“Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.”

GPMCT has a few scheduled events coming up, including a Trail-Building Workshop, our Small Adventures in the Wildlands series, and the usual committee and board meetings. None of these are large public gatherings. Our plan is to:

• Transition to video conferences for most meetings.
• Assess risk about 10 days out before canceling events. We will post information on our website and Facebook page.
• Continue to keep the office open for some staff, but not the general public. If you want to visit the office, please call ahead (469-6929).
• Encourage individual use of the Wildlands. Outdoors in the Wildlands is one of the healthiest places to be right now. New studies are attributing several beneficial health effects to being in the woods, including boosting your immune system. And we’ve long been aware of the beneficial effects on our emotional health.

In the meantime, wash your hands regularly, long enough to recite the name of each mountain in the Wildlands, preceded by, “I’m going to visit. . ..” And take care of those around you.

John Barlow of Orland joined the board in November, and hosted a weekend of Christmas tree cutting to benefit GPMCT. Originally from Plymouth, MA, John moved to Maine for graduate work at UMO in 1965. He moved to Orland in 1970 and taught marine science and oceanography at Maine Maritime Academy, where he helped found the Corning School of Ocean Studies and became Academic Dean, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs before retiring two years ago. John served as Chief of Orland’s Fire Department for 25 years. He and Diane have two sons and four grandkids and enjoy sailing.

Diane O’Connell of Bucksport came to us in December. Born and raised on a sheep farm in New Zealand, she came to America in 2001 with husband, Steve. In 2003, the couple started a charter boat business in Belfast with their friendship sloop Amity and moved to Bucksport. An attorney, Diane is now a partner at Patterson & O’Connell, LLC in Ellsworth; her practice includes conservation easements and land trust work. Diane, Steve and their two kids (now at Bucksport Middle School) enjoy hiking and boating.

Board members elected Richard Spearen, Jr. of Bucksport Assistant Treasurer in February; he’ll be up for election as Treasurer July 9. Richard is a Senior Accountant at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. He grew up in Holden and graduated from U-Maine with BAs in political science and philosophy. He enjoys traveling, reading, gaming and exploring the outdoors.

Betty J. Harris of Orland became Board secretary in March (former secretary Maddy Glover moved away in the fall). B.J. has been a consultant pharmacist with Maine Veterans Homes since 2011. She’s had an extensive career in pharmacy, from academia (recently at Husson) to long-term care, community chain pharmacies and hospitals. B.J. sings in several chorales and is also a licensed Maine Sea Kayak guide with Castine Kayak Adventures.

We say goodbye this summer to Treasurer Mike Bouthot, who has moved out of the area, and three long-time board members who’ve termed out: Bob Mercer, Jack MacBrayne and John Wedin. They’ll continue to serve on committees, and may rejoin the board after a year off. Thanks, guys!

In 2016, the property was generously gifted to Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust by Elizabeth Wemett through her will in honor of her aunt, Mary Lord. Given that Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust’s service region in northwestern Hancock County extends west only to Bucksport and Verona Island, the organization reached out to their sister land trust across the river to see if it would be interested in becoming the long-term steward of this land. Coastal Mountains Land Trust was pleased to protect this scenic riverfront property in Prospect and is looking forward to inviting the community to visit and enjoy the land, once it has completed an ecological inventory and management plan for the property.

Keep an eye on the Coastal Mountains Land Trust webpage, www.coastalmountains.org, or that of GPMCT, www.greatpondtrust.org, for events and volunteer opportunities to help establish public access on the Preserve.

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Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 10,000 acres to date, offering 40 miles of trails for public access.

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust has conserved land, water and wildlife habitat for the communities of northwestern Hancock County since 1993. GPMCT owns and manages the 4,500-acre Great Pond Mountain Wildlands in Orland, and has conserved an additional 200 acres for wildlife habitat and public recreation in Bucksport, Orland and Lucerne.

Robin Clarke, 47, of Ellsworth was the winning female (and fourth place overall) at 57:20, followed by Donna Kausen, 63, of Addison at 57:21, and Melissa Ossanna, 47, of Bar Harbor at 59:04.

See our photo gallery at: https://greatpondpics.shutterfly.com/1716

The run was part of Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust’s Winter Fun Day, sponsored by Cadillac Mountain Sports, Curtis Family Shoe and Hannaford Supermarket.

Place     Name                                   No.         Ag           S              Time    Pace

==========================================================

1          VICTOR SKORAPA            22           22           M            43:19     9:51

2          MICHAEL WADE                11           48          M            48:54     11:07

3          JIM HUNT                            69           50          M            51:25     11:42

4          ROBIN CLARKE                  70           47           F              57:20    13:02

5          DONNA KAUSEN               39           63           F              57:51       13:09

6          CHRIS RICHARDSON        73           41           M            57:57     13:11

7          MELISSA OSSANNA         63           47           F              59:04     13:26

8          JEFF GAGNE                       66           43           M            59:48     13:36

9          RYAN KING                         18           47           M            1:01:57    14:05

10        BECKA GAGNE                   65          49           F              1:05:21    14:52

11        PETER OSSANNA               64          56           M            1:05:40    14:56

12        KAREN GROSS                   4              59           F              1:06:23  15:06

13        MELISSA DICARLO           30           42           F              1:26:31   19:40

14        SUSAN LAZOR                   71           55           F              1:31:37     20:50

15        TIM GRIFFIN                      72           50           M            1:44:10    23:41

Second and third-place men’s winners were Eric Mauricette, 25, of Grand Lake Stream, with a time of 46:04, and J. Chase Reidelbach, 22, of Virginia Beach (a student at Maine Maritime Academy), coming in at 47:01. Second place in the women’s division went to Dara Knapp, 38, of Columbia Falls, with a time of 53:55, and third was Maddy Glover, 28, of Ellsworth, 56:54. Full race results are available HERE. Check out Hans Krichels’ race photos HERE.

Sunday, Nov. 6 is the second race in the Downeast Double Trouble series—Frenchman Bay Conservancy’s Autumn Trail Run. This race—with a choice of 4 or 8-mile course—starts and finishes at 11 am at Sumner Memorial High School in Sullivan. Steep climbs, granite ledges and gorgeous views are the reward. Cost is $25 to register on race day. Those who run both races are eligible for special prizes, and earn a Double Trouble Trail Race tote. Visit www.frenchmanbay.org for more information.

Both races are sponsored by Hancock County land trusts and proceeds benefit local land conservation and public trails.

Thanks to our sponsors: Stanley Subaru; Awards, Signage & Trophies; Nick Vachon, Podiatrist; Dave’s Tractor Services; Curtis Family Shoe; MacLeod’s Restaurant; Tradewinds Market; Woodland Studios; Cadillac Mountain Sports; Morton’s Moo. And thanks to those donating door prizes: Hannaford’s Supermarket (Bar Harbor), Cadillac Mountain Sports, China Joy, A&B Naturals, Jordan’s Restuarant, Ben & Bills Chocolate Emporium, Trailhead Cafe, EPI Pizza, Pat’s Pizza.

Photo of VanDongen crossing the finish by Hans Krichels

The land trust recognized Doherty for his volunteer work rebuilding the Stuart Gross Trail on Orland’s Great Pond Mountain, and his participation in the Adopt-a-Path program in the 4,500-acre Great Pond Mountain Wildlands, where he has adopted three trails this season. With Doherty’s help, the trust won a $20,000 grant 18 months ago from McKee Foods—Doherty’s employer—for rebuilding the trail on Great Pond Mountain.

Keeney was honored for his role in organizing the annual Wildlands Trail Run for the past ten years, and Wildlands Snowshoe Race since 2002. Both races are benefits for the land trust, and each year Keeney has set up the courses, solicited prizes, cooked food and made homemade prizes for each race. The Wildlands Trail Run, now part of the Downeast Double Trouble Trail Race Challenge, has drawn as many as 75 runners in recent years.

For more information on GPMCT programs or volunteering, call 469-6929, e-mail info@greatpondtrust.org or visit www.greatpondtrust.org. Volunteer workdays are held every other Saturday this season (July 23, Aug. 6 & 20 and Sept. 3 & 17), and boundary workdays each Friday.

Photo: Peter Keeney by Hans Krichels

PHOTOS – two from July 10 annual meeting, Emily Hawkins presenting VOY award, and two photos of the volunteers at work.

Cheri Domina

Executive Director

Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust

PO Box 266

Orland, ME  04472

207 469-6929

info@greatpondtrust.org

www.greatpondtrust.org

The Maine Maritime Academy Snowshoe Team sent four men plus coach Ryan King this year to earn the top three slots in the race. J. Chase Reidelbach, 22, of Virginia Beach came in second with a time of 42 minutes; and Kyle Huston, 23, of Washburn, ME earned third place, finishing the run in 46:44.

Top female finishers were Nicole Grohoski, 32, of Ellsworth, who took fourth place overall with a time of 46:56; Amy Dowley, 30, of Machias, sixth place overall with a time of 47:45; and Christina Dykeman, 27, of Trenton, 8^th place overall with 50:29.

CLICK HERE for a full list of race results.

The snowshoe race was part of Winter Fun Day, sponsored by Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust. The day also featured a bonfire and hot dog roast and primitive skills demonstrations, and proceeds benefitted the land trust, which owns and manages the 4,500-acre Great Pond Mountain Wildlands in Orland.

Want to see photos? Go to our Shutterfly album.

Jennifer VanDongen, 37, of Bar Harbor, was female overall winner (third year in a row) and came in fourth place with a time of 48:55. Second place woman was Caitlin Cross with a time of 54:41, followed by Katrina Linscott of Seal Cove with 55:40. Follow these links for Overall Results and Results by Age Class. Photos by Hans Krichels are available at our Shutterfly page.

Forty-eight runners hit the tough and muddy course, down this year from the usual 70+ due to the weather. This is the third year for the race as part of the Downeast Double Trouble Trail Race Challenge, consisting of the Wildlands Trail Run, followed by Frenchman Bay Conservancy’s Autumn Trail Run in Sullivan, to be held November 1 (Visit www.frenchmanbay.org). Those running both races earn special prizes and the glory of being named Double Trouble champions; last year’s champions were Powers and VanDongen.

Big thanks to our volunteers and staff: Peter Keeney, Jennifer Riefler, Ryan King, Maddy Glover, Bonnie and Jack MacBrayne, Karen Cote, Brian Keegstra, Olga Lange, Dan Rhodes, Hans Krichels, Nancy Minot, Dawn Charnetzky, Tobin Peacock, Iris Simon, Chris & Karen Johnson, Emily Hawkins, Connie Tuller, Karen Keeney, the Berry family, Gene Behrenshauser, Patrick Reid, Geo Atwood, John Wedin and all our bakers.

Please thank our sponsors: Stanley Subaru; Nick Vachon, Podiatrist; MacLeod’s Restaurant (great chili!); Awards, Signage & Trophies; Curtis Family Shoe; Tradewinds; Cadillac Mtn. Sports; Morton’s Moo; Acadia Whale Watch; Pat’s Pizza Bar harbor, EPI Pizza, Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, First Express, Dion Snowshoe Co., Hannaford in Bar Harbor.

Departing board members include Ted Van Leer of Lexington, VA and Alamoosook Lake, Orland, who has now served a total of 12 (non-consecutive) years on the board; Nick Webster of NY, NY and Toddy Pond in Surry; and Paul Liebow of Bucksport. Secretary Barbara Malm of Blue Hill & Surry also stepped down this year. We have so appreciated their service!

The new board member slate includes Jackie Hewett of Dedham; Carl Derian of Bloomfield Hills, MI and Alamoosook Lake, Orland; Mike Bouthot of East Orland; Chris Johnson of Bucksport; and Maddy Glover of Bucksport. See their bios HERE.

The new officer slate is: Emily Hawkins, President & Asst. Treasurer; Sarah LeVine, VP; Mike Bouthot, Treasurer; Maddy Glover, Secretary.

Over this past winter, GPMCT undertook a thorough review of our bylaws with the help of Attorney Fred Stocking. The result is a document that’s changed quite a bit from the original version! Our goals are to have the by-laws reflect current practices of GPMCT, assure consistency with Maine Non-Profit Statutes, be consistent with our policies and practices and allow for greatest flexibility. Members will be asked to vote on the revised bylaws and articles of incorporation. Here are links to a Summary of Proposed Bylaw Revisions, to view and download the Revised GPMCT Bylaws, or a Bylaws redline version (showing original w/corrections). The Summary will also be included in our Summer newsletter. Our Articles of Incorporation will also be amended to update old membership info.

The property sits high on the north side of a ridge and contains a 5.5-acre blueberry field, a 5-acre wetland and 50+ acres of mixed woods. From the blueberry field, the view north to the Stone House area and Peaked Mountain is spectacular. An old cellarhole, stone walls, apple trees and perennials on the property tell the story of a vanished community on this road that dates back to at least 1792, called “Santiago” on 19^th century maps.

Joan Kimball, a musician living in Philadelphia, donated the land to the Trust in March. When Kimball and her (now ex) husband bought the land in 1975, she was enchanted and struck by the tremendous variety it offered. She remembers “walking onto it and seeing the wonderful sloping meadow, being close to the creek (Colby Brook) and walking back into the forest to see the wonderfully old white pines. The forest seemed to have every tree native to Maine.” The couple and their daughter enjoyed camping on the land for several years, exploring the swimming holes in Colby Brook and drinking from natural springs nearby.

The property conserves the upland buffer to Colby Brook, rich in native trout habitat, and includes a beaver pond and a variety of other habitats for local wildlife. A visit last fall turned up nodding ladies’ tresses, a native orchid, at the edge of the blueberry field.

Why donate the property for conservation? Kimball and her husband never did build the little cabin they envisioned on the land so long ago, and now her family has another Maine retreat. Donating the land for others to enjoy seemed like the thing to do. “I’d known about the Trust and was a member, and thought ‘why not’? Why hold onto something I’m not benefiting from? Why not let it be enjoyed by more people?”

The Trust plans to turn an old woods road on the property into a hiking trail out to the beaver pond and back, to put up a sign and improve a couple of parking spots. The blueberry field has been managed for years by Allen’s Blueberries in Ellsworth, and GPMCT plans to keep the field open and will work with Allen’s for at least one more two-year cycle, while researching our options for other types of blueberry management, including organic. GPMCT will pay taxes on the property through the Open Space program.

The Kimball property is at the center of a 2,480-acre expanse of forest and blueberry fields along the Upper Long Pond Road that has yet to be invaded by paved roads, electricity or housing developments. This area is mostly in Bucksport, but stretches into Orland and up to Dedham’s Peaked Mountain and Moulton Pond. It is just west of Dodge Hill and White’s Mountain, now being studied by Eolian Energy for possible siting of three wind turbines. It’s an area identified by Ecologist Janet McMahon as a potential focus for local conservation in a 2013 study GPMCT commissioned. The study is being shared with the Bucksport Comprehensive Plan Committee this spring to see whether town residents or local landowners have an interest in seeing the area remain wild and accessible to the public into the future. The Upper Long Pond Road, despite its rough condition in spots, gets a lot of use by local people looking for a place to hike, hunt and fish and ride bikes, horses, snowmobiles and ATVs.