Genesee Valley Conservancy NEWS Volume XV : Spring 2014 Coming Soon: New Website! Thanks to a grant through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, the Genesee Valley Conservancy is working to redesign and update the organization’s website! The original site, launched several years ago, utilized a frame system to navigate through different pages. Throughout the years, a few glitches were discovered, sometimes resulting in an orphaned page or dead end link. The new format will utilize a more dynamic menu to allow for easier maneuverability. The new website will also be search engine optimized, making it much easier to find through a simple Google search of related topics and key words. By developing a stable, user-friendly website that is easy to navigate and search engine optimized, the Genesee Valley Conservancy will be able to reach and provide information to those unfamiliar with the organization. Sneak peak at the new website. Continued on page 5 Local Artist Supports Conservation Look familiar? This pendant, handmade by local artist Kristen Balschunat of Beads With A Twist, reminds us of the Genesee Valley Conservancy’s logo! Kristen thought so too, and approached the Genesee Valley Conservancy in March of 2014 with an idea to help conservation through her business selling handcrafted jewelry. Kristen began working with beads and wire in middle school, spurred by a book from her aunt. She continued to develop her skills, and eventually set up a small business with her mother, participating in craft fairs and making custom orders for friends and family. After completing her undergraduate education at SUNY Geneseo where she majored in Geography, Kristen has opened a shop of her own to the sell these handmade pieces online. Her inspiration for the jewelry comes from trees: “Starting as miniscule seeds and growing into old, wise giants, they never fail to inspire my sense of awe. To think that what we see above ground is only half the tree and that a network of Continued on page 5 Provided Handmade wire and bead pendant made by Kristen Balschunat of Beads With A Twist. From the Executive Director This spring I had the opportunity to join colleagues in Washington DC for the third annual Land Trust Advocacy Day. This was the first time Genesee Valley Conservancy participated in this national effort. The two day trip was booked morning until night. The first day I met with fellow land trusts from across New York to plan presentations and double check our schedule so we wouldn’t miss any meetings. The second day was the main event, running back and forth between the Senate and Congress buildings, meeting with representatives to talk about the importance of conservation work and how they can help support these efforts in their districts. One of our priorities was to thank representatives for passing a Farm Bill containing significant funding for conservation programs. The Farm Bill also included reforms to certain conservation programs that will make them more accessible to local farmers and help protect more farms in the area. Our other priority for the visit was to renew support for the Enhanced Conservation Easement Tax Incentive. Our effort was focused on re-enacting and making permanent this incentive which expired at the end of 2013. In the six years with the enhanced tax incentive, landowners protected 45% more land each year with Genesee Valley Conservancy. In our mission to protect land in the Genesee Valley, the support of our legislators is crucial. As I flew home, I thought about the political process and the very specific role that politicians play in setting up the laws and tax policy that make conservation possible. Their work, though miles away in Albany and Washington, is essential. In thinking through the significant role they play, I realized everyone supporting the organization is similarly involved in a very specific and crucial role. Students from the State University of New York at Geneseo intern at the office each semester to lend their time and talents to various projects (Page 2). Experts lead walks and give talks to the community to share their knowledge on topics relevant to the local landscape that we cherish (Pages 6 &7). Individuals who purchase protected land become the new stewards of those natural resources and part of the legacy of ensuring these important properties are passed on to the next generation (Page 4). Of course, the list goes on: financial supporters, the Board of Directors, the Staff. So many people contribute to Genesee Valley Conservancy in so many different ways. It is thanks to each and every person and the different ways they contribute that make permanent conservation work possible here in the Genesee Valley. In this newsletter, you will read about some of our goings on. We continue to work on several promising conservation projects and look forward to sharing those with you soon. In the meantime I hope to see you at one of our preserves or at one of our upcoming events. Sincerely, Benjamin Gajewski, Executive Director Provided Land Trust Professionals outside the U. S. Capitol building in Washington, DC. 2 geneseevalleyconservancy.org Spring Interns By Dave Bojanowski Utilizing the strengths of a community has always been a trademark of the Genesee Valley Conservancy and once again we are the beneficiary of two terrific SUNY Geneseo student interns, Cailey Heffley and Kyle Davis. Cailey, a senior majoring in geography, has been organizing and implementing the annual spring monitoring process in Livingston County. She has updated many conservation easement aerial maps with the most current 2013 satellite data available. These images Kyle Davis in front of the GIS mapping software he is updating as part of his internship. provide a detailed snapshot of the easement property and the surrounding land use for immediate feet on the ground monitoring and as a permanent record for future stewardship. Cailey contacts landowners by mail and then sets up appointments for personal visits. Her warm and friendly personal approach, as well as her efficient organizational and technical skills have saved staff time in the office and provided a wonderful Cailey Heffley on a montioring visit to a farm in Geneseo. and accuracy here. addition to our annual monitoring program. It is an inspiration to staff and those who Kyle, a senior majoring in geology, has have worked with Cailey and Kyle to see the spent his internship working on the Genesee significant qualifications and capabilities they Valley Conservancy’s internal mapping contribute in their work. Not only do the programs, providing a terrific foundation Genesee Valley Conservancy and landowners for streamlining and standardizing the many benefit, so does the community as a whole. We maps produced in-house. With a quiet and unassuming style, Kyle has focused his efforts thank them admirably for their service and wish them the best in their future endeavors. GVC on bringing layer upon layer of shape and data files to a whole new level of proficiency Supporters in the news Congratulations to long time supporter Davies Nagel who received Livingston County’s Earth Day Award this year! This annual award is presented to an individual or organization to recognize outstanding achievements that are directed to help preserve, improve, or educate about the Livingston County environment. Nagel has provided more than 33 years of sevice to the education of youth, as well as sharing his enthusiasm and passion for nature with the community. Keep up the great work! Provided Environmental Management Council Chairmen Ray Case (left) presenting Davies Nagel (right) with the Earth Day award. The Mulligan family posing on their protected farm. Congratulations to the Mulligan family and Mulligan Farm for being honored as Livingston County’s 2014 Farm of the Year for its exemplary community involvement, environmental stewardship, good business practices, and advocacy for agribusiness. In 2010, the Mulligan family worked with the Genesee Valley Conservancy to place a conservation easement on their property, ensuring that the land remain in agricultural production for generations to come. Congratulations to the Mulligan family and Mulligan Farm! We are thrilled to be a part of your family’s legacy! Genesee Valley Conservancy 2014 3 Aerial view of Jim and Susanna’s conserved land. Interview with Conservation Easement Owner James Garner By Katy Festa After a vacation in the Finger Lakes, James Garner and Susanna Garrett were struck by the views of the sprawling Genesee Valley as their plane departed from Rochester International Airport on their way home to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Intrigued by the open space and vegetation, James and Susanna resolved to come back again. After a few more visits, and the realization that the nearby Watkins Glen was home to a former Formula 1 racetrack (one of Jim’s 4 geneseevalleyconservancy.org favorite sports), they began to look for properties to make the Genesee Valley their permanent home. James and Susanna recently settled on Second Street in the heart of the village of Geneseo, and own a little over 93 acres of conserved land on Little Road in Avon. I had the opportunity to sit down with Jim to learn a little bit about his reasons for coming to Geneseo, purchasing land, and his thoughts on conservation. What is your background? I grew up on a small grain farm in England of about one thousand acres, that is now owned by my two brothers. After coming to the United States in 1982 for post graduate studies in agronomy and crop production, I established a business consulting and providing vegetation management services in Cheyenne, Wyoming. My wife was born in the Catskills and grew up in Kansas. She is a physical therapist who taught special education, and was actively involved in conservation outside of work, attending workshops such as Wyoming Wildlife Camp. place we settled to have an Episcopal church. When we came to Geneseo, we were thrilled to find a welcoming community and church that fit our needs wonderfully. When we learned of the significant amount of conserved land locally, we knew we had found a community with values similar to our own and that we were in the right place. What made you choose to purchase a property under conservation easement? The fact that the property had been conserved really added to our attraction. I What brought you to Geneseo? When Susanna and I decided to relocate, we were looking for three main things. First, we were looking for land that could be productive without the need for extensive irrigation. Second, we wanted a small community where Provided we felt as though we Landowners James Garner and Susanna Garrett would fit in. Finally, we wanted the have seen firsthand the development of England and thought it was wonderful that this protection was already in place. What are your favorite features of the property? We love the tranquility of the valley. The view from the Livingston County courthouse of the sprawling valley is beautiful, and being in that valley is just breath taking. I try to get out to our property at least once a week, to walk around and explore. Our dogs certainly love it here, too. What does conservation mean to you? Conservation means the protection of land for many uses: encouraging progressive agriculture, maintaining sustainable ecosystems, and keeping the land accessible for the pleasure of responsible users. What are your plans for the property? A view of the 93 acre property. We plan to continue to farm it in a responsible way. to manage it in way that benefits us, but We’re looking into tile drainage, and also improves the quality of the land for the possibilities for the woodland. We feel that it is a privilege to have access to the next generation. GVC these resources and our responsibility For information about protecting your land and preserving your legacy, please contact the Genesee Valley Conservancy office. New Website continued... In addition to the enhanced function, the style of the website will also be updated. In recent years, the Genesee Valley Conservancy has redesigned both printed and electronic publications to better reflect the goals and work of the organization. The new website will match this new aesthetic, adding another layer of professionalism and consistency to the organization’s online presence. One of the most exciting aspects of the new website, however, is the opportunity it offers to display more images of the gorgeous land protected by conservation easement. Because we are fortunate to live in an area where land and open space is all around us, it is not unusual to take it for granted. Images are one of our most powerful connectors, and can remind us that what we have is special, and worth protecting. The new website will serve as a vehicle to display images of the land in use, and hopefully remind the website’s visitors of the importance of conserving the Genesee Valley. Keep an eye out for updates via email or facebook; the new and improved website should be launched within the next few weeks! GVC Local Artist continued... W. Chanler Island Preserve with a friend. She remembers, “It was nice to find a quiet place to de-stress while listening to the sound of crunching leaves and birdsongs, a place that I continued to visit throughout my time in Geneseo.” She got better acquainted with the organization as she helped conduct forest surveys on two of Genesee Valley Conservancy’s public preserves, the John W. Provided Chanler Island Preserve and Indian Kristen Balschunat, the artist behind Beads With A Twist, on one of Genesee Fort Nature Preserve, as part of her Valley Conservancy’s Bluebell Walks. coursework for a geography major. roots as deep as the tree is tall expands below Additionally, Kristen attended some of the the soil makes me feel small indeed.” organization’s walks and naturalist lectures, and Kristen’s first introduction to the Genesee even spent time volunteering at the Genesee Valley Conservancy was on a visit to the John Valley Conservancy office. “When I started my business,” she explains, “I knew I wanted to partner with a local non-profit organization. The Genesee Valley Conservancy was the perfect fit, not only because my pendant design looked like the logo, but because I wanted the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me a greater appreciation for the natural beauty of this area and will help protect habitat and agricultural spaces for years to come.” We are honored to partner with Kristen and Beads With A Twist. For every Deep Green Pendant (pictured on page 1) sold, $5 will be donated to the Genesee Valley Conservancy. Check out the Beads With A Twist shop on etsy to view her jewelry and support local conservation. GVC Visit Beads With A Twist at www.etsy.com/shop/beadtwist Genesee Valley Conservancy 2014 5 2014 Nature Walks and Events sponsored by Join us as we kick off the season! Events are free and run rain or shine! Distance and difficulty vary. Visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org for more information To be notified of weather dependent events, such as the bluebell walk & winter snowshow, please join GVC’s Mailing list: [email protected] May May 24th - Birding Walk with James Kimball - 7:30am Location:3468 Nations Road, Geneseo. Meet at the bridge on Nations Road. Bring binoculars and viewing scopes to view grassland birds in the National Audobon Society designated Important Bird Area alone Nations Road with birder Jim Kimball. We will walk along the roadside and possibly drive to a few other locations depending on the conditions and sightings. June June 1st - Genesee River Float - 10am Location: New York 19, Caneadea Join the Genesee Valley Conservancy and Genesee River Wilds for a relaxing float along the Genesee River. Bring your own equipment to the Caneadea River Access Park and we’ll spend the afternoon floating to Fillmore. June 15th - Birding Walk with Hans Kunze - 7:30am Location: 56 South Federal Street, Perry Come enjoy the Silver Lake Trail for a morning bird identification walk with birder Hans Kunze, the Perry Main Street Association, and GVC. Bring your binoculars; we’ll be identifying a variety of interesting birds! June 15th - GVC Membership Picnic Save the Date! Invitations to follow. July July 26th - Woodlot Plantation Management with Steve Schiano - 10am Location: 200 Perry Road, Mount Morris (Leicester) To increase timber value per acre, logger & land manager Steve Schiano has developed a unique process of managing forest plantations along the riparian areas of the Genesee River and its tributaries. Join us in the field to see the past 20 years of challenges and successes Steve has encountered and learn to apply them to your own property. Events are held with permission on private property. Please respect the landowners and do not trespass. 6 geneseevalleyconservancy.org August August 2nd - Greenway Trail History and Hike with Joan Schumaker - 2pm Location: York Landing, south of Avon off River Road Join Joan Schumaker, Acting President of Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, for a walk along the Greenway Trail, learning about the trail’s development from early canal and railroad days to its present status as a New York State Park. August 2nd - Quiz Night - 6pm *registration required Location: 3089 Avon Road, Geneseo This pub style quiz tests your tearm’s trivia knowledge while benefitting a great cause! Supper & beverages for all ages are included in the registration cost. Visit www. geneseevalleyconservancy.org to learn more and sign up! August 16th - Genesee River Canoe Trip - 10am *registration required This paddle will depart from Mt. Morris and conclude at the Indian Fort Nature Preserve. The river is gentle along this stretch and lunch will be provided. Contact GVC’s office for more information! August 31st - Oak Tree Half Marathon & 5k Run/Walk - 8am *registration required Visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org/race for race & registration information! September September 13th - Invasives Workshop at the Indian Fort Nature Preserve - 10am Location: 3432 Jones Bridge Road, Geneseo Jim Engel, owner of White Oak Nursery with extensive experience in restoring large natural landscapes, will speak about invasive plants and demonstrate methods to control them in this combination lecture and workday. September 20th - Fall Brook Geology Walk with Dr. Jeff Over - 9am Location: ~.5 miles from the Route 63/Route 39 split, near 3339 Cuylerville Road, Geneseo Park at the bottom of 39/20A on the south side of the road near the alfalfa mill View the spectecular protected Fall Brook and learn about the area’s geologic history. Wear boots & be prepared to walk through water. This will be a 1 mile walk on uneven ground over rocks in the creek bed. October October 11th - Autumn Colors Walk - 2pm Location: The bridge on Nations Road, Geneseo, approximatey 1 mile from Route 39 Join the Genesee Valley Conservancy staff on the protected 390 acre Wheeler Gully to view the beautiful fall foliage. The walk will be on forest trails and approximately 3 miles long. Stream crossings may occur. October 18th - Forestry with Brice June -10am Location: Indian Fort Nature Preserve, 3432 Jones Bridge Road, Geneseo Managing forestland for wildlife is not a “one size fits all” process. DEC Forester Brice June will introduce landowners to a variety of forest conditions and discuss how they may be managed in order to meet the multiple goals of timber, wildlife, recreation, & esthetics. Genesee Valley Conservancy 2014 7 PO Box 73 Geneseo, NY 14454 (585) 243-2190 geneseevalleyconservancy.org Return Service Requested. Board of Directors Gregg Hartvigsen, President Bill Lloyd, Vice-President Martin Miskell, Co-Treasurer Craig Phelps, Co-Treasurer Sally Wood, Corresponding Secretary Joyce Wechsler, Recording Secretary Neil Bliss Sheila Chanler Paul Frame Cathy Gardner Kristi Hannam John Lockhart Gail McGuire Myrtle Merritt Jeff Mulligan Sharon Presutti Benjamin Gajewski, Executive Director David Bojanowski, Land Conservationist Katy Festa, Development & Communications Coordinator Marcia Koch, Accountant Photography by Benjamin Gajewski i Design by Kathleen Mannix & Katy Festa Join us in protecting the places we love. ONLINE GIVING IS AVAILABLE. Please give today! geneseevalleyconservancy.org
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