News & Events

Area Coalition of Land Trusts Working Together

Posted April 9th, 2013 by nicole | No Comments »

Connecticut has one of the highest concentration of land trusts in the United States.  It is a dual-edged distinction.  This high concentration is a testament to the dedication of many men and woman who helped found the land trust movement and dedicated considerable time to protecting our vital resources.  This commitment is as strong as ever with the many volunteers who continue the legacy.

It is also exceedingly difficult.  The increase in regulations, the need for greater stewardship and oversight of the properties that have been saved and the imperative to be sure that the lands protected in perpetuity will indeed be passed on to the next generation all contribute to putting increased pressure on land trusts.  Many are seeking creative solutions.  The Land Trust of Danbury is among them.

Recently, The Land Trust of Danbury convened a coalition of area land trusts to discuss what options there might be in working together, particularly in the area of shared services.  The discussion led to an opportunity to participate in the LTA ‘Circuit Rider Program’ funded by CLCC (Connecticut Land Conservation Council) and the LTA (Land Trust Alliance) through the generosity of a donor committed to working with area land trusts.  It is an initiative that helps land trusts assess their capacity and strengthens them as model land trusts.

According to Kevin Case, Northeast Director of the Land Trust Alliance:

“The Circuit Rider program allows land trusts an opportunity to minimize the risks of holding land and stewarding easements while maximizing the rewards of being the face and voice for land conservation in the community.” 

The towns involved are Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown and Ridgefield.  It is the first of what is hoped to be other initiatives as they continue to work together

Posted in Excerpts

Clean-Up Day on Long Ridge Road

Posted April 9th, 2013 by nicole | No Comments »

The Land Trust of Danbury is seeking volunteers for the annual cleanup of Long Ridge Road and the trails around Mountain Pond Reservoir. The Land Trust of Danbury has “adopted” Long Ridge Road as part of Clean City Danbury Day.

The cleanup will take place Saturday, April 20, 2013, and volunteers are asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Long Ridge United Methodist Church on Long Ridge Road, one-tenth mile north of the intersection with West Redding Road.  (The Church is kindly providing parking space.)

Volunteers are advised to bring gloves and wear boots.  Anyone arriving later than the initial meeting time is welcome to join the cleanup crews along the road or around the reservoir.  The City of Danbury has committed to haul away all of the trash that is collected.

So come and join us.

Posted in Excerpts, Uncategorized

Land Trust of Danbury Annual Meeting

Posted April 9th, 2013 by nicole | No Comments »

The Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, April 21st, 2013 at 3:00 pm in the Science Building on the Midtown Danbury campus of WESTCONN.  Members will have an opportunity to hear from area conservation experts on the opportunities and challenges facing land trusts, including Amy Blaymore Paterson, Executive Director of The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) and Kevin Case, Regional Director for the Land Trust Alliance.

 

Posted in Excerpts

The Land Trust of Danbury Invites you to “Dance Through The Woods”

Posted February 28th, 2012 by nicole | No Comments »

A gala fund-raising event honoring Mayor Mark Boughton for his comitment to preserving open space.
March 31, 2012

The fund-raising experience to benefit us all: protecting, preserving, and sharing the open spaces the ensure our quality of life.

The Matrix
9 Old Ridgebury Rd, Danbury, CT

Dress: Formal and fun… Diamonds, Denim, Black Tie, Flannel Shirt

Schedule:
6:30 Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres & Silent Auction
7:30 Program, including Live Auction
8:30 Dinner and Dancing

Enjoy an exclusive menu prepares just for the occasion.

Download event information

 

 

 

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Michael Marcus Named President of The Land Trust

Posted February 28th, 2011 by Gary | No Comments »

DANBURY, Conn., February 28, 2011 – Michael Marcus, principal and chairman of Marcus Dairy, Inc. has been named president of The Land Trust of Danbury succeeding William Montgomery.  His election was announced at The Land Trust’s Annual Meeting held Saturday, February 19th, on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University.  At the meeting, Michael provided insight into his priorities for the organization.

“A major focus over the next two years is our purchase of the Ruscoe property, a critical piece of land along Long Ridge that will help strengthen our conservation efforts in that area.  To date we have raised close to $40,000 toward the purchase,” he said.  “We will also actively pursue new properties to significantly increase areas under conservation and recruit volunteers to help us responsibly manage current and future properties.  And, of course, we will be working hard to raise the funds needed to support our organization and further our mission,” he concluded.

Michael Marcus, the 9th president of The Land Trust is actively involved in the community and currently serves as chairman of the Tarrywile Park Authority, vice chairman of the Association of Religious Communities, trustee and past chairman of the Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield, board member of the Jewish Federation of Western Conn., trustee and past president of the United Jewish Center, and is a member of the Connecticut Volunteer Horse Patrol.  Previously he served as chairman of Ability Beyond Disability, president of Wooster Alumni Council, co-chairman of the Tri-State Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund, was an incorporator of the Union Savings Bank of Danbury and former trustee of both Wooster School and Great Hollow Wilderness School (YMCA).

Michael, who graduated from Wooster School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his wife Nancy (formerly Nancy McCann), have three sons and five grandchildren.

William Montgomery was elected president of The Land Trust of Danbury in February 2003.  During his time as president, acres of natural areas protected by The Land Trust grew 74%.  Bill retires with the honor of having served the second longest term in the 40-year history of The Land Trust.  His accomplishments include helping the city of Danbury acquire the Taylor Farm development rights (30 acres) and the West-Side/Farrington property (192 acres), and partnering with the city on a four-year open space identification, mapping and prioritization project.  He was appointed by the mayor to the Ives Trail & Greenway Task Force in 2003 and secured a Meserve Memorial Fund grant for initial brochures and signage.  In 2008, he became a founding member of the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership, a coalition of land trusts and other conservation organizations.

In other leadership changes, David Campbell is vice president and Amber Edwards secretary.  Grant Winthrop continues as treasurer and Sharon Danosky of Danosky & Associates is retained as executive director.

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Rand Wentworth to be featured speaker at The Land Trust’s 40th annual meeting

Posted January 24th, 2011 by Gary | No Comments »

DANBURY, Conn., January 24, 2011 – Rand Wentworth, president of the Land Trust Alliance, will be the featured speaker at The Land Trust of Danbury annual meeting being held Saturday, February 19 from 2:00 – 4:30 pm.  Mr. Wentworth will share his vision of how land trusts can help stem the loss of land to development and ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the benefits of our natural environment.  The meeting is being held at Warner Hall located behind White Hall on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University (www.wcsu.edu/campustour).   Free parking is available in an adjacent garage off Fifth Avenue.  Land Trust members, friends and the public are cordially invited.

 The Land Trust of Danbury, one of the oldest land trusts in the country, is celebrating 40 years of protecting Danbury’s natural areas and quality of life.  Since its inception, The Land Trust has acquired over 216 acres of open space for protection from development and greatly increased area residents’ awareness of the need to protect and conserve Danbury’s natural resources.

“The Land Trust of Danbury has preserved scenic views and natural habitats that the community can now enjoy for years to come thanks to its dedicated board and countless volunteers,” noted President, William Montgomery.  “By advising individual, family and business landowners of alternative land preservation methods, and the possible tax benefits, The Land Trust hopes to continue to grow and build upon the successes of the past 40 years.”

The Land Trust Alliance is a national environmental organization based in Washington, DC, that serves as the leader, advocate and trainer for America’s 1700 land conservation groups.  Under the leadership of Rand Wentworth, the Land Trust Alliance has built strong bi-partisan relationships with Congress and dramatically expanded federal tax incentives for conservation.  Mr. Wentworth led The Alliance in creating a national accreditation program, a legal defense program to protect conservation easements, and a “University of Conservation” with a 16-course core curriculum.  He is a graduate of Yale University and holds an MBA from Cornell University.

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The Land Trust Names Three to Board of Directors

Posted January 13th, 2011 by Gary | No Comments »

DANBURY, Conn., January 10, 2011 – The Land Trust of Danbury has announced the appointment of Amber Edwards, Mary McConnell-Meachen and Michael Cunningham to its board of directors.

“After three board members stepped down last year, we are fortunate to have Amber, Mary and Michael step up to share the responsibility of providing leadership for The Land Trust”, said Bill Montgomery, president.

Amber Edwards, who was appointed Volunteer Coordinator in 2009, will continue to lead The Land Trust’s dedicated volunteers while taking on the added responsibilities of  membership on The Land Trust board of directors.

Mary McConnell-Meachen comes to The Land Trust board of directors from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she is the Executive Director of Environmental Health & Safety. 

Michael Cunningham adds membership on The Land Trust board of directors to his other contributions to area conservation organizations.  Michael is Chairman of the Ives Trail Task Force, a member of the Norwalk River Valley Trail Steering Committee, and he is a hike leader for several outdoor organizations.

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The Land Trust Makes First Ever Property Purchase

Posted December 6th, 2010 by Gary | No Comments »

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DANBURY, Conn., December 1, 2010 – The Land Trust of Danbury recently announced it has signed an agreement with Robert Ruscoe to purchase approximately 10 acres of Mr. Ruscoe’s woodland property near Long Ridge Road over the next three years.  Mr. Ruscoe generously agreed to sell the property to The Land Trust at a price below fair market value to ensure the property remains forever protected.  The Ruscoe property abuts 4.12 acres of land donated to The Land Trust by Louis and Anthony Nazzaro in 1993, and will bring the total acreage under The Land Trust’s protection to approximately 227 acres.

“The purchase of Bob Ruscoe’s 10 woodland acres is the first time in the 39 year history of The Land Trust that we have purchased property,” said Bill Montgomery, president of The Land Trust.  “Until now, the lands we protect have been donated outright or by conservation easement,” he continued.

Posted in Excerpts, Uncategorized

Nature Walk Held on Property No. 19

Posted September 27th, 2010 by Gary | No Comments »

Saturday, September 25, The Land Trust’s property no. 19 was the site of an informational nature walk led by Master Gardener, Donna Katsuranis. The purpose of the walk was to help participants learn to identify the various plants, shrubs and trees native to the area and also invasive.

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Youth Volunteers Make A Difference in Protecting Our Environment

Posted August 25th, 2010 by Gary | No Comments »

The Land Trust of Danbury is proud to continue its relationship with The Volunteer Center serving Western CT. This Summer, TLTOD had the wonderful opportunity to partner with the Volunteer Center’s Youth Volunteer Corps “Summer of Service” by planning and running a three-day-long educational and volunteer program for 11-17 year olds living in the Greater Danbury area. From July 27th to 29th, 20 Youth Corps “Summer of Service” volunteers participated in training to be Land Trust Monitors.  Exercises conducted were designed around fieldwork that Monitors do.  For general monitoring, the group walked properties and checked for signs of trespass, encroachments, fire, vandalism, hunting, etc., and then filled out forms documenting their observations.  They also took photos of everything they inventoried and documented.  The information collected will be entered into the The Land Trust’s ConservationTrak™ database.  

 The program was highly successful and great fun for all participants! For more information or to register for upcoming volunteer opportunities – both Youth and Adult – please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]Volunteers

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