Jamesport, NY (November 12, 2024)---The Greater Jamesport Civic Association announced today that it has spear-headed the formation of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Preservation, a community-based initiative whose task is to tackle the critical and timely issue of land preservation in Riverhead and throughout the East End. The Blue Ribbon Panel for Preservation is a volunteer group of professionals with experience and knowledge in land preservation, the environment and ecology, and regional government, who have committed to work together to address land use and preservation concerns, with a particular focus on farmland, shoreline and open spaces in Riverhead Town. 

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Inaugural members of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Preservation are:
•    Robert DeLuca - President, Group for the East End
•    Tim Hubbard – Riverhead Town Supervisor
o    Denise Merrifield – Riverhead Town Council Member, alternate Riverhead Town representative
•    Al Krupski - Southold Town Supervisor
•    Kevin McDonald - Conservation Project Director for Public lands at The Nature Conservancy on Long Island
•    Kevin McAllister – Founder & President, Defend H2O
•    Juan Micieli-Martinez – President, Long Farm Bureau
•    Janice Scherer – Planning and Development Administrator, Town of Southampton 
•    Phil Schmitt – Farmer and Owner, Schmitt Family Farm
•    Laura Jens-Smith – President, Greater Jamesport Civic Association
•    Catherine Stark - Suffolk County Legislator, 1st Legislative District
•    Julie Wesnofske - Senior Project Manager, Peconic Land Trust

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     The mission of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Preservation is to recommend methods and tools that may be employed by the Town of Riverhead and potentially, other East End towns, to further the goal of preservation of farmland, shoreline and open space, while recognizing the fiscal constraints currently facing Riverhead Town. Although the panel’s primary focus will be on land preservation in the Town of Riverhead, many of the issues addressed will have applicability to the North Fork generally.

     The Blue Ribbon Panel for Preservation has been established, in part, in response to the repeated requests from Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard for the public to present  new ideas for land preservation. 

     The panel will examine preservation tools historically used by the Town of Riverhead and surrounding towns, the recommendations included in the Town’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, tools employed by other communities facing similar issues, new ideas, and consider potential funding sources. The goal of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Preservation will be to make actionable recommendations to the Town of Riverhead that would achieve the preservation of farmland and open space. The panel’s recommendations should also support the agricultural industry, fit the character and meet the aspirations of the Riverhead community, while also taking into consideration the potential regional impacts of the proposals.

     The members of the Blue Ribbon Panel are optimistic that the panel will help the town develop workable land preservation solutions.

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