Conversations with Maine
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Depths of dog dedication, personified
For years, whenever I must leave my dear doggie friends behind, I entrust them to Heidi LaForge. Her devotion to animals is unsurpassed, and her thoroughness is a sure thing. The other sure thing about Heidi is that every encounter with her leaves one slightly shell-shocked. Between the playful sparkle ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
HOPE is on this weekend
Outrage, frustration, despair. That was the emotional fallout after the devastating act of cowardice in Boston last week — “act of terror” suggests more grandeur than the perpetrators deserve. Like many people, I sit at my kitchen table reading the news and feeling useless, wondering what I can possibly do ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Two women are knit together by more than yarn
What does a Kansas farm girl who went into nursing have in common with a Maine island girl who went into lobster fishing? They may come from different worlds in some respects, but after meeting each other in a cozy yarn shop in Glenburn, Maine, Sandy Spiller and Patti Lewis ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
After 100 stories, some favorite updates
After well over a hundred “Conversations With Maine” stories, readers and I have made the acquaintance of people all over Maine, young and old, from all walks of life. What has gone on with these interesting people since their stories went to print? I checked in with a few to ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Joan Fenrow: Artist with ‘a cram-packed life’ makes the most of remaining time
I sat at a kitchen table in Hampden last week and traveled to New York City, Germany, the North Sea and India. I heard about brushes with celebrities, working in the bone room at the morgue, a career in theater and dance, and service in the Israeli army. With all ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
More tales of a Pakistani teenager in Maine
Our year as host parents to a Pakistani teenager is halfway through. Readers may recall my November story about Aqsa Munir, a Muslim exchange student who is sharing our home for the school year in order to cultivate greater cross-cultural understanding. Since early November, Aqsa has experienced a slew of ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
96-year-old piano prodigy still wowing crowds
As soon as he began to play the piano, I understood how 96-year-old Harry Weiss had garnered such local renown after only six years in Maine. In no time flat, Harry makes a lasting impression. Harry is what some people might call a prodigy on the piano. He was three ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Front porch performer finds her voice, fulfills dream
When she was a little girl, Molly Pitcher and her friends used to “perform” on the front steps of a neighbor’s home. It was an unused front entrance that had the feel of a stage, and Molly remembers the excitement in her childish heart when she stood on those steps, ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Retired couple explores RV life on the road
I ran into my friend Donna Thomas in a Hannaford supermarket parking lot last September. She and her husband, George, were about to begin an eight-month expedition accompanied by Captain, their golden retriever, for their first winter of recreational vehicle life. I asked her if I could check in with ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Visit to inner city school illuminates ongoing challenges of racial inequity
Last week, my husband and I visited with some inner-city seventh grade students in St. Louis, Mo. We were invited into their classroom by their teacher — our eldest daughter, Anna — who is working in St. Louis through the Teach For America program. Although I often appreciated how my ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
In caring for elderly mom, woman discovers buried treasure
The prevailing impressions made by Gail Page’s Brooksville home are light, space and color. It is no wonder, since she and her husband are both artists and designed their home themselves. Included in the floor plan are two large, light-drenched studios for their painting and inspiration. Gail was a fashion ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Waterville man advocates change in art and life
It was the combination of his iconic Maine documentary film, “Dead River Rough Cut,” his passionate interest in bread baking, and his trips to Guatemala to build wood-fired stoves for the Mayans that drew my attention to Stu Silverstein. I later learned that he is also an artist, a teacher, ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Disney dreams inspire couple to train for half-marathon
The idea of Disney World might elicit two kinds of response — hand-clasping excitement or cynical eye-rolling. I will wager that after spending an hour with Zach Meehan and Morgan McCluskey, even the most die-hard cynic will consider booking his next vacation in the Magic Kingdom. Zach and Morgan’s enthusiasm ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Maine’s artistic allure provides endless material for art writer
“To a landscape painter, Maine is everything,” Carl Little said. The islands, the seaside towns, the deep Maine woods and the great wide ocean, the blueberry barrens and craggy shores, the play of light over woods, waters and mountains — all provide endless inspiration. But it is more than open ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Tradition, community and the funny things kids say keep pre-k teacher going after 30 years
Hosting Christmas parties for 30 wound-up three and four-year-olds is probably not high on many people’s holiday bucket list. But Tami Campbell is about to do it for the the 30th time in a row, and she’s as excited as ever. Campbell is the owner and director of Highland Pre-School ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Stories of EMMC preemie and 75-year-old woman are knit together
I have never been a knitter myself, but I have always been intrigued by how knitting seems to link women together. Certainly there is a fellowship among crafters sharing their work, but there is a connection that goes deeper than technique, into the realm of shared love. I have two ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Gala concert celebrates 70 years of grads, 200 years of history
Hampden Academy’s new 900-seat performing arts center hosted an almost-full capacity crowd — the largest ever by a long shot — on Saturday, Nov. 24. It was not some hot-shot performer that drew the enthusiastic fans. It was more like a giant family reunion — one that included live performances, ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Honoring their art
Three local artists, women with national-level talents and regional connections, have died within the past year. In addition to being great artists, Helen Marie Allen, Margaret Manter, and Mette Arup Watt were active community volunteers, teachers, mentors, wives and mothers. They were also friends of Boyd Place, an independent living ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
Arctic adventure forges bonds for the Wanderbird crew
In a traditional rite of passage for sailors crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time, the three young crew members of the Wanderbird, an expedition vessel based out of Belfast, Maine, took part in a “blue nose ceremony” last summer off the shores of Greenland. The ceremony includes head ...
CONVERSATIONS WITH MAINE
At home with a Pakistani teenager
When we heard that a 15-year-old Pakistani girl had been shot by extremists for publicly espousing education for girls, the news hit close to home. Our home, since Aug. 17, has included a 15-year-old Pakistani girl, here in the United States to further her education. Even before Malala Yousefzai’s shooting, ...
Police seeking tips about pickup truck possibly connected to Glenburn teen’s disappearance
Since 1971, seven Maine children reported missing have not been found
Authorities ask for volunteers in search for missing Glenburn teen Nichole Cable
A letter to Michelle Obama in light of military sex assault epidemic
Scandals, real and imagined
IRS targeting
Manchester 15-year-old off to impressive start for Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports
Houlton council, community still concerned about costly Millar Civic Center
For those who are too fat for Abercrombie and Fitch
Kitchen Nightmares meltdown or: How to lose an argument online
Market Basket in Biddeford starts hiring 300 workers
Arguments over gun control and abortion will never be settled
