G RANBY EWSLETTER Land Trust N Preserving Granby’s Natural Heritage

www.granbylandtrust.org C PO Box 23 C Granby, 06035 C Volume 5

Johnsons Announce Gift of 71-Acre Conservation Easement at Annual Meeting he unusually warm and sunny late October Tday suggested that this would be a special Land Trust Annual Meeting. It was in many ways. With fall’s full colors on parade, almost 100 land trust members gathered on October 21st and were treated to a walk through one of Granby’s most beautiful properties – Paula and Whitey Johnson’s 90-acre parcel on Simsbury Road in West Granby – followed by an old-fashioned outdoor picnic at the Johnson’s house. It was a family affair all day. On the walk The Land Trust led by Whitey Johnson, kids ran Whitey Johnson talks about his property and its history thanks Paula ahead of the adults during the Annual Meeting Hike in October. and Whitey through the rolling fields, by the solid old stonewalls and into the Johnson for their Johnson’s woods which are bounded by the Land Trust Receives Three commitment and McLean Game Refuge. After the walk, every- Conservation Easements in 2007 one gathered together and the annual meeting • The Johnson Family - 71 acres dedication to was called to order. During the meeting, the • The Werner Family - 40 acres (see pg. 14) Granby and the Johnsons announced that they intended to • The Brown Family - 10+ acres (see pg. 7) give the Land Trust a conservation easement legacy they have over 71-acres of this spectacular land, forever built for future preserving it as open space. Fittingly, to finish the business portion of generations to the meeting, the Land Trust presented its enjoy. highest honor –The Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award – to Paula and Whitey Johnson for their dedication to Granby and preserving its open space (this 71-acre conservation easement is their second Ray Betts Award winner by Kristen Cormier gift to the Land Trust). As Whitey Johnson said in accepting the award, quot- ing from his favorite play – Our Town: “To have life is to love life, and to love Art Show Awards Announced life is to have it – and, for us, that’s Granby!” (see pg. 4)

5 If you would like to explore making a land gift to the Granby Land Trust, please contact a GLT Board Member. 5 Board Members Granby Land Trust Officers Rick Orluk, President (H) 653-7095 Mark Wetzel, Vice President (H) 653-9125 Dave Russell, Treasurer (H) 653-7441 While spending some time in Maine over the Thanksgiving holiday, Trish and I took our boys for a walk around beautiful Camden harbor and then visited the Leslie Judge, Secretary children’s room at the Camden Public Library. While my wife patiently (H) 653-4733 read one story after another to the little ones, I stole away for some adult time, sneaking a peek at the day’s newspaper and checking out the latest Board book selections. Painted on the wall of the library, I found a quote from Fran Armentano Ralph Waldo Emerson that made me think of the Granby Land Trust and (H) 653-0631 how grateful I am for the hard work and commitment of the Land Trust’s board and its members, our donors and the town’s fathers and mothers, Rod Dimock who have been committed to protecting our town’s natural heritage over the years. (H) 651-0376 “Every great and commanding event in the annals of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm…nothing great was ever achieved without it.” Put Brown The board of directors and the members of the Granby Land Trust are enthusiastic about (H) 653-7557 preserving the natural heritage of our town; and we are, indeed, on our way to achieving Dave Emery something “great.” Since its founding, the Land Trust – through the generosity of its many (H) 653-3746 donors – has preserved more than 2,100 acres of open space in Granby, many of which include ecologically sensitive areas and important wildlife corridors. This accomplishment Allison Forsyth did not just happen; it was the product of great enthusiasm – an enthusiasm fueled by the (H) 653-7699 opportunity to forever preserve the natural beauty of our town. Just take a walk on the Mary James Gamble Edwards Mountain Property, the Godard Preserve or the Dimock Preserve and you’ll come away thanking each of the donors and the Land Trust board members who have worked to (H) 653-9495 - create a vibrant organization that could steward these spectacular places. Paula Johnson Our enthusiasm continues to grow and is fueled by the fact that a short window of oppor (H) 653-3132 tunity stands before us. Some of our neighboring towns, which grew faster than Granby has, have missed this window of opportunity, and now find their land over-developed. Lowell Kahn The Granby Land Trust, on the other hand, added 120 acres of protected property to its (H) 653 4911 rolls in the last year alone, through the gifts of three conservation easements from the Johnson, Charlie Katan Werner and Brown families. In addition, the town purchased a key 57-acre parcel in West Granby that will be known as the “Catherine Marshall Preserve” which aids our continuing (H) 653-6290 efforts to build a significant wildlife corridor from Rt. 20 in West Granby through the Old Lucy Lindeyer Messenger Road area connecting to the Mary Edwards Property and adjacent state lands. (H) 653-2157 Are these acquisitions “great and commanding events in the annals of the world?” Okay, maybe not. But they are pretty important to the quality of life…now and forever…in our Jennifer Mooney little corner of the world. And I, for one, think that’s very important. My boys, who hike (H) 413-9150 these properties with me with great regularity, would agree. Help us keep it going. Get involved. Join the Land Trust. Consideryour enthusiasm,us when you the plan Land your Dave Schupp charitable giving. Preserve your property. With the addition of (H) 653-2168 Trust can achieve even greater things.

Sincerely, If you have a comment or ques- tion about the Granby Land Trust Newsletter or would like Rick Orluk to submit news for our next is- sue, please contact Rick Orluk at 860.653.7095 or via email at [email protected] c Land Trust Hikers Ford 1 Holcomb Hill Preserve News & Notes

• The Land Trust would like to welcome three new board members who were elected at the October Annual Meeting – Rod Dimock, Allison Forsyth and Jennifer Mooney. • The Land Trust’s annual Spring and Fall Preserve Our Properties Days have become an important way for the Land Trust to maintain its properties. Thanks to each of you who has and will attend these events. They are a fun day outdoors and a great way to meet fellow Land Trust members. Join us this spring – see www.GranbyLandTrust.org for details. • The Land Trust would like to recognize Sandra Fischer for creating and organizing our letterboxing programs on the Mary Edwards, Godard and Western Barndoor Hill Preserves. Letterboxing is a great way to get outdoors with your family for a “treasure hunt” – see our Web site for details. • We would like to thank and recognize the Land Trust’s “official” photographer, Peter Land Trust Board Member Dave Emery leads August Stream Walk on Dinella. Each year, he provides us with beau- Holcomb Hill Preserve in West Granby. tiful shots for our newsletter (most included this year are Peter’s) and helps us highlight hen the Land Trust hosts trout was undisturbed by the hik- Granby’s beauty. a “stream hike,” that’s ex- ers’ footsteps. W • The Land Trust board would like to thank actly what you do — get right in the Emery surmised that there was Land Trust members John Weeks and stream! A group of intrepid hikers probably an even larger trout fur- Christine Chinni for leading two very well spent a perfect Sunday afternoon ther under the protection of the attended bird walks in May. on August 19th doing just that, as rocks, for the fish have a definite • As always, we would like to recognize the they navigated the West Branch of pecking order, and the more domi- work of our Property Stewards who help us the Salmon Brook in the Holcomb nant one would have chosen the take care of our Land Trust properties. If you best hiding place. would like to become one, please contact Hill Preserve. Allison Forsyth at 653-7699. Led by the indomitable Dave Passing a veritable grove of horse- • The Land Trust’s Celebrating Granby’s Farms Emery, the trekkers were treated to tails, an ancient plant more prop- & Orchards Art Show was generously sup- a discussion of the natural history erly called Equisetum, the group ported by Fiduciary Investment Advisors, and geology of the streambed and climbed up to the promontory for The Center Spirit Shop of Granby, Hayes- banks. The Salmon Brook water is a breath-taking view of the stream- Huling & Carmon Funeral Home and, of J. Vallee Brunelle Fine Art & Fram- quite clear and supports a pretty bed they had just traveled. Granby course, ing. healthy population of fauna. Cray- is indeed lucky to have so much of its beauty protected from develop- • A special thanks to Fred Jones for serving as fish, stonefly larvae and a plethora the Land Trust’s agency representative on the of water striders were observed, as ment and preserved forever by the Granby Community Fund board. well as many minnows and dace, foresight and generosity of so many but the highlight of the walk was individuals. 5 the discovery of a large brown trout, Article contributed by Land Trust member The Granby Land Trust thanks resting in the shadow of some large and Drummer staff writer Shirley Murtha. flat stones. Being nocturnal, the Photograph by Peter Dinella. the Granby Community Fund for their support of this newsletter. c Celebrating Granby’s Farms & Orchards Art Show

o r e The show’s top three Mt h a n awards – The Don 100 pieces of original and Marty Wilmot artwork by artists from Award, The Granby Rhode Island, Con- Land Trust Award and necticut and Massa- The Granby Commu- chusetts were entered nity Fund Award – in the Granby Land went to Granby’s own Trust’s Celebrating Bill Simpson; Carla Granby’s Farms & Or- Niehaus of Barkham- chards Juried Art Show, sted, Connecticut; and which ran during the Linda Tenukas of Ber- month of November lin, Connecticut. at J. Vallee Brunelle The full list of award Fine Art & Framing in winners are: The Don Granby Center. and Marty Wilmot Juried by Paul Bill Simpson’s “Shadows” won the Don and Marty Wilmot Award. Award – Bill Simpson/ Zelanski, distinguished The barn is located on Kelly Lane. Shadows; The Granby Professor Emeritus Land Trust Award of the University of Connecticut Zelanski was very impressed by – Carla Niehaus/Fence Row; The School of Fine Art, the show fea- the work and noted that, “There Granby Community Fund Award tured original artwork inspired by was so much quality artwork….The – Linda Tenukas/Fallow Fields; The a Granby farm, orchard or agricul- works were personal, well executed, Ray Betts Award – Kristen Cormier/ tural scene. and each had elements of strength Old Truck; The Nannie and Put and purpose.” He selected fifty-two Brown Award given anonymously entries for inclusion in the show and to recognize the Brown’s commit- selected 13 award winners. ment to preserving Granby’s natural A full house was on hand on heritage – Paul Goodnow/ at Thursday, November 1st, for the of- Holcomb Farm; The Mildred Dewey ficial opening of the show, includ- Award – Nathaniel Gould/Tree Line ing many of the participating artists – Wilhelm Farm; The Tudor and and a large crowd of art enthusiasts. Laura Holcomb Award – Andrea The group was so large, in fact, that Marschalk/Garlic Farm Root Cellar; it spilled out of the gallery and onto The Matthew K. Orluk Award the parking lot, where the Land – Andres Montiel/Peach Trees; The Trust had set-up a tent (courtesy of Olof Stevenson Award – Jane Zisk/ Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Granby Afternoon; The Paul Zelanski Home) to handle the overflow. Award – Edward Mead/And Still The group was able to enjoy not Growing; The Cormier Family only the fine artwork, but lively con- Award – Alex Vranos/Look At Me versation and delicious refreshments – Day Street; The Dave and Judy “Birches at Holcomb Farm” (courtesy of Center Spirit Shop and Russell Award – Michael Patnode/ by Rhode Island artist Paul Goodnow Lost Acres Orchard), as well. Say Cheese; and, The Granby Artists

c Winners Announced Land Trust Commends Town on Acquisition his fall, the town of Granby ac- Tquired a key 56.6-acre parcel in Association Award – Jana Volpe/Red the Old Messenger Road area in West Barn in Early Spring. Granby. The owner, Elizabeth Had- Show awards to- dad, agreed to sell the property for taling $3,500 were $100,000 ($60,000 less than the ap- generously under- praised value) so that it would be pre- written by: Don served. The Town of Granby, through and Marty Wilm- a successful grant application, will ot, The Granby share the cost of the purchase with the Land Trust, The State of Connecticut. The State will Granby Communi- contribute $49,500. The Town’s final ty Fund, Dave and cost is $50,500, plus appraisal and in- Jenny Emery, Rick cidentals. This property will be known Orluk and Trish as the Catherine Marshall Preserve and Percival, Put and is named in honor of Ms. Haddad’s Nannie Brown, mother. Jamie Gamble, Paul The Catherine Marshall Preserve Zelanski, Greg and provides extensive open space link- Carol Reid, Dave ages, protects a ridgeline and reduces and Judy Russell, “Peach Trees” at Wilhem Farm by West Hartford’s Andres Montiel forest fragmentation. The Old Mes- the Cormier Fam- was the winner of the Matthew K. Orluk Award. senger Road area contains more than ily, and the Gran- 1500 undeveloped acres. The area by Artists Association. serves as a wildlife corridor that links The Art Show’s presenting sponsor Green, Rosemarie Mendes, Rick the vast open space of West Granby to was Fiduciary Investment Advisors Orluk, Carol Reid, Laurie Schock, the preserved lands of North Granby and show supporters included The and Bill Simpson. which abut . The Center Spirit Shop of Granby and area contains a number of wonderful Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral brooks, waterfalls and some fabulous Home. rock ledges. The Catherine Marshall This second annual art show was Preserve links to the east with 134 presented by the Granby Land Trust acres of preserved land owned by the in partnership with the Granby Granby Land Trust, including front- Artists Association and a portion age on Cider Mill Heights. In the of each art sale benefited the Land general Old Messenger Road area, the Trust. The Land Trust thanks all Land Trust owns or has conservation who attended and supported this easements on another 320 acres of special show. woodlands. In time, the Land Trust The Land Trust also would like would like to create a hiking trail, to extend a special thanks to the which will stretch from Mountain Art Show Organizing Committee, Road in North Granby to Rt. 20 in which included: Katy Attianese, West Granby. Joanne Vallee Brunelle, Avis The Land Trust commends the Cherichetti, Carole Day, Dorothy Carla Niehaus’ “Fence Row” won the Town and its government leaders for Dumond, Laura Eden, Marcy Granby Land Trust Award. their continued efforts to preserve Granby’s rural character and signifi- cant wildlife corridors. c Daisy Girl Scouts Earn Patch Letterboxing on Land Trust’s Godard Preserve

must follow written clues. The clues to the location of this particular letterbox were found on the Granby Land Trust Website, www.granbylandtrust.org. It was explained that, when you visit a letterbox, you bring your own personal record book and stamp, so that you can not only mark the book left on site, but also use the stamp on site to mark your book. The Daisy Scouts brought their “Troop 6125 Record Book” so that they could record their accomplishment as a group, and also individual books to record their personal adventures. Yes, they found the letterbox, and each girl proved that she was “courageous and strong!” Daisy Girl Scouts gather at entrance to Land Trust’s Godard Preserve. The Granby Land Trust is excited to an- t was the first gorgeous day of Spring when fifteen nounce that it has planted letterboxes on three of its Daisy Girl Scouts went on a properties; the Godard Preserve, the treasure hunt through the Granby Mary Edwards Mountain Property and Land Trust’s Godard Preserve in The Granby Land the Western Barndoor Hill Preserve. North Granby in search of a hidden Trust is excited to Letterboxing is a great way to add some letterbox. The torrential rains of the excitement to a family walk in the week before were over, and off they announce that it has woods. Kids love following the clues to went “into the woods.” planted letterboxes on find the hidden “treasure” and collect- The aim was to earn their “Coura- ing new stamps in their notebooks. To geous and Strong” Patch. To do this, three of its properties obtain clues to the letterboxes hidden they had to find a letterbox planted on Granby Land Trust properties, go to deep within Granby www.granbylandtrust.org/letterbox. iLand Trust property. To learn more about letterboxing, and obtain clues to “A letterbox, what’s the many letterboxes in Connecticut State Forests and that?” they asked. The other Granby locations, as the Holcomb Farm, you can girls were then told visit www.letterboxing.org. that a typical letter- Article contributed by Granby Land Trust member Sandra Fischer. box includes a stamp, stamp pad, pen, and record book, which are left at the letterbox site. These supplies are hidden, usually in a plastic container, be- hind a rock, inside a hollow tree, or in some other creative spot. To find the letterbox, you c Put and Nannie Brown Donate Another Conservation Easement

s they generously did last year, Put and A Nannie Brown have donated another conservation easement on a portion of their land, this time on a 10.3 acre parcel on the south side of Broad Hill Road. The land, which has enough frontage to have permitted the creation of at least pthree building lots, is across the street from the “Diamond Ledges Preserve” donated to the Land Trust by Mary Edwards and abuts the Town-owned he Granby Land Trust encourages you to buy local Holcomb Farm. Those properties, in turn, are Tand support Granby’s farms and orchards. By pa- part of a much larger assemblage of permanently tronizing local farms, you get fresh, locally-grown foods protected land (Enders State Forest, the Land and help make these local agricultural enterprises suc- Trust’s Dimock and Peterson Preserves and other cessful which will help to preserve these beautiful places properties) which aggregates almost 8,000 acres, for generations to come. Some suggested local farms or or 12.5 square miles. The Brown land is the last orchards offering fresh produce include: privately owned developable land on either side Wilhelm Farm* of Broad Hill Road for over a mile and a half. As farmstand - variety of seasonal produce she signed the deed, Nannie said that, “We are 329 North Granby Street, North Granby grateful that we have had our time as stewards of this beautiful piece of property that abuts acres and The Garlic Farm acres of preserved forest and streams. Now, we can tomatoes, peppers & garlic be confident that it will be protected and managed 76 Simsbury Road, West Granby for future generations of this community by the Lost Acres Orchard* Granby Land Trust. It is a happy day for us and for peaches, apples, cider and home-made goods this land!” 130 Lost Acres Road, North Granby She is right. The preservation of our rapidly disap- Bushy Hill Orchard pearing natural areas requires a partnership between peaches, apples, cider and home-made goods donors, on the one hand, and stewards such as the 33 Bushy Hill Road, Granby Land Trust who are willing to take on the responsi- bility, and have the personnel and resources, to carry Hayes Farm out the donors’ wishes, on the other hand. corn maze 151 East Street, North Granby Emery Farm maple syrup and eggs 71 Loomis Street, North Granby Holcomb Farm Learning Center & CSA farm shares available Simsbury Road, West Granby www.holcombfarmcsa.org and www.holcombfarm.org

*Portions of these properties are protected forever through the generous gifts of conservation easements to the Land Trust by Fred and Edith Wilhelm and Tom and Ginny Wutka. c Granby Celebrates Its Farms & Orchards at Wilhelm Farm

lessed by a beautiful fall for having the foresight and gen- could be more easily transported. Bday, more than 125 people erosity to donate the As the fields were gathered at the Wilhelm Farm development rights on The day’s program left unfarmed, in North Granby on September their farm to the Land they reverted to 16th to celebrate Granby’s farms Trust, thereby preserv- highlighted the hardwood forests, and orchards, watch painters from ing it as open, agricul- importance of and scenic vistas across New England paint plein air, tural land. began to disap- learn more about New England’s Fred Wilhelm Sr. then maintaining pear. At one time, agricultural history, and enjoy a gave a brief history of Granby’s someone standing farm fresh lunch. The day’s program his family’s property at on the Metacomet 329 North agricultural spaces Ridge in Litchfield G r a n b y in order to retain could see as far as R o a d , Storrs. Even when w h i c h the town’s historical the Wilhelms first his father character. lived on their farm, purchased Fred noted that he in 1936, having lived could see the North Church previously on the steeple from his farm. farm next door. When Granby Selectman and member Fred and Edith built their house and barns in 1959, they milled the boards from their own trees. Laura Eden, president of the Granby Artists Association, paints in the lower field of Wilhelm Farm. Bill Bentley, who previously was a highlighted the importance of Syracuse University forestry pro- maintaining Granby’s agricultural fessor, then talked about the his- spaces in order to retain the town’s tory of New England’s agricul- historical character. tural landscape. As the Europeans Following a wonderful lunch settled New England, they cleared prepared by Susan Wutka Accetura land for sustainable agriculture, as of Lost Acres Orchard, which in- it was extremely expensive to have cluded farm-fresh ingredients from food transported from coastal cities The Garlic Farm, Holcomb Farm, to the remote settlements. In fact, Lost Acres Orchard, and Wilhelm during the Revolutionary War, Farm, Land Trust President Rick Connecticut was called the “Provi- Orluk opened the day’s program by sion State,” because so much corn, thanking Fred and Edith Wilhelm wheat and other foodstuffs were and their daughter and son-in-law, grown here for the Army. Suzanne Roz Magoon paints the farmstand Ann Wilhelm and Bill Bentley, for With the building of the Erie at the Wilhelm Farm. allowing this program to take place Canal and continuing through the on their beautiful 45-acre property. mid 1800s, Connecticut farms be- of the Town’s Open Space Com- He also recognized the Wilhelms gan to go out of business as food mittee, Sally King, then spoke of

c Enter the Land Trust Granby Celebrates Its Farms & Orchards at Wilhelm Farm Photo of the Month Contest

Photographer: Andrea Leskinskie Subject: Storm on the Horizon Location: Mary Edwards Mountain Property Date taken: March 2007

Land Trust President Rick Orluk introduces Bill Bentley who spoke about New England’s changing agricultural landscape.

the newly-formed Granby Agri- the farm. GAA president Laura cultural Committee and its early Eden noted how important it is for efforts to support Granby’s - agri the artists and the Land Trust to cultural enterprises. collaborate on such events, noting Following the lunch program, at- that “our efforts will help to high- tendees walked the Wilhelm Farm light the important place Granby’s Photographer: Shelby Gamble, Age 9 property and watched members of agricultural enterprises play in our Subject: Berries in Winter the Granby Artists Association and Granby experience.” other artists painting, sculpting Location: Holcomb Hill Preserve and doing pottery plein air around Date taken: Winter 2007

Photographer: Jamie Gamble Subject: Gamble Property in North Granby Date taken: October 2007

To enter a photo of one of our Land Trust properties or to see the current Photo of the Bill Simpson works on a painting of the Wilhelm Farm barn. Month, go to www.GranbyLandTrust.org. c Feathered Travelers Need Rest Stops Too q magine, driving from Connecticut to Florida with altered, conservationists predict that the North American Ithe knowledge that you will find only one rest stop subspecies of the red knot could be extinct in 2010 – three with food available along the entire route. You will years from now. count on reaching that stop – you will savor in advance The red knot’s predicament is but an extreme case of the the food that will sustain you all the way to Miami. Now situation faced by many migratory birds in the twenty- first century. The destruction of rainforests in Central and South America is by now familiar to anyone who has ever bought a grande at Starbucks. Former Vice President Al Gore and others have spread the word about melting floe ice in the Arctic. Less well known, however, is the fact that birds need places to stop, rest and refuel along the way between the endpoints of their long journeys. Fighting to save tropical forests and tundra will all be to no avail if birds can find no place to rest and feed in The people of between. This is where Granby have been bird conservation Land Trust board member Jamie Gamble hosted two Land Trust bird walks far-sighted enough led by Christine Chinni and John Weeks in May on his beautiful property comes home to all to recognize in North Granby. of us, even here in Granby. The red the value of knot doesn’t visit us, but imagine your horror upon arriving at this hypothetical many other birds do. Some preserving natural “Last Food for a Thousand Miles,” only to find that the of them you will see at your spaces in our town restaurant is closed – permanently. backyard feeders, especially Something like this – only far, far worse – confronts in spring and fall when they while there are a medium-sized shorebird called the red knot. This re- are embarked on their long still such spaces to markable creature annually migrates between its winter- and perilous travels. ing grounds in Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Others will remain largely save. Argentina and its nesting zone in the Canadian Arctic. undetected yet present, if To survive this journey, it has for millennia depended on only briefly, in our fields, a reliable source of food located in Delaware Bay – the marshes and woods. They need these places as desperately eggs that horseshoe crabs have deposited by the millions as they need their ultimate destinations far to the north on the beaches there. or south. Close to 100,000 red knots descended each year to I have led several bird walks in town, and the participants feast on this bounty right up until the 1980s. This happy have marveled at the beauty of these wondrous pilgrims. state of affairs suddenly changed drastically for the worse Last May, my wife Chris and I led two such walks offered when local fishermen began using the adult horseshoe by the Granby Land Trust in North Granby, on which crabs for bait. No crabs…no eggs…no food for the red we observed more than fifty species of birds. They ranged knot. The bird’s population crashed by nearly 90 percent, from an uncommon marsh bird, the Virginia rail, to the to 13,455 last year. If the fishermen’s practice is not rarely seen bay-breasted warbler. Perhaps most gratifying

c10 EEE

In Memory Of Longtime Land Trust Supporters

Della (Prindle) Drew – Della passed away on August 3, 2007. She had lived in Rhode Island for many years before joining her daughter Catherine (Drew) Willis and her husband Paul in West Granby five years ago. Della and her family graciously chose to have memorial gifts made to the Land Trust. We thank Della and her family for their commitment to preserving Granby’s of all was an adult bald eagle that swept by overhead. As natural landscape recently as the 1970s, this majestic species stood on the verge of extinction east of the Mississippi. Now, thanks to Charles W. Kohrer – Chuck passed away the concerted efforts of citizens, conservation groups and on February 3, 2007. He had love of life governments, our nation’s symbol is once again a familiar and the outdoors and shared it with his sight. family. He enjoyed walking on what is now The people of Granby have the Godard Preserve in North Granby with been far-sighted enough his family, especially his two sons – Brendan to recognize the value of We humans and Ryan. They spent many hours on the preserving natural spaces in our benefit by being Godard Preserve and he was thankful that town while there are still such the Godards chose to preserve this property spaces to save. We humans able to live in forever by giving it to the Land Trust. We benefit by being able to live in a a remarkably thank Chuck, Susan, Brendan and Ryan remarkably beautiful place, and for remembering the Land Trust. the local animals that share this beautiful place, place also benefit in obvious and the local Edward S. Tepper – Ed passed away on ways. January 11, 2007. He graduated from Our transient guests from the animals that share Granby Memorial High School and cared avian world, though it is far less this place also very much about our town. In recognition apparent to the casual observer, of his love of the land and open space, he depend on us “to keep a light benefit in obvious and his family asked that memorial gifts be on at the inn” for them. Thanks ways. donated to the Land Trust. The Land Trust to the work of the Granby would like to thank Ed and his family for Land Trust, Holcomb Farm their thoughtfulness. and McLean Game Refuge, as well as the unsung efforts of many private citizens of the town, that light shines brightly. May it never go out. The red knot illustrates what the alternative could be. EEE Article contributed by Granby Land Trust member John Weeks. q c11 Join the GLT Today and Help Us Preserve L Granby’s Natural Heritage

A growing membership is critical to our mission–– please take the time Looking for a today to complete the membership form below to renew your mem- bership or join us as a member for the first time. As an all-volunteer unique gift idea? organization, we welcome a range of involvement levels. Beyond your financial support, let us know if you would be interested in helping in How about a Land Trust gift other ways. membership for the person Your membership, at any level, will help us spread the message that that has everything? You’ll open space and land management is critical to preserving Granby’s ru- feel great about introducing ral character and wildlife corridors for future generations. someone to the Land Trust and they’ll enjoy member- ship benefits all year long and the satisfaction that they are helping to preserve Granby’s “The time is always right Natural Heritage. to do the right thing” —Martin Luther King, Jr. L !

Ways in which I would like to help GLT Membership Form [check areas of interest] Trail Design Yes! I agree with what you are doing. Please sign me up! Trail Construction Name______Participate in Work Parties Property Steward Address______Leading Hikes City______State______Zip______Publicity Computer Work Telephone Day:______Eve:______Fund Raising E-Mail______Scientific or Historical Studies (We use E-Mail to provide updates and reminders. We do not share this list. You can unsubscribe at any time.) Education Other (specify)______Membership Class [choose]: ______Friend $30 Caretaker $100 Benefactor $250 ______Land Steward $1,000 Gift (from______) Thank you for your support! All contributions are tax Please make checks payable to “Granby Land Trust” deductible. and mail to: P.O. Box 23, Granby, CT 06035. c12 Paula and Whitey Johnson Receive GLT’s 2007 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award

Comments by Land Trust board member Put Brown Paula and Whitey know that we can’t take the natural at the presentation of the “Mary Edwards Friend of world for granted and have been active in working to pre- the Land Trust” Award during the 2007 Land Trust serve for future generations, including their own heirs, some Annual Meeting. of the wild places they have known during their own lives. n honor of Mary Edwards’ many contributions to Not only has Paula served on the Land Trust Board, she and IGranby and the Granby Land Trust, the Land Trust’s Whitey have made significant gifts of land, first with the board of directors established the Mary Edwards Friend of donation of the 41-acre Johnson Preserve on Old Messen- the Trust Award in 2004. This service award – the Land ger Road in West Granby and, just today, with the gift of a Trust’s highest honor – is given annually to an individual conservation easement on the 71-acre parcel on which we or organization that has done – through a single gift or hiked today. These gifts are magnificent in their own rights, collectively over many years – the most to promote the of course, but they came at just the right times in the history GLT’s mission of “preserving Granby’s natural heritage.” of the Land Trust. The first one certainly was a catalyst and At the Land Trust’s annual meeting on October 21st, created momentum for the preservation of other properties this year’s award was given to a in the area. The subsequent gifts very deserving couple – Paula of 91 acres of the former G. Ray and Whitey Johnson – who Smith property and of the 100- made an early land gift to the acre Schlicht Preserve, as well as Land Trust and generously an- the Town’s recent purchase of the nounced at the Annual Meeting 57-acre Haddad Preserve, made that they would be donating the especially good sense because the development rights on approxi- Land Trust already had a toe hold mately 71 acres of their property in the area because of Paula’s and on Simsbury Road to the Land Whitey’s gift. In a sense, they cre- Trust by the end of the year. ated a matching gift program: When Paula and Whitey We’ll give our land if others add Johnson drive in their car, to the gift in future years. their license plate proclaims Today’s gift of a conservation to the world where they come easement, we hope, will be an- Whitey and Paula Johnson receive the from:“GRANBY.” They love Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award. other catalyst gift, but we don’t this town, are active in its civic yet know how this will play out. and cultural affairs and live their lives, and raised their We all hope that others will be inspired by their generosity children, steeped in the values of this place. One of those and will make similar donations in the immediate area or, values is at the core of what the Granby Land Trust is all more probably, elsewhere in Town to further some of the about, that maintaining a relationship with the natural exciting land preservation work the Land Trust is doing. world nourishes the soul and is one of the essential in- We have such exciting potential right now to accomplish gredients of enjoying a richly satisfying life. They under- really quite astonishing things. Momentum is impor- stand the pleasure that comes from standing under the tant and the Johnsons’ gift has greatly enhanced that. Of branches of the Granby , looking northward across course, we’ll need the generosity of other philanthropi- the Connecticut River Valley from “Mary’s Rock” or hik- cally-minded families, the continued volunteer support of ing the trails or riding on horseback on this beautiful Land Trust Board members and others, financial support land behind their own house. Such experiences engender from the Community and a large measure of good luck a sense of wonder and remind one of his or her humble to achieve our goals. If we continue to have the passion to place in the grand scheme of things. succeed, we will. c13 Harry and Susan Werner Preserve a Wildlife Corridor nnn he Land Trust is excited privately-owned, un-developable Tto announce that Harry and land, lies the Granby Land Trust’s Susan Werner have generously do- Godard Preserve, a 113-acre parcel Merriman Builds nated a conservation easement over that was donated to the Land Trust 39 acres of their land at the end of by the Godard family in 1997. Ring Brook Godard Road in North Granby. Together, these two properties Bridge for Eagle The protected property — highly play key roles in creating a signifi- developable former pastures and cant wildlife corridor which con- Scout Project agricultural land now reverted to nects to the Land Trust’s Mary woods — includes land that has Edwards Mountain Property and he Granby Land Trust both ecological and historic signifi- adjoining protected state lands. Tis grateful to Granby cance. The property has historic signifi- resident Nathanial Mer- It is home to a cance as well, as it riman for designing and rich variety of na- wraps around the building a bridge over Ring tive fauna, includ- Just to the west.... Werners’ house, Brook on the Land Trust’s jing mink, deer, which is the for- Mary Edwards Mountain river otter, black lies the Granby mer Cossitt family Property. bear, raccoon, tur- Land Trust’s Godard homestead. This bridge, constructed key, brook trout, The Cossitt fam- in the spring of 2007 with bobcat, opossum, Preserve, a 113- ily burial ground the help of his fellow Boy pileated wood- acre parcel that was also is situated on Scouts as part of his Eagle pecker, and a host the property and Scout program, effectively of songbirds. donated to the Land contains graves dat- extends ’s blue It also is home Trust by the Godard ing back to the 18th trail and opens up new hik- to some stunning Century. Broth- ing opportunities on this native flora, -in family in 1997. ers Roger and Jesse beautiful property. Not cluding the second Cossitt are buried only is the bridge function- largest known sas- here, having been al, it fits the landscape and safras tree in Connecticut, as well as killed in the 1776 battle of New provides an ideal spot for extensive stands of old growth hard- York. Thanks to the Werner fam- hikers to sit and enjoy the wood and deciduous trees. Just to the ily, these historical sites will be pre- beauty of Ring Brook. west, separated by a thin sliver of served for future generations. The Land Trust thanks If you know the Nathanial for volunteering Werners, please to take on this project and thank them for congratulates him on be- their generosity, vi- coming an Eagle Scout. The sion and commit- public most certainly has ment to Granby. and will continue to benefit The Land Trust sa- from his efforts. lutes the Werners for partnering with the Land Trust to nnn permanently pre- serve Granby’s nat- ural heritage. c14 WESTERN BARNDOOR HILL PRESERVE USAGE GUIDELINES New Trail Opened S • Property open from dawn to AY I R W M dusk LLYE S HI B • Hiking is encouraged U • Hunting prohibited R • Please leave property as you he Land Trust is excited to Y

R found it Eastern O Barndoor announce that it has opened A D

D T A Hill a trail on its Western Barndoor O R

S Hill Preserve. This property offers a L L I

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beautiful view of the McLean Game R McLEAN

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O GAME

Refuge’s Eastern Barndoor Hill and c D liff REFUGE

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beyond. This moderate hike to the 671' elev. 3 A B lookout should take approximately BLACK OAK DRIVE WESTERN Kettle 35 minutes. For a complete trail TRAIL GUIDE BARNDOOR HILL Pond map, visit our website at www.Gran- Distance (round-trip): .86 of a mile stonewall Vertical gain: 343' OND LANE E P ETTL byLandTrust.org or pick up a map BLUE TRAIL From the Western K 1 Barndoor Hill Preserve Parking Area 2 at the trailhead sign which is located located on Barndoor Hill Road 1 YOU ARE (sign marks parking area), walk up HERE on Kettle Pond Lane off of Barndoor Kettle Pond Lane to the Trailhead Sign and Trail Entrance 2 on the left. From the Trailhead, follow the Hills Road. Parking for this property blue-blazed trail up to the top of the Western Barndoor Hill where you will is located on Barndoor Hills Road be treated to a beautiful view 3 of the McLean Game Refuge's Eastern at the intersection with Kettle Pond Barndoor Hill and beyond. This moderate hike to the lookout Lane (Land Trust parking sign marks should take approximately 35 minutes. We encourage you to use the spot). Enjoy the hike and the extreme caution at the lookout due to beautiful view. the steep cliff below. Full Moon Lights the Way n October 27, a full moon, cooled the hikers as they trudged to lide, and more recent localized effects Otraditionally known as the the ridge, from which they could see of glacial scouring, combined to create “Hunter’s Moon,” rose in the east at for miles both east and west. the landscape we were enjoying. sunset. A few hours later, a group of An owl, out of sight but never too Thanks to a fascinating teacher, a Land Trust members gathered at the far away, followed them as they hiked, remarkable outdoor setting and the Emery Farm on Loomis Street in hooting a greeting every once in a unusual time of the event, the hikers North Granby to join host Dave while. Looking west, they could see were enthralled! Emery on a guided a few houses, an occa- Finally, as the temperature began to hike along the edge An owl, out sional car on Mountain fall, the group retreated back down of his fields, across Road and the locationh of the hill, ending up at a small cabin the Dismal Brook and of sight but Mary’s Rock on the Land in the woods. There, they huddled onto the ridge that Trust’s Mary Edwards around a fire pit as the children, and runs north and south never too far Mountain Property at a few adults who just couldn’t resist between Loomis and away, followed the end of Silkey Road, the temptation, roasted marshmal- Silver Streets. It had but not much else. lows. By then, the moon, which was rained all day, but the them as they Approaching the other almost directly overhead at midnight, weather had cleared hiked, hooting side of the ridge look- was high in the sky, so it was easy to and the light was espe- ing east towards Bradley see the natural features of the land cially bright, because a greeting every Field, Dave described and, eventually, the path back. This the moon was closer once in a while. the phenomenon we wit- “Hunter’s Moon” hike was a superb to earth than it had nessed in the subsurface treat, and everyone who was there been at any other time in 2007. The geology of the area. Fault lines, a re- hopes it will be repeated again. sky was clear with only a few clouds sult of millions of years of the same The Land Trust would like to extend a special scudding across to give it texture and plate tectonics that separated some thanks to Dave and Jenny Emery for hosting a gentle breeze swayed the trees and continents and caused others to col- this Moonlight Hike on their beautiful property. c15 NONPROFIT ORG Granby Land Trust U.S. POSTAGE G RANBY PO Box 23 PAID Land Trust Granby, CT 06035 GRANBY, CT PERMIT NO. 19 Preserving Granby’s Natural Heritage Join or renew your membership today.

Help us preserve Granby’s Postal Patron natural heritage.

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visit www.GranbyLandTrust.org

Upcoming GLT Events Sunday, March 16 Winter Broad Hill/Weed Hill Hike Sunday, April 27 GLT’s Spring Preserve Our Have you seen the Land Properties Day Trust Web site recently? • Looking for a hike? Print out a Trail Map from For more details about these events and to the Properties & Trails section and off you go. see the most updated list of upcoming events, • Want to check on upcoming Land Trust events? Jplease visit www.GranbyLandTrust.org. Click on the Events Calendar page. • Looking for more information about land The pond at the Land Trust’s Mary Edwards Mountain Property. preservation options? See our Conservation Options page. • Want to join the Land Trust or renew your membership? Download a membership form from the Membership page. Visit www.GranbyLandTrust.org