Portland Monthly Magazine December 1989

Page 1


Simplyput.weusenoexporters,importers,brokersorwholesalers.Wedirectlyimport,fromtheOrient, hundredsofthousandsofdollarsofpearlsatatime.(Despitethehigheryen.ourpriceshavenot changed.)Wepayforthesepearlsimmediatelyinwhatevercurrencyisstrongest.Wethensellthe ordinaryonestochainjewelersacrossthecountry.

Thefinestpearlsarethenreservedforyouatasavingsofover50%.Infact,jewelersregularlycomment thattheypaymoretotheir"wholesalesuppliers'thanwechargethepublic!

ThisChristmas,theperfectgiftisabeautifulstrandofculturedpearlsfromNelsonRarities.Thelustreand qualityofthesepearlnecklacesisunsurpassed.Thesepearlsareindividuallyknottedandstrungonfine silkcordandincludea14kt.yellowgoldclasp.Forsafetyandstoragealovelypearlwalletisalso included.Weacceptallmajorcreditcards.Yoursatisfactionisguaranteed

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Therearerareinstanceswhenperformanceisan artforminitself.Suchisthecasewiththelegendary* 1928HispanoSuizaandtheRolexÂŽDay-DateÂŽ chronometerandcompanionLady.DatejustÂŽ;Each handcraftedtimepiecein18kt.goldwithmatching PresidentÂŽbraceletfeaturesasilverdialand bezelpunctuatedwithdiamonds.AndeachisselfÂŹ windingandpressure-proofdownto330feetinits renownedOysterÂŽcase.

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December Vol. IV, No. IX

FEATURE: MAINE’S WPA LEGACY, PAGE 26

FEATURES

Portlandiana The Portland Massacre, by

Openers Ha' By Colin Sargent

Business: Health Clubs By

Maine Coast The Real Real Estate

Roots: Maine's WPA

Book Review

Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye

By Maria Hazen

HA! IT’S 1 990...

Thisissuecelebratesjustplain gettingbacktonormalasthe1990stakeover.Coffee-and-doughnut realityhasfinallyreturnedtotheForestCityafteryearsof.possibly,too much'Livability.'andstoriesthattakeyoutosolidground,likeMaine's WPA(what16.000Mainersdidherefrom1935to1943!).aneatpizza jointcalledRicetta's(p.40).andaninquiryintoMaineCougarshave beenasfunforustoproduceaswehopethey'llbeforyoutoread.John Coleisalsoonhandwith"TheRealRealEstate."p.24.,andourclose-up onNewYear'sPortland(p.10)plusanicehunkofListings("InAnd AboutTown,"p.34)shouldhelpgettheNewYearofftoagoodstart Cover§1989byJeffStevensen.

TheSpiritOfMaine Maine Cougars. Pennies From Heaven, and Preview New Year's Portland

Restaurant Review Ricetta's'Za ByWillJackson LiquidAssets By David Swartzentruber

CityTheaterAssociates inviteyoutoattend aperformancein thebeautifulandhistoric BiddefordCityTheater.

Openers Ha!

1983(nowthatthe“imagineacitytoo goodtobetrue”peoplearegonewecan startfillingitwithart.Itmighttake years.Sowhat?Bepatient).

TheNewYear’sPortlandCelebration (thismonth’scover).Nowthey’redoingit forthejoyofit,andthatmakesallthe differenceintheworld.

BathIronWorksPortland.Finallywe have a finished product here besides tourism.

Thepeoplewhopredicted Portlandwouldn’t‘makeit’to the year 1990—and there were plenty of them—made a bigmistake.Theyusedmoneyastheir onlyyardstickforsuccess.

Nowtheyhavetoshutup,becausethe cityisbecomingevengreaterbysome

completelydifferentmeasures.

They’vedesertedus,takingtheirLiva¬ bility(codewordformoney)withthem. They’veleftusforbrokehereinUnLivablePortland,butintheirhastetoleave they’vedroppedsomegoldenapplesthat werecreatedduringthecity’sMarble Years (which you can date from the NationalGovernors’Conference,1983to BlackMonday,1987).That’sright—just liketheyleavetheirpetsbehindattheend ofsummer,themaddingcrowdacciden¬ tallyleftusalegacythatnolongerneeds tobetiedtotheAlmightyDollar: ThePortlandMuseumofArt,builtin

TheSonestaHotelPortland,restoredin 1983,anenduringgift.It’sworthvisiting justtoseetheart.

ImpoverishedtheatregroupsthatconÂŹ tinuetoexistinspiteofthelackofbenefacÂŹ tors.Bravo.Wecanfinallywatchthe show instead of examining their pro formas.

The knowledge that there are five islandswithinPortland’scitylimits,with streetlightsandinterestingpeopleanda culturerealasfish.

It’sarelieftohavetheweightofpre¬ tenseliftedfromacityascomfortableas Portland.Peopleworeblackfortwoyears, andnowthingsarebacktonormal.It’s desertedhere.Theywentthataway.If you’restillhereyou’reeccentric,quixotic, behindthetimes,provincial.Infact,it’s too late to save you. < Congratulations. /

aSuccessful HOLIDAY PARTY Useabitof

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Get Serious!

ToTheEditor:

Let’sgetseriouswhenyoucaptionpho¬ tographs,O.K.?

Inthe“Flash”sectiononpage52ofthe November 1989 issue, Roger Gilmore, presidentofPortlandSchoolofArt,isnot receiving“acombinationoflovebeads andwhatappeartobesmalltincansto symbolizehisinauguration.”1wishyou hadbotheredtocallusforanidentification asIknowyourstaffphotographersug¬ gested.

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Thecorrectdescriptioncouldhave includedthatGilmorewashonoredwithan official“ChainofOffice”tosymbolizethe presidencyofPortlandSchoolofArt.The “tincans”asyoucalledthemarehand¬ craftedsterlingsilversymbolsofthevar¬ iousmajorsatPortlandSchoolofArt— ceramics,graphicdesign,metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculptureandtheliberalarts.The“love beads”asyoucallthemaremadeofgran¬ ite,representinglobstertrapsandour morethan100-yearhistoryoflivingby thesea.Thischainofofficewillbewornat officialcollegefunctionsandwasdesigned andhandcraftedbyartcollegeMetals Departmentchairman,TimMcCreight,a nationallyrecognizedcraftsmanandedu¬ cator.Thevalueofthisworkofarthas beensetat$1,200.

PleasefeelfreetocallusforanyaddiÂŹ tionalinformationoranappointmentto seethechainofoffice.

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PORTLAND

Nancy D. Sargent

George Hughes

Leslie E. V. Riffle

Advertising

Karen Ayoob

Advertising

Tina Ayoob

Real Estate Advertising

Liz Schwartz

Advertising

Catherine Bergeron

Advertising

Amy S. Fisher

Reception

Johanna Hanaburgh

Calendar Editor

Contributing Editors: Kendall Merriam. Henry Paper. David Swartzentruber. Dan Domench. Charlie Brown. John N. Cole. Maria Hazen. Staff Photographer Francis DiFalco Interns. Mandy Howland. Jason Brown Founders Colin And Nancy Sargent Laser Cover Separations and image assembly by ChamÂŹ plain Color Corp.

PORTLAND Magazine is published by Colin and Nancy Sargent, 578 Congress Street. Portland. ME 04101. All correspondence should be addressed to 578 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101.

Advertising Office: 578 Congress Street. Portland, MFI 04101 (207) 775-4339.

Subscriptions: In the U.S. and Canada, $20 for 1 year. $32 for 2 years. $40 for 3 years.

Newsstand cover date: December, publ. November 1989, Vol. 4, No. 9, copyright 1989. PORTLAND Magazineis mailed at third-class mail rates in Portland. ME 04101. (ISSN: 0887-5340). Opinions expressed in articles are those of authors and do not represent editorial positions of PORTLAND Magazine. Nothing in this issue may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. Submissions welcome, butwetakeno responsibility for unsolicited materials.

PORTLAND Magazine is published 10 times annually by Colin and Nancy Sargent, 578 Congress Street, Portland. ME 04101, with newsstand cover dates of February/March, April, May. Summerguide. July/August, SepÂŹ tember, October, November. December, and Winterguide.

Presenting a 1990 calendarÂŹ print by Maine artist Mary Town Jaqua. Featuring a large reproduction of her painting ''House in Lupines." $15 includes tax and postage.

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NTIL OCTOBER 1988, Class 2 animals, suchasthecougar,couldbeyourpetfora smallfee.Therewerenoformalscreening procedures delaying possession of an exoticbeast.Youjustsetupyourcougarin aquietcornerofyourden(likeaChiapet) andhopedtherelationshipwouldremainfriendlyasthe animalgotbigger.Andatsomepointwhenyoufeltlikeit you’dpayanominalpermitfee.

Now,regulationsareenforcedbylaw.And,althoughthey varywildlyfromstatetostate,theneweststatelawsarein

place to protect not, surprisingly, owners but rathertheaniÂŹ malsthemselves.

MAINE

MaineCougars

InFloridaone must“havethree years’ experi¬ encewithanexotic animalbeforebringinghimhome.”Theexactdefinitionof“three years’experience”defieseventheexperts.A breedercangenerallyprovidetrainingtothe owner.Then,afteronegainsexperience,thehabitatyou’re goingtoprovidetheanimalisinspectedbyanofficialofsorts. (Breedersandthosewhohouseexoticspeciesarenolonger permittedtosimplycollectthecashandhandtheanimalover onaleashtojustanyone.)

VernonYatesandDebraParker,whoruntheWildlife RescueandRehabilitationcomplexinPetersburg,Florida, haveintheirpossession37abusedcougars.They’reattempt¬ ingto“givethemaway,”butsofarnotoneoftheprospective ownershasreceivedagreenlightfromthem.

DebrarelatesthestoryofMax(picturedleft),whoisten yearsold.“Maxwaspartofaroadsideanimalshow.The propertyonwhichtheshowwasplacedwassoldtoadevel¬ oper.Thepreviousownerjustgotupandleft.Piecebypiece theshowwastakenapartandcartedaway.Thentherewas Maxamongothercagedanimals.”Maxisupforfreeadop¬ tion.ButasVernonYateswarns,“They(cougars)make goodpetsifyouunderstandwhatyou’redealingwith.”

Butownersseemjustaslikelytodoviolencetocougarsas cougarstothem.Debradescribesoneexampleofanowner run amok. “Kitty” was bought from a breeder who advisedallthecougarneededadayinfoodwastwocansof Alpo.Andthebreederalsosuggestedaleadpipetokeepthe

cougarinline.Theowner,awantedcrimi¬ nal,ranawayandleftthecougarwithhis girlfriend.Theanimalwasconfiscatedby theGameauthoritiesandbroughttoVer¬ nonYates.Kittywasmissingallthehair onherfaceduetoblowsfromthelead pipe.“Sheisbyfarintheworstshape.She didn’tlookusintheeyesforthree months.”

MainersinparticularhaveshownconÂŹ siderableinterestinthecougar.Thereare 4 to 5 cat scans a year reported to wardens,noneofwhich,however,areconÂŹ firmedsightings.

Paula Ruby swears up and down that she and her husband sawacougarlastfallnearRangeley in Eustis. “A small cougar was behind a woodpile at the entrance to a campground. Lookedlikeakitten...but bigger,withyellowisheyes, roundishears.Icalledtohim and he approached. My hus¬ band’s flashlight scared him away.”

Nopictures,andthere’sheatedcon¬ troversyregardingscratchmarksontrees. Nevertheless,Mainersbelievethere’re cougarsprancingaroundinthewoods, mostlyintheRangeleyarea,wheremost sightingsarereported.

PaulaRubyswearsupanddownthat sheandherhusbandsewacougarlastfall nearRangeleyinEustis.“Asmallcougar wasbehindawoodpileattheentrancetoa campground.Lookedlikeakitten...but bigger,withyellowisheyes,roundishears. 1calledtohimandheapproached.My husband’sflashlightscaredhimaway.”

InMaineyouneedaPermittoImport license (free) and a Game Breeder’s license($19.00)toorderupacougarfrom

APortlandIndex

Number of Puffins

intheStateofMaine:1014pairs.

Number of Puffins on Egg Island: 14 pairs

Number of Puffins on Mant inicus: 100 pairs.

Number of Puffins on Sear Island, Machias: 900 pairs.

Number of Portland Museum of Art possessions described in Nathaniel Hawthorne'sThe Marble Faun1 (Benjamin Paul Akers' “Dead Pearl Diver”).

Moosehead Lake’s altitude above sea level: 1,028 feet.

Population of Maine in 1810: 228,705.

Number of "Mainely" businesses in the Southern Maine Statistical Area: 14 (Mainely... Bags, Builders, Canvas, Cleaning, Families, Hair, Media, Monogramming, Plastics, Plumbing & Heating, Shades, Sheds, Stainless, Wreaths)

Number of "Mainly" businesses: 0

Gorham's former name: Narragansett Westbrook’s former name: Saccarrappa

Sources: The Puffin Project, 159 Sap Sucker Wood, Ithaca, NY 14850; The Marble Faun, The Maine Guide Series by the Federal Writers Project (WPA); NYNEX Yellow Pages.

Florida.Noexperiencerequired...“so longasyaunderstandwhatchadealin’ with!”

Pennies From Heaven

NOT LONG AGO a high-visibility ven¬ turephilanthropist(“IhatethatP-word,” heconfides)sparkedtheimaginationof small-businessownersstatewidewithhis announcementthatheintendstohelp selecteddeservingcitizensinneedofa boostsothattheirbusinesseswillflourish. What’sevenmoreamazingisthatthisguy mightbetherealthing.Inthewakeof newspaper and TV coverage, T. David

Franklin,32,aformerUNISYScomputer saleshotshot,hasreceived“over1,000 callsinatwo-weekperiod,”suchas“41, divorcedmotherof2.SawyouonTV. Thoughtyoushouldseeapictureofme, too.Willtakeyououttodinner.”

“Idon’thaveanyintentionofgetting married,”Franklinreports.“Rightnow I’mmarriedtomywork.”

Theinvestorisworkingwithalocal computerfirm,inadditiontoroughly15 otherbusinesses,inanticipationofafine return:“Ifitdoesn’thitthemoneythis year,itwillnextyear.”

Headystuff.

OriginallyfromBaltimore,thesoftspokenFranklinhasasincereaversionto theterm‘loanshark,’andindeed,he doesn’tfitthedescription.Inmanycases, he’smakingloanstoclientswithout interest.

Timewilltellifhehasanimpactonthe ~localeconomy,evenonasmallscale,but

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what’ssureisthatcuriosityisatapeak. “Don’t publish my phone number,” he admonishes.Lookingforhim?“I’llbeat Valle’smeetingwithsomepeoplebetween 5and7p.m.”

In1984MaineArts,Inc.,conceived andpresentedaneventthatpermanently changedthewayMainerscelebratethe arrivaloftheNewYear.Lastyearmore than20,000peoplejoinedthefun,attend¬ ingconcertsandperformancespresented atvenuesthroughoutthecity.Thisyear’s celebration,markingasitdoesthefirst nightofthe1990s,promisestobeeven morespectacular.

Thisyear’sNewYear’sPortlandprom¬ ises something special to just about anyone:majorstarsperforminginCity Hallauditorium;musicfromaroundthe worldsoundinginFirstParishChurch; traditional American arts showing at ChestnutStreetChurch;BigBandrendi¬ tionsplayingatOneCityCenter;contem¬ poraryperformanceworksattheBaxter BuildingofPortlandSchoolofArt;anda uniquecomicadventureatthePortland MuseumofArt.Thetwelve-hourschedule openswitha5-kilometerroadrace.Festiv¬ itiesdrawtoacloseatmidnightwitha grandparadeandfireworksinMonument Square.

NewYear’sPortlandhasalwayspro¬ videdawiderangeoflisteningandviewing opportunities,andthisNewYear’ssche¬ dulewillallowforplentyofactivepartici¬ pationaswell.Iftheroadraceisprohibi-

-tive,trypublicskatingatthefestively adornedDeeringOaksPark.Or,forthose whojustcan’tsitstillwhentheyhearahot Latinbeat,alargedancefloorwillaccom¬ modatefox-trottersandrumbaersatOne CityCenter.Acity-widecontestwill awardprizesforthebestpredictionsof whatliesaheadinthefinaldecadeofthe millenium.

Afternoonprogrammingwillemphasize eventsforchildren,withaspecialchild¬ ren’sconcerttobeofferedinCityHall Auditorium.TheMaineStorytellersCon¬ ventionreturnstoNewYear’s/Portlandat theChestnutStreetChurchduringthe afternoonhours.Amongthefestival’s mostexcitingnewofferings(alsoduring theafternoonhours)willbeaninterna¬ tionalvarietyshowthatwillhighlightthe talentsoflocalethnicandrefugeegroups.

ThePortlandMuseumofArtwillhold thegrandopeningofitsexhibitofAmeri¬ cancomic-stripartaspartofNewYear’s/ Portland;and,inkeepingwiththattheme, aside-splittingarrayofcomicperformers willappearintheMuseumAuditorium throughoutthedayandevening.

TheUnionofMaineVisualArtistswill alsotakepartinthecelebration,employ¬ ingstorewindowsalongCongressStreet todisplayinstallationsbasedonvarious MaineArtists’visionsofhome.Cindy Thompson’s dynamic stretched fabric sculptureswilladornthecity,providingus withavisionofhowthecitymightlookin thefuture.

Byofferinganartfulandsubstance-free alternativetohabitualNewYear’sobser¬ vances,NewYear’s/Portlandwillseta newstandardforpublicarts’festivals. Andasweusherinthenextdecade,what betterwaytoexaminetherelationship betweenourselvesandourworldthan throughthetimelessritesofmusicand

Continuedpage13

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dance,offeringglimpsesofarts’future’s past.

Asinglebutton,availableinearly December,isyouradmissiontickettoall NewYear’s/Portlandevents.Buyyoursat anyareaShop’nSaveSupermarket,or contactMaineArtsdirectlyat582Con¬ gress Street, Portland, Maine 04101 (772-9012).

Confirmed bookings to date: AtCityHall:

Clarence Gatemouth (Texas Blues and Swing)

Wendy Wall (Country/Folk Rock). AttheChestnutStreetChurch:

Maine Story Tellers Convention

Maine Folk Arts Program

Pura Fe (contemporary Native American Vocals & Drums)

Bob Gaddy and Larry Dale play the Blues with the Killing Floor.

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AtOneCityCenter:

Masquerade Ball

The Charlie Brown Organization At Portland Museum of Art (Gallery):

Great American Comics exhibit (IntheAuditorium):

Humorists Randy Jenkins & Stan the Human Television

Dance Duo Paul Sarvist & Gretchen Berg.

At Portland School of Art, Baxter Building: Fantods (in the Auditorium), “contemporary world music” Performance Poets, include Mark Melinkoff

Performance Artists Dan Hurlin "ACoolMillion”

The Everett Dance Theatre preÂŹ sents pieces based on flight.

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PORTLANDIANA

The Massacre Of 1692

WHILE PRESENT-DAY residents of Portlandjustifiablyadmiretheircitythat Longfellowdescribedas...“thebeautiful town seated by the sea,” the early settlers—thefoundersofPortland—faced unbelievablehardshipsintheirwilderness homes.

Afterlivinginpeace,co-existingwith theIndiansfornearlythirtyyears,hostile Indiansbeganharassingthecolonyof Falmouth Neck, then called Casco. GeorgeMunjoy,anewcomertoCascoin 1659,builtinthesameyearafortified garrisonhouseatthebaseoftheHillthat bearshisname.

LifechangeddramaticallyforallEngÂŹ lishsettlersatthattime.

KingPhilip,sachemoftheWampanoag TribeinsoutheasternMassachusetts, concernedattheinroadnewsettlerswere making on his land, began spreading deathanddestructionthroughouttheNew England colonies. A raid on Falmouth Neckin1676forcedsettlerstoabandon thegarrisonandfleetoBang’s(Cushing) Islandforrefuge.

TheFrenchinCanadawereatthattime

inconflictwiththeEnglish.They,with theirIndianallies,madegreatincursions againsttheEnglishsettlementsinthenorthÂŹ east.Duringaforayagainstthesettlersin Falmouth Neck in October 1689, the Frenchweredefeatedwithconsiderable losesontheBrackettFarm,nowthesiteof DeeringOaks.

Inrevengeforthatdefeat,alargeforce ofFrenchandIndiansinflictedahorrible massacreonCasco’ssettlersinMay1690 duringasiegeofthetown’sbastionFort Loyall.

AlthoughtheresultantmassacreisforÂŹ gotten,thestoryoftheeventsleadingup tothemassacreanddestructionofthe youngcolonyisrelatedinthefollowing pages.Inourrelativelycomplacentlife, present-dayresidentsofPortlandcanget aglimpseofthefortitudeandcourageof thesettlersofthistown.

Threehundredyearsago.onMay17, 1690,aforceoffourtofivehundred French and Indians swooped down on

Casco (Falmouth Neck) now Portland, intentondestroyingFortLoyall,thevilÂŹ lageofCasco,anditsinhabitants.They wereseekingrevengeforastingingdefeat sufferedbytheFrenchandtheirIndian alliesthepreviousOctober.

Then,afewscatteredhousesonBroad Street(nowIndia),andtheseaside(Fore Street)comprisedthevillageofCasco. Exceptforafewoutlyingdwellingstherest oftheNeckwasprimevalforest.

FortLoyall,Casco’sprincipaldefense withitseightcannon,wassituatedona moundoverlookingtheharboratthefoot ofBroadStreet.(WhentheGrandTrunk RailroadestablisheditsPortlandterminal itlevelledthemoundandbuiltitsattrac¬ tivegraniteblockstationonthesite.)

Nearby,atthefootofHancockStreet (laterthesiteofHenryWadsworthLong¬ fellow’sbirthplace),SylvanusDavises¬ tablishedaferrythatpliedacrosstheriver toSpurwink(SouthPortland).Richard Seacombkeptanordinary,apublichouse,

nearthecornerofBroadandForeStreets in1681.HelaterboughtlandatBack Cove, known as Seacomb’s Point, now EastDeering.

AlthoughFortLoyallwasthemainproÂŹ tectionfortheinhabitants,fourgarrison houseswerebuiltinotherpartsofFalÂŹ mouthNecktoserveasquickrefugefrom Indianraids.Astonegarrisonontopof MunjoyHilloccupiedasitenearthe Observatory;anotherwasnearthefootof presentdayExchangeStreet;athirdstood onarockybluffonwhatisnowFree Street;thelocationofthefourthgarrisonis unknown.FortLoyallnormallygarriÂŹ sonedthirteenmen.TheMassachusetts governmentandtaxesleviedonsawmills intheprovincesupportedthefort.

TheFrenchandIndiansfromCanada mademanysuccessfulraidsagainstthe settlersinNewYorkstateandinMaine during1689.CaptainChurch,thevictor inKingPhilip’sWar,ledasuccessful expeditionagainsttheminMaine.His

troups, aided by men from Falmouth Neck,defeatedtheenemyinabattlethat took place on the Brackett Farm on October21,1689.

Thelossofthatbattlefailedtodeterthe FrenchandIndiansinfutureforays.After midnightonMarch27,1690,awarparty of24Frenchand25Indiansattacked SalmonFalls(Rollinsford,N.H.)and South Berwick, Maine. They burned houses,killedcattle,andmurderedmany inhabitants,takingsomeascaptiveonto St. Francis in Quebec, while Church waitedformorewarriorstoarriveat IndianvillagesontheKennebecRiver, wherehispartyfoundrestandprotection. AmongthecaptivestakenbyHartelwere sevenchildrenoftheShortfamily,Robert Rogers,JamesKey,MehitableGoodwin, MaryFerguson,andothers.Someofthe captives were murdered en route to Quebec,includingGoodwin’sinfantbaby.

Apartyof50Frenchand50Abenaki IndiansleftQuebecinJanuary1690with

ordersfromCountFrontenactodestroy CascoandFortLoyall.Astheyadvanced throughthewilderness,restingatIndian villagesalongtheway,warriorsfrom thosevillagesjoinedthepartyfromCanÂŹ ada.AhundredPenobscotIndians,ledby chiefMadockawando,rendezvousedwith IndiansfromothereasterntribesatMerÂŹ rymeetingBay.Whenfinallyassembled,a forceof400to500warriorsbegantheir treksouth.TheywereledbyFrenchcomÂŹ mandersPortneuf,Hertel,BarondeCasÂŹ tine,andCourtemanche;Indianchiefs MadockawandoandMoxusofthePenobscots;Hopegood,asavagechiefofthe Norridgewocktribe;RobinDoney,ahalfÂŹ breed;andsomelesserchiefs.

Deep apprehension and fear spread amongtheofficersatFortLoyallwith newsofthemassacresatSalmonFallsand Schenectady,NewYork.Whitesettlersin thetrackoftheinvadersfledtoFortLoyall forprotection.

Massachusettsofficialshadplaced CaptainWillard,aSalemman,incomÂŹ mandofFortLoyallwith100menthe previouswinter.Insteadofleavingthat forcetodefendtheforttheywereordered tojoinanavalandlandforcewithSir WilliamPhippstocapturePortRoyal (Annapolis)inNovaScotia.Despitean urgentpleabyCaptainSylvanusDavis, nowincommandofthefort,MassachuÂŹ settsofficialsfailedtorespond.

AfterarrivinginCascoBay,theFrench andIndiansrendezvousedonsomeofthe islands.Indianscoutsknewthattheforces leftinthefortwereinferiortotheirown. Thefirstalarmthesettlershadofthe expectedattackcamewhenthefamilyof RobertGreason,aScott,struggledthemÂŹ selvesintoCascoafterRoberthadbeen killedandscalpedfourmilesfromtown.

The alarm was sounded. When the Indianslearnedtheywerediscoveredthey

P0RTLAND1ANA

movedquicklyfromtheislandstoIndian Cove,asectionofMunjoyHill(nearthe railroadtrestle).ApartyofIndians skulkedinthewoodsnearwhatisnow North Street and Cumberland Avenue. WhendiscoveredbysoldiersintheLawÂŹ rencegarrisonhouse,wordwassentto CaptainDavisatFortLoyalloftheirpresÂŹ ence.

LieutenantThaddeusClarkleftthefort withthirtymentoengagetheIndians.As Clark’smenapproachedthetopofthehill atthegarrisonhousetheybecamesuspi¬ ciousthattheIndianswerelurkingbehind thefence,asthecattlestoodstaringinthat directionandwouldnotenterthewoods.

BeforeClarkandhismencoulddefend themselvestheIndians,fromtheirwellpreparedambush,firedon,thenattacked thesoldierswith'tomahawks.Clarkand thirteenofhismendiedintheassault.The restofthemenescaped,badlywounded, intothegarrison.

WhentheIndianswithdrewatnight,the defenders,shortofammunition,abanÂŹ donedthegarrisonandsoughtprotection inFortLoyall.DuringthenightofMay15 theforcesfromtheothergarrisonhouses alsowithdrewtoFortLoyall.Theywere joinedbyalltheotherinhabitantsof Casco.Morethan200arerecordedas havingsoughtrefugethere.Afighting forceofabout70menwerelefttoprotect thefortanditsresidents.

OnthemorningofMay16theenemy torchedallthedesertedhousesinthevilÂŹ lagebeforesurroundingtheforttobegin thesiege.TheIndiansdemandforsurÂŹ renderwasmetwith,"...weshoulddefend ourselvestothedeath!"

Thedefenders'cannonrepulsedthe enemyfortwodays,preventingthemfrom stormingthefort.BecausetheIndians wereunabletoforceabreachinthewall, theirFrenchalliesusedtoolsfoundin

desertedgarrisonhousestodigatrench underasteepbanktogetthrough,atask requiringtwodays.

OnMay20,thelastdayofthesiege,the enemypushedanoxcartfullofcombusti¬ blesthroughthetrenchtothewall.When setonfire,theflamesignitedthelogpali¬ sades. Knowing they were doomed and beinglowonfoodandammunition,the peopleinthefortshowedthewhiteflagof surrender.CaptainDavis’reportstates thathe:“...demandediftherewereany French among the enemy, and if they wouldgiveusquarter?

“The response came back from the leader in command that there were Frenchmen,andwouldgiveusquarter. Uponthatwesentouttothemagainto know...iftheywouldgiveusgoodquarter, both men, women and children, both

woundedandsound,andthatweshould havelibertytomarchtothenextEnglish town...thenwewouldsurrender—andalso thattheGovernoroftheFrench,Portneuf, shouldholduphishandandswearbythe greatandeverlastingGod,thattheseveral articlesshouldbeperformed.Allofwhich hedidsolemnlysweartoperform,butas soonastheyhadusintheircustody,they broketheirarticles,sufferedourwomen andchildrenandourmentobemadecap¬ tivesinthehandsoftheheathen;onlythe Frenchkeptmyselfand3or4more,and carriedusoverlandtoCanada.”

The date of the massacre differs betweentheEnglishandFrenchreports. TheEnglishwerestillusingtheJulian calendarwhiletheFrenchusedtheso callednewstyleGregoriancalendar,adifÂŹ ferenceofelevendaysdaysbetweenthe

two styles. According to the French recordsthemassacreoccurredonJune1, 1690.

WhentheexpeditionreturnedtoCanÂŹ adaandsubmitteditsreporttoGovernor Frontenac,hedenouncedPortneufforhis crueltyandproceededtohavethecaptives released.

There were more captives taken to CanadathanwerereportedbyCaptain Davis.BesidesCaptainDavistherewere: Sarahandhersister,daughtersofLt. Clark:PeterMorrill;JamesAlexander; JoshuaSwarton(aboy);SamuelYorke; SamuelSouter;ThomasBaker(aboy); Hannah Wharton; George Gray; and others.

Afterthemassacrenoonecalledat Cascountil1692whenCaptainChurch’s expedition from Boston to Pemaquid stoppedtheretoburythebleachedbones ofthosekilledintheFortLoyallcom¬ pound.Thedeadlaywheretheyfell,their bonesbleachedbythesun.Theburialis। thoughttohavebeeninacommongrave inEasternCemetery,thetown’scommon burialground.Churchremovedtheguns andcannonfromFortLoyalltothefortat Pemaquid.

ThedestructionofCasco(Falmouth Neck)andFortLoyallimpelledotherset¬ tlementstobeabandoned,so“...that'

therewereonlythetownsofWellsand KitteryleftwithaWhitepopulation." IndianhostilitycontinuedalongtheMaine coastuntil1725,whenpeacefinallycame totheprovince.FalmouthNeckremained uninhabitedforabout25yearsafterthe massacre.

Sources:JohnT.Hull, The Siege and CaptureofFortLoyall.Destructionof Falmouth(1885).

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PerhapsitisMaine’scoldweatherthat hasbroughtpeopleindoors.Orthedesire towearstylishSpandexoutfits.Ormore reasonably,thewishtohavetheirfitness regime supervised by professionals. Nevertheless,thereisalottochoosefrom out there. Decisions to be made concerningthebestplacetotoneyour body according to your needs and convenience.

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outs.SomeclubshavesaunasandJacuzÂŹ zis.OthershavesuchthingsasStairmasÂŹ ter,LifecycleandPyramid.Manyhaveall three and spa mechanisms. And others canofferyouafreeparkingplaceinstead ofanyoftheabove.Butitisthepackaging ofthehealthbusinessthatsetstheclubs apartfromeachother.Hereisasamplerto choosefrom:

TheBayClubisPortland’snewestfacil¬ ity,locatedinthehubofthecity’sdown¬ townbusinessarea.TheBayClubisone offourclubsrunbyamanagementcom¬ pany out of Boston. According to Jim Bunnel,manager,theBayClubopeneda facilityinPortlandbecauseofthearea’s fast-growingreputationandthebeliefthat theiruniqueapproachwillattractclien¬ tele.TheClubiscleanandhigh-techlook¬ ing.Theirapproachislooselyscientific, withanemphasisindesigningexercise programs to match each member’s own needsanddesires.Thephilosophybehind theclubistodeferbadhabitsandtohelp oneconcentrateonthehealthystuff,spe¬ cificallyexercise.Thisistheplacethat offerslaundryserviceataminimalextra cost.

Forthefeelofthetraditional“gym,” thereisGold’sGyminSouthPortland.It has13,000squarefeetfilledwith100 dumbbellsandover200piecesofequip¬ ment,completetanningfacilityandpro¬ shop.Forlifters,trainingisbasedonyour ownabilityandgoals.Gold’salsopro¬ motescomputerizednutritionalanalysis basedonyourownbody’smetabolism. According to manager Gregg Sandora, thereisnolimittowhatyoucando,beit weightloss,musclegainorbasictoning up.Manypeoplewhocompeteinweight competitiontrainatGold’sGymalongside doctors,students,andhousewives. LifelineisrunoutoftheUniversityof Maine.Itaveragesabout10,000total

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True to their name, Woman’s World HealthSpainSouthPortlandisforwomen only.Itboastsamembershipofapproxi¬ mately800womenwhosecareersrunthe gamutfromhousewifetoexecutive.The commonthreadthatbringsthesewomen totheclubisadesiretoachieveahealthier lifestylethroughexerciseandweightloss. The atmosphere at Woman’s World is supportive.Thepredominantcolorissuit¬ ablypink.

OnthebottomfloorofthePortland RegencyHotelisanotherhealthclub ideallylocatedforthedowntownPortland professional.BesideshavingNautilusand aerobics,StairmasterandLifecycles,their membersenjoysteamroomsandJacuzzi. Weheartheirchoiceofbackgroundmusic isoneofthebestinthecitybuttheirfree towelsarejustasmidgetoosmall.

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ThenewsthatPortland’s salesfromreal-estatehave slowedfromagalloptoatrot towalkinginplaceduring the past year has dominated recent headlines;dataonthescopeofthecity’s unsoldofficespaceisaswelcomeasan ingrowntoenailtomostGreaterPortland editors.It’sonlyhumanforlocalmediato beupbeataboutthecommunitiesthey serve;afterall,theyareafunctioningpart ofthosecommunities.IftheGreatBay CompanyortheLibertyGroupislooking atvastreachesofbarrenparquetfloors wherethereshouldbedesks,chairs,and busymainframeterminalsrattlingwiththe day’scommercialrewards,thenitfollows thatnewspapers,radioandtelevisionsta¬ tions,and,yes,evendelightfullyinde¬ pendentpublicationslikethisoneare goingtohavetoworkhardertostayeven.

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pausesateventideforabelt,ortwoor three,inoneoftheOldPort’sbusybistros, you’lllearnsoonenoughthatbusiness hasn’tjustbeenslow,it’sbeendownright rotten.Dependingonthebroker,thelate¬ nessoftheeveningandthedimensionsof theimbiber’stab,thedescriptionsmove from“rotten”toaslewofremarkably unprintabledefinitionseverystudentof obscentityshouldaddtohisrepertoire.

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Oneofthe finefeatures ofcapitalism isits self-regulation... For every boom, thereisa brokercrying inhisbeer.

I oPortland’scase,theascentendedjust intime.Insteadofrunningupbarbills,or callingBahamianbanksforbail-outloans, Portland’sentrepreneursanditsleaders oughttotakeadvantageofthecurrentlull tomulloverwhatsortofacitytherestof usreallywant.

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— Langston Hughes (1902-1967), “Same in Blues”

PEOPLEWALKACROSSitwithvertical, springysteps,stallingoutlikebellsinmidair. The narrow footbridge seems unneces sarilygrandforthemodestuseitreceives,a rusty1930sDNAspiralvaultingoverthe Pejepscotandintoignominy,connectinga forgottenRoute1Brunswicksegmentwitha Topshammilltownneighborhoodoutofa ThomasHartBentonpainting,asifits designerbelievedhewerecutouttodesignnewBrooklynBridgesbutwouldnevergettheluckybreaks,sohereheisinMaine,givingtheworldthe glamoursuspensiondesignitneverknewitneeded(seepictureleft)...WPA?Youknowitevenifyoudrivebyat60mph.

InDeeringOaks,thecementandwoodenfootbridgescometoyoucourtesyoftheWPAinembryo—firstcalledtheFederalEmergencyRelief Administration—whichin1932-33jump-startedprojectsstatewidethatwerecompletedbytheWPA(seepicturenextpage).Expending$36 millionfrom1935-1943,Maine’sWorksProgressAdministrationemployed14,000peopleatitsheight,morethanoneandahalfpercentofthe state’spopulation.BeforedisbandingandturningtheirequipmentintotheCoastGuard,theseMainersbuilttwentyairportsalloverthestate,16 ofwhichweretakenoverbytheArmyorNavy;compiledexhaustivetownhistoricalrecordsandsurveyedtownarchives;preservedand categorizedEarlyAmericanbookimprints;supportedtheatre,commerce,stateparks,fish,andwildlife...Infact,theirnetcontributioninshaping thefutureofthecountry’seasternmoststatehashad,astheChristianScienceMonitorobservedin1943,a“peculiarsignificance”duetoboththe remotegeographyandtheextraordinaryhumanspiritbroughttobeartowardacollectiveachievementhereinMaine:

Continuednextpage

THEGENTLETOUCH

WPA Art

DorothyHayJensensits inherlivingroomandtalks to me with young-woman lovelinessaboutwhyshe’s mentionedinthepreface ofadustyoldgreenbook I’ve brought with me, 917.41, F29 (the Works ProgressAdministration’s Maine, A Guide Down East),fromtheMaineCol¬ lectioninthePortland RoomofthePortlandPub¬ licLibrary.

Behindherisaone-of-akindviewofRamIsland LightandCushingIsland, andshekeepsinterrupting herselftoexclaimabouta seagullthat’sbuildingup altitudeanddroppingblue mussels on some rough spruce trees below.“Look!Lookwhathe’sdoing!” Thenshelooksdirectlyatmeandsays, “People make me laugh when they talk about‘depressions’lasting7months.You willneverhaveanyideaofhowlongpeo¬ plewerepoorinthe1930s.”

Orwhatpoormeantbackthen.

Dressedinslacksandabrightredtur¬ tleneck,shekeepsuphervisualdialogue withtheseagull,abitdisdainfulofthe surveyfeatureshe’safraidI’mwriting, onethatcouldvenerateherasa“relic— I’mnorelic,”andonethatcouldblunder¬ inglypullheroutofthepresenttensewith¬ outjustification.

Becauseshe’scomfortablyawayfrom thoseyearsnow,andhappyinaFortWilliams-areaoceanfrontranch.She’s affluentasthewifeofPortlandlawpartner RogerJensen(ofJensen,Baird,Gardner &Henry)butpithy,ironic,takingclasses, fullofsting.

Roots

AsdirectoroftheMaineWPAArtPro¬ jectatage24,Dorothyhadherownoffice inPortland’sFederalBuilding.Sheand Rogerwerenewlywedsthen,livingon36 SeeleyAvenueintheWoodfordssection ofPortland.Steppingoutsideheroffice shecouldseetheCustomHouse,Custom HouseWharf,andthewaterfront,allof whichappearina1940watercoloronthe wallofherlivingroom,herwavywaterco¬ lorstyleechoedincontemporarypaintings byJonLegere.

Tall,slim,a’31artmajoratSmithanda PortlandSchoolofArtgraduate(under directorAlexanderBower,himselfafine painter who helped her win the WPA appointment)aswellasagraduateofElli¬ ottO’Hara’swatercolorschoolatGoose Rocks,DorothydrovehermaroonFordall overthestateasprojectadministratorand targetforallofthosewhoopposedFDR’s “AlphabetSoup”programs(“Artproject! Whatthehell’sanArtproject!”razzed

twosalesmenasshepassedtheminahotel corridor),throughthesnowtomeetwith otherimpoverishedartistsanddraftspeoÂŹ plepoorenoughtomakeherquota,which bouncedfrom30-45statewide.

Twoartists—amarriedcouple—lived onanislandandrowedtothemainlandin adorytopickherupeachtimeshecame. “Noonehadanymoney,”shesays,“but youcouldbedisqualifiedfromourproject evenif,forexample,youownedland. Don’tgetthismixedupwiththePWA. Therewasnopovertyrequirementinthe PublicWorksAdministration.Thosepeo¬ pleweremoreestablishedasartists,com¬ parativelywelloff.Theydidthepostoffice murals.Some,likeWaldoPiercefrom BangorandElizabethBarryfromKenne¬ bunk,wereatthetopoftheirskillsand recognizedartists.WPAartists,bycon¬ trast,wereunknowns.Manywerebarely abletoqualifyasartists...Wehadone man,GeorgeBriggs,whocoulddoslick

hand lettering—you know, ‘Spinach— 15cents.’”

Herassignmentwastocapturerare, vanishingexamplesofMainewoodcarv¬ ing bowsprits—weathervanes—Indians— transoms—ancientsigns,figureheads, billetheads—alloverthestateandpre¬ servetheirexactcolorsthroughthecrea¬ tionofacutelydetailedpaintings,inthe Audubonschoolofrealism.

Sothereshewas,tall,blue-eyed,ontop ofbarns,insideboathouses,ontheteleÂŹ phone,coordinatingon-sitepaintingas wellasphotomissionsand,hardestofall, continuallysayingnotothelonglineof applicantswhocampedoutinheroffice anddemandedinclusionregardlessofart talent.

“Artproject! whatthehell’s anArtproject!” razzedtwo salesmenas shepassed themina hotelcorridor.

“Iknewanawfullotofpeoplewhowere reallyhardup.Allthepoorandyoungand struggling,practicallydestitute.”

One was an old woman who haunted her,followedhereverywhere,cryingand screamingatherinsidebuildingsandon thestreet.

“Shehadsomenot-too-badlittlewater¬ colorsbutnottoogood,either.Shedid someprettybadsketching.Itookheron buthadtolethergowhenmyquotawas cut.

“Shepursuedme.Shehoundedme.She calledmeinthenight.Shecalledmeterri¬ blenames.”

Anothertimeacuriousmaninbeggar’s clothesscuffedintoheroffice.Helooked likearemoteprospectatbest,andshe regardedhimwithsuspicion—“OhLord, whatdoIhavetocopewithnow?“—until heintroducedhimselfasMarsdenHar¬ tley,justbackfromParis.He’dheard abouttheWPAProjectandhadwantedto takealook-seeonhiswaynorth.Hartley, ofcourse,didn’tjointheWPA,butpain¬ terslikeJacksonPollock,Williamde Kooning,andJamesBrooksdid,andwere supportedthroughhardtimesinstatepro¬ gramsacrossthecountry.

ForagoodlookatoneofDorothy’s survivingachievementsinMaine,driveto theNathanCliffordSchoolinPortland. “TheysentmetoMissKing,andwehad RalphFrizzelldotwolargemurals(enor¬ mous,15-feetsquare).They’restillthere. Oneiscalled‘MaineFarmers,’anddepicts thematwork;theotheris‘MaineFisher¬ men.’

“AltonSkillin,agraduateoftheUni¬ versityofMaineSchoolofEngineering, didalongmuralofMotherGoosestories attheoldChildren’sHospitalonHigh Street.”

The point was, “WPA administrators veryquicklyrealizedthatthereweremany peopleabovethelaborofthelaboring classwhowereequallyintrouble,people witheducationandspecialtalents,and thatitwouldbestupidandcrueltoput, say,aviolinisttoworkwithapickand shovelandforcehimtowastehisyearsof trainingandexperience.”

“/admitit,I’mahog.Inotherwords human. I enjoy women and a pair of doughnutslikeanybodyelse.SaytomorrerIwakeupI’mcoveredincommunism, say I can go and get what I want by asking—I want six wives. You maybe want24suitsandhim,theygottagivehim

twelveyachts—otherwisehe’smiserable. We’renuts,we’realldeprivedsolongwe wentnuts.Plainhogs.It’schemical,you can’tdonothing...Lookatme.Ilooklike adirtmonkey.True?I’mamongtheworld ofmissingmen.I’msoinsignificantif theysentoutaradiocallformeahundred yearsnobodywouldfindme.Economi¬ callyI’mcollapsed,Icouldwritemy wholewillonapostagestamp...Listento whatI’mgonnasaytoyounow,careful¬ lythebacteriologistoftodaywashimself abacteriainprimevaltimes.Sh!Don’t talk.Thinkthatover... —Hyde Partnow,“I’maMight-HaveBeen”

Dorothy’scarved-artifactpaintings resistthefineartstitle,butthecontribu¬ tionsheandtheotherWPApaintersmade inMaineisnowpartofthepermanentcol lectionattheNationalGallery,Washing¬ ton,D.C.,aspartoftheIndexofAmeri¬ canDesign.Andthereinliesacoinci¬ dence.Afewyearsago,Portlandwritershistorians William David Barry and “Blessmyheart!” Dorothysaidat thepublication partyatBarridoff Gallerieswhen shefirstsaw thedustjacket. “That’soneof mylittleladies!”

RandolphDominichitthebigtimewith Little-Brown’spublicationoftheirhistori¬ calnovelPyrrhusVenture.Theartdirec¬ tionwasalldoneathighlevelsonBeacon Hill, and the book designer went to Washingtontolookatartworksforthe cover.Acolorfulfigureheadpaintingwas chosen, and Barry was perhaps most

Roots

amazedtolearnthat,afterallthealoof¬ ness,flash,andfiligree,theBostonpeople hadunknowinglyselectedsomethingthat his fellow Maine Historical Society memberDorothyJensencouldhavegiven himallalong—yes,withalltheworldto choosefrom,they’dpickedoneofDoro¬ thy’sWPAartifacts!“Blessmyheart!” Dorothysaidatthepublicationpartyat BarridoffGallerieswhenshefirstsawthe coverjacket.“That’soneofmylittle ladies!

“They’reeverywherenow,”shesaysof thetotems,whichinvariablyareprinted nowadayswithoutWPAattribution,and, pickingupaluridgreensweatshirtbought yearsagoatPorteous,shesays,“even here.Terriblereproduction.Lookatthis!” andyoucanjustbarelyidentifysomeof thefigureheadsshe’stalkingabout.You lookatherandimaginethesix-foot woodendragonshewentupontoabarn for(picturedearlier)inWarrensomany yearsago,smudgedandcaricaturedinto posteritybesidemanyoftheotherfigure¬ headsandicons.Dorothyseemsdefiantly proudofthisdisfigurement—thatherarti¬ factstranscendschlockandsucceedas popularart,evenunderduress—andthen sheshowsmenewworkshe’sdoingin 1989,ceramicsindarkgrayandblue patterns,oceaniccolorsmadeusefulinto vesselsthatseemtocontainevenmore deep,secretstorieswithoutspillingadrop.

Dorothy’sartisanscreated“collapsible littlediaramastotaketosportsmen’s showspromotingskiing,golf,swimming fortheMaineDevelopmentCommission.” TheyalsocarvedhundredsofYellowstonestyleriding-trailsignageforMaine’sstate parks(thetelltaleorangebackgroundwith blackhorseshoecluesyoutothiscollec¬ tor’sitemifyoustumbleintoone—they werearoundforyears),aswellasart¬

worksfortheMaineDevelopmentFoun¬ dation,oftenhunting/skiing/fishingpro¬ pagandasimilartothewell-known“Gee Mister”poster.StephenBrooke,Chief ConservatoroftheStateofMaine,isanx¬ ioustoputtogetheracompletesetofthe WPA-periodInlandFisheries&Wildlife posters,someofwhichweredestroyedby heat,meltinginastacktogether.Others areprivatelyowned,inlakefrontcamps.If youknowofone,pleasegivehimaring.

TheWriters

Thescribeshadtwoprojectsofnote: Maine: A Guide Down East, and the NationalArchivesProject,publishedin RocklandonOctober9,1939.TheMaine infoisinVolume18,SeriesIV;everything ismimeographedonyellowedtypewriter paperboundinsoftgreenmorroccobindÂŹ erswithblackbacks.

Thelatterisacomprehensive,oftenludÂŹ

icrouslyso,guidetoallofficialreports keptinthestate—where,when,andhow. Turnitopentopage160andcheckout item1616,relatedtorecordsoncekepton FortMcKinleyonGreatDiamondIsland: “GUARD REPORTS, June 30, 1922 todate.Relativetodutyofeachenlisted manassignedtosentrystations.Filed chronologically.(Rarely,official.)4x9 documents,4ft.,inpigeonholes.Stockroom,1stfloor(Bldg.12).(160).”

Theformer,partoftheAmericanGuide SeriesvolumnpennedbytheFederalWriÂŹ tersProject(WPAfolks),dwellsinfact, legend,andarcanecomparisonsthatcan oftendelight:

“CadillacMountain,withanalmost sheerriseof1532feet,hasthehighest elevationofanypointontheAtlantic coastnorthofRiodeJaneiroinBrazil.” (p.4)

Orthedigressions.Fliptopage265for theoriginsof,yes,theMaineCoonCat! “ItisCaptainCloughwhoisgivencredit forhavingintroducedcooncatsinto Maine.Heissaidtohavebroughtacat homewithhimfromsomeChineseport, andthatthepresent-daycooncats,sel¬ domseenexceptonthiscoast,aredes¬ cendantsofthiscatandoneoftheusual domesticbreed.Localsagesinsistthatthe catisahybriddescendantofahousecatof China,Me.,whomatedwithawildrac¬ coon,butthetheoryhasnoscientificback¬ ing.Thecooncats,quitegentleandfra¬ gile,havelong,frosty-grayhair;theyare difficulttorear,beingparticularlysuscept¬ ibletopneumonia,butsomepeoplehavea profitablebusinessraisingthemforsale.”

Forsomesneakyeditorializing,trythis descriptionofPortland’soldElmTreeson forsize:“Lyingbetweenthetwoeleva¬ tions,crownedbytheEasternandWest¬ ernPromenadesatoppositeendsofthe city,thecentralsectionofthecityextends alongasaggingridgeinageneraleastand-westdirection.Tallelmsandother treeslinethestreetsandshadethecity’s twenty-sixparks.Portlandowesmuchof itsattractivenesstothesetreesthatin summerhideitsarchitecturaldeficiencies andmakeupforsomeoftheilleffectsof overcrowding.”(page164).

Iwouldn’twanttobumpintothatdes¬ criptioninadarkalley!

On The Town MUSIC

Bates College Concert Series, Bates College, Lewis¬ ton. Thursday, January 18, 8:15 p.m., Olin Concert Hall: The Consort of Musicke Trio. A fabulous opportunity to hear some of the world’s most exquisite voices in a concert of 16th- and 17th-century music, including works by Monteverdi, Frescobaldi, Lawes, and Purcell. Of the Consort the New York Times has said that it is “England s premier earlymusic group.” The Olin Concert Hall seats only 300— plan ahead. The Archie Shepp Quartet. Perennial jazz great, saxophonist Shepp leads an exuberant group guaranteed to warm up a February night. Feb¬ ruary 9, 8:15 p.m., College Chapel. Individual Con¬ certs $8 General Admission, $5 Students and Senior Citizens. Group Discounts. 786-6135. On Sunday, January 28, renowned pianist Frank Glazer, artist-inresidence at Bates, will perform the last three piano sonatasofHaydn.Thisisthefirstofathree-concert series by Glazer entitled “Three Great Trilogies,” featuring the final piano sonatas of Haydn, Beet* hoven, and Schubert; the other concerts are sche¬ duledfor February 11 and March 4. Admission fee to be announced. 786-6135.

Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland City Hall Auditorium, Portland. Toshiyuki Shimada, Music Director and Conductor. Classical Series: Tuesday, January 9,7:45 p.m. All-Orchestral Concert. Schu¬ bert “Rosamunde” Overture and Mahler Symphony No.7. Tickets $25, $21, $15, and $10. Tuesday, January 30,7:45 p.m.-John Schnell, trum¬ pet. Rossini “II Signor Bruschino” Overture, Mennin Concerto (Moby Dick), Tomasi Trumpet Con¬ certo, Beethoven Symphony No.66 (Pastorale). Tickets $25, $21, $15, and $10. Candlelight Con¬ cert Series; Sunday, January 21 2p.m.and6p.m.at the Sonesta Hotel’s Eastland Ballroom. Strauss, R. Serenade, Op. 7, Strauss, R. Sextet, from “Capriccio,” Schubert Octet. Tickets are $15. Pops Series, Saturday, February 10 at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 11 at3p.m.atthePortlandCityHallAudit¬ orium. Bolcom & Morris-piano dexterity and skillful vocals illuminate melodic gems of American musical theater. Tickets $25, $21, $15, and $10. 773-8191.

USM Faculty Concert Series, Corthell Hall, USM Gorham campus. Thursday, January 25, 8 p.m..John Boden, horn, with Bruce Fithian, Martin Perry, Thomas Parchman, and Ray Shows. February 9, 8 p.m., Maine Bones, jazz with Scott Reeves, Mark Manduca, Don Doane, and Tim Sessions. $7 for the general public, $4 for students. 780-5555.

Bowdoin College Music Department, Bowdoin ColÂŹ lege, Brunswick. Friday, January 19, 8 p.m., Chapel. Melisande Trio, flute, viola, harp. $8 general public, $4 seniors, free with Bowdoin ID. Friday, February 2, 7:30 p.m., Chapel, Bernard Brauchli. clavichord. $4

single event, $2 seniors. 724-3151.

University of Maine, Orono. Yuletide Celebration, 3 p.m., Sunday, December 17, Hutchins Concert Hall, Maine Center for the Arts. 581-1755. Baycka Voroniezky, piano recital. Friday, January 19, 8 p.m., Hauck Auditorium. Donations for scholarships accepted. 581-3756.

LA Arts, 36 Oak Street, Lewiston. Sat., January 27, at Lewiston Jr. High School: The Phil Woods Quintet. Woods, a three-time Grammy Award winner and DownBeat magazine’s 1989 poll topper, plays the hottest alto saxophone around. 8 p.m. Tickets $12; students/seniors $2 discount. 782-7228.

UMO, Maine Center for the Arts, Orono. Singer Helen Reddy will replace Maureen McGovern in the February 11, 8 p.m. performance. The performance also features jazz singer and entertainer Mel Torme. McGovern was released from her contract with Torme to star with Sting in a new version of “The Three Penny Opera” on Broadway. Grammy Award winner Helen Reddy has performed live on six continents. 581-3756.

Portland Symphony Orchestra, 30 Myrtle Streeet, Portland. Sunday, December / 7—Magic of Christ¬ mas with special guest John Walker. Tickets $22, $20, $15, and $9,773-8191.

First Parish Church, Corner Maine and Bath Road, Brunswick. December 19, Noontime Christmas Organ Concert. Ray Cornils, organist. 12:10-12:50 p.m. Donations.

King’s Singers Christmas, Portland City Hall Audit¬ orium. Special Christmas program by England’s mas¬ ters of close harmony singing. December 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25, $20, $14, and $9.

Dreamgirls, January 23, 7:30 p.m. at Portland City Hall Auditorium. Fully staged production of Michael Bennett’s glamorous Broadway musical of the Motown phenomenon. Tickets $25, $20, $14, and $9. 772-8630.

Raoul’s Roadside Attraction, 865 Forest Avenue, Portland will bring you the Dirty Dozen Band on December 15, The Inspectors on December 16, and The Broken Men January 26 and 27. Also, on the second Monday of every month the newly formed Southern Maine Blues Society holds its meeting at 7 p.m., followed by a Blues jam open to the public 774-1441.

The Tree Cafe, 45 Danforth Street, Portland, brings you great Reggae, Rock, and national recording acts. On December 15 & 16 and on January 12 & 13 there will be an appearance of The Broken Men. Call

774-1411.

THEATRE

Portland Stage Company, 25A Forest Avenue, PortÂŹ land. Through December 17: Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo. This zany political farce feaÂŹ tures a maniacal imposter who causes chaos in a corÂŹ ruptItalianpolicestation.Welaughonlytorealizethe absurd is frighteningly real. January 2-21: Siswe Bansi & The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani & Winston Ntshona. These two plays compose a portrait of South Africa today. In concert, they show that the human spirit cannot be extinguished even in the most confining circumstances.

February 3-25 Twelfth Night by William ShakesÂŹ peare. A classic comedy becomes a theatrical tour dt force as actors from the Julliard Drama Division of Lincoln Center bring romance, comic caprices, and enchanting music to Portland Stage.Richard HamÂŹ burger is artistic director. Group discounts. For more information call 774-0465.

Animal Farm presented by Theater Project, School Street, Brunswick. January 11-14. 729-8584.

Mad Horse Theatre, 955-F Forest Avenue, Portland. February 1-25: Morocco. Far from home, an AmeriÂŹ can architect is shocked when his wife is arrested. Internationalandmaritaltensionsarerevealedinthis new play by Alan Havis. Curtain is at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 7 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10-$14.

DANCE

Ram Island Dance, 25A Forest Avenue, Portland. Ram Island Dance presents New York choreographer/dancer Neil Greenberg & Dancers in Stage, Gun, Dance, Jan, 25,26,27 at 8 p.m., location to be announced. Stage, Gun, Dance has been praised for its surprising images and superb dancing. Tickets are $11.50. $9 for students and senior citizens. 773-2562.

The Portland Ballet Company, at the City Theater in Biddeford, 202 Main Street, Biddeford. The PBC artistic directors present The Nutcracker as an endearing form of classicism which harkens back his¬ toricallytotheoriginal Petipa versionfirstproducedin 1892 in St. Petersburg. The staging has been re¬ searched to conform to Tchaikovsky’s own notes writ¬ tennexttohismusicalscore. Through December 17, on Fridays 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. $10 adults, $9 children and seniors. Group discounts.

The Chocolate Church, 804 Washington Street, Bath. Saturday, January 13, 8 p.m. — Rod Rodger’s Dance Company. This internationally acclaimed dance company from New York City presents a series

of tributes honoring the achievements of landmark figures in Black Culture, h’s Black History Month and The Legacy, a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, will bejustoneofthenumbersofferedthisevening.Tickets $10/58.442-8455.

GALLERIES

Barridoff Galleries, 26 Free Street, Portland. Through January, Group show of selected new works by artists represented by the gallery. Monday through Friday 10 to 5, Saturday 12 to 4. 772-501 1.

Destination Himalaya, 27 Wharf Street, Portland. Art from the Himalayan Cultures. Monday through Saturday 9 to 6. 761-0303.

LirosGallery,MainStreet,BlueHill.FineoldpaintÂŹ ings, Russian icons, old maps. Monday through Friday 9 to 5. 374-5370.

The Plains Gallery, 28 Exchange Street, Portland. Specializing in unique Fine Arts of the Southwest. Indianart,artifacts,jewelry,pottery.774-7500.

AREA Gallery Campus Center, Bedford Street, PortÂŹ land. Through December 14, John Hultberg selected works from four decades. Monday through Saturday 10to10;Sunday12to5.Freeandopentothepublic. 780-4090.

Nancy Margolis Gallery. 367 Fore Street. Portland. Through January 7 Holiday Show: Francine Pattihandmade textiles, coats and jackets. Tory Hughesmixed media jewelry. Suzanne Bucher—paper jewelry. Daniel Salisbury—linen and silk woven shawls. Daniel Hale—whimsical furniture, neckpie¬ ces. and pins. Charles Schwarz—brass and marble candleholders. Monday through Saturday 10 to 6. For special holiday hours, call ahead. As well as the above,therewillbeexhibitsofregulargalleryartists who work in ceramics, jewelry, glass, wood, and metal. 775-3822.

Wiscasset Bay Gallery, Water Street, Wiscasset. Paintings and sculpture by Maine artists. Open by chance or appointment. 882-7682.

O’Farrell Gallery, 46 Maine Street, Brunswick. Through December 23: Annual Group Show of gallery artists featuring: Barter, Carlisle, Fraas/Slade, Harrison, Linehan, and others. January 10February 10: Prints and Multiples by Andy Warhol, Alex Katz, Neil Welliver, and others. February 10March 31 ,duringthefifthanniversaryofthegalleryin Brunswick,therewillbeashowofdrawingsbygallery artists especially for the occasion. Tuesday through Saturday 10-5 and by appointment. 729-8228.

Weatherend Gallery, Main Street, Rockland, will

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CITY CENTER NEWS

CardsandGifts

On The Town

hold an art auction Friday, December 15. Signed prints by Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. Portrait sitting with Ann Brelsford McCoy. Works by other Maine artists can be viewed from 6-7:30 p.m.—auction starts at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds go to the Building Fund of the Knox County Humane Society. Call Dr. Sybil Davis at 594-5850.

Portland School of Art at the Baxter Gallery, 619 Congress Street, Portland. Faculty Show— through December 23. Monday-Friday 10-5 (Thursday even¬ ing until 7) and Sunday 11-4. Free admission.

Portland Museum of Art, Seven Congress Square, Portland. December 30-February 18 —The Great American Comic Strip. An exhibition organized by the Smithsonian, it includes drawings, tearsheets and artifactsthattracethehistoryofthisuniquelyAmeri¬ can art form. Tuesday-Saturday 10-5; Thursday until 9; Sunday noon-5. $3.50 adults: $2.50 senior citi¬ zens; $1 for children under 18. Free admission Thurs¬ day evenings 5-9. 775-6148.

The Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art, WestÂŹ brook College, 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland. SelecÂŹ

The fine art of giving.

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tion from the Westbrook College Photography Col¬ lection, December 27-February 11. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the advent of the camera, works fromtheCollege’scollectionwillbeselectedforexhibi¬ tion by curator Steve Halpert. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10-4; Thursday 10-9; Saturday and Sunday 1 -5. Donation appreciated in lieu of admission fee. 797-9546.

Elements Gallery, 56 Maine Street, Brunswick. Through January 5: Folk Inspirations: Celebrating Tradition. A holiday group show in the folk tradition celebrating imaginative design and color in objects and themes of everyday life. January 13-March 9: Furniture makers. Tuesday through Saturday 10-6, Sunday afternoon 2-5. 729-1108.

Greenhut Galleries, 146 Middle Street, Portland. During December and January the gallery is showing acrylics by Baychar, oils by Chris Nielsen and Bill Irvine, pastels by Mimo Robinson. Works by Glenn Renell.et. al. Monday through Saturday 10:30-5:30. Call for extended Christmas hours. 772-2693.

Christine’s Gallery, The Yarmouth Maketplace, 24

US Rt. One, Yarmouth. December 1-30, Evelyn Winter Pogorzelski of Cumberland will be showing her impressionistic landscapes and still lifes. Monday through Saturday 10-6, Thursdays until 8. During December also Monday until 8 p.m. On Sunday, December 17 the gallery will sponsor Children’s Art Day. Children are invited to draw, paint and create from 12-4 p.m. Art supplies and snacks will be pro¬ videdandthefinishedproductswillbedisplayedinthe gallery during the month of January. Admission is free,butspaceislimited.Call846-6128.

Abacus handcrafters gallery, 44 Exchange Street, Portland. Showing through January 15: New jewelry by Lee Marraccini. Mon.-Wed. 10-6, Thurs.- Fri. 10-9:30, Sun. 12-5.772-4880.

MISCELLANY

Portland Public Library, Five Monument Square, Portland. Exhibits scheduled for the Lewis Gallery at the Library: Through January 30—Awards ’89: Excellence in Maine Architecture, a biennial juried exhibition of the Maine American Institute of Archi¬ tects. February 2 27 —Solitary Bridge. Paintings by

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DUniversity of Maine, Orono, Hudson Museum, Maine Center for the Arts. Wednesday, January 17, Film Inuit, 12:30 and 4:30. Wednesday, February 21 at 12:30 and 4:30 N!ai, The Story of a ’Kung Woman. Both films funded by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 581-1901. Penobscot Storytelling, Saturday, January 20 at 10 a.m., Hudson Museum. 50 cents per child. 581-1901. West Side Story, mus¬ ical by Bernstein and Sondheim, 8 p.m. February 22, 23, 24; and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25. Hauck Auditorium. 581-1755.

Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street, Bath. December 28 —Kennebec River Lecture Series: “Navigation on the Kennebec Then and Now’’’ by Capt. William Rich, Capt. of the Port, Ken¬ nebec River.5 p.m. refreshments, 5:45 p.m. lecture. $6 museum members, $8 non-members. Continuing exhibits: “A Maritime History of Maine,” “Family Fleets,” “The Building of a Wooden Ship,” and “Lobstenng and the Maine Coast.” 9:30-5 daily, except major holidays. Other lectures in the winter series are: The People who came to settle on her banks, January 16, The Economic Impact of the Kennebec, March 13. A Low and a High, All About Maine Weather, January 10, A Sky Bristling with Electrons, February 21. $5 members, $15 non¬ members. For more information call the museum at 443-1316.

Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. December 15 —Maine Mariners vs. Hershey, 7:35 p.m.; December 1 6—Maine Mariners vs. Sherbrooke, 7:35 p.m.; December 23 —Maine Mariners vs. New Haven, 2:05 p.m.; December 26 —Maine Mariners vs. Springfield, 7:35 p.m.; December 29 —Maine Mannersvs.Binghamton,7:35p.m.; December 30 —Maine Mariners vs. New Haven, 7:35 p.m. All tickets $8 & $7. Box Office 775-3458 or 1-800-382-8080. Dec. 17 —WWF Wrestling, 2:05 p.m.; December 28— New Kids on the Block, 7:30 p.m., $18.50 RSVD. February 21 —Ice Capades. 775-3458.

Brunswick Armory Antique Show, Brunswick Armory, features 65 dealers from Maine and New England. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Strawbery Banke, Portsmouth, N.H. 10th Annual Candlelight Stroll. Stroll by candlelight through the museum’s historic streets and decorated houses. Performing musicians and carolers, holiday shopping inthemuseumcraftandgiftshops,freerefreshments. December 2, 3. 9 and 10. 4:30-8:30 p.m. $8 adults, $4 children, under 10 free. (603) 433-1100.

Portland Museum of Art, Seven Congress Square.

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Portland. December 16, 10:30 a.m. A Holiday Workshop in creative movement for children. Ages 5-10. Registration required. $3 members, $5 non¬ members. December 21,2 p.m.,thePMAwillpresent a 45-minute Children’s Holiday Concert recom¬ mendedforchildrenages5-12.Holidaytraditionswill be described through folk stories and songs. Free with museum admission. December 21 ,6:30 p.m., a Win¬ terSolsticeCelebrationforallages.ColorfulEnglish country pagan dances, folk stories and songs. Free with museum admission.

Children’s Museum of Maine, 746 Stevens Avenue, Portland. December 19, 11-12 noon, Holiday work¬ shopforpre-schoolers.1herewillbeavarietyofactiv¬ itiestochoosefromandafestivesnackwillbeserved. 797-5483.

Museum of Art, Olin Arts Center, Russell Street, Lewiston. December 15-March 9-Italy: One Hundred Years of Photography. A century of romanticism and realism studied through the impartial lens of the camera-peasant farming to high fashion. Opening reception Thursday, December 14, 7-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-5. Free admission. 786-6158. Informal tours of the Edmund S. Muskie Archives are available at no charge on a walk-in basis between 9 and 4 p.m. weekdays. 786-6354.

General Theological Center, 159 State Street, Port¬ land.Thegeneralpubliciswelcometousethecenter’s 45,000 volume theological library collection. $35/$20 students and retirees. The library also lends books by mail throughout Maine and the United States. Monday through Saturday 9-4. For informa¬ tionaboutlecturesandworkshopsrelatedtoreligion, ethics and spirituality call Jonathan Burns at 8742214orwritetothecenter.

Maine Crafts Association is announcing Fine Art Dressing, Maine’s first full scale fashion show of handmade art to wear designs. Over forty designers will show everything from one-of-a-kind painted even¬ ing gowns to handwoven jackets, hats, sportswear, and both costume- and fine jewelry. Proceeds will benefit the Maine Craft Association’s many educa¬ tional programs. Wednesday, February 7atThePort¬ land Club, 156 State Street, Portland. Boutique shopping, light dinner and drinks from 4-7:30, fol¬ lowed by live models parading the runway accompan¬ ied by music and commentary. Tickets S20. Contact Sherry Miller at 772-0890 or Mimi Dunn at 871-7063.

Portland School of Art teacher Agnes Bushell will read from her new book “Local Deities” at Raffle’s Cafe Bookstore, 555 Congress Street, Portland. For the exact date in December call 761-3930.

Doris Day/Elvis Presley Impersonation Contest

& Meatloaf Bake-off. It's that one chance in a life¬ time ...the night you do the Doris Day impersonation, or is it Elvis? You decide if you would like to be a participant (no charge) or a spectator. Stars and Cooks: If you would like to be on stage or enter your meatloaf for judging, call before Nov. 30. Audience: If you’d like to come and see a great show or dine in style call 442-8455 at The Chocolate Church, 804 Washington Street, Bath. Event is on January 27, Bake-off 7 p.m., $5; Performance 8 p.m., $7.

L.L. Bean Public Clinic Program: 3 Months in the Wild: A NOLS vacation. Friday, December 15, 7:30 -9:00 p.m. A Maine Winter Sport: Ice Fishing. Wed¬ nesday, January 3, 7:30 -9:00 p.m. Rainier: Crown Jewel of the Cascades. Friday, January 5, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Above the Alaskan Tundra: A McKinley Climb w/Laura Ordway. Friday, January 12, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Katahdin in Winter from the South. Friday, Jan¬ uary 19, 7:30-9:00 p.m. Comfortable Winter Camp¬ ingSeries. Mondays, January8, 15, 22and29, 7:308:30 p.m. Winter Travel Series. Snowshoeing, Backcountry XC and High Country Exploring. Wed¬ nesdays, January 10, 17 and 31, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Modern Fly Tying Series with L.L. Bean’s Don Davis. Demonstration of Tying methods for the major group¬ ing of Flies fished in New England Waters. Every Tuesday, start-ing January 9 through February 27, 7:30-8:30 p.m. All programs are held at the L.L. Bean Casco Street Conference Center located on Casco Street, one-half mile south of the L.L. Bean Retail Store on Route 1, Freeport. Signs are posted. All programs Free. XC Ski Waxing Demos every Satur¬ day, January and February, 9-10 a.m. in the L.L. Bean Retail Store XC Ski Dept.

WCBB Channel 10 airs Friday, December 22, 9:00 p.m., live from Lincoln Center: A Classical Jazz Christmas with Wynton Marsalis. December 25, Channel 10 presents special Christmas programming all day from 8:00 a.m.-6:30p.m., and at 8:00 p.m. the Miracle Down Under. December 26, 10:00 p.m., An Aids Quarterly Special: Christmas at Starcross. December 27, 8:00 p.m., the Metropolitan Opera Presents Aida.

POETRY

Open Poetry Readings are held on the last Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at the PORTLAND MagaÂŹ zine office at 578 Congress Street. 733-5250.

Woodfords Cafe hosts open poetry readings the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at 29 Spring Street. 772-4893.

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ComeonovertoValle'sfordinner.Relaxinour Generations3loungeandenjoytheentertainmentOrjoin, usforlunch.Letourwarm,friendlyatmospheresoothe your appetite, while our prices pamper your budget. \ Ifyouryoungstersarealong,askforourspecialmenu fortenandunder.JustheadforValle’s. jAmericanExpress,Mastercard,Visaandreservationsaccepted.

Loungeopentomidnighteverynight. Liveentertainmentanddancing. FridayandSaturday8:30pjn.to12:30ajn.

Ricetta’sWay

PIZZA, A LONG-TIME STAPLE of the American junk-food diet,hasbeengoingthrough some changes. As Americans becamemorehealthconscious(andmore interestedinthegourmetpossibilitiesof standardfare),itwasinevitablethatthe greasyoldpizzapiewouldberevised. Andthat’swherebrick-ovenpizzerias come in. Otherwise known as “yuppie pizza,”thebrick-ovenpizzaisthelatest fadforthosewhoseekalittlemoreclassto theirguiltypleasures.Portlandnowhasa brick-ovenpizzeriaofitsownintheform ofRicetta’sthatopened4monthsagoat 29WesternAve.,SouthPortland. Beyondtheappealofapizzeriathat cookspiesintheoriginalItalianway (wood-fired/brickoven)aretheexotic arrayofingredientsavailableastoppings. Ricetta’s offers zucchini, summer squash, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokehearts,pestosauce,andlots more.Youcancombinetheseinanyway youchoose,thoughRicetta’shassome combosuggestionsthatareirresistible, someofwhichdon’teveninvolvesauce— thoughyouwon’tmissit.Example:The Ricetta,withfreshtomatoes,thinlysliced prosciuttos,sauteedscallions,garlic, mozzarella,andricotta.Itistodiefor. DeliciousthoughRicetta’spizzacanbe, theymaynothaveallthebugsworkedout quiteyet.Oneofthenightswewerethere, ourpizzawasundercooked,andItasted thecaninatleastoneingredient. Still,itisatreattohaveRicetta’sinthe neighborhood.

Hours:Mon.-Sat.11:30—9p.m.Take out’til10.Sun.from5p.m.Fullbeerand winelicense.

California Sweets

N THOSE HALCYON DAYS BEFORE theGreatEarthquakeof1989,I went to Napa, Sonoma, and Men¬ docinoinNorthernCaliforniato assessthisyear’svintage.

IThevintageinredswillbegoodwhile some Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc were hit by two rainstorms in mid¬ September.Thismoistureacceleratesthe growthof“noblerot,”creatinganumber ofnaturalsweetwines.Inmanyrespects, thisyear’sCaliforniavintagewassome¬ whatEuropeaninnature.

At Fetzer, the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes approached ripeness in midÂŹ

Octoberastheyhunglistlesslytothevine awaitingharvest.

Journeyingsouth,Iwasstartledtosee thechangesinNapa.OnceasleepyagriÂŹ culturalcommunity,St.Helenaisnow bustlingwithtourists.

AtCaymusVineyards,ownerCharles Wagnersharedatasteoftheir1984Spe¬ cialSelectionCabernetSauvignon,hailed bycriticsasoneofCalifornia’sbest. Thewinewasfullofripefruit,totally seamless.Thefruit,wood,tannin,and alcoholwerejoinedingreatsymphony. Thebigwineries,likeBeringer,certainly impressonewiththeirattentiontospecial

lotsofwineofextraordinarycharacter. Themostintellectuallypleasingstay wasatBeaulieu.Havingproducedfine winelongerthananyoneinCalifornia, Beaulieuhassimplifieditsoperationtoa finepoint.

ThemostidyllicstaywasatMcDowell ValleyVineyards,whereownersRichard andSusanKeehnownawholevalleyof grapes,withtheirmodernwinerynestled inthecenter.Afeelingofserenityand tranquilitypervades,inadditiontosome excellentwineproducedfromveryold vines.

Swartzentruber IS YOUR a FAMILY

FLAKINGOUT ONYOU?

Bring them to JUST BLACK & WHITE for a restoration. They make wonderful Christmasgifts orforany timeof theyear. Wealso arethe specialists atcopying old photograghs

Review

Cat’sEye

MARGARET ATWOOD’S latest novel,Cat'sEye,isoneof thoserarebooksthatisso richwithcomplexitiesand sohonestinitsinsightsandmotivations thatitleavesthereaderslightlybruised andunnerved.Cat’sEyespansthelifeof ElaineRisley,aprominentmiddle-aged artistwhosesocialarmorwascastbythe attitudesandexpectationsofmiddle-class societyinthe1940sand50s.Through layersofmemoryandre-memory,thelife ofElaineRisleyunfoldsforus.Weare introducedtoElainefromtheperspective ofhercontemporaryselfwhohasreturned toherhometownofTorontoforanart showinherhonortitled“RisleyinRetro¬ spect.”WherethememoryofthemiddleagedElainefalters,theElaineofeachtime periodtakesover,offeringusarichdual¬ ityofperspective.

Itisthroughtheunjadedeyesofthe nine-year-oldElainethatwearegivena freshlookat1940smores.Emergingfrom theCanadianwoodswithherbrotherSte¬ phenandherparents,Elaineencounters therestoftheworldforthefirsttime,or morespecifically,otherlittlegirls,their mothers,school,church,andtherespec¬ tiveattitudesandexpectationsofeach. Webecomekeenlyawareoftheoddity andabundanceofsuperfluousgenderrelatedrolesandrituals,allofwhich Elaineattemptstolearninherdesiretofit inwiththecommunityoflittlegirls,but seemsstrangelyalienatedfrom.Sheis mostcomfortablewithherbrother’s“ex¬ plosive noises” and commando games, whichprogressundauntedbythetransi¬

tionfromthewildstotheirTorontoneighÂŹ borhood.

Aninterestingconflictarisesbetween thewild,naturalworldandthesuperim¬ posedartificialityofsociety.ForElaine, menfallunderthe‘wild’categorybecause theyarehonesttotheirnature,andthe expectationsplacedonthemdonotcon¬ tradicttheseinnatequalities.Theonly women,however,whoElaineclassifiesas ‘wild’areherownmother,whoiscom¬ pletelyobliviousto‘coldwaves,’‘twin sets,’theEaton’sCatalogue,andallthe otherlittlemeasuringpostsforwomen, andCordelia,Elaine’slife-longfriend¬ enemy.

AlthoughCordeliaandElaine’sfriend¬ shipistumultuousandpainfulatbest, whatappearstobondthemtogetheris theirownuniquecastof40sconfusion. Bothknowintellectuallywhatisexpected ofthem,butbothfeelemotionallyalie¬ natedfromthewholeprocessoffulfilling theseroles.

Asapainter,ElaineisembracedbyfemÂŹ inistgroupseagertoincludeherintheir ranks,andtoexposeherartaspartoftheir voice.AlthoughElaineyearnsforsome sortofbondwithotherwomen,onceagain shefeelsalienatedfromanduncomfortaÂŹ blewiththeirexpectationsofher.

Doescontemporary1980ssocietyde¬ mandsuchsocialfraudulencefromitspar¬ ticipants?Elainesearchesforsignsofitin herdaughter,whoappearstofitintotheir worldwithrelativeease.It’sinthemen’s facesthatElainerecognizestheall-toofamiliarsignsofconfusion.Shesuspects thatmenwouldhavebeenbetteroffifthey hadn’tbeentoldoftheirown“humanity.” (Doubleday/1989/New York)

Enjoythepleasures

of eating fresh pasta at home or in our cafe setting. We make pasta to suit all palates; garlic and herb, black pepper, sweet red pepper, squid ink. curry, dark chili, and even the basic spinach and egg. ComÂŹ pliment these with our homemade sauces, fine Italian wines & top off your meal with one of our decadent desserts. Open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m to 8 p.m. GOURMETPASTATAKEOUT 773-7146

1913

Forover75years WiseTradingCo. hasbeensellingbrandname, newandpreviouslyowned merchandise,atdiscountprices.

IndependentBooksellers ofClassic&ContemporaryIjterature SpecialOrders•Shipping

HealthyFtxxls•FineCoffees&Teas 555CongressStreet,Portland,Maine 761-3930

CRANBERRY LODGE OF ASTICOU INN

A Bed-and-Breakfast open from midÂŹ September to mid-June. Dinner served on weekends.

Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662 Tel. 207-276-3344

Fiction PortraitofaSpy

Thefollowingstorycould bethefirstpartofthefirst chapterofanovelaboutan invisibleman,amanwhohas deliberatelyandwithconsiderableskill, cultivatedthehighestofarts:facelessÂŹ ness.Thatheisalsoaspymasterand triplecrossexpertislittlemorethana practicalby-productofhisspiritualperfecÂŹ tion.Ontheotherhandthismoodypiece mightalsobeavignetteinanimaginary collectionaboutNewYorkerscalledAndy WarholDiesandOtherStories.Inaworld ofdiminishingpossibilities,nooption oughttobeleftunexplored.

THE BLIND MAN lay heavily on the cheapcotlikebedinhisroomandfacedthe windowheknewwasinfrontofhim.A boy, naked except for a robe loosely drapedaroundtheshoulders,satbehind himinthesinglechairoftheone-room boardinghouseapartment.Shiveringashe watchedthebackoftheoldmaninrepose, theboydrewtherobeclosertohimself.It wasearlyDecemberandtheoldmanhad notyetonceturnedohtheheat.Itwascold enoughintheroomsothatafinemistblew earthwardwitheachbreaththeyexhaled. Theblindmanstirred,strainingafter thesoundofrainonthecarsparkedinthe streetbelow.Theboywatchedtheold man’spenumbralreflectioninthewindow. Thesoftpulpofthefacehadcrumpledinto awarmglovefromseventyyearsofcun¬ ning;theeyesweresereneandlustreless, punctuatedbytriplebagswhichdrooped underthemandreaffirmedtherestofthe saggingmusculature.

Theoldmanwassomethingofamys¬ terytotheboy,ashewastoeveryonehe met—even those few who had known him long.Hehadpickeduptheboyearlyinthe morningthreeandahalfweeksbeforeata WharfStreetbar.Theboy,itseemed,had beenthrownoutofanearbydiscoaftera quarrelwithhislover.Theoldmanhad foundhim,somehow,despitehisblind¬ ness,hadtrackedhiminthedarkbaron thediceyendofIndiaStreetandhadcap¬ turedhim.Alltheboycouldrememberof thatnightwerethewizenedface,thedead eyes,andpreternaturallyconfidentvoice thatledhim,stuporously,totheapartment acrosstheriver.Sincethen,theoldman hadinsistedoncallinghimPepe,which wasn’thisname.Itwassomeprivatejoke theboycouldn’tunderstand.

“Pepe,”theoldmansaid,turningto facetheboy.“Pepe,bringmethepipe.” Currently,theoldmanwasknowntothe outsideworldasFrankDean.Theyhadn’t givenhimthatname,hehadchosenit himself.Thiswasarightearnedlongago. Noneofthemhadsaidathingwhenhetold themwhathewastocallhimself.Nota snicker. They had always taken names veryseriously.

Frank Dean’s head was full of the chimesofopiumandalcohol.Unfortu¬ nately,theeffectwaswearingoff,andit madehimdistractedandirritable.

“FrankDean,”FrankDeanmuttered. Theboycurledtighterinhischair,eye¬ ingtheoldmancoldly.

Hemurmureditinavaguelyaccented gutturalwhir.Itwasgood.Itsounded good—likeanartificialname,whichit

was.ArtificiallikesomeanglicizedEastÂŹ ernEuropeannamessounded.

“CharlesFrank,”hesaid.

“StevePaul.”

“VictorVictor.”

His mother’s name had been Anna— perhapsithadbeengiventoherforrea¬ sonsofpiety,morelikelybecauseofsome illuminationlostforeverintheHungarian snow.Sincethen,manynames.

Theoldmanhalfturnedtowardtheboy inthechair.

“Pepe...”

“Weain’tgotnomoredope,Frank,” theboysaid.

Theoldmanremainedstill,hishead

Itwasamazing, FrankDeanthought, thatsometimes eventhemost startlingly hum-drumpeople possesseda breathtaking musicality. halfcocked,asthoughheweretryingto fathomthetruthfulnessoftheboy’swords. Atlast,heturnedagaintothewindow. Therainwasfallingjustatouchharder now.Fromtherivercamethesoundofa foghornasacruiselinerslippedouttosea. Someone with a damaged leg walked on thesidewalkofthestreetbelow.Hewasa goodtwoblocksaway,buthewasheading inthedirectionoftheboardinghouse. FrankDeancouldhearhimclearly.The walker wore heavy, leather-bottomed shoesthatclickedirregularlyoffthewet sidewalkandcarriedatin-tippedcane whosescrapingcounterpointedthepainful rhythmoftheshoes.Thewalker’spro¬ gresscameasclearlytoFrankDeanasa

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"Decorumhasahandleonstyle.Whether you'relookingforbathroomfixtures, lighting,ordecorativehardware,you'll findDecorumhaswhatyouneedto expressyourpersonality.So,ifyou're startingfromscratchorremodeling,come tousforstyle,becausewecanhandleit."

DECORUM DECORATIVE RiHS ACCESSORIES & HARDWARE

TIS-AMA • 829-4230 • PORTLAND

It’sthehumanspirittapdancingonthe faceofbureaucracy,thepuckishdreamy malevolence,thedessertbeforethemain course,thatmakesthespiritofMaine’s WPAsurvivetoday.

It’stheendearinginaccuraciesinthe writtenresearch,theincredibleeditorializ¬ ingbetweenthelinesofseriousdocu¬ ments,thescrupuloustrainingmanuals exhaustivelycreatedtodocumentthings like carrier pigeons on Fort McHenry

Continued

(item1615,NationalArchivesProject, Vol.18includesrecordsmadeoftraining manualsrelatedto“carrierpigeonsand posttransportation”),thatmakesthe WPA for me. Carrier pigeons? Sure. Nature’sanswertoFAX.

“Gotahandfullofnothing,butIwatch itlikeahawk,gotthedeviltopay,livingin agreatbigway...”

—Colin Sargent

telegraphmessage.Hehadbeenchosen forthisreason,histelltaleshuffle.Itwas amazing,FrankDeanthought,thatsomeÂŹ timeseventhemoststartlinglyhum-drum peoplepossessedabreathtakingmusicalÂŹ ity.

“Pepe...”theoldmansaid. “Frank,Itoldyou...”

Theboywasaspoiledcreaturewhodid nottalksomuchaswhine.Whenhesaid “Itoldyou”itcameoutsibilantlyas“1 soldyou...”Nonetheless,theoldmanwas

Hehadheard thetunefirst, manyyearsago, inBudapest. Thewalker thoughtof itashis signature,butto FrankDeanit wasjust useless ornamentation.

takenwithhimandforgavehimhismany faults.

“We’retohaveavisitorshortly,”the oldmansaid.“Getdressedandgofetch memymedicine.”

Presentlytheoldmanheardthetunethe walkersang.ItwasanoldBroadwaytune fromthethirties.Hehadhearditfirst, manyyearsago,inBudapest.Thewalker thoughtofitashissignature,buttoFrank Deanitwasjustuselessornamentation. Thepainoftheman’swalkwashistrue signature,andhewouldhavetoaskhim sometime what had happened. People likedtotellyouabouttheirpast.Allyou hadtodowasgivethemachanceand someencouragement.

It’sonereason whyPortland Monthly’s award-winning waterfront coverageis reaching thousands ofreaders allover Northern New England andMaritime Canada. Likeyou.

Extraordinary Perspective.

Rare keeper's ■ eye -view of Portland Headlight. Photo by Dan Davidson.

BELGRADE MILLS STREAM

Contemporary year-round home set on beautiful stream-front lot. Easy access to Great Pond. Deck facing waterfront off second floor master bedroom suite.

Cathedral ceiling in livingroom, daylight basement with laundry room. High efficiency glass throughout. Realistically priced at $185,000.

A COUNTRY ACRE'

ExcellantbuildingsiteonblacktoproadinRome.Stonewalls,fruittrees,soils tested and surveyed with 225’ road frontage. Attractive prop erty.$22,900.

TRADITIONAL YET CONTEMPORARY

Custom built two-story post-and-beam home with pine interior, handsome matched red cedar siding just 100’ from Long Pond. Spacious three bedroom home boasts decks on two levels. Dock and deeded access to adjacent lake frontage.$168,000. Call (207)495-3367.

HaroldandJeanneStevens.Owners

Boi281.BttysdeLikes. Mmh 04911

•Today,Sugarloafiscommitted tobecomingthefinestfourseasonresortintheeast.

•Andifyou'repreparedtoenjoy winter,spring,summerorfall at Maine's foremost mountain resort...

•There'sneverbeenabetter timetobuyavacationhome or condominium.

Country store located high traffic area of Route i, Livermore, plenty of visibility Convenience foods, small lunch counter gas pumps Great family business, income from overhead apartment Good investment for family who likesworkingwithpublic.Letyourimaginationsoar’('allVernforfulldetails and price

CoastalMaineProperty

OfferingresidentialandcommercialpropÂŹ erties,land,andwaterfrontcondominiums. Choice waterfront lots, many with owner financingavailable.

Callforafreebrochuretoday.

BEAN-JONES

Maine Seacoast Lots in Desirable Rockport

Overlookingspectacularisland-dottedPenobscot Bay and Rockport Harbor lighthouse. Three exclusivelistingsatSeaLight.Broker-owned. Threeexclusivelistingsonthehillsideat Revolutionary Lookout. Broker-owned. TwoexclusivelistingshighupatBayRidge. From1to2acres.$75,000to$250,000, allwithprotectivecovenantsandplan approvalssoyoucanbuildnow.

CONDOMINIUMS

Need someone to manage your condominium? Lookingforacondominiumtorent?Wantto listyourcondominium?Callusfirst! 207-594-1031 Linda Bean-Jones andArvillaP.Collins

BLUEHILL

Brooklin:Saltwaterfronthome—classic1800.TwostorywhiteclapboardColonialwithmuchofits antiquitystillinplace.Fourbedrooms,twowith fireplaces,fullbath,fireplacedlivingroom.Fireplaceddiningroomaswellasfireplacedden.Kit¬ chenhaslargeDutchoven,one-halfbath,lotsof glass.Summerfamilyroomandloft.Locatedon13 acreswithsoutherlynewsoverHerrickBay,200feet of shorefront. $345,000

,OWNEAST PROPERTIES

*

ESCAPE TO THE COASTand deep water fron¬ tage, magnificent, one-owner cape with large, pine kitchen. formaldiningroom,32footlivingroom,threebedrooms. 1’/bath,fullbasement,doublegarage,locatedinYar$350,000. mouth.Shownbyappointmentonly.

LIVE GRACIOUSLY—sur¬ rounded by charming lakeside,landscaping, sandy beach, three bedrooms, two full baths, field-stone fireplace,formaldiningroom,glassedbreakfastroom andfullyapplianced,new,oakkitchen,doublegarage withworkshop,locatedoncrystal-clearEchoLake,Mt. $237,500. Vernon, easy commute to Augusta

HistoryRepeatsItself

Penthouse Condominiums

$89,000-2Bdrm. $86,000-1Bdrm. at150SpringStreet Portland

*Liveinabeautifullyrenovated,energy-efficient nationallandmark,originallyconstructedin1835with brick,granite,brownstoneandornamentaliron.

*Commonareasincludesauna,exercisearea,laundry, elevator,parkingandsecurityentrysystem.

*Eachcondominiumhasfullyequippedkitchen,extra storage,excellentsoundproofing,exposedbrickwall andwaterviews.

*Renovated1982-1983andlistedontheNational HistoricalRegistry.

AffordableBrick2Family$127,500. Forinformationcontact:

WhaleTail&Co.

P.O.Box853,Portland,Maine04104 (207)781-5105(207)773-2850

ThisuniquecontemÂŹ porary home feaÂŹ tures3bedrooms,2 baths and sauna. With over 400' of shore frontage, 3 acresandthepropÂŹ erty next door in conservancy,you'd havequiteaprivatesetting.$384,000.

Two-bedroom bungaÂŹ low-stylehomeon1.5 acresinDamariscotta. Excellentopportunity togetestablishedin the area. Brand-new septicsystem.$89,000.

Bethefirsttochooseyourhousesitefromthe4-lot SheepscotHeightsSubdivision.Eachlothasbeensoils testedandboastsfrontagealongtheSheepscotRiver. Fishandcanoe,orhikealongthehistoricnarrow-gauge railroadbedrunningthroughtheproperty.From$24,500. 1.2-acrehomesiteintheBoothbayarea.Oceanfrontage, commondock,andmooring.$79,000.

Approximately70acresinNobleborowith100'offrontÂŹ age on Duck Puddle Pond. Subdivision potential. $190,000.

CHENEY REALTY COMPANY

ServingMid-CoastMaineforOver30Years 207-563-3435

MLS 18MainSt.,Damariscotta,Me.04543

Turbo—*. ^nrop orTies_

You can get your year-round lakefront home with fireplace and deck before spring! Will consider owner financing or trade. Broker owned. Call: Turbo Properties.

Homes and Investments (207) 948-3551 MainStreet,Box161,Unity,Maine04988

REAL ESTATE WANTED

Intown or West End Home suitable for residence and 5-year-old professional business. Prefer owner-financed or assumable mortgage. Can afford payments of $800/mo. Must have parking orcourtyard.

WritetoAdvertiser#41,PortlandMonthlyClassiÂŹ fieds, 578 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101, or leave message and address with parÂŹ ticularsat781-4216.

ENJOY THE CASUAL ELEGANCE of an open floorplaninthissunnyandstylishthreebedroomconÂŹ temporaryhome,privatelysitedon2.77acresofnatuÂŹ rallywoodedland.Atiledkitchenoffersallappliances andthelivingroomfeaturesalovelybrickhearthwith woodstoveandopenceilings.Theentiresecondflooris devoted to the master suite with bath and walk-in closet! Located just minutes to Kennebunk, KenneÂŹ bunkport or Downtown Biddeford. $179,000.

OfferedExclusivelywith KENNEBUNK BEACH REALTY. 207-967-5481

Maine’sPremierBusinessPark

Maine’sPremierBusinessPark

Thekeytoasuccessfulbusinesssiteislocation,accessibilityandvisibility. EnjoyyoursuccessatEaglebrook—Maine’snewestplannedbusinesspark.

LocatedalongbothsidesoftheMaineTurnpikedirectlybetween Exit6A,Exit7andtheproposedExit6(ScarboroughDowns),Eaglebrookoffers aperfectgrowthopportunityforavarietyofbusinessuses.

Plannedamenitiesinclude:on-sitechilddaycarecenter,fitnessfacility, jogging/naturetrails,woodednaturalsurroundings,allpublicutilities,unlimited parkingandeasyaccesstothejetport,MaineMallandPortlandarea. BecomeapartofEaglebrook.Youdeserveabusinesslocationthat reflectsyoursuccess.

Formoreinformation,call(207)772-8554.

Congratulation^

MARINERS Head Coach Rick Bowness,inaparticularlyvehe¬ ment moment. Ray Neufeld, AssistantCaptain,with16pointsto hiscredit:6goals,10assists(for the Mariners’ home game schedule, seepage37).

NEA Grant proÂŹ videsforDramaturginResidence Melissa Cooper at PortlandStage. Shewilloversee the new Bridge Project.AdramaturgfocusestheliteraryandhistorÂŹ icalperspectiveofaplayforthe director,designer,andcast.

FOREGROUND: Portland Sym¬ phony’s Debbie Hammond helps celebratethewell-attendedopen¬ ingoftheMetropolitanRoomat Raphael’s.

YEAH! Captain NealParkeris justifiablyproud ofhisbringing thevintage Aldenauxiliary schooner WENDAMEEN back tolife. Relaunched afterextensiverepairstothehull, he’llbegintakingone-nightchar¬ tersthisJune.Congratulations.

“Weswitchedtogasheat becauseitwascleaner.

Somethingsarealoreasierroputupwithwhen they'reclean.Fortunately,there'ssomethingyoucanJo tohelpkeepthingsclean.Switchtonaturalgas.

Naturalgasisclean,soit'sbetterfortheenvironÂŹ ment.Thatsbecausenaturalgas,whenburnedcomÂŹ pletely,givesi>tfthesamethingswedi>whenweexhale.

Whichmeanswithgasheat,wecanallbreatheeasier. Yourhomewillstaycleanerwithnaturalgas,too. Infact,whenyoucomerightdowntoit,gas heatandgashotwatercanreallytakealoadoff yourmind.Formoreinformationaboutnatural gas,call797-6002. NORTHERNUTILITIES

Naturalgas.FuelingNewEngland’sfuture.

Maine Tourmaline

Distinctive Jewelry from Cross Jewelers This Christmas

ApieceofMainetourmalinejewelryfromthecollectionatCrossJewelerswillmakeaveryspecialgiftthisChristmas. ThewesternmountainsofMainehaveyieldedsomeofthefinesttourmalineminedanywhereintheworld,andCrossJewelers hashandselectedtheverybestofthese,aroundwhichtodesignandcreateourMaineTourmalineCollection.Picturedabove isjustasamplingofthemorethan300piecescurrentlyinourCollection.

Inrichburgundies,deepvibrantgreens,delicatepastelpinks,orthecolorofacrispgreenapple,Mainetourmalineoffers achoiceasbeautifulandindividualasthewomanwhowillopenthepackageonChristmasDay.OurMaineTourmalineCollection offersawideselectionofsizesandpricerangesinsimple,classicdesigns,aswellassomedistinctiveone-of-a-kindpieces.The blue-green Maine tourmaline and diamond ring shown above at the upper right is a unique parallelogram shaped stone which captures light in wonderful shimmers across the surface. The larger pear shaped deep burgundy Maine tourmaline ring is surroundedinaframeofhighwhitediamondstocreateanelegantsettingforanimportantgem.TheapplegreenMainetourmaline rings shown below are fine examples of this shade of tourmaline which is unique to Maine, and becoming very rare.

IfyouarclookingforaspecialgiftthisChristmas,weinviteyoutovisitourstoreandseethemanybeautifuldesigns inourMaineTourmalineCollection.Inapricerangefrom$100toover$10,000,there’ssuretobeaspecialpieceofMaine tourmalinejewelryjustforyoursomeonespecial. CrossJewelers

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