Category: Uncategorized

Maine Wells, Water, (Slurp, Gurgle, Chug) Tell Me About H2O.

Maine wells, the water in Vacationland, how does it measure up to other places?

In the top three for questions I hear daily in my paying job as a Maine real estate broker, well water is a big part of the buzz, rattle and hum.

Often because the water where the real estate buyer out of state is has problems.
Maine, Water, Clean Water Everywhere. To Enjoy Drinking, For Recreational Fun.
Out west quantity not just quality of water is a big concern. Major issues there cause folks to ask about water here in Maine.

The lady calling in from Texas today sharing her well through several feet of limestone was some kind of expensive. Because it went almost the entire way down to China. And you hold your nose when you force down a glass because of odor, other complications, deficiencies.

The deeper the water well, the higher the taxi meter charge on the dashboard of the rig doing the boring if paying by the foot, not a flat fee.

The damage cost bill from the well water drilling outfit that sets up on the land. Adds the steel casing, shoe, seal, submersible pump, pitless adapter and cap. Before lifting the hydraulic stabilizer legs and heading on down the highway. Lumbering on to the next Maine water well drilling assignment, mission.

How much well water do you really need?

Well if you are thinking of starting a Maine farm with a herd of beef, dairy cattle, buffalo or something bigger than a flock of chickens, a lot.

The average cow, hay burner needs, drinks between seven to ten percent of their body weight a day.
Maine Buffalo, Cows, Horses, Sheep, Deer, Goats, Pigs All Like, Need Lots Of Water.

Slightly more than the 8 glasses of water you and I are suppose to open the gullet. Down the hatch splash, lubricate with H2O daily.

And septic system soil test HHE 200 designs call for 90 gallons of water per day per bedroom flow capacity.

I know, that does sound like an awful lot of water being used but did you ever have teenage daughters in your household?

Best way to curb that excessive water usage for the camped out in the shower daughter or son is to say here’s your tokens for the week.

Like a car wash. Add the timed meter requiring more tokens to continue longer showers cures wasting water. Worrying about did someone go to sleep in there and leave all that expensive heated water running wide open?

Talked to Littleton Maine water well driller Jamie Watson recently about H20 standards.

He was one of four on the original committee that wrote the minimum standards for well drilling, hooking up the submersible pumps. The whole nine yards that the legislature adopted, put into law. Up until 1994 there was no Maine well water commission to protect the consumer. To have standards for Maine well drilling, water supply to abide by. More Maine well water FAQ answers.

Why is Northern Maine water so tasty, high quality, abundant in supply output?

Jamie says to thank the glaciers. They created horsebacks, eskers of gravel and other filtration layers to purify, preserve and protect, to guarantee large water pocket supplies. Plus less people in Northern Maine means the number of oil spills, tank ruptures nose dives.
Maine, Unspoiled, Plentiful Water Supplies Happen Here.
Not so common to have industrial accidents. Any form, degree of man made contamination is far less than if you were talking a concentrated urban area which Maine is not.

List of well water drillers in Maine.

What is the cost for a well drilled where I live in Houlton Maine?

Well like anything it depends if you are drilling down through granite around a Maine lake or setting the rig up in a open farm field.

But $3500 the figure to quote according to Jamie who is from three generations of Maine well drillers. And add another couple thousand for the submersible pump, all the rigging to open the tap. To say “AHHHhhhhhh” and to enjoy an ice cold tall, clear, clean glass of Maine water.

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

January 22, 2014
Visit The Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum In Littleton Maine.

When you live in Aroostook County, farming is part of the rich heritage.

All types of farming and the advances made over the years on display at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton Maine.

Valuable For Heat, For Home Cooking, The Farm House Wood Stove.

If you have never been to a SAAM bean supper, enjoyed socializing, hearing farm stories or touring the newest antique farm displays, you have missed out big time.

The museum is housed in the former Littleton Elementary School.

Is full of household items, farm tools, room displays of the era and a machinery shed.

It is not just tractors of all colors, vintages. More than farming equipment, attachments. But just as much a glimpse at the day to day way of life long ago on the family farm in Maine.

Take a video tour of the Southern Aroostook County Farmers Museum in Littleton Maine right now.

Like many local community activities in small town Maine, you don’t just pay, attend events, go home, that’s that.

No no. You pick your collection of them to work, make the event possible with a home made, hands on approach. Bring whatever talents tap you as the best to pair up with others that have the same interest, background, skills. And then pretty much that group are your buddies for the rest of your life in that small Maine town. Working that activity. This is one of your projects to run, improve, make sure happens yearly. It’s on your shoulders, to do list.

You step up, you feel connected, needed. You contribute your creative spirit, blood, sweat and tears.

Great Food, Friendly Museum Members Serve It Up.

Passion for your Maine town to make it special, unique, what it is. Log on to the SAAM site.

The Southern Aroostook Agricultural museum is located on US Rt 1, Littleton ME.

Like to help them expand, work in the one room school house or new Maine barn project? The small general store display? Your talent is needed. You get back way way more than you put in with the personal satisfaction. That you pitch in to create, keep adding to and improve. That’s the deep satisfaction of living in a small Maine town parked on the New Brunswick Canadian – Aroostook County border.

Plan, scheme, implement. With in this case a neat group of Maine farmer preservationists. That happen to be out of this World cooks, like to put on memorable buffet spreads too. Now I’m pretty hungry and can’t wait for the next Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum public supper.

See 122 images of the Maine farmer’s museum and local farming on Facebook.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

January 20, 2014
Your Best Friend, Partner, Family Member Has Cancer, What Do You Learn?

Like most awful things that can happen in life, we tend to avoid thinking about them.

Because we “feel lucky today” as Mary Chapin Carpenter sings. Kid like super hero protected and pretty much bullet proof. Believing that the gruesome, painful only happens to other people in the news. Far away, in books and movies. To people we don’t know until it does occur right on schedule close to home. Do you feel lucky today?

My Mom died of colon cancer and I saw how spiritual she really was in the down to the bitter end fade away.

Not that anyone that knew her ever doubted her faith. She read, studied, practiced scripture application daily. She was grateful, felt blessed, more than just “lucky today”. Not afraid, rock solid and setting the tone to how everyone in the room should handle the chain of events.

When the doctor at Eastern Maine Medical spilled the beans with here’s the deal. Out of many options, they are all short straws. Take your pick. With the Penobscot River, sunshine beam, ice and snow in the background, behind her elevated hospital motorized bed. She smiled when he left the room, had reported, delivered the news. We studied her anxiously and calmly as she announced her decision, desire. Still smiling, gracious, composed.

Her approach to living, dying, cancer, whatever obstacle in the road ahead made it much easier for the rest of us in the room. Cut and dry because you honored her wishes. You accepted her approach to the take away of the end of her life. She was practical, realistic, grateful no matter what. Life. As it coasted, rolled to a stop. Swerved across the rumble strip and drifted into the break down lane. But she was in her eighties, had led a full healthy life up until the last few mile markers.

Brought four bouncing brown eyed boys into the World. Endured the fun and games, ups and downs of farming, running a business. Enjoyed, hand crafted a sixty plus year marriage. Working on a Maine farm against the weather, economy, the other twists and turns that pile up and age a person. Or provide crystal clear, 20 20 vision to be fully aware of living in just today. Not trapped, dragged handcuffed in barbed wire back into the past. Or racing too far ahead. Planning your future that may look a little different than you hoped, expected when and if you do actually get there. (Click). Dial in today on the meter settings. Then rip that knob off.

Cancer Ripples, Effects Everyone Around You. Hold On, Hug Tight.

My secretary has cancer.

She is a fighter, feisty, determined and I have seen her shake off the little things quickly. That the rest of us without cancer track records don’t.

No time for worrying about the small stuff when you have bigger fish to fry.

More at stake and when quickly you see her evolve. Can not afford the luxury of friggin’ around when time’s a wastin’. It’s like a big test you knew was coming up but have plenty of time to prepare. Take it, pass it in, get your grade.

We dawdled, thought about that test off and on. But other stuff takes center stage, distracts, kills the time clock. You are relaxed. Then your day arrives when your friend has cancer changes your outlook, total approach to living. We joked it is like you are suddenly driving an old worn out VW beetle bug, some major hills to cruise over coming up. All you can see. So floor it, go in to them as fast as possible. To get as far as you can to clear them all. To stay healthy through the treatments that eat into your speed, momentum, limited horsepower with that small rear air cooled engine and no real heater for comfort.

The one six letter word cancer. It’s like someone turned off the loud music, switched off the tube. Shooed away the guests, took the phone off the hook, dead bolted the house doors. And focused all the energy, thought, passion, prayer and dedication into just one channel. To live today as if it was your last. To live fully, to the max no matter what it takes. No matter how many days any of us really has to spend on this blue and green marble. What if it was you with cancer?

Revamping all the old habits, kicking the vices out the door and suddenly a whole new you appreciation gets rolled out.

When you have an end in sight discussed around the medical charts and all the possibilities, odds, scenarios to prepare for the just in case. Not the way way out there death waiting that the rest of us see, have to consider. When it is not on our mind daily, and far away from here. But when the run way does not go on and on forever before lift off. Pulling up the landing gear one last time.

And a more outspoken but said in love new you enters the room.

The one that establishes the rules. My secretary is the quarter back. Memo sent out. “This is a no cry zone I know you love me, I know you care but if you keep crying, carrying on, it makes me feel bad. I feel responsible. But remember people, I did not raise my hand and volunteer for pick me pick me for cancer please. It chose me. If you want to help me, don’t feel sorry for me or how losing me would affect your life sadness please. Or do that on your own time.”

Pitch in, do what you can to help and sometimes it is just be there but not hovering. Over in the corner, out there but when recovering from all those time released bags of chemo cocktails hanging on the IV pole. Take a break. Please stand by.

It said with love but “just lighten up, back away and let me recover.” To not have to worry about oh oh, I hurt someone’s feelings because not up to tap tap tap like texting the reply to the how I am feeling today message. When it’s like a Mack truck or train or both tag team hit me for a few days. Like no other hang over sickness to date and you ache.

Or reaching out to make the many, not just one phone call replies when the folks surrounding you love you, want and need the latest answer status report to “how are you doing?” How do you help when someone you know and love has cancer?

I know someone who is going to be a cancer survivor because she is doing everything right.

Is focused, sitting down front in class. A model student, young, healthy in all the other ways and one gutsy, feisty, not going down without a fight determined lady. I bet you do too in your experiences, travels. Reach out and give them a hug but then ask what do you need me to do and do it. No tears, more roll up your sleeves and get to work to do your part. Be a friend. Be patient. Be grateful and look at your own life and adjust your priorities accordingly. It is sad it takes so long to learn but better late then never. It is never too late to start living because if you are not you are dying. Get busy, take your pick.

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

January 18, 2014
Free Thinking, Open Minded, Simple Living In Maine.

Standardized educational systems, the classroom approach to mass assemble what’s important in our society is one hot
Teaching, Not Scolding, But Guiding, Nurturing Young Children.
Maine potato.

How to “build” from the cradle, as a young grasshopper all the way up to a responsible, community minded, self supporting, contributing adult.

But like a new video game that initially challenges to stimulate but shortly is figured out and mastered, education is not just striving to achieve higher test scores in a factory setting.

The success of the classroom education is not just measured by healthy GPA’s to get the sheep skin, but outside that multi-layered restrictive filtered system.

What happens in real world applications way beyond the classroom “educational simulator”.

And the fun, passion of wide open, old fashioned brainstorming. Creative free thinking. Not just in a group but one on one with just you outdoors in a Maine natural setting.

Without a critical eye in the bunch, any wet blankets thrown on the individual who like the Harry Chapin so many colors in the rainbow song does not agree that all flowers have to be red. That everything is not cut and dry, black and white and come in many more than fifty shades of gray.

That you or I as youngsters can without any guilt reach for, apply other colors. To express our individual spark, unique creative spirit we are born, blessed with but can lose. Some argue that like the Maine snowflake, no two the same distinction is being lost, going extinct.

Squeezed, stamped out and that there is no place in standardized educational herd them in and out modules for the individual creative expression. That essential emotions, passion if missing or stifled, smothered can ignite a cancer of dark cold sameness. That ripples across, “dumbs down”, turns out the lights on everything it touches in the fabric holding together, shaping our society.

Sir Ken Robinson talks about the irony of no child left behind in education where kids are disengaged, don’t get a benefit and conformity not individuality is pushed.

Instead of curiosity, that it’s okay to be different and diverse. He asks there is teaching, but is there learning going on?

And do our well intentioned public schools kill creativity?

The education, critical thinking skills and ability to adapt out in the real world realizing that ADHD is not an epidemic. Just maybe a flawed approach in the cross hair target for our educational approach to teaching in our country. What thinks you?

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

January 15, 2014
Here They Come, The Seed Catalogs For Spring Garden Planting.

Excitement, anticipation builds as right on time, the seed catalogs for spring garden planting show up in Maine.
Healthy, Large Helpings Of Garden Fresh Home Grown Food You Produce. Priceless.

One by one the mail carrier delivers from the leather heavy pouch he totes the here and there, food for thought in the what to plant. The Troy-bilt rototiller is parked. Waiting, thirsty to be gurgled with gas. Fired up and put into action.

To push the lever forward, to make the tines turn. To till the dirt. Smooth, churn, break up the ground to prepare it for whatever was started for seedlings on the kitchen table. On the glass sun porch window sill.

The card table unfolded and layered with old newspapers. When the time is right and the sun’s angle of its powerful rays tell you it is time to think about spring garden planting the contents, green chutes from the peat pots.

So do you have the tendency to make the flower or vegetable garden you plant bigger and bigger?

Ignoring the “easy does it” temptation to keep it expanding? Knowing all too well that chaos happens if you don’t tend to the weed, feed, water and guidance along the way. To the rich, satisfying harvest time. To cash in on the fruits of your labor for veggie production of good, wholesome, nutritious home grown produce. You can sell what you don’t place on your own family dining table right? Or give away the bounty, half the fun of sharing the fruits of your garden labor, dedication.

Maine Farmer’s Market Video

Gardening tips from Mother Earth News, an old companion, friend that gives you the skinny. The straight manure on what works, why and where in the backyard gardening roll up your sleeves. To dig in the prepared, stone and grass free dirt and produce the most bountiful harvest ever. Sometimes it is not about the food you will reap, but being on your knees in your spiritual garden that feeds your hunger best.

So what are you going to plant in your garden this year you never have before?

Do you grow Kale? Where to plant what in the garden. Knowing use of the real estate, space is key. Planting early varieties of this there. So late arrivals to the gardening party spread out and use that vacated space like squash, cucumbers do. Like cooking a meal and making sure all the pots on the stove, meatloaf and baked potatoes in the oven come out on time, in synch with harmony when the supper bell triangle is ding ding dinged. For the come and get it.

So seed catalogs for spring garden planting? Is that a highlight in your day to browse through, dream about and get your motor running to get down on your knees in the dirt?

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

January 12, 2014
The Weekend Is Coming, You Need Maine Snow Sledding, Snowmobile Trail Reports.

What are the Maine snow sled, snowmobile ITS trails like in Northern Maine?

The Average Snow Sledder In Maine Spends $150 A Day. Win Win, Big Fun & New $$$ Happens For Small Communities.

It is no secret Maine takes how it grooms Maine snow sled trails pretty serious.
And the local towns, folks all pitch in, roll out the red carpet. To make sure you feel like a VIP when you trailer and drop or snow sled into their Maine town. Looking for a place in the region to eat, places to stay. To spend some time exploring, discovering a part of Maine so so different than just the sea coast towns that get all the splash. Most of the spotlight attention. Find out what was left out of the Maine tourist information brochures. Come visit the “Crown Of Maine”.

The Official Snowmobile Trail Report 1/8/2014 From The Desk Of:

Kathy Mazzuchelli Caribou Parks & Recreation Department

55 Bennett Drive Caribou, Me. 04736 207-493-4224

“Everyone is feeling the wrath of the Polar Vortex and I am not hearing anymore global warming theories…. Although…..how the heck can you get rain one day and have it minus 20 sandwiching the showers.
Maine Snowsledding, Hop On, Have Fun, Get Off The Couch. Stop Hibernating.
Fortunately the rain didn’t hurt the snow sled trail system which was awesome over the weekend but check out some of the cautionary notes….. Frozen ground doesn’t absorb water, running water goes downhill, running water is warm and as long as its running it doesn’t freeze so if it looks like a puddle…..well it probably is and it will take a few days to freeze over.

Water from recent rains has been collecting on rivers and lakes so you will find a lot of slush please use extreme caution. Pretty near everyone noted some water holes in low lying areas that are not freezing too quickly despite cold temps so be alert and try to avoid them wherever possible.

Deer and moose have been sited everywhere so please use extreme caution especially riding at night especially on 83 and 83 B in Caribou where there are significant deer.

Keep in mind that there are some long distances between gas stations so look at the reroutes and plan accordingly.

There is an active logging operation on ITS 81 the border trail on the Limestone section so please proceed slowly and with caution.There will be plowed sections on ITS 85 near Ox Bow, north of Ashland on the reroute and north of Wallagrass most of which will be remedied with snow.

Trail Info …

ITS 85 Now open from Shin Pond north to Ft Kent and Madawaska. There is active logging still on the Ox Bow end with 3 sections about 1 mile each. Ashland was able to complete their reroute but they need snow so you will find plowed road for a bit. Also the section north of Wallagrass is now open but needs a bit more snow. 71D is not open.

ITS 83 All the reroutes on the southern end have been completed but remember to watch for signs. Also there are three active logging ops between Linneus and Dyer Brook so follow signs, keep right and slow down. Sledders will have to use caution. Also there is a considerable reroute between Bridgewater and Mars Hill that is well marked but you will leave the railbed. From there on it is clear sailing but you will come into logging as you approach Madawaska.

ITS 81 This trail has not been groomed from Squa Pan to the ITS 85 intersection but Mars Hill has coming to Squa Pan. Heading north from Mars Hill everyone has been out but there is a logging operation on the Limestone section of the border trail section of 81 that is very active so USE EXTREME CAUTION.

ITS 92 This trail is in good shape with all projects out. Just a reminder that 92A out of St Francis to Carter Brook is closed until the end of January or mid February due to logging. Also Allagash is grooming a trail to Glazier Lake and that does connect of ITS 92 even though it doesn’t show up on the Northern Maine map.

ITS 90 Everyone groomed early this week and will be out by Friday. Watch for deer !!

ITS 88 Ashland was out on this week to open their section so this trail is now open through to Ft Fairfield. Remember there is a reroute on the section in Ft Fairfield Maine so watch for signage.

ITS 86 This route is open east and west with good conditions but again there may be plowed sections on the Ox Bow end so use caution. And remember sadly the Ox Bow Lodge burned down earlier this winter and the Masardis Trading Post also burned down……both represent a huge loss to the area. 71D is not open yet.

ITS 105 Is open to the 81 intersection but may have limited grooming on the Squa Pan end.

ITS 120 Now open all the way through from Eagle Lake to the 92 connection south of Allagash.

Rt 100 Now rerouted back to the old route between Caswell and Rt 89.

Rt 89 Now open between ITS 83/90 in Caribou north to the Rt 100 intersection only. It is NOT open to the 94 intersection.

Rt 94 Van Buren is grooming through a logging op so watch for signs and PLEASE stay off the road.

Daigle and Soldier Pond both have been out but remember. Rt 73B between Ft Kent and the 83B intersection in Daigle is closed so use 73C to get into Ft Kent Maine.

Connector 61 is groomed from the ITS- 83 intersection on Sam Drew Mt in Oakfield to the Railroad crossing near the Oakfield- Smyrna town line.

From the Oakfield/Smyrna line north to the intersection with Trail 81, Trail 61 has been packed but not groomed.

The 1/2 mile section of Trail 61 that uses the Brown Rd in Oakfield has been plowed and is currently being used by logging trucks. This is a very narrowly plowed road and extreme caution is necessary.

Trail 64 on the Smoki Haulers end has been groomed.

On The Social Side …

Meduxneakeag Ramblers Breakfast Saturdays 6-9 a.m. at the clubhouse.

Washburn Trailrunners Breakfast /Lunch Saturdays 7 a.m.-3p.m. Sunday 7 a.m.-noon at the clubhouse.

Presque Isle Snowmobile Club Stew Nights Fridays 5-7 p.m. at the clubhouse.

January 12 Fort Fairfield Club Breakfast 7-10 a.m. on the Strickland Rd $7 adults/ $4 kids under 12.

January 19 Portage Lakers Radar Runs Registration 9 a.m.

January 25 & 26 Long Lake Fishing Derby…..7 lakes and $12500 in prizes !!!

February 8 10th Annual Andy Santarre Sno-Run call 207-498-6431 for more info.

February 8-9 Caribou Downtown Ski Festival.

February 15 Caribou Snowmobile Club Hot Dog Roast ITS 105 Stockholm starting 10 a.m.

February 15 Portage Lakers Pie Auction 7 p.m. at Deans.

February 28-March 7 Youth/Junior World Championship Biathalon Nordic Heritage Ctr., Presque Isle.”

Thank you Kathy for your dedication year after year to snow sledding trails reports for Northern Maine.

Proving, driving home the point we don’t hibernate winters in Northern Maine. Like the other three seasons we are outdoors. All year round.

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

January 9, 2014