DANBURY, Conn., February 28, 2011 – Michael Marcus, principal and chairman of Marcus Dairy, Inc. has been named president of The Land Trust of Danbury succeeding William Montgomery.  His election was announced at The Land Trust’s Annual Meeting held Saturday, February 19th, on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University.  At the meeting, Michael provided insight into his priorities for the organization.

“A major focus over the next two years is our purchase of the Ruscoe property, a critical piece of land along Long Ridge that will help strengthen our conservation efforts in that area.  To date we have raised close to $40,000 toward the purchase,” he said.  “We will also actively pursue new properties to significantly increase areas under conservation and recruit volunteers to help us responsibly manage current and future properties.  And, of course, we will be working hard to raise the funds needed to support our organization and further our mission,” he concluded.

Michael Marcus, the 9th president of The Land Trust is actively involved in the community and currently serves as chairman of the Tarrywile Park Authority, vice chairman of the Association of Religious Communities, trustee and past chairman of the Jewish Home for the Elderly of Fairfield, board member of the Jewish Federation of Western Conn., trustee and past president of the United Jewish Center, and is a member of the Connecticut Volunteer Horse Patrol.  Previously he served as chairman of Ability Beyond Disability, president of Wooster Alumni Council, co-chairman of the Tri-State Teamsters Health & Welfare Fund, was an incorporator of the Union Savings Bank of Danbury and former trustee of both Wooster School and Great Hollow Wilderness School (YMCA).

Michael, who graduated from Wooster School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and his wife Nancy (formerly Nancy McCann), have three sons and five grandchildren.

William Montgomery was elected president of The Land Trust of Danbury in February 2003.  During his time as president, acres of natural areas protected by The Land Trust grew 74%.  Bill retires with the honor of having served the second longest term in the 40-year history of The Land Trust.  His accomplishments include helping the city of Danbury acquire the Taylor Farm development rights (30 acres) and the West-Side/Farrington property (192 acres), and partnering with the city on a four-year open space identification, mapping and prioritization project.  He was appointed by the mayor to the Ives Trail & Greenway Task Force in 2003 and secured a Meserve Memorial Fund grant for initial brochures and signage.  In 2008, he became a founding member of the Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership, a coalition of land trusts and other conservation organizations.

In other leadership changes, David Campbell is vice president and Amber Edwards secretary.  Grant Winthrop continues as treasurer and Sharon Danosky of Danosky & Associates is retained as executive director.

Saturday, September 25, The Land Trust’s property no. 19 was the site of an informational nature walk led by Master Gardener, Donna Katsuranis. The purpose of the walk was to help participants learn to identify the various plants, shrubs and trees native to the area and also invasive.