A Piece of the Picture
update Spring 2018
© John DiGiacomo
The Adirondack Land Trust helped a Keene family keep the forest behind this meadow Forever Wild.
Gift of Land Helps Protect High Peaks Vista
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n 1869, the poet Alfred Billings Street was stunned by the view of Keene as he climbed Spruce Hill. “Turning my head accidentally, a most grand prospect, even in this enchanted region of grand prospects, broke upon me. There surged the Keene Mountains, rolling gigantic billows in softest, sweetest azure upon the valley, like those of an ocean that might whelm the world,” he wrote. Today those who pass the intersection of Routes 9N and 73 know what Street was talking about. A sagging red barn that was at the forefront of the scene succumbed in 2016, but a piece of the picture will remain forever intact, thanks to the generosity of Howie and Darcy Fuguet. The Fuguets, whose families have owned land in Keene since the early 1900s, donated 4.6 acres at the back of the meadow to the Adirondack Land Trust for eventual transfer to New York State’s Adirondack Forest Preserve. The transaction helps protect the vista as well as 1,000 feet on the East Branch of the Ausable River above
Hulls Falls. “It’s a very pretty curve in the river there. It seemed to be the right thing to do,” Howie said. This gift means the land will be Forever Wild. The Fuguets live nearby and are keeping wild another 12 acres they own across the river, protected under a deed restriction that prevents building. The land is posted with a sign that welcomes walkers, “so that others may enjoy this site and the view of the meadows and the shoreline,” Howie said.
This gift of land allows the Adirondack Land Trust to carry out a relatively small transaction for outsize conservation impact. The Adirondack Land Trust will incur $14,000 in costs before we are able to transfer the land to Forest Preserve. This is the kind of work that support from private individuals makes possible. If you would like to help us cover the costs of this project and to do more like it, please consider making a gift by contacting Nancy Van Wie, director of philanthropy, (518) 817-9244, nancy.vanwie@adirondacklandtrust.org. spring 2018 | 1
BOARD MEMBERS Bill Paternotte Chair Jonathan S. Linen Vice Chair David Henle Treasurer Barbara Glaser, EdD Secretary Meredith M. Prime Executive Committee member
Advisory Directors Tim Barnett Mike DiNunzio Bill McKibben 2861 NYS Route 73 PO Box 130 Keene, NY 12942 (518) 576-2400 info@adirondacklandtrust.org adirondacklandtrust.org Design: Laughing Bear Associates
Founded in 1984, the Adirondack Land Trust protects farms and forests, undeveloped shoreline, scenic vistas and other lands contributing to the quality of life of our communities as well as the wildness and rural character of the Adirondacks.
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Miles Gillette (above) and Tom Peria (below) boil sap from maples on our newest preserve.
Neighbors Get Involved at Glenview This spring, preserve adopter Tom Peria began making maple syrup from sap he collected in the hedgerows of our 238-acre Glenview property. Tom and our stewardship crew walked the property last winter to map maples to be tapped. Tom already had taps on a neighboring property and a sugarhouse across the road, so he was glad to expand his Hilltop Maple operation. Tom is a longtime resident of the area known as Harrietstown Hill. The Adirondack Land Trust benefits from Tom’s knowledge and volunteer oversight of the property—and from the syrup he’s giving us to cover the first few years of his sap lease. This spring we will also work with an organic dairy farmer toward restoring Glenview’s overgrown fields for hay and pasture. These activities will maintain an exceptional view of the High Peaks and help sustain an area that has long been a microcosm of farmland amid the Adirondack forest.
© John DiGiacomo
Kevin Arquit Barbara Bedford, PhD Frances Beinecke David Brunner Stephen H. Burrington Charles Canham, PhD John Colston Lee Keet Joe Martens Elizabeth McLanahan Stephanie Ligon Olmsted Peter S. Paine, Jr. Charles O. Svenson Sarah Underhill Amy Vedder, PhD Julie Willis
C re at ive G i v i ng © ALT/Erika Bailey
Musicians Devote Summer Concert to ALT People work in all kinds of ways to help fulfill the promise of the Adirondack Park. We are fortunate to have very talented friends who donate beautiful music in support of conservation. Three sisters — flautist Mimi Garbisch Carlson, violinist Marsha Garbisch Harbison and violinist/violist Marlou Garbisch Johnston — began playing benefit concerts for Adirondack conservation, hosted by Patty and Peter Paine, 19 years ago. Their Adirondack connection began with Marsha’s husband, Bill, a cardiologist and talented musician in his own right. Bill’s family has spent many summers in the Adirondacks, and it has become a beloved gathering place for the Garbisch sisters as well. They enjoy playing in the beautiful and historic setting of the Paines’ Flat Rock Camp, on the shore of Lake Champlain. Various versions of the Harbinson-Garbisch ensemble return every year; Marlou has not been able to
FAQs: Stock, IRAs & Matching Gifts It takes vigilance, hard work, and a network of caring and generous friends to keep our forests, farms and communities resilient for generations to come. The future of the Adirondacks will be as strong as we make it — together. We often get questions about different ways to give. Here’s the low-down from Nancy Van Wie, our director of philanthropy.
How do I make a gift of stock? By donating appreciated assets, you can make a lasting contribution while receiving tax benefits such as charitable income tax deductions and capital-gains tax savings. There are two steps to making a gift of stock: First, please notify us (my contact info is below) of the type of stock, number of shares, date of transfer and intended use for the gift. Next, your broker/banker should contact the Adirondack Land Trust’s broker: Vanguard. ACCOUNT NAME: Adirondack Land Trust, Inc. [EIN or Tax ID# 22-2559576] Brokerage #: 22561839. Vanguard DTC #: 0062
Marsha, Bill and Mimi will play at Flat Rock Camp again this summer. Save the Date! Sunday, August 5, 2018.
make it in recent years, but friends cellist Boris Kogan and pianist Sofya Shainskaya have developed a North Country following. Event details will be mailed. If you’d like more information, please contact Kimberly Corwin Gray at kimberly.gray@adirondacklandtrust.org
Can I make a gift directly from my IRA? When you make a contribution directly from your IRA, you make a statement about your love of the Adirondacks while making a tax-efficient gift. The IRA Rollover Law has been permanently extended. This means you can make a distribution without paying income taxes on the contribution; however, the contribution does not qualify as a charitable gift for tax purposes. Requirements: • You must be at least 70½ years old • You must decline goods and services of value • Your rollover may not exceed $100,000 To make a gift, please send a letter to your IRA administrator requesting a direct charitable distribution to the Adirondack Land Trust in the amount you wish. The letter should include Tax ID# 22-2559576.
Is my gift eligible for a match? Matching gifts are a great way to increase the impact of your charitable contribution. Many companies match employees’ donations at full or partial value. Check with your employer to learn whether your gift qualifies. To discuss any of these options, please contact me anytime at (518) 817-9244 or nancy.vanwie@ adirondacklandtrust.org.
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Did You Know? Quiet Conservation
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ver the past 34 years the Adirondack Land Trust has facilitated more than 70 transactions protecting 23,037 acres. Better-known projects include Coon Mountain Preserve in Westport, Indian Carry on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, and 20 working farms in the Champlain Valley. But we’ve also protected some special places that rarely find the spotlight. Here are five lesser-known conservation sites: 1
Punkeyville State Forest
518 acres, Forestport. 2013—transfer to New York State. Named by local schoolchildren, Punkeyville features hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. 2
4
Lows Lake
1,800 acres, town of Long Lake. 2006— conservation easement and transfer to Forest Preserve. Features 4.5 miles of wild shoreline along a remote backcountry paddling route.
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3
3
Katherine and Albert Islands
30 acres, Cranberry Lake. 2005—private conservation easement (no public access). Protects research sites for SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry.
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4
SARANAC SHORELINE
24 acres, Upper Saranac Lake. 2006— transfer to Forest Preserve. Protects a quarter mile of wild shoreline near Bartlett Carry.
1
5
Cobble Hill
113 acres, Lake Placid. 1990s—three conservation easements and one fee-land transfer to Forest Preserve. Cobble features hiking trails close to downtown Lake Placid.
23,037 ACRES conserved since 1984
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70
SITES across the Adirondacks
600
ACRES of nature preserves
14
TRACTS protected as Forever Wild
6,535 ACRES of working forests
20
FARMS producing milk, hay, apples and beef
© Nancie Battaglia
Win a Lost Pond Boat
Pete and Ann Hornbeck of Hornbeck Boats have generously donated one of their 10' Classic Canoes to increase awareness of the work of the Adirondack Land Trust.
This is the original Lost Pond Boat that Hornbeck has built in Olmstedville for more than 40 years. The craft is quick and light — ideal for the St. Regis Canoe Area. You can enter a raffle to win the boat at no cost by attending our annual meeting August 18 at Asgaard Farm (see back page). Can’t attend but want to enter? Get in touch with us at info@adirondacklandtrust.org. Left: At 15 pounds, these boats were made for walking.
© Jones&co
Sweet
Donnelly’s Ice Cream won First Place in Adirondack Life magazine’s Best of the Adirondacks 2018, category: Treats. The award noted that the cherry on top of a Donnelly’s cone is the location’s eye-popping view, protected in part by the Adirondack Land Trust’s Glenview Preserve.
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Organizati onal Update s
We Welcome New Staff Bill Brown will return to the Adirondack Land Trust this spring as a Stewardship Manager. Bill has worked for over 20 years in conservation, including 14 years with the Adirondack Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Adirondack Land Trust as land steward and later director of science & stewardship. For the past 10 years he taught environmental studies at SUNY Potsdam. He completed a B.S. in biology and environmental studies at St. Lawrence University, and an M.P.S. at Cornell in natural resources. With his wife and two daughters, Bill enjoys exploring the lakes and woods of the Northern Forest — particularly the boreal bogs and rocky outcrops of the Adirondacks. Seed funding for the Stewardship Manager position was provided in part by a New York State Conservation Partnership Program professional development grant awarded by the Land Trust Alliance of New York and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. A private matching contribution by Annette Merle-Smith made the grant possible.
Kimberly Corwin Gray began in January as full-time Donor Relations Manager. Over the last 14 years, she has worked in fundraising for independent schools in the Adirondacks and Vermont. Kimberly grew up in the Adirondacks. She, her husband, their two children and her parents live in Lake Placid, where the family produces maple syrup. Kimberly and her family can be found cross-country or telemark skiing in winter, and swimming and canoeing in summer.
David Brunner and Joe Martens Join Board of Directors David Brunner, of Au Sable Forks, NY, owns and operates Asgaard Farm & Dairy with his wife, Rhonda Butler. Asgaard was the home of artist Rockwell Kent from the 1920s until his death in 1971. David and Rhonda acquired the farm in 1988. After working to restore the land and buildings, they put the former dairy farm back into production in 2003. Today Asgaard is known for award-winning goat cheeses and pastured meats. David worked previously in finance with BNP Paribas. “I am delighted to return to the land trust and be a part of the important work they do for the working landscapes of the Adirondacks,” said David, who served previously on the board 2001–2007. Joe Martens, director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, served as commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 2011–2015. He has also served as president and senior fellow at the Open Space Institute, as deputy secretary for energy and the environment to Governor Mario Cuomo and as supervising project review specialist at the Adirondack Park Agency. He is past chairman of the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation. Joe and his wife, Kathleen, live in Glenmont and Lake Placid, NY. “The Adirondacks are a unique and special place,” Joe said. “I am excited to join an energetic and talented team who are committed to keeping it that way.”
PUBLIC COMMENT OPEN: ACCREDITATION On April 3, the Adirondack Land Trust submitted an application for national accreditation. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of an applicant’s policies and programs. Accreditation provides independent verification that land trusts meet high standards for land conservation, stewardship and nonprofit management. The commission invites signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments are due by May 20 and must relate to how the Adirondack Land Trust complies with national 6 | spring 2018
standards for ethical and technical operation of a land trust. To learn more about accreditation standards and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to: Land Trust Accreditation Commission Attn: Public Comments 112 Spring Street, Suite 204 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (fax) 518-587-3183
Spring Break
Hike what you’ve protected © John DiGiacomo
Bill Brown, Kimberly Corwin Gray (provided); David Brunner (© John DiGiacomo), Joe Martens (courtesy of Open Space Institute)
There’s something about a spring hike that leaves us feeling refreshed and reconnected with nature. One of the best anywhere, if we do say so, is Adirondack Land Trust’s Coon Mountain Preserve, in the town of Westport. Woodland wildflowers line the trail, and the views from the top are big. The 1-mile Summit Trail is steep and rocky in places, with an ascent of 500 feet. The Hidden Valley Trail, which branches off from the Summit Trail and rejoins it, provides a moderate alternative. For directions see adirondacklandtrust. org/Explore/Coon-Mountain. Coon Mountain abounds with woodland wildflowers.
Are You an Adirondack Hermit? You may be if . . . You’ve included the Adirondack Land Trust in your estate plans and haven’t yet told us! If you have included us in your estate planning — thank you! You are one of our Adirondack Visionaries, a group of thoughtful people who have designated deferred gifts to the Adirondack Land Trust. If you haven’t yet told us, please do so we can celebrate you. Planned gifts of any size can make a difference in Adirondack conservation—and it only takes a little time to name the Adirondack Land Trust in your will, trust, retirement plan or insurance designation. To join the Adirondack Visionaries, please contact Nancy Van Wie, director of philanthropy, at (518) 817-9244 | nancy.vanwie@ adirondacklandtrust.org To direct a bequest, or a portion thereof, please use the following language: Adirondack Land Trust, a nonprofit corporation, Tax ID# 22-2559576, organized and existing under the laws of New York, and with a principal business address of 2861 Route 73, PO Box 130, Keene, NY 12942. Left: Noah John Rondeau. (Courtesy of Adirondack Experience)
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PO Box 130 Keene, NY 12942
update Spring 2018
In this issue • A Land Gift with Big Impact • Accreditation Input • Summer Events Previews
Save the Date
Adirondack Land Trust Annual Meeting
Asgaard Farm & Dairy Au Sable Forks Saturday, August 18, 2018 10:30 a.m. arrivals and parking 11 a.m. annual meeting and speakers Guided tours to follow • Join an expert-led walking tour: Farming, Forestry or Renewable Energy • Explore the studio of Rockwell Kent • Celebrate conservation highlights with Adirondack Land Trust staff, directors and friends For more info, see adirondacklandtrust.org or call (518) 576-2400 Asgaard Farm, 1961, Painting by Rockwell Kent. (Courtesy of Adirondack Experience)