The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

Nowadays Herb and Doris Smith live a relatively quiet life since they have retired to their self/built log home. Among other pastimes, Doris now kayaks and Herb pens books and sails on the Appledore Child, but their lives over the past several decades have been anything but quiet.

Herb and Doris first came to Boothbay Harbor in 1974 when they sailed the Appledore I, a 49-foot schooner Herb had just built. They planned to sail from Portsmouth to Rockland but were hit by a big squall by Sequin Island and were nearly knocked down so they decided to pull into to the nearest port which was Boothbay Harbor. They fell in love with Boothbay Harbor and soon started a day chartering business out of the Spruce Point Inn. Herb had previously worked as a cinematographer on an icebreaker that sailed to Antarctica and Greenland so he did not hesitate to sail to the Caribbean that winter and many winters after that where Doris and Herb again ran day charters.

In 1978, they launched their second vessel called the Appledore II, a 65-foot schooner which they helped build with the Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine. The Appledore II sailed around the world via the Panama Canal. The trip lasted a year and a half and visited 50 ports of call ending up at Portsmouth, New Hampshire in May of 1980.

After that voyage, the Smiths moved to Littleton, New Hampshire where they tried to live a “normal” life but found it wasn’t for them. They soon were building their third schooner, Appledore III. She was launched in Newburyport, Massachusetts and made her way to Boothbay Harbor where they were given permission to dock in front of the Fisherman’s Wharf Inn and charter out of the hotel. That summer Herb also began planning another trip around the world in the Appledore III. This time they followed a different path through the straits of Magellan which allowed them to visit more out of the way islands. This voyage was completed in Boothbay Harbor in May of 1986.

Next Herb had a 65-foot steel replica of the Appledore II built in Florida for the purpose of traveling around the five great capes of the world with his whole family which now included three children. The new Appledore IV first ran charters along with the Appledore III out of Fisherman’s Wharf in the summer of 1988 and in the fall of 1988 it set sail on the longer voyage. Upon reaching Bermuda, Herb decided it was more prudent to spend the winter in the Caribbean. After chartering her again over the summer of 1989 in Boothbay Harbor, they decided to sell the Appledore IV.

The Appledore IV was built as a 56-foot replica of the Appledore III. The plan was again to sail around the five capes. At the last minute Herb decided he just couldn’t do it knowing that his son was looking forward to his first year of high school and the chance to play football. The rest of the family was in agreement. After being chartered for a couple of summers, the Appledore IV was sold, but Herb was able to continue to manage it until the new owner decided to put it up for sale.

At this point boat-less, Herb and Doris starting building a wooden boat which was launched in 1999 as the Eastwind. That winter Herb and Doris, accompanied by their daughters, sailed to the Caribbean. This was the last “big sail.” The Eastwind was sold to their son Tom who ran her out of Boothbay Harbor for 14 years until being sold this past year.

Asked whether they ever dream of sailing again, Herb responded, “Yes, I’m leaving this summer on the Appledore Child. I’ll be sailing around the islands of Boothbay Harbor.” Doris says that she may accompany him though it may be just paddling alongside him in her kayak.

Update: Phil Di Vece, who was coaching the boys middle school basketball team after the coaching changes listed below, is no longer coaching, and Bryan James, the assistant high school boys basketball coach, will coach the boys middle school team in this week’s playoff games, Athletic Director Cameron Bishop confirmed Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Original post:

Two Wiscasset middle school boys basketball coaches are done for the season and a past one is finishing it after a Jan. 12 incident that resulted in an assault charge for one man, according to local officials.

Wiscasset Police Chief Larry Hesseltine said the department responded Jan. 12 to a report of an assault in the parking lot of Wiscasset Middle High School. Officer Hunter Farrell investigated; Russell Marr, 51, of Wiscasset “reported he had been assaulted by Richard Mank, 70, also of Wiscasset,” Hesseltine said in an email response to Wiscasset Newspaper’s questions. Hesseltine said the alleged assault followed a “verbal confrontation” between the two men. Mank has been charged with assault, a March 2 court date given, and the case will be forwarded to Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, Hesseltine said.

In a phone interview Jan. 26, Superintendent of Schools Robert “Bob” England Jr. confirmed Marr has been the boys middle school coach this season and is not, for the rest of the season; Mank has been an assistant coach this season, and is not, for the rest of the season; and past coach Phil Di Vece is coaching the rest of the season.

England said Athletic Director Cameron Bishop informed parents Jan. 19, an incident occurred Jan. 12 upon return from a South Bristol game; that no student-athletes were involved; that an investigation began into what occurred prior to and during the incident; that during the investigation it became apparent that the behavior of student-athletes and the overall culture of the team had deteriorated and consequently it has been determined that the season will move forward without two coaches” and that, for now, Di Vece will coach.

After the season, “a thorough evaluation of the program will be conducted. Collectively, continued efforts must be made in order to develop consistently successful programs that support the emotional and social development of our student-athletes,” England continued. 

Via email Jan. 25, Bishop confirmed the rest of the middle school boys' basketball season “will proceed as scheduled.” He deferred other comment to England.

In case you missed the January Mainebiz article, for the first time since summer 1974 in Boothbay Harbor, there will not be a schooner owned by Herb and Doris Smith or their son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Jennifer. Eastwind was built by Herb and Doris and launched in 1999. Tom and Jennifer bought Eastwind 14 years ago and the Lazy Jack two years ago. They sold both boats to Schooner Explorations of Maine, LLC – Paul McGrail, Sean Rowley and Rod Veal – Dec. 15, 2022.

The trio were no strangers to the Smith-built Appledores; they already owned the Appledore II that had been sailing out of Camden since John and Jane McKean bought her from the Smiths in 1988. There is also the Appledore Star, which has been sailing out of Key West for decades.

McGrail, Rowley and Veal’s Sebago Watersports began partnering with the McKeans in 2003 when they would bring Appledore II down to the Sunshine State for the winter.

While Rowley was in Maine to see the ships a few weeks back, he said the Eastwind is the “perfect boat.”

“Everything Herb and Doris learned building boats over all those years they put into Eastwind,” Rowley said. “She has laminated frames, brass riveting … She’s perfect.”

Nineteen-year-old Rowley learned a thing or two about shipbuilding before meeting McGrail during the three years he worked for Frank Luke at the Luke boatyard in East Boothbay. He went on to build catamarans with McGrail for Sebago Watersports.

“When Tom’s (Smith) lawyer called us to say the boats were for sale we said we want them,” Rowley recalled. “We are so excited. Our goal is to improve where needed to keep up with the times. Eastwind will be at Hodgdon for some cosmetics, but it is in incredible condition. It looks like a 4-year-old boat, but is really 24 years old. Apple Jack will be at Paul E. Luke’s getting new floor timbers and forward planks; paint will be removed and reapplied. We are passionate about our boats.”

When Rowley was about 13, he saw the Apple Jack sailing past the island he and his father had sailed to. “I said I’m going to own that boat someday.” 

Local boat builder Tony Finocchiaro of Boothbay is Schooner Explorations of Maine’s shipwright. “I’ve known Tony for years – and I love Bet,” said Rowley. “Tony’s a very skilled wooden boat shipwright. There isn’t anything he can’t fix.”

Rowley said Eastwind will never be renamed. Lazy Jack was renamed Apple Jack largely as an homage to the Smiths and their five Appledores – plus, the company already had the Appledore Star. 

This season, both ships will take passengers on three-day sails and one sunset cruise, with Veal and Rowley as captains. Eastwind will begin the season in Camden May 16. When Appledore II returns from her winter port in Key West, Eastwind will return to Boothbay Harbor and join Apple Jack for the 2023 season.

Both ships will have alcoholic beverages available, a historical narrator will be on board; and passengers will be encouraged to help hoist the sails and take photos of themselves at the helm.

Locals will sail for half price. Rowley said the aim is to get all the year-rounders out for some fun.

“Paul and Rod and I are the stewards of these boats. It’s our job to take care of them, love them, maintain them ... they will go on under us,” said Rowley. “We are very excited about this season.”

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

Kathleen Jones is now well known as a local designer and co-owner of Kerr/Jones Gallery in East Boothbay, but for a span of three decades, she and her late husband George traveled extensively in the seas of the Eastern and Western Caribbean and along the coast of Maine.

A native of Ohio, Kathleen graduated from Ohio State. After college while pursuing her master’s degree in San Francisco she met her future husband George, and they were married in 1981. In the early years, George’s work as a physician in the military brought them to Germany and Saudi Arabia and then back to Memphis, which was George’s hometown. It was at that time that they both learned to sail on a large lake in Arkansas. Dreams of a larger boat and longer voyages began to take shape, including bareboat charters in Antigua and the British Virgin Islands.

In 1987 they purchased a Peterson 44 named Ursa Major in Annapolis, Maryland. They first sailed to the Leeward and Windward islands of the Eastern Caribbean and then onto Venezuela with two very young children aboard. George would fly back to the U.S. periodically to work and replenish their “cruising kitty” while Kathleen stayed aboard and homeschooled their older child. They returned to the U.S. after cruising for two years, leading to their next adventure in Maine.

They first came to Maine to visit some old friends who had a cottage on Southport Island. As their children were growing older, the couple felt they needed to investigate land-based options for schooling and socialization. They fell in love with Maine and knew that living here would lend itself to more sailing adventures. George was hired as an internist at St. Andrews Hospital and subsequently opened a private practice in Boothbay Harbor. Kathleen became involved in the community including becoming a member of the Windjammer Days Committee. As George’s practice grew, they found they didn’t have the time to sail. This eventually led to the decision to sell Ursa Major. They replaced her with their first power boat, White Falcon, which was originally designed and owned by Bill Danforth and was built at Brewer’s Boatyard (now Hodgdon Yacht Services) around 1961.

The family enjoyed cruising up and down the Maine coast which required less time away from home. Upon a suggestion from the legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite, White Falcon was eventually donated to a non-profit school in Florida where students considered high risk were taught useful marine skills.

In 2001, George and Kathleen decided to sail again as George now had more time in semi-retirement. They purchased a Sparkman and Stevens Custom 47 and renamed her Déjà Vu which was appropriate since they felt they had been there before. They had magical adventures in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. They docked Déjà Vu in a marina in Guatemala which was “hurricane safe” so that they could return frequently to sail. Déjà Vu was sold in 2015, and George passed in 2017 following a seven-year battle with multiple myeloma.

Kathleen wishes that George could share the honor of being nominated as a Windjammer Maritime Explorer with her as he was the risk taker and long wanted to sail the world. Kathleen likes to think that he’s out there on a beautiful, seaworthy boat that’s fully stocked with Heinekens. She feels very grateful for their shared nautical experiences.

The snow at Hidden Valley Nature Center was perfect for a January visit by the fourth graders from Wiscasset Elementary School. The students were met by environmental educator Cami Wilbert and they walked to the barn while looking for snowshoe hares planted along the trail.

Then the students hurried to visit their tree friends to check for any changes. One of the students was excited to find a woodpecker had been working on his tree. After the students made lanyards with track identification cards, they were given a challenge. The students were to create a place in the snow that would protect animal “blood” (warm jello) from freezing. Students were particular in finding a spot, they decided how deep they would dig in the snow, and then filled their holes with found materials. Once the holes were ready, they placed cups of the “blood” inside and waited 15 minutes to see what happened to it.

All the students were thrilled to discover the “blood” was still warm and not frozen. On their walk back to the bus, the students were happy to find even more hidden snowshoe hares.

Coastal Rivers is offering a nature-based after-school program for kids ages 6 to 11 during the month of March at Coastal Rivers Salt Bay Farm. The program takes place daily from 3 to 5 p.m. in week-long sessions.

Kids will spend much of the time outdoors, exploring fields, forest, and wetlands with naturalists. Activities will include looking for animal tracks and signs, practicing using a map and compass, playing nature-inspired games, tapping maple trees, discovering things to eat in the wild, and working on art projects.

Coastal Rivers offers active and fun hands-on learning in a safe outdoor environment. The Nature Center is on a bus route from Great Salt Bay School and close to Route 1.

The cost per week is $80, or $60 for Coastal Rivers members (prorated for shorter weeks). Scholarships are available. Registration can be found online at coastalrivers.org/events.

Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, member-supported, nationally accredited land trust caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through education programs. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit coastalrivers.org.

The Boothcasset(Boothbay/Wiscasset) High School wwimmers had a home swim meet at the Wiscasset Rec Center on Friday, Jan. 27. The meet was against Gardale and Lincoln Academy.

Boothcasset is coached by Nori Lund and Heather Hills. They have five girls and one boy who all competed in this meet: Caroline Potter of Wiscasset High School, Emily Gilliam of Wiscasset High School, Suzie Edwards of BRHS, London Haedrich of North Yarmouth Academy, Sage Wickline of BRHS and Hannah Hills of BRHS.

As a team they had two relays both placing second, one being a personal best time and the other being less than a second from their best time.

Sage placed first in her 100 butterfly and second in her 100 backstroke.

London placed second in his 100 backstroke and swam exhibition in his 50 freestyle.

Caroline placed fourth in her 200 freestyle and third in her 100 freestyle.

Suzie placed fifth in her 50 freestyle and swam exhibition in her 100 freestyle.

Emily placed first in her 50 freestyle and third in her 500 freestyle.

Hannah placed second in both of her events, the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

Personal best times were set by Sage in both of her events, London in his 50 freestyle, Suzie in her 100 freestyle, Emily in her 500 freestyle, and Hannah in both of her events.

As a team they dropped 8.58 seconds. Sage qualified for states in both of her events, Emily in her 500 freestyle and Hannah in her 200 freestyle.

Their next meet will be at the Wiscasset Rec Center on Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m.

The Boothbay Region Seahawks improved to 11-5 on the season with an easy win at Wiscasset, 67-35, on Monday, Feb. 6.

Gryffin Kristan continued his consistent scoring and led the Seahawks with 28 points.

Other Boothbay highlights saw Finn Harkins score 10 points; Luke Morley had 10 points and eight rebounds, Ryan Amaral had seven points, and Kayden Ames had eight assists and five rebounds.

Wiscasset (0-16) was led by Dylan Akers with 12 points on four three-pointers.

After a game at home against Richmond (14-2) on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Seahawks are scheduled to finish out the regular season at Telstar (1-13) on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The Wolverines are scheduled to play at Spruce Mountain on Wednesday and at home against Vinalhaven on Thursday.

After a three-year hiatus, the Boothbay Region Fish & Game Association will again hold its annual Kids’ Ice Fishing Derby on Wiley Pond from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the club property at 447 Dover Road in Boothbay.

Wiley Pond has again this year been opened by the state for kids-only (under 16) ice fishing for the month of February. The Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocked the pond with brook trout this past fall, specifically for ice fishing.

The Derby will be open to the public. Only kids under 16 may fish, but adults are cordially welcome to accompany them out on the ice. The club gate will be open so that participants can drive up into the parking lot adjacent to the pond. The club house will be heated and open for all, with beverages and hot dogs available for purchase. There is no entry fee.

IF&W rules allow a maximum of two traps or fishing rods per child. No finfish (shiners, smelts, etc.) dead or alive will be allowed as bait during the derby, but worms and artificial lures are permitted. Only two trout, minimum 6”, per child per day may be legally retained.

The club will encourage catch and release during the event, and member volunteers will come around to measure and record any fish that are to be released. Released fish have the same opportunity for winning prizes as fish that are retained.

Cash prizes of $100, $75, $50, $25 and $25 will be awarded respectively for the five largest (longest overall length) brook trout caught. The awards ceremony will be held in the club house at 2:00 pm, and will include a number of kids’ door prizes.

In the event of a cancellation or postponement due to weather or ice conditions, the club will post a notice on its Facebook page, Boothbay Region Fish and Game Association. The weather date is Feb. 25.

For more information contact John Splaine via email at velonut1@myfairpoint.net, or call (207) 751-9065.

Midcoast Conservancy is hosting its 11th annual Biathlon at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson on Saturday, March 4. All ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate! Biathlon is an Olympic sport that combines cross country skiing and target shooting. The race will include a fat bike option as well, where racers ride rather than ski. There will also be a category for snowshoe racers.

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. Races will begin about 9 a.m. and continue into the early afternoon. All day long there will be bonfires and spectators are encouraged. Biathlon fans should consider volunteering if they are not planning to race; the race volunteer crew can always use extra hands!

Race categories are based on self-selected skill levels upon pre-race check in, and there is a special category for youth racers. Gear will be available to rent for any racers needing skis, snowshoes or a bike. Registration fees are $20 for adults, $10 for kids and students. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited. Register at https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/events-list/biathlon. Day-of registrations available as space allows.

For many, it’s the time of year to plan for the rewarding process of tapping trees—but Hearty Roots is focused year-round on helping kids tap into their all-natural uniqueness. Hearty Roots offers nature-based therapeutic experiences for kiddos that help them access local trails and waterways while intentionally exploring their emotional wellness. Their Taproot Therapeutic Adventure program is planning their Spring Block of programming, which starts the week of March 6. They have a few spots left and welcome you to reach out to hannah@heartyroots.org to learn more.

And who can forget: Summer is coming! Hearty Roots is gearing up to provide as many high-quality, diverse program opportunities as possible for local youth so stay tuned for details. In the meantime, Hearty Roots hopes your young one will join them at Hidden Valley Nature Camp for three days of Winter Wonderland Adventures during February school break. What kid doesn’t want to spend a few days just being a kid? Join them to build campfires, snowshoe, mountain bike and explore trails. From mindful moments to snowy adventures, Hearty Roots is dedicated to getting kids “off the grid and into their hearts.” For more information and to enroll, journey on over to heartyroots.org.

Even in the dead of winter, the natural world is brimming with activity! All one needs to do is look for the signs that animals leave behind. The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) invites the public to discover how to read animal tracks at DeWick Farm in Woolwich on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. Led by Maine Master Naturalists Penny Jessop and Jane Harrison, participants will learn to interpret clues to tell the story of local wildlife in winter.

Maine has very few animals that are true hibernators, or animals that spend winter in a dormant state. Many of the creatures thought to be hidden away for the coldest parts of the year are still active to find food, water, and even mates. Jessop and Harrison will share the process of tracking and identifying these furry friends by observing their prints. Participants will learn to measure and interpret an animal's print, track, straddle, and stride.
DeWick Farm is a KELT easement that was generously donated by the DeWick Family in 2013. A mixture of woodland, open fields, and shoreline on Montsweag Bay, it will serve as an excellent backdrop to explore the lives of Maine mammals in winter.

Program material is geared for budding naturalists and is family friendly. Because winter weather can be unpredictable, this event will only be postponed in the case of severe weather. Registration is free. For more information and to sign-up, visit KELT’s website at www.kennebecestuary.org/upcoming-events or call (207) 442-8400. Driving directions to the easement will follow registration.

Healthy Lincoln County has partnered with Hidden Valley Nature Center to bring a StoryWalk® on their campus trail through the end of March. The month-long event is free of charge and an easy way to get some fresh air while waiting for spring.

StoryWalk® is an innovative and delightful way for children and adults to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. The laminated pages are put in display boxes built and donated by Mobius Incorporated. As you stroll down the trail, you're directed to the next page in the story. StoryWalk® was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont in 2007, and has since spread to all fifty states and across various countries.

This year’s event was kicked off with the book “Can’t Scare Me!” by Ashley Bryan. Bringing color into the snowy woods, “Can’t Scare Me!” is a story about a small boy who fears nothing learns a lesson in humility.

“This is a good time of year to bring StoryWalk® back to the area! With Ashley Bryan’s lyrical poetry, the colors used in the illustrations, and a positive message this activity can help bring your family out of their cabin-fever funk!” says Amy Bedard, Healthy Lincoln County’s program assistant.

For questions about the Hidden Valley Nature Center and its trails, call 207-389-5159. For more information about StoryWalk®, email director@healthylincolncounty.org, or call 563-1330.

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

Glenn grew up in Boothbay on Hodgdon Island. He always loved working around and on the water as a young boy. He enjoyed clamming, worming, and collecting seaweed for local lobster pounds and worm dealers. When he got older, he worked on the charter boats in the harbor and helped Captain Winslow on his tugboats.

Attending Maine Maritime was a natural fit. He applied to Maine Maritime along with his good friend, Captain Kevin Murray. While attending Maine Maritime, Glenn was able to train and travel to distant ports including to Leningrad and St. Petersburg, Russia while on the State of Maine Training Vessel. After earning a bachelor of science degree in business transportation and third mate’s license, his first job was on a 300-foot research vessel out of Texas.  After transiting the Atlantic and spending time off the shores of Malta and Lebanon, Glenn returned to the US for a new job offer with Gulf Oil.

For the next six years he worked on oil tankers 500-600-feet long traveling up and down the east coast visiting numerous ports. Some trips brought him through the Panama Canal to several Mexican ports. Glenn’s wife Kim was able to accompany him one trip through the canal and up to San Francisco on the SS Gulf Queen, a 700-foot vessel. It was a once in a lifetime trip for Kim, who had a wonderful time despite a couple of days of seasickness. At the beginning of the ‘80s, Glenn sailed to Alaska bringing back crude oil to US west coast ports.

In 1984 Glenn was hired by Keystone Shipping out of Philadelphia. He assumed his first command in 1986 as captain on the SS Chilbar, a 600-foot chemical tanker. For the next 25 years Glenn delivered oil and chemical products to a multitude of ports in the US. He was in a shipyard in Halifax, Nova Scotia when 911 happened. Subsequently the new attention to security changed the entire process to moving cargo.

A transfer to a fleet which traveled to foreign ports brought another opportunity to see the world. On this fleet Glenn traveled to South America, Central America, North Africa, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Sudan, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Egypt. One very interesting trip was transporting grain from Houston, Texas to Sudan and Djibouti. The people there were so appreciative to receive the grain as well as clothing and other goods that were distributed via the World Food Organization.

After sailing for 30 years on tankers, Glenn was hired by a drilling company in 2010. He finished his career as captain/oil installation manager in charge of 900-foot drill ships. This job involved drilling wells for major oil companies, requiring flying to the rig via helicopter. Glenn recalls these years as the most interesting in his career due to the extent of the technology involved. Many of the wells were in 9000 feet of water and were drilled to 30,000 plus feet. A highlight of this time was spending two years in South Korea building, designing and delivering two new drill ships to the states. The voyage back passed the equator twice, an event that the crew celebrated.

Glenn feels a great sense of pride when he looks back at his 44-year career in the maritime industry but says that it came with enormous sacrifice. He missed birthdays, holidays, school functions, and other momentous occasions while his wife and daughter Holly kept the home fires burning. The bonus was that when he came home from a 2–3 month trip, he got to be home for that length of time as well.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour, hosted by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, returns to Damariscotta on Monday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Theater, with a curated selection of the festival’s 2023 films. 

Now in its 20th year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour is a selection of short films from the annual festival held the third week of February in Nevada City, California. The films speak to environmental concerns, outdoor adventure, and finding connection to nature.

The seven short films to be screened on March 27 include “Free to Run,” the inspiring story of UN human rights attorney, mountain runner and NGO founder, Stephanie Case, who was training hard during the summer of 2021 to take on the hardest ultra trail marathon of her life – the daunting Tor des Glaciers 450km self-navigated race through the A'osta Valley of Italy. 

But weeks before Case was set to toe the line, her life took an unexpected turn as she watched the Taliban sweep across Afghanistan, threatening the basic human rights of women across the country, including those of her NGO, Free to Run. As governments around the world failed to evacuate at-risk Afghans, she was thrown into crisis management mode, fighting to find a way forward for the women and girls of  Free to Run.

In “From My Window” we meet Melissa Simpson, who looks out her window at the highest peaks in Colorado. Despite being so close, the mountains have always been worlds away for Melissa, who was born with cerebral palsy. With the help of her friend and mentor, blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, Melissa sets out to conquer something far greater than a summit. Through humility and grace, Melissa proves that what is within us is stronger than what's in our way.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started by the watershed advocacy group, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) in California in 2003. The festival’s namesake is in celebration of SYRCL’s landmark victory to receive “Wild & Scenic” status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. 

The festival is building a network of grassroots organizations connected by a common goal of using film to inspire activism. With the support of Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour’s National Partners, Rivers are Life, Peak Design, EarthJustice, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, hhmi Tangled Bank Studios, NIA Impact Capital, and EarthxFilm, the festival can reach an even larger audience.

Local sponsor Rising Tide Co-op is providing a complimentary dessert and coffee bar.

Lincoln Theater is at 2 Theater St., Damariscotta. Tickets are $10, $5 for kids 16 and under, and free for Coastal Rivers members, and may be purchased online at lincolntheater.net/on-screen/special-events.

“The event is a natural extension of Coastal Rivers’ work to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment,” said Coastal Rivers, in a news release.

Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, member-supported, nationally accredited land trust caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through education programs. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.orgor visit coastalrivers.org. 

Registration is now open for the 2023 season of Camp Mummichog, Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust’s summer day camp for campers ages 5 to 14.

At Camp Mummichog, nature education takes many forms: hands-on exploration, physical activity, art, music, writing, games, and more. All camp sessions are held at Coastal Rivers Salt Bay Farm on Belvedere Road in Damariscotta, a beautiful nature preserve featuring rolling fields, forest, and both fresh and saltwater marshes. Most sessions also include a field trip to a nearby preserve.

On a typical day, campers may be found exploring a salt marsh creek looking for horseshoe crabs, building emergency shelters and practicing survival skills in the forest, or running through fields with oversized nets, collecting insects to identify and observe.

Nine camp sessions are scheduled between July 5 and Aug. 18. Each session has a different theme and is designed for a specific age group.

Campers attending “Marine Adventures” will conduct their own experiments, dissect a squid, and visit a lab at the University of Maine Darling Marine Center to learn from marine biologists in the field. “Grandparents & Kids Camp” gives grandparents the opportunity to join their camper for a few days of exploration, art projects, games, and more.

“River Beats” is a unique camp program that invites campers to take inspiration from the natural world to compose music. With no prior music experience required, the campers work closely with Will Healy of the New York Philharmonic’s Young Composers Program to create an original piece of music. This piece will be performed by professional musicians at a special concert at the end of this two-week session.

To learn more, download a brochure, or register, go to www.coastalrivers.org. Scholarships are available.

Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, member-supported, nationally accredited land trust caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through education programs. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit coastalrivers.org.

The third annual MAC All-Star Classic basketball game and three-point contest returns on Friday, March 10 featuring Midcoast high school boy and girl players from Belfast to Boothbay. 

The games will be held at the MAC Midcoast Athletics Center, 1767 Atlantic Highway, Warren, with the girls tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m.

Friends, family and the general public are invited to cheer for their favorite players from Medomak Valley, Oceanside, Lincoln Academy, Camden Hills, Mount View and Boothbay. 

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children and students. 

For fans who can’t make it to the game in person, both games will be live streamed on Lincoln County Television’s YouTube and LCTV.org. Phil Carlson and Larry Sidelinger will provide live stream commentary. 

Lincoln County Television broadcasts on Spectrum/Tidewater 7 and LCTV.org as Lincoln County’s non-profit public access community television station and media center. The station presents government meetings, educational programs, community events, high school sports, and original weekly, monthly and special shows for Lincoln County residents of all ages. 

Snow has arrived just in time for a weekend of fun in the snow at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. This Saturday, March 4, from noon to 3 p.m., all are invited to come to HVNC and take to the trails by ski, snowshoe or fat tire bike (rentals available all day) and take a turn at the paintball target range—a DIY Winter Biathlon opportunity!

There will be a marked course for skiing and riding. The paintball markers are provided by Midcoast Conservancy, and participants will receive safety training on how to use a marker before taking a turn. There will be bonfires and access to the warming hut at the Barn. Wood-fired pizza and s’mores kits will be available by donation.

Saturday promises to be one of the best days of the year to engage in snow sports! There is something for everyone at Hidden Valley Nature Center, which is open every day from dawn to dusk, has cabins and a yurt for camping, and offers high-quality gear rentals every weekend. Learn more at https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/hvnc.

For more information, call (207) 389-5150.

Summers in Maine are magical. The air is warm, flowers are blooming, grills are sizzling. We move our entire lives outdoors. We take to our gardens, our yards, our patios. And then, there they are. The bugs.

As eco-conscious Mainers, we look to natural solutions for pest management. Luckily, there are resources.

According to the IPM Institute of North America, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests that emphasizes the use of natural predators, biological and cultural controls, over pesticide use. The goal of IPM is to reduce pest populations to levels that do not cause economic or environmental damage, while minimizing harm to beneficial insects, wildlife, and human health.

IPM began in agricultural settings as a cost-effective practice for protecting cash crops from pests, without destroying biodiversity or causing pollution. Today, IPM has expanded beyond farms to safeguard human health and environments around schools, parks, homes, lawns, and businesses.

In 2002, Maine’s legislature created the Integrated Pest Management Council tasked with promoting, expanding, and enhancing IPM adoption in all sectors of pesticide use and pest management within the state. A trove of fact sheets and bulletins, pest identification tools, and IPM approved management techniques including solutions for ticks, mosquitos, slugs, Japanese beetles, and hundreds more pests can be found on their website, which is a combination of Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry and University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE).  

Prior iterations of natural pest management gave advice on repelling specific insects with corresponding “repellant” plants. However, today IPM focuses on attracting more than repelling. Insectary plants, pheromone lures, and trap crops are used to attract natural pest predators and lure pests offsite, Dr. Jaime Piñero, entomologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, writes in an email.

Rodale Institute defines insectary plants as plants that are grown to attract, feed, and shelter beneficial insects that aid in biological pest control. They can be a combination of perennial and annual flowering plants. Insectary plants provide pollen and nectar for feeding predatorial insects.

Piñero’s course material lists common insectary plants for New England, including basil, dill, fennel, partridge pea, anise, sweet alyssum, buckwheat, and sunflower. They attract lady beetles, tachinid and hover flies, lacewings, parasitic and predatory wasps, soldier beetles, and the aptly named assassin bug. These insects eat aphids, scale insects, caterpillars, beetles, stink bugs, and thrips, he teaches.

Pheromones are chemicals used by animals and insects to communicate with each other, often to attract mates, announce food sources, and warn of dangers. Pheromone lures are highly specific, matching a specific pheromone with a specific insect species. Pheromone traps are highly effective on stink bugs and Japanese beetles. “The key is to place the lure at least 50 feet away from the plants you want to protect. Often people mistakenly put the lure beside the plant, which just draws more pests to the area you want to protect,” says Jim Dill, Director of the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory and Pest Management Specialist at UMCE in a video regarding Japanese beetle management.

Trap crops are the ideal IPM solution for squash bugs. Trap crops are sacrificial plants, that draw pests away from one plant to another plant, deemed more desirable to the insect. They are planted near plants farmers want to protect. When the trap crop has lured the pest away from the primary plant, the trap crop is terminated and removed from the site, taking the pest with it. “It’s inexpensive and compatible with organic practices” Piñero writes. For squash bugs, Blue Hubbard squash is the trap. Planted near yellow squash, zucchini, pumpkins, gourds, and cucumbers, squash bugs rarely resist the Blue Hubbard.

Since IPM began in agricultural settings, it stands to reason that solutions for food crops and horticultural plants have the most time-tested solutions. But what about the insects that prey on us?

UMCE lists prevention and avoidance as the best means for controlling tick, mosquito, and black fly populations.

“As a result of increasing concerns regarding environmental safety, increasing costs of chemical controls, and potential resistance of ticks to pesticides, biological controls are becoming a sought-after strategy for tick population management,” says the Tick Lab website at UMCE. Ticks have natural predators including ants, spiders, wild turkeys, guinea fowl and chickens, though research indicates their consumption is minimal and not effective in reducing local tick populations, it goes on to say.

For ticks, managed landscapes have lower tick populations than natural and forested areas. Keeping lawns mowed to three inches or less, mulching leaves and brush from around your home, woodpiles, and stonewalls will prevent humid, shaded habitats ticks seek. If you have to spray, always use a licensed professional and spray the perimeter of your yard to create a barrier, as opposed to spraying your entire yard to minimize chemical application. Dress with long sleeves and tuck pant legs into boots when going into a possible tick habitat.

UMCE fact sheet #5110 on mosquitos and University of New Hampshire (UNH) Black Flies Fact Sheet offer similar advice for the two biting insects. Eliminate breeding sites by removing standing and stagnant water. Birdbaths are fine as long as you replace the water in them weekly. Pruning trees and shrubs to encourage natural breezes will help. Promote natural predators including dragonflies, birds, frogs, and consider hanging bat houses.

Garments containing impenetrable mesh or repellent are good choices for infants and young children, sprays containing DEET are effective for ticks, mosquitos, and black flies. The UNH fact sheet states that fogging yards to control black flies might provide brief relief, but because they are strong fliers, relief is temporary.

“IPM is ecology is action,” Piñero teaches. Insects are crucial components of ecosystems, performing many important direct and indirect functions, from beneficial production of honey, silk, and wax, to pollination, scavenging, and preying on destructive insects. It can feel counter-intuitive, but to reduce bugs, you need…more bugs.

The Fishermen’s Memorial Committee accepted a $30,000 donation Feb. 28. The money was raised through the revived Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge held last September. 

Tuna Challenge Chairman and Carousel Marina Manager Jax van der Veen and Dock & Facility Manager Evan Hepburn presented the check to Fishermen’s Memorial Committee board members Andrew Morley, Troy Lewis, Brenda Blackman, Ryan Casey and Nicholas Morley, who is also the co-chair of the tuna tournament.

Andrew Morley noted the committee had raised no funds on its own since the last Fishermen’s Festival in 2015. Morley’s history with the Festival dates back to the 1980s. A former lobsterman, he was also involved in all the behind-the-scenes details and remains committed to the Memorial and lobster/fishermen past and present.

“The Fishermen’s Memorial Fund was established for two purposes: Mainly to build the memorial and to support a scholarship fund for a graduating senior going into maritime studies,” Morley said. “We usually gave $1,000 the first year and as the student continued the scholarship was based on what we had raised. More recently it’s been $1,000 a semester as the student got further through school.”

Morley said the Fishermen’s Memorial Committee is moving forward with some projects immediately: An irrigation system is being installed to help keep the grass green; changing out all the electric services at Fishermen’s Memorial Park; old lighting will be replaced by higher efficiency LED lights. And, at some point, the Committee wants to see some of the stonework repaired.

“We’ve just about wrapped up any of the permits we need to get. Without the continued revenue we’ve had to hold off. I’ve always been amazed at the wide swath of support there’s been for the Memorial and Fishermen’s Festival. Bringing back the tuna tournament … it’s perfect timing for the Memorial, and we appreciate it.”

Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge prize money and the Fishermen’s Memorial donation came from entry fees; sponsors; a raffle that netted almost $20,000; and proceeds from the auction, lobsterbake, T-shirts and hats.

“It was really cool,” said van der Veen. “All 60 boats were from Maine and 90% of them had lobster rigging on them. We were giving to the Fishermen’s Memorial and really rooting for fishermen at the end of the day. We were very grateful to see what the tournament could bring to the community while giving commercial fishermen the opportunity to do something fun and something they are good at – fishing the Maine waters. And to be able to give them a reasonable reward (top prize was $30,000) for it. Everyone who came in said how fun it was and how they’d never fished a tournament like this while they were at the scales.”

Carousel Marina is hosting the second annual Boothbay Harbor Tuna Challenge Sept. 1-9, with tentative fishing dates of Sept. 3-7. This year, the number of competitors was raised to 75 – and 75 captains have already signed up in a little over one month! Van der Veen said she has a waiting list for 2024. For more information, visit https://www.boothbayharbortunachallenge.com and www.boothbayregister.com

The Midcoast Umpire Association of Maine (MUA) will be providing training for interested new members, or individuals looking to learn more about the game of baseball or softball.

The association assists with providing professional, quality officiating to local baseball and softball teams, grades 7 to 12, as well as to local youth amateur leagues, including Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, and Little League Baseball/Softball.

All interested individuals are encouraged to apply. Training and education are provided by veteran umpires using hands on, online, visual and written study resources. New member separate sessions for baseball and softball training will begin March 20 for baseball and March 21 for softball. Training will be provided live via Zoom teleconferencing.

Anyone interested in this challenging and rewarding opportunity are encouraged to register at midcoastumpires.com under the “Join Us” section, or by contacting Chris Barstow at crbarstow@gmail.com.

Join KELT for a free evening Zoom lecture on Thursday, March 9 at 6 p.m. to learn about the flashing insects we love to observe in the summer evenings – fireflies!  KELT is very excited to host firefly experts Doug Lowry and Don Salvatore from Mass Audubon’s Firefly Watch program. We will have a chance to learn about firefly characteristics, life cycles, species in Maine, population changes over time, and plenty of unusual facts about these fascinating insects.

The presenters will also share information about Firefly Watch, a fun community science project that allows people to identify and document the firefly species flashing in their own backyard. Anyone in North America can participate in Firefly Watch, and the presenters will teach you how 10 minutes observing fireflies in your own backyard can gather important information about the environmental factors that impact their abundance. Participants are welcomed and encouraged to ask questions during the Q&A portion of the lecture. 

Registration is free and required in order to receive the Zoom link for the presentation. For more information and to sign-up, visit KELT’s website at www.kennebecestuary.org/upcoming-events or call (207) 442-8400. 

Doug Lowry is a professional educator and naturalist with Mass Audubon. Don Salvatore is a retired science educator with the Museum of Science in Boston and is one of the founders of Firefly Watch who created this exciting community science project in 2008.

The Wiscasset High School boys' basketball team was recently chosen as the 2023 recipient of the Maine Principals’ Association Class C South Boys' Basketball Good Sportsmanship Award, according to Gina Stevens. interim Principal, WMHS.

The award is given to teams that demonstrate teamwork, respect for opponents and officials, hard work, and good conduct on the court. Recipients are voted on by the coaches of each class and region, with one winner chosen from each.

Winter sports high school athletes at Boothbay Region High School and Wiscasset Middle High School were honored by Mountain Valley Conference coaches this week with the announcement of the MVC’s all-star teams.

BRHS

Senior Gryffin Kristan was named to the boys basketball first team and was named to the academic all-star team.

Senior Kayden Ames was an honorable mention to the boys basketball team and was named to the academic all-star team.

Junior Finn Harkins was an honorable mention to the boys basketball team.

Senior basketball player Kathryn Hibbard was named to the academic all-star team.

WMHS

Junior Quiana Hyman and sophomore Laila Dicus were honorable mentions on the girls all-star team.

Senior Dylan Akers and sophomore Jevar Garricks were honorable mentions on the boys all-star team.

Senior Carolyn Potter was named to the academic all-star team.

Due to the timing of this weekend’s storm, all high school basketball playoff games slated for Saturday have been postponed.

Below is the schedule for those impacted state championship games. Each of these games will be televised on MPBN.

Monday, March 6: Cross Insurance Arena, Portland
Class AA Girls 6:05pm Oxford Hills vs Gorham
Class AA Boys 7:45pm Portland vs South Portland

Monday, March 6: Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Class D Girls 6:05pm Seacoast Christian vs Southern Aroostook
Class D Boys 7:45pm Forest Hills vs Southern Aroostook

Tuesday, March 7: Portland Expo
Class B Girls 6:05pm Ellsworth vs Spruce Mountain
Class B Boys 7:45pm Orono vs Oceanside

Tuesday, March 7: Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
Class C Girls 6:05pm Old Orchard Beach vs Dexter
Class C Boys 7:45pm Dirigo vs Calais

At the Class B girls high school state swim meet Feb. 21 at Colby College in Waterville, the Boothbay Seahawks had three swimmers competing along side two from Wiscasset Middle High School. The BoothCasset swimmers had an amazing meet. This small but mighty team finished 11th out of 21 teams.

Emily Gilliam from Wiscasset finished 11th in the 50 free and 19th in the 100 backstroke.

Sage Wickline of Boothbay finished 12th in the 200 individual medley and 20th in the 100 butterfly.

Hannah Hills of Boothbay was the top finisher for the team with an 8th in the 200 individual medley and 7th in the 100 breaststroke.

Gilliam, Wickline and Hills also competed in two relays. In the medley relay they were joined by Suzie Edwards of Boothbay finishing 11th.

In the free relay they were joined by Carolyn Potter of Wiscasset finishing 12th.

The season finished on a high and we are all looking forward to next year.

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

Bruce and Maureen Kinsey first met the summer of 1972, during college break while working at the Rocktide Inn Restaurant on the east side of Boothbay Harbor. Little did Maureen know their future would include many maritime adventures, most notably an annual voyage on their sailboat from September to May for seven years. Bruce first learned to sail as a child, spending summer vacations in East Boothbay while visiting his grandparents. Maureen on the other hand, first experienced boating on one of Boothbay Harbor’s tour boats.

Work at Sheepscot Machine intervened in Bruce’s dream to go cruising, but after retirement he spent six years restoring a 42-foot sailboat. Their first trip was down the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), to the Bahamas. The ICW is chain of channels linked together to provide passage along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The following years took them down the Caribbean Chain to Trinidad, then around Venezuela to Cartagena, Columbia and on to the San Blas Islands of Panama, then to Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica and back to Maine.

As fate would have it, they met another couple and their puppy in St. Martin who had the same itinerary that year. They ended up sailing together for the next five years. Throughout their travels, Bruce and Maureen concentrated on meeting and making friends wherever they went. They lived like the locals, shopping, doing laundry and hiking around the areas they visited. They kept bikes on their stern to get around on land.

One of their most notable memories was attending a kite festival in Guatemala. During this festival, it is believed that the dead rise up to heaven on Nov. 1, All Souls Day, and they celebrate by flying beautiful kites made of heavy colored paper, including some non-flying ones as large as 20-feet high. The people gather in a big field to view the kites and buy food and crafts from vendors. In the afternoon, they fly the smaller kites. They also once spent the week of Easter in Antigua, Guatemala, watching the daily somber processions through the streets with up to 80 men carrying on their shoulders huge floats depicting the Crucifixion. These depictions are so heavy, that on every block there are different men lined up to take others’ places going forward. The townsfolk lay down flowers and colored sawdust in the streets to create beautiful carpets for the processions, and after it goes by, they are swept up and others are created for the next day.

Cuba was another never to be forgotten experience where they witnessed extreme poverty, but met so many joyful, generous, smart and inventive people! They were advised to take along gifts such as baseballs, baseball cards, jewelry, clothing, toiletries, etc. to share with the people they met along the way. When they gave these things away, they most often were gifted something in return, such as eggs, lobster, vegetables, even once a birthday cake!

In all, it was 10,000 miles of adventure and fun! Bruce and Maureen’s daughter Gretchen has also caught the sailing bug, but she and her family prefer sailboat racing to their slower pace of cruising and exploring.

Wiscasset budget committee member Tom Joyce said March 8, he understands everything costs more now, but he did not know if he could vote for the parks and recreation budget.

In budget talks at the town office and carried on Zoom and YouTube, Joyce said Director Duane Goud is “clearly the best manager” that department has had. “This is good for the town. And you’re good for the town. But this is hard for me to vote for.” Depending on how revenues turn out, “this starts to look difficult to swallow as a taxpayer.”

Goud said if less revenue comes in, he will spend less. “I’m also a taxpayer in this town, and I don’t like overspending budgets.”

According to draft budget documents, other than planning and development’s proposed 176% increase that includes a possible director job, parks and recreation’s $233,135, or 23.85%, increase would be the biggest of any department. With a projected $185,000 increase in revenue, the increase to taxpayers would instead be about 10%, or about $50,000, Goud said.

Joyce asked what the level of confidence is in the 40% revenue hike. “A miss there, compounds the losses that we’re looking at.”

Goud called the number a forecast based on how revenue is tracking month to month compared to a year ago. Town Manager Dennis Simmons added, fee increases may also be considered.

Simmons recalled paring Goud’s revenue projections last year and the year before that. “And I was wrong both times. So this year I’m going with Duane’s estimate ...”

As with other departments, parks and recreation’s proposed $1.2 million budget includes higher labor, fuel and electricity costs, Simmons said in the documents and the meeting. He said a lot of the jobs at Wiscasset Community Center pay minimum wage, which he and maine.gov said is $13.80 an hour this year.

Said Goud, “Everything has gone up for us. Supplies have gone up, doesn’t matter if it’s custodial or if it’s supplies for programming.” He said he tries to offer as many programs as he can. “If you want to boost your revenues, you have to spend more money,” he said.

In other budget talks March 8, Simmons told the panels Wiscasset Emergency Medical Service’s (EMS) paramedic pay is proposed to go from $24 to $27 an hour to get Wiscasset nearer what other area agencies pay.

Selectmen Terry Heller and Dusty Jones each recalled receiving excellent service in the past year. Heller said she is grateful and the team is fabulous. Director Erin Bean responded, the providers are all really good. “They don’t just show up so that they can collect a paycheck. They’re here because they honestly care about this community.”

Wiscasset also serves Westport Island, Alna and Dresden, Simmons said. He said there is a slim chance of losing Dresden over a $20,000 hike, the new cost being $66,000.

View the meeting on Wiscasset’s YouTube channel or at lctv.org

Spring arrived March 20 at 5:24 p.m. here on the East Coast. And you know what that means: time to get outdoors and uncover those gardens, once all the snow melts, that is! And most likely, there are those plants you cannot identify, that have been part of your personal landscape for years, decades, maybe, but you really like the flowers.

Last month, Boothbay Region Land Trust welcomed Rebecca Jacobs of Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District to Oak Point Farm. At the start, she told attendees that soil and water conservation districts were a direct result of the Dust Bowl. In 1937, President Franklin Roosevelt suggested state governors permit landowners to create conservation districts to prevent further erosion of the land – and another Dust Bowl – as close to three-fourths of land in the U.S. is privately owned.

Jacobs shed some light on local invasive plants that just might be among some of those flowering, attractive plants in your yard. These plants, trees and shrubs are the same ones she had been battling in Massachusetts and Vermont. She also explained that not all non-native varieties are bad. “We have thousands and thousands of successful, naturalized plants and the majority of non-native plants are not invasive,” said Jacobs. “But there are those non-native plants that displace native plants, shifting their habitats, their ecosystems. These varieties also cause harm to humans by impacting the natural landscape and our economic resources.”

These non-native species arrived in Maine in a variety of ways: They were imported to the U.S. from Europe, or from Asia, such as from Japan, for ornamental and landscaping purposes, by people not realizing the damage these could cause to the environment once planted. These plants are further spread by wildlife. Many of these species are very attractive, and are among those that have naturalized, while others are, as Jacobs described, “bullies.”

Japanese knotwood. One of these “bullies” is Japanese knotwood. It has heart-shaped leaves and produces white spiky flowers on hollow stems and is spread by underground runners. Jacobs noted that in the UK, homeowners cannot sell their property if there is Japanese knotwood on it. Bees love it. A black-colored honey is produced from this plant, which makes it desirable for culinary purposes – but it is not desirable from an environmental standpoint.

Norway maple. A key species being found on the Boothbay peninsula and the Midcoast – widely grown and was distributed in the horticultural industry. Jacobs said it, or its cultivars, can no longer be sold in Maine. It flowers yellow; prefers wet and mid and upland sites where Maine’s native sugar maples grow and it seeds prolifically! It has larger palmate (shaped like your hand and fingers) and its leaves have more points than Maine’s sugar maples.

“It is extremely shade tolerant,” Jacobs said. “It’s eliopathic ... excreting a toxin into the soil that displaces the seed bank of native species and encourages the appropriate ph for its own species. The bark is craggier with light fissures in a light brown trunk. In fall, the color is a dull yellow, If you snap a leaf off it oozes a thick white sap. If you snap a sugar or red maple leaf, it oozes a clear sap. After 15 years, it’s hard to distinguish them by bark and leaf.”

Glossy buckthorn. Ironically, this plant does not have thorns, but it can fruit and flower simultaneously. It produces white flowers and in habitat looks similar to a young dogwood, alder, or winterberry. It is a prolific seeder. Jacobs noted how inconspicuous glossy buckthorn is so it can be around for decades until someone notices. “All of a sudden in Rockport, and other places, there’s a monoculture of this plant. You look at a horizon line and it’s glossy buckthorn.” It has blood red roots, very distinct. The Northeast forest service is particularly concerned about this one because it is so inconspicuous; birds eat the seed and then disperse them as they fly.

Japanese barberry. Came in with horticulture cultivars for its mottled and yellow leaves. It, too, can no longer be sold in Maine. It is very thorny, and its branches have an irregular growth pattern. Ticks love them as they offer a moist, dark cover. Mammals brushing through them – deer, mice, etc. get the ticks and seeds on them and take them to other places.

Autumn olive. A scraggly shrub preferring open habitat. Even from a distance, its white-silverish tinge, which Jacobs likened to a the silvery underside of a silver maple, makes it a highly distinguishable shrub. Extremely thorny often all the way to the tips of the branches. Bell-shaped flowers. It is found along the roadside and the edge of woodland areas, not in the woods because this one likes sunlight. It also prefers disturbed sites, abandoned farms and fields; it can be carried to your yard on the bottom of your shoes!

Burning bush. Despite its ornamental appeal with its bright red foliage, which is why it was imported, spreads quickly pushing out native species. Birds and mammals do not eat any part of this shrub, so it deprives native species of food. Jacobs worked in Massachusetts many years before coming to Maine and did a lot of work in Connecticut and Massachusetts working with leading experts to try to get the Burning bush on the invasive list. In 2017, it was added to that list in Maine.

Asiatic bittersweet – Woody vine. It is preferred that it be cut as high up as you can reach, then leave the mass of vine in the tree. It will adapt. It would cause more damage to the tree to rip the rest of the mass out. The trees, for the most part, will recover. Produces flowers and berries in fall that are red and orange. The roots are bright orange. 

Garlic mustard. Jacobs calls this one “a bugger of a plant” that is “the bane of (her) existence!” Leaves are rounded, more like scalloped rosettes when young. In its second year, the rosette comes out and stems up with pinkish-white trianglular toothy leaves along the stems. Hugely prolific seeds, but easy to pull, Jacobs said. “You can just pull it out making it rewarding, because it was there – and now it’s gone!”

Other invasive varieties discussed: Shrubby honeysuckle, Morrow’s honeysuckle, rose multiflora, bitter nightshade, Himalayan balsam, bishops weed, orange impatiens/touch me knot.

It will take years to eradicate these invasive species, and others – yes, there are more. What are your choices beyond pulling up young sprouts or cutting with jungle-like effect? You can go the eco-friendly route. Goats are good, depending on the species; you can leave the pulled or cut plants onsite and burn them; or better yet, put the plants all in a black trash bag and solarize it (leave it in the sun) before bringing it to the landfill. Foliar herbicides are applied to the leaves or stems of plants to be absorbed and carried throughout the plant. They are common and widely used to control annual and perennial herbs and also woody shrubs. For those not adverse to the use of pesticides, Jacobs recommended hiring a professional.

“You learn the hard way to wear long sleeves, pants, gloves and a hat. I have got my hair cut in thorny things even in a ponytail while wearing a hat. Wear hiking boots or other boots – no sneakers or sandals; and hats with brims. Always keep your tools clean and sharp – those bleach wipes work well.”

To see images of all the plants Jacobs discussed, visit www.knox-lincoln.org/invasive-plants. To learn more about all the invasive species and how best to deal with them, visit www.knox-lincoln.org

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

“Messin’ Around in Boats” has been a large part of George’s life. He remembers as a toddler having his father rent a wooden rowboat to go rowing and exploring on Sunday afternoons on a lake near his childhood home. During his early teens, his parents purchased a house on Southport Island which included an 18-foot centerboard sailboat. Not knowing a thing about sailing, he would row out to the boat on its mooring with his father and figure out what did what on the boat to make it sail. After figuring it all out, sailing was a popular pastime in his earlier days. A few years later, he went during the summer, as a stern man for Sid Gray, a local lobsterman, as well as a neighbor. He also ventured out to visit the lighthouse keepers on Burnt Island, an elderly couple who were employed the U.S. Lighthouse Service, helping them with various chores such as mowing the lawn and winding the mechanics that operated both the light rotation in the tower and the fog bell. His interest in lighthouses remained and in 1983 was instrumental in saving Ram Island Light Station from being torn down by the Coast Guard and is now a preserved national landmark.

George also made several voyages to Florida in the Intra Coastal Waterway moving boats between Florida and Boothbay Harbor during the spring and fall. In the mid-1960s he purchased a marine hardware facility on the waterfront in Boothbay Harbor known as Marine Supply, which later became the Tugboat Inn.

During this period he purchased the Block Island ferry, the Nelseco, built at Reed’s Shipyard on Atlantic Avenue, which was retired from service running out to Block Island from New London. Plans were to tie it next to the pier where the Tugboat Inn is presently and have a floating pub and restaurant. In the process of running the boat from New London to Boothbay Harbor the crew ran into a storm at night off Plymouth, Massachusetts and it sank with the crew being rescued by the Coast Guard.

In 1970, he purchased the 142’ Grand Banks Schooner, Sherman Zwicker, a sister ship of the famed Blue Nose. The schooner was fishing in Labrador from its homeport in Newfoundland and brought this vessel to Boothbay Harbor where it was a floating museum on Commercial Street and later it was displayed during the summer months at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. In the fall of each year, it usually made a trip to a Tall Ship event at different ports along the U. S. Atlantic Coast and Canada. They also sailed to Newfoundland on three different adventures between 1994 and 1997. During the 1990s, he explored the Caribbean each winter, first in his 44-foot Cherubini Ketch, and then his 65-foot Herreshoff schooner, Mistral, which he had constructed in Washougal, Washington by Legendary Yachts. During those years he based out of the Island of Grenada.

Presently, George spends much of his time maintaining the Nellie G II, built at Goudy & Stevens Shipyard in 1932. The Nellie G II was formerly the Squirrel Island ferry from 1932 to 1967 and is a familiar sight on the waters of the Boothbay region during the summer months.

The Waldo Theatre is excited to announce registration for our 2023 Summer Theatre Camp program for grades 3-6 in July. Campers will learn valuable theatre arts skills in acting, performance, and backstage design under the tutelage of professional actor and director Teralyn Reiter. The culmination of this two-week theatre camp experience will be a performance of the play “Penelope and the Gods of Olympus” on Friday, Aug. 4, on stage at The Waldo.

Camp will be held daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, from July 24 through Aug. 4. Campers will spend the morning developing their actor’s tools before applying these skills in rehearsals in the afternoon. Campers will also enjoy workshops given by professionals in the field, enabling them to further explore theater specialties such as lighting, costumes, and movement. On the last day of camp, family and friends are invited to join us for the performance of Penelope and the Gods of Olympus on Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. All levels of experience are welcome.

The Waldo Theatre is only offering one camp session, with a maximum enrollment of 15 students, to ensure that each participant receives ample instructor attention and is given a chance to actively participate. Scholarships are available. Registration is $650 for the two week program and includes two free tickets to the performance. Additional tickets will be available to friends and family for $10, with proceeds benefiting The Waldo’s Scholarship fund.

Penelope and the Gods of Olympus. This interactive play tells the story of young Penelope Pratt being stranded after dark in her town’s local museum of art. Frightened and alone, Penelope finds comfort in surprising friends as the museum’s statues magically come to life in the form of Artemis and Apollo. Delightfully weaving Greek myths and the importance of community, this play teaches us how our choices affect ourselves and those around us.

About The Waldo Theatre. Having reopened in 2021, after its closure in 2014, this vibrant, beautifully restored 1936 theatre serves once more as a local cultural hub offering theater, music, film, and a wide array of performing arts to our Midcoast community. Through programs like youth arts education, after-school activities, master classes, workshops, and other events, The Waldo seeks to expand arts participation for residents of all ages, and enhance the quality of life for all.

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

Captain John Albaum’s boating history began at an early age at the Lake Placid region of Florida and also here in the Boothbay region and progressed to a full time maritime career. Entering Maine Maritime in 2001, he graduated in 2005 with a 3rd Engineer’s License. During college he worked for the Boothbay Harbor Whale Watch.

His first job was right after college in the fall of 2005. John worked on an oil tanker in Alaska, shuttling from Kenai to Valdez with occasional trips to Washington and Hawaii. He was able to get his 100-ton Captain’s License which allowed him to run the Argo, Harbor Princess and the Bennie Alice during his time off from sea.

After working in Alaska, John was hired on with a general cargo company which mainly carried U.S. food aid to Africa. The cargo ship visited many ports on the east and west coast of Africa. He worked on this ship for roughly five years which included a six month stint working in the Far East out of Singapore.

John’s next career move involved working on a dynamically positioned oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. This job included the opportunity to work on a new build rig in South Korea which he then helped to deliver it back to the Gulf of Mexico. In 2021 John was hired on with a tugboat and salvage company out of New Jersey. He worked there for about a year and highlights included towing a barge from Pascagoula, Mississippi to Eastport, Maine and successfully pulling the Ever Forward out of the mud in Chesapeake Bay.

In the spring of 2022 John bought a small boat repair and storage yard from a friend. He is now home full time and is the owner of Wound Up Marine Services which is located in the Boothbay Industrial Park. He has the help of some very good friends to keep the business running smoothly.

Reflecting on his years at sea, John reports that he has crossed the equator multiple times, transited the Suez and Panama canals and tied up behind the Maersk Alabama in Djibouti, Africa right before she was boarded by pirates. His only maritime regret is that he never circumnavigated the globe, but a goal for the future is to work on a training course or two on Maine Maritime’s TS State of Maine.

Forty years ago, the first Maine Maple Sunday was held celebrating a process and product colonists learned from Native Americans here in the Northeast. Before the colonists arrived with their iron kettles, Native Americans boiled the syrup by dropping super hot stones into sap held in thick wood containers. Maine maple syrup producers have come quite a long way since then! If you love history, visit Maine Maple Producers Association’s site.

To celebrate this longstanding tradition, today’s sugarhouses offer demonstrations and tours as well as sweet,yummy samples so good you have to buy some syrup for pancakes, French toast, waffles, baked goods, as a topper for ice cream … the list is endless!

Get out there and support this weather-dependent industry; the freeze-thaw cycle is necessary for sap flow is challenging. Find out more in the January Maine Maple Producers Association newsletter: https://bit.ly/3JzoD2w

Here are some farms close by and an hour’s (or so) drive from Wiscasset and the Boothbay region:

Albion: Wilson Family Maple Syrup, 652 Bentan Road. Owners Paul and Sherry Wilson are offering maple syrup demos (weather permitting). Hay wagon ride tours of the sugarbush – with a donation; pancake samples plus ice cream samples with the Wilsons’ maple syrup, plenty of maple products, maple cotton candy, maple cream, taffy, maple coated peanuts and popcorn, maple candy and other maple treats, and meet the farm horses. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Handicapped accessible! 207-453-6969.

Wiscasset: Marcoux Family Farm, LLC at 179 Gibbs Road. Owners Chris and Bonnie Marcoux make wood-fired maple syrup. Maple drops, cotton candy, cashews and more. The farm will be open both Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A 100% service-connected disabled veteran owned farm. 

Jefferson: BlackOwl Maple Products, 21 Woodchuck Way. Owners John and Lisa Lee will offer sugar house tours with free samples Sunday only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Products range from syrup to candy to maple Chex, peanuts, granola and more. 207-215-9471.

Newcastle: SweetWoods Farm, 144 Lynch Road. Jill and Justin Wood are offering tours of their sweet operation. Tasting booths of the farm’s sweet maple syrup will be set up outside. Maple cotton candy, maple glazed nuts (some with a kick!) candy, “mapplesauce,” and more. Curbside pickup offered for orders. 207-380-5228.

Hope: Rock Acer Works, 626 Barnestown Road. Owner Andrew Pease is opening the farm both days, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Maple products for sampling and sale. The farm will be boiling and giving a full demonstration of the sugaring process.

Hope: Sparky's Honey and Maple, 130 High St. Owner David C. Smith. Sugar shack with honey and maple syrups. 207-831-5085.

For more about Maine maple syrup and the history behind this 40-year-old tradition, visit mainemapleproducers.com

Created in the imagination and realized in granite, marble, quartzite, bronze, metal and steel ... carved into abstract shapes, archetypal figures, birds, animals, and people – including two children: One in a soap box derby racer; another, flying on a magic carpet with an open book … welcome to the Boothbay Region Sculpture Trail (BRST).

The sculptors/artists represented on the Trail are Andreas von Huene, Miles Chapin, Chris Lewis, Mitch S. Billis, Roger Milinowski, Dick Alden, Lance Carlezon, Bill Royall, Isabel Catherine Kelley, Sam Betts, Steve Porter, Dale Rogers, Lise Becu, Valery Mahuchy, Dan Ucci, David Randall, Mark Herrington, Mai Morita, Joseph DiMauro, Jaclyn Bonzagni and the late Don Meserve.

All of the sculptures are for sale and all proceeds from those sales go to the artist, with one exception: the Billis sculpture on the Boothay Harbor Memorial Library lawn. The artist gifted the work to BHML in 2019.  In 2022, five sculptures were sold from the trail by Royall, Mahuchy, DiMauro, Lewis and Chapin.

The Trail encompasses about 35 miles as it now stretches from Edgecomb at Down East Gallery, to Boothbay at Hall Funeral Home, to downtown Boothbay Harbor, stretching to Linekin Bay Resort; then to East Boothbay and East Boothbay General Store, Bluebird Ocean Point Inn and onward to Southport Island at the elementary school and general store. With this distance, the trail has grown into both a walking and driving tour.

As co-founder and board member Bill Royall has said from the outset, “Think sculpture city on the lobster coast.”

The impetus for this ever changing, ever growing Sculpture Trail in the Boothbay Region is rooted in the Meredith, New Hampshire Sculpture Walk where Royall has had work included, back to 2017. Royall pitched the idea for a local trail to his cousin, Patricia Royall, then-executive director of Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce (BHRCC). She had both worked in galleries and had her own in Richmond. The cousins were committed, from that point on, to display public art that showcased the region and its diversity and natural beauty.

The trail officially opened in June 2018 following the installation of 18 works by members of Maine Stone Workers Guild, created in August 2017 during the week-long Maine Coast Stone Symposium held at Boothbay Railway Village. In 2019, BHRCC partnered with Maine Stone Workers Guild to produce the Maine Stone Symposium held on Boothbay Common.

The Boothbay Region Sculpture Trail is all about partnerships: with the artists, town businesses, residents and visitors. The Trail’s sustainability relies on the continued support of the business community, finding quality sculptures to add to the Trail and to replace sold work, and attracting young sculptors to the board of directors, like DiMauro.

Trail board member and co-founder Patricia Royall believes going on the Trail is one of the best ways for visitors to explore the Boothbay Region. “You could do the trail in about 90 minutes,” she said. “This is a special thing for the Region. Yes, there is the Maine Sculpture Trail, but you have to drive from town to town.”

Royall recalled BHRCC Executive Director Lisa Walby saying the sculpture trail map was the Chamber’s most popular handout last year.

Speaking of popular, when asked if there were any sculptures on the Trail that stayed because people enjoyed them so much, both Patricia and Bill Royall said: “Soap Box Racer” at Blue Moon Café. Bill created the sculpture in 2017.

Sculptures have been moving around, and new work will be installed this year. Find out where they all are by picking up this year’s Boothbay Region Sculpture Trail map at the Chamber (192 Townsend Ave.), the Boothbay Register (97 Townsend Ave.) and at all the businesses on the map!

The Boothbay Region Sailing Club (BRSC) would like to invite all area sailors to learn more about scholastic sailing by attending our Open House Thursday, March 30 From 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. Stop by for a bite to eat and to meet sailors, coaches and parents, while you learn more about the team and program. 

The BRSC, which is offered through the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club (BHYC) with support from the Junior Program foundation currently hosts the Boothbay Region High School and Lincoln Academy sailing teams. Both teams compete locally in the Pen Bay League (which also allows middle school sailors to compete) and the New England Scholastic Sailing Association (NESSA) regionally. As a result, all area students from 6th grade through graduation are eligible to practice and compete with the teams. Currently students from BRHS, LA, Center for Teaching and Learning, and homeschool students sail with us, but all area schools are welcome. The high school team will be starting practice shortly and practices at BHYC Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 6:15 p.m. with regattas on weekends. While helpful, no experience is needed. Dry suits are provided, and other gear can be lent as needed.

In addition to the competitive program, we have a recreational after school Opti program for the younger kids starting in May. 

For anyone who is unable to attend or wants more information, please reach out to head coach Chris Liberti at Chris.liberti@bhyc.net.

After a three-year hiatus, Bristol Parks and Recreation is partnering with Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust to bring back the scenic Pemaquid Beach Triathlon on Aug. 27. 

Advertised as “Maine’s most beautiful triathlon,” the Pemaquid Tri includes a 400-yard ocean swim off of Pemaquid Beach, a 17-mile bike ride around the Pemaquid peninsula, and a 3-mile out-and-back run along Pemaquid Trail, a quiet residential street with views of Johns Bay. 

Participants may compete as an individual or as part of a relay team. The Pemaquid Tri is not only scenic but it is a fun community event. All skill levels are welcome. 

Early-bird registration is $85 for individuals and $90 for a relay team of up to three people. The first 40 registrants will receive a free t-shirt. Registration is through RunSignUp at runsignup.com/Race/ME/NewHarbor/PemaquidBeachSprintTriathlon.

Bristol Parks and Recreation is a department of the Town of Bristol, responsible for the management of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, Pemaquid Beach Park, Ellingwood Information Center, and a number of other properties including a swimming hole and boat launches. For more information, email bristolparks@tidewater.net or visit bristolmaine.org/parks-recreation. 

Annie Wilcox grew up with a strong foundation on the water in the Boothbay region. She spent many summers as a child at her grandparent’s house on Sawyers Island (Bud & Ann Logan), messing around on the family’s Boston Whaler. She attended the Boothbay and Southport sailing schools, acquiring familiarity with all things aquatic. As soon as Annie could get her workers permit at 14, she applied to work at Hodgdon Yachts in the harbor at the gas dock. She loved working the docks, and had an awesome boss. These experiences and positive role models cemented her admiration for the water.

During high school, she completed Ocean Classroom’s semester at sea, onboard the Harvey Gamage, sailing around the Caribbean before sailing up the east coast to Acadia, and then back down to Boothbay Harbor. The experiential learning was invaluable. She said it was very special to be able to sail into your hometown after 4 months at sea, with friends and family waiting for her at the dock. Then, run your new/used car with friends through the mud puddles at the gravel pits. Goodbye 4 Runner.

Annie graduated BRHS in 2010, and began her college career at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. She made some great friends and had a lot of fun. Perhaps a bit too much fun! She transferred to New York Maritime in 2013, where she continued her pursuit of becoming a merchant mariner. Her cadet internship was on board the Maersk Idaho, a 900-foot container ship transiting the East Coast - over to the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal - throughout the Middle East.

Upon graduation in 2017, Annie landed her first job as an Able Seaman onboard the Eagle Bay, an 800-foot crude oil tanker owned by Exxon Mobil, running from Valdez, Alaska to the West Coast. Shortly after her first hitch, Exxon sold their ships to Crowley, which left Annie looking for a new ship. She spent her time between shipping jobs working as a deckhand with the Maine State Ferry Service. Annie loved working in Penobscot Bay on the ferries, it’s a beautiful part of coastal Maine.

In late 2018, Annie’s next ship was a 900-foot Integrated Tug & Barge the Moku Pahu. This barge was actually built close to home at Bath Iron Works. She joined in Puerto Rico, transporting dry bulk cargo to Jacksonville, then down to Central America. She picked up her next job in early 2019, on a double eagle product tanker the Oregon, owned by Crowley Maritime. This ship carries refined products in the Gulf of Mexico. She then took a break from shipping in 2020, working at an oil terminal in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It wasn't the best time to try out the shoreside lifestyle, because COVID hit. She decided to go back to sea in 2021. She took a job on a government crane ship the Grand Canyon State in San Francisco. It was a decommissioning project – basically putting the ship to bed.

Annie is currently a permanent mate on the Brenton Reef, owned by Seabulk Tankers, another double eagle class tanker. Annie finds older ships to be more interesting than new ones, as there are more projects and opportunities to learn. The Brenton Reef was on the Gulf of Mexico run up until December. These past three months, they have been running renewable diesel from the Mississippi River - thru the Panama Canal - up to Long Beach, California.

Annie loves her job. She is currently taking her Chief Mate classes in hopes of climbing the ranks and getting promoted. When she’s not working, you can find her running around Boothbay Harbor in her Boston Whaler, skurfing in Linekin Bay, bringing friends (people from away) to see the seals in the Sheepscot, and making sweatshirts for the locals. Annie is very proud of being from the Boothbay region, and to represent our community as a Maritime Explorer

Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust naturalist Sarah Gladu will lead a hike at Tracy Shore in South Bristol from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 8.

This is the second of Coastal Rivers’ “Spring Saunters” series of guided hikes this season. During these gentle walks, participants will keep an eye out for spring flowers, emerging buds, and migratory songbirds, and enjoy the company of fellow nature enthusiasts.

Owned by the Town of South Bristol and co-managed by Coastal Rivers, Tracy Shore is located on the eastern shore of Jones Cove on the Damariscotta River. A well-marked system of trails winds past vernal pools, cascading streams, and cliffs adorned in rock tripe and ferns, ending up at a high overlook that offers stunning views of the cove and river.

This program is free of charge, thanks to member support. Registration is required at coastalrivers.org/events.

The next “Spring Saunter” will be a guided hike at Coastal Rivers Salt Bay Farm in Damariscotta on May 5.

Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, member-supported, nationally accredited land trust caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through education programs. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit coastalrivers.org.

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

I am a boatbuilder and a sailor. I have sailed my entire life and have been a boatbuilder since 1972. But mostly I was a partner and companion with my late wife Judy Sandick and with our four kids, David, Sarah, Jasper and Charlotte.

Perhaps my love of the sea is genetic. My father sailed north on the Morrissey (now known as the Ernestina Morrissey) in 1936 when he was 16 on the first of his six trips to the arctic with Bob Bartlett. My mother sailed with Irving and Exy Johnson on their schooner Yankee. In the Second World War my father served as executive officer on the Bowdoin for two years in Greenland before being transferred to the Pacific as CO on the USS Sumner doing the survey required before the US Naval Fleet could enter the uncharted harbors of the Pacific. After the war he acquired the 100’ schooner, Blue Dolphin, which he based here in Boothbay Harbor and used her to do oceanographic research work in Labrador and Greenland.

I sailed as a child long before my first memories and was one of many kids at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club in the 50s and 60s. I launched my first boat, a 38-foot Bjarne Aas cutter, in 1976. I sailed her extensively on the coast of Maine and made voyages to the Bahamas, the Caribbean and to Nova Scotia doing boat repair on other’s boats along the way. Much of my sailing in the Caribbean was single handed sailing.

I made a few deliveries as crew to the Caribbean from Maine while further establishing my business, David Nutt Boatbuilder, in Southport, Maine. My company maintained upwards of 50 boats doing all the routine maintenance, major rebuilds, as well as designing and producing the Southport 30, a Maine lobster boat used in the recreational market.

In the fall of 1998 my wife, Judy Sandick, and our four kids ages 3, 7, 8 and 10, headed to the Caribbean from Maine on Alsager, our 42-foot Dick Carter design sloop. I had rebuilt the boat after acquiring her following a disastrous blowdown in a boatyard leaving her steel hull severely dented, her deck damaged, her fin keel bent 6 feet to port and her mast in three pieces. This was supposed to be a six-month family voyage and adventure, but we soon found we loved the lifestyle and each other so much that we set our minds on a circumnavigation.

We found Danza, a 60-foot steel Robert Clark design, in fact a sistership to Chay Blythes’ original British Steel. Danza needed an extensive refit which I did at my own yard after bringing her to Maine from Puerto Rico in the spring of 1999.

We left Maine on March 25, 2000 after selling Alsager and my company and headed off on almost six years of sailing around the planet. Our route took us from Maine to Bermuda, the U.S. Virgins, Panama, Galapagos, Marquesas, Tahiti, and many of the other island groups arriving in New Zealand for the cyclone season. We then sailed north to Fiji including the Lau Group, a rarely permitted destination. We sailed on to Vanuatu and New Caledonia before making the long passage to Australia to once again duck south of the cyclone tracks. After the cyclone season passed, we made the 1200-mile windward passage back to New Caledonia and then on up to Vanuatu. From there we sailed north to Makira in the Solomon Islands. Due to the conflicts in the Solomons, we were one of the first westerners to visit and many of the young children had never before seen members of the white race. Despite the plans to head on to Southeast Asia we headed back to Australia for the cyclone season again. It was too good to try to hurry along. The next season we head directly back to the Solomon Islands as we found it truly to be a magical place. We dropped back to Cape York in Queensland, Australia and Judy got off the boat and went down to Cooktown where she enrolled in a master’s program in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. As a physician she was always furthering her education. The kids and I sailed on through much of Indonesia meeting up with Judy several months later in Singapore. Thereafter we crossed the Indian Ocean
landing in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt. From there we stopped in Israel, Turkey, Greece as well as the western Mediterranean countries before slipping out the Straits of Gibraltar and back into the Atlantic. An easy Atlantic passage followed by a slow trip up the islands and then landfall in the United States in Norfolk, Virginia arriving back at the town dock in Boothbay Harbor on June 5, 2005. We
sailed over 45,000 nautical miles and visited 42 countries and met wonderful people.

Our return to Maine left us very different people than when we left. The kids had added years to their young lives and experiences that still shape them almost two decades on in time.

In 2010 we sailed to the west coast of Greenland and back. Three of my four kids as well as my dear Judy were crew. It was an amazing voyage getting as far north as Illulisat in Disko Bay, some 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle. I will regret for the remaining days of my life that we did not go back and do the Northwest Passage.

On our return I picked up my trade again taking care of the region’s beloved Boothbay Harbor One Designs of which I built four new ones. Judy continued her work as a hospitalist at Miles Hospital. Our kids grew into adults, and I know they all harbor dreams of ocean voyages.

Wiscasset Middle High School announces its spring sports schedule thus far. Please click on the images Athletic Director Cameron Bishop provided for each sport’s schedule.

UPDATE: Athletic Director Cameron Bishop shared the following on Monday, April 10:

“Unfortunately, due to a number of factors and the lack of available individuals who are able to commit to organizing and planning the event, the game will be postponed to the 2023-2024 basketball season. The Booster Club, along with the basketball programs, will be putting on a special event that will take place throughout the day prior to a boys’/girls varsity double-header during the upcoming regular season.

Original post:

The Wiscasset High School basketball programs will host an alumni basketball game on Saturday, April 15 at Wiscasset Middle High School beginning at 1 p.m. This will be a co-ed game featuring players from the previous four decades!

The cost to play is $20 and potluck concessions will be provided. All proceeds will go directly to the Wiscasset High School boys' and girls' basketball programs. Another alumni game will be planned for the 2023-2024 basketball season.  

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

It took 14-year-old Barry Gibson almost two years of lawn mowing and snow shoveling to save up $300 to buy his first boat in 1965, a 10-year-old lapstrake 15-footer built by the E. M. White Co. here in Maine, powered by a 1956 30-hp Johnson outboard. He’s been on the ocean ever since.

Originally from Winchester, Massachusetts, Barry first came to Boothbay Harbor in the spring of 1968 with a high school buddy whose parents had a summer cottage on Spruce Point. Both hired on as deckhands on Capt. Bob Fish’s sightseeing boats Marabno II and Nellie G. IV and the Squirrel Island ferry Nellie G. II run by Bob’s father, Ray.

But Barry loved to fish, and spent much of his free time on the charter boat dock at Blake’s Marine, behind what is now McSeagull’s. He got to know some of the skippers, and in the summer of 1970 following his freshman year at the University of Miami he signed on as mate on the Arcade run by Capt. Tom Damery. Groundfish such as cod and pollock were the mainstay catches, and after the fish were filleted at the end of the day Barry was paid $10 and often received an additional $5 tip from the customers. Life was good.

Having accumulated enough sea time, Barry was able to sit for his six-passenger license at the Portland CG station in the spring of 1971, an exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice and 50 true/false questions. He was awarded a license that allowed him to operate between Port Clyde and Gloucester, and a few weeks later he and his buddy purchased a 1955 24’ plywood Bristol cabin cruiser (also Maine-built), named it Sasanoa, and promptly went into the charter fishing business.

Upon graduation from college in 1973, Capt. Barry went to work as a travelift operator at Boston Harbor Marina in Quincy, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1974 he bought a well-used 27-foot lapstrake flybridge Luhrs and brought it up to Boothbay for a summer of chartering. He named it Shark after a boat he had fished on several times in Key West run by Capt. Joe Russell, who had occasionally skippered for Ernest Hemingway. Barry caught his first bluefin tuna, a 550-pounder, on the Shark with local tuna fisherman and car-repairer Dan Williams, who Barry had hired as mate and who was 15 at the time.

Barry sold the Shark in 1975 and bought a local Boothbay boat, a Webber’s Cove Downeast 34 named Sands of Time which he re-named Shark II. He ran it each season until 1987, when he sold it and bought a 31-foot Rampage sportfisherman, the Shark III. He operated that one until 1993, when he had local boatbuilder Brad Simmons finish off a new 36-footer, the Shark IV.

Capt. Gibson’s big break came in 1977, during his fourth winter at the Quincy boat yard, when, on a whim, he wrote a feature article about fishing off Boothbay for Salt Water Sportsman magazine based in downtown Boston. Several months later he received a call from SWS asking if he’s like to come and interview for the position of Associate Editor. “I didn’t have a clue as to what an associate editor was supposed to do, but I put on a suit and went to the interview. A week later I was hired. Outside of marrying my wife Jean it was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he says.

Barry’s 27-year tenure at SWS gave him the opportunity to fish in places he could have only dreamed about. His travels for the magazine took him to most of the coastal states in the U.S., including Alaska, along with Deep Water Cay, Walker’s Cay, Bimini, Chub Cay, and Andros Island in the Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, Venezuela, Costa Rica (4 times), Panama (twice) and the Portuguese island of Madeira off northwest Africa. “Species targeted included marlin, sailfish, tuna, roosterfish, all sorts of tropical groupers and snappers, bonefish, tarpon, snook, wahoo, amberjack, salmon, halibut, and a dozen more,” he says. “There were plenty of adventures along the way, including the time in Panama where someone came into our room at a remote jungle lodge and stole our cash while we slept. Fishing rod cases got lost in airports, boats broke down, we once had to buzz a
jungle airfield to get the pigs and sheep off before we could land, that sort of thing. But one of the high points was during a trip to Tamarindo in Costa Rica in 1991 where I managed to land a world record Pacific bigeye tuna on a fly rod. That record’s long since been broken, but I still have the certificate on my wall.”

Capt. Gibson was promoted to the position of SWS’s Editor in 1983, and soon began to take an interest in fisheries management. He served nine years on the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) dealing with the Northeast cod collapse of the 1990s, and as a member of the Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. He currently serves as the New England Regional Director for the Recreational Fishing Alliance, is vice-chair of the NEFMC Recreational Advisory Panel, is vice-president of the Northeast Charterboat Captains Association (which he cofounded in 1988) and serves on the Boothbay Port Committee. “I’ve always been a strong advocate for responsible fishery management and the rights of recreational anglers to access the resource,” he says. “but it’s an arena where you have to learn how to negotiate.”

Although Barry retired from Salt Water Sportsman in 2004, he continues to write about fishing, travel, and fishery management issues, and over the years. He has had some 1,500 articles and over 1,000 photos published in magazines ranging from Outdoor Life and Field & Stream to Maine Sportsman (where he has penned the monthly Saltwater Column since 1986), Sports Illustrated, and Anglers’ Journal, and currently serves as the associate publisher for the Toronto-based Center Console Life magazine. In addition to writing, he served as a Field Surveyor for Atlantic & Pacific Marine Consulting based in Gloucester, Massachusetts from 2005 to 2021, performing over 300 surveys on damaged boats to 70’ all along the Maine coast. “I really enjoyed the surveying work,” he says. “The people I dealt with were great.”

On top of everything on his plate, Capt. Gibson has run his charter service every summer here in Boothbay Harbor for the past 52 years, and in 2014 was named as one of Salt Water Sportsman’s World’s Top 50 Charter Captains. At age 72 he now primarily chases striped bass in the bays and rivers in his Shark Six, a 28-foot center console, but gets offshore now and then for groundfish and sharks. “I love taking people fishing,” he says, “and I have no plans to retire. I’m going to keep at it as long as I can.”

Ahoy Windjammer Days (WJD) fans! The 61st event, to be held June 25 - July 1, is but two months away and those Friends of Windjammer Days have been wicked busy!

FWJD board member Pete Ripley announced these fine windjammers will soon to be hoisting their sails bound for Boothbay Harbor: Alert, Eastwind, Apple Jack (the former Lazy Jack), Eagle, Thomas E. Lannon, Tyrone, Isaac H. Evans, Heritage, Sycamore, True North, Hesper, Isabella, Virginia, Grace Bailey, When and If and Oliver Hazard Perry. And there are a few more Ripley hopes to add to the list.

The Meet & Greet for the captains featured in the Maritime Explorers series printed weekly in the Boothbay Register and on the the official website, boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org, is at Oceanside Resort on Atlantic Avenue from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday, June 26. The public is encouraged to come and meet the men and women they have been reading about all winter and spring: George McEvoy, Herb and Doris Smith, Kathleen Jones, Chip and Nan Davison, Glenn W. Hodgdon, Rusty Court, David Nutt, Bruce and Maureen Kinsey, Barry Gibson, Brad Collins, John Albaum and Annie Wilcox.

Tickets to the Crab Cake Cook-Off are on sale now. Find them on the Festival website. At the April 11 meeting, the four competitors were announced: Carriage House, McSeagull’s, Brady’s and Boothbay Harbor Inn. The proceeds will be split evenly between Friends of WJD and Maine Lobstermen’s Association.

Boothbay’s Got Talent, the Festival’s youth talent competition, returns to a live format this year. The event will be on the Whale Park stage on Commercial Street at 6 p.m. Monday, June 26.

Signup has begun for the Street Parade, coming Wednesday, June 28! Contact Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce at 192 Townsend Ave., next to Hannaford, for an application. Or download one at https://bit.ly/3zYczDp

The two-day event, Artists Alley, returns Thursday, June 29 and Friday, June 30, in Whale Park. Artists at work, to date, will include Charleston, South Carolina-based oil painter Rick Reinert Olena Babak, oil painter of landscapes and figurative works; and Joy to the Wind Gallery’s John Seitzer, who works in a variety of media. The Windjammer Days drawings by Boothbay Region Elementary School students in Jessica Nadeau’s art classes will be displayed again this year ... They were quite a hit with the visitors last year! Nadeau will also be contributing a sculpture the students are making with visiting artist Pamela Moulton.

In addition to the official WJD T-shirts, light gray stadium blankets measuring 50” x 60” will be for sale. Choose between two designs: the Festival logo or a Boothbay Harbor nautical chart, for $40. Find the items at the Friends of Windjammer Days tent in Whale Park on Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28. And speaking of those dates, the Pirates of the Dark Rose will be in Boothbay Harbor then as well; look for their ship Must Roos at the town dock.

In children’s activities, Windjammers For Wee Mateys will be at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library; and Kids Alley will be at the top of Boothbay House Hill Road (next to Enchantments).

And, as a prelude to the Festival, the Schooner Bowdoin will be here for three days, June 4-6. Tentative schedule: Saturday, June 3: Noon-4 p.m., public tours; 6-8 p.m. Sunday, June 4: 10 a.m.-noon, available for reserved group tours and school groups; noon-4 p.m., open to the public; Monday, June 5: 10 a.m.-noon, open to the public.

Keep your course set for the region’s biggest, longest running festival! As always, to stay up-to-date on all things Windjammer Days, visit www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org

Boothbay Region High School senior Kayden Ames began his fourth and final season as a top BRHS track and field athlete, taking first place in the shot put and discus, as the “BoothCasset” (BRHS and Wiscasset Middle High School) track and field team scrimmaged against Lincoln Academy and Medomak Valley on Wednesday, April 12 in Wiscasset.

Ames’ toss in the shot put was 39 feet and his discus throw was 143’ 08.”

Other BoothCasset athletes did well, according to Coach Nick Scott.

“We did so well this evening both as a team and as individuals,” said Scott in an email Wednesday night. “Technically we are still in the preseason phase of spring season and times/marks don't count towards qualifying for championship season, however there were many … who either met the qualifying standards or came really close in respective events.”

Boys top five finishers

Payton Blagdon, javelin, fourth place, 102’04”

Alton King, long jump, third place, 16’07”

Austin Trask, long jump, fourth place, 16”05”

Tucker Davenport, high jump, fourth place, 4’08”

Austin Trask, Dominick Dow, Aidric Canada and Bryan Gagnon, 4x400m relay, second place, 3:57.14

Austin Trask, Alton King, Bryan Gagnon and Aidric Canada, 4x100m relay, second place, 47.96

Ryan Clark, 800m run, first place, 2:24.07

Bryan Gagnon, 400m dash, second place, 56.19

Aidric Canada, 100m dash, fourth place, 12.44

Aidric Canada, 200m dash, second place, 25.23

Girls top five finishers

Abby Orchard, javelin, third place, 56-10

Qiana Hyman, discus, first place, 81-11

Rose Campbell, discus, second place, 79-00

Abby Orchard, discus, third place, 65-03

Qiana Hyman, shot put, first place, 24-09

Eleanor Marshall, shot put, second place, 24-00

Rose Campbell, shot put, third place, 20-06

Bailey Lewis, long jump, first place, 12-04

Eleanor Marshall, Tatum French, Bailey Lewis and Rose Campbell, 4x100m relay, first place, 57.32

Emily Gilliam, 300m hurdles, second place, 1:01.13

Abbie Clark, 300m hurdles, third place, 1:03.86

Maddie Orchard, 300m hurdles, fourth place, 1:03.98

Tatum French, 100m hurdles, third place, 24:04

Julia Truesdell, 1600m run, fifth place, 6:43.54

Rose Campbell, 100m dash, first place, 13.96

Eleanor Marshall, 100m dash, third place, 14.37

In the 19 events scored, the BoothCasset boys finished third, Medomak Valley second and Lincoln Academy first. In the 17 events scored, the BoothCasset girls finished second, while Lincoln Academy took first and Medomak Valley third.

After a long six-month off-season, Wiscasset Speedway is excited to kick off their 2023 season on Saturday, April 22 with some new changes. Owners Richard and Vanessa Jordan made improvements to the facilities including the addition of 12 brand new pit-side garages, an upgraded look to the pace car and a new victory lane banner.

Notable driver changes this year include 2022 Super Street champion Brett Osmond graduating into the Late Model division as his father James Osmond returns to the Super Street division. Former Pro Stock champion Mike Orr makes his Wiscasset return to Super Street. Daniel Harding, who became the youngest division champion in track history last year, takes on Pro Stock and a Late Model division. Matt Beers, a staple in the Super Streets division, will advance into Pro Stock.

The speedway also announced faculty changes as Brooke Teras steps in as track photographer after Peter Taylor retired at the conclusion of the 2022 race season. In addition, Scott Chubbuck will be the Competition Director, and Travis Poulliot will make his debut as the Race Director. Chubbuck’s racing career has spanned over 35 years, and Poulliot has spotted for numerous race teams at the speedway.

In addition, Wiscasset Speedway kicks off their summer concert series on June 28. The weekly concert series will run through July 26 and features new musicians performing at the track every Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

A summary of the season is as follows:

April 22's Group #1 season opener kicks off on at 2 p.m. and will feature the Pro Stocks, Super Streets, Thunder 4 Minis, 4-Cylinder Pros and the visiting NELCAR Legends division.

The Group #2 season opener will kick off the following week on Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. and will feature the Late Models, Modifieds, Strictly Streets, Outlaw Minis and the flex Roadrunners division.

The Coastal 200 on Sunday, May 28 is the first marquee event of the season. It features the biggest Late Model Race in New England and a 50-lap Modified feature race. The winner's purse for the Coastal 200 is $10,000.

The Northeastern Midget Association and Lites will return to the track on Saturday, June 24 followed by the Modified Racing Series on Saturday, July 8. The Super-modified Atlantic Charter division will have their turn on Saturday, July 22.

The biggest event of the season, the Ward & Sons Super Street 100, will be on Saturday, Aug. 12.

The second marquee event of the season, the Boss Hogg 150, takes place on Labor Day weekend, Sunday, Sept. 3.

The regular season will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 30 with the 50-lap Amsoil Dominator Strictly Shootout.

Wiscasset Speedway is located on West Alna Road in Wiscasset. There is a $5 grandstand admission. To view the official season schedule, track information and more, visit wiscassetspeedway.com.

The 61st annual Windjammer Days will take place Sunday, June 25 through Saturday, July 1, 2023. This year the Friends of Windjammer Days is celebrating our rich population of Maritime Explorers. Those featured have traveled extensively on different bodies of waters either for work, pleasure or both.

Sewall’s love for the ocean first began when he was in grade school lobstering with his uncle Earl Brewer Sr. In 1977 he made his first trip on a trawler fishing with Richard McLellan on the Sea Bring. He later became captain at 19 on the 82-foot Irene’s Way, which was built for Richard at Goudy and Stevens in East Boothbay. In the early 80s, Sewall started to captain for F. J. O’Hara and Son’s out of Rockland, Maine He worked on
the 110-foot Alliance and later on the 119-foot Araho, both stern trawlers, while fishing ground fish in the Gulf of Maine and on the northern edge of George’s Bank. Sewall later fished outside the 200 mile limit from Newfoundland on the tail of the Grand Banks. These boats typically had a crew of 5-6 people and caught 30,000-100,000 pounds of fish per trip with the fish being layered in ice in the fish hold.

Fishing 950 miles from the dock in Rockland made for some of the worst winter storms ever experienced on the typical 12-14 day dock to dock trips. The crew was once caught in a storm while returning home on one of these trips while they were located in the deep water between the Tail of Grand Banks and Sable Island. The delay caused them to run out of fuel just south of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Luck would have it that the F/V Teresa Marie II from Portland, Maine was passing by heading to the Great Banks, and luckily it was a short tow to the fuel dock.

The next chapter brought 23-year-old Sewall to Alaska to be the captain of Golden Age Fisheries’ new 140-foot F/T (factory trawler) Rebecca Irene with a crew of 39. He transitioned to captaining the new 202-foot F/T Brown’s Point with a crew of 52 over the next year. He then moved on to Norway to captain the 275-foot F/T Michelle Irene with a crew of 85 and sailed its maiden voyage on Christmas Eve of 1988. The fishing grounds for these vessels covered a large area from the southeast Gulf of Alaska, north and south of the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea up to the Russian boundary. The fish were processed by H&G (head and gut) then sorted by species and size before being frozen in 16-19 kilo blocks. The Michelle Irene’s factory was converted to process Alaska pollock into fillets and surimi in the summer of 1988.

One of the most notable aspects of fishing in Alaska was the weather. Sewall remembers being in one storm when he was located 20 miles north of Dutch Harbor that had airport recordings of 140 mph winds.

With the decline of fishing on the east coast, O’Hara decided to take the 165-foot F/T Constellation to the west coast in 1990. As the captain of the Constellation, Sewall traveled from Rockland, Maine to Seattle via the Panama Canal. Unfortunately while off the eastern end of Cuba, the port main engine failed with a hole in the block. The crew was forced to return back to Jacksonville, Floria to have the 1200 horsepower engine replaced. After the repair, they were able to resume the 28-day trip to Seattle. With a new processing factory and a crew of 39 they headed back to Alaska for a series of 7- to 14-day trips.

Sewall remained on this vessel until 1998 and then returned to the east coast. He subsequently purchased the 120-foot Endurance in 1999. The Endurance was a scalloper/trawler from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He fished scallops during the late spring through early fall and then trawled for ground fish during the winter months. A few years later Sewall served as captain on the Starlite where he and his crew fished for herring and mackerel.

In 2007 Sewall returned to O’Hara working in the office managing fish quotas and operations. Due to changing laws limiting vessel quotas, they were able to begin work on a new ship in 2010 which was the first trawler built in the USA in 25 years. The design began in Norway and the build of the new 196-foot Araho was completed in Panama City, Florida. Sewall worked in Florida on that project from 2013 to 2017. In January of 2017 O’Hara bought the Alaska Spirit. Over the next four years Sewall participated in the rebuild/replacement of most of the systems and steel reconstruction of the Alaska Spirit while working on the west coast.

Sewall is now retired and in his spare time he enjoys fishing in his 38-foot boat. He feels a lot of joy when some of the younger fisherman call him with questions about boats they are purchasing. He would also like to highlight the good luck to work with many of his crew members from this area: Bill Rogers Sr., George Blackman, Steve Arsenault Sr., Craig Giles, Shannon Gilbert, Scott Heino, Randy Durgan, Shawn DeRepentigny, John
Fossett, Bob Adams Jr., Greg Wright, Bradley Simmons, Dan Stevens, Dan Carroll, Russell Pinkham, Howard Friant, Jody Durgan, Fred Stover, Tom Davis, Brian Pierce, Jody Murray, Matt Doucette and Sandy Maddocks Luke.

Boothbay/Wiscasset boys’ track and field team participated in a Mountain Valley Conference meet in Lisbon April 18. Kayden Ames was the team’s top performer by winning the discus and finishing second in the shot put. The 4 X 800M relay team also earned a first place finish.

Boothbay/Wiscasset athletes finished in the top six in the following events:

100M: Emmett Mooney, Lisbon, first, 11:49; Aidric Canada, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 12:24, third; Alton King, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 13:06, sixth.

200M: James Cognata, Winthrop. 24:03, first; Aidric Canada, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 24:94, third; Austin Trask, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 25.28, fourth.

3,200M: Christopher Pottle, Winthrop, 10:18:78, first; Dominick Dow, Boothbay/Wiscasset; 12:29:03; third.

4 x 800M relay finals: Boothbay/Wiscasset, 4:03:03, first.

High jump: Jonah Jenkins, Kents Hill, 5 feet 8 inches, first; Tucker Davenport, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 5 feet, fourth.

Long jump: Owen Booker, Lisbon, 19 feet, first; Alton King, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 16 feet, 9 inches, fourth.

Discus: Kayden Ames, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 148 feet, 7 inches, first; Austin Lizzotte, Hall-Dale, 116 feet, 8 inches, second. 

Javelin: Owen Booker, Lisbon High School, 123 feet, 9 inches, first; Payton Blagdon, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 89 feet, 3 inches, sixth.

Shot put: Austin Lizzotte, Hall-Dale, 39 feet, 1 inch, first; Kayden Ames, Boothbay/Wiscasset, 37 feet, 7 inches, second; Robbie Shaw, 35 feet, 8 inches, third.

Boothbay/Wiscasset hosts the next conference meet at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 at Wiscasset Middle High School.