The third-seeded Boothbay Region Seahawks boys basketball team defeated the sixth-seeded Mt. Abram Roadrunners, 59-54, in the quarterfinal game of the 2020 Class C South tournament on Monday, Feb. 17 at the Augusta Civic Center.

In their only regular season game, Boothbay edged Mt. Abram at home, 65-62.

Leading scorers for Boothbay were Hunter Crocker with 20 points, Ben Pearce with 18 and Nick Morley with 10.

Boothbay moves on to face the winner of the Waynflete/Traip quarterfinal game. The semifinal will be played Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

Mt. Abram finishes the season at 13-7.

A full report on the game will be published later.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour, hosted by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, is coming to Damariscotta at 7 p.m. on March 2 at Lincoln Theater with a curated selection of nine short films. Oysterhead Pizza Co. will offer beer, wine and pizza for sale, and Rising Tide Co-op is hosting a complimentary dessert and coffee bar.

Considered one of the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festivals, Wild & Scenic brings together stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform and inspire.

In “Positive Forward Motion,” hiker and endurance athlete Jennifer Pharr Davis reflects on challenges faced and lessons learned following her record-setting thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail. While spending time alone on the trail, Jen looks back to consider how she has grown through hiking, becoming a mother, and growing a business.

“From Darkness to Light” was filmed in Zanzibar, where life is challenging for women. This semi-autonomous region of Tanzania is made up of numerous islands where half the population lives below the poverty line. Mothers and grandmothers in Zanzibar are becoming solar engineers thanks to training from Barefoot College. This means they can bring electricity to their villages where previously they relied on burning paraffin.

The film festival is a natural extension of Coastal Rivers’ work to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment. Formerly 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.

Tickets are $10, $5/ kids 16 and under, and free for Coastal Rivers members, and may be reserved online at www.coastalrivers.org/events. The Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater St.

Coastal Rivers has active programs in the areas of land conservation, stewardship, community education, water quality monitoring, marine conservation and cultural preservation.

For more information call 563-1393 or email info@coastalrivers.org

The second-seeded Boothbay Region Seahawks girls basketball team defeated the seventh-seeded Sacopee Valley Hawks, 55-35, in the quarterfinal game of the 2020 Class C South tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Leading scorers for Boothbay were Glory Blethen and Jaelyn Crocker with 15 points each and Haley Abbott with 10. 

Boothbay moves on to face Traip Academy. The semifinal will be played Thursday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.

Sacopee Valley finishes the season at 11-9.

A full report on the game will be published later.

It was a battle until the end. The Waynflete Flyers will move on to the regional final as the Flyers came out on top, 53-41 against Boothbay in Monday night’s boys Class C South semifinal game at the Augusta Civic Center.

Leading scorers for Boothbay were Hunter Crocker with 11 points and Ben Pearce with nine.

The regional final will be played Saturday, Feb. 22 at 8:45 p.m. at the ACC. Waynflete will play the winner of the Winthrop/North Yarmouth Academy semifinal game.

It’s on to the regional final on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. for the Boothbay Region Seahawks as the Seahawks won the Class C South girls semifinal game, 46-32, Thursday afternoon, Feb. 20 at the Augusta Civic Center.

The Seahawks were led in scoring by Glory Blethen with 18 points followed by Kylie Brown and Jaelyn Crocker with nine each.

Boothbay will play the winner of the other semifinal game between Winthrop and Old Orchard Beach in the regional final at the ACC.

Snow enthusiasts are encouraged to celebrate Leap Year at Midcoast Conservancy’s 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. Gear for skiing, snowshoeing and biking will be available to rent at the event.

Races will begin about 9 a.m. and continue into the early afternoon. All day long there will be bonfires and spectators are encouraged. Vegetarian chili and hot chocolate from Alna General Store will sustain racers and fans alike.

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.

Registration fees are $20 for adults, $10 for kids and students. Register at https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/midcoast-conservancy-biathlon-3/

Day-of registrations as space allows. Questions? Call Midcoast Conservancy at (207) 389-5150.

Two years ago, Boothbay pulled off an upset victory over Waynflete in the Class C South boys basketball tournament. On Feb. 20, the two clashed again, but this time one round later, in the regional quarterfinal. The rematch resulted in a different outcome as Waynflete avoided an upset with a 53-41 win at the Augustua Civic Center. 

Waynflete (17-1) entered the 2020 tournament ranked second. Boothbay also entered the contest a high tournament-seed finishing third in the Heal point standings. Boothbay was fresh off victory over No. 1 Winthrop in the Mountain Valley Conference championship. But no matter how much momentum Boothbay had coming into the tournament, the Seahawks struggled to match up against Waynflete’s frontline. On court, the Flyers’ “Big 3” of  6-8 Dominick Campbell, 6-5 Solomon Levy and 6-4 Aidan Kieffer looked more like a skyline than a frontcourt.

Waynflete used its size advantage to keep Boothbay’s offense far away from the hoop. Boothbay’s best scoring chances were mostly deep 3-point attempts. The Seahawks scored 15 field goals with nine being 3-pointers. Trailing by 11, Boothbay’s Sullivan Rice hit the first of five fourth quarter 3-pointers. Crocker hit consecutive 3-pointers midway in the quarter trimming the Flyers’ lead from 13 to six. Waynflete extended its lead to 49-38 before Crocker nailed his third 3-pointer. Rice hit his last 3-pointer in the final minute.

Waynflete may have won with a double-digit lead, but the first quarter hinted at a tight contest between the second and third ranked teams. Waynflete held a slim 14-13 lead after the first eight minutes. The Flyers started strong scoring the game’s first seven points. Levy hit a baseline jumper. Flyer junior Jared Johnson snatched an offensive rebound and scored on a put back. And senior Oliver Burdick drained a 3-pointer. Boothbay responded with a 10-2 run which catapulted the Seahawks to their one and only lead. Junior Kaeden Davis started the run with a three-foot baseline jumper. Campbell snagged an offensive rebound and scored, putting Waynflete ahead 9-2. Morley drained an eight-footer followed a long 3-pointer by Seahawk Ben Pearce. On their next possession, Boothbay took the lead when Pearce was fouled and scored on an out-of-bounds play. He completed the conventional 3-point play with a successful free throw. 

Boothbay’s rally was short-lived as Waynflete regained the lead on consecutive layups by Campbell and a free throw by guard Diraige Dahia. Boothbay’s Davis closed out the quarter with a 3-pointer. The second quarter started like the first. Waynflete went on a 7-0 run before Pearce nailed a 3-pointer cutting the Flyer lead to 23-17. Boothbay hoped a patient offense and stingy defense would score another tournament win over Waynflete. Coach I.J. Pinkham saw Waynflete play twice this season and knew Boothbay needed to play zone to combat Waynflete’s size.

“They are a great team,” Pinkhsam said. “We tried hanging on to the ball as long as we could and pack-in the defense. We did a pretty good job and one point had it down to four points.” 

On offense, Boothbay struggled to find good open shots. Often the best shot was a long 3-point attempt. The Seahawks’ 43 points came on six 2-point field goals, nine 3-pointers, and two free throws. Waynflete scored most of its points in the paint and from the free throw line. The Flyers scored 53 points on 17 2-point field goals, two 3-pointers and 13 for 19 from the free throw line. Flyer Dahia led all scorers with 16. Campbell added 10 and Levy scored eight for the Flyers. “It just wasn’t stopping their big fella. The other two guys had good games, too.” Pinkham said. 

Boothbay’s leading scorer Hunter Crocker was plagued by early foul trouble and didn’t find his shooting touch until the fourth quarter. Crocker scored 11 points, but only had two entering the final stanza. He tallied his remaining points by hitting three long range 3-point shots. Other Seahawk scorers were Pearce with nine, Rice and Morley with six apiece, Davis with five, and Kaleb Ames with four.

The loss wraps up a successful season for Boothbay. Besides winning the MVC championship game, Boothbay posted a 14-4 record, finished third in the Heal point standings and defeated Mountain Valley in the quarterfinals. After the game, Pinkham congratulated his team on a fine season. “I told them that I thought they played a good game and appreciated their efforts this season,” he said. Waynflete advances to the regional final against No. 1 and defending state champion Winthrop on Saturday.

For the fourth time this season, the Lady Seahawks will battle Winthrop in Class C schoolgirl action. The first three were in Mountain Valley Conference play. Boothbay won both regular season matchups, but Winthrop still earned the top ranking in the Heal point standings. A third meeting was played in Lewiston, and Winthrop captured its first win over Boothbay in several years at the MVC championship. But the fourth meeting is for all the marbles. The two teams won their regional semifinal games Feb. 20 setting up another Seahawk-Rambler showdown.

For Boothbay, another regional final is old hat. The Lady Seahawks have appeared in three straight regional finals and four in five years. In 2019, the Lady Seahawks won their first state title since 1984, and as far as 2020 goes, Boothbay is focused on bringing home another gold ball. No. 2 Boothbay defeated No. 11 Traip, 46-32. The Rangers earned a tournament spot by upsetting No. 6 in the preliminary round and No. 3 and 2019 runner-up North Yarmouth Academy in the quarterfinals. But Traip’s Cinderella story ended Thursday against Boothbay. The Lady Seahawks scored early and often racing out to a 7-0 lead in notching a 46-32 semifinal victory. Boothbay’s Chloe Arsenault hit a 15-footer and forward Glory Blethen scored the next five points with a post move and 3-pointer before Traip’s Jen McCluskey hit a 12-foot jumper.

Despite the win, Boothbay coach Brian Blethen believed the team’s play in the second half “wasn’t exactly stellar.” Traip’s full-court zone pressure created a few more turnovers and Boothbay started missing open shots. “Sometimes you win a little dirty. Sometimes you gotta find a way to win when you’re not playing at your best. They messed up our rhythm  with their full-court pressure. It affected our shooting and we missed more free throws than we usually do,” he said.

But on defense, Boothbay was solid the entire game. The Lady Seahawks’ man-to-man defense stifled Traip’s scoring chances especially in the low post. “We did a nice job on defense,” Glory Blethen said. “Especially on the backside, Jaelyn (Crocker) did a really good job communicating and being in position.”

Despite a fourth quarter cold shooting snap, Traip couldn’t cut Boothbay’s lead below 11. The missed shots caused Coach Blethen some consternation which resulted in a timeout with 5:48 remaining. “I thought we could’ve been a little more selective with our shots and I told our players that,” he said. “We have a lead and I thought we could’ve waited for better shots.”

This year’s Lady Seahawks have five players who played significant roles in the 2019 state championship. As the season approaches championship weekend, Boothbay is searching for another golden moment. “We really want to win another one,” Glory Blethen said. “There’s not as much pressure which helps us play more relaxed. I think we’re playing our best right now.”

For Kylie Brown, the veteran team is a close-knit group which makes for good on-court chemistry. “We’re all friends which helps. We work hard on and off the court together. So we’re all playing hard and want to win bad,” she said. 

Glory Blethen led all scorers with 18 points. Other Seahawk scorers included Jaelyn Crocker and Brown with nine each, Arsenault with seven, and Josey Smith with three. No. 2 Boothbay (18-2) plays No. 1 Winthrop at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

The Boothbay Region Lady Seahawks lost to the Winthrop Ramblers 38-34 Saturday night in the Class C South regional final at the Augusta Civic Center.

Chloe Arsenault led Boothbay’s scoring with 20 points, followed by Jaelyn Crocker and Glory Blethen with six each.

Winthrop will play the winner of the North C game between No. 1 Stearns and No. 6 Central Aroostook.

In anticipation of a summer season of boating ahead, the Wawenock Sail and Power Squadrons® will teach a one-day recreational boating safety course at the Boothbay Region YMCA on Saturday April 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Save the date now!

This is an eight-hour course which covers Maine boating laws, boat handling, safety equipment, rules of the road, navigation lights and buoys, trailering and protecting your boat. The course is NASBLA certified with issuance of a Boating Safety Certificate upon passing the course exam. In addition, many boat insurance companies offer premium discounts for completion of this course - so start out your boating adventures as a ready and informed operator.

To ensure classroom space and materials, pre-registration for this popular course is required by Thursday, April 10. Cost is $77 per student or $102 for couples sharing materials.

To register contact: Rob Whitehouse, Squadron Education Officer at WhitehouseUSPS@gmail.com or 207-208-7343.

The Central Lincoln County (CLC) YMCA and Boothbay Region YMCA are proud to announce the release of their joint 2020 YMCA Summer Camp Guide. It should be an exciting summer for the kids and teens in Lincoln County with an adventurous, active and healthy summer ahead.

CLC and BRYMCA partner to bring the entire community the traditional summer camp experience. Camp Knickerbocker provides 65 acres of forest and wetland on beautiful Knickerbocker Lane in Boothbay. What better way to explore and enjoy the outdoors but at summer adventure camp!

For Maine Explorers, ages 3-19, four unique camp opportunities are offered: Outdoor Adventure: Fishing, Boating and Blazing Trails from June 22-26 or Aug. 17-21, where campers spend their days hiking regional trails, fishing, and boating at Camp Knickerbocker and various other locations. Camp families can now enjoy a night of fun with their kids, Activities will range from swimming, boating, crafts, and games. End the evening with a campfire and S’mores! Family Nights at Camp K will take place on June 26, July 17 and Aug. 14.

Our goal is to show campers leadership and build positive thinking skills for their future. Aqua Adventure from July 13-17 or July 20-24 is for kids who love water play! Field trips include the Yacht Club, Regional swimming holes and more. For the fish in your family, this is the camp for them.

CLC Sailing camps will continued to be offered this summer where campers can learn sailing fundamentals, spend time on the water and enjoy a week of fun learning to sail. This experience is also extended to adults this summer from July 27- 30 or Aug. 3-6.

CLC Specialty Camps will include Metal Detecting June 22 - 26 or July 27- July 31 for grades 3-8; Arts and Crafts July 27-July 31 or Aug. 10 - 14 for grades 1-6; Lego Camp July 6- July 10 or Aug. 17 - 21 for grades 1-6; Skate and Scooter Aug. 3 - 7 for grades 3-8; Sprouts June 14-Aug. 21 for ages 4-5; and Candlepin Bowling July 6- July 10 or Aug. 17 - 21 for grades 3-6.

FARMS at The Y Camps allow campers to learn cooking and gardening skills, while gaining knowledge on how to eat healthy and where their food comes from. These camps will include Junior Chef Competition July 13-July 17 & Aug. 3 - 7 for ages 8-12; Micro Cooking Camp July 6 & 7 or July 20 & 21 or July 27 & 28 for ages 8-12,; and Week-Long Cooking Camp June 29-July 3, Aug. 10 - 14 and Aug. 17 - 21 for ages 8-12

Y ARTS Summer Camps are a great way for campers to explore the world of theater and art. These camps will include Broadway Babies July 20-July 24 for ages 3-6, Mixed Media Art July 13-July 17 or August 17-August 21 for grades 1-8, Dance Camp July 13-July 17 or Aug. 17 - 21 for grades 1-8; Music Theater Camp offers a number of performances this year including “Moana Jr,” “Madagascar Jr,” “Dear Edwina,” and “Pirates Past Noon.” This camp will be offered in 2-week sessions from June 15 - Aug.14.

Boothbay Specialty Camps this year include 2 sailing camps in partnership with Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. These camps will be for grades 3-6 and 7th grade and up ensuring that campers different ages, sizes and strengths get the best learning experiences possible. Sailing Camps will be offered July 6 - 10 and Aug. 10- 14. Junior Naturalist Camp, in partnership with Boothbay Region Land Trust, will be offered July 27-July 31 for grades 1-4. This camp will give campers the opportunity to explore land trust properties and participate in activities that connect children to the outdoors.

Boothbay Sports Camps this summer will feature Football Camp for grades 3-8, June 29-July 3; Soccer Camp for grades 1-8, August 3- 7; Basketball Camp for Grades 5-8, July 27 - 31; Tennis Camp for grades 2-8, Aug. 17 – 20; and Gymnastics Camp June 22-June 26; July 20-July 24; Aug. 17 - 21 for grades 1-6.

CLC Sports Camps include Tennis Camp for ages grades 2-8, July 6-July 9 or July 20-July 23; Baseball Camp for grades 3-8, July 13- July 17; Softball Camp for grades 3-8, July 20- July 24; Girls’ Gymnastics for grades 1-6, Dates to be determined; Golf Camp for grades 3-9, July 20-July 24 or Aug. 10 - 14; and Soccer Camp for Pre-K through grade 8, July 20-July 24.

Download the 2020 Summer Camp Guide at your Y’s website: www.boothbayregionymca.org or www.clcymca.org. Contact the Y in Boothbay Harbor at 633-2855 and the CLC YMCA at 563-9622.

A double-elimination tournament got under way Sunday to decide which team will lay claim to 2020 Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Department’s Adult Basketball League championship. A commemorative plaque will be presented to the team’s sponsor.  

The action will continue the next two Sundays before concluding on March 8 when the championship game will be held. All of the games are played in the Wiscasset Community Center gymnasium. A sizable crowd turned out to see the opening round.

Maxwell's Market, Wiscasset Ford, Cantrell's Seafood, Red's Eats, Ames Supply and First National Bank teams make up the league. Last year’s winner First National Bank finished the regular season as the number one seed; Cantrell’s was seeded two. Sunday’s tournament opener featured two teams with identical 4-6 records, Maxwell’s Market and Ames Supply. Maxwell’s rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit and won 73-64 but it was close through three quarters.

Maxwell’s Ethan James scored the first points of the game, launching and hitting a three pointer. But Paul Greenier, Ames Supply’s point guard, had the hot hand from behind the arc. He canned three threes in the opening 10-minute quarter.

Greenier netted 11 more points in the second period helping stake his team to a 43-32 halftime lead. Greenier opened the third quarter with another trifecta briefly giving Ames a 14-point advantage and largest lead of the game. Maxwell’s then rallied back, dominating the next eight minutes of play and netting a string of unanswered points. Matt Craig’s three whittled Ames’ lead to six. Then, with 30 ticks left in the period, Matt Petrie’s basket tied the game at 54, where the score stood headed into the final period.

With the momentum going Maxwell’s way, Petrie hit yet another three in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. That put his team in front for the first time since the game’s opening minutes. Ames Supply’s Cody Tosier’s answered with a huge trifecta deadlocking the score at 57. Craig then went to work with a pair of baskets, including a nifty lefthanded layup following an Ames turnover. Craig’s basket put Maxwell’s up for good. On the team’s next possession, James scored from underneath the backboard opening up a 71-64 lead. Todd Souza followed by sinking a pair of pressure free throws to put Maxwell’s ahead by nine points with less than 90 seconds until the closing buzzer.

In the final seconds, Greenier stole the ball at midcourt and scored a final basket for Ames Supply. Greenier finished with a game high 28 (four threes); Tosier has 13, and Sean Chubbuck, 9. For Maxwell’s, James was the top scorer with 26; Craig finished with 22, eight of those points in the pivotal fourth quarter. Petrie put 20 points on the scoreboard.

The second game featured number three-seeded Red’s Eats with a 5-5 record against fifth-seeded Wiscasset Ford who finished the regular season at 3-7. Wiscasset Ford won 99-88.

The one/two seeds, First National Bank and Cantrell’s, faced each other in the nightcap. FNB entered the tourney with the best record at 8-2; Cantrell’s finished the regular season at 6-4. FNB won big 87-75. 

Players to watch include FNB’s Bryan James who’s been among the league’s top scorers. James scored 54 points in a wild 79-78 win over Ames Supply during the regular season. Chris Hersom had a big game for Cantrell’s Seafood during the regular season, too, when he collected 45 points in his team’s win over Maxwell’s.

Wiscasset Christian Academy's girls volleyball team won its third straight Athletics Christian Education League state championship Friday night.

Said Coach Julie Jones, “We filled the house at Central Maine Community College ... beating Calvary Christian from Turner in two sets!” It was Wiscasset Christian’s first ever undefeated season, she added. 

“I’ve enjoyed watching these girls mature into young women with high moral character and a resiliency that they face the world with. I’m thankful to have spent numerous hours helping them train and to be called their coach. I love you all,” Jones wrote in a Facebook post she forwarded to Wiscasset Newspaper.

Lincoln Little League Baseball and Softball is open to players ages 4-12 who live in Nobleboro, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Bremen, Jefferson (if attending Great Salt Bay), Bristol region, South Bristol region, Boothbay region, Edgecomb, Alna and Wiscasset region.

Signups for all levels of Lincoln Little League baseball and softball will be held as follows:

Bristol School: Tuesday, March 10 and Thursday, March 12; 6-7:30 p.m.; GSB School: Tuesday, March 10 and Thursday, March 12; 6-7 p.m.; Edgecomb Eddy School: Wednesday, March 11, 6-7 p.m.; South Bristol School: Registration forms will be distributed in school, no registration night will be scheduled.

Both new and returning players, ages 4-12, should register at the location nearest their home. All players ages 4-5 may sign up for T-ball, boys/girls ages 6-8 for farm league baseball/softball, and boys/girls ages 9-12 are eligible to register and try out for Little League baseball/softball.

The registration fee is $55. Additional siblings are $35, with a family maximum of $125. Payment is due at time of registration. Information on tryouts for Little League baseball and softball will be available at signups. For more information, please contact Cheryl Tomasello at 380-1750.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) is gearing up for spring with its first ever birdhouse competition and exhibit. The project encourages anyone interested, from local artists to businesses, students, organizations, birders, and individuals, to use their creativity to grace the Gardens with handcrafted birdhouses, from wildly creative works of art to functional, environmentally friendly, and durable structures.

Entries are now being accepted in two major categories: “Flight of Fancy,” calling for whimsical garden art in the form of decorative birdhouses for indoor display, and “For the Birds,” creative, but functional designs tailored toward housing Maine’s native species. Installed along CMBG’s new Birdhouse Trail, this season-long exhibit also gives anyone visiting between April 18 and May 31 a chance to participate in our People’s Choice award and cast a vote for their favorite. Other awards include Most Sustainable, Best Kids’ Entry, and Best Maine Spirit, in celebration of Maine’s bicentennial.

Contestants may enter a house in any category, but the birdhouses must be original works created by the contestant; the use of recycled or sustainable materials is strongly encouraged. Guidelines and entry forms are available on the Gardens’ website, MaineGardens.org. Applications will be accepted through March 31.

Of course, there’s more to birdhouses than art and whimsy. CMBG hopes this exhibit will help demonstrate some of the many ways of attracting wildlife through the creation of unique and creative backyard habitats. Detailed information about birdhouses—and how to build your own—will be available to visitors.

Spring at the Gardens is a celebration of new—and returning—life, from bulbs blooming to migratory birds returning to their nesting grounds. Change happens quickly, and each new bird and bloom reminds us that renewal is just around the corner.

CMBG is a nationally recognized public garden in Boothbay. The mission of the Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections among people, plants and nature through horticulture, education and research. Its annual visitation includes guests from all 50 states and 65 foreign countries.

Want to improve your sailing skills? Then “Sailing Skills and Seamanship” is a course for you. It is designed for both experienced and novice sailboat operators. Topics include types of sailboats, equipment for your boat, how a boat sails, reading the wind, points of sailing, sail controls, running, close-hauled, reaching, and sail adjustments. Basic maneuvers of tacking and jibing are explained along with picking up a mooring, leaving and approaching a dock, and anchoring. In addition, aids to navigation and an introduction to the rules of the nautical road are covered. Cost: $60, includes 454-page textbook.

Six two-hour sessions: April 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 and 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. each night.

Location: Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor, 166 McKown Point Road, Boothbay Harbor.

Registration: David Eastwood, 633-4748 or davidbeastwood@gmail.com

The Boothbay Region YMCA is teaming up with Sailing Ships Maine to send 24 high school aged students sailing for a week of sail training. Sailing for a week on a traditional wooden Maine schooner propels teens in new directions academically, socially and career-wise.

“We love our teens but we worry about their mental health, their happiness and their futures. Here is an accessible coming-of-age experience which can help,” said Andy Hamblett, executive director of the Boothbay Y.

Midcoast region students will board the iconic 130-foot schooner Harvey Gamage on Monday, Aug. 17 and sail for five days and four nights ending on Friday, Aug. 21. This is a unique, life-enhancing program available heavily subsidized by local donors. 

Advances in education research over the past two decades have proven the impact of outdoor, immersive experiential education. Sailing ship voyages are among the very best of these programs, using the sea to multiply the impact of precious time spent away from school and home. Becoming a valued member of the tight community on board a ship leads to greater self-confidence, increased desire and ability to contribute to community, a new sense of environmental consciousness, improved problem solving and collaborative abilities and deep friendships built through shared hardship and challenge.

Through basic seamanship training, students gain practical skills and are better prepared for the workforce. Successfully executing shipboard duties such as standing watch, steering the vessel and conducting hourly safety inspections builds student confidence. After a voyage, students realize they've been an integral part of operating a complicated traditional sailing craft and have a greater sense of themselves as dependable and adaptable to circumstances. And they're rewarded for their dedication with a semester high school academic credit transferable to most Maine high schools. No prior experience of any kind is required.

In today’s digital and social media influenced world, it’s critical that youth experience the real and natural world first hand. Teens today are reluctant to leave their smartphones, home lives and social milieu. But when they do, perspectives change. To learn more and register for the voyage, contact Andy Hamblett at the Boothbay YMCA.

About Sailing Ships Maine (501c3)

Sailing Ships Maine creates life-changing opportunities for teens of all abilities and income levels to discover the ocean environment and expand leadership skills while encouraging them to consider further marine related opportunities. Through public events, we support the marine economy, provide access to the ocean and traditional sailing ships and preserve Maine’s maritime heritage. Alex Agnew, President, Sailing Ships Maine. 207-450-5363 mobile; info@sailingshipsmaine.org

In summer, Nicholas and Mika Repenning and son Enishi, 8, swim and play at Alna’s Head Tide Dam. Saturday, in the wind and afternoon sun, the Whitefield couple was above the Sheepscot River instead of in it. They had on hats and layers, and held hot drinks as they sat side by side facing upriver, on the new bench on the new platform that last year replaced one of the century-old dam’s abutments.

“This is a nice little viewing spot,” he said. “So nice to have fresh air,” she said, smiling. They’d been inside all morning, working at the winter farmer’s market at Fort Andross in Brunswick. There, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, they sell the fermented foods of their business, go-en. On their way home this day, they stopped at Treats in Wiscasset. She got hot chocolate; he, cappuccino. Then they stopped at the dam.

As the river ran below them, they looked forward to swimming in it again in summer and checking out the redone path to the water. Swimming was barred during the project. Atlantic Salmon Federation and partners tore down, excavated and rebuilt one end of the town-owned concrete dam to aid fish passage, at no cost to the town.

Nicholas noticed the different look to the water pattern entering the dam now. He said it was good the project was also about safety and history, and that it made a place to sit.

Bryan James netted 14 points in the fourth period including a game-changing trifecta leading First National Bank to a 77-70 win over Ames Supply capturing the Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Adult Basketball League Championship. Sunday night’s game capped a double-elimination tournament played in the Wiscasset Community Center gymnasium.

FNB got off to a fast start three minutes into the game as Derek Jones pulled up and hit a three putting his team up 9-2. James’s trifecta helped stake FNB to a 20-15 lead after one period.

The second period, however, was a different story. Ames dominated play at both ends of the court outrebounding and outscoring FNB 22-13. Paul Greenier tied the game with a three from the corner at 7:08. Teammate Brian Swain later launched and drained a three giving Ames the lead. Cody Tozier who scored 15 points in the period hit a final basket which put Ames ahead 37-33 at halftime.

A three by James Flynn at 8:39 of the third period opened up the Ames lead, 46-35. FNB then went on an 8-0 run, and Steve Westcott’s three made it a 46-43 ballgame. In the closing minute, Jones tossed in a pair of threes for FNB but when the buzzer sounded ending the third period, Ames was still on top, 57-54.

In the final period, Jones’s basket at 5:05 tied the score at 61. Tozier’s layup then briefly put Ames back on top, 63-61. James answered with a basket tying the game and then hit a three regaining the lead for FNB.

With two minutes left to play and FNB up 70-67, Tozier fouled out drawing a technical. That sent James to the foul line and he made four of four attempts, putting his team up 74-67. The game wasn’t quite over yet. Greenier’s three with 65 ticks left on the clock made it a four-point game. FNB then failed to score on its next possession. Greenier launched another three but just missed, with the ball rattling off the rim.

FBN’s James finished with 21 points. He netted three threes and went 13 for 14 on the foul line. Jones finished with 20 points and had five threes. Tozier had a game high 43 points and made 14 of 16 free throws. Flynn finished with 10 and had two threes, and Greenier had nine points. FNB shot 21 of 31 from the foul line while Ames made 16 of 20. FNB won the 2019 championship and finished the 2020 regular season with the league’s best record. Ames Supply advanced to the championship with a last-minute victory over Red’s Eats on Saturday.

In February, the Musquash Pond Preserve, on Bunker Hill Road in Jefferson, was transferred from The Nature Conservancy to Midcoast Conservancy. This was the second step in creating a 473-acre preserve that extends to Musquash Pond. The project permanently protects 6,500 feet, 78% of shore frontage, on undeveloped Musquash Pond and will prevent it from being developed, so that future generations can enjoy its beauty. The Musquash Pond Preserve also protects 2,450 feet of frontage on Dyer Long Pond.

In addition to shore frontage, the Preserve protects wildlife habitat, including waterbird and waterfowl breeding, migration, and wintering habitat. Musquash Pond Preserve includes 105 acres of wetlands which provide critical flood control.

Partnership with The Nature Conservancy played a significant role in making the project possible. Says Maine Preserves Manager Daniel Grenier, “The vegetation at the preserve is exceedingly diverse with more than fourteen forest types, as well as several types of wetlands.  Having this special place cared for locally by Midcoast Conservancy, to my mind, is the best possible conservation outcome.”

A partnership with the three siblings in the Johnston family, Rick, Mark and Laurel, spurred this project. In 2018, Mark Johnston attended a Midcoast Conservancy event for landowners to learn about options to conserve their land. In October 2019, Midcoast Conservancy conserved 257 acres in Jefferson that had most recently been in ownership with the three siblings.

Anna Fiedler, Midcoast Conservancy director of conservation, said, “Hunting, fishing, and hiking will be welcomed at the preserve, and we will be exploring options for public recreational uses. We want to work with the community to find ways for people to enjoy Musquash Pond that are in balance with its tremendous value for wildlife.”

This project was made possible by generous funding from: North American Wetland Conservation Act, The Nature Conservancy, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and Margaret Burnham Charitable Trust.

Midcoast Conservancy’s mission is to protect and promote healthy lands, waters, and communities through conservation, outdoor adventure, and learning. For more information, go to midcoastconservancy.org or call (207) 389-5150.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine (BBBSMM) invites local businesses, organizations and individuals to sign up to Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2020, presented by Hannaford Supermarkets and Camden National Bank. Local bowling events will be held April 2-11 in Belfast, Waldoboro and Rockport. Teams raise funds for youth mentoring programs in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties and then come out to celebrate their success at one of four Bowl for Kids’ Sake events.  

Bowl for Kids’ Sake is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s largest fundraising event, funding more than half of the agency’s operating budget that serves seven counties throughout Midcoast, eastern and central Maine. Last year’s Midcoast bowling event raised over $70,000 for community-based and school-based mentoring programs in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties. This year’s goal is to raise $90,000 for local youth.

Every Big and Little match the agency creates and professionally supports costs about $1,400 annually. Last year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine served over 550 youth in its seven-county service area.

Businesses and individuals can register a team online at bbbsmidmaine.org, select a desired bowling date and time, and create team and personal fundraising pages where supporters can make safe, electronic donations. Bowlers can also download pledge forms to collect donations to bring to the event. Teams that raise $500 or more will receive 2020 Bowl for Kids’ Sake T-shirts at the event and all bowlers can participate in hourly prizes.

Local businesses support Bowl for Kids’ Sake by becoming sponsors, donating prizes and registering teams to participate. Event volunteers are also welcome.  Lane times are filling up fast, so register soon. For more information or for help registering teams, call Mae Slevinsky at 207-592-4616 or visit bbbsmidmaine.org

AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association announced in a March 13 news release the start of spring sports will be delayed. 

In response to recommendations from Governor Janet Mills to not have mass gatherings, the MPA Board of Directors and Interscholastic Management Committee voted Friday morning to delay practices for the high school spring sports season until April 27. 

“We will continue to monitor the situation and will make the appropriate changes as needed to ensure the safety of all students,” the MPA said in a statement. 

Around the end of April, committee chairs and league directors will meet to discuss whether spring sports should be held and what a modified schedule would look like. 

Though middle school sports are not governed by the MPA, the Central Maine League and Busline League will follow the MPA’s guidelines and decisions. 

As a member of the Boothbay region for more than six years and an employee of Boothbay Region Land Trust, I am well versed in the many beautiful preserves that the land trust offers, free to the public all throughout the year. However, as I write, I have a renewed appreciation for the essential resource that our public lands offer each member of our community in these uncertain times.

This renewed appreciation comes from my recent experience living overseas. Since the beginning of January, I have been fortunate to enjoy a leave of absence with my family and to work part-time remotely from Denmark. When we arrived in Europe on Jan. 1 with our two young children in tow, we were full of enthusiasm. Our plan was to spend four months in Europe, during which time our children would attend school, and we would enjoy exploring the world with them. We were living in an urban apartment in downtown Copenhagen with no yard — the city was our playground. We spent our weekdays taking trains and buses to and from school and work, and our weekends taking trains throughout the country. In a healthy society, it was a wonderful experience — new and different from the quiet life we were used to in our wooded home in Boothbay.

As the coronavirus spread, slowly at first, we began to wonder how it might impact our plans. Then, last week in a 24-hour period, everything in our lives changed. While relaxing at the end of a busy day,we received an urgent phone call that the Danish Prime Minister had shut down all schools and universities throughout the country and was recommending all non-essential workers work remotely. We realized in an instant the impact this would have for us. Suddenly my husband could not go to work and pursue the networking and research collaboration that his grant was intended to develop. Our children could no longer go to school, and moreover, we were stuck in the heart of a city in which were told not to take public transit, and not to visit public locations. The nearby playground, like all public locations, was closed to encourage social distancing. How could we possibly get any work done in a small apartment with a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old? How would our kids be able to stay sane without activity? How would it impact our own mental and physical health?

The time had come to cut our travels short and return home. While we understood that the pandemic would also shut down schools, work, and public gatherings in Maine, we had no doubt that at home in Boothbay, we could maintain a much better quality of life. One very significant factor was the access to nature that exists in our region. With plentiful public lands to explore, we knew that our family could enjoy exercise and fresh air while still practicing the necessary social distancing to keep our community safe. Moreover, connecting with nature is one of the best ways of managing stress, re-centering, and maintaining good physical and mental health. At a time when other outlets for exercise and relaxation are being restricted, hiking on BRLT trails remains a safe activity for all ages.This resource that we have makes the Boothbay peninsula a special place with advantages that have never been so important.

Boothbay Region Land Trust will continue to provide free public access to our 26 preserves throughout the region as we always have. We encourage the community to take advantage of these lands for exercise, to keep children active and learning through exploration in nature, and to de-stress and re-center. Please be considerate of other hikers on the trail by practicing social distancing. We are also working on programming that will assist families or caregivers of children, including story trails that will be rotated bi-weekly at Oak Point Farm for families to visit during the school closures. All hiking trails and guides are available on our website at bbrlt.org. At this time our visitor center at Oak Point Farm will be closed to the public, but hiking trails there will remain open, and we will continue to be available by phone and email. So take a walk, breathe deeply, and enjoy the wonder of nature as we move into spring.

The coronavirus is affecting everyone, both personally and professionally. With new recommendations from our governor, Maine Department of Health, the CDC and a new directive from Special Olympics, Inc. (distributed last week) that strongly advises all programs to cancel all Special Olympic activities through May 31st, we have developed an updated plan to take us through the next few months.

In light of these recommendations, Special Olympics Maine has made the difficult decision to take the following actions: 

–We will cancel all activities/events through May 31. This cancellation includes, but is not limited to, competitions, trainings, practice sessions, fundraising events, meetings, etc; at the state, area and local level. (At which time we will re-evaluate the current situation.) 

–Due to the extension of the timeframe for cancelled events and training, the planning time that is required for events, the fact that we will not hold any Regional (spring) Games, and that athletes will not have proper time to train, practice and prepare after May 31, we will cancel State Summer Games as scheduled for June 5-7.

These measures will no doubt cause incredible disappointment for our athletes, coaches, volunteers (everyone involved), however, our first priority is, and will always be, everyone’s health and safety.

*With regards to our school partnerships, the Maine Principals’ Assoc; (MPA) and individual school districts will make decisions on any/all school sports (which includes Unified Sports) as well as other unified school initiatives and activities

*Until further notice, the Special Olympics Maine State office will remain open on a limited basis (with limited staff) M-F, 2-4 p.m. Office staff will work remotely, and be available each day, during our regular business hours. To reach staff, please call our office and follow the directions on the automated phone message. (Or, if you have email or cell phone info, reach out to that staff person directly

Further, we understand that the isolation that comes from social distancing can be very difficult to deal with, and in difficult times we tend to turn to our friends, family and teammates. Without the chance to attend practices, competitions and the social opportunities that Special Olympics offers, we understand that this will only make the coming months even more difficult. To that end, Special Olympics Maine is committed to filling idle time with alternative, remote programming and interaction. Last Wednesday we rolled out our “Weekly Warrior” program through social media. Giving athletes, coaches, volunteer groups and corporate partners a number of opportunities to engage in fitness/wellness training from home. This program will offer weekly, updated interaction for all, with goals and challenges to achieve. In an effort to be READY TO GO, when that time comes again. (And it will come again.)

These are very challenging times for all of us, but we know that our Special Olympics Community of over 5,000 athletes, 6,000 coaches and volunteers, and countless friends, family, fans and sponsors will offer each other the support needed to get through all this!

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions please contact us by calling our office at 207-879-0489, or emailing at info@somaine.org

Nicole St. Cyr of Newcastle is taking social distancing seriously. She thinks it should also apply to snowmen. March 24, after the overnight snowstorm, she got busy building a line of snowmen on her lawn being careful to make sure they were at least six feet apart.

“The snowmen can’t be together,” said St. Cyr, who lives with her family on Academy Hill Road. 

She even made one on the roof of her van to show how some snowmen are exercising extreme caution. St. Cyr had to work fast as she applied hats and sticks for arms, since the sun came out and temperatures rose well above freezing.

She worked amid the hum of gas generators. Homes on the road had lost power. She retrieved a bag of spray paint cans to apply facial features to the sagging faces.

The snowmen were a followup to her sculpted snow toilet which she adorned with rolls of toilet paper.  “It all disappeared,” she said.

Toilet paper has not been an issue for the St. Cyr family. “We had a pile of paper before this (COVID-19 pandemic) began. If people need it they should take it,” she said.” We try not to go into town if we don’t have to,” she added.

The family has been stretching basic homemade food to last a few days rather than making use of bagged meals supplied by the few restaurants that have remained open in town. She believes many of her neighbors are already feeling the financial pinch of being out of work.

A custodian at Bristol Consolidated School, St. Cyr continues to go to work to prepare classrooms for whenever students return. “I have four classrooms totally disinfected and sealed closed,” she said. 

St. Cyr also made a snow penguin sculpture this season. She said she served hot chocolate and gave away a $25 gift certificate.

Downtown March 22, Wiscasset’s Loretta Leighton saw a kind of bird she didn’t know. So she messaged sister Rhonda Hamlin, who has taken up birding and photography. “My new hobby,” Hamlin, also of Wiscasset, said.

Hamlin brought a camera with her. She could not name the bird, either. So she posted photos on Maine Birds, a Facebook group she is in. “Immediately I received an answer and was told how rare they are,” Hamlin said in texts March 24. She said it was an anser brachyrhynchus, or pink-footed goose. “When I was told ... I became very excited” and began researching it, she said. “I was asked where it was and others headed over to see it.”

Found in and near Europe, pink-footed geese are “really rare” to see in the U.S., Hamlin said. She said there have been ones who followed Canada geese and she believed this one likely continued on to Canada. Concord, New Hampshire had a sighting the same time as Wiscasset’s, she added.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience. I am still smiling.” She hasn’t seen the bird since. “I thought it very unique that it chose to stop in Wiscasset for a day.” She and others got to see it thanks to that message from Leighton, Hamlin noted. “If not for her, I would have never seen this bird. Probably no one else would have either.”

According to audubon.org, the species migrates across the North Atlantic to winter in England and northwestern Europe. “Strays ... have been found in North America only a couple of times ...”

Leighton said the bird she and her sister saw became a celebrity, attracting birders to town even the next morning.  “I guess he (was) alone and practicing social distancing, all the way from Europe, ha ha.”

Hamlin got into her new hobby after brother Kenneth Morse invited her to join Maine Birds. “Seeing other people's pictures I really got interested in the birds,” she said. “I bought a camera and lenses and started traveling around trying to find and photograph the birds that were posted. I was looking for something for a hobby. It gets me outside and I am getting all kinds of exercise,” she added.

PORTLAND, Maine— On Saturday, March 28 kids across Maine will gather online to raise funds for The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) by playing their favorite video games with professional ESports players and streamers as part of Play with a Pro’s latest virtual event.

Play with a Pro raises money for BBCH through the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals gaming fundraiser, Extra Life. Their unique gaming event concept allows kids, some of them BBCH patients, to play with Professional ESports players and streamers online while fundraising for their local hospital. This Saturday’s event will take place online from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Play with a Pro Half Marathon schedule

· 9 a.m. to noon: Rocket League twitch.tv/Gizzmo3000, GRUNTo ESports and active Air Force. Special Guest: SuperSwiftPics 14-year-old Rocket League Player with Competitive Titles

· Noon to 3 p.m.: Fortnite twitch.tv/vicTorey_ Rogue ESports Content Creator and Stream Captain from Maine. Special Guest: AlexJJ from Rogue ESports

· 3 to 6 p.m.: Overwatch twitch.tv/SLEVN Founder of the former RoE Competitive League and ESports Shoutcaster. Special Guest: Browniewell- 6-year Local Maine Extra Lifer

· 6 to   9p.m.: Minecraft twitch.tv/CapnCornflake Streamer and advisor of our Minecraft Build Team. Special Guests: Play with a Pro Build Team featuring BBCH Superstars and local kids from Maine!

 “Playing games online is a great way for kids to connect virtually. But for many of our patients with autoimmune conditions or diseases such as cystic fibrosis, social distancing has been a part of their lives for much longer than just these past few weeks,” said Meaghan McNamara, Philanthropy Specialist at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. “They have to be very careful to stay healthy, so building virtual communities and meeting friends online to play games is an important way they stay connected with peers. Play with a Pro takes that connection even further by empowering these kids to use their gaming as a force for good, raising funds to support the hospital that cares for them or their friends. And as a bonus, they’re playing with real professionals; as one of our patients said at an event last year ‘it’s better than Christmas!’”

Those interested in viewing the Play with a Pro half marathon can find more information on the team’s website, or on Play with a Pro’s Twitter feed. Donations can be made on Play with a Pro’s Extra Life page; 100% of those donations support BBCH, and will advance the care provided to children in Maine and all of northern New England. 

Those interested in gaming for kids treated at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital can register individually- or build their own team- at www.Extra-Life.org. They also can connect with the Portland-area Extra Life community by visiting the Portland, ME Extra Life Facebook page.

AUGUSTA, Maine – The current “Stay Healthy at Home” mandate identifies “engaging in outdoor exercise activities, such as walking, hiking, running, or biking” as essential personal activities, provided they are conducted in accordance with all public health restrictions and guidance. Maine’s conservation community, natural resource agencies, and outdoor brands want everyone to have the opportunity to get outside during this challenging time.

Most of our publicly accessible conservation lands are available for healthy outdoor recreation. Still, we all must do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent unnecessary stress on our Maine Warden Service, Forest Rangers, and first responders.

While some popular conservation lands have closed recently due to overuse and crowding, the vast majority remains open to the public. As spring weather arrives in Maine, it is critical that all individuals and families who head outdoors follow three simple steps:

• Find the Right Time and Place
• Be Prepared Before Heading Out
• Heed All COVID-19 Health Warnings

The following checklists will help us all enjoy Maine’s outdoors in ways that are safe and responsible during this difficult time. Before you hit the trail, cast a line, or launch a canoe, please be sure to:

 Find the Right Time and Place

• Know What’s Close to Home: Consider visiting a nearby Wildlife Management Area, or a less-trafficked state park, public land, or local land trust (Maine Trail Finder is a great resource!)
• Check before you go: Visit websites to see the latest information on closures or conditions. Please respect all property closures.
• Have a plan B: If the parking lot is full, the destination is too crowded. If your first destination has a busy parking lot, go to the next spot on your list!
• Avoid peak times: Get out earlier or later in the day.
• Recharge in your backyard and neighborhood!: Spring in Maine means there is a lot to see and explore right in our own yards.

Be Prepared Before Heading Out

• Expect limited services: Facilities like public restrooms are likely closed, so plan accordingly.
• Pack snacks and water: Do what you can to avoid having to make stops along the way.
• Dress for success: It is spring in Maine, so trails are likely to be wet, muddy, slippery, or icy; bring appropriate gear to match the conditions. Local outdoor brands are open for online sales and are available to give advice on appropriate gear and equipment.
• Don’t take risks: Stick to easier terrain to avoid injuries, which add stress on first responders and medical resources.
• Watch out for ticks: Wear light-colored pants, closed-toe shoes, and apply EPA-approved bug repellent.

Heed All COVID-19 Health Warnings

• Practice social distancing: Stay at least six feet away from other people who do not live in your household. If necessary, step aside when passing other people on the trail. And remember that groups of 10 or more are prohibited.
• Don’t linger: Shorten your stay when visiting natural stopping points such as waterfalls, summits, and viewpoints so everyone can enjoy them while maintaining a safe distance.
• Don’t touch: Avoid touching signs, kiosks, buildings, and benches to minimize the potent spread of the virus.
• If you’re sick, stay home: It puts others at risk when you leave home while exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19, or if you have recently been exposed to the virus.

If we all follow these guidelines and put public health first, we can enjoy Maine’s natural resources in safe and responsible ways as we work through this difficult time together.

The year 2020 is shaping up to be a noteworthy one. None of us will soon forget the current health crisis that is shaping our daily lives, but hard times also remind us of those things that bring us together as a community. In the Boothbay region, we are fortunate to have a great number of community-focused organizations that enhance our lives. Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) is one of those organizations, and as it marks its fortieth year, its services are as important as at any time in its history.

Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) was founded in 1980 when a group of residents banded together in an effort to preserve and restore Little River Dam in East Boothbay. From those humble beginnings, the land trust quickly developed into an essential community organization with a strong focus on preservation and public access. In 1983, BRLT received a donation of 23 acres on Barters Island, which became the nonprofit’s first public nature preserve: Porter Preserve. Today, BRLT has grown to encompass more than 35 miles of hiking trails on 26 public preserves, including its new permanent home at Oak Point Farm. While BRLT was initially built and run solely by volunteers, today five year-round staff members work to support the nonprofit. The organization still relies on generous and hard-working volunteers, now over 100 strong, who provide year-round support to keep our preserves beautiful and our programming dynamic.

During the early years of the land trust, the summary of activities and purposes were listed as follows: “(a) To engage in and promote the preservation of the natural resources of the Boothbay Region; (b) to engage in and promote the scientific study of and to inform the public regarding local natural resources; (c) to acquire, by gift, purchase or otherwise, interests in real estate and personal property, and (d) to use all such property for conservational, educational, recreational or scientific purposes only.” Forty years later, this work continues. BRLT’s current mission is “To conserve for the public benefit the natural habitat, scenic beauty and working land of the Boothbay region.” Although the statements differ in length, the core message of both reflects a focus on maintaining our natural resources in the Boothbay Region, and providing public access and public benefits through our work.

Looking forward, BRLT seeks to honor the hard work and success of the past forty years by continuing to be a local resource for conservation, public access, environmental education, and outdoor recreation. The next three years in particular will be focused on enhancing our stewardship across our preserves, developing our educational programming, and extending our community engagement. BRLT is also planning to commemorate our 40th anniversary with a number of great programs this summer. More information will be posted to the land trust website at bbrlt.org in the coming weeks and months, though modifications may be made as necessary based on the latest public health recommendations. The Boothbay region is truly a special place with incredible natural beauty, and our community can count on BRLT to continue protecting this peninsula and providing enjoyment of our outdoor spaces for generations to come!

AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association announced April 9 it is canceling the upcoming spring sports season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

The decision comes less than 48 hours after Governor Janet Mills and Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin recommended educators begin to make plans for school campuses to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. 

The decision also comes earlier than anticipated as it had previously been indicated committee members and league directors would entertain a discussion on the spring sports season towards the end of April. 

“Please know that this was not a decision that was taken lightly, but one that the leadership at the MPA felt necessary to help support the recommendations from our Governor’s Office, the Maine CDC, and Commissioner Makin, and the Department of Education, that schools across the state not come back in session and provide remote and distance learning opportunities for the remainder of the school year,” said Mike Burnham, the Executive Director of the MPA’s Interscholastic Division. “We understand the importance that these athletic [...] programs play in the lives of students, their families, and their communities, but also recognize that these education-based activities are a part of the overall educational experience and at this time of uncertainty to adhere with the recommendations of staying at home, maintaining social distancing, and avoiding face-to-face instruction and large group gatherings, is crucial for us to persevere.” 

As the pandemic slowly made its way to Maine, the MPA announced March 13 the beginning of the spring sports season would be delayed. 

In response to recommendations from Governor Mills to avoid mass gatherings, the MPA Board of Directors and Interscholastic Management Committee voted that morning to delay practices for the high school spring sports season until April 27. 

The MPA, at the time, said in a statement it would continue to monitor the situation and make appropriate decisions that ensure the safety of all students. 

Though middle school sports are not governed by the MPA, middle school athletic officials have previously noted middle school athletic organizations would follow the MPA’s guidelines and decisions amid the pandemic. 

“We want to recognize the efforts of the hard-working dedicated educators across the entire state as they provide distance learning opportunities to students in Pre-K through 12th grade and to thank them for their work during this COVID-19 crisis,” Burnham said. “We also want to recognize the important role that coaches and advisors play in the lives of our young people and would encourage them to continue to reach out to their team members to provide the emotional support that so many students need during this time of uncertainty.”

With Wiscasset Community Center closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve Graffam hasn’t been getting his workout in. He did Saturday. The Federal Street resident said he saw people unable to take the sidewalk due to the snow from the Thursday-Friday storm. So he spent much of the day clearing the sidewalk, square spadeful by square spadeful, from the Old Jail Museum to the Ancient Cemetery.

He said one of these days, he’d like to get up to Head Tide Dam in Alna.

The parking area at the dam had several paddlers Saturday afternoon. It was a good trip but was cold when the wind would come up, said Brunswick’s Mike Woodruff, smiling. Daughter Maeve, 14, was helmeted and smiling in a kayak. Her mother, Mike’s wife Lucretia, was home on the family farm planting seeds in the greenhouse.

With the snow cover, there was little work for him to do, so it was a good day for a paddle, he said.

Last Wednesday, Ed Kavanagh and wife of 53 years Cheri got in some spring yard work at home on Federal Street. Asked how they were doing with the stay at home order, Ed said that is pretty much what they do anyway. He was weeding next to the house.

The storm that followed had plow drivers out and, for days and nights, Central Maine Power crews along Lincoln and Sagadahoc County roads and elsewhere restoring power.

To share what you’ve been doing outside, email a photo to news@wiscassetnewspaper.com. Wiscasset’s Julie Petrie shared photos and said the family has been active outside. “Lots of hiking, bike rides, family walks and scooters rides.”

Midcoast residents on April 7 into April 8 got their closest look at the moon for this year. According to earthsky.org, the moon and Earth were 221,773 miles apart; on Oct. 16, they will be almost as close – 221,775 miles. 

Thank you to readers who shared the sight from their towns.

Maggie Zieg of Federal Street, Wiscasset said, “We have been fortunate to see the full moon over the river on many occasions but it is usually too dark to take a photo. This time I happened to go out at just the right time, before it got too dark. Felt really fortunate to catch it when I did ...”

While we’ve been enjoying watching the season slowly unfold from our backyard and some nearby areas, we’ve also been doing our share of virtual birding. By that we mean that we check the constant stream of information available about bird sightings across the state, the country, the continents and, heck yes, the whole world! One of our friends on Aruba has documented the first downy young of several species there already this spring including a killdeer chick, a bird that used to only spend winters there. Now a few nest on the island every year. We have wondered whether a pair could nest there and then also migrate and nest again somewhere to the north. Seems more likely that the ones that nest there might stay there all year, but who knows?

Another virtual bird sighting that we have enjoyed hearing about is the appearance closer to home of a bird that is far from its own home: a yellow-throated warbler that has been in Brunswick for a few days. Something that is very curious about yellow-throated warblers, at least ones that appear far from their normal range, is that they often spend an inordinate amount of time searching for food around buildings. The bird in Brunswick has been spending much of its time searching for insects and spiders (apparently dead or alive, as observers have reported it eating dead insects) around the roof edges, fire escapes, and windows of the old Cabot Mill building along the Androscoggin River.

This is not at all uncommon in this species. Several that we have seen ourselves in Maine had this same habit, and we have heard lots of similar reports of the behavior in out-of-range yellow-throated warblers. It seems like a smart and potentially life-saving behavior, but do all these birds just suddenly discover the fact that they can find insects and spiders around buildings when they find themselves in unusual locations?

We have seen other birds foraging around the eaves and windows of homes and garages, for spiders and insects. The list for us includes blue jays and the occasional curious chickadee. Woodpeckers will sometimes take it up a notch and start digging into the walls and siding of a house in search of real or imagined insects.

Then there are the birds that will nest on buildings. Barn swallows, as the name suggests, nest in open barns and garages on beams and under the eaves. Cliff swallows used to be a common nester under the eaves of barns and stables before they disappeared from most of Maine. Eastern phoebes almost always nest under the eaves of a shed or garage, sometimes under a porch.

Even the beloved American robin will often place its mud and straw nest nestled on a flat space in the eaves or under a porch. House finches have regularly been found placing nests in odd situations on or around homes including several that we have seen nesting in old Christmas wreathes left out too long on a front door.

One of the oddest nest placements we have seen, at least in relation to a human habitation, was a pair of blue jays that placed their stick nest under the roof of a porch in Hallowell. Despite the owners coming and going through door nearby, the pair successfully raised their young in that conspicuous location. The particularly odd thing about this is that we have only located blue jay nests a handful of times over the years. We think of them as being very good at placing their nests in spots where they are well hidden. Not so in this case! Or maybe the jays knew that they would be safer there than in a bush or tree that one of the many marauding local cats might be able to access.

Another great mystery of the natural world to ponder as we stay safe at home.

Jeffrey V. Wells, Ph.D., is a Fellow of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Vice President of Boreal Conservation for National Audubon. Dr. Wells is one of the nation's leading bird experts and conservation biologists and author of the “Birder’s Conservation Handbook.” His grandfather, the late John Chase, was a columnist for the Boothbay Register for many years. Allison Childs Wells, formerly of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a senior director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, a nonprofit membership organization working statewide to protect the nature of Maine. Both are widely published natural history writers and are the authors of the popular book, “Maine’s Favorite Birds” (Tilbury House) and “Birds of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao: A Site and Field Guide,” (Cornell University Press).

While much is different this spring, the dependable calls of the wood frog and spring peeper have begun right on schedule.. Although in-person guided walks are not an option, Midcoast Conservancy invites participants to a virtual exploration of these remarkable ecosystems, the unique animals that live there, and simple techniques for exploring pools safely on one’s own. Using the Zoom link below, the exploration will happen live on Thursday, April 23 from 10 a.m. to noon

Of all the interesting ways to observe the advance of spring, vernal pools are one of the most fascinating. A vernal pool is a temporary woodland pond or small body of water, often overlooked, which plays a central role in the life cycle of many amphibians and turtles and the organisms that rely on them. They have important implications and impacts on local wildlife, outdoor recreation, and forestry operations.

Leading the walk will be Dr. Amanda Cross, a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with 15 years’ experience studying and teaching vernal pool ecology across Maine. She lives close to several vernal pools in Harpswell, where she and her family enjoy catching frogs, counting egg masses, and mimicking amphibian calls.

To join the exploration, use Zoom link https://maine.zoom.us/j/99176531216?pwd=cnVKTUpYUG02WDM5Y0VJbHBjckZ0dz09, along with the access code 902113. Anyone with questions can email info@midcoastconservancy.org

AUGUSTA — In order to provide more opportunity for both youth and adult turkey hunters and abide by current executive orders, Commissioner Judy Camuso with the support of Governor Janet Mills, will open the turkey season early, providing hunters with additional days to hunt this spring season, and will also suspend the requirement to register your harvested turkey, according to a news release. 

“The extra days will provide hunters with more opportunities to enjoy one of Maine’s most popular hunts, and the temporary suspension of the registration requirement ensures that all involved in Maine’s turkey hunt will do their part to keep Maine safe during this unprecedented time,” said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Under the revised season framework, youth hunters will now get two youth hunting days, Saturday April 25 and Monday, April 27 instead of only May 2. The regular season for all turkey hunters will now start on Saturday, May 2, instead of Monday, May 4. This will give youth hunters and adult hunters each an extra day to hunt, and will start the season earlier. The season will conclude as scheduled on June 6.

In order to comply with the governor’s executive order requiring social distancing, the requirement to register your harvested turkey will also be suspended for the spring season only, per the release.

While biologists gather vital information about harvest numbers and turkey population health through the registration, this temporary, one-time suspension of the tagging requirement is not expected to have any long term impacts on the turkey population health. All other current bag limits, license and permit requirements apply.

“Temporarily removing the requirement to register turkeys during the spring season will be a challenge when it comes to determining the harvest,” said Nate Webb, Wildlife Division Director for MDIFW, “Fortunately we have captured and banded a large number of turkeys for the Department’s wild turkey study and that will help us generate population estimates in the short term to help manage the turkey population.”

In order to try and gather the biological data lost through the suspension of the registration requirement, the department may send all turkey permit holders a post-hunt survey to gather information about how many birds they harvested, their location and other pertinent information.

Hunters are asked to fill out the survey, and also report a banded turkey if they harvest one. Information on how to report the turkey is on the band, including visiting wildturkeyme.org/report-a-tag or calling 1-844-234-9237.

“Turkey hunting continues to grow in popularity, and I hope these extra days of hunting will provide a welcome break during this unique time,” said Camuso.

Five thousand Maine children and adults with intellectual disabilities, rely on and look forward to the 75 events offered by Special Olympics Maine each year. The athletes train hard and get excited about all of the opportunities they usually have, to be seen for their abilities and not their disabilities. For many of them, the state events are like their state championship. They also look forward to seeing old friends, spending time with their team mates, traveling to other towns for training or competitions, attending the dances, staying in dorms, earning medals and ribbons, getting free health screenings, and having people cheer for them when they compete.

Special Olympics Maine relies on several fundraising events throughout the year, as well as the generosity of others, in order to meet their 1.3 million dollar a year budget and to continue to provide opportunities to their athletes.

Like so many other non-profits, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in all training, social and competitive events in Special Olympics to be canceled through June 10. Regional and state basketball tournaments, Spring Unified sports, State swimming, Spring Games and the largest event of the year, the state Summer Games. In addition, all live fundraising events have been canceled during this time as well.

Within minutes of announcing the cancellations, Special Olympic Maine staff (all five of them) pulled together to begin brainstorming how they would continue to offer opportunities to our athletes to stay physically, mentally and emotionally fit during the quarantine, how to keep them all feeling positive, and to keep them looking forward to events just as soon as we are safe to offer them. (and without money coming in, how would they make all of this happen, and still be able to offer events when the lock down is over)

Social media has been the key. Through Facebook, and Instagram, Special Olympics Maine is offering daily workouts, cooking classes, stress management tips, yoga, stretching, and strong mind activities. Volunteers and staff have been creating videos to share every day and have created a schedule of on line events for everyone to follow.

Mondays are dedicated to fundraising. Special Olympics Maine is holding a raffle, selling tickets for $20 each and the winner will receive three prizes … yes three! A snowmobile, a 4-wheeler, and a Sea-do (Drawing Oct. 30). We are also holding an online Auction; we are encouraging people to shop through Amazon Smile and choose Special Olympics Maine as their charity of choice; and honestly, just hoping that people will send in donations to our state office. We need to make sure that people realize that Special Olympics is important, relevant, and even crucial for many of our athletes.

Tuesdays are dedicated to staying positive … stress relief, meditation, finding activities that are fun and help keep your mind focused on the good things that are happening. Many of our athletes are separated from daily staff, their friends, co-workers and day programs that help keep them active and healthy so staying positive is extremely important.

Wednesdays are Weekly Warrior workouts where volunteers share workout videos of things our athletes and their families can do at home. At the end of each week the athletes get a certificate emailed to them and every four weeks their names go in to a drawing for prizes.

Thursdays we focus on essential workers who are athletes and volunteers. It has been amazing to recognize our athletes who are on the front line but unseen, working in grocery stores stocking shelves, working in factories, or cleaning offices, hospitals, police departments, etc.

Friday is fun day! We offer cooking classes, learning to juggle sessions, opportunities for athletes and supporters to share their talents, and a chance to join the Special Olympics staff on themed Zoom parties etc.

Throughout the week we will also be offering Healthy Athletes Tips from our Healthy Athletes clinical directors, and students at USM and UNE, covering things like taking care of your teeth, your hearing, your feet, etc. (Through Healthy Athletes we annually offer free health screenings at our state summer games, which will not be offered this year).

Information and activity kits are being mailed to families who do not have access to internet.

The response has been incredible … hearing from parents who say they cannot imagine how they would get through this time with their child who has autism or an intellectual disability, if it were not for the activities we are offering to keep them busy, active, involved and excited to see what’s coming next. Athletes are calling and messaging us daily telling us how much fun they are having. It’s great to see them having things to look forward to.

In addition to what we are offering our athletes, we are also trying to give back. We have dozens of athletes sending videos and messages out to our sponsors and supporters thanking them for everything they have done for us in the past, and reminding them of how much they mean to us. We are also doing thank yous to essential workers.

Despite the fact that very little money is coming in right now, we cannot stop. Our athletes rely on us and we will continue to do all we can for them. If you would like to check out some of the fun things we are up to, please visit us at https://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsMaine/?ref=bookmarks and visit us on You Tube to see some of our workout videos, cooking videos, or inspirational videos. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLzReuMO78cpdNSl6OQcMrQ?view_as=subscriber

If you would like to purchase a raffle ticket or make a donation please contact us at 207-879-0489, or mail to Special Olympics Maine, 125 John Roberts Road, Unit #5, South Portland, ME 04106.

It is with deep gratitude for his years of outstanding service that Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) announces the retirement of Land Manager Michael Warren at the end of May. Michael joined the land trust in 2013 as the culmination of a long career in outdoor recreation. His skills were already finely honed when he came to BRLT as an accomplished wilderness, hunting and fishing guide, as well as a sports camp owner with 30 years of experience working in the Maine woods.

A true outdoorsman, Michael jumped right into his work with the land trust, maintaining over 30 miles of hiking trails with dedication and vision. Beyond his own broad knowledge, Michael recognized the need for a variety of experts to sustain the diverse and extensive public lands under BRLT management. During his tenure, Michael helped to build the current team of stewardship volunteers, roughly 75 people strong, to assist in a wide range of tasks from trail maintenance, to apple tree restoration, chain-saw work and much, much more! Michael has also been instrumental in organizing BRLT’s current stewardship committee—a passionate group of experts who are guiding the long-term management and conservation of BRLT lands.

Michael will be greatly missed by those who have worked closely with him. The following sentiments express the wide-ranging impacts he has had in developing stewardship programs and maintaining BRLT’s public lands over the past seven years:

“When Michael applied for the Lands Manager position, he included the following in his resume: ‘Objectives: to promote and enhance BRLT’s mission through stewardship and outreach; to manage and enhance BRLT’s portfolio of conservation land through sustainable and creative solutions to public use and natural succession issues; to develop and engage a volunteer corps to leverage the limited time afforded by this part-time position.’ I think it’s safe to say, objectives accomplished! We wish Michael all of the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of stewardship of our public lands.” – Nick Ullo, executive director

“It has been such a pleasure to get to know Michael. In his tenure with BRLT, Michael has truly transformed the lands management program. I am stunned by how much Michael and his band of dedicated, capable volunteers were able to accomplish. The tasks kept piling up, and while those got taken care of, Michael always kept his focus on the bigger picture. His dedication to lands stewardship, his amazing skill set, and his good humor will be greatly missed.” – Sue Mello, stewardship committee chair

“One of the great things in working with Michael is the relationship he and I developed. We quickly grew to know each other, and he entrusted me to develop, design and construct various projects for our preserves. I sincerely want to thank him for our all-too-brief time working together.” – Cyrus Lauriat, volunteer

“Working with Michael over the past three years has been a genuine pleasure. His guidance, mentorship, and patience with an ‘old guy from Florida’ was deeply appreciated. His devotion to the goals of the land trust was inspiring and made this volunteer (and others) always want to perform ‘above & beyond.’ I’m especially glad that he’s going to remain close to the land trust as a fellow volunteer!” – Stan Wakefield, volunteer

“I have worked with Michael on Damariscove and other marine related elements of BRLT since he started in his position. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of it. He has been effective in getting people and materials together to complete projects large and small. It has been a pleasure to know him and work with him. I consider him like a brother. I am sorry to see this end, but wish him all the best in his future.” – Gerry Gamage, volunteer

“Michael has been the staff anchor, or in apple tree lingo, the root of the Apple Corps. His cheerful, obliging demeanor coupled with his practical knowledge and dependability enabled the Apple Corps to tackle the revitalization and preservation of the Oak Point Farm Orchard and to work on apple trees at other preserves.” – Ron Ross, Apple Corps coordinator and board member

“Michael Warren—the standard to which all other land stewards are held. A man of vision, focus and commitment. He is the type of land steward who could be building a wooden bridge over a stream one minute, and the next taking a major donor on a tour with a history lesson of the preserve. Michael knows the value of volunteers and volunteerism. The chainsaw safety courses he initiated were beneficial to me personally as well as to the overall organization. His vision for land management will help sustain the preserves for years to come. He will be missed.” – John Elwell, volunteer

If you see Michael on the trails in the coming month, please extend your thanks. We at BRLT will sorely miss his incredible work ethic and commitment to our public lands. We look forward to welcoming him back as a volunteer and wish him all of the best in his retirement.

One year after Damariscotta River Association and Pemaquid Watershed Association joined forces to become Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Coastal Rivers has made public the organization’s new logo.

The colorful graphics feature a belted kingfisher looking out over a colorful landscape. According to Executive Director Steven Hufnagel, the kingfisher is meaningful to the organization and its mission for a number of reasons.

“As a bird that nests on land and fishes in both fresh and salt water, the kingfisher speaks to the connection between healthy land and clean water. Also, in local Native American lore, the kingfisher was known as a hunter of unparalleled skill, who teaches by example – which ties in the theme of education,” said Hufnagel.

Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, nationally accredited land trust with active programs in land conservation, water quality, trails and public access, and nature education in the Damariscotta-Pemaquid region.

The logo was designed by Coastal Rivers Communications and Outreach Manager Hannah McGhee.

For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit www.coastalrivers.org

Animals are appearing closer to home these days due to more people staying inside due to the pandemic. Martin Grassie of Brunswick, an occasional contributor to our newspapers and a 2020 Maine Photography Show prize winner, captured these photos on a recent Sunday afternoon at a salt marsh behind the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Route 24 in Harpswell. Making an appearance were a red fox, snowy egrets, a blue heron and lesser yellow legs. Grassie said the fox looked at but did not bother the birds. Keep your cameras handy as you may see scenes like these near your home.

The 58th Windjammer Days Festival set for June 21-29 was canceled Wednesday, April 29.

According to Capt. Pete Ripley, board member of Friends of Windjammer Days, the decision was made after Gov. Janet Mills announced her four-part plan to reopen the state.

“There’s no way we can keep crowds down to less than 50 people,” Ripley said. “Here’s looking toward 2021.”

Ripley said there was a possibility the Blessing of the Fleet could still happen. It was added to the WJD Festival after the Fishermen’s Festival ended.

“It is with a heavy heart and the utmost regard for health and safety that we have made the difficult decision to cancel Windjammer Days 2020. This pandemic has brought to light all that we at Friends of Windjammers are grateful for: long held traditions, seafaring history, the art of boat building, the passion of sailing captains, the dedication of amazing volunteers, a town full of hospitality and caring people, and the sweet joy of nostalgia. We look forward to Windjammer Days 2021 and relishing in all that makes this festival the treasured event that it is. Till then, we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy. We will all get through this together.” – Friends of Windjammer Days website

“The chips just kept falling,” said Pete Ripley, president of the Friends of Windjammer Days board of directors. “It was a very difficult decision, but we had to make the call.”

That call, canceling the 58th annual Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days, came April 29, the day after Gov. Janet Mills announced Maine’s four-stage reopening plan. The clincher: Gatherings had to be limited to under 50 people.

At the April Friends of WJD meeting, it was decided the chairs of the different events would discuss whether or not scaled-down versions of their events would be possible.

Right off, they knew the street parade wouldn’t be happening. And, Ripley noted, “We knew we couldn’t control the crowds. We were hoping for groups of under 200 people. We thought three events – the Blessing of the Fleet, the Antique Boat Parade, Rock Skipping, and maybe the Tug Across the Harbor – could still be done. Spectators are usually spread out over different locations.”

Behind the scenes, other chips were falling. The ban on travel between countries caused the Tall Ship Fair Jeanne, whose homeport is in Canada, to cancel its participation.

The Oliver Hazard Perry is de-rigged for winter and requires a large group of volunteers to perform the re-rigging, working very close together. The Perry is owned by the State of Rhode Island where similar COVID-19 group restrictions are in place. So, Ripley said, “That wasn’t happening.”

There were several events scheduled aboard the Perry, including a family movie night with the film shown on one of the sails.

“Mark (Gimbel) spent a lot of time getting the Tall Ships here this year,” said Ripley. “Fortunately the Tall Ships are on board for 2021.”

So is Boothbay Harbor’s Eastwind - on board for 2021. Said Capt. Tom Smith, “Pete Ripley emailed us. It is disappointing we must cancel Windjammer Days, but understandable.”

“It was a hard decision. But, the ships aren’t going to be sailing now until July so that kind of took care of that too,” Ripley said. “We’re all (WJ captains) good friends at this point.  This is John Foss’ (American Eagle) 50th season ... it’s hard to see how they are going to suffer this year.”

Before the governor’s announcement, the Friends’ reservations were building. “Being a family festival you want it to be safe and friendly. If we moved forward and someone did get sick … we didn’t want to risk that – or ruining the reputation of the Festival,” Ripley said.

Founded by Captains David and Marion Dash in 1962, Windjammer Days has grown from a day-long celebration of sailing ships and the region’s rich maritime history to two days, then four days and now, since the Friends have been at the helm beginning in 2013, one entire week. And it will return in 2021: June 27 through July 3.

“I think it will be a very good year next year ... and we’ll be celebrating the Bicentennial a year later like everyone else!” Ripley said.

Keep up with all things Windjammer Days at www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org and check out Friends of WIndjammer Days on Facebook.

In late April, Brad Weigel joined Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) as its new lands manager. Brad hails from Indiana, though he most recently spent two years as the superintendant of grounds at Glenstone, a contemporary art museum in suburban Washington, D.C. While there, he oversaw the museum’s extensive 300 acres of meadows and woodlands, managing for native plants, overseeing newly reforested woodlands, and utilizing organic landscaping practices, all while carefully ensuring that the grounds provided the appropriate backdrop for a variety of artistic installations.

Prior to this, Brad worked for more than a decade in land stewardship and natural resource management in his native Indiana. His work cultivated a wide range of expertise including native species management, invasive species control, ecological restoration, forest management, and prescribed fire management. He worked as the stewardship manager of an Indiana land trust with over 40 properties, as well as at several governmental and non-profit land management and conservation organizations including the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry and the Nature Conservancy.

Brad is thrilled to be living in Maine, where he looks forward to enjoying the region’s outstanding access to outdoor recreation. As a child, Brad developed an early love of nature — fishing, hiking, and exploring on his family’s 100-acre farm in rural Indiana. As an avid backpacker, paddler, fisherman, skier, and forager, Brad could not hope for a better place to call home. Professionally, he is also eager to apply his talents to BRLT’s public lands. “After researching BRLT, I was immediately impressed with its diverse collection of properties and quickly recognized that it would be a great place to work,” says Weigel. “I very much look forward to stewarding these awesome preserves and working with the dedicated staff and volunteers who have developed and maintained them."

Brad has spent the past two weeks in self-quarantine in his East Boothbay rental reading up on BRLT conservation lands and gearing up for his work begin in earnest. As of this week, he will be hitting the trails with the guidance of retiring Lands Manager Michael Warren. Brad will spend the month of May getting acquainted with BRLT’s preserves and its team of stewardship volunteers. Warren will stay on during this transition time to assist with training and direction.

The board and staff of BRLT could not be happier to welcome Brad to the region. His broad knowledge and experience are sure to benefit BRLT’s preserves and provide an excellent foundation to support the organizations ongoing stewardship goals and objectives.

Over the past several weeks, a very enthusiastic group of approximately 30 Westport Island residents completed the annual cleanup of our Island’s roads. This year, due to COVID-19, we were unable to assign road sections in person so we posted a list of road sections on the town’s website together with appropriate contact information for volunteering. We also posted a link to the list to the Westport Island Facebook page.

Most of the volunteers were able to transport the debris gathered from our roadsides directly to the Wiscasset Transfer Station. As expected, trash collected from our roadsides was mostly cigarette butts and discarded beverage and fast food containers; however, like in other years, we continue to find a distressing amount of household trash, construction debris, discarded furniture, motor vehicle parts and old tires.

Please be aware that the filters in cigarettes are made of a kind of plastic, which, unlike the tobacco, are not biodegradable and, when carelessly discarded, can persist on our roadsides for years.

We appreciate the efforts by many residents to help keep our Island clean on a year-round basis by routinely picking up trash discarded along our roadsides. Many thanks to our Island walkers who pick up trash on their daily treks. Please keep up the good work!  

The following is a summary of items that were recently approved or discussed by the MPA Interscholastic Management Committee at its May 7 meeting, as provided by the MPA: 

The following timeline is to be established for summer activities:

That through June 13, which is the close of the 2020 spring season, we continue to encourage all coaches to communicate with athletes in their program regarding their health and well-being, encouraging them to remain active, and to maintain a healthy life-style.  The only coaches that may provide sport-specific workouts during this time would continue to be the spring coaches.

Starting on June 14, and continuing through July 5, coaches would continue to connect virtually with athletes but that all coaches would now be allowed to suggest sport-specific workouts. It is strongly recommended that the workouts be coordinated within the school to avoid overuse by the multi-sport athlete.

That starting on July 6 we could hopefully allow some in-person instruction to occur.  

Prior to July 6 a set of guidelines, aligning with recommendations from the Governor’s Office, the Maine CDC, and the Maine Department of Education, will be developed for what this in-person instruction might involve.

It is important to note that these guidelines will align with other educational recommendations that are being made and will not replace any district level rules or policies that have been previously implemented. It is also not the intent of establishing a July 6 date to reopen all activities but rather allow for a period of time prior to elapse before making recommendations around social gatherings, physical distancing requirements, the wearing of facemasks, and other guidelines being suggested by our state leadership.

Recommend that for a one-year period districts consider revising their policy regarding pre-participation physical exams. 

Currently, the recommendation is that athletes have a physical exam every two years. 

There have been concerns raised that there may be difficulty in scheduling a wellness physical in doctor’s offices prior to the start of the fall season. 

The Sports Medicine Committee recommends that the policy be revised to allow those athletes that have been involved in competitive athletics previously, as long as they don’t have any pre-existing medical conditions, to complete the comprehensive health history questionnaire that is often used during the years between physicals.  It is also recommended that these questionnaires be reviewed by a school healthcare professional (school physician, school nurse, athletic trainer) prior to the athlete competing.  

Those athletes that are new to competitive athletics should still be required to have a complete physical exam.

For the start of the fall season the two-week mandatory “hands-off” period is waived. If schools are able to start the fall season on August 17, there was a concern that with the stay-at-home order currently in place, and the possibility that it may extend further into the summer, that the athletes would need additional time to begin a conditioning program to avoid overuse injuries once the fall season begins.

In addition to approval of the Sports Medicine Committee’s recommendations the Interscholastic Management Committee also approved the following:

Suspending the eligibility requirement that an athlete must pass the equivalent of four full-time courses or learning experiences to be eligible to compete.  Eligibility for the fall semester will be determined at the local level.

Confirmed that all other eligibility requirements (8-Semester Rule, 4 Seasons of Competition, and 20-Year Old Rule) continue to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the MPA Eligibility Committee.

Confirmed that the MPA Transfer Rule would remain as written requiring both school’s administration to agree that the transfer wasn’t for athletic purposes, but that schools should be prepared to see an increase in the number of student transfers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  It is also suggested that schools review the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as well as local policies regarding homeschooled students and those students attending virtual schools, as there will also be an increase with these students as well.

Boothbay Harbor Country Club golfers got into the swing of things May 15 as their local course opened. Maine courses were closed until May 1 under Gov. Janet Mills’ “Stay at Home” order due to the coronavirus. Courses reopened as part of the governor’s four-stage reopening plan. But BHCC golfers had to wait until May 15 because that is the course’s traditional opening date. The course is starting later than most. but BHCC Director of Golf and Membership Chad Penman reported the country club is implementing the governor’s social distancing requirements. “Today (May 15) is busy, and tomorrow there is a full sheet (of tee times) so a lot of people are turning out,” Penman said. “They can’t enter the clubhouse and must load their bags onto their carts.”

Public and private courses alike are instituting “Park, Play and Go Home” as guidelines for the new season in the era of coronavirus. Other requirements prohibit two golfers in a golf cart unless they live in the same household. The Maine Golf Association is urging all state courses to adopt “Park, Play and Go Home. A Safe and Sensible Way to Play Golf.”  Social distancing is the cornerstone of the strategy which prohibits golfers from hanging around the parking lot and golf course. Other changes include closing the clubhouse, putting greens and driving ranges. Food and beverage sales are limited to take-out. Tee times are spaced out to distance golfers further from one another. Penman reported the country club spaced tee times from 10 minutes to 16 in abiding by the social distancing directive. 

The Boothbay Harbor Country Club Course remains open each season until Oct. 15.

On Thursday, May 14, the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors held a Zoom board meeting and decided to suspend all MSHF activities for 2020 due to the coronavirus.

The only function that will be tended to is to ask the school athletic administrators to give us names of two female and two male student-athletes from their school to be considered for the Female and Male Athletes of the Year. Later on this year the board will meet to decide on the 2020 Female and Male Athlete of the Year and those two individuals will be recognized at the 2021 Induction Banquet.

All expiring board of director terms will be extended one year. The board hated to make this decision but felt as though it was best for all involved as we move forward during these unsettling times.

The warm weather has arrived and with it Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT) is moving ahead with a number of planned stewardship improvements across its preserves. Last October, as part of land trust’s strategic planning process, stewardship was named as one of three priority focus areas for the coming three years. Several goals were outlined during the strategic planning meeting, and plans have developed over the winter to address key stewardship needs and improvements for the coming year. Several of these projects are already underway including resurfacing work along the trails at Porter Preserve and Ovens Mouth, improvements to the parking area at Zak Preserve, and the installation of the universal access trail and expanded disability parking at Oak Point Farm.

Visitors at Porter Preserve on Barters Island may have noticed trail work on the loop trail in the past couple of weeks. Efforts are underway at Porter to resurface the trail, beginning with areas that are especially risky due to the high quantity of exposed roots. Visitors may note the blue-hued gravel that has been added to fill in spaces within the root system. Fear not—this gravel is a base layer that will be covered with superhumus—a bark-like groundcover composed of organic materials. The end product will be a smoother trail that is easily traversable with an inconspicuous, natural aesthetic. Lands Manager Brad Weigel notes, “The improvements will enable the general public, including many who may be less mobile, to safely enjoy the beauty of this preserve without fear of injury.”

While BRLT is currently focusing on sections where uneven roots are most obtrusive, the goal is to eventually work through the full trail system at Porter to ensure greater accessibility to this widely visited and much loved preserve. Similar work will commence along the loop trail of Ovens Mouth East later in the season with plans to resurface and smooth out the trail for improved accessibility using the same gravel and superhumus techniques.

At Zak Preserve the parking and entrance is receiving some much needed attention. The parking area, originally built to hold only four vehicles, has recently been expanded and rebuilt to provide greater capacity with an enlarged gravel area. Later this season the entrance portion will be paved. Those who frequent Zak know that the gravel entrance causes potholes to form as cars accelerate on exiting the preserve to merge onto Route 27. The newly paved entrance will eliminate this problem of potholes and increase safety and accessibility. The fencing along the border of Zak is also in the process of being replaced with a new hardwood, split-rail fence that maintains the same pastoral aesthetic while providing a more durable product that should weather the seasons with less annual maintenance required.

BRLT has hired professional contractors to complete the improvements at Zak Preserve. This work would not be possible without the generous support and commitment of Michael and Roxanne Zak, the original donors of the conservation land known as Zak Preserve, who have fully funded the fencing and parking lot improvements.

Finally, initial work will begin this week at Oak Point Farm on the universal access trail and disability parking lot expansion. John Copeland of Kennebec Trail Company has been engaged to design and develop the trail and coordinate the parking lot expansion. The new trail will extend from an expanded lower parking lot to the shorefront at Dawes Landing. Plans include developing a bridged portion of trail to traverse the low-lying area between the freshwater pond and the farmhouse, and connecting into the current trail down to the landing. The portion utilizing existing trail will be regraded to comply with accessibility standards for universal access, making the entire trail fully accessible for all levels of mobility including those requiring wheelchairs or strollers. The trail is tentatively scheduled for completion at the end of July.

Boothbay Region Land Trust appreciates the public’s cooperation while these trail systems and parking areas are developed and improved. Please check kiosks for notices regarding trail work. Please give workers space on the trails by practicing social distancing and avoiding sections of trail where workers are active.

Those interested in learning more about how they can get involved as stewardship volunteers on BRLT preserves are encouraged to contact Lands Manager Brad Weigel at bweigel@bbrlt.org

Instead of its usual staffed spring trail running series, Midcoast Conservancy invites runners to use two marked courses at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson to put some spring in their step! One loop is 2.5 miles of relatively level terrain; the other is 3.5 miles and includes several hills and narrower trails ; Midcoast Conservancy's AmeriCorps volunteers have placed plenty of signage to ensure that routes are clearly marked.

Runners can time themselves on the loops to help with training goals. Those who are so inclined can share their times on the Race Through the Woods Facebook page; training groups can run separately, as current protocol suggests, and share run information at https://www.facebook.com/RaceThroughtheWoods/.

For incentive, runners might want to register now for the fall Race Through the Woods which will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27. State event guidelines permitting, there will be a 5.5 mile race as well as a half-marathon course. The race is open to all levels and having fun is the most important part of the day! A kids’ obstacle course will allow even the youngest athletes to have a great time. To register, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events/race-through-the-woods-3/

For more information and an online trail map, go to https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/preserve/hidden-valley-nature-center/