkanic want to see their 

farm make it to the fourth. With plans for expanding 

and upgrading operations at their 84-acre farm, the 

Zapp’s contacted CLC about the prospect of selling 

their development rights to raise capital and keep the 

farm in active production. 

“My wife and I have a deep commitment to continuing 

our family farm with the help of our sons and 

daughters,” says Zapp. “We want to make our farm 

more environmentally friendly, implement new technologies 

and techniques, and most importantly, we 

want to ensure that our beautiful farmland will remain 

available for farming for future generations.” 

Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) is one of the 

key tools available to help stabilize farmland in the face 

of growing development 

pressure. For most 

of Columbia County, 

the State Farmland 

Protection Program is 

the most likely potential 

source of funding. 

The application process 

and administration of 

a successful grant is a 

major commitment for 

local municipalities, 

and for CLC. In this 

case, the Town of 

Taghkanic’s application 

for a grant to purchase 

the Zapp’s development 

rights was submitted 

on September 15, 2008. 

“While the amount 

of funding available 

through the Department 

of Agriculture and 

Markets has increased 

Dean Zapp is a third generation farmer 

hoping to keep farming. 

in recent years, so has the amount of requests, making 

this a very competitive process,” noted Senior Land 

Protection Manager, Marissa Codey. 

Support Local Conservation: Become a member. 

As part of our commitment to ensure the future of 

local agriculture, CLC offers its grant writing services 

The Town of Taghkanic has applied for a New York State 

Farmland Protection Grant to protect Delapenta Farm 

for a PDR application free of charge to local communities 

and landowners interested in exploring their 

conservation options. On average, our staff dedicates 

more that 150 hours per application to work 

with the landowners, meet with town officials, 

prepare the applications, meet with the county 

Farmland Protection Board, and submit the 

required paperwork. 

If a project receives State funding, CLC will 

continue to work with the landowners and the 

Town to draft the required conservation easement 

and prepare documentation of the agricultural 

resources being protected. CLC will also assist 

with raising the required 25% local match. 

“It is a real challenge to find funding for the 

local match requirements,” according to Executive 

Director Peter Paden. “If we had a dedicated 

source of funding for farmland protection, we 

would be in a much better position to help farmers 

who want to participate in the PDR program. 

Maybe someday we will.” 

As with all properties protected with a conservation 

easement, farmers selling their development 

rights will continue to own their property, 

and farm management decisions are left to them. 

They can sell or lease the farm as they choose. 

For more information on farmland protection 

options and how you can get involved, contact one 

of CLC’s land protection managers at 518-392-5252 or 

visit www.clctrust.org. 

Conservation in Columbia County is at a critical juncture. 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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P U B L I C L A N D S 

New Conservation Area Opens, Honoring Trustee’s Legacy 

During his life, Jon Schor welcomed friends and 

neighbors to share his enjoyment of his Red Rock 

property. An avid outdoorsman himself, Schor 

believed strongly in the value of spending time 

outdoors. So it is only fitting that his former property 

has now become CLC’s seventh public 

conservation area. 

The 233-acre Schor Conservation 

Area was formally opened to 

the public this past August. Its 

walking trails lead visitors past a 

small pond through upland forest 

and hemlock groves to a rocky 

outcropping with panoramic 

views to the Catskill Mountains 

and Hudson River. 

“Having known Jon for many 

years, it meant a lot to me personally 

to be part of the team 

that helped fulfill Jon’s wish that 

the community would always 

have access to this beautiful 

spot,” remarked Public Lands 

Coordinator, Joyce Carroll. 

Schor lived in Red Rock for over 

thirty years and cared deeply about the community. 

As a vice-chair of the CLC’s board of directors he 

dedicated his time and personal resources to conservation 

projects. He encouraged the Conservancy to 

start its outdoor education program, as well as its 

ownership of public lands, both of which are unusual 

programs for land trusts to undertake. 

As part of his legacy, Jon left a large portion of 

his property to CLC to be managed as a public 

conservation area, ensuring that the people of Red 

“Imagine if children 

in Columbia County 

couldn’t experience a 

farm, understand what 

conservation forestry 

was, or appreciate 

our wildlife I want 

to make sure that 

doesn’t happen.” 

Jon Schor (1946-2004) 

Rock and Columbia County would always have a 

place to reconnect with the natural world. In addition, 

he established The Quailwood Fund, which is 

administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community 

Foundation, to provide funds to improve the 

quality of life for Red Rock residents. The Fund, 

along with the Columbia County Soil and Water 

Conservation District, helped to 

finance the Schor area’s trail and 

site improvements. 

Among the improvements 

found at the site are a pavilion Jon 

built at the pond for picnics and 

a trailhead kiosk built by Jurgen 

Schnackenberg, of Philmont. A 

small gravel parking lot, installed 

by Columbia Historic Homes, 

accommodates visitors’ cars. Rustic 

bridges cross streams and wetlands, 

protecting the surface water 

resources on the property. A natural 

resource inventory of the area 

is being compiled by Claudia and 

Conrad Vispo of the Farmscape 

Ecology Program, which will be 

used to create a master plan for the site to guide 

future land management decisions. 

The Schor Conservation Area is open to the 

public daily from dawn to dusk. It will be managed 

for wildlife habitat and non-motorized recreation 

including hiking, bird watching, cross-country 

skiing, fishing and hunting (by special permit 

only). Visit our website at www.clctrust.org to 

download a trail map for the Schor Conservation 

Area and other sites around the county. 

Improvements to the trails at the Schor Conservation Area were 

partially funded by grants from The Quailwood Fund and the 

Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District. 

Good Neighbors 

Each year, as part of our “good neighbor” 

policy, the Columbia Land Conservancy 

makes a donation to each fire department 

and rescue squad whose district covers 

the area in which we own or manage a 

public conservation area. CLC also makes 

payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOT) 

on all of the public lands we own. We are 

not required to do this, but we believe it 

is good citizenship. 

Two and a half miles of public walking trails traverse the 

woodlands at the newly opened Schor Conservation Area. 

P U B L I C L A N D S 

Jon Schor had a tradition of inviting neighbors to enjoy his property 

and helped establish CLC’s public conservation area program. 

Shortage of Public Land 

Columbia County has less public land 

than any of the surrounding seven 

counties (only 3.9%), compared to 

Berkshire County (MA) with 29.7%, 

Litchfield County (CT) with15.1%, 

and Rensselaer County with 5.4%. 

CLC is working hard to provide public 

land for the next generation. 

The 233-acre Schor Conservation Area offers spectacular views and a variety of recreational experiences for the public. 

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O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L N E W S 

Conservancy Provides Planning 

Assistance to Communities 

Across Columbia County communities are engaging 

in discussions that will affect where and how they will 

grow and what the landscape will look like in the 

future. CLC has been asked to get 

involved in a great many of these discussions 

at the request of the citizenled 

committees charged with the task 

of updating their comprehensive 

plans, the documents used by towns 

as a guide for making land use decisions. 

How these guidelines are 

implemented at the local level in 

terms of zoning and other land use 

laws will have a large impact on the 

character of communities. 

As an outgrowth of our recently 

completed strategic plan, CLC has 

made a commitment to strengthen 

and deepen its role as a planning 

resource, identifying this as one of 

five key strategies to further the organization’s mission. 

So when CLC had an opening for a new land protection 

manager earlier this year, we hired Ellen Jouret- 

Epstein, an individual with extensive land use 

planning and design experience. Ellen, a 

long-time resident of Germantown, is a 

licensed landscape architect and has worked 

for a variety of planning and design consulting 

firms in New York and the Hudson Valley. 

Ellen serves as chair of the planning board 

in Germantown, has served previously on the 

zoning board, and is a current member of 

both the comprehensive plan and zoning 

update committees. In her spare time, she 

manages a small flock of sheep and makes felt. 

At the Conservancy, Ellen will be working to 

expand our program of community assistance to offer 

a menu of services and tools to assist local municipalities 

with land use planning, park planning, open space 

acquisition, farmland protection and other strategies 

that will lead to conservation of the area's unique natural 

resources. 

“At CLC, we recognize that our 

direct land protection efforts will 

address only a small percentage of 

the land in the county. Promoting 

and assisting with the implementation 

of sound land use policies 

and good growth practices will 

help us achieve our mission. More 

importantly, it will help our towns 

and villages achieve the widely 

shared goal of retaining the character 

of our communities,” 

remarked Jouret-Epstein. 

Communities seeking assistance 

with land use issues, including conservation 

subdivision reviews, comprehensive 

planning and rezoning, park development 

and open space planning, are encouraged to contact 

Ellen at CLC’s office or by email at ellen@clctrust.org. 

Ellen Jouret-Epstein 

CLC welcomes Liz Bradford, 

Administrative Assistance and 

Receptionist. Liz’s sunny voice 

and smile greets callers and 

visitors to our office. Liz joined 

the staff in June. She and her 

family live in Chatham. 

As part of its new strategic plan, CLC has made a commitment to strengthen our role assisting local municipalities confronted 

with complex conservation and development projects. 

Interns Provide Valuable Assistance 

This summer CLC’s conservation programs benefited 

from two summer interns. 

Chatham native Rebecca Stack worked with the land 

protection and outreach staff to create a variety of maps 

and materials for our public conservation areas and conservation 

easements. 

A biology major at the 

University of New 

Hampshire, Becca 

applied her research 

skills to compiling 

information on native 

and invasive plants, 

solar and wind energy, 

and other topics 

for our conservation 

Susan Cemy and Rebecca Stack 

easement landowner 

program (see page 6). 

She also learned how to create maps using GPS and GIS 

technologies, and used these new skills to create trail 

maps for three of our Public Conservation Areas. 

“Being at CLC has been a really valuable experience. 

I learned new skills that will help me pursue a career 

with an environmental focus, and I feel I was able to 

make a positive impact on the place where I grew up,” 

commented Stack. 

Susan Cerny, who grew 

up just across the road 

from the Schor Conservation 

Area, has been a 

frequent volunteer at CLC 

and worked as a co-educator 

last summer. This 

summer she again worked 

along side CLC’s educator 

providing support for the 

many education programs 

that were held over the 

summer. She also initiated 

a study to document invasive species and conducted 

user interviews at several of our public conservation 

areas to help us make management decisions. Also a 

biology major, Susan returned to the SUNY Geneseo 

campus this fall to complete 

her studies. 

CLC is able to offer 

internships to local students 

thanks to the generosity of 

Alice Corbin, Norma Edsall, 

Sheldon Evans, and Martha 

McMaster. If you would like 

to sponsor an intern in the 

future, please contact Peter 

Scarlet Tanager 

Red Eft 

Paden at 518-392-5252 

or PeterPaden@clctrust.org. 

Please Join CLC! Help increase conservation 

and educational programs 

Barred Owl 

With more than 80% of our program assistance coming 

from our membership and supporters, we need your 

help now more than ever. 

From twenty-five dollars 

to $25,000 – membership 

gifts create the financial 

base that enables us to protect 

agricultural land and 

rural open space, offer free 

education and recreation 

programs, and work with 

local landowners and local 

municipalities to provide 

conservation planning. 

The benefits of becoming 

a member include a 

subscription to the Conservancy 

News, which is mailed twice a year; email 

updates on important conservation issues and opportunities; 

an invitation to our membership breakfast; and 

an invitation to 

participate in more 

than a dozen outdoor 

recreation and 

education programs 

each year. Most 

importantly, by becoming 

a member 

of CLC, you will 

join the more than 

Wood Frog 

1,800 people who 

want to help conserve 

the extraordinary landscapes and natural 

resources of Columbia County and ensure it retains its 

rural character. 

If you would like to renew your membership or join 

for the first time, contact Marcia Cary at 518-392-5252 

or marcia@clctrust.org. 

Support from our members helps us provide public access to 

some of the county’s most spectacular properties. 

O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L N E W S 

12 

13



E D U C A T I O N P R O G R A M S 

Outdoor Programs Bring 

Nature’s Wonders to Young and Old 

CLC offers customized, hands-on opportunities for 

children of all ages to allow them to gain a better 

understanding of the area’s farms, forests and natural 

landscapes. Children from local schools, day-care programs, 

scouts, and enrichment programs are all able to 

foster an appreciation for rural landscapes. Examples 

of some of these programs include a “discovery” walk 

at the Hand Hollow Conservation Area with middle 

school students from Chatham, taking children from 

Head Start to a local orchard to pick apples, an “animal 

tracks” program with forth graders from Greenport, 

and a nature hike to the High Falls Conservation Area 

with the O.K. Kids Klub from Kinderhook. 

Special thanks to the Claverack Garden Club for the donation 

of a bench at the High Falls Conservation Area. 

Additional programs are held on weekends to accommodate 

busy family schedules, which including wildflower 

walks with the Farmscape Ecology Program, live mammal 

programs and canoe trips on the Hudson River. 

Wildflowers were the subject of this walk at Round Ball 

Mountain in Ancram. 

In 2008, CLC has offered over 200 programs to 

date, reaching some 3,200 individuals. CLC would 

like to thank the following individuals who served 

as co-educators for our education programs: 

Susan Cerny 

Bonner McAllester 

Conrad & Claudia Vispo 

Sue Ihlenburg 

Joan Quilty 

Cris Winters 

Becca Stack 

Dr. Roland Kays 

Derek Grout 

Clara Buitrago 

In addition to program for schools, CLC also offers free weekend programs open to the public like this kayak trip on the Hudson River. 

Hudson High School students had to chance to immerse themselves in river ecology as part of “Snap Shot Day” a state-wide day 

designed to raise awareness of the health of the Hudson River. 

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. Please join us on one of these 

upcoming programs: 

NATURAL WREATH DECORATING 

Saturday, December 6th 

CLC Office 

2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Ages: All 

Making holiday wreaths from greenery is a tradition that began in Roman 

times and is still a tradition today. Spend an afternoon at CLC and decorate 

a seasonal wreath with natural materials. Learn to make fairies, angels, 

and animals from natural materials to decorate your wreath or your home. 

All materials will be included at no charge. Hot beverages and a tasty snack 

provided. Space is limited. To register, please contact Jenny Brinker at 

518.392.5252, ext. 210 or by email at jenny@clctrust.org by December 5th. 

“SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT” SNOWSHOE TREKS 

Winter 2008-2009 

Ages: All 

As you might imagine, weather plays a huge role in determining when, 

or if, a snowshoe program can be held. It’s becoming harder and harder 

to predict when the frozen white stuff will be in great supply. If the two 

previous winters are any indication, we can bank on lean (and sporadic!) 

snowfall amounts just about everywhere in Columbia County. Then, just 

when you think all hope is gone…kapow! Ten inches of snow and perfect 

weather conditions. This year, CLC will be setting up an email alert system 

to schedule snowshoe treks. Check your email for a message from CLC 

saying: “Come join us for snowshoeing”. Simply reply to the email and 

meet us at the designated site. CLC will provide the snowshoes and beginners 

are welcome. For more information and to register for the email list, 

please contact Jenny Brinker at 518.392.5252, ext. 210 or by email at 

jenny@clctrust.org 

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 

Host neighborhood gatherings 

– these get-togethers allow 

interested landowners to talk 

about conservation opportunities 

in their area 

Become a member – over 80% 

of our program support comes 

from our membership 

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 Marcia Cary at 

518-392-5252 ext. 202 marcia@clctrust.org 

for more information 

on ways you can help. 

E D U C A T I O N P R O G R A M S 

14 

15



V O L U N T E E R S 

16 

Volunteers Make Conservation Happen 

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 April 1, 2008 to September 30, 

2008). To find out more about upcoming volunteer opportunities or to fill out our volunteer information form 

visit our website at www.clctrust.org. You can also contact our volunteer coordinator, Marcia Cary, at 518-392-5252 

ext. 202 or marcia@clctrust.org. 

Andrew Drumm, a member of Hudson’s Boy Scout Troop 

#102, recently earned his Eagle Scout badge by repairing the 

trail connecting the Greenport Town Park to the Greenport 

Conservation Area. 

PCA ASSISTANCE 

Eva Barham 

Mike Brenner 

Arlene Brown 

Carol Cerny 

John Cerny 

John Cerny, Jr. 

Susan Cerny 

John Dax 

Chris Dreyfus Novotny 

Cheryl Gilbert 

Elisabeth Grace 

David Haines 

Marty Helmer 

Joanne Klein 

Pat Liddle 

Bernadette Orr 

Faruk Ortabas 

Wendy Power Spielmann 

Brin Quell 

Sheila Rorke 

Rodney Russo 

Tom Seamon 

Doug Stalker 

Rebecca Stowe 

Ray Tillman 

Sue Trevellyan 

Bethany Wright 

OFFICE ASSISTANCE/MAILING 

Eva Barham 

Arlene Brown 

Lucy Eldridge 

Elisabeth Grace 

Deirdre Leland 

Jean Muth 

Frank Muth 

Tom Neufeld 

Bernadette Orr 

Faruk Ortabas 

Ann Patman 

Frank Rhyner 

Vivian Wachsberger 

Susan Wendelboe 

This year’s Country Barbecue was a success thanks to efforts of 

dozens of dedicated volunteers. 

EVENTS 

Brenda Adams 

Gregg Bell 

Dave Bolluyt 

Matthew Bowe 

Clara Buitrago 

Gale Bury 

Bob Carroll 

Suzanne Carroll 

Chelsea Carroll 

Anita Cartin 

Jim Cartin 

Katy Cashen 

Susan Cerny 

Carol Cerny 

John Cerny, Jr. 

Trisha Cloutier 

Carissa Diaz 

Daniel Esterman 

Sheldon Evans 

Noel Fair 

Al Fair 

Cheryl Gilbert 

Rebecca Greer 

Judy Grunberg 

Laurice Haberland 

Mitch Khorsava 

Mary Anne Lee 

Chris Dreyfus Novotny 

Faruk Ortabas 

Susan Ortabas 

Gianni Ortiz 

Charlene Paden 

Ilene Patrick 

Bob Patrick 

Nancy Perini 

Ruth Piwonka 

Michael Polemis 

Wendy Power Spielmann 

Jamie Purinton 

Pippa Raup-Kounovsky 

Vicki Rosenwald 

Greg Sanders 

Melissa Sarris 

Marty Scherzer 

Paul Spencer 

Doug Stalker 

Becky Stowe 

Alan Thomson 

Jonathan Walters 

Susan Wendelboe 

Roberta Wilson 

Mike Wollowitz 

Volunteer Eva Barham assists with the removal of water chestnuts 

at Hand Hollow. 

EDUCATION PROGRAMS 

Zooey Salazar 

Otis Denner 

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 April 1st, 2008 and September 30th, 2008. Every effort has been made to produce an accurate 

listing of supporters of the Conservancy. Please contact Marcia Cary at 392-5252 ext. 202 or marcia@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 

Joan Davidson (The J.M. Kaplan Fund) 

Barbara Ettinger and Sven Huseby 

CONSERVATOR $5,000 TO $9,999 

Anonymous 

Eric Reiff and Jami Rubin 

Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster 

GUARDIAN $1,000 TO $4,900 

Susan and Arthur Bassin 

Steve and Laura Corsun 

Walter and Beese Craigie 

John C. and Chara C. Haas 

James Jones 

Gary and Leslie Katz 

Deborah E. Lans/The New York 

Community Trust DEL Fund 

Hattie Myers Neuwirth 

Dr. Mark Nelkin 

Paul and Ann Sagan 

MetzWood Harder Insurance 

DONORS 

BENEFACTOR $500 TO $999 

Anonymous 

Jeffrey Glen and Rosina Abramson 

Colan Anderson 

Marian and Jack Celentano 

Philip and Betsy Eisenberg 

Gloria Fox 

John and Ila Gross 

William Hodgins 

Susan Kargman and Bob Siegel 

Nancy Kestenbaum and David Klafter 

David Konigsberg 

David McNeill 

Michael Mills 

Terry Porter 

PROTECTOR $250 TO $499 

Anonymous 

Peter Aschkenasy and Pamela Brier 

Michael Altschuler and 

Constance Eiseman 

Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Asbornsen 

Sion and Demarest Boney 

Carol and Geoffrey Chinn 

Roberta Edge and Mel Schwarz 

Robert and Iris Egan 

Eva and John Francis 

Peter Franck and Kathleen Triem 

George and Barbara Gellert 

N. Richard and Monique Gershon 

Jean D. Hamilton and 

Richard N. McCarthy 

Frank Heller and Christian Steiner 

Kathryn M. Huarte and Ian Toll 

Ellen and Kord Lagemann 

Peggy Lampman and Ian Nitschke 

Renwick Martin and Cathy Kaplan 

Deborah Melamed and Vicki Passman 

Ingegerd Mundheim 

Raymond C. Nied 

Joshua Raff and Michele Fillion 

Susan Reiss-Walsh 

Renato and Eleanor Valente 

CONTRIBUTOR $100 TO $249 

Anonymous (3) 

Steven Axelrod and Gwenn Mayers 

Andrew Beers and Beth Meer 

Matthew and Lisa Bowe 

Howard and Melanie Brandston 

Lenny and Warren Collins 

Anthony R. Concra 

John and Hope Della Ratta 

Kenneth Dow 

Al and Noel Fair 

Lara Ferb 

Judith Fitzgerald 

Judith and Walter Flamenbaum 

Juan Flores and Harry Franklin 

Bob Funck and Louise Simmons 

Lee Gould 

Marilyn Gross and Kim Hausner 

Jane and John Hanna, Jr. 

Kevin and Carey Healy 

John and Susan Kirkpatrick 

Charlotta Kotik 

Kreditor-Englander Family 

Paul Langland and Colin Cochran 

Lipperas' Bistro and Tavern 

Mark and Maggie Litteken 

William A. Loeb 

Claire and Anthony Manto 

Lexie Masterson 

Cornelia McDougald 

James and Lyn McFarland 

Rondell Meeks and Anjali Lewis 

Marcus Molinaro 

Monkshood Nursery 

Susan and Faruk Ortabas 

Carsten Otto 

Todd and Theresa Parsons 

Leo Rabkin 

George Reiter and Deborah Shafto 

George Rodenhausen and Joan Steiner 

Jay Rohrlich and Patti Matthews 

Lynn Rubin 

Ann and Richard Rudick 

David Ruede and Jeremy Dodd 

Donna Sawyer 

Lucia Scala 

Spencer and Karen Smul 

Gretchen Stevens and Russ Immarigeon 

Tim Stookesberry and Mike Dvorchak 

Eugenie Sullivan 

Ted and Lisa Tenenzapf 

Eric Valdina 

Ann Vedder 

Robert and Nancy Weiner 

Rick Werwaiss 

Wood Hill Veterinary Clinic 

Janet and Joseph Zuckerman 

MEMBER $25 TO $99 

Anonymous (4) 

Dan Ballister 

Bruce Bashford and Joan Esposito 

Raymond and Mary Beck 

R. H. Benziger 

Diana Evans Berman 

William Better and Ann Shaw 

Linda Bonventre and Howard Woltmann 

Carol Buell 

Edward Leslie Byrnes 

Suzanne and Robert Carroll 

Betsy Cashen 

Nathan Chess and Melissa Riller 

Margaret Chippari 

Norm Coe 

Kevin Cunningham 

Frank and Carol Curran 

Mark F. Darrel 

Dan DeCondio 

Gordon Delp 

Patty Donnan and Mark Tunney 

Dick and Pat Dorsey 

Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Duckworth III 

Deborah Duckworth, Ph.D. 

Stephanie Fleischman and John Cleater 

Bill Folsom and Robin Strashun 

Helen Goody 

Assemblyman Tim Gordon 

Ross Goldman and Sheri Gottlieb 

David Haines 

John and Michele Haley 

Chris and Kelli Hawver 

Jim Hoon 

Katherine and Steven Jennings 

Merrill and Erika Johnson 

Roy Kanwit and Mary DeBey 

June H. Keller 

Marcia Kempler 

Timothy Kennelty 

Robert Kirkpatrick 

Andrew and Jean Klimack 

Donna and Alvin Knoll 

Terry and Ed Kornbluh 

Edwin Leason 

Robert and Linda Leffert 

Janet and David Levine 

Sarah Lipsky 

Sandra G. LoPresto 

Lois Lovisolo 

Elizabeth Marks 

Peter and Joan Mattson 

Vincent Mazzone 

David Menschel 

Allan Nahman D.D.S. 

Bonnie S. Newkirk 

J. Pearce 

Dr. Norman Posner 

Emile and Pat Racenet, Sr. 

Gail Rauch 

Dennis Curtis and Judith Resnik 

Neil and Susan Roberts 

Susan Sarlin 

Ayn-Margret Schmidt 

Tom Seamon 

Jane R. Shannon 

Sheldon Siskin 

Edward and Nancy Somers 

Leonard B. Stern Foundation 

Taconic Research Archaeological 

Consultants 

Nigel Taylor and Lucy Hayden 

Henry Tepper and Jane Henoch 

Alice Mary Timothy 

Jane Trumpy 

Herb and Carol Tschudi 

Turkana Farms 

Ignacio and Caroline Villarreal 

Henry Weber 

Joan Wechsler 

Daniel Wellner 

Carolyn West 

Donald Wheeler 

Cris Winters and Ron Bussian 

Elizabeth Woods 

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Yager 

Laura and Anthony Zabriskie 

Ed and Nancy Ziemba 

FRIEND UNDER $25 

Eve Schatz 

Kathleen Williams 

GIFTS IN HONOR OF 

Gwyneth Barger’s birthday 

Margot Yondorf 

Ruth Buchholz’s birthday to support 

High Falls Conservation Area 

Margaret Chippari 

Wilmer Card’s birthday to support 

Siegel-Kline Kill Conservation Area 

Judy Gluckson and Mat Gluckson 

Ms. Regina Colangelo and 

Ms. Adrienne Orbach 

Claire and Anthony Manto 

Seth Masters 

Spencer and Karen Smul 

Barbara and Edwin Simonsen's 

50th wedding anniversary 

Marc and Merle Gold 

Nellie Marie Smith (Stone) Binsse 

An honor bench from all of her 

Children and Grandchildren 

Frank Tartaglione and Dave King 

Robert Montgomery 

Eileen Taylor's birthday 

Anonymous 

Capital Recovery Solutions/Kim Covey 

Bruce and Ida Smith 

Mr. and Mrs. Wolff's wedding 

Fred and Gail Zeifman 

GIFTS IN MEMORY OF 

Roger and Frances Williams 

Evelyn R. Chanler 

Sammy 

Marcia Kempler 

Morton Alter 

Mary Anne Cohen and 

Michael Scanlon 

Tyler Whiffen 

Rob and Emily Warrington 

V I T A L S U P P O R T 

17




COUNTRY BARBECUE 

SPONSORSHIP 

A.T. Promotional Designs 

Bank of Greene County 

Bear Tree Care, LLC 

Columbia Historic Homes, LLC 

Columbia Tractor, Inc. 

Country Gentleman Real Estate 

Ed Herrington, Inc. 

Gabel Real Estate 

Hawthorne Valley Association 

Hudson Valley Appraisal Corporation 

Katchkie Farm 

Kinderhook Bank 

Lavelle & Finn, LLP 

Local 111 Restaurant 

MBH Farm 

McTeigue & McClelland Estate 

Jewelry Services 


Old Chatham Sheepherding Company 

Old Ghent Realty 

Park Row Gallery 

Rapport, Meyers, Whitbeck, Shaw and 

Rodenhausen, Attorneys 

Richmor Aviation 

Ruge's GMC 

Taconic Farms, Inc. 

The Circa 1799 Barn 

The Kinderhook Group, Inc. 

Vico Restaurant 

Windy Hill Farm 

COUNTRY BARBECUE SUPPORTERS 

Anonymous (9) 

Nancy Abraham and Colin Brown 

Ruth Abram 

Kathleen and Frank Albert 

Roger and Helen Alcaly 

Richard and Marcia Anderson 

Colan Anderson 

William Anderson 

Robin D. Andrews and Chris Lastovicka 

Cynthia Argo 

Amy and Bradford Barr 

Donna Barrett 

Barbara Barrie 

Drs. Saida and Sherwood Baxt 

David and Rinne Becker 

Karen Belove 

Paul S. Berg 

Lorraine Bonaventura 

Howard and Melanie Brandston 

Marie-Louise Brauch 

John A. Breault 

Belinda Breese Bull 

Claudia Bruce 

James and Lucinda Buckley 

Stephen Budd 

Gale and Judy Bury 

Jeff and Andrea Butler 

Deborah Butler 

Mark and Lisa Callahan 

Christine and Fred Callander 

Suzanne York Cannavino 

Michael Waldholz and Mariann Caprino 

Tony and Gail Cashen 

Meg and Jim Cashen 

Annette Cecchini 

Calliope Nicholas and Mitch Chaitman 

Anne Cipkowski 

Tom and Nancy Clark 

Delina Codey-Barrachin 

Kate and Steven Cohen 

Cheryl Cohen 

Arnold Cohen 

Lenny and Warren Collins 

Alice Corbin 

Steve and Laura Corsun 

Diane E. Coupe 

Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt 

Cynthia Craig-Olds and 

Benjamin Greeley 

Jerry Croghan and Louis Hedgecock 

Ms. Holly Daly and Mr. Bill Logan 

Martin J. Davidson and Virginia Martin 

Naomi Davies 

Stephen and Gail Day 

John and Nataly Dee 

Kevin Delahanty 

Gary Delemeester and Jeffrey Daly 

Douglas and Ellen DeNicola 

Susan Dixon 

Matthew Doering 

Jan Douglas 

Kenneth Dow 

Christine Dreyfus Novotny 

Robin Dropkin 

John and Denise Dunne 

Roberta Edge and Mel Schwarz 

Norma Edsall 

Patricia Falk 

John Farley 

Richard and Susan Mills Feenstra 

Hilary and Chris Ferrone 

John and Anita Fiorillo 

Judith R. and Alan H. Fishman 

Heidi Fiske 

Bill Folsom and Robin Strashun 

Eva and John Francis 

Peter Franck and Kathleen Triem 

Jon Freeman 

Georgene Gardner 

Adelia Moore and Tom Gerety 

Rene Gibson 

Patricia MacKenzie and William Gillen 

Robert and Rae Gilson 

David Girard 

Holly Glass 

Marilyn, Allan and Madeleine Glick 

Judy Gluckson 

Alice and Richard Gochman 

Ross Goldman and Sheri Gottlieb 

Gwen Gould and Ed Grossman 

Francis Greenburger 

David Greenstein 

Lorraine Gregg 

The Griffin Family 

Vesna Marincek and Heinz Grossjohann 

Nancy Cuddihy 

Randall Hahn 

Jane and John Hanna, Jr. 

Brian Herman 

Hilary Hillman 

Michael Hirschorn 

Barbara Ettinger and Sven Huseby 

Michael Irwin 

George and Karen Jahn 

Ronald Jeancon 

Peter Jung 

Deborah Kaback Korn 

Michele M. Karas 

David Kassel and Michelle Conrad 

Pamela Katz 

Sharon Kaufman 

Dennis and Daryl King 

John P. Kingsley 

Lon Kirschner, Nancy Potter and Family 

David Klafter and Nancy Kestenbaum 

Abby and Charles Kleinbaum 

Lorraine Coyle Koppell and 

G. Oliver Koppell 

Barbara Kotlikoff 

Jack and Marian Krauskopf 

Ellen and Kord Lagemann 

Peggy Lampman and Ian Nitschke 

Eric Lane and Joyce Talmadge 

Deborah E. Lans 

Paul and Elizabeth Lardi 

Bob and Marilyn Laurie 

Diana and Ed Lebar 

Doug Wingo and Tim Legg 

Edward H. Lehner 

Richard Lemoine 

Richard D. Leonard 

Simon Leopold and Sarah Winkler 

Lauren Letellier 

Jeffrey Lick and Stephen McCarthy 

Lael M. Locke 

Kenneth A. Makowski 

James R. Manion 

Barton Marks 

Pradeep Massand 

Jill McClabb 

Barbara McCullough 

Andrew and Courtney McDonnell 

Lockhart McKelvy and Ken Wright 

Leanne McNally 

Evan Messinger 

Vic and Flo Meyers 

Paul and Elizabeth Miller 

Joan Mintz and Robinson Markel 

Deborah Mintz 

Joe and Connie Mondel 

Robert J. Moss 

Jeffrey Murdock 

John Murray 

Jerrold Nadler 

Henry and Sue Neale 

Brad Negbaur 

David Neibart 

Dr. Mark Nelkin 

Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Nelson 

Gregory Long and Scott Newman 

Jonathan Nichols 

Raymond C. Nied 

Bradley D. Niles 

Gregory L. Olsen 

A. Ooms and Sons 

Carsten Otto 

Martin E. Parker 

Ann Patman and Thomas Neufeld 

David S. Patterson 

Charles Peck 

Sabrina Peck 

Michael and Pat Peskoe 

Harry Petchesky 

Grant and Alice Platt 

Leo Ponter 

Mr. Stephen M. Poppel 

Gilbert Raab and Carol Calvin 

Jahangir Rahman 

Dan and Maxine Rapoport 

Eric Reiff and Jami Rubin 

Mahlon and Simone Richards 

Beth Ring 

Cheryl Roberts 

Max Friedman and Thomas Romich 

Doris and Irving Rosen 

Jeffrey and Karen Ross 

Lisa Ruklinski 

Lisa R. Sack 

Bret Sanford-Chung 

Judy and Marty Scherzer 

Diane E. Schmitt-Poland 

Bonnie Kurtz and Rich Seefeldt 

James Sheldon 

Craig Fitt and Bruce Shostak 

Barbara and Edwin Simonsen 

Michael Singer 

Edward and Nancy Somers 

Cathy Grier and Michele Steckler 

Diana Steele and Eric Heyer 

Denise and Davin Stowell 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sukenik 

Sarah Culmer and Chris Swartout 

Alicia Taranto 

Gloria Terwilliger 

Alice Mary Timothy 

Robert M. Tirschwell 

Bill and Scotti Tomson 

Dennis Trites 

Mark Twentyman and 

Linda Vault-Smith 

Joanna D. Underwood and Saul Lambert 


Mario and Donna Verna 

Edward and Vivian Wachsberger 

Eileen and Jay Wallace 

Alan Wanzenberg 

Steven Wein 

Vera and Myles Weintraub 

Maria and Walter B. Whitcher 

Rick Wilson 

Gail Wittwer-Laird and Joshua Laird 

Robert M. Worsfold; Kinderfields 

Jim Zarroli and Bart Ziegler 

Hallie Ziesmer 

Lloyd Zimet and Michelle Lovelace 

Brown Trout 

Columbia County Sportsmen's 

Federation 

Gabel Real Estate 

Hudson Wine Merchants 

Lumies Huff & Associates 


Mill Hill Farm, Inc. 

Scenic Hudson 

Stewart's 

The Inn at Hudson 

The Olana Partnership 

Tierra Farm 

PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREA 

STAFF AND IMPROVEMENTS 

Alice Corbin 

Berkshire Taconic Community 

Foundation 

Claverack Garden Club 

Norma Edsall 

Sheldon Evans and Martha McMaster 

Judy Gluckson and Matthew Gluckson 

Mark Litteken 

Jurgen Schnackenberg 

49 MAIN STREET RENOVATIONS 

New York State Council on the Arts 

Ellsworth Kelly Foundation 


IN-KIND DONATIONS 

Chatham Wine and Liquor 

Country Squire Supply 

Nancy Castaldo 

Fred Freidel 

Georgia Ray's Caterers 

Hawthorne Valley Farm Store 

Hudson Wine Merchants 

James Bleecker 

James Waterhouse 

Mill Hill Farm, Inc. 

Peter Dufault 

Richard Pieper 

Silvanus Lodge 


Stewart’s 

Tierra Farm 

GOVERNMENT AND 

FOUNDATION SUPPORT 

Berkshire Taconic Community 

Foundation. 

Davada Family Foundation 

Land Trust Alliance 

New York State Council on the Arts 

NYS Department of Taxation and 

Finance/Senator Saland 

NYS Office of Parks Recreation and 

Historic Preservation/Assemblymen 

Molinaro 

Plymouth Hill Foundation 

The David Rockefeller Fund 

The Educational Foundation of America 

MATCHING GIFT PROGRAMS 

General Electric Foundation 

IBM Corporation 

John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 

The McGraw-Hill Companies 

The Prospect Hill Foundation 

Trustco Bank 

UBS Matching Gift Program 

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 

Meg and Jim Cashen 

Tony and Gail Cashen 

Susan and David Cathers 

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 

Francesco and Jennifer Imbrogno 

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 


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 


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 


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. 

Leonard Annis 

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 

George and Judith Couri 

Rene and Lisa Deleeuw 

Robert and Roxanna Donnelly 

David L. Dubrow 

East Ancram Farm, LLC 

David and Frances Eberhart 

Noreen Fedorowicz 

Alan and Judy Fishman 

Kenneth A. Ford 

Nancy Ford 

Dennis Gaffney and Kathryn Ray 

The George Rickey Foundation/ 

George Rickey Estate 

Wendy Gardner and Fabian Friedland 

James and Martha Gevlin 

Todd Gitlin and Laurel Cook 

Marita Lindholm Gochman 

Ira and Ellen Halfond 

Phyllis Helliwell 

Kenneth Hess 

Hilltop Farms, LLC 

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 

Keith Lieberthal and Julianna Margulies 

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 

Mitchell Street, LLC 

Joseph Monroe and Lindsay Evans 

Trevor Moran 

Ingegerd Mundheim 

Diane Novosel 

John Oleksak and Ronald Carbone 

Mario Ontal and Plummy Tucker 

Carsten Otto and DeWayne Powell 

Steven Paynter and Luz Maria Roman 

Jeremy and Iva Peele 

Helen Pinkowski 

John and Valerie Carter Reilly 

Peter Reiss 

Michael Resnick 

Max and Hannah Sayah 

Stephen Schaible 

Robert Schumer and Ruth Oxenberg 

Susan Seidel 

Russell Shaw and Kristen Casten 

Shekomeko Creek Farm, LLC 

Michael and Alexandra Shuman 

Stone Creek Development 

Theodore Tenenzapf and 

William Michelotti 

Alan Thewless 

Trillium Acres, LLC 

Richard and Julie Valliere 

Jeffery and Beth Walsh 

Alan Wanzenberg 

Donald and Abby Westlake 

Matt and Amber Whiteman 

Williams Hillsdale Holdings, LLC 

Ann Winsor 

James and Jennifer Winter 

Eric Wolf 

Wonbuddhism of USA, Inc. 

Lea Zawatski 


18 

19


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 

Liz Bradford, Administrative Assistant/Receptionist 

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, Senior 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 

Ellen Jouret-Epstein, Land Protection Manager 

Susan Van Tassel, Accounting Coordinator 

design: blandori.com 

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER WITH SOY-BASED INK

Fall 2008 - Columbia Land Conservancy

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