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Genesee Valley Conservancy
NEWS
Volume XV : Spring 2014
Coming Soon: New Website!
Thanks to a grant through the New York State Conservation
Partnership Program, the Genesee Valley Conservancy is working
to redesign and update the organization’s website!
The original site, launched several years ago, utilized a frame
system to navigate through different pages. Throughout the years,
a few glitches were discovered, sometimes resulting in an orphaned
page or dead end link.
The new format will utilize a more dynamic menu to allow for
easier maneuverability. The new website will also be search engine
optimized, making it much easier to find through a simple Google
search of related topics and key words.
By developing a stable, user-friendly website that is easy to
navigate and search engine optimized, the Genesee Valley
Conservancy will be able to reach and provide information to
those unfamiliar with the organization.
Sneak peak at the new website.
Continued on page 5
Local Artist Supports Conservation
Look familiar? This pendant, handmade by local artist Kristen Balschunat
of Beads With A Twist, reminds us of the Genesee Valley Conservancy’s logo!
Kristen thought so too, and approached the Genesee Valley Conservancy in
March of 2014 with an idea to help conservation through her business selling
handcrafted jewelry.
Kristen began working with beads and wire in middle school, spurred by a
book from her aunt. She continued to develop her skills, and eventually set up
a small business with her mother, participating in craft fairs and making custom
orders for friends and family.
After completing her undergraduate education at SUNY Geneseo where
she majored in Geography, Kristen has opened a shop of her own to the sell
these handmade pieces online.
Her inspiration for the jewelry comes from trees: “Starting as miniscule seeds
and growing into old, wise giants, they never fail to inspire my sense of awe. To
think that what we see above ground is only half the tree and that a network of
Continued on page 5
Provided
Handmade wire and bead pendant made by Kristen Balschunat of Beads With A Twist.
From the Executive Director
This spring I had the opportunity to join colleagues in Washington DC for the third annual Land
Trust Advocacy Day. This was the first time Genesee Valley Conservancy participated in this national
effort. The two day trip was booked morning until night. The first day I met with fellow land trusts from
across New York to plan presentations and double check our schedule so we wouldn’t miss any meetings.
The second day was the main event, running back and forth between the Senate and Congress buildings,
meeting with representatives to talk about the importance of conservation work and how they can help
support these efforts in their districts.
One of our priorities was to thank representatives for passing a Farm Bill containing significant
funding for conservation programs. The Farm Bill also included reforms to certain conservation
programs that will make them more accessible to local farmers and help protect more farms in the area.
Our other priority for the visit was to renew support for the Enhanced Conservation Easement Tax
Incentive. Our effort was focused on re-enacting and making permanent this incentive which expired at the end of 2013. In the six
years with the enhanced tax incentive, landowners protected 45% more land each year with Genesee Valley Conservancy. In our
mission to protect land in the Genesee Valley, the support of our legislators is crucial.
As I flew home, I thought about the political process and the very specific role that politicians play in setting up the laws and tax
policy that make conservation possible. Their work, though miles away in Albany and Washington, is essential. In thinking through
the significant role they play, I realized everyone supporting the organization is similarly involved in a very specific and crucial role.
Students from the State University of New York at Geneseo intern at the office each semester to lend their time and talents to
various projects (Page 2). Experts lead walks and give talks to the community to share their knowledge on topics relevant to the
local landscape that we cherish (Pages 6 &7). Individuals who purchase protected land become the new stewards of those natural
resources and part of the legacy of ensuring these important properties are passed on to the next generation (Page 4). Of course, the
list goes on: financial supporters, the Board of Directors, the Staff.
So many people contribute to Genesee Valley Conservancy in so many different ways. It is thanks to each and every person and
the different ways they contribute that make permanent conservation work possible here in the Genesee Valley.
In this newsletter, you will read about some of our
goings on. We continue to work on several promising
conservation projects and look forward to sharing
those with you soon. In the meantime I hope to see
you at one of our preserves or at one of our upcoming
events.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Gajewski, Executive Director
Provided
Land Trust Professionals outside the U. S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.
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Spring Interns
By Dave Bojanowski
Utilizing the strengths of a community
has always been a trademark of the Genesee
Valley Conservancy and once again we are the
beneficiary of two terrific SUNY Geneseo
student interns, Cailey Heffley and Kyle Davis.
Cailey, a senior majoring in geography, has
been organizing and implementing the annual
spring monitoring process in Livingston
County. She has updated many conservation
easement aerial maps with the most current
2013 satellite data available. These images
Kyle Davis in front of the GIS mapping software he is updating as part of
his internship.
provide a detailed snapshot of
the easement property and the
surrounding land use for immediate
feet on the ground monitoring
and as a permanent record for
future stewardship. Cailey contacts
landowners by mail and then sets
up appointments for personal visits.
Her warm and friendly personal
approach, as well as her efficient
organizational and technical skills
have saved staff time in the
office and provided a wonderful Cailey Heffley on a montioring visit to a farm in Geneseo.
and accuracy here.
addition to our annual monitoring program.
It is an inspiration to staff and those who
Kyle, a senior majoring in geology, has
have
worked with Cailey and Kyle to see the
spent his internship working on the Genesee
significant qualifications and capabilities they
Valley Conservancy’s internal mapping
contribute in their work. Not only do the
programs, providing a terrific foundation
Genesee Valley Conservancy and landowners
for streamlining and standardizing the many
benefit, so does the community as a whole. We
maps produced in-house. With a quiet and
unassuming style, Kyle has focused his efforts thank them admirably for their service and wish
them the best in their future endeavors. GVC
on bringing layer upon layer of shape and
data files to a whole new level of proficiency
Supporters in the news
Congratulations to long time supporter
Davies Nagel who received Livingston
County’s Earth Day Award this year! This
annual award is presented to an individual
or organization to recognize outstanding
achievements that are directed to help
preserve, improve, or educate about the
Livingston County environment. Nagel has
provided more than 33 years of sevice to the
education of youth, as well as sharing his
enthusiasm and passion for nature with the
community. Keep up the great work!
Provided
Environmental Management Council Chairmen Ray Case (left)
presenting Davies Nagel (right) with the Earth Day award.
The Mulligan family posing on their protected farm.
Congratulations to the Mulligan family and Mulligan Farm for being honored as
Livingston County’s 2014 Farm of the Year for its exemplary community involvement,
environmental stewardship, good business practices, and advocacy for agribusiness.
In 2010, the Mulligan family worked with the Genesee Valley Conservancy to
place a conservation easement on their property, ensuring that the land remain in
agricultural production for generations to come.
Congratulations to the Mulligan family and Mulligan Farm! We are thrilled to be a
part of your family’s legacy!
Genesee Valley Conservancy 2014
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Aerial view of Jim and Susanna’s conserved land.
Interview
with
Conservation
Easement
Owner
James Garner
By Katy Festa
After a vacation in the
Finger Lakes, James Garner
and Susanna Garrett were
struck by the views of the
sprawling Genesee Valley as
their plane departed from
Rochester International
Airport on their way home
to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Intrigued by the open space
and vegetation, James and
Susanna resolved to come
back again. After a few more
visits, and the realization that
the nearby Watkins Glen was
home to a former Formula
1 racetrack (one of Jim’s
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favorite sports), they began to
look for properties to make
the Genesee Valley their
permanent home.
James and Susanna recently
settled on Second Street in
the heart of the village of
Geneseo, and own a little
over 93 acres of conserved
land on Little Road in Avon.
I had the opportunity to
sit down with Jim to learn
a little bit about his reasons
for coming to Geneseo,
purchasing land, and his
thoughts on conservation.
What is your background?
I grew up on a small grain
farm in England of about one
thousand acres, that is now
owned by my two brothers.
After coming to the United
States in 1982 for post
graduate studies in agronomy
and crop production, I
established a business
consulting and providing
vegetation management
services in Cheyenne,
Wyoming. My wife was born
in the Catskills and grew up
in Kansas. She is a physical
therapist who taught special
education, and was actively
involved in conservation
outside of work, attending
workshops such as
Wyoming Wildlife
Camp.
place we settled to have an
Episcopal church. When we
came to Geneseo, we were
thrilled to find a welcoming
community and church that
fit our needs wonderfully.
When we learned of the
significant amount of
conserved land locally,
we knew we had found a
community with values
similar to our own and that
we were in the right place.
What made you choose to
purchase a property under
conservation easement?
The fact that the property
had been conserved really
added to our attraction. I
What brought you to
Geneseo?
When Susanna and I
decided to relocate,
we were looking for
three main things.
First, we were looking
for land that could be
productive without
the need for extensive
irrigation. Second,
we wanted a small
community where
Provided
we felt as though we Landowners James Garner and Susanna Garrett
would fit in. Finally,
we wanted the
have seen firsthand the development of
England and thought it was wonderful
that this protection was already in place.
What are your favorite features of the
property?
We love the tranquility of the valley.
The view from the Livingston County
courthouse of the sprawling valley is
beautiful, and being in that valley is just
breath taking. I try to get out to our
property at least once a week, to walk
around and explore. Our dogs certainly
love it here, too.
What does conservation mean to you?
Conservation means the protection
of land for many uses:
encouraging progressive
agriculture, maintaining
sustainable ecosystems,
and keeping the land
accessible for the pleasure of
responsible users.
What are your plans for the
property?
A view of the 93 acre property.
We plan to continue to
farm it in a responsible way.
to manage it in way that benefits us, but
We’re looking into tile drainage, and
also improves the quality of the land for
the possibilities for the woodland. We
feel that it is a privilege to have access to the next generation. GVC
these resources and our responsibility
For information about protecting your land and preserving your legacy, please contact the
Genesee Valley Conservancy office.
New Website continued...
In addition to the enhanced function, the style of the website will
also be updated. In recent years, the Genesee Valley Conservancy has
redesigned both printed and electronic publications to better reflect the
goals and work of the organization. The new website will match this new
aesthetic, adding another layer of professionalism and consistency to the
organization’s online presence.
One of the most exciting aspects of the new website, however, is the
opportunity it offers to display more images of the gorgeous land
protected by conservation easement. Because we are fortunate to live
in an area where land and open space is all around us, it is not unusual to
take it for granted. Images are one of our most powerful connectors,
and can remind us that what we have is special, and worth protecting.
The new website will serve as a vehicle to display images of the land in
use, and hopefully remind the website’s visitors of the importance of
conserving the Genesee Valley.
Keep an eye out for updates via email or facebook; the new and
improved website should be launched within the next few weeks! GVC
Local Artist continued...
W. Chanler Island Preserve with a
friend. She remembers, “It was nice
to find a quiet place to de-stress
while listening to the sound of
crunching leaves and birdsongs, a
place that I continued to visit
throughout my time in Geneseo.”
She got better acquainted with
the organization as she helped
conduct forest surveys on two of
Genesee Valley Conservancy’s
public preserves, the John W.
Provided
Chanler Island Preserve and Indian
Kristen Balschunat, the artist behind Beads With A Twist, on one of Genesee
Fort Nature Preserve, as part of her
Valley Conservancy’s Bluebell Walks.
coursework for a geography major.
roots as deep as the tree is tall expands below
Additionally, Kristen attended some of the
the soil makes me feel small indeed.”
organization’s walks and naturalist lectures, and
Kristen’s first introduction to the Genesee
even spent time volunteering at the Genesee
Valley Conservancy was on a visit to the John
Valley Conservancy office.
“When I started my business,” she explains,
“I knew I wanted to partner with a local
non-profit organization. The Genesee Valley
Conservancy was the perfect fit, not only
because my pendant design looked like the
logo, but because I wanted the opportunity to
give back to an organization that has given me
a greater appreciation for the natural beauty
of this area and will help protect habitat and
agricultural spaces for years to come.”
We are honored to partner with Kristen and
Beads With A Twist. For every Deep Green
Pendant (pictured on page 1) sold, $5 will be
donated to the Genesee Valley Conservancy.
Check out the Beads With A Twist shop on
etsy to view her jewelry and support local
conservation. GVC
Visit Beads With A Twist at
www.etsy.com/shop/beadtwist
Genesee Valley Conservancy 2014
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2014 Nature Walks and Events
sponsored by
Join us as we kick off the season!
Events are free and run rain or shine! Distance and difficulty vary.
Visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org for more information
To be notified of weather dependent events, such as the bluebell walk
& winter snowshow, please join GVC’s Mailing list:
[email protected]
May
May 24th - Birding Walk with James Kimball - 7:30am
Location:3468 Nations Road, Geneseo. Meet at the bridge on Nations Road.
Bring binoculars and viewing scopes to view grassland birds in the National Audobon Society
designated Important Bird Area alone Nations Road with birder Jim Kimball. We will walk
along the roadside and possibly drive to a few other locations depending on the conditions and
sightings.
June
June 1st - Genesee River Float - 10am
Location: New York 19, Caneadea
Join the Genesee Valley Conservancy and Genesee River Wilds for a
relaxing ﬂoat along the Genesee River. Bring your own equipment to the
Caneadea River Access Park and we’ll spend the afternoon ﬂoating to
Fillmore.
June 15th - Birding Walk with Hans Kunze - 7:30am
Location: 56 South Federal Street, Perry
Come enjoy the Silver Lake Trail for a morning bird identiﬁcation walk with
birder Hans Kunze, the Perry Main Street Association, and GVC. Bring your
binoculars; we’ll be identifying a variety of interesting birds!
June 15th - GVC Membership Picnic
Save the Date! Invitations to follow.
July
July 26th - Woodlot Plantation Management
with Steve Schiano - 10am
Location: 200 Perry Road, Mount Morris (Leicester)
To increase timber value per acre, logger & land
manager Steve Schiano has developed a unique
process of managing forest plantations along the
riparian areas of the Genesee River and its tributaries.
Join us in the ﬁeld to see the past 20 years of challenges and successes Steve has
encountered and learn to apply them to your own property.
Events are held with permission on private property.
Please respect the landowners and do not trespass.
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geneseevalleyconservancy.org
August
August 2nd - Greenway Trail History and Hike with Joan Schumaker - 2pm
Location: York Landing, south of Avon off River Road
Join Joan Schumaker, Acting President of Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, for a
walk along the Greenway Trail, learning about the trail’s development from early canal
and railroad days to its present status as a New York State Park.
August 2nd - Quiz Night - 6pm *registration required
Location: 3089 Avon Road, Geneseo
This pub style quiz tests your tearm’s trivia knowledge while beneﬁtting a great cause!
Supper & beverages for all ages are included in the registration cost. Visit www.
geneseevalleyconservancy.org to learn more and sign up!
August 16th - Genesee River Canoe Trip - 10am *registration required
This paddle will depart from Mt. Morris and conclude at the Indian Fort Nature
Preserve. The river is gentle along this stretch and lunch will be provided.
Contact GVC’s ofﬁce for more information!
August 31st - Oak Tree Half Marathon & 5k Run/Walk - 8am
*registration required
Visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org/race for race & registration information!
September
September 13th - Invasives Workshop at the Indian Fort Nature
Preserve - 10am
Location: 3432 Jones Bridge Road, Geneseo
Jim Engel, owner of White Oak Nursery with extensive experience in restoring large natural landscapes, will speak about
invasive plants and demonstrate methods to control them in this combination lecture and workday.
September 20th - Fall Brook Geology Walk with Dr. Jeff Over - 9am
Location: ~.5 miles from the Route 63/Route 39 split, near 3339 Cuylerville Road, Geneseo
Park at the bottom of 39/20A on the south side of the road near the alfalfa mill
View the spectecular protected Fall Brook and learn about the area’s geologic history. Wear boots & be prepared to walk
through water. This will be a 1 mile walk on uneven ground over rocks in the creek bed.
October
October 11th - Autumn Colors Walk - 2pm
Location: The bridge on Nations Road, Geneseo, approximatey 1 mile from Route 39
Join the Genesee Valley Conservancy staff on the protected 390 acre Wheeler Gully to
view the beautiful fall foliage. The walk will be on forest trails and approximately 3 miles
long. Stream crossings may occur.
October 18th - Forestry with Brice June -10am
Location: Indian Fort Nature Preserve, 3432 Jones Bridge Road, Geneseo
Managing forestland for wildlife is not a “one size ﬁts all” process. DEC Forester Brice
June will introduce landowners to a variety of forest conditions and discuss how they may
be managed in order to meet the multiple goals of timber, wildlife, recreation, & esthetics.
Genesee Valley Conservancy 2014
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PO Box 73
Geneseo, NY 14454
(585) 243-2190
geneseevalleyconservancy.org
Return Service Requested.
Board of Directors
Gregg Hartvigsen, President
Bill Lloyd, Vice-President
Martin Miskell, Co-Treasurer
Craig Phelps, Co-Treasurer
Sally Wood, Corresponding Secretary
Joyce Wechsler, Recording Secretary
Neil Bliss
Sheila Chanler
Paul Frame
Cathy Gardner
Kristi Hannam
John Lockhart
Gail McGuire
Myrtle Merritt
Jeff Mulligan
Sharon Presutti
Benjamin Gajewski, Executive Director
David Bojanowski, Land
Conservationist
Katy Festa, Development &
Communications Coordinator
Marcia Koch, Accountant
Photography by Benjamin Gajewski i
Design by Kathleen Mannix & Katy Festa
Join us in protecting the places we love.
ONLINE GIVING IS AVAILABLE.
Please give today!
geneseevalleyconservancy.org