Café Noche in Conway joins Contribute to Place program
Café Noche in Conway was the first restaurant to join the Contribute to Place program. Tom Henderson, vice president of the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust said Cafe Noche has had several successful months of interacting with customers. Café Noche is a Valley Original restaurant, founded by Tom Kugel 17-years ago. He believes that instilling an awareness of conservation is essential to positive growth, and Henderson said this fits perfectly with what Contribute To Place initiative hopes to achieve. An avid motorcyclist and world traveler, Kugel’s extensive travels through Mexico are evidenced by the unique décor and menu at the
restaurant.
The land trust is already working with 17 restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfasts, retail and recreational businesses in the Contribute to Place partnership. Through the partnership, businesses provide guests and patrons the opportunity to give a small donation that goes directly to local land preservation efforts. But that is only a small part of the benefit, said partner Tom Kugel of Café Noche. “While donations are a part of the program, educating visitors and locals alike about our natural beauty and the steps that are being taken to save it is a big reason to be part of the program,” Kugel said.
Larry Baima and Leslie Fletcher, owners of The Thompson House Eatery said they decided to participate in this program “because of a committed personal interest in the preservation of the beautiful spaces that make our living environment so special. It is also a vital part of maintaining our customer base, people who enjoy the outdoors, cyclists, skiers, hikers, climbers, and walkers. We think it is important to remind people that nothing will always be ‘just as you remembered
it’ unless we make sure that it is, especially when it comes to potential development of scenic places.”
Tom Earle, president of the land trust said, “These voluntary gifts help the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust strengthen its mission of working with local landowners to permanently protect their forest and farmlands through conservation easements. In addition, these contributions will help the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust acquire and manage lands that protect the scenic beauty of Maine and New Hampshire.” The land trust is currently working with the town of Eaton to acquire 99 acres on Foss Mountain to be included in the town’s forestry plan, which is designed to increase biodiversity as well as improve forest resources. Tom Henderson, vice president of the land trust said, “The positive response to the Contribute To Place program will certainly help us complete this and other projects.” The Contribute to Place program is a statewide program of the Maine Land Trust Network that fosters partnerships in local communities between local business and the local land trust. We sincerely hope participating businesses, their patrons and our communities benefit as we work diligently to preserve the places that make life and time spent here so special.”
The Upper Saco Valley Land Trust is a member of the Maine Land Trust Network and operates the program locally. For more information on the program and the business partners, visit www.usvlt.org.
