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Mission Statement
Conserve, steward, and advocate for the unique rural landscape of the Eastern Shore.

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ESLC Announces Expanded Work with Towns

Non-Profit Welcomes Salisbury Native to Staff Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is pleased to announce the addition of Jacob Day to its staff. Day, who is originally from Wicomico County, joins the staff as a Town Planning Manager, to offer assistance to the Eastern Shore’s towns on growth and planning issues. He will be responsible for launching a small town planning initiative that aims to make available the most applicable and effective town planning tools, techniques, services, and models of how healthy, strong communities grow sustainably. As a primary part of this, Day will also provide immediate support to local governments who are addressing the new comprehensive plan elements of MD House Bill 1141, namely the water resource element and the municipal growth element. "We are so pleased to add Jake to our staff to fill this critical need here on the Shore ," said Amy Owsley, ESLC’s Director of Land Use Planning. "Jake’s background and expertise are ideally suited to help understand the land use planning needs of Eastern Shore small towns and villages and create important partnerships to help build the capacity of local government planning." This planner position is not intended to replicate or replace the services of the MD Department of Planning circuit riders, or the direct technical services provided by consultants that some towns are hiring to write the 1141 comp plan elements. "Our Eastern Shore towns are at the heart of sound land use planning—the growth towns select today will define our region for generations," said Owsley. It’s going to take all hands on deck to give towns the resources they need, and this position is one piece of that help." A Salisbury native, Jake has focused much of his previous work on sustainable economic, energy, and land development on the Delmarva Peninsula. He previously served as

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Queen Anne’s County Considers Zoning and Land Values

ESLC presents research summary Queenstown, Maryland December 12, 2008 – Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission is considering a new zoning policy, called Ordinance 08-25 - the Rural Preservation and Development Act, that has raised concerns about the link between downzoning and land values. To address this question the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization, compiled a research synthesis of studies focusing on downzoning and land valuation with citations. ESLC Executive Director Rob Etgen presented this information to the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission at their December 11th meeting. According to Etgen, "We work with hundreds of farm families every year and are very sensitive to any impacts of regulations on land values. While we are comfortable that the new Queen Anne’s ordinance will not cause any dramatic decrease in land values, it is important for the decision makers to read the research and draw their own conclusions." In addition to providing copies of the research to the Planning Commission, ESLC encourages interested landowners to read the research reports which are available through the Conservancy website   www.eslc.org . Of the eleven studies within this research synthesis, seven found that downzoning did not decrease land values and four found that it did. Of the four that found a loss in value from downzoning, the only one more recent than 1988 was a New Jersey study which was not published nor peer reviewed. Of the seven that found no loss in value from downzoning, five were published and peer reviewed. "Although the research on downzoning and land values is not unanimous, the majority of the research has found no impact on land values from downzoning," said Etgen.   The Caroline County Planning Commission also provided the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission their experience on the issue with a letter describing a successful ordinance in Caroline

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ESLC Announces 2008 Kids Essay and Art Contest Winners

Contests open to all K-8 Students on Upper and Mid-Shore The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy has announced the winners of their first ever (and hopefully annual!) Kids Essay and Art Contest. The Contest was open to all students in grades kindergarten through eight in the six Upper and Mid-Shore Counties including Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester. In both the essay and the poster, students were asked to tell, via the written word or via their artwork, why they love the Eastern Shore and what people, places and memories make the Eastern Shore so special to them. Over 300 entries were received from schools throughout the Upper and Mid-Shore. Because some categories did not receive entries, the art contest entries were placed in an Upper and Mid-Shore division. Winners include the following: Kids Art Contest Winners: Mid-Shore (Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot) K-2 Division Winner: Dakota Gunter, Greensboro Elementary School 2nd Place: Arianna Cintron, Ridgely Elementary School 3-5 Division Winner: Samuel Newmier, White Marsh Elementary School 2nd: Quinn Jennings, St. Michaels Elementary School Honorable Mention: Sequoia Chupek, SMES 6-8 Division Winner: Alecia Hall, St. Michaels Elementary School 2nd Place: Alee Micheli, Chesapeake Christian School Honorable Mention: Caroline Camper, SMES and Cheyenne Cowell, St. Michaels Elementary School Kids Art Contest Winners: Upper Shore (Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s) K-2: No Entries 3-5 Division 1st place: Sky Ulsprach, Kent School 2nd place: Brooke, Kent School Honorable Mentions: Cameron Wick, Noah Kullman, Radcliffe Creek 6-8 Divison 1st place: Jimmy Johnson, Jr., Radcliffe Creek 2nd place: Kelsey Griffin, Radcliffe Creek Honorable Mentions: Leanna Taylor, Augie Callahan, Radcliffe Creek Kids Essay Contest Winners: Kent 1sr place:Jake Schengber, Radcliffe Creek 2nd place: Zekiel Whitlock, Radcliffe Creek Honorable Mention:Claire Lawrence, Kent School Kids Essay Contest Winners: Queen Anne’s County 1st place Morgan Starr, Sudlersville Middle School 2nd place: hayden Rhodes: Sudlersville Middle School Honorable Mention: Taylor Douglas, Sudlersville Middle School Kids Essay Contest Winners: Talbot 1st Place: Samuel Newmier, White Marsh Elementary School 2nd Place: Caroline Camper, St. Michaels Elementary

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2008 Eastern Shore 2010 Award Winners Announced!

Honors given at annual planning conference Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) recentlyannounced the recipients of this year’s Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards. The 2008 Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards, inspired by the regional land use planning agreement that sets the highest expectations for the care of the Eastern Shore landscape, distinguish outstanding leadership in the field of land use planning and land development on the Eastern Shore. The purpose of these awards is to honor the projects, people and places that best define growth befitting the Eastern Shore. This year’s awards are focused on the Eastern Shore 2010’s Goal 4, “Develop a regional transportation plan by 2010 that provides alternatives to a new Bay crossing and emphasizes the use of alternative as well as public transportation within and among communities “This awards program was inspired by the amazing work our local governments and groups were out there doing to reach the Eastern Shore 2010 agreement’s goals,” said Rob Etgen, ESLC’s Executive Director. “With so many issues facing the Eastern Shore when it comes to transportation, it is so exciting to be able to honor the folks who are working to get out in front of these tough issue to help protect our Eastern Shore quality of life from being diminished as a result of these challenges.” This year’s Eastern Shore 2010 award recipients are: Regional Leadership:MUST Bus This nationally recognized model for how best to implement a rural bus system is a collaborative effort between Delmarva Community Transit, Delmarva Community Services and Queen Anne’s County Rides. The MUST which provided free transportation for conference attendees at today’s event, gives the region a wide range of public transit choices, both fixed-rout and on-demand services. County Leadership: Queen Anne’s County Cool Climates: Growing Cooler Queen Anne’s County has taken a momentous step, and shown

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ESLC Releases Results of Latest Public Opinion Poll

Eastern Shore Residents Concerned about Sprawl, Growth Latest Public Opinion Poll Results Released Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore today announced the results of a poll indicating growth, development and sprawl continue to be a top concern for Eastern Shore residents. The land use poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research, Inc. late this summer, surveyed 1,500 Eastern Shore residents regarding growth and development, local funding priorities, transportation, conservation needs and factors affecting their quality of life. The poll indicates that residents feel the single most important problem facing the Eastern Shore is growth, development and sprawl. This is followed by a 2:1 margin by a tie between jobs/economy and the environment/community. This number of residents most concerned about growth and development issues is highest in Queen Anne’s and Talbot. "This poll tells us that growth issues continue to be a top concern of Eastern Shore residents and that the public is looking to local elected officials for solutions ," said Amy Owsley, ESLC’s Director of Land Use Planning. Earlier this year ESLC engaged Susquehanna Polling and Research to survey registered voters in six counties of the Eastern Shore: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. A total of 1,200 registered voters (plus an additional over sampling in Caroline, Dorchester and Kent ) were interviewed by telephone, from August 25 – September 2. The margin of error for the regional poll is +/- 2.8 percent. ESLC conducted a similar poll in 2004 and the results from the most recent poll iterate many of the same findings. The top headlines from the 2008 survey are: » Pace of Growth: Due to the rapid rate of development and its impact on the loss of farmland and habitat, people are feeling anxious about growth

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ESLC’S 10th Annual Planning Conference Site of Regional Transportation Summit

Annual event to feature carbon neutral options, local foods luncheon Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC),  has announced its 10th annual Planning Conference, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 7 at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills. This year's conference, “Where are the Eastern Shore’s Roads Taking Us?’ will gather leaders from the region and across the country to collaborate and problem solve about one of the most important issues on the Eastern Shore – transportation. ESLC recently kicked off a long-term transportation campaign aimed at learning how the region can effectively shape and influence transportation decisions and the annual planning conference is one of the major ways ESLC plans to gather expert ideas on this and related land use issues. Keynote speaker Reid Ewing, PhD of the National Center for Smart Growth Education and Research will discuss how global climate change, a changing economy, rising gas prices and shifting housing market demands are creating a new paradigm for transportation and land use planning, especially on the Eastern Shore.  “We are at a real crossroads when it comes to planning for our transportation needs for the future and we are incredibly excited to bring together our local planners and leaders and state and national experts on transportation to talk about an issue that affects all of ours lives on a daily basis,” said Amy Owsley, ESLC’s Director of Land Use Planning. “It is our sincere hope that this conference will help start a regional dialogue so that together we can explore and select the best solutions for our evolving transportation problems.” In addition to a series of interactive panels and discussions, the conference will offer attendees several carbon reducing options and incentives including the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets, eliminating disposable tableware for lunch and breaks, recycling options throughout the venue, composting of food residues

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ESLC seeks nominations for best in Eastern Shore planning

Deadline for Nominations is October 3 ESLC is calling for nominations for this year’s Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards. The 2008 Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards, inspired by the regional land use planning agreement that sets the highest expectations for the care of the Eastern Shore landscape, distinguish outstanding leadership in the field of land use planning and land development on the Eastern Shore. The purpose of these awards is to honor the projects, people and places that best define growth befitting the Eastern Shore. This year's awards are focused on the Eastern Shore 2010’s Goal 4, "Develop a regional transportation plan by 2010 that provides alternatives to a new Bay crossing and emphasizes the use of alternative and public transportation within and among communities." lsanford@eslc.org or fax to 410.901.9986. Winners will be honored at ESLC’s annual Land Use Planning Conference on Nov. 7 at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills.  Awards will be given out at ESLC’s annual conference "Where are the Eastern Shore’s Roads Taking Us?’ This year’s conference will focus on regional transportation issues and will pull together national, regional and local leaders to collaborate on potential solutions.  "We are so excited to celebrate the excellent work that is being done toward the Eastern Shore 2010 agreement’s goals,’ said Amy Owsley, ESLC’s Director of Land Use Planning. "Transportation is at a crossroads here on the Shore and we are looking forward to honoring those who are at the forefront of finding viable solutions for these important issues."  Past Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards winners include the Talbot County Planning Commission for their efforts to protect the important rural areas of Talbot County, Colchester Farm Community Supported Agriculture project for exemplifying how new models for farming can create a sustainable future for agriculture on the Shore and Governor Martin O’Malley for his position

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ESLC announces transfer of 323 acres to state for forest management

Cambridge, Maryland – August 11, 2008 – The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, a private, non-profit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore, has announced that 323 acres have been approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works for transfer to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  The Lindner Property, which was purchased by ESLC last year, was approved for purchase by the state of Maryland’s Program Open Space program for $2.5 million. It will be managed by the Department of Natural Resources’s Forest Service as part of the Chesapeake Forest Lands, an innovative program designed to manage forestland for generation of forest products, local employment and recreational opportunities.  The Lindner property consists of mostly forests containing high quality Delmarva fox squirrel habitat. Consisting of 218 acres of forests and forested non-tidal wetlands, the property also is a high priority conservation acquisition under the state’s Program Open Space Stateside Targeting System.  The property is located proximate to the Blackwater Resorts property on the Little Blackwater River acquired by the State in 2007 and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.  . "Adding this land to our protected forests will help our community to combat climate change, as these forests provide critical storehouses for carbon, while ensuring that the landscape continues to benefit our local economy through renewable resources, jobs, and recreation,” said Meredith Lathbury, ESLC’s Director of Land Conservation. “We are so pleased that this will be in the care and stewardship of the State of Maryland and that the Lindner family’s wishes to have it protected forever will be carried out.”

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Lathbury Honored at State Land Protection Conference

Photo Courtesy of Maryland Environmental Trust James O'Connell, Vice President of MET, presents the Aileen Hughes Award to Anne Jones and Meredith Lathbury, right. Queenstown, Maryland – June 26, 2008 – Meredith Lathbury, Director of Land Conservation for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, recently received the Aileen Hughes Award for Outstanding Leadership in Land Conservation. The award, one of two presented this year, is given by the Maryland Environmental Trust, was created in honor of the late Aileen Hughes, a leader in the conservation movement and honors those that demonstrate exemplary leadership in the land trust community.  The award was presented to Lathbury at the Maryland Land Trust Alliance Conference, held earlier this month at the Howard County Conservancy’s Mt. Pleasant Farm in Woodstock Lathbury was honored with Ann Holmes Jones, President of the Howard Country Conservancy and a member and secretary of the MET board of trustees.  Jones’s commitment and dedication to land conservation has had a major impact on conservation efforts in both Howard and Baltimore counties.  Her knowledge of the area, familiarity with landowners, and expertise in easement wording make her an incredible asset for State-wide conservation efforts. She is a member of the Long Green Valley Conservancy and the Land Preservation Trust.    “Together Meredith and Ann’s organization and enthusiasm for successful land conservation were critical to the success of this year’s Conference and providing the opportunity for the land trust community to share experiences,” said John Hutson, Acting Director of MET. An alumna of the Center for Whole Communities’ “Whole Thinking” Program, Lathbury’s innovative work is reshaping ESLC’s strategic plan in order to integrate conservation, health, justice, spirit and relationships. This past winter she helped plan a “whole communities” retreat for Eastern Shore conservation leaders that focused on partnership building and community-based approaches to land preservation. Her work is represented in recent

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ESLC offers tips to beat traffic, fuel costs this summer

Queenstown, Maryland – June 25, 2008 – With the summer travel season in full gear and as part of their “Love the Land” consumer education campaign, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization, is offering Eastern Shore residents ways to survive the  ever-growing fuel costs and busy summer traffic season With summer kicking off the beginning of the “ozone season” it is an ideal time to remind residents about the small ways they can help protect the Shore from the effects of global warming. ESLC encourages people across the Eastern Shore to consider taking a few simple steps—actions that fit into busy schedules—to help ease traffic congestion in our area and make the air we breathe a little cleaner. These include walking or biking to work when possible, carpooling and ride sharing, teleworking as well as keeping your vehicle maintained to ensure optimal performance. Some ways to help your family manage the busy summer traffic season include the following • Drive a well maintained vehicle: Keeping your vehicle tuned up is not only a good idea to ensure its long life but also a great way to reduce emissions and increase your own gas mileage. Simple routine maintenance items such as rotating tires, changing air filters and properly inflating tires can help your automobile produce 20 percent less zone-related emissions. • Walk or bike to work: On the Eastern Shore’s rural landscape, this may not be the most feasible option for most of us so if you are one someone who lives near work, take advantage of the chance to get some extra exercise to work. You will not only reduce the number of cars on the road, but you’ll get a bit of cardio in at the same time! • Carpool: Catching a ride with a co-worker or someone who works nearly is

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