The more than 80 people who participated in the Anne Arundel Sierra Club’s annual potluck dinner Jan. 25th heard a riveting talk by a leading Chesapeake Bay cleanup official, who spoke of the many continuing threats to the Bay and suggested actions that would lead to its returned health. Dinner participants also saw two county environmental advocates honored for their work in support of our always-threatened land and waterways, and heard a report on the status of the proposed Crystal Spring mega-development on Forest Drive.
The dinner was at Calvary United Methodist Church on Rowe Blvd. Attendees, as usual, brought a wide array of potluck dishes. There were no reports of anyone going away hungry. To the contrary, some belts were seen being loosened a notch or two.
Nicholas DiPasquale, director of the Chesapeake Bay Program -- the multi-partner entity in overall charge of Bay issues –- spoke about the range of manmade problems confronting the Bay, with a focus on the dangers of stormwater runoff. Runoff, DiPasquale noted, is the single biggest pollutant, flooding the Bay with everything from motor oil to animal feces to plastic bags.
He urged adoption of stronger controls on stormwater and strongly supported state legislation mandating several Bayside counties to fund controls programs. The County Council in Anne Arundel, one of those counties cited in state legislation, has approved such a fund.
DiPasquale was introduced by Maryland Sierra Club Chapter’s water campaign coordinator Claudia Friedetzky, who spoke about the Chapter’s efforts on behalf of the state’s waterways and urged campaign support and involvement on the part of Club members.
Honored by Club leaders were Larry Tom, director of Planning and Zoning for Anne Arundel County, who was cited for his thoughtful land use decisions and other pro-environment works, and Diane Butler, a member of the Annapolis Environmental Commission, for her research and public awareness efforts on Crystal Spring and other city developments.
County Executive Laura Newman was in the audience to witness the presentation to Larry Tom by club activist Earl Bradley. Group Chair David Prosten presented the award to Diane Butler.
A surprise award recipient was Jan Hoffmaster, outings leader for the Group and for the Chapter. Hoffmaster, who will be stepping down from his dual roles this spring to return to his home state of Pennsylvania, was presented with a plaque of appreciation by former Chapter Chair Ron Henry. Also present were former Chapter Chair Dave O’Leary and incoming Chair Baird Straughan.
Prosten spoke briefly about the continuing saga of the Crystal Spring development. He noted that the campaign against the forest-destroying, traffic-creating proposal got a big boost earlier in the month when newly-elected Annapolis Mayor Mike Pantelides, following his campaign statements of opposition to the development, announced his desire to see the 111-acre tract turned into public space.
A special thanks for their tireless efforts to make the dinner a success goes out to current or former Group Executive Committee members Sue Young, Liz Vandenheuvel, Jan Hoffmaster, Steve Satzberg, Gene Milgram, Richelle Brown, Rick Kissell, and Earl Bradley. A special thanks to Ralph Youngs for his photos and to community volunteer Pamela Devore.