Fall - Boothbay Region Land Trust

Fall 2011
HELPING CLAMMERS RETURN TO CROSS RIVER
By Jonathan Milne, Land Steward
I
n March, the Cross River once
again saw the small boats and
strong backs of local clammers mucking their way through the mud flats.
The Department of Marine Resources
(DMR) reopened the area this
year on a conditional basis,
after water quality met state
standards. As a requirement of
the conditional status, the area
will be closed from June 1 to
August 31 and open to harvest
during the rest of the year.
According to the DMR,
shellfish areas along the coast
are annually re-evaluated by
DMR staff to identify and
assess the impacts of pollution. Because shellfish are filter feeders, they accumulate
pollution from the water in
their tissue, leaving them unsafe for
consumption. But if new water samples for an area show that water quality has improved and known pollution
sources have been eliminated so that
shellfish are safe to harvest, harvestable acreage can be increased.
The Cross River has long been a
focus area for BRLT conservation
efforts, beginning with the preservation of Ovens Mouth East and West
in 1993 and 1994, the Zak Preserve in
2004 and the Griffin property in 2006.
The proof of these successes shows
up as footprints meandering across
the exposed flats west of Route 27.
Preservation of Zak Preserve and
its wetlands certainly has had an impact on the water quality exiting Wildcat Creek and flowing into the Cross
River. Without this protected resource, there might not be open clam
flats in the area. BRLT’s Ovens
Mouth preserve is also
a critical link to the
enhancement of the
Cross River ecosystem.
Located directly west
of the Zak Preserve, it
also provides a buffer
that enhances the
river’s water quality.
Without protected land
buffering these critical
natural resources, there
might well have been
many lost opportunities…not just for
Looking out from Zak Preserve to the Cross River
clams and clamIndeed, my routine visits to the Zak mers….but for each of us. Driving
Preserve revealed an exciting new past Wildcat Creek every day reminds
presence on the land and in the BRLT me of the need to secure working waparking lot. Many mornings there terfronts and natural landscapes in the
were more than six vehicles parked, Boothbay region. Our natural and culwith clammers going to and fro seek- tural heritage depends upon our efing to harvest our local clam, Mya forts now, and in the future, to protect
arenaria, better known as the softshell and enhance these areas for us and for
clam.
our children’s children.
Please patronize our 2011
Conservation Partners:
Boothbay Region Land Trust
Page 1
Remember to Post Your Photos and Feedback on BRLT’s Facebook Page!
Newsletter Issue 91
FROM THE DESK OF NAT
T
President
Nathaniel Wing
Vice President
James Dun
Secretary
Joe Gelarden
Treasurer
Mohamed Osman
Board of Directors
Nancy Adams
Danielle Betts
Bill Cullina
Pauline Dion
Jack Fulmer
Meagan Hamblett
Scott Hardwick
Merry Knowlton
Robert F. McLaughlin
Hamilton Meserve
Ted Smith
Jeffrey V. Wells
Rob Whitten
Patricia A. Zinkowski
Board of Advisors
Jennifer Cutshall
Patrick Farrin
Gerald Gamage
Carl R. Griffin, III
Jean Hawley
Dawn E. Kidd
Charles E. Koch
Bruce B. Tindal
Executive Director
Nicholas J. Ullo
Development &
Outreach Director
Julie Lamy
Land Steward
Jonathan D. Milne
Environmental
Educator
Tracey Hall
Office Manager
Violet S. Wood
Newsletter
Nancy Hall, Editor
Julie Lamy, Nick Ullo, Skye
Wood
Photos
Julie Lamy, Jonathan Milne,
Nick Ullo , Skye Wood
he annual retreat of
the Boothbay Region Land Trust Board of
Directors was held on
October 29. The focus of
this retreat was on preparations for applying for
accreditation through the National Land
Trust Accreditation Commission. In 2010,
BRLT was accepted into the Maine Excellence Program administered through the
Maine Land Trust Network (MLTN), which
will provide up to $18,000 to support our accreditation efforts. A portion of the money
has been used to hire a certified MLTN Accreditation Mentor, Deb Chapman, to guide
us during our application process.
Serving as a facilitator, Deb led retreat discussions on the Board’s initial self-assessment,
compiled over the last two years. This organizational assessment includes a review of
BRLT’s mission, law compliance, Board accountability, fundraising, use of volunteers,
criteria for conservation projects and the
process of land acquisition and easement
monitoring. Board and staff tasks will be
assigned and prioritized to assure that the
Land Trust Alliance standards, which are key
to accreditation, will be realized by 2013, our
self-imposed deadline.
Other major land trusts that have
achieved accreditation confirm that the process substantially improves both staff professionalism and board competency, helping in
particular to strengthen the organization’s
fiduciary and stewardship sustainability. Because easements acquired by land trusts must
be protected in perpetuity, sustainability of
the organization is critical to achieving accreditation. Major donors and foundations
are already beginning to look for the accreditation seal of approval.
For BRLT, accreditation comes at a fitting moment since we have grown significantly in recent years − expanding our preserved lands, developing our education program, improving easement monitoring and
extending our stewardship activities. It is an
exciting time in the evolution of the organization.
Congratulations,
Nick & Tracey!
Nick Ullo, BRLT Executive Director, and his wife Tracey Hall,
BRLT Environmental Educator,
welcomed baby Jessie Marina to
the world on October 12. Weighing in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces,
Jessie is already just
about sleeping through
the night, says Nick.
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
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
LAND CONSERVATION
L
uckily for small non-profits such
as the Boothbay Region Land
Trust, businesses small and large are
increasingly creating new ways to support their local communities. Because
of these innovative programs, those of
us in the Boothbay region can make
easy choices that support both local
businesses and local land conservation.
Protecting and sharing the special
places of the Boothbay peninsula helps
support the local economy, which is
what our local businesses depend on.
For example, doing something as
simple as opening a new checking account provides a direct donation to
BRLT. Since 2009, Bath Savings Institution has been contributing to BRLT
through their Neighbor to Neighbor
I
BRLT’s Business Partners comprise our annual sponsors (featured on
page one of this newsletter), as well as
Contribute to Place partner Balmy
Days Cruises, and multiple preserve
adopters that include Bath Savings.
Partnering with the local business
community is critical for BRLT’s fiscal
health. We are grateful for their support and hope that you will help us
return the favor. To learn more about
the Bath Savings or Seawicks programs, go to www.bathsavings.com or
www.seawicks.com.
THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERING
n today’s hectic world, any time we
have for ourselves is precious and
we want to make the most of it. Many
of us find giving a few hours to a community organization both relaxing and
rewarding in contrast to the hubbub of
our lives. When one volunteers, not
only does it benefit the organization
Volunteers have fun with the BRLT float in the
Windjammer parade.
Boothbay Region Land Trust
Program. Whenever a customer opens a
new checking account, Bath Savings will
donate $25 to a local non-profit of the
customer’s choice. In addition, if the
customer mentions that he or she was
referred to Bath Savings by BRLT, the
bank doubles the gift to $50. This certainly adds up throughout the year!
You can also support local business
and land conservation by patronizing
Seawicks Candle Company. Located in
Edgecomb, Seawicks will donate 50
cents of every candle sale to BRLT for
the next two years. After that, they will
expand their contribution to a state-wide
program. Their soy-based, handmade
candles are inspired by the scents of our
rocky coast and are sure to help you get
through a long Maine winter!
receiving assistance, but also those who
do the volunteering.
Volunteering with an organization
such as BRLT, with its significant accomplishments in land conservation,
stewardship and environmental education, can make us feel more positive
about life.
BRLT has such a diversity of supporters that getting involved is a great
way to meet new people.
Helping in the office offers
an opportunity to speak
with the many visitors who
stop by. Assisting at a trail
work party could introduce
you to others who enjoy
being outside and getting
their hands dirty. There are
also many fun events and
special projects that could
always use
a creative
t o u c h .
Whatever
your special skills
are, there is
a task to
match your liking and other people
with the same interests!
Volunteering with BRLT can be as
minimal or involved as you like. Some
volunteers attend only one mailing
party a year, while others take on major responsibilities with the Board of
Directors and committees.
To volunteer, please contact
BRLT’s Volunteer Coordinator and
Board member Nancy Adams (shown
above) at (207)633-6791 or email
[email protected].
Page 3
THE ANNUAL MEETING WAS A PICNIC (REALLY!)
O
n September 25th, BRLT held its annual meeting at
Penny Lake Preserve. This year’s meeting was unique,
however, because it also included the volunteer picnic. All
members and volunteers were invited to attend the free picnic, a way for BRLT to thank all the many devoted volunteers
who donate their time and positive energy to support land
conservation.
Five such people include retiring board members Kathy
Bugbee, Judy Eastwood, Jean Webster, Katie Maddox and
Richard Palmer. Each spent countless hours over the years
making BRLT a stronger and more successful organization.
Executive Director Nick Ullo praised the outgoing board
members, all of whom will receive customized walking sticks
to mark their service.
Following the outdoor picnic lunch, President Nat Wing
recapped the organization’s 2011 accomplishments, including
preliminary work on obtaining national accreditation status
(see his message, page 2), a record-setting art auction, efforts
to establish a network of trails at the Pine Tree preserve,
fundraising efforts for the new preserve at Ocean Point and a
pledge to commission a local economic impact study.
The membership also approved the board’s decision to
sell an eight-acre parcel on Southport Island and to market
Board member, Merry Knowlton (left) was the lucky winner of the “Pine
Trees of Maine” quilt, handmade and donated by BRLT member, Betty
Koch (right). The quilt was raffled off at this year’s annual meeting picnic
and raised over $350 for land conservation on the Boothbay Peninsula.
Thank you Betty!
the historic East Edgecomb School property on the River
Road, which was recently donated to BRLT as unrestricted.
The purpose of these transactions is to convert the properties acquired as gifts into funds available to BRLT, as intended by the donors of the parcels.
If you missed this year’s annual meeting and want to attend next year, look for your invitation in August 2012.
HERE’S THE BUZZ ON HONEYBEES
By Mary Ellen Hare
M
any retirees are satisfied to
travel and visit with their grandchildren, but John Webster, co-owner
of Orne’s Candy Store, was looking for
something more. “It came to me in just
one thought: why don’t I raise bees?”
Six years later, John and his wife Jean
have three hives, and at a BRLT event
this past summer, a group of bee aficionados and curious visitors watched as
John inspected the hive in his yard at
Ocean Point.
John’s mentors, Jean and Dick
Vose, who came to Maine in 1998 and
started the first Bee School, also were
on hand to answer questions. The
Voses also founded the Knox-Lincoln
Page 4
John Webster shows visitors his bees.
Beekeepers Club, which the Websters
joined before they started keeping
bees.
There were probably 80 to 100,000
bees in the hive John was inspecting.
Using a smoker kept the bees calm as
the frames in the hive were removed
and inspected. Pine-scented smoke
filled the air, which resonated with a
low buzzing as the bees crawled over
the frames and flew about, staying
close to the hive.
A truly cooperative society, the
bees spend their lives going about
their business. The bees know their
jobs and get them done efficiently. A
female bee, for example, lives only six
weeks but by the time she dies she will
have done almost every job in the
hive. The males, or drones, have a
relatively easy life, serving only to
copulate with the queen and doomed
(Continued on page 8)
Boothbay Region Land Trust
MEET BRLT’S NEW
BOARD MEMBERS
B
RLT has three new members on
its Board of Directors − Danielle
Betts, Jack Fulmer and Meagan Hamblett – all elected during the annual
meeting/picnic in September.
Betts, a civil engineer with the
Knickerbocker Group, is an experienced site planner, as well as a planner
for engineering and environmental projects. She is a member of Maine’s
Chapter of the U.S. Green Building
Council and is an advocate of sustainable design. She and her husband, Brad,
live in East Boothbay with their two
sons.
Jack Fulmer, a retired surgeon for
the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida,
is a former U.S. Navy flight surgeon.
He is a valued BRLT volunteer who
has been the principal organizer for the
popular children’s tent at the Boat
Builders Festival and has also built kiosks for several preserves. He is a
member of the American Legion and is
a volunteer steam locomotive engineer
at the Boothbay Railway Village. He
and his wife, Holly, live in East
Boothbay.
Meagan Hamblett is the membership, marketing and child enrichment
director for the Boothbay Region
YMCA. She has more than 15 years
experience working with non-profits
including the YMCA, the United Way
of the Greater Seacoast, and St. Andrews Hospital & Healthcare Center.
She lives in East Boothbay with her
husband, Andy, and their four children.
The members also elected the current BRLT officers to a second term:
President Nat Wing, Vice President Jim
Dun, Secretary Joe Gelarden and
Treasurer Mohamed Osman.
OCEAN POINT
CAMPAIGN
NEARS GOAL
T
he tireless volunteers and staff
behind the Ocean Point Capital
Campaign have raised more than
$348,000 and are just $27,000 shy of
the $375,000 goal. BRLT is eagerly
awaiting word from several foundations to complete the campaign.
New board members (from left): Meagan Hamblett, Danielle Betts and Jack Fulmer. All three
are very involved with the Boothbay community
and we welcome their expertise.
One of the views at Ocean Point
BRLT extends a hearty thank-you to
the more than 150 households and
four foundations who have contributed to date. This winter, we invite
you to ice skate on the pond and enjoy
snowshoeing on the property along
Van Horn Road. We look forward to
updating you on the campaign’s progress in the spring newsletter. To learn
more, please visit www.bbrlt.org, call
(207) 633-4818 or e-mail
[email protected].
Boothbay Region Land Trust
Page 5
OCTOBER 2010 – OCTOBER 2011
MEMORIAL GIFTS
In Memory of Robert Bouma
Susan Bouma
In Memory of Doris Maxwell
Emery & Bill Royall
In Memory of Robert & Helen Andrews
Bowditch
Bruce & Susan Talmadge
In Memory of Douglas McCune
Ruby & Robert Houston
In Memory of Lina & Bill Burley
Emery & Bill Royall
In Memory of Desmond Matthew Locke
Colin
Gwynne Jamieson
In Memory of John A. Curtis
James Curtis
Kathy Bugbee
Bruce & Debbie Clough
Sally & Michael Eastwood
Carolyn K. and Stephen Jenks
Bruce B. MacDonald
David & Margaret Murray
Gail Richter
James & Becky Singer
Arnold Thibodeau
Heather & Jeffrey Curtis
The Joanne Clough Family
In Memory of John H. Doane
Susan & Henry Keller
Francis Bellizia
Anonymous
In Memory of F. Reid Ervin
Hampton Roads Bonding
John & Susan Roberts
In Memory of F. Reid & Francis Ervin
Elizabeth L. Jagger
In Memory of Weston P. Figgins
Nancy and Michael Henderek
Sue and John Evans
In Memory of Barbara Ann Gallagher
Kelly Leffler
In Memory of Mahaffey Geier
Christine Geier
In Memory of Aaron Goodenberger
Pamela & Ron Riml
In Memory of William Green
Richard E. Plunkett
In Memory of Alice Bocquel Hartwell
Marcia DeLeon
Hugh & Marcia Donald
Page 6
In Memory of Ruth Eaton McKee
Willard D. Libby
In Memory of Patricia & James Blenn
Perkins, Jr.
Sandra Lynn Perkins
In Memory of Thomas Prytherch
Greg Witt & Patricia Cooper
Kathy Bugbee
Constance Martin
In Memory of Kathy Campbell Reed
Joan & David Morse
In Memory of David E. Ryer
Phyllis Spence
In Memory of Elizabeth P. Silliman
Ed & Lynn Tsuzuki
In Memory of Richard Turner
Marion Bates
Bertrand & Priscilla Bolduc
Patricia Colhoun
Bruce and Elizabeth Doughty
Hazel A. Upham
Miriam K. Wade
In Memory of Peggy Voight
Stewart & Nancy Bither
Kathy Bugbee
Marie Borroff
Millicent & Roy Crawford
Jim & Doreen Dun
Betsy Haines
Merry Knowlton
Lois & Howard Kramer
Jean Slayton
Jean & John Webster
Janis & Tony van Hasselt
Diane Zeeman
Susan Lloyd & Tom Frields
Lee Anderson
Nancy Adams
Carl & Lu Gmoser
Chris & Tony Patton
OCTOBER 2010 –
OCTOBER 2011
HONORARY GIFTS
In Honor of Ellen Baldwin
Marily & John Kerney
In Honor of Jane & Inder Cheema
Gloria Taplin
In Honor of Jim Dun
Sally & Allen Johnson
In Honor of Alice (Pooh) Hatch
Julia Hatch
In Honor of Wayne & Kate Bennett
Hermanson
Ellen & Douglas Bennett
In Honor of Allen & Sally Johnson
Andrew Dunlap
In Honor of Dr. William Kipp
Sander Mueller
In Honor of Lois & Howard Kramer
Robert Kramer
In Honor of Rev. Peter & Michelle
Panagore
David Panagore
In Honor of Richard Thorpe
Denise & Mark Knobloch
In Honor of Susan & Ernie Whitehouse
Sander Mueller
In Honor of Chub & Nicole Whitten,
Amy Whitten & Dennis Ryan
Rob and Robin Whitten
In Memory of Elizabeth Hayden Perkins
& Paul Whitehead
Sandra & Paul Whitehead, Jr.
Boothbay Region Land Trust
ART IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL LAND CONSERVATION
O
ver the years, Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT)
has relied upon the generosity of thousands of families, friends, residents and visitors to conserve and care for
the beautiful places in the Boothbay Region. And it was no
exception in August during BRLT’s Points of View Art Auction at Linekin Bay Resort. More than 75 local and regional
artists, as well as 140 supporters and art collectors, generously set a BRLT fundraising event record, raising nearly
$70,000 for local land conservation!
The success of this event would not have been possible
without the generosity and support of our many community
partners, including the Town of Boothbay Harbor, First
Federal Savings Bank, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic
Church, Bath Savings Institution, Boothbay Region Art
Foundation, the Boothbay Region YMCA, Central Distributors, and Rocktide Trolley. Along with Kaja Veilleux and
John Bottero of Thomaston Place Galleries, who donated
their time and expertise, were many other volunteers, including committee members Pauline Dion (chair), Margaret Canepa, Deezie Flower, Dennis and Marty Gleason, Virginia
Green, Marie Lloyd, Ham and Helen Meserve, Ingrid
Roveillo and Patty Zinkowski. Paul Johnson generously donated his time by playing guitar throughout the auction reception. A special thank-you goes to Boothbay Harbor artists Kim and Philippe Villard who magnificently transformed the resort’s West Lodge into a space embracing the
beauty of the art. Other volunteers included Nancy Adams,
Nancy Bither, Kathy Bugbee, Linda Burley, Morgan Dorsey,
Marshall Farnham, Tom Fogarty, Joe Gelarden, Don and
Marty Goldstone, Nancy Lindberg, Carole Palmer, Sarah
Plummer, Marianne Reynolds, Maureen Shea, Ted Smith,
Helen St. Clair, Jim and Karen Sutton, Andrew Twaddle,
Nat Wing, and Sarah Wolcott.
Lucky auction ticket holders (from left) Danielle Betts, Carole Palmer and
Kathleen Kennedy enjoy the pre-auction festivities.
BRLT would like to give a special thank-you to all of our
guests who attended the auction and art preview, to those
who bid on the art and to all the volunteers who committed
their time and energy to this very special event. Most importantly, we would like to thank the local and regional art community to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. See below for
the complete list of participating artists.
Artists Participating in BRLT’s Points of View Art Auction
Dick Alden
Priscilla Alden
Elise Andersen
Susan Andersen
Eliza Drake Auth
Meg Azzoni
Jeff Barrett
Andre Benoit
Patricia Berger
Brad Betts
Kathleen Billis
Mitch Billis
Cheryl Blaydon
Janet Brennan
Allen Bunker
Lina Burley (courtesy of Linda Burley)
Jill Butke
John Butke
Margaret Canepa
Boothbay Region Land Trust
Andy Correa
Pamela Creamer
Harry Day (courtesy of Janna Day)
Donald Demers
Douglas Desjardins
Madeleine Despres (aka Kim Villard)
Sandra Dutton
Peter Egeli
June Elderkin
Barbara Eldred
Chet Evans
Jack Evjy
Helen Farnham
Carol Fisher
Lincoln Furber
Peter Gellatly
Jean Swan Gordon
Christine Hamilton
Consuelo Eames Hanks
Doug Harley
Bob Hasch
Tony Heyl
Richard & Chris Hilton
Diana Kerr
Sue Heil Kibbe
Laurie Knowlton
Jennifer Litchfield
Richard MacDonald
Patricia McHold
Corinne McIntyre
Roger Milinowski
Robert Mitchell
Georgina Nemethy
Susan Newbold
Monique Parry
Ronald R. Parry
Andrea J. Peters
Carlton Plummer
Paula Ragsdale
Mary Jo Rines
Lee Rowan
Ronald Salter
Alice Schambra
John Seitzer
Mary Ellen Serina
Laurence P. Sisson
Sally Giddings Smith
Helen St. Clair
James Taliana
Brother Thomas (courtesy of
Suzanne Weinstein)
Nicholas Ullo
Tony van Hasselt, A.W.S.
John Vander
Karen Swartsberg Vander
Rhoda Weyr
Page 7
NOW’S THE TIME
TO MAKE A
YEAR-END GIFT
Nonprofit Org.
US Postage Paid
Permit #3
East Boothbay, ME
04544
T
he holidays are almost upon us,
full of traditions imbued with the
spirit of giving and of sharing.
When you are thinking about year-end
donations, please remember BRLT
and the importance of supporting our
mission of protecting the beauty and
character of our region – in all seasons
and for all to freely enjoy. A gift to
BRLT is a gift to the entire community, as well as to our children and
grandchildren.
If you are in a quandary about holiday presents for family or valued
friends, you might want to consider
giving a membership or a contribution
to BRLT in honor of the recipient,
both of which help underwrite the
stewardship of our preserves and educational offerings.
Any donation dated and mailed by
December 31st will be tax deductible
in the current year and will be acknowledged as such. We are enclosing
an envelope for your convenience.
Thank you for your support!
(Continued from page 4)
to die once their task is complete. As
for the queen, she controls everything.
Laying up to 1,500 eggs per day
throughout the summer, she also
emits pheromones that keep the workers on task
The honeybee’s sting is not nearly
as prevalent as most people believe.
“Honeybees are not interested in
stinging,” John said. “One sting and
the bee dies. Honeybees are extremely
gentle and only sting in defense of the
hive. ”
Page 8
The Boothbay Region Land Trust seeks to conserve for the public benefit the natural habitat, scenic beauty and
working land of the Boothbay Region.
WHO’S ON YOUR HOLIDAY LIST?
W
hen you purchase and wear an
item from the BRLT Osprey
Store, not only are you representing
your favorite land trust, you’re supporting land conservation on the Boothbay
peninsula. And if you give an item as a
gift, our logo will represent us far and
wide! So don’t forget to check out the
BRLT merchandise online and in the
BRLT office. We add new items to the
store all the time, such as:
 fleece jackets
 lunch coolers
 winter beanie hats
 canvas bags
 bandanas
 aprons
from 2006 through 2010. Or how
about a bandana for your best friend?
Below, Buddy sports a rose-colored
one that sets him apart from the
pack. Buddy’s human is Skye Wood,
BRLT’s Office Manager, who also
took the picture.
Don’t forget store favorites like
BRLT’s “Take a Hike” trail guide,
hooded jackets and hats for both adults
and children, fleece vests, large tote
bags and Boat Builder Festival posters
Boothbay Region Land Trust