| MAY 5, 2013 -- For the past 11 years, the Killingly Conservation Commission has recognized one person’s commitment to bring awareness, care, enhancement and protection of Killingly’s natural resources to the forefront.
This recognition is done through the presentation of an Environmental Award, and this year’s award was given to Josephine Stenback for her sizeable land donation to the Wyndham Land Trust in 2012.
“We want to recognize the people who put in great effort to make Killingly a better place for future generations,” said KCC Chairman Donna Bromwell. “If we don’t work to protect open space now, it’s very possible that in the future most of our land will be fully developed. It’s important that we take care of what we have.”
Stenback donated 36 acres off of Yosemite Valley Road in Killingly, which is a dirt road in the northeastern part of the town.
“It’s a beautiful little valley, there is an oasis in the valley - such a wonderful place,” said Bromwell.
With those 36 acres now protected, the Killingly Conservation Commission is that much closer to reaching their goal of protecting 21 percent of Killingly’s open space, mirroring the state’s goal of having 21 percent of state property protected. Including Stenback’s recent doantion, the KCC has legally protected 9.24 percent of the town’s property as open space.
Michael Green serves as a board member for the Wyndham Land Trust, and was the contact person who worked closely with Stenback, assisting her in the process of legally setting aside her land as protected open space. Green is also a long-time volunteer in the town of Killingly, and has dedicated much of his time towards protecting open space for the last 10 years. In 2005, Green also received the Environmental Award.
“It was a pleasure working with Josie Stenback,” said Green. “She was determined to see her property protected for future generations and protecting land is the mission of the Land Trust, so it was a perfect match. It’s really a gift from Josie to the people of Killingly, for which we should all be grateful.”
Stenback’s 36 acre donation to the Wyndham Land Trust will remain in its natural state even after Stenback is gone.
Born in Voluntown, Stenback lived in Russia for 3-1/2 years as a child and in Finland for a year. Committed to conservation and the environment in many ways, Stenback has also been a member of Killingly Grange for more than 40 years.
“I donated because I wanted to, not for recognition,” said Stenback. “I love nature, and right now every morning I’ve been seeing turkeys come and feed under the bird feeder. This morning there were seven. That’s what I like, that’s why I wanted this land preserved,” said Stenback.
Stenback’s donation to the Wyndham Land Trust and the award given to her by the Killingly Conservation Commission brings to light the importance of preserving open space in Killingly, said Bromwell. It also continues working to provide protected open space for people in Killingly as well as surrounding areas who enjoy being outdoors. |
