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Putnam County Land Trust Benefit Dinner Honors Area Citizens
Three Kent citizens will be honored at the Putnam County Land Trust Annual Benefit Dinner on Saturday, April 19 with the Land Trust's Blue Heron Award, an award given to area citizens who show exemplary care and advocacy for the environment in Putnam County. To be honored are Dr. George Baum and Jim and Wilma Baker.
Born in Hungary, Dr. Baum came to the U.S. as a child and was raised in Ohio, where he attended the Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland and received his B.S. in Industrial Chemistry in 1954 and later, his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1965. He worked in medical diagnostic chemistry at Corning and at Bayer and later taught as an Adjunct Lecturer at Pace University in Pleasantville. After moving to Putnam County, Dr. Baum became active in the county EMC (Environmental Management Council), and eventually became Chairman of the group. He attended meetings of the Kent CAC (Conservation Advisory Committee) and became Chairman of that group as well. Under his leadership the CAC raised thirty thousand dollars to restore the Mt. Nimham Fire Tower and after several years of work, this 90-foot fire tower was opened to the public in 2005.
During his years of public service, Dr. Baum has organized hikes and community celebrations, orchestrated conferences on alternative solid waste management, spoken out against Sewer Diversion Plans and for sound natural resource stewardship. With the curious mind of the chemist and the energy of a marathon biker, George is a wise and vibrant community leader. Most recently, George was important in convincing the Town of Kent to use a geothermal system to heat and cool the new Kent Town Center. Many of these activities have taken place with the close collaboration of the Bakers, whom he refers to as his mentors.
Jim and Wilma Baker also come from the Midwest, growing up in the Evansville, Indiana area where Jim lived in the city and Wilma was raised on a farm outside of town. They met when both students at Evansville College (now the University of Evansville, a Methodist school). After serving in World War II and returning home, Jim attended Fordham University on the GI Bill leading them to settle nearby. Jim majored in Philosophy and became a high school science teacher of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and a course entitled Science & Man. He was an inspiring teacher to many generations of students. Wilma also taught both English and business courses. She continued her studies and received an MA in Library Science from SUNY Albany. They moved to Lake Carmel in 1958 and in1960, purchased their current home, where they raised five children. In 1964, with her recent degree, Wilma was instrumental in opening the Kent Public Library, which began as a reading center in Lake Carmel before becoming a full-fledged library. In the early 1980s, the Town of Kent initiated its CAC and Jim was named as one of the original members. Jim also served as Kent's first Wetlands Inspector. In the late 1980s there was a large movement toward recycling of waste materials and New York State mandated that each county make arrangements for recycling.
In 1991 the Bakers opened the Kent Recycling Center, then on Rte. 301 at the firehouse. Later the Center moved to Ressique Street and is now on Rte 52. Jim is President for Life of that organization and as well of PLAN-Kent, a non-profit organization promoting various programs having to do with proper planning in the town of Kent with an emphasis on protecting its natural resources. Jim and Wilma Baker have been pillars of their community, supporting active citizenship, environmental awareness, and wise land use with deep and generous integrity for several decades. The two of them model good citizenry; making the phone calls to get out the vote, attending four-hour meetings, serving on committees, rallying help when friends are in need, and inspiring their neighbors to action.
All three have influenced the Town of Kent to have an environmentally friendly and forward looking vision and have not relented in their efforts to make Kent a "green" place to live. Thousands of people have benefited from their efforts, from tourists who regularly climb the Mt. Nimham Fire Tower to the hundreds of families that go to the Kent Recycling Center each week. By their efforts they have taught about the importance and the necessity of protecting our natural resources and have demonstrated the practical ways of doing so.
Two outstanding gifts were made to the Putnam County Land Trust last year, leading to the naming of two 2008 Leadership in Giving Awards. The recipients are Larry Labriola of Carmine Labriola in Scarsdale and George Tammany of Tammco Ltd in Brewster. They will each be honored the upcoming Annual Benefit Dinner on Saturday, April 19, 2008.l
When high school students Anna Eisenstein and Krista Gabarro, undertook the planning and construction of the Lindera Loop Trail, a trail designed to accommodate those who are physically challenged they turned to Larry Labriola for advice and information. In the end, Larry offered much more than that. Not only did he offer boundless advice, suggestions and information but when it came time to construct the trail, Larry donated all of the labor and machinery that enabled the construction phase of the trail installation. It is individuals like Larry who make possible the good work of others.
George Tammany of Tammco Ltd of Brewster has been another friend of the Putnam County Land Trust this past year. He himself not only donated the labor for the installation of the flooring work for the Dorrie O Brien house but he also engaged donations from others as well. Thanks to his efforts, under the new, beautiful hardwood floor, there is a state-of-the-art radiant floor heating system. Additionally, he continues to engage others in making donations to the house, including recently European designed and handcrafted faucetry.
The dinner will take place at the Starr Ridge Banquet and Conference Center, 38 Starr Ridge Road in Brewster on April 19 at 5:30pm and is open to the public. Tickets are $50 per person. Reservations may be made by calling 845-228- 4520.
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