The Wolverine boys varsity basketball team beat Monmouth Academy Tuesday night, 49-38, Coach Dana Lawrence said.

Newcastle’s Herbert Smith added sit-ups to his daily exercise regimen a couple of years ago. Last summer, Smith, 75, was glad he did — for an unexpected reason.

In an 80-year-old, canvas-covered, square stern canoe with an outboard motor, the former captain of Boothbay Harbor charter boats Appledore and Eastwind made a mistake, a nearly fatal one, as he describes it in his non-fiction book, “A Moon and Square Stern Canoe.” The short book picks up where his last, “Creative Anticipation,” leaves off. That one details Smith’s long recovery from a 2004 car wreck. 

The incident last July as Smith headed solo to Camden, on one leg of a trip to Roque Island, left him unhurt, and thankful.

“It was miraculous. If I hadn’t worked on (the sit-ups), I wouldn’t be talking to you. I’d be at the bottom of Penobscot Bay,” Smith said Sunday. He also credited a survival instinct he said God instilled in him and faith his parents gave him.

In the interview, as in the book, the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine veteran recalled getting up to stretch his legs and then sitting on the canoe’s starboard gunnel. That was the wrong place to sit, he said; the canoe heeled and his back landed in the water; he clung to the gunnel, then did the “extraordinary sit-up” that saved him, landing him fully back in the craft.

Wife of 42 years Doris Smith said she would have wondered what caused her husband’s death if he’d never returned. “It would have been terrible for me. But he’s got to do what he’s got to do. I think he’s a lot more courageous than I am.”

She would rather be in a plastic kayak than a wooden canoe and isn’t comfortable with some of the adventures her husband takes. But that’s what he loves and if being out on the water ever claimed him, at least she would know he was doing what he wanted instead of sitting home watching television, she said.

“I couldn’t have said to him, ‘Don’t do it.’ That’s his life. And isn’t it better to have died doing something you enjoy?”

The day of the incident, she met her husband in Camden as planned; then she saw his wet clothes and learned about the mishap. The couple headed home to North Newcastle Road and later returned to Camden to trailer the boat to Jonesport where they had a camping reservation. Then they fulfilled his 30-year dream of visiting Roque Island. He’d wanted to ever since a friend told him about the place. The book notes that as they headed away from the island, Herbert Smith wondered if it’s better to leave a dream unfulfilled. Asked about that, he said he still wonders. Roque Island wasn’t a let-down, but the dream was done, he said. “Just to keep striving toward it, that’s the enjoyment of it. After you’ve achieved it, it’s over.”

“Creative Anticipation” carries the message that anticipating something good can help it to happen; “Moon and Square Stern Canoe” imparts further advice, along a similar theme, to always have goals. “Keep your goals going. Dreams never run out at any age ... I hope people get that from (the book),” he said.

Smith also hoped readers will enjoy the book’s many local references that were part of the trip, including Sheepscot Village’s reversing falls and Boothbay Harbor’s Townsend Gut.

His close call in the canoe has not deterred Smith from further outings in the 1936 craft named Christy. Next summer, he plans to take it to Stonington. “So, there’s another dream.”

Smith used acrylics for a painting on the new book’s cover depicting a canoe on a moonlit shore. He said Sherman’s Books and Stationery in Boothbay Harbor and the store’s other locations will carry the book.

Just before we got our first real taste of winter, we hiked the Ovens Mouth Preserve in Boothbay. Since our visit, it’s snowed — twice in fact!

Like the other preserves and land trusts we’ve featured, the Ovens Mouth Preserve is open year-round. If the snowy weather and freezing temperatures continue, we’ll soon be back to snowshoeing.

Ovens Mouth, a part of the Boothbay Region Land Trust, is on a peninsula. If you could see the preserve from high in the sky, it would look somewhat like a lobster claw, rather fitting for the Boothbay region.

There are two halves of the 146-acre preserve to hike, each with its own entrance. They’re linked together by a striking footbridge spanning a wide tidal inlet.

The entire trail system is over three miles long. It can be hiked in one visit. We chose to do it on separate days, starting with the shorter and much easier “Eastern Shore Loop.” The entrance and parking area for it is off Dover Road.

There are two interlinking trails here. The main one, blazed white, skirts the shoreline, while the other, blazed yellow, follows an old tote road and takes you through the woods. The road gradually runs uphill to a height of 50 feet, according to a topographical map. At the top where it flattens off, you’ll see the foundation stones of an early home site on the left.

Years ago, this spot must have offered a nice view of the water, but today the trees have grown up. Just before you reach the home site, you’ll notice what appears to be a small weep spring in a ring of rocks.

Following the shoreline trail takes you along the Cross River. At its northernmost point is the narrow channel known as “Ovens Mouth” separating Boothbay from Edgecomb. From here, the path loops back to the parking area. Along the way, you’ll see the bridge that carries you to the preserve’s western half.

The parking area for the western half is off Dover Cross Road. There are several trails here; the “Shore Loop” at 1.75 miles is the longest. Blazed white, it starts and finishes at the kiosk and wraps around this half of the peninsula.

We took the western route that starts on the left. It carries you through the forest over a series of small hills and gullies. Along the way, you’ll see a large boulder, a likely “glacier erratic” as my hiking companion pointed out.

The path abruptly turns north and rises, overlooking a gurgling stream that widens into a small inlet from the Cross River. The trail narrows considerably here and was slippery in spots from the recent rainy weather, so watch your footing. This time of year, it’s best to wear hiking boots and carry along a hiking stick. As you near Ovens Mouth, you’ll see high cliffs that form a barrier on the Edgecomb side of the water.

There are a number of stories about how Ovens Mouth got its name. One of the popular ones is that the early English settlers thought the deep-water channel surrounded by high cliffs resembled a baking oven. You might be interested to know there’s a bend in the road in Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire, England that’s known as “Ovens Mouth Bridge,” Ovens Mouth being spelled the same, with no apostrophe before the “s.”

The trail from the Ovens Mouth Preserve footbridge rises sharply uphill. A fine scenic vista awaits at the summit. We spent 90 minutes on this side of the preserve, stopping a number of times for picture-taking.

To visit the preserve from Route 27 headed to Boothbay Center, take Adams Pond Road on the left by the Cottage Connection, and then the first right onto Dover Road. This brings you to the eastern entrance of the preserve (approximately 2.4 miles). Bearing left on Dover Cross Road takes you to the preserve’s western entrance. To learn more, visit www.bbrlt.org.

The Wolverine girls varsity basketball team is 0-3 for the early season after losing to Carrabec, 30-22, in Stover Auditorium Thursday night.

Lindsey Gordon was Wiscasset’s high scorer with seven points, followed by Hayhlee Craig with six, Grace Webber with four, Ariel Mills with three and Leah Potter with two.

With a final score of 76-61, the Wiscasset Wolverine boys basketball team defeated Carrabec Thursday night to remain undefeated, three games in.

Ethan James had a 42-point night, Coach Dana Lawrence reported in an email. “Ethan’s teammates accelerated their efforts in making precision passes to a hot-handed scorer! Ethan capitalized on his height advantage and showed some of his skills!

“It was a jubilant team effort for the win,” Lawrence continued. “Missing two starters, we had some teammates step up and also have some success ... Ethan is an all-around player and teammate!”

On Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 5-7 p.m., Midcoast Conservancy will offer a full moon snowshoe hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. Enjoy a crisp evening illuminated by the glow of the moon and discover a new way of being in the woods. At night, sounds become more pronounced; listen for owls and the rustling of nighttime foragers along the trail.

Meet at the gate at HVNC at 5 p.m. Dress warmly, wear shoes with good grips if not snowshoeing or bring snowshoes, and bring a hiking stick if desired, snack, drink and flashlight or headlamp. Guide Chuck Dinsmore will lead the hike to the shore of Little Dyer Pond to watch the moon rise over the water. The hike will be about 40 minutes each way, and of moderate ease. Snowshoes are available by reservation from HVNC; to register, and reserve, go to www.midcoastconservancy.org/events or call (207) 389-5150.

The Wiscasset Middle High School boys varsity basketball team moved to 3-1 Tuesday night with a 69-45 loss to Madison. It was an away game for the Wolverines, whose third quarter scoring was confined to Ethan James’ two-pointer, according to an email from Coach Dana Lawrence.

Zach Reed was the Wolverines’ high scorer for the night with 13 points, followed by Cody Roberts with 11, James with eight, Logan Orr with six, Nate Woodman with four and Conlon Ranta with three.

The Wiscasset Middle High School girls varsity basketball team lost at home Tuesday night to Madison, 49-32, according to information Coach Ben Clark provided. The loss makes the Lady Wolverines 0-4 on the season.

The Wiscasset boys varsity basketball team moved to 3-2 on the season following a loss in a makeup game at home against Hall-Dale High School Thursday night. The score was 46-42, Coach Dana Lawrence reported in an email.

“We were 6 for 17 from the line and turned (the) ball over. Good game by Hall-Dale!”

Among Wolverine statistics for the night, Nate Woodman had six rebounds, Kevin Lynch, seven, and Ethan James, eight; and Cody Roberts had four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition for millions of Americans. However, while choosing a resolution is easy, sticking to it can be impossible. A 2014 nationwide YMCA survey found that less than a quarter of respondents kept their resolutions. Many (71 percent) tried, but stated that they fell short of their goals, while 40 percent confessed that gave up within the first few months, even weeks, of the New Year!

This year, the Boothbay Region YMCA is encouraging community members to give their New Year’s resolutions a boost by creating smaller, more manageable goals that can lead to success of a larger one. “’Getting healthy’ is not a goal—it’s too broad,” explains Abby Jones, Healthy Living Coordinator. “You can break down that broad resolution into multiple, more manageable and measurable goals. If you aren’t active at all right now, try to incorporate activity into your routine three days a week, before telling yourself that you’ll work out every single day.”

Everyone in the community is invited to write their resolution on the “Community Resolution Board” in the YMCA lobby and to like the Boothbay Region YMCA on Facebook for updates and inspiration related to the board throughout the month of January.

If you’re looking for support and accountability around a healthy living resolution, the Y is offering a 12 week Tabata Bootcamp Challenge that will run through March 31^st. Don’t be afraid of the name; this program is designed for all people, whether you are new or returning to exercise or you want to change up your routine in the New Year.

In the program, participants will group train twice per week with Jones. The workouts are high intensity and time efficient – only 35 minutes long! Participants will record their starting and final weights with optional weekly weigh ins. There’s also an option for additional support with daily recipes and workouts through the class website page.

For every group training session attended, participants may enter their name into a drawing for a free adult membership to the Y for the rest of 2017. The winner of the drawing will be announced at the end of the program.

The community and YMCA members are invited to free demo classes the first week of January to learn more about the program. The demo classes are Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 10:30am; Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 5 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 5 at 10:30am; or Friday, Jan. 6 at 5pm. The program officially kicks off the week of Jan. 9.

For additional tips or to learn how to get involved with the Boothbay Region YMCA, contact 207-633-2855 or visit www.boothbayregionymca.org.

Heading into Tuesday night’s games, the Wiscasset boys varsity basketball team is fresh off another win that included another huge night for Ethan James Friday night; and the Lady Wolverines continue to look for their first win of the season.

The Mt. Valley girls topped Wiscasset 53-19 on Friday. Maeve Blodgett was Wiscasset’s high scorer with six points, followed by Hayhlee Craig’s five, Arille Mills’ three, Shannon James’ and Lindsey Gordon’s two each and one point from Grace Webber.

At home in Stover Auditorium, Wolverine Ethan James racked up 46 points to lead Wiscasset to an 84-69 win over Mt. Valley. The total surpassed his 42-point contribution to the boys’ win over Carrabec on Dec. 15.

Cody Roberts was Wiscasset’s second-highest scorer Friday, with 11 points. Zach Reed and Russell Marr each had eight points; Kevin Lynch, seven; and Logan Orr and Nate Woodman, two each.

The girls host Oak Hill in Stover Auditorium Tuesday. The boys will be on the road at Oak Hill. At both venues, junior varsity plays at 5:30 p.m., varsity 7 p.m.

Two days after Christmas found us exploring the trails of the Lobster Cove Meadow Preserve, one of the many properties under the stewardship of the Boothbay Region Land Trust.

The winter solstice has come and gone but the sun remains pretty much at its lowest point in the sky. We arrived at the preserve shortly before 11 a.m. The mercury had climbed to 50 degrees, although it felt much cooler in the shade of the trees.

The main trail just to the left of the kiosk carried us downhill into the woods; the path was damp in places with patches of melting snow here and there. There are several trails to enjoy, all of which loop around and intersect with one another. We followed the blue blazed path, which is well-marked and easily traversed.

Patches of ice along the way made for challenging walking here and there. I nearly lost my footing several times and wished I’d thought to carry along a set of stabilizers to slip over my boots. The ice certainly didn’t slow down Bo, our dog, who raced ahead as far as his leash would stretch. The path soon led us to a broad, sunlit meadow bordered on one side by towering northern pines and the partially frozen marsh on other. The sky above was cloudless as far as the eye could see and robin-egg blue. 

Along the way we met a woman out enjoying the warm weather with her two poodles. The path soon carried us to a wider ATV trail that runs about a mile southward. An overnight rainstorm followed by the balmy temperatures had transformed it to a sheet of slick ice. The ATV trail runs parallel to a vast marsh fed by Meadow Brook, also referred to as Meadow Cove Creek, which spills into Lewis Cove.

Around 1880, the brook was dammed, forming a large lake where ice was cut into blocks and sold. The ice works continued here into the early part of the 20th century before closing. In 2007, the BRLT had the dam repaired. The ATV trail ends at the Indian Trail that carries you to another BRLT property, the Appalachee Preserve.

The BRLT purchased the 46.8 acres making up the Lobster Cove Meadow Preserve in 2002. The woods, meadow and marshland provide prime breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. We saw several excellent viewing spots overlooking the marsh and caught sight of a hawk perched high up in a tree.

Lobster Cove Meadow is on Eastern Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. From Route 27 turn onto Route 96 at the traffic signal by the Hannaford Supermarket. Drive three tenths of a mile, Eastern Avenue is on your right (we didn’t see a street sign). The preserve’s parking area is just past the Hometown Convenience store. The preserve is open to the public year-round.

To learn more about the Lobster Cove Meadow Preserve or to make a donation to the BRLT, visit www.bbrlt.org.

The Wiscasset boys varsity basketball team continued its winning ways Tuesday night with a 55-49 win at Oak Hill, Wolverine Coach Dana Lawrence reported.

In an email after Tuesday’s game, Lawrence commented on James and on how the team’s season is going. “Ethan is performing well! He will draw a lot of attention (and) is surrounded by teammates that share in their common goal. His teammates believe in him and support all he gives! There will be nights where Ethan may not score a lot and he knows his teammates can handle that.

”We are a work in progress,” Lawrence continued. “We have had challenging games from the start and they will pay dividends later! We will get a spot! The MVC conference is one of the toughest around. You have to play and compete game after game!”

The team plays next at Boothbay, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 29, Midcoast Conservancy will host the sixth annual Liberal Cup Biathlon at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Skiers of all abilities are encouraged to register, either individually or as teams, and in-costume is even better! The spirit of the day is friendly competition and a celebration of outdoor sports in a beautiful natural setting.

Biathlon is an Olympic sport that combines cross country skiing and target shooting. All air rifles are provided by the Southern Maine Biathlon club, and each racer will receive safety training on how to use the rifle.

Race categories are based on self-selected skill levels, and there are special categories for youth racers and snowshoe racers. Awards will be given out for best costume, best team name, and for youth and high school aged participants. The winning team will take home the official Liberal Cup trophy.

Races will begin about 9 a.m.; all day long there will be bonfires, great food, and something on tap from the Liberal Cup. To register, go to midcoastconservancy.org and click on the event posting on the right side of the page. Questions: (207) 389-5150.

As part of its growing Outdoor Adventure & Learning Hubs programming, Midcoast Conservancy is offering a number of opportunities for kids and their families to learn new skills, or put some polish on existing ones.

In partnership with the Wiscasset Community Center, Family Days events will offer a chance to do some cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Sundays from Jan. 15 until Feb. 12, from 9 to 11a.m., try out skiing and snowshoeing on the trails around the community center. Equipment will be provided for anyone who doesn’t have skis or snowshoes. Play in the snow, then warm-up by the fire: a great way to enjoy the outdoors!

On Feb. 3, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Midcoast Conservancy will partner with Maine Sport Outfitters to offer a Winter Skills Day in Liberty. Spend the afternoon behind the Walker School and see what fun can be had in a winter environment. Experts in the field of Winter Camping will offer an afternoon of skills training for those interested in learning about winter camping and recreating. Participants will learn to build a winter campsite, and will be introduced to several different shelter options, from building a quinzee to sleeping under a tarp shelter to learning what a bivy sack is. The group will even set up a winter camp kitchen, along with a fire pit and snow benches from which to enjoy hot cocoa. After the warm-up, Walker School principal Glen Widmer will lead a snowshoe hike up Haystack Mountain.

All equipment will be provided for anyone needing winter gear, and all programs are free. Midcoast Conservancy’s Outdoor Adventure & Learning Program aims to increase access to outdoor sport and outdoor educational opportunities for children and families in the Midcoast region. Generous funding from Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Quimby Family Foundation, and Renys Foundation has enabled Midcoast Conservancy to purchase the equipment needed to provide these opportunities and work to determine the needs of various communities. The goal of the program is to ensure that access to outdoor adventure and learning opportunities is within a 15-minute reach of every child and family who lives in the Midcoast.

For more information on the Outdoor Learning & Adventure Program, or to register for any of the free events, please go to www.midcoastconservancy.org or call 389-5150.

The Boothbay Region High School boys varsity basketball team held off a fourth-quarter rally by the visiting Wiscasset Wolverines Tuesday night and hung on for a 59-55 win at Porter Memorial Gymnasium.

Trailing by 10 going into the fourth quarter, 52-42, the Wolverines battled to within two points and had a chance to take the lead with about 30 seconds to go, but a missed three-pointer and two free throws by Jacob Leonard with just over five seconds to play sealed the win for Boothbay.

“It was a lot of fun to see the team put a game together,” said Seahawk Coach I.J. Pinkham. “They stayed with the game plan, played with patience when necessary, and shared the ball.  Things got a little tense in the final minutes, and it was nice to see Jacob Leonard hit two free throws to ice the win.”

Kyle Ames led the Seahawks with 18 points, followed by Eli Gudroe with 15 and Leonard with 11.

Wiscasset was led by Ethan James with 20 points, followed by Nate Woodman with 11.

Boothbay improves to 4-3 on the season while Wiscasset drops to 5-2.

Page Brown led the Boothbay Seahawks with 25 points as they beat the Wiscasset Wolverines, 53-18, on Jan. 3 at Wiscasset Middle High School.

Wiscasset played well in the first half, only trailing Boothbay by 12. After senior Hayhlee Craig fouled out with only 16 minutes played, Wiscasset struggled with its low-post defense in the second half of the game. At halftime, the score was 27-15. From there, Boothbay outscored Wiscasset  with another 26 points to Wiscasset’s three.

Other scorers for Boothbay included Kate Friant with 10, Faith Blethen with eight, Sydney Meader with four, and Sydney Mercier, Nicole Clarke and Chloe Arsenault with two each.

Hayhlee Craig led Wiscasset with eight points. Other contributors included Grace Webber with four, Lindsey Gordon with three, Sydnie Thayer with two and Shannon James with one. For steals, Sydnie Thayer had three, Grace Webber, Lindsey Gordon, and Maeve Blodgett each had two and Keisha Small had one.

Boothbay improved to 8-0, while Wiscasset fell to 1-7. Wiscasset’s next game is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 at Dirigo High School.

The Wiscasset Wolverines varsity boys team beat the Dirigo Cougars, 72-56, on Thursday, Jan. 6. The scoring for Wiscasset was very spread out, with five players each scoring 10 or more points.

Wiscasset managed to keep a lead all game The team got everyone involved in the offense throughout the game. At halftime the Wolverines were up by 14, scoring 39 while holding Dirigo to 25. The second half was a closer match, with Wiscasset only adding two points to their lead.

For Wiscasset, the scoring leaders were Cody Roberts with 17 points, Zach Reed with 15, Ethan James and Logan Orr with 11 each and Russell Marr with 10. For Dirigo, Luke Leuders had a game-high 24, with Cooper Chiasson putting up 19 points.

Marr dished out 10 assists for his first double-double of his career, and Logan Orr had five assists. Ethan James led the team with 11 rebounds, with Kevin Lynch and Cody Roberts each having five boards.

After this game, Dirigo fell to 1-6 while Wiscasset improved to 6-3. The Wolverines’ next game is Saturday, Jan. 7, in Wiscasset Middle High School’s Stover Auditorium against the 7-0 Winthrop Ramblers.

The Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) recently welcomed Jessica Richards to serve as an environmental steward and AmeriCorps volunteer for a 45-week, 1700-hour term of national service. Jessica is the daughter of Karen Small and Timothy Richards, and is from Alna. She graduated from Orono High School in 2011, and received a bachelor’s degree of science in environmental sustainability, health and safety from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.

Jessica Richards will be completing a year of service with the Midcoast Conservancy in Wiscasset. The environmental stewards serve individually with nonprofits, state or federal agencies to increase organizational volunteer capacity and aid in the development and implementation of host sites land management plans.

Governor Paul R. LePage welcomed Richards’s decision to enter into national service in Maine. "On behalf of the State of Maine, I would like to congratulate you on your commitment to serving Maine as a member of the Maine Conservation Corps," said Governor LePage. "The Maine Conservation Corps has done tremendous work making positive changes to our great State and Nation."

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Walt Whitcomb also welcomed Richards, and highlighted the important work that the MCC does on behalf of Maine citizens. "As part of the DACF, the MCC's four-fold mission is to: accomplish conservation projects, create conservation employment, provide conservation education, and engage conservation volunteers," said Whitcomb. "Since 1983, MCC-supported projects have helped build the infrastructure that so many Maine citizens enjoy in our parks and public places."

More information about the Maine Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps opportunities can be found at the www.maine.gov/doc/parks/mcc website.

Crowdfunding has become the go-to amateur fundraising platform. GoFundMe, Kickstarter, Indiegogo; most everyone has seen one, donated to one, or shared one to support a variety of causes. Why not for land conservation?

On Jan. 9, the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) launched its first ever online fundraising through WorthWild. Following successful campaigns across the country, KELT is hoping to raise the final funds to conserve the 144-acre Squam Creek Preserve on Westport Island. Visit www.kennebecestuary.org for a link to the Squam Creek Preserve campaign site. Donate and share with friends to help spread the word. Every gift will help make this incredible preserve a reality!

The Squam Creek Preserve is one of the largest undeveloped coastal parcels remaining on Westport Island. Located along West Shore Road, this property boasts 3,300 feet of frontage along Squam Creek. Significant tidal waterfowl and wading bird habitat surrounded by continuous forest provides havens for cormorants, ducks, herons, song birds, deer, and moose. Squam Creek is used for commercial oyster harvesting and is a rich shellfish habitat.

The property is the historical center of town and the existing trail system highlights remaining stone foundations and rock walls as well as provides extensive recreational opportunities for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, dog walking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing and even has an existing put-in for kayaks. These recreational amenities will become permanent public opportunities if the land becomes protected.

Fundraising for the preserve began in 2016 and $53,000 more is needed to met our goal of $536,000. This land protection project has a wide range of support and is closing in on the final goal. KELT is enthusiastic about the crowdfunding opportunities and is excited for the opportunity to further share the significant value of this preserve.

From Jan. 9 to Feb. 14, look for regular Facebook and website posts and email updates about the campaign. Donating and sharing the campaign with friends will ensure this land will be protected for future generations.

FMI visit www.kennebecestuary.org or call (207) 442-8400.

Oxbow Brewing Company has released Catalyst, its first bottle of the year. The barrel-aged farmhouse ale features estate honey from the farmhouse brewery located in Newcastle.

Oxbow will donate $1 from the sale of each bottle from both Tasting Rooms in Newcastle (274 Jones Woods Road) and Portland (49 Washington Avenue) to Midcoast Conservancy through Jan. 15. Oxbow is proud to support their mission to promote healthy lands, waters, wildlife and people in Maine’s Midcoast.

In addition to bottles to go, Catalyst is also available on draft and in bottle pours at both of Oxbow’s locations. For a complete lineup of their rotating farmhouse ales on tap and bottles for sale, visit http://www.oxbowbeer.com.

The Newcastle Tasting Room is open Wednesday though Sunday from noon until 7 p.m. The Portland tasting Room is open seven days a week from noon until 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and from noon until 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Last Saturday, we joined throngs of other birders who headed over to Rockland to look for some rare birds. Two pink-footed geese had been spotted a week or so before and had been reported to be quite easy to see.

When we told our 14-year-old son about the plans and the bird we would be looking for, he first assumed we were pulling his leg because of the bird’s name. It is true that if one were trying to come up with a fake bird name to poke fun at birders, “pink-footed goose” would be a good candidate. But indeed a pink-footed goose is a real bird, and its pink feet distinguish it from its closest relative, the bean goose, which has orange legs.

Pink-footed geese historically at the global level had quite a small population, numbering around 20,000-30,000 birds in the 1930s and with a breeding range restricted to eastern Greenland, Iceland, and Norway’s Svalbard Islands. The population breeding in Greenland and Iceland is now the largest population and winters in Scotland and in northern and eastern England, while the smaller Svalbard population winters in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Over the last few decades, pink-footed goose populations have exploded, with wintering numbers in Britain estimated at 360,000 and an additional 60,000 in mainland Europe.

Likely as a consequence of these greater numbers and perhaps some expansion of the breeding range over the last 20 years, small but increasing numbers of pink-footed geese have been heading south on this side of the Atlantic and ending up in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. Here in Maine there have been a few of these birds, but we had not yet seen one so we were excited to know that there were two hanging out less than an hour’s drive away.

The two pink-footed geese had been consorting with a flock of Canada geese and a single snow goose that fed on the grass of the local elementary school ball fields. We knew we were in the right place when we saw five cars already there, with a small crowd of birders scanning the field with binoculars and telescopes. Even more impressive, as we stepped out of the car a birder came rushing by us toward his car, passing on the breathless message that the birds had just been rediscovered a quarter mile up the road behind a factory building. It was amazing how quickly the cars in the parking lot near the school became a caravan heading up the road, ours among them!

There was another cluster of cars behind the factory and the flock of geese were readily apparent in the field below, allowing for beautiful views in the telescope and binoculars despite the frigid temperatures. And, as advertised, they did have pink legs! Our son became a believer after studying them for a few minutes through the scope.

Jeffrey V. Wells, Ph.D., is a Fellow of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dr. Wells is one of the nation's leading bird experts and conservation biologists and author of the Birder’s Conservation Handbook. His grandfather, the late John Chase, was a columnist for the Boothbay Register for many years. Allison Childs Wells, formerly of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a senior director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, a nonprofit membership organization working statewide to protect the nature of Maine. Both are widely published natural history writers and are the authors of the book, Maine’s Favorite Birds.

The Lisbon High School Greyhounds beat the Wiscasset Middle High School Wolverines 36-25 on Tuesday night at Stover Auditorium, behind Giana Russo's 12 points. Throughout the game, it was close, but in the fourth quarter Lisbon pulled away.

The first quarter ended 9-7 with Lisbon leading, behind Russo’s hot start of seven points. At halftime, the lead stayed the same, at 13-11. Like the second quarter, the third quarter was tight, with the teams scoring nine each. The fourth quarter was when Wiscasset struggled a bit, allowing 14 points to their own five points, all by Hayhlee Craig, as well as a few turnovers.

In addition to Russo’s 12 points, Lisbon’s Kip Steele had 11, Kaylin Le had eight, Mallory Fairbanks had three and Valerie Doucette had 2. For Wiscasset, Craig had a game high 13 points, with Lindsey Gordon helping out with five, Grace Webber putting up 3, and Jade Rego and Sydnie Thayer each scoring two points. The Wolverines played good defense, with steals by Craig, Gordon, and Webber. The three had a combined six blocks between them.

Lisbon improved to 6-3 while Wiscasset fell to 1-9. The Wolverines’ next game is Thursday, Jan. 12 at Winthrop High School at 7 p.m

The Wiscasset Wolverines boys varsity basketball team lost at home Saturday night against Winthrop, 80-53.

Ethan James was Wiscasset’s high scorer, with 27 points, followed by Zach Reed with 19, Nate Woodman with four and Logan Orr with three.

The Wiscasset Wolverines boys varsity basketball team beat Lisbon High School 57-47 in Lisbon on Jan. 11.

Ethan James led Wiscasset’s scoring with 17 points. Zach Reed had 13, Nate Woodman 10, Logan Orr eight points, Cody Roberts seven and Charles Colby and Andrew Chubbuck, one each.

On Thursday, Jan. 12, the boys host Telstar. Junior varsity plays at 5:30; varsity, 7 p.m.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens announced Wednesday it has received a generous gift of land from an anonymous donor. The 24.81 acre parcel is adjacent to the organization’s Boothbay, Maine property and contains over one-quarter mile of lakefront on Knickerbocker and Little Knickerbocker lakes, which form part of the Boothbay Region’s water supply reservoir system. The parcel abuts the Boothbay Region YMCA’s Camp Knickerbocker and after the camp itself, the donated property is the largest parcel of undeveloped waterfront on the lakes, giving it exceptionally high conservation value.

CMBG expresses its sincere gratitude to the conservation-minded donor and plans to place the land into permanent preservation.

William Cullina, president and CEO of the non-profit, says that the lakefront is an invaluable addition to its education and research mission. “We are fortunate to have a great diversity of wetlands on our 295 acre property – tidal saltwater and salt marsh, streams, bogs, ponds, vernal pools, swamps and now this lakefront and associated emergent wetlands. It will provide a wonderful outdoor classroom for our wetlands ecology curriculum.” Another 22 acre parcel of significant wetland habitat was donated to the organization in 2014, bringing its total conserved lands to over 200 acres.

The gift will also benefit the Boothbay Region YMCA. “We are very happy that this donation will help buffer Camp Knickerbocker and maintain the privacy of the campers,” Cullina added. CMBG is working with the YMCA to maintain an existing trail network through the mature woodlands that campers can use to access the rest of the camp property.

Most importantly, preservation of the land will help protect the region’s drinking water supply. If not conserved the parcel could have been divided into as many as six waterfront building lots connected by a private drive.

“With its sloping topography and extensive waterfront, development of this parcel could have been highly and negatively impactful to the water quality in the lakes,” Cullina said.

CMBG is currently implementing the first phase of a 20-year master plan, including expanded infrastructure, a new visitor center, glass conservatory, additional gardens, nature trails and research and education facilities. For more information, call 207-633-8000, or visit www.MaineGardens.org.

Many owls, especially some of our common owls in Maine, actually breed in the middle of winter, so now is prime time to go on an owl prowl. A full moon makes it even better!

Join Midcoast Conservancy for a Full Moon Hike and Owl Prowl to learn about all things owl-related. Monday, Feb. 9, from 5-7 p.m. at Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) in Jefferson, meet at the Nature Center gate at 5 to enjoy a winter night in the woods. Bird enthusiast Jody Telfair will teach about owls as hikers are guided along a trail where owls are apt to be found, calling and listening. After the walk, once the moon is up, warm up by the woodstove with tea and hot chocolate. Feel free to bring something to eat.

This event is great for all ages and abilities. The walk will be a little more than a mile, and the difficulty will vary depending on the ground conditions. We may be walking on snowy trails so please come prepared. Dress warmly with plenty of layers, and bring snowshoes if necessary. Snowshoes are available for use by reservation. Remember to bring a headlamp or flashlight even though we’ll mostly be walking without light.

There is a $5 fee to attend this event. Please register online at  http://www.midcoastconservancy.org/full-moon-owl-prowl-feb-9/. Please call 389-5150 or e-mail info@midcoastconservancy.org with any questions. 

Since 1932, The Bath Golf Club has been through many changes. Ownership groups have come and gone, but things are shaping up differently this time.

Led by a team from various backgrounds and backed by a group of local investors, The New Bath Golf Club aims to revitalize the property inside and out. “The course has always been a gem of Midcoast Maine. By focusing on the quality of the course and bringing out the natural beauty that surrounds it, we can highlight what everyone has always fallen in love with here in Bath,” says Leon Oliver, director of golf. “The Wayne Stiles design has always been considered a favorite. With a renewed focus on consistency and quality, we know that will continue to be the case.”

Besides the course, the historic clubhouse is also getting a facelift. Events and Media Manager Ryan Atwood outlined some of the exciting changes.

“We are engaging our customers and members like never before,” said Atwood. “Beyond the basic cosmetic improvements, we are excited to announce the opening of the Ship City Brew Pub. We will open early this year for golfers and the public. Big TVs, pool tables, a beautiful new rustic bar with a fresh menu; this play is going to be serious.”

The club in Bath might draw business from all over, but it has always rooted itself in the local community. “The early support we have gotten throughout our transition has been incredible,” says General Manager Sean McCarthy. “We have a renewed drive to be community oriented, and everything we give we always receive back ten-fold. We are incredibly lucky to have the support of everyone here and we are going to remain focused on better serving our customers and our community.”

The Bath Golf Club is located at 387 Whiskeag Rd. in Bath, Maine. You can reach the club for additional information by emailing info@thebathgolfclub.com or by calling (207) 442-8411. They are currently running numerous specials for new and returning members and golfers.

Garrett Coffin brought hot dogs and steak for sons Ivan, 11, and Chase, 9, and him to enjoy on their afternoon of ice fishing on Damariscotta Lake in Newcastle Sunday.

In addition to the food and the ice auger, Coffin brought a Honda dirt bike. He planned to join friends with their bikes for some riding on the ice.

The dirt biking has been going on for several weekends this winter, on the nicer days, participants said. “It’s something to do because there hasn’t been much snow for this time of  year,” Coffin, of Nobleboro, said.

“There’s at least 12 inches of ice here,” he said in answer to a question as he prepared to unload the auger from the bed of a pickup truck.

Cones were set up and bikes’ studded tires were forming tracks. One of the first riders of the afternoon, Mark Mainella of Nobleboro, wore a helmet, as did all riders observed. He compared the riding experience to flat-track dirt bike riding with the added potential the ice creates for sliding. He can get the bike up to about 50 mph on the ice. 

The noontime temperature in the area was 29 F, or 23 F with the wind chill, meteorologist Margaret Curtis of the National Weather Service’s Gray office said.

By about 12:30 p.m., a dozen vehicles were parked beside the road, on the lake side of Route 215. Within minutes, the lineup grew. Spectators dotted the shoreline under the blue sky. Trees cast long shadows onto the ice. The slope down to the ice was mostly bare ground with occasional patches of ice. Some spectators stood smiling and talking a few feet onto the frozen lake where tufts of brush protruded. Children slid sideways or forward with their boots. Some rode dirt bikes.

Damariscotta’s Keith Reilly sat on the banking. A short time earlier, he was operating a radio-controlled plane, as he does at a lot of area ponds.

The location is a good one for the hobby because it’s a big, open area and it’s flat, Reilly said.

It’s not too late to register for the sixth annual Liberal Cup Biathlon at Hidden Valley Nature Center Sunday, Jan. 29. Midcoast Conservancy will host this fun-filled day of skiing, shooting targets with air rifles and enjoying a winter day around a bonfire. Skiers of all abilities are encouraged to register, either individually or as teams, and in-costume is even better! Snowshoers are welcome. The spirit of the event is friendly competition and a celebration of outdoor sports in a beautiful natural setting.

The course, which will be determined just before race day to include the snowiest terrain, will take skiers through some of HVNC’s 30 miles of trails. After each of two loops, racers will shoot, then ski one last stretch to the finish. All air rifles are provided by the Southern Maine Biathlon club, and each racer will receive safety training on how to use the rifle.

Race categories are based on self-selected skill levels, and there are special categories for youth racers and snowshoe racers. Awards will be given out for best costume, best team name, and for youth and high school aged participants. Awards include gift certificates for overnight stays at HVNC huts. The majority of skiers are in the novice to intermediate range, so don’t be intimidated by the race: fun and silly are the themes for the day!

Races will begin about 9 a.m.; all day long there will be bonfires, great food, and something on tap from Liberal Cup Brewery. The Biathlon will be held regardless of the weather. To register, go to midcoastconservancy.org and click on the event posting on the right side of the page. Questions: (207) 389-5150.

Online registration for Boothbay Sea and Science Center (BSSC) summer 2017 programs is now open. BSSC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that offers integrated hands-on sailing, boating and marine science learning experiences for youth ages 5-17.

To learn more about BSSC and to register for summer 2017 programs, please go to: www.boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org.

A limited amount of financial assistance is available.

For questions, please contact Pauline Dion at: info@boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org or by calling 207-350-5357.

The Winthrop girls high school varsity basketball team defeated Wiscasset, 52-16, Jan. 12. Hayhlee Craig led the Wolverines’ scoring with seven points. Maeve Blodgett had three; Lindsey Gordon and Sydnie Thayer had two each; and Jade Rego and Arille Mills had one each.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday found us enjoying the January thaw by hiking the Spirit Pond Preserve in Phippsburg.

Scores of people drive by it on their way to Popham Beach. It’s located off state Route 209 on the right about three-tenths of a mile from Parker Head Road. The parking area is small and unfortunately can only accommodate two or three vehicles. The trail head begins behind a wooden kiosk where there’s a sign-in book; I noticed one recent visitor was from Baltimore, Maryland.

You can hike around the property by either the eastern or western loop blazed in blue. We took the eastern loop that forks a short ways into the woods. Bearing left here on the orange-blazed path brings you to the adjoining McDonald Preserve on the opposite side of Spirit Pond.

The woods here include some pretty huge northern pine trees and longstanding oaks and maples. We heard a pair of woodpeckers tapping away and soon caught sight of them high above us. Later we spotted a flock of 14 Canada geese swimming in Spirit Pond. They quickly took to the air when we emerged from the woods flying in V-formation over the horizon. Canada geese are somewhat unique birds in that they mate for life.

Spirit Pond is a good-sized body of water that’s tidal-fed by the Morse River. The pond and surrounding marsh provide an important habitat for fish and migratory birds. I spotted four mallard ducks swimming further out in the water.

We passed several tumbling stone walls along with a foundation footprint showing where some past settler once lived. On a small wooded knoll was a rock formation. From our vantage point, it looked like a giant spearhead pointed at the sky. Seeing it reminded me of a story associated with Spirit Pond and three unusual stones discovered in this area with strange carvings on them.

As the story goes, in 1971 a local man named Walter J. Elliott, Jr. found what he thought were three rune stones, one of them appearing to have a map inscribed on it. The stones were initially believed to be of Nordic origin offering proof to the theory that the Norsemen had visited the New World long before Columbus claimed the honor.

Others quickly debunked the find, challenging the stones’ authenticity. The Spirit Pond Rune Stones as they came to be called were nonetheless deemed important enough to be made part of the collection at the Maine State Museum. I contacted the museum for more information but as of this writing have not heard back.

The trail follows the western edge of Spirit Pond past several secluded coves. On the shore of one was a handmade camouflaged duck blind littered with a dozen spent shotgun shells. The preserve is open to hunting during the hunting seasons.

The morning was breezy but by the time the sun had climbed to its noontime height we had shed our gloves and mittens. The temperature was warming up to a balmy 38 degrees.

At the southern end of the pond, we looked over what remains of the old dam that once  powered a mill. We arrived just as the tide was rushing in. Looking southwards, we could see Campbell Island and the summit of Morse Mountain beyond.

The return loop took us past an immense salt marsh remarkably clear of snow. The rutted tote road we followed was submerged in several places along the route back. We carefully avoided pools of murky water beneath a layer of thin ice. The road snakes its way northward through the woods. In 10 minutes we were back at the parking area.

Later, after we returned home, we were quite surprised to find Bo, our dog, had picked up a tick along the way. A tick in mid-January, that’s hard to believe!

Wiscasset’s Steve Christianson of Willow Lane accompanied my wife and me on this most enjoyable 90-minute hike. He remarked several times on the absence of mid-winter snow, even in the most shaded areas. We hope to return soon to explore McDonald Preserve.

Phippsburg is about a 30-minute ride from Wiscasset. There are a number of excellent hiking trails to enjoy here along with several state parks, too. The trails are managed and maintained by the Phippsburg Land Trust made up of volunteers. Nearby are the Wilbur Preserve at Cox Head offering a splendid view of Atkins Bay and historic Fort Popham on the mouth of the Kennebec River. There are also the Perkins Farm and Denny Reed Point trails to enjoy.

You can learn more, including rules for visiting the preserves, by visiting www.phippsburglandtrust.org.

Boy Scouts working on their Eagle Scout service projects in Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Somerset and Franklin counties in 2016 provided more than 6,500 hours of service to their communities as they worked towards Scouting's highest honor. The Kennebec Valley District Boy Scout committee released the numbers on the 2016 Eagle Scout class and they show that 37 young men in our area completed all requirements for the Eagle Scout rank and one female Venture Crew member from Winslow who has dual citizenship in Canada earned Scouts Canada's equivalent to the Eagle badge- the Chief Scout of Canada. Together they provided leadership to projects that gave 6,635 hours of service.

Eagle Scout requirements

Over the years, requirements for the Eagle Scout Award have changed to meet the needs of the era; however, certain elements of the program have remained true from the original Eagle Scout requirements. A boy must demonstrate citizenship and caring for his community and others, leadership qualities, and outdoor skills that show his self-sufficiency and ability to overcome obstacles. Today, a boy must earn 21 merit badges, 12 of which are required: First Aid, Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Personal Management, Personal Fitness, Swimming or Hiking or Cycling, Communications, Family Life, Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving, and Environmental Science. Beyond the merit badges, a candidate must also plan and carry out a service project to benefit the community. In addition, he must have held a troop leadership position during his Scouting tenure. Finally, the Eagle Scout candidate undergoes a rigorous board of review in which his district, council, and troop leaders evaluate his “attitude and practice of the ideals of Scouting.” Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout must happen before a boy’s 18th birthday.

Leaders

Scouting in Kennebec Valley District is run by hundreds volunteer leaders with support from a small professional staff. One of the key leaders is District Commissioner Charlie Fergusson of Windsor. "The importance of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout cannot be overstated! The impact it has on, not only the Boy Scouts' future, but also the parents and family of the Eagle Scout. It is an accomplishment never forgotten. I am forever proud that I have two sons who achieved scouting's' highest rank that there are no words that can do it justice. It has already opened so many doors of opportunity for both of them, such as colleges and career opportunities. I cannot tell you how many times when I have discussed scouting that someone has said they have a Father, Brother, or Brothers who are Eagle Scouts and how it has immeasurably improved their life circumstances. Eagle Scout is more than a rank in scouting. It is a life changer," Fergusson said.

Projects

Part of the rank of Eagle requires the youth member to give leadership to a meaningful project that will benefit their community. Kennebec Valley District, which delivers Scouting to the five counties of Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Franklin and Somerset, saw projects ranging from trail improvements in Benton to the preservation of the history of local veterans at the Library of Congress, from tree and plant identification signs at Smithfield Plantations to the collection of school supplies for needy children in Zambia, from the construction of costume racks and theatre improvements at Gardiner Area High School to the securing of back to school supplies for kids in the foster child program, and from the construction of a bridge at the West Gardiner Nature Trail to the crafting of 50 baby quilts for sick babies and toddlers at Reddington Fairview General Hospital, and from major improvements at the Quaker Hill Cemetery in China to the building of lockers for personal equipment at Titcomb Mountain Ski Area in Farmington. The list goes on and on.

Southport Scouts

Sarah Sherman of Southport worked with two Eagle Scouts last year in her role as Scoutmaster of Troop 238. “Both Jacob Bishopp and Draco Peaslee are hardworking young men. Draco built a wheelchair ramp and new stairs for the Boothbay Region Fish and Game Club making the clubhouse handicapped accessible as his Eagle Scout project. Jacob created a part of the Southport Methodist Church for the entire community to enjoy."

History and value

The Eagle Scout badge was first given in 1912 to Arthur Eldred, a Scout from Brooklyn, New York. By 1982, more than 1 million young men had reached the rank, and the 2 millionth Eagle Scout was recognized in 2009. In 2011, the BSA welcomed more than 51,000 new Eagle Scouts. The organization has averaged more than 50,000 new Eagle Scouts per year over the past six years.

Kathryn Dingley Gurney of Industry, parent of 2016 Eagle Scouts Michael and Alexander Gurney, said, " Boy Scouts is a program that has allowed our boys to experience adventures that they would not get anywhere else, all the time allowing the entire family to be involved in the journey."

Young men who earned Eagle nationally in 2015 combined to record 8,503,337 hours of service on Eagle projects. That’s an average of 156.4 hours of service per Eagle project. With the value of volunteer time at $23.07 an hour, that means Eagle Scouts and the volunteers they led contributed more than $196 million worth of time working on these projects.

John Wood of Hope has worked with many of the Scouts in this area as they complete all the requirements for Eagle. “I enjoy my time in Scouting. I get a chance to help and be an influence on kids who want to make positive impact in our communities and our country.”

Scouts learn why it’s important to be of service to others, how to lead and how to be strong contributors to their communities. The Scout Oath and Scout Law guide them to grow up to be young men of good character, help them meet the challenges of an ever-changing society and serve as role models for others.

Vernon Bradeen, Scoutmaster and District Advancement Committee volunteer from Warren  said, "I believe Scouting prepares young men for adulthood more than any other program out there. Scouts learn respect for themselves and others, respect for country and authority. They learn how to interact with adults through merit badges and service projects. Boards of review teach them skills that are important for job interviews as an adult. As a Scoutmaster I get to watch the Scout progress from a child to a young man and can see the change as it happens. My Troop is a vital part of our community, they know we will always do our best!"

For those with a passion for conservation, Damariscotta River Association (DRA) is offering a unique overview of natural resource topics and stewardship-related activities along the Midcoast.

Coordinated by DRA and maintained through partnerships with many area conservation organizations and state agencies, the Midcoast Stewards Program offers participants the opportunity to learn about natural and cultural history from a number of professionals in natural resource management fields, as well as an invitation to serve local conservation organizations as a volunteer.

The program provides citizens with the knowledge they need to protect and conserve the coastal environment, and builds a network of educated and committed volunteers working together to protect the natural and cultural resources of Midcoast Maine.

DRA Education Director Sarah Gladu has coordinated the program for ten years. She notes, “Many people come to the program committed to making a difference to local conservation organizations. In the process, they are welcomed into a community of individuals with similar intellectual curiosity. The social component of the experience is highly rewarding.”

The 40-hour curriculum touches on coastal ecology, Wabanaki culture, geologic history, sustainable fisheries management, seabird restoration, water quality monitoring, lake health, lobster biology, estuarine studies and much more. The course finishes with a field trip to Monhegan Island for a natural history tour.

Past participant Bob Barkalow enthused, “The Midcoast Stewards program was an amazing experience, opening up to me the deep culture and history of the area, as well as the plants and animals that thrive in the Damariscotta estuary and beyond. The ‘classroom’ for most of the course was the outdoors, from Damariscotta Lake to a Washington gravel pit to Monhegan Island.  A tremendous bargain that truly deepened my understanding and appreciation for the Midcoast environment.” Following the program, Barkalow began volunteering for DRA and went on to become a trustee of the organization.

This year, the Midcoast Stewards program will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The program starts April 11 and ends on May 23. There will be a few Saturday field trips from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Class format includes lectures and discussions as well as many field trips and hands-on experiences. Classes meet at the Heritage Center at DRA’s Great Salt Bay Farm in Damariscotta, and field trips will take the group to sites from Washington to South Bristol.

Participants learn directly from professionals working for a variety of organizations including local land trusts, the Darling Marine Center, the Maine Natural Areas Program and the Maine Geological Survey. Many local conservation organizations come together to enrich the Midcoast Stewards program including Medomak Valley Land Trust, Midcoast Conservancy and Pemaquid Watershed Association.

After completing the course, participants commit to a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service over the next year with a conservation organization of their choice.

Applications are due by April 3. A materials fee of $100 for the 40-hour course is payable to the Damariscotta River Association. Limited scholarships are available. Applications and the program brochure are available on DRA’s website or can be obtained by contacting DRA.

For more information call 207-563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or view their website at www.damariscottariver.org.

The Hall-Dale Bulldogs got their first win of the season Saturday against Wiscasset’s Lady Wolverines, beating them 40-28. The game started out one-sided, with Hall-Dale leading 10-0 after the first quarter.

The Wolverines picked it up, cutting the deficit to just three at halftime. The third quarter was a close defensive battle, with Hall-Dale scoring six and Wiscasset, five. Unfortunately for Wiscasset, in the fourth quarter, Hall-Dale broke away, outscoring its host 17-9.

The scoring for Hall-Dale included Sabrina Freeman with 13, Cat Kincaid with nine, Kayla Searles with eight, Alissa Bonanfant with five, Ellie Decker and Justine Drappeau with two each and Grace Begin with one. Wiscasset had a less spread out scoring game, with only four girls scoring. Hayhlee Craig led all scorers with 18 points. Behind her were Maeve Blodgett with seven, Lindsey Gordon with two, and Sydnie Thayer with one.

Craig pulled down 10 rebounds, Grace Webber had six and Gordon, Blodgett and Thayer each had four. Gordon and Blodgett also each had three steals. As a result of this game, the Wiscasset girls fall to 1-12. The girls’ next game is Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Lisbon High School at 7 p.m.

An annual trek along this historic canal is a real treat for nature lovers and local history buffs alike. The public is invited to explore the scenery and history of Bath's Peterson Canal on Sunday, Feb. 5 during Great Maine Outdoor Weekend. The New Meadows Lake Association, Bath Historical Society, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) are sponsoring this annual hike starting at 11 a.m.

The guided 2.5-mile scenic hike (one way) is only possible when the water is frozen and will take approximately two to three hours. Meet across from the boat launch to the New Meadows Lake on Old Brunswick Road in Bath. Visit www.kennebecestuary.org for a map of the meeting location. Participants are urged to bring snow shoes, depending on the snow cover. Rides are available back to the starting point, or participants can return on foot via road or the canal.

The canal was built to around 1790 to connect the Kennebec River with the New Meadows River, facilitating downstream transportation of logs, “Lumber and Masts…directly into Casco Bay and to Falmouth without going to sea or running the hazard of going down that rapid torrent, the main Stream of the Kennebeck,” (from the petition to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for permission to cut a canal from the head of the New Meadows River into Merrymeeting Bay, dated January 1, 1786).

For more information and to confirm that conditions are appropriate check the KELT website www.kennebecestuary.org. The hike will be rescheduled for Sunday, Feb. 12 if the ice is not thick enough to walk on.

The Newcastle Board of Selectmen agreed Jan. 23 to start logging the site surrounding the old town dump to create a new recreation area there.

The parcel, about 43 acres, is on the north side of Jones Woods Road, not far from the intersection of Ridge Road and Route 194, and is bordered on the east by Deer Meadow Brook.

In addition to the old town dump, now covered with a water impermeable cap, there are also several gravel pits on the lot which were abandoned about 75 years ago, according to forester Merle Parise.

The land covered by the cap is not forested, but there are apparently no restrictions as to the use of that land, except that the cap cannot be penetrated. Parise thought it might be a good site for wildflower plantings to keep down shrubs and larger trees whose roots might extend down into the dump. The town mows the area.

The east side of the new recreation area includes a wetland and the the creek, and Parise recommended an area for viewing wildlife, which would include deer, hares, porcupines, foxes, and a variety of wetland and woodland birds including the pileated woodpecker and wild turkey. Deer Meadow Brook is also home to a variety of juvenile fish, and is considered an important site for rehabilitation of Atlantic salmon habitat.

Parise proposed a recreation path for pedestrians, equestrians, bicycles and possibly winter sports vehicles. Some of the land would be suited for seasonal equestrian and winter sports; other parts are too soft most of the year to support the weight of horses and snowmobiles.

Parise said the town might get about $1,800 for the timber, but that before any trails could be built, hazards including an older dump with metal and tires that are resurfacing, and an older structure used with an old septic sludge dumping area, would have to be covered or removed. Except for the structure, which is now missing its wooden roof, Parise said the sludge dumping area no longer poses a threat.

He also said that because of the sandy nature of some of the soil, logging would have to be done in the summer or winter. Light machinery would have to be used, and the logging would be selective; that is, trees would be removed to provide light and nutrients for remaining trees and to keep down species of invasive and other ground-level shrubs.

Selectmen agreed quickly to the plan, and Parise said he would return with a more detailed plan for the logging. He said may need to see the planning and ppeals boards to get the permit, since part of the land is in shoreland zoning and planning board approval would be necessary to build the trails and wildlife viewing area.

Jessica Richards has joined the Midcoast Conservancy staff through a position with the Maine Conservation Corps, whose mission is to “protect and manage the natural and cultural resources under our care in order to offer a wide range of recreational and educational opportunities and provide environmental and economic benefits for present and future generations.”

Richards will spend a year of service as an environmental steward, working with volunteers to help improve and maintain the conservancy’s trails and help with water quality monitoring on the Sheepscot River and Damariscotta Lake. 

Richards grew up in Orono and graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science degree in environmental sustainability, health and safety. She then went on to complete 10 months of service with the Student Conservation Association Massachusetts AmeriCorps program in Hawley, Massachusetts. During her service, she taught environmental education in local elementary schools, had a conservation placement with the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and completed high-priority conservation projects around Massachusetts during the summer. She went on to build trails for the Appalachian Mountain Club as a fall trail crew leader in Greenville.

Richards said of her new position, “I am most looking forward to participating in conservation projects in my beloved home state as well as learning from and collaborating with members of Midcoast Conservancy and the surrounding community.” Environmental stewards are charged with bringing “enthusiasm, expertise and focused effort toward creating and improving sustainable recreational trails, planning conservation projects as well as developing, training and sustaining a community volunteer base.” Midcoast Conservancy is confident that Richards brings those skills and more to her work with the organization.

For more information about the MCC Land Steward program, go to www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/get_involved/conservation_corps/.

Wednesday night was a special night for Wiscasset high school basketball. Despite the team’s loss in a down to the wire 55-49 game, senior star Ethan James achieved something only two other people have done at Wiscasset; score 1,000 points in his career.

The others on record are Laurie Smith in 1986 and Conrad Griffin in 2005.

James achieved this at the start of the second quarter off of a layup. Once he scored it, there was a timeout called and he was applauded for his memorable achievement. Unfortunately, the team did not take the game, but it was very close.

When asked how it felt to score 1,000 points and if he set it as a goal for the game, James said: “It’s pretty crazy to accomplish this goal, I’ve always wanted to get this and for it to be real now is crazy! And yes, coach (Dana Lawrence) told me that it was going to happen tonight one way or another so we had hopes that I would get it. Happened a lot faster than I thought!”

For Lisbon, Jonah Sautter led with 26 points, including four three-pointers and a free throw to make it a two-possession game at the end. Henry Doyle was behind him with 12 points, and Tyrese Joseph followed him with seven.

On the Wiscasset side, James led with 30 points, including 19 in the first half. Other contributors included Cody Roberts with seven, Zach Reed with six, Logan Orr with three, Kevin Lynch with two and Russell Marr with one.

Along with the 30 points, James also had 12 rebounds. Marr had six rebounds and six assists. As a result of Wednesday’s game, Lisbon improved to 8-7 while Wiscasset fell to 9-6. The boys’ next game is Friday, Jan. 27 at home against Mount Abram at 7 p.m. 

Many owls, especially some of our common owls in Maine, actually breed in the middle of winter, so now is prime time to go on an owl prowl. A full moon makes it even better! Join Midcoast Conservancy for either of two Full Moon Owl Prowls to learn about all things owl-related.

On Monday, Feb. 9th, from 5-7 p.m. at Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) in Jefferson, meet at the Nature Center gate at 5 to enjoy a winter night in the woods. Bird enthusiast Jody Telfair will teach about owls as hikers are guided along a trail where owls are apt to be found. After the walk, warm up by the woodstove with tea and hot chocolate. Feel free to bring something to eat.

On Friday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m., join Midcoast Conservancy for a potluck supper and talk by naturalist Mike Shannon before heading outside to listen for owls. People of all ages are encouraged to attend. Meet in the Overlock Room of the Liberty Town Office at 5:30; bring a dish to share with everyone, along with eating utensils and plate or bowl. Drinks will be provided. Wear appropriate footwear for a walk in the woods and bring a flashlight or headlamp.

$5 donations are suggested for each event. Register online at  http://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events. Please call 389-5150 or email info@midcoastconservancy.org with any questions.

For lack of enough players for a team, Wiscasset Middle High School will not have high school baseball this year, Athletic Director-Assistant Principal Mandy Lewis said. There will be middle school baseball, Lewis said.

Softball, tennis and outdoor track will be spring sports for high school students, she said.

She tried other towns to see if a collaborative team could be worked out, but none was; and with commitments from five players, including two seniors, the total was not enough for a program, but baseball will be back in 2018, Lewis told the School Committee Jan. 26. 

“We did exhaust all of the options (for a 2017 season),” she said. “... And at this point we’re in a situation where baseball is not going to be offered for one season only. With building that middle school program up, really looking to build those eighth graders and having some underclassmen still at the high school level, we will bring that baseball program back. That’s the ultimate goal.”

“The underclassmen, I looked them all in the eyes and said, Now this is your job, to rebuild this program with me,” she said at another point. “So that’s where we are.”

Committee member Gene Stover urged Lewis to keep trying to have a team this year. It’s only January, he said. “May I suggest that you put a little more effort into recruiting for baseball ... We’ve gone through years like this before, and all of a sudden there’s interest. Don’t say you’re not going to have it.” He told Lewis to budget for a coach and try to find one who will be enthusiastic, “not a shouter, but a doer.”

When Stover finished his comments, she thanked him and added, “I appreciate it.”

The Wiscasset Newspaper asked Lewis via email later if she will consider Stover’s request or the decision was final. As of Friday, Lewis said, “I’m not sure what the reaction is yet to Gene’s comment.” 

Also during her update to the committee, Lewis praised senior Wolverine Ethan James’ 1,000 career points he reached one night earlier at a home basketball game. The house was rocking, Lewis said, adding that the team is starting to peak as a playoff run nears. For the girls, it’s been a rebuilding year for the young team, she said. And Wiscasset Elementary School physical education teacher Daniela Marino’s 32-girl bitty ballers program has been getting basketballs into those girls’ hands and the group has been performing at games, while being cheered on by the varsity players, she said.

Middle school-level students will be offered baseball, softball and outdoor track this spring, Lewis said.

The Wiscasset Waterfront Committee on Jan. 26 proposed several changes to the summertime pier policies for vendors, as well as the application for vendors.

The first step was to remove “Main Street” from the policies document and the application, to reflect the town’s multiple piers. There will likely be at least one vendor at the recreational pier, who will be renting kayaks.

The timing of pier rentals will change from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, to April 15-Oct. 31. Last year’s warm early spring and fall weather allowed the vendors to remain open for weeks after the official closing date. Vendors do not have to open April 15, but the committee wanted to make it easier for them to open early and stay open later if the weather is good. The committee’s recommendations will go to selectmen for the board to consider.

Without the harbor master at the meeting, several agenda items were not able to be addressed fully. These included a review of a recommendation for fees to use the commercial pier through Dec. 1, a review of regular fees that seemed low or non-existent, such as the mooring fees and the lack of a fee for launching boats, and the repair or replacement of a pump out station located on the commercial pier. Several members said the station would be more useful to pleasure craft boaters at the recreational pier.

Planner Ben Averill said he would look into a grant program the town had used once before for pump out stations and get back to the members.

A concern was raised about the lack of a boat for the harbormaster. A plan had been made to bring the harbor master’s role into the police department when it was thought that there were federal funds available to pay for a boat through a grant to police departments, but that grant program ended.

Averill announced that the Rock Lobster Relay would again come to Wiscasset, on June 24, with stops at the recreational pier and Shaw’s, and that the event would be seeking a permit from the Board of Selectmen. Another event will likely be a kayak regatta, organized by the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce, sometime around July 4.

Finally, Susan Robson asked to resign as chairman of the committee. She said she wished to stay on the committee. Members hope to pick a new chairman at their next meeting, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Mount Abram Roadrunners upset the Wiscasset Wolverines 59-57 Friday night, behind Dan Luce’s 31 points. It was a very close and competitive game, with no significant leads taken by either team.

The game was tied at 25 at halftime, then by the end of the third quarter, Wiscasset held a five-point lead. Mt. Abram’s Luce single-handedly outscored Wiscasset in the fourth quarter 12-11, managing to score 12 of his team’s 18 in the fourth. After being down by two points with two seconds left, the Wolverines could not capitalize off the inbound opportunity they had, and that was the game.

For the Roadrunners’ leading scorers, Luce had a game-high 31, Trevor Chaput had nine, and Sam Storer had eight. On the Wiscasset side, Ethan James had 14 points, Logan Orr  11, and Zach Reed, eight. Orr led the rebounding section by managing to pull down 10 rebounds, with Reed closely behind at nine, and James and Kevin Lynch with six each. On top of the 10 rebounds, Logan Orr also added seven assists.

Wiscasset fell to 9-7, losing their third straight game, while Mount Abram improved to 3-11. Wiscasset has two games remaining in its schedule, playing at Winthrop on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and its final game at home against Boothbay Tuesday, Feb. 7. Both games are at 7 p.m. After the senior night against Boothbay, Wiscasset will look to make a playoff run. The final two games will play a strong role in who Wiscasset will have to play.

Local artist Carolyn Gabbe has joined the board of Midcoast Conservancy. Prior to her painting career, Gabbe spent more than 20 years working in non-profit organizations, private business and associations. Her professional experience includes strategic planning, program development, financial management, fund raising, marketing, communications and research. She began her business career after earning her bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and a master’s degree in performing arts management from The American University.

Before leaving Washington, D.C., she was director of development for the National Cultural Alliance, a coalition of 52 national service organizations in the arts and humanities. In Bucks County, she provided consulting and coaching services to organizations and individuals in the Delaware Valley. Gabbe also worked with the New Jersey State Council for the Arts, where she served as a community cultural planning consultant and as a peer review panelist for Community Arts Collaboration Grants.

Gabbe lives and works in Nobleboro, where she and her husband have owned a home since 2000. In 2015 she became a full-time Maine resident after completing the four-year professional painting program at Nelson and Leona Shanks’ Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. Her work has been shown at galleries in Philadelphia and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine and New Mexico.

The Midcoast Conservancy Board looks forward to benefiting from her perspective and experience as the organization heads into its second year of work supporting healthy lands, waters and communities in Midcoast Maine through conservation, outdoor adventure and learning. For more information, go to www.midcoastconservancy.org or call (207) 389-5150.

Damariscotta River Association is celebrating Great Maine Outdoor Weekend and invites the public to come enjoy a variety of winter activities on Sunday, Feb. 5 at the fourth annual Winter Fest. The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at DRA Round Top Farm, 3 Round Top Lane, in Damariscotta. The event will feature outdoor games, sledding, a dog sledding demonstration, a campfire with hotdogs and marshmallows, ice skating, and an animal tracks craft in the warming hut which will be open.

“This region offers many wonderful outdoor, fun opportunities regardless of the time of year,” said Sarah Gladu, DRA’s director of education. “We think there will be just enough snow to sled on the hills and ice to skate on the rink but even if not, we will offer outdoor games, a fire for cooking hotdogs, a guided hike and nature exhibits. There will be something for everyone.”

Numerous pairs of loaner skates are available to borrow at no cost and the warming hut will be open. Bring your own sleds for sledding. All activities are free of charge. Hot dogs are $1 each.

DRA is pleased to announce that this year Great Salt Bay School PTO is a supporting partner for this event.

For more information, call 207-563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or view their website at www.damariscottariver.org.