Through the end of 2023, all gifts to MCF up to $100,000 are being matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to a generous donor. Make your gift today to ensure we protect the open spaces, farmland, and natural habitats that make Monmouth County so special. | |
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Dear Friend of MCF,
The past few weeks have been exhilarating! MCF is thrilled to have brought several preservation projects to fruition, and we owe thanks to our public and private partners – the US Navy, State of NJ, Monmouth County, and several municipalities, as well as ALL OF YOU.
Thank you for your continued involvement and support of MCF, whether making a donation, volunteering, attending an event, or spreading the word about our important work to #KeepMonmouthGreen.
Please read on for highlights on recently preserved properties, park development news, special events, and more!
We wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays and Best Wishes in the New Year!
Cordially,
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William D. Kastning, AICP
Executive Director
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Every gift made to Monmouth Conservation Foundation before 2023 ends will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 thanks to a generous donor!
Please make your gift today and help us to continue our work to save open space, create parks, preserve farmland, teach environmental sustainability, safeguard waterways, and protect wildlife throughout Monmouth County. #KeepMonmouthGreen
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3 Projects Totaling 255.5 Acres Just Preserved in Monmouth County!!
We had a flurry of land preservation activity in recent weeks! Several projects in our pipeline have now come to fruition! We are coordinating with our partners on the announcements and will be sharing full details publicly very soon. For now, we are happy to share a few teasers in this month’s newsletter.
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Photo by Fred Yahn, Eagle Drone Solutions | |
Twenty acres with substantial wildlife habitat and century forest in Howell – our pilot project with the US Navy to safeguard land surrounding Naval Weapons Station Earle – is now permanently protected! This project was led by MCF in partnership with the US Navy, Monmouth County, and Howell Township. | | |
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Stay tuned for even more exciting news in the coming weeks! In partnership with the US Navy, Monmouth County, Colts Neck Township, and MCF, over 200 acres in Colts Neck has been permanently preserved. This represents a substantial remaining amount of farm acreage in our Garden State! | | |
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Swimming River Park on West Front Street in Middletown, a new County park which opened in May, has just become a bit bigger! MCF and the Monmouth County Park System collaborated to purchase an additional 0.5 acres to expand the waterfront park. We are proud to have worked with the County Commissioners and Recreation Board over the past decade to bring this park to fruition, assisting with the land acquisition purchase and necessary clean-up at the site.
As you’ll read below, the park has just been made even more special with the installation of a memorial seating area to our late co-founder and President, Judith Stanley Coleman.
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Preserved Stivala Farm in Colts Neck Welcomes Baby Alpaca! | | |
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The 19-acre Stivala Farm in Colts Neck, preserved in 2022, recently welcomed a baby alpaca to their herd! She is growing quickly and learning a bit of sass from the other alpacas.
The Stivala Farm was preserved by MCF through the NJ Farmland Preservation Program in collaboration with Monmouth County and Colts Neck Township.
Mike and Eileen Stivala, owners of the farm, and their property were profiled in November’s The Journal Publications. Read the full story HERE
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NJ Corporate Business Tax Surcharge which Benefits Environmental Programs is Set to Expire
An extra 2.5% surcharge on the New Jersey’s corporate business tax (CBT) for companies with earnings of $1 million and up is set to automatically expire in January 2024 unless it’s extended by new legislation. If the surcharge is suspended, environmental programs including land preservation and hazardous site cleanup will lose revenue.
Click HERE to learn more, and contact your assemblypersons or senators to voice your opinion.
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Memorial to Judith Stanley Coleman Dedicated at Swimming River Park | | |
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MCF hosted a dedication ceremony on Saturday, December 9, 2023 for a new seating area at Swimming River Park in Middletown that pays tribute to Judith Stanley Coleman (1935 – 2010). The memorial was funded by donations to MCF in memory of Stanley Coleman, who was MCF’s Co-Founder and served as our president for over thirty years.
Several members of MCF’s Board of Trustees and staff, along with representatives from Monmouth County and its Park System, and Judy’s family and friends shared fond memories of her at the event. Read the full story HERE.
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Sea Girt Conservancy Receives another Award for Pollinator Garden Project | |
L-R: MCF Director of Development and Communications Karen Keene with Sea Girt Conservancy Representatives: Donna Thurston, Vice-Chair Mike Meixsell, and Boro Liaison/ Sea Girt Councilwoman Diane Anthony | |
The Sea Girt Conservancy received a Monmouth County Planning Board 2023 Merit Award Honorable Mention on December 18, 2023. MCF nominated the fellow nonprofit, which works to promote the preservation, enjoyment, and ongoing maintenance of Sea Girt’s parks and open space for the environment and the benefit of the public, for its excellent work to create the 9,600-sq.ft. Edgemere Park pollinator garden and lead ongoing revitalization in the park. We are proud to have supported the garden’s creation by securing two anonymous grants totaling $15,000 through the National Philanthropic Trust. | |
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS | |
Mrs. USA Earth & Son, MCF Earth Day 2023 Art Contest Sustainable Tote Bags Are Here! | |
L-R: MCF Director of Development and Communications Karen Keene with Crawford Pennington | |
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Limited-edition tote bags made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and featuring artwork by New Jersey youth who won the inaugural Mrs. USA Earth & Son, MCF Earth Day 2023 Art Contest were unveiled last month at our Holiday Style Luncheon and Shopping Spree. This project was conceived by 11-year-old Crawford Pennington, son of Ann Pennington, the reigning Mrs. USA Earth. The sustainable totes are being sold by MCF for $15, with 100% of proceeds supporting their preservation work. They make a great holiday gift if you are doing any last-minute shopping. Shipping is not currently available. Limited pick-up is available at the MCF Office in Lincroft.
Click here to learn more.
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MCF EVENTS
Our events raise awareness of our nonprofit mission and provide critical revenue for our operations and important preservation projects.
Holiday Style Luncheon & Shopping Spree Recap
Thank you to our generous sponsors, donors, and vendors, as well as our gracious event committee and attendees for making MCF’s 2023 Holiday Style Luncheon and Cocktail Party a great success! Held on November 29, 2023 at The Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury, the event featured more than two dozen vendors offering a diverse selection of clothing, accessories, beauty, home décor, specialty food items, and more, with 20% of all sales benefiting MCF’s operations and preservation projects.
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L-R: Elisabeth Lindefjeld, Carli Windsor, Amanda Scarpaci, Nicole Oppelt. Photos by Marcella Shook Photography | |
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We so appreciate Caroline Jones, Senior Vice President for Jersey Mike’s Subs, for being our inspiring keynote speaker; Mrs. USA Earth 2023 Ann Pennington for directing our sustainable fashion show featuring designs by Engineered by Andrea T; and Ray Catena, the legend in luxury, for being our top sponsor and exhibiting a fleet of electric vehicles on site! Enjoy the photos from our event and more details HERE. | |
Join MCF for a Lecture by Best-Selling Author Dr. Doug Tallamy | |
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Homegrown National Park® is a term coined by Dr. Doug Tallamy and the namesake of his grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks.
According to Dr. Tallamy, “Our National Parks, no matter how grand in scale are too small and separated from one another to preserve species to the levels needed. Thus, the concept for Homegrown National Park, a bottom-up call-to-action to restore habitat where we live and work, and to a lesser extent where we farm and graze, extending national parks to our yards and communities.”
In line with MCF’s mission, hear what you can do in your own yard or balcony to restore native habitat and species in support of plants and wildlife.
MCF is co-hosting a reception following the talk. For full details and to register, click here.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR MCF’S SIGNATURE EVENTS IN 2024! | |
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MCF Operations Highlights
MCF to seek Accreditation Renewal in 2024
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MCF received accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC) in 2014 and has continued to maintain this status since. Accreditation is awarded to land trusts meeting the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence. We are one of 463 accredited land trusts out of 1,100 nationwide.
In 2024 we will apply for Accreditation Renewal and go through the rigorous review process to ensure we are meeting standards of strong ethical practices and guidelines. We are confident we will be successful in earning our Accreditation Renewal and look forward to keeping you posted.
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Your donation and attendance at our events supports Monmouth Conservation Foundation’s mission of acquiring and preserving open space and farmland and conserving natural habitats throughout Monmouth County in support of outdoor recreation, agriculture, clean water, and wildlife for long-term sustainability. | |
www.monmouthconservation.org _ 732.671.7000
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