Dear Supporter,
It is with great pleasure we share that the 10 acres of ridge-land between San Rafael and Ross that you helped to protect nearly six years ago have been protected permanently by the Western Alliance for Nature (WAN) - a land conservancy organization dedicated to rescuing and protecting threatened and vanishing wildlife habitats.
This incredible gift to our community was made possible by the generosity and cooperation of Dr. Harvey Glasser and his family and the generosity and perseverance of Sara and Larry Wan, Founders of the Western Alliance for Nature. Thanks to Dr. Glasser’s willingness to work with WAN and to the many people who supported this campaign over the past 6 years, this preserve became a reality at the end of 2021 and has been formalized over the past several months.
This victory would not have become a reality without the efforts, perseverance, and support of the following people:
- Vicki Fernandez, Secretary of the West End Neighborhood Association
- Rene Voss, Natural Resources Defense Attorney
- Seth Bunnell, Field Biologist & Agroecologist
- Peter Barry, MD & former Mayor & City Council Member of the Town of Ross
- Janice Barry, M.D. and environmentalist
- Julie McMillan, former Mayor & Current City Council Member of the Town of Ross
- Daniel Bacon, Author & Founder of the Barbary Coast Walking Trail
- Amy Likover, President of the Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods
And a huge thank you to the following supporters:
- Jonathan Braun, Director Marin Open Space Trust
- Renee Cormier, Avian Ecologist Point Blue Conservation
- Amanda Culpepper, Environmental Scientist, California Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Tara Dhana Elfenbein - BFA Graphic Design & environmentalist
- Dan Fost, Writer & Community Volunteer
- Marjorie & David Guggenhime
- Eli Hill, San Rafael City Council-member - District 2
- Cynthia Landecker, Pres. Emerita & San Rafael Heritage Founder
- Hugo Landecker, Vice President SRH, Federation Steering Committee & Gerstle Park Neighborhood Association Board (we miss you Hugo)
- Chris Leinbach, former President & current Director of the West End Neighborhood Association
- Carolyn S. Lenert, San Rafael Citizen of the Year - 2011, San Rafael Fire Commissioner (for purposes of identification only)
- Bill Long, Chairman Marin Open Space Trust
- Justin Goger Malo, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, City of San Rafael
- Ian McLorg, Chief Park Ranger Marin County Parks
- Ralph Mihan, Legal Advisor Marin Open Space Trust
- Dan Nathanson, MD, local resident and supporter
- Ben Negrete, Treasurer of the West End Neighborhood Association
- Tamra Peters, Founder & Executive Director, Resilient Neighborhoods
- Catherine Quffa, Library & Recreation Director, City of San Rafael
- James Raives, ret. Senior Planner, Marin County Open Space District
- Katie Rice, Marin County Supervisor
- Adrian Rodriguez, Marin IJ Reporter
- Barbara Salzman, President Marin Audubon Society
- Jim Schutz, Manager City of San Rafael
- Carl Sommers, Chief of Planning, Real Property & Government Affairs
- Brian Walsh, Director of the West End Neighborhood Association
- Simon Wright, Vegetation Management Specialist, San Rafael Fire Department
- Environmental Protection Information Center
- Marin Audubon Society
- Sierra Club Marin
Lastly, to everyone involved and to everyone who signed this petition, a huge thank you from me. Preservation projects like these are endeavors that matter—they help the health and well being of our community and our natural world. Thank you for your vital and greatly appreciated roles. Gratefully, Land Wilson
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE UPPER TOYON RIDGE ROAD. THIS IS A PRIVATE ROAD AND MUST BE KEPT CLEAR FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. RIDGE ACCESS IS BY FOOT & BIKE ONLY.
2. THERE ARE REOCCURRING INVASIVE BROOM REMOVAL SESSIONS SURROUNDING THIS RIDGE. THESE OUTINGS ARE ENJOYABLE AND A GREAT WAY TO MEET AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITY. TO VOLUNTEER EMAIL DAN FOST: danfost@gmail.com OR JUSTIN GOGER MALO, WILDFIRE MITIGATION SPECIALIST WITH THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL: justin.gogermalo@cityofsanrafael.org
3. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WESTERN ALLIANCE FOR NATURE AND TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS VISIT: www.wanconservancy.org