Donor Spotlight | George Bartunek
August 28, 2018
By Janet Schutt
"I grew up on a small farm in Riverhead that grew cut flowers for the wholesale trade in New York City, so I have a great respect for farmers. There’s so much uncertainty in their jobs.
“Riverhead is a great place to live because of all the farmland – it keeps the vistas open. In my mind, Sound Avenue is the connection to the true North Fork – from Baiting Hollow to Orient.”
George has been active in Riverhead government and environmental issues for many years. In the 1970s, he was involved in an inventory of Riverhead’s wetlands in need of protection. Today, he’s very happy that the Town has started to update that inventory and expand it to include smaller lots as well as large ones.
“I was aware of the Trust almost from the beginning, but developed a deep appreciation of its importance and relevance while I was a Town Councilman in the early 2000s. During that time, the Trust was integral to the Town’s Farmland Committee, conducting outreach and negotiations with farmers for their Purchase of Development Rights program.” That program protected nearly 3,000 acres in Riverhead.
The Trust is a great organization. They support my philosophy about protecting the farmland and wetlands of the North Fork, and that’s why I support them.
George Bartunek
George has been a donor to the Trust since 2005.
Thank you George for your many year of support. You truly make our work possible.
Janet Schutt
Senior Manager of Donor Services
jschutt@peconiclandtrust.org