The Trust welcomes two new Trustees to our Board. Jane Baron and David Koonce are two people who add their special skills and love of nature and conservation to the Trust.
Introducing Jane Baron
Some of you may know Jane Baron for years as your insurance agent at Benson, Young and Downs or simply recognize her as that woman who walks down Main St. at noontime every day. In fact, walking everywhere – Great Island, along the Herring River, Conservation trails – is Jane’s favorite Wellfleet activity. Her appreciation for these special places led to her interest in joining the Conservation Trust.
Jane was born in Salt Lake City and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts where she lived until she was 9 years old. Her family moved from there to Eastham, where she lived until she was 11. Next, she moved to Wellfleet, where she has been ever since. Her wedding took place right in the backyard of her parents’ Railroad Ave. home. She and her husband Walter moved to Old Wharf Rd. While their two boys were young, she began working for the insurance agency part time. When the Barons moved to Old Chequessett Neck Rd., she could walk to work on Briar Lane. She retired from Benson, Young and Downs after a 37-year career. Jane also retired from her long term as an elected Trustee of the Wellfleet Public Library.
Retirement has given her plenty of time for walking and other favorite pastimes such as reading, boating and beaching in season. Other groups she has become involved in are the Farmers’ Market, transitioning to a new location behind the Congregational Church and Mass Audubon’s Diamondback Turtle Propagation Program at the Head of Duck Creek and other locations. She was thrilled to release her first diamondback hatchlings last year. After the storms this winter, she helped clear Conservation Trust trails of downed trees.
Growing up and having her sons grow up enjoying the unspoiled open spaces and natural beauty of Wellfleet led to her great appreciation of conservation and to joining the Conservation Trust. Jane hopes to see a future where conservation of trees and nature remain a part of Wellfleet’s essential character. You may have seen Jane’s and Walter’s photos on the WCT Facebook page which Jane now administers.
We are pleased that Jane has chosen to make the Conservation Trust a big part of her retirement activities.
Getting to Know David Koonce
For David Koonce, a perfect day in Wellfleet would be getting outside and enjoying 
whatever nature has to offer. After a 40-year career travelling around the world, over twenty of them for General Electric, he is happy to have retired to Wellfleet to the home he built next door to the first house he rented around twenty years ago.
His interest in WCT was sparked by a number of his people who serve with him on Friends of the Herring River, the AIM Thrift Shop and the Mustard Seed Kitchen. Even if they had not been there to guide him towards the Conservation Trust, he is drawn to participating in something that produces tangible results. He believes in getting involved with conservation efforts that make things better today and into the future for generations to come.
David enjoys canoeing here and in Canada. A little-known fact he supplied was his experience as an Eagle Scout in his younger days. As a project, his troop created a working car. Ask him sometime about driving it!
He missed most of our winter storms this year with the arrival of a new grandchild off-Cape, but felt drawn back to Wellfleet and his activities here.
Asked what he would envision ten years from now, David replied, “More property in the Conservation Trust. This is a gem of Wellfleet some people don’t even realize we have. He’d love to have more awareness of the efforts of the many organizations working to improve Wellfleet. Foremost in his wish is seeing progress on the Herring River Restoration Project. His hope is that people recognize the value of the project to shellfishermen, the health of the river and the whole town.
Welcome, David and Jane. We are looking forward to working with you for many years to come.
Wellfleet Conservation Trust 
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