Senator Collins at Great Salt Bay School

    Senator Susan Collins recently stopped in to The Great Salt Bay Consolidated School in Damariscotta.  Senator Collins spent time reading with the 4th graders and then met with the 8th grade.  The Senator spoke with the upperclassmen about perseverance and told of her defeat in the 1994 gubernatorial race and of how she came back a few years later to win both a tough primary  race and the general election.

   Now, if you're a cynic like me you're first thought is, "she must be up for re election".  But no, she is not running this year and even if she was, anything that gets kids more interested in politics and governance has to be a good thing. Who knows, one of these smiling youngsters someday may be serving in Washington and then this picture from the Newcastle Square Realty Blog will be endlessly reprinted much like that now famous picture of JFK and a young Bill Clinton.

   Great Salt Bay School is a K through 8 school and serves the towns of Damariscotta, Newcastle and Bremen.

   While in town Sen. Collins also spoke at the Small Business Showcase held at the YMCA and sponsored by the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce.

Jim Cosgrove

Pemaquid Point Weathers Another Storm

    Pemaquid Point is an amazing place to watch a New England storm and it didn't disappoint during our most recent bit of weather. With wind gusts of up to 70 mph. and a heavy rain Lincoln County got hit hard and nowhere was it more dramatic than at Pemaquid Point. 

   On Saturday at the height of the storm the wind took down a tree across the road to the parking lot at the light house, trapping about 60 people inside the lot for almost 6 hours until Central Maine Power could get there and turn off the electricity so that the Bristol Fire Department could clear the road.

   I was at the Point on Sunday and it was a sight to behold and an experience to be felt. When the waves crash against the rocks you can feel the power through the ground even when you are back from the water. The energy of the waves is enormous and it moves loose rocks in the cove like sand on the beach. In Round Pond a little bit up the peninsula from Pemaquid Point, an unfortunate boat owner had his craft break loose from its' mooring and fetch up on the rocks. Although in this picture the boat looks like there isn't too much damage that will change as the tide comes back in and the swells knock it around the rocks. Ouch!

   Speaking of being on the rocks, what are people thinking about when they climb down onto the rocks by the water during a storm?  Are they unable to read the warning signs? Or maybe they think somehow they are more powerful than mother nature? When the wind is blowing at 50 knots and seas are 10 to 12 feet trying to get close to the water is my definition of insanity.

    I guess the rocks can fool people into thinking that they are safe. In the picture at the left you can see a man standing on the ridge with his camera.  A minute after this picture was taken he was up to his armpits in the water and is lucky he wasn't washed out to sea. Did I mention that with the temperature of the water at this time of year there is about a 5 minute time limit before hypothermia sets in? Lucky for this guy a trip home in wet clothes was all he had to deal with. But it could have and has been worse.  A local firefighter told me that they observed whole families including small children and a women with a baby in her arms clambering around on the rocks on Sunday.  Almost every year at least one person drowns at Pemaquid Point.

   If you do get knocked into the water your best bet is to swim away from the rocks and pray that a boat is nearby. 20 years ago I watched a group of people standing on the rocks get hit by a rogue wave, dragged off the rocks and then get thrown back onto the rocks by the next wave. They survived albeit with some broken bones and serious cuts but they were very lucky.  Further down the coast that day a young girl and her father were swept out to sea and drowned within sight of horrified onlookers who could do nothing to save them.

   The majesty of the ocean in a storm is a beautiful thing but demands respect, enjoy the view from a safe distance.

Tom Field

Halloween in the Twin Villages

    As a long time resident of Church Street, just off the village center (Damariscotta and Newcastle essentially share one downtown and are known as The Twin Villages), I always found Halloween to be one of the most fun nights of the entire year!

   We're a fairly rural area and the opportunities for kids to trick or treat aren't that great when houses are spread out. Many parents will bring their children in to the village and the Town of Damariscotta, in conjunction with the YMCA, arranges to get everyone together for a small parade.

   My first Halloween living on Church Street I expected to get lots of trick-or-treaters but I had no idea that we would see 170 ghosts, goblins and power rangers that night!  After the first hour, I had to send a friend out on a mad search for more candy at any store that might have a bag or two left.  Kids arrived in bunches of 5 or 10 at a time, leaves crunching as they walked along the sidewalk and up the walkway, parents waiting while the kids scrambled up the front porch.

   After that first year it became a real event for our family! I kept a note pad and pencil by the door and scratched hash marks on paper to quickly tally how many 'treaters' we had.  The second year it was 189.  The years' following it seemed to grow each year until we regularly got over 350 trick-or-treaters!!! Always afraid that I would run out, I started buying candy in mid summer if I saw a sale and would stash it away.

   Some of our elderly neighbors would give out a modest amount of candy, whatever they could afford, and when it was gone turn their lights out until the crowds were gone.  I decided that it was just one of the delights of living in town and tried to buy enough candy to last from the arrival of the really young ones at dusk until the last stragglers (who were probably really too old to be 'treating) around 8:30-9:00.

   Some years I would really get into the spirit by dressing up a little myself and answering the door in costume. One year I had a 10" tall 'beehive' hairdo that was bright pink, along with some of those real looking fake teeth that are all rotten!  I would answer the door and as I put treats in their bag would say, "see what happens if you eat too much candy?  Now be sure and brush your teeth tonight!"   The younger kids would look a little scared, take their candy and move away quickly. Their parents got a kick out of it however and I could just envision them later that night at the bathroom sink telling their kids to be sure and brush good so they don't wind up like that lady with the pink hair!

   I live outside of town now, my children are grown and I've opted for a smaller home but I do miss those Halloween nights!  If you'd like to talk more about the joys of living "in the village" please give me call.  There are some wonderful properties on the market and this is a great time to buy!

Kathy Wyman

Damariscotta B&B holds Open House

    The fabulous Oak Gables Bed and Breakfast will be holding an open house celebration this Sunday, October 29, from 1 to 3 in the afternoon.

   If you have ever stayed at Oak Gables you know what a wonderful Bed and Breakfast it is. Located on 11 acres overlooking the Damariscotta River and within walking distance of the Village,  Oak Gables features a stately Main House with several over night rooms and a separate river view apartment. There are two apartments available in the Carriage House and a wonderful, private cottage that sits away from the house. There is also a Boat House at the rivers edge with a small game room and a deck that looks like the perfect spot to spend a summer afternoon with a good book.

   At one time the owner, Martha Scudder, ran a highly regarded pre school in the Main House and is affectionately known to a generation of local children as "Miss Martha". Now, she is better known for her breakfast muffins and the peaceful oasis she has created here.

   If you have never stayed at Oak Gables or have always wondered what was behind the stone pillars at the end of Pleasant Street, don't miss this chance! Refreshments will be served and I'm told there are some great door prizes!

Jim Cosgrove

Paul Sullivan Trio in Newcastle

   The fabulous Paul Sullivan Trio will be appearing this Saturday evening, October 21 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle for the benefit of Skidompha Library.  A resident of Brooklin, (the one in Maine, not the one in New York that's spelled funny) Sullivan is a Grammy winner and a 3 time recipient of the Independent Music Award or "Indie" as it's called.

   The popular jazz pianist and composer has worked with such musical luminaries as Benny Goodman, Tommy Flanagan and Glen Velez, and has performed all over the world. He has also worked extensively in the dance world where his credits include writing music for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes and the Pilobus Dance Theater.

   The Second Congregational Church is located on Route 1B (Main Street) in Newcastle. The concert will be Saturday night from 7:30 to 9:30 and tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Contact Skidompha Library (563-5513) for tickets.  All proceeds from the concert will benefit the library. Stars Fine Jewelry, The Damariscotta River Grill and Newcastle Square Realty Associates are proud to sponsor this wonderful event for this most worthy cause!

See you there!

Jim Cosgrove

Damariscotta Pumpkin Boats

    Growing giant pumpkins has become quite a sport lately around these parts.  We've got some pretty accomplished pumpkin growers and they regularly produce giant gourds in excess of 1,000 pounds!

   The only problem was what to do with one of those after you've weighed it and had your picture taken with it? Nobody likes pumpkin pie that much and besides this type of pumpkin isn't the best kind for pie.

   Well a couple of pretty clever local fellows figured out that they make darn fine watercraft.  No one has ever said Mainers aren't enterprising. I'm thinking we may have a budding new industry here!

Jim Cosgrove

The Best Season, part ll

    In a previous post I introduced the idea that fall is actually "the best season" here in Mid Coast, Maine.  The weather usually consists of warm days with low humidity and cool nights. The summer haze is gone and the air is clear. The traffic we deal with in June and July is gone (it's a relative term, if it takes more than 3 minutes to get through town we call it a traffic jam). And to top it off we are rewarded with a beautiful display from mother nature as she colors the country side with red, orange and yellow.

    This past weekend was just about as perfect an example of our fall weather as I could have asked for and it looks like it's going to continue for a while. Above, you see a shot of Damariscotta, taken from the Newcastle side of the river.  At the right is a picture taken on Columbus Day at Wawenock Golf Course. The view is from the 6th tee with the 4th fairway on the left.  Those golfers from states to our south will note how open the course is!  I had plenty of time to search for my ball and didn't hold anyone up.

    Finally, here's a picture I just snapped, from the rear entrance of our office in town, looking down the Damariscotta River. If you'll look carefully at the picture you will note that there is a spot open in the parking lot for you and your boat trailer. We're waiting for you.  Why aren't you here yet?

   Seriously folks, why don't you live here? We have excellent schools, safe streets, great shops, restaurants and galleries.  There can't possibly be a nicer place to live.

Email or call one of our brokers today and let's talk about putting you in one of these pictures!

Jim Cosgrove

Pemaquid Point Moose

   When Bill Byrnes and Lee Simard met recently to discuss a deal they were working on they were joined by this young moose.  Who says it's not a "bull" market!

   The picture was taken by Lee's wife, Denise in the back yard of their home at Pemaquid Point. Note the fog rolling in over the ocean and the animals appetite for Rosa regosa.

Working On The River

   I just got back from a "Thank You" party for people who volunteer with the Damariscotta River Association and it occurred to me that it was I who should be thanking them. They provided me with an inexpensive way to spend a lot of time on the water and Jim can't get mad at me for not being in the office because I was volunteering for a good cause!

  The Damariscotta River Association River Stewards program is similar to programs on other rivers such as the Hudson River Stewards program. The basic mission of the stewards is to monitor what happens on the river as well as write an article for the local paper to keep the public informed.

   I volunteered for the DRA's River Steward program not because I am a very altruistic person but because my boat is sitting with a "For Sale" sign on it in a boatyard in Boothbay and 8' Avon inflatables aren't a lot of fun with 4 people in them. So I signed up to take the DRA's 20' Aquasport and other volunteers up and down the Damariscotta River.

   It turned out to be a terrific experience.  There is something almost spiritual about getting up early, heading down to the dock, bailing out the dinghy, rowing out to the boat and bringing it across a quiet harbor. As one of the other volunteers said, "if this doesn't lower your blood pressure by 20 points I don't know what will.

   So "Thank You" Damariscotta River Association. You do good work.

Tom "Don't call me Captain" Field.

Damariscotta Lake Opportunities

    Many visitors to Mid Coast Maine come here with visions of the fabled "...rock bound coast of Maine" in mind and are pleasantly surprised to find that we also have beautiful lakes that are just a short distance from all that the coast has to offer, giving them the best of both worlds!

   Thirteen mile long Damariscotta Lake is the largest fresh water body in Lincoln County and has frontage in Jefferson, Nobleboro and Newcastle.

   The fishing in Damariscotta Lake is fabulous and at one time the state record toque (a lake trout) came from these waters.  It was once stocked by the State with land locked Salmon but is now principally managed as a Brown Trout fishery .   Hard as it may be to believe sometimes folks from places to our south find that swimming in the ocean here is a tad cold and that the warmer lake waters agree with them more.

   This year as our season winds down there are some terrific opportunities for those who wish to own lake front property. There is a wide variety of real estate available on the lake, ranging from summer camps such as shown above or a heated cottage with gorgeous sunset views such as this. Or there is new construction with all of the amenities that one could wish for.

   For those who desire complete privacy and who don't mind living "off the grid" we even offer an entire island in the lake (shown below) complete with a new residence, a generator, several docks and deeded parking on the mainland!

   We also have wonderful properties for sale on some of our other fine fresh water bodies such as Pemaquid Lake, Biscay Pond and Lincoln County's hidden jewel, Webber Pond.

   Call one of our brokers today and let them tell you about freshwater property opportunities in Mid Coast Maine!

Jim Cosgrove