MeInMaine Blog

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  • Maine, We’re Pretty Aware Of Others Around Us.

    Nothing Stronger Than The Heart Of A Local Maine Community Volunteer.
    Maine, We Love A 4th Of July Parade.

    Unlike Maine, in the hurry scurry of some urban areas where elbow to elbow living is the way of the world, it is easy to forget anyone but number one.

    Call it survival, pride, or what it is selfish. Since the begining of time, the notion of don’t forget others has circulated. To be humble and grateful but help others has been a common goal, need. It is always heartening to see others think of their fellow man. Or along the same lines, to put their community first. To give your life purpose by dedicating a major portion of it to the area you live by volunteering. Stepping in where no one is standing to pitch in, improve any way you can.

    In my small town of Houlton Maine, there is always something happening in the vibrant local community. All year long folks work on their particular areas of interest. In the spots in the local zip code that they have talent and can lend a helping hand.

    There is nothing stronger in the world than the heart of a Maine volunteer. Especially if kids are involved in the event.

    This weekend the 4th of July Celebration takes center stage.

    But take away the cotton candy, the fireworks and parades, state fair fanfare and think of your day to day. Do you do little things like return a shopping cart to the store it came from as you are finished with it. Or if you see a stray cart rolling around the parking lot.

    Do you latch on and squeak squeak roll it back in to the shopping cart corral?

    Yes because it is so easy? Or no because you are taking away from the cart rodeo Lariat Sam who’s job it is to collect and serve? For a weekly pay check and you are worried about his job security so just let that cart float around the parking lot in the wind. Or do you check off the “just don’t care” box. And add it all up to a big fat case of plain jane apathy? Such a silly little detail you tisk tisk under your breath. It’s just a cart right?

    Have a 737 US Airways pilot who is selling a local Maine lake cottage thru our real estate agency. Neat as a pin, very considerate of others. He was using our office computer to put a small lake boat and motor not included in the sale on Ebay. And as he uploaded the images, added some copy he was talking about his early days in flying silver birds. How the first time he parked the jet and left the cockpit he forgot to pickup his soda bottle, any other litter he had created in front of the in flight movie projector screen. Later in the pilot area of the terminal, pinned to the bulletin board with his name on it was a bag of trash.

    Some thoughtful person had collected what he left scattered behind and reconnected, reunited it to him.

    One time and never again did he not comb the cockpit. And even set the airplane radio controls for the city of the next pilot’s flight. Buckle the seat belts, tidy up the cabin. Courtesy Sky King and Penny style.

    It got me thinking not about local Maine community service and how everyone is involved in it through out the year. But also pondering the little common considerations we can elect to police and provide. Or not. Don’t ruin it for the next guy. Someone thought of you in your day to day routine. Pass it on. It would be a better world if we did. Common courtesy, consideration of others. Start small, make permanent.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • The Maine Cow’s Name Is Charlie.

    One Maine Cow, Plenty Of Grain, Clean Water, Pature Grasses.
    Charlie, Raised As An Only Cow. One Is a Lonely Number In The Maine Field.

    On the way to Drews Lake since last fall, I have noticed a small black and white holstein Maine cow grow up alone.

    For starters I am used to calves coming in to the world around northern Maine in the early spring, actually late winter. Timed to arrive to maximize the weight that calf can gain munching on grass and grain.

    But Charlie seemed out of synch, place and all alone. He had a small horse trailer for shelter from the weather. But he was very small, all by himself.

    His Maine farm owner told me he bought Charlie for 200 dollars last fall.

    His previous owner had toyed with the idea of slaughtering him for veal, baby beef.

    Now Charlie weighs a whopping 900 pounds. The steer is short but rugged. Big shouldered. The grain and 40 gallons of water per day mixed with way more grass than one cow needs in an oversized pasture is making its mark. Taking its toll day in and out.

    Another male younger cow is coming to share that pasture this week. It will be interesting to see how Charlie adjusts to another black and white cow. To see how social he is or isn’t. I’ll keep you posted on this edge of your seat, late breaking Maine farm report story. Promise.

    Charlie’s owner is widening the pasture to extend it to woods to the south so the bovine can have shade. Summer has arrived in Maine. I finally stopped yesterday after work on the way to Drews Lake to snap a picture, meet Charlie and learn the scoop on his solitary life so far. It seemed he was raising himself, an only cow. A herd of one.

    Maybe noticing him started because he was so small, all alone in a very large field where 80 cows could live happily.

    Maybe he got my attention because he had no other cow to swish its tail to help with flies.

    To return the favor standing end to end with other black and white cows in a large Maine farm field.

    Charlie the Maine cow’s owner has been attentive. Dosing him up with fly dope. Lovingly, carefully raising the smaller than average lightweight, low to the ground holstein cow in to what he is today. Happy, content and well fed, watered, grained. Charlie may have some black angus breed in him too showing black streaks in his sturdy hooves.

    Maine, we’re more aware of the weather, the critters, the landscape around us in a rural farm state up here in the right hand corner of the country. I’m glad I finally stopped to snap a few images, meet his owner and get the story on this solitary cow singled out, raised alone.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • When You Live In Maine, You Are So Spoiled.

    Simple Outdoor Fun, Recreation All Four Seasons.
    Maine, Four Seasons, Not One We Are Not Outdoors.

    Vacationland is what is stamped on the bottom of every Maine license plate and yes we are so spoiled to live in a four season outdoor paradise.

    Most Mainers are pretty darn excited, grateful to be so close to natural unspoiled resources. But it is easy to fall in to a false security, lull of it must be this way everywhere. NOoooooo. It is not.

    If I head a mile and half in any direction from my intown home, I am in the country.

    No wall to wall people, no need for a taser or to worry about my property, my personal security.

    People wave at each other, help each other out. Are friendly. Pitch in and volunteer.

    Folks that live in Maine has lives with purpose. They volunteer. Pick the passions they love and year after year you can count on them to put their shoulder in to making local community events happen. Everyone benefits. And it causes other individuals to think what they should step up and do. To look and find a place in the local Maine community for them to give back.

    The volunteers raise their kids to do the same in Maine, or wherever they move to. If you live out of state, you would be hard pressed to find a harder working individual than someone that grew up in Maine.

    Lazy is not a word used to described 99% of Mainers. And if someone is, that is the worse opinion you could have of someone.

    Can over look a lot, but not lazy.

    No reason to be a bump on a log and just take take take. Give back to the area you live to make it a better place because you live, work and play there.

    Helpful links to lots of places to have fun in Maine year round.

    Maine, big state, friendlier people, wide open space.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • Asked Often In Maine, Are We Near Canada?

    Asked Often In Maine, Are We Near Canada?

    No Doubt Where The US Canadian Border Starts, Stops.
    Pick A Side, On The Maine USA Border Crossing Looking In To Canada

    Maine, Are We Near Canada?

    To be on the US Canadian border is neat, special and the question comes up regularly “how close” are we to the country with the great hockey players waving the red maple leaf flag proudly.

    This image pretty much sums it up. I listed a Hodgdon Maine farm property yesterday and one photo can spell it out clearly, without a doubt that we are right on the USA Canadian International Boundary.

    Maine, are we near the Canadian border?

    Half our relatives are from Canada to begin with and it is amazing how often we get asked is it dangerous living that close to the border? I chuckle because Canadians are not the enemy, they are family.

    The only temporary friction might be when your kid on ice skates is across the border, way ahead in a hockey game but suddenly gets blown out, loses.

    And our pride for our team is bruised, gets a little bent out of shape. Until the next match up on the sheet of ice on this side of the Maine US borde. And the results flip flop, reverse.

    Since 911, that US Canadian International Border crossing also represents one major labor contributor to the local job economy too.

    It is sad 911 happened, but the good that comes out of tightening up the US border is more employment of US Customs, Immigration, Border Patrol employees. And the goods and services locally that that beefed up US Canadian border represents in local sales that would not be there otherwise.

    Come up to see the US Canadian border.

    Cross in to Canada, either the Atlantic or Quebec provinces. And see how lucky we are to be at an International border crossing. For cultural exchange. Come see how some of your notions about Canada may need some updating, serious revisions. I an fortunate to live in the border town of Houlton Maine in a state far enough to by rights be in Canada had the lines been drawn just a little differently years ago.

    Are we near Canada living in Maine?

    canada quebec near maine
    Always Close To Canada! Love To Head From Maine To Canada!

    Yes we sure are.

    Depending on the value of the American dollar, the Canadian looney, it can be a good economic boom to either side of the USA International Border with cross country traffic. Lots of Maine milk dairy products, gas car fill ups and turkey head from the USA in to the Canadian provinces from my home town of Houlton Maine.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

    207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

    MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

  • Maine State Soap Box Derby Race In Houlton ME Video

    The weather was wet, the enthusiasm of the Maine State Soap Box Derby Racers hot in Houlton ME’s 2011 running.

    Tech day to make sure all the stock and superstock cars were safely put together by driver and his or her support team happened Friday. The video background sound from the hail on the Millar Civic Center roof is loud at some points as it pours cats and dogs outside. Watch the Maine 2011 soap box derby video.

    Super stock car winner Frankie White of Houlton and stock car winner Chris Bruen of Hampden will both be heading to Akron Ohio for the 74th All American Soap Box Derby Race In Akron Ohio July 23, 2011. The Northern Maine venue is the only state race venue in Vacationland.

    Soap box derby racers learn the “thrill of the hill” on Derby Hill, a specially engineered course carefully built to eliminate the many man hours taken to set up a race track on a neighborhood public street. And then tear it down, this year it would have been in the pouring rain.

    If you are looking for a very worthwhile family event to participate in and volunteer for, you will be hard pressed to find anything better than Maine soap box derby racing program.

    Initially started in 1934 the program has been a spirited, competitive family racing event across the nation. Now racers from around the world take part.

    We met two race directors from St John New Brunswick Canada Saturday who came to watch our 16th event. The run a corporate derby race where each car is bought, built and the drive just shows up. The two winning division derby cars were in Houlton Maine to be delivered to Akron Ohio with Marty Sullivan, Derby All American District 10 director taking them back to New Hampshire. To help get them on their way to the big race next month in Akron Ohio.

    One of the neat components of derby racing is the entire family from 8 to 17 can be at the event, competing in it. Good sportsmanship is emphasized and there are no losers of heats run during the Maine soap box derby events. The race is a double elimination event so many chances to work your way up the brackets of the heat sheet as a particpant.

    Each car like the kid driving them have different personalities.

    Like Nascar, with sponsors, many sponsors. And instead of exhaust fumes and deafening motor high rpm, the driver has to harness gravity and negotiate the faster way from the top of the hill to the finish line.

    Our Northern Maine race is known as the Wayne Miller Memorial, in honor of a Houlton Maine racer who back in the 1960’s built a car, and like many locals headed to Bangor Maine for the state race. Wayne’s enthusiasm as a soap box derby car builder and racer is the backbone spirit, essense of the program we work hard to foster in Aroostook County. Maine, family first.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • Maine Soap Box Derby Race This Weekend In Houlton ME

    Boys and girls 8 to 17 from around Maine will be climbing in to soap box derby kit cars this weekend in Houlton Maine for the big state race.

    The thrill of the hill, to pick up speed when the gate ramp launch is released, and gravity kicks in. Think it is exciting? If you were a Maine kid, going upwards thirty miles an hour in a car you built with Mom, Dad, Uncle Bob or your neighbor, big brother it is a big deal.

    Watch a Maine soap box derby race video from the Houlton Maine 2010 race below.

    If you are in the Houlton Maine, Southern Aroostook County area this weekend, June 18th, plan to watch the race at the top or bottom of Derby Hill in Community Park. This is the 16th annual Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Race coming up this weekend. But the twist is for the second year running, this race is the entire state venue. For five years straight, the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Race has been the largest in the country for five years running.

    It is a thrill to for the racers but for the parents, car sponsors, the entire Maine community gets involved in these races from the grass roots up. I was able to go to Akron Ohio twice for the All American Soap Box Derby race running. A daughter and son won the local Houlton Maine soap box derby race and represented Northern Maine in the All American in Akron Ohio. It was an adventure, memorable sporting family event the entire family will not forget.

    Maine, family, community is everything.

    The Maine Soap Box Derby Racing program is spirited, competitive, run down hill car racing. Watch the video and follow the program. Sponsor a car, help a youngster build one. Being Mr Good Wrench explaining what an allen screw is, a wheel pin, a lock washer, a plunger brake pad looks like.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com