Transcription
Simsbury Land Trust2019 Annual Report
2018-2019 BOARD OF TRUSTEESFred Feibel, PresidentMargery Winters, Vice PresidentKaren Brand, SecretaryBob Ellis, TreasurerChad AlfeldTed AlmyMary BaierT.J. DonohueKatie FrenchRob HeagneyPaul HenaultChuck HowardJerry JarrettDiana MoodySally RiegerElliot SchulmanSusan Van KleefAdvisory BoardBob BinghamBill CoxCandace FitzpatrickBill HowardMike LongCONTENTSSTAFF1 Letter from the PresidentAmy Zeiner, Executive DirectorPatricia Hazelwood, Director,Finance and Membership2 Protecting Land with Climate Change in Mind4 Working on Trails and Trees6 Michael Donlin PropertyEditor: Amy ZeinerDesign: John Johnson Art Direction and Design7 SLT Properties Map8 There’s More to Mushrooms Than Meets the EyeThanks to our photographers:Lisa Knicos, Sarah Langdon, Diana Moody, GailPease, Don Rieger, Sally Rieger, Robert Shea,Susan Van Kleef10 Financial Highlights12 Membership Donations16 #SLT Rocks!IBC SLT Properties MapThank you Stewards!SLT has over 1100 acres and we would not beable to care for them properly if it was not forour wonderful property stewards. Stewardsmonitor a certain parcel of land, submittinga report at least two times a year. If they areinterested they also take care of some of thesmaller – and on occasion larger – maintenanceissues on the trails. Picking up small limbsand cleaning debris off trails, reporting and attimes removing larger items left on the trailand other things as needed. Some stewardshelp monitor easements on some of thefarm properties. All jobs, big and small, areimportant and very much appreciated by theSimsbury Land Trust.Don and Sally RiegerTom CrawfordPat and Don UhlMel WolpertTeresa BludeauSusan Van KleefLori StethersDick ClarkJoe SpringmanJoan SkellyJim MillerBob SheaAndy BrowerPaula and Rick RobinsonDiana MoodyBCamilla ThompsonJoe TreacyBiff ZoephelJerry JarrettKatIe LauderLori FernandBob PalmerBrett SloanScott BarnettMary BaierMarlene SnecinskiMichelle KnierimJerry BerubeSteve Osborn
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTI like to say that one does not need to visit a naturecenter to see ‘nature’, that everyone has a naturecenter in one’s own yard. As an instructor at RoaringBrook Nature Center for over twenty years, I seemore wildlife in my own yard than I do while leadinggroups of excited (and noisy!) children along thetrails. Nature does not recognize property boundariesand does not know that it should be restricted to ourincreasingly isolated designated areas of preservedopen space. Your yard is also a vital part of theecological puzzle. My question to you is, how is your‘nature center’ doing?With your financial support and the efforts of ourtireless volunteer land stewards, the Simsbury LandTrust has secured and maintains over 1,100 acres ofopen space in part to preserve our town’s sense ofplace a well as to support healthy ecosystem. TheTown of Simsbury likewise has preserved other areasand, currently a laudable 30% of the town is in suchprotection. But, the corollary means that the majorityof the land, 70%, is not. This 70% surrounds andin many ways can isolate our preserved areas. Howwe manage the majority of our land has a profoundimpact on the health of our wild areas. Withproper management, however, the 70% can serveas vital habitat stepping stones, reconnecting andstrengthening our wild areas. Every yard counts. Andthat is where we will be seeking your support. As wework on our 1,100 acres, we are looking for your helpon your property. Here are some of our proposals.Over the next few years the Simsbury LandTrust will be exploring ways to encourage Simsbury’svarious landowners in developing these steppingstones to our local open spaces through the plantingof native plants. We will be teaming up with otherland use groups in Simsbury and adjacent towns todevelop pathways for our pollinators (more on this onpage XX). We will be hosting educational programsto learn about gardening practices that increase thebiological diversity and ecological usefulness of ouryards and promote the removal of invasive non-nativeplants from public and private properties to helpprevent the spread of these plants to Simsbury’s wildareas. As always, we will be leading hikes throughour properties and other local trails to showcase thevalue of our wild areas. And of course, wheneverpossible, the Simsbury Land Trust will be purchasingproperties that increase the connections to ourexisting properties. There is much to do and a role foreveryone.I am looking forward to my term as President ofthe SLT, and I look forward to seeing you at one ofour education programs or hikes this year!1
Pollinator Pathway Project Comes to SimsburyMargery Winters, SLT PresidentThis fall the Simsbury Land Trust is helpingto initiate Simsbury’s participation in thePollinator Pathway Project. Started twoyears ago in Wilton, CT, the PollinatorPathway Project has since mushroomedto include an ever growing list of over75 towns in CT and NY.The Pollinator Pathway projectis organized by volunteers from townconservation organizations working togetherto establish pollinator-friendly habitat and foodsources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and otherpollinating insects and wildlife along a series ofcontinuous corridors. The need for these corridors isurgent as pollinator populations are in sharp declinebecause of pesticide use and loss of habitat. Beepopulations, both native and honey bees, have seensharp declines. A recent and concerning Germanstudy shows a 75% decline in all flying insects in thelast 25 years.The goal is for this project is to ecologicallyreconnect our preserved wild areas, such as the SLTproperties, by planting pollinator-friendly nativeplants and by avoiding the use of pesticides and lawnchemicals on our publically- and privately-ownedproperties. As Dr. Doug Tallamy, University ofDelaware entomologist, argues so effectively in hisbook Bringing Nature Home,with proper management, our ownyards as well as can become habitatstepping stones to our otherwiseincreasingly isolated parks andpreserves. Most native bees havea range of about half a mile andthese corridors are vital for theirpreservation.The Pollinator Pathwaywas initiated by Donna Merrillwho was working as part of theHudson-to- Housatonic RegionalConservation Partnership (H2H)and was tasked with creating acommunity land stewardshipproject in Wilton. She wasinspired after learning about awoman in Oslo, Norway whocreated a “Bee Highway” through her city. TheOslo project in turn was inspired by thework of the original founder of thePollinator Pathway, Sarah Bergmann,in Seattle. Merrill offered neighborsbetween South Salem, NY andRidgefield, CT free native dogwoodtrees, funded by H2H, to help createconnected pollinator habitat. With thesuccess of that task, Merrill convened ameeting of a group of conservation organizationsin Wilton and proposed doing something similar inWilton. From this meeting emerged the PollinatorPathway as it exists today in the North East: a townbased organization run by volunteers from each town’sconservation organizations that encourage bothcitizens and municipalities to plant native pollinatorfriendly plants and reaches out to home, public, andprivate land owners to help providing safe habitatway-stations for pollinators.More information on the project will be forthcoming inthe months ahead. To learn more about the project, visitwww.pollinator-pathway.org. If you are interested intaking part in this exciting project, please contact theSimsbury Land Trust office.2
Stewardship in Action – Pollinator Field at Wagner WoodsSally Rieger, SLT BoardThis year, the Simsbury Land Trustbegan work on a project to convertone and three-quarter acres of the hayfield at the Wagner Woods Propertyto a meadow of pollinator-friendlyplants. It is one of several sites,including Glover and Tanager Hill, atwhich we foster plants that supportbees, butterflies, and other species ofinsects, some of which are importantas food for birds and other wildlife.The Tuller family (TulmeadowFarm) has traditionally mown theWagner Woods field for hay, but wasagreeable to the new use of a smallarea of it. Because the SLT ownsthe property, the land will remainundeveloped, so the rest of the fieldwill continue to be available forConnecticut DEEP’s Peter Picone explains the pollinator projecthaying.to Hayes and Finn Rieger.In the Wagner field we planted awide variety of wildflower seeds(24 different species) and nativeerosion and to the emergence ofSeeding was done with agrasses along with a cover cropweed seeds that might be belowConnecticut DEEP slit seederof winter rye. The cover cropthe surface. It would be helpfulshould help protect the site fromthat planted the wildflower seeds to be able to water the site, buterosion and from undesiredwe do not have that capacity.and the rye seeds at differentwindblown seeds while thedepths in narrow slits in the soil. Instead, we must depend onwildflowers get established.rainfall.Although grasses and sedges doWe thus avoided tilling up all theWe are grateful to Buzznot provide high quality foodsoil and exposing it to erosion and and Don Tuller for their helpfor bees and butterflies, theywith this project and to Kevinto the emergence of weed seeds“are larval host plants for someLamy of the DEEP whobutterflies and also providethat might be below the surface. operated the equipment. Peternesting and overwinteringPicone of the DEEP broughtsites for some bumble bees andthis opportunity to our attentionother insects.” (http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/and guided us through the project. His counsel T Stewardship over the years has been invaluable.pdf )If we are successful, the meadow should be in(Editor’s Note: See related Pollinator Pathway article.full bloom in two years. Of course, there can be noWe will have a series of talks and other programs thatpromises when dealing with Mother Nature. Seedingwill provide additional information for establishing awas done with a Connecticut DEEP slit seederpollinator garden in your backyard.)that planted the wildflower seeds and the rye seedsat different depths in narrow slits in the soil. Wethus avoided tilling up all the soil and exposing it to3
Get outside and get dirty with the Dirty Boots Kids Club!Catching frogs, looking up close at bugs — dead andlive ones — making butter out of cream and eatingit, tracking animals in the snow and learning how tomake tracks, grinding corn and running through thecorn maze. It doesn’t get any better than that!These are some of the past activities forthe Dirty Boots Kids Club, and we aretrying to bring back the program.Getting our children — orgrandchildren — out into natureis an important job for parents andgrandparents, and it is an important partof the Simsbury Land Trust’s job as well.We spend our time, money and effort preservingparcels of land and building trails to benefit futuregenerations. The Dirty Boots Kids Club grew out ofthis desire to get more children (and their parents orgrandparents) out on our trails.Several years ago we had a very active group, butthe children aged out of the program as the demandsof organized athletics and school grew. We are hopingto get a new group of children to participate againthis year. We have had a few successful family hikesover the past few months and hope to addmore.Children can participate in theprogram free of charge (if a parent orgrandparent is a member). Teaching yourchildren the joys of the outdoors is a giftfor a lifetime. Please consider signing yourchildren or grandchildren up for the Dirty BootsKids Club today!(To sign up for Dirty Boots Kids Club contact AmyZeiner at amyzeiner@aol.com.)4
Simsbury Land Trust12-Hike ChallengeTake a hike in Simsbury and join theSLT 12-Hike Challenge!Spring is here, a perfect time to get out on the trails. Ourcommunity is full of beautiful trails and paths, with scenicvistas, forest views and lovely open fields. There are over 28trails in the Simsbury Walkbook, ranging from very easy,short and flat to several miles with tougher terrain.So many places to explore right in your own backyard!The rules for the SLT 12-Hike Challenge are simple. Sign up for the 12-Hike Challenge on our website.(www.simsburylandtrust.org) Join if you are not already a member – membershipsrange from 40 and up, but any amount is welcome.Membership is not required but strongly encouragedas membership donations fund our trail work andwalkbook! Take at least 12 of the hikes found in the SimsburyWalkbook or SLT-sponsored hikes between May 1,2019 and May 1, 2020. Keep track of your hikes – date and location. Anydistance hike or walk counts toward your 12-hike goal.SLT-sponsored hikes, regardless of the location, alsocount toward the challenge. When you are finished complete the SLT 12-HikeChallenge Completion Form on our website and you’llget a free SLT baseball cap! Please respect the trail rules, stay on the marked trail,take out any trash you bring in (bonus if you bring outany trash you may find on the trails), and be courteousof our neighbors when you park for your hike.Join the fun!Please post pictures of your hikes on the Simsbury LandTrust FaceBook page or our Instagram page.#SLT12hikechallenge #hikesimsbury #simsburylandtrustNeed a copy of the Simsbury Walkbook?The Simsbury Walkbook can now be found on our website.Want a hard copy? Any questions?Contact our office at 860-651-8773or amyzeiner@aol.com.See you on the trails!5
SLT Celebrates Fred FeibelMargery Winters, SLT PresidentAs Fred Feibel steps down as President of theSimsbury Land Trust, a position he has held since2014, it is time to thank him for his leadership duringa period of extraordinary accomplishments. As JohnQuincy Adams said “If your actions inspire others todream more, learn more, do more and become more,you are a leader.” And indeed the Simsbury LandTrust Board, volunteers and supporters have beeninspired to do just that.We have become more. The last five years havebeen a time of growth for the SLT. Since 2014 theSimsbury Land Trust properties have grown to 1,100acres. Acquisitions during this period included thepreservation of George Hall Farm, the addition ofthe Michael Donlin property, and the crowning jewelpurchase of the Tanager Hill property at the base ofTalcott Mountain. This period also marked recordhigh membership to the SLT, and the developmentof a strategic plan to identify long-term goals andprocesses to accomplish them. One of these goalswas the establishment of the Richard A. DavisEndowment Fund to help ensure the long-termfinancial health of the Simsbury Land Trust. Thisfund is now making significant contributions to theoperating accounts and is contributing to the financialstability of the organization.We have learned more and done more. The pastfew years have also seen the development of numerouseducation programs for our members, saw the revisionand republication of the Simsbury Land Trust WalkBook, the creation of the Dirty Boots Club forchildren and their parents, the very successful GreenScenes Film Series, and the Hikers Club. Our vibrantStewardship Committee not only maintains thehiking trails throughout the properties, but buildsbridges, restores degraded habitats degraded withinvasive plants with native plantings.We are dreaming more. Future propertyacquisitions that will link our existing properties withother open space areas are being contemplated. Weare exploring partnerships with other organizations,both public and private, to become a part of thePollinator Pathways Project (see page XX to learnmore) to improve our local and regional habitats inan effort to defragment our landscapes. And we areexploring new technologies that will improve ourcommunication with and provide the programs andexperiences for our members and attract new members.The Simsbury Land Trust has grown and thrivedduring Fred’s terms as President and the SLT Boardand members thank him for his years of dedicatedleadership and hard work.6
Did you know?Cash donations of qualified IRA distributions isa relatively new, less familiar method of charitablegiving. Here’s how it works. If you are 70 ½ or older,IRS rules require you to take required minimumdistributions (RMDs) each year from your taxdeferred retirement accounts. This additional taxableincome may push you into a higher tax bracketand reduce your eligibility for medical credits andother deductions. Under 2018 tax reform, the IRSmade permanent the provision which allows you tosatisfy your annual required minimum distribution(up to 100,000 yearly) with a direct transfer offunds from your IRA to a qualified charity likethe Simsbury Land Trust. As long as the qualifiedcharitable distribution amount comes directly fromthe IRA to the charity, it can be excluded from yourtaxable income. For donors over the age of 70 ½ withcharitable intent and a desire to support the SLT,there may not be a simpler, more tax-efficient way togive than directly from your IRA.Ted Almy, SLT TrusteeFor more than 40 years the Simsbury Land Trust hasreceived support from generous members, rangingfrom donation of property to annual membershipcontributions and planned gifts from estates andtrusts.Recently, we’ve experienced an increasing donationtrend in the form of gifts of appreciated stock anddonations of cash from qualified individual retirementaccounts (IRAs).Donation of securities is a familiar, longstandinggifting method that can offer significant taxadvantages to the donor. All gifts of stock receivea full-market value tax deduction and avoid allcapital gains taxes. Stock gifts will be credited to thesupporter based on the high/low average selling priceon the day of transfer.THE LEGACY SOCIETY — SUPPORT THE SLT THROUGH PLANNED GIVINGPlanned giving offers a wide range of gift options for people who care about protecting Simsbury’s rurallandscapes. Because of the variety of tax benefits that are designed to encourage charitable giving, plannedgiving may enable you to give a more significant gift than might have otherwise beenpossible, while at the same time allowing you to receive a range of potential financial benefits.If you would like information about The Legacy Society and planned giving options, or if youwould like to make a gift to the Simsbury Land Trust, please call the office at 651-8773 orvisit our website, www.simsburylandtrust.org. You should also consult your financial or tax advisor about whichoptions may be most beneficial for you.SLT ENDOWMENT FUNDProtecting the property starts with the purchase, but taking care of the property is our responsibility forever. As the numberof acres we protect increases so does the amount of time and money necessary to care for it. So far the care of this propertyhas largely been done with our volunteer stewards.But what about tomorrow? How do we insure that the SLT is able to steward the property for the long term?We can do this by building our endowment. The Simsbury Land Trust Richard A. Davis Endowment Fund at the HartfordFoundation for Public Giving provides income for current needs and most importantly, a permanent source of support for thefuture needs of the organization. Many of you have already generously contributed to our appeals over the past 15 years,helping us raise the money needed to preserve 1110 acres of open space, and for that we thank you.Today we are asking you to consider helping us continue to build our endowment.Permanent protection of this open space is our continuing responsibility. I know most of you feel about this as we do, thatwe all must do our part to ensure that these beautiful spaces are taken care of for generations to come.* Please note that all donations to the Simsbury Land Trust Endowment Fund MUST be made payable directly to theHartford Foundation for Public Giving SLT Richard A. Davis Endowment Fund. They also have an online giving option ontheir website, www.hfpg.org.7
Financial HighlightsStatements of ActivitiesFor the Years Ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 20182019WITHOUT DONORRESTRICTIONS2018WITH DONORRESTRICTIONSTOTALWITHOUT DONORRESTRICTIONSWITH DONORRESTRICTIONSTOTALCHANGES INUNRESTRICTED NET ASSETSRevenues:Membership Contributions 111,284 111,284 105,100 105,100Bequests 33,298 33,298Contribution Income – Restricted *30,640 30,64015,056 15,056Grants25,000 25,000Land Acquisition andOther Contributions785 7857558,467 9,222Annual Dinner – Net1,475 1,475659 659Investment Income25,074-33,325- 8,25117,38925,626 43,015Total penses:Administrative33,316 33,31634,677 34,677Salaries and Benefits33,355 33,35533,930 33,930Membership25,255 25,25518,691 18,691Stewardship15,120 15,12017,527 17,5272Total Expenses107,046107,046104,825104,825Revenues Over Expenses64,870-2,68562,18544,07849,14993,227Other change inunrestricted assets:Unrealized (loss)/gain onshort term investmentsChange in net assetsNet assets, beginning of yearNet assets, end of year9,72874,598-2,685 9,72871,913(4,710)39,36849,149- 4,71088,517353,05314,865,525 15,218,578313,68514,816,376 15,130,061 427,651 14,862,840 15,290,491 353,053 14,865,525 15,218,578* Restricted Contribution Income is funds donated to the Richard A. Davis Endowment Fundheld at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.8
Balance SheetFiscal Years Ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017June 30June 3020192018AssetsCURRENT ASSETSCash – Unrestricted– Donor RestrictedPrepaid Expenses 421,5057805,367 349,797303,227427,652353,054OTHER ASSETSInvestments Held by OthersLand250,65014,612,189253,33514,612,189TOTAL OTHER ASSETS14,862,83914,865,524 15,290,491 15,218,578 427,652 353,054250,65014,612,189253,33514,612,189 15,290,491 15,218,578TOTAL CURRENT ASSETSTotal AssetsFund BalanceUnrestrictedRestricted – Richard A. DavisEndowment FundTemporarily RestrictedFund Balance9
Membership DonationsWe want to thank the community for its generous support this past year.None of the Simsbury Land Trust’s accomplishments in 2018 would have beenpossible without our membership and our many remarkable volunteers and donors.StarStewardDisney Worldwide Services, Inc.Mass Mutual Life InsuranceCompany Oak Foundation Terry’s Plain HomeownersAssociation United Technologies Voya Foundation The Werth Family Foundation Aetna Foundation, Inc. Almy Family Karen Brand and Ed Cox Michael and Lynn Callahan Dave and Lori Carlson John and Joyce Donahue Michele DysonRobert and Linda Ellis Frederick and Hannah Feibel Ted and Kathy Fleming Barbara and Bill GardnerBill and Becky Goss Carolyn JohnsonDale and Janet Knecht Nick Mason John and Jacqui McCormick Tom and Sandy McGee Mary Mitchell Jane Porterfield and Gerald PastorJudy and John Schaefer Russell Shaw Jr. andJoyce Driscoll Joseph andMary Jane Springman Paul and Camilla Thompson Rick and Kristi Warters Nate and Judy CantwellRobert and Deborah Carey Bill and Karyn Cordner Tom and Patty Crawford Kurt and Agnes DickensonReinaldo Figueroa andJennifer H. Johnson Tom and Anneliese FrankDeborah Grandin Diana Haghighat andGerardo Gutierrez Robert and Barbara Heagney Laurinda Jaffe William and Mary Beth Jordan Mr. and Mrs. John KalamaridesBarry and Jolie Kline Paul Knierim andGreg Knickett Walter C. andElizabeth M. Kress Alan and Judy LiebermanLoxton Family Susan Masino and David Galt Gary and Patricia Moeller Jim and Diana Moody David and Jill Nelson Robert and Margaret PatricelliLynn and Laurence PollackRick and Paula Robinson Randy and Joanne Romitelli John and Liz RoperMichael Ryan Jonathan ScullSexton FamilyFred and Rosemary SmithLeslie and Jim Somers Wayne and Melinda Westbrook Tobey and Margery Winters Amy and Larry Zeiner Nancy Boynton andRobert Lange Peter and Lisa Fagan Marie C. FrinkRona Gollob Chris and Ann Hamilton Wayne and Elinor HoffmanJoan and Chuck Howard Sherry Irons Alan and Becky KreczkoMike and Ann Long Richard and Nancy Murphy Mel and Karen Ollestad Brendan PastorGraham PastorGwen PastorHunter and Julie PeacockDean PorterfieldMr. and Mrs. J. Rodney Reck Robert and Judith Sturgis FamilyFoundation Brenda J. Sullivan, CPA SustainerBaringsHartford Fire Insurance CompanyReid and Riege Foundation UBS PaineWebber Denise and Chad Alfeld Mr. and Mrs. Kevin AndersonAnonymous Sara J. Batchelder Jan Beatty and Michael Park John and Lisa Bermel 5 Year Donor10 Year DonorEndowment Fund DonorSponsorAvon Veterinary Clinic Lincoln Financial GroupOld Kelsey Point Hill and BeachAssociation Prudential Matching GiftsProgram Virtus Investment PartnersRichard Adessa Peter and Pam Albertsen Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. James BagnallChristopher and Mary K. Baier Buzz and Jill Baldwin Andrzej BanaszukBarrows FamilyRobert and Debra Beckius Gerard BerubeRobert and Carol Bingham Tony and Tamara Braz Christel and Jon BrownJohn Bruno andArtemis Tsagaris Peter and Patricia CareyMichael Cegan Mike and Patty ColburnGail and Julian CoolidgeRoger and Sandy Coombes Bruce and Maribel CorbettBill and Melanie Cranshaw Daly FamilyT.J. and Terri Donohue Andy and KatherineTammy Fagan John and Lillie FeierabendKatie French Anthony and Susan Galici Brian and Karen Gallagher WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAIL?We asked some of our members which trail is their favorite and why.Several of their responses appear in the following membership list.10
Marion Gilmore Charity Folk Ed and Sherri GoldbergBill and Vivian Gombert Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Green Sarah Greer and Brandon BarrettBarbara R. GreyDagny and Harrison GriswoldJohn and Elizabeth GunnHillary Handin andMatthieu JoublinTricia and Josh Hazelwood Jim and Lisa Heavner Ping and Sarah Hsieh Kevin HuttJohn R. Johnson, Jr. Shannon Leary KnallNick KreczkoLorrie and Doug Lescarbeau Ellen and Mark Lescher James and Lynn Lewis Marie and Eric LimPatti and Fred Lorenzen Edward and Kelly Lyman The Ken Mason Family Paul and Karen McKennaKeith and Carol McLean-ShinamanMitchell FamilyMohrman Family Mike and Jennifer MooneyDoug and Bobbi Morehouse Eric MortensenPaul Murphy Gregory NelsonDottie and Max O’Meara Susan and Jon OlsonPolly and Steve Parker Ronald and Barbara PattersonLinda and Barry Pearson John and Kathleen PerkinsStephen PhilbrickThe Post FamilyThe Preskenis Family Karaugh and Tim PrugarDrs. Mary Randall andLarry NeureitherTom and Kim RichardsThe Rose FamilyRebecca and Peter RosenthalThe Rowe FamilyRutledge FamilyPatricia Scanlon Natalie and Elliot Schulman Mark and Ieke Scully Michael and Susan ShuffmanCarl SoderbergTaylor SomervilleRoger and Barbara Spear Robin and Chris StineFamilyNoubar and Meri StoneMarge Storrs Pat and Dianne SullivanAnupam and Varsha Tantri Robert and Marjorie Taylor John and Liz Thayer Richard and Elizabeth Thomas Darcy TopperThe Treacy Family Josef and Kumi TreggorDon, Carol and Emily Tuller Rebecca PicoultFred and Janet von PechmannFred and Amy Wergeles Pat and John Wiles Wollmar FamilyMary and John Wright Edward and Carol WrobelGardeners of Simsbury Kevin and Marsha Adams Roger C. and Nancy S. Adams Phoebe and P.K. AllenGlenn and Mary-Lyn Alonzo Anonymous Antonio FamilyLewis F. Banci andFrank G. Domanic Scott and Kris BarnettDebra Barberi and Jay Barrett, Jr.Joseph and Alice Barry Mike and Diane BarrySteve and Robin Bartholomew Shirley and Douglas Beach Beebe FamilyAndy and Jane BerlingDavid and Rita BirittieriMarguerite Boslaugh andDavid Guadliana Sandra and Robert Bourke Mark and Patty Bozeman Sue Brachwitz and MarkSilverman Kevin and Caryn BradyCarolyn Brand andRichard Clark John BrandonBraun FamilyBraunlich FamilyTony and Ann Brockelman Nancy Bugbee Susan M. Bullock Lucille and Bill BurkeJohn and Sara Burrows Steve and Susan Byer Tanager Hill is my favorite, I hike there once a week with my dog. I like itbecause you can hike a few minutes and feel worlds away. It is cathartic after arough week of work! After an hour and a half hike, even in humid weather, Iam recharged and ready for life’s challenges. MARY BAIER, SLT EASEMENT MONITOR11
Jean and Steven CanterSal and Caterina CarboneLou and Linda Carissimi Michael and Rita Carr Heather and Sean CarrollMatthew ChaitBob and Amy CharronAngela and Jim Church Dom and Dorie CintiTom and Rosemary Clarke Patricia Ann Clifford Marie and Henry Coons Dr. and Mrs. Todd Cooperman Marjorie CorrellMark and Patricia CoslettWayne Coste and Gail AdamsBeth and Rick CostelloGreg and Lynn Crane Arline Croce Robert and Deborah CushmanDanielle D’ErmoRonald and Lorraine Daigle Mark and Moira Dailey Scott and Anne Daniels Nancy and Craig Dennen Cindi Heslop Dietlin Bill and Pat DrydenDennis and Linda DuffArch and Pauline Edgar Anne EricksonEuting FamilySam Fabian and Family Brian and Jenn FairRichard and Marianne Feifer Christopher andHeather FeinsingerSandee FleetChristine and James T. FlemingSteve and Claudia Franklin Rosemary Fusco Sandra Girardin andNick MeszarosIn my opinion the best trails in Simsbury are the West Mountain trails. Theyoffer a spectacular view just as the Heublein tower hike does but it is a betterkept secret and not nearly as crowded as Heublein! Not to mention this trailhas waterfalls in the spring, loads of wildlife and amazing geological history. Ilove to do this this hike throughout the year but my favorite time is early springwhen the forest is starting to change and river starts to flow. KATIE LAUDER, SLT BOARD AND HIKE LEADER12David and Irene Glissman Scott and Sharon Goetjen Goetz FamilyThe Goldbas Family Loel and Ruth Goldblatt Kevin Gough and Paula Jones Lisa and Bruce GouldDarcy Gray and Richard StarkelIra and Judith Greene Julie and Jeremy GreshinDavid and Mary GridleyBarbara and Bob GriffinThe Groeschner FamilyJanna and Jeff Gross Kayce and Jeff GutsfeldHaldeman Family Patricia Hanmer andThomas MacDonaldCraig an
private land owners to help providing safe habitat way-stations for pollinators. More information on the project will be forthcoming in the months ahead. To learn more about the project, visit www.pollinator-pathway.org. If you are interested in taking part in this exciting project, please contact the Simsbury Land Trust office.
