John Gebhards to speak at coalition meeting

New Windsor — The Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition has scheduled a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, when John Gebhards, the former director of the Orange County Land Trust will discuss “Saving Land in Orange County.” Gebhards has had direct experience not only as a land trust director, but also with Wallkill River and Sterling Forest protection. He is a past director of the Sterling Forest Partnership, and past chair of the Catskill and Ramapo Group of the Atlantic Chapter of the Sierra Club. With the Sierra Club, he has supported Stewart Airport buffer lands preservation. The coalition has been working since 1987 to save the Stewart Buffer Lands west of Stewart Airport in Orange County. It has recently been successful in protecting a total of 7,000 acres of these lands. The meeting will be held at the community room of the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church at 1520 Route 94 in New Windsor, at the corner of Jackson Ave. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call at 564-3018 or email sparc@frontiernet.net.