On a picture-perfect summer day (July 31), the Granby Land Trust officially opened its Katan-Ensor and Old Messenger Road Preserves in West Granby. About 30 GLT members gathered for a seminal hike through the Katan-Ensor, Schlicht, and Garmany Preserves. Sights included the cascading waterfalls of Mountain Brook, a farmstead that dates to the 1700s, huge glacial erratics, and a magnificent view to the east.
GLT President Rick Orluk opened the hike by expressing gratitude to the donors who made the preservation of this land possible, including Charlie and Joan Katan, who gave 28 key acres of land to the GLT in 2019; Bob Schlicht, who gave 94 acres of land to the GLT in 2005; and the Richard P. Garmany Fund which funded the purchase of two important parcels. Today, the Katan-Ensor Preserve serves as a gateway to hundreds of acres of GLT land. To learn more or to see a trail map, go to granbylandtrust.org and click on the “Trails” section. Parking for the Katan-Ensor Preserve trailhead is located at 61 Strong Road in West Granby (please drive slowly on Strong Road—thank you).