Guest Blog--Todd McIntosh

Todd McIntosh, Class of 1959, Rockland High School

I thought you might enjoy some of the reminiscences of my fellow classmate and class president, Todd McIntosh which he added in his recent letter to me. Let me apologize for the bad picture of Todd. It’s his graduation picture and was a newspaper shot from 1959, which is the only picture I have of him.

Here’s some excerpts from his letter:

“Although not a southender, I did have a connection as my paternal grandparents, Albert and Mary McIntosh, lived at 120 South Main Street – now a portion of Jess’s Seafood parking lot, where, once, stood Knight’s store, just across the street on 119 South Main – not far from Otis and Fulton Streets.

“During the December fire of ’52, I watched the red skyline from my rheumatic fever bed during my year-long illness which kept me home during my sixth grade year.

“My father, Charles H. Sr., during his “off” natural ice-harvesting season, transported cases of Holmes Packing Corporation sardines from warehouse to the train depot on Pleasant and Union Streets. He also delivered ice to Naum & Adams (present site of Maine Boats, Home and Harbors magazine, where my daughter, Jennifer W. McIntosh, is employed) during the 1940s.

“My parents lived at 14 Clarendon Street during the mid-1930s, prior to moving to 192 Limerock Street, where I was born.”

In a Matter of Speaking

  

Today I came across a quote from my friend, Bernetta Merriweather, on Facebook. She’s a Georgia girl born and bred and I used to work with her. She’s a sweetheart. Here’s her quote:

Georgia! Where the tea is sweet and accents are sweeter, summer starts in April, front porches are wide and words are long, macaroni and cheese is a vegetable, pecan pie is a staple, y’all is a proper pronoun, chicken is fried, and biscuits come with gravy. Everyone is darling and someone is always getting their heart blessed and the plural of y’all is all y’all.

As I have lived in Georgia for about 30 years, I tend to agree with her assessment of Georgia. However, in defense of my fellow beloved Manieiacs, I’d like to answer her pronouncement. Imagine then how a Maine fisherman’s wife might answer Bernetta. It might go something like this:

Maine! Where the air is fresh and sweet and blueberry pies, picked from our fields, are sweeter, where winters are long and summer occurs usually on a Tuesday. Where “ayuh” is an all-purpose word used in agreement mostly. Where the pace is slow, same as Georgia, and friendly fish wives will invite you to sit at their breakfast table to talk and have coffee and coffee cake. Where lobster and potatoes and blueberries are king and we know how to cook ‘em up good.  Where locals are sometimes slow to warm up to you; but when you get to know a Maineiac, you have a friend for life.

Easter Crafts for the Kids

 
  

Easter Basket

A tisket, a tasket: this colorful basket is created from strips of recycled magazines. Fill your container with shredded scrap paper for a greener take on Easter grass.

Materials

• Magazine covers
• Ruler

• Scissors and craft knife
• Clear tape

Instructions

1To make the base, cut a 9-inch square from a magazine cover. Use the ruler to draw a tic-tac-toe grid across the square, then cut it as shown, leaving four tabs (these will be the 

basket's sides).

2      With the craft knife, cut four slits in each tab as shown (an adult's job). Fold the four tabs up.

3      Cut more magazine covers into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Starting at the bottom, weave the strips in and out of the slits. When one strip ends, tape it in place, then begin weaving the next strip until all the sides are covered.

4      Tape on a strip to serve as a handle.

Find more fun Easter activities for the kids, along with video instructions at www.familyfun.go.com.

Captain Sharp's Memory Album--Upcoming Events and Improvements

These are some of the recent pictures posted by Captain Jim Sharp of Rockland’s South End Sail, Power and Steam Museum on their Facebook page.

They come from his album, “Some Great Old Memories.” I’m not sure if this ship is a windjammer or not. You’d have to ask him.

The museum is located at the old Snows Shipyard location on the end of Mechanic Street. The grand opening for 2011 is May 

Check out upcoming events below and what improvements were made at the museum this winter with the help of volunteers.

The Coastal Children's Museum is open year-long. Museum hours beginning May 1 are Wednesday-Saturday 10-4; Sunday 1-4. Closed Monday-Tuesday. Enjoy a free guided tour every Wednesday at 2. If you don't see a tour guide, just call 207-701-7027 to touch bases with someone who can take you through the museum. Free harbor trips on the Rekord also take place throughout the summer. Call the museum. I enjoyed my trip very much.

An eagle from the schooner, Stephen Taber, was affixed in the lobby with the help of volunteers.

Display rooms at the museum are now connected with arches.

Update from the Museum on April 24:

We had to make a change in our May 29th event as Seamus Connolly is unable to make it. Sad that he cannot join us but it will still be a fantastic evening with Gabriel, Marian and Chris Stevens. Look forward to seeing you there!