About 75 members of the Granby Land Trust gathered at the Holcomb Farm North Barn on Oct. 23 for a 50th Anniversary Celebration Potluck Dinner. It was a community gathering that celebrated the Land Trust’s roots and the many remarkable people in this town who have supported the preservation of open land in town from 1972 through the present day. The GLT created a slideshow, originally titled “50 Things We’re Thankful For,” which ended up including hundreds of images because, really, how could we pick just 50?
While the slideshow played in the background, GLT members enjoyed a delicious meal including everyone’s favorite dishes, from homegrown roasted peppers to Holcomb Farm salads to vegetarian lasagna to triple-berry pie. The business of the annual meeting was conducted over the dessert course.
Dave Russell, one of three founders of the Land Trust and its current treasurer, was recognized for his vision, leadership, and many years of service to the GLT. The GLT also recognized long-time board member Put Brown for his many years of dedicated and thoughtful service to the GLT.
The Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award was awarded to longtime GLT Board Member Eric Lukingbeal and longtime former Granby Town Selectwoman Sally King. The award recognizes Eric and Sally’s many years of thoughtful and dedicated service to the GLT and to the Town, their meaningful involvement in many other community organizations, and their deeply held passion for making the world a better place.
Eric and Sally also purchased an 11.38-acre parcel of agricultural land on Day Street last year, which they immediately gifted to the Land Trust, naming it The Brockett Preserve in honor of the Brockett Family, who farmed the land for many years. Because of Eric and Sally’s generosity and foresight, the land continues to be farmed today, and will be preserved in perpetuity.
In presenting the award, GLT Vice President Dave Emery spoke of Eric and Sally’s “deep appreciation of the mystery and majesty of our open spaces.” The Land Trust is deeply grateful to Eric and Sally for their selfless contributions to Granby and to the Land Trust.
The GLT thanks Susan Accetura for volunteering to run the kitchen and keep up with the dishes, Leslie Judge for arranging and donating the beautiful centerpieces, Sandy Orluk and Doreen McWhirter for their help making the night run smoothly, and Ed Judge for recording the evening in photographs. The GLT also thanks all who came and shared their recipes, their harvests, and their evening with us. It was such a pleasure to gather to celebrate our beautiful town and the friends, old and new, who make up the Granby Land Trust.
