Category: Uncategorized

Maine Land Owners Share Their Property, Respect The Privilege.

Finding Your Way On A Maine Trail, With A Few Photo Opportunity Distractions.

In Maine, if state and national parks were the only places available to the public for experiencing the great outdoors, so much would be lost.

Because as beautiful as all of Maine’s state lands, more of Vacationland is privately held. By property owners gracious enough to share the right to their Maine land. Remote lands are not just good for hikers, back packing but for wildlife. To explore areas of Maine that most vacationers stuck on coastal US Rt 1 or Interstate 95 just never imagine exist.

Over 500,000 acres of public property are owned, managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

In nearly 30 sections that range from 500 to 43,000 acre segments. And lots of smaller acreages sprinkled around the state of Maine. Find trails in Maine to discover, to make a healthy habit happen. A yearly routine with family, friends, loved ones. Hiking, walking, be out in the unspoiled, natural setting in the space called Maine.

Maine’s nearly 300 miles of Appalachian Trail is considered not the easiest of terrain to challenge the hikers in the audience. Divided into three main sections, the western segment is extremely steep. The 3/4 mile high mountains rank the most arduous of the entire Appalachian Trail. With the most notable the mile-long boulder scramble of Mahoosuc Notch.

Mahoosuc Notch Boulder Strewn Near Vertical Appalachian Trail Video

In Maine private land owners that allow snow sled, snowmobile trails to cross their property are treated to a free public thank you supper annually. To publicly say appreciate it for the use of their Maine land. So everyone in the public can use each acreage as a stepping stone to get to their destination. Clearly marked, groomed by trail machines and maps updated yearly to point out hazards. To offer clear directions that can be followed in any kind of weather conditions. Just stay on the trail.

Practically all of the ten million acres privately held in Northern, Eastern and Western areas of Maine are accessible by all terrain vehicles (ATV) too.

Private land owners in Maine share the resource and all are reminded to stay on the ATV trails. Respect the privilege not a right to travel over some of the most picturesque property terrain you will ever witness in your lifetime.

If you have little ones, want to hike as a family, get out your walking sticks. Pack a picnic and hit a small elevation like Horse Mountain at Baxter State Park. Roughly 1589′ high and much quicker to traverse than the nearly mile high Mt Katahdin, Horse Mountain is one of many available to catch the hiking bug. Develop the healthy habit of hiking in Maine’s vast outdoor resource. This half day hike offers views of Matagamon Lake, Traveler, the East Branch, and the cliffs of Trout Branch Mountain. Round trip from the Baxter Park perimeter road to fire tower (elevation 1589′) is 2.8 miles.

Not every Maine hike has to be a challenging rock littered slippery when wet dangerous mountain outing either.

Lots of small Maine mountains and flat lands salt and peppered with twisting trails can add plenty of excitement. Without putting anyone in the hiking park in danger. Or stretchered to a hospital. Haystack Mountain in Caste Hill Maine in Aroostook County is a climb the kids and I did a lot growing up. Year after year until they got bigger, moved on to more challenging hikes. The picnic area near the base and many lakes add to the experience of this junior mountain that looks more severe than it really is. If you are a ten year old kid or younger.

My favorite climb up Maine’s highest mountain is on Abol Trail. It’s seven and a half miles round trip. The shortest but steepest trip to the Baxter Park’s Mount Katahdin peak. The trail starts with loose gravel and dense woods. But becomes less treed, larger rocked until a table land of stone before the summit. The combination to descent on the Hunt Trail makes for a fun, nine mile exhilarating round trip. Bring lots of water, snacks, rain gear.

Get to Maine, so many ways to experience her. Get up close, snuggle and get to know her nooks, crannies, mysteries and extreme natural beauty.

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

March 18, 2013
Kid Caused Events In Maine Where The Adults Compare Notes.

Fun, Music, Food… And So Much More At The State Of Maine Jazz Festival In Houlton ME.

When you live in Maine, so much of our recreation somehow revolves around kids, our area youth.

Our own or the communities. Or maybe the state’s when it is a festival like the Maine State Instrumental and Vocal Jazz event being hosted in Houlton Maine this weekend.

Even when your kids are grown, flown and left the nest and not around to say good night Elizabeth, Jim Bob and John Boy, you pitch in.

Small town volunteers, like migrant workers labor around the community. Because of the habit established with your own quiver of issue being involved in the events. And the tradition continues. It is way more fun working an event, being on the front lines than just attending them. Like small town Maine life, there is a deeper connection to the local community. The place would not be the same if any single person was missing. All play a part. Your purpose and enjoyment in just being lucky to live in a small Maine town. Which is the paid in full reward.

Talked to a fellow who’s drove the bus for Bonny Eagle High Schools who had worked as a lobsterman. Married an Aroostook County girl from the Fort Fairfield area. Who was staying in Millinocket, over and hour away. To return Saturday, today with the yellow bus of high school jazz musicians. Motels in the area were that full with 2300 “suddenly students” happening in the Shiretown.

Eating the home made chili and scoffing down a chef salad, topping it off with a pair of chocolate chip cookies the Houlton Music Boosters supplied, we talked about how special living in Maine is.

He has two kids, youngest a boy of twenty three, an older daughter involved in the special Olympics of Maine as a child.

He agreed that when you live in Maine, experience her full time we are spoiled. Not one week a year if we are lucky to tramp and explore Vacationland. No no, every day a chance to be in awe, to learn from her beauty, peace, seclusion. Coming up Interstate 95 when he passed the spot north of Medway where Mt Katahdin topped with whipped new snow, he glanced over and it hit him that he is lucky to live in Maine. Mainers are filled with a sense of gratitude, wonderment everyday. It sustains and makes the economic uncertainties of living in a rural sparsely populated state not flush with cash rich, more rewarding.

He said he and his wife love to camp and when the kids got older their children’s love for it waned.

So mom and dad continued to use their LL Bean tent. Everything stowed in plastic tubs and ready to go when the mood hit, the schedule allowed. Collecting state parks around Maine one by one. He said their favorite around West Quoddy Head area Downeast and Cobscook Bay State Park. I told him I am on a kick collecting lighthouses in Maine. And the one that’s red and white striped I think is the prettiest of the group of sixty eight. Although there are some close rivals, contender lighthouses in Maine for the blue ribbon. A chartered boat to get to the lighthouses not so land lubber friendly is on the calendar for this summer. He gave me a couple names from his lobsterman travels on where to hitch a ride toting a telephoto lens and camera gear to add to my collection.

The State Of Maine’s Finest Instrumental And Vocal Jazz Bands Compete In Houlton ME Festival.

The bus ride took 35 gallons of diesel he learned while fueling up at the Irving Big Stop in Houlton Maine. It will chew up more on the down to Millinocket, return north to Houlton round trip before heading back to Southern Maine. The local economy swells with a musical event in more than currency. Exchange of students from other schools, and the support team they are hitched to, dragged to the current event venue all benefit big time. Maine is one big vast state and the people are the jewels too, not just the Gulf Hagas and other pretty settings.

Busy day of real estate showings in Maine but back to the musical jazz festival to pitch in late this afternoon. And to sample more good food, listen to the talent from around the state. And enjoy the energy youth provide small town living in Maine. This weekend it’s music, other ones tied to sports, theatre, or other competitions designed to prepare kids for the world out there in the wild blue yonder. Houlton Maine again the host festival community for 2014 state Jazz festival competition too!

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

March 16, 2013
Making Progress, Coming Together In A Small Maine Town.

The Essentials For A Healthy, Happy Life Taught In A Maine Home, Household Growing Up In Rural Vacationland, The Pine Tree State.

There is a reason rear view mirrors are so small, the windshield in front so big.

And all that wrap around glass to see what’s going on from the sides. Looking back too much takes your eyes off the road. You miss what is happening now around you when traveling.

When you stop moving, you stop growing. And hindsight helps for perspective. But it is not the driver of the car now. Because everything does not stay the same. Some wished it did because it is easier when you’ve seen the movie, know the words to the song. Have danced the steps before. Or that is just a cruel habit that keeps you from realizing how good something you never try on your plate really is. No thank you helpings can lead to seconds, thirds and life long habits of new varied dining fare experiences right?

What are you afraid of in the unknown?

Loss of control, fear of a mistake in unchartered waters? Needing the safety of let’s do nothing and see what happens? When a small group in a Maine town together focus on solutions to tough situations, amazing things unfold. Good and bad until kinks found, removed. Until everyone agrees to disagree. Becomes proactive instead of reactive, roller derby happens. Here (motioning) put on these elbow and knee protectors. Make sure that helmet is strapped on extra tight. It’s going to get rough. Someone is going to get bloodied if it becomes a civil war of contention, finger pointing, back biting.

The frustration is not the other person. It is the quandary, quagmire we find ourselves in. Unhappiness goes down harder with a person that has lead a charmed, okay borderline spoiled life of privilege. The “work with what you have, make the most of it and just be glad for small improvement” is not enough gain. Sometimes too little too late. But right now, fix it for good, throw any amount of money at it and let’s move on. To more fun endeavors is not how life in a small rural Maine town works. Smaller, simpler, survival nut to crack daily strips away the non essentials.

Why Maine Happened, How So Important A Place Like Vacationland Is.

Economics, harder when they are not just local fun and games.

Because on the local level if everyone bought and sold, traded within your zip code, the closed circuit could thrive. With good service, competitive prices and having more of a selection than the other guy. But when Interstates, shopping malls, Amazon and a person not batting an eye to travel hundreds of miles to save ten, rut ro. Problems up on the bridge of that small Maine town.

And when a governor wannabe figures the little small towns that made the state great are not pulling their weight. Not holding their own. That kind of saber rattling, poison pen journalism makes you nervous. Or why not dig in, look within and remind all in the huddle this game is far from over boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen. We can win, and by a large margin if we work together. We’re Mainers remember?

To work toward improving the local economy starts with accessing, arranging what face cards you hold as a Maine town.

Inventory of what we have that some other places do not. Our strengths, talents, natural resources are the kitchen ingredients for something good to serve. But beefing up areas of the pantry that are low on supplies needed. To know where the money and time should be spent to have ammo for what we need to keep shooting, growing. Protecting the economy of that small Maine town. Preserve the existing Maine businesses before chasing new ones should happen too. Interview those already here and learn their challenges.

Help them, all local Maine businesses before they close their doors because of a blind eye, deaf ear.

Next, throwing out the “but but but we have always done it this way before” logic which is using that rear view or side mount mirrors exclusively. We may need to back up if on the wrong rabbit trail. But these new and improved west coast mirrors like the RV and big rig professionals drive with should help. Look ahead in the here and now. Read, watch, learn that the landscape has changed. While you and I have been enjoying sips of coffee, under the stars, strumming a guitar, after a bean dinner by the camp fire.

There is work to do, roll up that blanket, tighten the girth on your painted pony.

We are staring down the barrel of some hard charging, fast riding and neck reining barrel racing maneuvers. Because gotta stay awake, or at least snooze with one eye left propted open. Much to do before we fall sleep again.

Maybe have been snoozing and loosing, napping too much to see what is happening for economic and social erosion. Keep an open mind. Conflict resolution in a small town, in a partnership from marriage is an art. Nothing personal taken, happens when brainstorming to cause the blood to boil right? Frustration with the problem does not mean attack the players that are all in this together. Solutions, not negativity should be served up during work sessions. Unity is hard but no other option. Less people, plenty of decisions and hard work means gotta get along. More than ever.

Maine, big state, less people, a tad insulated, not isolated. Which can be good and bad. Serving up a challenge. Volume is important in sales. Because the profit is smaller. The income is in the expenses and way you run a tight ship. Cruising the facility looking for slack constantly. Our local government, schools, population in small Maine towns have to hunker down. But our history shows we are highly resourceful if Augusta, Washington goes easy on its regulation, restrictive demands. Anything that constrains, adds to the financial drain.

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

March 15, 2013
“There’s Somethin’ Happenin’ Here, What It Is Ain’t Exactly Clear…”

Where We Are, Where We Should Be Heading. Maine, Handle ME With Care.

The Buffalo Springfield song “For What It’s Worth” has some interesting lyrics.

Designed to stop you in your tracks. Hold up what you are doing. And crank that head around. To really see what is taking place, behind the scenes. And all around you. During the 1960’s with the Vietnam escalating, racial tensions building, and all that dang burn rock music from long hairs smoking those funny left handed cigarettes. Driving VW multi colored way way under powered micro buses. Preaching peace, love and change… she is a comin’. The times, they are a changin’ for sure.

The burning flags part always bothered me the most as a little kid watching a black and white Walter Cronkite “that’s the way it is” nightly newscast.

Even though I know we enjoy American freedom of expression. Heck, I’m a Maine blogger, hello.

“There’s somethin’ happenin’ here
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Tellin’ me, I got to beware

I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound?
Everybody look what’s going down”

Nobody’s Right If Everybody’s Wrong.

Change. It is a slow process.

That if delayed, put off suddenly picks up speed. Increasing pressure and then watch out. Something’s got to give, evolve. This has to stop. And fingers in the dike won’t let the band-aid approach continue. Radical sudden change gets your attention because it is not comfortable, causes pain. Because it is thrust upon you. Out of control. You have no input. And like being shook awake in the middle of a night deep sound sleep. Told we got to hurry, get out of here. Grab just a few things and come on. Quickly. Or else. Or else what?

Change thought out and done before it becomes a do or die desperate situation is best. Goes down easy, everyone gets resolved to the fact this is the lesser of two evils. Signed on, added their two cents. Feels like they have skin in the game. Best and only course of correction. But along the pathway lots of humming not singing because no one knows the words. That have not been written yet. Write the sheet music together, after the playing it by ear first with constructive, proactive not reactive discussions. Taking very good notes, with creative shorthand.

Maine has lots of small towns, is mostly rural. With 108 burgs, villages, plantations and townships under it’s Vacationland utility belt, change can happen quicker. When the landscape is tight, local, community spirited by volunteers that are not in it for the money. But for their family, to stay in Maine and not uproot to head out of state over the long green up and curved steel bridge. Forced to flock to larger impersonal urban areas that are not a panacea.

So when you have a governor wanna be who preaches lets cut off the aid to smaller towns that drain our resources.

That hold us back, maybe should be left behind, cut off. That says aid to their roads and intrastructure should be examined. Dismantled like the rock concert stage taken apart at two in the morning by roadies. The bus hitting the highway by sunrise at the crack of dawn. Whoa. Cue the Jackson Brown song about stay, just a little bit longer. With the piano solo and just him. Under the one single white hot spot pool of bright light center stage.

Hold the phone, the call from the Governor. Those rural townships, the unorganized “T” this, “R” that areas ARE Maine. Don’t count them out yet. The two Maine’s premise of North and South pitted is like a couple always fighting. But not seeing the need to move beyond to something greater. Bigger than the two of them called unity, unison and change. Discussed, what if this, how about that. And review of what other areas with the same struggle are doing, or should not have done. The problem gets fixed on the local level and goes the other way, up the chain. Not in Oz behind the shimmering lime green sequined curtain.

Mainers are resilient, small town proud, family is everything, live within your means wired for long term. And will put up with a lot to live with less of the non essentials. To survive and make the most of what they do have. Working on what they lack but over time, with right thinking can obtain collectively as a small town. To win, you have to play together. But that change change change as Aretha Franklin belts out, reminds. How to do it and who is driving the bus? Is everyone on the same run? Or thrown under the wheels?

Small Maine towns are not a gangrene of a limb to be removed because it no longer has purpose or threatens the owner like a disease.

I always thought sending money to Augusta and watching it trickle back caused a knee jerk delay. Reflexes work best when unrestricted and spontaneous. To react, get out of the way when you see something big coming. But now local control has been ham stringed because everything is run through the central office up on the bridge of the RMS Titanic. Say, more lemon in your tea? BRrrrr.. brisk weather tonight. Who’s up on lookout?

Local Maine towns are resourceful, but have to hammer out the new armor for the plan of attack to survive, change, prosper. Less big government and more local hands on, grass roots is what Maine is all about. Has to get back to and remember it’s roots. Who rewrote the job description of what each Mainers has for responsibilities? (To be continued….)

Maine, say what you are thinking, brooding over and get it out in the open. Off your chest. A tad crusty, outspoken but you always know what is going on in a Maine conversation. Common sense, no punches pulled, plenty of outdoor living. And big time small town proud. That’s Maine plain and simple.

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

March 14, 2013
Suddenly 2300 New People Roll Into A Small Maine Town.

Local State Small Music Programs Compete In Intrumental Vocal Jazz Competition Mar 15th, 16th In Houlton ME.

The economy of one of Maine’s 108 small towns ebbs and flows with new money.

Currency, credit cards, car and bus loads that motor, drive into a Vacationland small burg are a beautiful thing. And those nickel and dimes, all those dollars turn over six to seven times locally. Every time a wallet or purse is opened. A sale is made and local coffers benefit.

So when those new guests swell the local population by a third over one weekend, there is cause for pause.

For celebration, especially when those 2300 souls are all from Maine. All natives from around the Pine Tree State. The majority humming along up Interstate 95. Keeping an eye peeled, open, on the hunt for exit 302. The next to the last one before hello. We’re at the US – Canadian border. Heading into the land of the metric red maple leaf eh? More specific the Atlantic Canadian Provinces. Rut ro. Too far. Over shot.

And when the rumble, the stampede is predominantly Maine kids, and music is involved, can I get an amen over here please. It is extra special because the event is this weekend’s State Of Maine Instrumental Vocal Jazz Festival in Houlton Maine.

Talent, energy, youth excitement fuels the local entertainment. That is electric, practiced, rehearsed for one after another award winning performances. That are the pride and joy of towns from around Maine. Collected in one spot, a single venue. To make on a stage music.

To compete for top honors, a Maine school music trophy to take home.

To display as a reminder of the fruits of the group effort in a school lobby locked glass case. All due to very pleasing, sweet collective polished notes. Mixed just right with an infectious hot beat of Maine music. Belted out from deep inside. Sporting, wearing ear to ear smiles. Music, energy, magic you can tell is enjoyed fully by the on their feet performers. Not just the audience sitting down out front. Two way communication. A strong connection where the crowd makes the performers work harder. Play, sing to them with more intensity, feeling.

Two Local Music Videos | Maine Instrumental Vocal Jazz Festival, Houlton ME

Worked the state music festivals in Houlton Maine in the past.

Animated to pitch in this weekend. Rubbing shoulders, elbow to elbow with boatloads of other local music boosters. To pull off another state level event in the Shiretown March 15th, 16th. Lots of year round planning. To craft and create, run such an intricate event. Hard work, passionate persistence. Devil in the details logistics attention. To iron out wrinkles. Fine tune and remove the bugs. Any wrenches in the production cogs. And the volunteer festivals get even better. Like the creative music, rhythm, choreography, sets, costumes of performances and big helpings of long hard practice.

Will try to capture images, video like in the past events to share highlights, some of the musical excitement of the many talented Maine youth performaces. Places to stay, motel rooms in Houlton Maine area. Maine, our small town people are the sparkle but open a door, step outside all four seasons. Tap into the place with the natural space, Maine.

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

March 13, 2013
Passing Notes In Maine, PSSssst Common Sense And Reality Trading Off.

Fix What Ails You When You Have The Galloping Gimmees. Get To Maine.

Communication, not just the kind that is open pie hole, engage voice box and let her rip.

Start production ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls from the heart. To make sure everyone can hear you using your recess voice, indoors or out. No, now it is more watch, listen, purchase what will dramatically change your life for the better. Promoters, exploiters around you and I create desires to fill the increasing void, the hunger and thirst. Using a ray gun effective steady bombardment of marketing messages. To radiate, attack and wear down from 360 degrees.

Lots of busy beavers chipping away, replacing the inside job of just being content, grateful, happy with your lot in life.

The self generated, not store bought satisfaction with labor. To work smarter not harder. With find happiness outside yourself using currency and credit. To reach out, grab hold and give her a heck of a yank. To the big golden ring of affluence.

To show everyone hello, you have arrived. With all the bells and whistles that come with status. To need to be noticed. In the public eye and envied. Reminding yourself you deserve better than most. Looking around, trying to emulate the pretty people. To fit in. To follow their shadow and learn dance steps foreign to the way you were raised.

Embracing commercialism, and the pursuit of stuff becomes a passionate sport.

The kind the advertising media blitz to round the clock. In highly creative, manipulative ways to create an ache, a longing. An addiction that dims, silences common sense thinking. Move it on over. To create space, room in the heart and head of Jonathan and Janie Doe for a reality of the good life today. Not the square, provincial thinking that fueled, sustained your parents, the set of grandparents on each side of the DNA swimming inside you.

That mirage fed, seeded, sowed into a fertile mental topsoil. A bed in the grey matter that more and moremakes us painfully aware that something is missing in your life that is real, genuine, satisfying. The power of suggestion happens with too much free time and boredom settling in like a blinding Maine harbor fog socks in the inhabitants of a quaint sea coast town.
Maine, The Playground Is Free. You Just Have To Get Here. She’ll Take Care Of The Rest.

When personal satisfaction no longer comes from within a person.

But to those who order our product or service in the next fifteen minutes only. And reminding all mesmerized and deer in the headlights listening, watching that this special, limited time offer is available to only the next thirty callers. That’s all she wrote.

With strange exotic sitar music, smoke and mirror images, catchy sound bites and exotic video loops. All carefully stitched together. So you can not see the reverse seams. Doing better needlepoint than Frankenstein’s builder. A more sophisticated, polished presentation on the power point overhead projector. Now showing, playing what they’re saying on the back of the inside of your head. Between your ears, behind the eyeballs.

The shift in society from work less, or at least smarter not harder, work the system not your back has caused unhappiness to increase. Gain without pain, any sweat. How can that be? If we are more affluent than ever, are surrounded by stacks, towering boxes and boxes of stuff we could not live without or were told we could not? The independent stand on your own two feet and be happy replaced with dependent, with quarters in a parking meter temporary relief. As you rent, not own space. As you shop til you drop. The guy or gal with the most stuff at life’s final curtain call wins. Then let’s roll up the overhead door and have one massive garage sale.

Have we forgotten grateful and replaced with resentful?

Started to blame others for our unhappiness caused from greed to we must have more? Drive through quick, with speed of thought gratification. Our craving is never satisfied. Because it reverberates like feedback frequencies that start a vicious worm hole cycle of building and building. Self generation, oscillating, amplifying until you cover your ears, cover your eyes. And start to shrink, stoop, go to your knees. To just make it stop. Knowing it will not be satisfied except by feeding it more. That’s the problem. You have created a jealous master that consumes the consumer.

Maine is a simpler place. Where we learn to cope with respect of what’s around us. With humor to displace the tension, unhappiness. And to take ownership, be grateful for what we have. Not project our problems on to the backpacks, the shoulders of someone else. Get health, get happy in Maine, and you can weather whatever storms life throws at you. And become strong, more at peace because of them with the right perspective, approach to living the way life was meant to be. Always was, that is Maine today.

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

March 12, 2013