Aut umn 2 0 1 1

Mu i r H e r i t a g e L a n d t r u s t
W
hat do Neil Armstrong, Edward
O. Wilson, Gerald Ford and
many others have in common
with the Muir Heritage Land Trust? The
Eagle Award: the highest recognition
scouting has to offer.
Beginning in summer 2011, Open
Space Ranger Glen Lewis and Matthew
Farnitano of Boy Scout Troop 239
worked to identify a restoration project on
Fernandez Ranchs Slot Creek. To fulfill
a Boy Scouts of America Eagle Award
Service Project, a Scout must demonstrate
Once an eagLe, aLways an eagLe
Message from the
Executive Director
Writing on behalf of the Muir
Heritage Land Trust is always
an honor. But this edition of
Horizons is special to me because
of our recent accomplishments.
One of those achievements
has earned a prestigious honor
for us and our partners from
the Contra Costa Council: a
2011 Philanthropy Award for
Outstanding Collaborative Project
for the Acalanes Ridge Acquisition.
This special recognition of the
Muir Heritage Land Trust, City of
Lafayette, City of Walnut Creek,
East Bay Regional Park District
and broad range of community
partners demonstrates the
importance of collaboration in
permanently protecting critically
important natural areas. This
achievement is a tribute to the
hard work, intelligence, talents
and support of our members,
partners, board of directors, staff,
and friends. Working together has
been a wonderful experience, and
has helped ensure our organization
is achieving its mission. Given the
challenging times, our continued
success is all the more remarkable.
The Muir Heritage Land Trust
is flourishing because we strive
to bring people together to
create enduring benefit for the
entire community. Our region
needs the Muir Heritage Land
Trusts leadership now more than
ever. Thank you again for your
continued support.
Linus Eukel
Executive Director

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acaLanes ridge awaits
T
he high ridge is where white-
tailed kites hang suspended in the
windclose enough to see the
red of their eyesto hunt. Time hangs
in abeyance as well. The sky is closer, the
stress of civilization further away.
Such was the scene that greeted an
energetic group gathered on the newly
protected 23 acres on Acalanes Ridge
on May 20th. More than 100 volunteers,
led by Volunteers for Outdoor California
(V-O-Cal), were to build nearly a half mile
of new trails to connect to the adjoining
Acalanes Ridge Open Space and Briones
Regional Park.
The heat of the day gave way to a
cold wind on the ridge by late afternoon,
sending volunteers to don warm jackets.
Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle continues on page 3
Acalanes Ridge Awaits continues on page 3
2011 PHiLantHrOPy award
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Acalanes Ridge Acquisition Outstanding Collaborative Project
Contra Costa Council honors: Muir Heritage Land Trust, City of Lafayette,
City of Walnut Creek, East Bay Regional Park District,
and community partners.
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mui r He ri tAge LA nd trus t Hor i zons 2
Mui r He ri tage
Land trus t
P.O. Box 2452
Martinez, CA 94553
925-228-5460 925-372-5460 fax
info@muirheritagelandtrust.org
www.muirheritagelandtrust.org
stAff
Linus Eukel
Executive Director
Johna Winters
Administrative Manager
Glen Lewis
Open Space Ranger
Gunther Korshak
Membership & Development Coordinator
Carolina do Val Callao
Administrative Assistant
BoArd
of directors
Steve Hutchcraft
Chair
Denis Huston
Vice Chair
Paul Craig
Secretary
Louis E. Stoddard
Treasurer
Bob Aston
Ann Cormack
Diane Coventry
Beth Mallonee
Bob Reynolds
Mark Wilson
editor
Linus Eukel
newsLetter
contriButors
Sherida Bush
Carolina do Val Callao
Linus Eukel
Gunther Korshak
Glen Lewis
Johna Winters
Many Thanks To our
Fabulous Gala CoMMiTTee
FresH aire aFFaire
On August 13th, hundreds of
Land Trust supporters joined
Master of Ceremonies,
Doug McConnell for a beautiful
evening at the Mansion and Estate
of the John Muir National Historic
Site to beneft the Muir Heritage
Land Trust. Our annual fundraiser
was a great success because of you!
Guests relished the balmy
weather, specialty
cocktails and
a gourmet
dinner while
enjoying the
music of Bob
Athayde
& Friends
and exciting
live auction with
John Pereira.
Gala
Restoration Design Group
Restoratlon Deslgn Group, LLC
2560 Nlntb Street Sulte 216
8erkeley, CA 94710
T 510.644.2798 F 510.644.2799
www.restoratlonoeslgngroup.com
5'*
Clark & Amara Morrison
lighting audio video drape
Bob Athayde & Friends Contra Costa Building and
Construction Trades Council
Eliot & Martha Hudson, Co-Chairs
Bill & Betty Brown
Maurice & Jean Heley
Bill & Lesley Hunt
Ernest & Carole Leopold
Tor & Stephanie McLean
Gary & Lauren Ranz
David & Adele Seaborg
Bob Simmons & Judy Whelan
Mark & Karen Zemelman
tHank yOu tO Our generOus sPOnsOrs
Double your impact!
Matching gifts double
your support for the
Muir Heritage Land Trust.
Ask your employer about
charitable matching gifts.
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mui r He ri tAge LA nd trus t Hor i zons 3
leadership while performing a project for
the benefit of his community.
On September 3rd and 4th, Matthew
led more than 15 volunteers on a two-
day project installing straw waddles and
geo-netting, and planting oak trees to
help reduce erosion. The project also
employed an innovative watering technique
that used hydrating gel
in the bottom of
biodegradable cartons
to enhance the
survival rate of
newly installed
vegetation.
Matthew
rallied volunteer
support from
Troup 239, College
Park High School,
adult leaders and his
scout master, to complete over 200 hours
of work. Matthews service project is a
great example of collaborative partnering
that encourages community members to
discover and enjoy protected open space.
The title of Eagle Scout is held for
life, thus giving rise to the phrase Once
an Eagle, always an Eagle. The Land Trust
is proud to support Matthew with his
community service project, and appreciates
his work to restore and enhance the
stability of an important riparian area
on Fernandez Ranch.
Welcome
Carolina do Val Callao
The Muir Heritage Land Trust
is pleased to announce the addition
of Carolina do Val Callao as our new
Administrative Assistant. Carolina
joined the Land Trust in August and
works with all staff to provide a wide
variety of essential administrative
support.
Carolina brings more than seven
years of rich professional experience
to her new position, having worked in
event planning, operations, customer
relations and program management
support for both the non-profit sector
and hospitality industry.
Born and raised in Sao Paulo,
Brazil, Carolina spent her childhood
summers exploring the Amazon at
her familys cattle ranch where she
enjoyed horseback riding, swimming
in rivers and tending the family
vegetable gardens.
Carolina also traveled and
lived in Europe before coming to
the United States to complete her
Bachelors Degree in Business with an
emphasis in Hospitality Management
from San Francisco State University.
Before joining the Land Trust, she
worked as an administrator for a five
star hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil and
then for three years as a Program
Specialist with the National Writing
Project in Berkeley.
Carolina currently resides in
Walnut Creek with her husband Cesar,
their son Bruno and daughter Luiza.
She enjoys swimming and hiking with
her family as well as exploring our
beautiful Bay Area.
Crew leaders and some volunteers spent
Friday and Saturday night camping on the
propertya wilderness experience in the
midst of a residential neighborhood.
While a full weekend was scheduled,
the workers completed most of the tasks
in just one day because, as V-O-Cal leader
Chino put it, The dirt was like butter.
First-time trail builder and Lafayette
Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle continued from page 1 Acalanes Ridge Awaits continued from page 1
resident Vladimir, his wife and six-year-old
son camped Friday night. His teenage son
joined them the next day to help create
the trail. Its good for kids to do something
for the environment, he said. And its
good for teenagers to participate.
On June 4th, only two weeks later,
a soggy Saturday was illuminated by
an enthusiastic crowd of more than
100, who braved slippery-mud trails to
celebrate the dedication of the Acalanes
Ridge acquisition. Luck prevailed as the
downpour abated long enough for a host
of distinguished speakers to lend their
inspiring and celebratory words.
The new trails are waiting; the land
is now open for all to embrace.
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ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
P.O. Box 2452, Martinez CA 94553
Nonprofit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Martinez, CA
Permit No. 189
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JOi n tHe Festi vi ti es
NOVEMBER 10
TH -
7: 00 - 9: 00 pm
Help celebrate the
2011 Philanthropy Award
Acalanes Ridge Acquisition
Outstanding Collaborative Project
from the Contra Costa Council
Enjoy wine, hors doeuvres, volunteer awards
and updates on Land Trust key initiatives.
Walnut Creek Library | Oak View Room
1666 North Main Street, Walnut Creek
Please RSVP
gunther@muirheritagelandtrust.org
or call (925) 228-8833.
For more information and directions:
www.muirheritagelandtrust.org

Theres an Opossum
in My Backyard
Theres a Hummingbird
in My Backyard
Donate $125 or more by December 15th and well send you
autographed copies of Theres an Opossum in My Backyard and
Theres a Hummingbird in My Backyard.
Written by popular Pet and Wildlife Columnist Gary Bogue
with illustrations by Chuck Todd, these books are fun,
informative and perfect gifts for the holiday season.
Gifts that support land conservation
autuMn ceLebratiOn 2011
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10
TH -
7: 00 - 9: 00 pm
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