Sprawl and Chesapeake Bay Country" Subject of Saturday Chesapeake Bay Conference Sessions" 

SALISBURY, MD--- Two Saturday sessions at the Conference on the Chesapeake Bay in the 21st Century at Salisbury State University examine the future of the Eastern Shore in terms of sprawl and the impact of agribusiness on the environment.

On the Eastern Shore of Maryland, "sprawl and rampant development is the specter that haunts us," said conference coordinator Jack Wennersten. "The noise of the chainsaws and bulldozers demolishing forest cover on the Eastern Shore drones on relentlessly. Even the more traditionally rural counties of Somerset and Dorchester are part of this trend," Wennersten said. "Land taken out of forest or farming is essentially lost land, land that is important for environmental stability in the region."

From 9:15-11:30 a.m. in the Worcester Room of the Commons at SSU, historian and writer Ric Cottom examines the historical impetus behind the growth of metropolitan sprawl in Maryland and on the Eastern Shore and offer insights on the future of development in the region. Cottom, an executive at the Maryland Historical Society and editor-in-chief of the Maryland Historical Society Press, has written extensively on the historical development of controversial issues affecting people in the Chesapeake Bay country. Dr. John Molenda, professor of biology at SSU, will also provide commentary on this crucial issue.

From 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Worcester Room, Kenny Bounds, the immediate past president of Delmarva Poultry Institute Inc., speaks on "Agribusiness and the Bay Country." The DPI is a trade group that represents 4,000 members on the Delmarva Peninsula with an interest in the poultry industry. Bounds is a widely known businessman who CBS reporter Mike Wallace interviewed for his views on the poultry industry last year. Commenting on Kenny Bounds’ presentation is John Chlada, director of environmental services for Perdue Farms Inc. Dr. Jill Caviglia-Harris, assistant professor of economics at SSU, provides summation remarks on issues of concern to the poultry industry and general community in the Chesapeake region.

From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Calvert Room, of the Commons Cornell Maritime Press of Centreville holds a book sale featuring publications about Chesapeake Bay Country.

Admission to both presentations is free and the public is invited.

For more information on the conference please call the SSU Public Relations Office at 410-543-6030.