In Maryland, since October of 2004, 59 land lovers have donated permanent conservation easements on 3,821 acres in 16 counties, bringing the total in Maryland’s Environmental Trust to nearly 113,000 acres. For their donation, the landowners get tax benefits and the honor of a catered reception thrown by Gov. Robert Ehrlich in the State House…

Around the Bay, 113 marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs are on Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ gold-star Clean Marina list for meeting or bettering pollution prevention standards for stormwater management, vessel maintenance and repair, petroleum control, sewage handling and more.

Making the list in Bay Weekly territory are Bay Ridge Civic Association Marina, Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard, Chesapeake Harbour Marina, Eastport Yacht Club, Mears Marina, Port Annapolis Marina, Sandy Point State Park Marina, Saefern Saddle and Yacht Club and Whitehall Yacht Yard in Annapolis; Fishing Creek Landings Marina in Chesapeake Beach; Ferry Point Marina in Arnold; Rockhold Creek Marina and Shipwright Harbor in Deale; Herrington Harbour South Marina in Friendship; Hartge Yacht Yard in Galesville; Little Island Marina, Londontowne Marina, Oak Grove Marina Center/Persimmon Point Marine, Rhode River Marina and Selby Bay Yacht Basin in Edgewater; Casa Rio Marina in Mayo; Atlantic Resort Marina, Bodkin Yacht Club, Fairview Marina, Maryland Yacht Club, Oak Harbor Marina and Ventnor Marine Services in Pasadena; Flag Harbor Yacht Haven in St. Leonard; Magothy Marina in Severna Park; Herrington Harbour North and Town Point Marina in Traceys Landing; Point Patience Marina, Solomons Yachting Center, Spring Cove Marina, Washburn’s Boat Yard and Zahniser’s Yachting Center in Solomons; and Chalk Point Marine in West River …

Our Creature Feature is a recent entry in the International Shark Attack File. It happened in Australia when a scuba diver named Bernie Williams (not the New York Yankee) was gathering crayfish for dinner and found himself lunch to a Great White Shark.

“I stabbed it on the nose with a spear gun, but it was like hitting a lump of steel,” said Williams, who told of being dragged through the water in the jaws of the nine-footer. Another diver had an electronic shark repeller, but Williams attributed his survival to pure luck.