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Granby Land Trust

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Photo by Don Shaw

GLT president Rick Orluk presented Gamble with the award and an original oil painting by Gamble’s friend, local artist Bill Simpson, in a board meeting on the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. Pictured with Orluk (in green vest) and Gamble (in yellow flannel) are GLT board members, from left to right: Dave Emery, Eric Lukingbeal, Jen Plourde, Shirley Murtha, Dave Russell, Mark Wetzel, Leslie Judge, Put Brown, Dave Schupp, Stacey Kroninger and John Weeks.

New website launched

Submitted photo

Check out the Granby Land Trust’s new website at granbylandtrust.org, where you will find: beautiful photos of GLT properties, trail maps for each of our six trail systems, a link to Avenza maps—an app with which you can track your GLT adventures via GPS, an events calendar showcasing upcoming GLT events, an interactive map where you can view all of the properties the GLT owns or upon which the GLT owns conservation easements, suggestions for other trails to explore in the area, and the latest news from the GLT.

GLT bestows its highest honor on Jamie Gamble

The Granby Land Trust has awarded the 2020 Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the GLT’s highest honor, to Jamie Gamble for his vision, commitment to Granby, love of nature, and generosity. Gamble donated two incredible parcels to the land trust in 2020: the 210-acre Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve located at 253 Loomis Street, as well as a 30-acre agricultural parcel located at 107 Loomis Street.

In presenting the award, GLT board member Put Brown said, regarding Gamble’s gift of the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in particular, “Jamie wanted this to be a ‘wildlife preserve,’ named after a watercourse on the land. It isn’t to bear his name at all, because it is the land, and not Jamie himself, that is to be honored. But such humility honors him even more, as all true humility honors those rare individuals who have it.”

Showing appreciation for Dave Emery

Dave Emery at work in his sawmill. Photo by Rick Orluk

The Ann Pelka Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes an individual who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes on behalf of the Granby Land Trust, was awarded at the GLT Annual Meeting to GLT vice president Dave Emery. His efforts surpass expectations every year, but especially this year, as he spent hundreds of volunteer hours planning, supervising and making property improvements at the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve.

Emery supervised the construction of new bridges, fencing, birding/wildlife platforms, and a new parking lot, and oversaw improvements to the dam, cabin and trails. His attention to detail knew no bounds: he even sawed the wood for the bridge railings himself, at his Emery Farm sawmill.

The GLT Board thanks Dave Emery for his positive energy and infectious enthusiasm; his generosity, vision, and commitment to quality; and his unwavering dedication to preserving Granby’s natural heritage.