An Invitation to a Special Evening for Conservation

An Invitation to a Special Evening for Conservation

Sunday, June 9th, 2013

Join us at the elegant country home of Frank House in Camden (See map below). This night will highlight the exquisite cuisine of Matt Litzinger, chef-owner of the French-inspired restaurant L’Antibes in Columbus and feature a 5-course, memorable meal of the best of spring produce raised and prepared especially for you by Trust members – including Litzinger’s signature crispy duck or fresh salmon with mouthwatering sauces, sides, soup and luscious dessert.

Matthew Litzinger, classically trained trumpet player, Chef/Owner Matt Litzinger came to the culinary world after attending Miami of Ohio, earning a music degree. Matt attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After graduating, he worked at Brasserie 8 1/2 in New York City. Matt has traveled extensively, using his travels as an opportunity to learn about other cuisines and to gain experience from chefs such as Daniel Boulud, Master Chef Edward G. Leonard, and pastry Chef Martin Howard. Matt returned to Columbus and purchased L’Antibes in 2007 where he is currently the Chef and Proprietor.

This dinner is our way to thank you for a $250 per person, the vast majority of which is a donation.

Grounds open at 5pm with canapés and champagne; seated dinner (by Chef Litzinger) at 6pm.

Please accept our invitation to this special evening to support the operations of the Three Valley Conservation Trust.

For reservations, contact the Trust office at 513-524-2150 or email bkretschmer@3vct.org.

Paddy’s Run Conservation Project Presentation

Ohio EPA and Three Valley Conservation Trust will be presenting information at the May 28th trustee meeting. They will update the trustees and citizens on the progress of the Paddys Run Conservation Project. To date, Fernald settlement funds have been used to purchase conservation easements to protect 1857 acres in the Paddys Run watershed. Tuesday, May 28th at 7:00 pm we’ll be presenting information about the PRCP at the regular township trustees meeting, Morgan Twp. Administration, 3141 Chapel Road, Okeana, OH.

LAEPP Funding 2013

Three Valley Conservation Trust Partners with Ohio Department of Agriculture to Launch Local Farmland Preservation Program Round

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has initiated a new, localized Clean Ohio farmland preservation program throughout the state with a funding round kickoff on May 1, 2013. After a rigorous selection process, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has designated the Three Valley Conservation Trust as Local Sponsor of the program to protect farms in Butler, Preble and Montgomery County Ohio. In Montgomery County, TVCT will partner with the Montgomery Soil & Water Conservation District.

The Three Valley Conservation Trust will spearhead and conduct future funding rounds on behalf of the State of Ohio. Today, the Oxford based land trust announces the start of a new process to implement the localized agricultural easement purchase program in Southwestern Ohio. A new simplified application will be used to make it easier for landowners to apply for matching funds to protect their family farms. Applications must be submitted to Three Valley Conservation Trust by May 15.

Applicants that participated in prior AEPP funding rounds will be provided an opportunity to participate in the program from its outset, based primarily on information and scoring from the earlier applications. New applications must be completed in sufficient time to be reviewed for participation in this, or future funding rounds. In its capacity as Local Program Sponsor, TVCT will forward the top scoring farms for proposed funding to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. To provide information on the new program, Three Valley has planned a set of three presentations to prepare farmers, local officials and other landowners for upcoming farmland preservation and open space program deadlines:

Thursday, April 25^th, 7pm, Preble County Education Service Center, 597 Hillcrest Dr, Eaton
Monday, April 29^th, 7pm, Montgomery Soil & Water office, 10025 Amity Rd., Brookville
Tuesday, April 30^th, at 7pm at 1802 Princeton Road, Hamilton.

The Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (AEPP) provides funding to assist landowners in preserving Ohio’s farmland. Preserved farmland not only ensures that the scenic views and cultural heritage are maintained for future generations, but they benefit our environment and provide critical habitat for wildlife. The program also helps family farms transition to the next generation and protects Ohio’s largest industry. This matching grant program provides funding options for farm owners looking to permanently protect their lands. The program has long been popular in southwest Ohio, resulting in heavy competition for the one or two awards granted per funding round in each county. These workshops will provide an overview and an opportunity to complete an initial application form.

Over the past decade, the nonprofit Three Valley Conservation Trust and the Ohio Department of Agriculture have also accepted donations of agricultural easements from landowners who wish to protect their farms and keep the farm in agricultural production. All in all, the TVCT holds and monitors 134 conservation and agricultural easements covering 16,746 acres and over 65 miles of stream corridor.

For more information download information below and please call the Three Valley Conservation Trust at (513) 524-2150.

Scholarship for Future Conservationists

The THREE VALLEY CONSERVATION TRUST SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2010 to offer financial assistance for higher education to a qualified individual who is planning a career in a field which relates to the mission of the trust (i.e. agriculture, conservation, ecology, water management, sustainability, etc.) The Three Valley Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization that works with people and communities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage of southwest Ohio.

This scholarship honors the memories of Frank and Esther Breen Senicka and James and Anne Ruder Bever who were among the early supporters of the Trust.

Scholarship Criteria

Must be a resident of the area served by the Trust
Must be a graduating high school senior or graduate of a high school in the area served by the Trust
Be accepted to an accredited post-secondary educational program
Demonstrate involvement in community and school activities that relate to the mission of the Trust.

DUE DATE: POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MAY 1, 2013

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION 2013

New Faces at Three Valley Conservation Trust

In a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees voted to offer the leadership position of TVCT to Liz Woedl. She will replace retiring Executive Director, Larry Frimerman who led TVCT from 2001 to 2013.

Liz is a long time Oxford resident and was a founding member of Audubon Miami Valley in 1974. She and has been active as a member on the Audubon Miami Valley board as well as the Ohio and National Audubon boards. She was awarded the National Audubon Society’s William Dutcher Award for Service to the Audubon Cause on a Regional Level. She was an Oxford Citizen of the Year for connecting schools and community in the Earth Day 1990 celebration. Liz has served a Treasurer and Membership Chair for the Three Valley Conservation and Board Chair for several terms until 2008. For the last 27 years she has been working at the McGuffey Montessori School (K-8) as office manager and visual arts teacher.

Bonnie Kretschmer Is our new office manager. She moved to Oxford at the age of 9 where her family has lived ever since – and there are quite a few of them around, just ask her sometime! A varied and wandering career path including, Theatre and Drafting/Electrical Design, has brought her to Office Work in the non-profit world. Before working at TVCT, she was the administrator at The Hillel Foundation for Jewish Campus Life at Miami University (during the school years 2009/10 through 2012/13). Additionally, she did contract work for TVCT in 2011 to help prepare the Land Trust Accreditation application.

Fernald Preserve Field Trip

On April 27 from 10:00am to 2:00pm TVCT is sponsoring a field trip to the Fernald Preserve in Harrison, Ohio. This is a unique site in the US. The $4.4 billion cleanup of the former nuclear production facility is one of the largest such efforts to be undertaken in the nation. The US Department of Energy spent over $14 million restoring the natural resource damages. In addition, over $13.7 million is being spent for habitat restoration and land protection to improve water quality in Paddy’s Run and the Great Miami Aquifer.

The Fernald Preserve is now a green space park with wetlands, ponds, prairies and upland forest areas created based upon original land surveys and post excavation topographies. The ecological restoration has transformed the site into a haven for wildlife. Over 170 varieties of birds including waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds have been observed. JOIN US AT FERNALD PRESERVE ON APRIL 27 at 10:00am FOR A FIELD TRIP AND LUNCH PLEASE RSVP to 513-524-2150 by April 24 so we have a good count for the lunch. 7400 Willey Rd, Harrison, OH (513) 648-4899 · lm.doe.gov. (more information)

Larry Frimerman Retires from TVCT

After nearly twelve years at the helm of the Three Valley Conservation Trust as Executive Director, Larry Frimerman has decided to take early retirement and begin a new chapter in his career. Larry’s retirement is effective March 31, 2013. Over the next few months, he will help TVCT transitions to a new director and new office management as it continues to meet its mission: “to partner with people and communities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage in its service area for future generations.”

Under Larry’s leadership, Three Valley has become has grown to become one of Ohio’s most successful conservation / farmland preservation organizations. When Mr. Frimerman was hired as Executive Director in 2001, the Three Valley Conservation Trust had one easement of 3 acres. From 2001-2013, under his leadership and with a dedicated TVCT membership and board of trustees, TVCT has grown enormously. It now protects 133 properties by conservation and farmland preservation easements covering 16,760 acres and 64 miles of stream.

Make it Permanent!

The enhanced federal tax deduction for conservation easement donations was recently renewed, but will expire again at the end of 2013! Now more than ever we need your help persuading Congress to make it permanent! Representatives Steve Chabot (R-OH/1st) and Michael Turner (R-OH/3rd) were cosponsors last year as was Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Urge them to renew their support in the new Congress. Ask the others to get on board as well.

For more information on enhanced federal tax deduction for conservation easement donations, go to: http: //www.landtrustalliance.org/policy/tax-matters/campaigns/the-enhanced-easement-incentive

Spring Cleaning Day

Spring Cleaning Day at Three Valley Conservation Trust, Tuesday, April 2, 9am until we sparkle inside and out. Stop by for any bit of time you can spare. We look forward to seeing busy hands and hearts.

TVCT Scholarship Deadline May 1

The THREE VALLEY CONSERVATION TRUST SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2010 to offer financial assistance for higher education to a qualified individual who is planning a career in a field which relates to the mission of the trust (i.e. agriculture, conservation, ecology, water management, sustainability, etc.) The Three Valley Conservation Trust is a non-profit organization that works with people and communities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage of southwest Ohio.

This scholarship honors the memories of Frank and Esther Breen Senicka and James and Anne Ruder Bever who were among the early supporters of the Trust.

Scholarship Criteria

Must be a resident of the area served by the Trust
Must be a graduating high school senior or graduate of a high school in the area served by the Trust
Be accepted to an accredited post-secondary educational program
Demonstrate involvement in community and school activities that relate to the mission of the Trust

DUE DATE: POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MAY 1, 2013

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION 2013