On a rainy Sunday morning Sept. 27, 2015, 24 Easton FFA members, along with chaperone Ronnie Mitchell, bus driver Bernie McAdam and advisor Kevin Marquis, departed Easton for a four-day educational excursion to Hancock and Washington counties.
Fortunately, as the bus traveled south, the rain abated and the day turned out to be sunny. The first stop on the trip was at Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The group enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the fort then took in the spectacular views from the observatory tower at the bridge.
The next stop was at Eliot Coleman’s Four Season Farm, located in Bristol. Coleman is well known in the organic farming community, has authored numerous books on the subject and has developed several tools for greenhouse farming.
The group then traveled to Jonesboro where they spent the night. Monday morning’s tour included the University of Maine’s blueberry research farm in Jonesboro and Wyman’s blueberry ground in Dublois. The students were informed about the various insects and diseases that affect blueberry plants, as well as new machinery being developed to aid in the production and harvest of the crop. They also saw a whole new way of picking rocks. Unlike Aroostook County, this operation requires an excavator and perhaps a bulldozer as these rocks may weigh over 50 tons. Members also learned that wild blueberry plants can be larger than 500 square feet.
Monday afternoon’s tour focused on marine biology as the group visited the Downeast Institute, located on Beals Island. This facility works with seed clams, mussels and baby lobster. The facility also grows its own algae to feed these tiny shellfish. The group enjoyed a special surprise when Carol Ann Wright an Easton alum from 1967, walked into the facility for a visit. She had a good time reminiscing with McAdam and Marquis.
After the tour, the group visited a beach to try out their new-found knowledge. Later that evening, the students visited the University of Maine at Machias athletic facility for some much-needed recreation time.
On Tuesday, the group stopped at Whitney Wreath in Machias for an impromptu tour and were informed on all aspects of this short seasonal business and its economic impact on Maine. Many members of the group were surprised to learn about the business’s connections to Easton.
The next stop was Campobello Island, New Brunswick to visit the Roosevelt’s summer cottage and learn more about the era when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was our president. The students were quite surprised to learn the cottage did not have electricity until the early 1950s.
At the next stop in Eastport, the group toured Lighthouse Lobster and observed the day’s catch being sorted, weighed and readied for shipment to market. The students had the opportunity to spend some free time looking around downtown Eastport. One of the highlights of this area was a working model of the Quoddy Bay Tidal power project that was championed by FDR in the mid 1930s. The museum has an original scale model of the project. Easton alum Lesa Dafonte of the Class of 1973 works at this location. The day was concluded with a lobster dinner on the shore.
On Wednesday morning, the group had an early appointment at the dock to catch a boat for a tour of Cooke Aquaculture’s salmon operation. This facility has 11 pens that hold as many as 66,000 salmon each. The fish are raised from frye stage to over 20 lb. market weight.
Following the tour, the group set out for a cruise around the glass calm harbor looking for whales and other marine life. The students saw two minkey whales and numerous bay porpoises. The vessel also stopped near the Old Sow Whirlpool, the largest whirlpool in Western Hemisphere. Next, the students had an opportunity to try their hand at pulling lobster traps and discovering some of the interesting things they may contain.
Once back on dry land, the group went in search of light refreshments before heading for a tour of the Coast Guard station. Members of the Coast Guard showed the students their facility, gear and boats. The students were able to try on some of the gear and get aboard two of the rescue boats.
While waiting for the Coast Guard tour, some of the students met a former California FFA member who has had a shop in Eastport for decades. This gentleman does custom woodworking and builds many unique items. The group was offered a tour of his tree house, which was gladly accepted. The students were truly impressed with the tree house and items this man had made.
The group traveled back to Easton arriving around back last Wednesday evening.
Clean-Up Day scheduled for Easton residents
The Town of Easton will provide a collection point at the town garage on the Fry Pan Road for household junk, such as appliances, tires, furniture, wood, etc. Wood products must be separated. No household garbage or used oil.
There will also be a collection point next to the recycling igloos behind the town office to dispose of electronics such as: televisions, computers, monitors, printers, fluorescent bulbs, circuit boards, cell phones, fax machines, scanners, laptops, DVD/VCR players, batteries and copiers. All recyclables must be deposited in the igloos behind the town office. This is for Easton residents only.
Coordinate your fall cleaning with the Town Clean Up Day and make use of our efforts to make Easton a more beautiful place to live. No commercial loads! Call 488-6652 with any questions.
Cumming to perform concert Oct. 17
On Saturday, Oct. 17 at Easton High School, there will be a pie social starting at 6:30 p.m. and a concert, featuring Duncan Cumming, begins at 7 p.m.
Cumming received degrees from Bates College and New England Conservatory and studied at the European Mozart Academy in Prague, Czech Republic. In 2003, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University and then went on to join the faculty at the University of Albany.
His book “The Foundation of Youth: The Artistry of Frank Glazer” was published in 2009. Glazer was Cummings’ teacher and mentor while he studied at Bates. Cumming is the great grandson of William Spence Cumming and Annie Rae Duncan, some of Easton’s original settlers. Donations will be accepted but the program is free.
Digital planetarium demonstration/open house
On Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the Francis Malcolm Science Center, located at 776 Houlton Road in Easton, will offer a program entitled “Warped Media: To Infinity and Beyond.” Please join in on this program on new digital planetarium technology.
Added to a traditional planetarium, this system allows programming beyond the sun, moon and stars to an expanded range of educational and entertaining subjects. Participants will also enjoy model rocket launches, interactive lobby displays and light refreshments. For more information, call (207) 488-5451.
PTO Harvest Party
The annual harvest party will be held at Easton Elementary School on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m.-noon. There will be games, a cake walk and more. Admission to the event will be an item for the Easton Food Pantry. The pantry is in need of canned fruit, rice meals, corn, soups, pasta meals, cereal as well as stuffing, cranberry sauce, canned gravy and canned fruit mix for Thanksgiving boxes. More information will come out soon.
Sesquicentennial items
make great Christmas gifts
The committee continues to sell items to commemorate Easton’s year-long 150th celebration, including Easton history books for $10, 20-ounce glasses with Bears and Sesquicentennial logos for $8, glass coffee mugs with Bears and Sesquicentennial logos for $8, royal blue T-shirts with sesquicentennial logos for $8, royal blue hoodie sweatshirts with sesquicentennial logos for $25 and two-tone caps or standard caps with Easton Bears logos or Sesquicentennial logos for $10.
Orders can be placed by emailing info@eastonme.com or calling the town office at 488-6652. To see samples please visit eastonme.com or visit the town office.
Kiwanis meetings
Kiwanis Club of Easton meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend. Dinner is provided for a small fee.
Special rec activities
Yoga for Kids classes will be held on Wednesdays from Oct. 14 through Nov. 18. There is no class on Oct. 21. The cost is $20 and there must be 15 participants to run the program. Classes will take place at the Hall until 4 p.m. and be instructed by Julie French.
This isn’t your traditional Yoga class as children’s yoga is a different way to learn about the body. They will stretch, strengthen, gain flexibility and balance through short, age-appropriate activities, as well as learn how to calm their bodies, breath and mind. Yoga has shown to improve concentration, memory, attention, problem-solving and decision-making — all terrific skills needed for learning. Relaxation is just as important as exercise and they will learn these concepts and more, all by having fun!
Happy Days Club update
The Happy Days Senior Citizens’ Club met for a potluck lunch Sept. 24 with seven members present. The meeting scheduled for Oct. 8 is cancelled and iInstead the group will be traveling to Lakeview Restaurant in Sinclair. The bus will leave the Manor at 9:30 a.m. Participants will be responsible for paying for their own lunch. Please bring a friend.
Trunk or Treat returns
to Easton Wesleyan Church
Join in for a great time of trunk or treat Oct. 31 starting at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., the Veggie Tales short “Where’s God When I Am Scared?” will be shown and after a brief intermission, starting at 6:45 p.m., the feature show will be “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie.” Popcorn will be served.
If you would like to join the fun with your “trunk,” please contact Pastor Tony to reserve a spot by calling 551-0777 or sending an email to pastortony@eastonwesleyan.org.
Hillary Hallett is the correspondent for Easton. She can be reached by sending an e-mail to: hillary_jt@myfairpoint.net or call 551-7737.
