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ESLC

May 13, 2013

Bicycles welcome on Cambridge’s Maryland Ave.

CAMBRIDGE - Bike sharrows have been installed on Maryland Avenue as part of the Cambridge Gateways project, an effort of the City of Cambridge and Eastern Shore Land Conservancy to improve the entry into the City and encourage travelers to discover the vibrant Cambridge downtown. Cambridge residents involved in the Cambridge Gateways project noted a desire to see better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure at the gateway. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy approached the Cambridge City Council to approve the temporary installation of bike sharrows pavement markers for 120 days to allow staff to measure the rider frequency on Maryland Avenue. The temporary bike sharrows also help educate all road users on bicycle safety. The bike sharrows were installed on April 9 as part of the Cambridge Gateways design phase. Cambridge Department of Public Works staff members, Sarah Abel from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and Jeff M. Duthie, a traffic safety representative from 3M were all on hand to install the bike sharrow pavement markings. 3M provided the bike sharrows and installation training to meet Maryland State Highway guidelines for bicycle safety designations. Bike sharrows are pavement markings that indicate cyclists are allowed in the road lane. Cyclists should ride on the right side of the lane, heading the same direction as cars. The temporary bike sharrows should only be used heading from U.S. Route 50 in to downtown, to obey directional traffic. Drivers should pay attention for cyclists, as should cyclists for drivers. All should obey traffic signals and signs. Maryland law requires drivers give cyclists three feet on roadways. For more information on sharing the road with cyclists, visit: http://www.choosesafetyforlife.com/pdfs/Bicycle_Booklet.pdf The sharrows will be in place until August 8 to measure the number of bicycle infrastructure users at the peak season in Cambridge. Please email any comments or pictures of bike sharrow users to Eastern Shore Land

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May 13, 2013

ESLC Town Programs Manager

"No place stays special by accident." - Ed McMahon, Charles E. Fraser Chair on Sustainable Development, Urban Land Institute About the Opportunity: Maryland’s Eastern Shore has all the ingredients to be a living example of a prosperous, vibrant rural region. Nearly a quarter of the rural lands are protected. Renewed efforts and requirements are in place for a clean Chesapeake Bay. Shifting real estate trends are pushing development toward cities not countryside. There is an important missing piece: focused attention and support for this rural region’s small towns. These communities historically have served as the economic hubs – as market places, community meet-ups, and population centers. They have, however, taken a battering over the past twenty years from sprawl and uncertainty about their identities and futures. Toward this challenge, with our town work, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) is engaged with the places, projects and people working toward sustainability and vibrancy of our region’s towns. After two years and a set of inaugural projects, ESLC’s Center for Towns is poised to strengthen, solidify and focus our town programs toward making the most difference for the region. A new team member will help build our town programs and deliver projects and education work with excellence. About the Position: ESLC is seeking an energetic, dynamic individual to join our highly skilled team of professionals as Town Programs Manager. Our work focuses both on on-the-ground projects that effect change through town planning and community engagement, and on education, with a focus on sharing tools, technical support, networking, partnerships and funding opportunities our towns seek. Our programs are community driven, with a deep commitment to diversity and public engagement, and belief in the power of community land projects and education to ignite and amplify positive change. Examples of our projects can be found at www.eslc.org. The ideal candidate would

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May 3, 2013

Farm Bill

ESLC joined the efforts of the Land Trust Alliance to secure a new Farm Bill that embraces the successful model of helping land trusts purchase perpetual conservation easements from willing landowners. These easements secure food and fiber, clean water, wildlife habitat, and our rural heritage – a good investment for future generations of farmers, ranchers, and all Americans.

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March 20, 2013

Curious about the Eastern Shore Conservation Center?

As we get closer to settlement on the McCord building in Easton, we are offering several opportunities to see the building this week. Come out and see the building, and don't forget to participate in our Peeps Contest! Community Meeting about the Eastern Shore Conservation Center at the Talbot County Free Library 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21 Open House at the McCord building in Easton 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 22 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23, at McCord (with doughnuts and coffee!) Participating in the Peeps contest? See official rules here. Drop off Peeps entries Thursday evening or Friday, or between 9 and 10 a.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at the former McCord building in Easton, just before judging Judging will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at the former McCord building. Winners will be announced at 11 a.m. Schematic designs for the Eastern Shore Conservation Center will be on display.

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March 14, 2013

A Critical Time for the Eastern Shore Conservation Center

This morning we raised the mercury on the thermometer at the McCord building in Easton, and the heat is on.With $4.175 million in the fund, we are about two-thirds of the way to our goal of $6.3 million. And we have limited time to raise these funds. We go to settlement on the McCord building in April, and although the neighboring building, "Brick Row," was donated to Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, we still need to renovate it. These two buildings have the potential to change the future for this part of Easton. With the Memorial Hospital at Easton slated to move in the next several years, what will become of the South Washington Street corridor? Our vision is for an Eastern Shore Conservation Center, a green campus that will serve as Eastern Shore Land Conservancy's headquarters, as well as a home for many other conservation organizations working on the Eastern Shore. The Nature Conservancy already has signed on to open an office at the ESCC, and we expect soon to announce it as the Eastern Shore home of other organizations, as well. It could have a cafe or other commercial businesses, a courtyard, community meeting space, and desk space for telecommuters. Now is the time. For the next several weeks, we will be working hard to raise enough money to purchase McCord and renovate both buildings to start a renaissance on South Washington Street. This a piece of Eastern Shore history, a landmark that can be an important part of the future of the Eastern Shore. Donate now or download a donor form (at bottom of this update). Tell your friends. Share the news on Facebook or Twitter. Forward this email. Grab a neighbor and come to the community meeting March 21 at the Easton library; tour the building on the 22nd; and come for the 2013

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ESLC

Bicycles welcome on Cambridge’s Maryland Ave.

ESLC Town Programs Manager

Farm Bill

Curious about the Eastern Shore Conservation Center?

A Critical Time for the Eastern Shore Conservation Center

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