08/28/2006: "Saving Turtleback Mt: $5.3 Million by November 15"

Saving Turtleback Mt: $5.3 Million by November 15

The San Juan Preservation Trust, The Trust for Public Land, and the San Juan County Land Bank today announced that they will hold the "Rally for Turtleback Mountain" on Saturday, September 9, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Coffelt Farm in Orcas Island's Crow Valley.

The rally is part of the Campaign to Save Turtleback Mountain from development and provide the public with access to its many treasures. "We invite island residents and visitors alike to rally in support of conserving Turtleback Mountain for current and future generations," said Jonathan White, San Juan Preservation Trust trustee and member of the Campaign to Save Turtleback Steering Committee. "A land conservation project as important as Turtleback requires the support of the entire community. So, we encourage everyone who loves the magnificent beauty of the San Juan Islands to join us for this exciting event."

Rally Ticket Sales
Tickets are $15 for adults (includes one glass of wine), $12 for youths (ages 8-20), and free for children under eight. All tickets include food, and may be purchased throughout the islands and in Seattle beginning August 16 at the following locations:

• ORCAS ISLAND: Darvill's Bookstore (376-2135)
• SAN JUAN ISLAND: Griffin Bay Bookstore (378-5511); SJ Preservation Trust office (378-2461); The SJ County Land Bank office (378-4402).
• LOPEZ ISLAND: Blossom Organic Grocery (468-2204); SJ Preservation Trust Headquarters (468-3202).
• SHAW ISLAND: Shaw General Store (468-2288)
• ANACORTES: Watermark Book Company (360-293-4277)
• SEATTLE: Elliott Bay Book Company (206-624-6600); The Trust for Public Land's Northwest & Rocky Mountain Regional Office at 1011 Western Ave., Suite 605.

Country Barbeque, Music, and Art Auction
Local island establishments will provide salmon, hamburgers, salad greens, vegetarian plates, deserts, beverages, and more for a country barbeque.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Martin Lund's "Orcastra," which includes
The Olga Symphony; singer-guitarist Gene Nery; Orcas Idol winner Jenole Peacock; singer-songwriter Mandy Troxel, and other surprise guests.

An art auction featuring Turtleback Mountain-inspired works by popular local artists, including Peter Fisher, Shawna Franklin, James Hardman, Frank Loudin, Crow Valley Pottery, David Ridgway, and others will be held. Michael Rivkin, artist and co-owner of Crow Valley Pottery, will serve as auctioneer.

$5.3 Million Left to Raise to Save Turtleback
To conserve the mountain, the partnership of conservation organizations still must raise $5.3 million by November of this year – the deadline for purchasing the property from the Medina Foundation, a Seattle-based philanthropic organization. The goal for the Campaign to Save Turtleback is $18.5 million. Turtleback's purchase price is $17 million, and the partnership seeks to raise an additional $1.5 million for trail building, site restoration work, long-term stewardship of the property, and transaction costs. To date, $13.2 million have been committed from private and public sources, including $10 million from the San Juan County Land Bank.

A Conservation Priority
For several decades, Turtleback has been considered the most significant unprotected property in the San Juan Islands. With native grasslands, Garry oak savannah habitat, an unusually large mixed-species forest (including old growth), ancient European markers and possible Native American cultural sites, high public recreation potential, important hydrological (surface, groundwater, and marine) influences, and an expansive undeveloped ridgeline visible from throughout the islands, Turtleback is a signature wild landscape within our rapidly-changing archipelago.

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About the San Juan Preservation Trust
Founded in 1979, the San Juan Preservation Trust (www.sjpt.org) is a private, non-profit land trust dedicated to helping people conserve land in the San Juan archipelago. The organization has permanently protected over 200 properties, 22 miles of shoreline, and 10,000 acres on 17 islands, including land now managed as public parks, private nature preserves, and working farms and forests.

About The Trust for Public Land
The Trust for Public Land (www.tpl.org) is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Through its Puget Sound Shorelines Program, TPL is working to double the amount of shoreline protected as parks and natural areas in the next 15-20 years.

About The San Juan County Land Bank
The San Juan County Land Bank (www.co.san-juan.wa.us/land_bank) was created by citizen vote in 1990 to help preserve the unique natural heritage of the San Juan Islands. Since its inception, the Land Bank has protected over 3,000 acres of land, including picturesque shorelines and ridges, historical buildings and working farmlands. This public program is funded by a one percent real estate transfer tax paid for by purchasers of property in San Juan County