Loud Huzzahs from the Pines and Hemlocks Division: Andy Abello and Amanda Russell on Middle Road are Lincoln County's Tree Farmers of the Year 2008! And runners-up for the State of Maine Tree Farmer of the Year. These awards are bestowed by the American Tree Farm System to nominees from a state's Forestry Service. Andy's Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Certified Green woodlot supplies most of the wood for his furniture, which he harvests, mills, seasons and handcrafts at Wind Ridge Farm.
Andy will also be the leader of the Morris Farm's winter tree ecology and identification tour on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 9:00 a.m. Pending weather, bring snowshoes! This hike will go through the Morris Farm's grounds and the Sortwell Forest. It should take about two hours, over easy rolling terrain, good for family trekking. Then adjourn for cookies and hot chocolate at Morris Farm's HQ! Call 882-4080 for more information and/or to reserve a pair of snowshoes for that morning.
Kudos, Kiddos: Beth Jarvis' fourth graders won the Edgecomb Eddy PTC Coin War with roughly $220 of a school-wide total of $582.42. Part will go to the ACEER Foundation, to help save animals in the Peruvian rainforest. The rest will go to "The Smile Train," which provides free cleft surgery to children who need it. The EE students are now planning a regular community service group to find neat ways to give back to their area!
And thanks to the Russell House for their donation from Wednesday's lunch and dinner proceeds to the EEPTC!
Valentine for the World in Concert! The Midcoast Unitarian/Universalist Fellowship invites you to hear composer/singer Jim Scott in this inspiring, sentimental, lovesong fest this coming Saturday evening, Feb. 9, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Edgecomb Town Hall. Admission donation is $12.00, $7.00 for children.
The indefatigable Andy Burt urges that we back LD 2048 concerning Toxins in Children's Products sponsored by State Representative Hannah Pingree, endorsed by the Maine Council of Churches,. (This was one of the six bills also endorsed by the Environmental Priorities Coalition at that press conference on Jan. 24, when I spoke to Bruce MacDonald's LD 2126 to Control CO2 Emissions.)
Andy Burt also let me know there is a move on to render the Edgecomb Eddy School Green, not in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day, but with the possibility of installing solar panels. She spoke in terms of "green tags" the public might buy at $20 each, for raising the funds. For more about this, or the Toxic Kids Products legislation above, call Andy at 882-6848.
A new state law on "Cellular Telephone Recycling" has just gone into effect, meaning you can no longer toss your old or out-dated cell phone into the trash. Instead, donate it to St. Andrews Hospital or other such center of your choice for use with domestic violence or sexual assault support groups. You can download a prepaid mailing label on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website, www.ncadv.org. The phones will be programmed for 9-1-1 and the State's two helplines: 1.866.834.HELP for domestic violence and 1.800.871.7741 (TTY: 1.88.458.5599) for sexual assault crises and support. Then they can be given to persons under threat.
When Bruce and I delivered our modest contribution to the Somerville rescued dogs at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, we were humbled by the sight of a huge semi trailer which was donated by Big Al for storing the many such donations! We talked to the Shelter's assistant manager Betsy Pratt and Andrea Orne (both ladies are Edgecomb's Animal Control Officers) and volunteers Dawn Simmons and Harold Orne, Andrea's father. The Shelter sends its heartfelt thanks to small contributors like the Camerons, and large donors, Reny's, Hannaford, Shaw, and from as far away as Bangor and Portland! The Pedigree and Merrick dog food companies have made plentiful quantities of their products available to the Shelter. Ms. Pratt reminds me that they can always use such supplies and monetary donations. Visit www.lcaspaws.org for details!
Speaking of possibly injured animals, twice, mid-afternoon, I have passed under a huge barred owl sitting on the power line across McKay Road at the big bend. And just now, another (or the same one?) on a line crossing the River Road. It doesn't fly off when cars rumble under it. Is it all right? I will try to get to Maine Audubon or the Chewonki Institute, which has a fondness for owls.
Hey! It's Maine Shrimp Season! Since Maine shrimp are very small, here is a very small recipe you might enjoy: Creamed Shrimp on Biscuits. Melt ½ cup butter, add enough flour to thicken. Add salt, pepper, paprika and 1 tablespoon sherry, and slowly add 1 ½ cups milk to make a cream sauce. When smooth, add the shrimp and serve over hot split biscuits. Or thin it a bit and pour over fish fillets! This comes from the "All-Maine Seafood Cookbook," edited and compiled by Loana Shibles and Annie Rogers, Down East Books, 1976.
Smacking my lips already at 234 River Road, 633-2978, jocam@midcoast.com. This column appears in several local papers, and at www.Edgecomb.org.