Beyond the South End on Hiatus

"Beyond the Southend" is officially on hiatus until mid-August. I will bring you the Maine report when I return from my Maine vacation which starts July 27. I have updated the Thomaston Library News which includes one item for August. See you in Maine!

Common Sense and Politics?

 

I don’t do politics. Common sense dictates that if you want to keep a friend you don’t discuss two topics with them: Religion and Politics. Who can make any “common sense” out of what our politicians are talking about today anyway?

Here in Georgia the political ads are driving me crazy. I sit with remote in hand during the evening so that I can mute them every time they come on. It’s just one backstabbing statement after another it seems. Who wants to listen to that and, even more importantly, who wants to vote for the politicians who “approve this ad?”

That being said, I must put my thoughts on paper and disperse them out there on the internet this one time because things are getting out of hand up there in Maine. If I am going to be repatriated to my beloved State of Maine in the near future, there is one thing you all have to do for me before I get there. Get rid of Governor LePage!

There I’ve said it. Does this man ever say anything nice about anybody in Maine or any institution in Maine? He has essentially called Maine’s college graduates idiots and says that out-of-state corporations will laugh at you when you apply for a job if you say you graduated from a Maine college. Well I’m here to tell you that I graduated from one of those same Maine colleges and I have never run into any potential employer who scoffed at my education when I applied for an out-of-state job.

Publisher of the Courier Gazette, Reade Brower, recently quoted the Governor in one of his columns. It was the last straw as far as I was concerned because it struck home big time this time around.

It seems Governor LePage thinks that Social Security and Medicare are welfare handouts. The quote goes something like this: “It doesn’t matter what liberals call these payments it is welfare, pure and simple.” He calls them handouts disregarding that most of the money put into Social Security comes from contributions of working Americans and is taken out by the same.

Excuuuuuuuse me? I collect both of those benefits for which I contributed to for all of my adult working life. By the way, Medicare doesn’t come free. A certain amount is taken out of my Social Security each month to pay my portion of it. On top of that, I carry supplemental health insurance because Medicare doesn’t pay for everything.

The man who calls himself governor of my beloved State of Maine, is THE most misinformed man I’ve ever come across. Who is feeding him this stuff? I see by his bio that he went to Husson College in Maine and the University of Maine. Was he ever afraid to apply for a job out- of- state because he was a Maine college graduate? I know he had a difficult childhood and was basically a street kid at an early age and I applaud him for getting through all that and being a survivor, but this Governorship ride has to end for him now. He was a businessman before and I’m sure he can start his own business after stepping down and do well at it.

LePage put in papers to run for Governor again in 2014 way back in 2011. Guess he figures he needs to try to gather up his cohorts early on. I sincerely hope his campaign is not successful this time. I’ll smile and wish him well as he steps out of the Governor’s office door one last time up in Augusta.

According to Brower, the Governor tried to backtrack of his statement about Social Security and Medicare. However the press release containing this statement was written by whom? Why the Governor of course. He says he was “misunderstood and that the meaning of what he meant distorted.” What?

I’ve come to think that this man makes these outrageous statements just so he will make the evening news that night in case we forget who he is. Well he’s succeeded in that respect at least. As for myself, I can’t wait for him to be long forgotten.

As I said at the beginning of this tirade, I don’t do politics. Therefore I do not want to get into any political debate with any of you. Don’t send me email please. I just wanted to vent. I don’t care who is elected the next Governor of the State of Maine as long as it isn’t LePage. I also don’t care what political party they belong to as long as they don’t have the same views as LePage. Can you all up there do me this one big favor and vote for an informed man or woman this time around? I would appreciate it greatly.

(My muses for this blog were the comedians George Carlin and the sometimes funny Lenny Bruce. Maybe I should look into being a stand-up comedian myself.)

Thanks for listening.

 

Memories Rising With the Flames in Machias

 

Most people in Maine will probably agree that there are two restaurant landmarks located on Route 1. The first is Moody’s in Waldoboro and the second is Helen’s On Rt. 1 just before the dike that crosses the mouth of the Middle River, where it joins the Machias River in Machias. Both restaurants have been in business for over 50 years and both have seen one or more generations carry on the business. I have written about Moody’s before in this space. Today I must bring you the story of a very special place in my heart which burned to the ground this past Friday. That place is Helen’s.

I will bring you my memories of Helen’s later on in this story. First we must report on this terrible fire. Tim Cox of the Bangor Daily News did a terrific job in his reporting of the event. Many of the pictures of the fire come from him. I will highlight his report here, but for the full story, go to the BDN site.

The fire started in the early hours of July 11. Crews from many surrounding towns came to assist in the fire, but they were not able to extinguish the fire, but only contain it. Owners, David and Julie Barker could see the restaurant from their home atop a hill in Machias. Julie heard the sirens, looked out and saw smoke coming from the restaurant, and she and David then drove to the site. At first they thought they might get away with a little smoke damage and only be closed down for a couple weeks or so, but soon the whole restaurant was engulfed. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Governor LePage in a news release said, “Helen’s is a Maine landmark…this is a true loss for the owners, David and Julie Barker, as well as the Down East community.”

The estimated loss was $1 million to $1.5 million to rebuild. The owners have insurance and intend to rebuild with a hopeful opening date of next spring. Fifty people are employed at the restaurant during the peak summer season with a weekly payroll of about $10,000, according to Barker. Julie said, “Our only concern is for our Helen’s family—our co-workers.” If you would like to donate to the fund to help out the employees check the end of this blog.

Dave and Julie Barker, present owners of Helen’s.

 



 

 

Pictures of the Fire

Here are some of Tim’s pictures of the fire on Friday.

 

 

 

 

In 2005, Life Magazine named Helen’s blueberry pie as the best in America. This is what was left of one of those pies after the fire.

 

I cried when I watched this video on YouTube. It seems as though one good memory after another rose with the flames above our dear Helen’s.

 

 

The History of Helen’s and my History with Helen’s

 

 

 

This is the original Helen’s I remember. When I arrived in Machias to go to college at Washington State Teachers College (now University of Maine at Machias) which stood on a hill above the dam, this Helen’s had been open about 10 years, or since 1950.  I believe these are the original owners standing by the door, Larry and Helen Mugnai. We can assume that Helen gave her name to the restaurant. Sixty-four years later it is still going strong.

Bob and Joan Carter purchased Helen’s in 1976. Since then it has been passed down to one family member after another until David and Julie Barker bought it from his mother in 1983. He is the third family member to operate the restaurant.

Helen’s was originally located up on Main Street in the center of town. Because of the crowds waiting up the street and poor parking, the business was moved to its present location. The Carters also opened the Machias Motor Inn next door to the restaurant in 1988.

My memories of Helen’s are probably the same as the generations of college students who have passed through their doors since 1950. I remember Larry as being a quiet, yet friendly man. I suspect he fed more poor college students than we’ll ever realize. He used to have a small filing box with cards in it with students’ names on them. It was the record of their tab at Helen’s. Once in a while Larry would gently remind a student that their tab might need to be lessened a little, but he was never demanding. As far as I know, when students graduated from WSTC, they always divied up with Larry before they left town. It became a matter of respect for Larry because he was so warmly loved by all of us.

I also remember the boycott of our dorm food program. It was pretty darn awful and we students decided to boycott the service even though we paid for it in our tuition fees. It was a big expense for most of us, but if we could, we’d head down to Helen’s to see what we could manage to eat for supper. At other times we made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; or popped corn in our corn poppers in our room; or made soup in them as well. They were the kind of poppers popular at that time before microwaves when they were metal and round like a regular cooking pot.

The boycott worked eventually. The chief cook was fired and a cafeteria style system was set up so we could pick and choose what we wanted instead of relying on whatever the “family-style” system chose to give us that day.

I also remember one friend who made an arrangement with the school to not pay for school food and instead she ate exclusively at Helen’s. The reason she gave was that the dorm food didn’t agree with her system.

It was a long and cold walk in the winter up and down that hill and across the bridge with that cold wind off the water threatening to blow you over. Very few of us had cars, but we willingly gravitated to our favorite hangout at every opportunity. Helen’s may have gone up in flames, but our memories really didn’t go up in flames too. Most of us, who graduated, even 50 years ago like me, can still see ourselves sitting down amongst our friends to enjoy a meal at Helen’s.

Donations for the Employees

As mentioned before there is a fundraising site for the employees at Helen’s who will be out of work because of the fire. Unless you are a fisherman or lobsterman down that way, jobs are hard to come by. You can find this site at http://www.gofundme.com/bddzng. The goal is $20,000 of which $19,734 has been raised to date. However, if the weekly payroll runs to about $10,000 it seems to me that 50 people will need more than that. Therefore, maybe the goal should be broadened.

If you were ever a student of WSTC or UMM, I urge you to support these wonderful people we all came to know and love. If the rest of you can see it in your hearts to support a wonderful landmark institution, so much the better.

Thanks for listening.

Sail, Power & Steam Museum

This picture was posted on Facebook on July 14. The sloop as it comes out of the shed.

 

After all these years "PERSISTENCE" is making her debut!

 

BIG PARADE...LAUNCHING

AUGUST 14, 2 pm

SNOW MARINE PARK

 

 

 

 

Maine—the Ultimate Vacation Destination

From the sandy beaches in York and Ogunquit in southern Maine to the northern most Baxter State Park up in Aroostook County, Maine has a vacation destination to please everyone. There are activities galore and many outdoor areas to enjoy. Here are just a few suggestions. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce office in the area in which you are visiting. In the coastal area go to the Penobscot Regional Bay Chamber of Commerce. In Camden they can be found at 2 Public Landing (by the harbor one block off U.S. Rt. 1); phone 207-236-4404; in Rockland at 1 Park Dr. also by the harbor, phone 207-596-0376.

This blog is by no means a complete guide. I only offer the tip of the Maine woods so to speak. Asking local people for good spots to visit is always a good bet. If you want to plan ahead, however, I suggest you obtain a Maine guide book. Much of the information below came from a magazine I got from the Chamber called “Maine Invites You” which is available at www.visitmaine.com.  A great magazine regarding the coastal area is “Discover the Jewel of the Maine Coast” from the Pen Bay Chamber at www.mainedreramvacation.com.  Hit the pulldown “Visit Here.”

 

 

 

 

 

Birders

Are you a “birder?” For a Maine birder experience, contact the Maine Audubon society www.maineaudobon.org. You can obtain a Maine trail brochure at visitor information centers, the Maine Tourism Association or by downloading it from www.mainebirdingtrail.com.

Lighthouses

If you are a lighthouse lover like I am, you may want to take a trip around the coastal area visiting them. In Rockland, check out the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse or the Owls Head Lighthouse. These coastal beacons have saved many a sailor in Maine. Although there are no longer any manned lighthouses, their lights still shine the way for all the ships at sea. Check in with the Island Institute on Main Street in Rockland for information and visit the Lighthouse Museum, also in Rockland.  There is a great historical sight for Maine lighthouses at www.lhdigest.com. For more information go to:

 www.visitmaine.com/attractions/sightseeing.tours/lighthouses.

Island Hopping

Enjoy a great day visiting one of the hundreds of islands off the coast of Maine. From Casco Bay to Muscongus Bay, there are islands everywhere you look. The Maine State Ferry located in Rockland makes daily trips to Vinalhaven and North Haven and occasionally to the more distant Matinicus. Be sure to make overnight accommodations in advance because lodging is limited. Some islands are connected by bridges such as Orrs, Bailey, Southport, and Spruce Head which will give you a taste of island life without having to board a boat.

You may want to take an island cruise from Harpswell, which has the most islands (200+) of any town in Maine.

Other trips include Islesboro, which is a ferry ride from Lincolnville Beach and Monhegan, long known as an artist’s Mecca, which is accessible from passenger boats from Port Clyde, New Harbor and Boothbay Harbor.

If you can take along a bicycle with you, it will be a great way to explore the island you choose.

 

 

 

Lakes and Rivers

If Minnesota is the “land of many lakes,” Maine surely is a close second. You can’t swing a lobster buoy over your head without it landing in a piece of water of some kind other than the ocean. Just about every town is close to a swimming area such as a pond or lake. There are also canoeing trips down some of our rivers like the Allagash in Aroostook County. Of course for every lake, there is a camping area if camping is your desire.

For information on canoe trips on the Allagash go to www.maineoutfitter.com. Information on self-guided tours as to miles and days to complete as well as a guided tour schedule can be found here.

The Rangeley Lakes in western Maine is the biggest area of lakes in Maine. It is a wilderness paradise. Families have come from points out-of-state for generations to spend their summers here. You will find world-class fly fishing and trolling for brook trout and landlocked Salmon here. Maine Guides will help you get the most enjoyment out of your visit. Information can be found at www.rangeleymaine.com.

State Parks and Mountains

Our two most well-known state and national parks are located at Acadia National Park in the Bar Harbor area; and Baxter State Park in Aroostook County.

Acadia was known as a playground for the rich during the glory days of summering in Maine. A terrible fire in 1947 and the introduction of Federal Income taxes just about ruined the area as far as spending the season on Mt. Desert Island and the area around it. It is still a beautiful area to visit. Take a ride along Cadillac Mountain and take in the fantastic view of the shoreline.

Baxter State Park sits atop Maine in Aroostook County and is a preserved wooded area that covers a big chunk of the northern section of Maine. Our tallest mountain, Mt. Katadin, is here. Although it doesn’t compare to the Rocky Mountains as far as height goes, it is still a great place to camp and hike. It is a protected area, so don’t expect to launch your big powerful motor boats here. As far as I know they still do not permit motorized boats on the biggest lake in Maine, Moosehead Lake, which sits within the park. Be prepared to swat at the black flies that abound in summer in this area.

 

 

Sailing on the Coast of Maine

Is sailing your joy? I will board any boat that sits in the water up in Maine, from a rowboat to a ferry to a windjammer. Visit the Public Landing in Rockland or most any town along the coast and search out a booth that is selling tickets for an hour’s time or so around the bay where you are. Ask the locals.

If a longer trip on a windjammer is what you’d like go to:

www.mainewindjammercrusies.com. Here you will find the Windjammer fleet along with the schedules for each individual windjammer.

My trip on the Victory Chimes years ago is something I’ll always remember.

 

If you’d like to see what the “rockbound” coast of Maine is all about I recommend a trip down to Pemaquid Point, Maine. I spent many a happy afternoon running over these rocks sans life jacket with my twin cousin, Diane. There is a lighthouse, a gift shop and an ice cream parlor here also. This is where Maineiacs go to unwind. There is also a beach area here if you want to brave the cold waters to go swimming. The best surf watching can be seen here, especially after a hurricane or bad storm. Tourists don’t usually know about this special place and Maineiacs may not like the fact that I’m telling you about it here, but oh well.

Museums

For an artsy day take in a museum or two. Rockland is museum central as far as museums go. Check out the Farnsworth Museum, the Andrew Wyeth Museum, the new museum off Main Street which I cannot remember the name of, and the many art galleries that abound along Main Street and surrounding streets. There are also many museums in small towns around the coast. The Penobscot Marine Museum is in Searsport; there is a maritime museum in Boothbay; and there is also an historical museum at the state capitol in Augusta. The many festivals you will find in the summer will usually have an artist or two in residence displaying their beautiful coastal scenes and other beautiful spots in Maine on canvas. Buy one to remember Maine by.

 

 

 

Shopping

Of course any trip to Maine must include a trip to the famous LL Bean in Freeport, Maine. I remember when it used to be a little store along the side of the road up Waldoboro way that sold Indian beaded moccasins my mother would never buy me.

Not so today. LL Bean has more than one beautiful store in Freeport. The whole town is a shopping Mecca with a mall also full of well known brand name stores. It’s a day trip to be sure. Plan to spend several hours and enjoy a lobster roll from an outside wagon restaurant.

The town itself is quaint in itself even if it centers mostly on shopping. A nice sunny day in Freeport can’t be beat.

By the way, did you know that LL Bean runs Discovery Schools featuring outdoor activities during the summer? If you are interested call 1-800-718-2326 for information.

Come and Visit Maine

I hope I have given you a good overview of the many vacationing opportunities that await you in the Great State of Maine this summer. Come on up and enjoy it.

Thanks for listening.

Sea Princesses Named for 2014 Lobster Festival

Here are your 2014 Lobster Festival Princesses, all vying for the title of Sea Goddess. These pictures come from the Penobscot Bay Pilot, June 20. If you have a story to tell about any of these young ladies, I’d be happy to post them. Also, if you have special Lobster Festival memories to share, we’d be happy to post them too. There has to be many memories out there as the Festival has been going on now since 1948. Which one of the ladies this year is your favorite? Take a look.

 

Carrie Ann Milner

Lincolnville

2014 graduate of

Camden Regional High School

Daughter of Alvin and Cheryl Milner

 

Isabella Sgobbo Garver

Owls Head

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of William and Andrea Garver

 

Karly McKenzie Robinson

Rockland

2014 graduate of

Ocean High School

Daughter of Amy Stendel of Rockland and

Chip Robinson of Thomaston

 

Kimberly Nicole Young

Rockland

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School East

Daughter of Jeremy Young and Stacy Brown

 

Liberty Logan McKnight

Thomaston

2014 graduate of

Hebron Academy

Daughter of Aimee Liberty Hunt

 

Lindsay Michelle Taylor

Rockport

2014 graduate of

Camden Hills Regional High School

Daughter of Kevin and Lynn Taylor

 

Olivia Mae Hupper

Tenants Harbor

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of Brian and Leah Hupper

 

Samantha Greer Dienesch-Calamari

Owls Head

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of George and Karen

Dienesch-Calamari

 

Shae Lexis Dunn

Union

2014 graduate of

Camden Hills Regional high School

Daughter of Steven and Janetlynne Dunn

 

Shale Paige Peters

Thomaston

2013 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of Clyson and Dyann Peters

 

Sienna Nicole Barstow

Thomaston

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of Andy and Amy Barstow

 

Tabbitha L. Johnston

Thomaston

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of Erika Petereit and

Todd Johnston

 

Taylor Louise Ankers

Rockland

2014 graduate of

Oceanside High School

Daughter of Jennifer Ankers

 

Veronica Hazel Odone

South Thomaston

2014 graduate of

MidCoast Christian Academy

Daughter of Russell and Tracy Odone

 

Sail, Power & Steam Museum

 



 

AUGUST 23, 7:30 PM

$20.00...701-7627 for reservations

 

 

 

 

By Ted Sylvester

Vacation in Arizona was visit to Paradise

This column appeared in the Bangor Daily News on May 3, 1991. It appeared here originally in June 2012. I thought it deserved a repeat since it is vacation time for many of you.

Fanny Vance

Blotville Mountain,

Blotville, Maine

Dear Aunt Fanny:

It has been a while since I wrote. But I have got to tell you about our vacation for two weeks in Arizona. If there ever was a place that could be called “Paradise in the Springtime,” it would have to be Arizona. The weather was perfect, the people friendly, and there are more sights and attractions than can be seen in just two weeks. I found it interesting that there are so many from the Northeast who have moved to Arizona that they have their own “New England Club.”

The most-often heard remark was “What recession?” There appeared to be literally hundreds of houses under construction in Sun City West, with most of them already sold. There are so many Cadillacs seen on the streets that it should be designated as the official state car. Why, Aunt Fanny, I believe that there are as many Cadillacs in Sun City as there are pickups in Rockland.

Gasoline is cheaper, as low as 95 cents a gallon for unleaded; and many food items were much cheaper than here at home. You could get a good steak dinner for $7.95 that also included a country band and all the dancing you could stand. Great place, The Barn. The drummer in the band was from New Hampshire. The best meal we had was at Rawhide in Phoenix, a Western-style village that featured a hayride and a barbecue of steak and beans. This also featured country music.

I did notice, however, that Maine lobster at the supermarket cost $11.98 a pound.

We took in all the famous sights, including Grand Canyon—you have to see it to believe it—and Lake Havasu City, the state’s second leading tourist spot. This is where the London Bridge was erected in the desert and the Colorado River diverted to make the lake. By the way, the captain of the tour boat, Capt. Claude Beriau, is from Worcester, Mass. If you ever get there be sure and take his boat ride. Its great fun and very informative.

We also visited Montezuma Castle, which are centuries-old Indian ruins, and Biosphere 2, a scientific experiment to see if people can survive in an enclosed environment for two years. The giant greenhouse-like structure is the size of three football fields end-to-end. One of the eight scientists who will be involved with the experiment is Abigail Alling from Maine. She is in charge of the ocean and its species contained in the station.

Another favorite tourist attraction was Old Tucson, which is an actual movie studio built in the desert. It has been the location of hundreds of movie and television westerns. The “Young Riders” TV series was filmed here. The most recognizable spot for me was to stand in front of the old jail that was featured so many times on the Gunsmoke television series. I almost could see Festus standing out front.

There were many other sights and sounds too numerous to mention. But two exciting side trips out of Arizona were a visit to the glitzy and glamorous Las Vegas and another to Nogales, Mexico, and the culture shock of seeing children and old men begging on the streets.

Las Vegas is everything you ever heard it was. Rooms were $39 a night and the food was cheap. Steak and lobster was advertised for $6.95. One outside sign featured Maine lobster.

We went to a dinner show at the Tropicana, where the prime rib was tasteless and tough, but the show was terrific. You wouldn’t believe it, Aunt Fanny, but the beautiful dancers in the show were topless. Shocked the devil out of me and wifemate. It was evident from the money we saw being dumped into hundreds of slot machines and passed across gaming tables that nobody there had ever heard of any recession. As Mainers, wifemate and I were somewhat conservative. She spent about $3 in nickels, and when I hit a home run on the one-armed bandit for 200 quarters, and another for 150 we called it quits, almost. I sneaked back and lost about half of what I had won.

I can’t leave without mentioning that we went to Dan Quayle’s home town of Wickenburg to spend two hours of horseback riding in the desert. Quite an experience. Somewhat painful, but fun. Could not help but notice a sign there on a bridge going into town. It said “No fishing from the bridge.” It would have been impossible to begin with. There was no water. Dan couldn’t have had anything to do with this, could he?

We passed through several national forests on the way to the Grand Canyon. It was strange as there were no trees, just bushes, in most of them. There were some giant ponderosa pines at the Grand Canyon, but that’s all.

There was one sign along the highway that offered some good advice. It notified motorists that there was a federal prison nearby and warned drivers, “Do not pick up hitchhikers.”

All in all, Aunt Fanny, the trip was great fun. Expensive, but fun. I can’t wait to go back. All I need is a Cadillac.