The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to the PALTA team: Nate Lotze (pronounced LOATS) joins PALTA as the Communications Specialist. Nate comes to Harrisburg from North Carolina, where he managed an organic vegetable farm and witnessed first-hand the ability of farmland to transform communities by providing access to healthy read more
Senior Farmland Preservation Administrator with Montgomery County Planning Commission Retires
Until her retirement on June 17th, 2016, Elizabeth Emlen worked for over two decades to preserve many farms in Montgomery County in her position as the county’s dedicated Senior Farmland Preservation Administrator. Elizabeth arrived at the Montgomery County Planning Commission in April 1997 with a degree in Agriculture from Cornell University, as well as direct experience read more
Hawk Mountain Welcomes New Communications Specialist, Gigi Romano
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary recently announced that Gigi Romano, of Allentown, will serve as the Sanctuary’s new Communications Specialist, taking over the communications duties recently handled by Director of Communication & Grants, Mary Linkevich. Linkevich has accepted a new position and departs in July. Romano will be responsible for social media, website management, read more
North Branch Land Trust employs new Operations Administrator
North Branch Land Trust is pleased to welcome Valerie VanAuken. Valerie joins the North Branch Land Trust as their Operations Administrator and will handle the accounting and administrative functions of the land trust. Valerie is happy to call the Back Mountain area her home where she lives with her two children, Christian and Gianna. She spent many summers at Lake Cayuga in read more
BRLC Executive Director Retiring
The Bedminster Regional Land Conservancy (BRLC) announced that Barbara Drew, Executive Director, is retiring after ten years of service to the nonprofit land preservation organization. When the position was created in January 2006, the BRLC held 50 conservation easements, protecting just over 2,000 acres of farmland and open space. During her tenure, Drew oversaw a doubling read more
Berks County Mourns Conservation Leader
The conservation community in Berks County is deeply saddened by the recent passing of our friend, and past Executive Director of Berks Conservancy (now Berks Nature), Phoebe L. Hopkins. Phoebe had a tremendous impact on the conservancy from the late 70's until 2000 as both a volunteer and, ultimately, executive director. Phoebe had a passion for the history of Berks County read more
New PALTA Staff Member
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association is pleased to welcome new staff member Carolyn Grayshaw to our team. Carolyn will serve as Office & Project Administrator, taking over for previous office administrator Gayle Diehl. In her free time Carolyn enjoys taking advantage of the beauty of Pennsylvania’s open spaces and parkland through hiking and camping, and she is eager to read more
Lancaster Farmland Trust Announces 2016 Officers and New Trustees
Lancaster Farmland Trust is pleased to announce the following officers for 2016: Chair: Caroline S. Morton Vice Chair: Larry Shirk Treasurer: Dara C. Bachman, Esq. Secretary: David Breniser The Trust also welcomes new members Dick Lundgren and David Miller to the board of trustees. Dick Lundgren currently serves as President of Peirson Properties, a real estate read more
Phil Wallis Tapped as Executive Director for Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Phil Wallis, the man chosen to lead the Martha's Vineyard Museum, has Vineyard connections and was most recently head of Audubon Pennsylvania. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum board announced Monday that Phil Wallis, a native of southeastern Pennsylvania, and longtime Island visitor with family on the Vineyard, will be the museum’s new executive director, effective Feb. read more
Land Trust Alliance New Executive Director
The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people love by strengthening land conservation across America, today announced that Andrew Bowman will assume the role of president starting Feb. 10, 2016. “The Alliance’s board of directors is thrilled that Mr. Bowman has agreed to take on this critical role,” said Laura read more
Amanda Hickle Promoted to Director of Development
Lancaster Farmland Trust recently promoted Amanda Hickle to Director of Development. In this position, Amanda administers the organization's fundraising program in order to carry out the Trust's mission and insure the long-term financial viability of the organization. Amanda has been employed at the Trust since 2007 as Development Coordinator. Please join the board and read more
Clear Water Conservancy’s New Board Members
ClearWater Conservancy elected three brand-new board members at its Annual Meeting Celebration November 6. Matt Hardy, left, is is the director of The Foundation for Mount Nitt any Medical Center. Kevin McGarry, center, is Partner-in-Charge of the State College office of Urish Popeck, Tom Butler, right, is executive director of Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8. Click read more
North Branch Land Trust Announces Its 2015 Volunteer of the Year
North Branch Land Trust honored its volunteers and announced its 2015 Volunteer of the Year at a recent dinner held at Sabatini’s Beer Bar. Tina Fiorani was the recipient of this year’s award for her dedicated volunteer efforts at the George & Lillian Picton Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as leading hikes for Land Trust members and for serving on several NBLT committees read more
Delaware Highlands Conservancy Welcomes Artist in Residence Sandy Long
For the month of November, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy will host writer and photographer Sandy Long as the artist-in-residence at the protected Lemons Brook Farm property in Bethel, NY. The Lemons Brook Farm Artist Residency, a collaborative project between the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and Beautiful Traditions (a community arts integration company) is an artist read more
Lancaster County Conservancy’s Announces New CEO
Lancaster County Conservancy announces that Philip R. Wenger, a local business owner and community leader, will become its next Chief Executive Officer effective December 1, 2015. Phil retired from active leadership at Isaac’s Famous Grilled Sandwiches in 2014. His success as an entrepreneur, his passion and proven track record for helping organizations grow and his vision and read more
















