Category: Aroostook County

High School Class Reunions In Maine | How To Make Attendance Higher

High school class reunions in Maine.

How to make attendance higher at Maine high school reunions? This blog post about a recent high school reunion in Maine I attended and reasons why or why not classmates attend one.

For starters, COVID messed up the in person Maine high school class reunions for a few years.

High School Reunions In Maine, How To Make Attendance Increase?

Or you could argue more people could attend a cyber class reunion using ZOOM technology. But we all know online meet ups are just not the same. How do you mingle and move around the room in a ZOOM meeting?

You don’t get to make the rounds to personally see and talk with your high school class group sitting up straight peering into a video camera.

So high school class reunions in Maine. Here are tips to make the attendance the best it can be. What to do and what to avoid to cause great participation at a Maine class reunion.

First, in small Maine towns, lots of the high school classmates still live local for the reunion.

Some of them moved away, climbed up the ladder, joined the service or left for many reasons. Some away classmates relocated and then later in life returned to their small town Maine roots for a simpler lifestyle.

High School Class Reunions In Maine, How To Improve Attendance Numbers?

Cheaper Maine real estate and cashing in the chips with high priced urban properties.

Trading it all in for no crime, no traffic the push to return back to small Maine town living.

If you already live local and are in the biggest group, a high school class reunion should be a piece of cake to gain large attendance.

This is the biggest group yet often the hardest to get to attend your class reunion. Why?

Fear of I am not quite successful enough to attend my high school class reunion.

Not wanting to be judged or comfortable with your answers to “what have you been up to since we graduated from a Maine high school?”. Some classmates attended their fifth or tenth class reunion and got a dose of “why did you stay in your home town” questioning. I thought you were smarter than that is the inference from anyone in your class out to impress you with their Worldly success.

High School Class Reunion, Where To Have It In Maine?

Made to feel like a “loser local” or hearing continuously about me me my success in life by just a few not so warm and fuzzy classmates can be disastrous.

For some wanting to see old high school classmates but secretly hoping a few just don’t make it home to attend they view toxic.

Some argue the high school class reunions are not so needed due to social media keeping everyone up to date. Heck, you even get notifications when it is someone’s birthday. People already feel connected and can catch up or get updated online on a regular basis.

Were you active in your high school class or moved away before graduation?

Were there several clicks in your high school or one big happy family with lots of spirit? Let’s face it, some high school classes just were tighter knit and the chemistry more connected.

High School Reunions, What To Serve Up For Hungry Classmates?

Small high school class size in Maine towns has something to do with it too. When your graduating class was in the teens or under one hundred, you were closer. No one forgotten or lost in the shuffle. And smaller class size Maine high school graduates I think make a bigger effort to attend.

It is harder to miss who did not come in a small high school class then one from Maine’s handful of city larger class size reunions.

High school class reunions in Maine, it’s a lot like a family reunion too.

The bigger the family, the more like a reunion it feels when more make the effort to show up on the magic day. With all the generations in the family bringing their covered dish or whatever contribution to the family party celebration.

What To Serve up To Eat During The High School Meet And Greet?

Some families are closer than others just like Maine high school classes. With families, who married into it can be a blessing or cause division. At a class reunion, who they married does not impact the attendance as much. Unless at the last reunion someone drank too much or flirted or just did not like all the old high school information shared with their new spouse.

So, was the high school reunion experience a good one for the classmate?

If yes, why wouldn’t they want to attend each and every reunion? Unless sickness, distance away or timing was an obstacle, some classmates from far away always make the most effort to attend the reunion.

The high school classmates handy to the reunion who do not attend.

Have they forgotten the ones from out of state and feel they get to see everyone local already? Unless you pick up an old high school year book and thumb through the images once in a while, it is easy to lose touch. Until you see or hear about a classmate’s death, and feel we need to have a high school reunion. It’s later than you think and none of us is getting any younger by the day right?

High School Reunion On Drews Lake In New Limerick ME!

So more tips to improve attendance of your Maine high school class reunion.

Pick a good easy to access high school reunion venue, like Tall Timber Lodge in New Limerick on Drews Lake. There is a cost for the out of town or state classmate to attend. But regardless if local or not, a personal contact by email, snail mail, social media postings have to happen. Watch a video on Drews Lake island property sold a while back but that gives you a feeling of what the Northern Maine waterfront location is like.

If you want to improve attendance, effort to show each and every classmate no one is left behind has to be obvious. The classmates that were in the flock until eighth grade or moved away should be invited to the reunion too. Those that were in one high school but finished the education in another. It can be like a ball player traded mid season and like a man or woman without a country in not feeling like you belong. The class reunion attendance improving approach has to always be “not member left behind”.

Who’s Changed The Least, Most? Who Traveled The Most Miles To Get To The Class Reunion?

“Also, no one let me know until the last minute. “

That’s a huge excuse for why some classmates missed the Maine class reunion. But is it the truth? When high school reunion notices were mailed, emailed, with follow up texts and personal calls. Even getting your family to sound the bugle charge to retreat, return to your class reunion.

Or what if the high school experience was not so much fun or you were not so social, not a scholar or an athlete? For some they ran away from their home town high school or parents relocated, divorced and severed the connection.

Why would you want to go to the expense, take the time to hang out with a group of classmates and a high school you spent years trying to escape?

Is that how you feel about your high school class? Let’s face it, some of us are more social than others. Or high school was a struggle for lots of personal reasons.

Maybe a few in your class are the last people on Earth you would want to spend a few hours with after all these years. Or do you fall in this group “I attended the 10th high school reunion, found little in common with my fellow classmates who I shared those four years of high school. Went to the 20th reunion under pressure from my best friend and it was even worse.”

“Everyone Line Up, Tallest In Back, Shorter Ones In Front Class! “

So now there may be mini high school reunions where a few in your class stay in touch and it is pick and choose. If the “reunion” is a few classmates critique members in a not so favorable way when they do “meet up”, that could be a big reason why so low a turnout to milestone events.

The cost of the reunion, especially in the early class meet ups can be a factor.

Was the event lavish and expensive or simple and low cost to appeal to a larger audience? Did the high school reunion committee work long and hard or was their disention in the planning ranks? Too many, too little planners for the reunion?

The many little reasons that help or hurt attendance means awareness of how people decide should I go or not?

The more reunions you miss, the harder getting classmates to go becomes. Some don’t view high school graduation as that big a deal. Many argue I “peaked” outside of the halls and classrooms of their high school. Done, finished, not going back to their high school reunion.

Hopping Table To Table To Meet, Greet, Catch Up At A Maine High School Class Reunion.

Or what if your small Maine high school is no longer?

Lost are the game balls in a trophy case, class colors and the gym, classrooms, cafeteria because the school is no longer. Merged with a larger school administration district SAD or RSU.

I’ve been told “you feel out of the loop”. The feeling only intensifies the more reunions you don’t attend. So just go to the next one, l heard someone whisper in the blog post audience. Like a church invitation that is always open for you to attend.

The invite that says “you can always come home”.

All’s forgiven, here’s this week’s program and all the church bulletin happenings to get you up to speed and back in the flock. Many who do attend class reunions is because they sincerely want to reunite and see old friends, recall school stories. These folks wish there were more class reunions.

“I’m over weight, just went through a divorce, or oh, I wasn’t that close to anyone in my class.” Good excuses and how some decide I’m not going to this or any of my class reunions. For some, I could wait to get out of town and after the graduation, I high tailed to the big city lights. Rippe3d off the rear view mirrors and never looked back.

I didn’t graduate from this Maine high school.

Was that the reason not to go or were they even invited to the class reunion? Don’t overlook anyone in your class and make an effort to find their location. In this day and age of Internet connection, it is easier than ever to “Google” someone. To search Facebook, other social media platforms to find your classmate. Without the “return to sender” experience.

High School Class Reunions Deceased Members. Sad But Part Of The Reunion Head Count And Catching Up Process.

Calling other local classmate’s family to get them to help invite the MIA’s is good recruiting too.

You really ought to go to your class reunion Maine high school.

And put an extra emphasis on if you have not been to any class reunion, you especially are missed and classmates so happy to see you. Or your spouse helps push you to the event with or without them.

But what if that spouse views your class reunion as torture being in a room where probably half the attending have no connection to the class. Or maybe they do and married a classmate, someone a couple years older or younger who is anxious to attend.

Time of year, trying to schedule a class reunion for your Maine high school when out of towners are home anyway helps your attendance.

Cost, menu, venue, timing impacts attendance whether everyone has a good time or not.

Class Reunions For Your High School In Maine? Do You Go? Why Or Why Not?

The program for a Maine high school class reunion, how do you make sure everyone has a good time? The year you graduated music that is like a time machine transporting your class back to high school. Alcohol, can it help or hurt the class reunion. Everyone comes away glad they came and thinking about the next reunion because of the success.

And isn’t the entertainment beside music is good food, the classmates themselves?

Remembering the good times, paying respects for those you lost as the Maine high school class year size of the living shrinks?

Apathy, because of overbooked living or because high school classes differ? Some more rah rah rah school spirit and others “meh”? I know some high school classes that just were tighter, like one big Maine family that stays together closer during and after graduation.

Maine class reunions, the effort to attend important or thinking the high school event has gone the way of the hoola hoop, chia pets, cherry cokes, drive ins, mullets, bobby socks, penny loafers and cracker jacks? What’s your experience with high school class reunions and any tips on how to increase attendance?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

September 6, 2022
Farmers Markets In Maine, Locally Sourced Home Grown Food

Farmers Markets in Maine, locally sourced home grown food is a beautiful thing!

Farm to table is nothing new to Maine communities. Home grown garden and farm field food is one of the perks to living in an area with lots of fertile land soil. Vendors that set up displays at local Maine farmer’s markets are not just veggies or produce either. Expect to see everything from cut fresh flowers in floral display, home made arts and crafts, baked goods, oils and home remedies of all types too. Cheeses, poultry and dairy product items too are common at local farmers markets in Maine.

Maine Amish Families Help The Varied Selection Of Local Farmers Market Offerings.

Maine has a lot of Amish settlements and these local farm groups make sure the trip to the weekly farmer’s market worth your while.

Kids, older adults and everyone in between age wise host the farmer’s market tables. In the Houlton Maine area, the Community Farmer’s Market event venue is beautiful historic Market Square.

Here’s a local community farmers market in Maine video from Aroostook County put together from last Saturday.

Do you grow a garden or live on a full time, maybe a hobby farm in Maine?

Lots of the requests for Maine real estate are buyers on the hunt for something with land. The more Maine land the better and if it is not a cut over woodlot and has open pasture fields, all the better. Cultivating soil that is ready to work means more time to spend at the local farmers market in Maine location.

Clearing a woodlot to create a Maine farm pasture field is a lot of work.

Maine Farm Pasture Field Of Red, White Clover And Wild Flowers.

But unless the present Maine land owner has kept the ground in cultivation or hays or bush hogs the property, trees happen. Young brush, vegetation and trees pop up quickly. Fallow worn out land in Maine is not so quickly forested. To farm it means putting back the soil amendments to make the Maine agricultural land productive. Like to own some land in Maine?

Being a good steward of the Maine farm land is key.

To maintaining top production land value and to reduce erosion and anything that hurts the quality of the farming operation. Giving your land in Maine to the next generation of loved ones in better shape, or at least as good as you received it. It is a sacred responsibility for Maine farmers no matter what size of operation they til, tend, weed, water and feed after spring planting.

Agriculture, farming in Maine can mean crops, critters and it is not always just meat and potatoes simple.

Farmer’s Market, Local Community Agriculture Served Up Farm To Table.

Strawberry patches, blueberries that are wild or cultivated along with fresh farm corn, cukes, carrots, squash, onions, lettuce, beans, peas if you please. As the season progresses, the selection of what’s offered up at the Maine farmer’s market increase in variety.

Farmers markets in Maine expand and contract depending on the weather and where you and I are on the calendar.

Canned preserves, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and anything else destined for the root cellar is fair game to peddle at the farmer’s market in Maine.

Farmer’s Market Fresh Flowers. More Than Just Fruits, Vegetables, Baked Goods.

Community Market Farmers Market In Houlton Maine.

The bounty from the harvest of the Maine agricultural farm setting. Leaf lettuce, radishes, fresh garlic, scallions, a slew of vegetable and fruit offerings await at your local farmstead manned by family, friends, your local neighbors. There is so much sense of community doing business at a local farmer’s market in Maine venue.

Early on, dry beans, product from last growing season canned and pickled may be what’s for sale early on at the local community farmer’s market.

But as the stronger sunshine overhead works it magic with time, seed, water and fertilizer, more local produce, fruits and vegetables combine with the fresh eggs, baked goods and other items.

What’s For Sale At The Local Maine Farmer’s Market? New Vendors, New Offerings Each Week To Check Out.

Each week, lots of bartering and farmer market exchanges happen within the vendor community too.

Like one farmer’s market vendor in the Maine community video says, he issues lots of personal IOU’s. Has never been burnt or come up short in payment. That’s shows you the quality of the local Maine people who shop the farmer’s market. Or that he is a pretty good judge of character.

More on the area of Houlton Maine where this local community farmers market event happens each and every weekend in Market Square. What’s it like living in Aroostook County, Maine? Here’s a blog post on picking potatoes in Maine.

More Than Peas And Carrots And Ears Of Farm Fresh Corn. Lots To Check Out At Maine Farmer’s Markets.

Thank you for following our Me In Maine blog posts.

Hope you get a sense of what living in Maine is all about from the entries. Sure am glad I live, work and play in Maine and try to share that simple way of life that happens here day and night. This blog post on Maine farmer’s markets is an easy one requiring less hunt and peck wordage. Images can say a thousand words. The video takes you to the local community farmers market in Maine event.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

August 11, 2022
Small Maine Town Fire, Everyone Pitches In To Help

Small Maine town fire, anything happening in the local community good or bad means everyone pitches in to help.

You don’t go through any local event alone. Last week a fire in my home town of Houlton Maine. Thirty eight people were displaced in the fourteen unit apartment building fire.

The old timers remember the 1902 fire that wiped out a big chunk of Aroostook County’s oldest town.

1902 Great Fire In Houlton Maine, 111 Buildings Losts In The Blaze.

That turn of the century town fire burned 3 churches, 75 houses, covered 20 business blocks. 80 families were displaced. In all, over 111 buildings were lost in that small town Houlton Maine fire.

The town of Houlton rebuilt with brick in the downtown.

The need for a rock solid fire department because a must in any small Maine town. To protect the structures, all the buildings. Wooden structures with cedar shingle roofing were no match for fires that were a constant concern to the locals in the small Maine town.

The Houlton Maine fire of March 23 happened around 9AM.

Watch the video clip in the above link. It was sunny, there was no wind, it was not the middle of the night on the coldest day of the year. The fire in the 14 unit building on Mechanic Street in Houlton took the life of a four year boy.

All area fire departments responded to the 911 alarm call.

Clearing the building out happened quickly and with a lot of hollering, much precision. Had the fire smoldered silently before engulfing the structure in the middle of the night, the loss of life would have been much large.

If that fire had happened with a strong northeast wind to fan it, not just the apartment building would have been lost.

Block after block of houses and anything built wooden in the fire’s path could have been consumed. The headline could have read “All houses in the path of the raging fire lost to the base of Drakes Hill”.

My secretary’s brother is retired from the Maine department of transportation and got a call. Doing anything today? David is retired and says what do you need? He races in from Linneus to hop in a Monticello fire department pumper. To make the many trips one block away to drop the hose and fill up the tanker. Using high spring run off water levels to siphon off the H2O from the Meduxnekeag River.

The local town public works department makes the rounds to top off and fuel up the many pieces of fire equipment battling the blaze too.

The Great Fire Of 1902. Brick Replaced Wood Structures In The Downtown As A Result Of The Blaze.

Flames shooting high in the air are doused with thousands of gallons of water through out the day and night. You don’t leave a structure fire even when the regular work day for most of us is over.

No no, someone sticks around and keeps an eye on the rubble and debris. Working in shifts to make sure nothing gets out of hand as the embers and coals of the blaze finally go out. Or try their hardest to rekindle and ignite again. It can take days babysitting any structure fire.

To remove the threat of fire doing any more damage in a small Maine town.

You think of the fire fighters using their years of training to preserve public safety. To get everyone out, to coordinate as a team to tackle and contain the fire.

Each fire a little different scenario to work around and the threat to life, both inside the structure or with the team trying to put the fire out. Local restaurants and take outs shuttle in the food to fuel the victims and fire fighters.

Local churches and the entire community takes on the role of how can I help?

When fourteen units are suddenly wiped out and everything you own inside is gone, there are so many needs. Clothing, furniture and foremost shelter, meals, support of all kinds. Emotional support and counseling to help all ages deal with the event.

The outpouring of support filters out into the communities surround the Maine small town fire location.

The local Millar Civic Center was used as a temporary shelter for all the displaced apartment renters. Arena ice just went out in the nick of time to become a make shift shelter. Finding an apartment as winter unwinds in a small Maine is not easy either.

In my little home town, there is a two percent vacancy rental rate.

Not everyone wants to be a landlord part of it. Some of the town’s empty units exist but for a reason. Too far gone with frozen pipes and worn out from being ridden hard and put away wet. Usually a foreclosure in the making but it can take years for the rudderless ship to finally run aground on shore. Court house steps and billable hours eat up lots of time in the over burdened COVID cause case back load. Just got off jury duty and was told by the judge in the black robe there were 1900 cases in the docket back log.

Here is a list of all the landlords for rents in Houlton Maine to tap and see if some unit is available to lease.

A local Louisiana Pacific OSB mill has a major expansion going on, the many subcontractors hogging anything available for livable rental units. Motel rooms are jammed with these workers, the snowmobilers who visit the region for some vacation rest and relaxation.

Renting a house for sale is usually short termed in today’s fast paced Maine real estate market.

No long term lease to sign and always month to month. With lots of buyers being toured inside and out of the house rented with a silent salesman for sale sign out front speared in the front lawn.

From Market Square, The Houlton Maine Apartment House Fire Smoke Billows Upward.

One empty apartment in a triplex I manage is available and two of the displaced fire victims are looking into renting it.

In a small town, it is easy to make a phone call or two, to facebook message someone to get information.

The renter themselves provides lots to help in finding the best fit for a rental unit.

Getting a reference is easier when you know the person you solicit to provide one. When you trust reference and their character, you get accurate information based on real live personal experiences with the individuals.

Houlton Maine Fire, 14 Rental Units Destroyed.

One of the renters has up to four grandchildren each weekend. The grandmother says those kids could be too noisy and boisterous for the tenant above and below in this 2nd floor apartment rental. She needs a place but does not want to bother any other building tenant.

The other renter may be going off to college and did not want to lead the landlord on that the leasing could be only until fall. If she goes on to college or not is up in the air.

My reference tells me this is a smart cookie, good person to rent to if a space becomes available. When she heard about the local apartment house fire, she told me she would invite this person into her own house to stay if need be. The is a pretty strong endorsement.

Bean suppers this weekend, donations for the fire victims are all underway and the community supports its own. The outpouring of generosity is huge and constant in a small Maine town. No matter what the disaster event that rocks the community.

Grateful for what did not happen.

Early Morning In A Small Maine Town. Lots Of Folks Up And Hard At Work Serving The Public.

That the fire was not in the early morning hours while everyone was sleeping.

That it was not the coldest day of the year with whipping winds to fan the blaze and cause it to spread to other structures. But the loss of a four year old in the blaze and prayers for others with burns. That thought haunts everyone in a small Maine town. We have the same gratitude for an ice arena roof cave in back in 1998. The building was empty when it went flat under the snow load. But no one wants to think about the loss of life if a game with hockey players, spectators, coaches, the zebra officials were playing a game during the roof collapse.

How the structure next door was not lost in the fire is just a testament to the fire fighters abilities.

The McPartland Plumbing and Heating brick building did get water damage from all those gallons of water soaking the tar and gravel roof. Fans to dry out the attic and business continues up and down Mechanic Street. Lots of moisture from all that water being applied next door and to the sides, roof of anything near the structure fire was done. Now recovery and repair to the damage underway.

Small Maine towns, they share a gold ball from a local basketball team that came out on top in a crucial game. Or they rally around the victims, their neighbors, friends, relatives when something grave happens like a structure fire in a multi unit apartment house.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

March 29, 2022
Soap Box Derby Racing In Maine

Soap box derby racing in Maine.

Did you get a set of axles and and pretty much on your own created a soap box derby car to compete in a local race? Soap box derby race in Maine. Since 1995, downhill gravity racing in driver built kit cars re-surged around Maine.

Maine Soap Box Derby Racers Practice Good Sportsmanship. Derby Heats “Won” By Hundredths Of A Second.

This blog post is all about where we are today in Maine soap box derby racing.

The All American Soap Box Derby racing program in Akron Ohio started back in 1934.

Youngest Daughter Amanda Gets Advice Before All American Soap Box Derby Race, Akron Ohio.

Throughout the years since then, Maine communities joined together to field racers to represent Maine in the big national soap box derby race.

In my hometown of Houlton Maine, I run into hand built soap box derby cars stored away over shops and garages. They are hidden “up over head”. Relic, classic soap box derby cars just gathering dust since last used back in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.

These early soap box derby races had big national corporate sponsors like Chevrolet.

Local Maine Chevy dealers, our larger state newspapers too helped promote the big three lane race held in the Midwest.

My involvement in the Maine soap box derby cars was not because an older brother raced.

But my four children all raced soap box derby. How did it become popular again? In Maine, in 1995, it was a Camden Maine race caught lots of attention and started the grass fire of local interest in local soap box derby racing.

That Camden Maine derby car race funded by a credit card company, MBNA

The credit card giant earmarked the seed money, $20,000, and hired a New Hampshire soap box derby group to set up the 1995 race. By 1996, parents and fans who witnessed the Camden Maine race came back to their home towns to set up their own local derby program. The following year after that MBNA sponsored race, Maine started up five local derby programs that quickly took shape.

The soap box derby “locals” as they are called were in Brewer, Camden, Houlton, South Portland and Rumford.

Each derby “local” raised their own seed money to fund the race each year. Selecting a winning derby car driver(s) to present their local at the big national All American race in Akron Ohio. Besides the local derby races held around Maine each June, spring and fall “rally races” took place.

Older Soap Box Derby Racers Help Younger Ones.

These rally races help derby drivers sharpen their skills. To put more racing experience under the belt of whoever Maine sent to Akron Ohio be the best the state could send.

Rally race points were earned for each of their rallies. Some parents traveled to the sunny south, anywhere there was a rally race to gain all important points to earn a trip to Akron Ohio for the big national derby race.

Besides the stock, super stock and master soap box derby racing divisions, a child 7 to 20 can opt to take the rally point earning route to get to race in Akron Ohio.

To run a program year after year, the local Maine soap box derby local needs to have funding. Local businesses and service club groups sponsor cars and give money to the local to cover expenses.

Drivers are selected to represent the car sponsors and are expected to race fairly and to show good sportsmanship. The local derby winner gets lots of advice and financial support from the Maine community they represent for the big trip west.

Lots of mechanical knowledge is gained when a boy or girl builds and maintains a soap box derby car.

What’s a lock washer, which size bolt do the derby plans call for in the steering or brake assembly? Alignment, aerodynamics and consistency in racing all are big considerations building a derby race car.

The stock and super stock soap box derby race cars after launched, gain speeds of around 30 miles an hour.

Think of what if you were the eight year old racer inside the car you built and trust. Seeing out of the corner of your eye another derby car racer with the same hope to get to the hill bottom first.

Derby Hill, Houlton Maine Soap Box Derby Race Circuit From The Air At Community Park.

No roar of a motor, nothing to top off for a gas tank. Just gravity and the weight of the kid and car are the horsepower. Lubrication, storing the car inside and out of the elements. Not sitting on the car or kicking a tire by mistake and removing a wheel pin clowning around it.

Drivers who build their cars gain pride and respect as they get in the “derby zone”.

The families that field several drivers are the ones that derby rally race and travel to other locations to improve their driving skills.

So today in Maine, where is soap box derby racing? The five locals have distilled down into one. The Northern Maine Sox Box Derby in Houlton is the lone local and the state of Maine racing venue. COVID threw a wrench in the cogs of the last two years like it has a lot of institutions.

June 11th, 2022 is the date for the next Maine state soap box derby race in Houlton ME.

No matter where you or your child racer live in Maine, you are eligible to race and represent your town or city in the big Houlton Maine local race this summer.

Like to sponsor a car? How can you help underwrite the Maine state soap box derby race? Lots of ways and please reach out to the Houlton Maine parks and recreation department. Contact number is 207.532.1310. More who to contact information at the Maine State Soap Box Derby website.

Check Your Brake. You Ready? First Time Racer Gets One On One Handling.

Why is Houlton Maine the still standing venue for soap box derby racing in Vacationland?

We built a hill for racing. Used every year for the June race and spring/fall rallies. A place for snow sliding during Moosestomper’s celebration of winter held each February. Some 4th of Julys, the Derby Hill is used as a fire works launching site.

The derby hill in Houlton Maine is 934′ long and just about everyone in the community had a hand in it’s construction. Hundreds of thousands of yards of gravel and fill.

Aviation grade paving and striping to delineate land one and two, guard rails for safety. Lighting for night rally races with a garage on top of Derby Hill “topside”. The garage with side and front openings to keep racers out of the rain. This garage to house the launch ramp, scales, safety cones for the bottom of the hill run out area.

Racers from around Northern Maine made the Houlton soap box derby local the largest in the nation five years straight.

The June 11th, 2022 soap box derby race in Houlton Maine needs your help. Please share this blog post and think of ways to promote the state of Maine derby race wherever you are located.

“The Thrill of the Hill” awaits in Houlton Maine’s state race and hope you can be some large or small part of it to continue the tradition.

Sometimes Weather Gets In The Way. Soap Box Derby Racers Plan On Rain, Blistering Sun, Any Weather. Tents Help Until The Showers Pass.

I was lucky enough to be a parent of two local derby race winners who represented the state of Maine in the national one in Akron Ohio.

Going through the All American Soap Box Derby Race Museum in Akron Ohio and walking up the hill can hit you hard. Lots of history and the Houlton Maine race through hard work and from surviving lots of learning curves has fielded national All American top spot and runner up race winners. It takes the “Zoo Crew” and roughly 60 volunteers in the beginning derby races to pull off the local race.

To get an idea of the state of Maine soap box derby program, tap a few past early race videos.

The videos show specially built car trailers and escort vehicles used to tow the derby cars and drives from the bottom to the top of the hill.

Maine Soap Box Derby Racing. The entire family has a role and can race.

Wheel swaps after each “heat” run are done to keep the soap box derby races fair and exciting.

An electronic eye determines who advances to the next pair up heat run. If you are thinking of starting a soap box derby race, remember your hill set up and tear down. As your race course crew ages, that extra work is what can kill a program the quickest.

Nothing eats up more time or tuckers out your soap box derby crew than setting up, tearing down a race course.

The Concept For Derby Hill In Houlton Maine. This Is Where “The Thrill Of The Hill” Develops!

Build your own to roll on.

Lot of logistics but think long term, want to keep the soap box derby racing program alive and growing. Rotary Club of Houlton has been a solid partner through the history of our local, from day

From Topside, On Houlton Maine’s Soap Box Derby Hill.

one to present. It was Rotary that sponsored cars, helped us build a garage, add lighting and more. Thank you for that support Rotarians!

Love to talk “derby”.

Getting an organization like Rotary, the Elks or area fire departments, local media outlets behind your soap box derby program. It all helps assure the funding, publicity and man power. To add longevity to pull off years of youth soap box derby racing.

Did you race or someone in your family or community was involved in the soap box derby program where you grew up or live now? Get involved and help jump start or give your local soap box derby racing program a big boost.

You have as much fun as the kid who derby races.

The sound of those wheels turning again when another soap box derby race gets underway. That kind of fun does not fade away and it is hard to stop being “Mr Goodwrench” for a girl or boy who loves to derby race on the hill.

Reach out, let’s connect.

I can’t wait to hear the derby car wheels rolling again for another local race. This 2022 Maine soap box derby race is important to get the word out and share. Please do. We want lots of derby racers from around the state of Maine to be in the Houlton Maine race. Again, please share the news of the June 11th, 2022 State of Maine soap box derby race held on Derby Hill in Houlton Maine.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Real Estate Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

December 5, 2021
Small Maine Downhill Ski Areas

Small Maine downhill ski areas. Quoggy Jo Ski Center Presque Isle Maine is one in Aroostook County.

Family friendly, low cost Maine ski areas turn winter snow into outdoor fun. Skiing in Maine does not have to be expensive or limited when stepping into the downhill boards.

Small Maine Downhill Ski Areas, Quoggy Jo Presque Isle Maine

This blog post about small Maine downhill ski areas.

The visit to Quoggy Jo ski center in Presque Isle Maine this past Sunday made me think about small downhill trail facilities.

The small Maine mountains need lots of volunteers because the volume of skiers is smaller just like the lift ticket price.

And throw in a couple no show snow Maine winter weather droughts. When zip for consistent supplies from up above of new fresh powder snow. And well, then your small friendly area ski area in Maine can find itself reeling on the ropes.

The Air Is Thinner, The Clarity Greater On Top Of A Maine Mountain Or Steep Hillside Ski Slope.

Too cold, no snow, any pull back on local financing help. Or the loss of volunteers who pitch in while their families are young, etc. There is a lot stacked against the small Maine downhill ski areas. Insurance liability is one of the biggest expenses. Combined with power to run the mountain ski lifts, a profit for payroll, to keep the lights and heat on in the base lodge.

Maine Small Town Ski Areas! Ideal For Beginners, No Double Black Diamonds.

Quoggy Jo started as a registered non profit ski area in December 27th, 1957.

The history of the Quoggy Jo ski center . Dating back to back to 1932, today the downhill area is owned and operated by the Quoggy Jo Ski Club. Through fundraising, corporate business partners and generous donations from local Maine community members, Quoggy Jo operates 11AM to 4PM. That’s providing there’s plenty of snow and no hazardous weather conditions. The ski center provides rural Maine families with an affordable outdoor winter downhill recreation experience.

Free Lessons, Low Cost Ski Equipment Rentals. That’s Small Town Maine Affordable Mountain Skiing.

You can’t beat the $10 lift tickets, $12 rental packages, and FREE lessons small Maine downhill ski areas provide.

Quoggy Jo Ski Center offers a full service snack bar, ski rentals and if you don’t have fun, it’s your own fault. Patrons and those working at Quoggy Jo all try to make sure everyone enjoys their small Maine downhill ski area experience. To get them to keep coming back for more skiing on the groomed Maine ski slopes.

The Quoggy Jo downhill ski area offers beginner skiers a vertical drop of 215′. Slow and gradual, no blistering speeds tucked in and racing down this small Maine downhill trail slopes. No one is training for the Olympic speed trials at Quoggy Jo. There is one ski lift, a double t-bar. No snow making, just what ever Mother Nature supplies to trail groom and maintain. There is night ski riding and terrain parks with some mild jumps. The phone number of Quoggy Jo Ski Center is 207-764-3248. Quoggy Jo’s small Maine downhill ski area located at 420 Fort Road, Presque Isle ME 04769 in Aroostook County. This is close to home for Aroostook County and New Brunswick Canadian residents.

Small Hills, Mountains Are The Best For Learning To Maine Skiing. To Catch The Ski Bug For Life.

When Loring Air Force Base in Limestone was operational, many of the stationed families took advantage of Quoggy Jo’s Maine downhill skiing facilities.

Affordable, everyone in the family had fun and something to do besides ice skating, sliding or ice fishing. Winters in Maine are not spent on the couch hibernating. Snowmobiling is another big recreational pursuit. Snow sledding really jump starts the Maine winter tourism economy along with skiing.

There is no better atmosphere to learn to ski than a small Maine family friendly local downhill mountain or hillside operation.

Close to home, lift tickets and ski equipment rentals won’t break the bank. Everyone’s love for their small Maine ski area is great. Because all pitch in to support it from fund raisers, blog grant writing and taking turns with other parents to man the stations. The fire in their belly passionate ski volunteers are on fire invested so kids get introduced to beginner level down hill alpine memory making.

Hungry From All That Fresh Winter Air And Up And Down The Slopes Maine Skiing?

There’s Marge working the snack shack with your cousin, her granddaughter. Your Dad is helping a beginner figure out the best length of skis for their skill level. Your brother is hot dogging and showing off for his teenage friends on the small hill’s steepest run called the Bomber.

There is nothing like riding up the t-bar being pulled along with music, laughter, under the light night skiing too.

When you are a kid, looking back as an adult increases your appreciation of all the volunteers that keep the small Maine ski area mountain open for another downhill season.

Fireworks, BBQ’s, Something Always Happening At A Small Maine Ski Area To Keep Local Families Coming Back For More Than Just Downhill Skiing.

In college at the University of Maine at Orono, winter downhill night skiing at Hermon Mountain was one low cost close by option.

Sure planning a trip and pooling the resources to head over to Sugarloaf USA was an downhill ski slope adventure too. But small local Maine ski areas to get your fix of downhill fun and exercise hit the spot quick and easy. Something more personal and home grown happens in the small Maine downhill ski areas. Maybe it’s because your visit is more appreciated by those volunteering at the slope or due to many visits to downhill ski. Not just once a year or less due to the distance away or high cost to subsidize mountain operations. Small Maine mountain ski areas are popular places and so low cost, so nearby to visit for another perfect winter day.

The Lift Line At a Small Maine Ski Area. How Many More Runs Can You Fit In Today?

In my small Houlton Maine home town, Hovey Hill had a rope tow.

Lots of runs down the slope and just as much time spent pulled up the hill and gliding down it. Out in Colorado, when you ski in the Rockies you get lifts up to the top of several peaks with a series of gondolas and lift lines. On a small Hovey Hill ski area, a re-purposed Maine farm tractor jacked up with the big rear tire removed and the engine running the continuous rope tow. The Hovey Hill small Maine ski operation long gone run by the local parks and rec department. The downhill trail slope was near Houlton International airport’s glide path from the southern runway approach on dead end Hovey Hill’s elevation very handy to the Canadian US international boundary line.

No double and triple black diamonds and all the down hill trails at a small Maine ski area are green circle safe and easy.

The Ski Center For Quoggy Jo, The Trail Lodge In Presque Isle Maine.

Ideal for beginners skiers to avoid a trip to the hospital emergency room with a broken leg or two. Way way less stressful for the parent(s) shepherding the downhill family beginner skiers. When you live in Maine, you are just glad to have a small mountain or nearby hill ski area in your own backyard. For the kids and their parents to bundle up with clothing layers to swish swish carve the snow. Your support the small Maine mountain downhill ski area anyway you can to keep it up and operational.

May Mountain in Island Falls Maine was another small family ski area that I took my four kids to when it was open.

When I brought along my oldest brother Stephen’s three kids, the volunteers at May Mountain were awesome. Taking the never skied before newbies by the hand to show them each the ABC’s of this is how you ski. Now when I ride by May Mountain on US RT 2 on the way to list or show a Maine property listing, I think about the small downhill ski area experience. The big cable wore out, the mowed slopes grew up to brush. The base ski lodge had a second floor added and is now a re-purposed single family home with one long driveway, tremendous views, a killer sized parking lot.

At The Top, Ready To Ski Down After Letting Go Of The T Bar Lift Handle.

The kids skiing May Mountain grew up and moved on to other slopes in Maine and beyond.

Those kid’s parents were the life blood of May Mountain, Hovey Hill, other small Maine ski areas. Local small Mom and Pop businesses all pitched in their support for the love of downhill snow skiing. Just like they do to underwrite little league teams and local school musical and sporting programs.

Another small local ski area beside Quoggy Jo in Aroostook County is Big Rock in Mars Hill Maine.

Just across the border into Canada I used to book a room at the Holiday Inn in Edmunston so the kids could ski Mont Fralagne in New Brunswick Canada.

Usually the boys had a hockey team game in Plasterock or Grand Falls and we were close enough to stick around an extra day. To step into the snow skis for family fun on another small but Canadian downhill facility. The American dollar being stronger than the Canadian loonie helps subsidize the small mountain skiing fun. Lonesome Pine Trails in Fort Kent Maine is another small ski operation in Aroostook County.

Crabbe Mountain in Upper Haynesville New Brunswick Canada is another affordable family ski mountain folks in Northern Maine use.

You don’t have to race to get to Crabbe Mountain ski area either.

Open until 10 PM Canadian time meant after church, we all piled in the Jeep or Excursion to beeline for the Crabbe Mountain slopes an hour away. Lift ticket options beyond just full or half day meant you got your money’s worth downhill skiing at Crabbe Mountain.

Sugarloaf USA and Sunday River ski areas are Maine’s two biggest facilities.

The Top Of The Maine Mountain Or Hill Ski Area. Looking Out Over The Expanse Clears Your Head.

Large enough to be more than just put into operation for winter downhill skiing, the condos and resort hotel rooms at the summit used for year round group meeting conventions.

I’ve had Maine REALTOR state MAR association conventions at both Sunday River and Sugarloaf USA ski resorts. Over the years MAR has rotated where the continuing credit and guest speaker sessions will be this and next year.

It’s different coming into the base lodge without any snow, not wearing ski boots when you visit A Maine ski area off season.

The Maine ski areas not just put to use when snow is on the ground. The Maine ski resort operations expanded to offer golfing, biking, hiking the green not white colored trails. Leaf peeking the brilliant fall foliage colors with chair lift and gondola rides up the larger mountain slopes. Wondering about local Maine comfort food pub style cuisine choices that go hand in hand with the vacation recreation.

Snow Skiing In Maine, Lots Of Big, Medium, Small Size Mountain Downhill Options. Kids Start Out Best At Simple, Low Cost Small Hillside Ski Areas.

An off season mountain visit causes one to wonder and dream about new snow, groomed trails and down hill winter skiing to come.

And fond memories of past time spent on the Maine ski slopes flood the gray matter. More Maine ski area information. Check out these other Maine ski area locations and try out some new slope set up beyond your personal most visit favorite downhill mountain venue location.

Do you ski and which Maine mountain slope is the closest to where you life in or outside Maine? Getting you out of the house and on a set of skis or snowboard. Hope this blog post on small Maine downhill ski areas was helpful to get you headed to one or two this winter.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

February 23, 2021
Thanksgiving, The 65th Local Rotary Auction In Houlton Maine.

Fall in Maine means local Rotary auction fund raising time in my home town.

The local Houlton Rotary Club celebrates its 100th birthday this year. And leading up to Thanksgiving week, the local club members work hard behind the scenes. Preparing for the biggest fundraiser of the year, the fall rotary auction. It started out as radio only for the audience connection. Just tune in, bid high, stick around for all three nights of the Houlton Rotary radio auction.

Local Houlton Maine Rotary Auction Hi Low Bidding, Watson Hall On Main ST.

The first radio auction for Rotary started in 1956.

In time with technology advances, the auction became radio, television and Internet broadcasts options to play the game. There is even a Facebook auction off shoot of the Rotary auction to increase the reach and help the bottom line of fund raising for local projects.

Area businesses donate goods and services to list in the local supplement of auction items to bid on with something for everyone in the small community broadcast listening area.

Those items to use as the bait to bring in bids are a big part of the fund raising numbers. But lots of home made smaller items from folks out in the bidding audience are the cream to raise money.

People scan the supplement list of items hard and mark items to watch and bid on during the three day event. Happy meals from Mickey Dee’s for the kids in the early hours of bidding.

Toys and sport game, movie passes. Bigger three night special items that cost a little more for the older bidders who wear larger wallets. Many hunt down the home made hand knit real wool mittens. Some bid on the Ward log cabin kit and dream of where to put it on a Maine land listing.

Looking for Gladys Dow’s annual chocolate log. Joe Beasley’s cajun Louisiana style spiced jar of sauce. Bob Blanchette’s and Kaye McGinnis’s fudge listings in the local newspaper bid list of offerings advertising supplement.

Or bidding on a local grocery store gift certificate, a case of motor oil, home heating oil, a cord of wood. Something for everyone to bid on. Gift certificates, savings bonds from area banks, books, puzzles, games. Home made cribbage boards go high too.

Home made mittens, cords of firewood, pontoon boat rides around a local lake, an ultralight ride up and over your small Maine town and the countryside.

Checking Out The Merchandise On The Rotary Auction, Houlton ME.

Everyone contributes to the auction items to raise over $50,000 to pour into local Houlton Maine community projects. Ads from the advertising supplement, oil raffle tickets, and donations to on air causes like the local library, hospital, school.

These revenue streams all part of the gross income and after the expenses create the year’s net profit to divvy up among well deserving projects. Capital expenditures and not a million smaller operating budget contributions the focus.

To do something like an outdoor amphitheater project for the community band, Veteran’s day ceremonies, lots of other uses.

The track building of an engineered hill and garage on top for soap box derby racing. A school performing arts center or much needed medical equipment at a local hospital. All part of the fund raising proceeds placement in the local area.

Some local projects highlighted in the auction advertising supplement are this year’s one time recipients of funding. Other side hustles on air for added awareness and promotion to a list of on going worthwhile projects get attention too.

“Buy a boot, give a hoot”.

The local slogan for small pewter statutes cast 500 at a time to support local health care as our hospital. Bought in honor of a past away family member or a thousand dollars pledged to buy one to park on a fireplace mantel or on a shelve in your home. The money raised supports quality local health care that you or a family member may need.

Small Maine towns are more connected.

“Rotary Auction, What Item You Looking At, To Bid On Tonight?” The 70 Member Local Rotary Club Hard At Work Raising Money For Local Projects.

The circles we travel are smaller, tighter.

Working on the local service clubs events together helps you know your neighbor. It’s all highly important to the quality of life in these rural areas of Maine. If it was not the local individuals banding together to fund raise and brainstorming to identify the need, it would not get done. The moneys from local government are not there to pick up the bill. Hiring it done is not an option. Plus it would miss the home grown satisfaction that rolling up your sleeves and pitching in causes when the entire village participates.

The Rotary Auction is the week of Thanksgiving.

Past Members Of Rotary Who Helped Out On Many Auctions. Some Members Gone But Not Forgotten.

As college kids return to their home town with several bags of laundry for the traditional holiday break. The auction is an important social stop to catch up with classmates.

The school chums make sure to stop into to the live broadcast auction operation at Watson Hall on Main Street. The local broadcast lets everyone know who is home from college or back to visit from out of town. It’s like old home week and these college kids remember bidding on items growing up in the small town. Many that are local end up working the auction stations and filling the positions of the bid collecting to replace those volunteers that are lost to old age or relocation. We do both in person and ZOOM Rotary club meetings to play it safe and protect the community we love and cherish. This year’s 65th Rotary Radio Auction is November 21, 22. 23, 2020.

Who Won And What Item? Tabulating The Last Session Of The Three Nights Of Bidding On The Houlton ME Rotary Auction.

There was a time when the auction was at our local high school so we could broadcast it on local cable not yet wired into Watson Hall.

A lot of work to haul items to showcase on air the three blocks away from Main to Byrd Streets in Houlton Maine. And the haul the auction equipment and all that merchandise back after three nights of bid early, bid high, bid often.

Bids Called In, Coming Down The Conveyor Belt For Placement On The Tote Board. Neat System Changed This Year Due To COVID19 Response.

Christmas shopping done during the Rotary auction too. Everyone gets excited and in some form or another is part of what makes each year bigger and better than the last auction.

Because we are in Potato Country, in Aroostook County, the garden of Maine, spuds are a big part of the local Rotary auction.

Usually up top in each advertising segment, you will see four or five fifty pound bags of Burbank Russets, Yukon Gold, Superiors, Kennebec or Katahdins potato varieties. The spuds grown locally and donated by area Northern Maine potato farmers. There is a lot of eating in a fifty pound paper bag of Aroostook County potatoes. So many ways to serve them up and prepare the meal for tonight’s supper time ritual. I grew up on a Maine potato and grain club and did not eat a lot of rice as a kid. “Farm to table” was a habit before the catchy agri-tourism term was coined and spun into an “Eat Local” buzz phrase.

Woods, Potatoes, All In The Shadow Of Mt Katahin! Northern Maine Tourism Is Big. Welcome To A Sportman’s Paradise!

This year with social distancing, the inner workings of the 65th annual Houlton Rotary Auction will be different for safety sake.

Crowding around the TV, lap or desk top screen or radio broadcast will still happen out in the audience at home. But the rotary club members will have less handling of bids using the old pegger and sorters method of processing incoming auction bids. Instead, using banks of lap tops to input the bids. The ones received on the phone lines called in to hopefully win an item in this year’s auction bidding.

Here are a couple videos from past Rotary Auctions from our 70 member service club.

Thank you all local Houlton Maine Rotarians for your “service above self” the last 100 years. What does your local Rotary club do and are you a member?

This year’s 65th auction is dedicated to Michael A Clark who passed away this weekend.

Working For Winter Clothes, That Jacket, To Help Out Family Expenses. Kids Learn Work Ethic Early On In Small Town Rural Maine.

The auction this year is dedicated to Michael A. Clark. Mike was a life long cheerleader, ambassador to the town of Houlton Maine, the county seat for Aroostook County. He will be missed an

condolences to his family, his wife Debbie who is our club secretary.

Mike was a past district governor for Rotary International and truly displayed “Service Above Self”.

Playing the drums during summer evening concerts every Thursday night. Tinkling the piano keys too at local rotary events for the background atmosphere. His trailer for band member chairs for the outdoor concerts in Monument Park proudly stated “Houlton, Music Town Of Maine” with lists of Suzuki Strings, Show Choirs, Community Bands. He was right. This is one musical place.

Local ATV and snowmobile clubs work hard too raising money for building, maintaining trails.

Having local breakfasts and dinners to raise money to keep the trails smooth and groomed. This tourism rich local volunteer effort brings in money from out of towners using the trails to explore and discover Northern Maine.

Volunteering, working together for a common cause in Maine small town living.

RIP Michael Clark, Dedicated Local Rotarian, Past District Governor, Paul Harris Fellow.

Pitching in for the greater good. Kids grow up watching their parents, teachers, their neighbors all pitching in to do amazing things as a village. It all enhances our local quality of life in small town Maine. So many in local fish and game, Elks, Kiwanis, local school sports, music, drama, etc clubs raise the funds to make local programs possible that benefit the entire population. And all ages, many talented local folks step up to get involved for the common good.

Fall harvest is wrapping up, the Rotary Auction is heating up time around Southern Aroostook County.

Like all the four seasons, each is a busy time for small towns in Maine where the locals are active volunteering to collectively improve their communities. The local events like the Houlton Rotary Club Auction Thanksgiving week are all part of the traditions. The ones passed down where everyone in the local small towns have a hand. All are part of the pretty impressive volunteer work force. You get to know the folks around you better working on common causes too like the Rotary Auction held during Thanksgiving week for the last 65 years.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

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October 20, 2020