March Force of Nature: Carol Kleis

An often-told story in FoHVOS circles is the preservation history of Baldpate Mountain. This decade-long battle against development earned FoHVOS founding member, Ted Stiles, permanent association with the legendary win. Even today you will see “The Ted Stiles Preserve” listed atop every Baldpate Mountain sign.

The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain sign

Ted has been gone for 10 years, but FoHVOS “Force of Nature” recipient Carol Kleis remembers those early days, especially the challenges and tales of the Ted Stiles Preserve, as one of the most significant forest preservation success stories in the entire state.

She took on a leadership role at FoHVOS in order to continue Ted’s legacy. She appreciates the significance of the broad stretches of preserved land throughout the entire region. As an avid hiker and native plant enthusiast, memories of the early days of FoHVOS often come to mind as Carol enjoys the splendid vistas and forest wildlife scenes that Hopewell Valley trails provide.  

A hike to the grassy summit of Baldpate Mountain, the highest point in Mercer County, offers a spectacular view of the Delaware River.  Carol enjoys visiting the FoHVOS offices at Strawberry Mansion high atop the mountain.

                   Native Plant Garden Chair

Always connecting with local land, Carol is not only the Trustee President to Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, but also chairs the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County Native Plant Garden working group. She is a long standing member of the Hopewell Township Open Space Advisory Committee and a former member of the Hopewell Valley Deer Management Task Force.

Her advocacy doesn’t stop there. Carol Kleis has chaired the local democratic committee and worked with community leaders to help shape the pro-environment and open space policies of the municipality.

Although she plans on continuing as a FoHVOS trustee, Carol will be retiring as President this year in order to encourage fresh leadership and ideas on the FoHVOS Executive Committee. Everyone who has worked with Carol has been enriched by her enthusiasm and passion to preserve Hopewell Valley lands.

We are happy to recognize Carol Kleis as our March FoHVOS Force of Nature.

A version of this article appears in the March issue of Hopewell Valley Neighbors magazine.

What is "Barn(yard) Chic"?

Invitation to Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space gala

Lots of excitement is building around the upcoming FoHVOS 30th anniversary gala to be held on September 16^th at the Historic Barn of Glenmoore Farm.  

The enthusiasm is understandable.  Unlike other local fundraisers, our VIP guests will ride a hot air balloon high above Hopewell Valley to view the 7,500+ acres of land FoHVOS has preserved by partnering with landowners, government and other nonprofit organizations.

We will eagerly recognize the many who helped preserve the Valley's character through open space and farmland preservation, and natural resource protection. There will be a Ted Stiles photo montage and we honor the achievements of conservationists, leaders, & partners, working to protect land & support stewardship in the Hopewell Valley including:

Jack Gleeson Environmental Award

Patricia Sziber

Retired FoHVOS Executive Director

FoHVOS Friends Individual Recognition

Paul Pogorzelski

Hopewell Township Administrator/Engineer

FoHVOS Friends Corporate Recognition

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Finally, our auction will feature all local experiences.  Here are just a few examples: 

• A sustainable Double Brook Farm tour & Brick Farm Tavern dinner for four 
• A flight piloted by Paul Pogo around Hopewell Valley for two
• A Unionville Vineyards tour and wine-tasting for ten 
• A "Hidden Hopewell" tour led by historian David Blackwell for six 
• A surprise to be announced by our municipality mayors
• A lunch with wine & Executive Chef Assi La Ponte at Bonne Assiette for four
• A private photo session and portrait 
• and many other opportunities to experience Hopewell Valley!

So the most frequent question we have received about the evening is, "As we enjoy the locally sourced menu, live music, and other festivities, how should we be dressed?"

Our answer: Barnyard Chic

Our team wrestled with the perfect way to suggest a dress code.  "Semi-formal" may be appropriate to demonstrate ample respect for our honorees and the importance of the occasion. Yet, we need to acknowledge that we are hanging out in a barn. 

While "cocktail attire" is fine, guests probably don't want to be donning high heels on the wooden floor boards or through the gravel and grass. Yet "casual" sounded too, uh, casual.

I voiced our labeling dilemma to benevolent extraordinaire and LHT Co-Founder, Eleanor Horne, and without missing a beat she coined Barnyard Chic.

Watch for Barnyard Chic to become a thing around Hopewell Valley and remember you heard it here first!

Late Blog Addition! A reader suggested that Barnyard implies the yard where the animals are and we should call it "Barn Chic" to ensure attendees are dressed to be in an upscale barn.

Barnyard, Barn, or do you have a better idea?

In any case, I'll see you on September 16^th and look forward to seeing you in all your barn(yard) chic splendor.

Building a corridor... not a wall

Since writing the story of our FoHVOS founder’s decade long battle to preserve Baldpate Mountain from development in Remembering Ted Stiles,  I have regularly discussed his long-term vision for the future.

On one occasion, a resident informed me that not everyone shared my enthusiasm for open space.

I explained that aside from his famous win at Baldpate, Ted Stiles had other protection ideals like his vision for land planning a greenbelt for our Valley.

The resident was incredulous, “Preserved forest land to surround our town? Sounds like a wall… You wanna build a wall!?!”

I was taken aback by his reaction.

Aside from obvious political implications, the mental imagery of the exclusionary starkness that “a wall” produces is the polar opposite impression of the bucolic welcome I had envisioned.

It was time for help from the big guns.  I reached out to FoHVOS Board Trustees Daniel Pace and Daniel Rubenstein.

Mr. Pace works for the County of Mercer Planning Department and is also a Trustee on the Hopewell Valley Historical Society. Dr. Rubenstein has been a FoHVOS trustee since the early days and knew Ted Stiles firsthand. Also he studies how environmental variations shape social behavior and the dynamics of populations.

So, if anyone could shed light on whether a greenbelt would act as a wall, it was The Double Dans.

Mr. Pace immediately shared that the concept of “Green Belt” dates back to the 19^th century as part of “the garden city movement” and was meant to plan cities in England in response to overcrowding and nature-isolated cities. The objective was proportionate areas of residences, industry, and agriculture.

While I like the idea of reducing overcrowding and ensuring proportional open space is balanced with development, my interest was more about whether the effect of a greenbelt was to wall off the surrounding area.

Dr. Rubenstein suggested to me that a greenbelt done properly acts like more of corridor than a wall.  Rather then excluding people or wildlife, belts attract them.  Additionally if surrounding areas have connected belts, disparate wild species as well as members of the neighboring communities will be joined together—

Kinda like the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail…  When I’m out there, I don’t notice where Hopewell ends and Lawrence begins.

It makes perfect sense. Everyone is attracted to the beauty in nature.  Clearly the greening of the area acts as a magnet, not a wall. Don’t most people move here because they are attracted to the character of the Valley?

A wonderful by-product is our symbiotic relationship – as we keep our preserves healthier for flora and fauna, our quality of life improves.

That may also explain why greenbelts are often referred to as an emerald necklace. They are designed to increase public access and interconnect the networks of beautiful jewels that surround us.

To further Ted’s vision, consider supporting FoHVOS. Also, come join Hopewell Township Committee, Environmental Commission and Open Space Committee members as they dedicate their 2017 Arbor Day Tree. This year’s native white dogwood memorial tree honors the late Ted Stiles. A brief ceremony will be held at 10 am on Friday, April 28 at Woolsey Park, located on Washington Crossing – Pennington Rd.

Featured Partner: Mercer County Parks

Today's view from the FoHVOS Office

After Remembering Ted Stiles, you know that FoHVOS founder, Ted Stiles worked for a decade to protect the beautiful Baldpate mountain from development. 

The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain now comprises over 1500 acres, making it the largest preserved natural area in Mercer County.  FoHVOS employees enjoy these beautiful views, from our home atop Strawberry Hill Mansion, every day we come to work! 

Driving up to FoHVOS

The Mercer County Park Commission has been a great partner with us and it's time to give props.

Mercer County is the primary owner of the Preserve and they work hard to keep the facilities in great shape and accessible to the public. Today's Baldpate visitors had the pleasure of snow-covered mountain with the safety of a salted and cleared path. 

Hopewell Valley locals and visitors are the biggest winner of our FoHVOS/Mercer County partnership! Our joint stewardship teams continue to care for the

Driving down from FoHVOS

mountain through restoration of forest and meadow, tracking and caring for rare species and reducing the threats of invasive species.  We are now jointly working on a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan that will guide our work over the next 10 years.  The plan will guide as we fulfill the goal of stewarding a healthy and beautiful mountain!

FoHVOS has also restored and filled the stone-walled Strawberry Hill garden with native wildflowers, shrubs & trees.

Mansion entrance

When not restoring native plants, FoHVOS stewards and volunteers are removing invasive species and using advanced GPS/GIS mapping techniques to track our efforts across the mountain.

The County provides trail maps here so that you can enjoy the mountain on your own.

FoHVOS also offer special guided hikes that share unique insights about local history and ecology.

FoHVOS offices

Mercer County and their catering partner provide a beautiful venue for events.

Whether enjoying Baldpate from the mountain or from the Mansion, visitors can delight in nature and enjoy our own private paradise.

Hats off to the Mercer County Parks Commission -- our featured partner. 

Remembering Ted Stiles

 President
Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space
1989 - 2007

While most Hopewell Valley folks know Baldpate Mountain, few newcomers are familiar with its rich history including the decade long fight led by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) early member Ted Stiles to save this beautiful land from development.

According to majority owner, Mercer County:

  

“In 1986 the property was sold to Trap Rock Industries, who planned to expand the quarry that already existed on Route 29.  When these plans failed, the remaining land was destined to be sold for luxury housing development.  Public concern and the efforts of the late conservationist Ted Stiles led to the property’s acquisition by Mercer County in 1998, creating today’s Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain.”

The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain sign

The Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain now comprises over 1500 acres, making it the largest preserved natural area in Mercer County. 

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of Ted Stiles’s passing, yet his legacy lives on in our continued work at Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space. 

We try to hold true to his vision and passion to ensure the land will be used and appreciated for generations to come.

For Ted, the presence of species like the Hooded or Kentucky Warbler would have further confirmed the great importance of protecting Baldpate. According to FoHVOS Stewardship Director, Mike Van Clef Ph.D.:

Kentucky Warbler

Hooded Warbler

"Above all else, Ted was fueled by an unabiding love of nature.  As an ecologist, he studied its intricacies and the interactions between its components (especially the co-evolution between birds and the fruit they eat). But for him, this was not enough.  He felt compelled to protect every last piece of nature that was humanly possible.  Untiring, he protected lands throughout the state, including adding many acres to the Hutcheson Memorial Forest (one of New Jersey's only old growth forests).  Lucky for all residents of the Hopewell Valley, Ted focused his protection efforts where he lived."  

Ted led or assisted with the protection of nearly 6,500 acres, which is over half of the protected lands in the Valley.  FoHVOS has continued his work and we now have increased our impact to almost 60% of the protected lands throughout the Valley.  A map and list of locations of our preserves is available here.

Our most recent preserve at Mount Rose will open in June 2017. Co-owners include Mercer County, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and Hopewell Township. We know that Ted would be so proud to see that work conclude with nearly 400 acres of preserved land.

Bronze Plaque dedicated at the first Ted Stiles Memorial Hike

Hello, Happy to be here!

As the new Executive Director here at Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), I have an important job as we work to literally save the world, or at least protect our little piece of it…

In my first blog post, I’ll share a little about me.  In subsequent posts, I'll try to provide interesting information, enable investigation, and inspire you to take action.

Many around our Valley already know me as the HVRSD Board of Education President; so the first question folks ask is, “Your leadership role is in education, so why do you want to work for FoHVOS?”

My answer is “because it is a perfect fit.”  Let me share a little secret…  The FoHVOS Board didn’t really pursue me; I begged them for the position.  My dream job is collaborating with a team that directly improves lives -- both locally and ultimately as part of our global community.

In both HVRSD and as I transition more time to FoHVOS, I’m living the dream!

I believe that success is driven by personal connections.  Education and environment are both areas that personally touch everyone and directly affect individual development and future success.  Everybody has been to school. Everyone strolls our land, breaths our air, and drinks our water. A mere moment's reflection is all that is needed to remind us of their significance.

We make a great impact with long-lasting effect. HVRSD educates the most students in Hopewell Valley. FoHVOS preserves and protects more land than any other Hopewell Valley based non-profit.

We focus on positive, nonpartisan outcomes.  Since we all agree on the ultimate mission, we can minimize political controversy by focusing on common ground. Whether discussing education, farmland preservation, stewardship, or open space, we achieve the best outcomes when everyone has a seat at the table.

We partner with families, local businesses, and other non-profits.  Hopewell Valley is a special community that benefits from increasing connections, intersections and relationships.  I look forward to facilitating that growth.

Please stay tuned for more posts and join me on my journey of learning, exploration and action to achieve the healthiest Hopewell Valley environment. 

For an invitation to attend, the “Meet the FoHVOS Executive Director” Open House on March 29th at 6pm at the Ted Stiles Preserve at Baldpate Mountain, send your email address to Julia.