Fall 2014 Newsletter

Saving Land in western virginia

Westside Garden Club School Garden grows vegetables, happy students

Local Heroes, Food, Beer Join us for the Conservation Celebration 2014!

New Faces at BRLC

Community leaders rally to the cause

blueridgelandconser vancy.org

FALL 2014

Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Promoting the conservation of western Virginia’s natural resources- farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes Board of Trustees

M. Rupert Cutler, President Linda W. Pharis, Vice President F. Fulton Galer, Treasurer Whitney H. Feldmann, Secretary C. Whitney Brown Stephen M. Claytor Thomas M. Dunkenberger, Jr Peter M. Fellers Broaddus C. Fitzpatrick Quinn F. Graeff William M. Hackworth Anne M. Jennings George A. Kegley Betty H. Lesko Samuel B. Long David N. Maxson Janet Scheid

Advisory Council Liza T. Field Talfourd H. Kemper Robert B. Lambeth, Jr. Barbara B. Lemon Jeanne M. Martin John B. Williamson, III

Staff David C. Perry, Executive Director Meagan R. Cupka, Project Manager Allison E. Hegan, Office Assistant 722 First Street SW, Suite L Roanoke, VA 24016 540-985-0000 blueridgelandconservancy.org PHOTO COVER: Members of the Westside Elementary School Garden Club clown around for the camera.

Credit: Meagan Cupka

conservation

2014 celebration and MUSIC, FOOD

LIBATIONS

cap off successful year of saving land!

by Meagan Cupka and David Perry

Food, music, libations and the best view around! The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy would like to invite you to the annual Conservation Celebration on September 14th to mark another year of saving our region’s most important lands and waters.

A unique and gourmet local foods dinner will be provided by Blue Ridge Catering.

In addition, local beer from Parkway Brewing, Foggy Ridge hard cider, and Virginia Mountain Vineyards and Webster C. Hall wine will be available throughout the evening. Live music will feature Easy Pickins, a Roanoke-based bluegrass and folk band. New this year? A live auction! Three fantastic gifts will be auctioned off after dinner, including a week at a beachfront property on Nantucket Island as well as four tickets to the Virginia Tech vs University of Virginia game this fall. This year’s silent auction is themed “Food and Fun,” and will be full of unique items and experiences.

The Celebration will be held at Braeloch and features a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Roanoke Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. Braeloch is located on farm protected by the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy near Vinton, Virginia.

This year, we’ll recognize and honor the work of Ms. Liz Belcher and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and Elaine Ingram. Liz, a Catawba resident and the Roanoke Valley greenways coordinator, will receive the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award.

She’s worked tirelessly for nearly two decades helping to build one of the nation’s finest regional greenways systems.

Botetourt County residents Bruce and Elaine, recipients of the Land Saver Award, have donated conservation easements on multiple properties, including one on top of Sinking Creek Mountain to the BRLC, and Bruce advocates for land conservation in his many magazine articles and books. To learn more about these committed individuals, turn to pages four and six of this issue of Saving Land.

All Friends of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy received save the date postcards earlier this year as well as personal invitations in August. Pre-sale tickets for the Conservation Celebration are $55 per person and can be purchased until September 5. Tickets will be $65 per person after that date. All food and beverages are included in the ticket price, and children ages 12 and under are free.

For more information or to make your payment online, please visit blueridgelandconservancy.org/celebration.

We look forward to spending a fantastic evening with you filled with delicious food, good music, and great people!

From the

Director...

Dave Perry

D

Getting Down to Business

id you know that about 75 percent of all charitable giving in this country comes from individuals? Yep—it’s true. People like you and I donated over $240 billion in 2013. Foundations were a distant second at around $50 billion, while gifts in wills were third at $26 billion. Bringing up the rear were corporations, at a little less than $17 billion, or about five percent of all charitable giving.

We’re blessed at the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy to have great support from individuals as well as wonderful corporate support. The companies in the Roanoke region know that our natural beauty is good for business, and we’re hard at work every day protecting that scenic backdrop to our lives: our farms, forests, mountains, rivers and streams. Please take a moment to view the list of corporate sponsors for our Conservation Celebration in the back of this issue of Saving Land, and if you see someone associated with these companies during the course of your day, be sure to thank them for their support of the land conservancy.

From the

President...

Rupert Cutler

I

Rupert is the new president of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy.

was quick to agree to serve as the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy’s new president. Not only is the BRLC a uniquely valuable asset to our region, but I was its first executive director, and there’s something appealing about sitting at the other end of the board meeting table now!

My motivation to help protect the natural environment of Western Virginia began long ago with family camping trips and a university education in wildlife management and environmental economics. That preparation led to positions with state and federal conservation agencies, universities, and conservation associations, and to a presidential appointment to supervise the Forest Service. My attention was focused on seeing that the wildlife habitat and wilderness values of public lands were protected, but I learned that conservation easements on private land are needed to connect wildlife travel corridors on public park and forest lands and that wise management of adjoining public and private watershed lands is needed to protect scenery and water quality.

I look forward to working with our board, staff and members to obtain more conservation easements and enhanced environmental education in our area’s schools. I hope to greet you at our annual Conservation Celebration at Braeloch on September 14.

Table of Contents • fall 2014 Conservation Celebration........................2 Love the Greenways?........................... 4-5 Saving Land for When He’s Gone......... 6-7 BRLC News..............................................8 Changes to Kroger Fundraiser................10 Conservation Celebration Sponsors........10 Fall 2014

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LOVE THE

Greenways?

th a n k l i z b el c he r.

by George Kegley

A

t her Catawba Valley home, Liz Belcher grows organic vegetables, helps her neighbors and is proud of the fact that she has no television.

Liz, the coordinator extraordinaire for Roanoke Valley greenways, will receive the A. Victor Thomas Stewardship Award from the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy at its Conservation Celebration on Sept. 14.

For 18 years, Liz has shepherded the planning and construction of the popular riverside walk through Salem, Roanoke City and County and Vinton—eventually to be 21 miles from Green Hill Park down to the Blue Ridge Parkway crossing.

Interest and use of the Roanoke River walk has increased steadily since she took the job in 1996. Walkers, runners, bikers, skateboarders and parents with strollers enjoy the walk in fair weather and foul, every day. Visitors and local people see it as a leading treasure for the valley.

But the growing regional network of trails extends beyond the river. As Liz looks at the area, she lists a whopping 270 miles of open and projected trails—along Garst Mill Park, Wolf Creek, Tinker Creek and Hanging Rock, Mill Mountain, Tinker Mountain, Carvins Cove, Poor Mountain and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Some are paved, while others are natural surface or cinders.

Photo by Dave Perry

2014 A. Victor Thomas Award Recipient

The biggest boost for the program came last year when a regional panel selected the greenways for $12.7 million in federal funding. When 15 people were scoring projects, greenways came out on top of the list, she said.

Liz was a strong choice for the coordinator post, said Lucy Ellett, president of the former Valley Beautiful, who helped select her for the job. She’s “smart, modest and she never toots her own horn,” Lucy says.

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She adds, Liz “gets along with everybody and her work on greenways with the four local governments was one of the first times they got together.” A hard worker all week, she’s often out with a chain saw in a trail crew on Saturday.

In her contacts with the local governments, she attends many meetings and stays on top of issues related to greenways. Roanoke City Manager Chris Morrill says Liz has helped draw the communities together, increasing some property values and leading to some business starts. This helps build community morale.

Lindsay Blankenship, Roanoke County greenways planner, described Liz as the “linchpin” of greenways. “It’s her legacy to the valley,” says Lindsay.

But Liz pleasantly adds, “I could not do it alone. It’s not ‘I,’ but ‘we.’ There are tons of credit to give.” She points to the support of Pathfinders for Greenways, a group of 50 or more working volunteers, and the mid-week trail crew led by Dr. Bill Gordge.

l i z i s the

Liz, a strong environmentalist, has been heading toward this work all her life.

Growing up in Charleston, SC, she liked to swim and ride horses. Her parents had strong Virginia roots. Her father, Dr. John Hawk, a cancer surgeon, had family in Glade Spring near Abingdon but he grew up in China with missionary parents.

The family moved 17 times during his military service in World War II. Her mother, Nancy Hawk, who came from Charlottesville, was US Mother of the Year in 1989. After her nine children grew up, Nancy went to law school and became a preservation activist, helping —Lindsay Blankenship organize a land trust and saving old buildings in Charleston. When she died in 2008, a Charleston newspaper said that city is “a better place because of Nancy Hawk.”

linchpin her legacy “Itto’ s the valley. ” o f green w a ys .

Liz, the middle child of the nine, went to St. Lawrence University in New York state, taught school in Charlotte and earned a master’s degree in forestry from Virginia Tech. This lead to a job with the US Forest Service, where she prepared a master plan for Mt. Rogers.

Her work has been recognized by others. She was a finalist for a New Century Women’s Leadership Award and for the Women of Achievement award of DePaul Community Resources. And she played a major role in bringing the 1999 Governor’s Conference on Greenways and Trails to Roanoke. When she’s not working on greenways, Liz serves on the boards of the Roanoke Valley Urban Forestry Council and the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, and she’s treasurer of her church. She’s also a former trustee of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy. Her son, Justin, lives in Salt Lake City.

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saving land for when he’s gone

By George Kegley

B

ruce Ingram said the conservation agreements on his and wife Elaine’s land will save it for hunting and fishing “when I’m gone, a hundred years from now.”

Bruce and Elaine Ingram, who will be recognized with the annual Land Saver award by the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy at the Conservation Celebration on September 14, have a sure-fire formula to save land by working at what they do best. Together, they have produced more than 2,100 outdoor articles and five books and used the income to buy land and protect it with conservation easements.

Elaine takes notes and photographs and Bruce is the writer at their northwest Botetourt County home, hidden from residential subdivisions, not far from the mountains. Their work has protected 412 acres of forested slopes on Sinking Creek and Potts mountains in Craig County with conservation easements held by the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Bruce does much of his writing early in the morning before he leaves for his day job, teaching English and creative writing at Lord Botetourt High School. After a busy 31 years with two jobs, Bruce said, “I

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love teaching.” His love for hunting and fishing also is evident in his work for 70 publications.

Why do they work so hard? “Saving land with easements is a legacy, a gift for our children and grandchildren,” said Elaine, herself a retired teacher, and her husband nods in agreement. He said he couldn’t turn out such volumes of copy without his wife.

“Saving land with easements is a legacy, a gift for our children and grandchildren.”

They have a daughter, Sara, who teaches third grade in Roanoke and lives nearby with her husband and two children, and a son, Mark, an Alleghany County teacher.

Both children “value property,” say Bruce and Elaine.

Bruce grew up in Salem and graduated from Roanoke College. His interest in land

began when he heard his grandfather, a railroad man who lived near Ferrum, say the family “used to be landed…one day we would have land” again. But he had lost his share of Franklin County acres.

Bruce and Elaine have five different properties, but Bruce said he won’t buy any more large tracts because he doesn’t have time to manage the land properly. He likes to cut timber “every couple of years.”

Cutting damaged trees slows the invasion of the gypsy moth and pine beetle. Leaving trees of different ages helps songbirds and wildlife habitat. Bruce hopes to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant seedlings to benefit the rare golden wing warbler.

Bruce and Elaine try to “live off the land.”

He brings 10 deer home every hunting season, filling their freezer, and they pick about 15 gallons of berries and other fruits.

They have Rhode Island Red chickens in their backyard, and they collaborate on columns of recipes for two magazines.

Ingram has floated the New, James, Shenandoah and Rappahannock rivers before he wrote books about them. He’s promoting his latest book on the Potomac now. The river books are available at bruceingramoutdoors.com.

Elaine and Bruce Ingram, 2014 Land Saver Award Recipients Photo courtesy of Bruce and Elaine Ingram

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Community leaders named officers, join BRLC board

By David Perry

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy has named its officers and new members of its board of trustees for the 2014-15 year.

Dr. M. Rupert Cutler of Roanoke will be president. Cutler served as the organization’s executive director in the late 1990s, and was also director of Explore Park and a former member of the Roanoke City Council.

Linda Pharis of Hollins, a retired vice president from Blue Ridge Public Television, was named vice president. Whitney H. Feldmann, a community volunteer and former schoolteacher from Roanoke was reappointed secretary, and F. Fulton Galer, CPA, recently retired from Cherry Bekaert, was reappointed treasurer.

Newcomers to the board of trustees include C. Whitney Brown, Jr., of Roanoke, an investment manager with Dixon, Hubard, Feinour and Brown, and Thomas M. Dunkenberger, Jr., of Roanoke County, a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley.

Returning to the board is George A. Kegley of Roanoke, a retired reporter for the Roanoke Times and community volunteer, whose articles often appear in Saving Land.

Leaving the board are Lucy Ellett, Billy Mason and Sandy Light of Roanoke, and Bob Hunt of Salem.

Thanks to all of them for their hard work and dedication to the land conservancy!

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Fall 2014

w e s t s i d e

k i d s

Plant sow

Hoe

Grow

By David Perry

“T

hat’s what corn comes from?” asked a student in disbelief as Meagan Cupka held a small, hard kernel in her hand.

The questions came faster than toadstools after a spring rain during this year’s inaugural Garden Club at Westside Elementary School in northwest Roanoke. About 15 students participated in the club, which was sponsored by the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy with a grant from the Roanoke Kiwanis Club. Several local businesses pitched in materials, seeds and plants, while Kiwanians and a class from the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine helped build the raised beds.

Meagan, project manager for the land conservancy, and faculty from the school led the club meetings each week, which focused on topics like “Where does our food come from?” and “Why we need land to farm.”

The students planted seeds and seedlings, weeded the beds and watered everything to prepare it for the hot summer ahead.

With permanent beds in place and a strong start to the program, Meagan says she looks forward to working with the school and community to expand the program next spring.

runners Race for Open Space

By Meagan Cupka

unners dashed along the greenway and through the forest and fields at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County at the sixth-annual Race for Open Space. This year’s race raised over $5,500 for BRLC’s land conservation work.

R

Thank you to all of the race sponsors who contributed time, services, and cash to this wonderful community event. Thank you also to our volunteers who, by donating their time on a Saturday morning, made this event possible.

The overall 5K winner was 13 and under participant Jedaiah Ruhl of Rocky Mount, who finished in an astonishing 20:11. Mark Joyce of Bassett finished first overall in the 3k for the second year in a row.

For a full list of finishers and times, please visit blueridgelandconservancy.org/race.

The weather was absolutely perfect for the race: overcast and cool in the morning. As it warmed up towards the end of the two races, participants and family members chilled out with delicious ice cream donated by Homestead Creamery, or shaved ice from the Kona Truck on site.

By David Perry

Bird watchers, Potluckers Converge on Mill Mountain for Food and Feathers

A

crowd of 50 hungry birdwatchers gathered on Mill Mountain for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy’s annual potluck dinner on May 4th. Science teacher Bill Hunley of Roanoke and BRLC trustee Rupert Cutler led a bird hike on the mountain, where several significant species were spotted.

However, no turkeys were taken as the group headed back to the park picnic shelter for a potluck dinner.

“The annual potluck dinner is a great way for Friends of the land conservancy, and Friends-to-be, to come out to a low-key, fun, free event and enjoy good food and company,” said Project Manager Meagan Cupka. “Our events committee, along with Bill and Rupe, did a fantastic job organizing things. It’s just a good way to spend a couple of hours outdoors with some interesting people.”

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy and the Virginia Outdoors Foundation have a conservation agreement with the City of Roanoke to protect most of Mill Mountain from development, making certain that the Roanoke Valley’s most iconic landmark will always be a prime spot for birding—and picnics.

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Changes coming to Kroger Card program . . . supporting BRLC is as easy as swiping your Kroger Plus Card!

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Due to a new system being implemented by Kroger, BRLC will no longer receive any commission from purchases made using your Kroger Cares Card after August 30th, 2014. After this date, you can still use any money left on the card, but BRLC will not receive a portion of the money spent.

Starting September 1, 2014, the program will change from Kroger Cares to Kroger Community Rewards. You will be able to raise needed funds just by scanning your enrolled Kroger Plus card at checkout. In addition, once a household member enrolls the

card, all linked Kroger plus cards within that household will begin earning funds for your selected organization. Enrollment in Kroger Community Rewards is quick and easy. Supporters of BRLC can visit the secure website: www.kroger.com/ communityrewards to enroll their individual Kroger Plus card to BRLC’s account. Supporters will not need to sign up for a new Kroger Plus card.

The amount awarded to each organization is based on the amount of spending done by supporters, so make sure to enroll your Kroger Plus card to help the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy!

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