Friends of Casco Bay's Citizen Stewards devote many hours each season, collecting water quality samples at coastal sites around Casco Bay.  These highly-trained volunteers are critical to Friends of Casco Bay's work, helping us to gather the most comprehensive set of data on the health of Casco Bay.

Several of our Citizen Stewards were singled out recently for their achievements.  At this year's Annual Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Event, Citizen Stewards Coordinator Peter Milholland gave special recognition to our veteran Citizen Stewards who have reached 15-year, 10-year, and 5-year milestones in water quality monitoring.   

15 Year Award Recipients

Jill Victor & Paul Dostie - Harpswell

Water Quality Site: Gun Point

Paul and Jill built their Harpswell home stone by stone, with Paul setting all of the stones and Jill mixing and pointing the cement that holds them in place. Jill, an artist and educator by training, incorporates beach glass and shells into window sculptures and wall art, and Paul sometimes lobsters. These pursuits, along with their water quality monitoring, allow them to share their appreciation for this glorious area. 

Sandy Zimmerman - Harpswell

Water Quality Site: Gun Point

Sandy definitely has salt water in his veins; he grew up in Bath, lifeguarded nine summers at Reid State Park, and has lived on or near the ocean since 1973.  A “semi-retired” cardiologist, he is currently teaching medical students at Maine Medical Center about “lub and dub” - how to interpret the various sounds the heart makes.

Peter Merrill - Cape Elizabeth

Water Quality Site: Portland Headlight

Peter, his wife Sara, and seven-year-old son Zachary love living near and sailing upon the waters of Casco Bay. A native Mainer, Peter is the Facilities Manager at Sappi Fine Paper’s Technology Center. He leads the Environmental Sustainability grassroots effort at Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth. Its goal is to provide opportunities for parishioners to positively impact the local environment.

George Patterson - Harpswell

Water Quality Site: High Head

George, a retired banker, is an active volunteer for the Maine Maritime Museum and the Friends of Eagle Island. He has sailed for many years and enjoys all aspects of woodworking, including building sailboats.

10 Year Award Recipients

The Glick Family - Portland

Water Quality Site: Portland Yacht Services

Public service, volunteerism, and environmentalism are woven into the Glick family fabric. Fifteen years ago, Gary “left a high paying job in construction and took the vows of poverty as a science teacher.” Fifteen years ago, Kathleen became a clinical researcher for Maine Children's Cancer Program. As a result of daughters Devi and Hillary's 1999 ninth grade science project, the Glicks added water quality monitoring to their public service, and except for the seagull guano, have loved every minute of the experience. Today, Devi is pursuing a double master’s in Environmental Science and Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and Hillary is earning a master’s degree in medicine at Boston University.

David and Jim Hennessey - West Bath

Water Quality Site: Winter Point

Brothers David and Jim Hennessey share a connection to Casco Bay that goes back many generations. The Hennessey family has fished the waters of Mill Cove and Casco Bay for over 300 years. David and Jim have been actively involved in an oyster aquaculture venture known as Winter Point Oysters. Their oysters are sought after by many local upscale restaurants throughout the East Coast.

5 Year Award Recipients