Dr. Amiel Bethel
A longtime patron and friend to the rivers of the Northeast, I have cared for and fished the Gunpowder River for over 30 years. I’ve been a close friend and ally of Theaux and the fly fishing community of the State, contributing my Biology background to conservation and growth of the Maryland river systems. I currently reside in Salisbury Maryland as a staff physician at Tidal Health-Peninsula Regional Medical Center. A lifetime fly fisherman, I’ve been able to pass my passion on to my sons, the next generation of river conservationists.
Jayne Heckhackley
Sarah Kestner
Sarah Kestner is a proud Baltimore native and nature lover. Growing up in a peninsula community, I spent my childhood wandering through the woods and marshes where I learned to fish, crab, compost and care for others. I moved to the lower Gunpowder River two years ago and became a vocal advocate for Mother Nature almost immediately.
As the Chair of Gunpowder Bush Waterways Advocacy Group, I Identify outreach gaps, and my goal is to help bridge neighbors towards effective participation with the Amtrak bridge projects by finding opportunities for those with limited time to still find ways to help their community. The goal of this group is to encourage the Amtrak planning team to achieve a symbiotic relationship between demands of the railway, direct community’s interests, and consideration for the environment at large.
I recently joined Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® for shoreline sample collection at Mariner Point Park and attended a skiff day where she learned how to collect water samples, perform water quality monitoring testing and returned to Marshy Point Nature Center to process data. “I was so thrilled to be a part of collecting the source data imperative to remediation planning; it made me feel like a scientist for the day and filled my heart to be doing my part!”
Jerry Kustich
Jeff Lewatowski
James Ritz
I am a 35-year resident of the state of Maryland, I have a wonderful Wife and two wonderful
Daughters. 33 Years ago, we made our decision to reside in Northern Baltimore County based
on the Gunpowder River and it’s surrounding area; a great choice for sure. Aside from fly fishing
I also enjoy playing the guitar, woodworking and skiing. I grew up in central New Jersey and graduated from Rider University with an Accounting degree. I did several years in public accounting then moved to Maryland to start a business with my Wife. We sold that business and decided to start a family, I then started a music business which I still own to this day. Music Go Round in Cockeysville. have been an avid fly fisherman my whole life with great love and respect for the outdoors.
Ask anyone that knows me and they will say Jim’s on the Gunpowder.
The Gunpowder watershed (along with all other major river systems) flow directly into one of
the greatest bay’s in the United States. I am committed to protecting and enhancing these
resources. I know I can not fight for them all but I will surely do what I can to protect this one.
Lynne Swanennberg
