Mary Edwards Woods Pano

Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award

Mary Edwards standing on Mary’s Rock in 1919

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
2024 – Lowell and Maryellen Kahn
2025 - Will Hart Jr. and Sarah Koeniger

Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award

Awarded when appropriate, the Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award recognizes an individual who has worked tirelessly and behind the scenes on behalf of the Land Trust. Upon her passing in 2017, Ann Pelka made a surprise gift of four pieces of agricultural land totaling almost 150 acres to the Granby Land Trust. We will be forever grateful to her for this generous, selfless, and benevolent act.

Award recipients by year:

2018 – Peter Dinella
2020 – Dave Emery
2021 – Don Shaw
2023 – Leslie Judge
2025 – Bob and Karen Saunders

Olof Stevenson Award

Named in memory of Olof Stevenson, who served as the caretaker of the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve for more than 50 years when it was privately owned, the Olof Stevenson Award celebrates exemplary stewardship work by a member(s) of the Granby Land Trust.

Award recipients by year:

2021 – Karen and Bob Saunders
2025 – Brian Watkins

The Granby Land Trust awarded the 2025 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award – the GLT’s highest honor – to Will Hart Jr. and Sarah Koeniger, who donated 44 acres of land to the Granby Land Trust earlier this year. In accepting the award, Will spoke of their father, longtime Granby resident Bill Hart, who had owned, loved, and cared for the land. Bill passed away in 2024 at the age of 101. GLT Vice President Dave Emery (left) and GLT President Rick Orluk (right) presented the award. (Photo by Don Shaw, Jr.)
The Granby Land Trust awarded the 2025 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award – the GLT’s highest honor – to Will Hart Jr. and Sarah Koeniger, who donated 44 acres of land to the Granby Land Trust earlier this year. In accepting the award, Will spoke of their father, longtime Granby resident Bill Hart, who had owned, loved, and cared for the land. Bill passed away in 2024 at the age of 101. GLT Vice President Dave Emery (left) and GLT President Rick Orluk (right) presented the award. (Photo by Don Shaw, Jr.)
Brian Watkins Receives Ann Pelka Award
The Granby Land Trust awarded the Olof Stevenson Award to Brian Watkins, owner of Arborworks Professional Tree Care. Presenting the award are GLT President Rick Orluk (left) and GLT Board Member Put Brown.

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22 hours ago

Fall colors 🍁 on Creamer Pond at the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby.

#FallColors #GranbyLandTrust #DismalBrook #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace
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Fall colors 🍁 on Creamer Pond at the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby.

#FallColors #GranbyLandTrust #DismalBrook #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace
2 days ago

🍂 You’re Invited! GLT Annual Meeting & Community Supper 🍂

The Granby Land Trust Board of Directors invites all GLT members to join us on Sunday, October 18, for our 2026 Annual Meeting and Community Supper at Cook Hall, Granby Congregational Church’s North Campus (219 North Granby Road). We’ll enjoy an old-fashioned potluck supper, then celebrate recent accomplishments, elect members to our Board of Directors, recognize some of our local conservation heroes, and look ahead to the future of land conservation in Granby.

We hope you’ll join us! Visit the Events Calendar page on the GLT website at www.GranbyLandTrust.org to register to attend.

🌳 Not yet a member or unsure if you’re current on your dues? Membership is just $30 a year. Visit GranbyLandTrust.org and click “Join or Renew” to support our work.

We look forward to seeing you there!

#GLTAnnualMeeting #Community Supper #GranbyLandTrust #GranbyCT #LoveYourCTLandTrust
... See MoreSee Less

🍂 You’re Invited! GLT Annual Meeting & Community Supper 🍂

The Granby Land Trust Board of Directors invites all GLT members to join us on Sunday, October 18, for our 2026 Annual Meeting and Community Supper at Cook Hall, Granby Congregational Church’s North Campus (219 North Granby Road). We’ll enjoy an old-fashioned potluck supper, then celebrate recent accomplishments, elect members to our Board of Directors, recognize some of our local conservation heroes, and look ahead to the future of land conservation in Granby. 

We hope you’ll join us! Visit the Events Calendar page on the GLT website at www.GranbyLandTrust.org to register to attend.
 
🌳 Not yet a member or unsure if you’re current on your dues? Membership is just $30 a year. Visit GranbyLandTrust.org and click “Join or Renew” to support our work.

We look forward to seeing you there!
 
#GLTAnnualMeeting #Community Supper #GranbyLandTrust #GranbyCT #LoveYourCTLandTrust
3 days ago

🌅 A beautiful sunset at Creamer Pond on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby.

#Sunset #GranbyLandTrust #DismalBrook #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace
... See MoreSee Less

🌅 A beautiful sunset at Creamer Pond on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby. 
 
#Sunset #GranbyLandTrust #DismalBrook #LoveYourCTLandTrust #MyHappyPlace
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