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August 12, 2011

ESLC Seeks National Accreditation

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore announced today its intention to apply for national accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance. This rigorous land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations, also known as land trusts, which meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. ESLC is the first land trust solely based in the state of Maryland to apply for national accreditation. ESLC was also the first conservation or environmental organization in the country to receive the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organization’s Standards of Excellence Seal in 2000 and was reaccredited in 2004 and 2008. ESLC is a private, nonprofit land conservation organization committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them. Since its inception in 1990, ESLC has helped landowners to protect more than 50,000 acres of farmland and important habitat on the Eastern Shore. "During a time when the public is demanding accountability from government and nonprofit organizations, accreditation will help provide the assurance of quality and permanence of land conservation the public is looking for. "This is a very big endeavor for Eastern Shore Land Conservancy that will not only improve the way we do our work but help us to be more effective at achieving our mission," said Rob Etgen, ESLC Executive Director. "Accreditation will help build even broader public support for our very important work to preserve the Eastern Shore that we all love." Participation in the LTA program, operated by the Land Trust Alliance is voluntary. "We work very hard to maintain the highest level of excellence as a nonprofit and this application as well as our MANO re-certification is a great

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August 8, 2011

ESLC Welcomes New Staff

August 8, 2011 –Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is pleased to announce the addition of Josh Hastings, Bill Mattimore and Dorsey Clark to its staff. Hastings joins ESLC as its Policy Manager, where he will help ESLC both advance proactive policy initiatives/legislation and oppose harmful policies/development projects. Josh will develop an organizational policy agenda, organize and mobilize a broad base of citizens/partners; and conduct public campaigns. A proud Eastern Shore native, Josh grew up in Wicomico County, on Maryland’s first certified organic farm. Over the past few years, he has served as the Legislative Assistant to the Chair of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, in the Maryland State Senate. Josh has been involved on multiple political campaigns on the local, state and federal level. He is a 2004 and 2005 graduate of Salisbury University, earning a Bachelors in Business Marketing and Bachelors in Political Science, respectively. He recently relocated to Stevensville. Also joining the ESLC staff as its new Accountant is Bill Mattimore. In this capacity, Bill will be focused on the day-to-day bookkeeping and financial planning for ESLC. A graduate of Georgetown University and Columbia University, Bill received an AB in Economics and an MBA in Finance and Accounting. He holds a CPA Certification from the state of New York. He has a diverse background in financial management in the securities, mutual fund and medical administration fields and has nine years of experience working with 501c3 not-for-profit organizations. Bill and his wife Anne moved to Easton two years ago to be closer to their three children and eight grandchildren in Annapolis and Ashburn, Virginia. Rounding out the newly added staff is ESLC’s new Sassafras Environmental Education Center Program Manager, Dorsey Clarke. Dorsey, who recently completed a one year appointment as ESLC’s Volunteer Maryland Coordinator , will help with the day

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July 17, 2011

ESLC, DNR Celebrate Grand Opening of Sassafras Environmental Education Center

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) and former U.S. Congressman, Wayne Gilchrest today celebrated the grand opening of the Sassafras Environmental Education Center (SEEC). SEEC, an environmental education and agro-ecology program at Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area in Kent County, is the result of a unique partnership between DNR and ESLC. This partnership connects Maryland’s children with nature and explores potential models for innovative agricultural activities supporting both local food supply and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. The project will involve a range of activities for children. “SEEC will give these kids a deep frame of reference for the ecology and their place in the ecology,” said Wayne Gilchrest, Program Director for SEEC. “When you have an understanding of your own niche and how it can be compatible with nature’s design, you can see the greater impact and be a better steward of our planet.” “I want to thank Congressman Gilchrest for his vision and enthusiasm; he was the driving force behind the Sassafras Environmental Education Center,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The SEEC is a prime example of unique partners, both private and public, coming together for the benefit of Maryland children. Through outdoor education, our children learn to appreciate our natural world and become the next generation of stewards.” Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is a regional conservation organization dedicated to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore. SEEC programs are one way ESLC is able to increase access to land and engage youth and their families in these activities. ESLC will collaborate with the SEEC through complimenting educational efforts and will work to ensure children on the Shore find ways to explore their rural heritage. “Working with youth and providing more opportunities for people from all walks of life to learn about

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June 3, 2011

ESLC, East New Market Celebrate Protection of Friendship Hall Site

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the town of East New Market today celebrated the Town's purchase and preservation of a key piece of open space land for the use and enjoyment of the Town. This news is the result of many months of work by the town,ESLC and the owner of historic Friendship Hall to find a way to protect the open space surrounding the historic site. These 10 acres of open space - once slated for development both set off the home and remain a rare gem of open space in the center of East New Market. Had these lots been developed, Friendship Hall and the landscape of this Eastern Shore town would have been altered forever. Public input sessions, held through ESLC's Center for Towns Place Work[s]hop community design process, acknowledged the house and the surrounding property as a key element to the town's identity and character. Preservation Maryland identified Friendship Hall as a 2009 top ten endangered historic property because of the planned development. "We lose a slice of America when a town dies," said East New Market Mayor Caroline Cline. "ESLC's involvement in the future of East New Market was like the 'Perfect Storm.' We needed their expertise and leadership and they wanted to assist us with these development issues. Our town had limited funds to study the issues we were facing - with ESLCs support, we were able to open new doors." Friendship Hall, a circa 1740 brick house preserved by a historic easement held by the Maryland Historical Trust and listed on the National Register of Historic Places is still on the market. "This is a great day for Eastern Shore Land Conservancy as we work to advance our goals of bringing conservation and open space to more people in our local communities," said Rob Etgen,

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June 1, 2011

ESLC, Town of Easton Partner on Waterfront Visioning Process

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy has partnered with the town of Easton to determine the future of 11 acres of waterfront property along the Tred Avon River. The Easton Point property on West Glenwood Avenue - a former dump currently closed to the public - will be the subject of a year-long public design process to determine future uses. The first public tour of the property will be held June 2nd from 5 - 7 p.m. This tour will kick off a community visioning process. The first public meeting will be held June 9th at 6 pm at Easton Elementary School's Moton Building. "This property is Easton's only waterfront access available so citizen input is vital," said Easton Mayor Robert Willey. "I encourage everyone to participate in this process." This project is a partnership between the town of Easton and ESLC;s Center for Towns and is supported by the Town Creek Foundation. "We hope everyone in the community will come be part of this exciting opportunity to contribute to the future of this piece of land," said ESLC's Community Projects Manager Lisetta Silvestri. "Open space and waterfront access will be an amazing addition to our community and we look forward to working with everyone over the coming months to develop the community's vision for the property." ESLC's Center for Towns, launched earlier this year, is an unprecedented initiative aimed at strengthening and supporting the small towns of the Eastern Shore. More information on the project including directions to the tour, can be found at ESLC's Center for Towns website by visiting the project page for Easton Point.

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May 27, 2011

Center for Towns

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is launching the Center for Towns to catalyze a healthy, vibrant and sustainable region through leadership development, community design, and on-the-ground projects.

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April 15, 2011

ESLC and Perdue Celebrate Land Protection Successes on the Shore at Dorchester Farm

Pictured from left are Dr. Jack Scanlon, recent CREP easement donor, ESLC Land Protection Specialist Jared Parks, ESLC Executive Director Rob Etgen and representatives from the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation including Executive Director Bill Hetherington and Dick Willey.Representatives from Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) Perdue came together today to celebrate the protection of more than 1,300 acres of important Eastern Shore farmland during the 2010-2011 season. The celebration took place at the Scanlon Farm in Dorchester County, site of a recently added Conservation Reserve Program (CREP) easement. ESLC is the local sponsor for the CREP program for both Caroline and Dorchester counties. The CREP program is a voluntary one that allows landowners to place permanent easements on their land to reduce the sediments and nutrients from runoff in the Chesapeake Bay and enhance wildlife habitats. This program allows landowners with acres currently enrolled in CREP contracts to place an easement on those acres. The easement is a one-time payment that permanently protects the land from future development. The acres covered by the easement are required to maintain buffer plantings to prevent run-off and protect water quality. In addition to CREP easements, ESLC has a variety of land protection options available to preserve the Eastern Shore’s farms, forests, fisheries and rich rural heritage for the benefit of future generations. The Scanlon farm, owned by Jack and Kathleen Scanlon, is an ideal CREP easement because of its location near the Little Choptank River in Dorchester County. Thanks to a generous $25,000 grant from Perdue, through the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, ESLC was able to work with the Scanlons and numerous other families throughout the Shore to help protect their land forever from development. "Preserving farmland in perpetuity is the foundation of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s efforts to protect the Shore’s rural character and the

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April 9, 2011

ESLC Honors Land Steward Volunteers

Pictured from left are Charlotte Staelin, Nancy Neely, Diane Klingelhofer and Jeremy Rothwell A group of ESLC’s volunteer land stewards gathered in recently to celebrate a successful year of monitoring ESLC’s 251 conservation easements. With the help of these dedicated volunteers, ESLC was able to monitor 100% of its properties in 2010. The celebratory potluck dinner provided an opportunity for land steward volunteers to visit and to talk about this year’s monitoring season. All volunteers shared the same sentiment regarding their excitement to get back in the field for the 2011 monitoring season! ESLC currently has 11 active land stewards. To learn more about this program please click here. ESLC will hold a spring training for new land stewards on April 16th at our office in Queenstown. For more information, contact Dorsey Clarke, ESLC’s Volunteer Maryland Coordinator.

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March 17, 2011

ESLC launches Center for Towns

New program aimed at supporting, strengthening small towns Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them officially launched their new Center for Towns, an unprecedented initiative aimed at strengthening and supporting the small towns of the Eastern Shore. ESLC joined a variety of state and local elected officials and state and local agency representatives to kick off the Center for Towns. The ceremony was held today at a press conference at the Tidewater Inn in Easton. The Center for Towns will continue ESLC’s efforts to be a resource for sound land use planning and community based projects on the Eastern Shore. "Our vision for the Eastern Shore is one with vibrant towns and communities where our children’s children can live and raise their families. The launch of this new Center for Towns will help ESLC get closer to reaching that vision,” said ESLC Executive Director Rob Etgen. “While ESLC will always be committed to land conservation and our farming legacy, we are thrilled to be working with our towns and communities. We look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.” Using partnerships with other regional organizations, community groups, local officials and regional universities, the Center for Towns will provide education on town design and planning, community design projects and competitions and community-based land conservation projects in and around towns. “Today’s launch and ribbon cutting is a special moment in ESLC’s history and we are honored to share it with so many partners and residents whose commitment to the Eastern Shore is apparent,” said Jake Day, ESLC’s Town Planning Manager. “We hope the launch of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s Center for Towns will create new opportunities to

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March 1, 2011

ESLC Releases Visioning Book for East New Market

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) recently released the published results of East New Market’s place work[s]hop. A collaborative community design initiative founded by ESLC and Urban Dialogues, Inc., place work[s]hop is designed for the specific needs of Eastern Shore small towns. It combines local community knowledge with the design and planning knowledge of local architects, planners, preservationists and policy-makers. The entire community of East New Market created a vision for their community which included drawings, input and ideas about the best strategies for helping East New Market become a vibrant small town again. Their participation in the place work[s]hop process began when a historic property featuring one of the town’s oldest homes – Friendship Hall- came under threat of development. "We were approached by Mayor Caroline Cline and Dorchester County Tourism Director Amanda Fenstermaker to help East New Market determine the best solution to save Friendship Hall," said Jake Day, ESLC’s Town Planning Manager. "We quickly realized these concerns were greater than just one property and place work[s]hop was an ideal way to empower the town and its residents with the tools and expertise to determine the future needs of the community." As a result of this process, the threatened property is close to becoming a public park and the community developed - with the help of the leading organizations and many volunteers - a set of strategies for responding to the town's most pressing challenges. This book tells their story and provides the town with a roadmap for implementing these strategies. It was officially presented to the town at their annual Community Dinner earlier this month and is available for purchase via ESLC’s website. "Ensuring that town leaders and residents are equipped to lead the way on implementing the recommendations independent of us is the most important goal of place work[s]hop and – lucky

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BLOG

ESLC Seeks National Accreditation

ESLC Welcomes New Staff

ESLC, DNR Celebrate Grand Opening of Sassafras Environmental Education Center

ESLC, East New Market Celebrate Protection of Friendship Hall Site

ESLC, Town of Easton Partner on Waterfront Visioning Process

Center for Towns

ESLC and Perdue Celebrate Land Protection Successes on the Shore at Dorchester Farm

ESLC Honors Land Steward Volunteers

ESLC launches Center for Towns

ESLC Releases Visioning Book for East New Market

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