RE : Collaborations in DownEast Maine On Sun , Apr 11 , 2021 at 9:53 PM Alvion Kimball < ACKimball1995 @ msn . com > wrote :
Landon , Thank you for the recent activity update . I hope you are well , have your vaccinations , and business is picking up . I need your help promoting history , culture and the economy in Hancock and Washington Counties . I ’ m working on a feasibility study to establish a National Heritage Area , NHA , in DownEast Acadia and would very much appreciate your endorsement as one of the professionally run Land Trusts in the region . There are currently 55 NHA ’ s in the Country . We ’ d be the first in Maine and the only one in Northern New England exclusively in one state . If we can establish one it would mean increased collaboration to promote history , culture , outdoor recreation and economic development in the region along with 1:1 matching Federal funds to support same . Sunrise County Economic Council has the lead and is collaborating with other groups in Hancock and Washington Counties . I ’ ve attached a brief synopsis of what a National Heritage is and can offer . Preservation and conservation are central tenets . Is this something you ’ d like us to pursue and can you send me an endorsement ? ( This week ?) Please call me if you have questions or need more information . Thank you . ( And Happy Spring ). Cheers , Alvion C : 207 902-2240 www . DownEastAcadia . com Links to National Heritage Areas : www . nationalheritageareas . us / find-your-nha
From : Landon Fake < landon @ greatpondtrust . org > Sent : Friday , April 16 , 2021 12:37 PM To : Alvion Kimball < ACKimball1995 @ msn . com > Subject : Re : Collaborations in DownEast Maine
Hi Alvion , I ' m happy to endorse your pursuit of National Heritage Area designation . As the owners of the 4900- acre Wildlands preserve , which is open to the public for human-powered recreation , we have an abiding interest in the health and viability of local communities . The preserve protects the natural and cultural heritage of the land , which is open to traditional uses of hunting and fishing and managed in part for sustainable logging . Water routes through the preserve were used by native peoples 5000 years ago , by lumbermen 150 years ago to move saw logs , and in the past century as a source of water for the local mills . We welcome about 20,000 visitors annually , most of them visitors to the area . With bald peaks within a few miles of the coast , 25 miles of trails , and much of the preserve dedicated to protection of wildlife habitat , we are a valuable asset to the area . Using this asset to better serve the community and its visitors , as well as expanding our protection to key parts of the landscape could be aided by NHA designation .
Thank you for your work on this .
Landon Fake Executive Director Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust 207-469-6929 landon @ greatpondtrust . org www . greatpondtrust . org
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