Monthly Archives: December 2009

HB 5207, WMU’s Job Creation Bill Of 2021

By rbrewer | Published: December 23, 2009

The Michigan Senate passed HB 5207 Friday night 18 December, not long before adjournment.  The bill goes to Governor Jennifer Granholm, who will sign it or veto it. Curiously, WMU’s lobbyists did not inform the Kalamazoo Gazette that the bill had passed the Senate. When the bill passed the House in September, Greg Rosine was [...]

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

Senate Passes HB 5207; Governor next step

By rbrewer | Published: December 22, 2009

Friday night, 18 December 2009, between 10:30 and 11:00 PM, not long before adjournment, the Michigan Senate passed HB 5207, which would strip the open space/public use restrictions from the Colony Farm Orchard land, allowing Western Michigan University to put it to any use. Most of the senators voting yes probably bought WMU’s claim that [...]

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

Conservation Values of the Colony Farm Orchard, Kalamazoo County, Michigan

By rbrewer | Published: December 16, 2009

The following is approximately what I said in my brief remarks at the Save the Colony Farm Orchard Rally last Tuesday night, 8 December 2009.  I have, however, expanded on my thoughts under point 3, adding a consideration of conservation easements. We need to recognize three aspects to the conservation value of this piece of [...]

Posted in Birds, Conservation, Land Trusts (& other private land conservation), Michigan (including Kalamazoo), Plants and Plant Communities | 1 Comment

A good time was had by all at the Save the Colony Farm Orchard Rally

By rbrewer | Published: December 10, 2009

The Save the Colony Farm Orchard Rally sponsored by the Asylum Lake Preservation Association was held Tuesday evening 8 November in Van Deusen auditorium at the Kalamazoo Public Library.  ALPA vice president David Nesius said that 53 people signed in and his total head count was 67. One highlight of the session was a screening [...]

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

Big Rally to Save the Colony Farm Orchard/Enchanted Forest

By rbrewer | Published: December 5, 2009

ALPA, the Asylum Lake Protection Association, will hold the first general public meeting for discussion of the attempt by State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) and Western Michigan University to remove conservation restrictions on the Colony Farm Orchard.  The restriction placed on the land when it was conveyed by the state to WMU through the efforts [...]

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