By Phil Croteau The act of volunteering is a fantastic way to explore new interests, build communities, and form lasting relationships with like-minded individuals. In the case of Sharon Oehmig, volunteering with the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) to maintain the trails at Long Reach Preserve has opened numerous doors to other opportunities within HHLT… Read more
“Pssst.” Roused from a deep sleep, I wasn’t sure what woke me, so I lay there listening. “Psssst!” This time it was louder and more insistent. My tentmate Andy. “What do you want?” I mumbled. “Shhhh. There’s a bear out there.” I had not heard a sound other than Andy’s hissing, but we were camped… Read more
Originally published in the Harpswell Anchor I am a hunter. That statement might earn me a dirty look, even a request to leave the party, immediately! Much depends upon the company you keep and where you reside. We lived in England for many years, a country with a long tradition of wealthy landowners on expensive… Read more
One of the joys of spring is the return of birds of all shapes, sizes and colors. Who doesn’t love stepping outside to a chorus of birdsong or catching a glimpse of bright red or yellow in the trees? The new warmth of spring and the longer days draw birds to make their spring migration…. Read more
History tells us that the early Egyptians were the first to experiment with slices of crystal to improve human vision. By the 12th century A.D. early opticians were creating basic lenses from glass and putting them in frames to correct vision problems. Historical records show that the first person to seek a patent on a… Read more
Dear HHLT, I am forever grateful to my uncle Russell Houghton and my cousins Allan and Patty Graves for donating a portion of the Royal Rest property on Orr’s Island to your organization. Knowing that the Houghton Graves Park is forever protected from development means so much to myself and my family. I can’t even… Read more
One of the joys of writing nature books is the opportunity to share my photo presentations with people around Maine. From Kittery to Bar Harbor, Rangeley to Harpswell, folks of all ages enjoy seeing photos of wildlife and telling their own stories about encounters in the outdoors. At times I wonder who is getting more… Read more
Harpswell is known for its iconic views of sea and shore. North, south, east or west, spin the compass and you’ll find scenes of great natural beauty all around. Well, here’s another direction to look and see something amazing. Up. The night sky in Harpswell is one of the town’s treasures, dotted with planets, stars… Read more
Sharon Whitney and Dorothy Rosenberg both contributed to this article. Come spring, Harpswell’s air is sweet with blossoming scents, particularly, the scent of apple blossoms. Wander the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust trails at Houghton Graves Park on Orr’s Island or the Curtis Farm Preserve on Harpswell Neck and you’ll see an array of young apple… Read more
We had some great submissions for our first week of the photo project this year! Thanks to the 17 photographers who sent in 80 photos! Read more