News
July 2024
Public Notice: GLT Applies for Renewal of its Accreditation
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The Granby Land Trust is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of its national accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs. In 2014, the Granby Land Trust became one of the first land trusts in Connecticut to be accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. Its accreditation was renewed in 2019 and the organization is up for renewal again this year.
Accreditation is a mark of distinction and is awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence, including strong ethical practices, fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership, sound transactions, and lasting stewardship of the lands they conserve. “Achieving accreditation proves our deep commitment to land conservation and the protection of our natural resources,” says GLT President Rick Orluk.
The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how The Granby Land Trust complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-and-resources/indicator-practices.
To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Comments on The Granby Land Trust’s application will be most useful by September 20.
June 2024
GLT Community Partners Collaborate to Provide Access to Holcomb Farm Western Trails
Just in time for summer, the Granby Land Trust (GLT) and the Friends of Holcomb Farm (Friends) have opened a new trail across Granby Land Trust property and into the western trails of Holcomb Farm.
Working together, these two organizations found a sustainable solution to a problem that was created in 2021, when flooding destroyed the pedestrian bridge that crossed the Salmon Brook behind Holcomb Farm, severely limiting access to Holcomb Farm’s western trails. The brook is too wide to ford and, after getting several estimates, it was determined that the cost of a replacement bridge was untenable (at least at this time), leaving the Friends of Holcomb Farm with a dilemma: how to provide access to their beautiful western trails.
Meanwhile, two years before the flooding, the GLT had acquired the Wilcox Family Preserve – just to the south of Holcomb Farm on Simsbury Road – from Steven Wilcox Hastings. The Wilcox Family Preserve had many gifts to give to the people of Granby, including: 1) the historic house (circa 1787) and barn, which the GLT gifted to the Salmon Brook Historical Society; and 2) fertile farm fields, which the GLT leases (at no cost) to the Garlic Farm. Lo and behold, the property had yet another gift in store for the people of Granby: a way to access Holcomb Farm’s western trails.
It didn’t take long for the GLT and the Friends to figure out an access point that would work, and this spring, volunteers blazed a trail through the Wilcox Family Preserve and onto Town-owned, Holcomb Farm property, then blazed a connecting spur to the Friends of Holcomb Farm’s existing network of trails.
The GLT has named the access trail the Hastings Trail, after the late Steven Wilcox Hastings, who agreed to preserve his family’s 45-acre homestead, rather than sell it to the highest bidder, when the GLT came calling back in 2019. One hopes that Steve would be pleased to see all his property has made possible, including this important, and beautiful, trail.
How You Can Access the New Trail
From Holcomb Farm, head south on Simsbury Road. Go past the Wilcox House and Barn and across the bridge that crosses the Salmon Brook. Park on the left, after the bridge, in the GLT’s Holcomb Hill Preserve parking area. Cross the street onto the Wilcox Family Preserve. Please proceed carefully across Simsbury Road; and once you’ve crossed, please stay out of the crop fields. As on all GLT properties, dogs must be leashed. A new sign identifies the beginning of the GLT’s Hastings Trail.
This trail follows along the edge of the beautiful, Wild and Scenic-designated Western Branch of the Salmon Brook for about ½ mile until it reaches the intersection with the Holcomb Farm property, linking into an existing system of public trails throughout the western highlands.
These trails and all the Holcomb Farm property west of the Salmon Brook (as well as the Holcomb Farm property to the east of Simsbury Road) are permanently preserved open space thanks to a conservation easement -- a legal agreement between the Town of Granby and the Granby Land Trust -- that permanently limits the uses of the land to protect its conservation values. The Friends of Holcomb Farm steward the land and maintain its trails.
A map of all the Holcomb Farm Trails can be found at holcombfarm.org/trail-map. You also can download the Avenza app to your phone, then download the trail map (either search in the Avenza store for it or use the QR code located on trailhead sign) to follow your hike in real-time.
Enjoy a walk through beautiful woodlands, along the babbling West Branch of the Salmon Brook, and into the hills behind Holcomb Farm. There are more than four miles of Holcomb Farm trails to explore, and connections to other preserved properties and trails, as well, including other GLT and McLean Game Refuge properties. The GLT and the Friends of Holcomb Farm hope you enjoy your visit.
April 2024
GLT Volunteers Clean 52 Miles of Road
More than 125 Granby Land Trust (GLT) volunteers fanned out across Granby over the course of Earth Day Weekend 2024, picking up more than 1.61 tons of roadside trash from 52 miles of road – and several parking lots – as part of the GLT’s Earth Day Roadside Cleanup. That is nearly double the amount of trash collected in last year’s cleanup.
“This community and our Land Trust membership are amazing,” says GLT President Rick Orluk. “Think about that: That’s 3,220 pounds of trash removed from our roadsides. And that doesn’t include the waste people threw in their own bins, or the bottles and cans they recycled. We could not be more grateful to our members and friends for answering our call.”
This is the third year the GLT has organized an Earth Day Roadside Cleanup, and the response has grown each year. A “DIY” event, people choose the area in which they would most like to work, and head out at their convenience over the course of four days. “Our goal is to make it easy for people to participate,” says Orluk. “People really want to help, but everyone’s schedule is busy. This way people can contribute on their own time.”
Parishioners from Granby Congregational Church and Valley Brook Community Church, Cub Scouts from Pack 325, members of the Granby Grange, members of the Town Center Advisory Committee, and numerous neighborhood groups, families, and friends hit the roads with their grabbers and trash bags, making this a wide-sweeping community effort. “It’s humble, but gratifying work,” said one participant. “You can immediately see the results of your labor.”
Afterwards, participants were invited to Lost Acres Vineyard to enjoy a glass of wine on the house. “We are so grateful to our friends at Lost Acres Vineyard for their support,” says Orluk. “This was more than a free glass of wine. It was a chance for friends to gather and celebrate a job well done.”
The GLT also thanks Paine’s, Inc. for discounting the cost of a dumpster, providing the organization with a central place to collect the garbage.
Litter is unsightly and conveys a lack of respect for nature and a lack of pride in one’s environment. Litter also can cause harm to plants and animals – and to people. The GLT organized its cleanup as part of the Great Global Cleanup, a worldwide campaign to remove billions of pieces of trash from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails, and parks — reducing waste and plastic pollution, improving habitats, and preventing harm to wildlife and humans.
Now an annual event, the GLT will look to involve even more people next year. “Obviously, we would prefer that people stop littering,” says Orluk. “But until that happens, some very good and kind members of our community will continue to work to set things right.”
March 2024
GLT Attends Land Conservation Conference
The Granby Land Trust, a longtime Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) member and supporter, attended the CLCC’s 40th Annual Conference in Middletown, Connecticut on Saturday, March 23. GLT attendees included Jon Sterling, Trish Percival, Rick Orluk, Put Brown, and Dave Russell (in photo and joined by CLCC Executive Director Amy Paterson front and center). The Conference provides: a valuable opportunity for Land Trusts to learn more about current topics and approaches in land conservation; best practices for protecting natural places and wildlife habitat; and the chance to learn from and network with fellow Land Trust and other conservation-related organizations. Our attendees returned to Granby energized and armed with new information and ideas.
October 2023
GLT Honored by Connecticut Land Conservation Council
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council awarded its 2023 Excellence in Conservation Organization Award to the Granby Land Trust for its role in collaborating with the Town of Granby and the Friends of Holcomb Farm to permanently preserve 277 acres at Holcomb Farm; as well as the organization's collaboration with the Salmon Brook Historical Society to preserve the 45-acre Wilcox Family Homestead. These two abutting properties are located in the West Granby Historic District on Simsbury Road in West Granby. Pictured at right: Amy Blaymore Paterson, executive director of the CLCC, presents the award to the Granby Land Trust board of directors at its annual meeting in Holcomb Farm's North Barn Pavilion.
October 2023
Mark and Barb Wetzel Receive 2023 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, Leslie Judge Named Ann Pelka Unsung Hero
At its annual meeting, the Granby Land Trust awarded the 2023 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award – the GLT’s highest honor – to longtime GLT members Mark and Barb Wetzel. Mark has served on the GLT Board of Directors for more than 20 years, has served as its vice president, and lends his extensive financial expertise to the board. The Wetzels have always been devoted supporters of the Granby Land Trust Art Show and recently helped the Land Trust reach its GLT Holcomb Farm Stewardship Fund goal. Pictured: GLT President Rick Orluk, Mark Wetzel, and longtime GLT Board Member Put Brown.
The GLT awarded the Ann Pelka Unsung Hero award to longtime board member Leslie Judge for her years of dedication to the Granby Land Trust. Leslie serves as the board’s secretary and helps the organization in a myriad of other ways. We are grateful for her service. Pictured: Leslie, with GLT vice president Dave Emery (seated) and GLT president Rick Orluk and the bench the GLT had built in Leslie's honor. This bench is now located on one of Leslie's favorite properties: the GLT's Seth & Lucy Holcombe Preserve.
July 2023
Holcomb Tree Trail Featured in CFPA's "Connecticut Woodlands" Magazine
Check out this great article Granby resident (and GLT board member!) Eric Lukingbeal wrote for the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's “Connecticut Woodlands” magazine about the Tree Trail he helped establish at Holcomb Farm. Eric and his incredible team have planted 90+ trees and reclaimed land that had not been farmed or grazed since the 1970s -- land that was slowly being reclaimed by invasives. They have since labeled the trees and installed educational signage along the trail which is located on the east fields of Holcomb Farm, creating a wonderful visitor’s experience for all ages. There are 10 volunteers who regularly work on the Tree Trail in addition to Eric: Barry Avery, Jack and Peggy Lareau, Shirley Murtha, Cat Kadrle, Sue Canavan, Walter Ford, Walt Zultowski, and Heidi Lindberg. If you know them, thank them for their hard work. If you haven’t visited the Holcomb Tree Trail, do. The Holcomb Tree Trail - a Friends of the Holcomb Farm project - is across the street from the main farm complex at 113 Simsbury Road in West Granby. For more information go to www.holcombfarm.org and navigate to “Trails,” then “Holcomb Tree Trail.” Read the article in "Connecticut Woodlands" here.
April 2023
Leash Your Dog on GLT Properties
A Letter to the Editor of the Granby Drummer by GLT Board Member John Weeks
Ever since it opened to the public in October 2020, the Granby Land Trust’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve has been, well, wildly popular with Granby residents, as well as with visitors from out of town, and even from out of state.
As its very name indicates, this property is dedicated to the preservation of wild plants and animals, some of which are quite rare in Granby. Consequently, certain rules are in place to make it possible for people to enjoy visiting Dismal Brook without intruding unduly on the wildlife or on one another. One of these rules concerns the presence of dogs. Visitors are welcome to bring along their pets, provided these are kept on leash at all times. This is essential for the following reasons:
• While it welcomes visitors, Dismal Brook is still private property. Like any other property owner, the Granby Land Trust is entitled to set the rules that visitors must observe. I would not let my dogs run loose on your property without your permission, and the same goes for the Granby Land Trust’s various properties.
• Not everyone likes dogs, and some people are, to a greater or lesser degree, afraid of them. Common courtesy dictates therefore that your dog be kept leashed.
• Not all dogs like other dogs; a leashed dog is especially likely to respond with fear or anger in the presence of an unleashed dog.
• There are wild animals in Dismal Brook that can pose a serious hazard to free-roaming dogs. They include black bears, coyotes, and porcupines. A she-bear with cubs or a coyote with pups in a nearby den may react aggressively towards a dog running free in their proximity. A dog encountering a porcupine and receiving a muzzle-full of quills will put up a howl of pain you’ll not soon forget.
• Finally, there is a reason that is not intuitively obvious. No matter how well-trained and gentle your dog may be, it can unintentionally bring harm, even death, to ground-nesting birds such as wood thrushes, ovenbirds, and woodcocks. This is the result of something biologists refer to as “scent-vectored predation.” This is just a fancy way of saying that your very polite dog can trot over to a nest, sniff around and depart, leaving the nest seemingly unharmed—except for the scent trail it creates that will guide a fox, coyote, skunk, weasel, or raccoon straight to the nest, with lethal results. Over the years, I have been gratified by the positive response of visitors to whom I have explained this subtle danger to wildlife that even a friendly dog can represent.
The leash rule is clearly posted on Granby Land Trust properties open to the public, including not only Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, but the Godard, Seth and Lucy Holcombe, and Katon-Ensor Preserves, as well as the Mary Edwards Property. Please observe it during your visit to our properties. Your fellow visitors and the wildlife will thank you.
January 2023
In Memoriam: Granby Land Trust Remembers Longtime GLT Board Member and Granby Environmentalist Dick Caley
The Granby Land Trust honors one of Granby’s best: past GLT Board Member Dick Caley, who passed away in December 2022. Dick was a special person who is very much missed. He was an incredibly loyal friend, father, and spouse. He was a Granby citizen who got involved with and served his community: volunteering for Granby’s Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen, serving as president of the Salmon Brook Watershed Association, and serving multiple terms on the Granby Land Trust Board of Directors. For the GLT, he also led hikes, shared his valuable scientific knowledge, and generously supported the GLT Art Show every year.
Dick loved the land and had a biologist’s curiosity about nature. He was an especially staunch advocate for our streams and the life in them. He was a beloved biology teacher at the Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford for 37 years, where he also served as chairman of its Science Department. In the early 1980s, he and wife Carol found a plot of land in Granby where they designed and built their family home, which included a farm with animals. He was smart, intellectually curious, and witty; a terrific athlete who loved playing golf with his son Josh; someone who cared about the environment, was kind to all, and was a true friend, loyal and loving. He was quick to laugh and quick to make others laugh. Time spent with Dick was time spent well.
For the past nine years, Dick’s passion lay in serving as a board member for Jog Your Memory 5K, an organization started by his daughter, Jess, and her husband, Bob, in honor of his wife Carol’s struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Dick loved Carol so much and was incredibly dedicated to her. To honor Dick and recognize his dedication to helping others, you can make an online donation to Jog Your Memory 5K, which has created the Dick Caley Caregiver Fund in his memory, at www.jogyourmemory5k.org/ or by mail to Jog Your Memory 5K, 56 Nichols Road, Needham, MA 02492.
October 2022
Granby Land Trust Celebrates 50th Anniversary at its Annual Meeting
About 75 members of the Granby Land Trust gathered at the Holcomb Farm North Barn on October 23 for a 50th Anniversary Celebration Potluck Dinner: a community gathering that celebrated the Land Trust’s roots and the many remarkable people in this town who have, in one way or another, supported the preservation of open land in town from 1972 through the present day. The GLT created a slideshow, originally titled “50 Things We’re Thankful For,” which ended up including hundreds of images because, really, how could we pick just 50?
While the slideshow played in the background, GLT members enjoyed a delicious meal comprised of everyone’s favorite dishes, from homegrown roasted peppers to Holcomb Farm salads to vegetarian lasagna to triple-berry pie. The business of the annual meeting was conducted over the dessert course.
Dave Russell, one of three founders of the Land Trust and its current treasurer, was recognized for his vision, leadership, and many years of service to the GLT. The GLT also recognized long-time board member Put Brown for his many years of dedicated and thoughtful service to the GLT.
The Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award was awarded to longtime GLT Board Member Eric Lukingbeal and longtime former Granby Town Selectwoman Sally King. The award recognizes Eric and Sally’s many years of thoughtful and dedicated service to the GLT and to the Town, their meaningful involvement in many other community organizations, and their deeply held passion for making the world a better place. Eric and Sally also purchased an 11.38-acre parcel of agricultural land on Day Street last year, which they immediately gifted to the Land Trust, naming it The Brockett Preserve in honor of the Brockett Family, who farmed the land for many years. Because of Eric and Sally’s generosity and foresight, the land continues to be farmed today, and will be preserved in perpetuity. In presenting the award, GLT Vice President Dave Emery spoke of Eric and Sally’s “deep appreciation of the mystery and majesty of our open spaces.” The Land Trust is deeply grateful to Eric and Sally for their selfless contributions to Granby and to the Land Trust.
The GLT thanks Susan Accetura for volunteering her time to run the kitchen and keep up with the dishes; Leslie Judge for arranging and donating the beautiful centerpieces; Sandy Orluk and Doreen McWhirter for their help making the night run smoothly; and Ed Judge for recording the evening in photographs. The GLT also thanks all who came and shared their recipes, their harvests, and their evening with us. It was such a pleasure to gather to celebrate our beautiful town and the friends, old and new, who make up the Granby Land Trust.
October 2022
Holcomb Farm Long-Term Conservation and Sustainability Plan: Granby Selectmen Unanimously Pass Initiative
October 18, 2022
Dear Granby Land Trust Members,
Last night, due to the hard work of many Granby citizens over many years, the Board of Selectmen unanimously passed the Holcomb Farm Long-Term Conservation and Sustainability Plan after three hours of valuable public discussion. You – our Granby Land Trust members and donors – have put the Land Trust in a position to be involved in important projects like this one. On behalf of the Land Trust Board of Directors, I thank you, and I hope you are proud of the critical role the Granby Land Trust played in making this happen. This action will make a difference in Granby’s future and will protect a very special place, Holcomb Farm.
In short, the Granby Land Trust, working with community partners:
- permanently preserved 277 acres of Holcomb Farm through the placement of a conservation easement on almost all the east fields/woodlands (including the Holcomb Tree Trail) and almost all the western woodlands - click this LINK to see Holcomb Farm Protected Property Map and this LINK to see Holcomb Farm & Nearby Open Space Map;
- invested $500,000 in a Town-controlled fund – The Holcomb Farm Stewardship Fund - that will support Holcomb Farm-related expenses; and
- helped the Friends of Holcomb Farm, one of our key community partners, further strengthen their organization based on the value that the permanency of forever preservation of this land will provide.
I’d like to recognize the leadership of the Friends of Holcomb Farm, who have worked diligently on this initiative while building a firm foundation under Holcomb Farm and its operations over the years. So many have invested so much in revitalizing the historic Holcomb Farm and making it the unique community resource it is today.
I would also like to recognize First Selectman Mark Fiorentino, and the other members of the Board of Selectmen – Mark Neumann, Peg Chapple, Kelly Rome, and Fred Moffa – for their thoughtfulness and vision in building a future for Granby that balances preservation and growth.
Working together with community partners, we have – and will continue to – accomplish big things in Granby.
Lastly, of course, I’d like to recognize Tudor and Laura Holcomb, who gave so much to this town, including their family farm – the “jewel of Granby.” We wanted to be sure we addressed their wishes, and we wanted to protect their legacy – forever.
According to the Land Trust Alliance, the U.S. loses roughly 150 acres of natural land and 40 acres of farmland every hour. Once the land is gone, we can’t get it back. Our actions are making a difference.
Last night, we permanently preserved 277 acres of land in Granby and supported one of Granby’s most precious agricultural resources, Holcomb Farm. It was a good day with the promise of even better days ahead.
With gratitude and respect,
Rick Orluk
President, Granby Land Trust
August 2022
GLT Trails Day Hike Featured on Cover of CFPA Magazine
The Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) featured photos of a GLT hike, led by GLT Board Member Jen Plourde, in the Summer 2022 issue of its quarterly publication, Connecticut Woodlands." On Connecticut Trails Day in June, Jen led a group of GLT members on a hike of the GLT's Mary Edwards Mountain Property in North Granby. Jake Koteen, a Granby resident and professional photographer, documented the hike. His fabulous photos were selected for publication, including this one, which ran on the magazine's cover.
May 2022
Dave Emery Presents to Granby Women's Breakfast
Granby Land Trust (GLT) Vice President (and all-around great guy) Dave Emery gave a presentation on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve to the Granby’s Women’s Breakfast Group on May 4 at the Granby Senior Center. With the use of a PowerPoint demonstration for a visual aid, Dave talked about the known history of the property (from the 1700s through the present); the incredible generosity, thoughtfulness and foresight of former Granby resident and GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble, who donated the 210-acre property to the GLT in 2020; all of the work done by GLT volunteers to get the property ready to be opened to the public; all of the unique and beautiful places that make-up the preserve; and the variety of flora and fauna that thrive there. The event was a big success – so much so that a follow-up Senior Center field trip to the Preserve is being planned.
May 2022
Annual Bird Walks
GLT Board Member John Weeks and his wife, Christine Chinni, led bird walks on six consecutive days on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in early May – some for the Land Trust, and some for other organizations, including the Hartford Audubon Society. John has been running these annual bird walks for the Granby Land Trust since 2005! We so appreciate all the time he and Christine dedicate to the Land Trust, running these kinds of events and sharing their extensive birding expertise.
To date, John and Christine have identified 142 bird species on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. (To see a list, go to granbylandtrust.org and go to the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve page. Copies are available in the property’s trailhead kiosk as well.) To see photos of some of these amazing birds, follow the Granby Land Trust on Facebook or Instagram. We are lucky to have GLT members, including Don Shaw, who submit incredible photos for publication there.
The rich diversity of birds on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve is, of course, made possible by longtime GLT Member Jamie Gamble. Jamie donated this land to the Granby Land Trust, protecting it from development forever. We are forever grateful to him for this incredible gift. (The Granby Land Trust is indeed very fortunate to have so many wonderful supporters at every level!)
April 2022
1,500+ Pounds of Trash Collected at GLT's Earth Day Roadside Cleanup
On Earth Day Weekend, Granby Land Trust members of all ages helped us reduce pollution, improve habitats, and prevent harm to wildlife and humans by removing more than 1,500 pounds of trash from our roadsides. We are so grateful to all who helped, and to Paine's Inc., who provided us with a large dumpster for the disposal of all the garbage, and to participating groups from First Congregational Church, South Congregational Church, Cub Scouts Pack 325, and the Granby Lions Club.
Teams of volunteers cleaned all or part of the following streets:
Granville Road
Loomis Street
Silver Street
Mountain Road
Donahue Road
Lost Acres Road
West Granby Road
Broad Hill Road
Simsbury Road
Strong Road
Beman Road
Morningside Drive
Barkhamsted Road
Long Lott Road
Hartland Road
Higley Road
Silkey Road
Case Street
Fielding Woods
Barndoor Hills Road
Kelly Lane
Kearns Drive
Creamery Hill Road
North Granby Road
Day Street
Crest Road
Elizabeth Street
Woodcliff Drive
Canton Road
Whitman Drive
Emerson Lane
Spring Glen Drive
Twilight Drive
Harmony Hill
Hummingbird Lane
Old Stagecoach Road
Hungary Road
Canal Road
Importantly, teams also cleaned up the roadsides along the Land Trust’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, Mary Edwards Mountain Property, Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve, and Katan-Ensor Preserve, as well as along the McLean Game Refuge and Enders State Forest.
The feedback the GLT received on this event (from people who spent their free time picking up other people's trash!) was incredibly positive. The organization plans to grow this event into an even bigger town-wide cleanup next year, so mark your calendars for Saturday, April 22: Earth Day 2023! We hope you'll donate a few hours of your time to reduce pollution and beautify our town.
October 2021
Dave and Jenny Emery Receive 2021 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award
At its annual meeting, held on the GLT’s Katan-Ensor Preserve in October, the board of directors of the Granby Land Trust awarded Dave and Jenny Emery its 2021 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award. This is the Land Trust’s highest honor and is given annually to an individual or organization that has done – through a single gift or collectively over many years – the most to promote the GLT’s mission of “preserving Granby’s natural heritage.”
Dave and Jenny’s commitment to – and love for – Granby, the Land Trust and the natural world are demonstrated daily. They are both leaders and doers, who have been making a positive difference in our town for decades, and whose work often goes without recognition because they so quietly and modestly get things done.
Jenny’s commitment to Granby, its residents, and its landscape can be seen in her service on the board of directors of the Friends of Holcomb Farm Board, then as the organization’s volunteer executive director; her work on behalf of Granby families through her service on the Town of Granby’s Board of Education; and her service to the Land Trust as the property steward of the GLT’s Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve. Jenny digs into her commitments with passion, dedication, and thoughtfulness, seeking to make life in Granby better for all. She’s smart, organized and committed. She and Dave get behind what they believe in. Granby is very fortunate to have her serving as one of our town leaders.
Dave is a longtime member of the GLT Board of Directors and currently serves as its vice president. He, too, gets things done. A legendary coach of both the Granby Memorial High School Boys’ Soccer and Boys’ Lacrosse teams and a former vice chairman of the Granby Education Foundation, Dave’s contributions to the Land Trust are innumerable. He leads entertaining and educational hikes, coordinates efficient and productive work parties, serves as our board liaison to Granby’s agricultural community, and generously contributes his thoughtful perspective, quiet leadership, depth of expertise, and unflagging energy to the organization.
In presenting the Friend of the Land Trust award, GLT President Rick Orluk said of Dave, “I have the very good fortune of seeing Dave in action almost daily working on behalf of the Land Trust, most recently leading the effort to open the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. If you’ve been on this Preserve, you know it is one special place where so many details have been considered – carefully constructed and aesthetically appropriate bridges, well thought-out trails, maintained bird habitats, a fully renovated historic cabin and considered safeguards around Creamer Pond. All the details were considered and continue to be. He is regularly making improvements to this property, thinking about how this land fits into Granby’s history, and seeking to guarantee that this beautiful place continues to be a vibrant wildlife preserve.
“Honestly, I could go on and on about Dave’s work, big and small for the Land Trust. Yesterday, he was big part of our Godard Preserve Trail Work Party (he wasn’t just one of the team leaders of the work, he got his hands and clothes good and dirty). And when you take today’s hike, you’ll walk across a bridge to get to our Old Messenger Road Preserves. This bridge is constructed from timber milled at Emery Farm, delivered by Dave to the property and then carried in by the Youth Conservation Corps and GLT Volunteers, including Dave, and built on-site under his direction. As always, he stepped up to shoulder a part of the load, helping to carry the large span timbers into place. That’s Dave Emery, always doing what it takes to get the job done and make Granby a better place.”
Dave and Jenny give so much to the Land Trust because they believe so firmly in its mission. On top of their years of service to the GLT, they – along with longtime GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble – donated a conservation easement to the Land Trust on an agricultural field and woodland across the street from Emery Farm on Loomis Street. They did not seek recognition or honors, they just wanted to guarantee that a beautiful field would be preserved forever.
Of his dear friends Jenny and Dave, Gamble says, “Dave and Jenny are remarkable… they span the bridge between people and nature with passion, insight, patience, and deep vision. They embrace the landscape around them and transform those parts that enhance habitat and community for all. They are stewards, and friends, of the highest caliber.”
The GLT Board of Directors heartily congratulates Dave and Jenny Emery on this well-deserved honor.
Don Shaw Receives 2021 Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award
The GLT presented the Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award to GLT member Don Shaw. This Award recognizes an individual who has worked tirelessly and behind the scenes on behalf of the Land Trust. In this case, the recipient has worked tirelessly behind the lens of his camera, capturing the beauty of the GLT’s properties, and helping tell the story of the land. The GLT is grateful to Ann Pelka for her generous, selfless, and benevolent act on behalf of the Land Trust (she gave 150 acres to the Land Trust in 2017), and the organization is likewise grateful to Don Shaw for his generosity and selflessness. Don Shaw in center, GLT President Rick Orluk on left and longtime GLT Board Member Put Brown on right. Photo by Shirley Murtha.
Other GLT Members Recognized at Annual Meeting
Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King
The Land Trust Board recognized GLT board member Eric Lukingbeal and his wife, Sally King, for their generous donation of 11.5 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural land to the Granby Land Trust. Eric and Sally purchased the land located off Day Street – to be known as The Brockett Preserve – for the express purpose of ensuring its permanent preservation; and the GLT has signed a 5-year lease with the House of Hayes to return its open fields to working farmland, using sound farming practices. Photo taken at the GLT Annual Meeting by Don Shaw.
Karen and Bob Saunders
Named in memory of Olof Stevenson, who served as the longtime caretaker on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve for more than 50 years when it was privately owned, the new Olof Stevenson Award celebrates exemplary stewardship work by a member(s) of the Granby Land Trust. The inaugural Olof Stevenson Award was presented by GLT Vice President Dave Emery to Olof’s daughter, Karen Saunders, and her husband, Bob, at the Annual Meeting. Karen and Bob now serve as property stewards for the GLT’S Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, and as such they walk, monitor and care for the property on an almost daily basis. Photo by Don Shaw.
Trish Percival
Trish Percival (pictured here with GLT Board Member Put Brown) - who works with the Land Trust on a broad range of projects, including marketing and communications, membership (where the Land Trust has seen tremendous growth over the last several years), accreditation renewal, and other special projects – was honored at the GLT Annual Meeting for her years of dedicated and thoughtful service to the Land Trust and the Granby community.
Steve Perry
Steve Perry (on right), who manages the organization’s GIS mapping projects, builds the GLT’s trailhead kiosks, serves as a property steward, and provides general property management services, received special recognition for his hard work and dedication to the Granby Land Trust at the GLT’s Annual Meeting.
September 2021
Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King Donate 11-Acre Agricultural Parcel to the Granby Land Trust
Granby residents Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King recently purchased 11 acres of land at 172 Day Street and then generously donated the parcel to the Granby Land Trust (GLT) for the purpose of permanent preservation and protection. Eric and Sally are longtime GLT members and Eric serves on the GLT’s board of directors, as well as the board of directors of the Friends of Holcomb Farm. Sally serves on Granby’s Board of Selectman and spent 13 years on Granby’s Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses Commission.
Eric and Sally asked that the property be called The Brockett Preserve, in honor of the Brockett Family, who owned the property (along with their house on North Granby Road) for 55 years and who contributed immeasurably to the town through their involvement in the Granby Grange, Granby 4-H, and First Congregational Church, among other Granby organizations.
The parcel includes a farm field and woodlands. The GLT has signed a lease with the Hayes Family of the House of Hayes to farm the field, and they now are growing corn on the property. This will, in effect, return this parcel of land to its agricultural roots, as it previously had been farmed by generations of the Hayes Family in support of their local dairy operation. In compliance with GLT policy, all farming of the property will follow best practices.
The preservation of agricultural land is part of the GLT’s mission. Productive agricultural land is a finite and irreplaceable natural resource that provides food, helps control flooding, protects wetlands and watersheds, and maintains air quality. This parcel of land contains prime farmland soils, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prime farmland soils have “the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops.”
Thanks to Eric and Sally, this field and adjacent woodlands will be preserved in perpetuity. It will be returned to its former life as healthy, productive land that supports our local food system and our local economy. We are so fortunate to have forward-thinking townspeople like Eric and Sally, and we thank them for their incredible generosity.
May 2021
To Mow or Not to Mow, That is the Question
The Granby Land Trust Has the Answer
By Shirley Murtha
The Granby Land Trust has long understood the consequences that mowing inflicts on the organisms that inhabit the fields on its properties, and has taken action to ensure the least detrimental effects possible. For example, around eight years ago, mowing was banned on the agricultural field at the Nuckols Preserve to protect the turtles and snakes. Work on the GLT Mary Edwards Preserve has always been done with an eye to making sure that pollinators and nesting birds are protected. Recently, the organization has become stewards of several properties that include fields that need to be mowed. The realization that the disappearing habitats of so many species of insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds has been a factor in the decline of these groups has caused the Land Trust to re-visit and formalize its mowing practices.
I recently talked to the Land Trust’s vice president and agricultural community liaison Dave Emery about how the organization has developed its mowing protocol. He began by noting that it was only natural that farmers would want to mow their hay fields for the “first cut” while the plants were fresh, and their meadows when the tall vegetation made the area look unkempt. This was usually in June, which turns out to be the worst possible time for the birds, turtles, snakes and many mammals such as deer that have made nests and are nurturing their eggs or young in those fields. Not visible to the person on the tractor, many of these young are sacrificed for the sake of a hay cut or a neat appearance.
At first, The Land Trust deemed that the months of May and June would be exempt from mowing fields, but under the guidance of board member and avian specialist John Weeks, it was realized that many birds produce second clutches in the latter half of the summer, so the July 4th date to begin mowing was moved up to August 1. Emery noted that Land Trust board member Jen Plourde has been particularly helpful in educating those involved about other significant ecological relationships. For example, she noted that an August 1st mowing was not pollinator-friendly given the importance of the fall goldenrod bloom. Also, the monarch butterflies need as much milkweed as they can get on which to lay their eggs in August and September. Their decreasing numbers definitely call for further mowing consideration, so the date was moved again, this time to October 1st.
Still not to the bottom of the rabbit hole, the board became aware that many insects important for the propagation of myriad plant life depend on the vegetation in these fields. Think of the praying mantis cocoons attached to sturdy stalks and the native bees living in hollow stems. They are just the tip of the iceberg; there are hundreds of species too small to garner our attention, but they play important roles.
The conclusion to this conundrum is that necessary mowing will take place after the first frost and before April 1st. There will always be some disruption, but this is the least detrimental time range. Also, Emery stated that, when possible, half of a given field can be mowed one year, and the other half the alternate year. This allows whatever species are in that field a full year to complete their life cycles.
In addition to taking care of its own properties, the Land Trust has been encouraging its members to be protective of whatever amount of yard they possess, as evidenced by two recent zoom presentations it hosted with the Granby Public Library. Simply stated, homeowners are encouraged to mow less and plant for pollinators. One doesn’t have to have many acres to help: each of us who has some area of our yard that can be left to a cycle of natural growth can contribute to the health of the planet. The Land Trust is doing its best to protect habitats and species when and wherever possible.
October 2020
GLT Bestows its Highest Honor on Jamie Gamble
The GLT has awarded the 2020 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the GLT's highest honor, to Jamie Gamble for his vision, commitment to Granby, love of nature, and generosity. Jamie donated two incredible parcels to the GLT in 2020: the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve located at 253 Loomis Street; as well as a 30-acre agricultural parcel located at 107 Loomis Street.
In presenting the award, GLT Board Member Put Brown said, regarding Jamie's gift of the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in particular, “Jamie wanted this to be a ‘wildlife preserve,’ named after a watercourse on the land. It isn’t to bear his name at all, because it is the land, and not Jamie himself, that is to be honored. But such humility honors him even more, as all true humility honors those rare individuals who have it.”
October 2020
Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve Opens
On October 19, the Granby Land Trust opened its newest property, the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. Located at 253 Loomis Street in North Granby, the preserve was donated to the Land Trust by longtime board member Jamie Gamble. In Jamie’s vision statement for the property, he says, “This 210 acres of diverse habitat represents a unique combination of woods, wetland, open fields, and ridgeline to be cherished by the creatures living here, and nature lovers exploring the landscape. With the stewardship of Granby Land Trust, Inc. (GLT), I imagine this property maintaining its unique niche for generations to come. This land is being donated for the purposes of passive recreation and active preservation: to provide trails to the public for activities including hiking, exercise, leashed dog walks, picnics, education, research, and wildlife observation.”
The Granby Land Trust is exceedingly grateful to Jamie for this incredible gift, and vows to steward the property in accordance with Jamie’s wishes. Jamie has created a stewardship fund to ensure both that appropriate habitats are preserved and that the property is otherwise maintained as it should be.
Already, with Jamie’s support, the GLT board has overseen significant property enhancements, including two new bridges, improvements to the dam and cabin, and upgrades to the trails.
All are welcome to hike the preserve’s 3.5 miles of trails. The GLT has constructed a new parking lot and trail kiosk at the entrance to the preserve, at 253 Loomis Street. To protect and preserve the fragile wildlife diversity that exists on this spectacular property, dogs must be leashed at all times. Please see the trailhead kiosk for other important rules.
To learn more or to download a map, go to www.granbylandtrust.org and click on Trails, then GLT Properties with Trails. You can also download a map via the Avenza app, then track your progress as you walk the trails. Due to poor cell service at Dismal Brook, we suggest downloading this map before you leave home.
October 2020
Granby Land Trust Holds Annual Meeting
Each fall, Granby Land Trust members gather – often on a special GLT property – to reconnect with each other and with the natural world, to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, and to learn about exciting new projects on the horizon.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s meeting had to be held virtually, but the GLT offered Members-Only guided hikes of the new Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve on the day of the meeting. About 65 members joined us on the trails over the course of three hikes on a beautiful fall day. In the evening, we reconvened via Zoom, and, as one member said after the meeting, “I was hoping the Annual Meeting held virtually would still be the special celebration it always is and still be a chance for all of us to bask in the glow of another wonderful year, and it was!”
Knowing a Zoom meeting would present unique challenges, GLT President Rick Orluk worked hard to create a meeting that was both entertaining and informative. Highlights included two slideshows: one, a virtual tour of the GLT’s new Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve and the other, a slideshow of GLT properties and people, set to a moving song written by Fred Wilhelm Jr. and Lisa Brokop, and performed by Lisa Brokop. A native of Granby and a friend of Rick’s, Fred is now a songwriter living in Nashville, Tennessee. Lisa is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress who has recorded seven studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the country music charts in her native Canada. The song was inspired by an experience Fred had, as a young man, walking through the fields and forest behind his family farm on North Granby Road. The GLT is exceedingly grateful to Fred and Lisa for granting the GLT permission to use their music for this purpose. Both slideshows can be seen on the GLT’s website and YouTube channel.
Other highlights of the meeting included the news that the GLT has acquired three remarkable new properties this year. Longtime GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble donated the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve at 253 Loomis Street (See Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve article elsewhere in this Drummer for more details on this acquisition!), as well as a 30-acre agricultural parcel at 107 Loomis Street – incredible additions to one of the GLT’s priority conservation areas: the Loomis Street Corridor in North Granby; and the Estate of Theodore Maltbie and the Maltbie Family donated a 12-acre parcel in another GLT priority conservation area: the Old Messenger Road Corridor in West Granby.
Another highlight was the presentation of the Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes an individual who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes on behalf of the Land Trust. This award was given to GLT Vice President Dave Emery, whose efforts surpass expectations every year, but especially this year, as he spent countless volunteer hours managing and making property improvements – including new bridges, dam improvements, cabin improvements, a new parking lot, and more – at the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. In awarding the honor, Orluk said, “This year’s recipient is truly dedicated to Granby and its natural places. He’s multi-talented – a wonderful mentor, teacher and coach, loved and respected by all, committed to our community, an incredibly hard worker willing to go the extra mile….”
Finally, the GLT presented its Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the GLT’s highest honor. This year’s award was presented to Jamie Gamble, the longtime GLT board member who donated two incredible properties to the Granby Land Trust in 2020: a 30-acre agricultural parcel at 107 Loomis Street and the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve at 253 Loomis Street. In presenting the award, GLT Board Member Put Brown said, “Jamie wanted this to be a ‘wildlife preserve,’ named after a watercourse on the land. It isn’t to bear his name at all, because it is the land, and not Jamie himself, that is to be honored. But such humility honors him even more, as all true humility honors those rare individuals who have it.”
Two board members relocated this year: Jim Wickham (to South Carolina) and Jamie Gamble (to Vermont). Tim Heinze and Karen Dowd were unanimously elected to fill those vacancies; and board members Lowell Kahn, Eric Lukingbeal, Shirley Murtha, Jen Plourde, and Mark Wetzel were re-elected to three-year terms.
“The work the Granby Land Trust does is more important than ever,” said Orluk. “Our properties have never been busier and the need for public spaces, where people can connect with nature, has never been greater. Spending time on our properties is a balm for the soul.”
August 2020
New Bridge on Mary Edwards Mountain Property
Granby Eagle Scout candidate Max Hollister (left, fittingly wearing a Superman shirt) led the effort to build a new bridge on the Granby Land Trust’s Mary Edwards Mountain Property’s yellow trail as his Eagle Scout project. The GLT is so grateful to the Scouts for their support! (Thanks also to GLT Board Member Lowell Kahn and GLT Property Steward Fran Armentano for their assistance with this project.) The bridge is a wonderful addition to the Mary Edwards trail system.
August 2020
Van Vleck Family Donates 20 Acres
Henry and Gail Van Vleck of North Granby have donated 20 acres of land on Loomis Street to the Granby Land Trust. This property, which is located in one of the GLT’s priority conservation corridors, is bordered to the west and south by the GLT’s Creamer Preserve, a 48-acre parcel that was donated to the GLT in 1975 by Cordelia Creamer Richards. To the north, it is bordered by the Massachusetts state line. The property will be called the Van Vleck Preserve.
Henry and Gail moved to Granby 47 years ago. They had built a house in Avon, but soon decided they didn't enjoy the traffic on Route 44. They bought property on Silkey Road in North Granby, and have lived there ever since. "I like living close to nature," says Henry. "I saw two bears in my yard last week and another across the street from my house this morning."
Henry and Gail bought the Loomis Street property in 1981. The property was surrounded by preserved land and I didn't want to see it developed," says Henry. "I think the GLT is a great organization. I think our property has gone to the right people."
The Van Vleck Preserve is an undeveloped woodland made up of mature oaks mixed with other northern hardwoods and hemlock. The understory includes dense mountain laurel and white pine regeneration. An unnamed Class A watercourse flows through a wooded wetland on the eastern boundary of the Van Vleck parcel and discharges into Dismal Brook.The parcel has relatively high conservation value for several reasons. Combined with the larger Creamer Preserve, 68 contiguous acres are protected, preserving high quality habitat for mammals, forest-interior birds and sensitive amphibians and reptiles. State-listed species have been recorded near the Van Vleck parcel by the CT Natural Diversity Database (NDDB), and the site is within an area identified as the Crag Mountain Primary Conservation Area in Farmington Valley Biodiversity Study of 2006.
To date, the Granby Land Trust owns approximately 275 acres in the Loomis Street Corridor and holds conservation easements on another 217 acres.
The Land Trust thanks Henry and Gail for their generosity and foresight.
November 2019
GLT Earns National Recognition for its Commitment to Conservation Excellence
The Granby Land Trust (GLT) is excited to announce that it has been awarded renewed accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance, proving that it is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
The GLT provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that Granby Land Trust's lands will be protected forever.
The GLT currently owns 1,860 acres of land and holds conservation easements on an additional 796 acres, protecting a total of 2,656 acres from development.
“It is exciting to recognize Granby Land Trust’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
The Granby Land Trust was one of Connecticut's first land trust's to receive national accreditation in 2014.
November 2019
Honoring GLT Heroes Seth and Lucy Holcombe
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A great man is always willing to be little.” Seth and Lucy Holcombe, who donated 150 acres of land in North Granby to the Granby Land Trust in 2016, were great -- and humble -- people. They did not donate their land to the GLT in order to make others remember their names. But remember their names, we will.
The GLT recently installed a kiosk and sign at the trailhead to the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve trail system. Located off of Silver Street in North Granby, this is a great place for a hike. Enjoy it and remember, with gratitude, the humble and generous people who decided to preserve this property forever.
November 2019
Awards Given at Annual Land Trust Art Show
Artists from across New England entered their art in the 2019 Granby Land Trust Art Show: Celebrating New England’s Natural Beauty. The artist’s subject matter ranged from the rolling fields of Vermont to the beaches of Cape Cod to the breezy shores of Monhegan Island, Maine, and included many beautiful locations preserved by the Granby Land Trust, such as the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve, the Dewey-Granby Oak, the Mary Edwards Mountain Property, and the Godard Preserve.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the GLT’s friends, the show offers $5,000 in award money. This year, 182 pieces of original artwork were submitted; just 88 were selected to be in the show. Roxanne Stachelek, executive director of the West Hartford Art League, had the difficult task of jurying this year’s show.
Rick Daskam
The winner of the 2019 show’s top prize – the Don and Marty Wilmot Award – was Rick Daskam for his painting, Trailing Yew Laundry Line #12. Karen Israel was awarded the show’s second place prize, the Granby Land Trust Award, for her pastel, titled Coming Around Again, which was inspired by the GLT’s Godard Preserve.
Karen Israel
Fourteen additional prizes were awarded as follows: Jim Laurino won the Sandy and Dave Schupp Award for Next Year’s Milkweed. Del-Bourree Bach won the Austin McNey Memorial Award given by Karen, Scott & Patrick McNey for Summer Calm. Ray Harder won the Granby Artists Association Award for Encaustic Tobacco Barns in Winter. The Ray Betts Award, given by Carol and Greg Reid, went to Steve Linde for December Flurries. Thomas Adkins won the Mildred Dewey Award, given by Jenny and Dave Emery, for Winter Stream. Tim Matregrano won the Helen and Al Wilke Award for No. 320-L5. Roger Niland won the Tudor and Laura Holcomb Award, given by Nannie and Put Brown, for Copper Beech. Douglas Williams won the Matthew K. Orluk Award, given by Trish Percival and Rick Orluk, for Lucy’s Trail Ride. Linda Boisvert Destefanis won the Olof Stevenson Award, given by Jamie Gamble, for Marsh to Plum Island. The William Stewart Award, given by Dave and Judy Russell, went to Joan Jardine for Wetlands. Charles McCaughtry won the Carol and Dick Caley Award for High Tide Marsh. On December 8, the People’s Choice Award, given by Lost Acres Vineyard, will be decided, based on votes submitted by visitors to the Vineyard.
The Land Trust and Artists Association also hosted an Art Talk during the Art Show. At this free event, four award winning artists - Karen Israel, Jim Laurino, Rick Daskam, and Thomas Adkins – discussed the artistic process and methods they use to create their art.
The Land Trust is grateful to Mark Wetzel and Fiduciary Investment Advisors, LLC and Ted Cormier and ALIRT Insurance Research, LLC for their ongoing, loyal support of the show. In addition, the Land Trust thanks event co-chairs Els Fonteyne and Laurie Schock for organizing the show’s Opening Night; Bill Simpson and Laura Eden for their wise counsel, advice and hard work and for organizing the show’s Art Talk; Tony Capelli for his stunning floral arrangements; Karen Rutigliano for her delectable appetizers; and Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott of Lost Acres Vineyard for hosting the show, for funding the People’s Choice Award, and for welcoming us into their beautiful space.
November 2019
GLT Annual Meeting Brings Community Together
On November 3, the Granby Land Trust held its annual meeting at Holcomb Farm’s North Barn. About 70 people turned out to enjoy the company of conservation-minded neighbors over a delicious potluck supper; and to learn about the many 2019 accomplishments of the Granby Land Trust. A few highlights of the year included:
- the acquisition of 45 acres of historical, agricultural land at 143 Simsbury Road, which was at- risk of being developed if the GLT had not gotten involved;
- the donation of the 29-acre Katan-Ensor Preserve, which abuts GLT land in the area of Old Messenger Road;
- the donation of the 20-acre Van Vleck Preserve, which abuts GLT land on Loomis Street;
- the hard work of submitting an application for accreditation renewal by the national Land Trust Alliance;
- increased stewardship and maintenance of GLT properties;
- partnerships with other community organizations in the area; and
- a full schedule of hikes, special events, and outreach activities.
Local historian and retired history teacher Mark Williams was the featured speaker at the meeting. Mark provided a fascinating overview of the history of the Sadoce Wilcox House on Simsbury Road. Built in 1787, the house has been in the Wilcox family since the day it was built, until it was acquired by the Granby Land Trust in October of this year.
The meeting culminated with the presentation of the 2019 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the highest honor awarded by the GLT, which was presented to Steve Hastings. Steve worked with the Land Trust and the Salmon Brook Historical Society to see that the Sadoce Wilcox House and the 45-acre property upon which it sits were preserved forever. The Historical Society will take ownership of the house and barn in the near future. We thank Steve for his family’s stewardship of this historic West Granby property and we salute his vision to see that it was protected for future generations.
October, 2019
Granby Land Trust Acquires Historic Wilcox Family Simsbury Road Property
The Granby Land Trust is excited to announce that it has preserved one of Granby’s most iconic and oldest agricultural properties, 143 Simsbury Road in West Granby, which includes a home built in 1787 by Sadoce Wilcox, a beautiful barn and 45 acres of property – part of which currently is being cultivated by The Garlic Farm. Working cooperatively with the most recent owner and Wilcox family descendant Steve Wilcox Hastings and the Salmon Brook Historical Society, the Land Trust closed on this property earlier this month. This Colonial home and surrounding property, which abut Holcomb Farm and include valuable agricultural soils and pristine waterways, are key parts of the scenic West Granby Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property also provides linkages to other preserved properties, expanding wildlife corridors.
To support the preservation of Granby’s rural character, become a member of the Granby Land Trust. Family memberships start at $30. To join, go to our website or mail a check to P.O. Box 23, Granby, CT 06035. To learn more about the Granby Land Trust, go to www.GranbyLandTrust.org.
May 2019
A Birder’s Report on the GLT’s Annual Spring Migration Bird Walks
Every Mother’s Day Weekend, early risers join Granby Land Trust Board Member John Weeks
and his wife, Christine Chinni, on a quest to see the many species of birds who pass through North Granby on their annual migration routes. John and Christine are passionate and knowledgeable birders who generously share their time and expertise with others.
North Granby resident and GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble kindly opens his private property for the walks each year. The property’s open fields, pond, wetlands, and woodlands provide great habitat for migrating birds such as warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, orioles, and others.
This year’s outings took place on May 11 and 12 – two very different days, in terms of weather. May 11 was a beautiful, sunny spring morning; and the outing was an enormous success, with 64 species of birds identified! On the morning of May 12, however, the temperatures dropped and the rain moved in and many of the birds hunkered down for the day. The birds weren’t the only ones deterred by the rain: just seven intrepid souls showed up to see what birds were out and about. Their bravery paid off, though! While fewer species were seen, the Sunday group did get to see a Virginia Rail run right across the path in front of them; and they also had very nice looks at Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers, among others.
Here is a list of the 64 species of birds identified on Saturday’s walk:
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The GLT thanks John and Christine for running this popular event for us each year. The GLT is committed to preserving and protecting bird habitat, and it’s always exciting to see the amazing variety of species that make their homes here or stop for a rest here during their spring migration.
December, 2018
A Winter Hike, A Cozy Gathering
While the idea of hiking to the top of a mountain on a cold dark night in the middle of winter might not appeal to everyone, it certainly appeals to many, as evidenced by the fact that more than 40 people showed up to do just that with the Granby Land Trust (GLT) on December 23.
The hike started in daylight on the GLT’s Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve on Silver Street and ended in complete darkness, with a cozy gathering at Emery Farm on Loomis Street. It was billed as a “Cold Moon Hike.” The Cold Moon is the name given to the December full moon, and there was a huge full moon on that night – we’re sure of it – but we couldn’t see it through the cloud cover. That didn’t dampen spirits, though. Hike leader and GLT Board Member Dave Emery led an informative hike through the GLT’s Holcombe Preserve, up Crag Mountain, across Dismal Brook, and back to the beautiful farm he shares with his wife, Jenny. (Some of this hike took place on private land, and is not accessible without an invitation from the Emerys.) A crock of warm soup, a roaring fire in the woodstove, and the conversation of friends new and old warmed everyone up before they headed home.
Seth and Lucy Holcombe left 150 beautiful, secluded acres of land to the Land Trust in 2016. They loved this land and wanted others to be able to enjoy the property that brought them so much joy during their lifetimes. Since then, the GLT has worked to honor their wishes by marking the trail system and by creating maps – both print and interactive—to help visitors navigate its trail system. The property is now open to the public and maps are available at the trailhead, at www.granbylandtrust.org, and on the Avenza app on your smartphone.
Dave and Jenny Emery own Emery Farm, a private property on Loomis Street. The GLT is grateful to them for inviting us onto their property, for opening their home to us, and for serving us a lovely meal. Most of all, we are grateful to the Emerys for all they do to support the Granby Land Trust throughout the year.
October, 2018
Rod Dimock Awarded 2018 GLT Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award
In honor of Mary Edwards' many contributions to Granby and the Granby Land Trust, the Land Trust Board established the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, which is given annually at our Annual Meeting. This award – the Land Trust's highest honor – recognizes the individual or organization that has made a significant difference, through a single gift or contributions over many years, to promote the GLT's mission of "preserving Granby's natural heritage."
Our 2018 award winner is a true ‘Renaissance Man.’ He served for three years as a U.S. Navy Officer during the Vietnam War, including two years at sea as Destroyer department head. He served as president of Aetna Realty Investors, Inc., one of the country’s largest real estate investment management advisors, and also served on Aetna’s asset allocation committee. He was the president, chief operating officer and director of Cornerstone Properties, a $4.8 billion Real Estate Investment Trust.
Currently, he is the principal of Arrow Capital, LLC, offering private investing, property development and consulting services; he is an owner and the chairman of the management committee of the highly acclaimed Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Massachusetts; and he serves on numerous other boards of directors and as a recruiter and fundraiser for his alma mater, Williams College.
He is an incredibly dedicated Granby Land Trust Board Member, serves as our current vice president, and is multi-talented, to say the least. His leadership and decision-making skills serve the board well; as does his extensive investment expertise (he currently chairs our Finance Committee, heads up the GLT ‘Logistics’ Team, and is the co-chair of the Property Stewardship Committee). He was a critical member of the team that first sought national accreditation for the Land Trust, providing big picture guidance and digging in to the details. He has been a key part of our Land Acquisitions Team over the years. And he has remarkable handyman skills, which he employed to build-out our GLT office at Holcomb Farm, among many other GLT projects over the years.
The Land Trust Board and Granby have been very fortunate to have someone like him volunteering countless hours working on our behalf. He also is an incredibly good friend to many, who would do whatever it took - big or small - to help someone. The 2018 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award winner is Rod Dimock.
June, 2018
Granby Land Trust Honors the Life of Edith Wilhelm
It is with deep sadness that the Granby Land Trust says goodbye to a dear friend and an inspiration to many, Edith D. Wilhelm of North Granby. Edith passed away peacefully on May 25, surrounded by family.
Edith was “an Air Force Vet, a mother of five, a grandmother to 11, a great grandmother, a church choir member, a 4-H leader, a postal worker, a teacher, a philanthropist, a farmer, a scholarship founder, a meal deliverer, a longtime land trust member, and an inspiration to many,” (loosely quoted from her son Fred’s Facebook page).
An immigrant from Germany in 1938, Edith quickly learned English and adapted to life in America – and America was better with Edith Wilhelm in it. After graduating second in her high school class and receiving a B.A. in Spanish from Connecticut College, she lived in Granby for more than half-a-century with her husband of 57 years, the late Frederick Oscar Wilhelm. She loved nature and the outdoors, and she and Fred raised five children on their beautiful family farm in North Granby. In 1994, Fred and Edith generously donated a conservation easement on Wilhelm Farm to the Granby Land Trust. The easement precludes development and allows only agricultural and forestry activities on 48 acres of land, so that Wilhelm Farm will remain a farm forever. Edith and Fred were awarded the GLT’s highest honor, the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust award, in 2009.
The GLT is grateful to have counted this remarkable woman among its friends, and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.
Gifts in memory of Edith may be made to the First Congregational Church of Granby, 219 North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035; or to the University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc., Attn: Frederick and Edith Wilhelm Family Scholarship, Account #31496, 2390 Alumni Dr., Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269-3206.
April, 2018
Granby Land Trust Loses Dear Friend
On March 26, the Land Trust lost a dear friend: Joan E. Katan. Last September, we honored Joan, along with her husband of 60 years, Charlie, with the GLT’s highest honor: the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award. (She is pictured here with GLT Board Member Put Brown, who presented the award.) Charlie was a founder and longtime board member of the Land Trust, and Joan and Charlie shared a love of the outdoors. For many years, Joan taught horseback riding lessons on their beautiful property in West Granby; and, as her obituary says, she taught so much more than riding – she taught hundreds of students how to communicate with and care for animals, love the natural world, and develop self-confidence. Her influence was great; and she will be missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie at this difficult time. A memorial to celebrate the amazing life she and Charlie shared will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 on July 1, 2018, at Holcomb Farm. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Joan’s honor to the local charity of your choice.
Mary Edwards Friend of the Trust Award
In honor of Mary Edwards’ many contributions to Granby and the Granby Land Trust, the Land Trust Board has established the Mary Edwards Friend of the Trust Award. This service award will be given annually at the Land Trust’s Annual Meeting and Hike to an individual or organization that has done – through a single gift or collectively over many years – the most to promote the GLT’s mission of “preserving Granby’s natural heritage.”
Award recipients by year:
2004 – Ray Betts
2005 – Seth and Lucy Holcombe
2006 – Robert Schlicht
2007 – Paula and Lowell Johnson
2008 – Dr. Forrest H. Davis, DVM
2009 – Fred and Edith Wilhelm
2010 – The Granby Board of Selectmen
2011 – Put and Nannie Brown
2012 – Dave Russell
2013 – Sali Godard Riege, Barbara Godard and Godard Family
2014 – Rick Orluk and Trish Percival
2015 – Dave and Sandy Schupp
2016 – Ann Pelka
2017 – Charles and Joan Katan
2018 – Rod Dimock
2019 – Steve Wilcox Hastings
2020 – Jamie Gamble
2021 – Dave and Jenny Emery
2022 – Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King
2023 – Mark and Barb Wetzel
Snowy Christmas Eve morning at the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve trailhead. We are so grateful 🙏 to longtime GLT Board Member and environmental hero Jamie Gamble for the incredible gift of this spectacular 210-acre property in October 2020. It is a place of natural beauty and wonder.
#Grateful #GLTDismalBrookWildlifePreserve #DismalBrookWildlifePreserve #NorthGranbyCT #WestGranby #GranbyCT #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace #Land4All #LandTrust #GranbyLandTrust
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Your membership matters and makes a lasting impact! Just as the GLT's Dewey-Granby Oak began as a small acorn, the Granby Land Trust's efforts to conserve and protect land start with the support of individuals like you. And just as a small acorn over time can grow into a mighty oak, your ongoing support can lead to significant, lasting change. The Granby Land Trust acquired the Dewey-Granby Oak in 1997. At that time, the GLT oversaw the protection of 492 acres of land. Today, the GLT oversees the care and protection of 3,295 acres of land. The support of members has made this possible. We hope you will take a moment to renew your GLT membership or join us for the first time and support the GLT’s efforts to preserve Granby’s natural heritage. A GLT family membership starts at just $30. Make your membership gift online at www.GranbyLandTrust.org or by mailing a check to us at: Granby Land Trust, PO Box 23, Granby, CT 06035. Thank you 🙏 for your support of the GLT and our community!
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December view of the North Marsh on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby. The Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve on Loomis Street is open dawn to dusk daily.
#Nature #GLTDismalBrookWildlifePreserve #DismalBrookWildlifePreserve #NorthGranbyCT #WestGranby #GranbyCT #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace #Land4All #LandTrust #GranbyLandTrust
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News
July 2023
Holcomb Tree Trail Featured in CFPA's "Connecticut Woodlands" Magazine
Check out this great article Granby resident (and GLT board member!) Eric Lukingbeal wrote for the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's “Connecticut Woodlands” magazine about the Tree Trail he helped establish at Holcomb Farm. Eric and his incredible team have planted 90+ trees and reclaimed land that had not been farmed or grazed since the 1970s -- land that was slowly being reclaimed by invasives. They have since labeled the trees and installed educational signage along the trail which is located on the east fields of Holcomb Farm, creating a wonderful visitor’s experience for all ages. There are 10 volunteers who regularly work on the Tree Trail in addition to Eric: Barry Avery, Jack and Peggy Lareau, Shirley Murtha, Cat Kadrle, Sue Canavan, Walter Ford, Walt Zultowski, and Heidi Lindberg. If you know them, thank them for their hard work. If you haven’t visited the Holcomb Tree Trail, do. The Holcomb Tree Trail - a Friends of the Holcomb Farm project - is across the street from the main farm complex at 113 Simsbury Road in West Granby. For more information go to www.holcombfarm.org and navigate to “Trails,” then “Holcomb Tree Trail.” Read the article in "Connecticut Woodlands" here.
January 2023
In Memoriam: Granby Land Trust Remembers Longtime GLT Board Member and Granby Environmentalist Dick Caley
The Granby Land Trust honors one of Granby’s best: past GLT Board Member Dick Caley, who passed away in December 2022. Dick was a special person who is very much missed. He was an incredibly loyal friend, father, and spouse. He was a Granby citizen who got involved with and served his community: volunteering for Granby’s Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen, serving as president of the Salmon Brook Watershed Association, and serving multiple terms on the Granby Land Trust Board of Directors. For the GLT, he also led hikes, shared his valuable scientific knowledge, and generously supported the GLT Art Show every year.
Dick loved the land and had a biologist’s curiosity about nature. He was an especially staunch advocate for our streams and the life in them. He was a beloved biology teacher at the Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford for 37 years, where he also served as chairman of its Science Department. In the early 1980s, he and wife Carol found a plot of land in Granby where they designed and built their family home, which included a farm with animals. He was smart, intellectually curious, and witty; a terrific athlete who loved playing golf with his son Josh; someone who cared about the environment, was kind to all, and was a true friend, loyal and loving. He was quick to laugh and quick to make others laugh. Time spent with Dick was time spent well.
For the past nine years, Dick’s passion lay in serving as a board member for Jog Your Memory 5K, an organization started by his daughter, Jess, and her husband, Bob, in honor of his wife Carol’s struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Dick loved Carol so much and was incredibly dedicated to her. To honor Dick and recognize his dedication to helping others, you can make an online donation to Jog Your Memory 5K, which has created the Dick Caley Caregiver Fund in his memory, at www.jogyourmemory5k.org/ or by mail to Jog Your Memory 5K, 56 Nichols Road, Needham, MA 02492.
October 2022
Granby Land Trust Celebrates 50th Anniversary at its Annual Meeting
About 75 members of the Granby Land Trust gathered at the Holcomb Farm North Barn on October 23 for a 50th Anniversary Celebration Potluck Dinner: a community gathering that celebrated the Land Trust’s roots and the many remarkable people in this town who have, in one way or another, supported the preservation of open land in town from 1972 through the present day. The GLT created a slideshow, originally titled “50 Things We’re Thankful For,” which ended up including hundreds of images because, really, how could we pick just 50?
While the slideshow played in the background, GLT members enjoyed a delicious meal comprised of everyone’s favorite dishes, from homegrown roasted peppers to Holcomb Farm salads to vegetarian lasagna to triple-berry pie. The business of the annual meeting was conducted over the dessert course.
Dave Russell, one of three founders of the Land Trust and its current treasurer, was recognized for his vision, leadership, and many years of service to the GLT. The GLT also recognized long-time board member Put Brown for his many years of dedicated and thoughtful service to the GLT.
The Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award was awarded to longtime GLT Board Member Eric Lukingbeal and longtime former Granby Town Selectwoman Sally King. The award recognizes Eric and Sally’s many years of thoughtful and dedicated service to the GLT and to the Town, their meaningful involvement in many other community organizations, and their deeply held passion for making the world a better place. Eric and Sally also purchased an 11.38-acre parcel of agricultural land on Day Street last year, which they immediately gifted to the Land Trust, naming it The Brockett Preserve in honor of the Brockett Family, who farmed the land for many years. Because of Eric and Sally’s generosity and foresight, the land continues to be farmed today, and will be preserved in perpetuity. In presenting the award, GLT Vice President Dave Emery spoke of Eric and Sally’s “deep appreciation of the mystery and majesty of our open spaces.” The Land Trust is deeply grateful to Eric and Sally for their selfless contributions to Granby and to the Land Trust.
The GLT thanks Susan Accetura for volunteering her time to run the kitchen and keep up with the dishes; Leslie Judge for arranging and donating the beautiful centerpieces; Sandy Orluk and Doreen McWhirter for their help making the night run smoothly; and Ed Judge for recording the evening in photographs. The GLT also thanks all who came and shared their recipes, their harvests, and their evening with us. It was such a pleasure to gather to celebrate our beautiful town and the friends, old and new, who make up the Granby Land Trust.
October 2022
Holcomb Farm Long-Term Conservation and Sustainability Plan: Granby Selectmen Unanimously Pass Initiative
October 18, 2022
Dear Granby Land Trust Members,
Last night, due to the hard work of many Granby citizens over many years, the Board of Selectmen unanimously passed the Holcomb Farm Long-Term Conservation and Sustainability Plan after three hours of valuable public discussion. You – our Granby Land Trust members and donors – have put the Land Trust in a position to be involved in important projects like this one. On behalf of the Land Trust Board of Directors, I thank you, and I hope you are proud of the critical role the Granby Land Trust played in making this happen. This action will make a difference in Granby’s future and will protect a very special place, Holcomb Farm.
In short, the Granby Land Trust, working with community partners:
- permanently preserved 277 acres of Holcomb Farm through the placement of a conservation easement on almost all the east fields/woodlands (including the Holcomb Tree Trail) and almost all the western woodlands - click this LINK to see Holcomb Farm Protected Property Map and this LINK to see Holcomb Farm & Nearby Open Space Map;
- invested $500,000 in a Town-controlled fund – The Holcomb Farm Stewardship Fund - that will support Holcomb Farm-related expenses; and
- helped the Friends of Holcomb Farm, one of our key community partners, further strengthen their organization based on the value that the permanency of forever preservation of this land will provide.
I’d like to recognize the leadership of the Friends of Holcomb Farm, who have worked diligently on this initiative while building a firm foundation under Holcomb Farm and its operations over the years. So many have invested so much in revitalizing the historic Holcomb Farm and making it the unique community resource it is today.
I would also like to recognize First Selectman Mark Fiorentino, and the other members of the Board of Selectmen – Mark Neumann, Peg Chapple, Kelly Rome, and Fred Moffa – for their thoughtfulness and vision in building a future for Granby that balances preservation and growth.
Working together with community partners, we have – and will continue to – accomplish big things in Granby.
Lastly, of course, I’d like to recognize Tudor and Laura Holcomb, who gave so much to this town, including their family farm – the “jewel of Granby.” We wanted to be sure we addressed their wishes, and we wanted to protect their legacy – forever.
According to the Land Trust Alliance, the U.S. loses roughly 150 acres of natural land and 40 acres of farmland every hour. Once the land is gone, we can’t get it back. Our actions are making a difference.
Last night, we permanently preserved 277 acres of land in Granby and supported one of Granby’s most precious agricultural resources, Holcomb Farm. It was a good day with the promise of even better days ahead.
With gratitude and respect,
Rick Orluk
President, Granby Land Trust
August 2022
GLT Trails Day Hike Featured on Cover of CFPA Magazine
The Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) featured photos of a GLT hike, led by GLT Board Member Jen Plourde, in the Summer 2022 issue of its quarterly publication, Connecticut Woodlands." On Connecticut Trails Day in June, Jen led a group of GLT members on a hike of the GLT's Mary Edwards Mountain Property in North Granby. Jake Koteen, a Granby resident and professional photographer, documented the hike. His fabulous photos were selected for publication, including this one, which ran on the magazine's cover.
May 2022
Dave Emery Presents to Granby Women's Breakfast
Granby Land Trust (GLT) Vice President (and all-around great guy) Dave Emery gave a presentation on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve to the Granby’s Women’s Breakfast Group on May 4 at the Granby Senior Center. With the use of a PowerPoint demonstration for a visual aid, Dave talked about the known history of the property (from the 1700s through the present); the incredible generosity, thoughtfulness and foresight of former Granby resident and GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble, who donated the 210-acre property to the GLT in 2020; all of the work done by GLT volunteers to get the property ready to be opened to the public; all of the unique and beautiful places that make-up the preserve; and the variety of flora and fauna that thrive there. The event was a big success – so much so that a follow-up Senior Center field trip to the Preserve is being planned.
May 2022
Annual Bird Walks
GLT Board Member John Weeks and his wife, Christine Chinni, led bird walks on six consecutive days on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in early May – some for the Land Trust, and some for other organizations, including the Hartford Audubon Society. John has been running these annual bird walks for the Granby Land Trust since 2005! We so appreciate all the time he and Christine dedicate to the Land Trust, running these kinds of events and sharing their extensive birding expertise.
To date, John and Christine have identified 142 bird species on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. (To see a list, go to granbylandtrust.org and go to the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve page. Copies are available in the property’s trailhead kiosk as well.) To see photos of some of these amazing birds, follow the Granby Land Trust on Facebook or Instagram. We are lucky to have GLT members, including Don Shaw, who submit incredible photos for publication there.
The rich diversity of birds on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve is, of course, made possible by longtime GLT Member Jamie Gamble. Jamie donated this land to the Granby Land Trust, protecting it from development forever. We are forever grateful to him for this incredible gift. (The Granby Land Trust is indeed very fortunate to have so many wonderful supporters at every level!)
April 2022
1,500+ Pounds of Trash Collected at GLT's Earth Day Roadside Cleanup
On Earth Day Weekend, Granby Land Trust members of all ages helped us reduce pollution, improve habitats, and prevent harm to wildlife and humans by removing more than 1,500 pounds of trash from our roadsides. We are so grateful to all who helped, and to Paine's Inc., who provided us with a large dumpster for the disposal of all the garbage, and to participating groups from First Congregational Church, South Congregational Church, Cub Scouts Pack 325, and the Granby Lions Club.
Teams of volunteers cleaned all or part of the following streets:
Granville Road
Loomis Street
Silver Street
Mountain Road
Donahue Road
Lost Acres Road
West Granby Road
Broad Hill Road
Simsbury Road
Strong Road
Beman Road
Morningside Drive
Barkhamsted Road
Long Lott Road
Hartland Road
Higley Road
Silkey Road
Case Street
Fielding Woods
Barndoor Hills Road
Kelly Lane
Kearns Drive
Creamery Hill Road
North Granby Road
Day Street
Crest Road
Elizabeth Street
Woodcliff Drive
Canton Road
Whitman Drive
Emerson Lane
Spring Glen Drive
Twilight Drive
Harmony Hill
Hummingbird Lane
Old Stagecoach Road
Hungary Road
Canal Road
Importantly, teams also cleaned up the roadsides along the Land Trust’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, Mary Edwards Mountain Property, Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve, and Katan-Ensor Preserve, as well as along the McLean Game Refuge and Enders State Forest.
The feedback the GLT received on this event (from people who spent their free time picking up other people's trash!) was incredibly positive. The organization plans to grow this event into an even bigger town-wide cleanup next year, so mark your calendars for Saturday, April 22: Earth Day 2023! We hope you'll donate a few hours of your time to reduce pollution and beautify our town.
October 2021
Dave and Jenny Emery Receive 2021 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award
At its annual meeting, held on the GLT’s Katan-Ensor Preserve in October, the board of directors of the Granby Land Trust awarded Dave and Jenny Emery its 2021 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award. This is the Land Trust’s highest honor and is given annually to an individual or organization that has done – through a single gift or collectively over many years – the most to promote the GLT’s mission of “preserving Granby’s natural heritage.”
Dave and Jenny’s commitment to – and love for – Granby, the Land Trust and the natural world are demonstrated daily. They are both leaders and doers, who have been making a positive difference in our town for decades, and whose work often goes without recognition because they so quietly and modestly get things done.
Jenny’s commitment to Granby, its residents, and its landscape can be seen in her service on the board of directors of the Friends of Holcomb Farm Board, then as the organization’s volunteer executive director; her work on behalf of Granby families through her service on the Town of Granby’s Board of Education; and her service to the Land Trust as the property steward of the GLT’s Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve. Jenny digs into her commitments with passion, dedication, and thoughtfulness, seeking to make life in Granby better for all. She’s smart, organized and committed. She and Dave get behind what they believe in. Granby is very fortunate to have her serving as one of our town leaders.
Dave is a longtime member of the GLT Board of Directors and currently serves as its vice president. He, too, gets things done. A legendary coach of both the Granby Memorial High School Boys’ Soccer and Boys’ Lacrosse teams and a former vice chairman of the Granby Education Foundation, Dave’s contributions to the Land Trust are innumerable. He leads entertaining and educational hikes, coordinates efficient and productive work parties, serves as our board liaison to Granby’s agricultural community, and generously contributes his thoughtful perspective, quiet leadership, depth of expertise, and unflagging energy to the organization.
In presenting the Friend of the Land Trust award, GLT President Rick Orluk said of Dave, “I have the very good fortune of seeing Dave in action almost daily working on behalf of the Land Trust, most recently leading the effort to open the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. If you’ve been on this Preserve, you know it is one special place where so many details have been considered – carefully constructed and aesthetically appropriate bridges, well thought-out trails, maintained bird habitats, a fully renovated historic cabin and considered safeguards around Creamer Pond. All the details were considered and continue to be. He is regularly making improvements to this property, thinking about how this land fits into Granby’s history, and seeking to guarantee that this beautiful place continues to be a vibrant wildlife preserve.
“Honestly, I could go on and on about Dave’s work, big and small for the Land Trust. Yesterday, he was big part of our Godard Preserve Trail Work Party (he wasn’t just one of the team leaders of the work, he got his hands and clothes good and dirty). And when you take today’s hike, you’ll walk across a bridge to get to our Old Messenger Road Preserves. This bridge is constructed from timber milled at Emery Farm, delivered by Dave to the property and then carried in by the Youth Conservation Corps and GLT Volunteers, including Dave, and built on-site under his direction. As always, he stepped up to shoulder a part of the load, helping to carry the large span timbers into place. That’s Dave Emery, always doing what it takes to get the job done and make Granby a better place.”
Dave and Jenny give so much to the Land Trust because they believe so firmly in its mission. On top of their years of service to the GLT, they – along with longtime GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble – donated a conservation easement to the Land Trust on an agricultural field and woodland across the street from Emery Farm on Loomis Street. They did not seek recognition or honors, they just wanted to guarantee that a beautiful field would be preserved forever.
Of his dear friends Jenny and Dave, Gamble says, “Dave and Jenny are remarkable… they span the bridge between people and nature with passion, insight, patience, and deep vision. They embrace the landscape around them and transform those parts that enhance habitat and community for all. They are stewards, and friends, of the highest caliber.”
The GLT Board of Directors heartily congratulates Dave and Jenny Emery on this well-deserved honor.
Don Shaw Receives 2021 Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award
The GLT presented the Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award to GLT member Don Shaw. This Award recognizes an individual who has worked tirelessly and behind the scenes on behalf of the Land Trust. In this case, the recipient has worked tirelessly behind the lens of his camera, capturing the beauty of the GLT’s properties, and helping tell the story of the land. The GLT is grateful to Ann Pelka for her generous, selfless, and benevolent act on behalf of the Land Trust (she gave 150 acres to the Land Trust in 2017), and the organization is likewise grateful to Don Shaw for his generosity and selflessness. Don Shaw in center, GLT President Rick Orluk on left and longtime GLT Board Member Put Brown on right. Photo by Shirley Murtha.
Other GLT Members Recognized at Annual Meeting
Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King
The Land Trust Board recognized GLT board member Eric Lukingbeal and his wife, Sally King, for their generous donation of 11.5 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural land to the Granby Land Trust. Eric and Sally purchased the land located off Day Street – to be known as The Brockett Preserve – for the express purpose of ensuring its permanent preservation; and the GLT has signed a 5-year lease with the House of Hayes to return its open fields to working farmland, using sound farming practices. Photo taken at the GLT Annual Meeting by Don Shaw.
Karen and Bob Saunders
Named in memory of Olof Stevenson, who served as the longtime caretaker on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve for more than 50 years when it was privately owned, the new Olof Stevenson Award celebrates exemplary stewardship work by a member(s) of the Granby Land Trust. The inaugural Olof Stevenson Award was presented by GLT Vice President Dave Emery to Olof’s daughter, Karen Saunders, and her husband, Bob, at the Annual Meeting. Karen and Bob now serve as property stewards for the GLT’S Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, and as such they walk, monitor and care for the property on an almost daily basis. Photo by Don Shaw.
Trish Percival
Trish Percival (pictured here with GLT Board Member Put Brown) - who works with the Land Trust on a broad range of projects, including marketing and communications, membership (where the Land Trust has seen tremendous growth over the last several years), accreditation renewal, and other special projects – was honored at the GLT Annual Meeting for her years of dedicated and thoughtful service to the Land Trust and the Granby community.
Steve Perry
Steve Perry (on right), who manages the organization’s GIS mapping projects, builds the GLT’s trailhead kiosks, serves as a property steward, and provides general property management services, received special recognition for his hard work and dedication to the Granby Land Trust at the GLT’s Annual Meeting.
September 2021
Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King Donate 11-Acre Agricultural Parcel to the Granby Land Trust
Granby residents Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King recently purchased 11 acres of land at 172 Day Street and then generously donated the parcel to the Granby Land Trust (GLT) for the purpose of permanent preservation and protection. Eric and Sally are longtime GLT members and Eric serves on the GLT’s board of directors, as well as the board of directors of the Friends of Holcomb Farm. Sally serves on Granby’s Board of Selectman and spent 13 years on Granby’s Inland, Wetlands and Watercourses Commission.
Eric and Sally asked that the property be called The Brockett Preserve, in honor of the Brockett Family, who owned the property (along with their house on North Granby Road) for 55 years and who contributed immeasurably to the town through their involvement in the Granby Grange, Granby 4-H, and First Congregational Church, among other Granby organizations.
The parcel includes a farm field and woodlands. The GLT has signed a lease with the Hayes Family of the House of Hayes to farm the field, and they now are growing corn on the property. This will, in effect, return this parcel of land to its agricultural roots, as it previously had been farmed by generations of the Hayes Family in support of their local dairy operation. In compliance with GLT policy, all farming of the property will follow best practices.
The preservation of agricultural land is part of the GLT’s mission. Productive agricultural land is a finite and irreplaceable natural resource that provides food, helps control flooding, protects wetlands and watersheds, and maintains air quality. This parcel of land contains prime farmland soils, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prime farmland soils have “the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops.”
Thanks to Eric and Sally, this field and adjacent woodlands will be preserved in perpetuity. It will be returned to its former life as healthy, productive land that supports our local food system and our local economy. We are so fortunate to have forward-thinking townspeople like Eric and Sally, and we thank them for their incredible generosity.
May 2021
To Mow or Not to Mow, That is the Question
The Granby Land Trust Has the Answer
By Shirley Murtha
The Granby Land Trust has long understood the consequences that mowing inflicts on the organisms that inhabit the fields on its properties, and has taken action to ensure the least detrimental effects possible. For example, around eight years ago, mowing was banned on the agricultural field at the Nuckols Preserve to protect the turtles and snakes. Work on the GLT Mary Edwards Preserve has always been done with an eye to making sure that pollinators and nesting birds are protected. Recently, the organization has become stewards of several properties that include fields that need to be mowed. The realization that the disappearing habitats of so many species of insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds has been a factor in the decline of these groups has caused the Land Trust to re-visit and formalize its mowing practices.
I recently talked to the Land Trust’s vice president and agricultural community liaison Dave Emery about how the organization has developed its mowing protocol. He began by noting that it was only natural that farmers would want to mow their hay fields for the “first cut” while the plants were fresh, and their meadows when the tall vegetation made the area look unkempt. This was usually in June, which turns out to be the worst possible time for the birds, turtles, snakes and many mammals such as deer that have made nests and are nurturing their eggs or young in those fields. Not visible to the person on the tractor, many of these young are sacrificed for the sake of a hay cut or a neat appearance.
At first, The Land Trust deemed that the months of May and June would be exempt from mowing fields, but under the guidance of board member and avian specialist John Weeks, it was realized that many birds produce second clutches in the latter half of the summer, so the July 4th date to begin mowing was moved up to August 1. Emery noted that Land Trust board member Jen Plourde has been particularly helpful in educating those involved about other significant ecological relationships. For example, she noted that an August 1st mowing was not pollinator-friendly given the importance of the fall goldenrod bloom. Also, the monarch butterflies need as much milkweed as they can get on which to lay their eggs in August and September. Their decreasing numbers definitely call for further mowing consideration, so the date was moved again, this time to October 1st.
Still not to the bottom of the rabbit hole, the board became aware that many insects important for the propagation of myriad plant life depend on the vegetation in these fields. Think of the praying mantis cocoons attached to sturdy stalks and the native bees living in hollow stems. They are just the tip of the iceberg; there are hundreds of species too small to garner our attention, but they play important roles.
The conclusion to this conundrum is that necessary mowing will take place after the first frost and before April 1st. There will always be some disruption, but this is the least detrimental time range. Also, Emery stated that, when possible, half of a given field can be mowed one year, and the other half the alternate year. This allows whatever species are in that field a full year to complete their life cycles.
In addition to taking care of its own properties, the Land Trust has been encouraging its members to be protective of whatever amount of yard they possess, as evidenced by two recent zoom presentations it hosted with the Granby Public Library. Simply stated, homeowners are encouraged to mow less and plant for pollinators. One doesn’t have to have many acres to help: each of us who has some area of our yard that can be left to a cycle of natural growth can contribute to the health of the planet. The Land Trust is doing its best to protect habitats and species when and wherever possible.
October 2020
GLT Bestows its Highest Honor on Jamie Gamble
The GLT has awarded the 2020 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the GLT's highest honor, to Jamie Gamble for his vision, commitment to Granby, love of nature, and generosity. Jamie donated two incredible parcels to the GLT in 2020: the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve located at 253 Loomis Street; as well as a 30-acre agricultural parcel located at 107 Loomis Street.
In presenting the award, GLT Board Member Put Brown said, regarding Jamie's gift of the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in particular, “Jamie wanted this to be a ‘wildlife preserve,’ named after a watercourse on the land. It isn’t to bear his name at all, because it is the land, and not Jamie himself, that is to be honored. But such humility honors him even more, as all true humility honors those rare individuals who have it.”
October 2020
Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve Opens
On October 19, the Granby Land Trust opened its newest property, the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. Located at 253 Loomis Street in North Granby, the preserve was donated to the Land Trust by longtime board member Jamie Gamble. In Jamie’s vision statement for the property, he says, “This 210 acres of diverse habitat represents a unique combination of woods, wetland, open fields, and ridgeline to be cherished by the creatures living here, and nature lovers exploring the landscape. With the stewardship of Granby Land Trust, Inc. (GLT), I imagine this property maintaining its unique niche for generations to come. This land is being donated for the purposes of passive recreation and active preservation: to provide trails to the public for activities including hiking, exercise, leashed dog walks, picnics, education, research, and wildlife observation.”
The Granby Land Trust is exceedingly grateful to Jamie for this incredible gift, and vows to steward the property in accordance with Jamie’s wishes. Jamie has created a stewardship fund to ensure both that appropriate habitats are preserved and that the property is otherwise maintained as it should be.
Already, with Jamie’s support, the GLT board has overseen significant property enhancements, including two new bridges, improvements to the dam and cabin, and upgrades to the trails.
All are welcome to hike the preserve’s 3.5 miles of trails. The GLT has constructed a new parking lot and trail kiosk at the entrance to the preserve, at 253 Loomis Street. To protect and preserve the fragile wildlife diversity that exists on this spectacular property, dogs must be leashed at all times. Please see the trailhead kiosk for other important rules.
To learn more or to download a map, go to www.granbylandtrust.org and click on Trails, then GLT Properties with Trails. You can also download a map via the Avenza app, then track your progress as you walk the trails. Due to poor cell service at Dismal Brook, we suggest downloading this map before you leave home.
October 2020
Granby Land Trust Holds Annual Meeting
Each fall, Granby Land Trust members gather – often on a special GLT property – to reconnect with each other and with the natural world, to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year, and to learn about exciting new projects on the horizon.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s meeting had to be held virtually, but the GLT offered Members-Only guided hikes of the new Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve on the day of the meeting. About 65 members joined us on the trails over the course of three hikes on a beautiful fall day. In the evening, we reconvened via Zoom, and, as one member said after the meeting, “I was hoping the Annual Meeting held virtually would still be the special celebration it always is and still be a chance for all of us to bask in the glow of another wonderful year, and it was!”
Knowing a Zoom meeting would present unique challenges, GLT President Rick Orluk worked hard to create a meeting that was both entertaining and informative. Highlights included two slideshows: one, a virtual tour of the GLT’s new Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve and the other, a slideshow of GLT properties and people, set to a moving song written by Fred Wilhelm Jr. and Lisa Brokop, and performed by Lisa Brokop. A native of Granby and a friend of Rick’s, Fred is now a songwriter living in Nashville, Tennessee. Lisa is a Canadian country music singer/songwriter and actress who has recorded seven studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the country music charts in her native Canada. The song was inspired by an experience Fred had, as a young man, walking through the fields and forest behind his family farm on North Granby Road. The GLT is exceedingly grateful to Fred and Lisa for granting the GLT permission to use their music for this purpose. Both slideshows can be seen on the GLT’s website and YouTube channel.
Other highlights of the meeting included the news that the GLT has acquired three remarkable new properties this year. Longtime GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble donated the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve at 253 Loomis Street (See Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve article elsewhere in this Drummer for more details on this acquisition!), as well as a 30-acre agricultural parcel at 107 Loomis Street – incredible additions to one of the GLT’s priority conservation areas: the Loomis Street Corridor in North Granby; and the Estate of Theodore Maltbie and the Maltbie Family donated a 12-acre parcel in another GLT priority conservation area: the Old Messenger Road Corridor in West Granby.
Another highlight was the presentation of the Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes an individual who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes on behalf of the Land Trust. This award was given to GLT Vice President Dave Emery, whose efforts surpass expectations every year, but especially this year, as he spent countless volunteer hours managing and making property improvements – including new bridges, dam improvements, cabin improvements, a new parking lot, and more – at the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. In awarding the honor, Orluk said, “This year’s recipient is truly dedicated to Granby and its natural places. He’s multi-talented – a wonderful mentor, teacher and coach, loved and respected by all, committed to our community, an incredibly hard worker willing to go the extra mile….”
Finally, the GLT presented its Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the GLT’s highest honor. This year’s award was presented to Jamie Gamble, the longtime GLT board member who donated two incredible properties to the Granby Land Trust in 2020: a 30-acre agricultural parcel at 107 Loomis Street and the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve at 253 Loomis Street. In presenting the award, GLT Board Member Put Brown said, “Jamie wanted this to be a ‘wildlife preserve,’ named after a watercourse on the land. It isn’t to bear his name at all, because it is the land, and not Jamie himself, that is to be honored. But such humility honors him even more, as all true humility honors those rare individuals who have it.”
Two board members relocated this year: Jim Wickham (to South Carolina) and Jamie Gamble (to Vermont). Tim Heinze and Karen Dowd were unanimously elected to fill those vacancies; and board members Lowell Kahn, Eric Lukingbeal, Shirley Murtha, Jen Plourde, and Mark Wetzel were re-elected to three-year terms.
“The work the Granby Land Trust does is more important than ever,” said Orluk. “Our properties have never been busier and the need for public spaces, where people can connect with nature, has never been greater. Spending time on our properties is a balm for the soul.”
August 2020
New Bridge on Mary Edwards Mountain Property
Granby Eagle Scout candidate Max Hollister (left, fittingly wearing a Superman shirt) led the effort to build a new bridge on the Granby Land Trust’s Mary Edwards Mountain Property’s yellow trail as his Eagle Scout project. The GLT is so grateful to the Scouts for their support! (Thanks also to GLT Board Member Lowell Kahn and GLT Property Steward Fran Armentano for their assistance with this project.) The bridge is a wonderful addition to the Mary Edwards trail system.
August 2020
Van Vleck Family Donates 20 Acres
Henry and Gail Van Vleck of North Granby have donated 20 acres of land on Loomis Street to the Granby Land Trust. This property, which is located in one of the GLT’s priority conservation corridors, is bordered to the west and south by the GLT’s Creamer Preserve, a 48-acre parcel that was donated to the GLT in 1975 by Cordelia Creamer Richards. To the north, it is bordered by the Massachusetts state line. The property will be called the Van Vleck Preserve.
Henry and Gail moved to Granby 47 years ago. They had built a house in Avon, but soon decided they didn't enjoy the traffic on Route 44. They bought property on Silkey Road in North Granby, and have lived there ever since. "I like living close to nature," says Henry. "I saw two bears in my yard last week and another across the street from my house this morning."
Henry and Gail bought the Loomis Street property in 1981. The property was surrounded by preserved land and I didn't want to see it developed," says Henry. "I think the GLT is a great organization. I think our property has gone to the right people."
The Van Vleck Preserve is an undeveloped woodland made up of mature oaks mixed with other northern hardwoods and hemlock. The understory includes dense mountain laurel and white pine regeneration. An unnamed Class A watercourse flows through a wooded wetland on the eastern boundary of the Van Vleck parcel and discharges into Dismal Brook.The parcel has relatively high conservation value for several reasons. Combined with the larger Creamer Preserve, 68 contiguous acres are protected, preserving high quality habitat for mammals, forest-interior birds and sensitive amphibians and reptiles. State-listed species have been recorded near the Van Vleck parcel by the CT Natural Diversity Database (NDDB), and the site is within an area identified as the Crag Mountain Primary Conservation Area in Farmington Valley Biodiversity Study of 2006.
To date, the Granby Land Trust owns approximately 275 acres in the Loomis Street Corridor and holds conservation easements on another 217 acres.
The Land Trust thanks Henry and Gail for their generosity and foresight.
November 2019
GLT Earns National Recognition for its Commitment to Conservation Excellence
The Granby Land Trust (GLT) is excited to announce that it has been awarded renewed accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance, proving that it is committed to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
The GLT provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that Granby Land Trust's lands will be protected forever.
The GLT currently owns 1,860 acres of land and holds conservation easements on an additional 796 acres, protecting a total of 2,656 acres from development.
“It is exciting to recognize Granby Land Trust’s continued commitment to national standards by renewing this national mark of distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
The Granby Land Trust was one of Connecticut's first land trust's to receive national accreditation in 2014.
November 2019
Honoring GLT Heroes Seth and Lucy Holcombe
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A great man is always willing to be little.” Seth and Lucy Holcombe, who donated 150 acres of land in North Granby to the Granby Land Trust in 2016, were great -- and humble -- people. They did not donate their land to the GLT in order to make others remember their names. But remember their names, we will.
The GLT recently installed a kiosk and sign at the trailhead to the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve trail system. Located off of Silver Street in North Granby, this is a great place for a hike. Enjoy it and remember, with gratitude, the humble and generous people who decided to preserve this property forever.
November 2019
Awards Given at Annual Land Trust Art Show
Artists from across New England entered their art in the 2019 Granby Land Trust Art Show: Celebrating New England’s Natural Beauty. The artist’s subject matter ranged from the rolling fields of Vermont to the beaches of Cape Cod to the breezy shores of Monhegan Island, Maine, and included many beautiful locations preserved by the Granby Land Trust, such as the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve, the Dewey-Granby Oak, the Mary Edwards Mountain Property, and the Godard Preserve.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the GLT’s friends, the show offers $5,000 in award money. This year, 182 pieces of original artwork were submitted; just 88 were selected to be in the show. Roxanne Stachelek, executive director of the West Hartford Art League, had the difficult task of jurying this year’s show.
Rick Daskam
The winner of the 2019 show’s top prize – the Don and Marty Wilmot Award – was Rick Daskam for his painting, Trailing Yew Laundry Line #12. Karen Israel was awarded the show’s second place prize, the Granby Land Trust Award, for her pastel, titled Coming Around Again, which was inspired by the GLT’s Godard Preserve.
Karen Israel
Fourteen additional prizes were awarded as follows: Jim Laurino won the Sandy and Dave Schupp Award for Next Year’s Milkweed. Del-Bourree Bach won the Austin McNey Memorial Award given by Karen, Scott & Patrick McNey for Summer Calm. Ray Harder won the Granby Artists Association Award for Encaustic Tobacco Barns in Winter. The Ray Betts Award, given by Carol and Greg Reid, went to Steve Linde for December Flurries. Thomas Adkins won the Mildred Dewey Award, given by Jenny and Dave Emery, for Winter Stream. Tim Matregrano won the Helen and Al Wilke Award for No. 320-L5. Roger Niland won the Tudor and Laura Holcomb Award, given by Nannie and Put Brown, for Copper Beech. Douglas Williams won the Matthew K. Orluk Award, given by Trish Percival and Rick Orluk, for Lucy’s Trail Ride. Linda Boisvert Destefanis won the Olof Stevenson Award, given by Jamie Gamble, for Marsh to Plum Island. The William Stewart Award, given by Dave and Judy Russell, went to Joan Jardine for Wetlands. Charles McCaughtry won the Carol and Dick Caley Award for High Tide Marsh. On December 8, the People’s Choice Award, given by Lost Acres Vineyard, will be decided, based on votes submitted by visitors to the Vineyard.
The Land Trust and Artists Association also hosted an Art Talk during the Art Show. At this free event, four award winning artists - Karen Israel, Jim Laurino, Rick Daskam, and Thomas Adkins – discussed the artistic process and methods they use to create their art.
The Land Trust is grateful to Mark Wetzel and Fiduciary Investment Advisors, LLC and Ted Cormier and ALIRT Insurance Research, LLC for their ongoing, loyal support of the show. In addition, the Land Trust thanks event co-chairs Els Fonteyne and Laurie Schock for organizing the show’s Opening Night; Bill Simpson and Laura Eden for their wise counsel, advice and hard work and for organizing the show’s Art Talk; Tony Capelli for his stunning floral arrangements; Karen Rutigliano for her delectable appetizers; and Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott of Lost Acres Vineyard for hosting the show, for funding the People’s Choice Award, and for welcoming us into their beautiful space.
November 2019
GLT Annual Meeting Brings Community Together
On November 3, the Granby Land Trust held its annual meeting at Holcomb Farm’s North Barn. About 70 people turned out to enjoy the company of conservation-minded neighbors over a delicious potluck supper; and to learn about the many 2019 accomplishments of the Granby Land Trust. A few highlights of the year included:
- the acquisition of 45 acres of historical, agricultural land at 143 Simsbury Road, which was at- risk of being developed if the GLT had not gotten involved;
- the donation of the 29-acre Katan-Ensor Preserve, which abuts GLT land in the area of Old Messenger Road;
- the donation of the 20-acre Van Vleck Preserve, which abuts GLT land on Loomis Street;
- the hard work of submitting an application for accreditation renewal by the national Land Trust Alliance;
- increased stewardship and maintenance of GLT properties;
- partnerships with other community organizations in the area; and
- a full schedule of hikes, special events, and outreach activities.
Local historian and retired history teacher Mark Williams was the featured speaker at the meeting. Mark provided a fascinating overview of the history of the Sadoce Wilcox House on Simsbury Road. Built in 1787, the house has been in the Wilcox family since the day it was built, until it was acquired by the Granby Land Trust in October of this year.
The meeting culminated with the presentation of the 2019 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the highest honor awarded by the GLT, which was presented to Steve Hastings. Steve worked with the Land Trust and the Salmon Brook Historical Society to see that the Sadoce Wilcox House and the 45-acre property upon which it sits were preserved forever. The Historical Society will take ownership of the house and barn in the near future. We thank Steve for his family’s stewardship of this historic West Granby property and we salute his vision to see that it was protected for future generations.
October, 2019
Granby Land Trust Acquires Historic Wilcox Family Simsbury Road Property
The Granby Land Trust is excited to announce that it has preserved one of Granby’s most iconic and oldest agricultural properties, 143 Simsbury Road in West Granby, which includes a home built in 1787 by Sadoce Wilcox, a beautiful barn and 45 acres of property – part of which currently is being cultivated by The Garlic Farm. Working cooperatively with the most recent owner and Wilcox family descendant Steve Wilcox Hastings and the Salmon Brook Historical Society, the Land Trust closed on this property earlier this month. This Colonial home and surrounding property, which abut Holcomb Farm and include valuable agricultural soils and pristine waterways, are key parts of the scenic West Granby Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property also provides linkages to other preserved properties, expanding wildlife corridors.
To support the preservation of Granby’s rural character, become a member of the Granby Land Trust. Family memberships start at $30. To join, go to our website or mail a check to P.O. Box 23, Granby, CT 06035. To learn more about the Granby Land Trust, go to www.GranbyLandTrust.org.
May 2019
A Birder’s Report on the GLT’s Annual Spring Migration Bird Walks
Every Mother’s Day Weekend, early risers join Granby Land Trust Board Member John Weeks and his wife, Christine Chinni, on a quest to see the many species of birds who pass through North Granby on their annual migration routes. John and Christine are passionate and knowledgeable birders who generously share their time and expertise with others.
North Granby resident and GLT Board Member Jamie Gamble kindly opens his private property for the walks each year. The property’s open fields, pond, wetlands, and woodlands provide great habitat for migrating birds such as warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, orioles, and others.
This year’s outings took place on May 11 and 12 – two very different days, in terms of weather. May 11 was a beautiful, sunny spring morning; and the outing was an enormous success, with 64 species of birds identified! On the morning of May 12, however, the temperatures dropped and the rain moved in and many of the birds hunkered down for the day. The birds weren’t the only ones deterred by the rain: just seven intrepid souls showed up to see what birds were out and about. Their bravery paid off, though! While fewer species were seen, the Sunday group did get to see a Virginia Rail run right across the path in front of them; and they also had very nice looks at Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Scarlet Tanagers, among others.
Here is a list of the 64 species of birds identified on Saturday’s walk:
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The GLT thanks John and Christine for running this popular event for us each year. The GLT is committed to preserving and protecting bird habitat, and it’s always exciting to see the amazing variety of species that make their homes here or stop for a rest here during their spring migration.
December, 2018
A Winter Hike, A Cozy Gathering
While the idea of hiking to the top of a mountain on a cold dark night in the middle of winter might not appeal to everyone, it certainly appeals to many, as evidenced by the fact that more than 40 people showed up to do just that with the Granby Land Trust (GLT) on December 23.
The hike started in daylight on the GLT’s Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve on Silver Street and ended in complete darkness, with a cozy gathering at Emery Farm on Loomis Street. It was billed as a “Cold Moon Hike.” The Cold Moon is the name given to the December full moon, and there was a huge full moon on that night – we’re sure of it – but we couldn’t see it through the cloud cover. That didn’t dampen spirits, though. Hike leader and GLT Board Member Dave Emery led an informative hike through the GLT’s Holcombe Preserve, up Crag Mountain, across Dismal Brook, and back to the beautiful farm he shares with his wife, Jenny. (Some of this hike took place on private land, and is not accessible without an invitation from the Emerys.) A crock of warm soup, a roaring fire in the woodstove, and the conversation of friends new and old warmed everyone up before they headed home.
Seth and Lucy Holcombe left 150 beautiful, secluded acres of land to the Land Trust in 2016. They loved this land and wanted others to be able to enjoy the property that brought them so much joy during their lifetimes. Since then, the GLT has worked to honor their wishes by marking the trail system and by creating maps – both print and interactive—to help visitors navigate its trail system. The property is now open to the public and maps are available at the trailhead, at www.granbylandtrust.org, and on the Avenza app on your smartphone.
Dave and Jenny Emery own Emery Farm, a private property on Loomis Street. The GLT is grateful to them for inviting us onto their property, for opening their home to us, and for serving us a lovely meal. Most of all, we are grateful to the Emerys for all they do to support the Granby Land Trust throughout the year.
October, 2018
Rod Dimock Awarded 2018 GLT Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award
In honor of Mary Edwards' many contributions to Granby and the Granby Land Trust, the Land Trust Board established the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, which is given annually at our Annual Meeting. This award – the Land Trust's highest honor – recognizes the individual or organization that has made a significant difference, through a single gift or contributions over many years, to promote the GLT's mission of "preserving Granby's natural heritage."
Our 2018 award winner is a true ‘Renaissance Man.’ He served for three years as a U.S. Navy Officer during the Vietnam War, including two years at sea as Destroyer department head. He served as president of Aetna Realty Investors, Inc., one of the country’s largest real estate investment management advisors, and also served on Aetna’s asset allocation committee. He was the president, chief operating officer and director of Cornerstone Properties, a $4.8 billion Real Estate Investment Trust.
Currently, he is the principal of Arrow Capital, LLC, offering private investing, property development and consulting services; he is an owner and the chairman of the management committee of the highly acclaimed Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Massachusetts; and he serves on numerous other boards of directors and as a recruiter and fundraiser for his alma mater, Williams College.
He is an incredibly dedicated Granby Land Trust Board Member, serves as our current vice president, and is multi-talented, to say the least. His leadership and decision-making skills serve the board well; as does his extensive investment expertise (he currently chairs our Finance Committee, heads up the GLT ‘Logistics’ Team, and is the co-chair of the Property Stewardship Committee). He was a critical member of the team that first sought national accreditation for the Land Trust, providing big picture guidance and digging in to the details. He has been a key part of our Land Acquisitions Team over the years. And he has remarkable handyman skills, which he employed to build-out our GLT office at Holcomb Farm, among many other GLT projects over the years.
The Land Trust Board and Granby have been very fortunate to have someone like him volunteering countless hours working on our behalf. He also is an incredibly good friend to many, who would do whatever it took - big or small - to help someone. The 2018 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award winner is Rod Dimock.
June, 2018
Granby Land Trust Honors the Life of Edith Wilhelm
It is with deep sadness that the Granby Land Trust says goodbye to a dear friend and an inspiration to many, Edith D. Wilhelm of North Granby. Edith passed away peacefully on May 25, surrounded by family.
Edith was “an Air Force Vet, a mother of five, a grandmother to 11, a great grandmother, a church choir member, a 4-H leader, a postal worker, a teacher, a philanthropist, a farmer, a scholarship founder, a meal deliverer, a longtime land trust member, and an inspiration to many,” (loosely quoted from her son Fred’s Facebook page).
An immigrant from Germany in 1938, Edith quickly learned English and adapted to life in America – and America was better with Edith Wilhelm in it. After graduating second in her high school class and receiving a B.A. in Spanish from Connecticut College, she lived in Granby for more than half-a-century with her husband of 57 years, the late Frederick Oscar Wilhelm. She loved nature and the outdoors, and she and Fred raised five children on their beautiful family farm in North Granby. In 1994, Fred and Edith generously donated a conservation easement on Wilhelm Farm to the Granby Land Trust. The easement precludes development and allows only agricultural and forestry activities on 48 acres of land, so that Wilhelm Farm will remain a farm forever. Edith and Fred were awarded the GLT’s highest honor, the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust award, in 2009.
The GLT is grateful to have counted this remarkable woman among its friends, and our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.
Gifts in memory of Edith may be made to the First Congregational Church of Granby, 219 North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035; or to the University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc., Attn: Frederick and Edith Wilhelm Family Scholarship, Account #31496, 2390 Alumni Dr., Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269-3206.
April, 2018
Granby Land Trust Loses Dear Friend
On March 26, the Land Trust lost a dear friend: Joan E. Katan. Last September, we honored Joan, along with her husband of 60 years, Charlie, with the GLT’s highest honor: the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award. (She is pictured here with GLT Board Member Put Brown, who presented the award.) Charlie was a founder and longtime board member of the Land Trust, and Joan and Charlie shared a love of the outdoors. For many years, Joan taught horseback riding lessons on their beautiful property in West Granby; and, as her obituary says, she taught so much more than riding – she taught hundreds of students how to communicate with and care for animals, love the natural world, and develop self-confidence. Her influence was great; and she will be missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie at this difficult time. A memorial to celebrate the amazing life she and Charlie shared will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 on July 1, 2018, at Holcomb Farm. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Joan’s honor to the local charity of your choice.
Mary Edwards Friend of the Trust Award
In honor of Mary Edwards’ many contributions to Granby and the Granby Land Trust, the Land Trust Board has established the Mary Edwards Friend of the Trust Award. This service award will be given annually at the Land Trust’s Annual Meeting and Hike to an individual or organization that has done – through a single gift or collectively over many years – the most to promote the GLT’s mission of “preserving Granby’s natural heritage.”
Award recipients by year:
2004 – Ray Betts
2005 – Seth and Lucy Holcombe
2006 – Robert Schlicht
2007 – Paula and Lowell Johnson
2008 – Dr. Forrest H. Davis, DVM
2009 – Fred and Edith Wilhelm
2010 – The Granby Board of Selectmen
2011 – Put and Nannie Brown
2012 – Dave Russell
2013 – Sali Godard Riege, Barbara Godard and Godard Family
2014 – Rick Orluk and Trish Percival
2015 – Dave and Sandy Schupp
2016 – Ann Pelka
2017 – Charles and Joan Katan
2018 – Rod Dimock
2019 – Steve Wilcox Hastings
2020 – Jamie Gamble
2021 – Dave and Jenny Emery
2022 – Eric Lukingbeal and Sally King
Snowy Christmas Eve morning at the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve trailhead. We are so grateful 🙏 to longtime GLT Board Member and environmental hero Jamie Gamble for the incredible gift of this spectacular 210-acre property in October 2020. It is a place of natural beauty and wonder.
#Grateful #GLTDismalBrookWildlifePreserve #DismalBrookWildlifePreserve #NorthGranbyCT #WestGranby #GranbyCT #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace #Land4All #LandTrust #GranbyLandTrust
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Your membership matters and makes a lasting impact! Just as the GLT's Dewey-Granby Oak began as a small acorn, the Granby Land Trust's efforts to conserve and protect land start with the support of individuals like you. And just as a small acorn over time can grow into a mighty oak, your ongoing support can lead to significant, lasting change. The Granby Land Trust acquired the Dewey-Granby Oak in 1997. At that time, the GLT oversaw the protection of 492 acres of land. Today, the GLT oversees the care and protection of 3,295 acres of land. The support of members has made this possible. We hope you will take a moment to renew your GLT membership or join us for the first time and support the GLT’s efforts to preserve Granby’s natural heritage. A GLT family membership starts at just $30. Make your membership gift online at www.GranbyLandTrust.org or by mailing a check to us at: Granby Land Trust, PO Box 23, Granby, CT 06035. Thank you 🙏 for your support of the GLT and our community!
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December view of the North Marsh on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby. The Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve on Loomis Street is open dawn to dusk daily.
#Nature #GLTDismalBrookWildlifePreserve #DismalBrookWildlifePreserve #NorthGranbyCT #WestGranby #GranbyCT #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace #Land4All #LandTrust #GranbyLandTrust
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