Team Laffalot Hosts 2nd Annual Benefit Home-Run Derby

SOUTH BERWICK—
Come take Team Laffalot out to the ballgame as they host the Second Annual Field of Dreams Home-Run Derby to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The event, which takes place on Sunday, July 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Marshwood High School, invites batters to come up to the plate and take a hit in battling this disease that effects the lives of so many!
“We wanted to provide the community with an old-fashioned day of fun while also raising funds for this great cause,” said Kerry Hoyt, the team’s captain. What began four years ago with four friends taking part in the 39-mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer has now grown to 13 members strong! Team members have walked in Boston, Washington, DC, New York City and plan to walk in Charlotte, North Carolina this October.
“Our goal is to walk in all nine states where the event is held so that men and women can receive the medical care they need and so that research teams can continue to search for a cure,” explains Sue Page. The team has raised $50,000 for the cause thus far and would like to bring this total to $75,000 this year!
Team Laffalot hopes that this event will help them achieve their goal. This event is all about baseball! To make it fun and fair for all, there will be six age divisions with prizes awarded to both the male and female winners in each group (ages 9-12, 13-14, 18 - 29, 30 – 39 and 40+). An additional division has been added this year for children ages 5 – 8. The Buoy Bat, designed and created by local resident Bill Page, will be available for these younger contestants. The bat, an actual buoy on a stick, is light, safe and makes the ball easier to hit. The buoy bat will be available to anyone who’d like to give it a try. Other opportunities for prizes result from striking one of the many pink flamingos adorning the field or hitting an Uno’s pizza box. The derby even has the equivalent of the Green Monster! Hit the Kittery Trading Post sign in the field and win a gift certificate to the store. Each batter receives three pitches and there will be an overall winner for the person hitting the most home runs. Participants may register individually or as a team with up to 10 batters (suggested donation $10.00 per registrant, $25.00 includes a t-shirt). To register visit: www.zvents.com/z/south-berwick-me/2nd-annual-field-of-dreams-home-run-derby--events--159337705!
While the main attraction is baseball, the ladies of Team Laffalot wanted to ensure there was something for everyone. Visit Carnival Row where face painting, balloon animals, a dunking booth, and a button making station are some of the fun activities available. Old-fashioned ball game treats such as popcorn, cotton candy and even snow cones can be found here. The little Laffalots, children of team members, will be working for the cause by selling cracker jacks throughout the day! New this year is the Pretty in Pink booth where guests of all ages can be pampered by having a makeover or manicure. Also new this year is the pizza-tossing contest sponsored by Uno Chicago Grill Restaurant. Learn how to toss a pizza like a professional from their own chefs. The winner of the kids’ contest will receive a pizza party for 10. Every adult who participates will receive coupons for appetizers at the restaurant! Finally, listen to music while enjoying heartier fare including fruit salad, beef and chicken skewers, and hot dogs and burgers from Nature’s Way Market.
Be sure to visit Inspiration Station sponsored by the Marshwood Education Foundation. At this booth, visitors will be provided with supplies to create signs with the names of anyone they know who has been touched in some way by this disease. Early visitors will be invited onto the field with their signs during the Opening Ceremony.
“Everyone knows someone who has been effected by this disease,” said Kathy Bousquet, “and gathering together during the opening ceremony really lets us know that we are all in this together.”
The ceremony will include a performance by Muchachos, a competitive drum and bugle corps, who entertain audiences throughout New England. The first pitch will then be thrown out by Bousquet and Rebecca Woodman, both breast cancer survivors.
“We need to beat this disease for all,” said Ms. Woodman, “I don’t want anyone to have to go through it.”
This old-fashioned event with a modern twist is made possible by the efforts of many. “We couldn’t do it alone,” Jen Houghton states, “it is the generosity and support of so many local businesses, community members, family and friends that has made this team a success.”
Photo caption: On Sunday, July 31, Team Laffalot will host their Second Annual Field of Dreams Home-Run Derby at Marshwood High School to support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. (Courtesy photo)

Special Plate and Driver’s License Designation Available Now

AUGUSTA—
Gold Star Family registration plates are expected to be available by the end of the summer. This legislation is a product of collaboration involving Governor Paul LePage; John Mixon, Vietnam Veteran and founder of Run for the Fallen Maine; Emily Knight, the young lady who designed the plate; Representative Bradley Moulton, R-York, sponsor of the bill; the Transportation Committee and the 125th Legislature; 3M, who donated the first roll of material to produce the plates; and J. R. Wald Co., who manufactured the die to emboss the plates.
Any eligible family member of a fallen soldier who is a Maine resident may now begin the application process to receive a Gold Star Family registration plate. Applications can be obtained from the Bureau of Veterans’ Services (BVS). Completed applications must be submitted with a copy of DD Form 1300, Casualty Report, or other official paperwork indicating death on active duty in support of combat operations (the BVS may be able to assist in obtaining necessary documentation). Additionally, the request must include a copy of proof of relationship to the deceased. Upon notification from the BVS, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will issue the plates once they are available. The plates can only be placed on passenger vehicles.
Military service license designation, featuring a Field of Stars in the background of the photo, is now available at all BMV locations. This legislation was introduced by Senator David Trahan R-Waldoboro to recognize those who have served.
In order to obtain this designation applicants must currently be serving in the U.S. Armed Forces; or provide verification of honorable discharge from the United States military (DD Form 214), or provide certification from the appropriate branch of the USAF verifying the applicant’s military service and honorable discharge. Applicants will also have to bring documentation verifying Maine residency and legal presence in the U.S. if they have not already done so.
To obtain the application for the Gold Star Family registration plate, please visit the BVS website or call (207) 430-6035.
For more information about the military service designation, please contact the BMV at (207) 624-9000 or www.maine.gov/sos/bmv.
Photo caption: Sample Gold Star Family registration plate. (Courtesy photo)

Celebrate a Quarter Century of Great Works

YORK COUNTY—
To celebrate 25 years in land conservation, Great Works Regional Land Trust, with the help of local organizations and friends, is offering several upcoming events. The organization is hoping that its membership and others will join in the fun for modest admission fees.
“Having four seasons is special in Maine and high summer is a particularly glorious time to enjoy the outdoors. Great Works is looking to build on the success of the last quarter-century as a non-profit dedicated to maintaining and expanding quality of place in our service area,” said Jack Kareckas, the President of Great Works Regional Land Trust. “We want everyone to recognize our achievements together – 4,397 acres conserved and strategic priorities identified. Fundamentally, it is the people and the beautiful places preserved that make Great Works what it is.”
Great Works Regional Land Trust was founded by local residents as a non-profit organization in 1986 to provide conservation options to the landowners and general public of Berwick, South Berwick, Berwick, North Berwick, Eliot, Wells and Ogunquit.
Coming soon on Sunday, July 31 at 4 p.m., Historic New England is presenting a “Sunday in the Garden” concert by fiddler Joyce Anderson in the gardens of the 18th century Hamilton House mansion in South Berwick. From foot-stompers to torch songs, Anderson’s tunes will be accented by the scenic backdrop of the Salmon Falls River. Blankets, chairs and picnics are encouraged. Tickets are free for Historic New England Members, $7 for Great Works members, $8 for non-members and $4 for children.
The fun continues on Saturday, August 6 with two events. At Eliot’s Backfields Farm, the site of Great Works’ first conservation easement in 1987, owner Connie Weeks will host an old-time farm day. Beginning at 1 p.m., Weeks and friends will demonstrate haying and corn milling, including use of antique farm equipment, on the 38-acres of fields and forest. Admission and beverages are complimentary. The same day at 4 p.m., Great Works members are invited to Beach Plum Farm in Ogunquit for a sumptuous Lobster Roll Social (from Jake’s Seafood in Moody). Enjoy the camaraderie and a view of the dunes, ocean and community gardens. Reservations are required and $15 is the suggested donation.
For those who like a chill down their spines, purchase tickets from Great Works for Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” at Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick on Wednesday, August 17 at 8 p.m. About half the $25 ticket price ($22 for seniors) benefits the Grants Meadow III project on Beaver Dam Heath in Berwick. Grants Meadow, providing access to the spacious Heath, will be the site of Berwick’s first public trail when the purchase is completed soon. Hackmatack, which is contributing these ticket proceeds, is celebrating their 40th anniversary. At 7 p.m. before the curtain rises, Great Works will host a free reception with refreshments under the tent at Hackmatack.
Please contact Patti Mitchem or Anne Gamble at (207) 646-3604 for tickets, reservations, and information on 25th Anniversary events. For more information, also visit www.gwrlt.org.

Kennebunk Renovations Breathing New Life Into Downtown

By Chip Schrader
Staff Columnist
KENNEBUNK—
Over the last year, the look, feel, and names associated with downtown Kennebunk have changed. Completed sidewalk construction, an increase in summer foot traffic and a number of new local businesses are bringing the town some deserved attention.
The Saturday Farmers Market has been a success, where shoppers can find locally-made cheeses, breads and vegetables, along with beef from grass-fed livestock raised in a Maine farm. When the market began, it was held in a rear lot between the Sunoco station and the Kennebunk Inn where a Mobil station was located. Over the last two years, this Mobil was demolished, and the empty lot has been filled with wood chips to provide a pedestrian-friendly ambiance. The farmers market organizer, Caroline Segalla, hopes to build upon this success with a Tuesday evening sidewalk fair that operates from 5 to 8 p.m., often with a musical guest.
Eateries that stretch along Route 1 include breakfast places, a café, comfortable taverns, pizza and burger hangouts, and upscale restaurants, including the brand new 50 Local. The décor of 50 Local has an ultra modernistic feel with a bohemian edge, while the menu features local farms and ingredients that are derived from local sources listed on a chalkboard in the restaurant. Mussels, steaks and burgers are all on the menu, but expect a twist in the preparation and presentation.
As restaurants have begun to populate Main Street, there is also an art scene developing. It began with the opening of Mainely Mysteries this spring, and is continuing with the recent opening of The Hive, an art and performance art studio that overlooks the corner of the Kennebunk Inn.
Topping off the emergence of performance art in Kennebunk is an ongoing Shakespeare in the Park series that runs through August 13 in Lafayette Park. Last Sunday, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was performed, with the spacious park adding to the scenery of the classic play. Among the performances The Hive is scheduled to feature are the musician Patrick Fitzsimmons on July 29, and in August, “The Living Room Series,” which features local rock musicians “unplugged.” The rest of the time, the gallery of paintings, pottery, and sculpture should draw a buzz to the town.
As markets and hometown festivals roll in to enhance Kennebunk’s small town appeal, the influx of new local businesses hopes to draw and keep public interest in the quaint downtown. The new layout and sidewalks have increased the town’s curb appeal, while a circular gathering spot at the center of it all advertises to passersby that this is a social downtown. With the Five and Dime officially closed, and paint being scraped from attached storefronts, locals and visitors can only guess what is next for Kennebunk.
Photo caption: This brick patio is one of many renovations that have taken place – and are still evolving – in downtown Kennebunk. (Photo by Chip Schrader)

Raitt Farm to Host 16th Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
ELIOT—
Tractors and engines will take center stage at the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum next weekend for the 16th Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show.
This year’s show will feature Case Tractors and the featured engine will be the Woodpecker.
Last year more than 4,500 people visited the show at the museum, which is located at 2077 State Road, Route 103, in Eliot. The site is just over five minutes from the Kittery Outlet Malls and Portsmouth.
The show is open Friday through Sunday, July 29, 30 and 31. Admission is $5 with children six and under admitted free. The gates will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Highlights Friday include a 5:30 auction with the proceeds going to the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum. Those bringing an auction item will be admitted free Friday night. No electronic items will be accepted for auction.
At 6 p.m. the Garden Tractor Pulling contest will begin.
Saturday activity begins at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. At 9:30, the kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull will be held followed by the initial Ladies’ Skillet Toss.
The Tractor Parade begins at 1:30 p.m. with the Antique Stone boat Tractor Pulling at 3 p.m.
Activity begins Sunday at 8 a.m. with a church service “In the Pines.” The Tractor Tour is set at 9 a.m., the kids’ pedal tractor pull at 9:30 and the Tractor Parade at 1 p.m.
The Transfer Sled Tractor Pulling and raffle drawings are set at 2 p.m.
Featured throughout the show will be a large number of antique tractors, farm equipment displays, hit and miss engines, shingle mill demonstrations, auctions, live music, bean hole beans, strawberry shortcake and other fair food, crafts, flea market and more. There will also be a Colonial encampment.
On permanent new display this year is a 1920’s Hildreth Brothers Woodsplitter that will be in operation – owned by Tom Stephens.
The shingle mill will be on its new pad – still need to build the building, and the pad for the new blacksmith shop is on the grounds as well.
The 1858 Remington revolver that was discovered will also be on display throughout the weekend.
The mission of the Raitt Homestead Farm Museum is to educate future generations with displays and demonstrations of antique farm equipment for the purpose of keeping valuable farming heritage alive.
This event is one of three fundraising events held at the Farm Museum each year with 100 percent of the proceeds raised going to the preservation and restoration of the farm property and to continue its mission.
The preservation and restoration of the museum’s 33-acre property and buildings is an ongoing project throughout the year.
Photo caption: Pictured is a tractor from last year’s Antique Tractor and Engine Show. This year’s event takes place in Eliot July 29-31. (Courtesy photo)

Opening Scenes: The Final ‘Harry Potter’

By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” begins with Voldemort casting a bolt of lightning into the night sky. The scene cuts to the ghostly black dementors hovering above Hogwarts, the once magical wonderland that has now become a brooding and ominous castle that resembles a giant lair in classic Gothic literature where evil lurks. Severus Snape, the new headmaster, looks down upon his school, the children march like stormtroopers inside. Harry is hiding out with his friends in a small hut; he gazes into a broken mirror that reflects his own face, and that of the deceased former headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
All bets are off in this final installment of the Harry Potter legend. All of the roles are carried out by the same actors as the previous films, and they continue to embody their character with precision. The most notable newcomer is Albus Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth, played by Ciaran Hinds. While he plays a smaller role in this film, he is masterfully placed to fill in a few gaps of Dumbledore’s past, but the role is too brief to get a feel for the character.
The film, as a whole, takes broad sweeps of the original book, as to be expected. But, the film is best judged upon its own merit since cinema is at a great handicap compared to literature. In comparison to Part 1, Part 2, if possible, is even darker and takes place underground, and in narrow passages, while its predecessor was greatly shot in the vast countryside. The claustrophobia the director provides in the cinematography builds tension for the viewers as Harry must invade Bellatrix Lestranges’ vault at Gringot’s bank.
Dragons, giants, and assorted ghouls inhabit the land in this film, and boost its grandiosity without providing the cheesy CGI side effects that plague a Michael Bay film, i.e. “Transformers.”
Harry’s return to Hogwarts is marked with a chilling message from Voldemort. The old magic of Hogwarts, greatly missing from the previous installment, swarms in a mass of darkness and mayhem, and the expansive campus becomes the site for an epic battle between good and evil.
The shortcomings include the fact that Harry never seems in too much danger of Voldemort catching him. It just plays out as a scavenger hunt for Harry, Hermione and Ron, while the deatheaters wait idly by. The visions Harry gets of Voldemort provide glimpses of evil, but no real suspense. The necessity of Harry to face Voldemort, and the circumstance under which he must meet him do provide some white knuckle viewing three-quarters through the movie.
The bottom line: this movie is darker, creepier, and more intriguing than any of the previous films. It is even more entertaining than the first part. The cinematography is gorgeous, and uses shadows and perpetual darkness to not only convey a sense of foreboding, but makes it a beautiful movie to look at. If the movie could stand to be an hour longer, the loss of many characters shouldn’t have been glazed over, and the battle deserved greater detail as does the character development. Combined with the previous release, the character development and action will appear more balanced. Collectively, both parts are a nearly flawless grand slam. 4.5 out of 5.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”)

‘Deadliest Catch’ Crewmember Lends Helping Hand in Hometown

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist
KITTERY—
A Kittery man, the chief engineer of the F/V Northwestern, one of the boats featured on The Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” was lending a hand to a local charity at Bob’s Clam Hut last weekend during a visit to his hometown.
Darren M. Dyer, who grew up in Kittery and attended Kittery schools, graduating from Traip Academy, autographed books, photos and other memorabilia while talking to hundreds of people at Bob‘s Clam Hut to benefit Ethel’s Tree of Life last week.
Ethel’s Tree of Life aids people with disabilities and/or special needs. It is headquartered in South Berwick.
Dyer lived in Kittery from the time he was three until just after graduation when the family moved to Harrison, Maine. Two years ago he moved to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and eventually became part of the popular show that depicts life and work onboard vessels fishing in the Bering Sea.
“I’ve only been a commercial fisherman now for three years,” Dyer said, smiling, while resting his hand from signing. “I hated the ocean growing up on it. I wanted nothing to do working on the fishing boat, and now here I am. I haven’t lived on land for three years.”
Dyer said the original idea for the show was to document the fishing industry in the Bering Sea.
“Once they got there and saw what it was like for the guys on the boat,” Dyer continued, “they decided to switch gears a little bit and maybe make a documentary on an individual boat and crew.”
Dyer said Capt. Sig Hansen’s boat, the Northwestern, was one of the first chosen for the project.
He’s known Jim and Linda Higgins since he was a child and, after seeing the web site, felt it was a very worthwhile cause. Linda Higgins is the chairwoman of the group’s Board of Directors.
Knowing he was coming home, he contacted Linda Higgins and they decided to work together to raise some awareness and raise some money for the whole foundation.
“I think it’s amazing to work with them,” he said. “There’s nothing I’d rather be doing right now and I’ve always loved Bob’s Clam Hut.”
Dyer is recuperating from ankle surgery.
Linda Higgins said Dyer “liked to give back to the community” and “likes what the Tree of Life does” so “it just evolved.”
She said Pat Barrigar, the general manager at Bob’s, was incredible and the whole project was set up in a little over a week.
Barrigar said she became involved by “answering a phone call. They called and asked if we could do something to help and we figured out a way to do it.”
In addition to providing space for the signings, a portion of the meals sold from the start of the session until closing were donated to the charity.
According to its web site, “Ethel’s Tree of Life is dedicated to working with young people who live with any disabilities and/or special needs.
“Special needs can be defined by anything that causes students to have difficulty learning, whether it be a disability or perhaps a situation at home (like a death in the family). ETL students learn to say ‘I can’ through many varied learning experiences.”
Additional information is available on the web site at www.ethelstree.org.
Dyer is on a crew with Capt. Sig Hansen, Norman Hansen, Edgar Hansen, Nick Mayvar and Jake Anderson.
Other charities the boat and crew helps include Wounded Warriors, Heroes to Heroes, Children’s Cancer Foundation and Women’s Breast Cancer.
Bob’s Clam Hut has been serving fried clams and other classic clam shack fare since 1956 and has long been a contributor to Ethel’s.
Photo caption: Darren Dyer, seated right, talking with Linda Higgins, seated left, of Ethel’s Tree of Life, and Pat Barrigar, standing, general manager at Bob’s Clam Hut. (Photo by Larry Favinger)

3rd Annual Herb Noble Memorial Charity Ride

ARUNDEL—
The 3rd Annual Herb Noble Memorial Charity Motorcycle Ride will be held Saturday, July 23 at Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel. The day will start at 8:30 a.m. with a breakfast buffet and sign-in. Those who register ahead of time will have T-shirts waiting at the registration desk. Motorcycles will leave Bentley’s at 10:30 a.m. cruising back roads, with one stop before circling back to Bentley’s by early afternoon. The Bentley’s half bus will be available to transport non-riders who want to participate. After returning to Bentley’s there will be live music by The Alan Roux Band and The Dirty 3rds. The registration fee is $25 per person with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center. Funds will be used to provide food vouchers, gas cards, transportation costs, housing expenses, etc. to help ease the burden that the families often face while going through treatment along side their child. Anyone who wishes to attend the event, help out or contribute (you do not have to own a motorcycle or be a rider to take part) may contact Bob Noble at 985-6002 or Tom Noble at 632-7602. For more information visit www.herbnoble.com or www.bentleyssaloon.com. (Courtesy photo)

Book Review: ‘Maine’s Museums’

By Chip Schrader
Book Review Editor
“Maine Museums: Art Oddities & Artifacts” by Maine author Janet Mendelsohn is a compilation of entries about the many museums that Maine has to offer. For the reader’s convenience, each chapter is divided into the 7 regions of the state: Southern Maine, Casco Bay and Portland, Midcoast, Down East, the Western Mountain and Lakes Region, Kennebec Valley and Northern Maine.
Attractions within York county include the Automotive Museum of Wells, the Trolley Museum in Kennebunk, and the Naval Museum in Kittery, to name just a few. Mendelsohn begins each entry by covering the address, hours of operation, and contact information followed by a single paragraph summary of what visitors will find at each of these sites.
For the impatient searcher, this paragraph sufficiently pulls out the vital data without committing the reader to a full description. The fuller descriptions follow the heading “Why Go,” and is intended for those who prefer a good story or some background information, including interviews with the curators of each of these museums, who are typically experts within their field, and specific pieces to look for within the exhibits.
The “Why Go” segment also includes an historical backdrop of the collection. One of the more intriguing entries describes the controversial psychological theories and popular culture influence of Wilhelm Reich, M.D., in relation to his former laboratory “Ogonon” in Rangeley. This “mountainside retreat” was partially designed by the Austrian physician, and has been converted to become the Wilhelm Reich Museum.
A most peculiar museum features umbrella covers in Peaks Island. While even an umbrella museum seems far-fetched, a museum for umbrella covers seems to push beyond what we would normally find interesting.
The most fascinating entry for Southern Maine is the International Cryptozoology Museum located in Portland. The exhibits include information about the Loch Ness Monster, Yeti, and the numerous unidentified species that have been sighted throughout Maine. The curator and Cryptozoological expert, Loren Coleman, states that many of these sightings are errors and hoaxes, but there are still many instances that are worthy of scientific evaluation.
The handiest aspect of this guide lies in the fact that it is so specialized. Within any generic travel guide, museums are often buried between oceans of information, and the casual reader will likely glaze over most of its contents. Being so specific in topic, each entry gets sufficient space to shine. There are also tables, graphs and pictures to pull highlighted content from the page to the reader’s attention.
Janet Mendelsohn’s approach to this guide transcends the mere goal of attracting visitors to a hope of raising awareness to many resources that are often hidden from the allure of beachfronts and big marquis attractions. From the introduction on, her purpose is to save museums from a dwindling economy and increasingly apathetic budgeting. Paperback: 240 pages. Publisher: Countryman Press (June 6, 2011).
Photo caption: Maine Museums: Art Oddities & Artifacts by Janet Mendelsohn book cover (Courtesy photo)

Regional Designers Transform Emerson House Inside and Out

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
YORK—
The 22nd Decorator Show House of the Museums of Old York is a historic structure at 31 Long Sands Road in the center of York Village.
Situated in York’s Historic District, the Georgian Colonial house traces its beginning to circa 1719. Several structures, including a tavern have been on the site over the years and it is believed some of the old remains within the new. John Adams, the second president of the United States, is known to have stayed on the site.
The annual Show House celebration is a major project in the annual fundraising efforts of the museum. This year the event runs from Saturday, July 16, through Saturday, August 13 at the Emerson House.
It is sponsored by Maine Home and Design and will be open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays until 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The house will be closed Tuesdays.
There will be a preview gala to celebrate the event on Friday, July 15, from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring a jazz ensemble and food by the Kitchen Chicks. Tickets for this gala are $50.
The funds raised by the exhibit support educational programs offered by the museum along with other exhibitions and preservation efforts.
Designers and artists from throughout New England vie for the job of decorating a room or area of the house. This year there are nearly 20 areas that have been assigned to designers for individual treatment within certain guidelines established.
Massachusetts designers and artists from Beverly, Beverly Farms, Boston, and North Andover are included this year as are New Hampshire firms from Rye, Hampton Falls, Barrington, Portsmouth, Hollis, North Hampton, Bedford, Rye, and Greenland.
Those participating from Maine come from Kittery, Wells, York, and York Harbor.
On four Wednesdays during the Show House celebration, there will be luncheon lectures at local sites.
These include the York Harbor Inn July 20, a Fashion Show at Stage Neck Inn July 27, Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School Aug. 3, and The York Harbor Reading Room Aug. 10. Tickets for the luncheons are $55.
Admission to the Show House is $20 and includes a free tour of the new exhibit at the Museum’s Visitor Center in the Remick Barn. It also offers a reduced ticket price of $5 to tour all the historic buildings at Museums of Old York.
Parking is available in village lots.
Many of the items used in decorating the various rooms are available for sale and others will available in a boutique in the garage on the property.
Additional information is available by calling 363-4974 or by visiting the museum’s website at www.oldyork.org.
Photo caption: Emerson House (pictured above) is the site of this year’s Decorator Show House of the Museum of Old York (Courtesy photo)

9th Annual Native American Pow-Wow

WELLS—
The Wells Chamber of Commerce and the New Hampshire Inter-Tribal Native American Council announce the 9th Annual Native American Pow-Wow to be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17, 2011 at Wells Harbor Park, Wells, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
The event will include dancing, drumming, flute music, vendors, storytelling, auction, and evening session. Host Drum-Walking Bear (Southern Drum), Guest Drums-Black Thunder (Northern Drum), Medicine Bear (Eastern Drum), Mountain Spirit (Eastern Drum). MC-Peter Newell. Flute Music by assorted musicians. The Grand Entry is at 12:00 noon sharp on Saturday. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 seniors, children under 6 are free. The public is cordially invited — no drugs or alcohol are allowed. For more information call 603-528-3005.
New for this year is an evening concert at 6:30 p.m. featuring Grammy award winner Flutist Joseph Firecrow. The concert is part of the Wells Harbor Park Concert Series and is free and open to the public. (Courtesy photo of Joseph Firecrow)

Registration Open for History Camp at Museum

KENNEBUNK—
Children entering grades 4 through 8 are invited to the Brick Store Museum for the 7th Annual History Camp program “Passport to Discovery 2”on Saturday, July 16 from 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Space is limited with pre-registration required by July 9. The registration fee of $25 per child ($20 for Museum members) includes a snack and all supplies. Participants must bring their own lunches. Registration forms are available at brickstoremuseum.org or by contacting the Museum at 207-985-4802.
This year’s History Camp ties in with the brand new exhibition “Impressions of a World Traveler: Early 20th Century Travel Through the Eyes of Edith Barry,” and is an extension of “Passport to Discovery,” the vacation workshop held in February. In “Passport to Discovery 2,” attendees will take an imaginary trip across the globe with their own personalized passports, following the travels of Edith Cleaves Barry, the Museum’s founder. As they “visit” Canada, Congo, and Ireland, they will hear about Miss Barry’s visit, create a representative craft, and learn a bit about each country. While in Canada, they will learn about Inuit inukshuks and make their own small models. They will create tribal masks in Congo, and in Ireland they will make replicas of the bodhran, an Irish percussion instrument. As the students work, snacks and music representing each country will be available.
The workshop concludes with family members and the general public invited to the Museum from 2:30 to 3 p.m. to view the kids’ projects and to tour the Museum’s exhibitions. As lasting memories of the day, children take home everything they have created.
History Camp is made possible by the Museum’s Education Committee and the Dorothy Fish Fund for Furthering Edith Barry’s Legacy.
Photo caption: Brick Store Museum will host “Passport to Discovery 2” on July 16. (Courtesy photo)

4th Annual Nicole’s Run/Walk to Benefit Caring Unlimited

KENNEBUNK—
The 4th Annual Nicole’s Run and Walk to benefit Caring Unlimited, York County’s Domestic Violence Program, will be held on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Lord’s Point, Kennebunk Beach. The 5k run and walk, presented in part by 2011 Event Sponsor: Kennebunk Savings Bank, will begin at 9:00 a.m., with registration opening at 6:45 a.m. Registration fees are $20 in advance, $25 on race-day.
Nicole’s Run/Walk was first organized by friends and family of Nicole Oliver, a 24-year old mother of two from Wells, Maine who was killed by her husband in 2007. Nicole had recently left her abusive husband and was working to rebuild a safe and secure life for herself and her two young sons. She was attending York County Community College, taking courses that would help her achieve her goal of becoming a registered nurse, when she was killed.
“If these walks raise awareness and can save one person’s life, or help one person free themselves from a domestic violence situation, then our efforts are not in vane, and it is worth every ounce of energy,” states Nicole’s mother, Holly Dee. The 4th Annual Nicole’s Run will coincide with the fifth anniversary of Nicole’s death.
Each year, Caring Unlimited serves approximately 3,000 individuals whose lives are affected by domestic abuse through support and safety planning services including: 24-hour confidential hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, support and education groups, legal advocacy, school-based education and advocacy and community education. Money raised by Nicole’s Run goes to support Caring Unlimited’s programs and allows the organization to continue to offer critical, life-saving safety planning services to victims of domestic violence.
For more information and to register online for the 4th Annual Nicole’s Run, visit www.nicolesrun.org.
Participants are also encouraged to raise additional funds by collecting pledges from family and friends. For every $100 raised in pledges, participants will receive a chance to win an LL Bean tent. In addition, the highest fundraiser will receive a one-year membership to Quest Fitness in Kennebunk!
Volunteers are needed to make Nicole’s Run/Walk a success. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering email nicolesrun@gmail.com.
Photo caption: Pictured is the start of the 3rd Annual Nicole’s 5k Run/Walk last year. (Courtesy photo)

Wells Resident Donates $20,000 Grant to Preserve Lands

WELLS/ NORTH BERWICK—
Howard Hall, a prominent Wells businessman, has donated $20,000 in the form of a challenge grant to Great Works Regional Land Trust for the purchase and preservation of 288 forested acres in Wells and North Berwick.
Hall’s match for every donation up to $20,000 will help Great Works and local volunteers to raise the remaining $40,000 to fulfill the purchase and sale agreement with Unitil, the current owner of the property. It is the former “Granite State” lands that were slated for a huge natural gas facility, and will soon be conserved forever for community enjoyment and conservation.
“Howard Hall’s generous offer to match donations means that the Town of Wells and Great Works Regional Land Trust can finally acquire and preserve this wonderful property for low-impact recreation and wildlife habitat,” said Owen Grumbling, Wells Conservation Commission Chair, who has worked closely with Great Works on the project.
The land contains wetlands, vernal pools, and a mile of shoreline on West and Perkins Brooks, both headwater streams for the Great Works River. The property is located off the Perry Oliver and Quarry roads in western Wells and is crossed on its southern boundary by a portion of the woodland Eastern Trail that will run from Kittery to South Portland.
Hall was inspired to make the donation, he said, because it means everybody can participate in the challenge. He has lived and worked in Wells for over 25 years and served on the Planning Board for many years. This is not his first contribution to conservation causes.
“While I am a developer, I believe it is important for land be set aside for future generations. This land will be open to use. The Eastern Trail runs through it. People can stop and picnic,” said Hall. He also noted the significance of diminishing cottontail rabbits and native brook trout that will be protected, along with other species, on the property.
Great Works, its collaborators and a committee of local residents are seeking donations of $20,000 from individuals and organizations to match the Hall gift and enable the $425,000 acquisition within the coming months.
Thus far, the Town of Wells has contributed $200,000 through the Wells Land Bank. In addition, Maine Nature Resource Conservation Program has awarded a $100,000 grant and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has awarded a $75,000 grant, the latter for the cottontail habitat creation. Local donors have contributed more than $10,000. Other collaborators in the project include the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm.
“Each organization is contributing what they can to move the project forward,” said Grumbling. And many individuals have stepped up. Susan Cox, a Wells’ resident and a major organizer for the project, has met the Hall Challenge, doubling her $1,000 donation. She and others have generously given before in this community-inspired effort.
The property had been permitted in 1999 as the site for the nation’s largest liquefied natural gas storage facility over the objections of the Town of Wells and area residents. It can still be developed for industrial use should this acquisition not be completed.
Great Works Regional Land Trust is a non-profit organization founded in 1986 to provide conservation options to the landowners of Eliot, South Berwick, Berwick, North Berwick, Wells and Ogunquit. Great Works Regional Land Trust is committed to saving the best of our region by protecting working landscapes and wildlife lands for current and future generations. In 25 years the organization has completed 94 projects conserving 4,338 acres.
Contributions can be sent directly to GWRLT, PO Box 151, South Berwick, ME 03908. For more information or to join in this community effort, call Anne Gamble, Development Coordinator for Great Works, at (207) 646-3604 or visit www.gwrlt.org.
Photo caption: Howard Hall and Susan Cox. (Courtesy photo)

Hamilton House Offers Popular Servant Tour

SOUTH BERWICK—
On Saturday, July 9, at 5:30 p.m. go behind-the-scenes of Historic New England’s Hamilton House as part of The Way They Were tour. This special talk and guided tour explores the lives of servants and hired help in the early twentieth century, focusing on what it was like to live and work in the “back” of the house. On the tour, visitors view areas of the house rarely seen by the general public, including the third and fourth floors where staff and caretakers lived.
Hamilton House, built circa 1785, became the summer home of the well-to-do Tyson family of Boston in 1897. The Tyson’s transformed Hamilton House into a beautiful retreat with Colonial Revival interiors, elaborate gardens, wooded walking and riding trails, and a romantic little garden cottage for their own pleasure and the entertainment of family and friends. While most house tours detail the lifestyles of wealthy owners, The Way They Were tour offers a glimpse into the lives of the class that served them. As part of the tour, hear about the daily routines of domestics, grounds keepers and other workers whose toil made the leisurely lifestyles of the Tyson’s, and other wealthy New England families, possible. Explore side yards and back stairways once frequented by the hired help, including a visit to the fourth floor attic where servants enjoyed the stunning view of the Salmon Falls River from the mansion’s skylight.
The Way They Were tour will begin at the Hamilton Garden Cottage on Saturday, July 9 at 5:30. The program will be repeated on August 20 at 5:30 p.m. and September 24 at 10 a.m. Admission: $8 for Historic New England members and $12 for non-members. Space is limited and these popular tours sell out quickly. Sorry, no tickets sold at the door. To purchase tickets, call the Southern Maine office of Historic New England at 207-384-2454 or online at www.historicnewengland.org.
Hamilton House is located at 40 Vaughan’s Lane, South Berwick, Maine, and is one of 36 historic properties owned and operated by Historic New England, the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the country. For more information please visit www.HistoricNewEngland.org.
Photo caption: In the garden at the Hamilton House. (Photo courtesy Historic New England)