At its October board meeting, the Great Bay Stewards were thrilled to elect three new members to the Board of Trustees. Jodi Landry is the branch manager of Stratham’s Kennebunk Savings Bank and first met Treasurer Kenny Ernstoff when the Stewards were exploring switching banks. “I think our personalities clicked and from that day, the relationship began,” she says. “In one of my most stressful days, I was given the opportunity to tour the Reserve with some of my colleagues. To say it was the most welcoming tour is an understatement. When we walked up to see the Glenn Cove project, I was blown away! To see the ideas of the future project and to listen to everyone speak about the progress was awesome. I can’t wait to see the finished project and know that this place will be available for others that can use that spot in their life.”
Andrew Samonas is a Portsmouth resident who runs Samonas Realty & Development and owns The Davenport Inn. “Growing up in Greenland at the foot of Great Bay was impactful for me as I was able to learn, firsthand and dirty-handed, what went on below the surface of this beautiful body of water,” he says. “As kids, we would play in the muck of low tide. Searching for horseshoe crabs, sunfish, and anything slimy. Great Bay has always represented a small secret of what the Seacoast offers. It started as a point of discovery and adventure but evolved to become an environment where I seek to find peace and calm during the busy summer months. It has been, and always will be a resource that I enjoy showing off to anyone who will listen and that is why involvement with Great Bay Stewards is valuable to me.”
Roger Stephenson is a resident of Stratham, N.H., who is the Northeast Regional Advocacy Director for the Climate & Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Masters in Wildlife Biology, Roger’s work on conservation in the state can be seen through his efforts with the Southeast Land Trust, Coastal Adaptation Workgroup, NH Coastal Risks and Hazards Commission and the NH ad hoc greenhouse gas emissions commission. He been extremely active in climate work in the region and we look forward to having him be a part of our Advocacy and Outreach Committee.