When Camps Contribute To Water Quality

by Esther J. Perne

At the East Pond Association meeting in Oakland this summer, three camps received distinguished LakeSmart awards, particularly for reducing runoff into the lake, and among them they represent the range of fishing, lodging and youth camps that have provided the rhythm of the Belgrades for well over a century.

The three camps: Alden Camps, Camp Manitou, and Sadulsky's Camps are part of East Pond's unique heritage. They also are part of a unique "clean water" future.

Alden Camps, founded in 1911, is a traditional fishing camp — one of four left in the Belgrade chain — with sleeping cabins near the lake and a central dining room with a meal plan. In a way fishing camps took over where the grand hotels on the lakes left off. They provided, and still do, the opportunity for families to vacation together while enjoying individual recreational pursuits. In addition to LakeSmart award for work accomplished on their waterfront, Alden Camps also was cited for a cumulative 5-year contribution of nearly $25,000 to East Pond's Courtesy Boat Inspector fund from guests responding to a line item on Alden Camps' billing form asking if they would like to donate.

Sadulsky's Camps, founded in 1948, offers completely furnished housekeeping cottages on the lake where guests cook their own meals. Such camps became very popular with the advent of the family automobile and improved roads. Sadulsky's has received a LakeSmart Letter of Commendation for work accomplished in preventing runoff.

Camp Manitou, founded in 1947, is an overnight camp for boys with an emphasis on sports and waterfront activities, camping, arts and enrichment programs. While providing memories of a lifetime for innumerable campers, Camp Manitou is also providing the standards of LakeSmart. Although there are and have been — one historic count lists a total of 20 — other camps on East Pond that are a vital part of the lake community, the award recipients at the lake association meeting this summer are especially significant because, following last summer's alum treatment to prevent algae blooms, East Pond — and all of the Belgrade lakes — are entering a new era.

As presented by Mel Croft, Director of LakeSmart for East Pond: the alum treatment is done; what do we do next? We do LakeSmart, which includes installing buffers, creating canopies, diverting runoff, mulching bare soil areas and pathways and updating septic systems. Being LakeSmart is keeping phosphorus out of the lake. And, being LakeSmart is helping the alum treatment to last.

LakeSmart, according to Mel, is about recognition. Some properties on East Pond are already LakeSmart, many are close, many more are being worked on and three camps received recognition at the annual meeting: Alden, Manitou, and Sadulsky's.

Some Things Do Not Change

by Rod Johnson

Over the last several years we've heard a lot of conversations and read many articles about change. People say this has changed, that has changed, are the changes good or bad, what do you think of the changes and so on.

We often hear that young people don't appreciate what they have and that the old folks are always saying negative comments about on-going issues, be it local or national. Then, it's that our government has lost its direction and no longer works for the people and that people are obsessed with their cell phones and don't talk to each other verbally.

I could go on and on and am sure you could as well. But here's the thing: we are not going down that road today. Yes, some or most of the above may have some truth to it but today let's stick to many of the things in are life that do not change.

As summer slides on through its time, both Doris and I are continually noting the number of things that do not change, including emotions that are as old as we are. Just for the fun of it, we made a list of likely candidates. The list became too long for a story so we picked the top ten. Among them are the joys of sitting on a porch in a rocker, stopping for ice cream when the whim hits you, having family and friends gather for picnics and cookouts, planting and tending your precious garden and flowers, making and eating fresh berry jams and jellies, stargazing on a perfect night, going for a swim, basking in the glow of a camp fire, taking boat rides, napping in a hammock, and last — by grandchildren's decree — making and eating s'mores! Whoops, that made eleven I think.

It seems comforting to enjoy our list and very nostalgic, too. No matter how many summers slide by, like old friends the list never waivers, except to grow longer. If you haven't done so yet, make your list and stick it on the fridge or cabin wall.

This story was inspired yesterday morning at 6 a.m. when we looked out to a row of empty wooden rocking chairs on the porch. A very slight breeze caused them to move slightly, as if calling for some occupants. We poured the first cup of coffee and obliged the fine old chairs, soon sensing that some things don't change. The rockers became the first on our list as we wondered how many before us have rocked in these one-hundred-year-old chairs and how many will in the future. It's the simplest things in life that we should cling to.

Short On Rainfall

by Dick Greenan

The recent afternoon showers and occasional thunderstorms have been of some relief for our farmers and gardeners but have been of little benefit to our water levels. As of this writing we have received just 0.76″ of precipitation in the past 10 days with just 0.36″ forecasted for the next 10! We are in this weather pattern with the occasional afternoon shower and humidity but we are still very short of our normal 3.25″ of precipitation for the month. Hopefully we can do better!

Despite the recent showers, all of our ponds are still dropping. Great Pond is now right at full pond with both gates still completely closed. Long Pond is 1.68″ below full which, considering the lack of significant rain, is still in good shape. Salmon is also feeling the effects of the lack of precipitation and is now 4″ below full.

While you're looking out for the rocks near shore, you might give an even wider berth and observe Maine's 200′, no-wake zone! It's there for a multitude of reasons, erosion of our shorelines, the washing out of nesting birds and damage to property to name just a few. No wake, means just that: No Wake.

Enjoy the family, your vacation and this beautiful weather!

Dick Greenan is secretary to the Belgrade Lakes Watershed Dams Committee. He submitted this report on 8/1.

Pump It!

by Sabine Fontaine

What a leach field should look like. Photo courtesy of Maine Lakes Society.

When was the last time you had your septic pumped? If you don't know, you're not alone. A septic system contains two parts: a tank which holds and separates household waste and a leach field which filters pollutants from the liquid waste. One check you can do yourself is walk around on your leach field to ensure it is dry and solid underfoot. Make sure there is no odor, and clear the field of any woody vegetation. You can also look downhill from the septic. If the vegetation is greener and more vigorous there, your leach field might be leaking!

When it is functioning properly, the system protects pollutants from entering the lake. LakeSmart recommends have a regular pumping schedule with your service provider. If you haven't had it pumped in the last 6 years, do so! Service the system at least every 6 years just to make sure everything is functioning as it should. If you don't know where your leach field is, find it! Check your records for drawings of the septic location, and contact a septic inspector to check it out. Remember: if you don't know where it is, you can't be sure it's not leaking into the lake!!

Local Author Makes Good On A Dream

When Holly J. Martin was growing up in Norridgewock, she spent hours reading at the Norridgewock Library. When she was a young mother she spent hours making up stories for her children. When she embarked on a long working career, Holly spent years thinking about the books she would write…sometime. She had an ambitious plan for ten romance novels, following the separate lives of ten siblings from Maine.

Today, Holly is a published author of six books — five from her long-planned Johnson Family series plus a new novella. She is still working full time but she is writing, too, and is now on the sixth book in her series.

"I try to write every day, at least one paragraph," says Holly, who started writing her books in 2015 and had the first one published in 2017. "I never want it to be a regret that I didn't do it," she states.

Although Holly had plotted out her books over the years and knows the whole story before she writes it, one circumstance that led her to finally put them on paper four years ago was her husband's involvement with refereeing evening basketball games — time that she spent writing. It's a good arrangement, says Holly, adding "My husband is one of my first proofreaders."

Like many Mainers, Holly has wonderful childhood settings to draw on and uses Maine people and places — with changed names — to create her characters and situations. Her favorite memory is camping all her growing up years with her Grandparents each summer on Moose Pond but that, she says, she is saving for a nonfiction book.

For fans of romance books and of authors who follow through on their dreams, Holly's novels may be purchased on Amazon or through Barnes and Noble. The titles in the Johnson Family series include: Princess, Harmony, Heaven, Sweet Love, and the novella My Maine Man. Not related to the series is Divine Risk.

For more information, visit the author's website.

Kids Books for Reading Aloud

by Martha F. Barkley

There are many, many moon books to celebrate our landing on the moon, but maybe your are "mooned out" as I read in the Boston Globe recently and laughed out loud. One evening I sat by the lake and lit my bug candles, watching the orange moon ascend into the dark sky and shimmer across the lake. What a wonder moonlight is on Great Pond! The night sky is starlit and often moonlit, magically there to see, if we just look up, all around our chain of lakes every evening.

At bedtime it is time to read aloud a great story about Astronaut Scott Kelly, My Journey to the Stars, a more recent happening in the news. This 2018 picture book is a William and Joan Alfond gift to our Belgrade Library. Many others given by them are on the shelves to be explored.

With twins Mark and Scott Kelly, the only twins in our NASA program, it gave scientists in the U.S. a special gift to study. How would an earthbound twin's body compare to his identical twin brother in space for a long period of time: A FULL YEAR working and living on ISS (International Space Station)? He returned from space a couple inches taller, other changes to study as well.

Illustrator Andre Ceolin from Brazil carefully shows the twins growing up in Orange, New Jersey and many photos, too, help complete the story of their U.S. Navy fighter pilot training and later space shuttle careers in Houston, Texas. I was fascinated with the multiple oranges and lemons Scott could juggle while in gravity-free space. Count them together, many more than five or six! His floating eyeglasses while he was tied down sleeping was another revealing picture.

Photos of Houston and New Orleans and the Bahama Islands from space were new to me. When you read to the kids in your family, you will always learn something new. If not from the book, you will learn something new about your young reader in your lap. How precious read aloud time is…

Did you happen to see some of the bikers in our area on the Trek Across Maine? They rode through all day long on their way to Colby College for overnight. I happened to see a few go by near the Belgrade Post Office where a police officer helped at that tricky intersection.

There was a man and woman on a tandem bike waving at me and an elderly man wearing a straw hat pulled over to rest. My husband was driving to Oakland and saw the riders with the famed unicycle guy! He had his backpack balanced above his shoulders, yes he did! His photo appeared in many local newspapers.

Go Fly a Bike! by Bill Haduch is a book full of all kinds of bicycle history and adventures. The author has also published picture books about volcanoes, science fair secrets, and food, if you want to read more chock full of facts pages.

After watching the 2019 Tour de France for 21 days, I found page 68 especially interesting with Greg Lemond, our first U.S. winner, three different years. What an achievement in a European sport way back in 1986- 1990. Now it is becoming more common in the U.S. with better bike paths and safer bike lanes. Chapter 12 was helpful, "Take a ride. You'll feel better". Physical and mental changes in your body as you exercise, biking or walking or whatever you enjoy.

I must admit that Professor Kickstand Cycling Advice did not help me, but maybe your young reader could shed some light on his humor for you and me, the adults.

Illustrator Chris Murphy "zoomed down a steep hill on his red tricycle [at age three] and has loved biking ever since. He currently rides a red mountain bike and still relishes zipping down steep hills". His cartoon illustrations will keep the very young non reader interested as you read aloud before bedtime. Or maybe on a rainy day inside? In a simple ABC book I discovered "Q" is for "Quoddy pilot…a fishing boat used in the Lubec area. The Quoddy is similar to the Friendship sloop". Can you tell that I am from "away" when I learn from ABC books, too? Children's books are sometimes better than all the others, especially when shared with the kids.

Blackout by John Rocco is a Caldecott Honor book checked out over 20 times so far since 2011. Guess everyone has experienced loss of electricity at the lake and other places. This is a hot, city story.

Margaret and the Moon by Dean Robbinx shows how a girl who loves math turns into a history-making "computer" (mathematicians were called computers then) who was consulted for the moon landing. I loved the Hidden Figures movie and adult book about this special woman and her leadership, hard earned, at NASA. "Soon Margaret became director of software programming for NASA's Project Apollo, leading dozens of scientists."

Katherine Johnson was the human computer that John Glenn, first flight in space around the earth, consulted. Glenn's much delayed flight offered time for Johnson's human computations, double checking the trajectory. The movie version shrinks the time for her computations which were probably days long, not minutes…

Margaret Hamilton saved the first lunar landing, years later, in Margaret and the Moon. Women and human computers were always essential in our first space travels. Thank heavens for girls who love math and pursue their interest in the government sponsored NASA programs. Margaret had done some work at Howard University in Washington, DC as she pursued her career later at M.I.T.

The Right Stuff was another great movie and also book that Scott Kelly read and helped propel him into his future.

If you are hot with summer days, try cooling off with this winter story, When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge. Another popular gift given by the Alfond Children's Book Fund. Just the winter scenes of powdery snow and perfect ice by illustrator Matt Jones will chill you before going to bed. Also, the air conditioned library is a pleasant visit for the whole family…

A Grandkid Returns

by Pete Kallin

Grandson Nathan drives the boat.

Two weeks ago, we got a brief visit from our granddaughter Maddy, when her parents dropped her off on the way to delivering her older brother to Jazz Camp at UMaine Farmington. This week, my wife attended a morning jazz concert and picked up her older brother Nathan, when his camp ended. She brought him home and fed him leftover lobster from the night before. The weather remained hot and humid so the afternoon turned into a movie at the air-conditioned Narrow Gauge Cinema followed by dinner at Uno Mas in Farmington.

The next day, Nathan arose at the crack of noon and we enjoyed a hearty brunch of scrambled eggs with freshly foraged yellow chanterelle and black trumpet mushrooms and fresh-picked blueberries. Nathan and I then headed out in the boat for a bit of fishing and exploring the lake, including a stop at Day's Store Lakeside Scoops for ice cream.

We caught quite a few fish and spent a lot of time cooling off in the water, including swimming and snorkeling in "The Graveyard" in lower Long Pond. While we were snorkeling, we scraped aufwuchs, the epiphytic algae growing on the rocks) with our fingers and had the sunfish nibbling snacks off our fingers.

Pete Kallin, standing at left, addresses North Pond Association members and families aboard the Melinda Ann.

Later we headed home in time to prepare a delicious dinner of Long Pond rainbow trout filets grilled with leftover lobster butter and tarragon, with more blueberries. After a good night's sleep, Nana took Nathan home by way of lunch at Panera's and shopping at Barnes and Noble. It always amazes me how much eating and sleeping a teenage boy can do in a few days. Next month, Nathan and the rest of his family are headed to Alaska for a couple of weeks of hiking and camping.

Later in the week, we towed the Maine Lakes Society's 30-ft floating classroom Melinda Ann to North Pond, and I led a couple of voyages with North Pond Association adults and kids to teach them about water quality measurements and give them hands on experience measuring Secchi depths, doing plankton tows, taking a benthic samples, and measuring the temperature-oxygen profile in the lake. The Secchi depth of 4.22 meters was considerably clearer than last summer's readings of less than 2 meters.

Young Matteo smiles, having caught a nice bass.

When the trips were done, I headed back toward the boat launch when I got a call from Caroll Bubar, who was supposed to tow the boat back to Rome, saying he was running about fifteen minutes late. Luckily, I happened to have a flyrod with me in the boat and I managed to catch a couple of nice white perch while fishing where Bog Stream enters North Pond while waiting for Caroll. About two hours later, we enjoyed fresh fish for dinner, an added bonus to a fun day.

At about the same time, Mike Guarino was fishing with a family spending some time vacationing at Salmon Lake, when 7-year-old Matteo landed a lunker bass. It's great to see young kids out learning to fish and making fond memories.

This area offers some great outdoor recreation, whether you like to hike, bike, birdwatch, fish, sail, or paddle a canoe or kayak. Pick up a map of the local trails at Day's Store or from the 7 Lakes Alliance at the Maine Lakes Resource Center. Also, please check the 7-LA Facebook page for details on some interesting events scheduled this summer. Check the website and keep an eye on the sign out front. And make sure you take a kid along on your next outdoor adventure.

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