Here's some good news about a neighbor down the road -- he and his wife put an Agricultural Conservation Easement on their 42 acre farm to protect it from future development!

"Special Broadcast Presentation on the Benefits of Agricultural Conservation Easements - Aug. 21st @5:30pm
Posted on: August 14, 2025 - 12:04pm

There will be a special broadcast presentation on #SacoRiver Community TV (Cable channel 5 )Thursday, Aug. 21st @ 5:30pm by #DonMarean regarding the process and benefits of placing an agricultural conservation easement in perpetuity on their farm. This presentation will also be available to view on our Town's YouTube channel! We hope you can tune in!"

Another branch of the Marean family has already put 92 acres of land into a #ConservationEasement in nearby Standish!

Town of Hollis YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SRCM-TownofHollis/featured

#ForeverFarms #MaineFarmlandTrust #ConservationEasements #SaveTheFarms #PreservingFarms #MaineFarms #SolarPunkSunday

So, I heard back from #MDIFW about #EAB in our area. Apparently, my town is one that was recently identified to have Emerald Ash Borer outbreaks. They gave me information about treating the #GreenAsh trees (or taking them down), and an arborist friend of mine down the road was recommended to deal with infested trees. #MDOT may be responsible for taking down the ones by the road that are too far gone, but I'll let them know that there's someone nearby who they could hire to do that. I'll be talking to the neighbors who have the tree that might be saved about pesticide application. The #WhiteAsh tree by the #SacoRiver (which I don't think is infected), would be tricky to deal with, since pesticides could get into the river (though it's not like the Saco is potable water anyways -- but still. And it flows into the ocean). Anyhow, I have a plan of action. I'll provide updates on the trees as needed.

#MaineTrees #CitizenScience
#EmeraldAshBorer #SaveTheTrees #InvasiveSpecies #ProtectTheTrees #Stewardship #YorkCountyMaine

#Maine - Indian Cellar

"#SacoRiver Indian Cellar is an 81-acre municipal park maintained by the Hollis Conservation Commission. Visitors will find 8 different trails encompassing 2.5 miles that lead to the scenic shores of the Saco River and a handful of picnic spots. The preserve offers opportunities for cross-country skiing, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, running, snowshoeing, swimming, and hiking. Canoe and kayak access to Indian Cellar is available nearby at Pleasant Point Park in Buxton. The #LandForMainesFuture Board supported the acquisition of the Saco River Indian Cellar in 2009.

"Indian Cellar Preserve contains roughly three miles of trails that lead to the mouth of the Saco River. A 1.6-mile perimeter trail wraps around the river, with several additional interior trails. The site divides the towns of #BuxtonME and #HollisME. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities at the site during all four seasons, including swimming, hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing.

"The Indian Cellar got its name from the bedrock walls along the Saco River, which were deep and cool enough for #Indigenous people to store their food. Thanks to the town of Hollis, the Land for Maine’s Future program, and several private donors, the site was preserved in 2009 after a developer proposed dividing the land into several expensive lots."

Activities: Cross-country skiing, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, running, snowshoeing, swimming, picnicking, and hiking

FMI - https://mainebyfoot.com/indian-cellar-preserve-hollis/

History sources:
https://www.nrcm.org/explore-maine-map/indian-cellar-preserve/

https://landformainesfuture.org/destination/saco-river-indian-cellar/

#SolarPunkSunday #MaineTrails
#MaineByFoot #NaturePreserve
#Nature #PreservingNature #SouthernMaine

"A Look at the Past"
By #ScottLoringDavis Fine Art Photography.
https://pixels.com/profiles/scottloringdavis

I'm immediately taken back to a simpler time thinking of all of horse drawn wagons and carriages that crossed this . . . READ MORE - https://pixels.com/featured/a-look-at-the-past-scott-loring-davis.html

#fineart #art #wallart #coveredbridge #NewHampshire #history #historical #historic #photography #photo #artist #lobbyart #hotelart #waitingroomart #officeart #sacoriver #bridge #nostalgia #nostalgic #giftideas #mastoart #ScottLoringDavis

Memories of History
BY #scottLoringDavis https://pixels.com/profiles/scottloringdavis
The original Swift River Covered Bridge was lifted from its abutments by flood waters in 1869 and washed down the Swift River and into the Saco River . READ MORE.. https://pixels.com/featured/memories-of-history-scott-loring-davis.html

#SacoRiver #coveredbridge #photography #travel #ScottLoringDavisFineArtPhotography #photo #newhampshire #fineart #wallart #walldecor #buyintoart #history #historical #quaint #enchanting #NewEngland #art #scenesofnewengland #ScottLoringDavis

Update: The solution? A traffic light on the Buxton side of the bridge, and a wider bridge to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. But still... Not ideal!

No rest for the wicked. Though I did take today off from getting worked up about my next local battle -- figuring out why #MDOT doesn't want a #pedestrian walkway on a new bridge over the #SacoRiver. Also, why isn't MDOT addressing the fact that cars, trucks and SUVs go way too fast on that stretch of #Route202 anyways, and it should be more #bicycle and #pedestrian friendly (considering there are hiking / biking trails on both sides of the river, an ice cream shop, a library, and a marijuana shop nearby).

#MaineNotes, October 2, 2024

In #MaineNews, #ScarboroughMaine Town Council may put the brakes on the #GorhamSpur tonight, and #BuxtonMaine refuses to pay for 1/2 of a separate pedestrian bridge on busy Route 202 over the #SacoRiver (connecting two trail systems), leaving #HollisMaine to foot the bill (if they decide to pay for it). Meanwhile, #Searsport voters say "yes" to an offshore wind port, but will it be on undeveloped #SearsIsland, or already developed #MackPoint?

#SaveSmilingHillFarm #ProtectSearsIsland #ProtectWahsumkik #Maine #MaineTrails