News from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

ESLC announces recipients of Eastern Shore 2010 Awards

Wye Mills, Maryland - November 2, 2007 - Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), a private, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of farmland and habitat on the Eastern Shore, today announced the recipients of this year's Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards. The 2007 Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards, inspired by the regional land use planning agreement that sets the highest expectations for the care of the Eastern Shore landscape, distinguish outstanding leadership in the field of land use planning and land development on the Eastern Shore. The purpose of these awards is to honor the projects, people and places that best define growth befitting the Eastern Shore.

"This awards program grew out of the excellent work towards the Eastern Shore 2010 agreement's goals," Rob Etgen, executive director of ESLC, said. "We are excited to celebrate the best of the Eastern Shore's sound planning and development."

This year's winners are being honored for their efforts and leadership in resource based industry viability, redevelopment projects, planning processes, land protection, community enhancement, transportation initiatives and others that advance any or a combination of the updated goals outlined in Eastern Shore 2010. This year's recipients include the Woods Family of Queen Anne' County, Colchester Farm's Community Supported Agriculture project, the Talbot County Planning Commission and Governor Martin O' Malley.

• Land Protection: The Wood Family of Queen Anne's County, Maryland Starting with one of the earliest conservation easement donations in the country on their family farm, called Indiantown, and following later with and easement on another family property, Poplar Grove, Howard Wood and his family have inspired preservation of the grand historic farms of the Chester River. Thanks to their leadership and hard work, the Chester River is one the Eastern Shore's most protected watersheds.
• Resource Based Industry: Colchester Farm CSA, Georgetown, Maryland Colchester Farms Community Supported Agriculture is pioneering the changing face of agriculture on the Eastern Shore. Located on a Cecil County farm placed in easement by Charlotte Staelin, this land serves wholesome, organic food to a 120 community shareholders. Through Colchester Farm, members and visitors experience the origin of the meal on their dinner plates, gaining a firsthand view and respect for local food, farms, and farmers.
• Growth Management-Community Enhancement: Cambridge RUDAT, Cambridge, Maryland Cambridge Region/Urban Design Assistance Team, a public service initiative of the American Institute of Architects, has empowered the local community to come together to shape a brighter future. This community visioning had elements of several goals of the Eastern Shore 2010 including infill and redevelopment, managing growth and sustainability, economic development, and affordable housing. Cambridge received an 'A' from the design team for implementation, making it one of only a few communities to receive such a distinction.
• Growth Management: Talbot County Planning Commission The members of the Talbot County Planning Commission have been longtime advocates for protecting the rural lands of the region, using the County's comprehensive plan as the guiding document for their decisions about development and zoning. Together the Commission has exemplified how to steadily turn the vision of comprehensive plans into reality.
• Transportation: Governor Martin O'Malley Governor Martin O'Malley's position to encourage alternatives to a third Bay Bridge crossing is a pivotal decision for the Eastern Shore's future. Given the strong influence transportation policies have and will have on the region, the Governor's decision signals a solid move toward proactive and creative solutions best befitting the vision set forth in Eastern Shore 2010.

The updated Eastern Shore 2010 agreement, signed earlier this year by Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties calls for; reaching regional goals in land protection, strengthening the farming, fishing, and forestry industries, managing the amount and type of new development, and creating a regional transportation plan, by 2010.

Winners were honored at ESLC's annual Land Use Planning Conference, held today at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills.

Recipients of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy's Eastern Shore 2010 Achievement Awards received their awards from the Honorable Harry Hughes. Awards were presented during a special lunchtime ceremony at ESLC's Annual Planning Conference, held Friday, November 2 at Chesapeake College.

Pictured is the Wood Family of Queen Anne's County James Wood (right) and his daughter Laura.and cousins Mary and Howard McCoy accepted the Land Protection Award.	Resource Based Industry Award Recipients from Colchester Farm CSA, Georgetown. Pictured are Charlotte Staelin (owner), and Jon Arbuckle.
The award for Growth Management that enhances quality of life downtown went to Cambridge R/UDAT. Pictured with Governor Harry Hughes is Anne Roan, Cambridge Planner	Accepting this year's honors for Growth Management that protects our rural lands were representatives from the Talbot County Planning Commission. Pictured are Talbot County Planning Commissioners Tom Hughes and Linda Makosky

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