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Soap Box Derby State Race In Maine This Saturday In Aroostook County.

The Largest Race Five Years In A Row, Houlton Maine’s Soap Box Derby.

Houlton Maine is the location of the state soap box derby race this weekend.

The weather forecast is for sunshine, blue skies. The specially engineered Derby Hill at Community Park in Houlton Maine gets set up tonight for tech day on Friday. Safety checks and trial runs happen tomorrow. The 18th race of the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby is on Saturday, June 22nd.

Besides the build from a kit cars, the boys and girls between the ages of eight and seventeen, what else does it take to run a soap box derby race? Finding a public roadway hill that can be closed to traffic or a track smooth enough to hold the race is key.

But sponsors to finance the trophies, to underwrite the cost of building a launch ramp at the top of the hill, finish line are part of the soap box derby race puzzle.

So is water, food, bathroom facilities. Safety cones, bales of hay, and trailers to return the cars to the top of the hill for heat launches are needed too. A heat is a computer generated program to match racers up for “A” and “B” race phases. Wheels swapped after the “A” phase, lanes swapped for the “B” phase hill rerun. With the shorter, overall time average of two runs down the hill declaring the winner. That advances the driver and car through the heat sheet brackets. To determine the top eight derby car race finishers in up to three categories.

Each soap box derby division has a weight limit total for the helmet wearing driver and his or her car. The weight is the “engine” because gravity is your friend. Combined with finding the shortest, fastest “line” to the finish at the bottom of the designated derby hill. Lubricants, wax, building a car that is balanced, tracking straight and removing all forms of resistance to make it roll faster than the one in the other lane is key. Over and over. The youngest drivers have the heaviest weighted Maine soap box derby cars to lift, load, unload too.

Stock, super stock and master car divisions are the three flavors of soap box derby racing.

The three field of racers help a family keep everyone interested. Behind the wheel of their own car in this competitive down hill gravity NASCAR like racing sport. In addition, derby race volunteers to run the tech day car inspections for safety assurance and a fun race are needed. So are car loaders at the bottom of the hill and “topside” to load the launches for paired runs down the hill.

Loaner SUV’s required with adult drivers to deliver the young, excited racers to the top of the hill. To keep them paired with their cars on the rear loaded trailers hauled behind. Makes the race going smoothly when car and driver are kept together. To end the race on time without confusion or missing drivers, empty cars waiting to run under the sun. Or in the rain, whatever the weather. That’s part of the derby racing experience in Maine.

Timers to keep track of heat phase results, a position called “Dottie” to apply stickers to the nose end of cars are all vital volunteer positions. To running a soap box derby race. To help sort out, streamline who is paired with who on the top of the hill heats. An announcer to keep the race moving along before cloudy weather can cause a race delay is important. And to relay the electronic eye finish line results of each phase of the derby car race heat. So the fans, family, friends and support teams know the score. Of what just happened.

The derby heat sheet brackets of single or double elimination is slowly filled out.

As winners in each race bracket advance across the page to the eventual winner of your local derby race. With that trophy held high champ going on to represent the local derby race city in the World Series of derby racing, The All American running in Akron Ohio.

Planning the party afterwards, pictures of the racers to remember the family fun sporting event all part of the derby local race.

Publicity to keep the program going strong as kids grow up and go through the ranks of the derby car divisions is important too. To assure a new crop of brand new racers to continue and help the program grow. Ordering derby cars, having a fresh supply of parts and keeping current on racing rules and regulations is another vital job someone has to sign on for, to shepherd too.

Watch, Listen, See How A Local Maine Soap Box Derby Race Goes Together From Start To Finish Videos.

If you live in Maine, have or are a boy or girl ages eight to seventeen and would like to experience the “thrill of the hill”, to be part of the state race in Houlton, please email me at the link below. I will personally see that you get everything you need to be part of next year’s Maine State Soap Box Derby Race. The derby program has been a lot of fun, hard work but a memorable experience for my family.

I hope you can get, catch “Derby Fever” from the sound of rumbling wheels.

And witness the neat individual flavor of the car and driver members of a local soap box derby race. The big 76th race of the All American Soap Box Derby is July 27th and is streamed online to watch, hear how your local derby winner does on the big three lane historic hill in Akron Ohio. The derby race in Houlton Maine like the one in Akron is specially designed to set up quickly, to avoid the inconvenience and extra work taking over a public highway presents. And that can “burn out” the crew of volunteers needed to run a soap box derby race.

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

June 20, 2013
The Maine Farm Horse Is Stocky, Great Personality, Has A Little Draft In Him.

Living The Life On A Maine Farm, Raising Horses, Critters, Crops…Is Is For You?

Life on the Maine farm when horses are what you raise, love, were put on the Earth to take care of, train, and sell.

You work on the ad for the trade journals for those in the crowd that love the four legged hay burners. You find as you get older that you tend to enjoy horses, farm animals more than people that you used to work shoulder to shoulder with in the concrete urban jungle.

“The Maine farm horse raised from a colt has large feet, no shoes needed. Goes barefoot.”

“Is calm, awesome on the wood trails. Will go through anything and is pretty good in the ring. Walks, trots well. Can go either English or Western and is learning to neck rein. Responds well to hand and / or leg cues.”

“No problems with the vet or farrier and is an intermediate rider. No vices. Does not crib, has an even, consistent temperament. His lines probably a mix of a father who was Percheron and his mother a spotted saddlebred filly. Great ground manners. Clips, bathes, trailers and would be an ideal fit for the amateur horse owner, 4H or pony club stable.”

“Price negotiable to right home. Horse is handled daily, willing to please. Been around tractors, goats, chickens. Good with kids. Goes out alone or in groups. References will be required. Do not respond if you are just looking for a show horse. He is just an honest, tried and true trail mount. Loves attention, is blind in one eye which does not hinder him in the least. Up to date on all his shots, vaccines, worming. Asking price of $2500 includes a contract to ensure his lifelong safety. For his forever home you agree to provide. Photos available.”

“We got him as a companion for an older mare. He now stands over 17 hands. Not done growing.”

Could you be happy living on a Maine farm? With something everyday ahead of you after that second fresh coffee. The up and at ’em. As the sun gets out of bed right after you? To be industrious on your buildings, Maine farm fields, woodlot. To do everything from mend fences, to fix machinery, hay, help mothers in the miracle of birth during the difficulty of breach new born foals?

Living on a Maine farm. Nothing glamorous, definitely not for the money that is meager compared to the expenditure of time, worry, frustrsations and resources involved. But the reward is rich. Deserved, earned, honest, real. In taking in, surveying the expanse. Looking out over the Maine farm land acreage at the end of another day in the country. On your patch of dirt you work from sunrise to the last light of the day. Every day. The spread with the clever name woodburned, hanging, swinging out front. Announcing to the World you now have your special place under the sun, in the place with the space called Maine.

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

June 18, 2013
Happy Fathers Day Blog Post On Me In Maine.

My Dad Is On The Right, Next To Aunt Ruth, One Of Four Maine Farm Family Members.

Moms and Dads are pretty darn important in guiding, shaping, raising children.

We are lucky if we have both of them over long lives. And better yet on the local level to enjoy. To keep learning from and to spend time with through out the year. Moms and Dads, grandparents that are not in name only for much of life after the boys and girls grow up, leave the nest.

Many folks have to settle for once or twice yearly parental visits. Sad fact. All she wrote. The small capsule of time the family actually spends together. That happens when kids get flung into the wind like scattered seeds. To start their families, to continue life often far from where they began their own lives.

All of the four brothers in my family were lucky to have parents that lived into their eighties. That continued to stay involved, share wisdom and be a big part of all our our daily lives. Our kids too. You learn much from folks that love you, nurture you for four score. That take the responsibility very seriously.

The old family stories, history is so important. Passed down of family members, events where as young new grasshoppers we would not know about. Were not on the scene yet. To share, recite with our own kids. The grandchildren. That is part of the foundation, folklore of the family unit. The family that shares the joys. Shoulders the setbacks. Attends all the same weddings, funerals, new births, life events. The ups and downs, twists and turns along the path we all travel. That unravels, plays out quickly.

You are alone, hollow, empty without family.

We belong, are accepted. Sure social circles are great, part of life too. But to be from a family providing unconditional love. Accepted, understood, not judged. Encouraged, listened to, that guide each other from an early age. Spending time with you. Preparing you with skills, values, beliefs to define you. To handle whatever comes at you in life. How you think, react and shown how to dig deep to weather the storms. Passing on the traditions our parents taught, shared with us to our greatest treasure, our own children.

A family that sticks together is a beautiful thing. That family relationship strong or weak affects all the other ones you enter in to in life I believe. Early on the encouragement that everything will be all right gives a person a sense of safety, hope. Builds a bond of trust, not fear or insecurity. Whether being tucked in with a bedtime story and prayers before sleep. Or fed regular daily and holiday meals prepared with time, love, old family recipes. The time a family spends together on front open porch swings, taking time to share each other’s day lets you know someone cares. You are not alone, unloved in a family home filled with love. That creates a full, rich life of security instead of one of emptiness, darkness,neglect.

My Dad and Mom loved each other, built a marriage of over 65 years.

That love was demonstrated beyond just reciting the three words in actions. We were hugged by both parents, shown a path for life to follow. Taught moderation, an awareness of others, to be sensitive, caring. To work hard, to count our blessings. To look for the good, be positive. To pitch in, make things better in any way we could. We all had a purpose, role in our Maine rural family.

Today is father’s day and I remember my Dad. The B-24 WW II tail gunner, farmer, trucker, real estate broker and appraiser. But it is so hard to spotlight just one half of the team.

My Mom was the best thing to happen to my Dad.

She backed him up, made him a better Dad. But he supported, thought he got the most from his end of the partnership in return. It was so obvious how each other felt about each other growing up. Working together, in tune and helping each other unlock secrets to any insecurities, worries. The two were never alone. Boosting the potential of each other and coming along side as a unit, as one to enrich the marriage.

As a little kid there was nothing like hearing my Dad say the words “I love you Weeze” (his special version of Mary Lou).

Uttered with pure sincerity, with unwavering assurance of his true feelings deep down in his heart and soul. The words combined with a hug from behind as he reached, squeezed, held her. while she was doing dishes, wearing an kitchen apron. A peck on the lips as she turned her head to the side happened. To meet his kiss. I saw, felt, witnessed love through out my childhood. Not everyone did I now realize and was so so naive to the fact.

My Mom understood my Dad more than he did himself. She took the time to delve into his childhood, to help him explain mysteries, to explore him together. But he helped my pretty conservative, disciplined with moderation God fearing Mom soar too. To take chances, to dream deeper. She believed in him, he needed her to reach his potential. And they both worked together very hard. So it is difficult as the youngest kid of four boys to just celebrate Mothers or Father’s Day with one parent alone. Because that is not how I saw the two of them at their best. Together. Love you Mom and Dad.

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

June 16, 2013
Keeping Money Local In A Small Maine Town.

Another Sunset On A Maine Small Town Lake, Collect Some Of Your Own.

When the Interstate 95 cut through Maine, and the whiz bang invention of the Internet took off like wild fire, small Maine towns took a hit.

Too easy to hop in the car, round up a few friends and head to one of the few cities in Maine. To shop until you drop. But without a dime going into the local coffers where you live, work and play.

I live in a county seat, a Shiretown of Maine’s largest of sixteen, Aroostook. The size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined and dotted with small towns, plantations and unorganized territories. So keeping money local is key. And generating new revenue streams beyond just recycling the same service, retail dollars is everyone’s concern.

Because we are the Aroostook County seat, there is an able stable of legal beagles.

To title search properties, update abstracts to assure the lender or the buyer of a property that everything is peachy keen. Squeaky clean regarding the title behind the Maine real estate being conveyed, mortgaged, traded, bought. Or that there are liens that stick to, run with the title like burdocks in the tail of the old gray mare. Some easier than others to get out. A few so drastic, severe that even title insurance won’t cover the risk, odds of a claim or challenge. That are too messed up for the properties traded for two pigs and a chicken. That don’t warrant spending a large chunk of the green stuff hidden, tucked away in a wallet or purse to clean up, cure, fix. Not worth the return on investment because the history of the title is so messed up, troubled.

So when a Maine property is put under contract, and the buyer selects a local Maine attorney to represent them at the closing, leave it be. When to assure the bank after examination of the deeds over the last forty years that there is a title worth a loan. To be used as collateral, security for the lender that everything is pretty simple. Straight forward and should be clear easy sailing to the final shuffle of paperwork that gets recorded at the local registry of deeds on Court Street in Houlton Maine.

Until the Maine bank involved decides to lean on a railroad switch, to divert the legal work to a title company down state.

One that has no stake in the community. No local sticks and bricks they pay property taxes on. No local facility that is a beehive of industry and creates local jobs. That means those salaries get spent locally at the grocery store. To purchase local gas, to help fund local schools, public safety, to fill potholes. To keep healthy the local intrastructure of a small Maine town. Everything that makes it tick, breath, exist. The local attorney, local bank all create close to home economic development in its simplest form.

The out of town gypsy services that blow in and out and tout we can give your customers better service, pricing are wrong. Because there are local entities, friends and neighbors already doing the same thing. On the local level where the money for services gets plowed back into the Maine small home town economy. That have a wealth of knowledge, stand behind their goods or services when needed. Service what they sell and are live, local. Available round the clock. In it for the long haul.

In a bright lights, big city you might not think so much of how important it is to shop local.

To trade close to home for goods and services. And knowing it is all too easy to hop online. Tap tap and get something shipped in within a matter of days, sometimes hours that you could not live without, had to have. But if the service, goods are offered locally, trade close to your Maine home. Or there won’t be a small Maine town of which last count there were 108 surviving, struggling. Some gasping. From economic COPD.

Got the bank involved that stalled a Maine real estate sale by trying the shell game with attorneys involved behind the scenes to keep the deal local. Lot of needless phone calls, texts, emails to get back on the original track to the closing. But pushed hard to honor the original order sent to the legal kitchen. Do you worry about your local economy? Try to keep it healthy, to trade local? Every new dollar turns over six to seven times.

Do what you can to preserve, foster shopping local is what all Mainers are taught is so vital and learned early on as young grasshoppers.

Maine, simple living, everything is outdoors all four seasons. You feel more of an awareness. A strong connection with others in small Maine towns. That all are loaded with the jaw dropping beauty of our unspoiled natural surroundings.

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

June 14, 2013
Sometimes Words Get In The Way. Move Over, Bring In The Maine Images.

The Beauty Of Maine, From Every Angle She’s Gorgeous, Natural, Simply Stunning. Sample ME.

In my day job of peddling Maine properties, besides talking about the real estate listings, lots of chatter happens with one big question posed, raised over and over.

The one out of town, state, country real estate buyers want to know about Maine. They ask “tell me about Maine”. Whoa. Gosh. Let me see now. That is hard to do because to sum up a place like Maine and do her justice means we need to take sufficient time to paint the picture. She is more than low property priced homes and land.

Like a very large rare diamond, Maine has so many deep facets, interesting angles, hidden features to get excited about, expound on.

She is four season outdoors but the people in the 108 small towns in Maine are the real spark, flavor, life of the communities. To sum up with a few words alone just does not do a proper job. The Maine local community video series is a better approach. With a smile from me and an invitation to let me show you, tell you about the area called Maine.By leading you by the hand, taking you as my guest around to the home town events, special places.

But for images of Maine, just one at a time layed down, played face up like aces, face cards in a high stakes poker game, double click, tap tap this link. Each Maine photo frame tries to capture bits and pieces of why Vacationland is special to me. And to show how spoiled folks like me who live here full time are. The thumbnails to the right of this Maine blog post hint at the Herculean task of summing up the expanse called Maine. When asked “what is Maine like?”.

Because this slide show is what happens in our Maine backyard.

The images play every day, all season long. And some folks beg, borrow and steal time away to just sample a long weekend. Or a few hours after hopping into a tender off a cruise ship. To go ashore, grab a lobster, steamed clams feed. Maybe a t-shirt momento, reminder of the visit. Stamped with a lighthouse, moose, blueberries or a potato field on it. Or maybe Mt Katahdin, a Sugarloaf, Sunday River. Allagash Wilderness, white water rafting image on it. And that has to suffice. Would not work for me. I need more Maine than a t-shirt provides.

This place, space called Maine, She gets in your system in a good way.

Tugs at your heart. You fall hook, line and sinker hopelessly in love. And good luck trying to get her off your mind. There is no cure once bitten. Always thinking of the next hiking, biking, ski trip. Or kayak, canoe, rafting river ride. Boat ride to explore her shores. To meet the down to Earth people. Hardworking, family centered, God fearing. The kind you don’t forget.

Folks in Maine are connected in the less populated regions scattered around the state. The little burgs Maine is blessed with of resourceful people doing the day to day among the wildlife. To thrive, survive and prosper with what we have. Which is more than enough. Sheer natural beauty and each other. Grateful for all we do have around us to enjoy without traffic, pushing, shoving, noise, crime. Or just too many wall to wall people, over development in lots of expensive places elsewhere. Get to Maine, don’t stay away so long.

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

June 10, 2013
Little League Baseball Games In Maine Provide Local Entertainment.

The Catcher Of The Maine Little League Team Has A Big Job Behind The Mask, Home Plate.

The fun of sitting on a Maine small town bleacher side by side with other parents hooting, hollering and supporting a local little league baseball team.

In a small Maine town you watch the kids grow up. Know their brothers and sisters because your own kids are in the same mix. Raised together by the entire village.

Little league baseball coaches help shape the good sportsmanship gene in the rag tag collection of players they lottery pick each spring.

Who start out the season pretty scattered but by the end of the schedule are a tight group. Win or lose, lessons of competition and focus, determination to work as a team are planted firmly. For each and every team member to apply to their lives. To remember when they pick up the clipboard, laced up the sneakers and slide on the same color hat to coach a team of their own in later years.

It is rich enjoyment to be a sponsor of a Maine little league sports team. Here’s a video of a Maine little league team game I enjoyed a red snapper hot dog and soda at this week.

Capturing A Maine Little League Game Video.

Win or lose, the little league team rallies around the parking lot of local Maine dairy bar ice cream take out establishments.

To relive, do the play by play according to their recollection of the events of the innings just played. That are now in the history books. With someone the most valuable player. That sometimes takes home the game winning leather stitched ball. The one with the coach’s hen scratchings, shorthand of the date inked, branded on it. To be placed on a dresser top, bedroom night stand. Cherished, treasured, remembered as the little league game’s hero of the day.

Lessons learned on the little league ball diamond. To see the improvement of being beaten twice by the eventual league champion team. But knowing the guys and gals in your dugout almost won the second meeting. After losing the earlier season contest in a lop sided, high scoring game by the talented opponent, victor. Winning is sweeter when you have lost many games. When you earn the win, work hard to achieve it. And are a gracious winner because you have been on the other side, experienced a loss. And win with grace, class.

It is only a game, it is supposed to be fun. Make sure all the little league parents got that memo.

And you used to trust the coach of the other team to rein in the horses if the game winner became obvious early on. When the two sport teams were mismatched. The other coach pulls out the white flag of surrender. Waving it as a sign to be charitable and to try not to demoralize his team members too badly. Now there is a five run limit on runaway innings. When pitching goes south, the opposing teams bats get hot. And the hits, run production, score starts to take off like wildfire.

If you are looking for some outdoor exercise, considering laying down grounders at a little league game practice. Helping the emotional, exciting young team of new recruits settle down, gain focus and discipline. To not get in the habit of who does the team member blame when the chips are down. That there is no “I” in team.

To discuss what just happened with the little league team all eyes and ears in the dugout after a loss.

Beat by a better team or was everyone a little over confident because of expectations of a win that did not pan out discussed, pondered. And checking the schedule to remind the players to let Mom and Dad know the next game is Thursday night. To have you dropped off earlier or to ride their bikes to the park ball diamond at a new time. To be here at 5pm for a little longer practice going into the next game on the Maine little league roster.

Maine, you’re here, made it. Roll down the window, relax, fill your lungs with some fresh air.

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

June 8, 2013