|
The Latest News from the Peconic Land Trust
January 12, 2017
|
|
In this Issue: Happy New Year!
|
 Thank You!
|
|
It is only with your support that we are here, working everyday, to conserve the working farms and natural lands we all know and love.
Thank you!
. . . from all of us at the Peconic Land Trust, we wish you and yours a
very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
|
Preserve Spotlight
Winter Exploration:
The Ruth Oliva Preserve at Dam Pond
|
It may be cold outside, and our summer migratory birds may have flown south for the winter, but there's still lots to see and experience if you are a bird enthusiast, or would just like a nice brisk walk after a few days of indoor hibernation.
Head out to the Ruth Oliva Preserve at Dam Pond in East Marion and take in the winter beauty. Bring your binoculars and see if you can spot a few waterfowl -- including buffleheads, horned grebes and red-breasted mergansers who settle in at this important wintering spot on the East End. Click here for a trail map of the preserve.
The jointly managed County and Town Preserve is part of a 118-acre collection of land that was conserved through the work and cooperation of many, including the Trust, Suffolk County, Southold Town, landowners and partner organizations including the Oysterponds Historical Society.
Who is Ruth Oliva? As our friend, and past Board member, Joe Townsend said: "Ruth was one of the earliest people to publicly work on behalf of preservation in Southold, from the early 1970s. She worked tirelessly. While she wasn't the most outspoken, she was the most consistent and the area around Dam Pond was one she worked very hard for." The preserve was renamed and dedicated to Ruth in September 2010. We thank Ruth and the many people in our community who work day in and day out to make conservation happen.
Want to read more about the conservation of this area?
Have questions about the Ruth Oliva Preserve at Dam Pond, the neighboring Edwards Farmland Conservation effort or other conservation activities in the East Marion and Orient area? Contact Tim Caufield or Holly Sanford at 631.283.3195.
|
Conservation
New York State: Environmental Protection Fund Receives
$300 Million Reaffirmation from Governor Cuomo
|
|
Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo announced a reaffirmation for a $300 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) line item for the upcoming budget. We are excited to see this important program receive continued support from the Governor and thank him! In February, the Peconic Land Trust will be joining with our colleagues in the environmental community to advocate on behalf of the EPF funding with our legislators in Albany. In recent years, the Trust has received two important grants funded through the EPF: - To update the Town of Southampton's Farm and Farmland Preservation Strategy
- To work with the Town of Riverhead on ways to revitalize its Transfer of Development Rights program in order to spur farmland protection.
 Both studies were funded through the EPF's Conservation Partnership Program -- a program managed by the Land Trust Alliance and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. To read more about these studies, check out our recent newsletter (page 6) online. We look forward to sharing more updates on the studies in the coming months.
Have questions about the Riverhead and Southampton studies? Contact Melanie Cirillo, Director of Conservation Planning at 631.283.3195, ext. 27. Interested in joining us in Albany as we advocate for conservation funding? Contact Yvette DeBow Salsedo at 631.283.3195, ext. 12. |
Farms for the Future
Help Us Get the Word Out:
Funding for Local Farmers Still Available
for Capital Improvements
|
 |
| | Widow's Hole Oyster Company purchased new equipment for its growing shellfish business |
Know a farmer who is starting, expanding, upgrading or transitioning their farm operation? The Agricultural Capital Equipment Grant program -- which offers a reimbursement of up to 20% of capital expenditures -- still has funding available.
We are also pleased to announce that the program has been slightly modified:
- the total maximum award allowed has increased from $25,000 to $50,000 -- for farmers who have already applied for up to $25,000, they can submit a new grant request as long as their total request is $50,000 or less and that the new request is for a new project.
- grant applicants also need only to show their past 3-year tax returns.
The grant program is funded by Empire State Development, and administered by the Peconic Land Trust. Special thank you to the Long Island Community Foundation for once again providing $25,000 grant to help offset administrative costs associated with the Ag Capital Equipment Grant Program.
|
Donate Now!
Your Donation Supports the Working Farms
and Natural Lands We All Cherish! |
Did you know you can support the Trust's work
By choosing the Monthly or Quarterly donation option, you will be providing an assured stream of income throughout the year to the Peconic Land Trust in support of conservation. You will also help us to save on fundraising costs, by reducing our costs related to paper, postage, and printing.
Your support is critical to our work. Please join us in conserving the:
- working farms that produce so much including local, fresh vegetables and fruit
- woodlands and wetlands that cleanse our water resources
- shorelines and landscapes that inspire and restore us
- historic landscapes, barns, and buildings that preserve our heritage
Thank you for all you do to protect
what we know and love on Long Island!
|
Connections
|
Keep an Eye Out:
Our Connections calendar for March and April
will be available on February 1, 2017!
We have lots in store for the season, and look forward to seeing you!
A few early programs to help break up the winter . . .
 Sunday, January 15: Quail Hill Farm's farmer/poet Scott Chaskey will lend his voice at Writers Resist: Teach In/Speak Out. Duke Auditorium, Chancellors Hall, Stony Brook Southampton campus, 239 Montauk Highway, Southampton
 Saturday, February 11: 3rd Annual Long Island Regional Seed Consortium's Seed Swap. Suffolk Community College, Riverhead Campus 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
|
Peconic Land Trust conserves Long Island's working farms, natural lands and heritage for our communities now and in the future.
Financial Disclosure Statement: A copy of the last financial report filed with the New York State Attorney General may be obtained in writing to: New York State Attorney General's Charities Bureau, Attn.: FOIL Officer, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 or Peconic Land Trust, PO Box 1776, Southampton, NY 11969. Please help us further reduce our carbon footprint. If you change your address, or would like to receive all (or some) of your communications from the Peconic Land Trust by email, let us know! Contact Janet Schutt, Donor Services Manager, at 631.283.3195 ext. 24 or email her at JSchutt@PeconicLandTrust.org.
|
|
|
