Favorite son

When the Westchester Land Trust holds its ninth annual “In Our Backyard” gala on June 19, it will be honoring a man who has played a crucial role in the organization”™s development ”“ Al DelBello.

A former New York state lieutenant governor, Westchester County executive and Yonkers mayor, DelBello will be presented with the trust”™s Preservation ANGEL (Advocate for Nature Guardian of Our Environment and Land) Award.

“Al has been with us from the beginning,” says Bobbe Stultz, director of art, events and volunteers for the 22-year-old trust. “He”™s been on the board of directors and has been chairman of the board. He has always been a champion of open-space preservation and leadership in that area.”

DelBello is also a partner in the White Plains law firm of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr and is chairman of the board of directors of the Westchester County Association, an advocacy group for county businesses and nonprofits. He and wife Dee, publisher of this newspaper, live in Waccabuc, where they raise alpacas and llamas.

Besides the ANGEL Award presentation, the gala fundraiser at Birdstone Farm in Cross River will feature cocktails, dinner, a silent auction and dancing to the Stan Rubin Orchestra. Whole Foods Market is providing the produce and Stew Leonard”™s, the wines.

The honorary chairmen of the event are Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Richard E. French Jr., president of WRNN-TV. The event chairpersons are board member Susan Henry and husband Jim.

The Westchester Land Trust works with private individuals, developers and municipalities to preserve sensitive areas of open space. The trust has protected more than 6,600 acres through 180 conservation easements and 28 preserves, including the Frederick P. Rose Preserve in Lewisboro, Guard Hill Preserve in Bedford Village and Westchester Wilderness Walk in Pound Ridge.

There are federal and state tax incentives for creating a conservation easement, in which the property owner agrees to preserve a portion of his or her land from development in perpetuity. The tax incentives apply if the land has actual conservation value ”“ such as a scenic open space or wildlife habitat ”“ and could otherwise have been developed, says Eileen Hochberg, the trust”™s director of outreach.

For information on conservation easements and current incentives, call Hochberg at 241-6346, ext. 12.
Meanwhile, those interested in attending the June 19 gala at Birdstone Farm must RSVP to 241-6346, ext. 23. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $500 and $250. The $500 ticket includes preferred seating and a listing as a supporter in the evening”™s program.