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