North County Preservation News Updates

First Annual Land Preservation Benefit

More Than $30,000 Goes to Local Land Preservation Trusts
During Presentation Ceremony with County Executive Jim Smith

With growth, expansion and increased traffic over the past decade in northern Baltimore County, it’s no wonder that the first annual Land Preservation Benefit held on March 31, 2007 hit home with so many residents and proved a great success for its coordinators.

The Manor Tavern was host to a sold out crowd consisting of 250+ home owners, conservationists and various land preservation association members all joining forces to raise money for the Manor Conservancy, Gunpowder Conservancy, Long Green Valley Conservancy and the Land Preservation Trust, collectively. The $30,800 raised from the event was presented by North County Preservation Vice-President Alice Chalmers in County Executive Jim Smith’s office on Tuesday, May 8th in the presence of the County Executive and 3rd District Councilman Bryan McIntire. Each land trust was handed a check for $7,700.

Recent changes in the tax laws create incentives for land owners to sell or donate conservation easements on their land, while still maintaining ownership of their property. With these incentives only guaranteed through 2007, the benefit was designed to help spread the word and raise money to enable local preservation organizations to reach out to land owners who may be interested. The evening was an opportunity to enjoy fabulous food prepared by the Manor Tavern, accompanied by 25 wines for tasting sponsored by Four Corners Wine & Spirits. Some of the finest vineyards around the world showcased their wine while the attendees had an opportunity to bid on several highly unique auction packages that were generously donated by local businesses and individual preservation supporters.

"For generations, the people of Baltimore County have worked hard to cherish and preserve our rich agricultural and rural heritage," said Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith. "We have enjoyed great success, but we are not done by a long shot. We are more than halfway to our goal of eventually preserving 80,000 acres of open space, and will continue to work alongside the land trusts to pass on this legacy to future generations."

Alice Chalmers of North County Preservation, Inc., (NCP) who helped coordinate the event with chairpersons Allison Doriss of Four Corners Fine Wine & Spirits and Carrie Gittings, Treasurer of NCP, highlighted the spirit of cooperation that exists among land preservationists: "The success of the First Annual Land Preservation Benefit demonstrates that bringing together a broad spectrum of individuals to help preserve open space is the work of many. The county has laid the foundation through appropriate agricultural zoning, agricultural preservation programs, and an agricultural center that will be a platform for enhancing the economic viability of our farms; landowners have voluntarily preserved their land, and the land trusts have provided the legal framework and guided them through that process; community associations and environmental groups have helped individuals with land use and ecological issues; forward-thinking developers have understood that the market demand is evolving to wards more efficient land use and respect for the natural landscape; and other businesses have donated money and goods and services to support the land preservation cause. We wish to thank everyone involved in making land preservation a priority and this event a huge success, and look forward to its growth and continuation."

For more information, contact Alice Chalmers at

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