Good friend shows no interest in my 6-year-old daughter
Dear Carolyn: My close friend of over 20 years lives next door. She is single, ...
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Nature
Nature: Science fiction? No, just sea cucumbers!
November is the month when humans and wildlife creatures take changes in the weather seriously ...
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Cranberry Isles: Islanders weathered the storm
Weather has, once again, been a major focus of Cranberry Isles residents this week. The storm, which hit late Halloween night, brought rain and winds up to 60 knots, lasting around 12 hours, knocking out power for over 100,000 people in Maine, including, as of early morning, Nov. 1, residents of Islesford and Cranberry. Friday’s …
Swan’s Island: Halloween decoration contest winners
Gary Farley invites everyone to the Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC) meeting on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Office. “We will be discussing pros and cons exploring the concept of a five-person Select Board instead of three,” he said. “Also, we will talk about a soon-to-be-formed Housing Group; it’s in the beginning …
Nature: Let the leaves lie
Fall chores are being done this month, but you should seriously consider not raking your leaves or at least leave large areas not raked. There is a benefit to wildlife if you leave them there. Butterflies and songbirds really benefit and depend on them being left right where they are. Over the winter months, butterflies …
Nature: Woodpeckers come knocking
“What do you do with a drunken sailor?” goes the popular old song. This week we could say “What do you do with a large drunken woodpecker?” I had an email from a friend in Manset telling me about a pileated woodpecker that has been eating too many fermented berries in a tree near her …
Nature: Warm days, cool nights mimic spring
Fall is such a colorful season, but the leaves can disappear in one wind storm and the landscape switches to a wintery look. Tamaracks, one of our evergreens add a lovely yellow for a long time but in a flash these trees too become bare until next spring. From my observations this fall, yellow dominated …
Nature: Bears on parade
Travels this past month have taken me to beyond the tree line in Labrador and it was a dramatic change of scenery as we drove southward into the colorful fall foliage in Quebec and then Maine. Yellows and reds seemed to dominate and the landscape was very beautiful. Here on Mount Desert Island it is …
Nature: Salamander costumes ready for Halloween
On the footpath above the water and rocks along the Ocean Drive these days you should be looking at the berry-bearing shrubs. Especially grabbing your attention is the red elderberry, a common shrub in the area. It grows from 3-12 inches high and in this month has conspicuous cone shaped clusters of red berries. Mountain …
Nature: Migrating yellowlegs, dowitichers may visit
Another month begins! Cool nights herald the approach of autumn and red maples are turning scarlet. October is here and it is a visual treat to drive around this island and see the colors. I know that to some this is a depressing time but for me it is time of renewal and slowing down …
Nature: Bog cranberry season is here
September woods are not filled with birdsong. Nesting time is pretty much over for most birds, and looking for daily food keeps birds busy and fairly quiet. Families of chickadees seem most noticeable and there is also that raucous call of the bluejay. Bluejays may be loud and noisy but that is one of their …