Sunday, July 28, 2013


The Maine Report 2013 or
What I Did on my Vacation
 

Maine this year was in one word: HOT! My visit this year was spent mostly in search of cooler air. However I did manage to meet with some special people; attend a family wedding; and have breakfast with my class of ’59 at the Brown Bag.

I walked Main Street on probably the hottest day of my vacation making courtesy calls to The Reading Corner and Hello Hello Books. I then climbed a long staircase (with my bad leg and cane in hand) to visit Lorain K. Francis, Executive Director of Rockland Main Street Inc. She previously sent me an email telling me how she’d enjoyed my story on her organization. We had a nice long conversation about the present makeup of Main Street.

I presented her with the fact that not all people are happy with the state of things on Main Street, especially the natives of Rockland. The fact is, as a native pointed out to me, you can’t buy a pair of shoes of Main Street.

Lorain replied that the organization is continually looking for new businesses to locate on Main Street. She expressed a need for a general store of sorts where those visitors who come ashore from the many boats who dock here during the summer could have a place within walking distance to buy some groceries and other personal needs. I thought that was a good idea, except for the fact that we are still thinking about tourists’ needs and not those of the natives. Of course, during the off-season the store would be a convenience to the locals also.

We used to have several small stores of that nature in the South End. They would all be within walking distance of the “boat people” if they existed today. Duncan’s, on South Main Street, which has changed hands several times over the years, was once such a store and would be an ideal location for our tourists to restock their boats if it still existed today.

Ironically, one store has almost gone back to the kind of store it was originally. Sweets and Meats on the corner of South Main and Water Streets recently went out of business and the new owners have opened a fresh, local produce store. Originally this store was Naum and Adams which sold fresh fruits and vegetables as well as maintaining a soda fountain in the back of the store. They used to have a big outside bin attached to the side of the store to display their fresh fruits and vegetables. So we return to its beginnings.

Lorain descended the stairs with me and I remarked that I used to climb similar stairs, maybe even these ones, to practice with the Drum Corps on the big open floor at the top. She remarked that, indeed, they are probably the very stairs as there is a big open floor there.

The State of the Roads

I noticed that the state of the roads seem even worse than last year. The snow plows must have overdone it this past winter. Of course I’m used to smooth roads here in Georgia because we have no winter weather to speak of. In fact, they will find any excuse to resurface a perfectly good road.

The Wedding


 
The day of my great-niece Danielle Sylvester’s wedding turned out to be the best day of my vacation weather wise. It was not humid for once and the Catholic Church in Rockland was the scene of a beautiful wedding for Danielle and her husband-to-be Haydn Deal. This picture tells it all I think. We all had a wonderful time at the reception at the Elks Club. Many of the nurses who work with Danielle on her floor of Mass General (I think that’s the one in Boston where she works) were there too. They added an air of citified sophistication to the day and we felt secure in knowing that we had so many nurses on hand in case of an emergency. Two of Danielle’s friends, a married couple, both lost a leg at the Boston Marathon and couldn’t be at the wedding.
The Keag Tradition and Cookouts
I followed my usual tradition and had a lobster roll from the Keag Store in South Thomaston, eating it with my friend Sandra Sleeper Zimmerman, who lives next door to the store. I also had a crabmeat roll with another friend, Violet Karl. Both of them are ’59 classmates and we all met with the rest of the class on hand this summer at the Brown Bag for breakfast. The class meets every third Friday in the month. Whoever who is home and can make it goes to catch up with each other. I try to make it when I go home. This time we had a good crew of approximately 15 people.
I also got two good helpings of fried clams while I was home.
The family met at my Aunt Virginia’s cottage in Spruce Head for a delicious meal made by brother-in-law, Jerry Tavares. My sister Sally, Jerry, daughter Kim, and grandson, Nicholas spent a few days at the cottage.
The family also had a cook out at my brother, Ted’s place in Owls Head. He and his wife, Nat were my hosts while I was home. I cooked some leftover Vidalia onions (from Vidalia, GA) that Jerry left us with on the grill. I cut them up for use on hamburgers and everyone loved them.
After that cookout, my last day in Maine, also one of the best days weather wise, I left with sister-in-law, Kay Sylvester to take Aunt Virginia home to Bartlett Woods and to stay the night with her so I could catch the van to the airport in the morning. Kay made a detour along Main Street for Aunt Virginia as she doesn’t get to go downtown very often. She remarked about how much the street had changed and was very surprised about how many boats were moored in the harbor. Kay swung down around the harbor so she could see them all closer up. Since she is now 102, all the changes are unbelievable to her.
Which leads us back to Main Street again. In the old days, after I’d left home, I always took a swing around the rotary one time before heading out to Connecticut. This little detour with Kay and Aunt Virginia brought all those times back to me. One day I won’t have to make that last trip around the rotary as I’ll be home for good. The day can’t come soon enough. Meanwhile, see you next year in Maine.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013


Sail, Power and Steam Museum

July 27, 7:30pm

$12 General, $6 Children

Call 207-596-0200 for directions and details

 

Monday, July 8, 2013




Recipes of the Month
 
The Wonderful Avocado
 
Raspberry Avocado Salad
With Honey Raspberry Vinaigrette Recipe


Ingredients

Salad

·         2 ripe, Fresh Hass Avocados, peeled, seeded and diced

·         1 (5 oz.) package spring mix salad

·         1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, well drained

·         1/2 cup glazed walnuts, coarsely chopped

·         1/3 cup sliced green onions

·         1 cup fresh raspberries

·         Pepper to taste

 Dressing

·         1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

·         1/4 cup raspberry vinegar

·         1 1/2 Tbsp. honey

·         1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

·         1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions:

1.    To prepare dressing, whisk together the oil, vinegar, honey, mustard and salt in a small bowl; set aside.

2.    Place the greens, oranges, walnuts and onions in a large bowl.

3.    Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.

4.    Add avocados and raspberries and toss lightly.

5.    Season to taste with freshly ground pepper.

Serving Suggestions:

Top with grilled chicken or salmon for a main meal salad.

*Large avocados are recommended for this recipe. A large avocado averages about 8 ounces. If using smaller or larger size avocados adjust the quantity accordingly.
 
 
 

 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Sea Princess Log 2013



It’s time to create a new Sea Princess log for the upcoming 66th Lobster Festival in Rockland which comes to us again from July 31-August 4. Here are your princesses.

I invite everyone to add to this log if you have any interesting information about this pageant or any previous ones. Were you a sea princess? How was your experience in the pageant? I will post your comments to this space.

Judges this year include Linda Curtis Brawn, a retired educator who served in the Maine State Senate; 2008 Crown Princess, Melissa Ann Burgess; 2009 Sea Goddess, Callie Lynne; Tom Molloy, retired educator and former Mayor of Rockland; and William Shuttleworth, superintendent of schools to Monhegan, Cherryfield and Jonesport.

Here is a little bit of information on each princess. For more details please refer to the Courier  online story for July 2.  If you are my Facebook friend, I have posted that story to my page.

 

 
Desiree Lilia Benner of Friendship. 2013 graduate of Medomak Valley High School. Daughter of David and Cheryl Benner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maxine Nicole Buretta of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Wendy Buretta.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Casey Jo Carroll of Owls Head. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Tim and Heidi Carroll.

 




 






Bethany Ann Clough of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Steven and Denise Clough.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emma Davis of South Thomaston. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Bruce Davis.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rachel Amelia DelFrate of Tenants Harbor. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Robert and Kelly DelFrate.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phoebe Ann Ferraiolo of Owls Head. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of John and Tammra Ferraiolo.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rachel Elise Frye of Cushing. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Kimberly Brooks and John Frye.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chelsea Estelle Keys of Owls Head. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Amy Witham Atwood and Timothy Keyes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Renee Marie Landry of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Camden Hills Regional High School. Daughter of Theresa Withee and Charles Weidman.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elizabeth Ann Lombardo of Thomaston. 2012 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of David and Paulette Landry.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Melissa Lena Philbrook of Warren. 2013 graduate of Medomak Valley High School. Daughter of Ronald and Denise Philbrook.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hannah Elizabeth Plourde of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Brian and Kimberly Plourde.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zoey Jeane Proctor of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Alison Weaver and Otto Proctor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sierra Rose Robinson of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Susan St. Clair and Michael Robinson.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alayna  A. Smith of Rockland. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Ron Smith and Kriste Ernest.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ashley Ann Thompson of Spruce Head. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Craig A. Thompson and Valerie Brackett.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emmaline Virginia Waldron of South Thomaston. 2013 graduate of Oceanside High School. Daughter of Jeff and Christine Waldron.

 







Which one do you choose? Please excuse the formatting problems.

Monday, July 1, 2013

South End Poet



A KATYN SYMPHONY

For Olivia

The muffled moans

Of sawdust filled mouths

The sharp crack of the pistols

The thud of bodies landing

The eternal screams of the NKVD men

In the fires of Hell

You have entered this labyrinth

As a young woman, unafraid

Though with 27,000 reasons to be afraid

For you are defending all those Polish Souls

At great risk

Even though you may think not

Can you call on God to defend you?

You seem so innocent

But wise beyond years

One hopes God defends you

Provides the zlotys

For your bread and paper

To turn libraries on both sides of the borders

Upside down

So no secret will be withheld from you

You will give comfort

To the families

Following the rules in Ephesians Chapter 6

Most particularly; truth

I tried to do the best I could

Blind and deaf

But with my mouth wide open

In a faulty language

But you are blessed with language, youth and spirit

You are like a  resounding cymbal crash

At the end of this Symphony you are composing

 

Kendall Merriam, Home,  4/5/13  8:55 PM

After listening to a rehearsal of

Philip Glass’s  Symphony No. 8
 
AN OPEN LETTER TO VLADIMIR PUTIN
Putin:
Are you killing poets yet? Or are
you sticking to reporters for the
time being?
     When are you and the Duma
going to pay compensation to the
Katyn families and all the other
Poles that Stalin swept East after
The invasion of Poland on
September 17, 1939?
     Certainly the money you are
wasting (over $16,000,000,000.00)
on the Olympics for over-drugged
athletes would make a small start
on the enormous debt your country
owes Poland.
     In the 1990’s I thought Russia
might have a chance to redeem her-
self, but here you are going on to
ruin that opportunity. The world is a
sadder and more evil place because of
you. Let us hope God intervenes and
makes life good for Russia and all
the other countries you control.
And that you pay the debt that Russia
owes Poland.
 
Kendall A. Merriam
Ist Published 29 July 2009 in The Post Eagle,
Clifton, New Jersey USA
 
CHANTEUSE
 
For Ripple Effect
 
Ah! Another Rockland native
So unusual
Sweet, sensual voice
Piano, drums punctuate the voice
I wonder if you have traveled
Far from Heaven—spending years
In the desert, the mountaintop
I loved growing here
In the South End
Did not meet my lover
Until far Route 128
Now fifty years later
Back to Rockland which she loves
Better than most women would
Your music fills crannies
Of an aching heart
From which we all suffer
From time-to-time
I imagine musicians make little
More than poets
The duty to create
Drives us on without ceasing
As long as we have keys, paper
On which to compose
Exposing our hearts to everyone
No matter how close to madness
No matter the cost
Life next to salt water
Is sweet—reflecting our birth
Here, life coming from the water
Against granite and shale
Of this very harbor
Which draws people
From across the Universe
One may not guess this
From outward appearances
But here in the tiny Greenwich Village
Musicians rule
Giving breath to our innocence
 
Kendall Merriam, Rock City CafĂ©’
11May 2012  7:21 PM
Listening to “Ripple Effect” live.
 
FIVE HAIKU FOR LINWOOD AYLWARD
 
                   He liked working at Thompson’s Inn
                   The food was Maine sublime
                   And the maids from NYC were also
 
                                          ****
 
                   He worked so hard
                   On the farm and the route
                   But said gently that he had to make a living
                   For his family and himself
 
                                        **** 
                   He had the ultimate house
                   On the shore of Ash Point
                   Almost all of it he built himself
 
                                        ****
                   At Four O’Clock a glass of Taylor’s
                   Which he shared with visitors
                   Much to everyone’s enjoyment
 
                                        ****
                   He was a lovely man
                   Traveling with Dot to foreign shores
                   And reading of them in James Michener