News

First Wellness Walk of 2020!

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Kennebunk Land Trust and Kennebunk Parks & Recreation Department are proud to announce Southern Maine Health Care as its 2020 Wellness Walk Corporate Sponsor. The Wellness Walk Series provides guided social walks aimed at being active, building community, and opting outside. This sponsorship aligns with SMHC’s mission to improve the health and health care of the residents of York County. The first wellness walk was held at Sea Road Preserve on February 12th at 11AM. KLT would also like to recognize its Principal Sponsor, Kennebunk Savings.  

 

Thanks to all who joined us for our first Wellness Walk!

Social Walk Series, A Success!

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KLT launched a new partnership with the Kennebunk Parks & Rec–Social Walk on KLT preserves. These walks helped build a network/community of walkers and encouraged people to be active and recreate! These walks illuminate the many places that KLT has protected that are great for people and great for wildlife.

Environmental Speaker Series Ends on a High Note

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Whether it’s their beautiful songs or their bright colors, birds have always been a hot topic. About 25 people joined KLT for its last Environmental Speaker Series of the year–“Backyard Birding.” This program was presented in partnership with Maine Audubon and held at the elegant Nonantum Resort. Thank you to those that attended, thank you to Maine Audubon, thank you to the Nonantum, and thank you to our Speaker Series Sponsor, Spang Builders, for a wonderful program.

KLT Partners with Maine Conservation Corp to Improve Trail at Mousam River Wildlife Sanctuary

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KLT Partners with MCC, Makes Trail Improvements

Many people enjoy the Mousam River Wildlife Sanctuary property, located along Water Street. It’s a 38-acre preserve has over 2,400 feet of frontage along the Mousam River. There is a hill at the preserve that many have found difficulty traversing, especially in the winter months when the trail can be icy. This year, KLT partnered with the Maine Conservation Corp to establish crib steps at the preserve. This will make the property more accessible in all seasons. The KLT team will put a few finishing touches on the project later this month.  We also want to thank several boys from the Kennebunk High School Football team for volunteering to move some materials into the preserve so that this project could be completed.

Crib steps at KLT’s Mousam River Wildlife Sanctuary

Maine Conservation Corp crew who led this project.

KLT Par 3 Golf Tournament 2019 at Hillcrest Golf

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KLT Par 3 Golf Tournament 2019 at Hillcrest Golf Was a Blast!

Thanks to the 50+ players who joined us at this year’s par 3 golf tournament at Hillcrest Golf! Thanks to all our sponsors: Griffon Security Technologies,Avita of Wells, Julie Barros, Realtor, Southern Maine Health Care, Lone Pine Brewing Company, Sanford Springvale Chamber of Commerce, Hazelwood Handyman, Hancock Lumber Company in Kennebunk,People’s United Bank-Kennebunk Branch, Sanford Flooring, Cole Harrison Insurance, The Law Office of Jessie L. Krall, Zandri’s Martial Arts, Bob Zuke Builders, R& E Associates, Beath Family, Sandmire Family, and Harrison Family. Kennebunk Subway, Aroma Joe’s Coffee,Huston & Company, Boulangerie, A Proper Bakery, Lucky Star Restaurant, Thanks to Dave Sandmire for this aerial video of the tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ZK5tgsfqM

Want to play or sponsor next year? It’s $20 per player or $80 per team. Sponsorship costs $100 and includes a sign at the hole, recognition at the beer/wine cheese reception, and  2 of your 4 players. Sponsorship and full team is $140. Contact kennebunklandtrust@gmail.com to learn more.

 

 

KLT Annual Meeting & Summer Social ’19 with Guest Speaker, Comm. of MDIFW

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KLT Annual Meeting & Summer Social 2019 

Guest Speaker, Judy Camuso, Commissioner for the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

 This year, more than 60 people joined us at our Annual Meeting and Summer Social. The Guest speaker was Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW). The Commissioner discussed Maine’s wildlife with a focus on the department’s programs and resources. The event was held on Wednesday, August 21st at the Brick Store Museum’s program Center, located at 4 Dane Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043. The program started at 6pm with a brief KLT Annual Meeting followed by the Commissioner’s presentation at 6:15pm. Wine and cheese reception followed. This program was free and open to the public.

 

Judy Camuso became Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in February, 2019, and became the first department employee to be named commissioner in over 30 years, as well as the first female commissioner of the department.

 

Judy was promoted from her position as the MDIFW director of the wildlife division, a position she held since 2013. She began her career in 2007 as an assistant regional wildlife biologist in southern Maine, and then was promoted to the special projects coordinator before being selected as director.

 

As Commissioner, she oversees over 300 employees whose job is to preserve, protect, and enhances the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the state. The department is also responsible for promoting the safe enjoyment of Maine’s outdoors — from whitewater rafting to boating, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.

 

The agency’s constituents include the fish, wildlife, and people who call Maine home, as well as

the visitors who call Maine Vacationland.

KLT Highlights Preserves With Aerial Videos

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KLT has protected many beautiful preserves throughout our community.  KLT wanted to capture the beauty of these preserves in all seasons. Dave Sandmire, KLT member, volunteered to do just that–he took videos of several KLT preserves in all seasons. This is a wonderful way to experience the properties in a new way. To check out the videos visit our new Youtube site! Thank you to Dave for spearheading this project.

Interested in supporting conservation and open space within our community? Become a member today!

18 Year Partnership With Pratt & Whitney

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Pratt & Whitney Establish New Trails At KLT Preserve

Earlier this month, employees from Pratt & Whitney volunteered with the Kennebunk Land Trust (KLT) to establish a new network of trails at the Trust’s Clark Preserve, a 90 acre preserve with over 2,000 ft of frontage along the Kennebunk River.  The preserve lies adjacent to the Eastern Trail. This project was led by KLT’s stewardship committee and was part of United Way’s Day of Caring. KLT is a member powered organization and relies on its members and volunteers to achieve its mission. Interested in becoming a member or volunteer? Contact KLT at kennebunklandtrust@gmail.com

 

Hope Woods Celebration, 2019

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Hope For The Future–Saving Hope Woods

Kennebunk, ME June 10, 2019 – On May 19, 2019, the community gathered in the meadow of Hope Woods to celebrate the success of the Hope Woods Conservation Initiative.  Attendees heard from Hope Woods Conservation Co-chairs George C. Harrington and Tom Wellman, Hope Cemetery Presisent Betsy T. Stevens, Honorary Co-chairs Tom and Kate Chappell, Land for Maine’s Future representative Tom Miragliuolo, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust Land Protection Manager Keith Fletcher. A ceremonial ribbon cutting opened the trails to all forever.

 

Refreshments were provided by Destination Catering, with their vintage Airstream Caravan serving ice cream and homemade rhubarb soda instead of the usual cocktails and raw bar. The day’s events concluded with guided walks of Hope Woods with Maine Master Naturalists Gordon Collins, Joan Hull, and Linda Grenfell.

 

“We are pleased and grateful to have met our campaign goal of $1.4 million, which has saved the Woods and provided much-needed funds for the financial stability of Hope Cemetery,” said George C. Harrington. The campaign raised funds to begin work on a universally accessible trail, and we are already beginning. We will continue to seek donations for this and other projects.”

 

“Kennebunk Land Trust is proud to be the conservation easement holder for Hope Woods and we look forward to partnering with the Friends of Hope Cemetery & Woods to enhance public access to open space and protect areas that allow wildlife to thrive,” said KLT Director Sarah Stanley.

 

All are invited to enjoy Hope Woods – open daily from dawn to dusk. Access the trails from the rear of Hope Cemetery on Barnard Lane, Wood Pond Lane, Fletcher Street across from Mechanic Street, or at Woodhaven Drive. A copy of the trail map can be downloaded from the Hope Cemetery & Woods website https://hopecemeterykennebunk.com/woods/ or pick up a copy at Kennebunk Free Library, Kennebunk Parks & Recreation office, or Kennebunk Land Trust office.

Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting in Celebration of Hope Woods Conservation Initiative Success: Front row l-r: Laura Dolce (KKA Chamber of Commerce), Tom Chappell (Honorary Co-Chair), Kate Cheney Chappell (Honorary Co-Chair), George C. Harrington (Campaign Co-Chair), Betsy T. Stevens (Hope Cemetery Corporation), Sarah Stanley (Kennebunk Land Trust), Bonnie Pothier (Sen. King’s office), and Prentiss Kurtz (Sen. Collins’ office). Back row l-r: Tom Miragliuolo (Land for Maine’s Future), Brad Paige (Kennebunk Savings), Tom Wellman (Campaign Co-Chair), and Blake Baldwin (Kennebunk Selectman).