Hancock County SWCD News

2010 Supervisor Elections

2010-06-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

NOTICE
OF SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICT SUPERVISOR ELECTIONS

Persons desiring to run for the office of District Supervisor for the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District should contact the District Office at 190 Bangor Road in Ellsworth, (207) 667-8663, to obtain nomination papers. Completed nomination papers must be received at the District Office no later than October 1, 2010.
Persons who desire to run for the office of Supervisor must be a registered voter residing within the boundaries of the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the District.
Persons wishing to vote in the election of District Supervisor must contact the District in order to receive a ballot or stop in the District office at 190 Bangor Road to vote. Voting begins October 4, 2010 at 8am and ends at 4pm on November 15, 2010. All registered voters within the boundaries of the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District are eligible to vote.
Also, one of our appointed Supervisors’ terms ends December 31, 2010. The Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors are asked to submit up to three names of interested individuals to the Soil & Water Conservation Commission, now the Dept. of Agriculture, who then chooses the person who will become the appointed Supervisor for the District. If you are interested in becoming an appointed Supervisor, please call the District office to receive a copy of the required form. All appointment forms are due to the District office by November 1, 2010.

Survey Field Methods Workshop

2010-06-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Survey Field Methods Workshop
Sunday, July 18th from 8am-1pm at the Branch Lake public boat launch in Ellsworth.
This workshop provides a guided field experience for conducting invasive aquatic plant screening surveys. Bring your own shallow draft boat or contact the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program to make alternative boating arrangements. Previous attendance of an Introductory Invasive Plant Patrol workshop is recommended but not required. This is a great refresher workshop for aquatic plant identification and for volunteers to get ready for the Annual Hancock County Lakes Survey Week. Registration for this workshop is required by signing up on the VLMP website at www.mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org/workshops/ or by calling them at 783-7733.

2010 Bulb Sale

2010-06-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

It’s Time to Order Fall Bulbs!
The Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District is now taking fall bulb sale orders. Varieties offered include seed garlic, crocuses, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and more. Great values and a great way to support conservation efforts in Hancock County! For more information or to get an order form, call 667-8663 ext. 3 or stop by the District office at 190 Bangor Road in Ellsworth. Order forms can also be downloaded from our website: www.ellsworthme.org/soilandwater. All orders are due to the District office by Friday, August 6th.

Hancock County Local Working Group Meeting Scheduled

2009-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

There will be a meeting of the Hancock County Local Working Group (LWG) on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., at the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District office located at 190 Bangor Road in Ellsworth. The meeting will be hosted by the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District. The Local Working Group assists the Natural Resources Conservation Service in determining the resource priorities and conservation program focus in Hancock County for the implementation of USDA Farm Bill Programs.

The meeting is open to the public. For more information, or if you require special needs, please contact Megan Facciolo, District Manager at 667-8663 ext 3.

Notice of District Supervisor Election

2009-08-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

Persons desiring to run for the office of District Supervisor for the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District should contact the District Office at 190 Bangor Road in Ellsworth, (207) 667-8663, to obtain nomination papers. Nomination papers must be received at the District Office no later than October 1, 2009. Persons wishing to vote (ballots are mailed to all cooperators) in the election of District Supervisor must contact the District in order to receive a ballot.
Persons who desire to run for the office of Supervisor must be a registered voter residing within the boundaries of the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District. All registered voters within the boundaries of the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District are eligible to vote. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the District.
Also, one of our appointed Supervisors’ terms ends December 31, 2009. The Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors are asked to submit up to three names of interested individuals to the Soil & Water Conservation Commission, now the Dept. of Agriculture, who then chooses the person who will become the appointed Supervisor for the District. If you are interested in becoming an appointed Supervisor, please call the District office to receive a copy of the required form.

NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR CONSERVATION

2009-08-25T12:00:00.001-07:00

The Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) Executive Committee has selected a new executive director to work of behalf of Maine’s sixteen soil and water conservation districts. MACD President Daniel Labrie announced that MACD Treasurer Thomas Gordon of Portland will become the association’s executive director as of August 18, 2009. Long-time executive director Bill Bell will continue to serve MACD as a senior advisor and representative on legislative issues.

Gordon, a native of Skowhegan, Maine, was the first environmental studies graduate of Colby College and earned a masters degree in public administration from the University of Maine. He served for two decades as executive director of the Cobbossee Watershed District, managing nationally-recognized programs for lake water quality protection and restoration. He was a founder and president of the North American Lake Management Society, and has served as president of the Maine Congress of Lake Associations and the Kennebec Valley Conservation Association. He is currently serving as chairman of the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District and owns a small sound and audiovisual services business, AV Portland.

Outgoing MACD Executive Director Bill Bell, who will continue with the group in a government relations capacity, stated: “After my own investment of 20 years with the Maine Association of Conservation Districts, it is truly gratifying to have Tom Gordon come forward to take our activities to the next level. Tom’s leadership experience with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, combined with his energy and experience in conservation, make him just the right person to help strengthen all sixteen of our Districts.”

MACD President Dan Labrie commented: “We are fortunate to have two experienced conservation professionals who are willing to work together on behalf of our districts. We appreciate Bill’s dedication to the best interests of Maine agriculture, and look forward to Tom’s enthusiasm for expanding the roles and capabilities of conservation districts”.

As part of the leadership transition, the MACD office is being relocated to 1197 Washington Avenue, Portland. The mailing address is: MACD, PO Box 541, Portland, Maine 04112. The office phone number is: (207) 878-0857. Tom Gordon can also be reached at: (207) 329-1399 or by email at: tomgordon@avportland.com .

Water Quality Workshops

2009-06-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

Water Quality Monitoring Workshops– July 20 & 21, 2009: These free workshops train volunteers on how to conduct two types of water quality monitoring:
· Secchi disk
July 20 (rain date of July 29), 10:00am-4:00pm, Ellsworth City Hall & out on a local lake
· Dissolved oxygen monitoring
July 21 (rain date of July 30), 10:00am-4:00pm, Ellsworth City Hall & out on a local lake
For more information on being a water quality monitor see the VLMP’s website at: www.mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org. Secchi monitors can be recertified annually online. DO monitors need to be recertified annually at a regional workshop. Getting this data is critical in understanding the health of our lakes. To register or if you are interested in learning more about these workshops, please call the District office at 667-8663. Registration is required for either workshop and there is limited space available.

Bacteria Monitoring

2009-06-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

Bacteria Monitoring– Tuesdays and Thursdays: June 23– July 16: We are seeking volunteers to take water samples at local public beaches and other high traffic areas on lakes. Taking samples is easy- basically filling a little jar with water. Volunteers will drop off samples twice a week for 4 weeks (if you are unable to take samples on all of the days, that’s no problem, just let us know. However, the more samples we can test, the better data we will have and the more reliable the results.) Samples need to be dropped off at the District office by 2:00pm. If you are interested in being a bacteria monitor for your lake call the District office at 667-8663 or send an email to: megan.facciolo@me.nacdnet.net This is a wonderful opportunity for our lakes, and we hope many people take advantage of it!

Non-Traditional Solutions to Gravel Road Problems

2009-06-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

Non-traditional Solutions to Gravel Road Problems
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
8:00am-12:30pm
Maine Grind in Ellsworth
This workshop is a combination of classroom and in the field trainings that instructs participants on how to install practical cost effective fixes to significantly improve their roads and protect water quality. There is a $30 registration fee and pre-registration is required by calling the JETCC at 253-8020.

Invasive Forest Insects

2009-06-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Invasive Insect Identification Workshop
“Leave your firewood at home!”—that’s the message from the State Entomologist to people planning to come to Maine. It is also a message that Maine residents should take to heart. Do you know why? Learn how to recognize some of the
invasive insects that can hide in firewood and find out what you can do to help combat these destructive forest pests. Free informational sessions will be held in the following communities:
Ellsworth: Place: Ellsworth City Hall (Auditorium)
Date/Time: Wednesday June 3rd, 7-8:00 pm
Speaker: Allison Kanoti, Maine Forest Service Forest Entomologist
Co-Sponsors: Maine Forest Service, Bar Harbor and Lamoine Conservation Commissions, SWOAM Down East Chapter, Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District
For More Information contact: Allison Kanoti
(207) 287-3147 allison.m.kanoti@maine.gov

Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop

2009-06-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Invasive Plant Patroller Workshop
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
2:00pm-7:30pm
Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium
This workshop provides an overview of invasive aquatic species issues in Maine and beyond, plant identification fundamentals, a plant identification hands-on exercise with live plants, and how to conduct a screening survey including tools and techniques. All workshop participants receive an “Invasive Plant Patroller’s Handbook,” and Maine Field Guide to Invasive Aquatic Plants. This is the workshop you need to take or have taken, to volunteer during the Annual Hancock County Lakes Survey Week. This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required by calling the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program at 783-7733.

Non-Traditional Solutions to Gravel Road Problems

2009-06-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

2009 District Annual Meeting

2009-05-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hancock County SWCD Farm Tour & Annual Banquet
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Tour: 3:00-4:30pm at Horsepower Farm, Penobscot
Dinner & Door Prizes: 5:00-7:00pm at the Halcyon Grange, Blue Hill
Cost: $12 per person
Join us as we tour Horsepower Farm in Penobscot to view successful management techniques including a horse plowing demonstration, woodlot management, and best management practices that increase productivity and protect our natural resources.
A delicious buffet will then be served at the Halcyon Grange in Blue Hill followed by fabulous door prizes!
Pre-registration is required to the District office by Friday, May 1, 2009

2009 Downeast Regional Envirothon

2009-04-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Local High School Students Show Their Environmental Expertise

Under beautiful blue skies at Lamoine State Park more than 30 high school students took part in the 2009 Downeast Regional Envirothon Competition held on April 30th, coordinated by the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District. At the end of the competition, Old Town High School placed first, with Ellsworth High School Team A finishing second, and Bucksport High School Team A finishing third.
The winning team from Old Town High School consisted of Gabriella do Amaral, Erin St. Peter, Molly Segee, Sarah Nickerson, Emily Lovejoy, and Megan Robichaud. The second place team from Ellsworth High School included Rosie Vachon, Chloe Taub, Zac Smith, Alana Grant, and Drew Barkhouse. Bucksport High School Team A, third place finishers, were Gabby Raymond, Gabe Souzce, Sam Carmichael, Kyle McGeechan, Meghan Cooper, and Seth Raymond.
The competition qualified the three teams for the State finals which will be held on May 28th at the University of Maine in Orono. The winner on May 28th will then represent Maine in the International competition to be held at the University of North Carolina in early August.
Envirothon is a natural resource problem-solving competition for students in grades 9-12. Working as a team, students test their knowledge of natural resource issues by answering questions and solving hands-on problems at five stations: Wildlife, Aquatic, Forestry, Soils, and a current natural resource issue. This year’s current issue is Biodiversity in a Changing World. Many state and federal agencies, interested conservation organizations, and businesses cooperate every year to make this event a success. If you would like more information on how you can become involved in Envirothon, please call the Hancock County SWCD at 667-8663.