KITCHEN TOUR 2016

Photo Credit:  David Clough Photography, Rockland

The annual Merryspring Kitchen Tour will take place on Wednesday, August 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p,m.  This year's Tour invites you into eight private midcoast home kitchens, several with views of the water, with a gourmet tasting from a talented local chef at every stop--a total of 16 participating chefs.   Merryspring Nature Center encourages you to bring your friends and houseguests to this popular summertime event, its major annual fund-raiser.  The 2016 Kitchen Tour is generously sponsored by EBS Style Solutions, Camden.

            Each kitchen has its own personality, and gives you an inspiring look at what creative homeowners can do, together with skilled designers, builders, and craftspeople.   The chefs at work in each kitchen give you a sampling of the remarkable, ever-expanding dining choices available in our midcoast area.    

            The 2016  Kitchen Tour features these gracious homeowners and chefs:

1.  Sally & Allen Fernald, 48 Chestnut Street, Camden  An elegant three-story townhouse

More Snow Means Winter Storm Watch for Wednesday Night-Thursday

Winter Storm Watch...BLUE

Mid-Coast Maine is now under a winter storm watch as more snow is on the way for Wednesday night through Thursday. There potential for several inches of snow. With 4-8 inches, locally higher amounts expected leads the U.S National Weather Service out of Gray to issue a winter storm watch.

...HEAVY SNOW IS POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF THE AREA LATE WEDNESDAY

INTO THE DAY ON THURSDAY...

.LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH FROM THE GREAT LAKES LATE WEDNESDAY

AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHILE LOW PRESSURE PASSES BY OFFSHORE. A

DEVELOPING SURFACE TROUGH BETWEEN THESE TWO LOWS WILL PRODUCE A

BAND OF SNOW ACROSS OUR AREA LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THE DAY ON

THURSDAY. THIS TROUGH WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR LOCALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL

WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY. SOME UNCERTAINTY EXISTS ON

EXACTLY WHERE THE TROUGH WILL FORM...AND HENCE WHERE THE HEAVIEST

SNOWFALL WILL BE. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR 6 INCHES OR MORE OF

SNOW IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER

FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON THE

DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM.

INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO-

COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NORTH WINDHAM...GORHAM...BRIDGTON...

LEWISTON-AUBURN...LIVERMORE FALLS...AUGUSTA...WATERVILLE...

WINTERPORT...UNITY...PORTLAND...SOUTH PORTLAND...WESTBROOK...

BATH...TOPSHAM...BOOTHBAY HARBOR...WISCASSET...WALDOBORO...

CAMDEN...ROCKLAND...THOMASTON...BELFAST...LINCOLNVILLE

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH

THURSDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM

WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH

THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

* HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 8 INCHES...WITH SOME

  LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

* TIMING...LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THE DAY THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...SNOW WILL PRODUCE SLICK DRIVING CONDITIONS.

* WINDS...NORTH 5 TO 10 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...12 TO 23.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT

SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

We will update readers when a winter storm warning or winter weather advisory is issued.

Maine Eastern Railroad Announces 2015 Excursion Schedule

Rockland, Maine - The Maine Eastern Railroad has announced its 2015 seasonal excursion schedule, which is focused on day trips from Brunswick to the scenic coastal locations of Bath, Wiscasset, Newcastle-Damariscotta, and Rockland.

“We have designed our 2015 schedule to give our riders time to truly experience Maine’s Mid-Coast,” says General Manager Harmony Llanto.

The Maine Eastern’s excursion trains, featuring several pieces of historic rail equipment, will operate between Brunswick and Rockland during the Maine Lobster Festival and on weekends in August and October, providing a three-and-a-half hour stop in Rockland and longer stops in Bath, Wiscasset, and Newcastle-Damariscotta for people to eat, shop, and enjoy Maine’s charm.

Local businesses, groups, and associations are encouraged to charter the Maine Eastern’s entire train

Birding Excursions along the Midcoast- April & May

Photo Credit: Chris Cabot
Participants look and listen as Merrymeeting Audubon birder, Ted Allen (center), points out a bird in Thorne Head Preserve in Bath.

Four Conservation Organizations offer series of birding walks in the Merrymeeting Region

The public is invited to attend a series of free bird watching adventures sponsored by four conservation organizations in the Merrymeeting Bay region this April and May. The Merrymeeting Audubon, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust have collaborated to offer five opportunities to visit beautiful natural places and watch for a variety of birds from forests to farms to the shoreline.

On April 9 at 7:00pm experience the American Woodcock’s mating dance with Forester Rob Bryan at Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s Curtis Farm Preserve. We will meet to hear about woodcock ecology, nesting habitat, and what we can do to enhance habitat for these interesting birds. Around sunset we will stop talking to watch and hear the male birds take their spiraling, twittering courtship flights. Bring something portable to sit on. Curtis Farm Preserve is located across the street from 1557 Harpswell Neck Road (Route 123), 1.7 miles south of the post office and .2 miles north of Ash Point Road. For more information: Julia McLeod, 207-837-9613, outreach@hhltmaine.org.

On April 19 at 8:00am join us for a walk through KELT's Sewall Woods Preserve in Bath led by Merrymeeting Audubon's Ted Allen. The group will hike along Whiskeag Creek, a tidal influenced stream that flows into the Kennebec River. Birders will seek migrating waterfowl including Canada geese, black ducks, mallards, blue- and green-winged teal, and common mergansers.  Participants can meet at 7:30am at the CVS in Bath to carpool. For more information: Ted Allen, 729-8661.

On Friday, May 9 at 7:30am, join Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s veteran birder John Berry at Skolfield Shores Preserve to walk the trails and look for spring birds in the woods and fields and along the shore. Skolfield Shores Preserve is located on Harpswell Neck Road (Route 123), just south of the Brunswick/Harpswell line. For more information: Julia McLeod, 207-837-9613, outreach@hhltmaine.org.

On Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 am join us for a walk through the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust’s Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. Jan Pierson will lead participants through a variety of habitats including fields, forests, and ponds.  We hope to see sparrows, bluebirds, boblinks, and several species of warblers.  For more information visit www.btlt.org/birding  or contact Lee Cataldo, 207-729-7694, lee@btlt.org.

On Saturday, May 31 at 8:00am, Ted Allen from Merrymeeting Audubon is leading birders through Thorne Head Preserve in Bath. Overlooking Whiskeag Creek as it converges with the Kennebec River, the preserve is located on the Maine Birding Trail and is rich in migrating warblers and vireos.  Participants can meet at 7:30 am at the CVS in Bath to carpool.  For more information: Ted Allen, 729-8661.

Visit the web addresses of the four hosting organizations for more information on these fantastic chances to observe our feathered friends: Merrymeeting Audubon: www.maineaudubon.org/merrymeeting/; Kennebec Estuary Land Trust: www.kennebecestuary.org; Harpswell Heritage Land Trust: www.hhltmaine.org; Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust: www.btlt.org/birding.

Gardens in the Watershed Tour on July 14th

Mid-Coast - The eagerly awaited 22nd annual Gardens in the Watershed Tour will take place on Sunday, July 14th, from 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine. The tour, now featured as a must-see event by the New York Times, is hosted by the Georges River Land Trust.

This year’s tour will feature seven gardens from Montville, Union, and Hope. Besides the gardens, one of the highlights of tour day is the drive following the Georges River as it meanders through the watershed with magnificent vistas of rolling hills, farms, fields of wildflowers, ponds and lakes. Come visit the headwaters of the St. George River!

This year’s gardens were chosen not only for their beauty and diversity, but also as stellar examples of garden owners who believe in living sustainably from the earth - enjoying the bounty of vegetable plants, fruit trees, farmyard animals, and creative perennial displays of bright blooms. There will be two speakers – one talk will be about an organic approach to gardening, and the other about composting.

Tickets with brochures are $25 in advance from local merchants:  Brambles (Belfast); Planet Toys (Camden); Hope General Store (Hope); Liberty Graphics (Liberty); The Reading Corner and the Land Trust office (Rockland); Hedgerow (Tenants Harbor); The Highlands Coffee House (Thomaston); Union Agway (Union) and online at http://www.georgesriver.org/garden.  Tickets are available for $28 on tour day at any of the garden sites.

Home Kitchen Café will again be catering the lunch. There will be 15 raffle items to choose from ranging from a dwarf conifer, garden baskets, dahlia bulbs, hand blown bud vases, artwork and more that will be on display at the lunch site in case you want to buy another raffle ticket during the tour.

The Land Trust is grateful to Bangor Savings Bank for being the major sponsor again this year, and the hard working garden owners and volunteers who will assist in the gardens on tour day. The generous support from 85 local merchants and private individuals help to make this event a success and support the mission of the Land Trust.

The Georges River Land Trust is committed to protecting the ecosystems and traditional heritage of the Georges River watershed region. For additional activities and more information, visit georgesriver.org or phone (207) 594-5166.

Trekkers’ class of 2013 completes Rites of Passage

Last week, eighteen Oceanside High School seniors completed a five-day Rites of Passage expedition,
concluding their six year Trekkers program experience. An integral part of the expedition is a 36-hour wilderness solo. The solo is an opportunity for students to remove themselves from the stress of senior year and allow space and solitude in nature to reflect upon the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

The group of students and six adult mentors traveled to Stump Sprouts, a retreat lodge in the foothills of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, which also served as the location of the wilderness solo. The solo was the first time for many students to purposely reflect alone upon the type of person they want to be, what makes them happy in life, and formulate a vision for themselves in the future. To aid in this reflective experience, Trekkers provided students questions, quotations and prompts concerning the nature of adulthood, their past and their future.  

“Many of our programs at their core provide an opportunity for students to explore new landscapes and cultures.  The Rites of Passage Program provides students the opportunity to explore their own inner landscapes with intention, with an eye on acknowledging and celebrating who they are as individuals.  At the same time, we provide solitude for students to get clear about the type of people they want to become in the future,” said Executive Director, Don Carpenter, who led the expedition.

During their six year journey with Trekkers, this senior class developed significant relationships with caring adults in the Midcoast communities, participated in cultural exchanges, explored the Pacific Northwest, completed service projects and developed courage and character through countless new experiences.

Trekkers is a non-profit outdoor-based mentoring program that connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. As a preventative, community-based program, Trekkers brings students and adult mentors together to build meaningful relationships over a period of six years. This model, in turn, creates a safety net for local youth who are civically engaged and oftentimes return to Trekkers as adult volunteers themselves. The conclusion of the 2013 Rites of Passage expedition marks the eleventh group of students to complete Trekkers’ six-year model.

Trekkers serves the communities of St. George, Owls Head, Cushing, South Thomaston, Thomaston, and Rockland. To learn more about Trekkers and the Rites of Passage program, visit www.trekkers.org or call (207)594-5095.

Ashwood to Offer Kindergarten Tuition Assistance

Rockport, Maine - In a move to make a Waldorf education more accessible to the families of midcoast Maine, Ashwood Waldorf School is pleased to announce a new tuition assistance program for families with kindergarten-aged children.

Ashwood has a longstanding history of fostering an economically diverse school community through its generous grade school tuition assistance program.

This is the first time in its 27 years that the school has extended financial aid to the pre-school population.

The new tuition assistance will benefit applicants to Ashwood's mixed-age, five-day kindergarten, which accepts children from age 3 1/2 to 6 years. Tuition assistance will cover up to 10 percent of the posted tuition for this program.

"With its balance of academic excellence, rich programming in the arts and outdoor education, we feel that the value of what Ashwood offers to the children is clear," said School Director Jody Spanglet. "We see this

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.

Georges River Land Trust Receives 2012 The Art of Stewardship Award

Greg Mort (center) congratulates Georges River Land Trust Board President Alvin Chase (left) and Executive Director Gail Presley (right) for GRLT’s recognition as the recipient of The Art of Stewardship 2012 Award.

Mid-Coast, Maine - The Georges River Land Trust has been selected as the recipient of The Art of Stewardship 2012 Recognition Award by The Art of Stewardship, a private foundation established by the Greg Mort family. This award is made annually to an organization or individual that exemplifies the mission of The Art of Stewardship, which is to encourage and support environmental awareness thought the fine arts.

During it’s twenty-five year history, the Georges River Land Trust has consistently reached out to and collaborated with art institutions, galleries and individual artists such as Greg Mort who are passionate about preserving the fragile beauty of the Georges River watershed. “These solid long-term partnerships serve as testimony to the trusted vision and leadership the Georges River Land Trust has offered our community,” said Mort.

The Mort family has a long history of supporting the Georges River Land Trust starting with Greg selling a painting and donating the proceeds to pay for the initial Land Trust organizational legal fees. Greg remembersthat years ago his twins walked in many Thomaston 4th of July parades with a homemade GRLT banner. Over the years in support of the Land Trust, Mort hasdonated limited edition lithographs, given talks, and hosted barn and star gazing parties at their home in Port Clyde. According to Mort, “It was always a great honor to be in the presence of folks that really cared about preserving our beautiful Maine.”

“We are honored and delighted to receive The Art of Stewardship award,” said Gail Presley, Georges River Land Trust Executive Director. “Just as art touches us and has lasting value, we look to conserve special lands that will make meaningful contributions to our lives, and will endure for generations to come.”

The Georges River Land Trust is continuing its tradition of collaboration with artists with three more events this summer. On August 3-5, Our Thomaston Gallery will present “Working Life of the Georges: Chronicles of A River Community Past and Present,” an art event to benefit the Land Trust with the opening presentations on Friday, August 3 at 5:30 pm. The Land Trust is raffling an artist’s proof of Greg Mort’s “Stewardship” on August 19th to raise funds for the permanent stewardship of conserved lands. On September 7th, the David Scriven Crowley Gallery will host “Art for Stewardship,” an art auction to benefit the Land Trust’s stewardship program. Visit www.grlt.org or call 594-5166 for more information on these and other events.

Georges River Land Trust is committed to encouraging citizens to discover the river and care for the land throughout the 14 communities in the St. George River watershed.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF MIDCOAST MAINE RECEIVES GRANTS

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF MIDCOAST MAINE RECEIVES GRANTS


Rockland, Maine - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine recently received several grant awards for its youth mentoring program.

A $10,000 grant was received from the Penobscot Valley Health Association Fund of the Maine Community Foundation to continue the agency’s 1-to-1 School-Based and Community-Based Mentoring in Penobscot County.  The grant was made at the recommendation of the Penobscot County fund advisors.

The agency also received a $10,000 grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation to support Big/Little matches during the May 15, 2012 to May 14, 2013 time period.  Funds will be used to create and stock activity bins at participating schools; recruit, screen, interview, conduct background checks, and train volunteer School Coordinators and prospective adult Bigs for both School-Based and Community-Based Mentoring.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine also received a $333 “Jumpstart our Youth” (JOY) grant from students at the Wiscasset Middle School.  This grant was awarded by students of Jobs For Maine’s Graduates (JMG) program.  This program, funded by the Unity Foundation teaches Maine’s young people – our future community leaders and philanthropists – valuable lessons about philanthropy and volunteerism.  The Wiscasset Middle School JMG students received and reviewed grant proposals from Midcoast non-profits and selected three of them to split the $1,000 award.

“We are extremely grateful for each of these grant awards,” says BBBSMCM’s CEO Alex Gaeth.  “In the past year, we have expanded our program from serving 360 youth to now serve 560 youth in Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot and Waldo County, and we know there is more work to be done.  These grants will allow us to continue to provide our proven 1-to-1 youth mentoring program to the children who need it most.”

PWA IN MAY

PWA IN MAY
Editor: David Mills


MID-COAST, ME - Through June 1:  Debra Arter Art Exhibit “Nature as Touchstone” 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.  Deb is donating 35% from exhibit sales to support PWA's mission.

May 6-12 is National Drinking Water Week --  In honor of National Drinking Water Week, Pemaquid Watershed Association has created a poster about local drinking water supplies. The poster will be on display from May 5-12 in the back lobby of Skidompha Library in downtown Damariscotta. The library is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The poster includes information on Little Pond, private wells, and local geology as it relates to groundwater. Leaflets for visitors to take home and share with others will be available.

Thurs., May 10: Trail crew and painting morning at the Doyle Preserve, led by Steve O’Bryan. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the parking area. The trail crew will complete maintenance tasks such as clearing the trail of accumulated debris and removing downed timber that has blocked the trail as well as ‘leaners’ that pose a risk of falling and obstructing the trail.  Please bring a bow saw or loppers; those proficient with chainsaws are asked to bring one.  Steve also will lead a team to paint the small educational building and will need help carrying a ladder and painting supplies in.  RSVP 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.

Sat. May 12:  Buffer planting at Biscay Beach, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Come help Lincoln Academy Climate Action Club members plant a buffer planting at Biacay Beach.  Please bring planting tools, including a wheelbarrow if you have one.  There will be some soil, compost, mulch and possibly stone to move. Bring water and lunch.  FMI info@pemaquidwatershed.org.

Tues. May 15 Healthy Beaches Volunteer Training 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the pavilion at Pemaquid Beach Park.  The Maine Healthy Beaches Program, a statewide effort to monitor water quality and protect public health at Maine's coastal beaches, will teach participants how to collect water samples. Volunteers will be asked to commit approximately 1 hour every other week during the summer to collect samples.  Be ready to get wet, as we will be wading into the water. Please bring waders if you have them; if not, there will be some there to borrow.  Meet at the beach parking lot at 1:00 p.m.  RSVP to info@pemaquidwatershed.org   DIRECTIONS:  From Damariscotta, take the Bristol Road (State Route 130) about 12 miles.  Take the first right about 50 yards after the Fire Department (and just before Hannah's Store) onto Snowball Hill Road. Travel 9/10ths of a mile. At the bottom of the hill, on the left, there is a sign for the entrance to Pemaquid Beach Park.   NOTE:  This training is for those interested in sampling at Pemaquid Beach as well as at Biscay Beach and the Bristol Mills Swimming Hole.
 
May 15-Sept 30  Osborn Finch Cabin on the Osborn Finch Wildlife Sanctuary, Dutch Neck, Waldoboro, is open for guests.  http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/cabin.html  This rustic and cozy cabin setting provides 300 feet of tidal frontage on the Medomak River, perfect for kayaking. The cost is $50/night, with a 2-night minimum stay. Call or email PWA to reserve dates for your summer respite!

    [MAY 11-23 IS STILL OPEN IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A STAY.]

Call for Cabin Cleaning Crew Members:

In between each stay, the cabin needs to be cleaned.

Cleaning involves taking in 2 gallons of water, checking the propane canister level, sweeping, and general tidying up for the next guest.

Each cleaning takes about an hour (including the short walk down to and back from the shore).

Can you spare a few hours a month to take a short drive

to enjoy a beautiful walk through a moss-draped woodland to a seaside cabin

where you can do a bit of housekeeping while enjoying the magnificent views?

Please contact Peter Lawrence today at 563-7663 or jalpgl@gwi.net

for information on how to volunteer to be part of the PWA Cabin Cleaning Crew.

Sat., May 19   Courtesy Boat Inspection Training from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Nobleboro Town Office at 192 Rte 1. This is an opportunity to learn how to be part of the front-line educational effort to keep milfoil and other invasive plant species out of our ponds and lakes. This training is free and is mandatory for anyone who wants to be a CBI. Held in conjunction with DLWA.

*Sat., May 19  8:30 a.m. to noon at the annual Morris Farm Plant Sale, Wiscasset. PWA will have a booth selling wild sod and educating about buffers and water quality.  FMI pwalearn@pemaquidwatershed.org.

Sat. May 26, 10 a.m. - Nequasset Brook/Woolwich - Directions: From Damariscotta, take Rte 1 south to Wiscasset to Old Bath Rd (~1 mile on your right). Proceed on Old Bath Rd bearing right onto Old Stage Rd crossing Delano Rd on your left and Dana Rd on your right for a total of ~6 miles. Parking for the put-in is a short distance on the right just before the bridge; no public restroom; duration 2 hrs; optional lunch at the Montsweag Roadhouse restaurant.     [The 8th season of the PWA Paddlers includes 19 paddles on Saturday mornings from May 26 to September 29. The paddling trips explore waterways throughout the Pemaquid/Mid-Coast region, and this year most are ocean paddles.  Trips are designed to be easy to moderate in difficulty and will be cancelled if raining.  Participation is free and open to the public. Participants must provide their own kayak or canoe, wear a personal flotation device, and submit a standard release form prior to participation. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  FMI, contact Peter Lawrence at (207) 563-7663, (207) 563-3104, or paddlers@pemaquidwatershed.org.  See the complete 2012 schedule at http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/paddlers.html]

*Sat., May 26  8:00 a.m. to noon at the annual Bristol Library Plant Sale (at the library). AND 8:30 to noon at the Bristol Garden Club Plant Sale (Masonic Hall, Damariscotta).  PWA will have a booth selling wild sod and educating about buffers and water quality.  FMI pwalearn@pemaquidwatershed.org.

Pemaquid Watershed Association is also looking for volunteers, please let them if you have time to volunteer your time.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

The following is an article from Rocky Coast Media wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year along with what you can expect in 2012.

Rocky Coast Media and divisions want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We hope you have a great time with family, friends and not to forget the true meaning of Christmas.

In 2012 we have a lot planned for you all. You may have seen us post several Entertainment articles from TV, Movies to our MEET reports. This is a part of us growing in 2012 and reaching more readers as we focus on positive news. We post articles on those making a positive impart in the Entertainment field as it is important to feature and promote them on our news site. Achieving this is through our MEET articles that we post on this site. If you have or know someone making a positive impact outside the Entertainment field than please send us an E-mail. After we get your E-mail, our owner will go through it for what we are looking for.

Our divisions are Rocky Coast News focused on providing Nautical, Community & Entertainment "positively good news". Rocky Coast Sports is our division focusing on providing all the latest news in Sports. Through our divisions we provide Sports, Nautical, Community and Entertainment "positively good news".

Please stay tuned as our sites are updated almost daily with new articles and photographs. You can find out more about us by the links below.

News: www.rockycoastnews.blogspot.com  Sports: www.rockycoastsports.blogspot.com

Again, we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Rocky Coast Media

Owner, David Mills

Rockland, ME 04841

rockycoastmedia@live.com