TheOSPREY OBSERVER - Boothbay Region Land Trust
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The OSPREY OBSERVER
NEWSLETTER 116 WINTER 2021
STEWARDSHIP BLITZ BRINGS NOTABLE UPGRADES TO PRESERVES
by Christine Selman, Communications & Outreach Manager
A major priority for BRLT in 2020 has been implementing improvements across its network of
preserves. With the addition of the Oak Point Farm variety of trails that engage people across all walks of
facilities in 2017, the land trust has been building its life and at all ages. Recent enhancements to BRLT’s
stewardship capacity. Over the past few years, BRLT trails include trail resurfacing, improved parking
has acquired a robust supply of tools and equipment access, and new trail development, all of which are
including vehicles, trailers, mowers, chainsaws, ensuring that more people than ever before can enjoy
ladders, and much, much more. It has simultaneously the natural beauty of our region.
been recruiting and training teams of volunteers to
assist in all manner of maintenance on the trails. This The most exciting trail development of 2020 was
spring the land trust made the decision to elevate the unquestionably the completion of BRLT’s first
Lands Manager position from part-time to full-time universal access trail at Oak Point Farm. “Universal
employment as well, an investment that will better access” refers to the design and construction of the
equip BRLT to manage the increased properties under trail, which adheres to strict guidelines for surface
its protection. All of this preparation indicates how, hardness, width, and grade, providing a smooth
at the outset of 2020, BRLT was poised to undertake and gradual walk that enables equitable use for
major upgrades to its system of preserves. all visitors, including people utilizing wheelchairs,
walkers, or strollers. This trail opened in fall of 2020
One of the benchmarks of any public trail system and immediately attracted visitors. The completion
is accessibility, which has been a focus of BRLT’s of this trail is an important first step in BRLT’s plans
preserve improvements this past year. Accessiblity to develop collaborations and programs that engage
refers to how easy it is for people of varying abilities to members of our community who may struggle to
access and enjoy a trail system. Greater accessibility physically access some of BRLT other trail systems.
can provide recreation to a more diverse range of
visitors. Boothbay Region Land Trust strives to offer a (Continued on page 5)
BOOTHBAY REGION LAND TRUST • A Non-Profit Land Conservation Organization • WINTER 2021 | 1
BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM THE DESK OF HAL MOOREFIELD
Board Officers 2020 is finally, mercifully, over, but as I ruminate
Hal Moorefield on that terrible year, to my surprise I find that one
President
emotion keeps rising to the surface—gratitude.
John Welsh
Vice President
I am grateful that so many people had the foresight
Valerie Young
Secretary to create and nurture Boothbay Region Land Trust
over the last forty years, enabling its preserves to
David Whitt
Treasurer be open to everyone throughout this critical year,
Board Members
without charge. BRLT provided some of the few safe
Stewart Bither
sanctuaries available on the Boothbay peninsula
Maria Canning
for people looking for relief from the daily stress of
Cindy Casey
lockdowns and social isolation.
Richard M. Elder
Kathleen Kennedy
I am grateful for our dedicated staff who kept BRLT operating while having to
Isabel Lescure
juggle everything in their personal and business lives that was upended due to
Jeffrey Long
Covid-19 and the shutdowns.
Margaret Reiser
Marianne Reynolds
I am grateful for our many loyal supporters who continued to make donations even
Lauren Stockwell
though all of BRLT’s normal fundraising events were cancelled.
Stan Wakefield
Robert Wheeler
I am grateful for our devoted volunteers who stewarded and improved BRLT’s
preserves and protected its orchards, fields, woodlands and meadows even during
BOARD OF ADVISORS
the pandemic.
Louise Bowditch
Nanette Davison
I am grateful for the contractors and volunteers who continued to renovate BRLT’s
Carl R. Griffin, III
Oak Point farmhouse, and who worked at the preserve, installing a new Universal
Michael F. Harrison
Access Trail and creating a new Member Memorial Garden even while so much in
Dawn E. Kidd
our world was shut down.
Charles E. Koch
Mary Miller
And I am grateful for all the people who staffed and continue to staff our grocery
Chip Newell
stores, pharmacies, medical offices, hospitals and gas stations, and for everyone
Bruce B. Tindal
else who must brave the virus to support the rest of us, including those who keep
Jeffrey Wells
BRLT operating.
STAFF
Thank you one and all for your courage and your service.
Nicholas J. Ullo
Executive Director
Violet S. Wood
Development Director
Christine Selman
Communications &
Outreach Manager
Tracey Hall
Environmental Educator
Brad Weigel
Lands Manager
2 | WINTER 2021 BBRLT.ORG
INTERNSHIP REVIEW: THE LARGE PROJECTS THAT MADE MY SUMMER
by Claire Pellegrini , Summer Intern
Before my internship started at Boothbay Region Land Trust, past interns, family friends, and
even my interviewer advised me 2. Writing articles for press
to ”expect the unexpected.” There One of my favorite projects of the
truly is no typical day working at a summer was writing two articles
land trust. Over the summer, I split for the local paper. I was able to
my time between stewardship select my topics and Christine
and communications. My favorite was a great help in editing. It was
parts of both roles were the really neat to see my words in print
larger projects I worked on. The and to hear from excited readers
following list gives an idea of what through emails and even a letter.
my summer looked like.
3. Trail improvement projects
1. Invasive plant mapping Working on trail improvements
Last summer I worked on mapping was a large part of my internship,
invasive plant populations at and also the most physically
Ovens Mouth using ArcGIS demanding work I completed.
Online. The hope for this project At the same time, these projects
is to better understand the scope were some of the most gratifying. Claire Pellegrini, BRLT’s 2020 summer
intern through the Maine Coast Heritage
of invasive plants at the preserve Our largest project of the summer
Trust Conservation Internship program.
in order to inform the land trust’s was at Ovens Mouth Preserve. A
management plan and to mitigate pulleys and a power winch, and
section of trail was eroding and
their future spread. I have studied cart in gravel to level the surface.
becoming unsafe, so two amazing
both invasive plants and digital The enthusiastic response of
volunteers spearheaded a project
mapping at college, so this project hikers who thanked us as we
to stabilize the area. I was able to
presented a great opportunity to worked meant so much to me.
help collect logs from a massive
apply these skills together in the downed red pine, move the logs
real world. 4. Research for the Damariscove
into place using a system of
Island Museum
Another communicatons project
I undertook was researching the
early history of Damariscove
Island for BRLT’s island museum.
I especially loved the challenging
work of finding accurate
information about the pre-
European settlement. In the near
future, the information I gathered
will be used to update the museum,
adding more content on the pre-
colonial history of the island.
I am so grateful to everyone at
BRLT for finding creative solutions
during an unusual summer to give
me such a varied and exceptional
Claire (right) working with volunteers Cyrus Lauriat (left) and Alan Bellows (center)
on stabilizing an area of eroded trail at Ovens Mouth. internship experience—even in the
midst of a global pandemic.
BOOTHBAY REGION LAND TRUST WINTER 2021 | 3
EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT: NEW TEACHER RESOURCES SUPPORT OUTDOOR LEARNING
Last fall as schools across the nation were adjusting to changes prompted by the pandemic, many
looked to outdoor education as a means of increasing learning. We wanted to offer schools the ability to turn
student safety while enabling in-person learning. In the schoolyard into a field trip. Our kits provide key
the Boothbay region, schools developed outdoor equipment that environmental educators like myself
classrooms and meeting spaces, while teachers use to engage students in nature.”
created lesson plans that could take advantage of
these locales. Boothbay Region Land Trust saw The good news for students and educators alike is
the opportunity to lend its considerable expertise that the outdoors is an incredibly effective learning
in nature-based education, and introduced a new environment. Countless studies now document the
nature kit loaning program available to local schools. benefits for children learning outdoors. These include
stress reduction, mood improvement, increased
BRLT’s new educational kits provide four distinct concentration, and increased engagement at school.
focus areas for nature-based learning: birds, trees, BRLT is encouraged by the interest in outdoor learning
mammals, and schoolyard ecology. Each kit contains and hopes these programs find a permanent place in
suggested activities as well as a variety of equipment school curriculums even after the pandemic.
designed to provoke curiosity and interest, and to
support hands-on observations in nature for up to
20 students. Kits are adaptable to a variety of ages,
and teachers have the flexibility to use the kits in
varying ways that suit their curriculum and learning
objectives. Each kit can be checked out for up to a
week at a time, free of charge, to all local schools.
“Providing teaching resources that support
environmental education and foster an appreciation
for our natural world is one of Boothbay Region Land
Trust’s priorities,” notes Environmental Educator
Tracey Hall. “We understand that this year school
groups may find it difficult to coordinate field trips,
which typically provide hands-on experiential BRLT’s new Bird Study lending kit--one of four kits now
available for loan to local teachers in the Boothbay region.
BRLT RECEIVES ACCREDITATION RENEWAL
One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly
support saving the open spaces they love. Since 1980, Boothbay Region
Land Trust (BRLT) has been doing just that for the people of the Boothbay
region. Now BRLT is happy to announce it has renewed its land trust
accreditation – proving once again that, as part of a network of over 400
accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to professional
excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
BRLT received its initial accreditation in 2014. “Renewing our accreditation
shows Boothbay Region Land Trust’s ongoing commitment to permanent
land conservation in our region,” says Nicholas Ullo, Executive Director.
“We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process.
Our strength means special places – such as Oak Point Farm, Porter, Ovens Mouth, Zak and so many others –
will be protected forever, making this region an even greater place for us and our children.”
4 | WINTER 2021 BBRLT.ORG
Stewardship Blitz (Continued from page 1)
At Porter and Ocean Point preserves visitors will
notice a variety of upgrades that support ease of
access to trails and vistas. A major resurfacing of the
trail at Porter was undertaken last summer to fill in
roots and smooth over dips, eliminating unevenness
and creating a smoother surface for hikers and
joggers. New bridging and stairs were installed at
both of these preserves to improve access to favorite
landmarks. Visitors can now easily enjoy Porter’s
sandy beach via a series of steps that lead down
to the shore. They can also take in the views while
catching their breath at several new benches that
have been placed at Porter as well as at many other
BRLT preserves, creating more frequent resting spots
along land trust trails.
At Ovens Mouth, Colby, and Gregory, attention
was paid to hazards along the trails. A significant
rebuild to a section of eroded trail along a ledge at Becky’s Way, BRLT’s new universal access trail at Oak Point
Ovens Mouth East has made its trail safer and more Farm, enables visitors of all abilities to enjoy the preserve’s
scenic shorefront at Hodgdon Cove.
traversable. At Colby some rerouting of the trail was
required due to hung-up trees. And last fall, new bog
bridging at Gregory was installed, creating a safe, dry
surface for hikers to that trail.
Finally, several major upgrades at parking lots around
the region are increasing space to popular locations
and improving safety. Ovens Mouth West received
expaned parking in 2019, and BRLT is developing
plans for a possible extension of Ovens Mouth East
as well. Zak, Porter, and Oak Point Farm preserves all
added additional parking spaces in 2020 while also
addressing issues such as wear and safety upgrades.
An expanded disability parking lot at Oak Point Farm
is providing direct increased ease of access for
visitors utilizing the new universal access trail.
These highlighted projects only scratch the surface
of all that was accomplished on BRLT preserves
in 2020. In addition, numerous hours were logged
clearing blowdowns, trimming trails, mowing paths,
cleaning debris, and so much more. The momentum
BRLT has built will continue into 2021 with more great
upgrades on the horizon. Until then, we hope to see
A view from the universal access trail looking toward
Hodgdon Cove at Oak Point Farm. you on the trails!
BOOTHBAY REGION LAND TRUST WINTER 2021 | 5
MEMORIAL GIFTS
OCTOBER 2019--SEPTEMBER 2020
In memory of Howie Barter Edward & Mary Tate Carolyn & Stephen Jenks
Bill & Joanne Hammond May Vaughan Angela Kashuba
Allan Vaughan Margaret Kruesi
In memory of Blue the dog
Julie Lamy & Ramunas Stepanauskas
Lee Hammond & Brian Barter In memory of Weston &
Jeannie Loeb
Rebecca Figgins
In memory of Jaye Scholl Bohlen Lynda Lotich
Michael & Nancy Henderek
Charles Bohlen Laura Lynch
In memory of Edwin Green Corey Madden
In memory of Robert S. &
Hugh & Marcia Donald Carol Magee
Helen A. Bowditch
Robert & Katharine Gravino Linda Manassee Buell
Kit Andrews
Elizabeth Greenland Amanda Mathis
Bruce & Susan Talmadge
Nancy Harriman Claire Miller
In memory of David D. Clapp Kathleen & Michael Kennedy Peter Mucha
Nancy R. Adams
In memory of Michael Greene Eric Muller
Helen & Antoine Atallah
Walter & Janet McDonough Andrea Murray-Lichtman
Nancy & Stewart Bither
Michael & Leanne Pander
Will & Leal Brinegar In memory of Bruce Johnson
Andrew & Eliana Perrin
Terry Brodrick Nan & Chip Davison
Larry Rosenfeld
Gail Brown
In memory of Peter Jordan Ron Ross & Fred Kraeuter
Winfield Brown
Rudy Jordan Josh Rothenberg
Ginger & Calvin Carr
John & Nancy Sanders
Nathaniel & Hester Clapp In memory of Emmy & Jim Kerney
Tanya Shields
Glenna Clark Beverley McCoid
Jean Slayton
Deb Crawford In memory of M. Howard Kramer Betsy Sleath
Henry Donovan The Badanes Family Conghe Song
David & Linda Dow Peter & Marjory Bankson Sarah Spicer
Steven Feldmann Rich Bell Cheryl Stewart Lushe
Doug & Irene Fowle Vivienne Benesch Kimberly Strom
George G. Loring Fund Karen Bluth Hazel Upham
Jerrett Hansen Mark Boyle Arthur Vaccaro
Gregory & Elizabeth Hocking Kathy Bugbee Anthony Viera
Shannon Kashinsky Daniel & Judith Burkitt Hope & Richard Walker
Robert & Beatrice Kelleter Laurie Cartier Tommie Watson
Robyn Kichen U. of North Carolina Chapel Hill Colleagues David & Katie Wittenberg
Donald & Sarah King Mark Crescenzi V. Skye Wood
Susan McKinley Curtis Family Philanthropic Fund Rochelle Zohn
Nina Ocio Jim & Doreen Dun
Colleagues of Purdue U. Northwest VCAA In memory of D. Vinnie McLaughlin
Noralee Frankel
Sandra Parks Jim & Karen Sutton
Tony Gambill
Peter & Babette Loring Gift Fund Elena & Charles Garrison In memory of Rupert B. Neily
Robert Ruhl Bonnie & Ron Ginger Leslie Bird
Melissa Schlinger Judith Gray Paul Bird
Robert C. Seamans, III Colin Gwin Philip & Marilyn Bird
Harold & Barbara Smith Kitty Hartford George Bisbee
Dan Spillane & Sean Hickey Peter Hunter & Joan Betancourt Deedee Blane
Bruce & Susan Talmadge Anne Jarman Glenn & Lois Carson
6 | WINTER 2021 BBRLT.ORG
HONORARY GIFT
OCTOBER 2019--SEPTEMBER 2020
In honor of Larry & Janie Anderson In honor of Page & Donna Gravely & In honor of Frank Schambra
Steven & Cal Baier-Anderson Susan Gravely & Bill Ross Mark Schambra
Jeff & Emily Black
In honor of Patricia Noe Bursaw In honor of Nancy E. Shablom
Margaret Bursaw In honor of Tim & Tracy Johnson Gail Brittain
Allen & Sally Johnson
In honor of the Carrick Family In honor of Jim & Becky Singer
Anne & Ming Lew & Family In honor of Mira-Lisa Katz & Jennifer Palmer
Chris McCrum
In honor of Clay Cobb In honor of John Welsh
Howard & Lois Kramer
Cobb Mixter Richard & Roberta Wright
In honor of Howard & Lois Kramer Ron Ross & Fred Kraeuter
In honor of Abby & John Dunlap
Beth Simonton-Kramer & Jon Kramer Vic & Joan Taylor
Allen & Sally Johnson
John & Nancy Sanders
In honor of Dan Williams
In honor of Eric Elton
In honor of Isabel Norton Jan & Bill Hamblen
Catherine Elton
Ruina Judd
In honor of Mr. & Mrs. Collett Wilson
In honor of Dr. & Mrs. Paul Fullagar
In honor of Virginia S. Rickeman Ruina Judd
Ruina Judd
Eugenia Shepard
In honor of Michael & Roxanne Zak
In honor of Marti Goldstone
In honor of Kenneth B. Russell Mary Anne Zak
Tobias Goldstone
Elizabeth “Tudy” Russell Fund
Memorial Gifts Continued
In memory of Rupert B. Neily Lisa Scofield In memory of Marshall Saunders
Jacob Cross Joanne Sharpe Douglass & Gayle Seaton
Nan & Chip Davison Jane G. Smith & Byron Borst
In memory of Aaron Scharff
Bavo & Eloisa DeGroote Don & Marcia Soler
Walter & Janet McDonough
Ivan DeGroote Sara Walbridge
Maya DeGroote The White Family In memory of Nancy Thorpe Sellar
Forrest Dillon Tamsin Taylor
In memory of Lola O’Byrne
Hugh & Marcia Donald In memory of Richard Thorpe
Gail N. Richter
Doug & Irene Fowle Scott & Mickey Doran
Don & Marcia Soler
Bonnie & Ron Ginger Patrick Mish
Dorothy & John Habel In memory of Hal & Jane Page
James & Terry Sayler
Patricia Horn Peter & Michelle Harbeck
Elizabeth Wendell
Mark Kareken In memory of J. Blenn Perkins, Jr. & Ken & Pam Williams
Theresa Kerchner & James Perkins Patricia A. Perkins
In memory of Reginald &
Dawn & Bob Kidd Sandra Lynn Perkins &
Christine Vayo
Howard Lake Jeffrey Karl Ochsner Fund
Jean V. Hamilton
Julie Lamy & Ramunas Stepanauskas
In memory of Molly Pitcher
Susan Lloyd & Tom Frields In memory of Peggy Voight
Ron Ross & Fred Kraeuter
Tracey Mahanti Susan Lloyd & Tom Frields
Joy Neily In memory of Carlton Plummer
In memory of Norma Williams
Sandra Neily Kathy Bugbee
Megan Williams
Kathy Neily Linda J. Burley
Liz Neily & Andy Maizner Bruce & Susan Robinson In memory of Misty Morning Wood
Elizabeth Nelson Barbara Sipp Mark & Patty Wood
BOOTHBAY REGION LAND TRUST WINTER 2021 | 7Nonprofit Org.
PO Box 183 / 60 Samoset Road US Postage
Boothbay Harbor ME 04538 PAID
Permit #3
Boothbay Harbor
Tel: 207.633.4818 | Web: BBRLT.org ME 04538
Email: brlt@bbrlt.org
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
The Boothbay Region Land Trust seeks to conserve for the public benefit the
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natural habitat, scenic beauty and working land of the Boothbay region.
2020 Preserve Adopters
Annual
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Partners:
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