Greetings!
Nantucket is always amazing during the fall. The intensity
and excitement of summer gives way to the relaxed and calming
energy of a season winding down. Although we can't compete with
the foliage of northern New England, the colors do shift to the
warmer golds and rusts and our open spaces come alive with
migrating birds and butterflies.
But just because the "busy season" is coming to a close, doesn't
mean that the NLC's work is any less pressing. Please read to find
out what we've been up to and what you can look forward to in the
future.
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$1,000
Organic Land Care Scholarships
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As part of our efforts to protect Nantucket's fragile water
resources, the NLC has been promoting organic land care.
The
connection between the over-use of fertilizers and pesticides on
our gardens and the increased presence of algae in our harbors and
ponds needs to be highlighted publicly.
But beyond just making the public aware of the effects that their
land care is having on our water, we need to make a viable
alternative available. That is why the NLC has been distributing
$1,000 scholarships to local land care professionals to become
accredited in organic land care practices. Each winter, the
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) offers a 5 day
intensive accreditation course. These scholarships cover the cost
of the course and the subsequent accreditation exam. As a result
of our efforts, Nantucket Island now has the highest concentration
of accredited organic landscapers per capita in the country!
To apply for one of our scholarships, visit our website by clicking
here.
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Restoring
the Head of Hummock Pond
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In an effort to
repair the severely degraded water quality in Head of Hummock Pond
(HHP), the NLC has applied for a grant from the Nantucket Community
Preservation Committee to purchase a solar-powered long-distance
water circulator. The pond image (left) taken from
the Google Maps satellite shows the extent to which noxious algae
dominate the HHP ecosystem. HHP appears entirely
green in the photo, while the remainder of Hummock Pond is the dark
color of normal water.
The circulator will
be located on the surface of HHP, in the center, and will prevent
water stagnation, thereby breaking the cycle of harmful algal
blooms that severely restrict the aquatic food web and intensify
eutrophication. Currently, harmful Blue-green algae
out-compete other algae for available nutrients and become
extremely dense, which reduces oxygen levels and impairs the
functioning of fish and other organisms in the food web.
If the grant is
awarded, the system would be installed in 2011 and progress on the
water quality of HHP would be monitored by our consultant, Dr. Jim
Sutherland.
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Environmental
Science Educational Grants
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Since 1993, the Nantucket Land Council has awarded
environmental awareness and science project grants to local
students and teachers.
Our goal is to encourage students' understanding of
their local environment through direct involvement in
project-related activities. Project proposals may be submitted by
an individual or team of teachers. High school students, in
cooperation with a teacher-mentor who will supervise the project,
may also submit proposals. Applications from other educational
programs or initiatives will also be considered.
Proposals should be submitted to the office by
Friday October 29, 2010. Application forms can be found
online at www.nantucketlandcouncil.org under the
"Educational Grants" section, or by contacting Emily MacKinnon at
508-228-2818.
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NLC
receives Garden Club Grant
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The Nantucket Land Council is very grateful for the ongoing support
of the Nantucket Garden Club. The NLC has been the recipient of
several Garden Club grants, and this year we received funding to
conduct research on invasive plants.
Invasive plant species are dangerous because they out-compete
native species, which in turn starve other native organisms which
rely on those native species for habitat. Often with invasive
species, you will find a single species dominating an area which
used to house a diverse number of plants and animals.
NLC Resource Conservationist Emily MacKinnon will be studying the
possibility of using corn gluten as a pre-emergent herbicide to
prevent the spread of Garlic Mustard and Spotted Knapweed, which
are two invasive species threatening Nantucket.
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Welcome
New NLC Board Members
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The Nantucket Land Council is
delighted to welcome the following new members to the Board of
Directors:
Nancy Gillespie's
many summers on Nantucket have fostered her love of the island's
natural resources and her interest in the nexus of science
research, public policy and land management. She is delighted to
join the board of the Nantucket Land Council and looks forward to
contributing to the organization's work.
Ms. Gillespie is a
former senior economist in the social protection group at the World
Bank. In that capacity, she worked in the Africa, Middle East, and
Latin America & Caribbean regions, as well as in the Bank's
policy and strategy group, and was posted with her family in
Nicaragua and Mexico during 1992-2002. She now makes her winter
home in Miami Beach, and continues to consult on a periodic
basis.
Ms. Gillespie has
been an officer and director of Sayles Finishing Plants, Inc., a
private investment partnership, since 2001. Prior to the World
Bank, Ms. Gillespie worked for the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company.
She received an A.B. in economics from Brown University and an
M.Phil. in economics from Oxford University.
Laurel Ried
Langworthy has been a volunteer
and supporter of the Nantucket Land Council for over 5 years. She
has been involved with the NLC's "Young Friends" events, including
serving on the committee for the Brewery Barbeque this summer. She
has spent summers on Nantucket for the last 25 years.
Ms. Langworthy is a Principal at Grove International Partners, a
real estate investment firm based in New York which has $5 billion
of investor capital under management. Ms. Langworthy is
responsible for the firm's global capital raising efforts. Prior
to joining Grove International Partners, Ms. Langworthy held
positions most recently as a Vice President at Westbrook Partners
and prior to that at Merrill Lynch & Co. in the firm's
Investment Banking division.
Ms. Langworthy received a BA from Brown University. She serves on
the Board of Directors for the Sconset Trust.
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Give
the Gift of Membership
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 Thinking of what to give this holiday season? Why
not give a gift membership to the Nantucket Land Council? The NLC
will send a holiday card, a membership sticker, and a thank you
letter describing what their gift membership will provide. You
will receive a tax-deductible donation for your charitable
contribution. Everyone wins, especially Nantucket's fragile
natural resources that we are working so hard to protect.
To give a gift membership, simply fill out the "Special
Instructions" section of our online donations page, including the
name & address of the person you are donating on behalf of. Click here to donate, or follow
the link from our home page, www.nantucketlandcouncil.org.
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 We
hope that you have enjoyed this update and we appreciate your
support of our important work. We invite you to join our group on
Facebook, to visit our website or forward this newsletter to
a friend.
Sincerely,
Karen Borchert, President
Nantucket Land Council |
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Our
Mission
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The
Nantucket Land Council, Inc. is
a 501 (c)(3) non-profit
dedicated to defending and safeguarding Nantucket's open space,
water and other natural resources through planning, protecting and
preserving.
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Clean
Water
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When
you fertilize your lawn, you also fertilize our ponds, harbors, and
drinking water.
Find out which body of water you could be polluting by visiting our
watershed map.
Or visit our publications page to read our
brochure on organic gardening practices.
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Find
us on...
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The
NLC now has a "Group" page on Facebook! Join our group to receive
our updates via Facebook.
The NLC is also listed under the official "Causes"
application.
Support our cause by clicking here.
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Board
of Directors
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Officers
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Karen
K. Borchert
President
Paul A. Bennett
Vice President
William Willet
Vice President
Howard N. Blitman
Treasurer
Susan E. Robinson
Clerk &
Assistant Treasurer
Directors
Larry Breakiron
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