These archival articles are presented “as is.” Except for minor corrections or clarifications, most have not been updated since they appeared in print. Thus, some details may be out of date, and some hyperlinks may no longer work.
Summer of 2016: Ready! Set! Enjoy!
Summer businesses open.
by Esther J. Perne
Summer again! The season moves in. First the snowbirds return, the sandhill cranes, the loons, the Golden Pond sunsets and the early-season anglers. The open lakes beckon around every bend in the road and green creeps softly up the hills.
Wood deliveries and spring cleaning of yards and gardens catch the eye of the passerby, followed by the less visible tasks of tilling and planting — and the quiet nesting of the birds. On the lakes motors hum, and occasionally sputter, and the voices of workmen and early camp openers carry clearly across the water. Familiar, eager, happy seasonal residents filter into villages, shops and local haunts. Greetings pervade along with gossip about changes since last summer.
Change is good, but not too much and that’s why the seasonals have returned here for generations — that plus the overwhelming beauty and peace and memories they embrace.
Soon the weekenders swoop in for a day here, an overnight there — families juggling diverse schedules of work and sports activities and dual homes — usually within a commutable radius. Not unlike the area’s much loved wildlife inhabitants, sometimes the weekenders have their young in tow and sometimes they are out foraging — a bit happily it appears — alone.
A long, proud history of summer followers.
Close on the weekender/camp owner surge, the corps of students arrives, some to attend the traditional overnight youth camps and others to take up job posts throughout the region. They are young and enthusiastic and their school schedules provide the parameter for when many of the summer lodges and businesses are fully open and for when the boys and girls camps ring with comradeship and laughter. Without fail, some of these students will become addicted for life — to the lakes — and become the next generation of vacationers, weekenders and seasonals.
By now the area is bustling with extra people, with guests and visitors and vacationers and of course those love-to-visit-in-the-summer (and only then) relatives. It is also bustling with watercraft and roadcraft, with shoppers and browsers, with outdoor enthusiasts and event goers of all ages.
The swell of the summer resort industry is the heritage of this region. It recalls a long, proud history of summer followers, provides a recharging of traditional events and activities, sets a precedent for appreciation of what those who live here might take for granted and is an invitation for everyone no matter where they are based in the Belgrades and beyond to venture out to the lakes that beckon around every bend in the road and the hills that are covered in green.
Welcome back…. to Summertime in the Belgrades, to the region whose heartland is the lakes and waterways, to the season that so many visitors, vacationers and residents live for and love.
Although the classic Maine greeting always includes a weather remark, since the weather outside keeps changing, Summertime in the Belgrades starts this season with an ode to the predictable — the migration of people, that tide of seasonal returnees and new arrivals, who embrace the lifestyle, endorse the region and support the diverse activities our pages and the surroundings offer and do so regardless of the weather.
There is a tide of seasonal people, too — staff, columnists, advertisers and readers, both returning and new — that surface with the first issue of Summertime in the Belgrades. We welcome them all: you, the readers, definitely, but also the advertisers who make Summertime in the Belgrades possible and popular, the highly dedicated staff, and the columnists who form the frontline of communication.
This summer, weekly, Pete Kallin will be writing about the great outdoors and how great it is for all of us; Rod Johnson, a.k.a. "The Luckiest Boy," returns with a warm and wonderful look back — but not too far — in Belgrade time; Susan Gay will offer LakeSmart tips in an "a-ha" format which clarifies all those conservation terms; The Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District through Dale Kinseth and his staff will take us around the county introducing projects and problems that they work on daily; Dam Keeper/Captain Dick Greenan will provide reports on the dams and on the Great Pond Yacht Club and sailing activities; and we will be hearing from fishing guru Mike Guarino and other familiar contributors throughout the summer.
Since each summer experience may be relived but is also new each season, Summertime in the Belgrades salutes summer as a forward-looking season. Starting with the first — and the busiest — weekend in June, the events, the activities and the opportunities get bigger and better. There is a welcoming bustle to summer, a busy-ness balanced by a thankful laziness. So here’s to summer, here’s to the freedom, adventure and beauty of the open water and scenic woodland, and here’s to the seize-the-moment opportunity to step unhindered out the door and head to an activity or the nearest lounge chair.
Summer is fun, and we wish the greatest of summertime fun to you.
What is it about this time of year that gives us all the feeling that something special is going on? There’s a subtle but definite sense of enlightenment, a rekindled awareness of our surroundings, with noises and smells not heard or sensed for nearly a year. It’s not just one or two things that cause us to feel a little giddy, but a whole shopping list.
I started to name some items that seem appropriate and realized that because there were so many, I needed to break them down into categories. I ended up with four columns: smells, noises, visuals and other.
Let’s start with smells. How 'bout barbecue smoke from the neighbors grill, fresh earth from the tilled garden, mulch from the bark and leaf piles, apple blossoms and lilac buds, the list goes on. See what you can come up with.
Moving on to noises, oh yeah, and there are plenty. Let’s start with returning birds chirping their favorite songs, water running in the brooks and streams, kids yelling while playing outside after supper, a lawn mower in the distance. Two of my favorites are the peeping and croaking frogs at dusk, and it nearly goes without saying, that the loons calling is most likely to be voted #1 sound.
The visuals seem most important. Here are some: pussy willows are easy to spot before the leaves come, and, as the snow recedes, crocuses are the first color along the house foundation. The many kinds of tree buds have appeared, and especially noticeable are those of the red maples. The tulips are beautiful but short lived, and the many species of ferns down in the wet areas are popping. As snowbirds ourselves and as we cruise up the Maine turnpike around May 1, there are always comments on the bright yellow forsythia growing around the bridge abutments.
What fits into the "other" column? Perhaps the longer days, damp morning air, the warming lake, and oh yes, let’s not forget potholes in the camp roads!
All in all, this list only scratches the surface, but one thing is for sure — they all add up to the many causes of SPRING FEVER. It’s a time for new awakenings for all living things both plant and animal. Is spring your favorite time of year?
Author’s Note: By the time you read your first copy of Summertime, spring will be well on the way to summer. So enjoy what’s left of spring and welcome in the summer of 2016. Thank you for being a reader. — T.L.B.
Rule #1 of lakeside living is to never, ever put anything into the water that you wouldn’t want to drink, swim in, or find in the fish you catch and eat. If you wish your water to remain clear, not green, and free from algae and aquatic plants, remember to keep your property’s soil out of the water.
Erosion carries harmful pesticides and fertilizers into the lake and associated waterways. With soil erosion comes murky water, reduced oxygen levels for aquatic life, loss of aquatic habitat, sedimentation and loss of valuable waterfront property. And that’s not good! Here’s what you can do:
Consider a natural shoreline. Natural shorelines are buffers that generally include erosion-control fabrics, native vegetation, and rocks at the water’s edge that protect the property from waves and erosion while improving ecological features and the shoreline’s integrity.
Minimize exposure of the soil to lake water. At the waterfront, leave as many aquatic plants in place as possible to hold bottom sediments and to protect your shoreline from wind and ice action, as well as waves. Follow posted boating speed limits and obey no-wake zones.
Cover bare soil. Plant bare soil as quickly as possible with an appropriate vegetative cover, such as sod or seed. Mulch the area with straw to prevent erosion until the seeds germinate, then leave the living root in the soil.
Make use of woody debris. Incorporate large woody debris, such as stumps, logs and tree trunks to provide essential aquatic habitat and stabilize shorelines.
Add some aquatic and wetland plants. If you have an existing structural seawall and are not ready to try a completely natural shoreline, supplement the area on the waterfront side with native aquatic vegetation to help restore lost habitat and on the upland side incorporate a plant buffer. Contact the KCSWCD or your local USDA-NRCS for suggested plants. Many local nurseries are also beginning to carry such plants. They are becoming familiar with LakeSmart principles and can help you apply those.
Control invasive aquatic plants on your property. With the help of the KCSWCD and the USDA-NRCS, you can learn how to identify and remove aquatic invasive plant species without spreading their growth. Contact the Maine DEP or visit their website. You can also contact your local watershed association for good reference material, or visit the Maine Lakes Resource Center in Belgrade Lakes Village.
You can also begin to identify and manage terrestrial invasives. These are the plants that grow around your property and compete with native species. Check the Maine Natural Areas Program website for good reference material.
Tadpole Patrol is the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed’s innovative and immersive learning experience aboard the Otter II, our 22' pontoon boat. For 11 years, children have boarded our "floating classroom" to learn about lake ecology and how to test and protect water quality. Today, we offer five different versions of Tadpole Patrol for children of all ages to explore, play and learn outdoors in the Cobbossee Watershed!
The Tadpole Patrol program offers five different levels of lake exploration. Level 1 is the original Tadpole Patrol program geared for children entering grades 2-4. At this level, children will experience the ecology of the lake through exploration, observing wildlife both in and out of the water and learn the basics of water testing with professional equipment!
The second level is TP IILake Science Investigators (LSI) and is for children entering grades 4-6. Level II investigators become "science investigators" as they practice their observation and data collection skills with their own keepsake journal. Participants are able to view aquatic life using an underwater camera and begin to learn about identifying native and non-native plant species as well as the threat of invasive aquatic plants to the area.
TP3-Jr. Lake Monitors is the third level offered for youth entering grades 6 and up. Level 3 participants continue their scientific investigations as they are educated to conduct proper water quality date measurements themselves and will compare their collected data with data recorded by the scientists at Cobbossee Watershed District. Our fourth version, Spotter’s Amphibious Adventures is for children ages 8 and older where both land and water are explored! Participants cruise with the Friends to a private island to explore, learn all about the importance of riparian areas and the basics of "Leave No Trace" principles.
Lastly, we’ve heard from years that parents would like to join the Friends on our "floating classroom"! What better way to enjoy a beautiful summer day than out on the lakes with the whole family! Families enjoy an 1½ hour excursion where "kids of all ages" can observe wildlife above and below the water, share historical lake facts and experience water monitoring with professional equipment.
All Tadpole Patrol programs take place aboard the Friend’s 22′ pontoon boat, the Otter II. This "floating classroom" enables all participants to have a unique, interactive, and most importantly FUN experience that teaches them about the importance of watershed protection and water quality. The Friend’s 2016 Tadpole Patrol programs are generously supported by Clark Marine, Augusta Fuel Company and Kennebec Savings Bank. Please visit the Friends website for the 2016 Tadpole Patrol schedule and registration forms.
Greetings to the greater Belgrade Lakes Community and welcome back summer residents and visitors!
When I was growing up and there was any kind of ruckus in the house, which was pretty common with six kids, my mother would tell us to, "Take it outside!" We would then head out to the woods behind the house to find something to do.
My mother was a wise woman. Fifty years before Richard Louv wrote Last Child in the Woods in 2008, she had an innate understanding of "nature deficit disorder" and knew that direct exposure to nature is essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. Louv later proved that kids who spend a lot of time outside are healthier, have longer attention spans, and are less likely to suffer from depression or childhood obesity.
If you haven’t read Louv’s book, you should. I hope this column will inspire you to take advantage of all the outdoor recreation opportunities in our area and especially about the importance of getting youngsters outside and interacting with Mother Nature. Mother Nature is an amazing teacher. We can all learn from her.
This year was an unusually warm winter with very little snow and a very early ice-out — March 29 on Great Pond and Long Pond — about three weeks earlier than normal. The early spring was cold and windy and the water took a while to begin warming up.
Mel Croft with East Pond brookie.
Once the surface water hit about 50°F, the fish began to get active, and I caught a lot of very large bass on flies fished deep near the bottom in about twenty feet of water near dropoffs. The first ten smallmouth bass I caught this year were all in the 3-4.5 lb. range. Also, the shortened ice fishing season has left a lot of nice trout in the lakes. At least one eight-pound brown came out of Great Pond; I got a six-pounder from Long Pond; and Mel Croft has been catching both brook and brown trout in East Pond.
By the time this article is published, the water temperature will be in the mid to high 60s in most of our lakes and the bass will be in the shallows, either on beds or chasing sunfish on beds. Fast action can be had with surface poppers, jerk baits, or Senko type jigs.
Alex and Kathi Wall on The Mountain.
The hiking trails in the Kennebec Highlands and nearby Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance* properties like French Mountain, Mount Phillip, and The Mountain are beautiful, verdant, and awash in spring and early summer wildflowers like trillium and lady slippers and birds and other wildlife. The black flies have already disappeared and it has been so dry the mosquitoes are barely noticeable, especially if there is a bit of a breeze.
Hiking provides relaxation, improved fitness, and allows you to develop a new perspective about our region. My friend Kathi Wall works at the Maine Lakes Resource Center* Annex in the village and has turned The Mountain Trail into her personal Fitbit. Several times a week, she hikes a specific stretch of the trail on her lunch hour and tracks her fitness improvement by tracking how long it takes her to get to a certain point, and her pulse, and respiration rate when she gets there. At the same time she can see how the woods change with time, which flowers are blooming when, and what birds and animals are out and about.
When you are out in the woods and on the trails, please be careful and use common sense. In the third week of May, a careless hiker started a fire at the top of French Mountain that ended up burning several acres on the side of the cliffs overlooking Whittier Pond and some of the top of the mountain.
An American toad hiding under a rock next to the burned-over area on French Mountain.
A potential disaster was averted by the rapid response of fire companies from ten local towns and the Maine State Forest Service, which had two helicopters scooping water from nearby lakes in 250-gallon buckets and dropping it on the steep cliffs where the firemen couldn’t reach. The local firefighters ran over a half mile of hose to the top of the mountain and spent hours containing the fire with shovels, axes, and five gallon "Indian fire pumps" on their backs.
It actually took about three days before the fire finally burned itself out. It was a heroic effort but an unfortunate and expensive expenditure of taxpayer resources because of someone’s thoughtless careless actions. The next day I saw numerous birds like hermit thrushes, pine siskins, and various sparrows befuddled and searching for their burned out nests.
As you can see, there are plenty of recreational opportunities in the Belgrade Lakes Region. Groups like the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance lead hikes and paddles throughout the summer. Check their website for the latest schedule, which is usually included elsewhere in this paper. I will be writing about some of these trips throughout the summer in future editions of this column. In the meantime, take a kid fishing, hiking, or paddling in a canoe. Or take a parent, so they can become a kid again.
A fire hose snakes across the top of French Mountain and a patch of burned ground.
*In December 2017, the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance (BRCA) and the Maine Lakes Resource Center (MLRC) merged, forming the 7 Lakes Alliance. Now retired, Pete Kallin is a past director of the BRCA.
