Monthly Archives: September 2009

Colony Farm Orchard: New documentary film and a response to John Dunn Viewpoint

By rbrewer | Published: September 28, 2009

Matt Clysdale, a local film-maker (Animals Among Us), will be screening the first part of a two or more part film about Western Michigan University’s planned conversion of the Colony Farm Orchard open space to Business Park annex.  Here is his announcement. Greetings everyone, Please join me this Tuesday at 9 pm on Channel 19 [...]

Posted in Conservation, Land Trusts (& other private land conservation), Michigan (including Kalamazoo), Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Colony Farm Orchard: The Ball Is In the Senate’s Court and Tom George Has the Racquet

By rbrewer | Published: September 22, 2009

On Thursday 17 September 2009, in the Michigan House of Representatives, Robert Jones’s House Bill 5207 was read a second time, placed on third reading, placed on immediate passage, read a third time, passed and given immediate effect (Yeas 105 Nays 2), title amended, and transmitted to the Senate.  It all happened fast, though perhaps [...]

Posted in Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo), Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Colony Farm Orchard: The Western Herald Steps Up

By rbrewer | Published: September 17, 2009

Western Michigan University’s student paper, the Western Herald, published an article Monday 14 September 2009 on WMU’s proposed action against the  Colony Farm Orchard.  The article, by news editor Fritz Klug, was titled Arrested development for BTR? Possible expansion for WMU business research park draws controversy. The article with two color photos occupied the whole [...]

Posted in Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | Leave a comment

Is the Colony Farm Orchard a Slam Dunk?

By rbrewer | Published: September 12, 2009

Western Michigan University seems bound and determined to remove the restriction on the Colony Farm Orchard.  The restriction language used by the state when it gave the land to WMU is as follows:  Western Michigan University may utilize the property solely for public park, recreation, or open space purposes, except that the legislature, by statute, [...]

Posted in Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | 1 Comment

Colony Farm Orchard Items

By rbrewer | Published: September 9, 2009

Here are a few items related to Western Michigan University’s efforts, via Representative Robert Jones, to strip the open space/public park/recreation restriction from the Colony Farm Orchard.  This property in Oshtemo Township across Drake Road from the Asylum Lake Preserve would then be sold off as lots in an expansion of the WMU Business Park.  [...]

Posted in Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | 2 Comments

Labor Day, West Lake Bog

By rbrewer | Published: September 7, 2009

Mid-morning I looked out the window and saw a small bird in the shrubs, moving about pretty actively.  It was an American Redstart, not in the black and orange adult male plumage, but rather the olive-backed, gray-headed plumage with yellow wing and tail patches that at this time of year could be a female or [...]

Posted in Birds, Michigan (including Kalamazoo), Plants and Plant Communities | Leave a comment

Colony Farm Orchard Conversion: Good Business, Smart Politics, or Betrayal of a Public Trust?

By rbrewer | Published: September 1, 2009

The maneuver being pushed by Western Michigan University to convert the Colony Farm Orchard from protected open space to business park was on the agenda for the Oshtemo Township Board last Tuesday night, 24 August 2009.  Representative Robert Jones who introduced the bill to be taken up the following day in the House Commerce Committee [...]

Posted in Conservation, Michigan (including Kalamazoo) | 2 Comments