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Hudson Highlands Land Trust Enjoys a Record Month
Six conservation easements closed in December
 | | On hand for HHLT's first-ever "tri-closing" on Dec. 12, 2007: (from left to right)HHLT board member Lars Kulleseid; grantors Irene O'Garden & John Pielmeier; grantor Emily de Rham; staff member Katrina Shindledecker; HHLT board member and grantor Irv Flinn; staff member Marlo Kovacs; and Executive Director Andy Chmar |
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December 2007 proved to be a dramatic finale to what may be the Hudson Highlands Land Trust's most successful year yet in its eighteen-year history. During the last month of the year, HHLT closed on six new conservation easements, protecting more than 198 acres of land in Cold Spring, Garrison and Putnam Valley. Each of the six properties is special in its own way, either through size, proximity to important public lands, historic structures, and/ or community character.
On December 12, the Hudson Highlands Land Trust closed on three conservation easements at once, forever preserv- ing a combined total of more than 96 acres of property in Philipstown and Putnam Valley. Grantors Irv and Elizabeth Flinn preserved 74 acres in Putnam Valley, John Pielmeier and Irene O'Garden, who had previously deeded 27 acres outright to the Land Trust in 1996, donated a conservation easement on fifteen acres in Garrison, and Emily de Rham continued a family tradition of land conservation by donating an easement on a section of her property along Route 9D in Garrison.
On December 28, the Land Trust closed on three more easements resulting in 102 acres of land protected. HHLT accepted a conservation easement on 54 acres of Ben and Sally Crane's property in Cold Spring, and Tom Rippolon and Joyce Cullen donated a conservation easement on their 35+ acre Putnam Valley property, which shares a boundary with the 100 acre Perry Farm HHLT accepted a conservation easement on in January '07. At the same closing, David and Judy Foster donated a conservation easement on their 12 acre property in Garrison.
With these December donations, the Land Trust has completed a total of 10 conservation easements in 2007, protecting more than 328 acres.
The Hudson Highlands Land Trust seeks to protect the special character of the Highlands through land conservation, advocacy, and the promotion of sound long-term planning. HHLT works with landowners and groups of neighbors, who are interested in preserving their property for future generations, provides information about our area's wonderful natural resources, draws attention to the high costs of shortsighted development, and helps organize events such as the Take-a-Hike! Program, Choices for Sustainability Expo, and annual Family BBQ, Square Dance & Campout. For more information, please visit www.hhlt.org or call 845-424-3358.
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