COO Linda Cacossa leaves a legacy as a leader in local and regional land preservation.

Written by LisaBeth Weber.

Linda Cacossa, Chief Operating Officer of Heritage Conservancy since 2011, has announced her retirement, effective August 1, 2023. Linda has been an integral part of the growth and sustainability of the organization for close to 13 years, and her impact will be felt for years to come. Initiatives she set in motion and practices she put in place will continue to advance the organization’s mission and impact in the community, instill donor confidence at every level of giving, and ensure the financial health of Heritage Conservancy.

Linda Cacossa first came to Heritage Conservancy through the recommendation of Marv Woodall (Chairman Emeritus). “Linda was a great example of the right person at the right time for Heritage Conservancy,” says Woodall. “She immediately began to instill confidence and team spirit into the organization when she arrived. I knew I could always trust her good judgment and recommendations. Linda was a major force in helping to revive and create the incredibly strong organization which exists today. Thank you, Linda, for everything you did for our organization.”

Linda brought to Heritage Conservancy more than 20 years’ experience in land planning, environmental issues, and nonprofit management. Read more...

Tyler Kovacs, Heritage Conservancy's Conservation Steward,

discussing our Jackson Pond Project.

On Friday, April 21st, Heritage Conservancy staff had the opportunity to speak with employees at Ecovyst. Tyler Kovacs (Conservation Steward) and Emily Bonavitacola (Senior Development Associate) provided information about native plants vs. invasive plants, the stewardship projects that Heritage Conservancy is actively working on, and how companies like Ecovyst can become more involved in local conservation.

Corporate presentations are one of many ways that businesses can further engage with Heritage Conservancy. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Emily Bonavitacola at ebonavitacola@heritageconservancy.org. 

Kaylyn Brindisi, our Community Programs Associate, teaches

2nd-grade students from Tinicum Elementary.

Our Community Engagement team has continued to find innovative ways to engage with the students in our education programs, while teaching them about the environment of our region.

On Tuesday, May 9th, our Community Programs Associate Kaylyn Brindisi led a virtual field trip for the second-grade students of Tinicum Elementary. Students "flew" across Bucks County to explore five different Heritage Conservancy preserves through an interactive presentation, all while listening and searching for animals and plants unique to different habitats. The properties included Durham Bat Mine, Quakertown Swamp, Jackson Pond Preserve, Croydon Woods Nature Preserve, and Hart's Woods Preserve.

During one part of the presentation, Kaylyn explained to the class, "Looking at the macroinvertebrates that we had in the Hart's Woods creek, I found a lot of Caddisflies, which made me really excited! Caddisflies cannot live in a polluted creek, so I knew that our water was probably very clean."

The Williams Township property.

The Upper Mt. Bethel Township property.

Heritage Conservancy is proud to announce that we've recently completed the preservation of two new properties.

One of the newly-preserved properties is an 18.2-acre property (left) in Williams Township, Northampton County. Heritage Conservancy will serve as the Holder of the Conservation Easement, with Williams Township as the Co-Holder. The property consists of natural resources such as woodlands, an unnamed tributary to the Delaware River, spring-fed ponds, wetlands, and vernal pools.

We've also recently completed the preservation of an 11.02-acre property (right) in Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County. Heritage Conservancy will serve as the Holder of the Conservation Easement, with Upper Mt. Bethel Township to serve as Co-Holder. The property consists of woodlands, agricultural fields, and other areas containing very significant and high-ranking conservation values.

Click here to learn more about our land conservation efforts.

The courtyard at historic Aldie Mansion.

Heritage Conservancy is in the process of implementing some exciting new improvements, including ADA accessibility renovations, at historic Aldie Mansion. In line with our mission, we aim to ensure that everyone in our community has the ability to enjoy our historic mansion. Commonly used as a beloved venue site for weddings, parties, meetings, and more, Aldie Mansion has a rich history that we are proud to uphold. Historic preservation is a key aspect of our organization, which includes the maintenance and care of this unique building. Our mission fuels these initiatives, and we’re grateful for the generous gifts we received in making this possible.

This past year’s Christmas at Aldie fundraiser was met with guests who generously responded to Heritage Conservancy’s request to support these repairs and renovations at Aldie Mansion, yielding our most successful Christmas at Aldie mission appeal to date.

"Thirty years ago we made Bucks County our home, and were drawn to the strong mission of Heritage Conservancy. Preserving our historic buildings, large and small farms, open rolling land, and valuable natural areas makes our County more unique, healthy, and valuable. We believe the energic work of the focused Heritage Conservancy staff helps to create healthy communities.

We thoroughly enjoy the various events, especially Farm to Table and Christmas at Aldie – enjoying the open space and a unique historical jewel.

Early in each new year, we identify our annual Heritage Conservancy contribution/events and send it directly from our IRA – easy and complete."  

- Ken Snyder and Cecile Balizet

Thank you to the following Platinum Business Leaders for supporting Heritage Conservancy's mission and making accomplishments possible through their generosity:

And to the following new and renewed business members:

Bentis Consulting Worldwide

Clemons Richter & Reiss, PC

Columcille, Inc.

Dennis M. Litzenberger, PLS

Fehrenbach Black Forest Clocks

Fredendall Building Company

Haycock Historical Society

Jane Ramsey Fine Art

Kenderdine's Heating Oil & HVAC

Knight Engineering, Inc.

National Sign Shops, Inc.

Paragon Wealth Management

Penn's Grant Corporation

Springfield Township Historical Society

Transom Historic Preservation Consulting

Wynn Associates Inc.

Click HERE for a full list of Heritage Conservancy's business members.

Want to join next month's ranks? Click HERE to become a member today!

Upcoming Events

BioBlitz Celebration

Friday, May 19th from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM

To celebrate the conclusion of Heritage Conservancy’s BioBlitz survey, we are gathering with community members, volunteers, local partners, and specialists to learn about what we discovered in the woods and recognize the beauty of nature. Learn more...

ESL National Trails Day Hike

Saturday, June 3rd from 10:15 AM to 11:45 AM

Come practice your English outside on National Trails Day! Click here to register for this event.

The lesson will be taught at an Intermediate and Pre-intermediate level, but all learning levels and ages are welcome to join us on the walk. Learn more...

Bats Across Bucks County: Central Bucks

Thursday, June 15th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM | Members only

Join us for this event exclusively offered to Heritage Conservancy Members at the Russell-Mandel Preserve. Click here to register for this event.

This unique experience will provide a behind-the-scenes peek into how Heritage Conservancy and our community scientists are tracking bat populations in the wake of White Nose-Syndrome. Learn more...

Farm to Table

Saturday, July 22nd at 5:30 PM

Don’t miss this unique experience with a delicious, locally-sourced, farm-fresh menu with local music, all on a gorgeous backdrop of preserved space. Join us to celebrate Heritage Conservancy’s mission.

Farm to Table is limited capacity, so get your tickets fast! Learn more...

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