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Carter Rogan – 2023 O’Neil Steward
We are delighted to introduce Carter Rogan as a valuable addition to our esteemed O’Neil Stewards program. Carter is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the SUNY College for Environmental Science and Forestry. Carter, a native Long Islander, has an affinity for native plants and animals and is looking forward to applying what he’s learned at school to the stewardship of Land Alliance properties. Carter joins the program with great experience gathered from the Sweetbriar Nature Center, Bayard-Cutting Arboretum and the ecology center at the Sisters of St. Joseph. We extend a warm welcome to Carter Rogan as he joins our O’Neil Stewards program. His passion, expertise and genuine care for our natural heritage make him an invaluable asset to our team. Together, we will continue to make significant strides in the stewardship and conservation of Land Alliance properties. Please join us in welcoming Carter Rogan as a vital member of our dedicated community, as we work tirelessly to protect and nurture the ecological treasures of our beloved Long Island.
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Patrick Muccini – 2023 O’Neil Steward
We are thrilled to welcome Patrick Muccini to our esteemed O’Neil Stewards program. Patrick Muccini, a rising senior at Binghamton University studying environmental science ecosystems, grew up on Long Island and went to Chaminade. At Binghamton, he volunteered with the Nature Preserve Regulars where he removed invasive species and performed trail maintenance. Patrick is dedicated to conservation and believes it is essential to protect native species biodiversity. During his free time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, mountain biking, skateboarding and relaxing on the beach. We are confident that Patrick’s passion, expertise and enthusiasm will make a significant impact on our work as he joins our team of O’Neil Stewards. We look forward to witnessing his growth and witnessing the positive contributions he will make to our land preservation initiatives. Please join us in welcoming Patrick Muccini as a valued member of our O’Neil Stewards program, as together we continue our mission to protect and enhance our cherished natural landscapes.
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Victoria Bell – 2023 O’Neil Steward
Victoria is a rising junior at the University of Vermont studying Environmental Studies in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources with minors in Forestry and Music. She is from Huntington and is passionate about keeping Long Island’s natural areas in good health. She’s interested in conservation, ecology, environmental justice, climate change mitigation and how these disciplines intersect. To learn more about the Land Alliance O’Neil Stewards program, visit our website at www.northshorelandalliance.org/oneil-stewards-program or contact us at 516-922-1028 or [email protected].
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Recycling Matters
As of January 1, 2023, the Town of Oyster Bay has reinstated its glass recycling program after a four-year hiatus. Oyster Bay joins the towns of North Hempstead, Huntington, Hempstead, Islip, Babylon, Smithtown and others across the island in recycling this highly used material. Why is Recycling Important? Americans dispose of some 10M metric tons of glass annually, with an astounding two-thirds of it ending up in landfills. Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. It is an easy step that we can all take to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators. And we know less land dedicated to landfills means more land for wildlife. And that is something we can all agree is in short supply these days. We applaud the Town of Oyster Bay for reinstating its glass recycling program and encourage you all to recycle your glass jars and bottles with your recycling each week. Why waste precious land for landfills when we can recycle, renew and reuse. Just this simple step will make a world of difference for our environment!
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Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act Signed Into Law
When landowners choose to conserve their land there are several different ways to achieve that end. One important tool is a conservation easement, a voluntary, perpetual agreement between a landowner and a qualified conservation organization, such as the Land Alliance, that restricts the use of the land to protect its conservation values. Since 1979, donations of qualified conservation easements have been eligible for federal tax deductions. To date, according to the National Conservation Easement Database, over 201,525 easements have been donated protecting 33,527,688 acres of land. Unfortunately, there has been some abuse of these tax deductions. In rare, but harmful, instances, appraisals have been inflated in transactions known as “syndications”. These abuses have jeopardized the integrity of conservation easements and the tax incentive that has helped thousands of Americans voluntarily conserve millions of acres of their own land. Now the syndications will be halted thanks to the federal spending bill signed into law by the President on December 29, 2022. Included in the law was the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, targeted legislation that will protect conservation easements into the future. If you are interested in learning more about conservation easements, please contact Andrew Geisel at [email protected] or 516-922-1028.
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