Gateway Farmers’ Market Opens on Saturday, June 4

YORK—

Opening day of the Gateway (York) Farmers’ Market is this Saturday, June 4. Saturday will kick off the ninth year of the market, which is presented by the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce.
Stonewall Kitchen, whose owners Jim Stott and Jonathan King first shared their specialty foods at farmers’ markets in Portsmouth and Exeter, proudly sponsors the Gateway Farmers’ Market. During the last eighteen years, they have grown their business to become a multi-million dollar manufacturer of specialty foods, with headquarters and production facility located next to the Chamber on Route 1.
The 2011 Gateway (York) Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday from June 4 through October 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and every Thursday from July 7 through September 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The market takes place in the lot behind the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce off Route 1 in York, Maine. Our food vendors offer fresh veggies and fruit, dairy products, seafood, herbs, meat, desserts, breads, tea, oils & spices, prepared foods and more. Craft products include lotions, soaps, wood goods, jewelry, candles, birdhouses and pottery.
Expect to see these vendors every week at the Saturday market: Archer Angus, Bumble Beads, Chef’s Cove Café & More, Chop-Chop Crafts & Seafood, Connolly’s Organics, The Dirty Moose, Ellie May’s Sweet Toffee Crunch, Cultivating Community / Fresh Start Farms, Green Parrot Woodworks, Hubba Hubba Foods, Kate’s Designer Delights, Lakonia Greek Products, LLC, Lucia’s Kitchen, Port City Coffee Roasters, River Lily Farm, Riverside Farm, The Seacoast Soap Company, Something Different, Stonewall Kitchen, Twig Naturals, When Pigs Fly, Inc., Wright’s Haven Farm, York Art Association & Zach’s Farm. Alternate vendors who will attend on various Saturdays throughout the season include: Audrey Gottlieb, Band All Together, Brownie’s Barkery, Carter Hill Orchard, Catrina Marshall Art Pottery, Copper Moon Studio, Creekview Baking Company, Hand Spun Knits by Laurie, Maine Herb Farm, Riverside Pottery, Rock Garden Pottery, Sit Pretty & Un-Corked Birdhouse. The Thursday markets, which start in July will feature: Catrina Marshall Art Pottery, Chef’s Cove Café & More, Chop-Chop Crafts & Seafood, Connolly’s Organics, Creekview Baking Company, Figtree Kitchens, Joelle Guerard Silversmith, Moondance Gardens, Riverside Farm & Something Different. Please visit www.gatewayfarmersmarket.com for details about vendors and their products.
For more information about the Gateway Farmers’ Market, contact Stephanie Oeser at the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce at 207.363.4422 or stephanie@yorkme.org.
Photo caption: Tomatoes from Connolly’s Organics, one of the many farms and vendors who will be present at the kick-off Gateway Farmers’ Market in York on Saturday, June 4. (Courtesy photo)

New Extreme Country Stampede Tour Coming to York

YORK—
A rodeo, country music concert, extreme freestyle motocross show, monster truck rides, hot air balloon rides, wrapped up into one extreme package for a one of a kind entertainment experience – the Extreme Country Stampede Tour - is coming to York for the first time ever!
The event kicks off Friday, June 3, at 6 p.m. at The American Legion Post 96 in York with an Extreme Cowboy Auction and Casino Night featuring live country bands, cowboys, casino games, hot air balloon rides and an auction. Proceeds from the Casino Night will benefit The American Legion Post 96 and proceeds from the auction will benefit Breast Care at York Hospital. Admission is free.
The Extreme Country Stampede Tour follows on Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, at York’s Wild Kingdom (gates open at noon). Up and coming country musicians including Corey Cox and Rachel Timberlake will perform, and motocross sensations the Ive’s Brothers and their Ball of Steel, and of course, the World Cup Bull Riders will keep Stampede attendees on the edge of their seats.
Former bull riding champion, Kenny Churchill, and owner of A1 Entertainment Ryan Conley wanted to create a unique, inexpensive, family-friendly event. They also wanted to help organizations like York Hospital. This is their way of giving back.
“I had a great career, now I want to raise awareness for great organizations,” said Churchill.
For tickets, call York Hospital’s Friendraising Office at (207) 351-2385. $5 of every advanced ticket sold at York Hospital will be donated to Breast Care.
Photo caption: From Friday, June 3 to Sunday, June 5, York will be home to the Extreme Country Stampede Tour, coming to town for the first time ever with a portion of proceeds benefiting The American Legion Post 96 and Breast Care at York Hospital. (Photo courtesy www.extremecountrytour.com)

Revolutionary War Officer to Receive Veteran Marker in Eliot

ELIOT—
On Memorial Day, Monday May 30, at 2:00 p.m., General Andrew Pepperell Fernald will receive a veteran marker in a Dedication Ceremony at his grave in the Fernald Family Cemetery at 52 Goodwin Road in Eliot. This ties in nicely with the conclusion of the town’s Memorial Day Parade. The general has laid in rest all these years without appropriate recognition for his service.
General Fernald served with the Second Regiment of York County Militia as well as Col. John Frost’s Regiment of Massachusetts State Troops during the Revolutionary War. He then came home to Eliot where he represented the Parish at General Court in Boston to petition the Massachusetts government to grant the formation of the Town of Eliot in 1810.
Major General Lee Downer, USAF (Ret.) will preside over the program. Also participating will be members of the Fernald family, the Eliot Historical Society, The Second Regiment of York County, American Legion Post 188, and the Eliot Police Department Honor Guard. Eric Christian will present a biographical overview of General Fernald.
In the words of W. J. Cameron, “Perform, then, this one act of remembrance before this Day passes – Remember there is an army of defense and advance that never dies and never surrenders, but is increasingly recruited from the eternal sources of the American spirit and from the generations of American youth.”
So, as you plan your Memorial Day activities, which for many will include the town’s parade, give some thought to stopping by the Fernald Family cemetery to participate in this special dedication ceremony, which will serve as a tribute to the general but will also bring to life the true meaning of the morning’s parade.
Again, the ceremony begins at 2:00 p.m. at the cemetery at 52 Goodwin Road in Eliot. For additional information please contact either (207) 752-0174 or (207) 439-5155.
Photo caption: Influential Revolutionary War officer from Eliot, Gen. Andrew Pepperell Fernald, will finally receive a proper veteran’s burial marker on Memorial Day Weekend. (Courtesy photo)

Steel from World Trade Center Makes Procession to Freeport

KITTERY/FREEPORT—
A 20-foot steel beam from the World Trade Center left Kittery Trading Post at around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 and made its way up Route 1 to Freeport with much fanfare. The beam was transported on a flatbed truck, escorted by the Maine Army National Guard with a police escort (several departments), the Patriot Guard Riders, the Freeport Flag Ladies and veterans groups. The beam was welcomed in Freeport with a special ceremony. Freeport Commemorative arranged the events. The beam will be used in a September 11 memorial in Freeport, designed to be reminiscent of the towers and set to be dedicated this September in honor of the 10th Anniversary of the 2001 attacks.
Photo caption: A 20-foot beam from the World Trade Center passes by Wells Junior High School on its way to Freeport on Saturday, May 21. (Photo by Reg Bennett)

Columbus Replica Ships to Land in Kittery

KITTERY—
On Tuesday, June 14, the “Pinta” and the “Nina,” replicas of Columbus’ ships, will open in Kittery. The ships will be docked at Badgers Island Marina East, 4 Island Ave., until their departure early Tuesday morning, June 21.
The “Nina” was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine called the ship “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” The “Pinta” was recently built in Brazil to accompany the “Nina” on all of her travels. She is a larger version of the archetypal caravel. Historians consider the caravel the Space Shuttle of the fifteenth century.
Both ships tour together as a new and enhanced ‘sailing museum’ for the purpose of educating the public and school children on the ‘caravel,’ a Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers used to discover the world.
While in port, the general public is invited to visit the ships for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour. Admission charges are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for students age 5 to 16. Children 4 and under are free. The ships are open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. No reservations necessary.
Teachers or organizations wishing to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crewmember should call 1-787-672-2152. Minimum of 15 people required. $4 per person. No maximum. Visit the website at www.thenina.com or email columfnd@surfbvi.com.
Photo caption: The “Nina” and the “Pinta,” replicas of Columbus’ ships, will open in Kittery in June. (Photo courtesy of www.thenina.com)

Ogunquit Mourns the Loss of Hospitality and Community Leader

OGUNQUIT—
Robert E. Hanson passed on May 14, 2011 at his home in Ogunquit, Maine. He was born on July 21, 1941, in Waterbury, CT, the son of Ralph and Beatrice Hanson.
Bob graduated with a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT in 1963. He was a Tau Beta Pi recipient and a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Association. After graduation, he accepted a job at the Manned Spacecraft Center (NASA) in Houston, Texas. While in Texas, he met and married his wife, Karen. In 1968, a desire to return to New England for the four seasons brought them back to Connecticut, where he was employed as an electrical engineer at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut.
In 1971, Bob moved with his family to Wells, Maine and began a career in the hospitality industry. Their original property was the Somerset Motor Court located in Wells. Eventually, they moved to Ogunquit and owned and operated the Sea View Motel. After selling the Sea View Motel, they built the Juniper Hill Inn and subsequently acquired the Milestone and the Gorges Grant Hotel. Bob always had a thirst for knowledge and growth and obtained both his real estate broker and surveyor licenses while operating his varying properties. Bob was a proud man and always possessed a heartfelt gratitude for those at all levels that contributed to his success. He was a firm believer in treating everyone with respect, dignity and honesty, and considered all those that were a part of his organization as family, realizing that nothing was attainable without their efforts. He was a proud member of the Ogunquit business community, dutifully serving on the Planning Board, Board of Assessment Review as well as the Ogunquit Appeals Board and cared a great deal about the beauty, community and people of Ogunquit.
An active supporter of local land conservation efforts, Bob loved the outdoors and was a proud member of the American Tree Farm System in Maine. He often spent his down time on his land in North Berwick, cutting wood, gathering with friends, or simply taking in the beauty of the region. He enjoyed daily early morning walks on Ogunquit Beach. Bob and Karen spent much of their winters in Marco Island, Florida and made many lasting memories in the warmth of the area. Bob was also an avid reader, with particular interest in history and genealogy.
Bob enjoyed family above all else; it was his first and only priority. The challenges, hard work and effort all made sense – it was for his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Karen, 4 children and seven grandchildren: Shari L. and partner, Kevin Griffin, grandson Justin Snell; David F. and wife Kelly, granddaughter Gracie; David R. and wife Nancy, grandchildren Ethan, Ella, Claire; Robert C. and wife Michelle, grandsons, Samuel and Jonah; one sister, Olive H. Peterson.
Memorial visitation was held on Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Parish/St. Mary’s Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells. Interment will be private.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your charity of choice; or: The York Land Trust Inc., PO Box 1241, York Harbor, ME 03911, www.yorklandtrust.com; or: Beacon Hospice, Inc., 42 Brickyard Court, York, ME 03909, www.beaconhospice.com. Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, Wells, www.bibberfuneral.com.
Photo caption: Robert E. Hanson, local hotelier and community leader, passed away on May 14 at his home. (Courtesy photo)

Gen ‘X’ Messiah

By Chip Schrader
Book Review Editor
“Nazareth, North Dakota” is Tommy Zurhellen’s first novel that spans from 1980 to present day, and depicts the lives of common people in the barren northern mid-west. The story takes a biblical spin on the lifestyles of the lower middle class American community, which invites plenty of social and political comparisons while also allowing the author fodder for clever wordplay.
The novel follows Roxy, a down on her luck ex-waitress whose poor taste in men is nearly as tragic as her inability to meet a decent man. She finds herself in Cairo, Illinois, after a baby is dropped into her care, and another loser boyfriend runs off with legal problems. Her journey with this mysterious baby, Sam, leads her to Joe, a hard working and honest carpenter.
Back in North Dakota, her family manages through life by maneuvering around corrupt town police officer Severo Rodriguez. His business in illegal stills and penchant for throwing Molotov cocktails into outsiders’ vehicles reveal how badly this town is in need of salvation. Roxy’s nephew, Jan, preaches his evangelical shtick as his mother swore he was a miracle child. As time moves along, the real miracle child presents himself above false prophets, as the oldest man in the world (who also lives in Nazareth) predicted would happen.
Written in tight prose with little flash or pretense, “Nazareth, North Dakota” is like reading James Joyce’s “Dubliners” or Louise Erdrich’s “Love Medicine.” Even if the biblical parallels are lost on the reader, the characters are interesting at how they manage through the doldrums of day to day life. As the novel seems to settle into this cozy study of small town dynamics, we see Sam develop into an interesting, misunderstood, and rebellious youth who just might change the world.
Among the interesting scenes with Sam’s transformation are a debate he has with an Ethics professor, although only this debate’s aftermath is depicted, and his friendship with Daylene Hooker. Daylene’s nickname “prostitute” hearkens readers back to Christ’s befriending of Mary Magdalene, showing one way in which Zurhellen weaves ancient characters into new ones.
Each chapter is divided like a short story, and has a date with the title. The book only runs a little over two hundred pages, and like the testaments depicting the life of Christ, it leaves large portions of time unaccounted for.
The first one hundred pages are interesting and read well, but some readers might be lost on the point for such detailed accounts of so many villagers. Eventually these eccentric stories tie into a finely woven tapestry of modern legend. To the unsuspecting reader, the leaps in time are also jarring at first. But, once the reader realizes the timeline spans in a short space, like the Bible, the story moves along smoothly.
“Nazareth, North Dakota” is a strange and fascinating trip, and an astute retelling of the story of all stories. Born in New York City, Zurhellen convincingly portrays not only small town life, but that of mid-western life with great fluency. Readers who are weary of the run of the mill bestseller, or are looking for a good story that is written well, should look for this title.
Pub Date: April 15, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-9845105-6-6. Page count: 212pp. Publisher: Atticus Books.
Photo caption: (Courtesy book cover image of “Nazareth, North Dakota”)