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Winter Paddle Tournament and Party
On a crisp winter Friday in February 2025, the North Shore Land Alliance hosted a Paddle Tournament and Party at the Paddle Hut at Piping Rock Club. Friends gathered for an evening of lively round-robin matches, camaraderie and community, all while enjoying the fresh winter air. Guests savored a chili bar, light bites and craft cocktails around the cozy fire pit. Our silent auction, donated by generous supporters, featured fabulous items, including gourmet cheese boards, a paddle bag from We Are Poolside and native plants cultivated by our Land Alliance stewardship team. From beginners to seasoned players, everyone was “all in” for friendly competition, with party-only guests 32 relaxing on plush (and warm) sofas inside the hut. Special thanks to Gussie, Piping’s Paddle Pro, for expertly organizing the tournament and pairing players. Dessert was a fireside s’mores board, enjoyed as guests watched the thrilling final match. Megan Grgas and John McMillin emerged victorious, earning the title of 2025 champions. It was a memorable evening that connected new members with longtime supporters and reaffirmed that the outdoors nourishes the soul in all seasons. We look forward to hosting this event again next winter and hope you can join us! With special thanks to our Paddle Event Committee: Nikki Boulukos, Julia and Dan DeRoulet, Carolina and Diego Fuschetto, Megan Grgas, Milena and D.R. Holmes.
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Land Alliance Welcomes New Staff – Carter Rogan
Carter Rogan has joined the Land Alliance staff as Volunteer Coordinator and Stewardship Associate. Carter grew up in the Smithtown area. He has always been passionate about the environment and started volunteering at his local nature center at age 13. He holds a Master of Professional Studies degree from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He is no stranger to the Land Alliance as he served as an O’Neil Steward in 2023 and 2024. With a background in native species, forest succession and wildlife interactions, Carter loves to spend his time in the woods learning from nature. He is inspired by William Cronon’s essay The Trouble with Wilderness. Carter hopes to connect people with nature by bringing it to them, and by restoring the connection with the environment so many people have lost. As we are stewards of the land, it is important for us to recognize the value in all land and all living things. As William Cronon puts it,“The tree in the garden is in reality no less other, no less worthy of our wonder and respect, than the tree in an ancient forest. The tree in the garden could easily have sprung from the same seed as the tree in the forest. Both trees stand apart from us; both share our common world. The special power of the tree in the wilderness is to remind us of this fact. It can teach us to recognize the wildness we did not see in the tree we planted in our own backyard.” He is excited to be joining our team full time as well as having the opportunity to work with our many amazing volunteers.
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Heritage Committee 2025 Garden Party
KANPAI! An evening of sushi, saké and serenity in the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden with the Heritage Committee The Heritage Committee is back and better than ever! On Thursday, June 27th, in what was an enchanting early summer evening, we gathered for the much-anticipated Kanpai Night at the beautiful John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden. This cocktail party under the bamboo brought together around 60 young conservationists to celebrate the spirit of stewardship and honor our esteemed founding members: Tim DiPietro, Malcolm Dorson, D.R. Holmes, Dave Knott and Max Stenbeck (posthumously). As guests strolled across charming bridges and along wooded pathways, they were welcomed by the glow of paper lanterns and tea light candles illuminating the Tea House. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and community as we raised our glasses in a celebratory toast — kanpai — to the founding members while introducing a new generation of conservationists eager to carry on the mission. Attendees enjoyed an array of delectable sushi, saki (generously donated by our friends at Cold Spring Harbor Wine Shoppe), Japanese beer and wine, all set to the lively tunes of DJ Charlie Clarke, creating a vibrant backdrop for the evening’s festivities. We were thrilled to welcome several new junior committee members who stepped up 34 as Event Chairs, with special thanks to Tanner Kellan for organizing an exceptional group of young conservationists. During the evening, Land Alliance President and CEO Lisa Ott addressed guests from the steps of the Tea House, sharing insights on key Land Alliance initiatives and how our local preserves play a pivotal role in conservation efforts. Board Member D.R. Holmes reflected on his journey from a founding Heritage Committee member to a current Board Trustee, inspiring guests with his commitment to our shared mission. The highlight of the night came when Lisa and Gina DiPietro presented an engraved boulder to commemorate the founding Heritage members, now proudly displayed just outside the Education Annex at the Humes Preserve. For many guests, this was their first visit to the Japanese Stroll Garden, making the evening particularly memorable, especially for those who grew up in the area. We look forward to nurturing this Heritage tradition and continuing to celebrate the passion and dedication that young conservationists bring to protecting our natural spaces for generations to come. Thank you to everyone who made this event unforgettable We can’t wait to see you at the next Heritage Committee gathering! Co-Chairs: Laura Clarke * Jamie Gardiner * Milena Holmes * Tanner Kellan Event Committee: Becky Zoller and Bertie Cator * Emma and Will Copp * Ashley Banker and Pablo de Rosas Julia and Danny de Roulet * Rem and Tim Dooley * Lily and Duncan Ferguson Robert and Carter Leachman * Fifi and Scott Leachman * Emily and Roly Morris Danielle and Brendan O’Kane * Kimberly and John O’Kane * Laura Ott * Lily and Frank Sanders Caroline and Larry Schmidlapp * Will Shea * Asia and Ben Stokes * Fern Senior and Kristin Thomas #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
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Heritage Committee Paddle and Pickleball Outing at Nassau Country Club
Game On! Land Alliance’s First Annual Paddle and Pickleball Outing at Nassau Country Club On Friday, March 24th, the Land Alliance hosted its first annual Paddle and Pickleball Outing at the Nassau Country Club. The unlikely spring weather was a welcome surprise for our participants, who sipped rosé and nibbled on delicious snacks between rounds of competitive play. The event was well-attended thanks to the efforts of our incredible event committee – Emma and Will Copp, Elise Corey, Carolina and Diego Fuschetto, Aileen and Ian Gumprecht, Emily and Doug Johnson, Alexis and Tim McAndrew, Campbell and Henry Mumford, Eileen and Jon Otto and Margaret Trautmann and Jake Jarvis. After the round-robin tournament, guests joined us in the clubhouse for drinks, supper and a lively silent auction. Fun was had by all!
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Heritage Committee 2019 Summer Soiree at the NoMad Hotel
Heritage Committee 2019 Summer Soiree at the NoMad Hotel On Wednesday, June 19, 2019, nearly 60 people ventured out on a rainy summer evening to attend our Heritage Committee Summer Soiree held at the NoMad Hotel’s elegant indoor rooftop. Silent auction highlights included a four-night stay at Casa de Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic and a stunning marsh landscape oil painting by Diana Beard. The Heritage Committee of the Land Alliance is viewed by the committee’s founders as the “next generation.” This group is made up of people in their 20s and 30s who care about land conservation and have a connection to the north shore of Long Island. Thank you to our event co-chairs, committee members and generous sponsors – Ooh la Shoppe, the Hawthorne Gardening Company and real estate professional Gabriella Schaefer – for helping make the event a success. Highlights from the Heritage Committee Social #gallery-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
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