The 4^th of July weekend…a long weekend… the height of summer…so much to do: parks and picnic sites to visit, parades and fireworks to watch, quiet traditions and crowded festivities to celebrate, everywhere wonderful outdoor recreation, and this year, in observance of the 250^th anniversary of our nation’s founding, some unique additional events More…

Runoff, i.e. rainwater that doesn’t soak into the ground, carries pollutants with it, from pet waste to road salt to dirt. Soil contains nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which cause algal blooms when there’s too much. Protecting our lakes requires reducing the amount of runoff and sediment that enters water bodies. More…

In 1776, the Belgrade Lakes area was part of a vast wilderness. The area had just a handful of settlers. There was no town to muster soldiers to fight the British. Yet, the Revolutionary War has great importance to this area, for when the war was over, veterans of the war were among the first settlers to establish our town. More…

Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, has been revered as a sacred place by many cultures over the centuries. When you reach the summit, you experience its magnificence and feel the awe. Make the trek up the mountain if you can. More…

We are right in the middle of loon breeding season. Long Pond should have this year’s first chick in the next day or two. Yay!! We actually had two nests on Long Pond that nested early. That’s great for two reasons: 1. The chicks will be large and mature enough to fly south around October. 2. If the nest fails, there may yet be time for a second nesting. More…

With the start of summer, our pond water levels right where they need to be. The Village spillway dam is 2.52″ above full pond with Long Pond, at least at the Wings Mill Dam, 3.12″ above full with all gates still closed. At my dock, 9 miles north of the Wings Mill dam, we are 2″ above full which is still in the ballpark. More…

An all-encompassing history, Democracy Awakening is by Heather Cox Richardson, mid-coast Maine resident and professor of history at Boston College. You may already know her by the popular daily blog followed by multitudes. She has been widely followed on C-SPAN Book TV and scheduled recently for a lecture/panel at the Washington Cathedral. More…

As I write this column approaching Father’s Day, there are a lot of kids and grandkids in town and getting out on the lake. The generally warm weather has spurred a lot of swimming, tubing, and general cooling off in and near the water. I am encouraged to see a lot of youngsters fishing with their families, but sadly they shouldn’t eat what they catch. More…