By Emily d'Aulaire, March, 2015
By now you have received a letter from Redding Land Trust President Mary Anne Guitar inviting you to our 50th birthday party. We’re celebrating 50 years of a great idea and we want you to celebrate with us.
Redding Land Trust Board Members
There is much to celebrate. Thanks to the work of the Land Trust, a gift of four acres of high woodland on Wayside Lane half a century ago has grown to almost 1800 acres of preserved open space: woodlands and wetlands, splashing streams and quiet ponds, sweeping vistas across open meadows—all kept safe for generations to come. Thanks to those who have put their land in trust with us over the decades, and the hundreds of Redding citizens who donate money each year, we continue to keep Redding the green oasis we all love.
Our birthday celebration, to be held at Highstead (127 Lonetown Road, Redding) on Sunday, April 12 at 4 pm, will begin with a short business meeting. Once we’ve taken care of business, we will be treated to a new video by Paul Shapiro. Mr. Shapiro, who for many years taught filmmaking at Greens Farm Academy, produced an earlier film about the Land Trust called “A Passion for Place”. The filmmaker’s new work, which will be shown at the Land Trust’s birthday celebration, is entitled “A Love Letter to Redding” -- and it is just that. As Ms. Guitar wrote in her letter, “his shots of Land Trust woodlands, open fields with nesting birds and Revolutionary-era stone walls will make you want to get away from the computer and explore what’s been saved.”
In addition to the premier viewing of Mr. Shapiro’s video, the Land Trust will be honoring Town Planner John Hayes for his many years of behind-the-scene work that have been indispensable to the Land Trust in its landsaving efforts.
There will be wine and hors d’oeuvres and of course a birthday cake. Come chat with your neighbors. Raise a glass to Paul Shapiro and John Hayes and enjoy a (hopefully) sunny spring evening at beautiful Highstead.
In the meantime, you can view Redding Land Trust memorabilia at the Mark Twain Library beginning April 1. Stop by the library and stroll through 50 years of a great idea. If you haven’t yet checked out our new, redesigned and updated website have a look at it now.
If you are already a member of the Trust, please renew. If you aren’t yet a member, please join. We are an all-volunteer board but need your support to finance school programs, purchase open space and pay for legal, accounting and technical help. We are your Land Trust and we continue to rely on your support so we can remain Redding: The Open Space Place.
