Newsletter-Fall '11FINALFINAL-REALLY - Tinicum Conservancy

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THE PEOPLE PAGE The Trustees and members of the Tinicum Conservancy would like to thank immediate past President Rich Rosamilla for his many contributions of time, talent and energy to the organization. Over the past eight years, Rich has brought strong leadership and deep personal commitment to the mission of the Conservancy in his roles as Trustee, President and Treasurer. We will miss Rich's day-to-day participation, but are grateful that he plans to remain involved behind the scenes and in Committee-level activities. All the residents of Tinicum continue to benefit from Rich's ongoing service to our community. Wink Nessa: Volunteer Rich Rosamilia: Outgoing President You could call Wink Nessa the “poster child” of volunteer easement monitors. She’s been in Tinicum for 38 years -- since she was about 10 years old. She went away for college and a career in New York, but soon felt called back to her family’s land on Iron Bridge Road, where she grew up. For the last 30 years, Wink and her husband have lived here in the home they built on that same land. So, it’s no wonder Wink was one of the first people Tinicum Conservancy asked to be an easement monitor in the mid-1990s. She knows practically everyone and every nook and cranny of this township. Currently, she’s responsible for monitoring three conservation easement properties once each year. When asked why she’s a monitor, she replies with gusto, “There’s no downside! I get to be outside on some of the most beautiful properties and meet some of the most interesting people in Tinicum. What fun is that?” What makes a good monitor? In Wink’s opinion, “You have to be outgoing and friendly. You can’t be afraid to meet new people. It helps to know the property’s boundaries and what you’re looking for, and something about Tinicum Conservancy’s mission. The annual monitor training is good for learning that stuff. You also have to enjoy tromping around in all sorts of terrain and not be afraid of the mud and the stickers. A good pair of boots is essential in Tinicum.” Wink says the landowners are always welcoming when she comes for her monitoring visits. Like Wink, most of Tinicum Conservancy’s volunteer monitors also have conservation easements themselves, so they really understand and appreciate what it’s like to own protected land and coordinate a visit with a monitor each year. “Tinicum folks really don’t have a ‘precious’ attitude,” Wink adds. “People mostly come to be quiet and nest, or to get involved with their local community. It’s still cowboy country out here.” “Being a volunteer monitor,” she adds, “is a great way for me to be a part of and support the great work of Tinicum Conservancy, to cherish and help protect what we have. It’s really not a bad gig!” Not a bad gig, indeed. Thank you for all you do, Wink! - Article by Kelly Germann/Photo by ? WHY ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE TINICUM CONSERVANCY? We'd like to hear from you! Send a short (50 words or less) statement of why you are a member of the Conservancy to tcadmin@epix.net or mail it to us at P.O. Box 206 Erwinna, PA ,18920. We will publish selected member comments in future issues of Common Ground. Page 8 WWW.TI�ICUMCO�SERVA�CY.ORG Fall 2011
BRLC HOSTS REGIONAL OPEN SPACE ROUNDTABLE The Bedminster Regional Land Conservancy and Bedminster Township co-hosted a Regional Open Space Roundtable at the Plumstead Grange in the spring. The roundtable was attended by representatives of open space committees in upper Bucks County from Durham, Nockamixon, Plumstead, Springfield and Tinicum townships. Several other townships had been invited but were not able to participate. In addition, Bedminster Supervisors Eric Schaffhausen and Glenn Wismer were in attendance along with Tinicum Supervisor Boyce Budd and several Tinicum Conservancy representatives. This was the third roundtable for land preservation officials in the upper Bucks County area. The first gathering was held under the auspices of Nockamixon Township’s Open Space Committee in 2009, followed by the roundtable in 2010 organized by Tinicum Conservancy and Tinicum Township. Each year, those involved with land preservation have had an opportunity to benefit from one another’s experiences and hear from experts in the field about relevant issues. Eric Schaffhausen, Chairman of the Bedminster Board of Supervisors and Don Moss, Chairman of the Bedminster Land Preservation Committee praised the accomplishment of preserving 7,000 of the 18,000 acres that make up Bedminster Township. Bedminster Township has had four referenda in effect, including one for the Earned Income Tax, to fund its land preservation program. Don Moss credited committed landowners and stated, “The preservation program has been so successful with the help of the Bedminster Regional Land Conservancy which co-holds the conservation easements, and the funding assistance through Bucks County Agricultural Land Preservation and Municipal Open Space Programs.” Barbara Drew, Executive Director of the Bedminster Regional Land Conservancy (BRLC), led the discussions providing an overview of the accomplishments of the BRLC, including the conservancy’s groundbreaking accreditation status received in 2008 from the national Land Trust Alliance and their current holdings of 98 conservation easements protecting 4,247 acres of farms and natural lands. Based on the most recent statewide survey of land trusts, the BRLC ranked 8 th out of 91 Pennsylvania land trusts in the total number of conservation easements held (2009 survey). Ms. Drew explained the services the BRLC provides and noted that one of the benefits to municipalities of having a conservancy is “having a non-political organization with a focused mission of upholding and defending easements and the technical training to back that up.” Lynn Bush, Executive Director of the Bucks County Planning Commission, made a presentation on the state of the County Open Space Program remarking that 144 farms totaling 12,257 acres have been preserved in the county as well as 6,602 acres of natural areas and parkland. Ms. Bush stated that, “The county's frugal approach to spending has served us well: where other counties have cut back on their preservation program spending, Bucks County continues to fund the protection of farmland and natural areas and provide grants for municipal open space projects.” A 2010 survey of county residents found that what they liked the most about the county was the farmland and rural character, followed by parks and recreation facilities and cultural and historic sites. Tom Gilbert from the Trust for Public Land presented the “Economic Value of Protected Open Space” study results. Conducted by the GreenSpace Alliance and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the study showed the environmental benefits and services that open spaces provide to a community and translated the benefits into economic values. Data obtained in the study showed that a home within 1 mile of preserved land increased in value an average of $10,000 per home and that preserved open space generates property taxes without the corresponding expenses such as schools, police, etc. Karen Budd, Bill Cahill and Eve Marschark, BRLC President Boyce Budd speaks with other open space supporters at the regional roundtable. After hearing the results of a township preservation program questionnaire, the attendees discussed their common concerns. The dialogue included advice and possible solutions regarding procedures, funding issues, and other common concerns. Eric Schaffhausen remarked, “Even though our communities have unique characteristics, there is no sense in reinventing the wheel”. All in attendance agreed that the exchange of information regarding land preservation among townships and conservancies was worthwhile, so the roundtable series will continue, with Springfield Township agreeing to host the next gathering. - Article and photos by Barbara Drew, BRLC Executive Director Fall 2011 WWW.TI�ICUMCO�SERVA�CY.ORG Page 9
Page 1 and 2: FALL 2011 GREEN ACRES After the Ink
Page 3 and 4: - SHOUT OUT Volunteer help is essen
Page 5 and 6: THE CRITTER CORNER Black bears are
Page 7: HE FUTURE - OUR LAND S (April - Aug
Page 11 and 12: CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT THE GIVING P

Newsletter-Fall '11FINALFINAL-REALLY - Tinicum Conservancy

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