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Maine Towns With Airports, Houlton Is One Of Them.

Last I-95 Exit. Houlton Maine’s Airport Is On The US – Canadian Border. Come To Fly In.

Maine has 108 small towns.

And all are anxious to prosper, to at least keep their current population or better yet grow. Maine towns compete for business. Having a local airport like the one in Houlton Maine located right on the US – Canadian border is one attractive asset to hold in your marketing cards. Transportation is everything when a town has a rural location which most do in a state as large, expansive and sparsely populated like Maine.

(Left to Right) Me In Maine Author Andrew Mooers, Ben Torres, Rotary President Club Ryan Bushey

The new Houlton International Airport Supervisor, Ben Torres was the speaker at the weekly Rotary Club meeting recently when it was my week to line up one.

The Houlton Maine service group learned much about the workings at the airport today. The club members contributed about the history of the facility too during the end question and answer period. Torres who has a background in airport management from his education at Bridgewater State in Massachusetts is excited about his new job.

Updating neglected, national airport websites that pilots use when selecting a place to set planes down is one task Torres is busy updating. And due to jet fuel offered at fifty cents cheaper per gallon, the quick clearing of customs, immigration that Houlton International Airport offers with its close proximity border station, the local landing field is a big attraction. But not if it kept a secret. Local chain saw operators also buy high trade 100 octane aviation fuel as well as some local snow sledders or hot rod enthusiasts. Torres says the income from fuel sales all adds up.

Income from hangar rental and daily or up to yearly storage fees all help support the local Maine airport.

Increasing the income from larger fuel sales, rental income of the space formerly used by the local FAA flight weather station are all in the works.
As the airport is cleaned up, polished and an inventory of income generating revenues are one by one explored. Torres is excited, passionate about making the local facility thrive, to shine. To become a well known habit as a regular Maine airport stop for private pilots. He says one five thousand foot runway repaved in 2008 could handle up to a sixty thousand pound turbo prop plane. One holding seventy to eighty passengers.

The reputation of Terry Beals who is a certified avionics and plane power plant mechanic is well known too. His presence at the airport is a draw for owners as far as Florida, up to thirteen hours away who fly north to have him work on their planes. There are 19 FBO’s (fixed based operators) in the state. Houlton International Airport’s vacant buildings in addition to the hangar built during World War Two would make excellent incubator space for new businesses to locate and create new jobs.

Torres is promoting the July 27th Cruise In, Fly In at Houlton International Airport. Displays for local attractions, Chamber of Commerce things to do brochures are also being built.

So pilots and passengers stopping at the flight center can learn more about where they are refueling. Or hanging around waiting for executives that fly in for Louisiana Pacific, Smith and Wesson, and local banks. That all appreciate the ability to fly directly into Houlton Maine, Southern Aroostook with private jets, airplanes, helicopters.

Learn more about the Wings & Wheels Fly-In/Cruise-In – Houlton International Airport.

This first annual Wings & Wheels Fly-In/Cruise-In at the Houlton International Airport is generating a lot of buzz here in “The County.” Planes, antique and hot rod cars, vendors, food, music by Mellow Endeavor, kids games, static aircraft displays and a special apearance by Smokey the Bear.

19 Industrial Drive
Houlton, Maine 04730
Phone: (207) 532-4216

Maine, we work hard to make our small towns grow, prosper, and to shine uniquely. We all have a job, role in a small town. Are the small Maine town where it is always home made creative, not store bought expensive.

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

July 16, 2013
Maine Weather (Concentrating Deeply) Dialed In Just Right For Summer.

The Waterfront In Maine, Where to Be Parked Dead Of Summer.

Don’t change a thing, whoever dialed in the Maine summer weather has the right mix.

Lock it in, rip the knob off. Just back away slowly. Don’t jinx it. The earlier wet, cold spell is forgotten. Fun in the sun in Maine is underway in good shape. Playing catch up. Sweeping out the cobweb worries of rain rain that would not go away in the rear view. Rip that sucker off. Gaze straight ahead.

Life is not just one sense operating at a time.

Nothing independent. But a mix. Layers. Filters. Usually what you see, hear, feel, taste, smell all combine for something memory making. Good or bad memories can flood back like yesterday was today. With the right combination of sensory overload trip wire tumbler connections aligned.

So today’s post is what summer setting would complete (energize) the beaming, transport to the right mix for summer living just the way you like it in Maine?

Start with a crystal blue summer sky, with MIA clouds. Not a one showed up today. Add strong, warm sunshine beaming pulses of bright clean light. Tempered with a slight breeze. Are you with me? Better change into shorts, swim wear. Something sort sleeve or tank top or waterproof. Or put on suntan lotion to your specific SPF needs. Lather up. Because you are going to get wet before the blog post unravels, ends. Up to your neck and over your head.

You are surrounded by family and friends. All of them. Deceased ones are not missing for this exercise. Alive and kicking. You are on the Maine waterfront. Laughing, splashing. Grilling and chilling.

The best summer cooking BBQ, home made covered dishes start arriving one by one.

Pies, short cakes, casseroles, food platters. Proudly carried by their creators who excel in one in particular culinary effort that is to die for, out of this world. Not from any store. Sacred, passed down, taught, mastered by the cook related to you who shared, unlocked the secret to its power.

Summer music needed, to mix with the Maine loons, fishing boats droning by with the hum, whirr of their Mercuries, Yamahas, Wizard and Jonnson buzzing power plants pushing, plying bright multi colored crafts. Music for summer fun, someone ask for some?

Cue The Summer Time Music Please Slim.

A Man Selling Ice Cream, Singing Italian Songs

Jump In, Way Deeper Than You’ve Ever Been.

There’s An Air Of Love And Happiness

Some Times Not Always So G Rated As It Heats Up.

Summer Of 1969, Seemed To Last Forever.

Maybe Summer Is Going To Carolina In Your Mind.

Summer living in Maine.

Get outside, off the couch. Toss the channel clicker in the corner. You can go look for it next winter. See you on the open water in Maine. What’s your favorite recreational pursuit, recollection of best summer memories in Maine? Don’t keep her waiting. The weather is some kind of drop dead gorgeous. Get here quick as you can.

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

July 14, 2013
The Maine Summer Lake Running Partner Is Black, Short, Nimble.

The Thyroid Medicine Made A New Black Labrador Retriever Dog Called Baxter.

Borrowing things, being a lender or lendee, which category do you land in?

Or do you say pass to both? Maybe straddle the fence, spend time in both camps? When running I’m lucky to “borrow” the neighbor’s black labrador retriever nine year old dog. He just dovetails with my exercise routine when trotting by close to where his dinner dish, watering bowl are parked. I don’t have to take him back or return him either like other borrowed items. He finds his way home on his own.

The first time out this summer at the Maine lake I did not recognize Baxter.

He must have been doubling up on his work out regiment. Because he had shed fifteen pounds, had a hair cut that adds to the slimmer, trimmer K-9. He is not the same dog in vim and vigor, in appearance.

Mites, problems with his ears last summer led to a trip to the vet. But in figuring out what’s driving Baxter nuts with his ears, tests run on the dog showed his thyroid was not operating properly. Hormones were out of whack. Explaining the bloated look, weight gain. And his habit of sticking closer to home. Not being so puppy frisky as he once was.

The samples from the dog’s ear tissue sent to Michigan University showed it was Baxter’s thyroid problem that led to the susceptibility to the ear mites.

Like humans, going in for one symptom fix, cure led to the deeper, the real bottom line reasons for the problem. That are not always so black and white crystal clear at first glance until under the eye of a trained vet professional. Who sees the situation come up often where you and I don’t. Traveling in different circles. And Baxter can’t “woof woof” explain or add his two cents on what’s happening inside his body. To give suggestions on what he needs, what is wrong.

Baxter does not stop now on runs. He doubles back to see what’s keeping me off his pace. But he does not stop, sit still like the slower, fatter black lab I remember from last year. He is a rope a dope Ali prancer. It was a production to just catch a lake sunset digital image of the black dog for this Maine blog post. To introduce the two of you.

After a run down to the lake dam on Drews and back, the black lab circles the Maine vacation home a few revolutions.

Then without fanfare motors along on his appointed rounds of the neighborhood haunts. But during the run routine, he keeps me on pace, leaves no room for slacking. No just poking along allowed. Smelling, leaving leg lifting “markers” to dot the course in a “a trail of breadcrumbs” sort of way. Looking back over his shoulder to stay far enough ahead to encourage picking up the pace. But not so far that he disappears and leaves me without a “spotter”.

Sharing the dog who will stand totally still up to his belly in the lake watching fish. With patience to catch them. Or a habit of diving for rocks, picking them up with his teeth, jaw and bring them to shore. Do you own a dog, is he a community Fido, Spot, Rover that is shared, enjoyed by many in the neighborhood? Maybe with more than one dinner dish, water bowl?

The one pill a day mixed in his food for his thyroid has given Baxter a new lease on life. His owners figure the entire medical procedure diagnostics cost close to $700 but you would do the same for any other member of your family that was hurting, not quite themselves right?

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

July 12, 2013
Come On Kids, No Thank You Helpings, Finish Up Your Peas Please.

Big Bales For The Hay Burning Horses, Cows In Maine. But Don’t Remember Kale.

Growing up on a Maine farm, food grown on the patch of dirt, the back forty was plentiful, varied, natural.

Wholesome diets of the good stuff that you knew where it came from, what chemicals were or were not used to get from spring planting to harvest. Maybe canned and preserved for the winter root cellar to trot down the cellar stairs. To fish out some potatoes from the barrel, grab and collect a jar of bread and butter pickles, whatever else Mom said to bring back for the Maine farm supper table.

Both Dad and Mom worked hard to expose the four boys to a wide range of foods. Scallions in vinegar, a variety of apple trees, rhubarb mixed with home grown strawberries, many types of corns, peas, tomatoes, beans of all types. So after raising kids and introducing them to new foods, to try this, make sure to finish up that, the tables turn.

Recently, at college graduation in Colorado Springs for the youngest son, he and his girlfriend invited me over to their apartment for supper.

And suddenly I get introduced to something very tasty, loaded with vitamins, vital nutrients too. That I had never had. Have you added kale to the good stuff you put in your body when the dinner bell rings? Popeye would trade in the spinach cans for kale bundles of the fresh green, leafy produce if he had known the off the charts food value too.

So the young cub and girlfriend have introduced Dad to something new to consider adding to the diet. That is tasty and I had no idea how good for you it was. It is a super vegetable loaded with wholesome natural ingredients. That I wonder with the exposure to everything under the sun growing up on a Maine farm where we grew what we eat for the most part that I missed the vegetable kale. Kale, one of the world’s healthiest foods.

Now Elliot makes sure I am adding kale to the shopping cart as I squeak squeak guide the wired cart through the local grocery. Or to look for it at the outdoor local farmers markets in Maine. It seems odd for your kids to remind their parent to make sure to do this. Or to gently scold, chide if you don’t out of love and concern. A distinct change from when that was your job exclusively. As the parent raising, nurturing, guiding the shorter members of the household to make sure they grew taller, healthy, big and strong.

And while we’re talking food you grew up with, did it take you a time to trust tuna fish, egg salad sandwiches that your mom did not make?

Or that you yourself had prepared from scratch so you knew the age, how it was stored and what actually went into the filling? I’m not talking “does your wife, partner make as good as mom” in these departments either. Just those two selections when staring hungrily into a grocery store morgue like fluorescent lighted cooler. Or as you scan and consider what to order off the glossy, dog eared, torn corner menu at a greasy spoon diner. Is there a tad of fear or trepidation? With a guess I’m not going to risk it the final conclusion usual default verdict on what not to order. Again.

Maine is a state where so much locally grown produce is available for vegetables, fruits.

From blueberries, raspberries, strawberries to apple orchards. To broccoli and a slew of potato varieties. Sample a local Maine farmers market for an idea of what is offered, depending on the time of year and harvest cycles. Yes the lobsters, steamed clams and locally grown beef, dairy products are pretty darn tasty. No dispute on that for sure. But balancing the diet with rich naturally, locally grown produce and fruits is so so important to pay attention to for healthier living. Your best personal health and outlook results delivered in / from Maine.

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

July 11, 2013
Ravens, Bigger, Blacker And More In Number In Maine This Summer.

Black Raven Birds Greater In Number, Size And Noise Levels In Maine This Summer.

When something changes in a small Maine town, it happens slowly.

Goes unnoticed for a time. Like more local ravens that are noisier, in greater number. That seem to be on a steroid regiment. Bigger than average. Like a super race of them has been rolled out by Jackson Lab. Or some other Maine sterile, test tube, Bunsen burner and beaker scientific entity.

If you are a fan of Stephen King books, the Maine author’s “The Stand” could be your all time favorite literary work.

It is mine from the vast collection. Hands down. Especially the extended play, longer version. Where an extra five hundred plus pages gets restuffed, repackaged and put back out on the shelves. Adding deeper color, depth and dragging out the writer’s good versus evil fictional hunt and peck creation. Pages culled out, surgically removed by the original editors put back out in the daylight. Before the days of firing up a Kindle. To enjoy fireside on a stormy winter Maine day. Or inside during a rainstorm or as you kill time waiting for The Sandman to do his dog and pony late night routine. Make his rounds.

Randall Flagg, the fictional bad guy that raven like flies. That has mental mind reading powers far beyond a normal mortal man brought up on Wheaties or Cheerios comes to mind this summer.

When I am in the real estate office, a thirty two foot commute from my Maine home the banter of “caw caw caw” gets my attention.

Wondering what’s the hub bub, commotion about outside? As the household’s two cats create a stir with their outdoor presence. Lounging in the cool lawn grass. Tails swishing in unison. Teasing, wearing their winter fur coats that have no zippers or buttons. While under the watchful eye of many ravens in tall, old established maples shading the office parking lot. Bigger, braver, not so easy to shoo shoo and scare. Make disappear. They hang around. Could fly off with a cat or make quick slice and dice of other household pets adopted from the local pound.

Creating a bigger, louder, more of the Heckle and Jeckle mag pie type Asian bird noisy dooryard stir this summer in Maine. And in my travels around Southern Aroostook, Northern Washington and Piscataquis Counties in Maine, there are more ravens dotting the countryside too. Local farmers have complained about their destruction of planted field rows at a time of too much water, late planting adding more complaint to the misery of agriculture. Dependent on the weather, other uncontrollable elements.

Heckle And Jeckle Mag Pies Video Like Maine Ravens, Crows This Summer.

Have you noticed the sight, sound and greater number of the not so popular black winged bird, pitch dark hued ravens in your Maine location recently?

Or where ever you call home on the revolving blue and green marble? Not a tourist attraction like whale watching off the coast of Bar Harbor. Or as pulse increasing as seeing your first, one and only moose on a maiden voyage along the unpopulated RT 11 in the Allagash. Or tooling up or down US Rt 2A thru the famed Haynesville Woods. Where all those trailer truck drivers end up on cold dark nights buried with mile marker consistency.

Maine, you will enjoy the loons, bald eagles, puffin and hummingbirds more than the coal black ravens this summer. Not thinking there are crock pot recipes or gas grilling secret sauces to enhance dining on raven but willing to Google the subject. You’ve heard about eating crow right? But probably just are not so jump up and down excited about dining on a carcass that circles, swoops down on highway road kill though. If you only knew what Maine lobster that everyone goes ga ga over raided the ice box to feast on at the bottom of the ocean. (Smile).

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

July 10, 2013
Small Town Maine Fun, Always Home Grown, Involves The Locals.

The Waterfront In Maine, Where To Be Parked Dead Of Summer.

The cotton candy, grilled and fried food of the local Maine 4th of July celebrations have happened.

The friends and family home to celebrate the nation’s birthday and witness the fireworks, recognized the local family traditions are in the books for another year. And summer living, outdoors and wearing less clothing, involving the waterfront somehow kicks in to full gear.

Every season in Maine is spent outdoors, in nature.

But often summer living means being up to your neck in a local watering hole. Enjoying the splashing, swimming, fishing, boating a Maine lake. Or river, or stream, pond, oceanfront. Water, the kind beyond just the eight glasses a day we all should be gurgle gurgling, chug-a-lugging down the gullet. Bottoms up. To stay hydrated and wet inside. We’re talking the recreational, therapeutic, even spiritual kind to cleanse the soul. To make you feel brand new, refreshed, alive. Vacations should be like that. Day to day living needs to be too.

What is your favorite kind of water spot, setting and where do you tap into the resource in Maine?

Here’s one local 4th of July glimpse of what you attended or missed out on this year.

So many reasons, using all the seasons to tap into the senses in Maine. Have you been away too long if unlucky enough to live out of state, away from Vacationland? Or if fortunate enough to be in state, where do you plan to hit for your next Pine Tree State adventure? A repeat or new and different, unexplored this next time out? Maine, come for a day, end up staying a life time.

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

July 8, 2013