May 7, 2015 Meeting of West Bay Rotary

Kristen Lindquist introduced Ian Stewart, Stewardship Director of Coastal Mountains Land Trust (CMLT).

Ian has been at the Land Trust for 13 Years. It started as the Camden Rockport Land Trust and now conserves property in 15 towns up the west side of Penobscot Bay including 26 nature preserves, for outdoor recreation, including hunting on many. Conservation easements total 56 protecting land in perpetuity. Beech Hill is a focus for many events this year. Trails and public access is a key part of their work and why people want to see their land protected.

Focus areas include watersheds and the mountains. Places like the Ducktrap, Bald Mountin, Mt. Battie and Beech Hill are examples. He described Beech Hill as an “Ambassador Project” and a 100^th Anniversary Campaign to continue the work of preserving and protecting that perserve. It was originally a series of farms, and in 1915 Beech Nut was completed as a retreat space for the Gribell Family and has been in conservation since 1986. The summit 300 acres is incuded in a preserve, and an additional 250 acres adjacent to it is under conservation. A major restoration of the building began in 2007, including masonry and the sod roof, to secure the building entirely, and a commercial blueberry enterprise started to benefit CMLT. That campaign also involved the creation of a management plan for the blueberries, grassland, shrub/scrub habitat and the view from the summit. It is believed to be home to 130 bird species throughout the year.

CMLT is also conducting sustainable forestry practices, including sugar maples. The annual blueberry “free” pick is popular, and the commercial harvest is popular, too.

Plans for more use of the building are underway, including a new slate floor, interior stonework, and interpretive information. Additional exterior stone work and restoration, including the entry gate, is planned as well.

Peter and Ron were recognized for bringing in new members, and Martha for multiple new members in the satellite Knox Sunrise club.

Peter is still looking for volunteers for the day of the Duck Derby and for volunteers to do ticket sales at French and Brawn and Hannaford Plaza. Sign-ups are at the meeting.

Ginnie and Joe Ryan gave boxes of cupcakes to Linda and Tom for the great Ewaste project earlier this month.

Barbara Heard needs one more house to host the dinner for the May 16 progressive dinner.

Tuesday June 30 is the Annual Dinner at the Samoset.

Tim shared news about the restructuring of the charitable foundation, including rewriting the bylaws.

Next Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30a is a Community Service committee meeting at the Anderson Inn at Quarry Hill. Light breakfast will be available.

Next week's speaker is our Japanese exchange student, Mikoto.

Etienne announced that last week's gesture by Jenny Bell to pledge $250 for shelter boxes resulted in $2000 raised for shelter boxes.