Officials give F&F preservation an 'A' Deal between Holmdel, county and state will protect longtime farm BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer Ostrictly for the birds. That's the way it seemed on Thursday afternoon as a large flock of blackbirds sang out during a ceremony commemorating the entrance of F&F Nurseries, Crawfords Corner and Roberts roads, into the state's Farmland Preservation Program. Holmdel purchased the 93-acre farm in January 2005 for approximately $7 million. Last week, the town sold the development rights to Monmouth County to preserve roughly 60 acres of the parcel under the program. "This is exactly what the public wants us to do," state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos said during the brief ceremony held at the nursery. "To save farmland before it's too late. That's what it's all about." Assemblywoman Amy Handlin talked about the symbolism behind preservation. "It's not only the preservation of this acreage that we're celebrating," Handlin said. "We're also celebrating the preservation of hope … I hope we all have our hope renewed as we leave this place." F&F Nurseries is a wholesale grower of flowering trees, shade trees, evergreens and shrubs. The business has operated at the Holmdel site since 1954 and also has a location in Marlboro. KAREN BOWES The old Bell Labs water tower can be seen from the entrance of F&F Nursery, the 60-acre tract that was preserved for open space last week. John Flemer said he's been in negotiations with the township since 2002, when Committeeman Terence Wall originally contacted him. "We know that our father would be very happy knowing the farm he bought over 50 years ago will be a farm forever," Flemer said. Mayor Serena DiMaso and Committeeman Larry Fink also attended the ceremony. Di- Maso called farmland a "key part of our history," and noted the tract's preservation meant eliminating the chance that up to 31 additional homes would be built in the township. Fink, who is employed by state's Green Acres Program, talked about Holmdel's longstanding commitment to farmland preservation. He called preserving F&F a "no-brainer." "Preservation of lands in Holmdel goes back decades," Fink said. "In the 1970s, the master plan talked about preserving ribbons of green." Freeholder Lillian Burry acted as the master of ceremonies, introducing other speakers such as Susan Craft, executive director of the State Agricultural Development Committee, and Richard Nieuwenhuuis, president of the New Jersey Farm Bureau. Also in attendance were members of the Holmdel Environmental Commission, including Roberta Kaufman. Kaufman commented that she was glad that the new open space ran along the township's over 5-mile Ramanessin Brook Greenway. At the end of the ceremony, everyone clapped politely. "We're not the only ones celebrating," Handlin said. "The birds are celebrating too. It's such a welcome chorus of support."