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The Kennebec Land Trust News - Fall 2004


Contents

Kennebec Land Trust Raises $500,000 For Lands and Stewardship
President's Message
Welcome To Our Newest Members
Board of Directors
Advisory Board
New Trail at Perkins Woods
Letter from our Summer Intern
Your Investment in Conservation
Doug Scott - KLT Membership Secretary
Thank You to Our Kennebec Landscapes Capital Campaign Donors
Echo Lake Donors
Parker Pond Headland Donors
Field Trips
Annual Meeting Report: KLT Rests On Its Laurels
New Trails and Kiosk at the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area
Parker Pond Headland Remembered
Kents Hill School Community Day
Notes From Main Street
Vaughan Foundation Hosts Field Trip
Vaughan Woods Work Day
Who Are the Kennebec Land Trust Stewards?
Natural History Notes from KLT Stewards
Thank You For Assisting the KLT With Our Office and Our Education and Stewardship Programs

Sugar Maple at Mathews Property

KLT Wish List

Books for Our library
Volunteer surveyors
Fire-proof file cabinet

Horseshoe Island, Cobbossee Lake, Winthrop


Kennebec Land Trust Raises $500,000 for Lands and Stewardship

Norm Rodrigue, KLT Board Member and Kennebec Landscapes Campaign Coordinator

We have anived! Yes, we have reached our $500,000 goal and forever preserved six spectacular properties in four communities. This was by far our most ambitious fundraising goal ever, representing a three-fold increase over our last campaign. Daunting as it was, our members, friends and partners rolled up their collective sleeves and made it happen. There are tons of thanks to go around (see list of generous donors), but we want to recognize a few groups and organizations whose help and support made this campaign a success: Parker Pond

For the record, our Kennebec Landscapes campaign raised $502,943. We preserved over $1,000,000 worth of undeveloped shoreland, forests, streams and wildlife habitat and set aside significant funds for the continual stewardship of these properties. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the many generous supporters who made it possible for us to save these veiy special places:

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President's Message

It’s with great pride that I reflect on our successful $500,000 Capital Campaign that guaranteed the preservation of Parker Headland and five other spectacular properties. Through many hours of volunteer effort by both KLT and our partners, lead by our own Norm Rodrigue, we have done it! It is heartening to know that conservation is important to so many people in our area.

Glenn Hodgkins, KLT PresidentWe now own or have conservation easements on 41 properties totaling 2,540 acres. Of course success comes with costs; acquiring property is only part of conservation. When a property comes our way, we take on the responsibility of taking care of it forever. This is a long time. It involves a lot of work: monitoring boundaries and conservation easement conditions, inventorying the flora and fauna, building and maintaining trails, removing invasive plants, meeting with surrounding land owners, and many other things. Our stewardship responsibilities have grown past our ability to have volunteers do all of the work. Education and Stewardship Coordinator, Theresa Kerchner, has been instrumental in helping KLT accomplish our stewardship goals. Although having an office and a part-time employee increases the land trust’s expenses, Theresa and the new office have brought KLT significant membership growth, a much increased number of volunteers and visibility as a community resource. A major focus for this year is to expand membership and raise income to meet our increased expenses.

I’m confident we will again meet our goals. It’s too important not to, when we think about how essential local conservation is. What is Kennebec Land Trust conservation? It is large areas of protected forest, woodland warblers, hawks, and wildflowers on Mt. Pisgah in Winthrop and Wayne, Curtis Homestead in Leeds and MacDonald Woods in Readfield. It is canoeing past rocky shoreline and thick cedar and pine forest on KLT island property in Cobbosseecontee Lake. It is preserving rare plants on the islands and shores of Androscoggin Lake. It is community outdoor recreation at Vaughan Woods in Hallowell. It is keeping land that has been in the same family for many generations from being sold and subdivided. It is an active organic farm in Vienna. In the end, it is about preserving the land that makes our area so special. That’s the reason why KLT’s work is so important. That’s the reason we volunteer hundreds of hours per year for the trust and why we donate money to KLT when there are so many other pulls on our limited resources.

In Trust,
Glenn Hodgkins

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Welcome To Our Newest Members

Janet H. Adelberg Betty Bennett William Besse
Christopher Cushman & Leslie Burhoe Wendy Flaschner & Daniel Meyer Jane and Ray Giglio
Andrew & Deirdre Gilbert Dr. Antonio & Anita Gotto Gabriella Howard
Jonathan & Anne Huntington Colleen Kelly Charlie King
Harold & Marjorie Lovejoy Julian Holmes & Audrey Marra Jim & Rachel McNaughton
Cynthia Mervis Terry Moulton Ann Pistell & Katherine Todd
Thomas R. Spears Mary E. Tooman Gary & Candy Walters
We are growing - acre by acre and member by member.
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New Trail at Perkins Woods

By Jane Davis, KLT Perkins Woods Co-Steward

We are pleased to announce that the Perkins property now has a walking trail, which takes visitors on a pleasant ramble through a beautiful parcel of land. The trail work was done over the summer by KLT stewards Jane and Stan Davis, with help from Theresa Kerchner, Jim Connors, and high school students Beth Shattuck and Daniel Perkins.

The Perkins property is a fourteen-acre parcel with 2700 feet of frontage on Androscoggin Lake in Wayne. Access is by small boat (or snowshoes and skis when the lake is frozen) from either the Androscoggin Yacht Club or the public boat launch on Route 133 in Wayne. From the Yacht Club, paddlers should head southwest, aiming at the undeveloped shoreline between the West Acres development and the Androscoggin Camp for Boys. From the public boat launch, cross the cove, then follow the shoreline until the Kennebec Land Trust sign is visible. Small boats may pull up near the sign.

The yellow-blazed trail begins at the KLT sign and meanders up a small incline and through a mixed hardwood-conifer forest to a small beautiful park-like grove of large white pine and hemlock. Cores taken from two of these conifers in August, 2003 indicate that a number of trees in this stand are 130 — 150 years old. The trail winds through this grove and then follows a stone wall through the interior of the property, ending at a rocky point overlooking the lake, a nice spot for a picnic lunch and swim. Looking north along the property’s shoreline and across a small cove, one can see a dead pitch pine. This tree had an active osprey nest for years until it blew down this past winter. Ospreys were sighted near the shoreline this summer, and we hope that they will be nesting somewhere on the property in future years. In late August we saw an immature bald eagle fly out of one of the property’s large pine trees. Whitewash on the ground suggests that this tree has been used on several occasions as a perch for large birds.

For those interested in plant species, the property includes three trees somewhat uncommon in this area — tupelo, white oak, and pitch pine. Pipsissewa and rattlesnake plantain can also be found, as well as blueberries, witch hazel, partridge berry, cranberries and a variety of ferns.

This property provides valuable protection for a significant stretch of shoreline on a busy lake. When donating the parcel to KLT in 2001, owners John and Pat Perkins expressed the desire for the property to remain wild and open. They visited the property in August and were very enthusiastic about the work KLT is doing to maintain the property and provide a trail so that others might enjoy this beautiful spot. We hope many of you will visit the Perkins Woods.

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Letter from our Summer Intern

Beth Shattuck & Maddy Edwards

Dear Kennebec Land Trust,

Being an intern with the KLT was great. I had the opportunity to work with the environment and some wonderful people. I helped make a trail on the KLT Perkins Woods property with Jane Davis, and distributed KLT newsletters to local libraries with another intern, Maddy Edwards. I also had the chance to see Shannon Cromley’s plant ecology research at the Dead River Delta on Androscoggin Lake. I’m certain that this internship will be an important stepping stone for my future endeavors in biology. I’d like to thank Theresa Kerchner and the Kennebec Land Trust for letting me participate.

Sincerely,
Beth Shattuck. Waterville

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Your Investment in Conservation

Gannet Woods Over the past 16 years member investment in KLT has conserved:

Due to the generosity and support of our members, our children and grandchildren will have the privilege of experiencing these woods and waters in the same way that previous generations have. Thank you.

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Doug Scott - KLT Membership Secretary

Helping the KLT for Ten Years
By Glenn Hodgkins, KLT President

Doug Scott

A letter from Doug Scott is often the first piece of mail that KLT members see. Doug has provided membership and financial services to KLT since 1994. He has been a big part of KLT’s growth over the years. Not only did Doug start us on double-entry bookkeeping, he has allowed us to keep in regular touch with our 500 members. Together with new assistant Lex Lannan, Doug is now helping three different land trusts run efficiently.

Doug couldn’t have imagined his land trust work in 1962, when he graduated from Maine Maritime Academy as a deck officer. His seafaring education led him to a job with the Military Sealift Command in the Pacific. One trip to Antarctica left him stranded for 3 months in 13 feet of ice. Fortunately his ship was strong, and he made it back to civilization more quickly than the men of the Endurance. Jobs followed with the CIA, active duty in the Navy, Assistant Operations Manager for Barber Steamship lines and sales for Sea Land Service. Doug seized the chance to move back to Maine in 1971 with his wife, Ingrid, and worked for years as a Sales Engineer for Dumont Corp. of Monmouth.

Doug and Ingrid have now been married for 41 years. They have two grown children and three grandchildren. Very active in the greater Monmouth community, Doug is President and Chair of the Board of D.F.D. Russell Medical Centers, Secretary of the Monmouth Lions Club, Treasurer of Friends of Cumston Hall, and Secretary of Healthy Futures of Winthrop. He also volunteers many hours for KLT. It’s reported that he sometimes has time to eat and sleep.

We as a land trust are very fortunate to have Doug working for us and look forward to benefiting from his expertise for many more years.

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Thank You to Our Kennebec Landscapes Capital Campaign Donors

KLT Donors

Anonymous Augusta Fuel Company Jamie & George Ault
Rodney & Betsy Barker Friends of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta
Tom Bartol & Barbara Moss Joseph Bauer & Mary Brown Parlee Walter Belden
Frederick & Lisa Best Jerry Bley Madeline Brandt
John & Charlene Bridge Stephen & Elizabeth Brooke Peter Burbank
Pamela Burleigh, In honor of the marriage of Dr. Theresa White & Paul Muller Jim & Susan Caldwell Camp Androscoggin
Peter & Margaret Carhart Jim & Harriet Connors David Courtemanch
Charles & Elizabeth Crandall Stephen & Sandra Crockett James & Cecilia Cumming
Peter H. Danforth Elizabeth Davidson Stan & Jane Davis
Leland Davis, Jr. Chester & Deena Day Dr. Robert & Mary Jane Day
Mark & Renee Dershwitz Holly & David Dominie Jean E. Dorson
George & Elsie Dragonetti Dyer, Goodall & Federle, LLC Patricia Ender
Andrew Fisk John & Patricia Gannett Virginia Geyer
Wayne & Linda Gifford Cindy Glidden Patricia Gordon & John McPhedran
John & Susan Gross Sue & Roger Hanson Cheryl Harrington & Dennis Harnish
Nancy A. Hasenfus Marty Henson & Jim Betts Elizabeth & Richard Hicks
Glenn & Sara Hodgkins S. Jeanette Hopkins Dr. Michael Hoyt
Jim & Phyllis Huettner Doug Ide & Carol Saunders Lloyd Irland
The Isaacson/Lape Family Jeffrey Janell & Daisy Dore Jodi & Tom Federle
Barbara & Paul Johnson Todd Johnson J.S. McCarthy Printing
Ann Judd & Ron Giard Kevin & Judy Kane Sue & John Kannegieser
Kennebec Savings Bank Theresa Kerchner & James Perkins Lincoln & Gloria Ladd
Edward & Brenda Lake Howard & Brenda Lake William Laubenstein III
Mort & Barbara Libby Susan & Larry Liebling Jon Lund
Douglas Macdonald The Maitland Family Robert & Cheryl Marvinney, In memory of A. Victor Lykens
Jane Matrisciano Kevin Mattson Sally McGonigle
Dr. James & Helen McKendry Stephen & Diana Mclaughlin Winnie & Alex McPhedran, In memory of our son, David P. McPhedran
Ernest & Joan McPherson Tom & Donna Mickewich Philip & Gwendolyn Mohlar
Robert G. Mohlar Marilyn R. Noyes Mollicone John & Kathryn Morris
Melvin Mounts Jane & Barry Mower Beth Nagusky
Judith Nisbett Wm. R. Nye, In memory of Kenneth F. Nye Joseph O’Donnell
Michael O’Malley Sean Edward O’Malley & Mia Jensen Hope Olmstead
David B. Osborne Francesca Perazzi, In memory of Madeline Perazzi Dave & Shirley Petherbridge
Jeff& Ginny Pidot Lynn E. Randall Beatrice Kay Reynolds
Harry B. & Dee Richardson, In memory of Robert D. O’Malley, M.D. Celia & Isadore Risen Joyce M. Rivers
Norm Rodrigue Dianne E. & H. Allen Ryan Dr. Robert L. Sands
William & Charlotte Sawtelle Lee M. Schepps Jeannie Scudder
Sydney & Deborah Sewall Jim & Karen Simpson, In memory of Isabel Nelson Bernard Slofer
Jane G. Smith Tim & Luvia Sniffen Sue & Ken Spalding
Jym St. Pierre Joyce T. Sterling Mark & Nancy Sutherland
Roberta Swift, In memory of Lawrence F. Swift Paula Thomson Barry S. Timson
Andy Tolman Ben Townsend & Dorcas Miller Phil & Marjorie Tribou
David & Amy Trunnell Romaine Turyn & Al Prysunka William & Debora Uliasz
Richard & Josephine Wagner Clyde & Patricia Walton Margaret L. Weaver
Jeff& Allison Wells Robert N. Weston & Mickie Weston, In memory of Lowell N. Weston & William F. Needham R. Frederick Woolworth
Milton R. Wright John Yindra

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Echo Lake Donors

Dr. Mary Ellen Avery, In memory of Marie Brown Dick Courtiss, Camp Vega for Girls Dr. Peter & Lisa DeWolfe
Charles Elvin Douglas Frantzen Peter Geiger
Ron Giard & Ann Judd Donald & Stephanie Hunsinger Edward E. Johnson
David R. Ketcham, Turtle Island Camp Keith Klein, Camp Laurel Lynn, Phil & Andy Lilienthal, Camp Winnebago, In memory of Emmy Lou & Howard Lilienthal
Bruce & Amy Merluzzi John & Barbara Moment Dr. Patricia M. Mooney, In memory of May Howson Mooney & William H. Mooney
William Mooney Dorothea H. Mooney Bert & Pamela Murray In memory of David Jones Fleet Jr. (Pop-Pop)
Ralph & Gloria POwers Marion E. Rank, In memory of Charles W. Rank Bill & Sarah Reed
John Roberts & Kenneth Schmidt, In memory of Esther H. Roberts Deborah Page Sanders, In memory of David Jones Fleet, Jr. (Pop-Pop) Ken & Lea Stabinski
Raymond H. Terepka Paul & Ginny Warren and Douglas Pierson, In memory of Frances Pierson Alan M. Willemsen
Dr. Frederick L. Yarger

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Parker Pond Headland Donors

Burton & Joan Anderson Martin & Fiora Arnold Margaret & David Barrow
Rist & Joy Bonnefond Nona & Doug Boyink Daniel & Michelle Caron
Deborah Cayer & Bill Dunham Courtenay & Mary Jane Chase Stephen Cowperthwaite
Albert & Ruth Desnoyers Gary & Deborah Dubord Helen Duryea
Betty & Alton Earle Katherine & Henry Flynn Charles David Ford
Wesley Ford Marie & Richard Fox Robert & Leslie Grenier
Alan & Margaret Grometstein Gerald & Heidi Hartz Jeremiah Healy & Bonnie Tisler
Morgan & Jean Henika Cyndy Hoeh & Paul Staincloff Elizabeth Huettner
Phyllis & James Huettner Pauline & Jere Hughes Nancy & David Hunt
Barbara & James Kelly Sarah & Kingsley Kelly Leonard & Susan Knorr
Jennifer & Stefan Knust Marilyn & Henry Kobik Vicki Kozak
David & Elizabeth Landis Henry & Doris Laskey Benjamin Leber
Lauren & John Linton David & Kathy Markovchick Cindy & Pat McInerney
Addie & Alfie Michaud Anonymous Dan & Pat Onion
Frederick & Susan Onion Lois Peterson John Pier & Stephanie Paine
Stephen & Susan Plate Susan Potter & Wesley Babula Lidie & Josh Robbins
William & Karen Rogers Thomas & Veronica Sawyer Alan & Ruth Schactman
Eliza Slavet & Anthony Burr Gerald & Susan Slavet David & Sandra Snow
Kitsey Snow In honor of David Snow’s 70th birthday Jean & Brent St. Clair Gregory & Andrea Thon
Robert Weirnont & Maggie Chadwick Jeannine & Dean Wells Jeff & Ann Whitehead
Waine & Millie Whittier Kenneth Wilson & Alison Brown Phyllis York

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Annual Meeting Report: KLT Rests On Its Laurels
(Well just for one day)

by Jennifer McLean, KLT Board Member

The Annual Meeting of the Kennebec Land Trust, held August 22nd, was an occasion for members to celebrate. A beautiful day for field trips was followed by a wonderful dinner at the Manchester Country Club. KLT President Glenn Hodgkins had his hands full recounting the many accomplishments in FY 2004 and thanking the dozens of individuals who helped make the year such a success.

Glenn Hodgkins & Mary SturtevantIn the afternoon, KLT members enjoyed field trips at Parker Pond and at the new Torsey Pond Nature Preserve. A good sized group of paddlers put in at Ruth Grauert’s Camp Bearnstow and made a short journey to Parker Pond Headland, one of the jewels of the Kennebec Landscape Campaign. Hikers at the Torsey Pond Nature Preserve explored the new woodland-to-marsh trail built by the Town of Readfield. Conservation Commission members Dave Bagley and Tim Sniffen and KLT founder Jym St. Pierre led the group.

Glenn Hodgkins & Mary SturtevantAt the meeting that evening, President Hodgkins recognized organizations and individuals who had raised funds, donated land or granted conservation easements. The honorees included: Lynn Lilienthal and Pat Mooney, the Echo Lake Association, Ann Farr and family, Douglas and Jesse MacDonald, the Town of Readfield, Erica Karp and Tony Diller, the Parker Pond Association and Beatrice Reynolds. Their generosity and foresight made possible the protection of some 420 acres of land in 2004, bringing the KLT total to 2,540 acres.

Norm Rodrigue, organizer of the Kennebec Landscapes Campaign, marveled at the success of this ambitious, highly coordinated effort - a historic achievement for KLT and a testament to the generosity and passion for conservation of the KLT membership.

President Hodgkins recapped KLT’s successes in recruiting volunteers for stewardship activities, field trips, and the Lyceum Series. Mary Sturtevant received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Jim Connors, Stewardship Chair, presented the Outstanding Stewardship Award to Tom and Donna Mickewich, stewards at Curtis Homestead. Property stewards, the backbone of the trust’s efforts to maintain our growing land holdings, received stewardship pins, designed locally by Dwain Young of Augusta. Also recognized was Theresa Kerchner, Education and Stewardship Coordinator. Theresa’s ideas and hard work have paid off tremendously and are much appreciated. In board news, Bob Weston was recognized for his contributions as a long term director; he is retiring from the Board and his wise counsel will be missed. Howard Lake presented an award to Bob on behalf of the KLT. Curtis co-steward and Manchester resident Tom Mickewich was nominated to join the Board.

Thank You for Assisting with our Annual Meeting

Ruth Grauert, Camp Bearnstow
Readfield Conservation Commission
Jym St. Pierre
Gloria Powers
Bonnie Michaud
Tamara and Scott Gleason
Ron Giard and Ann Judd
Cranberry Creations
John Harker
Molly and Steve Saunders
Wayne Villiage Pottery
Tom and Donna Mickewich and Jim Connors
Special thanks to Hank Redmond and his staff at the Augusta Country club for a superb dinner and a memorable evening.

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New Trails and Kiosk at the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area

Tom Mickewich, KLT Board Member and Co-Steward, Curtis Homestead Conservation Area

Work Day at CurtisThere are a number of on-going projects at the Curtis Homestead this fall. Zac Sager, a senior at Monmouth Academy, has finished building an information kiosk for us as his community service project for his Eagle Scout award. In addition, the development of a brochure for the Homestead is progressing nicely. This effort is supported generously by KLT members Mort and Barbara Libby. The brochure will include a map created by KIT volunteer Chris Dimeo showing trails and other points of interest at the Homestead.

Thanks to the Maine Conservation Corps and all of the community volunteers who worked with us, we now have several new trails that are available for hiking and cross country skiing. This project was supported by a USDA NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program grant. Finally, those brush piles left from the field clearing work day last April, which some of you may have wondered about this summer, will be burned in early winter, as soon as there is snow on the ground. We will have more details on all of these projects in the spring newsletter.

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Parker Pond Headland Remembered

At the annual meeting, KLT President Glenn Hodgkins read from the family history of Parker Pond Headland, provided by Erica Karp and Anthony Diller. This land is now preserved so that future generations will be able to create enduring memories surrounded by its pristine beauty. An excerpt of that story:

Take a look at the Parker Pond Headland. You'll see the long shoreline and sloping evergreen hill, about the same view folks would have had back in 1890. That’s when Frank and Jean Diller first came to the lake and it didn ‘t take Frank much time to locate some of the best fishing spots. Back then, before motors, to get around on the lake you paddled, rowed or sailed. The loudest noise was Mother Loon's warning call as the Eagle flew out from the Split Rock Swamp. Since then, new generations of loans, along with young Dillers, have developed their swimming skills in Parker's waters. Jean and Frank's eldest son Elliot, called Van by everyone, always considered Parker Pond his real home. In 1929 Van and his young bride Berta spent their honeymoon on the lake. We can imagine them paddling their green canoe to the Headland, clambering up the cliffs on the eastern side and looking out over Birch Island, as you can still do today - then climbing back down to the shore and taking a cool Parker's plunge.

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Kents Hill School Community Day

Thank you to Headmaster Rist Bonnefond, teacher Jim Smucker and Kents Hill students for their efforts at the 17 acre KLT Mathews property in Fayette. The Kents Hill students dedicate two days each year to work with KLT stewards Ann Judd, Ron Giard, and Jim Brogan of the Mathews family, to maintain the Mathews fields for wildlife habitat.

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Notes From Main Street

Theresa Kerchner, Education and Stewardship Coordinator

Canoeing or Skiing to KLT Lands

Echo Lake WatershedThis was a fall to remember with bright days all through October. The weather was perfect over Columbus Day weekend with temperatures that were cool and then warmer by the day’s end. I could have been tending to the end of the season garden chores, but instead I took some time to roam KLT properties by foot and in a canoe. My favorite outing was paddling on Bog Brook to the Oak Island, part of the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area. The peatland plants and the surrounding hardwoods on the upland were brilliant.

Our new map includes information about all of our properties, including those with water access. The following KLT lands have public access points:

Please call the office at (207) 377-2848 if you would like more information about canoeing or skiing to these KLT lands.

* Currently has trails
** Trails are in the planning stages

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Landscape Painting and Conservtion 2004 Lyceum

We are pleased to announce that KLT’s annual lyceum topic will focus on the connections between Landscape Painting and Conservation. Our evening programs will be on three Thursdays: March 17th, 24th, and 31st at the Ladd Recreation Center in Wayne. Our opening presentation is Natural Visions: American Landscape Painting before the Civil War with Dr. Martha McNamara, University of Maine.

To follow up on the lectures, guest artists will lead several lyceum field trips at KLT properties. We are looking forward to seeing how our members will paint and interpret KLT landscapes! We plan to hold an exhibit of finished art work at Slate’s restaurant in Hallowell with a benefit reception late next year.

Thank you to the Kennebec Valley Art Association (KVAA) and the Ladd Recreation Center for co-sponsoring the series this year and to Gloria, Lincoln and Robert Ladd for funding the lyceum. Details about each of the lectures and the field trips will be mailed to all members this winter. Please contact the office if you have any questions or are interested in assisting with our annual lyceum program.

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KLT Property Maps

This summer we distributed our draft KLT property map. We are currently refining the text and the format so that the map will be in a convenient foldable from. The map will be mailed with membership renewal confirination letters this winter. A heartfelt thank you to KLT member, Andy Tolman, and the staff at Screamin’ Machines in Winthrop for their patience and assistance with this project.

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Vaughan Foundation Hosts Field Trip

by Hank Tyler, Botanist

The Vaughan Homestead Foundation held its first lecture on August 22nd, a bright sunny Sunday. Barry Timson, geologist and mayor of Hallowell, and Hank Tyler, botanist, gave the joint presentation and field trip. They focused on the geology and botany of the Vaughan Woods.

Using maps and diagrams, Bany explained the environment 12,000 years ago as the glacier receded from the Kennebec River Valley. Marine waters invaded the depressed river valley land and coated existing glacial till with a thin layer of marine clay. A thick layer of gravel was deposited. Within this gravel deposit, mostly in Chelsea, is Hallowell’s current water supply. As the glacier retreated, the height of land at Granite Hill acted as a dam and prevented glacial melt waters from further sculpting Hallowell’s landscape. During the field trip, Barry used an auger to core into the marine clay on the ridge at the top of Vaughan Brook. During deglaciation, large volumes of water cut into the glacial and marine deposits quickly creating the ravine.

Hank Tyler gave an overview of Maine’s flora. Kennebec County contains about 1,000 vascular plant species, about half of the plant species found in Maine. Vaughan Woods contains a rich variety of plant species. Hank estimates that over three hundred plant species grow in the Woods. He prepared a handout list featuring 95 plant species in 40 plant families. Highlights of the field trip included: the old-growth white pine stand, a Critical Area, the maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum), and a large population of Indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora), Emily Dickinson’s favorite plant.

Diana Gibson granted a conservation easement to the KLT in 1990. Geo, Ellen and David Gibson, George and Diana Gibson’s children, hosted the summer lecture and walk. The Vaughan Homestead Foundation plans to hold additional lectures and field trips, and will also continue to work on stewardship projects with the KLT and the Hallowell Conservation Commission.

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Vaughan Woods Work Day

by Andrew Fisk, KLT Board Member and Vaughan Woods Steward

On October 23rd, the Vaughan Homestead Foundation, in conjunction with the Hallowell Conservation Commission and the Kennebec Land Trust, held their annual work day. Over 20 people removed barbed wire from the field perimeter, spread wood chips along the main trail, and cleared woody vegetation from stone retaining walls. Daniel Ucci, a stonemason from Pittston, donated his time to begin repairing one of the stone culverts along the main trail. Dan worked with a crew of six volunteers to lift and reset the granite slabs that make up the culvert. Most of the culvert was repaired, but additional work is needed to rehabilitate one end of the retaining wall supporting the granite.

In addition, the Maine Conservation Corp worked for two weeks in October and early November to continue upgrading the Brook Trail and assist in culvert repair. Volunteer efforts are essential in order to maintain the beautiful and much loved trails at the Vaughan Woods.

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Who Are the Kennebec Land Trust Stewards?

Jim Connors, Chair, KLT Stewardship Committee and Theresa Kerchner, Education and Stewardship Coordinator

The Kennebec Land Trust is very fortunate to have over thirty dedicated property stewards. These volunteers are the foundation of our monitoring program and the individuals who know the most about our conservation lands. Responsibilities vary with each property and once a year we hold a stewardship training session with a guest speaker. Each steward has the opportunity to speak briefly about recent projects, natural history observations, field trips or proposed plans. This year our workshop will be on Saturday, January 22nd, at the Helen and George Ladd home in Wayne. We always welcome new volunteers. Please call the KLT office (377-2848) or talk to one of our stewards if you are interested in being part of this important and rewarding work.

KLT Stewards - Fall, 2004

Torsey Shore Conservation Area, Mount Vernon: Charlie Jacobs
Vaughan Woods, Hallowell: Andrew Fisk, Paul Johnson, Jeff Pidot & the Hallowell Conservation Commission.
Avery-Smith Shore Land, Readfield: Ann Judd, Ron Giard, Paula Thomson
Fogg Farm Conservation Area, Readfield: Brooke Barnes, the Readfield Conservation Commission
Cobbossee Islands: Perry, Hodgdon & Horseshoe Island Properties, Winthrop: Torn Bartol, Jodi Michaud Federle
Wyman Memorial Forest, Readfield: Dave Courtemanch
Bearnstow, Mt Vernon: Sue Liebling
St. Andre Fields, Readfield: Beth Craigie
Mathews Wildlife Habitat, Fayette: Ann Judd, Paula Thomson, Jim Brogan, Kents Hill School
Mt Pisgah Conservation Area, Winthrop and Wayne: Jeff Jannell, Jennifer McLean, Jim Connors, Jane Andrews
Androscoggin Lake Conservation Area
Norris Island, Wayne: Diana and Steve McLaughlin, Dave Stevenson
Brackett-Longley Rare Plant Preserve, Leeds: Diana and Steve McLaughlin
Perkins Woods, Wayne: Jane and Stan Davis
Cobbossee Stream Conservation Area, Gardiner: Ian Burns
Besse Historic Conservation Area, Wayne: Mary & Tom Sturtevant, Theresa Kerchner & Jim Perkins
Curtis Homestead Conservation Area, Leeds: Donna & Tom Mickewich, Andy Bosworth
Whittier Shore Land, Parker Pond, Vienna: Sue Liebling
Sturtevant Farm Scenic Area, Fayette: Beth Craigie
Gott Pasture Preserve, Wayne: Charlie Jacobs
Flying Pond Farm, Vienna: Diane Friese
Tyler Conservation Area, Readfield: John and Peggy Barnes
McGurdy Stream Preserve, Vienna: Tim and Maggie Davis
Torsey Pond Nature Preserve, Readfield: Marty Henson & Jim Betts, the Readfield Conservation Commission
Monmouth/Leeds Bog, Monmouth: KLT Stewardship Committee
Reynolds Forest, Sidney: George Viles and Nancy Ross
MacDonald Conservation Area, Readfield and Wayne: Howard Lake.
Echo Lake Watershed Preserve, Readfield: Ann Judd, Ron Giard, the Echo Lake Association
Parker Pond Headland, Fayette: Clyde Walton
Gannett Woods, Manchester and Readfield: KLT Stewardship Committee & Manchester Open Space Committee

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Natural History Notes from KLT Stewards

Theresa Kerchner, KLT Staff

This is a new feature for our newsletter! During the course of the year, you may meet one of our thirty stewards leading a community field trip or a KLT work day. Behind the scenes, these volunteers submit annual inspection reports, meet with landowners and plan trails and public access locations. Since our stewards visit their properties often, we have asked them to submit notes about their seasonal observations. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our first column.

During a visit to the Perkins Woods property on Androscoggin Lake in Wayne on October 8, 2004 we found that the leaves on the tupelo trees (Nyssa sylvatica) were at their full color - a very deep and beautiful red.
Jane and Stan Davis

On the KLT field trip to MacDonald Woods on October 9, 2004 we heard a ruffed grouse, found an owl pellet and coyote scat, and saw LARGE moose prints.
Howard Lake and Jym St Pierre

The vernal pool at the Besse Historic Conservation Area was empty of water, but filled with red and yellow red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves on Columbus Day, October 11th. This fall we submitted our fifth and final annual report to the Maine vernal pool monitoring project. For the years 2000 - 2004 the hydroperiods (length of time the pool held water each year) were: 2000 - 136 days; 2001 - 89 days; 2002 - 113 days; 2003 - 76 days; 2004 - 103 days.
Mary Sturtevant and Theresa Kerchner

One of the more spectacular fall botanical sightings at the Curtis Homestead this year was the pink and green maple leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) leaves. We saw these lovely shrubs near Curtis Rock, and on two of our new trails - the Curtis Rock Trail and Woodlot Loop Trail during the Maine Conservation Corps work week.
Donna and Tom Mickewich, October 20, 2004

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Thank You for Assisting the KLT with our Office, Education and Stewardship Programs

Jane Andrews Lois Ault By The Board Lumber, Sonia & Russ Godbout, Mt. Vernon
Ginny Coady Readfield Conservation Commission The Maine Conservation Corps
Beth Craigie Jane & Stan Davis Mary Denison
Chris Dimeo Maddy Edwards Karen Fisk & the Unitarian Universalist Youth Group
Bea Horne Charlie Jacobs Josh Lake
Ed Lake Mort and Barbara Libby Julie Mecham, KLT Webmaster
Donna and Tom Mickewich Miles Morris Daniel Perkins
Jim Perkins Jym St. Pierre Zac Sager
Syd Sewall Beth Shattuck Mary Sturtevant
Andy Tolman George Viles and Nancy Ross Clyde Walton
Alan Weaver Dwain Young

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