The View At Mill Run - Donation To A Worthy Cause

On Friday, June 1, I had the honor of attending the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for The View At Mill Run, a 375-unit luxury apartment complex near my home in Owings Mills, Maryland, which overlooks Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, a federally protected Wildlands whose preservation I help oversee as vice president of Soldiers Delight Conservation, Inc., the nonprofit Friends group which serves as advocate for the park. For the occasion I donned one of my favorite vintage dresses, a filmy, flowing confection of gold and burgundy chrysanthemums on black rayon by Nostalgia that I purchased at JCPenney in northern California back when I worked for the company in the 1970s. I added wood-soled platform sandals with macramé vamps by ALDO, a sage and black "Dea Dread" hair comb custom made for me by Thea Osato of Baltimore (http://deadreads.etsy.com/), and an heirloom necklace and earrings of pink beads that belonged to my maternal grandmother. I was ready to meet the press who would be recording the event.

In his remarks before a crowd numbering almost 100, developer Sidney Emmer explained that the name of the complex, The View At Mill Run, was inspired by "the gorgeous view" that more than three fourths of the apartments will have of the scenic and tranquil landscape that comprises Soldiers Delight NEA. Even the housing development’s logo, a stately silhouette of an orange-hued oak tree, he explained, was taken from his admiration, long before construction began, of a just such a tree ablaze in fall color on Soldiers Delight property across from where the complex now stands.

After local fourth graders presented enthusiastic renditions of our national anthem and America, the Beautiful, Mr. Emmer introduced several county dignitaries, who gave remarks. Then Mr. Emmer invited SDCI president Laura Van Scoyoc and I to come forward. Mr. Emmer thanked our Friends group for contributing to "the view" with our ongoing commitment to conservation and preservation of Soldiers Delight NEA, and presented us with a donation of… drum roll please… $2000!!

Me with SDCI president Laura Van Scoyoc and Developer Sidney Emmer

Needless to say, I was thrilled to have this most generous contribution to our cause and most appreciative that Mr. Emmer seemed to understand the importance of being a good neighbor of the land adjacent to our globally unique and fragile ecosystem. The gathered group was then treated to a splendid catered luncheon, followed by a tour of the complex.

Mr. Emmer asked what we might use his donation for, and I provided him with a laundry list of projects, equipment and supplies on our wish list of Serpentine Ecosystem Restoration Project (SERP)-related needs. Mr. Emmer responded by saying that he looked forward to developing an ongoing relationship with SDCI that might eventually provide funding and volunteers for some of these projects. I also had conversations with our area Chamber of Commerce Director Brian Ditto and Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond, who both expressed a desire to strengthen their ties with the Friends of Soldiers Delight. This was a happy, happy day for our group and for Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area. 

To see what Soldiers Delight is all about and perhaps make a donation of your own, please visit our website: Soldiers Delight Conservation, Inc.

Cheers,

Lynell