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Amy Medeiros has lived on Forest Avenue in Middletown since 1937.

Over eight decades, the hemlines have moved up and down. Hairstyles changed, taking on configurations no one could have predicted. The cars rolling down the street grew larger, then smaller, then even bigger.

But through all those years, growing up and building her life here, Medeiros has been proud to be part of this community where she once played in the pastures of her grandparents’ farm. She cherishes those memories and sees that same spirit in her friends and neighbors today.

“It really was a small town. You knew everybody. People just took care of each other,” Medeiros said.

So, when a piece of her grandparents’ property came up for sale and she learned that the Aquidneck Island Land Trust was positioned to protect it with an easement that would allow for farming long into the future, it was an easy decision to get involved, she said.

That land is now part of the protected Sweet Berry Farm, a beloved local institution where the Land Trust has partnered to conserve nearly 90 acres under agricultural easements.

Over the years, Amy and her husband Bill have been among the Land Trust’s most dependable supporters. They don’t describe themselves as philanthropists, but the couple has quietly supported key efforts by the Aquidneck Island Land Trust for the simple reason that they love this place and don’t want to see it lose the natural character that makes it so special.

“It’s sad to see how much has changed. We just want to be part of protecting what’s still around,” she said.

When the Land Trust launched an “at home” fundraiser during the pandemic, they were among the first of the organization’s friends to show their support, making a generous donation that they have repeated, even increased, every year since.

“Their support has made countless projects possible, from protecting open space to helping our community adapt to a changing climate,” said Ed Magro, Director of Development at the Aquidneck Island Land Trust. “Their love and respect for the history of the Island is helping us secure its future.”

Amy and Bill met at a friend’s wedding and built their snug white house with a broad front lawn in 1955, on a plot of land right next door to her parents. Amy spent decades working as a secretary at Naval Station Newport, watching it grow from 500 to more than 3,000 employees. Bill is a well-known fixture along the shore, running a boat hauling business and working with the Newport Yachting Center to prepare for the big boat show – only retiring this year on the cusp of his 93rd birthday.

“I know he’ll be back to visit them every day,” his wife laughed.

Over time, the couple has quietly become entwined in the fabric of this community, their commitment to Middletown constant through accelerating change to their world. They’ve seen dear friends pass away, watched the neighborhood children move on to live in Boston or Providence or places farther afield.

Through it all, Medeiros has never questioned that long-ago decision to stay.

She talked about a family member who moved away and found a home in a warmer climate but said that she couldn’t imagine leaving the winter snow, the changing autumn leaves, and the fresh green leaves in the springtime. The diversity of the landscape here, with the sea, the woods, and the fields all in harmony, just felt right.

Amy has always known that this was her place.

And now, she’s proud that the Aquidneck Island Land Trust is helping her leave a legacy. She notices when parcels go up for sale, when families are faced with the tough decision of letting a plot of land go, and she jots off a quick email to the Land Trust. Every lot that can be connected to conserved land makes a difference. Knowing that the Land Trust can work to protect that landscape, one piece at a time, makes it easier to weather the immense changes as the Island evolves.

As new people move in, she wants them to be able to experience the diversity of the Island’s landscape, with homes tucked in between the farms and the shops. She worries that big summer estates and hotels are replacing family homes so that neighborhoods risk losing their character, and she frets that young people who want to build their lives here are faced with such high costs of living.

She wants to see the protection of farmland and habitat and shoreline balanced with the need for affordable housing, so that coming generations can look back on their lives, as she and Bill do, with a deep sense of pride in their community.

“At our age, we just really want to do the best we can for the place we love,” Medeiros said.