Lake Living vol. 13, no. 2 by Laurie LaMountain

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summer 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 13, no.2

Lakes Region

LIVE an herbal renaissance summer calendar summer bookshelf late night suppers

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editor’s note

“Yes, it’s summer . . . my time of year.” One of the many wonderful things about Google is that I was able to find out who did that summer song of yesteryear. And not only that, I got to listen to it on MySpace as I started pecking out this editor’s note. As if on cue, a warm breeze wafted through the window by my desk and I was transported back in time. That’s the thing about music. It has the power to trigger all kinds of memories and emotions. I could almost smell the Coppertone as I listened to War’s lyrics wrapped around the beat of the bongos. Summer naturally lends itself to music. It’s a lyrical time of year. Lucky for us, there are many places to take in live music in the lakes region. David Harry has met with some of the good people who make it their business to share their talent and love of music with the rest of us—from classical to bluegrass to contemporary—and is here to tell you about them. We’re also very pleased to launch inseason in this issue, and hope you’ll become a devoted follower of our new endeavor. As I often do when I’ve reached this final point in crafting another issue of Lake Living, I solicited the opinion of my mate and, as usual, he approved. He did, however, let me know that for him the quintessential summer song is “Summer Wind,” written by Johnny Mercer and sung by none other than Old Blue Eyes himself. Not a bad pick. —Laurie LaMountain Editor & Publisher Laurie LaMountain Contributing Writers David Harry, Leigh Macmillen Hayes, Justin Ward, Pam Ward Contributing Photographers Linda Stevenson, David Griffin, Mark Silber, Paul Davies, Gregory Davies, Leigh Macmillen Hayes Graphic Designer Dianne Lewis Proofreading & Editing Leigh Macmillen Hayes Lake Living is published quarterly by Almanac Graphics, Inc., 625 Rocky Knoll Road, Denmark, ME 04022 207-452-8005. lakeliving@fairpoint. net ©20109. All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher.

lakelivingmaine.com

summer 2010 • vol. 13, no. 2

8 lakes region LIVE

by david harry

12 an herbal renaissance

by laurie lamountain

16 summer bookshelf

Book reviews from Bridgton Books

28 summer calendar 30 late night suppers

by laurie lamountain

plus

inseason cover credits April Verch at the Ossipee Valley Music Festival 2007. Photographed by linda stevenson

The

Rufus Porter Museum

67 North High Street Bridgton, Maine 207-647-2828 Cultural Heritage Series July 5-10 See website for list of classes and workshops 2010 Exhibit: Schoolgirl Art of 1840 Open Mid-June through Columbus Day Wednesday-Saturday, 10am - 4pm

www.rufusportermuseum.org lakelivingmaine.com 7

t’s late April and we’re on the return home to Maine from Ireland, a country where performance music isn’t so much a national pastime as it is a rite. Our journey goes from car to plane to bus and back to car, and we’re on the last leg of it. It’s windy and rainy and we’re tired as we throw our bags into the bed of our waiting pickup truck and climb into the cold cab for the two-hour drive home. The radio is tuned to Maine Public Broadcasting and the sweet strains of Gounod’s Petite Symphonie ease our displaced travelers’ blues. Then the announcer cuts in to inform us that we’re listening to a pre-recorded performance of the Sebago Long Lake Chamber Music Festival that took place at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison, Maine, on July 28th of 2009, and our spirits finally catch up with our bodies. Maine may not be Ireland, even though at 32,000 square miles it’s roughly the same size, but we’re lucky to have access to an impressive range of live musical performances, ranging from Bartok to Bélla Fleck. Our little corner of southwestern Maine boasts several venues where you can take in “up close and personal” performances, the kind where you can see the performer’s shoelaces and even the little laugh lines around his eyes. It’s that which also makes the music of Ireland so special. I recall walking into a pub in Milltown Malbay in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland that felt more like a home than a pub. A low-ceilinged room with a peat fire burning in the fireplace led to another room that beckoned me with its music. I’m not sure whether it was the smell of the peat fire or the sweet high sound of the ilan pipes wrapped around those of the button accordion, but

when I rounded the doorway and saw twenty or so people seated in a circle playing music together, I had a kind of religious experience. Their faces were serene yet concentrated, and the range in their ages spanned the better part of a century. An old man with a face like the map of Ireland was playing the accordion beside a flush-faced child playing the pipes. When a young Japanese man entered the pub, the music was interrupted just long enough to make room for him in their circle. Paddy from Japan, as he was affectionately greeted, sat down and began to play the tin whistle as well as any man in Ireland. It’s powerful to be in the presence of people making —Agnes de Mille music for the pure love of it. It’s (1905-93) like praying. The Irish get that, it’s part of their cultural heritage, as much a part of their communication as talking . . . which they’re also very good at. So, as we wait for the truck heater to warm our cold feet on a raw spring day in Maine, the Sebago Long Lake Chamber Music Festival’s offering of Petite Symphonie somehow brings us full circle. We may have left Ireland behind us, but we’ve come back to a place that understands and appreciates that music, as Kahlil Gibran put it, is the language of the spirit. —Laurie LaMountain

The truest expression of a people is in its dance and music.

Lakes Region

LIVE by david harry

8 lakelivingmaine.com Stone Mountain Arts Center LIVE concert

Stone Mountain Arts Center

hese days, it may seem Carol Noonan is spending more time in the kitchen than on stage. Co-owner of Stone Mountain Arts Center with her husband Jeff Flagg, Noonan unabashedly admits a draw for the musical acts venturing to the door is the food they get when they arrive. Along with soul-satisfying, pre-show suppers, Stone Mountain Arts Center has cooked up a musical menu of immense variety this summer, an approach Noonan said has been part of the plan since they opened in 2006. “We do it better than anybody. We work hard to make it special,” she said. Located “up a dirt road” on the western edge of Brownfield, Maine, the arts center is set in a post and beam barn that was originally built by local timber framer Andy Buck to house Flagg’s commercial fishing net business. In 2005 the barn was lifted and lowered over a new foundation and turned into a state-of-the-art performance space with towering windows opening to views of the White Mountain foothills, a vaulted ceiling that provides exceptional acoustics, and just 200 seats. Since then, Stone Mountain Arts Center has become a decidedly out-of-the-way yet favorite venue for such artists as Cowboy Junkies, guitarist Robert Cray and banjo player Béla Fleck. Cray

industry who said she wanted to open a venue with great sound and plenty of amenities for musicians after years of enduring bad concert halls and bad food. Stone Mountain is just as accommodating to fans with show packages including meals and local inns offering getaway weekends. If national recording acts and artists have found Brownfield a good destination, so have acts with Maine roots. The summer schedule at Stone Mountain includes Rustic Overtones with their jazzy funk sound, the Wailin’ Jennys, with Fryeburg Academy graduate Heather Masse, and country singer Don Campbell. Despite the demands of running —Carol Noonan the arts center, Noonan also takes the stage for the Stone Mountain LIVE concerts that have grown to show the regard musicians have for her and the local musicians who started the show that is reminiscent of NPR’s “Prairie Home Companion.” Now when Noonan takes the stage with guitarists Duke Levine and Kevin Barry, a.k.a. The Stone Mountain Boys, renowned artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter will join in the show. “It is my creative side when I don’t have my apron on,” Noonan said. For the full schedule of shows at the arts center, visit www. stonemountainartscenter.com.

We do it better than anybody. We work hard to make it special.

Ossipee Valley Music Festival

david griffin photography

Frank Gallagher at SMAC and Fleck headline a summer schedule of shows bolstered by singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, guitarist Richard Thompson and former “Saturday Night Live” and monologist Julia Sweeney. Noonan said Cray’s return for a third show illustrates how Stone Mountain has attracted major artists who have chosen to include the arts center on tours between larger New England towns. Upon arrival for their first ever show at SMAC, she said Cray and his band pulled up in a bus with a trailer carting gear and wondered just where they were for the first couple of hours in town. Noonan and her staff fed the band and they shot some pool in “the green room” after the meal. “In a couple of hours, they were one of us,” she said. In fact, Carol Noonan is one of them, a veteran of the music

nce upon a time in a town not so far away, Hiram residents Raetha Stoddard and Bill Johnson threw a party at the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds. Twelve years later, the Ossipee Valley Music Festival is a summer staple in South Hiram, with four days of music and camping along the Ossipee River set to begin July 22 and run through July 25. Originally known as the Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival, Johnson said the change in the name reflects the desire to include more genres of acoustic music. As the musical menu widens, Johnson said the festival intent remains the same. “It is G-rated. Bring the kids, camp out and share the music,” Johnson said. Headlining the festival are the Steep Canyon Rangers, who spent the spring touring with Steve Martin and are fresh from the Bonaroo Festival in Tennessee. The rest of the lineup includes favorites like the Bagboys and Muddy Marsh Ramblers, but Johnson said the sounds of Creole music and gypsy jazz will also ring through the fairgrounds on South Hiram Road. “There’s going to be lots of fiddles, mandolins and banjos,” Johnson promised. He said last year’s festival was the best attended, drawing about 4,000 fans. This year he may have to turn fans away, and the musical offerings will fill two stages. The main stage will be active from noon until dark, July 23 through 25, and what is called “Stage Too!” will feature performances on July 23 and 24. Included in the Stage Too! fun is an amateur open mic session called Breakfast With The Beatles from 9 to 11 a.m. on July 24, where musicians are invited to take the stage and play their favorite Fab Four song. That kind of participation is a hallmark of the festival, which offers barn dances, workshops and flatpicking, banjo picking and songwriting contests. New this year are students from the Berklee College of Music who will teach the basics of playing instruments lakelivingmaine.com 9

Rush show has already come from Texas, he said. The addition of blues shows and a performance by singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards and his band are ways to add new spice to a familiar scene. Like the Stone Mountain Arts Center, Felts said Deertrees is a favorite of musicians because of its rustic setting and acoustics. “This is one of the few remaining old ‘straw hat’ theaters,” he said. “Every musician who plays here is overwhelmed by the acoustics.” Deertrees Theatre has been the setting for the Sebago Long Lake Chamber Music Festival’s concert series since 1993. Founded in 1972 by bassoonist Homer Pence and other professional musicians who summered in the region, the Festival is noted for presenting a wide variety of chamber music. Laurie Kennedy, Principal Violist of the Portland Symphony, is the present Music Director. The musicians are professional string, wind and keyboard artists who come together on Tuesday evenings from July 13th through August 10th to share their love of chamber music with a devoted and fortunate audience. Familiar works are balanced with lesser known works, and concerts often include music for unusual instrumental combinations in compositions from the 17th century to the present. The 2010 season features the work of Rameau, Faure, Barber, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Crusell, Schumann, Haydn, Arensky and Dumka. Because the theater is operated as a nonprofit, funded in part by grants and foundations, Felts said the ticket prices can be kept affordable. Most prices are $20 for shows, with family and children’s specials sprinkled throughout the season. To view the full schedule and order tickets, visit the Deertrees Theatre Web site at www.deertreestheatre.org.

Waiting to go on at the Ossipee Valley Music Festival ‘09 and create a student ensemble to perform the last day of the festival. No matter what evolves, Johnson said he is proud the setting remains the same. “I think it is the nicest site,” he said about the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds. “It is dead flat, has lots of old pine trees and all the open barns.” Even as the number of acts performing increases, the festival remains legendary for the impromptu jam sessions kicked up by campers. For more information about the festival, ticket and camping prices and the performance schedules, visit www.ossipeevalley.com.

Deertrees Theatre & Cultural Center

n the other side of the lakes region, what could have been a training exercise for the Harrison Fire Department is now a centerpiece of musical, theater and comedic offerings. It has been 22 years since Deertrees Theatre was saved from a smoky fate to become a nonprofit arts center listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1936, the restored theater remains close to its architectural roots and operates as a summer venue only. Executive Director Bill Felts said the 2010 season will be something of a transformation for music fans especially. Whether it is tribute shows to Elvis Presley and the Beatles, a bicentennial celebration of composers Clara and Robert Schumann, or the venerated folk singer Tom Rush, Deertrees has a season in store for nearly all musical tastes. Felts said the theater is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. An order for tickets for the July 31 Tom

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Other music venues in the lakes region

he International Music Arts Institute has been presenting its summer chamber music concert series at Fryeburg Academy for the last 13 years. Classically trained musicians representing some thirty nations on five continents present more than 50 major works during the month of July at the Academy’s Bion Cram Library. Concerts are held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and on Sunday afternoons. For more information about IMAI and the concerts, visit http://home.earthlink.net/~imaifryeburg. The Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, also on the campus of Fryeburg Academy, is presenting rebroadcast performances of the Metropolitan Opera in HD on Wednesday evenings. You’d swear you were at the Met, except every seat is good and the tickets are just $15. Student and package discounts are also available. For more information on the scheduled operas, visit www. fryeburgacademy.org. The bandstand at the Cornish Fairgrounds will be the site of Tuesday evening concerts sponsored by the Saco River Festival Association. Since its founding in 1976, the Saco River Festival As-

photo: mark silber

photo: linda stevenson

“I think it is the nicest site,” he said about the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds. “It is dead flat, has lots of old pine trees and all the open barns.”

sociation has hosted over 300 national and internationally known as well as Maine-based musicians each year through its annual summer concerts in Cornish, Maine. Five weeks of concerts begin July 6. Admission is free and donations are welcomed. For the festival schedule, visit www.sacoriverfestival.org. R

“This is one of the few remaining old ‘straw hat’ theaters,” he said. “Every musician who plays here is overwhelmed by the acoustics.”

Sebago Long Lake Music Festival

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An Herbal Renaissance by laurie lamountain

never try to manage their perceptions,” says Holly Ihloff of customers sampling the line of skin care products she and her partner Pat Blake produce under the name Great Things, Inc. “Oh, I do!” Pat jumps in. “I tap the lid and say, ‘this is my favorite.’” It’s just one of the differences in their personalities that make their partnership so effective. Holly and Pat met several years ago in a women’s group and quickly recognized and appreciated each other’s creative force. Holly came from a background in apparel design and textiles with an emphasis on costume history and restoration. In 2000 she began a six-year-long project reproducing the interior textile furnishings of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow house in Portland, Maine. Of that work she reflects, “You have to care as much about the last stitch as you did the first.” She speaks softly and thoughtfully, giving her words the same attention as her stitches. By contrast, Pat speaks with unchecked enthusiasm about the path that led her to Great Things, Inc. A native Mainer, Pat is a Master Gardner, member of Women in Agricultural Network, and former editor of Herbal News, a publication she partnered with Amanda Beal, Past President of Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association (MOFGA). When Pat sold her MOFGA-certified farm in Freeport to Amanda Beal and moved to Otisfield, she founded Native Way, a nature-scaping business that emphasizes the importance of indigenous plantings, edible landscape and wildlife habitat. Drawing on her knowledge of Native American healing practices, she developed the first Native Way body care products using organically grown or ethically wild crafted ingredients harvested from her own gardens and meadows. When Holly read an article entitled “The Chemicals Within” in the October 2006 issue of National Geographic magazine and learned the shocking effects of our everyday exposure to petrochemicals, she shared it

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paul davies

“

with her friend Pat and they had the first of many long discussions. In February of 2008, the two women joined forces and incorporated Great Things, Inc., the organic skin care company. “We found ourselves with a moral imperative knowing that we could provide alternatives, and that imperative simply wouldn’t go away,” says Holly of their decision to create an “herbal renaissance” with a line of skin care products that is artificial preservative and pesticide-free, contains no artificial fragrances or colors, and has 0% petroleum. All of the ingredients they use are organic food grade and 75% of the plant material that goes into their products is harvested from their own gardens. Pure beeswax from Buckfield, Maine, and olive oil are among the remaining 25% of ingredients they don’t produce themselves. Because olive trees require no fertilizers and no pesticides, they find the oil superior to all others. Medieval Magic is the label for the top drawer line of skin care products they have created for women. Sealed in glass jars with metal lids, several of their “Spa in a Jar” offerings are sold dry with instructions on the label for adding water, yogurt or honey to create cleansers, toners, and masques. “We don’t have the big research and development budgets that a lot of companies do,” says Pat. “By taking the liquid out and putting the responsibility of adding it on the consumer, we don’t have to put artificial preservatives.” The line also includes moisturizers, salves and balms that contain beeswax and vitamin E oil, which naturally preserve the products.

Pat describes Native Way as “in your pocket” products that are packaged in tins and are more on-the-go than the Medieval Magic line. They provide herbal defense against bugs, diaper rash, hot spots, harsh weather and hard work in the form of balms and salves made according to Native American herbal tradition. Every hiker should have a tin of Bug Patrol in his/her backpack, and every gardener would benefit from Ol’ Time Hand Balm. Papoose Caboose and See Spot Go are products made specifically for infants and animals. The recipes for their products are protected but not necessarily proprietary. Both women are avid researchers and have studied the herbal traditions of Native Americans and Russian and French apothecaries for over 30 years. “If you go far enough back, medieval herbalism coincides with the Native American use of herbs. Many recognizable herbs were brought as edible and medicinal plants from Europe,” says Holly. Though they can make no medical claims on their product labels, they are absolutely confident of the effectiveness of their recipes and on every jar or tin is a phone number and e-mail address so that customers can call them directly. The Cancer Community Center regularly invites them to take part in workshops and presentations for patients, and they rely on the feedback the CCC provides on participant use of their products. “It’s the only way we’re going to continue to improve,” says Pat. Farmers’ markets, garden clubs, libraries, fairs such as MOFGA’s Common

gregory davies

Ground Fair and even Girl Scout clubs provide additional opportunities for Holly and Pat to educate. Holly points out that petrochemicals are omnipresent in the modern skin care industry and petroleum jelly, or something like it, is a base ingredient in most overthe-counter skin care products. Like the National Geographic magazine article that jump-started their joint endeavor, Stacy Malkan’s book Not Just a Pretty Face—The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry fueled the engine that drove it. “My personal goal with the business is to do everything I can to appropriately illuminate the fact—and I see it as a fact—that what you put on is as important as what you put into your body,” says Holly. “Every time we’re selling, we’re teaching.” Not only are Holly and Pat committed to educating people about the importance of organics, they are conscious of how instrumental their speaking engagements and presentations are in creating a relationship with their customers. “Imagine being able to say that you have a relationship with the people who make your skin care products,” says Pat. Getting to know our customers and hearing their feedback makes them more responsible vendors. In an age when “pure” has become synonymous with “expensive,” Holly and Pat recognized early on that every person has feet, a face, hands, and they didn’t want to deprive their neighbors of what their products could do for them. Their goal is to create wholesome, natural and affordable products. Finding ways to keep their production costs down, such as minimal packaging, gives greater access to consumers while it benefits their bottom line and their environment. Ultimately, it’s the intention behind Great Things Inc. through which it will achieve greatness, and that is simply stated on every label . . . Protecting Tomorrow with Purity Today. You can order Great Things Inc. products on-line at www.greatthinginc.net or call 627-7561. They are also available at The Good Life Market in Raymond, Fare Share Co-op in Norway, New Morning Natural Foods in Kennebunk, Mirarbella Hair Salon in Raymond, Ambiance Day Spa in South Paris, Beyond the Sea in Belfast, Pet Quarters, Maine Greyhound Placement Service, Weatherbird in Damariscotta, Seaside Creations on Bailey Island, and various south coastal farmers’ markets. R

Pat Blake and Holly Ihloff

herbs and their uses Calendula soothes all skin conditions Chamomile anti-aging, relaxant, beneficial to skin Catnip relaxing, soothing Clover powerful, antioxidant Comfrey improves bruises, hemorrhoids, wounds Elder Flower wrinkle reducer, lightens skin spots, anti-aging Ginger relaxant, warming Green Tea age retardant, relieves hemorrhoids, sores, sunburn Kelp high mineral concentration Lavender relaxant, reduces pain of burns, psoriasis & rash Lemon Grass & exfoliating, invigorating, used for headaches, Lemon Peel shingles, insect repellent, varicose veins Mint antioxidant, anti-viral Cat, Chocolate, astringent, tonic, anti-arthritic, reduces cold Ginger, Pepper & allergy symptoms, superior for the bath Spear Nettle Raspberry Leaf astringent, refrigerant, wash for wounds, sores & rashes Rosemary memory improvement, wrinkle reducer, stimulant, heals sores, bruises, wounds, anti-arthritic, anti-viral Sage “A person with sage in the garden need never die.” St. John’s Wort astringent, calming, beneficial to the skin Sunflower high in vitamin E, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, pain reliever Violet anti-viral, anti-oxidant of great strength Walnut used for skin rashes, Eczema in particular Wintergreen cooling, analgesic (the Maine State Herb!)

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Welcome to Mountain View Dentistry • 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

New patients always welcome

We pride ourselves on making dentistry a pleasant experience. Our commitment is to provide you with quality, comprehensive dental care in a friendly, professional and relaxed environment. Your comfort and care are paramount; Dr. Elston utilizes technologies of today to help return and maintain a beautiful and healthy smile. Our goal is to help you achieve optimal dental health for a lifetime. Most insurances are accepted and we are here to help you maximize your insurance benefits.

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Summer Bookshelf Book Reviews from the Owners of Bridgton Books

justin’s list Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes is nothing less than the best novel on the Vietnam War that I have ever experienced. Note the use of the word “experienced’ in place of the word “read,” for this book is so powerful and real, it is just as if you are there. The author, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, spent thirty years writing and rewriting this vivid story during his spare time, and his painstaking labors are evident upon reading his masterpiece. Set in Vietnam in 1969, it follows the first few months of duty of young Lieutenant Mellas. He and Bravo Company battle the leeches, mud, incompetent and uncaring higher-ups, racial tensions, and of course, the ever present North Vietnamese Army. Matterhorn is a hill near the Laos border which the Marines fortify, abandon, then are forced to retake amidst heavy casualties, only to re-abandon later, epitomizing the futility of the conflict. Marlantes brings to life the horrors and intensity of battle, yet also portrays the day to day drudgery of war. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my other favorite Vietnam era author, Tim O’Brien. His novels The Things They Carried and Going after Cacciato are classics for this genre, and should also be read. I’ve read scores of mountaineering books over the years, most dealing with harrowing climbs and survival and/or tragedy. In some respects, these books can be one-dimensional and plot driven, i.e. getting to the top and down alive, which is okay because they are exciting. In The Shadow of Denali by Jonathan Waterman is refreshing because it is more than just a peak-bagger book. His memoir about his years on and around Denali (Mt. McKinley) in Alaska, serving as a guide and a Ranger, capture the essence of what it is to be a mountaineer. Waterman combines the climbing accounts with enough philosophy, psychology and ecology to pull off a well-balanced and fulfilling read. He also writes about some of the true legends involved in the Alaskan climbing scene in the 1970s and ‘80s. Another adventure book which could even save your life is entitled Deep Survival

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by Laurence Gonzales. In this non-fiction work, the author explains why some people survive and some don’t during life-threatening crises. I had skipped this book seven years ago when it came out, thinking it would be too scientific and dry, however, this is not the case. Gonzales relates many interesting and entertaining stories of a wide variety of survival ordeals to outline his hypotheses, and finds certain personality traits survivors tend to have and other traits non-survivors carry. What are they? Read this book and find out! Ever since Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight books and subsequent movies were released, the public can’t seem to get enough about stories with vampires. Having not read from this genre since Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, I was content to remain on the sidelines until my last New England Bookstore Advisory Council meeting, when five of the twelve members picked The Passage by Justin Cronin as their last “really good” read. Some of you may remember Cronin’s excellent literary drama The Summer Guest, which took place in Maine, but in The Passage, he goes in a completely different direction. Brad Wolgast is an FBI agent in charge of recruiting death row inmates to be subjects in a secret government military study involving an exotic virus which gives a person superhuman strength. You can probably guess what happens, and I won’t give away any more of this soon to be best seller, except to say that the story is full of adventure and suspense, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Major (Ret.) Pettingrew is an honorable, old, English Chap; a widower with a respectable standing in society. When he falls in love with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani widow who owns the local convenience store, his world abruptly changes. Prejudices, cultural diversities and barriers abound in this humorous love story entitled Major

Pettingrew’s Last Stand by first-time author Helen Simonson. When the major’s brother dies, he is forced to battle his greedy relatives over the family heirloom, which they desire to sell, and the major wishes to keep in the family. The major’s overly-ambitious son is ethically challenged to the point of being comical, and will have you laughing out loud. This late-life romance will resonate with older readers who believe today’s generation doesn’t share the same values they hold dear. The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick investigates the final days of Colonel George Armstrong Custer, and his crushing defeat at The Battle of Little Bighorn. With so many stories and versions out there of what happened, we need a historical scholar like Philbrick to separate the truths from the legend, and he does a wonderful job. He details what events and decisions led up to the final battles, providing backgrounds of all the major participants. Unlike other works of history, where the reader is subjected to multitudes of unnecessary or irrelevant facts, I didn’t find that to be the case in this fast moving work of history. Philbrick meticulously weighs and measures the evidence and speculation, using firsthand accounts from both sides as well as archeological data and topography to give what I believe to be as clear and accurate a picture of what went on as we are ever going to receive. The Last Child by John Hart offers much more than your average mystery. Twelve-year-old Johnny Merrimon spends his days canvassing neighborhoods in search of his missing twin sister, who vanished a year before. With his father gone for good, and his drug-addicted mother mired in a relationship with an abusive man, he has long odds to overcome. Fortunately, he has a few friends. There are plenty of plot twists and surprises in this riveting page-turner.

Melody is surrounded by a loving family and nurturing caretakers although nobody can fully understand the inner tornado that twists inside her. A new aid senses Melody is gifted and her world changes; but with change comes triumph and tragedy. Kids should pass this book along to their parents when finished reading it. The book will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. Ages 10+. LINGER Book two By Maggie Stiefvater

pam’s pic ks for kids Sticks By PlayBac Edu-Team Mother Nature’s gift of wind blows a lifeless branch off a tree and onto the warm inviting earth. To some this fallen branch is a nuisance and is swiftly raked out of sight, but to others, its beauty and uses are endless or critical for survival. Infants and toddlers will enjoy seeing colorful photographs of children outdoors discovering uses of a stick such as writing in the sand, making arms for a snowman and putting a marshmallow on the end to make s’mores. Trees provide fallen twigs and leaves for birds to gather and build nests high in their firm and protective branches. Each season embraces new ideas and challenges for children to discover nature’s playground in this delightful book from the EyeLike Nature Series. Ages birth+. Zoomer By Ned Young Papa dog abruptly awakens to discover his three pups jumping on the bed swinging a bat and using his pillow as home plate. Momma dog is away, and its dad’s responsibility to get the pups off to school. When Dad barks orders, Cooper and Hooper are off to start their morning routine. Zoomer, on the other hand, has his own itinerary, which does not include getting ready for school. While Cooper and Hooper eat breakfast, Zoomer builds a colossal castle. Though dad is impressed with Zoomer’s artistic creation, he is baffled as to why he refuses to get ready for school. Frustration mounts as the bus is about to arrive and Zoomer is off launching a rocket. Parents and kids alike will enjoy the humorous ending along with bright, colorful illustrations. Ages 1+.

Trouble at Nubble Light By Katherine Bailey Nubble Light’s rich history provides a wealth of stories passed on from generation to generation. Although the law currently prohibits people from residing in Nubble Light, visitors can see signs that people once inhabited this small island off York, Will lives with his mother and father in Nubble Light. Trouble, Will’s seagull friend, keeps him company as he explores the island and helps his father tend to lighthouse duties. School begins in three weeks, and Will’s dad is agonizing over how to get Will back and forth to school. An occasional low tide may allow passage over treacherous rocks with unpredictable frigid ocean waves breaking close by, but his father is determined to find a safer and more reliable solution. If he fails, he will have to surrender his lighthouse position and move inland so his son can attend school. Read on to find out his plan and if it works. Frequent Nubble Light visitors will know the clue. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end of the book which illustrates how she was inspired to tell this true story of Will and his pet seagull, Trouble. Ages 5+. Out of My Mind By Sharon Draper Born with cerebral palsy, ten-year-old Melody is trapped in a body that will not perform basic skills her brain commands it to do. Her inability to verbally communicate and express herself makes it difficult for professionals to evaluate her level of functioning. Doctors say she is severely retarded while Melody knows her intelligence is beyond any doctor that treats her, and she is determined to find a way to prove herself.

Linger is the much-anticipated second book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, in which main characters Grace and Sam, who found each other in Shiver, must fight to stay together. Sam used to be a wolf, and although he is now safely human, he understands their ways. Cole, who is introduced in this book, tries to escape his dysfunctional past by becoming a wolf permanently. Sam’s turbulent relationship with him takes an unexpected turn as they put aside their differences and try to rescue Grace from a disturbing fate.Twilight fans will enjoy this new twist on werewolves and relationships. Ages 15+.

Kids Corner The Sisters Grimm The Fairy Tale Detectives: Book I By Michael Buckley Reviewed by Emma Quattrucci & Delaney Burns Age 12 Three days after their parents disappear, a social worker comes to take twelve-yearold Sabrina and her younger sister, Daphne, into foster care. Their parents had disappeared. No one knew why, where they had gone or even if they were still alive. They left no evidence in their wake except for their abandoned car, which held no clues. Only a scarlet handprint on the dashboard remained. Now Sabrina is on her way to yet another foster home in a small, unknown town called Ferryport Landing. The fairy tale detectives put a modern, funny twist on classic, well-known fairy tales as Sabrina and Daphne take on the family business of solving crimes committed by the make-believe creatures people today know and love. We love this book because it took the familiar fairy tale picture books to a new height. We loved following Sabrina and Daphne as they embarked on their journey through a whole new world. Ages 10+.

lakelivingmaine.com 17

Uncommon Faces

he First Person Rural project began about three years ago when photographer Patricia Turner took a few photographs of people from Porter, Maine. Or maybe it began long before that with her appreciation of portraits taken by Paul Strand, Walker Evans, and Dorothea Lange. Paul Strand’s portraits are what first drove Turner to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland to photograph the land and the people there. “Sometimes the ordinary is beautiful,” says Turner. After 30 years of teaching art in the public school system, Turner is retiring this June but has no intention of sitting still. In fact, retiring will allow her to pursue her passion even farther afield. During her time away from teaching she has taken her camera on trips to Japan, New Mexico, and Ireland, as well as Scotland. She prefers to shoot in black and white in the style of her mentors because, she observes, “when you remove the color, you are left with the essential elements of line, texture and tone. It’s the same feeling I get when I observe the Maine landscape in the winter.” First Person Rural is Turner’s portrait of a small Maine town captured in a series

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of companion photographs of ordinary people in the context of the lives they lead. The First Person Rural exhibit at Edge of Maine Gallery in Brownfield limits itself to twenty pieces, while the book by the same name has thirty-nine portraits, each with a companion photograph that reflects the essential self in the portrait beside it. Turner is fully aware that she too is reflected in her photographs, and her intention as an artist is to give the viewer reason to pause and consider the beauty in the details of everyday life. “It is as if the camera comes equipped with two lenses. One you point at your subject and the other, like it or not, points inward. I hope my photographs speak of one who looks beyond the surface quality of things. One who finds the sacred within the ordinary. One who finds passion in the human spirit and inspiration in the commonplace.” To view more of Patricia Turner’s work visit www.patriciaturnerphotography.com or The Edge of Maine Gallery in Brownfield until June 30, 2010.

inseason honey A Sticky Business

fondness for fungi

farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; markets

raising chicks 101 Starting from Scratch summer 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ vol. 1

free

Honey A Sticky Business

by leigh macmillen hayes

fter graduating from college, George Sawyer and two friends spent some time each spring visiting his college roommate’s brother-in-law, who was a beekeeper (Apiarist). “We’d work for him, learn from him, steal some bees and bring ‘em back in a nuc. That’s a shallow wooden box,” says George. “I’ve been doing it [keeping bees] ever since. I’m the only one of the three who continues to do it.” George started with three or four hives, but for the last fifteen years he’s maintained 25-30 hives. Though he occasionally gets stung, it’s evident he’s developed an affection for bees. You might say George is stuck to this sticky business. A natural beehive is one of nature’s mar vels.

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Honeycombs, in per fect hexagonal cross-sections, are built by insects with no training in engineering or mathematics. Maybe that’s why George, an engineer by trade, is so fascinated with bees. Or maybe it’s simply because they’re fun to watch and he and his wife, Jane, enjoy the end result—honey in their tea or on their toast. Artificial hives, invented in 1852, mimic the space honeybees naturally leave between their combs. Therefore it’s important to follow exact instructions when constructing one in your backyard. Rectangular shaped wooden frames with hexagonal cells made of beeswax hang in each wooden box. A basic hive consists of two boxes, one stacked

upon the other--the nursery or brood chamber where the queen lays her eggs and young bees are reared plus the super, where honey is stored. “A box holds 9-10 frames,” says George. “I only use 9 frames. They hang down and the bees draw wax out of both sides.” Location, location, location is the mantra of real estate agents and storekeepers. It’s the same buzz word for beehives (pun intended). They need mixed growth fields and woods since they extract pollen and nectar from flowers and trees. A water source is also important. George’s hives are located in the fertile plains of Fryeburg and North Fryeburg. “There are lots of swamps. Water makes a huge difference about the amount of honey you will

get. If it’s damp, flowers will have more nectar. And the bees need water to develop royal jelly.” At least a third of our food is dependent in some way on honeybees. As they gather nectar to produce honey, they also transfer pollen from plant to plant, thus fertilizing the plants and enabling them to bear fruit. Though they aren’t the only pollinators, we all owe a debt to the bees for their dedicated work. These industrious pollinators play a critical role in agriculture. For this reason, each spring George takes some of his hives to Five Fields Farm in South Bridgton for a week to ten days to pollinate Tom Gyger’s apple trees. As the season changes to summer, workers really are

“busy as bees.” The hives teem with thousands of workaholic honeybees. Greek playwright, Aristophanes described them this way, “Active, eager, airy thing, Ever hovering on the wing.” The winged creatures ingest and chew the nectar, and what they spit back out contains little moisture. This is the honey that sticks to the frames. Constantly foraging with four wings which stroke over 10,000 times per minute, thus creating the buzzing sound we all associate with flying insects, workers only live about three weeks during the busy season. Their wings simply wear out. The honey flow begins in earnest in mid-June and lasts through mid-July when nectar sources are in bloom and the weather is favorable for bees to fly. Placing hives in a good location increases the flow. This is the busiest time of year for the apiarist who determines the arrival of the flow by monitoring changes in the weight of the hive. For quite a few years George’s hives have produced about 90 pounds of surplus honey each. In 2007 and 2008 he extracted 2,400 pounds total. Last year’s rains meant the flow was slow until August, so he only spun out 1,800 pounds. In mid-summer, George adds supers, supplementary frames that provide storage space for surplus honey. “When a frame of a super gets full, some leave them on and stacked up all summer. I tend to keep two on. Once one is full, I take it off and spin it out,” says George. On a day-to-day basis, the hives are fairly low maintenance. Most of the work comes at harvesting time. He harvests honey from late spring to

“The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey . . . and the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.” Winnie the Pooh in The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

early fall. Beekeepers only “steal” honey from their supers, knowing that bees need a certain amount of honey to survive the winter. Honeybees normally make more honey than the colony needs. When the cells in the honeycomb are capped or sealed over with beeswax, they are considered to be ripe and ready to be harvested. With a hot knife, George shaves off the beeswax cappings, which fall onto a screen. Honey drips from the honeycomb into an extractor, spinning like a washing machine, removing the honey from the cells of combs by centrifugal force. Like water spinning out of clothes, honey flies out of the combs onto the sides of the tank and drains down a spigot, into a bucket. It is strained through a coarse screen to filter out large debris such as wax and dead bees, while catching any extra honey. The honeycomb is then returned to the hive. As the weather gets drier in August, the flow slows. By Labor Day, George takes off all of the supers. If it’s a dry year, they come off sooner. Brood production stops when honey production drops. Worker bees born in the fall, when nectar and

pollen are no longer available, live through the winter. They aren’t flying like their sisters of the summer so their wings don’t wear out. The regimented life of the colony follows the seasons of the year. Preparing to survive the cold winter months the bees kick the drones (males) out of the colony. Though not flying, workers remain active as they cluster together in a form reminiscent of a basketball to stay warm. Hanging from 4 or 5 frames filled with honey, they maintain a temperature of 75º-80º or higher. With the queen holding cour t somewhere in the middle, the bees continuously rotate between the outside of the “ball” and the center. “Here in Maine it’s important to leave at least 60-80 pounds of honey in their hive body for them to get through winter,” says George. If it’s real cold, after the bees have eaten honey from the four or five center frames, they’ll move to outer frames. They’ve been known to starve if it’s too cold and they aren’t able to fly to the other side of a frame to feed. To help them survive, George places his hives near a line of trees that break the wind and he wraps all but the front in plastic, thus

allowing for some ventilation. At the end of winter, when the honey supply inside the hive is low, he provides supplemental feeding by placing sugar candy, a solution of sugar and water with the consistency of fudge, in a wooden feeder on top of the hive. There is a huge source of pollen and nectar available within a 3 or 4-mile radius of most homes due to vegetable and flower gardens, fruit trees, dandelions and clover. Honey changes color and flavor as the year goes on. Early honey is light colored and has a mild taste, while fall honey is almost chocolate colored. The honey from a backyard hive tastes delicious, with all the complexities of flavor that are missing in honey you buy at the grocery store. Due to the high level of fructose, the predominant simple sugar found in honey, it is 25% sweeter than table sugar. Besides being a source of carbohydrates, honey contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. It also has antioxidant properties and local honey may fend off seasonal allergies. It takes ten pounds of nectar for bees to make one pound of honey. George fills 8-ounce jars to five gallon buckets with his honey and sells it from home and his business, Sawyer Engineering and Survey, plus at Morning Dew Natural Foods Grocery in Bridgton and Westons Farm in Fryeburg. “There’s quite a demand for it,” he says. If you are considering becoming a beekeeper, you should check with the Maine Beekeepers Association and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. They provide classes, groups, or resources for amateur beekeepers. V inseason 3

fondness fungi for

by leigh macmillen hayes

ushrooms. Either you love ‘em or hate ‘em. Tom Henderson, Executive Director of the Greater Lovell Land Trust, loves them for their earthy flavor and health benefits. He began cultivating his own shiitake (shee-takay) mushrooms twelve years ago after watching a demonstration on how to grow them at the Common Ground Fair. For him, it’s one more way to live harmoniously with the environment. Recently Tom showed me his method for growing shiitakes on logs, the way nature intended.

cutting logs

“Shii” is Japanese for oak and “take” means mushroom, thus the shiitake is the “mushroom of the oak.” It will grow on almost any hardwood, i.e. chestnut, beech, alder or sugar maple,

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but the open grain of red and white oak make the migration of the mycelial growth within the length of the log more successful. Spawn or mushroom mycelium is the threadlike, non-fruiting part of the fungus that lives and eats invisibly inside decaying logs and eventually bears mushrooms. A forester by education, it seems natural that Tom would choose an agroforestry

crop. He has years of practice in thinning a forest area to maximize its health, timber, wildlife and aesthetic value. Growing shiitakes provides a use for low-grade and smalldiameter hardwood cuttings from thinning or timber stand improvement. “I cut firewood in the winter time,” says Tom. “To thin the forest I cut oak trees, the weak ones that can’t keep up with the competition.” He uses half

of each red oak for firewood, half for a shiitake log and the branches for kindling. Cutting in the winter months makes the logs easier to drag out. When starting your own shiitake garden, cut trees while they are dormant. Once the buds begin to swell, cutting should end. As you drag your logs out of the woodlot, it’s important to handle them gently so the bark remains undamaged. Bark retention is key to shiitake production.

drilling diamonds

On the day I visit, he hauls a log from his truck and sets it on two metal chairs in the GLLT parking lot. “I purposefully choose four-foot sections because I have to pick them up with a tractor bucket or sled, then pick them up to set onto the cross sawhorses, and finally carry them to the stack. Four feet is the maximum I’m willing to handle and I wouldn’t recommend exceeding that,”

Tom says. He recommends that the logs be 4 to 9-inches in diameter. With a wire brush, Tom gently cleans the log of any moss or lichen, which could become competition for the shiitakes. On a 5/16-inch drill bit, black electrical tape marks exactly the depth of the spawn plug from the tip. “I don’t want it to be too shallow or deep,” he explains, describing the holes he’s about to drill. After drilling the first one a couple of inches from the end of the log, he spreads his left hand across, with his pinky touching the hole. The span to his thumb is eight inches. Here he’ll drill the next hole, and so on down the four-foot length. Finishing one row, he rolls the log and continues drilling--offsetting the holes from the previous row. “My rows are about four inches apart and staggered.” By the time Tom is done, the log has four rows of holes in a diamond pattern to allow for the best spread of the fungal body.

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selecting spawn

It’s best to inoculate the logs a week to a month after cutting so they are moist and still full of nutrients for the fungus to take hold and spread. Tom recommends buying shiitake growing kits from a reputable supplier so you are assured of what you are getting. The inoculum is packaged in three different media— sawdust, styrofoam capped and wooden dowels. Tom prefers the wooden dowels, called plugs, which he has always purchased from Oyster Creek Mushroom Company in Damariscotta. Each kit includes about 300 hardwood spiral grooved dowels inoculated with spawn.

inoculating holes

Tom’s work station is beside his sugar house, where he built two x-shaped sawhorses to support each log. “When I’m ready to work, it takes 3-4 hours over a two day period,” he tells me. “I tend to do this between maple syrup season and spring planting—the end of March, beginning of April.” With a hammer, he gently taps the plugs into the holes of the substrate logs, making sure that they don’t protrude or they will dry out. The number of plugs in each log depends on the log’s diameter. Each inoculation site is then sealed with warm, melted food-grade wax applied with a small paintbrush to prevent the plug from drying out during the time it takes to get the log fully colonized. Eventually the wax falls off. The voice of experience says, “If you don’t wax them, they may never grow. You may wait two and a half years before you realize you won’t get anything.” This initial inoculation should allow the logs to continue producing for about six years before totally decomposing.

stacking logs

Patience really is a virtue when growing shiitake mushrooms. As a forester who thinks in generations, Tom knows there is no such thing as instant gratification. “Most things I do, I never see the end product,” he says. “Have hope.” Once the mushroom is introduced, the grower must wait twelve to eighteen months for the mycelium to spread through the log. During this “spawn run,” logs are stored in moist, shady locations. Tom uses two methods to stack his on the woodlot where the tree canopy provides 70-80 percent shade. Like building a Lincoln Log tower, he places cinder blocks on the ground, then stacks two logs in one direction, topped with four in the opposite direction, alternating four logs at a time until there are 14 logs in the loose crib stack. He’s also experimenting with an A-frame style by slashing a log between two trees and digging a trench. Shiitake logs lean from the trench to the slashed log. Upright stacking certainly facilitates harvesting. For moisture, Tom has tried force watering his logs, which some people recommend, but he’s found that it’s not beneficial. “I had some success,” he says, “but I won’t do it again, unless I have a pond.” Instead, he relies on Mother Nature to keep his logs moist.

harvesting mushrooms

White mycelium eventually invades the entire log and appears at the cut ends, suggesting that full colonization has taken place. “The mushrooms don’t come up from the dowels,” says Tom. “They come up in other places, wherever they want.” The timing of mushroom production depends on both temperature

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and precipitation. At this point you should probably invest in a mushroom guide to make sure that what you are about to pick is a shiitake. Tom makes a circle with his hands to show me the size of the caps, between 2-5 inches in diameter, that grow on a fairly robust stems. He cautions, “Pay attention to them because they can double in size in one day. Sometimes in the morning I say, ‘I’m not going to cut you till tonight,’ and I come back that night and say, ‘I should have cut you this morning.’ It only takes one or two lazy visits to get dinner-plate sized mushrooms.” Lovely maroonbrown shiitake mushrooms can be harvested by twisting and pulling or with a pocket knife. Once the caps open flat, he still eats them, but will not sell them.

managing pests

S l u g s l o v e o v e r- r i p e mushrooms so managing for them is a must. The beer-ina-pie-plate technique does work. “You may have to sacrifice some beverage on the slugs’ behalf,” says Tom, as a

tom’s shiitake relish 1/2 lb sliced shiitake mushrooms 1 Tbsp oil, he prefers Porcini, but Canola or Peanut work 2 cloves garlic, pressed liquid as needed, i.e. mushroom stock, white wine, or water 1 tsp tamari 3 cups baby spinach

sly grin flashes across his face. Always check your mushrooms and rinse off any baby slugs.

eating shiitakes

These gourmet mushrooms have a reputation for their delectable flavor and health benefits. Tom prefers his shiitakes cooked rather than raw. Fresh, their shelf-life is about three weeks in paper bags in the fridge. After composting the fibrous stems, what Tom doesn’t use fresh he dries in his gas oven. Once reconstituted, the dried shiitakes dramatically enhance the flavor of recipes. They are popular in gravy, stews, soups, dips, sauces, and spreads or sautéed, boiled, baked or grilled. Raising mushrooms is within reach. In doing so, you may find yourself more closely connected to the intricate network of this ancient recycler that links all living things to the Earth we share. If you don’t wish to start your own mushroom crop, look for Tom’s shiitake mushrooms at the Lovell Farmers’ Market or Susan Sidwell’s Old Stage Farm in Lovell. V

Sauté mushrooms in oil. Add moisture as they begin to dry out. Add garlic. Toward the end, splash with tamari. Throw in gobs of baby spinach. Sauté until spinach wilts. Serve as a side dish with almost anything—pork, beef, pasta, seafood. Try as a filling for quiche by drizzling through the egg and cheese mixture.

“It’s rich and addictive,” says Tom.

Raising Chicks 101 starting from scratch

ummer is here and it’s not too late to think about ordering broiler chicks. For those who don’t have much experience at this, here’s a general overview. The first part of successful breeding is proper chick management. The first six weeks are probably the most important in a chick’s life. Before the chicks arrive, make sure that the brooder is thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and working properly. A brooder is where chicks are raised until they have enough feathers to keep themselves warm. The temperature should be 9095˚F to start. Reduce the temperature 5˚ per week until you get to 70˚. A good source of heat is a 250-watt bulb. Hang it 18 inches from the floor. The temperature directly under the bulb will be higher than 90˚ but the birds will adjust themselves to the area they like. Use 1 bulb for each 50 chicks in cold weather. Use 1 bulb for each 100 chicks in warm weather. Make a draft shield out of

bridgton

Farmers’ Market

cardboard, about 14 inches in height, which is basically a circular fence that keep the chicks near the heat source for the first few days. Place the fence 2 to 3 feet from the heat source and fasten the ends with clothespins. After a week or so you can remove the draft shield or expand it if it is still needed. Make sure that the chicks are comfortable; if they are huddled under the heat, they are cold, and the temperature should be raised a little. On the other hand, if they are hugging along the inside ring, the temperature is too high and needs to be adjusted. Avoid drafts and dampness in the brooder house for either may weaken the resistance of the chicks to some degree. Likewise, avoid overcrowding. The condition of the chicks is the best gauge of their comfort. Use clean pine shavings for litter. Lay it all over the floor at least an inch thick. Cover it with an old sheet for the first day the chicks arrive. Litter should be removed periodically as the chicks

grow older, or as soon as it becomes damp. Damp spots around the drinking fountains should be cleaned away and fresh litter put down. If the weather is wet and cold, it will be necessary to change the litter more often. It is very important to dip each chick’s beak into their water when placing them into the brooder. Have a 1 gallon chick waterer for each 50 birds and make sure they are always well filled with clean, fresh water. Never let them run out of water. Sprinkle handfuls of chick starter here and there. Use a commercial chick starter for the first few weeks, then switch to broiler crumbles. After the first day remove the sheet, and use a 2-foot feeder for each 25 chicks. You will “full feed” your broiler chicks around the

clock for the first 5 days of age. At 7:00 p.m. of the 5th day, make sure your broiler chicks are completely out of feed. That means there is positively no feed from 7:00 p.m. of the 5th day of age until 7:00 a.m. the following morning. You want them out of feed for 12 consecutive hours. Water, yes, but no feed for 12 hours. Continue this “minor feed restriction” program, removing the feed every night, until time of slaughter The future health and productiveness of the flock depends directly upon the amount of care and attention given the chicks. Invest time, good feed and proper management and your reward will be healthy, vigorous chicks—the foundation of your flock.V

on Depot Street behind the Magic Lantern

Saturdays, 8-1 May - October

Healthy plants, heathy food, healthy animals, and healthy families make a healthy earth.

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advertise

207.452.8005

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Farmers’ Markets Bridgton Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 8-1 14 Depot Street behind Reny’s Department Store May - October Contact: Kathy Banks, 207.452.2045 Heather Silvia, 207.956.8257 Offerings: local grown and organic produce, seedlings, herbs, perennials, cut flowers, baked goods, pork, beef, lamb and goat, eggs, jams and jellies, cheese, wool and yarn, locally roasted coffee Harrison Farmers’ Market Fridays, 1:30-5:30 Front Street between the town office and Harrison Village Library Contact: Tom Fillebrown, 207.583.4387 www.harrisonfarmersmarket.com Offerings: produce, breads, jams and jellies, plants and herbs Fryeburg Farmers’ Market Fridays, 9-1 Quinn’s Jockey Cap Country Store, 16 Bridgton Road May 14 - October Contact: Helen Ramsdell, 207.452.2772 Offerings: lots of seedlings, perennials, greens, duck eggs, chicken eggs, goat meat and cheese, produce, cooking samples, alpaca and wool, jellies and jams, baked beans, music, chili cook-offs Lovell Farmers’ Market Wednesdays, 9-1 360 Main Street, Wicked Good Store May 5 - October Contact: Helen Ramsdell, 207.452.2772 Offerings: artisan breads, greens, seedlings, wool, jellies and jams, baked goods, homemade baked beans, music, loads of samples, full variety of produce, chili cook-offs

Bethel Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 9-noon next to Norway Savings Bank corner of Parkway and Route 2 May 29 - October 10 Contact: Cynthia Flores, 207.890.6859 Offerings: fresh seasonal veggies, naturally raised beef and pork, pies and baked goods, maple syrup, goat cheese, honey Lakes Region Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 8-noon 709 Roosevelt Trail, Manchester School, Windham May 1 - October 16 Contact: Karen Harter, 207.838.1579 or karen@motherherbmaine.com www.lrfm.org, Twitter: LRFMMaine--providing updates the morning of and throughout the market day Offerings: vegetables, greens, baked goods, annuals, perennials, transplants, beef, pork, chicken, lamb, eggs, goat cheese, dairy products, cut flowers, herbs, honey and crafts Norway Farmers’ Market Thursdays, 2-6 10 Whitman Street, parking lot behind Fare Street Market May 13 - September 23 Contact: Cindy Creps, 207.966.2126 Offerings: live music, guest vendors, artists, seamstresses, fiber, whole milk, meats, chicken, perennials, wood products plus a full variety of produce Fox School Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 9-1 10 East Main Street, South Paris May 8 - September 25 Contact: Patricia Verrill, 207.674.5903 Offerings: growers or producers only market, full variety of products from strawberries to apples, perennials, photographer promoting scenes of Maine agriculture

Our goods travel just a short trip from our farms to your table, not a long haul across the continent. That means more goodness for you! Taste the difference. Harrison Farmers’ Market

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Poland Farmers’ Market Fridays, 2-6 Route 26, Poland Village June 18 - October 8 Contact: John Cleveland, 207.777.1375 Offerings: fruits and vegetables, variety of berries, maple syrup, eggs, meat, perennials, cut flowers, homemade breads, pies and desserts, herbs and teas, herbal medicines

Yarmouth Farmers’ Market Tuesdays, 11 - 3 On the green,Town Office Complex, Main Street May 11- October 5

New Gloucester Community Market Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Amvet parking lot, Route 100 May 9 - October 31 Contact: Laura Campbell, 207.926.5919 or sweethollowsfarm@gmail.com Offerings: vegetables, fish including lobster and crab, beef and beef jerky, pork, chicken, fruit, soap, granola, bread, bee products, alpaca products, jams and jellies, pickled goods, special events throughout the season

Gray Farmers’ Market Thursdays, 2 - 6 Town Hall, Shaker Road (Route 26) May 20 - October 7

Cumberland Farmers’ Market Saturdays, 8:30-12:30 Mable I Wilson School Tuttle Road May 1- October 9 Contact: Leslie Fitzgerald, market.gal09@gmail.com Offerings: master gardner and master food preserver program through the UMaine Cooperative Extension Program, children’s programs with special events throughout the season, family day, farm day, fiber day and pumpkin day, mix of farm and specialty foods plus artisan crafts, general produce, cheese makers, cow, sheep and goat products, yogurt, fudge, perennials and shrubs, Alpaca products, gluten and dairy free baking, breads, pastries, knitters and spinners, soap makers The Cumberland Farmers’ Market sponsors the following:

Falmouth Farmers’ Market Wednesdays, noon - 4 WalMart Shopping Center Routes 1 and Depot Street May 5 - October 6

The Freeport Community Market Fridays, 3-7 On the campus of LL Bean May 28 - October 8 Main Street bonus day, October 11 Portland Farmers’ Market Mondays, 7-2 Wednesdays, 7-2 Monument Square, Portland Saturdays, 7-noon Deering Oaks Park May - November Contact: Stephanie O’Neil, 207.829.8428 (Monday Market) Daniel Price, 207.382.6007 (Wednesday and Saturday Markets) Offerings: vegetables, certified organic vegetables, early hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers, tree fruits, berries, pork, beef, lamb and chicken, dairy products, cheese, seedlings, perennials, herbs, honey, jams and jellies, fermented foods, yarn Madison Farmers’ Market Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3-7 Community Market and Deli 1483 Conway Road Madison, New Hampshire June - September Contact: Maggie Finn, 603.447.4452 Offerings: organic vegetables, free-range chicken, organic lamb, organic whole grain breads and other baked goods, flowers and plants, crafts

hirty minutes outside of Kenya’s busy capital city, Nairobi, is the peaceful and beautiful suburb of Karen. Named in honor of Karen von Blixen whose life in that region was depicted in the film Out of Africa, Karen has a unique connection to Bridgton, Maine. Kazuri America, the exclusive U.S. distributor for a line of beautiful, handmade Kenyan jewelry named Kazuri, happens to be located in Bridgton. Kazuri, which means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, is an apt description for the colorful and very tactile beads used in the creation of Kazuri jewelry. Lady Susan Wood started Kazuri Ltd. in 1975 when she and her husband were based in Nairobi. Kazuri Ltd. now employs over 100 women, who all have in common that they came to Kazuri destitute, and very often with children to care for singlehandedly. In an area of Africa where unemloyment can run as high as 95% and women find it particularly difficult to find jobs, Kazuri Ltd. is exceptional. And now you can string your own Kazuri beads at $1 an inch! Mix ‘em up— every Kazuri bead is handmade and hand painted in bold colors and striking patterns, each uniquely beautiful. No doubt, like the women who create them AND the women who wear them.

Kazuri jewelry is available at PICKET FENCE GALLERY at the Monument in Bridgton, where you’ll also find a complete line of casual, colorful clothing, including Fisherman Pants from Thailand—perfect for the Yogi in you! 207-647-5465

NEW THIS SUMMER! Also see Kazuri at FIREFLY, our new sister location next to Beth’s Cafe on Main Street and across from Craftworks.

lakelivingmaine.com 19

Summer Calendar June

18, 19&20th

9 am-4 pm—Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts Workshop at Denmark Arts Center. FMI: 207-452-2412 or visit www.pleasantmtfiber.com

18-20 & 25-27

8 pm—Lake Region Community Theatre’s presents “Hello Dolly.” Sunday matinees at 2 pm FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

18-20th

Nurture Through Nature Women’s Summer Solstice Retreatin Denmark Celebration, Restoration, and Community $350.00/$290.00 Camping FMI: www.ntnretreats.com or 207452-2929

20th

6-8 pm—Nurture Through Nature Community Sauna Co-Ed Sweat in Denmark, $14 pp includes light refreshments, mountain brook dip and deep relaxation. Bathing suits required. Call to reserve: 207-452-2929

21st

5 pm—Annual Solstice Walk on Bald Pate Mountain Join Loon Echo Land Trust for its traditional hike up the Bob Chase Trail on Bald Pate Mountain to celebrate the first day of summer. FMI: 207-647-4352

25th

9 am—Native Plant Walk with LEA Field Services Director Colin Holme FMI: 207-647-8580 or www. mainelakes.org

25th

8 pm—Whiz Kids (2010) at Denmark Arts Center Summer Cinema Series A riveting documentary about three high school kids competing for the nation’s oldest, most prestigious science prize. FMI: 207-452-2412

30th

4 pm—Guided Walk at Pondicherry Park Walk with LEA’s Teacher Naturalist Mary Jewett FMI: 207-6478580 or www.mainelakes.org

July 1st

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-12—Active hike along Heald and Bradley Pond. FMI: www.gllt.org

1st

7 pm—Gallery Reception & Show Opening Holly Meade: Woodblock Prints at Denmark Arts Center Show runs through August 1st. FMI: 207452-2412

2nd

7:30 pm—Port Opera’s Young Artists Program presents Mozart’s “The Impresario” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. Sung in English. FMI: 207583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

2nd

8 pm—Wild Strawberries (1957) Summer Cinema Series at Denmark Arts Center Ingmar Bergman’s enduring masterpiece of summer. Free Wild Strawberry shortcake at this screening!

3rd

9 am-noon—The Muddy Pig: A Writing Workshop for Children at Denmark Arts Center Instructor: Sarah Françoise Ages 10+ FMI: 207452-2412

3rd

5-7 pm Spaghetti Feast at Stevens Brook Elementary School in Bridgton.

4th

7th

11 am—Michael Parent storyteller extraordinaire at Bridgton Public Library FMI: www.michaelparentstorytelling.com or 207-647-2472

7th

4 pm—The Watery World of Insects at Harrison Public Library FMI: 207647-8580 or www.mainelakes.org

7th

10 am & 1 pm—Children’s Wednesday with Rick Charette America’s most delightful and inspiring musician performs for children 3-10 at Deertrees Theatre. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

7-10th

Harrison Old Home Days Pancake breakfast, fireworks, parade, BBQ and lobster feed, live entertainment.

7,8,9&11th

7:30 pm—Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” at the Denmark Arts Center A work awash with all the fun of fatecrossed lovers, mistaken identities, antic nonsense and happy endings. Directed by Denmark’s very own Ralph Morse. (No show on the 10th.) FMI or to reserve tickets: 207-4522412 or 207-452-2057

8th

9th

26th

5th

27th

5-10th

27th

6th

1-3 pm—Family Artmaking Workshop with VSA artists at Denmark Arts Center FMI: 207-452-2412 2 pm—Plant ID Walk at DeerWood Farm & Garden Learn what is edible and medicinal growing right in your own back yard with herbalist Rebecca Golden. Go to www.earthangelherbals.com to learn more.

30th 10 am—Catch a Wave and Make a Splash Summer Reading Program begins at Bridgton Public Library. FMI: 207-647-2472

20 lakelivingmaine.com

Rufus Porter Museum Cultural Heritage Series at 67 North High Street in Bridgton. FMI or to register: www. rufusportermuseum.org 8 pm—Radio Gang at Deertrees Theatre FMI: 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

7th

9 am—Join naturalist and wildflower enthusiast Ursula Duvé for an exploration of orchids at Holt Pond. FMI: 207-647-8580 or www.mainelakes.org

10&11th

10 am-4 pm—Chickadee Quilt Show at Stevens Brook Elementary School, off Route 302, Bridgton Demonstrations, over 100 quilts on display, vendor area, yard sale table of quilt/ craft supplies, Chinese Auction. For more info call 207-647-3957

11th

2 pm—Drum Circle at DeerWood Farm & Gardens FMI: 207-583-2412 or www.deerwoodgarden.com

11th

A songwriter’s afternoon workshop with Kevin Welch at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. To register call: 207-756-5651 $75

13th

7 pm—Summer Lecture: Thomas Kelleher on Old Sturbridge Village at Narramissic in South Bridgton FMI: 207-647-3699 or www.bridgtonhistory.org

4th

8 pm—The Toughcats at Denmark Arts Center Bluegrass meets Rock in the danceable, sweet sounds of the Toughcats. FMI: 207-452-2412

10 am-4 pm—20th Annual Woodworkers & Artisans Show at Narramissic, the Society’s historic Peabody-Fitch Farm, on Ingalls Road (off Rt. 107) in South Bridgton. FMI: 207-647-3699 or www.bridgtonhistory.org

8th

26th

9 am-noon—Kids’ Camp Filmmaking Workshop at Denmark Arts Center Instructor: Jamie Hook Ages 7 - 16. FMI: 207-452-2412

10&11th

12-16th

8 pm—Tim Sample: Down East and dry Maine’s quintessential humorist at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

Independence Day Parades & Fireworks in several lakes region communities, including Fryeburg, Bridgton, and Naples.

8 pm—Kevin Welch, Grammy nominated Country Music artist, at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-12—Back Pond Reserve Family Walk. FMI: www.gllt.org or 207-925-1056

34th Annual Bridgton 4 on the Fourth Road Race begins 8 am at Main St. & Rt. 117. FMI or to register on-line: www.fouronthefourth.com

1-4—Ice-Cream Social and Children’s Game Day at Narramissic in South Bridgton FMI: 207-647-3699 or www.bridgtonhistory.org

10th

9 am-3 pm— Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale at the Bridgton Public Library. FMI: 207-647-2472

9th

8 pm—Tom Snow Jazz Trio at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

9-11th

8 am-3 pm—Local Explorers Camp Ages 11-15. FMI: LEA at 207-6478580 or www.mainelakes.org 7:30 pm—Sebago Long Lake Music Festival presents “Chanson Perpetuelle” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

14th

10 am & 1 pm—Children’s Wednesday with Leland Faulkner at Deertrees Theatre. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

14th

11 am—Learn to draw cartoons with Capt. Eli at Bridgton Public Library FMI: www.captneli.com or 207-6472472

14th

1-4 pm—Kites and Crafts at Narramissic Farm—ice cream, too! $5 per person, includes a kite kit for children and ice cream FMI: 207-647-3699 or www.bridgtonhistory.org

Nurture Through Nature Co-ed Yoga Eco-Retreat Adventure in Denmark ~$350/ $290 Camping A dynamic retreat to deepen one’s experience and practice of Yoga. FMI: www.ntnretreats.com or 207-452-2929

14th

10th

15th

10-11:30 am—T’ai Chi at DeerWood Farm & Gardens with Betsey Foster, MPH Cost: $25 FMI: 207-583-2412 or www.deerwoodgarden.com

10th

5 pm—Music on the Hill 2010 Concert Series presents Rick Charette Windham Hill UCC, 140 Windham Center Road in Windham. FMI: 207893-1777

7:30 pm—Vernal Pool Ecology with Bridie McGreavy GLLT natural history programs at Charlotte Hobbs Library. FMI: www.gllt.org Daylily Days at DeerWood Farm & Gardens From July 15-August 15 open daily from 9 am – 5 pm. Enter to win a spectacular bloom of daylilies. Tea served in the garden at 2:00 pm each day.

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 7-9 am—Senior/Gentle walk through Heald and Bradley Reserve. FMI: www.gllt.org

15th

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9:30-11 am—Non-walk. Heald and Bradley Reserve. Designed for those who have some trouble getting around. FMI: www.gllt.org

15th

8 pm—Jonathan Edwards and his band at Deertrees Theatre. FMI: 207583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

16th

6-7 pm—Animal Adaptations Workshop with the Chewonki Foundation at Denmark Arts Center FMI: 207452-2412

16th

8 pm—Bern Budd as “Mark Twain Talks” at Deertrees Theatre. FMI: 207583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

17th

5 pm—High Tea and Reading with children’s author Lois Lowry at Denmark Arts Center FMI: 207-452-2412

17th

7 pm—Music on the Hill 2010 Concert Series presents Side Car Heroes a cappella group at Windham Hill UCC, 140 Windham Center Road in Windham. FMI: 207-893-1777

17th

9 am-4 pm—The Bridgton Art Guild presents the 7th Annual Art in the Park at Shorey Park in Bridgton. FMI: 207-647-2787

17th

8 pm—Dana Z as “Elvis Live” at Deertrees Theatre. FMI: 207-5836747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

17&18th Sebago Days, Sebago

17&18th

Lovell Old Home Day, Lovell

18th

10 am-3 pm—11th Annual Lovell Historical Society Antique Show & Sale at the Kimball Stanford House, opposite Lake Kezar Country Club. Raffle, food, free verbal antique appraisals (limit 2 pp). FMI: 207-9252251 or lovellhist@fairpoint.net

18th

2 pm—Gardening with Daylilies Workshop at DeerWood Farm & Gardens Learn how to dig, plant and design with daylilies. FMI: 207-5832412 or www.deerwoodgarden.com

18th

20th

9 am—Join naturalist and Maine historian Sue Black for an exploration of historic sites along the Stevens Brook Trail. FMI: 207-647-8580 or www. mainelakes.org

20th

7 pm—Third Tuesday at the Museum: Heidi Fillmore-Patrick on Birth Practices and the Role of Midwives FMI: 207-647-3699 or www.bridgtonhistory.org

20th

7:30 pm—Sebago Long Lake Music Festival presents “Summer Music” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

nurture through nature

15th

21st

4 pm—Water Birds of Maine at the Bridgton Public Library FMI: 207647-8580 or www.mainelakes.org

21st

10 am & 1 pm—Children’s Wednesday with Alex the Jester Enter the world of the colorful trickster who does daring stunts and performs musical capers at Deertrees Theatre. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

22nd

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9 am-1 pm—A Bushwhack! Private Land. Please meet at the library parking area. FMI: www.gllt. org

22nd

8 pm—Pianist Magnus Martensson at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

23rd

8 pm—Mr. Hulot’s Holiday (1953) Summer Cinema Series at Denmark Arts Center Jacques Tati wreaks havoc in a small seaside village in this classic of French cinema. FMI: 207452-2412

23rd

8 pm—Songwriter Bob Franke presents folk music at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

24th

9 am-3 pm—6th Annual Maine Street Arts and Crafts Festival features the work of 50 artists and crafters from Maine, NH & MA. Musical entertainment all day, food vendors. Bradley Memorial Park. Rain date: 7/22. FMI: Fryeburg Public Library at 207-935-2731

24th

7 pm—Music on the Hill 2010 Concert Series presents The Denny Breau Folk Trio at Windham Hill UCC, 140 Windham Center Road in Windham. FMI: 207-893-1777

24th

8 pm—Micah Blue Smaldone sings the blues at Denmark Arts Center FMI: 207-452-2412

24th

8 pm—A Beatles Tribute Band presents “The Beatles for Sale” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

24&25th

30th

26-30th

31st

Big Bloom Weekend at DeerWood Farm & Gardens Clearance & Clump Specials on a number of different varieties. FMI: 207-583-2412 or www. deerwoodgarden.com 8 am-2 pm—Place Camp at Holt Pond: Session I Ages 7-11. FMI: LEA. 207-647-8580 or www.mainelakes.org

27th

7:30 pm—Sebago Long Lake Music Festival presents “In Foreign Lands” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

28th

10 am & 1 pm—Children’s Wednesday presents Gizmo Guys at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. Gifted jugglers and true vaudevillians, audiences of all ages love these guys! FMI: 207-5836747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

8 pm—Family Fun Night at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. “TWO” highly accomplished jugglers put on a dazzling show. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org 7 pm—Music on the Hill 2010 Concert Series presents The Royal River Philharmonic Dixieland Jazz Band at Windham Hill UCC in Windham. FMI: 207-893-1777

31st

8 pm—Tom Rush at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

August 1st

2pm—Drum Circle at DeerWood Farm & Gardens FMI: 207-583-2412 or www.deerwoodgarden.com

28th

1-7th

27-29th

2-6th

8 pm—Miss Tess and her Bon Ton Parade at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. Gypsy, Jazz, Swing. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

Nurture Through Nature Women’s Wilderness Living Canoe Camping Retreat Penobscot River and Lobster Lake, North Maine Woods~ $950 www.ntnretreats.com, 207-452-2929

Gallery 302 in Bridgton presents Art in Bloom—Floral arrangements by Lakeside Garden Club. Reception from 1-4 pm on the 28th.

8 am-2 pm—Place Camp at Holt Pond: Session II Ages 7-11. FMI: LEA. 207-647-8580 or www. mainelakes.org

29th

2-6th

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-12—Active hike on Mt. Amos.. FMI: www.gllt.org

29th

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-12—Gentle walk through Heald and Bradley Ponds. FMI: www. gllt.org

29th

7 & 9:30 pm—Bob Marley is “wicked” funny at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. Two shows. FMI: 207-5836747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

29-31st

Mainestage Readers Theatre troop lights up the Denmark Arts Center with “Good Ones,” a patchwork of humorous skits and grownup nonsense. FMI: 207-452-2412

9 am-noon—Kids’ Camp Musical Theater Workshop at Denmark Arts Center Instructor: Mary Bastoni Ages 6 - 14. FMI: 207-452-2412

3rd

7:30 pm—Sebago Long Lake Music Festival presents “Schumann at 200” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

5th

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 10-12—Active walk through Kezar River Reserve. FMI: www.gllt.org

5th

7 pm—Gallery Reception & Show Opening Jeff Woodbury: Drawings at Denmark Arts Center Show runs through August 5th. FMI: 207-452-2412

29-31st

Casco Days, Casco

continued on page 24

lakelivingmaine.com 21

late night

suppers by laurie lamountain

here was a time when my idea of a late night supper was a microwaved beef and bean burrito from the local 7-Eleven on the way home from a night of dancing at the Down Town Lounge. I now rationalize that all that exercise (it was the punk rock era) afforded me such dubious culinary indulgence, but back then I didn’t really think about it. Furthermore, that burrito tasted pretty good. Flash forward several years, and my palate has become more discerning. Thankfully. That is not to slight 7-Eleven burritos or question the guilty pleasure of biting into a Slim Jim (which, since I’m feeling momentarily forthright, I also consumed a few). No, it’s simply because there was so much delicious food out there I had yet to discover that was actually good for me. Having made these embarrassing admissions, I hope Alice Waters will forgive me for now comparing myself with her. It was on a visit she made to France in 1964, and a particular meal eaten in Brittany that encouraged Waters’ culinary philosophy and led to her founding the legendary Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California. Like Waters, my culinary awareness began to take shape on my first trip to Europe. I arrived at Ciampino Airport outside of Rome on an August day in ‘83 that was hot by any standard, but particularly hot for a Mainer. My friend met me and we made our way into the city by bus. It was late morning and I was ravenous—too hungry to truly notice the ancient Roman ruins dotting the landscape. Too hungry to yet appreciate the fountain when we disembarked and walked across Piazza Navonna!! We sat down at an outdoor café on the perimeter of the piazza and I ordered Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Now, any one who knows food knows that Carbonara is not what you’d call a light summer meal. Eggs, heavy cream, pancetta and Parmesan cheese might have something to do with this, but on that sultry morning they conspired to make every bite memorable to this day. The medley of flavors was so different than anything I’d had before. And, of course, I was in Rome . . . As a result of that meal and later trips to Florence, Sardinia and Sicily, my whole sense of eating was turned on its head. The

22 lakelivingmaine.com

future cook in me noted that with relatively few ingredients, you could create meals that were soul-satisfyingly good, yet simple to prepare. Another memorable meal from that first trip was ordered from a street vendor in Bagnaia. The owner of the cart deftly sliced a ripe tomato over a panino, topped it with generous slices of fresh mozzarella, and finished it with freshly cut basil leaves and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. That sandwich may well be the last thing I remember before I leave this earth. The most important thing I learned in Italy about food was to avoid complicated cookbooks that take the joy out of cooking. I’ve opted instead for mentors who understand and honor the concept that the meal is only as good as what goes into it, including the cook’s intentions! It’s difficult to ruin a meal prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients. In Italy, the main meal of the day is served at midday, so it’s not surprising that Italians have developed a penchant for late night eating. At the hour when most of us on this side of the Atlantic are fast asleep, many Italians are just beginning to feel hungry, hence la spaghettata della mezzanotte, which loosely translated means the midnight spaghetti bash. The requirements of a spaghettata sauce are that it be quickly prepared and tasty. The Italians have long known that it needn’t take all day to prepare a meal for it to be good. In fact, some of the best meals can be prepared in thirty minutes or less. Summer evenings are much longer than their winter counterparts, and there are plays, concerts and ball games to attend. For those of us who think 6:00 p.m. is far too early for the evening meal, attending those events may mean eating much later than usual. The following late night supper recipes are provided because they have three things in common: they are delicious, quick and easy to prepare. With the exception of the beans for the Rapini with Beans and Garlic, which can be soaked and cooked ahead of time, everything can be prepared in under thirty minutes. And if even that is too much to bear, there must be a 7-Eleven somewhere. R

spaghetti alla carbonara

rapini with beans and garlic

1 2 1/2 1 6 2 1

1 2 4

pound spaghetti large egg yolks cup heavy cream tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ounces thickly sliced pancetta, diced 1/8-inch garlic cloves, thinly sliced cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (3 ounces), plus more for serving Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg Freshly ground pepper

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti until just al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks and cream. In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil. Add the pancetta and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until crisp, 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until golden, 1 minute. Add the spaghetti to the skillet. Cook over low heat, tossing, until coated. Slowly add the reserved pasta cooking water and beaten egg yolks. Toss until coated with a creamy sauce, about 1 minute. Add the 1 cup of Parmesan and the nutmeg; season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Transfer to bowls and serve with extra Parmesan and either a crisp Pinot Grigio or a full-bodied Barolo. Serves 4.

red bell pepper egg-in-a-hole 1 4 2 4

red bell pepper, cut into 4 1/2” rings large farm fresh eggs Olive oil tsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese slices whole grain bread, toasted

Heat one teaspoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, until hot but not smoking. Add bell pepper rings. Crack eggs one at a time into each ring. Season with salt and pepper and cook until whites are set but the yolk is still runny. Flip carefully and cook for another minute. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve on a slice of toast. Serve with tossed salad greens dressed with homemade vinaigrette and ice cold pilsner style beers. Serves 4.

Olive oil bunch rapini AKA broccoli rabe large cloves garlic, finely chopped cups cooked beans Coarse salt

A word on the beans: you can use canned beans for this recipe, but it’s well worth the time and effort to soak and cook your own beans. They’re less expensive, taste much better and can be prepared ahead of time. Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Mix make this dish sing, but you can use Cannellini or Great Northern beans as well. Soak two cups dried beans overnight. Drain and place in a large pot with eight cups fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. (Do not add salt to the bean water as it can toughen them.) Beans should be tender to the bite but not mushy. They will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, and also freeze well. Wash and trim rapini. Chop in 1” to 2” segments. Steam for 5 minutes or until just tender to the bite and still bright green. Remove from heat. You can leave the lid on for a minute or two while you chop the garlic. Heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, stirring constantly. Add cooked beans and coarse salt to taste. Stir carefully so that beans are coated, being careful not to bruise or break them. Add the steamed rapini. Gently stir to combine and serve immediately. The bold flavor of rapini pairs well with a Nero d’Vola.

baked mozzarella, tomato, capers, and parmesan crostini Marcella Hazan is my favorite food guru. Her recipes are uncomplicated and always delicious. This one is a perfect example. 8 3 2 8

slices (1/2” thick) from a baguette- style loaf tbsp extra virgin olive oil ripe, firm, round tomatoes, each about the size of an apple thin slices fresh mozzarella

3 8

tbsp capers, preferably the small nonpareils, drained and rinsed in cold water tsp freshly grated Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese

Preheat oven to 550˚. Lightly toast the bread. Drizzle a few drops of olive oil on each slice. Skin the raw tomatoes with a swivel-blade vegetable peeler, then cut each one into 4 round slices no thicker than 1/3”. Cover each slice of bread with a slice of mozzarella. Distribute the capers over the mozzarella, 8 or so if they’re tiny, 5 if they’re larger. Top with a slice of tomato. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of grated cheese over each crostini. Arrange on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for just a few minutes. They are ready when the mozzarella melts. Serve piping hot with a tossed green salad and a bottle of good Chianti.

late night pasta sauce with pine nuts Another Marcella Hazan recipe 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/2 cup pine nuts 4 cups extra virgin olive oil 1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 2 tbsp of pasta cooking water Fine sea salt 1 pound spaghettini or very small penne A warm serving bowl Allow raisins to steep in warm water until they swell. Drain and chop coarsely. Chop the pine nuts coarsely, then mash them slightly using the broad side of a kitchen knife or a meat pounder. Put olive oil and chopped garlic in a small skillet, turn heat to medium, and cook just until garlic becomes a pale gold, but no darker. Add chopped pine nuts and cook, stirring for about one minute. Add chopped raisins, stir well, and cook for just a few more seconds. Remove from heat. Cook pasta in four quarts of salted, rapidly boiling water. When almost done, return skillet to medium-low and add about two tablespoons of the pasta water to the sauce along with some salt, stirring rapidly. Drain pasta the moment it is cooked al dente, firm to the bite. Immediately transfer to the warm serving bowl and toss with the sauce. Serve immediately. Pinot Grigio or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo work equally well with this dish. Serves 4 to 6 people.

lakelivingmaine.com 23

Summer Calendar continued from page 17

5&6th

8 pm—The 11th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival presents “Luv,” a comedy about a mismatched love triangle. 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

6&7th

12th

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-12—Active walk through Sucker Brook Outlet Reserve. FMI: www.gllt.org

12th

Antique Wooden Boat Show on the Causeway in Naples from 10-3 on Saturday. Boat Parade Friday evening

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-1—Family walk on Lords Hill. Suitable for children 8 and up. FMI: www.gllt.org

6th

12&13th

8 pm—A Town Called Panic! (2009) Summer Cinema Series at Denmark Arts Center This award-winning animated film will have you rolling in the aisles. Free Belgian waffles at this screening! FMI: 207-452-2412

7th Maine State Championship Rowing Regatta, Highland Lake, Bridgton. 5,000 meter stake and 1,000 meter sprint. FMI: Steve Collins at 207647-2196 or dscollins@gwi.net

7th

9 am-noon—Easy Block Printing Workshop at Denmark Arts Center Instructor: Jeff Woodbury Open to all ages, but young children will need assistance. FMI: 207-452-2412

7th

10-11:30 am—Qigong at DeerWood Farm & Gardens with Betsey Foster, MPH Cost: $25 FMI: 207-583-2412 or www.deerwoodgarden.com

8 pm—The 11th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival presents “Luv,” a comedy about a mismatched love triangle. 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

15th

17th

9 am—Ferns and Flora at Holt Pond Drs. Catherine Paris and David Barrington are professors at UVM where they specialize in fern diversity and evolution. FMI: 207-647-8580 or www.mainelakes.org

17th

7 pm—Third Tuesday at the Museum: Caroline Jordan on Phoebe Beech and the Art of 19th Century Courtship FMI: 207-647-3699 or 7th 8 pm—Family Fun Night with Robert www.bridgtonhistory.org Post at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. A virtuoso of expert mime, dry 17th humor and a sense of the absurd add 8 pm—Blues Musician Ernie up to brilliant physical comedy. FMI: Hawkins at Deertrees Theatre in 207-583-6747 or www.deertreesthe- Harrison. Afternoon workshop with Ernie Hawkins $75. Call 765-5651 atre.org to register. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org 7&8th 10 am-4pm—“Back to the Past” 19th at Scribner’s Mills in Harrison. A Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & celebration of old-tyme sawmill and Hikes 9-12—Active walk through homestead operations. FMI: 207Heald and Bradley Ponds. FMI: 583-6455 or www.scribnersmill.org www.gllt.org

8th

2 pm—Perennial Garden Design Workshop at DeerWood Farm & Gardens FMI: 207-583-2412 or www.deerwoodgarden.com

9th

9 am-noon—Kids’ Camp Improvisation Workshop at Denmark Arts Center Instructor: Mary Bastoni Ages 9 - 16. FMI: 207-452-2412

10th

7:30 pm—Sebago Long Lake Music Festival presents “Dumka-Eloquence and Passion” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

19th

6-7 pm—Biomes: Climate and Geography Workshop with Chewonki Foundation at Denmark Arts Center Open to all. FMI: 207-452-2412

19, 20&21st

8 pm—11th Annual Deertrees Theatre Festival presents “Sleuth” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. The ultimate game of cat-and-mouse played out in a cozy English country house. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

20th

8 pm—Family Plot (1976) Summer Cinema Series at Denmark Arts Center In his final film, the Master of 11th 11 am—Summer Reading Party with Suspense, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, spins a tale of family, revenge, and the Maine author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen at Bridgton Public Library supernatural. FMI: 207-452-2412 FMI: www.chrisvandusen.com or 207-647-2472

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21st

18th

21st

The Great Adventure Challenge at Pleasant Mountain FMI: www.maineadventureracing.com 9 am - 3 pm—Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library’s 35th Annual Arts and Artisans Fair Exceptionally high-quality all-juried arts & crafts fair with 65 artisan exhibitors. Demonstrations, food, book sale, raffle. Rain or shine!. HUGE used book sale! Free and open to the public. New Suncook School in Lovell. FMI: 207-925-1135 or www. hobbslibrary.org

21st

8 pm—Emilia Dahlin at Denmark Arts Center With a voice that defies the size of her body Emilia weaves mesmerizing tales with raw, rootsy folk and dynamic jazz vocals. FMI: 207-452-2412

22nd

2 pm—Tomato Tasting & Seed Saving Workshop at DeerWood Farm & Gardens FMI: 207-583-2412 or www. deerwoodgarden.com

24th 8 pm—The Two Gentlemen Band at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. Comedy, kazoos and music. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

26th

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-12—Casual walk along Wilson Wing Moose Pond. FMI: www.gllt.org

26, 27&28th

8 pm—Deertrees Theatre Festival presents “Two for the Seesaw” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. “A bittersweet joy ride.” FMI: 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

31st 8 pm—Acoustic Rock and Roll with the Tough Cats at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. FMI: 207-583-6747 or www. deertreestheatre.org

5-7 pm—Harvest Supper at Narramissic in South Bridgton. FMI: 207-647-3699 7 pm—Third Tuesday at the Museum: Fraternal Organizations in Bridgton FMI: 207-647-3699 or www.bridgtonhistory.org

25th

7th Annual Lakes Brew Fest at Point Sebago Resort in Casco. FMI: 207-647-3472 or www.mainelakeschamber.com The following summer events are ongoing: Tuesdays at The Bridgton Public Library—Fun with Georgie! every Tuesday at 10:30; Magic with Michael every Tuesday at 3:30. Fridays at The Bridgton Public Library— Mother Goose Time welcomes babies & toddlers every Friday at 10:30; Creative Craft Time invites children ages 3+ every Friday at 1:30; Reading with Brooke story time every Friday at 3:30. FMI: 207-647-2472 The Greater Lovell Land Trust Natural History program presents scheduled speakers at the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library on Wednesday Evenings at 7:30 beginning July 14th through August 11th. FMI: www.gllt.org or 207-925-1056 The International Musical Arts Institute 11th Chamber Music Festival presents Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening concerts at 7:30 pm at Fryeburg Academy’s Bion Cram Library throughout July; “Sunday Concerts for Seniors” at the Library at 2 pm in July; and “Music in the Making” at the Library on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in July. FMI: 207935-1494 The Bridgton Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm in Bridgton. Season: mid-May to early October. The Naples Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 9 am-1 pm in Naples. Season: mid-May to early October.

September 2nd

Greater Lovell Land Trust Walks & Hikes 9-3—Active hike on Speckled Mountain from Bickford Trail. FMI: www.gllt.org

2, 3&4th

8 pm—Deertrees Theatre Festival presents “The 39 Steps” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have “The 39 Steps.” 207-583-6747 or www.deertreestheatre.org

8th

20th Annual Bridgton Hospital Benefit Golf Tournament at Bridgton Highlands Country Club

18th

10th Annual Loon Echo Hike ‘n Bike Trek fundraiser for Loon Echo’s land conservation efforts. A 6-mile hike over Pleasant Mt., or the traditional 25 mile, 50 mile, and century bike treks. FMI: 207-647-4352 or register on-line at: loonecholandtrust.org

Join Us for a Healthy Summer! For the fourth year in a row Tai Chi will be offered at the Denmark Bicentennial Park on Monday mornings from 9:00 to 10:30. Residents and summer visitors are encouraged to join in the practice of this ancient healthful art of “moving meditation.” Tai Chi can counteract stress and improve flexibility, balance and motor coordination. If you want to practice Tai Chi to maintain your health this summer, come to our Monday sessions every week. In the event of rain, class shall be held at the Denmark Arts Center. For more information call: 452-2239. See you at the Park!

The Pontoon & Deck Boat Capitol of Maine Sales, Service & Rentals Open 7 Days • 8-5 Cruise the day away in one of our brand new rental boats!

Pontoon Rentals!

Swim • Tube • Picnic

Route 302 • Naples

207-693-6264

www.mooselandingmarina.com

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@ myfairpoint.net

Rt. 302, Raymond Maine 207-655-3373 Try us first. WE ARE NOW AN AGENCY LIQUOR STORE. Check our new digital sign for daily specials!! Featuring: Gas, Super, and Diesel Sandwiches to go, Liquor, Beer, Wine, Ice, ATM and a selection of groceries. Open ‘til 10 pm 7 days a week All your Lottery needs and don’t forget Dunkin’ Donuts www.speedystopraymond.com

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traditional finnish wood~fired sauna Available for private and group sweats

donation based yoga studio weekly classes

Tues 4:30-5:45 pm Tues 6-7:15 pm Wed 9-10:30 am Fri 9-10:30 am

Basics with Jen and Raja Level I with Raja Level I with Raja Life Long Yoga with Jen

in the Lakes Region, Denmark, Maine 207-452-2929

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Nurture Through Nature

The Best Kept Secret on Long Lake for Over 40 Years Don’t you just love this part of Maine? You can make R&R Vacation Home Park your “Permanent Vacation Home” on Long Lake for a fraction of the normal cost to reside lakeside. With just 15 sites on 8 acres, nestled in a quiet cove on Long Lake, we offer a private, resort type atmosphere. Enjoy year round access for all your favorite winter sports as well. Only 2 1/2 hours from downtown Boston. Tennis Court • 2 Sandy Beaches • Dockage • Bocce • Horseshoes

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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

Cut, Split & Delivered

Denmark, Maine

At Khiel Excavation, our experience and expertise are unmatched and reflected in every project we complete.

Heat your home with Maine’s most abundant naturally renewable resource . . . and enjoy the unsurpassed warmth that wood heat provides. Not only is burning firewood an efficient and cost effective way to heat your home or business, it’s also an environmentally responsible way to utilize one of Maine’s most abundant natural resources.

We put quality first, and our long line of satisfied customers stands as proof that we consistently produce results that meet every goal and exceed all expectations. We’ve worked hard to earn the respect and trust of local and regional businesses and residents, and are confident that we will succeed in completing your next project to perfection. Call today to schedule a consultation and estimate.

207-452-2157

Choose from green firewood, custom cut to the length of your preference, or seasoned 16” lengths— ready to burn upon delivery. lakelivingmaine.com 29

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AUBURN - BANGOR - BELGRADE - BRUNSWICK - FAIRFIELD FARMINGTON - GREENVILLE - PORTLAND - SKOWHEGAN

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Specialty Care Clinics

...Close to Home Specialty Care... In the Lakes Region of Maine

Isn’t it nice not to travel so far for your care? Oncology & Hematology Cardiology Pacemaker & Defibrillator Checks Diabetes Infectious Disease Orthopedics

Sports Medicine Pain Management Wound Center Nephrology Urology Pulmonology Endocrinology Coming Soon... Eye, Ear and Nose

“Bridgton Hospital cancer care - it’s world class treatment close to home. Not having to travel for my care has eased the financial and stress burden for me. A small hospital with ‘big’ hospital care.” scott thomas lovell, maine

If you’d like more information about any of our clinics, please call 207-647-6120. Quality Care...Isn’t it convenient to have it Close to Home? Bridgton Hospital Specialty Clinics 10 Hospital Drive Bridgton, ME 04009

10 Hospital Drive, Bridgton • www.bridgtonhospital.org