Brownfield has its Famous Bog, Burnt Meadow Pond, and the Saco River
July 1st, 2009 categories: Sebago Lakes Region
Gems come in many shapes and sizes as you’ll discover while searching for a lakefront property in the lakes region of western Maine. Burnt Meadow Pond, the Saco River and Brownfield Bog are gems in Brownfield, Maine.
Though located only a few miles south of Fryeburg on Route 160, Brownfield feels like it’s a million miles away. Mountains, forest and the Saco River are the dominate features in this town that has been rebuilt since the forest fires of 1947.
Burnt Meadow Pond is a perfect place for swimming and fishing. It supports both cold and warm water fish.If it’s a gentle canoe trip you seek, the Saco River has many put in/take out locations. Canoe rentals are available at Woodland Acres Campground in Brownfield (207) 935-2529, Saco River Canoe & Kayak in Fryeburg (888-772-6573 or (207) 935-2369 and Saco Bound in Center Conway, New Hampshire (603) 447-2177.
The Brownfield Bog Wildlife Management Area provides over 5,700 acres of wetland habitat. Use a canoe or kayak to explore the bog; a limited trail system exists. Bring a picnic and enjoy the nesting waterfowl, deer, beaver, muskrats or turtles. If you are lucky, you might even spot a moose.
In the winter, explore the bog by snowshoes or cross-country skis.
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“Eat Local” is Mantra at St. Joseph’s College on Sebago Lake in Standish
June 30th, 2009 categories: Sebago Lakes Region
Located 18 miles northwest of Portland and two hours from Boston is the small liberal arts school called St. Joseph’s College of Maine. St. Joe’s, as we Mainers fondly refer to it, is situated on 350 acres with magnificent lakefrontage on beautiful Sebago Lake in Standish.
Not only is the setting unique, but the food served in the dining hall is, as well.
Bon Appetit is the food service vendor for St. Joseph’s College. Their company motto is “Services for a Sustainable Future.” Stuart Leckie, general manager of the school’s restaurant, has made it the mission of the dining hall to serve local, homegrown food.
In the spirit of Barbara Kingsolver’s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle in which she describes how her family was changed by making a conscious effort to eat food produced locally, St. Joe’s is attempting to do the same. Leckie tries to order most ingredients from within 150 miles of the campus. He’s also strives to purchase free-range eggs and chickens that have been feed grain which is antibiotic and hormone-free.
Milk comes from Smiling Hill Farm located just a few miles away. He purchases produce from local growers. And now, thanks to the Pearson Town Farming Project located on college property, students and community volunteers will grow fresh produce including zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets and salad greens. Greenhouses will extend this growing project into the winter months.In the true spirit of this Catholic college, some of the produce will be donated to Catherine’s Cupboard Food Pantry in Standish.
If you’re in the Standish area, stop by St. Joe’s and have a look. If your thinking about lakefront property on Big Sebago just click on the box below to see what’s currently available:
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Flying into Fryeburg, Maine Provides Bird’s Eye View of Lakefront Real Estate
June 29th, 2009 categories: Observations and Commentary, Sebago Lakes Region
Ever thought of flying to the Sebago Lakes Region? Oh, I don’t mean flying into Portland, Maine, though that is doable. I mean getting a closer look at the lakes and mountains of western Maine by flying into Eastern Slope Regional Airport in Fryeburg.
Eastern Slope Regional Airport is the outside world’s connection to the Lakes Region and Mount Washington Valley. Though this 550-acre airport is tucked away, Eastern Slope Regional Airport is easy to access since it’s less than three miles southeast of Fryeburg and just off Route 113 and near Lovewell Pond.
Local residents and businesses own the forty airplanes housed there. People fly into and out of the airport for a multitude of reasons. Seventy-five percent of the traffic occurs during the summer months when chartered jets bring kids to the many children’s camps in our region. People also fly via jet to ski, hike, bike, canoe, commute to vacation homes, stay in area accommodations, attend the Fryeburg Fair, bring their children to Fryeburg Academy and even just to go out to dinner. Aerial sightseeing, chartered trips, flight training and pilot certification, plus aircraft maintenance are some of the services provided.
Travelers wishing to avoid the tedious hassles of busier airports are pleasantly pleased with the smaller size and personalized service offered at Eastern Slopes Regional Airport. Arrangements can be made for car rentals.
Think small. Consider Eastern Slope Regional Airport for your next trip to or from the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine.
If you’d like to visit some of the fine lakefront properties found in Fryeburg - on foot, by car, or by air - you can start by using the click of a mouse on the box below:
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Maine Summer Vacation Treat: Poland Spring Resort
June 28th, 2009 categories: Observations and Commentary, Sebago Lakes Region
Poland, Maine is home to Thompson Lake, Tripp Lake and Upper Range, Middle Range and Lower Range Ponds. Ponder vacation properties while relaxing at the famous Poland Spring Resort on Route 26, just a couple of miles from many of the lakes and ponds.
Poland Spring Resort boasts the oldest resort golf course in America with its 18-hole Donald Ross design. A variety of golf packages are available. The course is in great shape and the views are breathtaking.
If golfing isn’t your thing, you’re sure to find something to please your interests from swimming in the oversized pool, playing tennis or bocce on grass courts to hiking the trails on the 400-acre resort grounds.
You can also go fishing in the private stocked trout pond. Other activities include an exercise room, shuffleboard, horseshoes, badminton, and volleyball, game rooms with ping pong, pool tables, indoor golf and table games, plus a reading room.
With views of the White Mountains, you can enjoy home-style all-you-can-eat breakfast and supper buffets at the resort, or lakeside dining at Cyndi’s Dockside Restaurant on Middle Range Pond.
This is a resort that has it all - and a great place to use as a base of operations as you search for that special lakefront property to call your own.
Use our Lakefront Locator to look at all the available lakefront properties in the entire state, or click below to see what’s currently available on Upper, Middle, and Lower Range Ponds plus Tripp Lake - all in Poland.
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On Vacation in Maine? You’re Invited . . . to a Tea Party in Bethel, Maine
June 26th, 2009 categories: Observations and Commentary, Sebago Lakes Region
You won’t want to miss the 18th Biennial Tea Time in Bethel on Friday, June 26. The Cross Country Quilters will display their collection of antique and modern quilts in the 1816 New England Meeting House on Intervale Road from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.Donations of $5 are appreciated; children under 12 may enjoy the event for free. Donations will benefit the preservation of the Historic Middle Intervale Meeting House.
Tea and quilts have gone hand-in-hand for ages. When neighboring ladies gathered to quilt, the hostess often served tea. At this summertime tea party, delicious baked goods and iced tea will be served by the quilters. Quilts will be displayed on pews as well as throughout the meeting house.
You won’t want to miss this old-fashioned quilt show and tea party in Bethel’s oldest civic and religious structure. The quintessential country setting with the meeting house, adjacent cemetery, dairy farm, plus field and forest beyond, provide the perfect background for a picturesque celebration.
If you’re up for the weekend and love Maine lakes and ponds like we do, you might want to check out the current lakefront properties for sale in the area. Here they are:
Search for properties on Bethel, Woodstock, Greenwood, Albany
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Three Shops in One For Summer Vacationers in the Cornish, Maine Area
June 26th, 2009 categories: Observations and Commentary, Sanford Lakes Region, Sebago Lakes Region
Sunset on Big Clemons Pond near Cornish
Are you in southern Maine on your summer vacation? Maybe suffering from a little cabin/camp/cottage fever in this murky Maine weather? Need to buy a gift - for yourself, or a friend? Find a variety of gift ideas at Rosemary’s Gift Shop on Main Street in Cornish, Maine, where there is truly something for everyone.
On the first floor of Rosemary’s you’ll find her Maine Made and Beyond Gift Shop, stock full of a vast assortment of items including angels, baby and toddler gifts, books, bath and body products, candles, a Christmas corner, fishing flies, jams and jellies, games, gift bags, miniatures, moose, paintings and more.
Located in the back of the gift shop is the Ice Cream Shop featuring Gifford’s Ice Cream. While there, you might get to meet Rosemary’s husband. Be sure to ask him about the history of the iron fence at the park across the street. You’ll come away with a belly full of ice cream and local knowledge you won’t get anywhere else.
Upstairs is the Yarn Shop. It’s here you’ll probably find Rosemary. This is one of the largest yarn shops in Maine. You’ll be overwhelmed by the choices. Rosemary offers yarn, patterns, accessories and free advice. Check her web site at www.maine-crafts.com for knitting and crocheting clinics for beginner and advanced crafters. She also encourages people to join her in “Gathering Hands,” an effort to contribute knit and crocheted items to several on-going charitable projects including the following:
1. Operation Homefront Kids: Creating sweaters, hats, etc. for newborns through age 13, in an attempt to make the difference in lives of children from Maine who have a parent serving in the military.
2. Operation Sunshine Bears: Using a Teddy Bear pattern available at the shop, folks knit bears to donate to the Ronald McDonald House and Maine Medical Child Life Program at the Barbara Bush Wing in Portland, as well as to local police and firemen.
3. Operation Richie’s Cap: Chemo caps for cancer patients are knit or crocheted in memory of Rosemary’s friend, Richie Aaron.
4. Operation Warm Hands: This is an easy summer project that will benefit children next winter. Knit mittens to donate to children in need.
If you are vacationing here and like the Cornish area you might be interested in seeing what lakefront properties are for sale nearby. Here are the current lakefront properties for sale on Big Clemons Pond, Barker Pond, and Stanley Pond - all within easy drives of downtown Cornish:
Search for properties on Big Clemons, Stanley, and Barker Ponds
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“By George, I Think I’ve Got It” at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison, Maine
June 24th, 2009 categories: Observations and Commentary, Sebago Lakes Region
Thursday night’s the loverly night we’ve all been waiting for.The excitement has built to this moment as Lake Region Community Theatre opens its much anticipated production of My Fair Lady, by special permission from Tams-Witmark Musical Library, Inc. Lerner and Loewe’s best loved musical will be presented this weekend only at Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Arts Center in Harrison, Maine.
My Fair Lady is the classic Cinderella story. Confirmed English bachelor and phonetics expert Professor Henry Higgins (Tom Watkins), makes a wager with his friend Colonel Pickering (Edward Darna) that he can take a Cockney flower girl out of the gutter and pass her off as a member of high society. He