Land Conservancy’s Vernal Fling

Poppies by Lucinda Knaus.

Woodstock Land Conservancy’s fifth annual gala event, the Vernal Fling, will take place at  5:30 p.m. Saturday May 9 at the Byrdcliffe Barn on Upper Byrdcliffe in Woodstock.

This year’s event celebrates how participatory democracy and activism remain highly effective forces for creating positive change in the way we live in the natural world.

WLC will make awards in three categories of environmental activism — land conservation, pro-active governmental initiatives, and watershed protection.

Ramsay Adams and Wes Gillingham from Catskill Mountainkeeper will receive the William R. Ginsberg Stewardship Award for the defeat of fracking in New York State.

County Executive Mike Hein will receive the Sustainability Champion Award for his efforts to make Ulster County one of the leading “environmentally friendly” counties in the state. And the Watershed Protection Award is being given jointly to Kate Hudson, Special Projects Director, Riverkeeper, Rebecca Martin, KingstonCitizens.Org, Mary McNamara, Esopus Creek Conservancy, Jennifer Schwartz-Berky, KingstonCitizens.Org, and Elizabeth Simonson, Save Cooper Lake for their outstanding efforts to protect Cooper Lake and the entire watershed in our area from incursion by Niagara Bottling Company.

Music for the event will be provided by The Saturday Night Bluegrass Band. The party offers wine and refreshments and a live auction, as well as a silent auction.  The art auction this year features work by Katharine L. McKenna, Lucinda Knaus, Portia Munson, Petra Nimtz, Kathy Ruttenberg, Petra Nimtz, Ethan Sprague, Dan Goldman, Marilynn Rowley, Lillian Lent, Eric Lamont, Eugene Ludins, Eva Van Rijn, Kate McLoughlin, Jean Newburg, Petra Cabot, Jenne Currie and Staats Fasoldt.

Partially tax deductible tickets are $80. See Fling2015.com for tickets or for more information.