"Protecting and Preserving Lands and Landmarks" Report to the Membership Volume 14, Issue 4 Autumn 2004 N NORTHCENTRAL PPENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY Conklin Run Project Dedicated Annual Appeal Crucial to NPC Funding NPC has closed the books on another project It seems that each year the holiday shopping that will permanently protect 243 acres adjacent to State season starts earlier. We are surrounded by messages Game Lands 13 in Laporte Township, Sullivan County. of gift-buying and gift-giving. As you focus on giving, This project was done in partnership with the Mokoma please consider the kind of gift you want to leave for Conservancy and Foundation, a group working to future generations. The gifts you buy at the store this preserve the ecosystems of the Lake Mokoma watershed year are only temporary, but the gift of conservation is and surrounding areas for future something that can be enjoyed by generations. "Climb the mountains and get their good generations to come. At a time when tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you The land protected by this as sunshine flows into trees. The winds development outpaces population project is significant to the water will blow their own freshness into you... growth, our generation is in the unique quality of both Lake Mokoma and while cares will drop off like autumn position of determining the quality of leaves." Loyalsock Creek. The tract drains ~ John Muir, life for generations we have not even almost entirely into Conklin Run, the American environmentalist met yet. The opportunities that we largest sub-watershed to Lake have today are ones that must be Mokoma. In turn, Lake Mokoma drains into Loyalsock taken today or lost forever. Creek, a stocked trout stream that is a major tributary to The Annual Appeal provides vital operational the West Branch Susquehanna River. funding to keep our doors open and the office ready Completion of the project also provides when property owners are ready to talk about conserving recreational benefits. The Mokoma Conservancy and their special properties. Your gift to the Annual Appeal Foundation plans to keep the property open for this year helps to underwrite the cost of our offices, appropriate public recreational use. equipment, travel to properties, staff training, outreach, This project is an example of how two groups and much more. All of these things make it possible for Conklin Run continued on page 3. Annual Appeal continued on page 4. Strategic Planning Process Inside: Organizational consultant Marc Smiley has been assisting NPC Membership Activity with its strategic planning process over the past months. Marc held several focus groups and conversations this summer with NPC members CREP Enters Next Round and project partners. These conversations provided him and the Board Pine Creek Watershed with insight and information on how NPC is perceived, what people see as NPC's Conservation Plan Update role and mission, and what opportunities they feel exist for NPC. New Faces at NPC These conversations and the information they generated were summarized by Marc and provided to the Board in preparation for a two day work session. On August Bike Trip September 25 and 26 the board met to discuss the information Marc gathered, to Prints for Sale discuss their own thoughts, and to make decisions on NPC's future direction. Annual Golf Tournament Now a committee is working to draft a strategic plan based on these conversations, Another Success discussions, and decisions. Once the plan is finalized it will be provided to all of NPC's members. ...and more! Membership Activity from 6/8/04 through 9/9/04 James & Celia Please take note of our CORPORATE MEMBERS who Max Persun have shown they care about the future of our communities Van Campen Jeff Prowant with their corporate membership, and show YOUR support Robert G. & B. J. Van Ess to them by utilizing their services. Rose Ann Wallace Craig & Mary Vuccola Osprey ($1,000-1,999) Small Business ($100- Bill & Pam Worobec James R. & M & S Conversion Co. Inc. 499) Sandra L. Watson Mark C. Oberheim DMD WNB Bank Sugar Maple ($35-49) William V. West Irion Lumber Company Annie Sanders Dave Winton American Kestrel Romey Fagnano Mrs. Mabel Huggins ($500-749) Alan & Diane Himes Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. Charles W. Hummer Sr. ADDITIONAL Jersey Shore State Bank Dave Barsky CONTRIBUTIONS Lycoming County Resource Management Robert & Joan Bauder General Contributions Mr. & Mrs. Gail Zimmerman Black Bear ($500-999) Jack & Suzanne Murray John M. Carpenter John M. Confer Dr. & Mrs. R. James Dunham Memorial Contributions Matthew & Lisa Cramer Robert W. Newcomb David K. Gilpin In memory of William & Kimberly Mr. & Mrs. John E. Mr. & Mrs. Donald King Dr. Frank Perna by Karen Van Campen Person Jr. Richard and Mary Lou Kyle Eiswert Daly Alvin L. Snowiss Ed Lawrence & White-tailed Deer Linda Stein Catherine McLaughlin In memory of ($250-499) Jim & Lynn Tooey Jack & Joan McKee Arnie Hayden by Ann Charles & Helen Schwarz Vance & Sue Miller Devine Russ Kimura & 2 Red Oak ($50-99) Roger & Nancy Shipley Denise Hamby Russell E. & Dr. Dora E. Vandine Honorariums Mr. & Mrs. Henry Linda M. Campbell Kim Van Campen Perciballi Harry and Becky Webster White Pine ($25-34) by Anne Rice John & Susan Best Kenneth & Ann Lundy Valerie Beggs Henry & Michelle Frey Chris Dwyer David & Ruth McCord Dr. & Mrs. John L. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Law Groner by Les Noelk Heidi Schwarz-Hosler Russ & Christine Cowles Willem J. & Alvin C. & Betty Bush Ann Devine Matching Gifts Tamara D. Lubbe Bruce & Betty Buckle Michael & Mary Ditchfield Textron, Inc. for previous George I. Rodgers Family Ron Butler Max Geise gift from Michael and Mary Rich & Beth Schluter James D. & Gary W. Glick Wolf Robert & Jean Teufel Maria C. Casale Maryanne Griscavage Victor & Tamara Eberly Donald E. Houser In-Kind Black Cherry ($100-249) Joan C. Gingrich Earle & Pattie Layser William R. Hoffmann, Ltd.- Marc & Diane Lewis Rudolph Holtzman Harold Lehman Professional Services Karl K. Baldys Esq. & Kathie L. Hunter Ann F. Rhoads Karen M. Baldys Rudy & Carol Kafer Linda C. Murray James & Cheryl Redmond Scott & Karen Keck Steven Uzupis C. Herbert Larson Fred W. Dochter Correction Harold & Shirley Loud Drs. Eberhard & John & Cathy Miller Thank you to member and careful reader Bob Ross for Mary F. Passarge Mark & Kim Oberheim pointing out our error in the last issue of the newsletter. Jay & Juli Alexander Casey Pfitzenmayer In the article that detailed the dedication of a donated Ron & Sondra Beach Birch & property in the "Muck" in Tioga County, we listed the Richard & Grace Carey Ann Marie S. Phillips size of the watershed as 80 acres. The correct size of Larry Entz Mr. & Mrs. Charles the Marsh Creek watershed is 81.8 square miles (this Mr. & Mrs. Brett Feese Plankenhorn figure thanks to Lycoming College Clean Water Institute Richard Karp Dave Rockey volunteer Kristen Colgan). CREP Enters Next Round of Planting Preparations are underway for a second round of planting! Another 40-acres is set to be planted this Fall with trees and shrubs. The rows of tree tubes are increasing near PPL's facilities at Washingtonville. As you may remember there are 128 acres that are enrolled in the Conservation Scott Singer and Kevin Drewencki discuss the rye Reserve Enhancement they found growing along the edge of the field. Program (CREP). The Steve Jaquith, Scott Singer idea is to plant and Paul Yankovich examine approximately 40 acres Conklin Run continued from cover. a seedling in one of the tree each growing season to with similar goals worked together to leverage limited tubes. decrease the risk of resources. NPC, as a qualified land trust, was able to weather related problems. apply for grant funding through the Community The areas planted this Spring are doing well. As Conservation Partnership Program from the Department part of the contract with Williams Forestry, the plants of Natural Resources. The Mokoma Conservancy and were checked by NPC's Charlie Schwarz to locate any Foundation worked to secure matching funds for unsuccessful trees so they can be replaced. After working the grant funding. his way through 5 to 6 foot high ragweed in some In August, the Mokoma Conservancy and sections, he found that approximately 95% of the trees Foundation held a celebration to commemorate the 3 he checked were doing great. Some had even grown completion of this project, the result of years of work enough to "escape" out of the top of the tree tube. by both organizations. If there are any hardy volunteers, willing to assist in the Spring check of the areas planted this Fall, please Carey Discusses Land Trusts with let the office know. We are looking for volunteers to Forestry Task Force assist in checking the trees and determining if they In August Reneé Carey, NPC's executive survived the winter. director, had the opportunity to discuss the role of land trusts in acquiring forested properties with the Pine Creek Watershed Conservation Plan Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and As you may recall reading in past issues of the Conservation Committee's Forestry Task Force. newsletter, NPC is serving on the steering committee for Carey, along with Andy Loza, executive director of the Pine Creek Watershed Conservation Plan. The the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, discussed steering committee is working on its second draft of the some of the reasons land trusts in Pennsylvania plan with the goal being to have a draft plan ready for acquire forested properties. public review sometime over the winter. The Forestry Task Force, chaired by Kristin Colgen, a senior biology and education Senator Roger Madigan also heard from Dick major at Lycoming College, is assisting NPC in preparing Sprenkle, Deputy Secretary for Conservation and the cultural section of the plan. Kristen and her classmate Engineering Services at the Department of (a former NPC intern) Kristina Kleintop, worked for Conservation and Natural Resources, and Paul the Lycoming College CleanWater Institute this summer, Lyskava, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania collecting data and water samples within the Pine Creek Forest Products Association. Watershed. Several New Faces at NPC August Bike Trip Enjoyed by All If you stop by the NPC office, you will see new On August 15, NPC and the Williamsport Alpine and returning faces here. Charlie Schwarz recently joined Club held a joint bicycle trip on miles of the lower section the staff as our new part-time Land Protection Specialist, of the Pine Creek rail-trail from Jersey Mills to Jersey and Connie Livingston has come on board to provide Shore - NOT in the state to the east of Pennsylvania, bookkeeping and clerical support. In addition, the Board but in Lycoming County Pennsylvania. of Directors has appointed two people to fill vacancies Seventeen riders had a leisurely trip. They on the board. stopped to look at English Island below Waterville, which You may recall from last year's Annual Appeal was settled by John English in 1784, and at the Townsend that NPC's Board of Directors saw a need to add an Tract, NPC's first completed project (1991- the 54 acres additional staff member to take on some of the land were subsequently transferred to the Bureau of Forestry protection duties. Charlie has already begun meeting for inclusion in the Tiadaghton State Forest). A short with property owners, completing conservation easement walk took some of the riders to an old flagstone quarry monitoring, and inspecting tree plantings for our to discuss the methods of cutting stone before the advent Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) of modern equipment and the flagstone industry's project. He recently retired from the Pennsylvania economic impact on the turn-of-the-century (20th Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Century) Pine Creek valley. In another touch of history, Bureau of Forestry, and his experience will be an near Ramsey the riders passed over the Tidewater invaluable resource to NPC. Charlie lives in South Pipeline, the world's first long-distance oil pipeline which Williamsport with his wife, Helen. now carries a fiber-optic telephone line instead of oil. Connie started working at the NPC office in June, and has combined the job duties of bookkeeping Prints Available for Sale and database management that were formerly done 4 Due to a generous donation by NPC members by two people. Connie holds a degree from Don and Ann Alsted, we have two limited-edition, sold- Susquehanna University and lives in the Williamsport out prints available for sale. NPC is offering the following area with her husband, Wayne. She enjoys spending framed prints for sale: time with her grandchildren, and says she is happy to be working at NPC because of her love of the outdoors. *"Lord of the Night" by Ron Beach The NPC Board took action to fill two vacancies *"Snow Bales" by Peter Keating on the board, following the resignation of board members Don Alsted and Rebecca Burke. At the August board For more information on these prints, please visit meeting, Kevin Drewencki (former NPC Board our website, www.npcweb.org/artdonate.html or call Chairman) and Bill Worobec were appointed to fill the 570-323-6222. If you know people you think may be remaining year of each term. Congratulations to both interested in one of these prints, please help us get the Kevin and Bill; thank you for your willingness to serve word out and pass this message on to them. ALL NPC with your time and talent. PROCEEDS from the sale of these prints will go directly to benefit NPC's conservation efforts! Stream Clean-up Several groups have completed clean-ups or have them Annual Appeal continued from cover. planned. Lycoming Creek us to keep working in northcentral Pennsylvania to save Watershed Association, Black Hole the places we all love. Creek Watershed Association and the Clinton This year when your Annual Appeal letter arrives, County Chapter of PA CleanWays have all recently please take the time to think about the things we have used the stream clean-up program. already accomplished with your help. Your investment Keep in mind that funds are still available! in this year's Annual Appeal is an investment in the future If your group is planning a fall stream clean-up, it is of our region. not too late to secure funding to cover disposal costs. Golf Tournament Another Success! The 7th Annual Autumn Classic Current Styles by Sue Bubbles & Beads Golf Tournament was held to benefit Hilsher Fairfield Auto Group NPC on Monday, September 27, 2004 Kilburn Electric FSG/Rob Helm at the Williamsport Country Club. The Larson Design Group Michael Fisher tournament is NPC's biggest fundraising event of the Watson Inn Gander Mountain year, and helps provide operating dollars to keep NPC's Gail Zimmerman, Realtor Horizon Fed. Credit Union offices open and ready when opportunities to conserve (Fish Real Estate) Lewis Lumber lands and waterways happen. Masden Car Wash At this year's event, hosted by Citizens & Ruffed Grouse Sponsors McCormick Law Firm Northern Bank, over 100 golfers enjoyed a beautiful Coploff Ryan & Welch Montour Oil Service Co. autumn day on the course. Winners of this year's Gary's Furniture Mountaineer Lounge tournament included: Konkle's Lawn Service MSNBC News/Susan Low Gross: Durrwachter 1st ­ Celia Van Campen, Jim Van Campen, Judy Turkey Sponsor New Mountain Tavern Conklin, Dave Conklin Beiter's Pepsi 2nd ­ Larry Coploff, Mark Huffman, Jim Price Optical Lazorka, Mark Mussina Par 3 Raffle Donors Skyview Restaurant Low Net: Bob McCormick Ford Spitler, Inc. 1st ­ Aaron Cunningham, William Mauck, Dave Kilburn Electric Stamm House Palski, Jerry Seman Ray & Shelly Mattie Holiday 2nd ­ Hal Gee, Joe Reighard, Sean Remsnyder, Montour Oil Service Co. Reproductions John White Person Family Susq. Health System Spitler Inc. The Old Skill contest winners were: Corner Hotel Chipping ­ Russ Kimura Door Prize Donors The Pub 5 Putting ­ Bill Tubbs 33 East Tony's Deli Closest to the Pin ­ Men: Darin Hamm Bob McCormick Ford Tracie Witter Pottery Closest to the Pin ­ Women: Celia Van Campen Longest Drive ­ Men: Steve Sleboda, Jr. Thanks also to Frito Lay, Kellogg's & Pepsi for Longest Drive ­ Women: Celia Van Campen donating their products for cart bags for our players! NPC would like to add a very special thank Special thanks go out to our sponsors and door prize you to Ray and Shelly Mattie for serving as our donors: tournament hosts at the country club. A big thank you to our volunteers: Jessica Event Host PMF Industries Inc. Abernathy, Juli Alexander, Donna Colley, Joanne Fisher, Citizens & Northern Bank Wayne Township Landfill/ Heidi Schwarz-Hosler, Karyn Hosler, Sheryl Hosler, CCSWA Molly Logue, Ken Lundy, Mike Piaskowski, Helen Cart Sponsor Schwarz,Christine Sleboda, Rick Sprout, Sue Spout, M&S Conversions Osprey Sponsor and Bill Van Campen. NPC would also like to thank Ann M. Tyler, CPA the tournament committee members for all their hard Bald Eagle Sponsor In Memory of work: Jay Alexander, Jim Lazorka, Ray Mattie (Chair), East End Lumber Co. Richard A. Moody Brian Pick, Bill Van Campen, and Kim Van Campen. Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. Slingerland's Landscaping Jersey Shore State Bank West Branch Orthopedics Keystone Forging Co. Montour Oil Service Co. Red Hawk Sponsors Pepsi Bottling Group Cascade Financial Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy PO Box 2083 Non-Profit Rate Williamsport, PA 17703 PAID 570-323-6222 Permit No. 107 http://www.npcweb.org/ Williamsport, PA 17701 Return Service Requested Give the gift of conservation this year! Middle West Branch River Looking for something to give that hard-to-buy-for person? Conservation Plan The answer is right under your nose! You can give the gift of beautiful The conservation plan is being open spaces, rolling tree-covered mountains, golden farm fields, extensively reworked. A draft for public clean water, and historically significant places ­ and it's easy to do! review and comment should be ready Just send a note to us with the recipient's name, address, within the next several months. phone and membership level. Mail the information to PO Box 2083, Williamsport PA 17703 or call the NPC office at 570-323-6222. We will be happy to send a gift membership for you. The recipient will not only receive a complimentary subscription to this newsletter, but will also receive invitations to special events, registration preference on our most popular events, and the satisfaction of knowing that he/she is making a difference every day right here in northcentral Pennsylvania. Special thanks to our corporate member, PPL Corporation, for its generosity in underwriting the cost of printing and mailing this newsletter to our members and friends.