Press
Herald - For nearly two centuries, August in the Midcoast has marked
the return of a classic tradition celebrating Maine’s agricultural heritage:
the Topsham Fair. By late morning on Sunday, the parking lot was packed for the
last day of the 174th annual weeklong event.
Visitors were greeted by a sea of vibrant carnival colors, the smell of
fried dough hanging in the air and a toddler-sized hay bale maze. Sunday was
“Children’s Day,” filled with programming like a superhero meet and greet, a
pony show and a penny scramble.
Fair President Kathi Yergin, who
started as a volunteer 14 years ago, said she enjoys creating an opportunity
for families to spend time together. She also loves watching the fair succeed.
By the end of Thursday, about 5,000 people had visited the fair, with nearly
triple that number attending Saturday night’s demolition derby — a consistent
fan favorite.
The Maine teachers union backs State Auditor Matt Dunlap for
Maine’s 2nd Congressional District
Yarmouth taps next town manager
Press Herald - More than half the state was experiencing at least moderate drought conditions as of Tuesday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor update published Thursday. A stretch of the coastline from Cumberland County up through southern Hancock County is under severe drought conditions.
A pocket covering northern Oxford and western Franklin
counties is the only part of the state that’s not seeing drought or at least
abnormally dry conditions — the level just short of drought.
The Drought Monitor estimates that about 886,000 Mainers are
now experiencing some level of drought conditions.
In a moderate drought, trees and landscaping become
stressed, wildfires and ground fires increase, hay and grain yields fall, and
reservoir and lake levels fall below normal capacity. When a drought reaches
severe level, air and water quality are typically poor, groundwater levels
drop, crop size and yields shrink, and golf courses begin to conserve water.
Maine’s drought began last summer and reached its peak in
late October. At that point, the entire state was experiencing drought
conditions, with most Mainers experiencing severe or extreme drought.
Conditions improved significantly this spring into early
summer as many areas of the state saw a stretch of above-average rainfall. Most
of Maine was free of a drought designation by late June.
But things took a turn for the worse in July, and conditions
have continued to deteriorate through much of August.
FREEPORT
Press
Herald - The "Wander in Wonder" sign marks the entrance to
the sandy dunes at the Desert of Maine in Freeport, which is celebrating its
100th anniversary this year.
Intensive farming practices in
the 1800s stripped away the topsoil at the Tuttle family’s farm in Freeport,
revealing sand dunes left behind by retreating glaciers tens of thousands of
years ago.
The 25-acre ecological oddity
became a tourist attraction by 1926, welcoming city dwellers who traveled up
Route 1 for a taste of the rural life. Today, the desert is home to mini golf,
play areas, a campground and dozens of interpretive signs and educational
activities that tell the history of the property and of Maine tourism itself.
One hundred years later, visitors
exploring the dunes at the Desert of Maine can view the early stages of forest
succession in real-time as trees start to encroach on the sandy landscape. The
desert’s staff, which just celebrated 100 years with a series of community
events, said their focus remains on blending fun and education.
Mela Jones bought the desert in
2018 with her then-husband, Doug Heestand, with the goal of transforming the
roadside attraction from what she lovingly describes as a
“largest-ball-of-string” tourist trap.
Jones is not sure what inspired
her to buy a desert, other than “insanity,” she said. Jones and Heestand were
living nearby and became fascinated with the property’s potential — which, at
the time, was listed for sale as a campground.
“That first year of giving tours,
I had so many ecologists, botanists, biologists (come),” Jones said. “At the
end of that summer, I understood what an incredible teaching tool this place
was for ecology.”
Her love for the space started
with the Tuttle family’s barn on the property, where she envisioned live
performances. The barn was taken down in 2022 to restore the original beams.
It’ll be rebuilt over the next couple of years and transformed into a performing
arts venue, Jones said.
“We’re a very mission-driven
tourist destination,” Jones said. “We just want people to have fun and engage
with this place and learn something.”
UPCOMING
Freeport Farmers Market - Saturdays now through October: Through October 8:30am – 12:30pm at the BTLT Saturday Farmers Market at Crystal Spring Farm. 277 Pleasant Hill Road, Brunswick. The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. Farmers Market was established in 1999 to advance the Land Trust’s mission of supporting local agriculture. With over forty vendors, many of whom have been with the Market since its inception, the Saturday morning market offers a variety of local, fresh produce
AUG 22
AUG 23
Town Manager's Office Drop-In → 30 Main Street, Freeport 4:00 pm
Annual Meeting with Bustins Island → 30 Main Street, Freeport 5:00 pm
AUG 27
Bandstand By The Sea, 1410 Harpswell Neck Rd., Harpswell: Pat Colwell & the Soul Sensations, 6-7:30
Town Council Gathering - An opportunity to chat with Town councilors, staff and neighbors, enjoy BBQ food, to check out the progress of Town Hall’s beautification project, including renovated pathways, picnic benches and greenery, plus the Pinecones public art. The Town will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, a vegetarian option, chips, and waters. 30 Main Street. The Town will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, a vegetarian option, chips, and waters.
Brickyard Hollow Brewing, 149 Maine St., Brunswick: Vanessa Jones, 6
Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, 68 Garrison Cove Rd., Bailey Island: Travis James Humprey, 5-8
Vesta, 424 Walnut Hill Rd., North Yarmouth: Bess Jacques Trio (Bess, piano/vocals; Evan Haines, guitar; Sheldon Perkins, drums), 4-6
Maine Biz - L.L.Bean will mark the reopening of its Freeport flagship store with a month-long series of concerts and events. The store has undergone a $50 million makeover led by Freeport-based Zachau Construction. The 120,000-square-foot store is expected to open in September, with the grand opening set for Sept. 18-20.
Events will include cameos from Boston Red Sox and Portland Hearts of Pine players, as well as the Wallflowers, the band led by Jacob Dylan that rose to prominence in the 1990s with hits like “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache.”
Events will include a grand-opening weekend, Sept. 18-20, featuring an outdoor concert with country star Kip Moore.
A so-called heritage weekend, Sept. 25-27, will feature a vintage product drop and repairs for “well-loved” apparel.
A fall festival, slated for Oct. 2-4, will feature local makers, artists, music and food, presented by Visit Freeport.
A makers weekend, Oct. 9-11, will feature demonstrations by L.L.Bean artisans at work.
The annual pumpkin festival, Oct. 16-18, will include thousands of jack-o’-lanterns as well as fall crafts, treats and activities, presented by Camp Sunshine.
Events culminate with hometown weekend, Oct. 23-25, featuring players from the Boston Red Sox and Portland Hearts of Pine. The Friday night concert will spotlight Jacob Dylan and the Wallflowers.
L.L.Bean, founded in Freeport in 1912, operates 65 stores in 19 states, along with 25 stores in Japan and 14 stores in Canada.
Twin Keys: A Love Story: Thomas Wolf with Jessica Chow Shinn and Michael Shinn, duo-pianists 2 PM Crewe Center for the Arts