What a long, strange trip it’s been. The acronym Walstib, created from those Grateful Dead song lyrics, is the name of the Middletown farm where Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) held its 32nd annual dinner dance Sept. 26.
Judith Stanley Coleman, founder and president of the nonprofit dedicated to acquiring, holding and preserving open space in Monmouth County, recalled that the foundation’s first dinner dance in 1977 was held in a place like Walstib Stables, in a barn at the late Ed Rachlin’s farm in Holmdel. Since its humble beginnings, MCF has conveyed over 6,000 acres of land, dedicated for open space preservation, to Monmouth County and its communities. These tracts range in size from 1 acre to 416 acres.
Rumson’s Thomas O’Mara, who owns Walstib Stables with his wife and their four children, is a self-proclaimed Deadhead who has always loved open space and farms. He said he and his wife, Liz, want to use their farm to help raise funding for open space.
The land has a history of helping the greater good. In 2000, the farm, then owned by the Roper family, hosted the Special People United to Ride (SPUR) fundraiser, which honored jockey Julie Krone and featured local talent Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. SPUR earned enough money to build an indoor arena for its therapeutic riding program in Lincroft.
Not long after the O’Maras purchased the property, various organizations asked them to host benefits there. They always said no, until MCF came along. The family also intends to preserve the 28-acre farm.
Although Bruce Springsteen wasn’t in attendance at MCF’s dinner dance, his wife Patti Scialfa donated four tickets to his concerts at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, which raised $5,000 for MCF during the live auction.
A few more people attended the event this year than last year for a total of 350, according to MCF Executive Director Adele Keller. She said MCF was very pleased with the outcome, considering the difficult times, and hopes the turnout indicated that people support open space preservation.
MCF is campaigning for the passage of the November ballot question, which would provide $400 million for open space, farmland and historic preservation. Stanley Coleman said passing the bond issue is a big, important challenge.
“The legislators didn’t want to tax us again, so they left it to the people,” she said. “You are the people. You have to vote on it or we will have no matching funds.”
Stanley Coleman said passing the bond would not only help preserve more land but would also help control taxes incurred with development, including school and infrastructure funding.
Keller also noted that MCF is working on two projects in Middletown and several projects in Upper Freehold, including preserving the Keris property with the help of a State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) grant.
Joe and Maggie Keris, who are planning to preserve their 25-acre Keris Tree Farm, said they are the third generation working the farm, which has been in his family since 1923. Joe Keris said his two children, Marisa, 24, and Jenny, 19, would like to see the land preserved. The family donated a Christmas tree for MCF’s silent auction.
Millstone’s Cory and Carol Wingerter also attended the dinner dance. Cory Wingerter, an MCF trustee, said the foundation does very good work facilitating preservation, and making landowners feel comfortable. Noting that MCF is not a government agency, Wingerter added that the group has a very knowledgeable staff and a lot of volunteers.
“It’s a cog in the wheel and can partner with a lot of different people and get things done,” he said.
Millstone’s Halka Nurseries donated $1,500 worth of trees to MCF for the silent auction.