FREE winter 2013 • vol. 16, no. 4
Handcrafted Renaissance stove talk
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joy in the snow
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sterling creations
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local eats
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editor’s note
My mother, who used to love crosscountry skiing and winter hiking, determined several years ago to join the flock of snowbirds who fly south every winter. When I visit her each January I just assume I’ll get lost a few times, since one of the biggest navigational challenges to where she lives is the lack of landmarks. Even if Walgreen’s could be considered a landmark, using them could land you just about anywhere, as it seems there’s one on every other corner. Far more serious than losing one’s way, however, is the obvious lack of finding anything handcrafted or original. In the land of box stores and chain restaurants, there’s little hope of discovering a yarn shop or a cozy corner café on Main Street, let alone finding Main Street. The flip side of this, of course, is that there are no icy roads or slippery sidewalks to navigate. But even though we may have long winters to contend with here in Maine, we can be happy in the knowledge that there are still places where you can get a really good cup of Joe or a homemade Needham or a custom crafted backpack or a hand-knit hat. And if you require some navigational help in locating them, we’ve included several of our favorites in this issue. The real beauty of all this, however, is that you can then don your hand-knit hat, throw a thermos of Maine-roasted coffee and a few homemade Needhams into your backpack and discover the unsurpassed majesty of Maine woods in winter. —Laurie LaMountain Editor & Publisher Laurie LaMountain Contributing Writers Leigh Macmillen Hayes, Justin Ward, Pam Ward, Susan Connolly, Perri Black Contributing Photographers Ethan McNerney, Leigh Macmillen Hayes, Michael Early, Peter O’Brien Graphic Designer Dianne Lewis Proofreader/Copy Editor Leigh Macmillen Hayes Lake Living is published quarterly by Almanac Graphics, Inc., 625 Rocky Knoll Rd, Denmark, ME 04022 207-452-8005. lakeliving@fairpoint.net www. lakelivingmaine.com ©2013. All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Annual subscriptions are available by sending check or money order for $20 to the above address.
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winter 2013 • vol. 16, no. 4
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6 stove talk
16 eat on main
10 handcrafted renaissance
18 sing now!
12 joy in the snow
19 once upon a winter
by laurie lamountain
by leigh macmillen hayes
by leigh macmillen hayes
14 sterling creations
by laurie lamountain
cover photo ethan mcnerney
by perri black
by leigh macmillen hayes
by the owners and staff of bridgton books
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by laurie lamountain
M
y mother used to tell a story about playing house as a child and placing a card in the kitchen window that indicated the number of pounds to be delivered by the ice man. The amount was much more than their icebox could handle, and her childish prank was not well met by my grandmother. Years later, after I had the temerity to pull a prank of my own, Mom would threaten to give me to the rag man. Apparently, there was also a guy who went door to door collecting and selling rags. What I found most interesting in both cases was that there were people, other than doctors, who made house calls. Today, I find any itinerant trade intriguing. Who makes house calls anymore? I got my answer this past fall when I mentioned to a friend that I needed to have my wood stove refurbished before winter. She gave me the name and number of someone who would come to me! Rather than having to load the stove onto a non-existent
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truck and drive it to a stove shop, I could simply make an appointment and he would refurbish the stove on site. Graham Barber, aka the Stove Man, arrived early one morning and began taking my old Jøtul 3 apart, piece by piece, and carting it outside to clean, recondition and rebuild. A few hours later, my wood stove looked brand new. Before leaving, however, Graham cautioned that the pipe leading into the stove wasn’t safe and should be replaced. Heating fires account for 36% of residential home fires in rural areas every year, and often these fires are due to creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes. Graham wrote down the names of a few people I might call, one of them being John Barley. After a round of phone tag, John and I arranged a day and time for him to come by the house to sweep the chimney and replace the pipe. When he was done with everything, I asked him if he’d be interested in being interviewed along with Graham Barber for
a piece in Lake Living. Given that they’ve known each other for years, we agreed it would be good to interview them together so they could play off one another, kind of the Click and Clack of Stove Talk. They did not disappoint— LL So you guys have been plying your respective trades for 30+ years. I gather it’s working for you. GB In my case, it just sort of happened. I was going to college and a friend of mine’s mother had a stove business and I needed part-time work so I worked for her. Then they picked up the Vermont Castings franchise. In those days, in the golden age of solid fuel, Vermont Castings took us to Vermont for a week, they put us up in an inn and we had classes all day and played pool and drank beer all night. LL So you were sold! GB Yeah, it was quite a big deal. I spent a lot of time in the shop just seeing how they came apart and go back together. And it was a few years, really, where there wasn’t that much to do—it was freight damage and warranty work mostly until the stoves got older, which suited me as I was a ski bum—before I began sort of slowly doing stove restorations. It kind of went from there. LL So where did the idea to make house calls come from? GB Consider the fact that a wood stove is not a bicycle. You can’t just drag it down to the shop, so the nature of the business is that it sort of has to happen on site. I also have difficulty sitting still and hell for me is a place where you look at the same four walls every day. LL And how did you get started, John? JB I remember during the Arab Oil Embargo of the late ‘70s I was in college, and in Mother Earth News there was an article, “Learn How to Be a Chimney Sweep.” These guys had started in Stowe, VT, being chimney sweeps when people started burning their houses down after firing up wood stoves that had been sitting out in their barns since central heat came along, and one day they said, “Screw this chimney sweeping, let’s just teach people how to be chimney sweeps. We stay clean and it’s a lot safer!” So I went over to Stowe for five days. GB And you have sort of a history of climbing up things with rope? JB Yeah, I was teaching rock and ice climbing, so it was a very natural transition. GB I want to say that you fell into it. JB Don’t even start, Graham. I know
where this is going. GB I just want to point out that more than a few careers have been ended as chimney sweeps. JB I fell off my own roof on Saturday, but that was only about six feet to the deck. LL A lot of what appeals to me about what you do now is that you’re keeping things in use by caring for them. I was looking for a new Jøtul 3. I shopped around and they weren’t that expensive, around $1,500 on sale, but then I asked a retailer how much it would be to refurbish my old one and it was considerably more than you charged me, and I had to bring it to them! So I was like, forget about that, because I didn’t have a truck or anything. GB It’s a weird little business I’m in. Once, it was understood that most dealers who sold wood stoves would fix them. You sell a product and it needs repair, you’ve got someone who can do that. It quickly became the case that not every retailer wanted to service their products. I found that I could go to dealers and say, “Hey, when you’ve got service work, I’ll do it on a contract basis.” That worked out great. LL Plus they last so long, a retailer could conceivably be servicing a stove they sold twenty years ago. My wood stove is at least that old. GB In the old days the stoves were pretty simple. They were iron boxes with a damper. Stuff cracks, you put a new piece in, no big deal. Then, when the government decided that we needed EPA restrictions, it got complicated. Now there are moving parts, catalytic elements and all kinds of stuff that needs routine maintenance. It also got more complex in terms of the variety of parts necessary, so you could call a dealer and say, “Gosh, remember that stove I bought from you seven years ago? Well, it needs . . .” And they would have to flip through everything to find the part. LL So, it’s like cars and computers. GB Exactly, and dealers don’t always want to get involved in all that. LL Once you repair a stove, how long is it good for? GB It depends entirely on the stove and how much it gets used. I see some people every three to five years, some I never see again. JB Since this area is so transient and we have so many vacation homes where people are just using it on weekends and holidays, a stove can last forever. LL What types of materials are you using and what’s involved in a typical refurb?
GB Paint, cement, gasket, hardware. What’s
challenging about these things really is not the work. Monkeys could be trained to do half the stuff I do. What is challenging is being familiar with the stoves, because there’s a wide variety of them, and what parts are going to be necessary can vary a lot. JB The mechanics of it are pretty simple, then? But figuring out what you need from past years . . . GB And not having to go on-line for two hours and look through a stack of old books. Strangely, I’m finding that when I call to order parts these days, I’m talking to people who are not as old as the stove! LL You know what’s interesting about my Jøtul? Somewhere along the line of ownership, the front piece that keeps the logs from rolling out went missing, but I found out Jøtul wasn’t making that part anymore. I had to order through a retailer who got it from a manufacturer who specializes in making parts for stoves that are no longer being manufactured. GB Thank goodness for those places because for a time, I thought, any minute now they’re not going to make these parts anymore and I’m out of business. But there is a market for them and people are managing to fill it. LL How long does the average woodstove refurb take and what’s an average cost for on-site refurb? GB It varies a lot. I get calls from people who just need routine stuff—replace gaskets, vacuum out the catalysts—spend two hours and that will happen every three to five years. Other people might have a threeyear-old stove that needs to be completely restored, and it’s a whole day’s work. It’s not rocket surgery or anything. LL Rocket surgery. I like that. JB Have you found that a lot of the newer stoves that have gone away from catalytic combustors and now have all the refractory material are easier to work on? GB Well, they don’t need it. LL Is that like the next generation? JB Yeah, exactly. The stove manufacturers have found different ways of meeting EPA regs and it’s just injecting air in critical spots and having super high temperatures. LL So it’s less temperamental than a catalytic combustor? GB There was a long period of time when people were burning conventional stoves like yours, and then in the ‘80s EPA regulations went into effect, and the only technology available at the time were catalytic
elements, same as in your car. Every manufacturer suddenly started making catalytic stoves, and they can be a nuisance because they having moving parts that can wear out. But now, as John said, many manufacturers have figured out a very simple way of constructing a stove that makes them burn clean. Most stoves that you buy now will be practically maintenance free. JB Is that foreboding for you? GB No, because people are happy to spend less restoring an older stove for $800, $1,000, $1,200 even. And you (LL) can identify with this, people get attached to their stoves. It’s an interesting relationship. LL You become brand loyal. Sort of like with cars. I love my Jøtul. GB It’s amazing the way people fall in love with an iron box in their home, so restoring it is in some cases a labor of love. I find often people are willing to spend more money than I think is practical because they’ve spent twenty, thirty years with it. It’s kept their family warm . . . LL It’s like a dog. An old dog with a growth. GB An iron dog. LL So, John, how often should you have your chimney cleaned and is there a better time of year to do it? JB Once a month. (laughter) I mean, everybody’s gonna wait until the fall, but I send out all my reminder cards in the spring. LL Do you do that so you don’t get slammed in the fall? I mean, nothing’s going to happen to my dirty chimney between spring and fall, is it? JB It’s not good. It’s better to have it cleaned because it just sucks up moisture. It’s like ashes. I tell people to empty the ashes out of their stoves for the summer because they’re like a big sponge and they suck the humidity and they sit there and rust. Same with creosote and the chimney. LL And you’re saying once a year? JB Yeah. It’s so subjective. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) suggests once a year, but if you tell somebody who comes up on weekends and they burn half a cord of wood in their fireplace that they’ve got to do it once a year, that’s crazy. LL If your flue is cracked, is there a way to repair it or do you always have to run a liner up it? JB That’s the way to repair it, but you take the flues that are cracked out, which a lot of guys won’t do. LL I guess I should ask what a flue is? JB It’s a passageway for the the gases to escape. In your case, you have a one lakelivingmaine.com
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flue chimney. Some people have great big chimneys with, say, a fireplace upstairs and a wood stove downstairs and maybe a furnace in the basement, so they would have three flues. When they’re cracked, there’s no way to patch that material because it’s constantly expanding and contracting during the heating season, so you take it out and reline. LL Or you would tear down the chimney and replace it? JB That’s an extreme case, but you could do that. That’s what insurance companies were obligated to do before chimney relining came into existence. LL And for the liner, what do you use? JB You can use a masonry method or you can use stainless steel. GB There are lots of people who are capable of sweeping a chimney, shove a brush down and clean it out. However, there’s a significant difference between a person who does that and a chimney professional. The person you want looking up or down your chimney is someone who is up on the latest technology and capable of observing and detecting potential problems—because it’s your chimney! If there’s a fire in the middle of your house . . . JB Things do go wrong. You can have a chimney fire without ever knowing it. In fact, the majority of chimney fires happen unbeknownst to the homeowner. LL Do you guys work together frequently? Or maybe not on the same job, but with the same clients? JB I give him a lot of work. I don’t get much back, except the occasional ribbing. On the other hand, I bought a house this summer and I called Graham and told him I was looking for a wood stove and he said, “Call Sam Hardy. He’s been a customer of mine for 25 years and he’s getting rid of his wood stove because he’s getting too old to be hauling wood around.” He gave it to me for free. I took a picture of it with a nice fire in and I e-mailed it to him and said, “Sam,
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your wood stove is back working again.”
LL What’s the deal with code? How many
people really have their wood stove 36” from anything combustable? I mean, seriously, how do you do that? You’d have to have your wood stove in the middle of the room! GB One of the things they work hard at engineering into modern or late model stoves is reduced clearances. Older, conventional stoves almost always had to be at least 36” from anything, but newer ones can be as little as 9 or 10” in some cases. I know people don’t think about it daily in their lives, but wood stoves have enjoyed some significant technological advances in the last 25 to 30 years. If someone has an old stove they’ve enjoyed for many years and it’s feasible to repair it, let’s do it. However, I’m quick to point out that there are a lot of advantages to newer stuff. LL Safety is a big thing. GB Safety is ALWAYS a big thing. Something I’m sure we have in common is that neither one of us can afford to take chances, and in my case it’s with the stove itself. If something doesn’t work properly, there’s no way I’m gonna say, “Yeah, that’s fine.” When I see something that doesn’t look right otherwise, I usually just say, “You might want to have someone look at this because it could be a problem.” I’m careful what I say, because I can’t dispense advice about chimneys. LL Do you put yourself more on the line with that, John? JB Absolutely, I’m swinging in the breeze a lot of times. LL Here’s the flip side of that. With the work the two of you did on my stove I don’t feel as worried when I leave the house with the stove burning. It’s worth it. JB It’s pretty cheap insurance . . . $100. I see these people hemming and hawing . . . GB “How much is a brush? I can do it.” LL These are the same people who won’t go to the doctor. Speaking of which, I’m sure there are customers who are more interest-
ing than others. Tell me about them. GB I’ve had some crazy stuff happen with the Web site these last few years. I’d been e-mailing with a guy who said he’d bought a stove from a family friend and it needed a bunch of work and could I help him out because, quote, there’s no one here in Japan who knows how do the work. Seriously. I had a call from a guy in Australia and another from a guy in Montana just this morning. LL Wow! You could set up a sideline business. “Ask Graham.” JB “Stove Talk.” LL You guys could totally do that. We’d have to come up with some catchy names for you. JB When I was going great guns in the ‘90s and had another truck on the road and an 800 number, I ran a weekly ad in the paper and I’d put little tidbits in it like, “Make sure you remove your ashes for the offseason” or “Chimney caps keep animals out,” but eventually I ran out of new things. GB Yeah, you gotta pace yourself. JB Oh, and I drove away with someone’s chicken once. It hopped in the van and I just closed everything up until I got to another customer’s house. i Graham Barber has been repairing wood stoves for the last 30 years, most of the time as an independent contractor. He trained at Vermont Castings Foundry and though he has done restoration and repair work on just about every brand of wood burning stove, including Hearth Stove and Jøtul, he specializes in vintage Vermont Castings Wood Stove repair. (603) 662-8103
John Barley founded A Sweep Above the Rest in 1980, after becoming professionally trained and equipped by Black Magic Chimney Sweeps of Stowe, VT. A member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, John offers chimney sweeping, relining and inspections throughout the Mt. Washington Valley of NH, and western ME. (603) 986-7811
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Handcrafted Renaissance by leigh macmillen hayes
Similar to the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late19th-early 20th centuries, today’s revived craft movement has thrift at its heart. Knowing where a crafted product came from, how it was made and what it was made from, adds value to the product and the purchase. The work becomes the legacy of the artisan. In the lakes region, several entrepreneurial women have also learned that it helps them connect or reconnect with others. In the world of large-scale manufacturing, this is all absent.
Rough and Tumble: The Studio Store 414 Main Street, Norway Located in the restored Norway Opera House is a unique shop that features high-end leather handbags designed by a woman who never used to carry a bag. Natasha Durham is the owner and designer at Rough and Tumble. Her initial career, however, was as an owner/chef at two fine dining restaurants in the Old Port. While in art school, Natasha was most fascinated by sculptures—useful three-dimensional objects. Thus, the bags she creates today articulate function. “I knew nothing about handbags when I started,” says Natasha. That was four years ago when she began working at her kitchen counter and admits she knew how to sew, but didn’t sew well. Solving puzzles, though, is one of her passions. When she had more time, she was a Sudoko fan. In the same way, she views manipulating the leather to be a metaphor for solving a puzzle— what emerges is a sculptured
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handbag intended for rugged adventures or luxurious living. Natasha has an intuitive feel for shapes and purposeful details that merge into functional beauty. “I believe art should be functional and useful,” she says, “and not something that hangs on a wall. A craft is a higher form of art. It’s useful. It serves a purpose.” Sometimes, as is the case with her bags, it serves more than one purpose—think handbag transforming to backpack. At the front of the shop and in the next room, customers are greeted with a leather handbag gallery featuring a plethora of original styles from hobo packs and laptop messenger bags to satchels and shoulder bags—each filled with pockets for everything you may need to store. In the back is the design studio where Natasha cuts the waxed leather for every handbag herself. The designs are ever evolving because she is constantly coming up with new solutions to the puzzle. While her flagship store in Norway has been open since June, most of the sales continue
all things fiber related and upscale wines. This shop is the brainstorm of Kim Hamlin, manager at Café Nomad as well as knitting designer, and Scott Berk, owner of Café Nomad. Kim grew up in South Paris, studied dance in college, where she also dabbled in visual arts and then moved to New York to pursue a career in dance. Because she needed a job to support her dream, she began working at a knitting shop. Though her mother had taught her the basic knitting stitches, Kim says she’s really self-taught. Being immersed in the art, she soon found herself creating patterns and actually becoming a contributor to, as well as author of, knitting pattern books. Craving a sense of community to be via the Internet. What she enjoys about the Main Street lo- that felt real, four years ago Kim cation is the ability to meet clients returned to her roots. She soon and get their input. discovered that “what might be tiny in New York has a ripple Fiber & Vine effect in this community.” And 402 Main Street, Norway Next door to Rough and she embraces that fact. When Tumble is Fiber & Vine. As the the much beloved store, Artful name suggests, the shop features Hands Fiber Studio, was clos-
ing its doors because the owners wanted to retire, Scott, whom Kim describes as a big supporter of local business, didn’t want to see it leave Main Street. The two became business partners and purchased the knitting inventory, added high end wines and opened Fiber & Vine in the Opera building this past June as a statement of investment in the town. “I’d never thought I’d have a knitting store,” says Kim. Her body moves with the internal rhythm of a dancer as she continues, “I love making stuff. I absolutely love it. And it’s nice to be appreciated here.” Enter the shop and what is a relatively small space feels immense—enhanced by the high tin ceilings and large windows that overlook Main Street and the Pennesseewassee Stream. Merchandise, including yarn and roving, some of it locally sourced, patterns, notions and wine, line the boxed shelves along interior walls. Crafts created by local artisans include jewelry made from buttons, geometric patchwork bags, bedazzled patches, original WEARable bracelets, hand-sewn pillowcases and handmade books. Comfortable overstuffed chairs and a couch are the focal
point, as well as an oversized kitchen table. Kim offers classes, clinics and group knitting sessions. “My job is to inspire people,” she says. “To be a guide of teaching people skills; to help them find their own creativity; to try a new yarn; to find community. Everyone can access creativity and come up with ideas.”
Fiber Arts Cottage 3 Harrison Road, Bridgton The former Bolsters Decorating, Inc. on Route 117 in Bridgton is the new home of Fiber Arts Cottage. Owner Theresa Hammond studied fine arts in college, then became a graphic artist before settling down as a stay-at-home mom. During those latter years, she found herself gravitating toward handcrafts. When she and her family moved to the area three years ago, Theresa began working at Craftworks. With an empty nest on the horizon, she recognized the need for a fabric and yarn shop and decided to pursue the idea. The retail space that once abounded with paint chips and flooring swatches has been replaced with bolts of brightly colored fabrics and skeins of hand-dyed and other yarns. This is a cozy space in which to unwind amidst knitting, crocheting and quilting supplies.
As the business grows, Theresa is expanding the lines that she carries. Patterns and notions are also available. Theresa and several colleagues offer quilting, knitting and felting classes. She encourages patrons to not just make something, but to create a piece of art, a one-of-akind item. Samples set on antique furniture abound around the one-room shop, demonstrating patterns to try. The shop also features high quality products handcrafted by Theresa and other local artisans, from place mats and quilted pillows to knit hats, bags and tea cozies, felted hats and bowls. Theresa makes a point of getting to know the artists and the stories behind the items they create. Sharing her love of crafts has helped Theresa strengthen her connection with other people. “It’s nice to get to know the community,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like work. It’s fun to talk to people.”
Full Circle Artisans Gallery and Bead Emporium 12 Main Street, Cornish Shannon Surette first opened a gallery on Main Street in Cornish four years ago, but only recently moved Full Circle Artisans Gallery into this new and inviting space that Hanson and Son Construction built a few doors down from her original space. Earning a degree in business and entrepreneurship, Shannon spent a number of years in the business world before becoming a stay-at-home mom. During that time, she and a friend began creating hand-woven jewelry that they sold at art shows. That was Shannon’s inspiration to open a shop in this quaint village—a shop where she could display her own work and that of others. “I want to support local artists,” says Shannon. “It’s hard for them to sell stuff out of their homes and barns.” Her business degree serves her well as she works with more than eighty artisans.
Like Kim and Theresa, Shannon prides herself in learning about the artists she works with, like the legally blind felting artist who is “one of the most observant people you will ever meet . . . I think it’s important,” says Shannon. “You buy something, you need to have a connection with it.” She’ll be the first to tell you that she’s picky about who displays their works in her shop because she wants quality handcrafted items. “It’s really about finding that unique piece. You won’t find another—everything is one-of-akind,” she says. Within the warm and inviting space with high ceilings, wooden beams and floors, suspending lights and unique bark-framed doorways and windows, there’s something for everyone, including the family dog. The shop is filled with furniture, pottery, glassware, jewelry, clothing, paintings, photography and more. Classes are also offered, especially during the winter months. The subjects vary and reflect the merchandise. All of these women are encouraged that people want to support small businesses and especially like the uniqueness of quality handcrafted items that are lovingly made in a way that will last. In this new economy, Natasha states it best, “People buy less, buy better and buy to keep it.” Impulse buying has gone by the wayside and finding a purpose in the purchase is the new trend. i lakelivingmaine.com
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mit of Pleasant Mountain. Take time to rest and enjoy the views of Brownfield, Fryeburg and the White Mountains along the way. Near the teepee at the top, you can see Moose Pond.
Major Gregory Sanborn Wildlife Management Area, aka Brownfield Bog, Brownfield
Joy in the Snow
Managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the wetland’s 5,700 acres offers plenty of open space for a peaceful exploration of winter flora and fauna.
Greater Lovell Land Trust properties, Lovell
by leigh macmillen hayes
I
received my first pair of snowshoes for Christmas the year our eldest son was born—21 years ago. We were living beside Moose Pond at the time and I remember the thrill of sliding my boots into the bindings of those oversized wooden frames. Brisk air, brilliant sunshine, bambino snuggled in a front carrier and the ability to walk on snow rather than trudge through it--the winter world opened up to me in a way that even my beloved crosscountry skis couldn’t offer. With each step discoveries were made. And still continue to be made: seeing bear claw marks on a tree; startling a ruffed grouse that flies out of the snow; sniffing the skunk-like scent of red fox urine; watching a downy woodpecker take frequent breaks to look around; listening to the whumpf of snow plops as they fall from trees; and finding a fallen branch covered with what looks like dancing raisins—a mushroom known commonly as jelly ear. There are mysteries as well that make me pause and wonder. I find that snowshoeing is good for my soul as well as my body— besides slowing down and paying attention to the woods around me, I breathe in volumes of fresh air, let worries flow out with perspiration, and mediate on the rhythmic sound of my snowshoes. I become aware. For almost 6,000 years, snowshoes have been moving people across the snow. With today’s aluminum frames and lightweight decking, the principle remains the same: like a snowshoe hare, your weight is distributed over a large area so you don’t sink. Snowshoeing is quite accessible and the learning curve is almost non-existent. As our youngest likes to point out, “It’s just glorified walking.” Here in the lakes region, there are plenty of places open to the public where you can carve your own trails or follow those packed by others. Some of my favorites include the following:
Pondicherry Park, Bridgton
Located right in downtown Bridgton, yet steps away from any commerce, the well-maintained trails in the 66-acre park wind past stonewalls, through former pasture and farmland, much of which is now forested,
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and curve alongside Stevens and Willet Brooks.
Bald Pate Mountain, South Bridgton
This 486-acre preserve, maintained by LELT, offers several well-trodden trails, including a two-mile round trip leading to
the 1,000-foot, granite summit. An ancient pitch-pine forest and scenic vistas greet hikers.
Holt Pond Preserve, South Bridgton
The trails at this 400-acre preserve, maintained by LEA, are well marked and wander through a mixed forest of birch, beech, hemlock and pine. A red maple swamp, hemlock grove, the Muddy River, and Holt Pond’s quaking bog are just some of the highlights of this delightful destination.
Each of the properties owned and maintained by the Greater Lovell Land Trust offers something unique and beautiful. All are easily accessible for snowshoe treks. My favorites include Heald and Bradley Pond Reserve, Wilson Wing Moose Pond Bog, Bishop Cardinal Reserve, Kezar River Reserve and Chip Stockford Reserve. You can learn more about them at www.gllt.org.
Sabattus Mountain, Lovell
Bridgton Highlands Country Club, Bridgton
A well-marked, 1.4 mile-loop trail leads snowshoers along a route, dappled with sunlight, to the 1,253-foot summit ridge. On the ledges, enjoy panoramic views that extend from Pleasant Mountain toward Kezar Lake and the White Mountains.
Southwest Ridge Trail, Denmark
This .8-mile trail weaves through fields and past the Mt. Tom cabin before it follows an old jeep trail to the summit. The upper portion passes through a hemlock grove and then opens to views of Pleasant Mountain, the Saco River and Kezar Pond.
During winter months, volunteers keep the golf course open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Trails meander about the property and surrounding woodland, offering a variety of views and habitats.
Mt. Tom, Fryeburg
This trail climbs steadily and bends under the pines before opening to a series of ledges leading to the southwest sum-
Mayberry Hill, Casco
Perfect for a peaceful retreat, Loon Echo’s Mayberry Hill Preserve features a one-mile loop
trail that circles past stonewalls and through 160 acres of mixed woodland, meadows and streams. Several granite benches offer opportunities for a quiet break.
Guided Snowshoe Adventures
Sebago Lake State Park, Casco
(conditions permitting for all of these events)
Winding along the shores of Sebago Lake and Songo River and through the mixed growth forest of the park, you’ll find 4.5 miles of relatively flat trails.
Rattlesnake Mountain, Raymond
After the initial heart-pounding ascent up the Bri-Mar trail on Rattlesnake Mountain, enjoy a lovely walk through the woods and great views of Panther Pond, Jordan’s Bay and Sebago Lake. Other trails to check out can be found anywhere you might enjoy a hike. Purchase a copy of Marita Wiser’s book, Hikes and Woodland Walks In and Around Maine’s Lake Region, for more information. Before heading out, it’s important to think about comfort. Dress in layers. I’m always cold at the start, but quickly warm up as I continue to move. With that in mind, long underwear wicks moisture away from my skin. Synthetic fibers such as polyester and polypropylene or natural fibers like wool and silk work best. Avoid cotton as it does NOT wick away moisture but instead absorbs it and holds it close to your skin. For outerwear, snow pants should be non-constricting. A wool sweater, light fleece or down jacket should be easy to put on and take off. I tend to wear an old wool sweater topped with a wind-resistant vest. On blustery days, I don a fleece jacket. A hat and gloves or mittens will help you avoid heat loss. A good pair of wool socks in your winter boots is also important. I prefer to wear hiking boots— they’re less bulky. As for equipment, snowshoes of course. Some people like gators to keep snow out of boots. Hiking poles are an option. I
with Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) 207.647.4352, jon@lelt.org; Greater Lovell Land Trust (GLLT) 207.925.1056, info@gllt.org; and Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) 207.647.8580, adam@mainelakes.org. Monday, December 23, 2013 10 am, LEA, Winter Tree ID at Pondicherry Park, meet at LEA office Saturday, December 28, 2013 8:45 am-2pm, LELT Winter hike up the Bald Peak Trail of Pleasant Mountain, Mountain Road, Bridgton Saturday, January 11, 2014 10 am-noon, GLLT Winter Scavenger Hunt at Chip Stockford Reserve, Ladies Delight Road, Lovell Saturday, January 18, 2014 6:45 pm, GLLT The Comet is Coming! Comet ISON and Stargazing, meet at GLLT office Saturday, January 25, 2014 10 am-2 pm, LELT Family Fun at Five Fields Farm during the Mushers Bowl, Route 107, South Bridgton received a pair of telescoping poles for Christmas last year—I can attach them to my backpack and they are readily available if I want them. Sunglasses and sunscreen are a must. Staying hydrated is as important in the winter as in the summer. Insulate your water bottle to keep it from freezing or fill a thermos with your favorite hot drink. And pack high-energy snacks. Hazards include rocks and tree stumps or other objects hidden beneath the snow. If you are on a pond or lake, check the ice thickness. And always be aware of the weather. Remember, it can change rapidly—after all, this is Maine. All you really need to enjoy snowshoeing is to get outside and try it. If you aren’t comfortable setting out on your own, there are guided snowshoe walks offered each winter by area organizations, see above sidebar. I hope this winter you’ll become smitten with the lure of the snowshoe trail and discover joy in the snow. i
Thursday, January 30, 2014 7-8:30 pm, LEA Stargazing at Bridgton Highlands, meet at LEA office Saturday, February 8, 2014 10 am-noon, GLLT Animal tracks and signs along the Gallie Trail of Heald & Bradley Ponds Reserve, Route 5, Lovell Friday, February 14, 2014 4-6 pm, LELT A sweetheart of a hike to watch the sun set and moon rise from Bald Pate Mountain, Route 107, South Bridgton Thursday, February 20, 2014 10 am, LEA Animal Tracking and how mammals cope, meet at LEA office
Friday, February 28 6:45-8:15 pm, GLLT An Evening with Owls—call out to owls and attempt to receive a vocal response, meet at GLLT office Saturday, March 15, 2014 10 am-noon, GLLT ID winter tree bark, twigs and buds along Perky’s Path and Flat Hill, Heald Pond Road, Lovell Thursday, March 20, 2014 6-8 am, LELT Sunrise Hike to welcome spring at Bald Pate Mountain, Route 107, South Bridgton
• Superior Quality • Reliable Service • Certified in Erosion Control Practices
Commercial & Residential Services Sitework & Road Design/Construction 207.452-2157 www.khiellogging.com lakelivingmaine.com
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sterling creations by laurie lamountain
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here’s something about working with your hands that taps into a place of calm attentiveness. The creative act becomes a kind of meditation in which everything is focused on the task at hand. The beauty of creating something in this way is that you then have the tangible result of the experience to bring you back to that place of calm. I have a block print that whenever I look at it reminds me of the day I made it; the way the light was filling the room, the comfort of the couch I was sitting on and the complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock. In a recent article on the link between creativity and longevity in Time magazine, the author had this to say, “Increasingly, brain research is showing that in the case of creative people, this mortal cause-and-effect pays powerful dividends—that it’s not just the luck of living a long life that allows some people to leave behind such robust bodies of work but the act of doing creative work is what helps add those extra years.” All the more reason to be creatively engaged. Ivy Jordan, owner of Water’s Edge Gallery & Studio in Bridgton, discovered the
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power of the creative process during high school AP art classes at the University of Maine Augusta and Talent Tree in Chelsea. Her instructors, including the infamous “Chip” Chadborne, inspired her in media ranging from sculpting to oil painting. She later attended metalsmithing and jewelry classes in California and at Portland School of Art (now Maine College of Art) in the mid ‘80s. Bitten by the jewelry-making bug, Ivy and her childhood friend, Jane Dwyer, started a jewelry business called Paper Moon that sold $60,000 in the first year. That they were immediately successful was not surprising, since Ivy had sales and marketing in her blood. Her family had owned and operated J.B. Farrell’s Clothing Store and The Village Shop in Augusta, and when she left Maine in her twenties, Ivy worked for Shreve, Crump & Low in Boston, and Saks Fifth Avenue in California. A job offer she couldn’t refuse lured Ivy away from the creative world of Paper Moon and into the corporate world for a while. Then, in what she refers to as a fit of mid-life madness, she went back to school to achieve her Masters in Education and
American Montessori Association (AMA) certification. For the following seven years she was the owner/director of Little Log Cabin Montessori School in Windham. She credits the sequential style of Montessori teaching with her laid-back manner as a silversmithing coach. The keep-it-simple philosophy allows creativity to evolve slowly and naturally. Her attitude toward both learning and now teaching silversmithing is that it should be fun. “Don’t be concerned with perfection. A lot of what makes a piece interesting is its imperfection.” Water’s Edge Gallery & Studio is in many ways a culmination of Ivy’s experience. The gallery, with its array of jewelry, felted and hand-painted scarves, and women’s clothing, allows her retail side to shine and the studio satisfies her love of jewelry making and teaching. Beginning classes at Water’s Edge Studio focus on mastering soldering techniques, as Ivy feels this is the most essential silversmithing skill to learn. Class size is limited to four people to allow as much individual attention as possible. Ivy starts by familiarizing students with use of the acetylene torch. Who doesn’t like to play with fire? Having said that, studio safety and good tool habits are emphasized. Once she’s given an overview of safe soldering technique, Ivy encourages students to learn by doing. I was lucky enough to have a series of private lessons with Ivy, in which I created a pair of earrings and a ring. We started by making ear wires for my earrings. Watching the silver form a molten bead in the flame for the first time was a little like watching magic, and shaping the wire and finishing it with pliers gave me an immediate sense of accomplishment and the confidence to tackle the hammered hoops that would hang from my ear wires. Step by step, Ivy walked me through the process of cutting, shaping, soldering, quenching, pickling, pressing and hammering two uniquely imperfect silver hoops. Silversmithing requires a lot of tools and Water’s Edge Studio is well-equipped. A range of hand tools, including texture hammers, metal stamps, anvils, files, saws, vises and mandrels line the walls. Rollers, engrav-
ers, cutters and tumblers are also provided. “I have my students bring fishing tackle boxes so they each have a little supply box, and they all get a stone and silver for their ring and three inches of soft, medium and hard solder. I supply all the necessary tools,” says Ivy. My supplies consisted of a stone I’d chosen for my ring, along with a thick length of silver for the band, a thin length for the bezel to wrap the stone, and a plate on which to mount the bezel. Ivy explained how we would start with hard solder for the band and the bezel, which were formed by shaping the silver with pliers and then filing the ends to create a clean connection. Once the band was heated with the flame, flux was applied to the joint and the entire piece heated to red hot. A slight touch to the joint with the hard solder sealed the deal. A fter quenching and pickling the band, a length of bezel was cut to size for the stone. Once soldered, the bezel was placed atop the plate and five tiny pieces of medium solder were placed inside it. Ivy assured me that placement wasn’t essential because the bits of solder would “dance” under the flame and find their way to the edges where they would bond the bezel to the plate. More magic. Following that, I cut and filed the plate to a rounded edge. The final soft solder to attach the plate to the ring was probably the trickiest, as the flame had to be controlled in order to avoid melting the more delicate bezel underneath. At the end of three sessions with Ivy, I had a pair of earrings and a ring that I had created. They won’t win any awards and they’re certainly not without their flaws, but under Ivy’s direction I had fun making them. And, who knows, they may even have added length to my life. i Beginning Silversmithing Classes consist of four 2.5 hour lessons and are limited to four participants. Private lessons are also available at $25 per hour. The next series begins on Sunday, January 5th at 1:00 p.m. For those with previous experience, monthly memberships allow access to the silversmithing studio one day a week for $25 a month. Ivy is available to provide support to those who require extra coaching on Friday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00. For a complete list of classes, including Bead and Wine, Dichroic Fused Glass, Precious Metal Clay and much more, visit watersedgeme.com. Private parties are also available. Call 207-647-3433 or e-mail watersedgeme@gmail.com. lakelivingmaine.com
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Eat on
main by perri black
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he lakes region is blessed with hundreds of eateries catering to a wide range of tastes and budgets from lobster pounds, ice cream shacks and hometown diners to the usual chain restaurants and on up to exclusive, fine dining establishments. Many of these are only open during the summer tourist season so choices for winter dining can be limited. In my wanderings, however, I came across a few interesting venues that are open through the chilly season and offer something a little out of the ordinary. And they are all on Main Street!
DiCocoa’s Market Bakery 119 Main Street, Bethel, 824-6386 Café DiCocoa, 125 Main Street, Bethel, 824-5282 email: dicocoa@megalink.net Cathi DiCocco is passionate about the food at Café DiCocoa and DiCocoa’s Market Bakery on Main Street in Bethel and her enthusiasm is infectious. She says that as an Italian it is in her blood to educate people about the importance of good food while at the same time, offer organic coffees and teas, made-from-scratch soups, sandwiches and baked goods to satisfy just about anyone’s appetite.
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Cathi earned a degree in home economics education, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, and cooked for an AmeriCorps project in New Hampshire. She has also taught cooking classes for both children and adults and catered for film crews making movies in Maine. Some well-known film actors have raved about her food and her recipes have been published in six notable vegetarian cookbooks. Café DiCocoa opened its doors in the fall of 1994. Seven years later the owners purchased and renovated the old gas station next door, which eventually became the distinctive bright orange building known as DiCocoa’s Market Bakery. Healthy, natural whole foods grown sustainably and, preferably, organically are the focus of the culinary offerings at both the café and bakery. As a way to give back to the community they host “Farmers at the Market” from June thru September, where visitors can meet local growers and buy fresh, locally-produced vegetables, eggs, cheese and baked goods. One of the most intriguing things about Café DiCocoa is the “Gentle Dining” experience it hosts on Saturday nights during the winter months. These unique, themed events are by reservation only with space limited to about thirty people. They are very popular and always booked up, so reserve your place early! “Gentle Dining” refers to the slow pace of Italian-style eating where numerous prepared dishes are served gradually in one seating over an entire evening. Last year, the series focused on the twelve regional cuisines of Italy. This year, it will be “Gentle Dining’s Greatest Hits,” highlighting the most popular specialties from the past twenty years, including food from Italy, Thailand and Morocco. The atmosphere is relaxed, upbeat and friendly, with family-style dining and a short presentation about the menu being served that evening. Guests may come to dinner as strangers, but they usually leave as friends. The DiCocoa crew is currently making plans for the 2013-14 winter season so check out www.cafedicocoa. com for more information about their business hours as well as upcoming cooking classes, special dinners and events. I am sure you will be in for a real treat!
Cafe Nomad 450 Main Street, Norway, 739-2249, http://cafenomad.com/ Scott Berk dreamt of opening a comfortable, welcoming small town café serving healthy, hearty food and providing a gathering place for the local community. He realized his dream when he bought and renovated a building on Main Street in Norway and opened Café Nomad in 2007. The spacious front room with windows onto the street includes the kitchen, serving area and a number of dining tables. A short flight of stairs leads down to a lower level in the back that overlooks the river and is furnished with overstuffed chairs and couches as well as a small library of books to read while sipping your coffee or indulging in one of their “best maple scones in the world.” The café focuses on using locallysourced food in season (whenever possible) and always prepared from scratch. It also aims to support local food producers and distribution systems. Kim, the manager, says the relationships the café has established with growers in the area are invaluable. In addition to their regular suppliers, she told me that the café often buys excess produce from local gardeners during the summer to incorporate into its daily menus. Such seasonal spontaneity is just one thing that keeps Café Nomad interesting, fresh and connected to the community. Breakfast is served until 11am and features various egg-based dishes, pancakes, French toast, breakfast sandwiches and burritos. The lunch menu includes a wide range of creative sandwiches and wraps, homemade soups and daily specials. The sandwich and strata I chose from the specials board were delicious but the potato-leek-Parmesan soup was outstanding! They also serve very good coffee from the Carrabasset Coffee Company in Kingfield, Maine. I opted for the dark roast “Back Draft” blend, which was actually strong enough even for me. Nomad has been involved with the revitalization of Norway’s Main Street and is very active in town activities. Scott says he likes to think of it as a sort of community center. It regularly hosts art exhibitions, live music, meetings and special events and they have connected with the local high school to organize popular “teen open mic nights.” They are also part of the Maurer Meals program that raises money
for scholarships and increases awareness of community health and nutrition as well as local economies and the environment. Café Nomad is a great place to stop next time you’re on Main Street in Norway and looking for a good cup of coffee and place to eat.
Grateful Bread Cafe & Bakery 781 Roosevelt Trail (I consider this Main Street), North Windham, 892-8386 gratefulbread.co There is certainly a lot to be grateful for at the Grateful Bread Café and Bakery in North Windham: fresh in-house baked bread, donuts, pies, cupcakes, pastries and whoopie pies as well as homemade chocolate goodies, glorious soups, huge sandwiches, hand-cut fries and Coffee By Design. This is not really the sort of fare one would expect at a place located in the parking lot of a strip mall along a road filled with fast food joints and chain restaurants, but that is what makes it so special. Owner and chief baker, Henry Fitts, grew up in Scarborough, learned his craft at restaurants in Portland and decided to start a business in Windham—a great boon for all of us in the lakes region. The café opened about a year and a half ago and business has been increasing steadily. They serve bountiful breakfasts featuring distinctive homemade pancakes, egg dishes, brioche French toast and a range of baked goods as well as espresso, latte and other coffee drinks. Their hearty lunches include a variety of sandwiches and wraps, soups, chili, and excellent lightly battered fresh fish and chips featuring the
aforementioned hand-cut fries. Ingredients are sourced from local producers as much as possible and everything is made in-house from scratch. I was impressed by their range of homemade chocolate-covered treats, including needhams, peppermint patties, turtles and caramels, in the bakery case next to the fresh bread and donuts and commented to the owner that you just don’t see things like that very often anymore. He smiled and told me they don’t actually make them in their bakery but they are supplied by a local person. Customers can stop by and pick up fresh goods in the bakery section or have a meal served by friendly staff in the cheery yellow dining room, which was doing a brisk lunchtime trade last time I was there. They also cater for special events and, when I visited them in November, they were advertising orders for homemade bread rolls, pies and other scrumptious desserts to take home for Thanksgiving dinner. After little more than a year, Grateful Bread seems to be a fixture along the main drag in North Windham and a delicious asset to the region. I look forward to eating there again and I urge anyone passing through to give them a try.
Standard Gastropub 233 Main Street, Bridgton (Mobil Station), 647-4100, standardgastropub.com The Standard Gastropub in Bridgton is easy to miss. Located in what used to be a Sunoco gas station and mom and pop convenience store, it is now a functioning Mobil station, as well as the hippest new addition to the Bridgton dining scene. Don’t be deceived by the tinted window that makes it appear closed; the pumps are working and breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the pub from early morning until midnight most of the week and until 1am on Friday and Saturday. If the open flag is flying, they’re doing business. Chef – ow ners Alvah Johnson and William Holmes are B r id g ton n at ive s keen on upgrading the standard of eating in their hometown and they
seem to be doing a good job of it so far. They only opened this past July but have received significant attention, including positive reviews in the Portland Press Herald and Bangor Daily News. The chefs were also invited to participate in Portland’s prestigious Harvest on the Harbor food and wine festival. It seems they are destined to become a destination. Food is served at the bar or on swimming pool blue picnic tables in an open room with a wall occupied by a glass fronted coolers displaying an impressive array of microbrew beers and natural sodas. The breakfast menu features a range of varied offerings and fresh, homemade donuts are available all day. My own unfortunate timing has so far prevented me from sampling their mac and cheese but, judging by comments from those who have, it is one of the best things going. The smoked pork and chicken sandwiches I did have were very good and their Belgian fries with a variety of dipping sauces (my favorite was the house curried ketchup) were out of this world. As a newly opened establishment, the Standard Gastropub is an evolving work in progress and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for them. I will also be on the lookout for new additions to the menu, especially if they are as good as their fries. For filling up your tank as well as your belly, Standard Gastropub is just the ticket! *Note: All of these eateries serve what I suspect are fantastic breakfasts but, as a diehard night owl, I only managed to sample their lunchtime offerings. i
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peter o’brien
denly I was surrounded with ith quiet harmoa cadence of voices in threeny, a soul-filled part harmony singing “River choir has formed of Jordan.” I felt as if I was in the lakes region. This choir softly embraced by a warm performs in intimate settings blanket. and sometimes for an audiThe members joined the ence of only one or a few. choir because they love to It’s called Sing Now! and is sing, but also because they an a cappella group consistwant to be there for others. ing of local men and women They’ve witnessed a young who sing for the terminally man on the verge of death, ill or those on the threshold whose body twitched unbetween life and death, and controllably, suddenly relax. their families. Their soothing Some individuals tap their songs are meant to provide feet, smile or shed tears. comfort and compassion Others sing along. Occasionin the last hours or days of ally, a withdrawn person will someone’s life. by leigh macmillen hayes feel pulled in and begin to The non-denominational respond. choir was born as the result “It’s so incredibly rewarding to sing for someone; to watch them of two women involved in hospice care who recognized the conrelax and have a moment of joy; to watch their faces soften,” says Jan. nection of mind, body and spirit and the power music plays in “Voices and abilities are a gift,” says Rindy. “We can give end-of-life situations. that gift to other people who are sick. The very first time we Overflowing with enthusiasm, Jo Werther is the musical director sang, a particular woman was very near death. She was as white of Sing Now! She brings a blend of wisdom, humor, energy and as the sheet she was lying on; she was comatose. After we sang, talent to the choir. we saw her cheeks gain color. I knew music would affect people For Jo, the group is one of serendipitous confluent energy. It subconsciously, but that was a surprise. It’s a way of giving back.” consists of people who may not have otherwise crossed paths, and “I find it an honor. We don’t mark life’s passages anymore, except yet, because they saw a small poster announcing this opportunity, birth,” says Kathy. “It’s a way of honoring the person and in doing they have come together and their lives have melded in the same that it’s very honoring to us. We’re very connected.” way their voices do. Sing Now! visits hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and The group’s growing repertoire currently consists of about other kinds of care-giving facilities, as well as private residences. thirty songs that are sung in two-, three- or even four-part harThey’ll sing to a group or offer a small bed-side concert to help ease mony. “Who doesn’t like ‘Amazing Grace?’” asks Jo. “We also the transition for patients sing spiritual rounds and chants, plus a secular and contemporary and loved ones facing mishmash of music.” those last hours of life on On a recent Tuesday night at the Fryeburg New Church, which Earth. One patient has allows them to use the undercroft as a rehearsal space, members already told the group of Sing Now! stood in a small circle repeating phrases on the scale that she wants them to as part of their warm-up exercises. Their bodies moved with the sing her across the line rhythm while they awaited Jo’s arrival. The minute they realized when she’s ready. i she and I had entered the room, they began chatting and laughing like old friends and immediately welcomed me into the fold. I can’t FMI: singingsoothes@ sing, which I quickly made clear. But . . . I can listen. And I did. gmail.com or I was invited to sit in the center of the group, just over an arm’s 207.256.4351. New voices length from each of the ten members. I closed my eyes and sudare welcome. Call to schedule an audition.
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peter o’brien
!Sing Now!
Once Upon a Winter Book Reviews from the Owners & staff of Bridgton Books
justin’s list The other day a customer mentioned to me that she didn’t like the book she had purchased from our “recommended table.” “Usually I love all your picks,” she lamented. I apologized profusely and proceeded to steer her toward another book I knew she would appreciate. As we talked, I ascertained that she had grabbed the previous book in a hurry without discussing it with any of us. Knowing her taste in books, I would never have sold her the book she didn’t like, and that is why developing a relationship with your bookseller is so important. One person’s “best read” may not be another’s, and our “recommended table” runs the full gamut, from plot-driven best-sellers to highbrow literature. Here is where a real person, who knows your reading preferences, can help guide you better than your little electronic box or phone. Please ask us about books. It is our job, and we love doing it. The Lowland by Jumpa Lahiri is a captivating novel about two Indian brothers, the choices they make, and the long-term repercussions of those actions, which last for generations. The boys come of age in Calcutta during the ‘60s, a turbulent time for India. They are both hard working and intelligent enough to gain entrance into the University. Subhash, the older, responsible son, parlays this into study and a subsequent academic posting in the United States. Udayan, the younger, more passionate son, becomes involved with Indian communist radicals. That is all the plot you will hear from me. The last thing you want is for a reviewer to reveal too much of the book and spoil it. What I can say is that Lahiri completely envelops you into another world and culture with her incredible story, which goes back and forth between India and Rhode Island. Her command of language is remarkable, and this novel was rightfully short-listed for the Booker Prize. My Aunt Hannah recently gave me a book I “had to read!” entitled Life In A Jar: The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer. Everyone has heard of Oskar Schindler and his heroic efforts to save over 1,200 Jews during World War II, but how many people know of Irena Sendler? She and her clandestine network saved over 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto, smuggling them into orphanages, monasteries,
and into the homes of Polish sympathizers, who hid them for the duration of the war. Facing death every day if caught, Sendler, a gentile social worker, never faltered in her commitment to save the children, and there were many harrowing moments where things didn’t go as planned. She kept a secret jar holding all the names of the kids she had saved buried, hence the title Life In A Jar. When the Soviet Union collapsed and Poland’s records were opened up to the West, three Kansas high school students working on a history project stumbled upon Irena’s story. How Sendler influenced and changed them makes for a great sidebar to this work of non-fiction. Also from the World War II bookshelf, I enjoyed The Liberator by Massachusetts author Alex Kershaw, which follows U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and the Thunderbird Infantry division throughout the Italian Campaign. Long overshadowed by D-Day in Normandy, the Allied invasion of Italy featured some of the fiercest fighting in places like Anzio and Salerno. Sparks somehow survived the last 500 days of the war, fighting first in Italy, then France and finally Germany. He liberated the Dachau prison camp, and Kershaw’s vivid descriptions of this will not be soon forgotten. On a lighter note, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is a clever, funny novel that had me laughing aloud frequently. Don Tillman is a highly intelligent associate professor of genetics. He also is a highfunctioning autistic/Asperger’s adult, and his social skills could use a little polishing, to say the least. When he decides to get serious about finding a mate, he creates a sixteen-page questionnaire for women and posts it on the Internet to try to find the perfect match. Rosie, a friend of a friend, would utterly fail the criteria he set, and is immediately discarded as a potential partner, but Don agrees to help her with a personal project. Soon Rosie is turning his precise, regimented world upside down. Told from Don’s point of view, I felt incredible empathy for him, and it was interesting to get a picture of what goes through the minds of people with this condition. The Dinner by Herman Koch took me
by surprise in the same way Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn did. What could be more mundane and innocuous than a novel about two couples getting together for a dinner at a restaurant? Try this book now in paperback and go for a wild, dark ride. Don’t you just hate it when a book moves around too much between times, places and characters, eventually making it a struggle to read? Beautiful Ruins, a novel by Jess Walters, jumps all over the place, yet somehow brilliantly stays cohesive until this spellbinding story reaches full circle at the end. Very difficult to describe, I highly recommend you just read the first few pages. It will suck you in.
sue’s pick I decided it was finally time to reread one of my longtime favorites, My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, and once again I thoroughly enjoyed this extremely entertaining memoir of a young boy, a family, a Greek island and many, many animals. My Family and Other Animals is the first of three books that the author wrote about the years his family spent on the island of Corfu during the 1930s and the beginnings of his career as a naturalist. His book includes tales of extremely humorous family incidents, many of them involving animals that Gerald brought home, or visits from eccentric guests, as well as the awe of nature as seen through the eyes of a young boy. Loaded down with nets and collecting jars, Gerald explores the island on his donkey, Sally, and with his faithful canine companions Roger, Widdle and Puke, in search of animals. As a result, his family finds scorpions in matchboxes, snakes in the bath, owls and magpies in his bedroom, partially decomposed terrapins on the veranda and frogs, fish and turtles in the garden pond. Durrell’s tales continue in Birds, Beasts and Relatives and Fauna and Family. If you’re looking for escape to the kinder, gentler world of yesteryear, I highly recommend his books. lakelivingmaine.com
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pam’s picks for kids & young adults The Bridgton Literacy Taskforce’s mission is to distribute free books and learning kits to children between birth and age 12, as well as offer free tutoring year round to all ages. Powered by volunteers and sponsored by Bridgton Books, Norway Savings Bank and Ellia Manners, the BLT’s goal is to distribute 1,000 books to local children. “Early readers are early learners,” so stop by Bridgton Books to learn how you may help invest in our local children’s futures.
Dozeratops roams recklessly, taking down boulders and trees in his path, while Dumploducus deviously drops heavy loads, making random messes and creating chaos for terrified cavemen. Garbageadon’s enlarged stomach and oversized appetite consumes everything along his travels. Dinotrux dominate the world until an unexpected storm rolls in and the unruly hybrids’ future and fate is at stake. Kids will enjoy the perforated Dinotrux play cards at the end of the book.
The Quiet Book By Deborah Underwood Ages birth - 3 years Shhh!!!!! Let me tell you about the perfect bedtime story. How many types of quiet can you imagine? Adorable plush animals act out all the different quiet time situations one may encounter throughout the day. Whether it is story time quiet, anticipating getting a shot quiet or hiding behind furniture waiting for the perfect time to shout “surprise” quiet, kids will attentively await the next quiet scenario. The soft, padded cover, durable easy-toturn pages and soothing story will surely lull sleepy kids to their favorite quiet place.
The Day the Crayons Quit By Drew Daywalt Ages 3+ A stack of letters, each written by a different colored crayon, mysteriously appears in Duncan’s classroom. His disgruntled crayons, on strike, have a valid point and they’re not too shy in expressing the way they’ve been overused, under-appreciated or mistreated. Red feels tired of coloring in countless fire trucks, apples and Santas. Purple pleads for Duncan to stay inside the lines. Yellow and orange aren’t talking since they disagree on the color of the sun. Green has no qualms. Readers will enjoy Duncan’s creative and artistic way of making all the crayons happy, but will his teacher award his art project an A?
Dinotrux By Chris Gall Ages 2+ Ask any XY chromosome toddler about his two favorite obsessions and the odds are trucks and dinosaurs will be at the top of the list. Gall’s pre-historic imagination takes kids a million years back with the creation of his metal-meets-dinosaur hybrid inventions.
There are NO MOOSE on This Island! By Stephanie Calmenson Ages 3+ Jake and his dad are exploring a Maine Island. Dad, with binoculars in hand, and Jake, with a small backpack, set off determined to spot an abundance of wildlife. The reference guide states that there are no moose on the island, but will Jake’s frequent spotting of a moose with a sense of humor
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change his dad’s determination to see everything BUT a moose? Kids and parents will enjoy finding the moose on every page, as well as the story told in rhyme. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs Ages 13+ This is what you get when you cross Tim Burton, Edward Gorey, The Brothers Grimm and Neil Gamon. A refreshing plot paired with freakish black-and-white photographs make this unique, well-woven novel appealing to all ages. Jacob’s grandfather was full of outlandish stories of the place in Wales where he grew up and no one aged, got ill or died. He spoke of monsters and kids with atypical physical traits or supernatural gifts. His collection of circus-like photos somehow confirmed his stories might be true. Jacob’s personal struggles seemed to escalate with age and his parents fear his grandfather’s stories have caused him to struggle with reality. Years of psychiatric counseling prove useless. In an attempt to tame the nightmares, Jacob and his dad set off to Wales in search of the home his grandfather had lived in. Initially, his travels generate no connection that there was any truth to his grandfather’s far-fetched stories until he meets a young girl named Emma. Finally, Jacob gets some answers. Every Day By David Levithan Ages 15+ A loud, trumpeting alarm sounds and quickly “A,” the name he gave himself as a child, accesses critical information from the body he now resides in. Every day A wakes up in a different body. Same self but always someone new. In a different gender and situation, A quickly adapts to his new family and daily schedule. Retrieving information is easy because this has been his life since his earliest childhood. Some days he is happy in the body he has taken over; other days are struggles for survival. One thing doesn’t change: his love for Rhiannon, whom he met when he inhabited her boyfriend’s body for a day. Convincing Rhiannon of his love is a daunting task, especially when she never knows who he will be the next day. Problems arise when A is scheduled to meet Rhiannon, but has awakened as a sick diabetic and can’t communicate with her. If only he could stay the same person for more than one day, would he win her heart?
perri’s preferences Winter is looming ever closer on the horizon so it is time to stock up on good books to take the chill off the long, dark nights ahead. Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller is my first suggestion for a great escape to sub-equatorial Africa. If you wanted to know more about the eccentric characters in the author’s outstanding earlier memoir, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, this follow-up biography of her mother, Nicola Christine Victoria Fuller née Huntingford, also known as Nicola Fuller of Central Africa, delivers the goods. Nicola is a woman who considers herself “one million percent Highland Scottish,” despite having lived the better part of her life in Africa, and whose “eyes actually change color from green to yellow when she is excited or about to go certifiably mad.” She has lived, and indeed continues to live, a spirited life filled with extraordinary deeds and great tragedies that screams to be written about, and her daughter has definitely done her justice. I hope Ms. Fuller also plans to write a similar book about her equally interesting father. In Jane Gardam’s terribly British Old Filth (an acronym for Failed In London Try Hong Kong), Sir Edward Feathers, now an eighty-year-old widower living out his days in the bucolic English countryside, has gained great success as a lawyer in pre-handover Hong Kong, but remains troubled by his turbulent past as a “Raj orphan” during the Second World War. Some readers said they thought the book was funny, but it struck me as a poignant story about someone who was never really comfortable with his life and who spent a lot of it searching for an elusive place to call home. His story prompted me to buy a volume of Rudyard Kipling’s short stories, which I hope to read sometime over the winter. Gardam is quite popular in the UK, yet relatively unknown on this side of the Pond. I hope Old Filth and its companion volumes, The Man in the Wooden Hat and Last Friends, will encourage American readers to discover her work and provide the international audience she deserves. Defying the old adage, I judged journalist Lily Koppel’s The Astronaut Wives Club by the Technicolor photo on its cover and the groovy 1960s patterned endpapers and
was not disappointed. Behind the “Responsible Pink” lipstick smiles, carefully coiffed hairdos and trim shirtwaist dresses stand women of tremendous strength and fortitude who tolerated what today we would consider outrageous scrutiny by the public and the press. While they bore this burden gracefully as dutiful wives, their astronaut husbands led freewheeling lives as celebrity males in pre-“women’s lib” America. Koppel tells the stories of these “women behind the men on the moon” from the first Mercury orbits to the final space shuttle launches, taking us on an enlightening journey through American culture from military base housing in the 1950s to idyllic 1960s suburbia, down the rocky road of the women’s movement, and on to the eventual disbanding of the space program. After I read Astronaut Wives Club, I bought Ms. Koppel’s first book, The Red Leather Diary, based on a journal from 1929 she finds inside an old steamer trunk left in the cellar of her New York City apartment building. Koppel is intrigued by the city’s glamorous past as presented in the diary and sets out to find the precocious, adventurous woman who wrote it. Her search is successful and she meets the now ninety-year-old Florence, who fleshes out the details of her teenage journal entries and continues the story of her life beyond
the red leather diary. Karen Russell proves once again she is a master of the short story in her most recent volume Vampires in the Lemon Grove. Like her first collection, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, these peculiar stories of lemon-sucking vampires, gradually disappearing scarecrows and ominous seagulls are decidedly odd, along the lines of Yoko Ogawa and Angela Carter, yet compelling and deeply human. Perfect fodder for a dip into another world or a half-remembered dream. When the winter darkness really sets in and the snow lies deep on the ground, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker will transport you on a poetic journey to lush, tropical Burma (Myanmar) to thaw out. Dreamy, mystical and far away, this is a beautifully written story of family, history, duty and the power of love. The equally luscious sequel, A Well-Tempered Heart, is due out in January and picks up the thread of the story ten years later. My favorite recent read is the brilliant and morbidly fascinating 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson, set in the bizarre, twisted world of North Korea. It gave me nightmares so I find it hard to recommend, especially during a long Maine winter, but you can read it if you dare… i lakelivingmaine.com
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Because I can’t get to my doctors office during work hours.
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