S o u t h e r n M a i n e ’s L e i s u r e L i f e s t y l e M a g a z i n e
winter 2009 • vol. 12, no.4
plus:
the tao of bicycle bob tales of winter tracking once upon a winter blue plate specials
Look for it in Spring, 2010 2
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• The latest in Elective Cosmetic Dentistry & Smile Makeovers • Up to date restorative and laser techniques • A friendly, experienced team that strives to meet your unique needs • Relaxed modern care in a comfortable lakeside setting • Latex and amalgam free office
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winter 2009 • vol. 12, no. 4
Editor’s Note There are times when the thread that connects the articles in an issue of Lake Living seems almost intentional. In reality, it almost never is, and I’m as impressed and surprised as anyone when a theme emerges. It’s a little like cooking. You add a little of this, a little of that, and le voila! Some themes are more obvious than others . . . some are perhaps only apparent to me. When this issue started to come together, I thought maybe the tenuous thread that connects was that a lot of the articles had “B” words in their titles. Like I said, it’s not intentional. What I’ve since realized is that the theme of this issue is similar to a lot of our past issues. It’s praise for living attentively. Whether it’s in decipering stories written on new fallen snow or in being truly present to the death of a tree or in the simple gift of getting from point A to point B, we can’t appreciate the pursuit unless we give it our full attention. The only time I produce bad or mediocre meals is when I’m distracted or harried. I would even go so far as to say that I know from the start when a meal won’t be good because I’m not present to its creation. Winter provides an opportunity to live attentively. The brilliant beauty of its short days and reflective calm of its long nights give us a chance to reconnect with our intuitive selves and attend to the neglected student within. We could all take a lesson from Bicycle Bob, who fully understands that the gift is not necessarily in the destination, but in the journey itself. —Laurie LaMountain Editor & Publisher Laurie LaMountain Contributing Writers Christian Dietzel, Leigh Macmillen Hayes, Mariah Kindellen Contributing Photographers Christian Dietzel, Leigh Macmillen Hayes, Shep Hayes, Bridie McGreavy, Seth Merriam Graphic Designer Dianne Lewis Proofreader/Copy Editor Leigh Macmillen Hayes Lake Living is published quarterly by Almanac Graphics, Inc., 625 Rocky Knoll Rd, Denmark, ME 04022 207-452-8005. www.lakelivingmaine. com email: lakeliving@fairpoint.net ©2009. All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Annual subscriptions are available by sending check or money order for $20 to the above address.
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Support Your Community
16
On Books
Buy Locally
by laurie lamountain
by leigh macmillen hayes
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The Tao of Bicycle Bob
17
Once Upon a Winter
by christian dietzel
book reviews from Bridgton Books
12
Winter Calendar
19
Building Bridges
14
Reading Mysteries in the Snow
Pondicherry Park Update
Tales of Tracking
by leigh macmillen hayes
20 Blue Plate Specials
The Art of Eating Well
by laurie lamountain
Bridgton Books
Over 20,000 different titles, plus books on tape for rent or sale, cards, magazines, used books, bargain books, music and more. 140 Main Street Bridgton, ME 04009 207-647-2122 justinatbridgtonbooks@ verizon.net
Chameleon
Coatings
l.L.C
Elegant Decorative Painting and Faux Finishing Herb Clarke Owner/Artist
207.787.8029
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support your community
Buy Locally
Hayes Hardware
I’ve been known to drive to North Conway and Portland for shopping trips and I’ve made the occasional on-line purchase. But . . . if I know I can make a purchase here in the lakes region, I do it. By Leigh Macmillen Hayes
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ach time we spend a dollar at any of our independently owned local shops, we would do well to weigh the full value of our choices, not solely for ourselves, but for the future we want in our communities. Where we spend our money indicates what our towns will look like in years to come. Recently Mark Grenda, owner of Corn Shop Trading Company on Main Street in Bridgton, made me aware of the 3/50 Project. This project, the brainchild of Cinda Baxter, asks folks to “think about which three independently owned businesses you’d miss most if they were gone.” Think about it seriously—this just keeps happening all around us. I know I miss The Flower Pot, Adams Bakery, and Crafters Outlet, to name a few. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.” Ms. Baxter suggests that if we all pick three independently owned businesses and spend $50 a month at these, we’d “save [our] local economy . . . three stores at a time.” She further states that “for every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.” Mark first read about the 3/50 Project in a trade magazine and checked the Web site to learn more. “We need to support the local economy,” he says. “It can become self-generating as Bridgton was years ago. If businesses were thriving, more people would come to Bridgton again as a destination, rather than a quick stop between North Conway and Portland. And that would have a trickle down effect on our local economy. With people doing well, being prosperous, employees will hire babysitters, go out to eat, tip waitresses, fix up houses, buy lumber, hardware and paint. It would help the town all around.” All this made me curious about the mom-and-pop retail businesses in our area, so I surveyed the following: 6
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northeast gems
Though he began cutting gems and selling them twenty years ago, Bob Prouty and his wife, Teresa, opened their shop on Main Street in Fryeburg in 1993. Originally it was located near the stoplight, but they feel more visible at their current 299 Main Street location. A long time fascination with crystals led Bob to learn more about how they grew and formed. He was hooked when he discovered thumb-sized crystals and eventually found a smoky quartz. No one in the area would facet it due to the expense of the machinery, so Bob borrowed a machine, taught himself and eventually purchased his own machine. Today he mines, cuts and sets gems while Teresa does the bookkeeping and helps customers make decisions about settings and styles. They also sell locally made jewelry by Conway and Center Lovell artisans.
center lovell market
Fourteen years ago Stewart and Jane Lade purchased Center Lovell Market and asked their friend, Tripp Turner, to join their partnership. Tripp left the corporate world in New York City and moved to Lovell where he became the store manager. A typical general store, which carries almost everything but the kitchen sink, the Center Lovell Market offers donuts, muffins and coffee, deli sandwiches and pizza, groceries, fresh produce, beer and an extensive wine selection, ice cream, maps, newspapers, videos and Maine-made products. Indoor seating is available for the lunch crowd and you can pump your own gas.
bridgton books
Former teachers Pam and Justin Ward were looking for something different and their love of books led them to open Bridgton Books sixteen years ago. “The lakes and summer tourism made this location viable,” says Justin. They began in a small shop. After purchasing the former Allen Pharmacy, friends, neighbors and customers helped them carry books from one building to the
leigh macmillen hayes photo
Bridgton Books
Corn Shop Trading Co.
other. Today the walls of Bridgton Books are lined with thousands of hand-selected titles in sections that include Maine authors, guidebooks, fiction, cooking, history and so much more. And they try to provide a showcase for some self-published books by local authors. Cards and fridgies by local photographers are also available.
ue products as well as those from other wholesalers, like Benjamin Moore. In 2002, my husband, Allen Jr. (shamelessly, this is a biased article) and his brother, Kerry, built a new store on If just half the employed Portland Street in order to U.S. population spent offer more products, including the rental section. $50 each month in Hayes Hardware carries a independently owned large selection of all things businesses, their hardware and building supply related, plus many purchases would rental items. Specialized generate more than services, including window $42.6 billion and screen repairs, are also available. Local products in revenue. include fire starters, books, maps and sleds.
corn shop trading company
Corn Shop Trading opened on Main Street in Bridgton ten years ago. Mark Grenda, proprietor, had been an antique dealer and always liked country stores. He thought it was a good idea to open one year round. His store is really 9 or 10 in one, offering anything from art and antiques to touristy stuff and a Christmas corner, with lots in between. If you are looking for something unique, you’ll probably find it on the floor, a shelf, or ceiling at Corn Shop Trading. As much as possible, Mark features many Maine-made products including jams from Bridgton, organics and hand creams from Waterford, jewelry from Denmark and candles from Harrison.
hayes true value and just ask rental
In 1965, Allen Hayes, Sr. and his wife, Betty, moved their family to Maine when they purchased the Western Auto Store in the old Magic Lantern building in Bridgton. In 1967, they moved the business across the street to the buildings that today house Gallery 302, a multi-media artist cooperative, and the Bridgton News. The Hayeses switched from Western Auto to member cooperative, True Value in 1980, because it offered more variety and the warehouse was much closer. Unlike a franchise, owners can purchase True Val-
downeast engraving, inc.
After working in office jobs for many years, Karen Thompson of Naples wanted to own her own business and work from home. Thirteen years ago she acquired DownEast Engraving from an 80-something-year-old gentleman who had run it as a hobby. The business began in the Thompsons’ basement, and eventually moved to an addition over the family’s garage. Three years ago, Karen fulfilled the dream of opening a shop on Route 302 in Naples because she needed more space and a showroom, plus the added exposure. Karen engraves trophies, plaques and a variety of other items, even guns. “If it can fit in the vise or on the table, I can engrave it,” she lakelivingmaine.com 7
Northeast Gems says. She loves the challenge of being creative in her work. And she loves knowing she’s putting a smile on someone’s face.
mr. butcher
After working as a meat cutter for several area groceries, Jim Moore opened Mr. Butcher in Bridgton fifteen years ago. Working for other people, Jim realized that he enjoyed what he did and felt he could operate his own shop. Two years ago Jim found the perfect opportunity to re-open his shop near the Causeway in Naples. Now he operates the retail business for six months of the year, where he offers fresh meat at good prices. During his retail season, Jim carries Maine-made sauces and pickled products, plus homemade pies from The Baker’s Dozen in Casco. Though the retail end closes in October, Jim spends the next four months custom cutting locally-grown beef and lamb, plus moose and deer. This is a small array of the stores in our region. Shopping at all of our local stores is an investment in our towns, our neighbors and ourselves. Every day we decide the fate of these locally-owned businesses, yet all too often we take them for granted—until they’re gone. Tripp Turner reminded me, “The reality is the business is only here for 8-10 weeks in the summer.” As stated in the 3/50 Project and other recent economic studies, independent stores re-circulate income by employing local residents and patronizing nearby suppliers. We’ve all heard the adage, “what’s spent here, stays here.” Justin Ward says, “It all works around in the community.” On the day I visited Corn Shop Trading, Mark Grenda had purchased gravel from P & K Sand and Gravel in Naples, which Tom Churches of Mini-Mountain Storage spread in the driveway. All of our area shops employ a wide array of supporting services such as this. They hire contractors for construction and renovation and professional services such as local accountants and computer consultants to help run the businesses. They rely on local advertising venues, printers, lumber yards and automobile dealers, thus showing a cooperative spirit of exchange between businesses. Bob Prouty says, “We can do stuff on-line, but we prefer to use local businesses when we can.” 8
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Our local shops strengthen the business community by promoting authentic and meaningful relationships between employees, business owners, customers, suppliers and neighbors. With each of these mom-and-pop shops comes the human touch we get from a merchant who knows us. I don’t know about you, but I love being greeted by name when I enter a store. Karen Thompson says, “It’s nice doing business with people you know.” And Tripp Turner adds, “I try to partner with the customers, employees and suppliers for suggestions. Tons of great ideas come out in conversations.” Most business owners who live in our towns donate generously to local charities and participate in public life. The owners mentioned above receive numerous requests each week to support a variety of local causes and they do their best to honor as many as they can. “I like to donate to local non-profits. It’s about the thank you letters—helping the whole community,” says Jim Moore as he holds his large fingers up to indicate the size of his file of thank you notes—at least an inch and a half thick. These owners also serve on boards or are members of civic organizations such as the local Chambers of Commerce, Lions Club, scholarship committees and Boosters. They find time to coach various teams, lead youth groups and volunteer in our schools. Locally-owned businesses contribute to a stronger local identity, creating an attractive place to live and visit. Owners have invested much of their life savings into their business and they have a natural interest in the long-term economic health of the community. Not so long ago, there were no big chain stores and no Internet. Small towns thrived because of this. Now they hurt from the business they lose to these large entities. By keeping money local, we can take charge of our communities. The Proutys had considered opening their business in North Conway, but Bob says, “We wanted to stay here in Fryeburg. We wanted to put something back into the town.” As residents, we should want to make sure that the local businesses we value will survive. What about you? Will you pick three and spend $50 this week? I know I will. That way next week and next year, the mom-andpops might still be here.
The Tao of Bicycle Bob text and photographs by christian dietzel
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A
s the bitter cold of another New England winter besets our daily lives, outdoor activities such as biking become an increasing strain. For some, however, this is not the case. There are certain people whose mindset overcomes external factors, whose will and being are steeled to accomplish what to them is an everyday task of simple necessity, like getting to work, that would appear outlandishly difficult to the rest of us. Meet Bicycle Bob, as he is known in the lakes region, a man who takes to his bike in the straining hours of the morning and failing evening light, be it winter, spring, summer, or fall. Bob has two bicycles: a thoroughlyhandled, circa 1980s Murray mountain bike, with a milk crate bungeed to the rear rack, and a moss green 1970s era Schwinn road bike with larger 27-inch wheels and shifter mechanisms positioned over the stem (that silver thing which clamps to your handlebars, to those unfamiliar with cycling jargon). As a former bicycle mechanic, there were two things that immediately struck me about the latter form of transportation—the lack of shifter cables and brake pads. If you’re unsure what these things are, allow me to illuminate—shifter cables are lengths of wire that allow you to change gears or “speeds” as they are sometimes referred to; brake pads are the small, rectangular, rubbery strips attached to your brakes, that clamp down on the wheel when squeezed, thereby allowing you to stop. I had seen Bob for years, trucking back and fourth along the section of Route 113 that divides Hiram and Brownfield. I would be stream-lining in some terrific headwind trying to maintain a steady 25 mph, and then I would spot him, steadily spinning on the old mountain bike, with an assortment of gear in his milk crate (what I now know to be a cooler, rain gear, and necessities for road side repair), never failing to sport jeans and a T-shirt. In those days, I would trek out, rain or shine, in order to get my workout, as would Bob—to get to and from work. Gradually I would see more of him, most often in the fall when I did a majority of my road riding, and I continued to see him long after I had hung my bike up for the season, throughout the brittle months of January, straight through to the April thaw. Since I had noted earlier that Bob’s 10
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mountain bike was the ride of choice for the morning commute, it was all that more inspiring to have then been introduced to his other bicycle, his long distance machine, which I’ll coyly refer to as his “long haul trucker.” I caught up with Bob one afternoon in between his duties at the mill where he works. I had questions—my curiosity had been itching for a proper scratch for so many years—the most obvious one being why he chooses to ride with such fervor, for exercise, for enjoyment, or perhaps for some higher ideal? The presence of Bob’s pick-up truck was the first thing I noted. OK, he doesn’t have to commute via bicycle. Then he took the time to point out some of the routes he had known growing up and living in different parts of the state over the years; rides he used to do when he lived in Old Orchard, the northern coastal rides throughout the Boothbay region where he was born… he traced them with his callused finger along a state map tacked on the door of a sawing room, hands of a navy man, a mill worker, a 45-year veteran of cycling. He had been riding a bike everywhere he went since he was a boy. Age 13 was when he says he seriously took to it; it was just something he did. There was tremendous self-fulfillment in his voice, echoes of the things he had seen, deep, personal moments that could never be fully imparted to me, not in words alone. I believe the gift was the ride itself, the liberation of the road, getting from point A to point B, and sometimes, just getting there—wherever “there” happened to be. Take, for example, the ride he used to embark on during the years he lived in Old Orchard Beach: in a single day’s excursion, he would trek to Bos-
While there are thousands upon thousands of cyclists across the nation who consider their sport a way of life, the difference with Bob perhaps is that it’s not just a sport, or even a life style as we might think of it—it just is.
“How do you stop?” “With these!”
ton and back, a 200-mile endeavor on the aforementioned “long haul trucker” (which in those days still had gears). When I finally popped the question, “Why do you do it?” I was certainly surprised by the answer. “Good exercise, you know, save money, just always liked it too, I suppose.” Bob informed me he had been using this bicycle for his recreational rides, on the tours he takes on his time off. An average pleasure cruise for him might entail anywhere from a 60-100 mile ride up through the Kancamagus highway. Any cycling enthusiast in the Mount Washington Valley will tell you, 100 miles, also known as a century ride, along the Kanc is a particularly
solid effort for any day’s worth of riding. He does this without brakes, without the advent of gears—there is a small stub of a stick jammed through his rear derailleur (the mechanism that allows gears to change), allowing the mechanically challenged bicycle to function with a single speed. “How do you stop?” I asked. “With these!” Bob pointed to the worn treads of his shoes, white Reeboks with smooth soles like the bottom of a pair of slippers, particularly on the right foot. This bit of adaptation was something I had to bear witness to. Bob and I went out one wet afternoon after our initial interview, for a short ride in the town of Hiram where
he works, tackling small hills and several dirt roads, until we approached one long stretch of downhill that connects with Main Street. He plotted his course like a slalom skier, using all aspects of the road to slow his decent, eventually veering into a small dirt shoulder to scrub speed, snaking in small s-turns and dragging his foot into the earth all the while. I tried to imagine coming down some twisted section of the Kancamagus, cruising at 30, 40, 50 miles an hour and beyond, unable to slow my momentum except with the sole of my foot. I used to do an 80-mile training loop that followed many of the same roads that Bob regularly travels, with my best friend in high school, back when I was a competitive cyclist, riding a $3000 Italian Colnago, an 18-pound racing bike. Bob does this on his 30-pound plus “touring” bike, and those are just the fun rides. These days, Bob makes his home in Stow, where he resolves to ride the “long haul trucker,” his loosely functional 1970s road bicycle, 3-5 times a week. For the past twenty something years, he’s commuted solely on bike, using the truck for weekend errands and other necessities. While there are thousands upon thousands of cyclists across the nation who consider their sport a way of life, the difference with Bob perhaps is that it’s not just a sport, or even a life style as we might think of it—it just is. I asked him about repairs, about taking care of his botched gears. “No reason, not in this economy. Got the mortgage, got my other bike, that’s all I need.” As the economic strain pinches us all, the value of this wisdom truly hits home. I’m reminded of that Rolling Stones song, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and the verse following that title—“But if you try sometimes, well you just might find you get what you need (yeah baby).” For those so fortunate as to own property in the lakes region, whether it be summer or year-round, let us all take note of the enigmatic personality that is Bicycle Bob: a man who defies the modern definition of commercial lust, who makes the choice to be himself, by vicarious attachment (and life long dedication) to cycling. When you see Zen On the Road, give a nod to the gods and smile. Namaste, my good lake people. lakelivingmaine.com 11
winter calendar december ‘09 19
Shawnee Peak Learn to Ski or Snowboard FREE! (pre-registration required) Free Lesson, lift ticket and rental equipment! FMI: call 207-647-8444 or visit www. shawneepeak.com Limited supply of times—call early!
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First Monday Night Madness of the season at Shawnee Peak! $12 tickets 4-9pm. www.shawneepeak.com
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Sing and Ski with WBZ at Shawnee Peak Join the gang from WBZ in Blizzard’s Pub for an all out karaoke fest! FMI: 207-647-8444 or www.shawneepeak.com
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New Year’s Eve Bash in Blizzard’s Pub at Shawnee Peak Ski Resort Great food, live entertainment, dancing, and champagne toast! FMI: 207-647-8444 or visit www. shawneepeak.com
january ‘10 2
Ski Until 1 a.m. at Shawnee Peak! Late-night fun on the snow and in the lounge! WFNX Apres-Ski Party in Blizzard’s Pub. www.shawneepeak.com
6&7
Racing with the Moon Series Begins The kick-off to another fun season of corporate team racing at Shawnee Peak! All abilities are welcome to join this weekly racing league. FMI: 207-647-8444 or visit www.shawneepeak.com
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4th Annual Elvis On the Mountain at Shawnee Peak Celebrate Elvis’s birthday at Shawnee Peak! Apresski with our Elvis impersonator and two comedians from Boston! www.shawneepeak.com
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Red Cross Blood Drive at Shawnee Peak Give a Pint, Get a Free Ticket! www.shawneepeak.com
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Mushers Bowl & Winter Carnival A fun-filled family weekend of winter activities including Downeast Sled Dog Club dogsled and skijoring races, dodge ball tournament, snowmobile rides, dog sled rides, horse drawn sleigh rides, ice skating, ice fishing contest, public supper, Freezin’ for a Reason polar bear dunk to benefit Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, and lots of great food! A Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce annual event. FMI visit the website at www.mushersbowl.com or call 207-647-3472.
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New England Telemark Clinics at Shawnee Peak On-snow lessons and demos. FMI: 207-647-8444 or www.shawneepeak.com
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Ullr Fest ‘09 at Shawnee Peak Ski Resort Fireworks, torchlight parade, apres-ski party with WHEB. FREE! www.shawneepeak.com
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WBLM’s Herb Ivy Loads and Lifts Apres-Ski Party at Shawnee Peak FMI: 207-647-8444 or www.shawneepeak.com AAA Member Appreciation Day at Shawnee Peak Show your AAA Card for $35 adult ticket or $30 Junior/Senior ticket! FMI: 207-6478444 or www.shawneepeak.com
february ‘10 5
Shawnee Peak’s Moonlight Charity Ski-A-Thon Benefitting Camp Sunshine and the Shawnee Peak Adaptive Program, the Moonlight Charity Challenge puts the “fun” in fundraising! Four-person race teams raise money and race for bragging rights in this annual nighttime event. www.shawneepeak.com
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Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge at Shawnee Peak Ski Resort America’s favorite FREE family FUN race! There is nothing like a day on the slopes with the Dew Crew! Races for all abilities. Product sampling all day plus a huge apres-ski party on the patio. Races starts at 11am. www.shawneepeak.com
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11th Annual Naples Winter Carnival FMI: muddyriversnoseekers.org
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Valentine’s Day Sleigh Rides at Shawnee Peak Our horse-drawn sleigh will take you and your honey to Proposal Pines for some hot chocolate and romance under the stars! www.shawneepeak.com
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Shawnee Peak’s 23rd Annual Family Fest Meet cartoon characters, join in the snow sculpture or tugof-war contests, or take a horsedrawn sleigh ride! It’s all about free family fun! FMI: 207-647-8444 or www.shawneepeak.com
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Ride & Ski New England ApresSki Party at Shawnee Peak Tons of giveaways and live music! You could win skis or a snowboard! Visit www.shawneepeak.com
Cook’s Tree Service Truck wheels on gravel are not stealthy; neither are large men who empty crowded cabs and pounce on the leaf-strewn driveway displacing crisp autumn air with their deliberate, bulky prelude to work. Muscles and bellies bulge in thick, worn sweatshirts dusted with wood chips and stiff with sweat. A bee pesters a man who does not notice his own heady fragrance, eliciting a smile, the only one. There is work to be done. One man with the grace of a gymnast walks the boom to secure hook and ballast. Another, the chosen one, prepares and checks his harness, respected and solitary in concentration. The crane operator chews gum, machinery purring beneath him, waiting.
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Sebago Lake Rotary Club’s “Derbyfest 2010” Maine’s richest and largest Ice Fishing Derby takes place on Sebago Lake. Aubuchon Ice Race on Friday. Saturday’s festivities include—Snow Sculpture at Raymond Beach, Snowshoe Races, Ice Skating, Antique Snowmobile Show, The “Maine Ice Fisherman’s Championship”—fishermen compete in heats showcasing their strength, speed & skills in a series of ice fishing tasks, “Polar Ice Dip”—Camp Sunshine’s Maine Children’s Cancer Program will have swimmers solicit pledges for a mass “Dip”, Air Show—Primary viewing area will be at Raymond Beach, Food & Live Music. Free to Derby entrants; general admission to the public. Benefits Camp Sunshine’s Children’s Cancer Program, Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, DARE, and Rotary. FMI: 888-ICE-FLAG or www.icefishingderby.com
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Russ Haggett Race to benefit Lake Region HS Scholarhip fund at Shawnee Peak www.shawneepeak. com
march ‘09 6
Ski Until 1 a.m. at Shawnee Peak! Late-night fun on the snow and in the lounge! WCYY rocks the Mountain! www.shawneepeak.com
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Race for Hear ME Now! at Shawnee Peak Teams of 4 race for prizes, bragging rights and to benefit the Hear ME Now! Association— Maine’s only auditory learning center. For more information on Hear ME Now!, visit their web site at www.hear-me-now.org
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Red Cross Blood Drive at Shawnee Peak Give a Pint, Get a Free Ticket! www.shawneepeak.com
20 25th Annual Spring Fling Beach Party at Shawnee Peak There’s no better way to celebrate the start of spring! Slush Cup, Reggae Music, BBQ, and entertainment provided by WHEB make this a day of sun, fun, music and lots of laughs. www.shawneepeak.com
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3rd Annual America’s Mattress Race at Shawnee Peak Decorate and race your old mattress down the Main Slope for great prizes, including a fabulous Queen Mattress Set from America’s Mattress Stores. We’ll even recycle your old mattress for you! www.shawneepeak.com
Two men in thick gloves, uncomfortable with stillness, pace. And I think: Men like these cannot be fully appreciated until you see them work—until you see them communicate wordlessly, like dancers: aware of the heavy machinery and each other’s bodies, of the flower garden and the significance of woodpeckers. The chosen one, a new father, rides the boom to the top of the tree and clings there, secure with youth, faith, rope and cleats— all competence, and fragile masculine strength. He pulls the saw’s chain and it sputters alive to sweep through one hundred years of living in only a minute. Then the crane operator directs the boom over the garden, the hollow tree top dangling like a woman’s earring, heavy with grace. The pacing men, all purpose now, are still— watching, waiting. They reach for the floating tree top, and lay it gently, reverently on the ground. You see, so much more is at stake than the death of a tree, and yet no less.
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—Mariah Kindellen
Season Passholders BBQ at MidStation at Shawnee Peak. www. shawneepeak.com
Name This Lake If you think you know the name of the body of water in this photo, e-mail your answer to lakeliving@ fairpoint.net. One randomly drawn winner will receive
from Green Parrot Aerials an 8”x10” matted print of one of the lakes you love. Please be sure to include your mailing address and phone number. lakelivingmaine.com 13
Reading Mysteries in the Snow Tales of Tracking by leigh macmillen hayes
T
hough we don’t always see the mammals that live in our area because they are nocturnal and instinctively avoid us, we know of their presence by their tracks and sign. These can be found year round, but are most easily seen in the winter. Wrote Thoreau in A Winter Walk, “The recent tracks of the fox or otter, in the yard, remind us that each hour of the night is crowded with events, and the primeval nature is still working and making tracks in the snow.” Tracks and sign collect like hieroglyphics and give us a glimpse into the lives of the forest creatures with whom we share this place. I’ve always enjoyed being outside in any season, especially if it means avoiding housework. It wasn’t until I took my sons and their friends on a winter trek at Holt Pond about seven years ago, however, that I became intrigued with deciphering the silent language of animals. I’ll never forget the thrill I experienced when we discovered our first mink tracks and slides. I was hooked and without consciously realizing it, became a tracker groupie. Immediately I began borrowing books about tracking from the Lakes Environmental Association’s (LEA) library, purchasing my own and joining Bridie McGreavy, LEA’s Conservation and Education Director, on as many snowshoe treks as fit my schedule. When Bridie formed a citizen science group to document data about mammals that frequent Holt Pond, I signed on. When LEA, Loon Echo Land Trust and the Greater Lovell Land Trust (GLLT) brought naturalist Susan Morse to present an evening program, I dragged my family. And when GLLT offered a winter tracking course led by naturalist David Brown, I registered. 14
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Sneaking off into the woods on snowshoes is a delightful treat. Understanding much of what I see makes the treat even more meaningful. I wander about and find where deer slept, where they cleared snow to browse, where a mouse scurried for cover, where wing marks indicate a raptor caught the mouse, and where a squirrel searched for buried acorns. These traces of their presence and behavior are an open book for those who know how to read it. One of the techniques that Bridie has repeatedly tried to instill in me, which comes from Mammal Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch, is using these three perspectives to examine tracks: Flying over: the bird’s eye view. Look at the larger context or whole environment within which the track or sign sits. Where is cover, water, food? Are there road ways, dogs or people in the vicinity? What is the forest type and which animals are generally associated with it? Standing up: the immediate context surrounding the track or sign. Look at track pattern. How is the animal moving? Lying down: close and intimate study of track and sign. Get your nose as close to a find as possible, with eyes still in focus. You can see more this way, but yes, I have smelled animal urine numerous times. The best tracking snow is when there is a little bit of crust with a dusting on top. Snow conditions are not always ideal. Often I end up with a lot of tracks I can’t decipher. It does help when I take the time to observe the track’s pattern for clues. In our tracking course at GLLT, David Brown encouraged us to measure track patterns. He also suggested that we draw the shape of the track and pattern of the stride in
scat, fur, feathers or more tracks. And I look for places of animal interaction, like crossed paths, places where an animal hesitated at the possibility of danger, chase scenes and high-traffic pathways. Forest creatures leave behind roadmaps to where they’re headed and clues to what they’ve been doing. Since necessity drives them to move, a track usually leads to and from places of food, water, shelter or a hiding place. It’s all recorded on the white page of winter snow, waiting for me to piece together the story. As a member of citizen science groups for LEA and GLLT, I help gather data about mammal activity on their properties. Kevin Harding, Educator for GLLT says, “By monitoring and recording data over time, the land trust will gain additional information to aid in management plans. Decisions regarding timber harvesting,
Forest creatures leave behind roadmaps to where they’re headed and clues to what they’ve been doing. Since necessity drives them to move, a track usually leads to and from places of food, water, shelter or a hiding place. It’s all recorded on the white pages of winter snow, waiting for me to piece together the story. order to imprint details and help us recognize gait patterns. Chris Lewey of RAVEN Interpretive Wildlife Programs offers a small card that makes understanding gait patterns easy. Canines, felines and cervids are walkers. Otter, fisher, marten, mink, and other members of the weasel family are bounders. Black bear, raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, muskrat, woodchuck, porcupine and beaver are wide walkers. Lagomorphs, squirrels, mice and chipmunks are leapers. Part of tracking is examining prints for the number of toes, claws, size, shape, spacing and placement. I’m trying to train my inner sleuth, but good tracking guides come in handy. I highly recommend Tracking and the Art of Seeing by Paul Rezendes, Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to Northern American Species by Mark Elbroch, Peterson Field Guides: Animal Tracks by Olaus J. Murie and Mark Elbroch, Guide to Animal Tracking and Behavior by Donald and Lillian Stokes and Trackards and the Companion Guide to the Trackards by David Brown. Animals are always in the game of survival, especially in the winter. They try to conserve energy, so many of their tracks appear on manmade trails, other animals’ trails and easy terrain such as logs and frozen lakes. As I follow the tracks I look for signs such as
trail placement and public access involve many variables and understanding what mammals are present will only improve the quality of these decisions.” If you decide to trek about in the winter woods, I offer a few words of caution. Backtrack if you encounter fresh prints—follow in the direction of where the animal was coming from to avoid encountering and further stressing it. And beware of Monster Critters—we all know that they lurk in the woods of the lakes region. On afternoon treks I’ve encountered numerous Monster Critter prints—they look like squirrel or coyote or any other tracks, but are magnified to 5 times the size. Ah, how a little warmth from the sun that has shown all day can expand a print. Perfect tracks are rarely found. Wind and sun affect them and snow plops falling from trees create impressions, adding to the challenge. The pages of snow are clear for only a short time. As days pass, events written on the once virgin page pile upon one another until the tales become too jumbled to read. But taking the time to discover these stories has opened my eyes to the natural world. While some folks spend blustery winter days indoors, I’m fascinated with reading mysteries in the snow. lakelivingmaine.com 15
on books by l aurie l amou n ta i n
Our
overseas book reviewer, Perri Black, or Ms. Noir as we fondly refer to her at Lake Living, recently e-mailed me an article from The Boston Globe by David Abel regarding the future of our libraries. Here is what Mr. Abel had to report: “Cushing Academy has all the hallmarks of a New England prep school, with one exception. This year, after having amassed a collection of more than 20,000 books, officials at the pristine campus about 90 minutes west of Boston have decided the 144-year-old school no longer needs a traditional library. The academy’s administrators have decided to discard all their books and have given away half of what stocked their sprawling stacks—the classics, novels, poetry, biographies, tomes on every subject from the humanities to the sciences. The future, they believe, is digital.” Reading this brought to mind a short piece I read years ago, before the advent of the Digital Age, in the no longer published Casco Bay Weekly. The author was writing about reading . . . and books. He explained that the impetus for the article was one rainy Sunday afternoon, when he was reading a book on the couch and fell asleep, and the book that fell on his face didn’t even hurt him. Where, he wondered, have all the epic books of yesterday gone? If Joyce’s Ulysses fell on your face, you’d know it! In his article, Mr. Abel went on to quote James Tracy, the headmaster of this venerable institution and driving force behind the transition, who said, “When I look at books, I see an outdated technology, like scrolls before books. This isn’t ‘Fahrenheit 451’ [the 1953 Ray Bradbury novel in which books are banned]. We’re not discouraging students from reading. We see this as a natural way to shape emerging trends and optimize technology.’’ Abel further reported that the academy 16
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is spending nearly $500,000 to create a “learning center’’ that will replace the traditional library. In place of library stacks filled with “old pulpy devices,” they are spending $42,000 on three large flat-screen TVs that will project data from the Internet, $20,000 on special laptop-friendly study carrels, and a $50,000 coffee shop that sports a $12,000 cappuccino machine. So what? Does this mean that not only will there be no injuries caused by books falling on faces or dropping on toes, but there won’t be the pleasure of reading in bed either?? The idea of curling up with a Kindle doesn’t do it for me. I can’t conceive of a world without books with actual pages that when turned carry the faint whiff of ink and even occasionally of mildew. Can you picture monks from the Middle Ages scrambling desperately to back up their hard drives, instead of painstakingly producing manuscripts of unsurpassed beauty such as The Book of Kells? Those books were really heavy . . . heavy enough to necessitate a nose job! No, I need something I can hold. Pages where I can scribble notes in the margins, if so inclined, or underline a passage that speaks directly to my soul. As far as I’m concerned books have little to gain from “optimized technology” and Cushing Academy IS Fahrenheit 451. The fact that they’ll have a $12,000 cappuccino machine doesn’t make it any less alarming. Au contraire! Those “old pulpy devices” are where imaginations are developed. This mind can’t imagine not being able to run my page-turning finger up the page to turn it. And what if the power goes out? You can still read a book by candlelight, which will likely do less damage to your eyes than staring at an electronic screen for hours on end. The only migraine I ever suffered was from too many hours at the computer. Another crucial consideration is accessibility. Books are cheaper than computers
and eBook readers, or even free if they are borrowed from a friend or a library, which gives access to everyone—regardless of economic status. Books are also more forgiving. Beach sand between the pages of a book is easily dealt with; beach sand in a laptop not so much. And yet, Mr. Tracy has a point that’s impossible to deny. Computer screens are fast replacing printed matter. Just ask anyone in print publishing. Apparently, it’s not that people are reading less; it’s just that they’re doing it in front of their computers. And, of course, those like Mr. Tracy who are in favor of moving books into the electronic age would be quick to point out how I became aware of Cushing Academy’s digital library. It was not by turning the pages of The Boston Globe, but in an article sent to me online, but I can assure Mr. Tracy that it will be a cold day in hell when I go on-line to read War and Peace or The Grapes of Wrath! Some of my earliest memories are derived from books. Travels to foreign countries, the travails of our country’s settlers, morality, comedy and tragedy were experiences otherwise inaccessible to me in my small, precomputer world. The authors sketched for me the outlines of the characters and places they wrote about, but it was my imagination that created the finished portraits and landscapes. Books can be taken on picnics, to beaches, the woods, and, as mentioned earlier, to bed. I would argue that these places of repose are where our minds are best able to achieve what Samuel Coleridge coined “the willing suspension of disbelief.” And if your response is that you can easily take your computer to bed with you, well, that’s the stuff of another rant entirely. If you’re interested in reading the entire article by Mr. Abel, you can find it on-line at http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/04/a_library_without_the_books/. Mea culpa.
Once Upon a Winter Book Reviews from the Owners of Bridgton Books
justin’s list Almost every major author appears to have a new book out this season, and many have just arrived in the store, but we try to recommend good books by less well known authors in our reviews so that our readers might discover something new. Here are some of the highlights of my reading these last few months. I know many Southerners argued against secession prior to the Civil War, but I always believed that once the war began, the South was unified in their struggle versus the Union. This was not the case, however, as there were a substantial number who fled to the North, others who resisted conscription and Confederate taxes, and even a few who actually staged guerilla warfare against their Confederate neighbors. Authors Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer pick Jones County, Mississippi, a hotbed of insurgency, as the subject in their new book, The State of Jones, to illustrate this fact. Many of the residents of Jones County, including their leader, Newton Knight, were poor scratch farmers who didn’t own slaves, and they resented having to support a war they didn’t believe in. Many were coerced into fighting for the South, but later deserted after the Siege of Vicksburg to return home to find their farms and families in disarray. With the Confederate Home Guard rounding up deserters and helping themselves to the crops and property of others, Knight and his followers decided to organize and fight back. This fascinating microcosm of the Civil War follows the Knight clan through the postwar reconstruction period—a time almost as dangerous for the family as the actual war. World War II stories continue to dominate the literary landscape, and I want to bring to your attention two more gems which need to be read. Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay begins during the German Occupation of France. Because they are Jews, Sarah and her family are forced from their home in the infamous Paris Roundup of 1941, to be sent off to the camps. But what is Sarah’s terrible secret? And what becomes of her? Her fate turns into an obsession for the present day woman who moves into Sarah’s apartment years later.
This moving story weaves expertly between the two times. In City of Thieves, by David Benioff, two Soviets are scheduled to be executed when they are given a last minute reprieve. A high ranking NKVD (Secret Police) officer will let them live if they can just procure a dozen eggs for him so he can have a cake made for his daughter’s wedding. In normal times this would be a cinch, but this is the Siege of Leningrad, and starving people are resorting to eating shoe leather and glue from book bindings. Eggs are nowhere to be found. Follow Lev and Kolya on their quest and enjoy this believable, entertaining novel. Pardon the cliché, but this one is easy to read in one sitting, and the two main characters are particularly memorable. Papillon is a classic memoir that should be experienced by a new generation of readers. The author, Henri Charriere, a.k.a. Papillon, is charged with the murder of a French Pimp in 1931, a crime for which he vehemently denies responsibility. Sentenced to life in the French Guiana Penal Colony, his options are limited. Conditions are atrocious, with many inmates dying from disease, infighting and overwork. Papillon survives by using his quick wit and underworld connections, and soon ascends to a rank of leadership among the inmates. Over the course of 14 years, he makes four escape attempts, once going on the lam for over a year before he is recaptured. On his fifth attempt (facing certain death if he fails), he ultimately succeeds when he reaches Venezuela and begins
a new life. His adventure-filled ordeal serves as a testament to man’s endurance and courage in the struggle for freedom. The next two novels have little in common, except that they both have surrealist, almost Kafka-esque qualities on top of being excellent reads. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is set in Stalin’s postwar Soviet Union, where the State has its own set of twisted rules. Secret Policeman Leo Demidov spends his days arresting innocent people and sending them off to be executed or tortured, until one day he discovers that he and his wife are also under suspicion of being enemies of the State. Logic takes a back seat to party ideals in this psychological thriller, and Leo only survives because of his knowledge of how the warped system works. The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent is an interesting account of the Salem Witch Trials. Narrated by 10-year-old Sarah Carrier, whose family is caught up in the middle of this absurd travesty, the author blends actual events and her own family history, making this historical novel a great way to learn about one of the low points in American history. I can’t reveal too much of the plot for Little Bee without spoiling the story. Part of the strength of this extraordinary novel written by Chris Cleave is the way the story unfolds layer by layer. All I can say is that it is dark, and it centers on a disturbing event, which takes place on a beach in Nigeria, when an English couple on vacation is forced to make a decision in an instant that will have devastating and lasting repercussions. lakelivingmaine.com 17
pam’s pic ks for kids & young adults The American Library Association’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers is awarded to books proven to satisfy the most fussy and disinterested young adult readers. The formula for success seems to lie in the format. Fine print and lengthy sentences are out. Authors such as Hopkins and Schroeder are opting for stories written in short verses. This is less intimidating. Each compact sentence packs a powerful punch by forcing the author to get to the core of the story instead of getting lost in an abyss of adjectives and unnecessary text. Bold and italic text can be used to accentuate a point as well as slowly reducing the print size to force readers to focus. These simple tricks seem to be the key to making the most resistant kids readers for life. Pemba Sherpa By Olga Cossi, illustrated by Gary Bernard Ages 4+ High in the Himalayan Mountains, where the air is thin, sits a small Sherpa village of Khumjung. The village is located at the base of the world’s highest point, Mt. Everest. Young boys dream of becoming strong, courageous porters who aid expeditions to reach the ultimate destination, the top of Mt. Everest. In preparation for this career, boys carry wood to school during cool months. The perilous journey takes three hours round trip and is completed before school begins. Yang Ki longingly watches her brother Pemba and decides she will be a Sherpa when she grows up. The only problem is that girls are not allowed to be porters. Unknown to Pemba, Yang Ki follows him one morning. Disaster strikes and Yang Ki’s bravery demonstrates her strength and courage needed to become the first female Sherpa. A bold pencil and palette of earth tone watercolors captures the culture and spirit of this inspiring story. Oracles of Delphi Keep By Victoria Laurie Ages 10+ Delphi Keep is an orphanage for lost and abandoned children in Dover, England. The majestic castle commands one’s attention as it bows high above the ocean. The rocky White Cliffs of Dover that surround Delphi Keep hold many secrets in their caverns. Theo and Ian, two older orphan 18
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siblings, are determined to explore these forbidden caves. Ian’s sense of adventure lures him deep inside, while Theo detects imminent danger and she protests exploring deeper. Ian discovers a locked silver box with ancient Greek lettering. The earth unexpectedly trembles when he forces the artifact from the soil, and they both realize they are not alone. Once safely back at Delphi Keep, Ian and Theo promise to keep their find a secret. They quickly discover, however, that the once safe orphanage is now in grave danger. Follow Ian and Theo through 549 pages of nail-biting adventure that will occupy the fastest readers for days. The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins Ages 12+ Governments unfairly controlling common people is not a new theme among young adult books. Collins slightly morbid but creative plot, however, demands readers to sit up and pay attention. The United States has collapsed and been replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and twelve districts. The Capitol’s cruel sense of humor and form of entertainment is hosting the annual Hunger Games. One boy and girl from each district enter the games through a lottery. The event is televised for all to view. The twenty-four children, ages twelve to sixteen, enter the arena and the last one alive, wins. There are NO Rules. Chasing Brooklyn By Lisa Schroeder Ages 16+ On-sale date: 1/5/10 “Reality doesn’t exist. How can it?”
“Lucca, my boyfriend, is dead. Next, my best friend Gabe. Too many pills.” “Mom took off.” “Sleep does NOT exist. Not when a ghost visits.” “Why me? What does he want?” Graceling By Kristin Cashore Reviewed by Isabel Wolfe, Grade 7 In an ancient kingdom, there are normal people and there are those who are both revered and excluded—the Graced. People who are born with a special grace or gift (like fighting, cooking or sewing) are different from everyone and are raised as tools to the king. They have one physical characteristic that sets them apart. Katsa, a teenager, was born with a “killing” grace. She is employed as the King’s thug. Whenever people disobey him, she is sent to torture or kill them, depending on the offense. Meanwhile, she and some of her good friends at the palace have set up a counsel that does good and attempts to save people from the King’s wrath. Katsa doesn’t want to be a monster and these good things help. And then she meets Po, a Lienid prince. At first she perceives him as an enemy, but then they become close friends. This leads to a whole new chain of startling events. Can Katsa win over her brutal side and become a savior of the good? And what will happen when she discovers that many things are not what they seem. Read on to find out. I liked Graceling because everything that happens in it is unexpected. I also liked it because I like strong female heroines. Because her grace is killing, she is very powerful and can defend herself and survive.
Update
Building Bridges by laurie lamountain Bob Topping has worked at Great Northern Docks for over six years, but he’s been a welder/fabricator for roughly thirty years. So, when Peter Lowell of Lakes Environmental Association approached Sam Merriam, the owner of Great Northern Docks, about fabricating an extruded aluminum bridge for Pondicherry Park, Bob was the obvious choice for the job. The Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation Bridge that spans Willet Brook is the smaller of two bridges that will grace Pondicherry Park. With a span of 40’ and a width of 4’, the arched foot bridge will provide Stevens Brook Elementary School students quick access to the heart of the park and a small amphitheater that serves as an outdoor classroom. The Ham Foundation has generously provided full funding for the painted aluminum and wood composite bridge that will bear its name. This project is not the first time Peter Lowell has enlisted Great Northern Docks for bridge fabrication. Years ago, they constructed a small bridge at Holt Pond. Loon Echo Land Trust also had them construct a bridge below Bald Pate Mountain. On a much larger and unrelated scale, Great Northern Docks was contracted to construct a 1000’ foot aluminum walkway over wetland trails in the Great Pond Preserve of Cape Elizabeth. Bob Topping did all the welding on the 4’ walkway that jogged around trees the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust was adamant about preserving. Extruded aluminum is an ideal material for trail bridges and walkways, given that it is relatively lightweight, durable, and
very low maintenance. The Ham Bridge over Willet Brook has been painted Park Ranger Green to suit its surroundings, and the decking for the bridge is a composite that will withstand heavy foot traffic and adverse Maine weather. Steve Merriam, Sam’s brother, designed the arched bridge to be ADA compliant, and the inner plates that run along the bottom sides will allow easy wheelchair access. Using Steve’s design, Bob worked from the bottom up, taking nearly three weeks to complete the project. “Aluminum is like spaghetti to begin with, but bonding it together makes it so solid you could drive a truck over it,” says Bob. He points out that aluminum heats very quickly, so you need to carefully plan your progress and your next move. He compares it to a chess game. When I asked him how many feet of aluminum are in the bridge, his response is immediate and amused, “Oh my God, I don’t know. It’s like somebody asked me how many welds there are in it. I said, ‘I don’t know . . . and I don’t want to know!’” We do know that there are 160 balusters, because it says so on the CAD drawings. Each one of them is welded top and bottom, and every seventh one is additionally welded to the arched brace that runs the entire length of the bridge. Handrails on either side of the balusters pull the sides together. What looks graceful is incredibly solid. As jobs go, the Ham Bridge is not huge for Bob Topping, who has worked at shipyards welding lifting pads that weigh 80 to 90 tons (“I’d go for a walk when they’d lift them onto the ships with cranes.”), and at Scott Paper Company doing welding work on paper machines. “I’d been on the road a lot and wanted to be close to home,” says Bob about his work. He’s lived in the lakes region for seventeen years, and Great Northern Docks is an easy commute from his home in Harrison. Welding new steel on the bottom of the Songo River Queen and helping construct a bridge over Crooked River for the Muddy
River Sno-Seekers Snowmobile Club are just some of the ways he lends a hand in the community. Now he’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing that his work will be a permanent part of Pondicherry Park. The next big push for the park is site work and construction of the Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge, which will span Stevens Brook and serve as the park’s main entrance. Hardypond Construction of Portland has contracted to fabricate and install the steel beams and pilings that will support the 60’ arched covered bridge that is named in honor of Bob Dunning, who passed away in fall of 2007. The steel work needs to be done this winter while the ground is frozen, allowing construction of the bridge itself to begin on schedule next summer. Fundraising for the final phase of Pondicherry Park is on-going, with several area businesses including Renys and Norway Savings Bank now contributing to the campaign, along with individual donors. Future contributions will fund the completion of the Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge, the largest of Pondicherry Park’s signature bridges. To contribute to the Park campaign or to learn more about it, please contact Loon Echo Land Trust at 207-647-4352 or for on-line giving visit: pondicherrypark.org
The Kendal C. and Anna Ham Charitable Foundation Bridge that spans Willet Brook is the smaller of two bridges that will grace Pondicherry Park. With a span of 40’ and a width of 4’, the arched foot bridge will provide Stevens Brook Elementary School students quick access to the heart of the park. lakelivingmaine.com 19
the art of eating well
I
love talking about food. Especially when it comes on the heels of my fall fast. I’ve been good since I finished said fast in mid-October, but as it gets colder I find myself craving comfort foods that will warm me from the inside out. The fast I follow dictates no television, which is not a problem since I’m without one, but it doesn’t mention anything about reading cookbooks, so I indulge myself by curling up on the couch with Marcella Says, a perennial favorite, along with magazines and newspapers replete with recipes. Baked macaroni and cheese, meat loaf, braised lamb shanks with fennel . . . the list goes on, as I cut strips of post-it notes to mark the recipes that whet my appetite. Blue plate specials, those budget, one-plate meals, are what appeal most to my proletarian past. It wasn’t always that way. I remember my mother packing our brown bag lunches for school every day, and feeling the horror of detecting the aroma emanating from my egg salad sandwich on the school bus. I envied the kids who were allowed “hot lunch.” Only now can I realize how fortunate I was, for along with the egg salad sandwich were homemade oatmeal cookies, and a piece of fruit. Because I had a mother who understood the importance of good nutrition long before it was in vogue, I never developed a taste for soft drinks, sugared cereals, snacks, or fast food. They just don’t taste like food to me, and they don’t make me feel good. In fact, from what I remember of forbidden fast food consumed in the ‘70s, it made me feel anything BUT good. Cost was certainly a factor in my mother’s daily routine of preparing our lunches. Remember home economics? Presumably, it was every “homemaker’s” duty to manage her (let’s face it, it’s still pretty much the case) home cost-effectively. My mother made the egg salad sandwiches for our lunches with eggs from the chickens we raised. Eventually the chickens themselves were served up at dinner along with dumplings, the only possible way to deal with a
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blue plate specials by Laurie laMountain
There are a few recipes that have become standards in my winter repertoire of meals. They are uncomplicated and economical, yet never fail to satisfy the more demanding appetite that accompanies cold weather. tough old laying hen. The fact is, it’s less expensive to eat wholesome foods that you have taken the time to prepare yourself. And if, like me, you believe that foods prepared with love provide nourishment of another kind, there’s an added incentive to taking the time to cook for loved ones. Despite what they may want you to believe, Marie Callender does not love you. There are a few recipes that have become standards in my winter repertoire of meals. They are uncomplicated and economical, yet never fail to satisfy the more demanding appetite that accompanies cold weather. I also enjoy variations on a theme, so I would encourage you to substitute ingredients to suit your mood and the content of your cupboard. There’s a quaint adage that French housewives can make a soup out of nothing, but what they really mean is that they don’t restrict themselves to the dictates of a recipe, but rather use their imagination and whatever they have on hand. Chances are the ingredients are fresh, seasonal, and unprocessed, and that is what makes the difference. The meal is only as good as the ingredients that go in it, and we cooks are merely the ministers who marry them.
Vegetable Meat Loaf with Garlic Mashed Potatoes (serves 4) 1/2 cup grated carrot 1/2 cup finely chopped celery 8 oz. mushrooms, finely chopped 1 or 2 cloves garlic 1 egg 1/2 cup lightly toasted walnuts 1 lb. ground beef or turkey plain bread crumbs salt and freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional) Using no oil, sauté mushrooms over a low heat until they release almost all their liquid; approx. 8 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to a bowl and heat olive oil until it forms a sheen in the bottom of the sauté pan. Add grated carrots and celery. Sauté until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes, then add coarsely minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute or two, being careful not to scorch the garlic. The vegetables should retain their texture, but have lost their crunch. If necessary, sprinkle some water over them to lightly steam-sauté them. Combine with mushrooms and cool slightly. Meanwhile, spread broken walnut meats on a cookie
sheet and toast lightly; 3 to 4 minutes is all it takes. Add egg, cooled vegetable mixture, and toasted walnuts to ground meat. Mix all ingredients well and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add only enough bread crumbs to bind the mixture well before transferring to a greased loaf pan; do not press the mixture, but rather loosely shape it to fill the pan. Bake at 350˚ for 45-50 minutes. I loosely tent the meat loaf with aluminum foil for the first half hour and then leave it uncovered once I’ve brushed the tomato paste on for the remaining 15 or 20 minutes. While the meat loaf is baking, wash, peel, and cube six medium potatoes. Yukon Gold or California Whites have a buttery texture that is better suited for mashing than a dry potato like russet. Peel and crush two cloves of garlic and put them with potatoes in a 2-quart saucepan; cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Once the water boils, throw in about a tablespoon of salt. Lower heat and cook until fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes, reserving the liquid in a cup or bowl. Add a half stick of butter and mash. Slowly add enough hot potato water to form a creamy consistency.
Pan Roasted Lamb with Fennel If I have a lot of time, say on a Sunday, I’ll use two lamb shanks for this recipe, otherwise I use lamb stew or kebab meat. If you are using shanks, you will want to pan roast them for 2 to 3 hours over a low heat, until the meat falls easily from the bone. 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 lb. lamb for stew or 2 shanks 4 ripe plum tomatoes, quartered and chopped, or 14 ounces of canned San Marzano tomatoes 1/2 cup dry white wine
1 large bulb fennel with fronds 1 cup dried cannellini or cranberry beans, soaked overnight and cooked until tender to the bite, but not mushy (approximately 45 minutes to an hour). You may avoid this step by using canned beans (19 oz or ap- proximately 2 cups) instead, but there is much to be said in favor of using dried beans. Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large, heavy sauté pan. When the oil forms a sheen and before it is smoking hot, slip the meat into the pan and brown on all sides. Chop tomatoes and add to meat, stirring occasionally and slightly crushing the tomatoes to release their juices into the pan. Add white wine and cook until the liquids have reduced by about half. Wash and chop fennel bulb in half width-wise and then into segments. Clean and chop the fronds and add all of the fennel to the pan. Add coarse salt and ground pepper to taste. Stir, cover and cook over a low heat for 1 hour if using stew meat and 2 if using shanks. Add cooked beans, stir, and cook for 30 more minutes. Serve immediately with crusty French bread. Serves 4.
Liam’s Baked Macaroni and Cheese My nephew, Liam, does not like onions, so I omit them from my mac ‘n cheese, since it’s our exclusive sleep-over supper. If you want to add them, finely chop a small onion and sauté until translucent in the melted butter for the roux, before adding the flour. 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 2 cups milk 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup grated Romano pecorino 1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350˚. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Stir in flour and cook for one minute over medium heat. Slowly add milk, stirring continuously, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of grated Romano until melted. Add cooked macaroni and stir to completely coat pasta. Pour into a buttered 2-quart casserole and cover with a layer of bread crumbs combined with the remaining 1/2 cup of Romano cheese. Bake for 30 minutes and cool slightly before serving.
Cod Fish & Leek Croquettes (makes approximately 16 croquettes) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 cups leeks, finely chopped 1/2 cup half and half 3 slices white bread, crusts removed 1-1/4 pound fresh cod fillet, coarsely chopped 1 large egg, slightly beaten 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 2 tablespoons oil plain bread crumbs, for frying Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 cup of leeks and sauté until golden. Reserve. Soak bread for 5 minutes in half and half. Pulse fish in a food processor along with remaining chopped leeks to form a coarse paste. Squeeze excess liquid from bread, break into small pieces, and add to the reserved sautéed leeks. In a large bowl, combine fish mixture with egg, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add leek and bread mixture and stir well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Form into croquettes by lightly packing the mixture into a 1/4 cup measuring cup and shaking free into your hand. Place on waxed paper or a cookie sheet. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of butter with the oil over medium-high heat. Toss the croquettes in bread crumbs to coat and sauté until golden. Transfer to a buttered baking dish and bake at 350˚ for 15 minutes. Serve with horseradish sauce or seafood remoulade. lakelivingmaine.com 21
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lakelivingmaine.com
ANDY BUCK
Building Custom House and Barn Frames Since 1987 Providing High Quality Timberframes for General Contractors and for the Owner/Builder Life Member of the Timber Framers Guild
97 Kimball Corner Road Naples, Maine 04055 (207) 787-2248 CustomTimberFramer.com lakelivingmaine.com 23
Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
...Quality Care... Close to Home You live, work, play and visit in our beautiful region, don’t let body pain take away your enjoyment. Did you know Bridgton Hospital offers outpatient rehabilitation services? Outpatient Rehabilitation Services including: • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech and Language Therapy With more than 100 years of combined experience on our professional staff we can provide on-site care for your injuries and body pain. Shoulder Pain, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Back and Neck Pain, Carpal Tunnel, Balance and Gait Issues, Sports Injuries, Work Injuries, Speech and Language Therapies, and much more.
Our Staff of Professionals Include: Nancy Rich, PT, Ph.D., Manager Ron Balistreri, PT, Physical Therapy Greg Swynar, DPT, Physical Therapy Karen Bogdan, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Nancy Werneth, SP, Speech Pathology Sharyn Coville, PTA, Physical Therapy Assistant Jane Parrott, Administrative Assistant
We encourage you to call us and talk with our staff about your rehabilitation needs at 207-647-6145. Quality Care...Isn’t it convenient to have it Close to Home? Bridgton Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Located in the former hospital, on the campus of Bridgton Hospital. We are open 7AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
10 Hospital Drive, Bridgton • www.bridgtonhospital.org