Welcome Don and Wendy!

Kittery Land Trust is pleased to announce that Don Stein and Wendy Pomeroy have been appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors. Christine Bennett Magruder, Executive Director for Kittery Land Trust, said, “Both Don and Wendy have a lifelong appreciation of the fragility and resilience of increasingly scarce natural habitats, driving their interest and involvement in our volunteer-based organization. We welcome Don and Wendy to the KLT board, where their enthusiasm and experience will be assets as the trust continues in its commitment to improve local quality of life by preserving open spaces and natural habitats.”

Don Stein moved to Kittery in December 2008, following ten years in Peaks Island, off the coast of Portland, Maine. Don was an active member of the Peaks Island Land Preserve (PILP) Board of Directors for six years, and served as its president for two of those years. Similar to the mission of KLT, the PILP was founded in the early 1990’s for the purpose of acquisition, preservation and stewardship in perpetuity of Peaks natural areas and sites of special interest, for the enjoyment of islanders and visitors. While he served on the Board, PILP secured a conservation easement on a city (Portland) -owned, 87-acre parcel of land located in the center of the island. He also pursued collaborative opportunities with like minded groups, for example the Oceanside Conservation Trust, with whom the PILP worked to ensure a “double-layering” of protection on Casco Bay area lands. 

Professionally, Don spent years as an organizational management consultant, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. He brings a high level of relevant experience and energy to KLT, where he is a member of both the Acquisitions and Stewardship Committees. He is also a member of the Southern Maine Land Trust Collaborative. Mr. Stein commented, “I look forward to helping KLT work with landowners to establish conservation easements and/or acquire fee ownership of land on existing parcels containing important conservation values, and critically – to care for and help maintain existing properties.” He added, “While fund-raising and acquisitions are exciting and important responsibilities, ongoing stewardship is also essential to ensure the balance of natural habitats.” 

Don's wife, artist Lane Williamson, is also a member and active supporter of KLT. In conjunction with the Kittery Art Association (KAA), Lane led a “Kids en Plein Air” series of children’s art classes, held on KLT properties, during the month of August 2011. The children’s paintings were available for sale at the KLT annual meeting, with proceeds going to help support the organization. For more information about KAA, visit the KAA website (www.kitteryartassociation.org).

Wendy Pomeroy and her husband Deane Rykerson are active supporters of KLT and have been residents of Kittery Point since 2003. Wendy’s passion for conservation and sustainability is rooted in childhood memories of summer vacations in some of the most pristine natural environments including Isle au Haut, Maine and the Adirondacks of New York. Her Manhattan upbringing balanced well with her interest in exploring nature and gardening. 

Wendy studied fine arts (sculpture) at Marlboro College in Vermont and also became a certified landscape designer. While living in Cambridge, Ma. she established her own landscape design business and later, in the Kittery area, worked for five years with Jacquelyn Nooney Design, Construction and Fine Gardening. Wendy continues to share time between parenting, creating metal sculpture and designing landscapes. 

She is a regular contributor to the KLT newsletter of articles on “Notable Plants” that grow non-invasively in the area. She brings a natural interest, knowledge and creativity to KLT, where she is a member of the Development Committee. Driving new membership is a key goal of this committee, and Wendy is eager to help develop activities and programs that raise awareness of, and community support and involvement in KLT. Commenting on her appointment to the KLT board, Wendy said, “The natural beauty that we enjoy in Kittery is an important element of the area’s fabric. It is a gift that we can’t take for granted. I want to be sure this remains true for future generations and KLT advocacy is a great opportunity for me to make a difference and give back.” She added, “It disturbs me to see once-beautiful open spaces stripped; and while I understand that development may be necessary in some areas, it can be done well, in an environmentally sensible way.”

Thank You, Bill and Melissa!

KLT wishes to extend huge thanks and appreciation to retiring board members Bill Paarlberg and Melissa Paly, who as of September 2011 will continue as active member-volunteers, particularly in the areas of communications and education. Both Bill and Melissa previously served terms as President of KLT and each was uniquely instrumental in establishing and leveraging a partnership with Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea (www.MtA2C.org), and leading KLT through a successful period of growth and land conservation.

Bill Paarlberg for over thirteen years has dedicated his time and passion to KLT. A board member since 1998, he was KLT?s Secretary for 1999, President from 2000 to 2004, and Stewardship committee chair from 2005 to 2008.
Most notably during time Bill held the role of President (honorific “El Presidente”), KLT expanded as an organization, recruiting dynamic new board members and partnering with the Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea (MtA2C) coalition to work at land conservation on a regional scale. Also during this period, the first (and current) KLT logo was created (Holly Elkins? woodcut) and the KLT website was initiated. Under Bill?s leadership, KLT for the first time partnered with the Town of Kittery on a parcel purchase; the 30-acre Furbish/Winton property located in the heart of Brave Boat Harbor watershed. This purchase represented a shift in mindset that has since been maintained, towards greater cooperation between the town and KLT on conservation efforts. The town later adopted an Open Space Fund and KLT?s subsequent and more complex purchase of the Patton parcel was made easier by this initial endeavor. “The Furbish/Winton parcel is an important protector of surrounding wetlands and its oak and hemlock forests. Bill says, “I grew up in Hampton, NH and saw the rapid loss of open space and I didn?t want that to happen here in Kittery.”

Bill was also instrumental in the creation by KLT of a meaningful Stewardship Endowment fund, to generate annual operating income and provide an emergency legal fund. He recalls, “We had been working with about $10,000 in the bank and the idea of a $100,000 endowment was pie-in-the-sky… but after a lot of prodding, and thanks to the financial benefits of the MtA2C and the support of the entire board, it became a reality a couple of years ago.”
Outside of KLT, Bill Paarlberg is a prominent local artist, architectural illustrator and public relations research writer. You may be familiar with Bill?s “Illustrating Portsmouth” blog , or have seen one of his ingenious “Famous Monsters of Portsmouth” drawings (such as Kongress Street, shown below). Television station WMUR produced a nice segment on Bill?s October 2010 exhibit; you can see it here: Paarlberg on Chronicle.
KLT has been very fortunate to benefit from Bill?s creativity and vision for the co-existence of people and nature. The organization will continue to count on his unique perspective and sage advice as a member of the Communications committee.

Melissa Paly has dedicated over 12 years to KLT, and served as President from 2005 through 2009. These were exciting years of growth and maturity for KLT due to the organization?s participation in the Mt.Agamenticus to the Sea Conservation Partnership. Melissa describes this coalition as a catalyst for helping KLT become a more mature land trust and grow its capacity to conserve land Melissa appreciatively notes, “KLT was the smallest organization in the partnership. It was an incredible opportunity to work side by side with nine partner organizations - from our neighboring land trusts in York and Great Works to major conservation groups like the Nature Conservancy and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Fish & Wildlife Service, and others It was an incredibly exciting time that elevated KLT and resulted in several acquistions of parcels identified by the coalition as having significant ecological values.” Most notably during the three years ending in 2008, KLT (with MtA2C) worked with individual supporters as well as municipal, state and federal groups to purchase and protect the Winton/Furbish, Patton and Fairchild properties. By protecting the Patton property against any future development, KIT created a 200-acre preserve, now called the Norton Preserve.

Also under Melissa?s leadership, KLT hired its first part-time paid coordinator via a grant from the Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation. She was the Chair of the Development Committee for several years, as well as chair of the more recent Communications committee. While she will remain active with this group, Melissa will be focusing her KLT efforts on educational opportunities to involve a greater cross-section of the Kittery community.
Reflecting on her years as a board member of KLT, a high point for Melissa was the 2007 gala, a member-hosted dinner and auction that “went on despite torrential rain. It was a huge outpouring of support, both civic and financial, for KLT. It really embodied the spirit of KLT and inspired our tagline – "Saving Land, Building Community.”

Outside of KLT, Melissa produces environmental and science media for government, institutional, non-profit and commercial organizations. She is a founder and principal with Cross Current Communications based in Portsmouth, NH and has won numersous broadcast awards.

KUDOS to Bill and Melissa for their passion and actions to advance KLT in acquiring, conserving and stewarding undeveloped parcels of environmentally-important land in Kittery.

KLT Partnered with The Gateway to Maine

The Gateway to Maine: Outside effort encourages people to enjoy the natural beauty and health benefits of connecting with nature in southern Maine.  The Adventures in Nature Series and Gateway to Maine: Outside web site are cooperatively sponsored by: Great Works Regional Land Trust (GWRLT), Kittery Land Trust (KLT), York Land Trust (YLT), The Center For Wildlife (CFW), White Pine Programs (WPP), Mount Agamenticus Conservation Program (Mt.A.) and Choose to Be Healthy (CTBH).  Support for these programs also comes from local organizations and individuals.  To plan your next outdoor adventure, visit www.gatewaytomaineoutside.org.