News Articles

Janet Zalewski begins five-month Pacific Crest Trail trek, April 27th, 2010
by Siskiyou Land Trust, Siskiyou Daily

Daily News
Posted Apr 27, 2010 @ 09:48 AM

Mount Shasta, Calif. — As part of a campaign designed to generate awareness and raise funds for conservational activities conducted by the Siskiyou Land Trust, Janet Zalewski has left Northern California to embark upon a journey along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a recent press release announced.
Zalewski retired as the CEO of the Siskiyou Family YMCA in March.
Her five-month trek stretches 2,650 miles from the U.S./Mexico border to the U.S./Canada border and spans the length of California, Oregon and Washington. People can stay posted on Zalewski’s trip by visiting the Siskiyou Land Trust Web site www.siskiyoulandtrurst.org or by checking her weekly blog at pct2010.wordpress.com/.
Zalewski’s starting point was the Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off (ADZPCTKO) at Lake Morena County Park just north of Campo, Calif. in eastern San Diego County. The gathering of thru-hikers, which was held April 22-25, serves as an orientation where past, present and future adventurers can build friendships and share knowledge. It also marks the traditional start of the PCT hiking season.
Pledges are currently being gathered by the Siskiyou Land Trust and are based upon the length of Janet’s journey. All proceeds benefit the Siskiyou Land Trust Operational Endowment Fund. An endowment fund, much like a retirement account or nest egg, is an account in which funds are deposited and interest earned may be drawn upon for operational expenses. Zalewski’s ultimate goal is to increase the endowment fund by $10,000. As a point of reference, a pledge would be calculated in the following manner: 1 penny per mile = $26.50 contribution.
For more information on the Siskiyou Land Trust and its activities, or to make a pledge that will ensure long-term stewardship of agricultural, forest and wild lands in Siskiyou County, contact Conservation Director Kathleen Hitt at 522 Alma St., P.O. Box 183, Mount Shasta, CA, 96067, www.siskiyoulandtrust.org, or call 926-2259.

Copyright 2010 Siskiyou Daily News. Some rights reserved

Siskiyou Land Trust Has Moved, April 3, 2010
by Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce , Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog

The Siskiyou Land Trust is a local conservation organization that works with landowners to protect open spaces, agricultural lands, forestlands, wetlands, scenic viewsheds, and wildlife habitat in Siskiyou County.

After enjoying several years in the Weed Mercantile building, the Siskiyou Land Trust is thrilled to have a new office location near Sisson Meadow (522 Alma Street). The Siskiyou Land Trust purchased Sisson Meadow in 2002 to protect an unobstructed view of Mt. Shasta and to protect the meadow’s ecological, recreational, and educational values for the benefit of the community. Since that time, the land trust has partnered with several local organizations, schools, and individuals to develop trails and benches, restore the meadow wetlands, and provide an outdoor classroom for all to enjoy. The land trust is currently working with several landowners in Siskiyou County who are interested in permanent protection of their agricultural lands, forest lands, and wetlands.

If you are interested in learning more about the Siskiyou Land Trust and its current activities, please attend our annual member meeting on Wednesday April 14th at Sisson Museum in Mt. Shasta. Doors open at 5:30 for refreshment and the meeting begins at 6:00. We look forward to sharing our accomplishments and organizational goals with the community. Sign-ups will be available for several volunteer opportunities – including participation in land trust projects and committees, Sisson Meadow stewardship, leading summer hikes, and coordinating a native plant and vegetable garden at the new office. You can also learn more about the Siskiyou Land Trust by stopping by our office, visiting our website: http://www.siskiyoulandtrust.org/, or finding us on facebook.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park Committed to the Environment and Local Conservation, May 28th, 2010
by Ski Park and Siskiyou Land Trust, Record Searchlight

Mt. Shasta, CA — The Mt. Shasta Ski Park owners and staff are pleased to announce that we are donating our recycling proceeds with a local conservation organization, the Siskiyou Land Trust.

As Jim Mullins puts it, “At the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, we’re committed to the health of the environment. We want to make sure the way we do business helps sustain the natural resources that we depend on. That’s why we’re working to reduce our ecological footprint in everything we do at our resort. As part of our efforts we have hired a full-time recycling coordinator.”

Best known as eco-man, Yoj Chase works toward the ski park’s goal of capturing at least 90 percent of our recyclable food service waste through the use of strategically placed recycling bins, both around our base area and our employee work stations, and also through the use of education and encouragement of both the public and our work force.

According to Mullins, “through partnership developments with Bigfoot Recycling of Redding, Mt. Shasta Opportunity center and a local bio diesel manufacturer, we are capturing our aluminum, glass, plastic, cardboard and fry oil waste for recycling.” Mt. Shasta Ski Park owners and operators Chuck Young and Andy Aguilera explain that guests have met the park’s efforts with surprising success and employees are very enthusiastic and excited to see what a difference they can make.

Through these recycling efforts, the Mt. Shasta Ski Park raised $2,500 to donate to the Siskiyou Land Trust. John Brennan, Siskiyou Land Trust Board president, expressed his gratitude for the donation: “The Mt. Shasta Ski Park contribution is extremely generous, and the land trust is very thankful that a local business is taking an active role in conservation even during these challenging economic times.”

Young stresses the Ski Park’s commitment to the community and the environment. As he said, “Andy and I grew up here in Dunsmuir. We are part of this community, and are working hard to help the community out as best we can.”

Land Trust honors Erickson, Mercy Medical Center, May 20, 2009
by Charlie Unkefer, Mount Shasta Herald

Mount Shasta, Calif. -

The Siskiyou Land Trust honored a local individual and a local business as “Community Conservation Heroes” during their annual membership meeting held at the Mt. Shasta Community Building on Tuesday evening, May 12.

LaVada Erickson, recently retired county supervisor and former member of the County Planning Commission, was recognized “for her 20 years of public service and long-standing commitment to protecting Siskiyou County resources,” according to a Land Trust press release.
Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta was commended by the Land Trust board “for its commitment to recycling and waste reduction and for its ‘buy local’ purchasing policies.”

In receiving her award, Erickson spoke of her long struggle as a supervisor and planning commissioner to be a voice for increased environmental protection and conservation, and of the importance of maintaining our quality of life as more development comes into the county.
“LaVada Erickson’s work on the County Board shows the power of a single voice to create significant change,” said SLT treasurer Susie Boyd. “Her steadfast commitment to protecting our quality of life has helped to keep Siskiyou County the beautiful place that it is. Her example should inspire the rest of us, especially young people, to get involved and stay involved in community affairs.”

Katy Chapman received the business award on behalf of Mercy Medical Center and described the many ways in which the hospital has adopted policies to avoid creating waste products, require recycling and increase the use of local sources for the products that it needs.

Chapman noted that Mercy Mt. Shasta has an active program of employee education to improve its environmental practices, and she recommended this to other local businesses as a means of both protecting the community and reducing operating costs.

Land Trust president John Brennan congratulated the award winners. He noted that, “Mercy Medical Center shows how a smart, modern business can engage all of its employees in finding ways to reduce waste and reduce costs at the same time. Through its Ecology Committee, the hospital has found many ways to eliminate products that can’t be recycled and to direct its purchasing to local sources and thereby reduce its carbon footprint. They are striving to be a be good example in the community and they are showing that this makes good business sense.”

About 150 supporters attended the annual membership meeting, at which the work program of the Siskiyou Land Trust was described, according to the press release.
Current Land Trust projects include continued maintenance of Sisson Meadow Park and improvements to the park for wildlife habitat and public use, development of the Spring Hill Trail in partnership with Mt. Shasta Trail Association and Coca-Cola Bottling of Mt. Shasta, and protection of Siskiyou County open space and agriculture.

It was also announced that an upcoming volunteer workday at Sisson Meadow Park is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, to continue the fight against invasive Scotch Broom around the pond.

For more information contact the Siskiyou Land Trust at 926-2259.