John Worthington of Freeland is the new president of Whidbey Watershed Stewards, the group announced. He assumed the office this past week at the group’s annual retreat at Glendale.

Worthington takes over for Linda Ade-Ridder of Clinton, who stepped down after four years as president. Ade-Ridder continues to serve on the board.

Worthington is a former Presbyterian minister who headed congregations in California and New Jersey before retiring to Whidbey Island. Before seminary training in the Bay Area, he studied marine vertebrate zoology at the University of Washington, and worked with Dixy Lee Ray in her scientific endeavors before she became governor of Washington.

The group also installed new board member Pat McDaniel of Greenbank. A Seattle native, McDaniel ran an upholstery business in Burien before retiring to Whidbey Island in 2006.

He is active in the Fishin’ Club and is vice-president of Puget Sound Anglers, for which he has assisted a program to raise Coho salmon for release into Puget Sound.

Meanwhile, officers continuing to serve for another year are John Lee, vice president; Bob Gentz, treasurer; and Fred Schram, secretary.

Nonprofit Whidbey Watershed Stewards was chartered in 1994 to promote nearshore and watershed health by linking water, land, wildlife and people on Whidbey Island through education, research and restoration.

It operates the Outdoor Classroom along Maxwelton Road to provide science education experiences for Whidbey Island students in kindergarten through grade five. It also promotes stream restoration, and oversees conservation properties on lower Maxwelton Creek and Clinton Creek.