This Oct. 12 and 13, take the WW&F Railway to Alna’s SeaLyon Farm for an unforgettable pumpkin picking experience with your family and friends.
Pumpkin picking trains will leave Sheepscot Station (97 Cross Road, Alna) for Top of Mountain Station, where passengers can either board a hay ride or take a short walk to the pumpkin patch at SeaLyon Farm to buy their very own pumpkin(s) to take home and participate in other fun activities. Board any hay ride with your pumpkin in hand for your return trip to Sheepscot. You can sit with your pumpkin on the train, or if it is very large, have it tagged and put aboard a freight car to pick up when the train arrives at Sheepscot. The entire experience takes 1.5 to two hours depending on how quickly you pick your pumpkins.
Ticket price includes all transportation and parking at Sheepscot. Tickets are only available online for the 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. trains each day at wwfrytickets.simpletix.com. Pumpkins and other farm products will be sold separately by SeaLyon Farm. We look forward to seeing you on the narrow gauge.
The Seahawks-Wolverines cross-country teams traveled to Belfast Oct. 5 for the Festival of Champions. FOC is considered by many Maine high schools to be the pinnacle of cross country season – the teams faced around 1,000 male athletes and over 600 woman athletes from nearly 70 high school teams around Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Will Perkins led the boys in 21st with a time of 16:38; Graham Harris, 163rd; 18:24; Nathan Chatterton, 186th, 18:32; Fox Elder, 199th, 18:37; Lucas Hardwick, 234th, 18:56; Mason Erhard, 253rd, 19:02; Ryan Russell, 257th, 19:03; Gryffin Kristan, 263rd, 19:05; Nathan Gilliam, 409th, 20:06; Bryan Gagnon, 575th, 21:07; Ryan Amaral, 646th, 21:37; Ryan Clark, 658th, 21:41; Quinn Ranta, 756th, 22:40; Gavin Carlson, 862nd, 24:12; Zach Rollins, 863rd, 24:15; Nate Benoit, 867th, 24:21; and Owen Barter, 947th, 26:57.
The boys team placed 28th out of 67 teams competing at the Belfast event.
Freshman runners also raced well with Kristan leading his team in 30th. Gagnon placed 105th; Amaral, 125th; Clark, 127th; and Benoit, 180th. The freshman team placed 15th out of 22 teams and faced about 230 athletes.
Emerson Harris led the Lady Seahawks-Wolverines team placing 263rd with a time of 23:35; Ava Schlosser, 276th, 23:44; Leni Elder, 448th, 26:05; Reese Hesseltine, 488th, 26:46; Zada Smith, 523rd, 27:43; and Delly Clarkson, 569th, 29:18. The girls placed 54th out of 56 teams.
Eighteen athletes improved their personal records: Fox Elder, -0:01; Carlson, -0:02; Chatterton, -0:10; Perkins and Harris, -0:11; Kristan, -0:14; Clark, -0:15; Schlosser, -0:18; Amaral, -0:23; Russell, -0:29; Hardwick, -0:42; Gagnon, -0:53; Hesseltine, -1:05; Emerson Harris, -1:07; Gilliam, -1:08; Benoit, -1:19; Rollins, -1:33; and Barter, -1:43.
Nearly all athletes outperformed last year’s times at FOC.
The cross-country teams race next at Lisbon on Friday, Oct. 11.
Rowan Goebel-Bain scored four times in the first half leading Winthrop to a Mountain Valley Conference soccer victory over Wiscasset/Boothbay Tuesday night at Wiscasset Middle High School. Aiden Foley scored two goals for the Wolverines with John Hodson picking up an assist.
Foley’s first goal (unassisted) came at 15:40 from just outside the 18, the ball sailing into the far corner of the net over the head of Rambler goalie Jake Smith. Hodson then found Foley open inside the penalty area on a cross pass for the score with 6:53 until halftime.
Goebel-Bain’s first goal came on a cross pass from Andreas Kjaegaard five minutes after the opening kickoff. The Ramblers’ second goal came at 32:41, Brayden Stubbert’s shot deflecting off a Wolverine defender and into the net. Kjaegaard’s goal at 27:30 made it 3-0.
Winthrop lit up the scoreboard again with goals by Owen Foster at 23:57 and Colby Emery At 23:25.
Wiscasset’s first scoring opportunity came on a corner kick late in the half. Aiden Foley dropped the ball in front of the net but the Ramblers gained possession and cleared it away.
Foster’s shot from inside the 18 (the Ramblers’ eighth of the half) was smothered by Wolverine goalie LJ Travis and punted away. Two minutes later at 19:41 the Ramblers struck again with Emery netting his second goal.
Wiscasset’s first shot came midway into the half off the foot of John Hodson from left side. Hodson’s aim was off and the ball carried wide over the far post.
Goebel-Bain then scored three times in the final six minutes of the half putting the Ramblers up 9-2. The visitors added two more goals in the game’s second half. Payton Blagden got off two shots for the Wolverines late in the game. The first at 29:29 was set up on a nice pass from Foley. Another Wiscasset shot off the foot of Billy Pinkham was caught by Smith and punted away.
Still later, Garrett Cossette found Hodson open. He fired but Smith was there for the stop. Wiscasset’s Matt Eckert, Mason Davenport, Gavin Loupe and Brian Fore played well for the Wolverines. Travis finished with seven saves. Smith had four.
The loss was the Wolverines’ eighth in a row after the team tied Carrabec in the season opener. The win improved Winthrop’s MVC record to 5-6.
WMHS’s next game is Thursday, Oct. 10 at Telstar.
The Central Lincoln County (CLC) YMCA will host their 20th annual Breast Cancer Tennis Tournament on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As always, participants will enjoy activities throughout the day, including luck of the draw—women’s doubles, auction, food, prizes and more!
In past years, the tournament raises approximately $1,000 for the one-day event and has raised over $17,000 in total throughout the years. The day is sponsored by Play for PINK, an organization that allows 100 percent of the money raised to go directly to breast cancer research.
To register, stop by or call the Y at 563-9622. Cost is $25 per person for a day of fun in support of this important cause.
For information about any of the Y's programs and events, visit clcymca.org
Eliza Paradis scored three goals to lead the Wolverines to a 5-1 win over visiting Telstar on Senior Night at Wiscasset Middle High School Thursday, Oct. 10. Kateleen Trask and Kylie Peoples also scored for Wiscasset.
The win makes the Wolverines 3-9 and still in the hunt for a playoff spot setting up a must win in the Mountain Valley Conference season finale against Carrabec Friday afternoon, Oct. 18 in North Anson. At last check, the Cobras were 5-6 and ranked 13th in the class C South. The top 14 teams qualify for the postseason tournament.
Telstar, 3-5-3, entered the Wiscasset game ranked 11th. Due to injuries, the Rebels were only able to put eight players on the field. They got off to a fast start getting the game’s first shot on goal four minutes after the opening kickoff. Calla Orino fired from outside the arc, but missed wide.
Five minutes later, shots from Paradis and Peoples were batted wide and caught by Talia Paaso, Telstar’s goalkeeper. Midway in the first half, Orino broke free with the ball, carried it down to the corner and crossed to Macie Hallett. Hallett aimed for the far corner, but Wolverine keeper Lily Souza dove to her right and pushed the ball wide of the net. Two minutes later, the Rebels’ Emma Kruse shot and rang the ball off the near post. Kruse was there for the rebound and fired again, but Souza caught the ball and punted it away.
With 12:35 left until halftime, Trask gained possession of the ball off a throw-in, carried it between Abby Landry and Dylan Duclos, fired from inside the 18 and scored. Ninety seconds later, Paradis made it 2-0. Natalie Potter picked up an assist.
Ten seconds before halftime, a final shot by Orino sent Souza diving to the turf for a save. Wiscasset held an 8-6 shot edge through the first 40 minutes of play. Paradis’s second goal (assisted by Kaitlyn Main) came three minutes into the second half. Her running shot from inside the penalty area went over Paaso’s head and into the net.
The Rebels’ goal came at 27:18 on a penalty kick converted by Emma Kruse. The Wolverines were whistled for tripping. Peoples got the goal back at 20:44, after a corner kick taken by Gwen Webber. Late in the game, play was stopped after a Telstar player went down with an injury. The Rebels then played with just seven players until she was able to return. Paradis’s hat trick (unassisted) came with 2:57 left to play. Telstar played hard, hustling after the ball right up to the final minutes of the game. Wolverine starting striker Cara Viele was unable to play due to an injury in the Oak Hill game.
At halftime Oct. 10, Wolverine Coach Duane Goud recognized seniors Potter, Souza, Trask, Viele, Ellie Pratt, Kaitlyn Main and Jade Rego.
“I’m Lou. I’m from Atlanta, and I’m going to have a lobster roll,” a smiling Lou Furlong of Atlanta, Georgia told the Wiscasset Newspaper before he stepped out of his Cessna 180 at Wiscasset Municipal Airport Friday.
Furlong spent June in Montana. He said the Rocky Mountains are pretty, but he’d take the coast of Maine anytime. “Once you’re a little northeast of Portland and just flying the islands it’s the prettiest scenery of any I’ve seen in the United States.”
One after another, he and 28 other pilots of taildraggers, planes with wheeled tails, landed midday. The fly-in for lunch at Montsweag Farm Restaurant across the Woolwich line was part of a gathering in New Hampshire. Those who took the planned foray to Wiscasset had a windy ride.
Bangor dentist Bob Ericson said he tried to take Laconia Notch but it was like being in a dryer: Very topsy-turvey. “So I just went up to 8,000 feet and came across.”
Like other pilots interviewed, Ericson had landed in Wiscasset before and liked the airport. “The facilities are nice, it’s easy to find, the fuel is easy to get to. Can’t say enough good.”
“It’s a beautiful area,” New Gloucester’s Clifford Dow said. The owner of a 1979 Piper Super Cub and an airstrip, Dow arrived first and with a passenger, son Travis, 12, aspiring pilot.
Husband and wife pilots and Wiscasset hangar owners Steve Williams and Lisa Reece greeted Friday’s group. And Wiscasset Public Works Director Ken Snowden and public works employee Earl Babcock manned the terminal building. Airport Manager Rick Tetrev was out of town and filled them in on what to do, Snowden said.
Williams, a member of the advisory committee for the town-owned airport, helped push a plane into place. He said the lunchtime fly-in was a good use of the airport and a chance to welcome other pilots. “And likewise when we go to another airport, there’s another Steve Williams doing the same for us. We (pilots) all have a lot in common, a common interest.”
That’s what fly-ins like Friday’s are all about, according to participants. “I have met so many fabulous people,” Dow said.
Adian Foley and John Hodson both scored, but it wasn’t enough for Wiscasset/Boothbay, who lost 8-2 to Spruce Mountain in MVC soccer action Monday afternoon at Wiscasset Middle High school.
Foley’s unassisted goal from 30 yards away came just 32 seconds into the game and briefly put the Wolverines ahead. The Phoenix tied the game on the ensuing kickoff. Jake Gilbert scored at 38:47 on a cross pass from Kaleb Finelli. Gilbert scored two more goals before the half ended, at 32:34 with Owen Bryant assisting, and then getting the hat trick at 13:04 from 40 yards away chipping the ball over the head of Wolverine goalie L.J. Travis.
At 35:35, Foley carried the ball to the right corner and centered a pass to Peyton Blagdon in front of the Phoenix net. Blagdon caught goalie Jake Bryant flat-footed but his shot, aimed at the far post, missed wide of the net. Just after the Phoenix scored their second goal, Travis charged to smother a loose ball in the penalty area. Wolverine Gavin Loupe later ran down Spruce Mountain’s Joel Thornton after Thornton broke free with the ball on the left wing. Seniors Billy Pinkham and Josh Jones ended drives by Gilbert and Bryant.
Another close call for Wiscasset/Boothbay came with 4:20 left before halftime, as the Wolverines’ defense held against a Phoenix corner kick, the first one of the game.
Spruce Mountain finished the half with seven shots, Wiscasset had four. The Phoenix’s fourth goal, a rocket off the foot of Finelli, came just 25 ticks into the second half.
Hodson then scored (Pinkham assisting) at 32:56 and it was a 4-2 ballgame. Ninety seconds later, Gilbert netted his fourth goal. At 29:32, he scored again, this one a head-ball on a pass from Cam Cain. Before the final horn, the Phoenix added two more goals.
Travis had another busy day in the net recording 13 saves. Bryant had five stops.
It was the final home game for the Wolverines. Before the game, Coach Chris Cossette recognized his three senior players: Josh Jones and Billy Pinkham of WMHS and Boothbay Region High School’s Jordan Espute. Espute didn’t play in Monday’s game.
The loss dropped Wiscasset/Boothbay’s record to 0-10-1 and raised Spruce Mountain to 3-10.
Wiscasset/Boothbay lost to Winthrop Oct. 8, 11-2. Wiscasset/Boothbay’s last games of the MVC season were set for Wednesday, Oct. 16 in Buckfield and Thursday, Oct. 17 in Wales.
The Seahawks-Wolverines cross-country teams competed in their last regular season race at Lisbon Oct. 11. The boys team took a hard second place after Lisbon High School beat it by six points. The girls team only raced five athletes, but took third behind Monmouth Academy and Winthrop High School.
Glory Blethen placed first for the girls in 22:07 outracing her next competitor by 11 seconds. Emerson Harris placed ninth in 24:15; Ava Schlosser, 15th, 25:18; Reese Hesseltine, 24th, 29:00; and Delly Clarkson, 27th, 31:00.
The boys, in their usual fashion, ran closer together with Nathan Chatterton and Graham Harris crossing the finish line in fifth and sixth, respectively, with times of 18:48 and 19:01. Mason Erhard was the third Seahawk to finish and came in 11th in 19:25. Gryffin Kristan placed 12th in 19:29; Ryan Russell, 13th, 19:31; Ryan Amaral, 25th, 21:24; Brian Gagnon, 34th, 22:06; Ryan Clark, 35th, 22:50; Quinn Ranta, 45th, 24:36; Zack Rollins, 48th, 25:04; Nate Benoit, 53rd, 26:26; and Gavin Carlson, 54th, 26:27.
Next spring’s Alna town meeting may have some Pinkham Pond questions, selectmen said Oct. 16. Both ideas involve parking and the state’s proposal could include a path to take canoes and kayaks to the water, Third Selectman Greg Shute said.
He said Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFAW) staff will get him wording for an easement the town would have to give the state on a roughly one-acre lot on the pond side of Rabbit Path Road. The state would make and maintain about four parking spaces and the path, Shute reported.
“That sounds great,” First Selectman Melissa Spinney said. Second Selectman Doug Baston called it good news. The town has multiple parcels there it either took for unpaid taxes or bought, selectmen said. Parking on the road, including near a dry hydrant, has been a problem, selectmen said.
The only thing the state might ask the town to fund is a survey, if the site needs one, Shute said. Selectmen didn’t know.
The board also mulled asking the town to fund a parking lot on about 10 acres the town owns on the other side of Rabbit Path Road. Spinney said a parking lot there could hold at least 30 vehicles and would take a town vote; so would the easement to the state for the pond-side parking. Selectmen expect to wait for the March 2020 town meeting for any of the votes.
“I don’t think there’s any great rush,” Baston said. Shute would like some of his fellow recreation committee members to look at the projects’ prospective sites.
The state’s project would take about two years, Shute said.
The food pantry at the town office is getting good use and is downstairs now, Spinney said. The town may seek a non-profit sponsor to tap Good Shepherd Food Bank. Resident Tom Albee has donated a freezer chest, Spinney said.
The board added Jay Verney and Chad Hilton as surveyors of lumber, bark and wood following the death of Verney’s father, longtime appointee Richard Verney. Ken Chaney will remain an appointee; he has been one about half a century, selectmen said. Except for a reference in the annual town report, the surveyors do no town business, Baston said. They used to count loggers’ lumber when the town taxed it, he said.
Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the town office.
Today's boys soccer game at Oak Hill has postponed and rescheduled for Saturday Oct 19 at 10 a.m., according to Wiscasset Middle High School Athletic Director Warren Cossette. The bus will leave at 8:15 from WMHS.
Midcoast Conservancy will be hosting an engaging and informative evening of environmentally-themed films at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 3-5 p.m. Based on the Wild and Scenic Film Festival model developed by the South Yuba River Citizens League, the event is designed to leave attendees feeling inspired and motivated to go out and make a difference in their community and the world. At the screening, witness how individuals and communities across the globe are taking action and becoming part of the solution on issues ranging from energy, food systems, biodiversity, climate change and the protection and restoration of wild lands and wild waters.
Films on the schedule include Becoming Ocean, in which climate-change journalist Eiren Caffall , diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, realizes that, like the planet, she is slowly drowning. But instead of allowing the nearly invisible effects of her condition to paralyze her, Caffall uses her illness to look at the crisis of climate change in a way that makes "problems we so often push away because of their apparent distance from daily life, suddenly become intimate and human-scale." In Too Precious to Mine, the Havasupai who have lived at the bottom of the Grand Canyon for centuries take on the uranium mining on the canyon’s rims that is putting the tribe’s drinking water and its way of life at risk. “If the Supai water is contaminated, the future of my society, of my people, will disappear,” says Carletta Tilousi of the Havasupai Tribal Council.
In total, 10 short films will be screened. Attendees are invited to stay after the showing to discuss the films and enjoy snacks and Sierra Nevada beer. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students and will be sold at the door. All proceeds go to support Midcoast Conservancy’s work protecting healthy lands, waters, and communities through conservation, outdoor adventure, and learning.
The Hutchinson Center is at 80 Belmont Ave. in Belfast.
Nearly 270 middle school cross country runners took to the course at Great Salt Bay in Damariscotta for the Busline League cross country championships Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Boothbay runner Dominick Dow outran 129 other junior high runners to win the Busline League individual title in a time of 12.40.97 on the 2.1-mile course. He defeated runner-up Henry McDevitt of Camden-Rockport by under three seconds, 12:43.23. Finishing in third place was Austin Trask of the Wiscasset team, 13:08.97.
For the second consecutive year, Lincolnville eighth grader Jaden Johnson claimed top spot in the girls’ Busline championship. Johnson posted back-to-back spotless seasons with a combined 12-0 record.Camden-Rockport claimed team championships in both the boys and girls division.
The Boothbay girls team finished seventh out of 10 teams. Top finisher was Maddie Orchard with a time of 16:13.64, good enough for 22nd place.
The Boothbay boys team finished ninth out of 10 teams.
The Wiscasset boys team finished third and the girls team finished fifth.
Wiscasset’s top girl finisher was Emily Gilliam in 26th place, 16:18.50.
Girls Team Results 1. Camden-Rockport — 1:14:12.48 2. Great Salt Bay — 1:14:40.74 3. Lincolnville — 1:15:20.49 4. Appleton — 1:20:01.54 5. Wiscasset — 1:28:19.14 6. Medomak — 1:31:29.12 7. Boothbay — 1:34:06.82 8. Troy Howard — 1:37:08.75 9. Edna Drinkwater — 1:42:12.18 10. North Haven — 1:45:21.55
Boys Team Results 1. Camden-Rockport — 1:08:03.77 2. Lincolnville — 1:12:06.67 3. Wiscasset — 1:15:47.94 4. Great Salt Bay — 1:16:36.21 5. Appleton — 1:21:35.34 6. Medomak — 1:21:59.22 7. Edna Drinkwater — 1:23:48.34 8. North Haven — 1:24:49.72 9. Boothbay — 1:31:24.42 10. Troy Howard — 1:38:56.75
Boys Individual Results 1. Dominick Dow — Boothbay — 12:40.97 2. Henry McDevitt — Camden-Rockport — 12:43.23 3. Austin Trask — Wiscasset — 13:08.97 4. Gage Bruns — Searsport — 13:11.74 5. Evan Constantine — Camden-Rockport — 13:20.14 6. Noah Morris — Medomak — 13:33.75 7. Brandon Nelson — Lincolnville — 13:49.93 8. Zachary Clement — Camden-Rockport — 13:51.60 9. Colin Wright — Camden-Rockport — 13:56.87 10. Isaiah Smith — Camden-Rockport — 14:11.93 11. Roan Donaghy — Great Salt Bay — 14:14.84 12. Garrett Marshall — Wiscasset — 14:21.42 13. Noah Teel — Camden-Rockport — 14:22.59 14. Kaden Wood — Lincolnville — 14:22.69 15. Landon Marquis — Appleton — 14:24.82 16. Oliver Lee — Camden-Rockport — 14:25.05 17. Tristan Strong — Camden-Rockport — 14:26.20 18. Preston Rossiter — Lincolnville — 14:28.99 19. Thomas Leadbetter — Lincolnville — 14:32.11 20. Walker Hedrich — Camden-Rockport — 14:43.26 21. Hunter Beveridge — Camden-Rockport — 14:44.00 22. Nicholas Spencer — Camden-Rockport — 14:51.99 23. Sage Burgess — Lincolnville — 14:52.95 24. Will Laidlaw — Camden-Rockport — 14:57.62 25. Warren Beverage — North Haven — 15:02.23 26. Maty Babik — Appleton — 15:15.23 27. Fletcher Callamore — Great Salt Bay — 15:18.05 28. Aidan Davison — Drinkwater — 15:19.44 29. Xavier Mazzeo — Camden-Rockport — 15:31.55 30. Cole Nowell — Lincolnville — 15:33.16 31. Conor Glasier — Great Salt Bay — 15:34.73 32. Elliott Chapman — Great Salt Bay — 15:34.84 33. Zachary Egeland — Lincolnville — 15:36.03 34. Ethan Demmons — Wiscasset — 15:44.94 35. Ryan Seeber — Camden-Rockport — 15:53.48 36. Sepp Zammuto — Great Salt Bay — 15:53.75 37. Braden Bessey — Great Salt Bay — 15:54.64 38. Aaron Dowd — Camden-Rockport — 15:54.85 39. Zeke Dietter — Camden-Rockport — 15:55.86 40. Henry Richmond — Camden-Rockport — 15:56.49 41. Sam Potter — Troy Howard — 15:57.39 42. Henry Putnam — Wiscasset — 16:13.20 43. Michael Alley — Drinkwater — 16:18.69 44. Alex Richard — Wiscasset — 16:19.41 45. Zachary McCormick — Lincolnville — 16:20.99 46. Carrick Lally — Medomak — 16:23.38 47. Perrin Hathaway — Drinkwater — 16:27.27 48. Iain Larsen-Leavins — Lincolnville — 16:28.15 49. Arveragus Eddyblouin — Great Salt Bay — 16:28.20 50. Finnegan Calderwood — Lincolnville — 16:28.32 51. Elias Decker — Appleton — 16:30.29 52. Alexander Todd — Camden-Rockport — 16:33.92 53. Bennett Cohen — Camden-Rockport — 16:41.26 54. Tyler McGhee — Great Salt Bay — 16:43.34 55. Nolan Ames — Lincolnville — 16:45.57 56. Reid Chester — Camden-Rockport — 16:46.23 57. Milo Bernard — North Haven — 16:48.86 58. Jack Martin — Medomak — 16:50.57 59. Theo Doehla — Camden-Rockport — 16:53.30 60. Owen Card — Great Salt Bay — 16:55.82 61. Derek McKechnie — Medomak — 16:55.91 62. Conrad Rocknak — Camden-Rockport — 16:57.40 63. Charlie Conover — Camden-Rockport — 16:58.30 64. Ethan Cohen — Camden-Rockport — 16:58.40 65. Teague Buchanan — Camden-Rockport — 16:59.21 66. Luka Wienges — Camden-Rockport — 17:00.02 67. CJ Savastano — Boothbay — 17:02.08 68. Leo Vietze — Appleton — 17:08.60 69. Deegan Lewis — North Haven 17:08.89 70. Cole Thompson — Camden-Rockport — 17:26.71 71. Henri Weymouth — Oceanside — 17:30.06 72. Cyrus Brown — North Haven — 17:30.08 73. Christian Hayes — Drinkwater — 17:39.02 74. Nathan Christensen — Troy Howard — 17:51.24 75. Alexander McCafferty — Camden-Rockport — 17:57.54 76. Hayden Brimer — Drinkwater — 18:03.92 77. Garak Brimer — Drinkwater — 18:09.81 78. Jakoby Hagar — Great Salt Bay — 18:12.06 79. Eli Melanson — Great Salt Bay — 18:13.59 80. Parker Feeney — Lincolnville — 18:14.70 81. Zachary Steeves — Medomak — 18:15.61 82. Gabe Wheeler — Camden-Rockport — 18:15.97 83. River Pinkham — Camden-Rockport — 18:16.27 84. Noah Bendston — Appleton — 18:16.40 85. Kiefer Healey — St. George — 18:16.69 86. Grant Morrison — Lincolnville — 18:18.55 87. Adam Davis — North Haven — 18:19.66 51 88. Bryn Campbell — North Haven — 18:35.89 89. Nathaniel Hayes — Camden-Rockport — 18:36.62 90. Miles Sagaas — Troy Howard — 18:44.33 91. Owen Buchanan — Troy Howard — 18:49.28 92. Devon McCoy — Camden-Rockport — 18:49.48 93. Sam Tooley — Camden-Rockport — 18:49.83 94. Thomas Hollins — Drinkwater — 19:01.98 95. Thomas Pickford — Lincolnville — 19:08.57 96. Alden Reingardt — Great Salt Bay — 19:09.51 97. Brady Treneer — Camden-Rockport — 19:27.43 98. Ethan Ratner — Camden-Rockport — 19:29.42 99. Kalen Hixson — Camden-Rockport — 19:33.16 100. Dylan North — Boothbay — 19:34.42 101. Jackson Horton — Drinkwater — 19:34.61 102. Nathaniel Hufnagel — Great Salt Bay — 19:40.53 103. Andrew O’Brien — Lincolnville — 19:47.17 104. Silas Moody — Lincolnville — 19:56.02 105. Quinn Ryan — Lincolnville — 20:03.51 106. James Hanley — Great Salt Bay — 20:05.89 107. Taj Lichti — Medomak — 20:11.25 108. Camden McCool — Great Salt Bay — 20:13.36 109. Ryan Eldridge — Drinkwater — 20:18.67 110. Kolton Campbell — Boothbay — 20:18.74 111. Brennan Mathiau — St. George — 20:23.07 112. Dash Decker — Appleton — 20:48.65 113. Caleb Lassor — Drinkwater — 21:13.43 114. William Pendleton — Lincolnville — 21:46.19 115. Sebastian Burdin-Warren — Boothbay — 21:48.21 116. Hayden Clark — Lincolnville — 21:49.94 117. Aiden Barley — Appleton — 21:51.94 118. Noah Keene — St. George — 22:03.92 119. Colby Hicjs — Boothbay — 22:43.06 120. Owen Bell — Searsport — 22:51.45 121. Sol Obregon — Great Salt Bay — 22:56.89 122. Liam Butler — Great Salt Bay — 23:00.24 123. Brady Philip — Oceanside — 23:01.13 124. True Noyes — Searsport — 23:52.87 125. Cooper Deane — Appleton — 24:00.94 126. Isaiah Felton — St. George — 24:18.82 127. Gavin Parson — Great Salt Bay — 26:13.01 128. Owen Mailloux — Troy Howard — 27:34.51 129. Dominic Todd — Appleton — 27:52.45 130. King Arthur — North Haven — 28:32.97
Girls Team Results 1. Jaden Johnson — Lincolnville — 14:06.77 2. Siena Scordino — Camden-Rockport — 14:08.79 3. Thea Laukka — Lincolnville — 14:17.22 4. Audrey Hufnagel — Great Salt Bay — 14:18.86 5. Cassie Middleton — Camden-Rockport — 14:34.41 6. Adeline Hall — Great Salt Bay — 14:38.61 7. Jenna VanRyn — Camden-Rockport — 14:39.70 8. Alison Roberts — Great Salt Bay — 14:50.06 9. Piper Urey — Camden-Rockport — 15:10.64 10. Amelia Porter — Appleton — 15:20.39 11. Maggie Thompson — Great Salt Bay — 15:20.96 12. Rowan Stewart — Appleton — 15:23.58 13. Liana Talty — Lincolnville — 15:26.61 14. Jennifer Campbell — Great Salt Bay — 15:32.25 15. Cara Rothwell — Camden-Rockport — 15:38.94 16. Moody Grace — Lincolnville — 15:39.13 17. Ava Sprowl — Appleton — 15:40.30 18. Daphne Walsh — Camden-Rockport — 15:41.70 19. Tessa McNamara — Great Salt Bay — 15:46.68 20. Elise Talty — Lincolnville — 15:50.76 21. Natalie Bolduc — Lincolnville — 16:03.45 22. Maddie Orchard — Boothbay — 16:13.64 23. Lila Hall — Great Salt Bay — 16:13.96 24. Katherin-Grace Kimball — Camden-Rockport — 16:16.26 25. Paisley Hayslip — Drinkwater — 16:16.30 26. Emily Gilliam — Wiscasset — 16:18.50 27. Lilly Johnson — Camden-Rockport — 16:20.23 28. Jane Stanley — Camden-Rockport — 16:27.01 29. Lucy O’Brien — Lincolnville — 16:27.75 30. Laura Chapman — Boothbay — 16:28.41 31. Amber Pendelton — Medomak — 16:36.76 32. Hailey Marquis — Appleton — 16:45.50 33. Veronica Waters — Camden-Rockport — 16:48.50 34. Kaya Bournival — Lincolnville — 16:48.77 35. Greer LaFiura — Camden-Rockport — 16:49.32 36. Emma Shackelford — Appleton — 16:51.77 37. Adelaide Mazzeo — Camden-Rockport — 16:59.71 38. Bournival Leona — Lincolnville — 17:02.55 39. Julia Truesdell — Wiscasset — 17:05.85 40. Kaitlyn Seeber — Camden-Rockport — 17:18.70 41. Maren Johnson — Lincolnville — 17:21.43 42. Evie Thissell — St. George — 17:33.36 43. Laura Tomasello — Great Salt Bay — 17:41.33 44. Rebecca Thomasello — Great Salt Bay — 17:41.45 45. Mya Bessey — Great Salt Bay — 17:41.83 46. Lydia Zimmerman — Great Salt Bay — 17:46.22 47. Cora Littlefield — Drinkwater — 17:47.35 48. Jade Larrabee — Camden-Rockport — 17:48.45 49. Anna Tomasello — Great Salt Bay — 17:50.19 50. Hannah White — North Haven — 17:57.60 51. Lola Black — Camden-Rockport — 17:59.27 52. Makayla Hodson — Wiscasset — 18:00.46 53. Tara Morrison — Medomak — 18:08.61 54. Gabriella DeStefano — Camden-Rockport — 18:11.14 55. Lila Bernard — North Haven — 18:12.10 56. Olivia Johns — Camden-Rockport — 18:13.82 57. Mallory Roy — Wiscasset — 18:00.46 58. Estella Sprague — Troy Howard — 18:26.01 59. Madison Holmes — Medomak — 18:26.98 60. Abigail Kohlstrom — Camden-Rockport — 18:29.82 61. Kestrel Linehan — Wiscasset — 18:35.09 62. Allison Hooper — Troy Howard — 18:37.76 63. Anna Strozier — Wiscasset — 18:41.81 64. Makayla Kalloch — St. George — 18:48.53 65. Maddy Barrows — Lincolnville — 18:57.21 66. Kylie Blake — Medomak — 19:00.17 67. Olive Walker — Camden-Rockport — 19:01.88 68. Ava MacMillan — Lincolnville — 19:02.13 69. Bella Callamore — Great Salt Bay — 19:02.98 70. Jalyn Drost — Medomak — 19:16.60 71. Catherine Leadbetter — Lincolnville — 19:19.11 72. Annamarie Piconi — Camden-Rockport — 19:20.37 73. Naomi Fisher — Appleton — 19:20.97 74. Iris Bolduc — Lincolnville — 19:29.44 75. Maggie McCarthy — Lincolnville — 19:29.97 76. Jackie Kelly — Medomak — 19:31.05 77. Tildy Stewart — Lincolnville — 19:31.28 78. Sophia Lichti — Medomak — 19:49.06 79. Rose Campbell — Boothbay — 19:52.00 80. Isabelle Benecke — Troy Howard — 19:52.06 81. Alyson Johnson — Troy Howard — 19:57.69 82. Reygan Emery — Camden-Rockport — 19:59.35 83. Sophie Pangakis — Appleton — 20:02.11 84. Violet Holbrook — Great SAlt Bay — 20:06.38 85 Webber Abi — Lincolnville — 20:12.77 86. Jade Ludwick — Troy Howard — 20:15.23 87. Taylor Gerlack — Medomak — 20:18.33 88. Faith Littlefield — Medomak — 20:18.74 89. Poppy Johanson — Camden-Rockport — 20:19.92 90. Nora Burgess — Troy Howard — 20:21.82 91. Tallulah Marks — Great Salt Bay — 20:31.37 92. Abby Orchard — Boothbay — 20:32.04 93. Trinity Delaney — St. George — 20:32.43 94. Olivia Grierson — Appleton — 21:02.10 95. Izzy Allen — Appleton — 21:08.79 96. Izzy Grey — Oceanside — 21:14.82 97. Samantha Cassida — Troy Howard — 21:17.88 98. Kiara Krumbholz — Searsport — 21:23.36 99. Sophia Popli — Appleton — 21:26.08 100. Lauren Lee — Great Salt Bay — 21:26.87 101. Brielle Davis-Oakes — North Haven — 21:45.57 102. Amy Rickier — North Haven — 21:47.44 103. Mimi Kennedy — Medomak — 21:57.14 104. Maddie Mailloux — Troy Howard — 21:57.70 105. Jaedyn Brady — Drinkwater — 21:59.22 106. Sophie White — Boothbay — 22:00.73 107. Kelsey Clayton — Camden-Rockport — 22:02.28 108. Samantha Richardson — Medomak — 22:15.90 109. Lily Martinelli — Drinkwater — 22:24.00 110. Jocelynn Gammon — Medomak — 22:25.22 111. Maggie Halter — Boothbay — 22:31.62 112. Rebecca Johnson — Medomak — 22:33.78 113. Danielle Webber — Lincolnville — 22:34.18 114. Lauren Daigle — Medomak — 22:41.36 115. Surbey Madison — Lincolnville — 22:53.92 116. Victoria Edwards — Oceanside — 23:02.31 117. Maddie Fuller — Appleton — 23:03.17 118. Caitlin Turner — Oceanside — 23:06.02 119. Zoie Richard — Drinkwater — 23:45.31 120. Fiona Duffy — Great Salt Bay — 23:49.94 121. Atty Roberts — Lincolnville — 24:00.50 122. Scarlett Peebles — Troy Howard — 24:10.66 123. Clara Frank — Medomak — 24:11.61 124. Lea Sterrs — Drinkwater — 24:24.73 125. Sophia Colbry — Appleton — 24:32.35 126. Quinlan Kitchen — Drinkwater — 24:34.27 127. Natalie Barrows — Drinkwater — 24:44.01 128. Maddie Lattimer — North Haven 25:38.84 129. Anya Felton — St. George — 26:38.44 130. Mia Yeatts — Medomak — 26:39.17 131. Samantha Mengo — Searsport — 27:08.76 132. Kyra Evans — Searsport — 27:11.93 133. Saydee Grendell — Drinkwater — 27:21.13 134. Lucy Himes — Great Salt Bay — 29:02.95 135. Alivia Nason — Troy Howard — 29:04.32 136. Vivian Upton — Appleton — 30:22.90 137. Lila Neptune-Brenner — Great Salt Bay — 30:30.21 138. Eve Allen — Great Salt Bay — 30:47.73
Wiscasset Middle High School girls’ chance at qualifying for a spot in the Class C South soccer playoffs ended Friday in North Anson with a 2-0 loss to Carrabec.
The Cobras scored early and added a second goal in the second half. The Wolverines got off to a slow start and found themselves playing a defensive game through most of the first 40 minutes of play when goalie Lily Souza was called on to make four saves in the net.
Coaches Duane Goud and Todd Souza were able to rally their charges at halftime. “We actually controlled the tempo for about 15 minutes or so in the second half but unfortunately we just weren’t able to break through and score,” Souza said afterwards. “Our girls played hard from start to finish and so did theirs.” The Wolverines departed for North Anson, a 90-minute bus ride, in early afternoon. The game ran from 4 p.m. to about 5:45. Souza said it was windy, cold and nearly dark by the end.
The Wolverines finished the Moutain Valley Conference season with four wins and 10 losses. WMHS defeated Telstar, Mountain Valley and Dirigo and won by forfeit over Boothbay Region High School. The loss Friday dropped Wiscasset to 18th in the Class C South tournament ranking. The top 14 qualify for the postseason.
Wiscasset finished 1-13 last season.
The boy Seahawks-Wolverines cross-country team reigned once again at the Mountain Valley Conference Championships Oct. 19. Star athlete Will Perkins came in first ahead of Lisbon High School’s Aidan Laviolette by over 20 seconds sealing his win as MVC Cross Country Runner of the Year. Coach Nick Scott won the MVC Coach of the Year award.
The Seahawks-Wolverines girls also performed well even only with six athletes. Glory Blethen was the first from her team to cross the finish line placing seventh in 23:17 and Emerson Harris was hot on her heels placing 10th in 23:51 and breaking her personal record by 50 seconds. The team took third overall.
Next are the Regional Championships on Oct. 26 at Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland.
Boys results: Will Perkins, first, 17:27.50; Nathan Chatterton, seventh, 18:49; Graham Harris, 12th, 19:21; Ryan Russell, 14th, 19:33; Lucas Hardwick, 14th, 19:41; Gryffin Kristan, 18th, 19:47; Mason Erhard, 21st, 20:08; Nate Gilliam, 37th, 21:21; Brian Gagnon, 39th, 21:26; Quinn Ranta, 51st, 23:00; Ryan Amaral, 53rd, 23:16; Fox Elder, 62nd, 24:19; Ryan Clark, 66th, 24:38; Gavin Carlson, 69th, 24:57.40; and Nate Benoit, 81st, 29:16.
Girls results: Glory Blethen, seventh, 23:17; Emerson Harris, 10th, 23:51; Ava Schlosser, 16th, 25:06; Zada Smith, 26th, 26:33; Reese Hesseltine, 33rd, 28:00; and Delly Clarkson, 41st, 30:10.
Wiscasset Yacht Club held its 67th annual meeting on Saturday, Oct. 19. Members gathered for an hour of camaraderie, including a delicious buffet of potluck dishes.
Then the business meeting was called to order by outgoing Commodore Don Davis. First, he thanked his officers and board for their sustaining support during his five-year tenure. He praised their enthusiasm and tireless efforts in promoting the far-reaching club goals. He also cited increased membership, a growing sailing program, safety and seamanship seminars, continuing improvements to the club and docks, and two new social events, Burger Night and Movie Night, as a result of their efforts.
Nomination committee chair Bill Eilers read the slate of officer nominations for 2020. With no further ones from the floor, members unanimously voted to accept the nominated slate: Jack Dexter, commodore; John Bryer, vice commodore; Sonia Dallaire, rear commodore. Also voted in was new treasurer Tom Joyce. Continuing board members are Linda Winterberg, secretary; Kathy Swain, membership; Dave King, docks and floats; Alan Boyes, house and grounds; Tom Stoner, sailing program; John McMullen, safety and seamanship; Bill Eilers, webmaster; and PR/communication, Judy Boyes.
Commodore Jack Dexter's first order of business was to present PC Don Davis with a beautiful, half hull model of his boat Twilight, hand-crafted by PC Roy Jenkins. The meeting concluded with a standing ovation for the outgoing commodore.
Weather permitting, Chris Cooper expects to get all the plants in the ground at Alna’s Head Tide Dam by Thursday, Oct. 31. The dedication of the site Atlantic Salmon Federation and partners made over is at 11 a.m. off Head Tide Road. And despite the Halloween date, those involved have reported nothing scary during the half million dollar project this summer and fall.
It took down an abutment and put an overlook over the Sheepscot River, added stone steps down the river bank and rebuilt a foundation wall of a mill the dam powered. ASF’s Maranda Nemeth said in email replies the overlook will open after it gets its railings in mid-November. “The railings will go around the overlook and continue down the stairs.”
She said Cooper’s Clear Pine Carpentry of Alna is installing the plantings; they’ll have a one-year warranty and ASF will give the town $14,500 as a “property maintenance fund ... to use as they see fit in the coming years.”
Most of the plants are native to Lincoln County, and all are native to Maine, Cooper said as he and Denise Bizer continued their work Friday. An Alna resident since 1975, the past selectman said he thinks the century-old, town-owned dam’s new look is fabulous. “I think it’s the ideal compromise between those who would have eliminated (the dam) and those who would have not touched it.”
Selectman Greg Shute is liking it, too. “The town is thrilled not only with the appearance of the site, but with the efforts of several citizen committees that worked with (ASF) to come up with a solution that will improve the fisheries of the river while maintaining traditional public use and documenting through signage the important role dams at Head Tide have played in our town's history,” Shute said in a new press release Nemeth sent Friday.
The release also shares the thoughts of a man involved since he pitched the idea of change in December 2014, as other environmental groups had tried before. “This is a great example of a project improving sea-run fish passage and river health while also achieving local community needs for the property,” ASF Vice President of U.S. Programs Andrew Goode said.
The plantings are one of the last steps, besides the check Alna will get Thursday and the railings coming next month. Among the species Cooper was planting were a large-leaf evergreen rhododendron he said is the only one that grows wild in Maine, and a river birch he noted is pinkish white now but might darken.
The dedication is open to all; on-site parking is limited. Contact Nemeth with any questions at maranda@asf.comcastbiz.net or at 725-2833.
The Seahawks-Wolverines cross country teams competed at Cumberland’s Southern Maine Class C Regional Championship Oct. 26. The boys placed second out of 16 teams outrun only by Maine Coast Waldorf High School. The girls team placed sixth out of 10, edging Richmond High School and finishing just out of reach of Monmouth Academy.
Will Perkins won the boys race in 17:16.69, outpacing MCWH’s Seamus Woodruff by eight seconds. Graham Harris finished 14th, 18:34.92; Nathan Chatterton, 16th, 18:39.28; Gryffin Kirstan, 30th, 19:13.50; Lucas Hardwick, 35th, 19:29.89; Ryan Russell, 38th, 19:39.91; and Fox Elder, 40th, 19:55.43.
Greg Shute figures he has canoed at Alna’s Head Tide Dam 100 times. It can get a little hazardous there, he said. But looking at it in the rain Thursday, Oct. 31, with all the changes weeks or months old, he said it just looks like it will be fun. And it looks safer for all, including swimmers, with the new steps made of stones, he said.
Then and moments later to a crowd at the site’s dedication, Alna’s third selectman spoke of some of the work as stone art, and this spot on the Sheepscot River as “a citizen of the town.” He and others always look when they go by, and it looks different every time, Shute said. He noted the indigenous people who used the river here long ago were a part of the place, too.
People involved with the project for years, from idea to committee work, permitting, funding and fruition, and others never involved but interested, came to see and to celebrate. Some had umbrellas and, in a group photo Midcoast Conservancy Executive Director Jodi Jones requested, most had thumbs up and smiles. Jones told attendees, they were all a part of this.
She told Wiscasset Newspaper, “I’m a believer. And I always believed” the project would happen. She said it took a while, but the result was a site better for the town, the fish and the species who depend on them, and everyone who uses the dam. And the collaboration of the town, the different groups and government bodies involved, can be a model for projects around the country, she said.
“It’s magic.”
Atlantic Salmon Federation Vice President of U.S. Programs Andrew Goode cited challenges ASF and the town worked through together, from the varied local opinions to a deed covenant that called for the dam to never be destroyed.
Goode cited the involvement of resident and dam committee member Ralph Hilton. “Every town needs a Ralph Hilton.” Found toward the back of the crowd later, Hilton said the project took many people.
When work started this summer, Maranda Nemeth was with Midcoast Conservancy. Now with ASF, she said she was excited the project’s stakeholders got together for the ceremony and excited about the nearly done project that has improved the site for fish and people. “I think this is going to be an asset for many, many years to come, for people to go and enjoy the river, watch the birds, see the fish migrate. It’s going to be a sight to behold for years to come,” she said.
Retired fisherman David Nelson came from Friendship to attend. He has followed the project for quite some time and is interested in fisheries restoration, he said.
Alna’s longtime alewife harvester, David Sutter of Wiscasset, stood holding a sign reading “Shafted ...” In recent years, Sutter has come to selectmen with issues and selectmen have looked into them.
The new overlook’s railings are still to come. Reviewing the project, officials noted local contractors’ involvement, including Jeff Verney on excavation, West Alna Welding which made the viewing platform where an abutment had been, and Chris Cooper of Clear Pine Carpentry on landscaping.
The half million dollar project cost Alna nothing, officials have said. Goode handed Shute the $14,500 check planned for Alna to maintain the site. Shute called the project a gift to Alna.
To help get kids and families outside having fun in the snow, Midcoast Conservancy is providing affordable cross-country ski equipment to local kids ages kindergarten through eighth grade. Families can lease high quality skis, boots, and poles for the entire winter. Each child will get sized for the gear and then take it home for the season so they can ski on great equipment wherever, whenever they want.
The first fit session is Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a second is Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Both are at CLC YMCA in Damariscotta.
In addition, Midcoast Conservancy will hold the annual Kids XC-Ski Clinic for kids ages 5-12 on Saturdays for six weeks, from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8, 9:30-11 a.m. at Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) in Jefferson. The clinic is the perfect setting for skiers of different levels to gain confidence and enjoy HVNC’s trails. Instructors use fun, non-competitive methods to get the skiers out on the trails having fun each week. For information on costs or to register, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/youth-cross-country-ski-clinic/
Call (207) 389-5150 with any questions. Think snow!
After winning regionals the previous weekend, Boothbay Region High School senior Will Perkins won states Nov. 2, making him the first Seahawks state champion in cross-country.
Perkins’ winning time was 17:10.72. Runner-up was Aidan Laviolette of Lisbon with a time of 17:16.34. Finishing in third was Seamus Woodruff of Maine Coast Waldorf with a time of 17:20.68.
Coach Nick Scott said, “Congratulations on a great season everyone and a very special congratulations goes out to Will Perkins who becomes the first individual state champion from BRHS! In addition to Will's victorious run, several other team members had terrific races.”
The Seahawks-Wolverines teams sent seven boys and one girl to the Maine Class C Championships that had 25 boys teams and 24 girls teams at Twin Brook Recreation Area in Cumberland: Lisbon, Orono, Winthrop, Mt. Abram, St. Dominic Regional, Dirigo, Sumner Memorial, Dexter Regional, Houlton, Oak Hill, Fort Kent Community, Telstar Regional, Washburn, Machias, Madawaska, Bucksport and Deer Isle Stonington high schools, Maine School of Sciences and Mathematics, Maine Coast Waldorf, Waynflete School, and Traip, North Yarmouth, Monmouth and George Stevens academies.
The boys placed fifth overall and were narrowly outrun by the Lisbon High School Greyhounds.
Scott said the state meet was much more competitive than in years past; Twin Brook is generally expected to be about 30 seconds slower than the Belfast course, so everyone’s time is the equivalent of a personal record, said Scott.
“A year ago Nathan ran at states and placed 53rd in a time of 19:34. That is quite an improvement over the course of a year … Mason Erhard came up with the best race of his season finishing in 19:11, which is likely the equivalent of a 10-second personal record for him … Lucas Hardwick had another solid race, running three seconds faster than a week ago on a slower, muddier course to place 50th … Gryffin Kristan ends the year with a personal best that when converted to a Belfast equivalent time is one second faster than his brother's … Ryan Russell showed great improvement ... this season as he bettered his PR by almost a minute … Connor Robertson … almost broke the 18-minute mark as a freshman – a pretty big deal – clocking 18:03 at the Southern Maine Classic … Glory Blethen had yet another stellar season (winning) many races and (running) a season best of 20:40 at the Southern Maine Classic.”
Scott said Perkins’ mindset was the greatest contributing factor to his victory and to maintaining a position bested by no other Class C runner all season.
“There are a lot of impressive aspects about the last year of Will's preparation, but perhaps the most impressive of all was the confidence he had in his training,” said Scott. “Will has been unrelenting in his pursuit to be crowned state champion in cross country. The personal accountability that Will possesses is unlike that of any other athlete that I’ve coached … Will is one of those special cases that a coach rarely gets to experience. His focus, drive and follow through are impeccable.”
Perkins said his focus coming into the season was key to closing the gap between him and his fastest adversaries. Once he realized that gap was only about 10 seconds, he said it was like “a switch was flipped.”
“I made up my mind right then to train hard and stay regimented so I could get it done.”
States was a tough race, though, as course conditions were wet and slippery potentially making any mistake a game changer. Perkins said he saved some energy during the middle of his race and was relying on his kick at the end to maintain his distance.
“Mentally, I knew this was everything I had been working for and I had to win. There was no other result I was going to accept.”
His father Tom Perkins said there were no guarantees for Will winning the race given trail conditions and all athletes were determined to win. He went out fast gaining an early lead which he held for two miles, but he couldn’t shake Laviolette or Woodruff, his father said. “In fact, as the trio disappeared back into the woods for the final mile, they had pretty much pulled even.”
As the three emerged from the woods, Perkins hit a muddy patch at the bottom of a hill and spun out on a turn, his father said. The two runners-up were able to close the distance making it anybody’s race.
Laviolette managed to gain even more ground, but Will “turned on the jets for the final stretch” putting about six seconds between him and the rest of the runners.
Perkins said he had a deep sense of euphoria as he came to realize all the training and hard work over the past year had paid off. After crossing the finish line, Scott was the first to tackle him, he said. And he said friends from Lincoln Academy came off their bus to congratulate him.
“It was a powerful moment when everything I had worked so hard for was falling into place. It was really something.”
As the Seahawks and Wolverines posted their own impressive times and kept their team in Maine’s top five, the season came to an exciting close But there is still one more stop for Perkins: Manchester, Connecticut to participate in the New England Championships Nov. 9.
The Seahawks Cross Country Awards Night is at 6 p.m. Nov.13 in the BRHS library.
The following Wiscasset Middle High School boys and girls soccer players were honored by a recent vote of the Mountain Valley Conference coaches. The MVC awards were announced Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Boys soccer: Jordan Espeut, second-team all-star; Adian Foley, honorable mention; John Hobson, honorable mention; and Josh Jones, academic all-star.
Getting out for a little exercise can be a gratifying way to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday, especially when it benefits a good cause. For the second year on Thanksgiving Day, volunteers will be organizing an informal trail run at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust’s Salt Bay Farm in Damariscotta to benefit Twin Villages Foodbank Farm (TVFF). TVFF serves pantries in Newcastle, Jefferson, Boothbay Harbor, Wiscasset, Waldoboro, Whitefield, and New Harbor, and youth food programs including FARMS at the Y, the YMCA daycare, Newcastle Head Start, and weekend backpack programs at the Boothbay Region schools, Bristol Consolidated School, and Wiscasset Elementary School.
The 5K trail run and 1-mile walk/fun run will begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 28 and is open to runners and walkers of all ages. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are also welcome.
The 5K course is on broad mown trails with gentle hills, making two loops around the fields at Coastal Rivers’ scenic Salt Bay Farm.
There is no fee to participate, though monetary donations to TVFF are encouraged. Preregistration is a great help to the volunteer organizers and may be done online through Coastal Rivers’ website at coastalrivers.org/events
Participants may also sign up the day of the race. There will be modest prizes for the top male and female finishers as well as the top male and female finishers in each of three age groups.
TVFF’s mission is to grow and distribute healthy food for those who need it most in Lincoln County. To learn more about the farm or to make a secure online donation, visit twinvillagesfarm.org
The Farm operates in close partnership with Coastal Rivers. Coastal Rivers donates use of its prime farmland at Salt Bay Farm and provides administrative, fundraising and communications support.
Formed by the coming together of Damariscotta River Association and Pemaquid Watershed Association, Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, membership supported, and nationally accredited land trust and conservation organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the greater Pemaquid peninsula and Damariscotta River region.
Coastal Rivers has active programs in the areas of land conservation, stewardship, community education, water quality monitoring, marine conservation and cultural preservation.
Visitors are welcome at Coastal Rivers’ many properties throughout the region. For more information about Coastal Rivers, call (207) 563-1393, email info@coastalrivers.org, or visit coastalrivers.org
Midcoast Conservancy will offer a full moon hike (or snowshoe, if there is snow on the ground) at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5-7 p.m. Hikers can enjoy a crisp evening illuminated by the glow of the Full Cold Moon—so named for the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark—and discover a new way of being in the woods. At night, sounds become more pronounced; the group will listen for owls and the rustling of nighttime foragers along the trail.
Participants should meet at the gate at HVNC at 4:45 p.m.; hikers should dress warmly, wear shoes with good grips and bring a hiking stick if desired, along with a snack, drink and flashlight or headlamp. The hike guide will lead the group to 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, or participants can bring their own, in the event of snow.
Back in early spring, when we were still coming out of the stark weather we’re now entering again, two things came into my life that didn’t seem, at a glance, to amount to a confluence:
1. Our little family brought home a puppy, a longhair dachshund we decided to call Fretless. The name, it turns out, is ironic. This pup, sweetheart though he is, is nothing but Fretful. But that’s another column.
2. A doctor told me it was time to start moving around a little more.
Now, Fretless is not my first dachshund, and my doctor is not the first to tell me my slothful tendencies must be curbed. But his general advice was something new to me: “Make Maine your playground.” Drilled down further, the advice came out this way: “Dodge Point. It’s right there on the road you live on. Take that dog.”
It’s been the perfect prescription, in ways the doctor intended and in ways that have surprised and delighted me. Every morning that the weather even sort of cooperates with us, Fretless and I head out, first by car, then by foot, exploring these wonderful spaces that have been preserved for us — the universal us, those on this peninsula, resident and visitor alike. My boy, now 10 months old, is a trail-runner nonpareil, anxious as we enter the parking lot and overjoyed once all six of our feet are on terra firma. We’ve made a thorough exploration of Dodge Point several times over (he likes the Ravine Trail; I prefer the Shoreline route). We’ve branched out to Cross River Preserve, maintained by the Boothbay Region Land Trust, which is actually a lot closer to the house, and to Porter Preserve as well, with many others yet to come. We huff up ridgelines — in fairness, Fretless just goes; the huffing is all on this side of the leash — and onto straightaways, over crumbling rock walls and deadfall. Fretless, properly exercised, sleeps peacefully through the evening and my late night work hours; I, also properly exercised, have started to reverse some of the trends that so concerned my doctor.
These public lands have transformed my relationship with Maine, a state new to me, and my relationship with my pup. I’m no longer just the guy who controls the food and who says no. We’re partners, he and I, on our morning sojourns, each reliant on the other.
These land trusts and preserves are a treasure, an ongoing gift to the quality of life here and to the people who call this place home. I still feel like a bit of an interloper, having moved here from Montana in mid-2018, but I’m trying to honor the place. The state I came from has its own story with public lands, one that’s largely been successful for the people but one that also requires constant vigilance and stewardship. Here, Fretless and I will do our part. If you see us on the trail, please say hello.
The Seahawks-Wolverines cross-country teams met for an evening of accolades, awards and farewells Nov. 13. Coaches Nick Scott of Boothbay Region High School and Josiah Winchenbach of Wiscasset Middle High School gave season highlights and gave out the much anticipated end-of-season awards.
Scott recapped the season and spoke at length about each athlete and their growth throughout the season and their cross-country careers. Scott praised BRHS senior Will Perkins' success at Mountain Valley Conference championships, regionals and states. Perkins was MVC cross-country athlete of the year and a 2nd Team All State selection by Maine Track & Cross Country Coaches Association.
Seahawks-Wolverines Captain Graham Harris explained his disappointment for not being able to participate in the state championship after an incident with meatloaf left him with lung complications; however, the sidelined athlete was not deterred from cheering on his teammates and coming up with a brilliant idea for an award at the end of the season: the Victory Gatorade.
Before states, Harris discovered one last Gatorade in his refrigerator at home. He came up with the idea to spray-paint the beverage gold and award it to the athlete who could best persevere in ascending Twin Brooks' dreaded “Pain Cave,” a hill with about a 45 degree incline.
“It's not really fair to give it to whoever crosses the finish line first, because he’s going to get a medal anyway. So the Victory Gatorade goes to whoever goes up Pain Cave the best.”
Playing clips of each athlete at states, Harris commentated on facial expressions, running form and their aggressiveness, or lack thereof, in making it up the hill.
“The Victory Gatorade right here, painted gold, has got everyone's times, places and signatures, but one signature it doesn't have is Connor (Robertson)’s, so come up here and sign it.”
Scott and Winchenbach announced the winners of nine awards – six for Seahawks and three for Wolverines – and Scott spoke about why each athlete earned their respective awards:
Ava Schlosser, Coach's Award, BRHS – “I appreciate her ability to go out there and recruit people for the team. Beyond that wonderful air she gives, she is a hard worker. She’s focused, she's driven, she's got her eye on the big prize coming down the road, too. And she has a lot of ambition.”
Lily Yeaton, Sportsmanship, WMHS – “She takes accountability for her actions, and is just this pleasant. polite, wonderful young lady. She worked really hard and was really conscientious about what it is that she needed to do.”
Emme Harris, Most Improved Player, BRHS – “Emme just continually ran PR (personal record) after PR after PR ... You could really tell that she dug down to find whatever was left in that tank. So, when she finished a race, I had no doubt that that was everything she had on that particular day.”
Bryan Gagnon, Most Improved Player, WMHS – “I was just really impressed how he went out there and did what he was supposed to do at practice every day and he just seemed to really step it up and go after it. It was impressive to watch as a coach and I'm very excited to see where the next three years take him.”
Glory Blethen, Most Valuable Player, BRHS – “Glory is all around a phenomenal athlete (with) an excellent leadership skill-set that I think is going to just serve her really well in the future. She's also an individual who understands the importance of training and how A plus B really does equal C … It's all leading up to a big senior year.”
Lucas Hardwick, Most Improved Player, BRHS – “Lucas is very, very deserving of this award … The jump we saw between freshman year and sophomore year, especially the end of the season, I thought was really, really awesome. He improved not just time-wise, but maturity-wise and the ability to see down the road.”
Nathan Chatterton, Coach's Award, BRHS – “The character Nathan displays I think is the epitome of what we look for in this sport. He's hardworking, well liked, accountable, and he's not afraid to put in the work and do what is necessary for him to be better. As coaches, we're really proud of him and appreciate the effort he puts in.”
Nathan Gilliam, Outstanding Team Player, WMHS – “He has a fantastic set of leadership skills … This guy was the pit crew captain and … (this) responsibility is not to be taken lightly. We don't just hand it out … He took this on and did a really fantastic job and I think that just describes his role, who he is: a fantastic young man and we're really lucky to have him.”
Will Perkins, Most Valuable Player, BRHS – “Early on in my career, I had the pleasure of coaching Chase Brown who was fantastic. He was able to just go out there and do amazing things on the cross country course … I thought, ‛Will I ever have the opportunity to coach another Chase Brown?’ … There were some prospects along the way, but then enter Will Perkins … (Will) was on a year-long mission. About the middle of last year, he was like 'You know what? I think I can be a state champ.' I said 'I like that.’ It’s fantastic ambition … Stating that verbally is a big thing to do, not just 'maybe' – boom, goal, here it is. From that point on, he was on this relentless pursuit for that objective. Unlike anything I have ever seen, he just crossed the t's and dotted the i's like a machine.”
Turkeys may be the bird on the minds of most people during Thanksgiving week, but we find ourselves instead considering a small, dainty gull (imagine calling any gull “dainty”!) that can be found frequenting the countless small coves, bays, and narrows throughout the Midcoast region.
The Bonaparte’s gull doesn’t fit any preconceptions of the gulls we know—those big, feisty, yellow billed birds that we see following lobster boats, sitting on the top of wharf pilings, and scrapping for garbage at the landfill. You’ll never see a Bonaparte’s gull at the dump. They feed almost exclusively on naturally occurring tiny crustaceans and water-loving invertebrates as well as occasionally gorging on ants in the fall when the flying males depart enmass from their ant nests.
The size of a Bonaparte’s gull is closer to that of a tern or mourning dove, nothing like the brooding bulk of a herring or great black-backed gull.
And the oddities keep mounting.
Except for a handful of very rare and far out-of-range breeding records in far northern Maine, Bonaparte’s gulls nest in the Boreal Forest region of Canada and Alaska. They are one of the few gulls in our area in which the adults have a full black head at the height of breeding condition (a characteristic they share with the more common and familiar laughing gull). While almost all gulls around the world nest on the ground, usually on islands where they have safety from the attacks of mammals, Bonaparte’s gulls nest exclusively in trees. The millions of lakes and countless miles of rivers and streams across the Boreal Forest region provide the perfect places where the birds can find spruce trees or other coniferous trees near water to place their nests. It is a startling sight in late May and early June around these Boreal lakes and ponds to see these handsome black-headed gulls bouncily flying around with twigs in their bills and then diving into the depths of the green branches of a spruce where they’re building the nest.
Just as fascinating as its life history is the history of its name. The first specimen and description of the bird by Western Science (no doubt Native Americans must have been very familiar with the species long before then), was a bird collected by early ornithologist George Ord of Philadelphia in 1815. Ord gave the bird the scientific name of Sterna philadelphia, assuming that since it was so small it must belong in with the terns rather in the genus Larus, with the big gulls. Today, modern genetic techniques suggest that the birds should be in their own genus, neither big gulls nor tiny terns but something in between.
An interesting fact about Ord is that he was a friend and disciple of the early American ornithologist Alexander Wilson who predated John James Audubon on the American ornithology scene. Wilson died in 1813 before he could complete his intended thorough work on the birds of North America. Ord resented John James Audubon’s ambitious project to illustrate and complete the definitive work on North American birds, which he thought (somewhat correctly) would supersede Wilson’s many-volume reference.
A French ornithologist named Charles Bonaparte (a nephew of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte) came to the Philadelphia area in 1823 and stayed for about five years. He was a strong supporter of fellow Frenchmen John James Audubon and he lobbied to get Audubon into the membership of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science but was blocked by George Ord and other Wilson supporters.
Later, this bird that could have been called the “Philadelphia gull” was referred to by some friends of Charles Bonaparte in 1832 as Bonaparte’s gull and the name persisted. We can’t help but wonder whether there was some behind-the-scenes attempt at revenge against George Ord by giving a species he had first collected and identified an English name honoring an apparent enemy.
In your after-turkey Thanksgiving haze, we hope you will find the time for a walk along the shore and that you may find and enjoy watching some of George Ord’s decidedly un-gull-like gulls.
Jeffrey V. Wells, Ph.D., is a Fellow of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Vice President of Boreal Conservation for the National Audubon Society. Dr. Wells is one of the nation's leading bird experts and conservation biologists and author of “Birder’s Conservation Handbook”. His grandfather, the late John Chase, was a columnist for the Boothbay Register. 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” and “Birds of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao: A Site and Field Guide” from Cornell Press.
The start of the Mountain Valley Conference high school basketball season is just two weeks off. Wolverine fans will have their first chance to see the boys’ varsity team at the annual Thanksgiving weekend Alumni Game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.
Coach Jamie Jones returns this season with 15 players anchored by three seniors, Billy Pinkham, Josh Jones and Noah Haggett. Pinkham led the Wolverines in three-point baskets a year ago and will run the offense. Josh Jones is coming off a stellar soccer season, having recently been named an MVC Academic All-Star.
Haggett, one of three players over six feet, will see a lot of action under the backboards. He’s returning to basketball after sitting out last season.
Other returnees include juniors Brett Osmond, one of the Wolverines’ better ballhandlers and outside shooters last season. There’s also Marshall Weeks, whose rebounding skills will be a plus. Matt Eckert, another returnee, shoots well from the perimeter and could lead the team in assists this season.
The other upper classmen are juniors Aidan Foley, Casey Mills and Kyle Ricker; sophomores include Gavin Loupe and Dillion Leeman. Freshmen Ricky York, Kyle Ricker, Johnny Spies and Brady Nichols complete the roster.
“The good thing is unlike last season, we will have had almost three full weeks of practice and played four scrimmage games before the start of the regular season,” added Coach Jones. He took over the program last year, when the team won just one game, the home opener against Carrabec. A former Wolverine, Jones has a strong passion for the game and enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills with his players. The team is working hard on the basics: Passing, shooting, playing better defense, setting screens and most importantly playing together as a unit.
“There’s no question, we’ve got a long ways to go. Six of our guys are playing basketball for the first time. We’ll take it one game at a time and hopefully continue to improve as the season moves along,” he said.
The Wolverines will be well traveled over the next week, having played scrimmage games against high schools in Searsport, Waterville and Bingham.
Like the WMHS girls’ team, the boys are foregoing a jayvee team this season. The plan for now is to add a few jayvee games during the regular season. The Wolverines might also take part in a jayvee tournament, or even host one.
The Wolverine boys will be tested early. They’ll open the regular season against the Seahawks at Boothbay Region High School at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. The home opener follows on Monday, Dec. 9 versus Mt. Abram. It won’t be an easy season. WMHS is once again competing in the class C South and will play an 18-game schedule against bigger, more experienced ballteams.
Wiscasset Middle High School’s girls’ basketball program, a work in progress last season, is slowly coming together for Coach Tom Philbrick of Boothbay. WMHS will open the Mountain Valley Conference season at home against the Mt. Abram Roadrunners at 5 p.m. Dec. 9.
One big change this season is the Wolverines are foregoing their junior varsity team and concentrating all their efforts at improving the varsity squad. A dozen girls on the roster. Because there are no longer jayvee games, most of the girls’ and boys’ games will be played back-to-back the same night. An exception are the games with Boothbay Region High School, who the Wolverine girls won’t play until Jan. 10.
Another first for the Wolverines is they have scheduled four pre-season games that started this past Saturday with a pair of games hosted by Searsport High School. This coming Friday, Nov. 29, they’ll travel to Waterville to play Temple Christian Academy and then take a long bus ride to Bingham to play Valley High School on Dec. 3. Between the Temple and Valley games, the Wolverines will host the annual Alumni Game at Stover Gymnasium at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. This game, always well attended, has been a post-Thanksgiving Day tradition since the 1970s. The past few years, the Alumni have dominated the contest but maybe this year things will be different.
“Practice games are something you can never get enough of,” Philbrick said. This past Friday, he had his charges running through a series of offensive and defensive drills and practicing their free throw shooting.
“You’re going to be in some close ballgames this season and may find yourself in some pressure situations when making foul shots will mean the difference between winning and losing,” he told his players. He demonstrated how it’s done by swishing a pair of foul shots and then sending his players on the court to practice their free throws.
WMHS’s assistant athletic director, Bob “Radar” Applebee, is returning again to help coach the team. “There’s still going to be a few junior varsity games for the underclassmen. We’re hoping, too, that we can host a multi-team jayvee tournament maybe sometime in January,” he said. Applebee will coach the jayvee games.
Both Wolverine coaches are looking forward to the season. Last year, the team was winless. “We’re improving and learning something new every time we take the court,” added Philbrick. “We had a lot of fun playing summer basketball and came away with a couple of wins.”
Seniors on the roster include Natalie Potter, Jade Rego and Kateleen Trask. The juniors are Zoe Waltz, Kylie Peoples and Emily Richardson; sophomores, Madison Carrier, Brianna Orr, Latisha Wright and D’Nisha Dawkins. Freshmen Kailee Colby and Dezaray Orne round out the team.
Trask and Waltz are the most experienced ball handlers and aren’t afraid to take the ball to the hoop. Orr and Wright provide some accurate outside shooting from both inside and outside the three-point circle. Rego, Carrier and Richardson will supply the rebounds and inside baskets. Peoples and Potter will see plenty of action, too. The Wolverines put 45 points on the scoreboard during their scrimmage game at Searsport.
Before coming to WMHS last year, Philbrick coached junior high and high school basketball for five different school systems, including Orono, Rockland, Camden, Rangeley and Mt. Blue.
The Wolverines played hard but the stars of yesteryear shined brightest at Saturday night’s annual alumni basketball games at Wiscasset Middle High School. The alumni won both games surviving a scare in the first game.
The games have been a Thanksgiving tradition at the high school for over 40 years, bringing together recent and not so recent graduates. A good crowd of Wolverine fans turned out in Stover gymnasium to get their first look at this year’s girls’ and boys’ varsity teams coached by Tom Philbrick and Jamie Jones, respectively.
Philbrick’s starting five was anchored by senior Kateleen Trask and wow, what a game she had canning four, three-point baskets in the first eight minutes. She added 11 more points in the second half, finishing with 23. Junior Zoe Waltz netted seven points including a trifecta in the first period. Two of her biggest baskets were from the foul line in the closing minutes. After blocking a shot, she carried the ball the length of the court, drew a foul and hit both free throws. That briefly put the Wolverines ahead 45-44 with three minutes left to play.
Lindsey Gordon class of ’18 then drove to the basket and scored, tying the game at 45 with 2:51 to go. Brianna Goud ’14 then sunk the game winner for the alumni, a trifecta that put them ahead for good 48-45. In the closing minute, Bella Orr, a seventh grader who played for the alumni, scored the game’s final basket. Unfortunately, a lack of communication resulted in only four alumni players showing up to take part in the game. Two Wolverine varsity players, Latisha Wright and Natalie Potter, also played for the alumni.
Wright had a solid floor game, picking up a pair of steals and three assists. Brianna Orr, Bella’s sister, started for the varsity and played point guard most of the game. She hit a huge three-point basket just before the buzzer sounded ending the third period.
Philbrick’s Wolverines led 21-8 after the first quarter, 25-22 at the half and 40-33 headed into the final eight minutes of play. Kylie Peoples had a blocked shot and a steal and netted six points for the varsity.
The alumni rallied and outscored the varsity 12-10 in the final eight minutes. Goud led the alumni with five points in the first quarter, a three-pointer in the second and six points in the pivotal final period. She also pulled down about a dozen rebounds.
In the early going, Gordon had the hot hand for the alumni, scoring six points in the first quarter. Grace Webber ’18 was a big factor under the backboards and down the closing stretch, netting six points in the final eight minutes of play. Ari Mills ’18 made some nice passes and picked up several assists in both halves.
The game’s first basket was scored by Wolverine Emily Richardson. The swisher off the opening tip-off came from a nifty pass by Trask.
Defense does it for alumni men
The Wolverine boys team was no match for the a bigger and more physical men’s alumni team. After the alumni outscored the Wolverines 34-6 in the first half, the scoreboard was reset to zero. In the second half, the alumni outscored the varsity 41-16.
Senior Billy Pinkham and juniors Brett Osmond were the only Wolverines to score in the first half. Each had a three-pointer. Pinkham netted three trifectas in the second half.
Pinkham’s first three, a rainbow from behind the key, briefly put the varsity in the lead 3-2. The alumni then went on a roll. Grant Hefler ’17 banked in a basket from underneath, opening up a 19-6 alumni lead just before the first period ended. Late in the first half, Ethan James ’17 had a pair of assists to Zack Reed ’17. James then swished a three-pointer from the left corner only to have the basket nullified by the referee because James’ foot was out of bounds when he took the shot. James, one of WMHS’s all-time leading scorers and rebounders, could have probably sunk the basket from the parking lot.
The Wolverines allowed 15 unanswered points in the second period. Reed finished with nine first half points, Matt Craig ’17 six, and James five. The second half opened with Osmond dishing off to Matt Eckert for a quick basket down the middle, something the varsity needed a lot more. The alumni then went on a roll again and were up 15-5 when the period ended. They outscored the Wolverines 26-11 in the final period.
The varsity was without two of the team’s best rebounders, senior Noah Haggett and junior Marshall Weeks, both sidelined with injuries.
Thirteen graduates returned to play for the alumni game including six members of the class of 2017: Conlon Ranta, James, Russell Marr, Tiger Colby, Hefler and Brandon Goud and Logan Orr. Other alumni returnees were Bryson Grover ’16, Craig ’15 and Reed ’18. Representing the class of 2019 were Matt Chapman, Chris Loyola and Josh Gabriele.
On the previous night, the Wolverine boys’ and girls’ teams traveled to Waterville playing scrimmage games against Temple Christian Academy. Coaches Philbrick and Jones said their teams played well and continue to improve. Weather permitting, they have one more scrimmage game at Valley High School in Bingham on Dec. 3. Snow is predicted.
The boys are set to open the Mountain Valley Conference season at Boothbay Region High School on Saturday night, Dec. 7, then host Mt. Abram Dec. 12, the girls’ season opener. The girls play first, at 5 p.m. No jayvee games are scheduled.
In order to help get kids and families outside having fun in the snow, Midcoast Conservancy offers affordable cross-country ski equipment to local kids ages kindergarten through eighth grade. High quality skis, boots, and poles for the entire winter are $65. At two fit sessions, kids are sized for their gear and then take it home for the season so they can ski on great equipment wherever, whenever they want.
The first fit session is Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; a second will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Both will be at the CLC YMCA in Damariscotta.
In addition, Midcoast Conservancy will hold the annual Kids XC-Ski Clinic for kids ages 5-12 for six weeks, from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8, 9:30-11 a.m., at Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) in Jefferson. The clinic is the perfect setting for skiers of different levels to gain confidence and enjoy HVNC’s trails. Instructors use fun, non-competitive methods to get the skiers out on the trails having fun each week. For more information or to register, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/youth-cross-country-ski-clinic/
For more opportunities to recreate in the snow, registration is now open for the 2020 Winter Biathlon on Feb. 29. Ski, snowshoe or ride a fat bike for trail loops between turns on the paintball target range at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Gear is available to rent for the race. For more info, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/midcoast-conservancy-biathlon-3/ Call (207) 389-5150 with any questions.
Mid-Coast Audubon invites all interested birdwatchers to participate in the mid-coast Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) this December. If you like to feed birds in your yard and will be around to watch your feeder on that day, you can help.
The annual counts contribute to the North American database for the National Audubon Society’s CBC, which is now in its 120th year. Birders of all skill levels are welcome at any level of participation. Counters tally individuals of all bird species found during one 24-hour period from midnight to midnight within a 15-mile circle.
Participants may either watch birds at their home feeders (if they live within the circle) or join a count team to go out in the field for the day. Mid-Coast Audubon manages three count circles, and interested birders should contact the count compiler at least one week in advance so teams can be planned ahead.
· Dec. 14, Damariscotta-Pemaquid, compiler Dennis McKenna (207) 563-8439
· Dec. 16, Bunker Hill, compiler John Weinrich (207) 846-1221
· Dec. 21, Rockland-Thomaston, compiler Don Reimer (207) 273-3146
Mid-Coast Audubon’s mission is to promote long-term, responsible use of natural resources through informed membership, education and community awareness.
THOMASTON — Local radio station 106.9 FRANK FM (WBQX-FM) will broadcast over 30 regular season varsity basketball contests this winter.
In February, the Thomaston-based station will broadcast playoff tournament games involving teams from Central Maine and the Midcoast.
The broadcast season begins Friday, Dec. 6 as the Belfast boys basketball team challenges Lincoln Academy on the road in Newcastle.
The station, which will also stream the games on its Facebook page, will broadcast games including Oceanside, Medomak Valley, Camden Hills, Boothbay, Wiscasset, and Mount View.
Regular Season Broadcast Schedule Friday, Dec. 6 — Belfast at Lincoln Academy boys — 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 — Camden Hills at Medomak Valley boys — 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 — Lisbon at Boothbay boys — 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 — Oceanside at Camden Hills boys — 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 — John Bapst at Belfast girls — 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 — John Bapst at Belfast boys — Following the girls contest Tuesday, Dec. 17 — Erskine Academy at Camden Hills boys — 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 — Lincoln Academy at Oceanside boys — 6:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 — Medomak Valley at Oceanside girls — 4:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 — Medomak Valley at Oceanside boys — Following the girls contest Friday, Dec. 27 — Oak Hill at Boothbay girls — 6:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 — Mount View at Oceanside boys — 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 — Cony at Medomak Valley boys — 6:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3 — Oak Hill at Wiscasset boys — 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 — Mt. Blue at Medomak Valley boys — 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 — Hall Dale at Boothbay boys — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 — Medomak Valley at Camden Hills boys — 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 — Wiscasset at Boothbay girls — 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 — Camden Hills at Oceanside boys — 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 — Erskine Academy at Medomak Valley boys — 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 — Carrabec at Boothbay boys — 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Mount View at Oceanside girls — 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 — Lincoln Academy at Belfast boys — 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 — Oceanside at Medomak Valley girls — 5:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 — Oceanside at Medomak Valley boys — Following the girls contest Monday, Jan. 20 — Skowhegan at Medomak Valley boys — 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 — Brewer at Camden Hills boys — 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 — Maine Central Institute at Oceanside boys — 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 — Belfast at Oceanside boys — 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 — Mt. Abram at Wiscasset boys — 6:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 — Oceanside at Lincoln Academy boys — 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 — Winslow at Oceanside boys — 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 — Mt. View at Belfast boys — 6:15 p.m.
Here come the railings and bench for Head Tide Dam’s new overlook in Alna. And with their installation, underway through the week of Dec. 9, will come public access to the overlook, Atlantic Salmon Federation’s Maranda Nemeth said near the site Dec. 5.
She had just met with Sumco, the Massachusetts contractor that did most of the site’s months-long makeover. She said the snowstorm delayed Sumco’s plans to return Dec. 3. And when crew members started Dec. 4, they had snow to remove, she said in a followup email Dec. 6.
“The weather was a bit of an obstacle ... Of course it would be a bit easier on the crew if it was warmer but they are well equipped and experienced to complete the work under these conditions.”
The platform has been the only part of the site still off-limits since a dedication ceremony on Halloween. “Hopefully by next weekend (Dec. 14-15), people will be able to be on it,” Nemeth said, smiling.
The backless, metal bench is the same product used at Coopers Mills in Whitefield, Nemeth said. ASF and its partners removed a dam there last year. And as at Coopers Mills, the bench at Head Tide Dam will go in the center of the overlook, she said. “The fixtures have baseplates and will be drilled down, mounted then sealed off.”
The fence blocking access to the platform will be gone, and that ends the project, Nemeth said. The railings will go around the platform and continue along the new path to the Sheepscot River, she said.
The Boothbay Region Seahawks jumped out to a 24-0 lead and went on to easily defeat the visiting Wiscasset Wolverines, 83-19, at Porter Memorial Gymnasium, BRHS on Saturday, Dec. 7. It was the season-opening game for both teams.
Ben Pearce led the Seahawks with 17 points, followed by Mike Hollowell with 12, Hunter Crocker with 11 and Kaeden Davis with 10. Steve Bennett added nine points.
Billy Pinkham led the Wolverines with seven points.
The Wolverines rallied late from a 10-point deficit but came up short, losing 29-24 to visiting Mt. Abram at Wiscasset Middle High School. Monday night’s girls’ basketball game was the Mountain Valley Conference opener for both teams.
Wiscasset went out in front early. Kateleen Trask staked the Wolverines to a 10-4 lead after drawing a foul on a three-point attempt and converting two of three foul shots at 6:51 of the second period. The Roadrunners then went on a 6-0 run; a basket underneath by Cassandra Hobbs tied the score. Madison Phelps’ jump shot briefly put Mt. Abram ahead 12-10. The Wolverines then went back on top after Trask swished in a trifecta.
In the final minutes of the half, the visitors regained the lead for good. Emily Marden’s basket with 46 ticks left opened up a six-point lead for the Roadrunners, 19-13, which is where the score stood at halftime.
Both teams struggled in the third quarter, the visitors outscoring their hosts 8-4. The Wolverines caught a break six minutes into the quarter after the Roadrunners were whistled for a technical foul. Zoe Waltz converted one of two free throws and Wiscasset retained possession of the ball but failed to score. Heading into the final period, Mt. Abram led 27-17.
With 5:55 left, Brianna Orr found Waltz open for a field goal from the left side; Orr to Madison Carrier cut the Roadrunners’ lead to six, 27-21. In the closing minutes, Kylie Peoples found Waltz open for a trifecta, the Wolverines’ final basket of the game. Waltz and Trask led the Wolverines with nine points each. Phelps netted 10 for Mt. Abram. Peoples grabbed 15 rebounds. Waltz had seven steals.
The Roadrunners went to the foul line 23 times but made only seven shots, Wiscasset converted five of seven free throws.
Roadrunners by a mile
Mt. Abram scored 21 unanswered points, 10 by senior Nate Lutes in the first six minutes of the game, and coasted to a lopsided 91-18 win over the Wolverines in the night cap.
Luce finished with a game-high 17 points and sat out most of the second half. The Wolverines’ first basket of the game came when Marshall Weeks converted a free throw with 2:58 left in the opening quarter.
The second quarter started off better for the Wolverines. Billy Pinkham drove to the hoop and scored on the team’s first possession. Soon after, things went downhill after Pinkham carried the ball inside for a layup, rolled his ankle and had to leave the game. In the game’s closing minutes, Matt Eckert and Brett Osmond hit three-point baskets for the Wolverines. Dillion Leeman and Kyle Ricker both played well off the bench. Noah Haggett led WMHS in rebounding and had five points. Osmond had five points as well.
Mt Abram led 35-1, 64-7 and 85-11 at the period breaks.
The Wolverine boys’ and girls’ next three games are away; they’ll travel to Madison on Friday, Dec. 13, Monmouth Academy Dec. 19, and Lisbon Dec. 20 and then take a break for the Christmas holiday.
For anyone facing the challenge of choosing the right gift while avoiding the guilt of unnecessary consumption, Midcoast Conservancy has a few gift ideas that are sure to meet gift-giving needs.
A Midcoast Conservancy gift membership for a student, individual or family is one that keeps on giving; membership includes unlimited access to the best hiking and ski trails in the region and deep discounts on events and cabin rentals at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson, and the satisfaction that comes with being a member of an organization that works every day to make the midcoast community special.
One could also consider a gift certificate good toward more than 50 great events offered each year, cabin or yurt rentals at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson, or some great merchandise like reusable stainless steel pint cups, bamboo utensil sets, or fleece beanies to keep heads toasty. For that special gift, it is possible to a pre-order custom benches or tables made from sustainably forested wood from HVNC.
These are meaningful gifts for so many reasons. They can be purchased without driving (and parking!), they don’t burden UPS or FedEx drivers, there is no excess packaging or waste produced, and most importantly, they give the recipient something of great value and joy while supporting a local conservation organization that protects and promotes healthy lands, waters and communities for everyone. For more info, go to www.midcoastconservancy.org or call (207) 389-5150. Happy holidays from Midcoast Conservancy!
Carrabec outscored Wiscasset Middle High School in every quarter but the final one, winning big, 81-35 Tuesday night in Wiscasset. The loss dropped the Wolverines to 0-3 in the Mountain Valley Basketball Conference. The Cobras improved to 1-1.
Luke Carey tossed in a pair of three-pointers and added three field goals to help stake the visitors to a 18-7 first period lead. The Wolverines’ first points of the game came on a three-point shot off the hands of Brett Osmond at 5:25, making it a 9-3 ballgame.
The Cobras took over the game in the second quarter when they outscored Wiscasset 23-12. Eli Canales had the hot hand coming off the bench and scoring eight points, including a pair of trifectas.
Dillon Leeman, who saw a good deal of action playing point guard for the Wolverines, made a nice bounce pass to Josh Jones, who drove to the basket banking the ball off the glass and into the hoop. Noah Haggett then swished a three with 5:15 left. A fastbreak basket by Osmond cut the Cobras’ lead in half, 33-16. Before the break Kasey Mills scored from under the basket.
But when the buzzer sounded signaling halftime, Carrabec was clearly in control of the game. The visitors were on top 41-19.
The Cobras pressed defensively for a good part of the second half. The Wolverines played hard but struggled moving the ball downcourt. Headed into the final eight minutes of play, Carrabec was up 70-24.
Matt Eckert hit a three for the Wolverines down the stretch, and Haggett added a field goal. In the closing minutes, Marshall Weeks had a blocked shot. The final points of the game came on a fastbreak basket by Osmond.
The Wolverines were without the services of their best ball handler, Billy Pinkham. He was sidelined with an ankle injury suffered the night before during the Mt. Abram game. There’s no word yet when he will rejoin the team.
Osmond finished with 14 points, Haggett 10, and Mills five. Carey had a game high 26. Canales added 13.
This was the most points the Wolverines have put on the scoreboard this season.
There were a lot of whistles in the game, a combined 54 personal fouls including a technical against Carrabec. The Cobras went to the foul line 35 times and made 15. Wiscasset converted 8 of 19 free throws.
There was no girls’ varsity game and attendance was low. About 70 people, cheerleaders included, turned out. Many of the fans had made the long trip to Wiscasset from North Anson where Carrabec High is.
Paddling from Kings Mills in Whitefield to Alna’s Head Tide Dam Sunday, Woolwich’s Catherine Kimball got out of a kayak and the Sheepscot River just before the dam. Fellow Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society member Reid Anderson of Dresden, an intermediate canoeist, kept going and passed though the wider opening that was part of Atlantic Salmon Federation’s makeover of the century-old, town-owned dam that once powered a lumber mill.
“Some would call it sporty. It was fast,” Anderson said of his passage through the dam.
Atlantic Salmon Federation had projected opening the new platform over the new opening that weekend. “The work is going along smoothly just more time-intensive than had (been) estimated,” ASF’s Maranda Nemeth wrote in a Friday, Dec. 13 email response to questions. “The crew will likely wrap up next week.”
The platform was not why the two paddlers came Sunday. “It’s 40F and it’s a beautiful day. When you get that in December, you want to go out,” Anderson explained. He and Kimball added, they are interested to see what it will be like to get out at the dam in February. Until the project, paddlers there at that time of year have been met with icy shelves, they said.
“That will be the real test” of some of the improvements, Anderson said, smiling in sunglasses, a helmet and other outdoor wear as he looked back toward the river.
Anderson said he wouldn’t recommend beginning paddlers attempt the new opening. Neither would canoeist and Third Selectman Greg Shute.
“I have canoed through the dam and I would say that anyone considering paddling through the opening should have an honest understanding of their paddling ability,” Shute wrote in a Dec. 11 email response to questions. “It is vital that canoeists or kayakers be able to make an informed risk assessment of the current water conditions and their own ability. This time of year the cold temperatures bring a heightened need for making conservative decisions on the water.
“Depending on the river levels, it could require advanced paddle skills to perform the maneuvers needed to safely paddle through the dam. Beginners shouldn’t paddle through the dam at high water levels,” Shute added.
“A nice paddle for less experienced canoeists and kayakers would be to launch from below the ... dam and paddle to Sheepscot Village on an outgoing tide. This stretch is mostly flat water with a few light rapids in the first quarter mile downstream of the dam.”
Shute has been hearing positive comments from town residents who have stopped by to view the site work.
“I’m excited that the new platform will provide a safe area from which to view the river and provide a better view of alewives, shad and salmon as they pass through the dam.”
New residents Kim and John Shipman stopped by Sunday when the paddlers and Wiscasset Newspaper were there. The Shipmans, who moved to Alna from Pennsylvania, said they have watched the project progress. “It’s amazing, and I think it will be amazing” for people who want to walk around, Kim said.
Their driveway has rubble in it from local contractor Jeff Verney’s excavation of the site, they said. They said they hired Verney for driveway work after he did his part of the dam work. “So now we’ve got a piece of the history,” John said, smiling.
Monmouth Academy held the visiting Wolverine girls’ varsity to just seven points, winning 56-7 Saturday. The Mustangs were up 32-5 at halftime.
Wiscasset’s scorers were Zoe Waltz, three; and Madison Carrier and Kateleen Trask, two points each. The Wolverines made three of four foul shots. Kylie Peoples pulled down eight rebounds and Brianna Orr finished with six steals.
Maddie Clough finished with a game high 12 points for Monmouth; Alexa Allen and Katie Harris each had eight; Abby Flanagan had six. The Mustangs out-rebounded Wiscasset at both ends of the court. They made 18 of 34 foul shots. Monmouth outscored the Wolverines 16-2, 16-3 and 23-2 in the first three periods. Neither team had a basket in the final quarter.
The night before, the Wolverines were upended by Madison 62-18. The host Bulldogs led 24-5 after the first period and 39-5 at halftime. Wiscasset outscored Madison 11-7 in the final eight minutes of play.
Waltz finished with six points, five rebounds and two steals. Orr had five points and two steals. Trask and Kylie Peoples each had four rebounds. Madison had three players in double figures, Emily Edgerly with 18, Glauria Leblanc, 12, Brooke McKenny, 11 and Abi Spaulding, 10.
The two losses dropped WMHS’s record to 0-3.
Bulldogs win big
Noah Haggett netted the only field goal of the game, as the Wolverines lost big at Madison 73-8. Friday night’s game was the first time Wiscasset Middle High School has held an opponent under 80 points this season.
Both teams entered winless, 0-3 in the Mountain Valley Conference. The Bulldogs were up 21-0 after one period and 43-3 at halftime. Haggett and Kasey Mills each had three points, and Marshall had two. Wiscasset made six of 10 free throws. Madison’s Thomas Dean had 18 points, 10 of those in the first period. On the foul line, the Bulldogs made six of 11 free throw attempts. The next day, the Wolverines lost 67-11 at Monmouth Academy. The WMHS boys are winless in five MVC games.
The Wolverine boys' and girls' teams play one more game before the Christmas break. They’ll be at Lisbon High School on Friday, Dec. 20. The girls will play first.
The Wiscasset Community Center/Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Department is excited to be offering Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga again in January. If you're looking for a new challenge, yoga on a stand up paddleboard will reinvigorate you and push you to become an even better yogi than you thought possible — all while enjoying the natural splendor of floating on water.
Marylou Cook is the instructor offering this unique and challenging program. She will help you work on flexibility and range of motion, build core strength and balance and increase awareness of your body and mind. Come enjoy the warmth of our 85 degree pool room with 83 degree pool water this winter.
We will be offering two six-week sessions on either Sunday 5-6:15 p.m. or Tuesday 6-7:15 p.m. Sessions will begin Jan. 5 and Jan. 7. Cost: $36/members $72/non-members. For more information visit our website www.wiscassetrec.com or call the Wiscasset Community Center at 882-8230.
Midcoast Conservancy will host its eighth annual biathlon at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson on Saturday, Feb. 29. All ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate. Racers can compete individually or in teams of four, and everyone is encouraged to compete in costume.
Biathlon is an Olympic sport that combines cross country skiing and target shooting. This year, the race will include a fat bike option as well, where racers bike rather than ski. Midcoast Conservancy’s event is a twist on the classic, using paintball rifles. All rifles are provided by Midcoast Conservancy, and each racer will receive safety training on how to use the rifle. Snowshoe racers are welcome.
Races will begin about 9 a.m. and continue into the early afternoon. All day long there will be bonfires and spectators are encouraged. Biathlon fans should consider volunteering if they are not planning to race; the race volunteer crew can always use extra hands.
Race categories are based on self-selected skill levels upon pre-race check in, and there is a special category for youth racers. Awards will be given out for best costume, best team name, and for youth and high school aged participants. The Biathlon will held even if there is no snow; trail running will replace skiing in that case. Postponement will be for dangerous conditions only.
Anyone wanting to brush the rust off their ski skills should consider the adult cross-country ski clinic at HVNC on two consecutive Sundays, Feb. 9 and 16. Veteran skiers and ski coaches will help boost participants’ confidence and skill on skis; ski rentals are available. The two-day course is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. More information and registration at https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/adult-xc-ski-clinic-at-hvnc-2/
A kids’ cross-country ski clinic will run for six Saturdays, from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8, 9:30-11 a.m., at HVNC. This clinic is the perfect setting for skiers of different levels to gain skills and confidence while enjoying HVNC’s trails. Instructors use creative, non-competitive methods to get the skiers out on the trails having fun each week. The course is $70 for Midcoast Conservancy members, $80 for non-members. Register at https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/youth-cross-country-ski-clinic/
Anyone having questions should call Midcoast Conservancy at (207) 389-5150.
To help get kids and families outside having fun in the snow, Midcoast Conservancy is providing affordable cross country ski equipment to local kids ages kindergarten through eighth grade. Families can lease high quality skis, boots and poles for the entire winter. Each child will get sized for the gear and then take it home for the season so they can ski on great equipment wherever, whenever they want.
A third and final session will be held at CLC YMCA in Damariscotta on Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 3 to 6 p.m.
In addition, Midcoast Conservancy will hold the annual Kids XC-Ski Clinic for kids ages 5-12 for six weeks, from Jan. 4 to Feb. 8, 9:30-11 a.m. at Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC) in Jefferson. The clinic is the perfect setting for skiers of different levels to gain confidence and enjoy HVNC’s trails. Instructors use fun, non-competitive methods to get the skiers out on the trails having fun each week.
Here are the results for Dec. 15, our first week of adult basketball at Wiscasset Community Center. We have three games every Sunday starting at 4:30 p.m.
First game: Maxwell's Market, 100 points; Ethan James 43, Ben Teel 20 and Matt Petrie 17. And Red's Eats, 94 points; Shane Hutchins 30, Charles Colby 19 and Mike Connors 17.
Second game: Ames True Value Supply, 77 points; Paul Greniere 32, Brian Swain 13 and Sean Chubbuck 12. And Cantrell's Seafood, 65 points; Bryant Toothaker 23, Andy Cantrell 19 and Brandon Sprague 15.
Third game: First National Bank, 77 points; Bryan James 36, Derek Jones 11 and Steven Wescott and Austin Campbell nine each. And Wiscasset Ford, 75 points; Julian Aponte 28, Sean Pinkham 17 and Matt Hinkley 15.
I would like to thank our sponsors for this year’s league. We’re off to a great start. Best of luck to all the teams.
Thank you for your continued support of the WCC!
Medomak opened the game with 10 unanswered points cruising to an 86-22 basketball win over the Wiscasset Middle team Thursday, Dec. 19 in the Memorial Gymnasium at Wiscasset Elementary School.
Wiscasset’s first points came after Javar Garricks found Brayden Laliberte open for a basket with about four minutes remaining in the first period. Austin Trask followed with a fast break basket, briefly making it a 14-4 ballgame.
Medomak led 22-6 after the first period, 41-10 at the half and 59-18 after three periods. Trask with Garricks assisting scored Wiscasset Middle’s first basket of the second half. Medomak answered by putting 10 more unanswered points on the scoreboard. Later in the period, Wiscasset put together a nice run. Emmitt Loupe stole the ball and scored, then Trask found Ethan Demmons for the first of two baskets. Garricks swished a jump shot before the period ended.
Laliberte and Garrett led Wiscasset in rebounding. Trask and Demmons led in assists. Wiscasset Middle’s next game is after the holiday break. The team hosts Hope on Jan. 2.
On Monday, Dec. 16, Boothbay Region YMCA and Central Lincoln County YMCA opened registration for its first ever joint program guide for the Winter I session, Jan. 6-Feb. 29.
Within the guide, many youth sports programs are offered including Youth Basketball, Itty Bitty Basketball, Basketball Tournaments, and TGK Skills Clinics; Candlepin Bowling at All Play; Y Soccer at The Pitch; Karate; Gymnastics; Softball clinics; Camden Snow Bowl Ski/Snowboard Trips; Swimming; Winter Fat Tire Biking & Snowshoeing; Afternoon Skate & Ride; and Youth Tennis.Y-Arts programs are also featured, including the Winter Musical: Beauty and the Beast Jr., youth choir, private voice lessons, dance classes, private violin lessons, Visual Arts, and Arts for All, a program for youth and adults with intellectual or physical disabilities. Some programs are held at CLC YMCA, others at BR YMCA.
FARMS at the Y at CLC YMCA is offering Kids in the Kitchen to youth in grades three through five, and adult cooking classes and farm to table community lunches. Free with membership, the Teen Leaders Club for Middle School and High School students at CLC YMCA introduces youth and teens to service learning, volunteerism, social interaction and appreciation for diversity through the focus areas of the YMCA. Other teen programs include Teen Cooking Club with FARMS at the Y and Teen Dance Socials.
Evidence Based Health Intervention Programs are featured, including LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Diabetes Prevention Program, Enhance Fitness, Boxing for Parkinson’s, Pedaling for Parkinson’s, Healthy Weight and Your Child, and TaiChi for Arthritis I & II.
There are a variety of group exercise, personal training and small group training options to help improve health in the new year. Programs include Lose It With the Y, an eight-week personal training program for teams of four; and yoga, pilates, deep water aerobics (BRYMCA), Zumba, TRX, Cardio Tennis, and a New Year, New You Challenge: Find Your 150 (CLC YMCA).
Spectrum Generations’ offerings at CLC YMCA include Wednesday Lunch & Learn; Monthly Friday Lunch; Medicare 101: Medicare Made Easy; Family Caregiver Support Group, Local Advisory Council, Tax Assistance, and SAGE. FMI, call 563-1363. Adult offerings include adult tennis, pickleball, pick-up basketball, pick-up floor hockey, pick-up volleyball,and karate. Availability varies per Y. Social Responsibility collaborations and events at BR YMCA include the Penguin Plunge, to help the aquatics department fund free swim lessons for second graders; Fill the Bus Food Drive; American Red Cross Blood Drive on Jan. 16; Senior Walkers on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and Kids Night Out.
At Alna’s Head Tide Dam Dec. 21, a fence no longer blocked access to the new platform overlooking the Sheepscot River. Wiscasset Newspaper took early morning photos the day of the winter solstice.
A backless bench is planned for the platform, according to Atlantic Salmon Federation. Massachusetts contractor Sumco’s equipment trailer remained onsite. West Alna Welding made the platform, ASF has said.
Six different Wolverines scored at Lisbon but the host Greyhounds were too much, winning 54-24 in Mountain Valley Conference girls basketball Friday night.
Brianna Orr led all Wiscasset scorers, netting six points; Kateleen Trask had five, Emily Richardson and Latisha Wright each had four; Zoe Waltz, three, and Madison Carrier, two. Carrier also grabbed five rebounds. Kylie Peoples recorded four. Waltz had four steals and a pair of assists. Trask finished with three steals and two assists.
Wiscasset Middle High School was down 16-8 after the first period. The hosts were up 36-10 at halftime and 48-15 after three periods. The Wolverines outscored the Greyhounds 9-6 in the final eight minutes of play. Lisbon made nine of 12 free throws, compared to two of five for WMHS. The loss dropped WMHS to 0-4; Lisbon, a class B high school, improved to 4-1. The Wolverines begin a homestand on Dec. 27 starting with Dirigo at 5 p.m., followed by Spruce Mountain Dec. 28 and Hall-Dale Dec. 30.
In Friday’s nightcap, D.J. Douglas netted 20 points leading the Greyhounds to a lopsided 90-14 MVC win over WMHS. Douglas hit a trifecta in the first period when Lisbon put 22 points on the scoreboard. Noah Haggett scored the quarter’s only points for the Wolverines, also a three-pointer. Lisbon then outscored Wiscasset 26-4 in the second period staking the Greyhounds to a 47-7 halftime lead. Haggett scored in every period but the final one and finished the game with seven points. Matt Eckert had five points including a trifecta in the third. Point guard Dillion Leeman a had basket in the third period.
Wolverine Coach Jamie Jones said afterwards, “Eckert made impactful plays on both sides of the ball with his hustle and aggressive play.” WMHS is still looking for its first MVC win this season and is now 0-6. Lisbon improves to 3-2. The Wolverine boys’ varsity will host Dirigo and Spruce Mountain Dec. 27 and 28.
A once vegetated spot upriver of Alna’s Head Tide Dam is now a hazardous, “sheer drop,” resident Chris Cooper told selectmen Dec. 23. Big rocks or some other barrier will go there, Atlantic Salmon Federation Vice President of U.S. Programs Andy Goode said in a phone interview Dec. 24.
ASF has given the dam site and part of the dam a makeover including a Sheepscot River overlook and, downriver, a stone stairway. Both are railed, but not the spot upriver, Cooper said. As of Dec. 25, an orange snow fence, in place throughout the project, remained there.
Cooper’s Clear Pine Carpentry of Alna put in plants around parts of the site last fall as part of the project. He raised his concern Dec. 23 about the spot upstream when Third Selectman Greg Shute was giving his latest update. Next spring, ASF’s contractor, Sumco, will address “a little bit of erosion” found under the steps and retaining wall, Shute said. “They’ve been watching it ... to see exactly what’s happening so they are well aware of it.”
Resident Ed Pentaleri commented it was his understanding the water used to overtop the dam when flowing at 900 cubic feet per second, and post-project the water has not overtopped it even at the 1,500 cubic feet per second Shute cited as a recent high water level. “So it’s quite a change,” Pentaleri said.
“So it’s working,” First Selectman Melissa Spinney said.
As for the spot upriver, Cooper called it a cliff face and said he believes it needs something at top, maybe a rough wall of boulders or even a four-foot high palisade fence. “The town has to do something I think, because it’s a hazard ... It was heavily vegetated before and ugly, and nobody ever went there. Now, it’s a sheer drop. And we do have a couple of boulders there, and a couple of shrubs, but if somebody’s toddler took a run, it’s –”
That spot has been discussed a number of times and Sumco will be addressing it, either before leaving for the winter or when the firm returns in spring, Shute responded.
In the next day’s interview, Goode said ASF can have big rocks or something else put there, “whatever the town wants to do.” As for the erosion, Goode said the followup work the site gets on that should just need to be a one-time fix.
Shute, a canoeist, added during the board meeting, he is seeking more signage at, and upriver from, the dam “really to warn people who have no business paddling through (the new opening during) high water levels.”
In another development, the dam’s new platform got its bench Christmas week.
Here are the results for Dec. 22, our second week of Adult Basketball at Wiscasset Community Center:
Wiscasset Ford: 97 points; Julian Aponte 38, Matt Hinkley and Conlon Ranta 18, and Brent Rainey 9. And Ames Supply: 76 points; Jared Martin 23, Paul Greenier 22 and Sean Chubbuck 18.
First National Bank: 100 points; Bryan James 59, Derek Jones 22, and Steven Wescott 7. And Red's Eats: 89 points; Tiger Colby 33, Shane Hutchings 16, and Brandon Sprague 13.
Cantrell Seafood: 83 points; Chris Hersom 25, Bryant Toothaker 22, and Andy Cantrell 18. And Maxwell's Market: 76 points; Ethan James 38, Matt Craig 12 and Julie Petrie 9.
Thank you for your continued support of the WCC!
Friends of Merrymeeting Bay’s (FOMB) fourth presentation of their 23nd annual Winter Speaker Series; entitled “Let There Be Dark”-Preserving our Night Skies, features Rob Burgess, NASA Solar System Ambassador and President, Southern Maine Astronomers. This event takes place 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Bowdoin College Cram Alumni House, 83 Federal St., Brunswick following FOMB’s annual meeting and potluck (open to the public) beginning at 6 p.m. A free program.
Dark night skies are a rapidly diminishing resource on planet Earth and especially in the U.S. Light pollution damages animal habitats, can affect human health and robs us of our cultural heritage and connection to the majestic. Since every wasted photon was generated in a power plant somewhere, light pollution also contributes to global warming. Come hear a discussion about these trends and actions that are being taken by individuals and organizations, including right here in mid-coast Maine, to preserve our night skies.
By day, Robert Burgess is part of the senior management team at Bangor Savings Bank. At night, he’s an avid stargazer, an interest spawned in his youth with our first manned space missions. Although trained as an attorney, his passion is astronomy. He shares it as a NASA Solar System Ambassador, and as a member (President) of Southern Maine Astronomers. At public star parties and at his Brunswick backyard observatory, Rob has hosted thousands of school children and community groups in guided tours of the night sky. A long-time member of the International Dark Sky Association, Rob has lately been channeling his interest and concern about light pollution into the public policy arena. As a member of the Brunswick Planning Board, Rob has been advocating for better control of outdoor lighting and increasing awareness of the deleterious effects from poor lighting.
Visit www.fomb.org to see speaker biographies, full event schedules, video recordings of past presentations, become a member, and learn more about how you can help protect beautiful Merrymeeting Bay. For more information contact FOMB at 207-666-3372 or edfomb@comcast.net.
