[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[EXTENSI]
[Page 4971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF THE LAND TRUST OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 3, 2003

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the most loved 
and supported organizations in my congressional district. Last weekend 
the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County celebrated its 25-year anniversary, 
having begun when a small group of dedicated individuals decided in 
1978 to help preserve open land.
  The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has worked cooperatively and 
collaboratively with a wide array of people, organizations, businesses 
and groups throughout this time to safeguard and protect over 1,250 
acres. They have done this through direct purchases of land, donations 
of land, conservation easements and land management agreements. Mr. 
Speaker, as many people from my district and in this body are aware, I 
am a firm believer in the power of collaboration to achieve great ends, 
and I believe that the work of the Land Trust is one of the greatest 
examples of this power.
  On Friday, February 21, the Land Trust held a benefit dinner to honor 
the work of those who were early pioneers in this effort. I was proud 
to join my colleague, Anna Eshoo, as a member of the Honorary Host 
Committee, although we could not attend due to other obligations. At 
this event, several people were honored for their work, and I wish to 
do so here, as well. First, my good friend and former staff member Fred 
Keeley received special recognition for his achievements as a member of 
the California Assembly for the past 6 years; John and Patty Brissenden 
were two of the first organizers of this organization, and have 
remained active and committed since then; Ted and Pat Durkee helped 
found the Land Trust, and have also remained closely associated since 
its inception; Angie Christmann has been a dedicated volunteer since 
1985; La Mina Smith, who accepted the recognition on behalf of the late 
Al Smith, a local businessman vital to the groups efforts; Diane Porter 
Cooley, who accepted on behalf of the late Bernice Porter and her 
donation of conservation easements for a large agriculture area; and 
the Cummings family, who accepted on behalf of the late Anna Jean 
Cummings, a cofounder of the Land Trust and its first Executive 
Director.
  I applaud the efforts of the Land Trust and those who support their 
mission of protection and conservation of this county's greatest 
natural resources. Mr. Speaker, I hope that my colleagues will join me 
in celebrating their anniversary, and wish them continued success in 
the next 25 years.

                          ____________________