PWA in October

Midcoast, Maine - Oct. 1-Nov. 27:  Marcia Brandwein Furman Art Exhibit “Reflections of Nature” at PWA's office, 15 Courtyard St. above Salt Bay Café and the Chamber of Commerce in Damariscotta weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Marcia is donating 35% from exhibit sales to support PWA's mission.

Tues., Oct. 2, 6:00-7:00 p.m.: Susan Gallo presents “Loons and Real Estate: It’s All About Location, Location, Location” at the Friends’ Meeting House in Damariscotta. Why do loons choose to nest on one Maine lake and not another?  Why do some loons successfully raise chicks year after year while others seem to never give up the bachelor lifestyle?  Learn more about where loons are in Maine every summer, and how lakeside residents can participate in Maine Audubon's new study designed to answer some of the more intriguing loon "real estate" questions. Interested audience members can help Maine Audubon collect information about the features of loon lakes that might help (or hinder) loon nesting and success every summer.  Come to Gallo’s presentation to learn more about the loon habitat study and loon natural history in this multi-media presentation.

The Friends’ Meeting House is located on 77 Belvedere Road, off of Route 1, in Damariscotta. This presentation is free and open to the public.

Fri., Oct. 5, 4:30-5:30:  Marcia Brandwein Furman Exhibit Reception at the PWA office suite.  Enjoy wine and cheese while mingling and meeting the artist.

Sat., Oct. 13:  Doyle Preserve trail-marker-changeover crew led by Steve O’Bryan. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking area. The crew will update the trail system’s color coded trail markers.  Bring a hammer.  RSVP by Oct. 10 to trails@pemaquidwatershed.org.  Doyle Preserve is sponsored by The First.  DIRECTIONS: From Damariscotta, take the Biscay Road 2 miles and turn left onto Egypt Road (just before Pinkham’s Plantation, a landscaping business located on the right).  Travel 1.7 miles and turn right on to Castaway Cove Road. Preserve parking area is 0.1 miles down on the right.

Thurs., Oct. 18, 3:00-4:30: Invasive Plant Presentation at Bristol Area Library, for children in grades 1-5. Stop by the Bristol Library after school for a chance to learn about the threat of invasive aquatic plants to our ponds.  This presentation will include hands-on learning, fun games, and a fascinating lesson about how lake ecosystems function. Call 207-563-2196 or email pwalearn@pemaquidwatershed.org to sign up.

Saturday, Oct, 20, 8:00-9:30 a.m.:  Birding for Beginners at Crooked Farm Preserve, with an optional extension from 9:45-10:15 at Pemaquid Point. Randy Domina will lead an interactive walk suited for both beginning and experienced birders. Crooked Farm Preserve features an ideal mix of habitats -- from open fields to deciduously forested riverbanks -- that attracts many types of birds. This 1.5-hour walk will take place over varied terrain at a gentle pace with frequent stops to observe birds. The walk will conclude with an optional trip to Pemaquid Point from 9:45-10:15 to scout for seabirds.  To sign up for this walk, contact PWA at 207-563-2196 or email pwalearn@pemaquidwatershed.org.  Wearing orange is recommended as a general safety precaution in the fall.  Please bring binoculars and/or scopes.  PWA will bring a limited number of binoculars for participants to use.

Wed., Oct. 24:  PWA leads the Wednesday Walkers at Crooked Farm Preserve.  The public is invited to enjoy a hike with the Wednesday Walkers at Crooked Farm Preserve in Bristol.  Pemaquid Watershed Association’s (PWA) AmeriCorps Member, Amelia Fogg, will lead walkers along the 3-miles trail system traversing the 130-acre preserve of forest, wetlands, and open fields and 1.25 miles of Pemaquid River shorefront.  The walk will start at 9:30 a.m., and everyone is welcome.  The preserve is owned by PWA and is held in conservation easement by and co-managed with Damariscotta River Association.  Wearing orange is recommended as a general safety precaution in the fall.

     Due to limited parking at the preserve, walkers are asked to meet at the Friends’ Meeting House in Damariscotta at 9:00 a.m. to carpool to the site.  The Friends’ Meeting House is located at 77 Belvedere Road, just off Route 1.  For those coming from the Rockland area, a carpool will meet at Lowes in Thomaston at 8:30 a.m.  For those who opt not to carpool, they may meet the group at the preserve’s parking area at 9:30 a.m.  To reach the preserve from Damariscotta, take the Bristol Road (State Route 130) 9.9 miles and turn left on to Old County Road at the Bristol Library. Travel 0.8 miles and turn left into the preserve parking area (before the Carpenter’s Boatshop).  Extra parking is available at the Boatshop.

     Taking part in the Wednesday Walkers group is a great way to explore new trails and meet new people.  Walks are done throughout mid-coast Maine and are led by one of the nine partnering land trusts.  To sign-up to receive e-notices regarding future hikes, please email wednesday_walkers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

ANOTHER EVENT THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST:

Wed. Oct 10:  Women and Their Woods - Learning about Woodland Management
Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson
Co-sponsored by Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Maine Farmland Trust and Maine Forest Service

This is an all-day event designed to educate and encourage women on stewardship considerations and business aspects of woodland management and ownership.  The goal of the Women and Their Woods program is to increase the number of women woodland owners who are aware of the options for caring for their forestland.

The workshop will bring women woodland owners together. Each participant will:
1)        Learn how to increase familiarity and comfort with her woodland;
2)        Assess what she has and what she can do herself; know when and where to seek assistance from professionals; and

3)        Get in-depth answers and information from a variety of forest and legal professional experts who will be on hand.

Speakers include Barrie Brusila (Licensed Forester, Mid-Maine Forestry), tish carr  (Licensed Forester, Licensed Arborist), Patty Cormier  (Licensed Forester, Maine Forest Service), Mort Moesswilde (Licensed Forester, Maine Forest Service), Andy Shultz  (Licensed Forester, Maine Forest Service), Louanna Perkins (Staff Attorney, Maine Farmland Trust), Bambi Jones and David Moskovitz (Co-Founders Hidden Valley Nature Center).

Time will be spent both inside the classroom and outside touring the silvicultural practices at HVNC’s well-managed woodlot. The fee for the day is $50 including lunch and materials. MOFGA has some scholarships available (amarshall@mofga.org). For more information and to register go to www.hvnc.org or contact bambi@hvnc.org or 586-5837.