June 2014

                                           

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Looking at Land Conservation in a Broad Context

 

This month's notes come from a four-day retreat in mid-coast Maine where 26 land trust executive directors and board members are gathered to discuss the emerging community conservation movement meant to explore ways to make the land conservation work we do more relevant to our communities.  

john santoro painting - spring fields The value of conservation and the importance of the permanence of the lands we protect have different meanings for all of us.  For some, it is the importance of teaching the next generation to be good stewards of the land.  To others, it is an innate responsibility to preserve habitat for other species.  For still others, their relationship to the land is essential to their livelihood.   
 
CELT has endeavored to widen our own understanding and appreciation of local land conservation and hope that we will continue to embrace the many other ways conservation can enrich our community, our families, and indeed our daily lives.   We hope that you will continue to join us in this exploration. 
  (Painting by John Santoro.) 

Tickets for Wet Paint Auction - July 13th - are Going Fast  

 
Tickets for Cape Elizabeth's renowned annual summer art celebration, Paint for Preservation Wet Paint Auction, are 75 percent sold, so if you'd like to join us for this very special evening, please go to our website, or pop into the land trust office and get yours soon - we always sell out early.   2013 auction

On July 13th, thirty selected artists will paint at assigned locations in Cape Elizabeth (and interested patrons can visit the artists at work).  The art will then be available for purchase that evening at a live auction and cocktail reception, hosted by Jeanette and Mark Hagen at Breakwater Farm in Cape Elizabeth.  This is always an exciting event, featuring outstanding work, showcased at one of the most beautiful seaside locations on the east coast.

Also on the evening of July 13th, we'll be announcing the winner of our raffle of the granite sculpture "Gyre", created by
Vermont artist Miles Chapin.  Valued at $4000, this unique piece comes to us courtesy of June LaCombe Sculpture, and is currently on display at the land trust office. There are more details on our website.  We look forward to your joining us.

Join Us for CELT's 4th Annual Tri for Preservation  

 

There's still time to register for our 4th Annual Tri for Preservation Sprint Triathlon, Duathlon, and

Aquabike, presented by Noyes, Hall & Allen Insurance, on Sunday, August 17th at Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth.  (We also welcome you to volunteer; please call the CELT office, 767-6054, or email: info@capelandtrust.org.)

 

We have four ways for athletes to participate.     

The Sprint Triathlon consists of a 500-yard ocean swim along Crescent Beach. Athletes transition to a 14-mile, rolling bike course past Cape's picturesque marshes and farmlands of. The course concludes with a 3.0-mile run along the shore (on a well-maintained fire road) towards Kettle Cove and back along Route 77.   
 

The Aquabike (swim-bike) features the same swim and bike course as the triathlon, for non-runners. 

 

The Duathlon (run-bike-run) features a 1.5-mile out and back run on the dirt fire road along Crescent Beach, a 14.5-mile bike, and a 3.0-mile run to the finish.


There's also the option to compete as a relay team.  We reserve slots for triathlon teams, including a family relay competition.  The event also serves as a qualifier for the Maine Senior Games national events.
Register here for the Tri. 

   

All participants are invited to our beachside wild blueberry pancake breakfast after the event (served up by the Cape Elizabeth Lions Club), and will be treated to blueberry smoothies as well, courtesy of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America. 

Board Member Profile - Susan Leighton  
 
Susan Leighton relishes the intense natural beauty of Cape Elizabeth every day, from the windows of her home overlooking the Spurwink marsh.  "I'm inspired by the view in every season; from the lush greens of summer and the changing colors of fall, to the ice-crusted marsh grass and barren trees in winter, and the birdsong that wakes me in the spring."  She also treasures her short and picturesque trip down the hill to Jordan's Farm to purchase fresh ingredients for supper.  "I plan my dinners around what's in season."  But while cooking is one of her passions, she and her family regularly enjoy Chef Jason's handiwork at The Well (where one of her daughters now works).

 

Her "absolute favorite place" in Cape is Kettle Cove. "We love to picnic on the grassy knoll that juts into the ocean. I tried paddle boarding at the cove last year and actually did pretty well!"

Susan is chairing CELT's Paint for Preservation Wet Paint Auction; a role she shared last year with Jean Hayes. Susan is also chair of the Membership and Development Committee, and has served on our Governance Committee - she jumped right in when she joined the board in 2012. 

 

In addition to her work for CELT,  Susan's been an active volunteer with the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation, the High School Parents Association, St. Bartholomew's church, and at the Center for Grieving Children, - while raising three girls (with her husband Jeffrey), and working as a lobbyist in Augusta.  In her 'free' time, she also loves gardening, sailing, and reading.  Introduce yourself to Susan at the auction (July 13) - it promises to be an event that reflects her abundant energy and infectious enthusiasm!

Town Center Plan Update   
 

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council recently accepted from the Town Center Plan Committee a draft plan for updating the town's 1993 Town Center Plan.   The draft plan includes a proposal to change Cape's wetlands ordinance to allow "alteration of an RP2 wetland in the Town Center District ... where a substantial public benefit is created."  The Town Council is planning to bring this issue and discussion of the draft plan to a workshop in September.  

 

Many residents have expressed the belief that preserving Cape Elizabeth's natural habitat and rural character is in itself a substantial public benefit.  Anyone interested in participating in the public process for this plan can find more information here. 

Harbor Seal Pups Should Not be Touched

  

Each year people find baby seals on the shore and pick them up or move them, thinking they've been abandoned.  In reality, it's highly unlikely that they're stranded, and quite dangerous to disturb them.

 

This time of year it's fairly common to see baby harbor seals on shore.  Pups are born from mid-May to early June, and wean in about 4-6 weeks. They may rest on a beach while their mother is hunting; the pup can swim from birth, but tires quickly in comparison to its mother.  Their mother usually returns after foraging, but may be frightened away by human presence. They may return to reclaim and tend to their pup, but only when the human "threat" is gone.  

 

If you see a pup who appears to be stranded, do not go near it.  Instead, you can help by calling the hotline:  
1-(800)-532-9551. The non-profit organization Marine Mammals of Maine responds to stranded marine mammals in Cape Elizabeth.

 

Dos & Don'ts to remember and to share with others:  

  Keep at least a 150-foot distance. Seals are federally protected by the Marine Mammal Act; it is illegal to touch, feed, disturb, or harass marine mammals. Violators can be arrested and/or fined.

  Do not attempt to move the pup back to the water. Returning an exhausted animal to the ocean could be fatal. Continued disturbance of mother/pup pairs could lead to the abandonment and subsequent mortality of the pup.

  Do not pour water on the animal or try to cover the animal with a blanket or towel.  It's normal for seals to come ashore to rest and be dry. 

�   Keep pets on a leash. Diseases can be passed from seals to dogs. Bear in mind that seals are wild animals and will bite if threatened!               - Erika Carlson Rhile, CELT Education Committee Chair   

Two Events in Cape This Month That Celebrate the Land 

June is spectacularly beautiful in Cape Elizabeth - our gardens are lush with blooms and our many farms are heavy with fresh produce, including our beloved strawberries.  There are two events this month, both on Saturday June 28th, highlighting our local beauty and bounty. 

 

The Arboretum at Fort Williams is hosting a self-guided tour of 11 private gardens (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) throughout the Cape, to raise awareness and funds for the organization's ongoing landscaping projects at Fort Williams park. Tickets ($20 in advance, $25 if purchased the day of the tour) and details are available on their website

 

Out on Two Lights Rd., the Cape Farm Alliance is hosting it's 6th annual Strawberry Fest, featuring local foods, live music, artisans, demonstrations, and many children's activities. No admission charge, rain or shine, 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Maxwell's berry fields - look for the signs.  (Leave your pooch at home for this event; food safety laws strictly prohibit animals in agricultural fields.) 


Cape Elizabeth Land Trust | 330 Ocean House Road | Cape Elizabeth | ME | 04107