December 13, 2004

 

VERONA, VA – The Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council will present the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority with a timely and wonderful holiday gift Wednesday, December 15, 2004:  a check for $25,000 to be used for purchasing easements in Clarke County within the next year.  The funds came from a grant the RC&D Council submitted to the Beirne Carter Foundation in Richmond.

 

Joan Comanor, Chairwoman of the Shenandoah RC&D Council who will present the check at the 4 p.m. December 15 meeting of the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority said,  “I am delighted that we are able to invest in conservation easements as one of the first major accomplishments of our Council. We are pleased to have Clarke County as a partner in this important effort.  The agricultural heritage of the Shenandoah Valley is important to all of us, and we are happy to help ensure its continued existence through projects such as this one.” 

Chuck Johnston, Clarke County Planning Administrator, said the funds will help purchase a conservation easement on the Hobart and Sheila Bauhan property in Boyce, VA.  The property, encompassing 71.62 acres and situated alongside a scenic highway includes an architecturally significant 19^th century house that representatives of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources believe will be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

 

"Clarke County is honored by the recognition of our Conservation Program by the Shenandoah Resource Conservation & Development Council,” said Wingate Mackay-Smith, Chair, Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority.  “We are extremely grateful for the Council’s donation of their Beirne Carter Foundation funds for this project.  The Easement Authority is pleased to apply this generous gift to such a worthy easement purchase.” 

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The Beirne Carter Foundation was established on August 25, 1986 by Beirne Blair Carter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carter Machinery Company, Inc. of Salem, Virginia.  Mr. Carter was a native of Richmond who attended Virginia Military Institute in Lexington.  At the time he created and funded the Beirne Carter Foundation, Mr. Carter placed an emphasis on health, education, local history, nature, ecology and youth as the areas where he foresaw opportunities to help.  At the same time, he stated that he did not wish to restrict the Foundation and expected it “to respond in a flexible manner to changing needs” and that he “hoped primary emphasis would be placed upon helping citizens of all walks of life who live in all geographical areas of Virginia.”

 

The Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program is a partnership between the federal government and a local nonprofit organization led by local citizens and community leaders – the Shenandoah RC&D Council.  Natural resource goals and objectives are locally determined and those goals and objectives are realized by implementing specific projects approved by the Council.

 

The Shenandoah RC&D Area includes the following:  the counties of Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren; and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester.  The Shenandoah RC&D Council sets area goals and objectives, and brings together partners, technical assistance and financial resources to complete projects that will meet its goals and objectives.

 

“We look forward to working with Clarke County on future projects that help achieve our shared conservation goals,” Ms. Comanor said.

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For more information contact:  Joan Comanor (540) 459-5209 or Chuck Johnston (540) 955-5130