Category: Maine Real Estate

Winter In Maine, Living On A Lake, Watching The Approach

Winter in Maine, living on a lake as a new season ushers in slowly.

It’s a chance to reflect in front of a crackling wood stove fire. To sample good locally sourced food that is farm to table. Prepared with no one watching the clock. Slow cooked, easy does it wins out every time over fast food created and consumed but not savored.

Here Comes The Ice. First Thin Skim And Then Thick Enough To Drive A Car To The Ice Shack.

Maine winter is a myth to those who have not gone through a few.

It is not hibernation. Like the other three seasons, outdoors is where we seek to be. Dressed appropriately and always left in awe of her splendor.

Winter is a peaceful time and everything Vacationland is re-known for transforms with the dusting of white snow flakes.

Powder, ice glazed, whipped crystals and flakes. The swirls of snow naturally sculptured by time and Jack Frost himself. It gives Maine a whole new presentation when the temperatures are played with outside our homes. Fewer colors but more shades of them is what the frost and winter snow do the look of things.

Winter offers more than downhill and cross country skiing adventures too. Is not just opening up a Maine lake five times each drilling session. Can opening down through the many inches with a Jiffy ice auger to angle for fish. The transformation when the temperatures drop and any moisture from the clouds turns from rain to sleet or snow. It is a slow methodical process watching the approach of a Maine winter. Saying goodbye to the season of fall.

Winter expertly reworks the Maine landscape.

Spiked Ice For The Rock’s Hairdo. Styled By Waves, Cold Temperatures.

The fall leaves that did not quite get raked, mulched, bagged or burned. They don’t matter once snowfall occurs. Next spring you can deal with leaves from the hardwoods around your property that shed like dandruff.

A sudden winter storm can catch a fall tree unaware. The memo of the change from fall to winter is often missed. The buttoning up a Maine home tradition picks up the pace much quicker when temperatures go lower.

Sparkles twinkle from the ice crystals on the snowscape. The mosaic patterns of what covers mud puddles like brittle thin stained glass. That a young child struggles with the temptation to attack with the heel of their snow boots. Snow boots crunching as you take in the winter wonderland around you.

Looking around in the day, up at night sky and blown away living on a Maine lake.

White, Blue, Green… Not So Much Harvest Gold. Snow And Ice Change All That.

The brilliant stars on a field of black velvet are so many in number. No light pollution, no sky scrapers or obstructions to smother the night sky enjoyment experience.

You might spy a lone blinking red airplane navigation light far far away. Just one now and then passes over head for activity. Relax, you are in Maine remember? Less people, no traffic, little crime and more wildlife.

As a Maine lake see saws in a tug of war from open water to iced over and thickening.

Back to open water. The cycle starts and stops. It is like an orchestra tuning up for what is ahead when everyone settles down to read the sheet music together. It gives a native time to prepare mentally for the change of seasons.

Not Quiet Ready To Ice Skate. Animals Better Stay Off The Thin Ice Too!

You need lower temperatures to make Maine all it can be. To allow pond hockey games, ice hut shanties for fishing to be placed over the deepest fish filled lake regions. If you have ever lost a loved one.

You may know the experience of witnessing the ebb and flow of life before they go for good. You see the aging process speed up. Transforming whoever you are never ever quite prepared to lose in the hospital bed.

On a Maine lake, the ducks, loons, sea gulls and otters paddle around continuing their daily routine.

But they know from the increasing chill of the water they ply that a Maine winter is approaching. Slowly but with determination and the letting go of fall is the same regret each season in Maine presents. The older you get, the faster the Maine seasons change. You hang onto and cherish each of them.

I watched ducks and loons catch small fry this past weekend on a Northern Maine lake.

The Fake Owl Takes The Winter Off From Scaring Away Canadian Geese.

But it was catch and release. As soon as the fish dinner was in their beaks, a seagull in the background suddenly took over. Bullying them to fork it over. Witnessed this over and over which makes you feel sorry for the ducks and loons who have families to feed too.

Maine weather is never boring or predictable. True Mainers are prepared and the road highway crews are veterans at using the wing plows to keep the pavement clear, salted, sanded.

Life goes on but with a marshmallow coating. With promise of Christmas traditions and New Year’s resolutions to celebrate another completed twelve month calendar cycle.

There are segments of Maine’s population where winter is their busiest time.

Those making snow and shaping it for a down hill recreation ski area. That push and place snow from the the drive, highways, parking lots and walkways to better locations out of the way. Groomers of snow sled and cross country ski trails help the local economy. Working late into the night to have the smooth trails set up and ready for vacationers. Those putting on studded snow tires and installing or repairing the plows to clear driveways and highways.

Ice arenas and kids of all ages on skates lace up the hockey or figure skates.

New options are what a Maine winter presents us. Hard to ski or snow sled or slide down hills on the

Playful And In And Out Of The Cold Lake Water. Otters, Other Winter Wildlife Entertain!

toboggan or flying carpet sled without snow. A sheet of ice makes ice skating and hockey possible inside

or out during winter. New sticky snow is best to form ammunition for backyard battles. To make forts and dig snow tunnels. To roll something small that becomes the parts of the snow people wearing a stick arms, a bright colored scarf and carrots, rocks for face parts.

The folks who service the oil furnaces, the plumbers who repair frozen pipes when a place runs out of fuel or the heating system simply dies. Winter causes activity in different sectors that you don’t see in the other three seasons. It is also a chance to ease back and slow down for the folks right out straight those times of the year when it is not winter.

Have you ever been out in a Maine snow storm?

Ice Cold On The Rear End. Birds On A Lake Fish And Compete For Food.

Where there is a deafening sound of a million flakes accumulating from above? The hush and rush gets the volume knob twisted. Being out in the weather no matter what time of year increases your awareness and is humbling, spiritual.

You quickly realize time on Earth is short. That we are all specks and a small part of the blue and green globe that rotates under our feet. Take nothing for granted and strive to improve to make a difference helping others.

The snowstorm on a lake and the mist when the air is colder than the water temperature makes the Maine lake in winter disappear for a bit.

Maine winter living, living on a lake, adding the clothing layers. Pulling your gloves and hat hand knit by your grandmother off the expanded stretched out clothes rack. Strategically parked next to the wood heater. Walking slowly as you leave the house steps assuming ice is under that new fallen snow blanket. The fresh Maine air becomes crisper, cleaner, sharper.

The Winter White Transforms A Maine Lake.

The lake, rivers, ponds and stream water surfaces transform. Becoming a polished solid thickening sheet with any wave action gagged and hidden completely under a lid. When you own waterfront property on a Maine lake you see it all happening right out front on the big flat screen.

As the freeze slows down the pace of life in Maine.

It shortens the list of what needs to be done outside to clearing snow, scraping your iced windshield. Taxes your vehicle battery overworked with defrosters, heaters, the use of lights to cut through the earlier longer darkness. Winter forces you to relax, to reflect, to feel freed up to create the space. To work on what is important or missing in your life routine that the tranquil Maine winter provides for best.

I love Maine winter living on a lake.

There are those who do not and options to bug out and snow bird to take a break. Digging out your skis, snow shoes, ice skates and snow sled gets you ready for a Maine winter. Having the windshield ice scraper and snow broom to clear your vehicle from what fell overnight helps tame months at the end and beginning of a new year.

Smile Seagulls, Loons, Duck. Hold Still… (Click). Got It.

Night fall comes quicker that just makes the cobalt blue sunny days we do have more precious. Basketball and hockey season happens in winter. So do snowy trips to Baxter State Park for winter camping and hiking.

The time at a Maine lake is sacred when folks are gone. Where you and the wildlife and the few locals remaining around the waterfront have it all to yourself. Less distractions with more moments of peace and quiet.

If you only come to Maine during the summer months, you are missing so much of the what goes on in the Pine Tree state.

The changing weather makes every experience radically different. Same Maine surroundings but a whole new take away caused because someone played with the temperature settings.

Whether you are exploring the Great North woods, parked in a quaint sea coast harbor town venue or sporting camp setting, take take away is the exact same. Maine people are friendlier, the majority spaced out, living in rural small town and village settings. Feel the home town connection and down to Earth ease you connect. Less people, more wildlife, Maine is pure and natural.

Spend more than a weekend to witness what you are missing on the Maine lake in winter.

On say a Maine lake where loons and ducks are robbed by a lazy seagull. Giving up their fresh small fry

Winter Still Popular Place For Seagulls To Hang Out on A Maine Lake.

catch of fish to the larger feisty coastal white bird repeatedly as you watch the injustice from shore. Another lake property owner on the South Shore tried rescuing a loon frozen in ice that a bald eagle had selected for a lunch option. You realize the food chain, the survival of the fittest.

The Maine photos magneted to your refrigerator you collected back in spring, summer, fall. Those full color reminders of a more recent trek to Maine on vacation. Add to those same settings but in winter for a new snow twist. Don’t forget to bring your camera.

In winter in Maine, living on a lake, it is you, just you.

Nothing is shared, diminished or delayed with the chatter of Maine tourists. No traffic, no spin, keep your wallet in your pocket or purse. Take your time, stay as long as you want to fill to the brim, cup runneth over. Until you get inside and out what you need gleaned from a Maine winter living on a lake setting.

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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November 19, 2019
Halloween Trick Or Treating In A Small Maine Town

Halloween, trick or treating, door to door canvassing for candy.
Trick Or Treat! Small Maine Town Fun October 31st.
The goblins low to the ground, most eye level with the heaping bowls of sweets and treats. The high caloric ammo stocked up and ready to distribute in handfuls. To the motley crew of pan handlers.
Holding wide open loot bags or reflective buckets for the candy bars, gum, licorice, sweet and sour the home owner is dishing out this Halloween. If you holler loud enough in unison for all to hear and with plenty of enthusiasm the chant “trick or treat”. You get a tasty treat!
In your area of Maine or whatever your GPS planet coordinates are, is October 31st still a big deal?
As a kid was it a tradition not to be missed and looked forward to with excitement? Gathering your young friends, sisters, brothers and cousins to tramp a new or familiar neighborhood. Did you partake in the climbing up on lighted porches decorated in spider webs, orange pumpkins, the sounds of eerie music, high wind, howling and clanging chains?
Often, whoever answered the front door decked out and making an effort to play along. Wearing a pointed black hat or warlock cape or whatever creative garb. To show the kiddies they too were under the same zombie or witchcraft spell where candy is the currency? But no clown outfits this year please. The once friendly Ronald McDonald or Bozo clown persona is missing thanks to the clown’s with anger issues and not so slap happy easy going these days on the silver screen.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.
I grew up about a mile and half from town out in the country. Having mom and dad drop me off with my older brothers on the corner of Highland Avenue and Washburn Streets was a Halloween ritual. Combing forces to battle our sweet tooth addictions, the six cousins who lived in the yellow apartment house would combine and off we go. Systematically with pillow cases combing the streets. On the prowl for neighborhoods with plenty of lights on and avoiding the ones where everything in the house was pitch black and dark.
Halloween Trick Or Treating Is Big In Small Maine Towns!

As a little kid, I was amazed at the generosity. Of total strangers to me for the most part who took the time. To decorate, to purchase the candy or better yet make the
home made sweets hot out of their kitchen oven. To show you the light is on for a reason. We’ve got candy, even better treats than the other residents on the street beat.
The home owner in my small Maine town enjoying the orange, black, purple and green holiday as much as the munchkins marauding the neighborhood.
The excitement of all age monsters, cowboys, princesses, ninjas, ghosts and other forms of the living dead with cuts and serious disfigurements adding to the hysteria on Old Hallows eve. The door to door hit and run like a town wide magazine campaign. Or the Swan’s guy with the deep dish pizzas and five gallon tubs of ice cream, other treats delivered on a weekly, not just once a year basis. The mail carrier has to make the same neighborhood run but on a daily basis.
Halloween, full moons, graveyards, the threat of dastardly deeds happening if the home owner does not deliver on something good to eat.
Kids disguised to protect their real identities. Knocking loudly to holler the “trick or treat”? dentists ten to one warn to “easy does it”
on the sugar intake. The one holiday to be extra thorough in brushing after carefully flossing as you sample the haul next day?
What is your favorite Halloween treat?
For me it is peanut clustered Paydays, peanut butter and chocolate Reese cups. Anything but Sahara dry popcorn balls and no thanks to the apples. Not for fear of razor blades in my small friendly rural Maine town.
The other treats that warm the usually chilly door to door are fresh squeezed hot cider and the rolled out hand cut fresh baked donuts.
The kind that just hopped out of the grease bath to drip dry on the kitchen rack. The home owners that offer those want you to come in to the light of the living room. To take off the mask, put down your loot. To reveal your true identity
and figure out are you so and so’s kid? Sometimes you learned they were somehow related to your mom and dad or Uncle Bob, Aunt Janice. Family reunion time happens.
During a series of open houses a few weekends back in Boston to help daughter number one find a home to buy, one neighbor we purposely struck up a conversation with made an observation.
The neighborhood in Jamaica Plains MA said you can tell a lot about a neighborhood by whether or not they participate in Halloween.
If more often than not, there are decorations, dummies in porch chairs and signs Halloween is observed here, then that shows you involvement. Fun people who take the time, make the investment to make sure kids remember October 31st. They stick around and have the lights on, the candy bowl by the front door fully charged to hand out no matter how many kids storm their place this Halloween.
Last year on Halloween there was snow on the ground.
The white stuff that usually holds off until at least Thanksgiving week that improves your changes of banging a deer showed up early. October 23rd, 2018 there was a blanket of white stuff delivered that caught most by surprise. That did their fall leaf raking and burning the following spring instead of back in the customary fall. I remember a couple Halloweens where winter snow was present but we still trick or treated.
The Lights Are On, That Means Halloween Candy!
Today, in areas of high urban crime, where folks don’t hobnob or really know who lives two doors down in neighborhoods, trick or treating is threatened. Less homes per block are taking part. Plus kids are trucked to events, to larger gatherings inside for fun and games and bobbling for candied apples. Maybe it is helicopter or lawnmower parents that same mileage and can wrap it up quicker.
Halloween is a time where motorists need to have sharp eyes and to drive slowly or not at all down dark streets.
Where sugar buzzed ghosts and goblin monsters can dart out in front of you in th mad dash to door number 2,3,4 and beyond. I am excited about Halloween and setting up shop on Sterritt Street this year. With the old times munching on pizzas and manning the front door candy bowl. While I dress up, round up the kids and
The white stuff that usually holds off until at least Thanksgiving week that improves your changes of banging a deer showed up early. October 23rd, 2018 there was a blanket of white stuff delivered that caught most by surprise. That did their fall leaf raking and burning the following spring instead of back in the customary fall. I remember a couple Halloweens where winter snow was present but we still trick or treated.
The Lights Are On, That Means Halloween Candy!
Today, in areas of high urban crime, where folks don’t hobnob or really know who lives two doors down in neighborhoods, trick or treating is threatened. Less homes per block are taking part. Plus kids are trucked to events, to larger gatherings inside for fun and games and bobbling for candied apples. Maybe it is helicopter or lawnmower parents that same mileage and can wrap it up quicker.
Halloween is a time where motorists need to have sharp eyes and to drive slowly or not at all down dark streets.
Where sugar buzzed ghosts and goblin monsters can dart out in front of you in the mad dash to door number 2,3,4 and beyond. I am excited about Halloween and setting up shop on Sterritt Street this year. With the old times munching on pizzas and manning the front door candy bowl. While I dress up, round up the kids and
other adults who share the same excitement of the trick or treating ritual. The expressions of new little trick or treaters especially is rich and rewarding. They look around and get caught up in the night’s excitement. They quickly catch on to the harvest of candy treats.
The best trick or treating candy was from home owners who had the little bags with the witch riding side saddle on the broom and the full moon in the background.
Inside there were lots of carefully assembled delicacies. One time while taking my own four kids out on Halloween, one resident had forgotten it was the big day the end of October. He took the kids down the hall to the kitchen pantry and each came out with a can of vegetables.
The More The Merrier Trick Or Treating In Small Maine Towns!
Heavy cans for a little kid to lug along the candy land. To continue getting inline and running across yards on the crazy train route to connect the lights that up ahead. And not what the kids expected but he did not want them going away with nothing to show for the trick or treating adventure.
He might have been into the firewater sauce a little too. Sleeping it off when the kids arrived despite the front porch light not on. But it was all good and the exchange made. Then quickly on to the next home to collect the stuff to
sort and trade with their friends. When they take off their Halloween masks and traces of left over face make up tomorrow.
The Maine homeowner or apartment tenant who invests in the candy, risks their life hoisting the bigger than life spider up onto the side of the building.
They dress up. They are primed and ready and invested in the Halloween trick or treating. Weather could impact the hand out of goodies. Less customers. The local church or downtown events could slice off some of the foot traffic door belling ringing too.
I googled “Halloween trick or treating in America still popular?” and this is a link that came up in the search.
And also this Halloween post on best cities to drag the kids to trick or treating. But is there an age limit for trick or treating? How big a kid is too old to do his best to capture a sugar high from total strangers? I love being in the background and keeping the herd of kids
out roaming the neighborhoods together. To make sure they don’t dart out in front of cars or get too far ahead of the little ones in tow. I am excited about this year’s Halloween and know it is because of the generosity of those that made my childhood October 31st eve memorable.
In small towns you pitch in and contribute and maybe Halloween that is safe in a small rural Maine town keeps the haunting spirit alive.
I know today noon there is a local Rotary Auction meeting to attend to prepare for the radio/television/Internet event held for over 50 years the week of Thanksgiving. Tonight at 6pm, the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby committee meets to further hammer out details for the 25th down hill race to be held June 20th, 2020.
Small towns in Maine.
Dressing Up, Playing A Character In Halloween Parties, It’s Not Just A Kid Event. Me In Maine Blogger Andy And Meg Ham It Up.
The locals volunteer and maybe that spirit spills into the desire to decorate, to purchase lots of candy and to spend a couple hours and get over 500 trick or treaters.
Not because if you don’t, for fear of the trick part of the three word demand hollered on your lighted front porch.
Egging a house, wet toilet paper or vandalism to your Pumpkin Man or mock graveyard out front just does not happen.
The best trick or treating neighborhoods in my small Maine town are where four or more in a row property owners join forces. To make a Halloween Beetle Juice theme park of sorts.
Those attract carloads or trick or treaters that get more than candy dropped in their sack. Caskets with
live bodies and snakes, spiders and other things that go bump in the night.
The Monster Mash playing lowly in the background.
Someone screams when scared, jumped, startled two houses back or three forward from where you are. Then laughter is heard around the neighborhood in the ghastly front yard show played over and over all night long. To add to the Halloween trick or treat candy collecting harvest of sugar.
The amusement hooked to pulley with wires that dance up and down to make a young trick or treater wonder how do they do that? To think maybe this yard is haunted…nahhhhhh. On second thought, they are just pulling your leg, another gag. You see one of the adults grin who is having just as much fun as the trick or treaters traipsing across the series of joined back yard eerily lit displays.
Pass me another kit-cat bar would you Zeke? Someone gave you Smarties… a treat from over home in Canada, a relative. And I got to ask, when you eat your Smarties (the maple leaf version of M&M’s chocolate candies) do you eat the red ones last?
Where you are a jack of all trades and a major DIY kinda person.
Kids learn those kind of skills from their parents, grandparents too which is a good thing. And you hear plenty of stories while working together on projects. Had one to share from a local handyman that has a sore hip and announcing that he may not be able to get to the camp project as planned.
Lined Up And Ready To Scream “Trick Or Treat”!
We got talking about black bears, tramping the woods back when he was a Maine guide. I guess it was because I knew he had previously told me the skill saw would be buzzing and work progressing when he was caught up after hunting season. He hopes to be able to do some trapping and says he is not much of a hunter for deer and bear now.
When he ran a sporting goods store on the Ludlow Road in Houlton Maine, Brown’s Trading Post he says a man came in who had hit a black bear.
Needed to use the phone. George asked is it dead, thinking we better put it out of its misery if it is. The man said no, it was dead before he hit it. Say what? Evidently, someone staying at John Fraser’s bear hunting enterprise for out of staters had got their prize black bear. But it fell off the pickup truck and that is what was road kill that was already dead. The police came, ticket written, the hunters found and charged with failure to secure their load.
So this year what is your Halloween costume?
Not everyone is after the Halloween trick or treating candy. It’s a time for parties. To dress up in a costume and play a part, to be a character. My girlfriend is a painted frame of art work. I am Bob Ross the painter from PBS show “The Joy Of Painting. Should be a fun night with lots of good food sampled early and later with trick or treating for a wide age of pumpkin pail pan handlers.
I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |
MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

October 30, 2019
Moving To A Small Town In Maine, What To Expect.

When you make the switch, find yourself moving to a small town in Maine.
Everything is not going to rock and roll the exact same. In small town Maine living, you enjoy the lack of traffic, the low level of crime.
Rafting Down Whitewater In Maine. How Many Times On Which Rivers In Maine?
The way small town folks wave at you and smile. Let you go first at a four way stop sign. Or hold a door open so you can scoot in or out. They are helpful and polite. That can change a little if you are a complainer. Or start finding fault with the small town living. Comparing Maine to where you used to live before the move in a negative light is not pleasant. Makes the locals wonder why did you move here then? They can bitch and moan but for the first year especially ease up on the whining yourself. The locals are proud of their area, worked hard to get it where it is. They want you to pitch in, not take pot shots and put down the small Maine town.
Right off the bat you notice a friendlier atmosphere in Maine.
Lower cost real estate, access to the great outdoors happens easily. No matter which direction you head out of town to experience the country. The woods, water, wildlife are on all the well connected recreational trails. But. When it is time to call a plumber, electrician, carpenter or mason. It could take a little time to get a response or the job you need done performed. Why? If someone is skilled, charges a reasonable price, they are in demand in a small Maine town. They are worth the wait and you learn to plan for the project renovation.
Maine, Drop Dead Gorgeous. Low Priced Property, Lacking Crime, Crowds, Traffic.
Something major for building construction means being the first guy out of the gate in spring. Finishing off that new addition in the middle of winter when work slows down and it is easier finding your tradesmen. Or Maine is all about doing more yourself and relying less on others.
Money is tighter in a small Maine town and we are raised to be jack of all trades.
Hiring everything done and wearing out the yellow pages is not the Maine way. You miss a lot of the satisfaction when you are not hands on and knee deep involved in the repair or renovation.
Live And Local. You Are In The Front Row Of The Event Working It Happens In Small Maine Town LIving.

You might think if there is lag time getting a tradesmen to arrive on the job at your place in Maine that more of them are needed.
Feast or famine happens in small rural areas of Maine. In the dead of summer we could use another two or three players in every profession layer. Around February, after the pair of holidays at the end of the calendar year, the shortage disappears. Availability improves and you learn to go with the flow. You catch the rhythm of the local work force. And like the best time to vacation around the shoulder seasons going in and coming out, expansion projects need planning. To get who you want, at a price that is best for the quality of work received.
Once you get your local small town professionals working for you, don’t put them off getting settled up.
Pay them what the bill that matches their estimate spells out. Don’t make them wait, don’t play any games trying to get something extra or stringing them along with payment.
Come And Get It. Fish For Free Are Fresh In A Maine Lake. Adult Loons Are Excellent Anglers To Feed Their Young!
Word gets around in a small Maine town quickly. Good or bad your new to town reputation is golden or tarnished due to how you treat the locals. Unlike a city where you find the list is long. To one by one track down someone that can come right over to fix that leak. Or help get your furnace purring and heat restored.
The remodeling or any much needed repair in a small rural Maine town can require lots of patience.
Some Maine construction companies prefer to do large jobs, not the little ones. When they are away on the road, not enough professionals can be in the small Maine town to handle the workload. The one man shows, where you know exactly who you are going to get and what quality of work for what size bill are super. They are affordable because their overhead is under control. But they are busy and worth waiting for if you can.
Sugar Coated Maine, Don’t Miss A Season, Make Winter Sparkle Part Of Your Vacation Plans.

When you learn a project was canceled and your local carpenter, plumber, electrician, whatever profession is available, you jump on the change to invite them over.
To tackle your job jar items bigger than your expertise level. In health care facilities in small Maine towns, there are times when the work load is enough for one and a half specialty doctors but not quite two. Timing is everything when you get sick or need an operation. Doctor vacation schedules can mess up life for those in small Maine towns needing medical help.
The Maine Blueberry Crew Field Rakers Are a Motley Bunch.

Moving to a small Maine town.
So much to like about the pure and natural, the unspoiled outdoor living. The relationships are deeper because you are more involved in small town living. Especially living in small Maine towns under 4000 population. The circles you travel are smaller and less people means you get to know the others around you. You will be serving on local community boards, working in service and civic clubs, school and church projects in a small Maine town. 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, 2019
Soap Box Derby In Houlton Maine

Soap Box Derby in Houlton Maine, the Aroostook County race venue held it’s big June race last Saturday. The State of Maine Soap Box Derby race is in Houlton each year.
This Is “Derby Hill” Where Maine State Soap Box Derby Local, State And Rally Races Are Run.
The success with the derby racing program is tied very much to the course used to host it. If a small town or city street is used for a derby program, the logistics to using that hill are huge. The manpower needed to set up, maintain, tear down and tuck away the equipment needed for a local soap box derby race drains the resources.
At one time Maine has five soap box derby race venues to give boys and girls the opportunity to downhill race.
The locations for Maine derby racing were many and spread around the state in Houlton, Bangor/Brewer, South Portland, Rumford and Camden. Houlton is now the lone remaining site for the Maine race used to produce winning derby car drivers to represent the state in Akron Ohio’s All American Race centers on just one major factor.
Trophies For Top Eight Places In Stock, Super Stock Racing. But Also The Spirit Award, Best Teched Car And More Awarded In The Houlton Maine Soap Box Derby Annual Local Race!
The small Northern Maine community in Aroostook County raised funds, drew up the plans for an engineer hill for rally and local derby races. “Derby Hill” has lights, safety guard rails, a garage at the top for storage that make for time and labor efficient set up and tear down operations. When less time, smaller amounts of yearly funding is channeled into the derby race course, more effort can be poured into other vital areas of the event. The workers putting on the derby race don’t suffer from burn out and drop by the wayside from exhaustion and dwindling numbers.
“Derby Hill” is also used by area children during the winter for sliding on the snow. Even fireworks have been staged off the area called “Topside” during 4th of July celebrations. Spring and fall soap box derby rally races in addition to the annual local run down the hill happens at “Derby Hill”.
The Houlton Maine race started with a small group of local parents traveling to Camden to witness a local 1995 derby event. MBNA, the big credit card company was looking for a worthwhile family friendly event to sponsor. The plastic card with the magnetic strip giant allocated twenty thousand dollars to hire derby racing officials from New Hampshire to show the Maine race cities how to put on the event.
Trial Run For Brand New Soap Box Derby Racers! Held Friday Before The Big Local Derby Race.
Like grass fire when it is dry and conditions are right with wind blowing in the right direction, soap box derby racing in Maine took off. In fact, after the Houlton Maine derby race in 1996, the next five annual installments of the downhill event were the largest in the country.
Lining Up The Heat Sheet ith The Pair Of Derby Racers.
The Northern Maine Soap Box Derby race with two hundred cars meant sixty six local volunteers stepped up to pull off the event. Money from sponsors, funding for cars, everything needed from event t-shirts to trophies, from food to car parts had to be raised. Derby car racers from over two hours away in Maine would venture to the Houlton venue to compete. In Akron Ohio when the largest race city award was presented at the All American downhill event, it would be asked over and over. How big is your city, is Houlton Maine to field up to two hundred soap box derby car racers? Just a tad over 6000 population for an answer made the person asking the question scratch their head in disbelief.
Matt Conley, 2019 Super Stock Soap Box Derby Racer Heading To Akron Ohio To Nationally Compete In The All American Race!
How could that small a Maine community field that large a field of derby car racers? The answer is you don’t know the size of the heart and passion of a home town proud parent or sponsor or derby race volunteer. More on Maine Soap Box Derby racing in Houlton, the county seat for Aroostook.
Megan Peters, Heading To Akron in July 2019 To Race In The All American Soap Box Derby National Race In Akron Ohio!

Videos of this year, past races below to show what this soap box derby racing program is all about.

Please like and follow us on the Maine Soap Box Derby race page.
The planning and execution of events in rural communities of Maine. In small Maine towns, everything is home grown not store bought. You work the event not just pay your price of admission and sit down to enjoy the show and then look for your car to go home.
I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker 207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

June 20, 2019
Settling An Estate In Maine, What’s Of Value Varies Greatly.

The death of a Maine home owner with lots of personal property and a place loaded with furnishings. Where the owner has called the sticks and bricks home for a half century or longer. They collected a lot of cargo. Especially those brought up during the depression and taught to never part with anything.

Come And Get It. Fish For Free Are Fresh In A Maine Lake. Adult Loons Are Excellent Anglers To Feed Their Young!

The settling estate process in Maine, what happens to the collection of valuables in the find a new home for everything? The personal property in a home or apartment has to be divided up or sold off and the money received used to pay any creditors. Or the treasure to get packed up and shipped off to a favorite charity for the good feeling and the tax deduction slip from the donation. Maybe the split up of the personal belongings between the heirs of the estate happens to provide each get an item or two momento as a reminder of the lost loved one. So the memory of them comes alive when using it or just spying it in your home.

Buyers of homes loaded to the gills with wall to wall furnishings don’t fetch more and are a burden to the new house owner who needs room for their own belongings.

It is interesting to see how individual family members approach the what do we do with all the stuff left behind when the dearly departed ceases breathing.

Stops paying taxes and leaves the gravity of Earth. I had one house sale in Blaine Maine where the brother had three sisters. He was a state trooper and set up the rules of the procedure rules for the method to be used in the household belongings reduction. So the home could be listed for sale, sold with just the major appliances staying in the real estate transfer. He wanted to protect against sharp edge rapids, to avoid class five twists and turns in the navigation of suddenly choppy relationship waters.

Rafting In Maine, Surfing, Paddling The Whitewash! The BBQ Food On The River Tastes Great From All The Exercise.

The brother listed the items in each room in this Aroostook County home overlooking the Prestile Stream. Everything inventoried to fill up many sheets of lines on a yellow legal pad. Down through the list in round robin fashion, the tedious process of a loved one’s personal items was started after everyone met at Mom’s home for the roll up your sleeves, the who wants what determination when coffee and donut sampling was done.

The heave ho, where does it go started on Saturday morning.

Everyone got a list copy to follow along with just like a college course syllabus outline. Starting at the top of page one, the kitchen, then moving on to the dining room, the living room and so on. Down through the list the family members went. Together discussing line by line all the items, everything of their mother’s personal belongings needing disposal.

Sunshine Outside In Maine During Winter. We Dress Warm, Head Outside. Saying Sayonara To The Couch And Channel Changer Wand.

For example, if the dining room hutch was the item under the white hot spotlight, each sister was asked if they wanted to bid on it. If one wanted it, after bidding a hundred dollars, the next could up the ante bidding to a higher level. The item ended up going to the highest bidder and at the end of the auction among just immediate family members, all the money was split between them as part of the estate. I asked how did this approach came about and the brother smiled, saying you don’t know my sisters. He was doing everything possible to assure family peace and good relations continuing between all the remaining siblings for years to come. He knew hard feelings held inside can fester and mess up the family member peace and harmony if not done with extra sensitivity.

The things of value for those left behind when you lose a loved one.

It is not what would fetch the most money on the open market or craigs list, a facebook marketplace at a sale to the public. The more intimate items with a personal connection. I wanted the kool aid glass picture with orange and blue sail boats seashore motif on the sides that reminded me of a Maine summer as a kid on school vacation. The plastic Santa with a crack on the arm from heavy use. That held the colored Christmas light bulb that twist into the hand that sat on the kitchen window sill every time the month of December showed up on the calendar.

Another item cherished and not sold off at a garage sale or thrown away. The 1957 Pepsi bottle holding the green sprayer with cork plug to hold it in place after water refilling from the kitchen tap. Clothe irons did not have the sprayer attachment button to press and squirt back in the early 1960’s and earlier. Sprinkling clothing by shaking out some water and then ironing with the hot iron to smooth out to remove the wrinkles was the method of the day. I remember how hard my Mom worked in her cheerful way to make sure the four boys, my Dad were provided for every day whatever was needed on the Maine farm lifestyle.

Maybe death affects people in strange ways and can help explain the behaviors like two sisters muckling onto a lamp and pulling for all they are worth to pry it away from the other.

A friend of mine laughed when that memory was recalled when his mom and aunt squared up to fight tooth and nail over items. You learn that the sister felt their mom favored one over the other.

Or the big pot used to make potato soup or some other delicacy the way only your Mom could and did when it was a snow day. And school was canceled and how your spent the day inside or making snow tunnels and rolled men to watch over the yard like soldiers outside was a special time.

As snow came down and piled up but no one was worried or scared. It was a celebration of a day off from school and rituals that happened only when it was canceled or released early. Cookies prepared with all hands on deck are strong memories. The tools create and decorate them hold strong personal value.

A Monument In Memory Of Who?

Conversations from the grave in the “she said he said” about who gets what that the person who died reportedly promising the momento to one particular family member. The small mink stole to be wrapped around the neck or left sitting on the shoulders just so. Back when it was fashionable to wear animal fur out in public without a public protest that the grandmother said would look best on and fit the tinier daughter like a glass slipper.

But watch out. When the larger sibling got wind of the gift news pitched a fit. Saying the fur, along with a number of other items were all promised to her by the same grandmother on her death bed final confession. Even thought the junior fur wrap would never fit on the broad shoulders of the larger built granddaughter, the claws extended as the grip on the delicate silk lined mink tightened.

You hear stories about families at a funeral while the unattended house of whoever died is paid a visit and items removed.

A death is a hard enough life event to adjust to when there is a loss of a loved one. But when a family member needs health care, what to do about greedy siblings who don’t work together to make that happen seamlessly.

Funeral arrangements, I see one or two siblings left holding the cost of the ceremony while listing estate property for sale. Whoever is the personal representative of the estate has a very tough and not always popular job. To take care of bills, hold back on the spending of money the estate does not have.

Little Things Have The Most Value… A Treat, A Gesture. From A Loved One Who Remembers You In A Will And Leaves Your Something Personal. Worth Far Beyond The Value Someone Unknown Would Place On The Item Lacking The Memories Tied To It For You.

The cost of the funeral can be out of hand when grief stricken family members don’t want to appear cheap and tend to over spend. In cases when whoever is picking up the cost of the final arrangements is left to settle up personally. Liens on property titles from funeral directors expenses happen in any state and I see evidence of them in registry of deeds searches for legal descriptions to property needing to be sold.

The best way to avoid a fight in an inheritance is to expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed.

It is the person who worked hard to earn the money to get the enjoyment from it right? Anything you do get is a bonus. The best way to assure when you are dead and gone that those left behind will fight is to not do a will. To die without spelling out your wishes in the last will and testament. Those thinking that there was inequality in how the spoils are split up can always contest the mental capacity of whoever died. Or was involved in the witnessing of the will that will testify on the day of the will signing the answers to standard questions to test the soundness of mind left no question if they knew what they were doing. That it was their free act and deed and they agreed with the directions outlined in the will.

Billable hours and court house steps to wrangle with relatives is one way to spend the inheritance.

They say listing more than one sibling as co-executors of an estate can help avoid resentment. Making the division of what is carved up and given away to family members is better received when it is done in equal shares. Avoiding confusion of any kind helps in times of greiving a loss and you don’t die any quicker having an updated will to make known your final wishes.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

April 15, 2019
So You Think You Know Maine…. Not If It’s From What’s Online.

News about areas of Maine that don’t get gallons of ink in the press.

Maine places that you just don’t see boat loads of online recycled electrons for copy used to spread the word around the web. It is always fresh and exciting when the same old tourist trap haunts are not the only Maine tourism information showcased.

Maine is such a big, beautiful and varied jewel. But like the dark side of the moon, what each unique corner of Maine is really like and what you want to make sure not to miss if you visit there is seriously lacking online. Maybe that is part of the magic of what you discover when you take the time to actually go to those little longer drive locations. What keeps it special and hidden and unspoiled.

What’s To Do In Maine? What’s Like? Where Do I Go? Need A Few Suggestions From A Local?

I like to go to the local library to dig deep for information on parts of Maine that I am not familiar with first hand.

And in the areas that I do know, there is always more depth and color in the information if you dig a little. What I have learned is if the person doing the book on where to spend your time in Maine is not ffrom that part of Vacationland, what is posted suffers dearly. The old axiom of “write about what you know” is so true. And to know an area is not just rehashing a few tidbits of information that show up over and over online.

It is doing time there so you collect from a stretch because it takes time to observe and collect what you end up sharing.

Like slow cooked food trumps the hurry scurry of drive through quick you deserve a break today. I can wait for my food without starving to death.

Check Out What You Are Missing. Frequent Local Maine Libraries! Find The Treasure Inside.

The latest book checked out from Cary Library was a tour of Maine. But the way the state was depicted was a gloss over of what most of us already know for odds and ends of travel guide information.

The author added a sarcastic twist and presented his stops along the highways and byways of Maine from a ridicule perspective. Ouch. It was presented in a hurried fashion giving the impression there was not much here to stick around for on a vacation. Like there were much better ways to waste his time than running up and down twisting US RT 1 into the willy wags of Maine.

Often times the tone in the paragraphs was obvious the writer was not impressed with many of Maine’s small towns.

Explore, Discover Maine. The Back Roads, The Hiking Trails, The Water Ways. We Are Outdoors More Than Inside All Four Seasons In Maine! Like That Where You Hang Your Hat Now?

Not exciting enough or just did not take the time to dig for more of the local happenings now and over the years. The mention of what the locals would consider highlights of the area and what to do and see while you are here was sneered at smugly. The historic value of the small town was diminished because the travel log writer seems disappointed with an air of is that all you have to offer a tourist or relocating individual thinking of moving to Maine in the pick me pick me stand out? There’s more, lots more but it does not make it to media outlets because you are off the beaten path where not everyone gets to go due to time limitations. Or publications leaving out huge sections of the state of Maine is there tell me a story.

Most of us have particular loyalty to certain Maine map locations. Because we live there or they are fond destinations in our trip down memory lane. We all love the lighthouses, the seacoast salt air and all the variations of Maine water front. Nothing trumps sitting on mountain slab of rock at Cadillac or Katahdin or a slew of other tall pinnacles. To just let go and stare out over at the vast land volume of unspoiled terrain that stretches out in all directions. It is humbling, spiritual, calming plus energizing all mixed into one. It’s where you do your best thinking about what really matters. Like the guy heading “up on the roof” as a city dweller that only had that option to get away for for a better life decision making perspective. (more…)

March 29, 2019