Spring - Boothbay Region Land Trust

Newsletter Issue 104
Spring 2016
By Skye Wood
W
e are pleased to announce the
expansion of Penny Lake Preserve, thanks to the generosity of
property owners Tom and Cathy Wilson. The Wilsons have donated an
additional nine acres, which will expand the western boundary of the preserve to the Middle Road. This parcel
will bring the acreage of protected
land in the center of the downtown
area of Boothbay Harbor to sixtythree acres.
The history
The area now known as Penny Lake
was once productive farmland owned
by the Barlow family. Sixty acres referred to as The Meadow propagated
a variety of crops, including hay, apples and pumpkins. Over the years,
acreage from the farm was sold off
and developed bit by bit to make
home for our current-day Hannaford
Supermarket, the Boothbay Harbor
Chamber of Commerce and Carousel
Theater. The rest of the lots were
parceled among individual private
residents.
BRLT’s Penny Lake Preserve became a reality in 2001 through the
effort and generosity of a long list of
contributors. The
protected land
was pieced together from a
nineteen-acre
parcel that was
purchased from
the McKenney
family with substantial aid from
John and Martha
Heald, and a ten-
Tom and Cathy Wilson with their dog, Rosie.
acre parcel donated by Tom Wilson
and his father Richard. A twenty-five
-acre conservation easement from St.
Andrews Village and a trail easement
granted from Steve and Richard Malcom allowed for further restrictions
to development and opened public
access with added trails.
Expanding access
Tom and Cathy recently decided to
donate their remaining undeveloped
parcel to the community by entrusting it to Boothbay Region Land
Trust’s management. This recent ex(continued on page 8)
The Wilson addition will expand Penny Lake Preserve’s boundary
to Middle Road.
Please patronize our 2016
Conservation Partners:
Boothbay Region Land Trust
Page 1
Please remember to renew your 2016 membership!
NINE ACRES ADDED TO
PENNY LAKE PRESERVE
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
T
Board of Directors
Jack Fulmer
President
Hal Moorefield
Vice President
Linda Burley
Secretary
Hamilton Meserve
Treasurer
Danielle Betts
Catherine Conn
Bill Cullina
Pauline Dion
Jean Hawley
Maria Jenness
Sue Mello
Ronald Ross
Jonathan B. Tindal
David Whitt
Board of Advisors
Louise Bowditch
Jennifer Cutshall
Nanette Davison
Carl R. Griffin, III
Michael F. Harrison
Dawn E. Kidd
Charles E. Koch
Mary Miller
Bruce B. Tindal
Staff
Nicholas J. Ullo
Executive Director
Violet S. Wood
Development &
Outreach Director
Tracey Hall
Environmental
Educator
Michael Warren
Lands Manager
Diane G. Gilman
Administrative
Assistant
Nancy Hall
Newsletter Editor
his year has me thinking a lot about
voting. The Internet definition of vote
is, “a formal indication of a choice between
two or more candidates or courses of action,
expressed typically through a ballot or a
show of hands or by voice.” I feel that
spending money is a lot like voting.
As consumers, we all use money to obtain
the goods and services we need and want.
These goods and services are usually provided by a number of different producers, so we
have a choice of who to support. Because
money is precious to us, most of us are careful about how we spend it and where it goes.
I’m happy to report that in 2015, Boothbay
Region Land Trust received more operating
support than ever!
A contribution to BRLT
is a vote of endorsement of
the work we are doing. As
stated in our mission, everything we do at Boothbay
Region Land Trust is for the public benefit.
Anyone can visit a BRLT preserve without
being a member or paying a fee, and nearly
all our events are free to attend. We could
not sustain or advance this work without the
charitable giving by you, our members.
As you will read in this newsletter, your
additional 2015 dollars are being put to good
work. In addition to a number of exciting
(Continued on page 3)
PRESIDENT JACK FULMER WRITES...
I
n 2013, as a means of
self-improvement, the
Board began the process
of annually evaluating its
own performance. This
survey is conducted electronically and is completely anonymous, allowing for candid commentary. We now
have three years of data and can begin to see
how progress is being made.
We’re advancing steadily in our understanding of the respective roles, responsibilities and functions of the Board and staff.
Our working knowledge of BRLT’s internal
organization has also greatly improved, attributable to the Governance Committee
work led by Hal Moorefield of reviewing and
standardizing committee charges. The Board
is now continuously engaged in strategic
planning through subcommittees in the areas
of lands acquisition, led by Jim Dun; education, led by Nancy Adams; and facilities planning, led by Danielle Betts. Development
activities are steadily advancing with active
engagement of the Board under the leadership of Jean Hawley and Ron Ross. Keeping
up with significant developments and trends
in conservation is always a work in progress.
The composition of the Board has also
changed over the past three years. Half of the
current Board members are actively employed in the community and have children
in our local schools, which has brought renewed energy, vibrancy, and a sense of excitement to our activities. Such infusion of
new ideas and active engagement promises a
bright future for BRLT.
Boothbay Region Land Trust
PO Box 183, 137 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
Tel. (207) 633-4818 • Email: [email protected] • Website: bbrlt.org
Boothbay Region Land Trust is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization
Page 2
Boothbay Region Land Trust
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
MARIANNE REYNOLDS
M
Boothbay Region Land Trust
By Bud & Jean Hawley
W
By Diane Gilman
arianne Reynolds has been a
Boothbay Region Land Trust
member “since the beginning,” she
recalls. She now lives year-round on
Barter’s Island, but first became familiar with the region when visiting
with her family during summers. She
began volunteering with BRLT about
six years ago, helping with trail cleanup. She now volunteers as a Wayfarer, Damariscove Island Substitute
Caretaker, and contributes to multiple committees.
Marianne began hiking Porter
Preserve, one of the oldest BRLT
preserves, with her dogs just after its
acquisition by the Land Trust in
1983. She still loves its exquisite
views and the pine needle carpet that
provides soft walking. This love of
the land has translated to her support
of BRLT and its mission to provide
access to beautiful waterfront and
woods for the community.
She believes it is a gift to have
undeveloped land for local people
and visitors to use and appreciate.
She is also passionate about the
preservation of working waterfront.
The access to working waterfront
that BRLT provides for fishermen,
clammers, and others improves labor
conditions for people who work hard
in this Maine industry ingrained in
our culture.
Although a member for many
years, Marianne’s relationship with
BRLT truly began in 2007. “When
my husband died that year,” she says,
“I asked people to donate to the
Land Trust in his memory. Carolyn
A Way to Contribute…
Long-time member Marianne Reynolds
encourages others to contribute to BRLT.
Shubert, who worked in the office at
the time, let me know as each donation came in. It was meaningful to
me to realize how many people cared
about us, but I was also very touched
that she took the time to reach out
and make a personal connection with
me in that difficult time.” This was
the moment that Marianne developed an appreciation for the staff
and volunteers that carry out the
work of BRLT.
Marianne believes that nonprofits
cannot do their work without volunteers, which is why she gives her time
as well as money to BRLT. While her
favorite task is volunteering as substitute caretaker on Damariscove Island, she feels that, “Every piece of
volunteering is a pleasure. I think we
have a responsibility to support local
organizations, if we are going to use
their resources.” We couldn’t agree
more and are thankful for Marianne’s
insight and sustaining support.
e are pleased to participate in
BRLT's Osprey Legacy Gift
Program. As residents of the Boothbay
Region, we are sustained by its seasonal natural treasures. We appreciate all
the effort made by the Land Trust to
conserve these treasures forever so
they may be enjoyed by both yearround and seasonal residents. It is our
privilege to designate our life insurance
policy as a planned gift to Boothbay
Region Land Trust. Knowing that our
gift will have a perpetual impact on
our children and grandchildren, who
return to the area year after year, fills
us with pride and contentment.
Do consider joining us by making a
legacy gift today.
Jean and Bud Hawley have remembered BRLT
through planned giving.
Executive Director
(continued from page 2)
lands and strategic planning projects
underway, we have decided to increase the hours of our Environmental Educator Tracey Hall to provide
more programs for people of all ages.
As a result, you’ll be getting more
bang for your buck, so to speak.
2016 is shaping up to be another
great year and we look forward to
your continued support!
Page 3
A PARTNERSHIP WITH MITA
By Michael Warren
B
oothbay Region Land Trust
is excited that we will be
partnering with the Maine Island
Trail Association (MITA) by adding three islands to their Coastal
Water Trail. This is an exceptional
opportunity that will allow us to
further meet our conservation
goals to protect, preserve and
steward the islands we own and
manage.
The Maine Island Trail Association is a membership organization committed to the protection
and enjoyment of the wild islands
of Maine. The “Trail” is a 375mile recreational waterway that
includes more than 200 islands
along the length of Maine’s coast.
The islands and mainland properties are either privately owned by
individual landowners or conservation groups, or they are public
lands held by municipalities, federal or state governments.
All the properties on the Trail
are accessible by boat (weather
and tides permitting) and enable
visitors to enjoy sandy beaches, quiet
bays, bold shores and river systems,
as well as the native wildlife they support. Some of the Trail sites are
strictly for day use while others are
open for overnight camping.
The three islands under BRLT’s
ownership that are being added to
the Trail are Spectacle Island, Indiantown Island and Damariscove Island.
MITA will add these islands, with
maps, to their trail guide. Although
we expect visitation to increase, we
do not expect it to be appreciable.
The Maine Island Trail Association works from the premise that
“conscientious users can be entrusted
with the stewardship of some of the
most treasured places on the Maine
Coast.” With responsible use and the
ethic of “carry-in and carry-out,”
along with the dedicated stewardship
from MITA staff and volunteers, I
am enthusiastic about this new partnership. It will allow us to better care
for our properties while sharing our
vision and mission with a new group
of like-minded conservationists.
A view of Spectacle Island, one of three BRLT
preserves being added to the Maine Island Trail.
BRLT Environmental Educator Tracey Hall
takes hikers on an exploration of Zak Preserve
as part of the weekly Nature Hike series.
DON’T GIVE UP
HIKING BECAUSE
IT’S WINTER!
W
inter is a wonderful time to get
out for a walk in the woods.
Boothbay Region Land Trust has now
expanded its weekly nature walks to
include the winter and early spring
months. Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.,
year-round, BRLT will offer a hike at a
different preserve. Hikes range from
easy to moderate in difficulty and take
approximately one hour to complete.
These walks are led by a staff naturalist, or one of BRLT’s Wayfarer volunteers who has been trained to share a
little about the history and ecology of
each site.
Joining a guided walk is a great way
to get more comfortable on the trails
and to meet some fellow hikers. You
can discover the preserves in a relaxed
setting and witness the changes in nature through the seasons. Hike locations are announced a week in advance
so that we can better adapt to changing
trail conditions that come with snow
and mud seasons. The group meets at
the trailhead parking lot.
(continued on page 6)
Page 4
Boothbay Region Land Trust
The Backyard Conservationist
By Jeff Wells
A
s a member of the Land Trust, you care about conservation of the animals and plants that make our
world a healthy place for us to live. You may be a member of several national and local conservation organizations, and you might even let your elected representatives
know your views about conservation issues being considered by the government. These are some of the most
important ways you can have an impact on the wildlife
that you enjoy in your own backyard.
But there are also some other concrete actions you
can take on your property that are beneficial to the plants,
birds, and other wildlife that you see every day:
1) Plant wildlife friendly native fruiting trees and shrubs
and native flowers, perhaps even
replacing some of your lawn with
native plantings so you use less
energy for lawn upkeep;
2) Reduce or eliminate pesticide
use on your property by using
natural alternatives;
3) Make a brush pile (or piles if
your property is large) as a place
for wildlife to find cover;
4) Leave some dead trees and branches for birds such as
woodpeckers to feed and excavate nesting cavities;
5) Place a few nest boxes around the property for cavity
nesting birds such as tree swallows, black-capped chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches
APPLICATIONS WANTED FOR
BARGE/MCKEE SCHOLARSHIP
B
oothbay Region Land Trust is offering its annual
Barge/McKee Scholarship for students involved in
the study of the environment. We accept applicants of any
age and any learning endeavor, provided you are a resident
of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport or Edgecomb.
Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2,500.
Applicants must write a letter describing the program
or course of study, what they hope to learn and how it
relates to the environment. Direct all letters by Friday
May 13, 2016, to: PO Box 183, Boothbay Harbor, ME
04538 or [email protected].
Boothbay Region Land Trust
A MEDITATION
ON THE MONARCH
By Tracey Hall
W
hen I consider the yearly journey of the monarch
butterflies, I can’t help but be amazed that they
ever make it to Maine. At the end of September, I saw
my last monarch of the year while boating on the waters
of the Sheepscot River. The orange and black butterfly
was flitting along, close to the water, as it began its almost 3,000-mile trip over the next two months to a specific grove of trees in Mexico. If successful, that monarch
would overwinter with thousands of others on an oyamel
fir tree, waiting for warmer weather.
Around the time this newsletter went to print, that
monarch woke and began flying to the southern United
States where it will lay its eggs on the milkweed plant
before dying. The next several generations of monarchs
will continue their flight in a northerly direction until July
when we see the first monarchs of the year in Maine.
These monarchs can be up to five generations away from
the monarch that left Maine the previous fall.
Unfortunately, these monarch sightings are becoming
increasingly rare, with logging and herbicide use removing critical components of the butterflies’ lifecycle. While
this year’s monarch count in Mexico looks promising for
an increase, the butterflies’ population has decreased dramatically in recent years. One of the important things we
can do to help support monarch populations in Maine, is
to plant native nectar-bearing wildflowers and milkweed.
Local nurseries can help you find the seeds or potted
versions of these plants. With your help the monarch
butterfly will once again reign in our region.
Page 5
BRLT HOLDS CONSERVATION EASEMENT
FOR WATER DISTRICT
C
onservation is multifaceted at
Boothbay Region Land Trust;
we work with many tools to implement layers of land protection. We
also work with various partners
including private landowners, nonprofit organizations and public
agencies to achieve these goals.
One such partner is the Boothbay
Region Water District (BRWD). In
the past several years, BRLT has
been fostering a relationship with
BRWD, each working towards
aligning goals of healthy forests and
waterways. Most recently, we have
strengthened this partnership with a
conservation easement on a
Boothbay Region Water Districtowned property.
In an effort to protect the
source of public drinking water for
the Town of Boothbay, BRWD has
been acquiring land in the Adams
Pond watershed. BRWD currently
owns more than 100 acres within
the 960-acre watershed. They are in
the process of adding a 68-acre
parcel to their land holdings with
funding from the Maine Natural
Resource Conservation Grant Program.
This land purchase from Jeannie
and Carl Hamrin will allow the Water District to restore 600-feet of
stream and protect the forest that
acts as a natural filtration system to
Adams Pond. According to BRWD
Natural Resources Program ManThe red shaded area depicts the 68-acre
parcel added to BRWD land holdings.
Winter Hiking
(continued from page 4)
As always, the Nature Hike series
is free and advance registration is not
required. To learn the location of
each week’s hike, visit the calendar at
bbrlt.org, follow Boothbay Region
Land Trust on Facebook or contact
the office at (207) 633-4818.
You are also invited to join the
mailing list for hike reminders or
weather cancellations by contacting
BRLT Environmental Educator
Tracey Hall at [email protected]. Hope
to see you on the trails!
Page 6
Maine Natural Areas Program employees
take a tree core sample while
surveying the property.
ager Sue Mello, “Healthy watershed
forests, wetlands and streams are
critical to Adams Pond water quality. We are delighted to receive this
grant, which will help us provide
additional protection to the public
water supply for generations to come.”
The conservation easement to
be held by BRLT will ensure that
this land remains protected while
ownership is still retained by BRWD.
A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that
limits types of use or prevents development from occurring on the land, in
perpetuity. Easements can be tailored
to meet a landowner’s needs, but always with a focus on protecting such
conservation objectives as water quality, wildlife corridors or viewsheds, for
example. Boothbay Region Land Trust
will be responsible for monitoring this
easement annually to ensure that the
guidelines are permanently observed.
BRWD has made great strides in
protecting the public water supply for
all users now and into the future.
BRLT is pleased to be partnering on
this project and looks forward to further work between the organizations
in the coming years.
Boothbay Region Land Trust
I
AN EVENING FOR THE SENSES
t will be a night to remember. On
Thursday July 21st, Boothbay Region Land Trust will entertain guests
during its Taste for Place: Wine Tasting
and Boat Cruise. The unforgettable
adventure will include wine tastings
with food pairings, as well as a boat
excursion from Newagen Seaside Inn
to Linekin Bay Resort, and a view of
BRLT’s Damariscove Island.
The evening will begin at Newagen Seaside Inn where guests will
be greeted by a professional sommelier. This wine expert will guide
guests through an experience for the
senses with delectable eats crafted by
Executive Chef Fiona Dunlap and
high quality wines provided by Central Distributors. This is simply the
kick-off to the evening, for a boat
provided by Balmy Days Cruises will
await attendees at the Inn’s pier.
Once aboard the vessel, guests
will first be routed by Damariscove
Island for a glimpse of the stunning
Land Trust preserve before landing
at Linekin Bay Resort. Visitors will
have the privilege of being among
the first guests to see improvements
to the Resort since ownership was
W
Linekin Bay Resort
taken over by
Newagen Seaside Inn’s
Scott Larson, and Steve Malcom of
Knickerbocker Group.
The evening will continue with
more wine and food pairings with
the help of the sommelier. In the
lodge, a selection of wines, food, live
music and great fun will be had before returning to Newagen Seaside
Inn by boat. Coffee and dessert will
be available during the return boat ride.
Tickets for this important fundraiser include all food and drink, as
well as the boat cruise, and can be
purchased through the BRLT office
for $125/person. Tickets are limited,
and with the help of our media partners Maine Magazine and Maine Home
& Design, are sure to sell fast. Please
call (207) 633-4818 to get yours today.
Newagen Seaside Inn
Boothbay Region Land Trust
BE THE NEXT
TRAIL MARKER!
ant to support your favorite
land trust but don’t want the
hassle? Are you tired of forgetting
your membership gift each year?
Our Trail Marker Program makes
supporting the Boothbay Region
Land Trust easier than ever. Members can set up convenient, automatic contributions to BRLT with a simple one-time online entry. Your gift
will be deducted each month from
your credit or debit card, with the
option to stop payments at any time.
Trail Markers can set their minimum
contribution as low as five dollars
per month.
Boothbay Region Land Trust is
completely supported by voluntary
donations. These annual gifts allow
for the management of our public
preserves, support additional conservation efforts and provide educational programming for all ages.
Your Trail Marker support furthers
BRLT’s community development
and long-term sustainability by creating predictable revenue and lowering
administrative costs.
We are so grateful to all our
members and the many ways they
support BRLT. If you want to know
more about the Trail Marker Program or other giving programs at the
Land Trust, please contact Development and Outreach Director Skye
Wood at [email protected].
Page 7
Penny Lake
Nonprofit Org.
US Postage Paid
Permit #3
Boothbay Harbor, ME
04538
(continued from page 1)
pansion will eventually increase the
more than two miles of trails open
to the public; allow for a wildlife
corridor in town for the deer, beaver, turtles and other animals that
call Penny Lake home; and establish the largest undeveloped, conserved tract of land in the downtown area of Boothbay Harbor.
Tom and Cathy have long-time
ties to the Land Trust. In fact,
Tom’s parents Lynn and Dick were
close friends and neighbors of Phil
Slayton, a founding member who
served as Treasurer and President
of BRLT. But the most compelling
reason Tom and Cathy support the
Land Trust is because they use BRLT
preserves regularly. They explain,
“Not only do we enjoy walking the
trails, they help to keep us healthy.
Most importantly, our dog Rosie
loves them too.”
On behalf of the community,
we thank Tom and Cathy for their
enthusiasm and support of the
Land Trust, and for making it possible for many other dog walkers to
use the trails as well!
The Boothbay Region Land Trust seeks to conserve for the public benefit the natural habitat, scenic beauty and
working land of the Boothbay Region.
2016 Calendar of Events
To see more Boothbay Region Land Trust events, register, or find out hike
locations, please visit the event calendar at bbrlt.org or join Tracey’s email
list at [email protected].
Watching for Woodcocks
April 14th at 7:15 pm at Zak Preserve
Prepare to be dazzled and amazed by the seldom seen woodcock, and its amazing
mating display. Limited to 15 participants. Registration required.
National Trails Day Hike
June 4th at 9 am at Cross River Preserve
Join BRLT Executive Director Nick Ullo on a hike in celebration of National Trails
Day. Group meets at trailhead parking lot.
Lobster Cove Meadow and Local Lore
June 25th at 10 am at Lobster Cove Meadow Preserve
Join local historian and attorney Chip Griffin on a history walk and talk. Hike is
limited to 15 participants. Registration is required.
Porter Preserve History Hike
July 8th at 10 am at Porter Preserve
Join volunteer Merry Knowlton on a history walk and talk. Hike limited to 15 participants. Registration is required.
History of Ovens Mouth Preserve
July 15th at 10 am at Ovens Mouth East Preserve
Join past BRLT Executive Director Dawn Kidd on a history walk and talk of Ovens Mouth Preserve. Hike is limited to 15 participants and registration is required.
Page 8
Boothbay Region Land Trust