How do they keep finding so much more to follow up on? [ooooh, ending a sentence not with one but TWO prepostitions!]
Mice and man to part company
By AMY CALDER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Friday, March 30, 2007
WATERVILLE -- Bill Exner has decided to give up his pet mice on the advice of wildlife experts who say the rodents could carry deadly diseases and may not legally be kept in captivity.
Exner, 68, trapped the mice over the weekend after they allegedly carted off his lower dentures and hid them in a bedroom wall. He ultimately found the false teeth -- but then decided to buy an aquarium for the mice and keep them as pets.
Exner's battle with the furry filchers of his false teeth became news throughout the country, with a report even appearing on CNN.
But experts say the mice he trapped shouldn't be kept as pets.
"If it's living in a house in Maine -- most of them are deer mice or white-footed mice," said Karen Morris, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "The little buggers are everywhere."
The mice Exner captured are deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatis), a native species of wildlife known to be the main carrier of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, according to Jim Nelson, a professor of wildlife studies at Unity College.
Hantavirus is a rare and potentially deadly disease spread by rodents, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Humans can contract the disease when they come into contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings.
Nelson says that while no known cases of Hantavirus have been detected in Maine, numerous deaths have occurred in other areas of the country.
"The virus is carried in the droppings and urine and dissipates in the air," he said. "Yes, you could get it by breathing the smell of urine and droppings. You can also get it from a bite."
Oakland's animal control officer, Patrick Faucher, a former Waterville animal control officer, plans to release Exner's mice into the wild soon.
"Bill has agreed to release them to me," Faucher said Thursday. "Why take a chance? And he agrees."
Morris says one must be very careful when stirring up areas where mice have been, and where their urine and droppings are.
"It's something you don't want to mess around with," she said. "It's a matter of sanitation. If you do have to clean an area, wet it down and wear gloves and make real certain of sanitation."
Exner says he will miss the mice, as he has become quite attached to them, but he knows releasing them is the right thing to do.
"I got the aquarium. I might just sterilize the aquarium and go get myself some fish and that'll be the end of the story," he said.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
retrieved 3/31/2007 from http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3761864.html
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
March 29, 2007: How cold is 28 degrees?
Last night (well after sunset) I walked home wearing a pantsuit with tights underneath but no long underwear and my short coat. It was 28 degrees and it was a very pleasant walk. I'll admit my earlobes were a tad cold when I got home, but I didn't notice it while I was walking.
This morning I was wearing pants and a sweater with my long coat . . . my really thick and fuzzy extra-warm long coat. It was 28 degrees and sunshiney and I was so cold on my walk to school. The difference? You already guessed . . . it was that wind chill. Brrrrr, does that make a big difference! I guess the majority of me covered by the coat was warm, but the wind whipped around my head (I had the hood up but the wind still gets in there) and around my ankles and it was cold.
I stopped at the creek which was flowing pretty well yesterday morning from what I could see through the melted patches of snow. But this morning, the flow was pretty slow and a thin layer of ice was on top again. That will melt off today, but it's fun to watch the creek. I don't think, however, that ice is formed any faster with a wind chill than without. I'm guessing it's only people and animals that are affected by wind chill.
I am deeply affected.
This morning I was wearing pants and a sweater with my long coat . . . my really thick and fuzzy extra-warm long coat. It was 28 degrees and sunshiney and I was so cold on my walk to school. The difference? You already guessed . . . it was that wind chill. Brrrrr, does that make a big difference! I guess the majority of me covered by the coat was warm, but the wind whipped around my head (I had the hood up but the wind still gets in there) and around my ankles and it was cold.
I stopped at the creek which was flowing pretty well yesterday morning from what I could see through the melted patches of snow. But this morning, the flow was pretty slow and a thin layer of ice was on top again. That will melt off today, but it's fun to watch the creek. I don't think, however, that ice is formed any faster with a wind chill than without. I'm guessing it's only people and animals that are affected by wind chill.
I am deeply affected.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
March 28, 2007: No way. You're not going to believe this one.
Today's front page (below the fold, but still front page) was so "Maine-like" that MRM brought it up to my room before I even got downstairs this morning. Yep, this is the kind of news you look forward to first thing in the morning so you can start your day off not just with a smile or even a chuckle but a long hard laugh:
Happy ending: From pests to pets
By AMY CALDER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE -- Bill Exner has emerged the winner in the man versus mouse contest.
This weekend, he caught two mice he believes carted off his false teeth to their home behind the wall last week.
"There he is -- that's the culprit," Exner said Monday at his home on Oakland Street. "That's the one who carried off my teeth."
Exner was peering into a glass aquarium he bought at Kmart to house the two rodents he had been trying to trap for several days because they were making scratching noises inside his bedroom wall.
He was pointing to a plump gray and brown field mouse with big ears and a white belly. It jumped to the top of the aquarium and hung upside down from a screen as the smaller one -- also brown and gray -- nibbled on a piece of bread.
Exner, 68, had caught a mouse three times last week and put it in a gallon-sized pickle jar, only to have it escape each time.
One night he went to bed and was too tired to put his lower dentures in the bathroom as he usually does, so he placed them on his nightstand.
The next morning they were gone, and he said he knew right away it was a mouse that took them.
He and his future-son-in-law, Eric Holt, sawed through the wall and found the false teeth. Oakland's animal control officer, Patrick Faucher, convinced Exner that it probably took two mice to haul off the teeth, with one pushing and one pulling, as they do in cartoons.
"I named these little guys 'Push' and 'Pull,' " Exner said Monday. "I got that from Pat. He said one would probably push and one would pull."
Exner's original plan was to trap the mice and take them to the country and set them free, but in the short time he has held them prisoner, he has taken a shine to them.
"I'm keeping them," he said. "They're not going anywhere. I'm not going to take them to a field. They're better off in here. They got water and food. We don't have any pets, and they're not any bother."
"After I caught them I started looking at them, you know, and I put my finger in there and Pull let me scratch his head and belly and everything. I started feeding him by hand and he's pretty tame."
Exner and his wife, Shirley, have been bombarded by phone calls since the story of their mouse pursuit appeared Saturday in the Morning Sentinel. Television and radio reporters want to meet them; one woman in Lacrosse, Wisc., wants to adopt the mice, according to Bill Exner.
"She said she lived in an apartment building and she saw the article and everyone was laughing at it," he said.
Exner also is getting some ribbing from his friends at the Waterville Elks Lodge.
"I walked in there and one guy said, 'Here comes Mr. Mouse. Where's the mice? Where's your teeth?' That's what I heard all day. One guy gave me this," Exner said, producing a Mickey Mouse coloring book.
Exner likes to collect things such as model cars, plastic birds that talk and anything having to do with SpongeBob Square-Pants. His house is a museum of sorts.
"I'm a rat-packer," he says with a smile.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's the photo that goes with it:
Staff photo by Jim Evans
Bill Exner has captured the mice he believes took his dentures and has decided to keep them as pets.
retrieved 3/27/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3752411.html
Happy ending: From pests to pets
By AMY CALDER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE -- Bill Exner has emerged the winner in the man versus mouse contest.
This weekend, he caught two mice he believes carted off his false teeth to their home behind the wall last week.
"There he is -- that's the culprit," Exner said Monday at his home on Oakland Street. "That's the one who carried off my teeth."
Exner was peering into a glass aquarium he bought at Kmart to house the two rodents he had been trying to trap for several days because they were making scratching noises inside his bedroom wall.
He was pointing to a plump gray and brown field mouse with big ears and a white belly. It jumped to the top of the aquarium and hung upside down from a screen as the smaller one -- also brown and gray -- nibbled on a piece of bread.
Exner, 68, had caught a mouse three times last week and put it in a gallon-sized pickle jar, only to have it escape each time.
One night he went to bed and was too tired to put his lower dentures in the bathroom as he usually does, so he placed them on his nightstand.
The next morning they were gone, and he said he knew right away it was a mouse that took them.
He and his future-son-in-law, Eric Holt, sawed through the wall and found the false teeth. Oakland's animal control officer, Patrick Faucher, convinced Exner that it probably took two mice to haul off the teeth, with one pushing and one pulling, as they do in cartoons.
"I named these little guys 'Push' and 'Pull,' " Exner said Monday. "I got that from Pat. He said one would probably push and one would pull."
Exner's original plan was to trap the mice and take them to the country and set them free, but in the short time he has held them prisoner, he has taken a shine to them.
"I'm keeping them," he said. "They're not going anywhere. I'm not going to take them to a field. They're better off in here. They got water and food. We don't have any pets, and they're not any bother."
"After I caught them I started looking at them, you know, and I put my finger in there and Pull let me scratch his head and belly and everything. I started feeding him by hand and he's pretty tame."
Exner and his wife, Shirley, have been bombarded by phone calls since the story of their mouse pursuit appeared Saturday in the Morning Sentinel. Television and radio reporters want to meet them; one woman in Lacrosse, Wisc., wants to adopt the mice, according to Bill Exner.
"She said she lived in an apartment building and she saw the article and everyone was laughing at it," he said.
Exner also is getting some ribbing from his friends at the Waterville Elks Lodge.
"I walked in there and one guy said, 'Here comes Mr. Mouse. Where's the mice? Where's your teeth?' That's what I heard all day. One guy gave me this," Exner said, producing a Mickey Mouse coloring book.
Exner likes to collect things such as model cars, plastic birds that talk and anything having to do with SpongeBob Square-Pants. His house is a museum of sorts.
"I'm a rat-packer," he says with a smile.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's the photo that goes with it:
Staff photo by Jim Evans
Bill Exner has captured the mice he believes took his dentures and has decided to keep them as pets.
retrieved 3/27/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3752411.html
Monday, March 26, 2007
March 25, 2007: Silent Movie
When Karen and I went to North Dakota, we happened on a "double feature" at the old theater in downtown Fargo. The first half of the evening was a wonderful live stage production that was a re-enactment of a World War II Radio Show with big band music and Abbot & Costello and singers and dancers and soloists. It was so well done. The second half was a silent movie with live musical accompaniment on the original movie theater organ. Wow! What a treat! I'd never seen, or in this case, heard, anything like that before.
Well, UMF had its own version and we went. I received the notice via email sent to all faculty and staff:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 3/25 7pm Lincoln Auditorium
The Kid Brother (silent with LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT by DOUG PROTSIK;
Harold Lloyd, 83 minutes). $5 adults; $3 children, UMF students free.
Review by Hal Erickson at
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=97655:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read the review and the movie sounded like a lot of fun (which it was). But the idea of live piano accompaniment was what really enticed me. I convinced MRM to go and even though we were exhausted from our full afternoon of Maine Maple Syrup Sunday adventures (more about that later), we went.
Doug Protsik is great! He gave background information on the movie itself and the era and the genre. He was quite animated and fun to listen to. Then he explained that when he composed the music to go with the film, he pulled from music from the era, he composed some of his own melodies, and he had a little fun by putting other music in there that if you knew the music and/or the lyrics, you would get the little joke.
I was worried I would fall asleep in a dark theater, but I was literally on the edge of my seat, multi-tasking between watching the movie, listening to the music, thinking about what the lyrics were (if there were any), watching for certain things in the movie that he had told us about, and laughing so hard at the fun and cleverness of the movie.
After the move, Creston stopped by the house and he, MRM, and I debriefed. I definitely won the prize (not that there was a contest) for observing the most things that Doug had told us about up front, but I also noticed (or knew) more of the hidden songs. A lot of them were from Dede's era (my grandmother) and because I learned so much from her, I think I have an older soul than most people my age. Some of the songs included: the theme song from Bonanza (okay, that's not from Dede's era), Pop Goes the Weasel, Late Last Night (When We Were All In Bed), Mary Had a Little Lamb (the others knew that song but didn't hear it in the score), Roll Out the Barrel (Dede and Grandaddy's favorite song to polka), The Old Gray Mare, What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, and the sea shanty, Blow the Man Down.
But just knowing what the songs were is nothing. They were so cleverly intertwined with the other music (which sooo sounded like silent movie music, including "mysterioso") and they really went with that tiny piece of the plot at the time. So sorry. You had to have been there. Next time I get an announcement that Doug Protsik is doing something, I'm going!
Well, UMF had its own version and we went. I received the notice via email sent to all faculty and staff:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 3/25 7pm Lincoln Auditorium
The Kid Brother (silent with LIVE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT by DOUG PROTSIK;
Harold Lloyd, 83 minutes). $5 adults; $3 children, UMF students free.
Review by Hal Erickson at
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=97655:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read the review and the movie sounded like a lot of fun (which it was). But the idea of live piano accompaniment was what really enticed me. I convinced MRM to go and even though we were exhausted from our full afternoon of Maine Maple Syrup Sunday adventures (more about that later), we went.
Doug Protsik is great! He gave background information on the movie itself and the era and the genre. He was quite animated and fun to listen to. Then he explained that when he composed the music to go with the film, he pulled from music from the era, he composed some of his own melodies, and he had a little fun by putting other music in there that if you knew the music and/or the lyrics, you would get the little joke.
I was worried I would fall asleep in a dark theater, but I was literally on the edge of my seat, multi-tasking between watching the movie, listening to the music, thinking about what the lyrics were (if there were any), watching for certain things in the movie that he had told us about, and laughing so hard at the fun and cleverness of the movie.
After the move, Creston stopped by the house and he, MRM, and I debriefed. I definitely won the prize (not that there was a contest) for observing the most things that Doug had told us about up front, but I also noticed (or knew) more of the hidden songs. A lot of them were from Dede's era (my grandmother) and because I learned so much from her, I think I have an older soul than most people my age. Some of the songs included: the theme song from Bonanza (okay, that's not from Dede's era), Pop Goes the Weasel, Late Last Night (When We Were All In Bed), Mary Had a Little Lamb (the others knew that song but didn't hear it in the score), Roll Out the Barrel (Dede and Grandaddy's favorite song to polka), The Old Gray Mare, What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, and the sea shanty, Blow the Man Down.
But just knowing what the songs were is nothing. They were so cleverly intertwined with the other music (which sooo sounded like silent movie music, including "mysterioso") and they really went with that tiny piece of the plot at the time. So sorry. You had to have been there. Next time I get an announcement that Doug Protsik is doing something, I'm going!
March 24, 2007: Saturday Adventure at Renys
Here's the "March Mudness Sale" I was telling you about. ;-)
I was going to scan the flyer myself but I found it online at their website:
http://www.renys.com
The plastic bags they put your stuff in at checkout say, "Renys -- Your Maine Department Store" which is a pretty clever slogan. But this ad says, "Renys -- A Maine Adventure" and I think that describes it well.
I strolled through Renys when I came to visit in December and knew that it was a rare treasure but I only got to spend about half an hour in it. I do remember being impressed that the Christmas ornaments were hanging right next to the Coleman lantern mantles and other lantern replacement parts. Saturday, I spent an hour and a half in Renys. I wasn't rushed as I was in December and I did have a little a list of items I wanted and I was just going to see if they had them. Oh, my. They have everything. Check out the ad. Where else can you get canned red salmon, Comet liquid cleanser, a sleeping bag for $15, a hay rack liner (whatever that is), polo shirts, and moose salt and pepper shakers?? Here's what I bought on Saturday:
There are 3 floors and the basement has a 6 foot ceiling in some places. There's something fun at every turn. Some of the things I looked at but did not get included imitation Wellington boots for mud season, a desk lamp (not that they didn't have a giant selection from cheap and tacky to unusual to really nice), picture frames, Renys brand jelly (they even have jalapeno pepper jelly which I was wanting for the Texas Independence Day party), cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens, phone accessories, iPod accessories, stationery, margarita glasses, Easter decoration and candy, rugs, jewelry, and a whole floor of clothing.
It is definitely an adventure!
I was going to scan the flyer myself but I found it online at their website:
http://www.renys.com
The plastic bags they put your stuff in at checkout say, "Renys -- Your Maine Department Store" which is a pretty clever slogan. But this ad says, "Renys -- A Maine Adventure" and I think that describes it well.
I strolled through Renys when I came to visit in December and knew that it was a rare treasure but I only got to spend about half an hour in it. I do remember being impressed that the Christmas ornaments were hanging right next to the Coleman lantern mantles and other lantern replacement parts. Saturday, I spent an hour and a half in Renys. I wasn't rushed as I was in December and I did have a little a list of items I wanted and I was just going to see if they had them. Oh, my. They have everything. Check out the ad. Where else can you get canned red salmon, Comet liquid cleanser, a sleeping bag for $15, a hay rack liner (whatever that is), polo shirts, and moose salt and pepper shakers?? Here's what I bought on Saturday:
- 4 CD's at $2.99 each: Benny Goodman, Etta James, Peggy Lee, and The Platters
- a ball of cotton twine for $0.69
- an 80-piece picture hanging assortment (picture hangers, nails, saw-tooth hangers, wire, etc.) in an 8-compartment plastic box for $0.99
- a hammer to hang those picture-hanging goodies on the wall--I wasn't going to get one 'cuz I knew I could borrow one from several people in the building, but for $0.99, I decided I wanted my very own
- a long-sleeved, periwinkle blue, 100% cotton crew-neck collared shirt for $12.99 (that wasn't the sale price, that was their regular price on it, though there was a black line drawn through the name on the label [not hotwater river but a similar name of a very high-quality brand])
- a surprise for Dr. Mari that I can't tell you about until she gets in the mail and figures out what it is, but it defies all categories
- 2 magnetic 3.5" x 5" picture frames (well, picture sleeves) for $0.99 each [they're hard to find anymore in that size, but Mother needed some for her refrigerator for some older photos from before her switch to 4" x 6"]
- a big basket to sit on the floor of my office and hold bottles of water for $12.99 (I didn't like the look of the case of bottled water sitting there . . . to me it was the first thing you saw when you walked in the office)
- a pair of scissors for $0.99
- an ice cube try for $0.99 (to store earrings in my dresser drawer)
There are 3 floors and the basement has a 6 foot ceiling in some places. There's something fun at every turn. Some of the things I looked at but did not get included imitation Wellington boots for mud season, a desk lamp (not that they didn't have a giant selection from cheap and tacky to unusual to really nice), picture frames, Renys brand jelly (they even have jalapeno pepper jelly which I was wanting for the Texas Independence Day party), cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens, phone accessories, iPod accessories, stationery, margarita glasses, Easter decoration and candy, rugs, jewelry, and a whole floor of clothing.
It is definitely an adventure!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
March 24, 2007: Bigger news than the donkey?
Check out the lead story in Saturday's paper:
Man vs. Mouse
By AMY CALDER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Saturday, March 24, 2007
WATERVILLE -- Bill Exner is determined to catch the mouse he claims stole his lower dentures and hid them inside a wall.
Exner, 68, of Oakland Street, said he doesn't want to kill the mouse; he just wants to take him for a ride to the country.
Exner went to bed Tuesday night and instead of putting his lower dentures in the bathroom as he usually does, he was so tired he took them out and laid them on his nightstand, he said.
The next morning, the false teeth were gone.
Exner said he knew exactly who had taken them: a mouse he had trapped and placed in a gallon-sized pickle jar, three times -- but each time, the mouse escaped.
"The first time, I left the top off the pickle jar -- I figured there's no way this guy can get out," Exner said Thursday. "But he escaped, so the next time I caught him, I put the cover on loosely so he could breathe, and he got out again."
Exner got a trap in the first place because the mouse was making scratching noises in the walls. It's a trap that doesn't harm the mouse. All Exner has to do is put peanut butter inside it to attract the rodent. He said he planned to trap the mouse and drive it somewhere else.
"He likes peanut butter," Exner's wife, Shirley, said Thursday in the couple's bedroom, where the alleged heist occurred.
After the dentures disappeared, the Exners said they scoured the bedroom looking for them.
"We moved the bed, moved the dressers and the nightstand and tore the closet apart," Exner said. "I said, 'I knew that little stinker stole my teeth' -- I just knew it."
In a corner behind the nightstand, the couple found an opening in the wall between a baseboard heater and a structure that covers water pipes. Exner called his daughter's fiancŽ, Eric Holt, to help, convinced the mouse had spirited the dentures into the opening.
"He brought a crowbar and hammer and he sawed off a section of wood and pulled up the molding and everything," Exner said. "It was quite a job. We pull it out and he looks down and he goes, 'I don't believe it -- there they are!'
"The dentures were inside the wall, lying right there. They were not damaged. The mouse didn't bite them or anything. It's like he was saying 'I'm going to get even with you for putting me in that jar.' "
Holt said Thursday that he did not question Exner's assertion that the mouse took the dentures because when he (Holt) was a boy growing up on a farm, his father's dentures disappeared one day and they all assumed a rat took them because there were a lot of rats on the farm. Friends used to joke that there was a rat running around the farm with a pretty smile.
"The odds of getting Bill's teeth back were pretty slim," Holt said. "It was like hitting the lottery when we found them."
Sometimes, the mouse appears out of nowhere and just sits and looks at Exner, according to his wife.
"He's taunting him -- I swear he's taunting him," she said. "He's adopted us; we haven't adopted him."
Exner says he doesn't plan to put his dentures anywhere at night until he catches the mouse, which has a gray head with some brown, and a white belly.
"I got 'em right in my mouth and that's where they're staying," he said.
Meanwhile, people who deal with mice say it's entirely possible the mouse snatched the dentures.
Lori Perkins, a cashier at Petco in Augusta, said she has owned animals all her life -- including mice -- and Exner's mouse was likely interested in the food particles on the dentures and took them to where his house is -- inside the wall.
"If it has to do with food, mice will do just about anything," Perkins said. "They will eat through boxes; they'll try to eat through plastic."
After learning about Exner's mouse incident from the Morning Sentinel, Patrick Faucher, animal control officer for the town of Oakland, who is the former animal officer for Waterville, paid the Exners a visit.
Faucher said afterward that the droppings in the pickle jar and near the wall are definitely from a field mouse. Field mice are like packrats and will spirit away seeds and other food, he said.
He said there is more than one mouse in the house and that two may have actually hauled the dentures inside the wall.
"It's like in the cartoons -- one pushes, one pulls -- type of thing," Faucher said. "They're pretty ingenious in what they do and I'm sure the smell of food on the dentures had something to do with it."
Meanwhile, Holt said he told Exner to make sure he cleaned the dentures really well before putting them back in his mouth.
"I suggested he boil and soak them in peroxide and anything else he could get," Holt said.
Faucher said he asked Exner to call him when he captures the mouse and he will help him relocate the rodent.
"I want to see it," he said. "This is really quite unique, I'll tell you."
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
retrieved 3/25/2007 from http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3742169.html
March Madness
Forget the NCAA in basketball, Maine celebrates its own brand of March Madness. The University of Maine's hockey team made it to the final four of NCAA hockey called "The Frozen Four".
Renys, a.k.a. "Your Maine Department Store" is celebrating the beginning of mud season by having March Mudness Sales. (More about mud season in a future posting.)
Gotta love it.
Here's the scoop on the hockey (from the University's sports' website http://goblackbears.cstv.com/):
3/24/2007 - M. Ice Hockey
Maine Advances To NCAA Frozen Four
The University of Maine men's ice hockey team defeated Massachusetts 3-1 in the finals of the NCAA East Regional on Saturday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. Maine had a goal by Bret Tyler and power play goals by Mike Hamilton and Matt Duffy in the win, while Ben Bishop had 35 saves. The Black Bears are now 23-14-2 overall while Massachusetts is 21-13-5 overall. Maine advances to the NCAA Frozen Four for the fourth time in the last six years.
Renys, a.k.a. "Your Maine Department Store" is celebrating the beginning of mud season by having March Mudness Sales. (More about mud season in a future posting.)
Gotta love it.
Here's the scoop on the hockey (from the University's sports' website http://goblackbears.cstv.com/):
3/24/2007 - M. Ice Hockey
Maine Advances To NCAA Frozen Four
The University of Maine men's ice hockey team defeated Massachusetts 3-1 in the finals of the NCAA East Regional on Saturday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. Maine had a goal by Bret Tyler and power play goals by Mike Hamilton and Matt Duffy in the win, while Ben Bishop had 35 saves. The Black Bears are now 23-14-2 overall while Massachusetts is 21-13-5 overall. Maine advances to the NCAA Frozen Four for the fourth time in the last six years.
March 23, 2007: Playing Hookey
Friday afternoon during class my phone rang. It was MRM. I had to silence it but couldn't wait 'til class was over to hear her message. I was hoping she had some fun plans for Friday night. I was thinking I would go to Faculty Seminar because it was going to be at The Homestead which is a great little restaurant.
SIDEBAR: The usual seminar leader sent an email that since only 4 people attended last week's seminar, there wouldn't be one this week. Well, she must've left early because when I got there there were 4 people there and then 4 or 5 more came throughout the evening. I thought it was quite enjoyable. Well, anyway, only a few minutes after that email came through, another one showed up that said "Faculty Un-Seminar will be at The Homestead at 4:30." I thought it would be fun to see who showed up for that.
So when class was over, I listened to messages as I was walking across campus. There it was: "Hi Roomie. Do you want to play hookey? RBF, Benny, and I are out walking and were thinking about going to Gifford's. We wanted to see if you wanted to go with us. I immediately called back to say, "YES!" but the call went to voice mail after several rings. I left a message then called the house but no one was there either.
About that time, my phone rang and I assumed it was going to be MRM but caller ID told me that it was Hank! Whooop! I took that call. I had been heading up to my office and had gotten as far as the front doors of the Educatioin Center but when I knew it was Hank, I sat down in the lounge in the front foyer of the building because I didn't dare want to lose the signal and I did want to sit in those comfy chairs and enjoy the phone call. We had a great conversation, well, it was mostly me telling him how much I was enjoying Maine, so I guess it was a little one-sided conversation.
Then my phone started making noises and I looked and it was MRM calling. By the time I figured out what it was and how to answer it, the call had gone to voice mail. So Hank I kept talking. I had been telling him how much fun it was to have a great roommate and that I felt certain that was a big part of why I felt so comfortable already in my new town, when the phone rang again. This time I told him who it was and knew how to answer it. Shwew! I caught her. She and RBF were 5-10 minutes away and would pick me up at the front doors of the Education Center.
I "swapped" back to Hank (that's the word that shows up on my telephone display to go back to the other call) and continued the conversation while walking up to my office to get ready to play hookey (are you supposed to plan ahead when you play hookey?). Unfortunately, I did lose the signal when I got to the stairwell. I tried calling him back but to no avail . . . I kept getting his voice mail. I went ahead and packed up my stuff and put on my coat and headed back to the front of the Education Center. Then I got the signal that there was a message and sure enough it was Hank saying how fun it had been to catch up and he would call again. I called him back and got voice mail and so I left a similar message. Next call I need to let it be one-sided on his side 'cuz I'm dying to hear all about seminary and to find out when his ordination will be so I can be there.
And then I waited for MRM and RBF and Benny. As I stood there, I saw one of my students that had NOT been in class just an hour earlier. He crossed the street and I was wondering if he had seen me and was avoiding me. Then a young man crossed in front of me and started looking around and then called out in the general direction of that young man and called out his name. Now he had to look in my direction, though he only looked at the friend calling his name. They both walked towards the corner but then had to cross back in front of me. I said hello and called him by name as he walked by. He just smiled and said hello back. Neither of us said anything about his missing class.
About that time, I heard my name being called! I looked behind me and there was the gang. The four of us walked to Giffords. I ordered a cup of the featured new flavor, Maine birch bark. It was vanilla ice cream with white chocolate chips, chocolate covered cashews, and caramel swirl. It not only sounded delicious but I could see how they named it birch since birch trees are mostly white with some black (the chocolate covered cashews) and lots of bumps in the bark (the white chocolate chips). It really has more of a black swirl going through it, not a caramel colored one, but then I prefer caramel to chocolate, so I was thrilled with their choice. And indeed, it was quite delicious.
MRM ordered a double cone with one scoop of the Maine birch bark flavor and one scoop of Grape Nuts. She liked the birch bark but thought it was too sweet. Then she let me try her Grape Nuts. She said people in Maine really like Grape Nuts. I wondered if this was like people in Utah and their lime jello. I tried the Grape Nuts but it tasted more like vanilla ice cream with Grape Nuts in it. Wait, that's what it was. I don't really care for Grape Nuts, so even though the vanilla ice cream was good, the overall flavor was not so hot.
MRM also ordered "a dogbone sundae" which is a cup with one scoop of plain vanilla and a dogbone shaped dog biscuit on top. That was for Benny! I knew this was a great place if they had a treat for doggies.
I saw one of my students in line after us. That's still fun for me to run into my students in different places. I think some professors don't like it or think of it as an invasion of privacy or something, but I think it's fun.
We sat on the benches for a while to eat our ice cream, then decided to eat while walking on the way home. The sun was setting and it was getting chilly. We had a delightful walk home and I was very glad I had agreed to play hookey.
SIDEBAR: The usual seminar leader sent an email that since only 4 people attended last week's seminar, there wouldn't be one this week. Well, she must've left early because when I got there there were 4 people there and then 4 or 5 more came throughout the evening. I thought it was quite enjoyable. Well, anyway, only a few minutes after that email came through, another one showed up that said "Faculty Un-Seminar will be at The Homestead at 4:30." I thought it would be fun to see who showed up for that.
So when class was over, I listened to messages as I was walking across campus. There it was: "Hi Roomie. Do you want to play hookey? RBF, Benny, and I are out walking and were thinking about going to Gifford's. We wanted to see if you wanted to go with us. I immediately called back to say, "YES!" but the call went to voice mail after several rings. I left a message then called the house but no one was there either.
About that time, my phone rang and I assumed it was going to be MRM but caller ID told me that it was Hank! Whooop! I took that call. I had been heading up to my office and had gotten as far as the front doors of the Educatioin Center but when I knew it was Hank, I sat down in the lounge in the front foyer of the building because I didn't dare want to lose the signal and I did want to sit in those comfy chairs and enjoy the phone call. We had a great conversation, well, it was mostly me telling him how much I was enjoying Maine, so I guess it was a little one-sided conversation.
Then my phone started making noises and I looked and it was MRM calling. By the time I figured out what it was and how to answer it, the call had gone to voice mail. So Hank I kept talking. I had been telling him how much fun it was to have a great roommate and that I felt certain that was a big part of why I felt so comfortable already in my new town, when the phone rang again. This time I told him who it was and knew how to answer it. Shwew! I caught her. She and RBF were 5-10 minutes away and would pick me up at the front doors of the Education Center.
I "swapped" back to Hank (that's the word that shows up on my telephone display to go back to the other call) and continued the conversation while walking up to my office to get ready to play hookey (are you supposed to plan ahead when you play hookey?). Unfortunately, I did lose the signal when I got to the stairwell. I tried calling him back but to no avail . . . I kept getting his voice mail. I went ahead and packed up my stuff and put on my coat and headed back to the front of the Education Center. Then I got the signal that there was a message and sure enough it was Hank saying how fun it had been to catch up and he would call again. I called him back and got voice mail and so I left a similar message. Next call I need to let it be one-sided on his side 'cuz I'm dying to hear all about seminary and to find out when his ordination will be so I can be there.
And then I waited for MRM and RBF and Benny. As I stood there, I saw one of my students that had NOT been in class just an hour earlier. He crossed the street and I was wondering if he had seen me and was avoiding me. Then a young man crossed in front of me and started looking around and then called out in the general direction of that young man and called out his name. Now he had to look in my direction, though he only looked at the friend calling his name. They both walked towards the corner but then had to cross back in front of me. I said hello and called him by name as he walked by. He just smiled and said hello back. Neither of us said anything about his missing class.
About that time, I heard my name being called! I looked behind me and there was the gang. The four of us walked to Giffords. I ordered a cup of the featured new flavor, Maine birch bark. It was vanilla ice cream with white chocolate chips, chocolate covered cashews, and caramel swirl. It not only sounded delicious but I could see how they named it birch since birch trees are mostly white with some black (the chocolate covered cashews) and lots of bumps in the bark (the white chocolate chips). It really has more of a black swirl going through it, not a caramel colored one, but then I prefer caramel to chocolate, so I was thrilled with their choice. And indeed, it was quite delicious.
MRM ordered a double cone with one scoop of the Maine birch bark flavor and one scoop of Grape Nuts. She liked the birch bark but thought it was too sweet. Then she let me try her Grape Nuts. She said people in Maine really like Grape Nuts. I wondered if this was like people in Utah and their lime jello. I tried the Grape Nuts but it tasted more like vanilla ice cream with Grape Nuts in it. Wait, that's what it was. I don't really care for Grape Nuts, so even though the vanilla ice cream was good, the overall flavor was not so hot.
MRM also ordered "a dogbone sundae" which is a cup with one scoop of plain vanilla and a dogbone shaped dog biscuit on top. That was for Benny! I knew this was a great place if they had a treat for doggies.
I saw one of my students in line after us. That's still fun for me to run into my students in different places. I think some professors don't like it or think of it as an invasion of privacy or something, but I think it's fun.
We sat on the benches for a while to eat our ice cream, then decided to eat while walking on the way home. The sun was setting and it was getting chilly. We had a delightful walk home and I was very glad I had agreed to play hookey.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
March 24, 2007: Ginger Ale
I went to "Soup for You" for lunch today. It's a cute little soup/sandwich shop that's closes at 4pm each day, so I've never made it there before. It's been highly recommended by UMF folks as well as MRM and RBF. There was a long line when I got there. At one point in line you are standing next to a refrigerator case with drinks. I was so excited because they had ginger ale in there. It was a 20 oz. bottle and it was in there with Coke and Diet Coke and other soft drinks (sodas? pops? . . . ), including diet ginger ale. People in New England can't believe that we don't have ginger ale readily available (in vending machines, at restaurants, etc.) in Texas. For many years when I was young, you could only find it with the mixers (club soda, tonic, etc.). Later it made it to the soft drink aisle (or the coke aisle as we would call it in Texas because "coke" is the generic term for all soft drinks--"Would you like a coke?" "Why yes, thank you, I would." "What kind would you like?" "Dr. Pepper, please."). In the coke aisle, you'll only see it in cans and 2 liter bottles. In the mixers section, you'll see it in 1-liter bottles. And you would never see it in a vending machine, a convenience store, or a restaurant. In fact, a lot of bars don't carry it. But here in New England, it's as common as 7up.
I remember my first trip to Boston back in 1978, that was something that struck me even then. I was at The Coop (the bookstore cooperative) and they had ginger ale for sale in the snack bar there and I was a) in shock and b) elated.
I remember my first trip to Boston back in 1978, that was something that struck me even then. I was at The Coop (the bookstore cooperative) and they had ginger ale for sale in the snack bar there and I was a) in shock and b) elated.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
March 21, 2007: Freezing Rain Warning
This is winter is not fun anymore. I love the days with cold and sunshine and snow but no wind or ice. And we've had bucketloads of that. :-) But wind chill is real and when that wind blows and the humidity is high, it can get really cold. The trick with weather right now is, the sun shines, the temperatures warm during the day, so the snow starts to melt. Then, before all the melted snow can evaporate, the sun sets and the temperatures drop below freezing and then you have ice. So the walk home can get treacherous. In Dallas, we have black ice on the roads, but here they get black ice on the sidewalks. The sidewalks are made of asphalt and it really is black ice.
Monday night the conditions were right (and I don't know what the exact combination was) and now all the snow banks glisten. It looks like cupcake icing is spread over the top. It's actually a thin layer of ice, so it's a little dangerous, but it's kinda cool-looking. When you crunch through the top layer, it's regular snow underneath. MRM says you can walk on it and she loves to play on top of it when it's like that. I haven't been home before sunset all week, so I haven't had a chance to do that, but I'm looking forward to that. She likes to lie down on it and slide around. Sounds fun!
Speaking of ice, there's a freezing rain warning for tonight. (You wondered when I was going to get around to addressing the title of this posting, didn't you?) Yuck. That's what winters are like in Dallas. I'm not looking forward to this or the walk to school tomorrow when the sidewalks are covered in more ice. But at least the walk is very short and even when it's bitter cold, it's not miserable because it's over before I know it.
Check out the official notice of the warning:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
342 PM EDT WED MAR 21 2007
...LIGHT FREEZING RAIN TO FALL ACROSS MUCH OF MAINE AND NEW
HAMPSHIRE LATE TONIGHT...
.A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. WHILE ONLY
LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED...MUCH OF THIS WILL FALL AS
FREEZING RAIN...RESULTING IN SLIPPERY ROADWAYS.
PRECIPITATION MAY BEGIN AS A SNOW OR SLEET...BUT WILL QUICKLY
CHANGE OVER TO FREEZING RAIN. THE FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE
UNTIL EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...WHEN TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY RISE
ABOVE FREEZING...BRINGING AN END TO THE HAZARD. HOWEVER...FREEZING
RAIN WILL LINGER IN SHELTERED MOUNTAIN VALLEYS INTO THURSDAY
MORNING.
Monday night the conditions were right (and I don't know what the exact combination was) and now all the snow banks glisten. It looks like cupcake icing is spread over the top. It's actually a thin layer of ice, so it's a little dangerous, but it's kinda cool-looking. When you crunch through the top layer, it's regular snow underneath. MRM says you can walk on it and she loves to play on top of it when it's like that. I haven't been home before sunset all week, so I haven't had a chance to do that, but I'm looking forward to that. She likes to lie down on it and slide around. Sounds fun!
Speaking of ice, there's a freezing rain warning for tonight. (You wondered when I was going to get around to addressing the title of this posting, didn't you?) Yuck. That's what winters are like in Dallas. I'm not looking forward to this or the walk to school tomorrow when the sidewalks are covered in more ice. But at least the walk is very short and even when it's bitter cold, it's not miserable because it's over before I know it.
Check out the official notice of the warning:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
342 PM EDT WED MAR 21 2007
...LIGHT FREEZING RAIN TO FALL ACROSS MUCH OF MAINE AND NEW
HAMPSHIRE LATE TONIGHT...
.A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. WHILE ONLY
LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED...MUCH OF THIS WILL FALL AS
FREEZING RAIN...RESULTING IN SLIPPERY ROADWAYS.
PRECIPITATION MAY BEGIN AS A SNOW OR SLEET...BUT WILL QUICKLY
CHANGE OVER TO FREEZING RAIN. THE FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE
UNTIL EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...WHEN TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY RISE
ABOVE FREEZING...BRINGING AN END TO THE HAZARD. HOWEVER...FREEZING
RAIN WILL LINGER IN SHELTERED MOUNTAIN VALLEYS INTO THURSDAY
MORNING.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
March 20, 2007: Vernal Equinox
So today, right about now, is supposed to be the beginning of spring. Well, it's 9:36pm here in Farmington, it's 18 degrees outside, and the wind is blowing something fierce. (March definitely came in like a lion, but I'm waiting for that lamb as we near the "going out" part of the month.) It sure doesn't feel very spring-like.
There was another "snow dusting" last night. I got home at 10:15pm and it hadn't snowed yet, but when I got up this morning, everything was dusted. It looked like powdered sugar had been sprinkled on the cars.
But I did notice that the sunset felt a lot later than it has before. It was setting at 4:30 when I first arrived and now it seems like it's still light at 7pm. At least the Vernal Equinox isn't effected by global warming.
There was another "snow dusting" last night. I got home at 10:15pm and it hadn't snowed yet, but when I got up this morning, everything was dusted. It looked like powdered sugar had been sprinkled on the cars.
But I did notice that the sunset felt a lot later than it has before. It was setting at 4:30 when I first arrived and now it seems like it's still light at 7pm. At least the Vernal Equinox isn't effected by global warming.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
March 17, 2007: Holiday Snowstorms
We had another snow storm. It started Friday night and went into Saturday then turned into rain/sleet. The total accumulation was probably only 10 inches. It was pretty mild. It seems every major snow storm (including this "mild" one) has been on a holiday. The first was the Sunday of Martin Luther King weekend, then Valentine's Day was the biggie, then Texas Independence Day (probably not a holiday in everyone's mind but it definitely should be if it wasn't before), and now St. Patrick's Day. Perhaps I'll even be able to remember when we had snow my first winter in Maine! I'm not good with dates, but I can remember those. I think we skipped Groundhog Day.
Friday night I went to faculty seminar. I walked from the education building and got to the post office just as it was closing at 5:30. Then I walked to The Granary. There were only 5 people there but others came and went so even though there was rarely more than 5, there was a wide variety of people. Around 7:00 it started to snow so several people left then to beat the storm. By 7:30 it was down to just Sarah M., Pebble, and me. We laughed and told tales and had a blast. Sarah just bought a house and it was great to hear all about that. I can't wait to see her bamboo floors. It turns out Sarah is from Austin. Yea! Another Texan.
Around 8:30 the three of us left and I walked back to the Education Center. I walked down Main Street and in the streetlights with newly fallen snow (and little bitty snowflakes still coming down), it looked and felt like Christmas. Nobody else was out. I was just going to pick up a few things and then walk home before the snow got worse, but Kathy and Steve and Dr. Mari called from Philly so I talked to them for 45 minutes and then walked home. It still felt a little Christmasy though not as many streetlights or churches and the snow had stopped so it wasn't quite the same. But it was fun to make the first footprints.
Saturday, MRM and RBF decided to go to the matinee of "Bridge to Terabithia." We walked to the theatre. It was sleeting, but only a little bit. It was a very fun walk. We all got buttered popcorn. Just after sitting down, both MRM and I spread a paper napkin across our right thigh. We cracked up because it was almost in unison and we both knew that when at the movies, we rarely see anyone else spread out their napkin across their leg like that. We are a bit too much like each other but it's very fun.
The movie was terrific! It was a three kleenex movie, but I knew it would be 'cuz even though I barely remembered it, I had read the book and remembered that it was sad. MRM remembered the book better than I did; RBF had never read the book. MRM said the movie stayed very close to the book.
On the way home, MRM and RBF got into snow ball fights. Fortunately, they left me out of it. As we were walking up the hill from the theatre to downtown, two teenage boys were walking down the hill. MRM yelled out, "Hey, I'll give you $5 if you'll hit that guy (RBF) with a snowball." But then she immediately had to take it back and explain that she didn't have $5. We cracked up at the thought of their doing it before she realized she didn't have the money and then her having to ask her victim to borrow $5. ;-)
We went to Renys, the all-purpose local hardware/dry goods store but they were closing early because of the storm so we didn't get to go in. So we went to the bookstore across the street where MRM used to work. That was very fun. I found a fabulous book that I had read about and want to buy but I want an autographed copy. The wild thing was, MRM knows the author and had just seen him getting into his car as we were headed to Renys. She knew I wanted that book, so she introduced me to him and we shook hands through his car window! I think I really can get my autographed copy! But it didn't work out for today.
As we were heading home, we passed the same two teenage boys going the opposite direction. Just as we figured out who they were, the one said to RBF, "You're lucky, man! I could've had $5." What a hoot! The "hit man" was no longer under contract but RBF still felt like he was a wanted man.
We headed to Gifford's for some ice cream. They opened yesterday for 'the season'. They had free ice cream from 6-8pm and even in the snow, there was a long line. Or so we heard. We didn't make it last night so we were going to try today. But it turns out they were closed due to weather. Their second day open and they were closed.
Friday night I went to faculty seminar. I walked from the education building and got to the post office just as it was closing at 5:30. Then I walked to The Granary. There were only 5 people there but others came and went so even though there was rarely more than 5, there was a wide variety of people. Around 7:00 it started to snow so several people left then to beat the storm. By 7:30 it was down to just Sarah M., Pebble, and me. We laughed and told tales and had a blast. Sarah just bought a house and it was great to hear all about that. I can't wait to see her bamboo floors. It turns out Sarah is from Austin. Yea! Another Texan.
Around 8:30 the three of us left and I walked back to the Education Center. I walked down Main Street and in the streetlights with newly fallen snow (and little bitty snowflakes still coming down), it looked and felt like Christmas. Nobody else was out. I was just going to pick up a few things and then walk home before the snow got worse, but Kathy and Steve and Dr. Mari called from Philly so I talked to them for 45 minutes and then walked home. It still felt a little Christmasy though not as many streetlights or churches and the snow had stopped so it wasn't quite the same. But it was fun to make the first footprints.
Saturday, MRM and RBF decided to go to the matinee of "Bridge to Terabithia." We walked to the theatre. It was sleeting, but only a little bit. It was a very fun walk. We all got buttered popcorn. Just after sitting down, both MRM and I spread a paper napkin across our right thigh. We cracked up because it was almost in unison and we both knew that when at the movies, we rarely see anyone else spread out their napkin across their leg like that. We are a bit too much like each other but it's very fun.
The movie was terrific! It was a three kleenex movie, but I knew it would be 'cuz even though I barely remembered it, I had read the book and remembered that it was sad. MRM remembered the book better than I did; RBF had never read the book. MRM said the movie stayed very close to the book.
On the way home, MRM and RBF got into snow ball fights. Fortunately, they left me out of it. As we were walking up the hill from the theatre to downtown, two teenage boys were walking down the hill. MRM yelled out, "Hey, I'll give you $5 if you'll hit that guy (RBF) with a snowball." But then she immediately had to take it back and explain that she didn't have $5. We cracked up at the thought of their doing it before she realized she didn't have the money and then her having to ask her victim to borrow $5. ;-)
We went to Renys, the all-purpose local hardware/dry goods store but they were closing early because of the storm so we didn't get to go in. So we went to the bookstore across the street where MRM used to work. That was very fun. I found a fabulous book that I had read about and want to buy but I want an autographed copy. The wild thing was, MRM knows the author and had just seen him getting into his car as we were headed to Renys. She knew I wanted that book, so she introduced me to him and we shook hands through his car window! I think I really can get my autographed copy! But it didn't work out for today.
As we were heading home, we passed the same two teenage boys going the opposite direction. Just as we figured out who they were, the one said to RBF, "You're lucky, man! I could've had $5." What a hoot! The "hit man" was no longer under contract but RBF still felt like he was a wanted man.
We headed to Gifford's for some ice cream. They opened yesterday for 'the season'. They had free ice cream from 6-8pm and even in the snow, there was a long line. Or so we heard. We didn't make it last night so we were going to try today. But it turns out they were closed due to weather. Their second day open and they were closed.
March 16, 2007: Donkey in news again . . . this time with own website
Prodigal donkey gets her own Web site
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Friday, March 16, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Jenny the donkey now has her very own Web site.
John Holt, an eighth grader at Lawrence Middle School, established the site to allow Jenny's owners, Mary Gaeta and her partner Joe Varricchio, to post frequent updates on the donkey's adventures.
"(Holt) came over here and set the whole thing up," Gaeta said. "It looks pretty good to me."
Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, Gaeta and Varricchio's Higgins Road farm, on Jan. 18.
The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run for about a month despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.
Gaeta and Varricchio established a fundraiser to build the donkey a suitable fence around the couple's 18 acres.
Gaeta, who said she is touched by the donations she has received, told The Morning Sentinel earlier this month of her wish for a Web site to keep Jenny's fans up to date.
Holt, who has his own computer maintenance business on the side, had followed Jenny's escapades in the media and decided he could help.
"I came up with the idea, 'Well, I make Web sites, let's go do it,' so that's what I did," Holt said.
Holt donated his expertise and his dad donated the $7 or so required to register the domain name.
The free Web site (www.marysgardens.info/) allows people to post comments and questions for Gaeta and Varricchio.
"It's a completely open forum," Holt said. "It doesn't require any sign up or anything."
Holt taught Gaeta how to post messages on the bulletin board and Gaeta has already added messages on Jenny's progress.
"Everybody's been helping them out and doing what they can, so I figured I'd donate what I can do," Holt said. "
Equine expert Karina Lewis, who spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral, believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.
That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, a donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.
Gaeta and Varricchio were raising money in hopes of buying Isabella to live with Jenny, but based on exchanges with Isabella's owners, Gaeta now believes the reunion is unlikely. The couple plans to get another donkey so Jenny will not be alone.
Lewis continues to make progress with Jenny.
"She seems to be doing well," Gaeta said.
retrieved 3/18/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3718271.html
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Friday, March 16, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Jenny the donkey now has her very own Web site.
John Holt, an eighth grader at Lawrence Middle School, established the site to allow Jenny's owners, Mary Gaeta and her partner Joe Varricchio, to post frequent updates on the donkey's adventures.
"(Holt) came over here and set the whole thing up," Gaeta said. "It looks pretty good to me."
Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, Gaeta and Varricchio's Higgins Road farm, on Jan. 18.
The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run for about a month despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.
Gaeta and Varricchio established a fundraiser to build the donkey a suitable fence around the couple's 18 acres.
Gaeta, who said she is touched by the donations she has received, told The Morning Sentinel earlier this month of her wish for a Web site to keep Jenny's fans up to date.
Holt, who has his own computer maintenance business on the side, had followed Jenny's escapades in the media and decided he could help.
"I came up with the idea, 'Well, I make Web sites, let's go do it,' so that's what I did," Holt said.
Holt donated his expertise and his dad donated the $7 or so required to register the domain name.
The free Web site (www.marysgardens.info/) allows people to post comments and questions for Gaeta and Varricchio.
"It's a completely open forum," Holt said. "It doesn't require any sign up or anything."
Holt taught Gaeta how to post messages on the bulletin board and Gaeta has already added messages on Jenny's progress.
"Everybody's been helping them out and doing what they can, so I figured I'd donate what I can do," Holt said. "
Equine expert Karina Lewis, who spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral, believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.
That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, a donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.
Gaeta and Varricchio were raising money in hopes of buying Isabella to live with Jenny, but based on exchanges with Isabella's owners, Gaeta now believes the reunion is unlikely. The couple plans to get another donkey so Jenny will not be alone.
Lewis continues to make progress with Jenny.
"She seems to be doing well," Gaeta said.
retrieved 3/18/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3718271.html
Thursday, March 15, 2007
March 15, 2007: a visit with the dogs
I was working in my office today and looked up to see MRM standing in the doorway. She and RBF were out walking the dogs and were "in the neighborhood." "Benny and Cassie are downstairs and would love to see you." So I put on my coat and went downstairs with MRM. There, standing in front of the Education Center was RBF with the two dogs. It was so fun to see them! But as soon as I stepped outside, my focus changed to the weather. It was really cold!
It was in the high 30's and raining when I left the house this morning, so I wore my REI windbreaker/rain jacket. Yesterday, the lows were in the high 30's, so I was fine walking home at night, but I already knew (it was about 5:30 when they stopped by) that I was going to be cold walking home even if I left right now. And I would be REALLY cold walking home if I left at my usual time. So I petted Benny and Cassie and thanked MRM and RBF for stopping by and went back to my office to finish what I was working on and pack up. I actually left my office by 6:15 which is really early for me and headed home in the daylight. It was cold, but not much colder than when I visited the dogs (and their people). Fortunately, what little wind there was was at my back. I made it safely home. I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have if I had stayed at work, but it was so nice to be warm inside and not have to worry about that cold walk home.
In Texas, we always say, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." I said that once to one of my students who told me that's what they say about Maine. Today was my first time to witness that.
It was in the high 30's and raining when I left the house this morning, so I wore my REI windbreaker/rain jacket. Yesterday, the lows were in the high 30's, so I was fine walking home at night, but I already knew (it was about 5:30 when they stopped by) that I was going to be cold walking home even if I left right now. And I would be REALLY cold walking home if I left at my usual time. So I petted Benny and Cassie and thanked MRM and RBF for stopping by and went back to my office to finish what I was working on and pack up. I actually left my office by 6:15 which is really early for me and headed home in the daylight. It was cold, but not much colder than when I visited the dogs (and their people). Fortunately, what little wind there was was at my back. I made it safely home. I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have if I had stayed at work, but it was so nice to be warm inside and not have to worry about that cold walk home.
In Texas, we always say, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." I said that once to one of my students who told me that's what they say about Maine. Today was my first time to witness that.
March 13, 2007: Farmington Town Meeting in the Newspaper
The next morning after the town meeting, this article appeared in the paper. The reporter must've had to leave in order to turn in the story because the real news was the next to the last item on the warrant. But otherwise, this is pretty accurate what was discussed and what was important. It's nice to have names for those faces, in case I run into them again.
Voters approve dam repair funds
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Tuesday, March 13, 2007
FARMINGTON -- Town meeting voters Monday night unanimously approved repairing an aging mill pond dam in West Farmington.
One resident suggested the park around the dam be renamed in memory of the late Selectman Mary Wright who fought for the dam's preservation for over 30 years.
A two-year seat on the Board of Selectmen to complete Wright's term was won by John Frary with 114 votes with Andrew Hufnagel garnering 54; Stanley Kuklinski, 71, Ryan Morgan, 27, and Robert Vallette, 78. For a one-year term, Jon Bubier won with 205 vote to Kyle Warren's 132. For the School Administrative District 9 School Board, incumbents Raymond Glass won with 257 votes, Yvette Robinson with 240 and Fred O. Smith, 117.
The $4 million municipal budget approved Monday will exceed the 2007 spending cap formula set under LD 1 by $154,813.
Last year, voters after a lengthy discussion slashed a $100,000 request for repairs to the deteriorating concrete and stone dam to $10,000. This year, the request for $22,000 was approved. The combined $32,000 will be used to brace the existing dam, said Town Manager Richard Davis.
Resident Tom Eastler, a geologist at the University of Maine at Farmington, was among those last year who opposed spending $100,000 for repairs. He said now he sees its potential in the future as a possible source of low-head hydro power the town can use for electricity.
"It won't make us any money but we would do it for the sustainability of the town of Farmington that we can supply basic needs of the town in times of not having any electricity," he said.
He said the town had enough "tinkerers" and students from Foster Technology Center and the University of Maine at Farmington who might devise a low-cost system.
from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3709045.html
Voters approve dam repair funds
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Tuesday, March 13, 2007
FARMINGTON -- Town meeting voters Monday night unanimously approved repairing an aging mill pond dam in West Farmington.
One resident suggested the park around the dam be renamed in memory of the late Selectman Mary Wright who fought for the dam's preservation for over 30 years.
A two-year seat on the Board of Selectmen to complete Wright's term was won by John Frary with 114 votes with Andrew Hufnagel garnering 54; Stanley Kuklinski, 71, Ryan Morgan, 27, and Robert Vallette, 78. For a one-year term, Jon Bubier won with 205 vote to Kyle Warren's 132. For the School Administrative District 9 School Board, incumbents Raymond Glass won with 257 votes, Yvette Robinson with 240 and Fred O. Smith, 117.
The $4 million municipal budget approved Monday will exceed the 2007 spending cap formula set under LD 1 by $154,813.
Last year, voters after a lengthy discussion slashed a $100,000 request for repairs to the deteriorating concrete and stone dam to $10,000. This year, the request for $22,000 was approved. The combined $32,000 will be used to brace the existing dam, said Town Manager Richard Davis.
Resident Tom Eastler, a geologist at the University of Maine at Farmington, was among those last year who opposed spending $100,000 for repairs. He said now he sees its potential in the future as a possible source of low-head hydro power the town can use for electricity.
"It won't make us any money but we would do it for the sustainability of the town of Farmington that we can supply basic needs of the town in times of not having any electricity," he said.
He said the town had enough "tinkerers" and students from Foster Technology Center and the University of Maine at Farmington who might devise a low-cost system.
from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3709045.html
March 14, 2007: Farmington Town Meeting in the News--Part 2
Here's the rest of the news. I wonder if they had 2 reporters at the meeting. The first one left and turned in the story that came out yesterday and the second reporter stayed and got the really juicy story. hmmmm. I have no idea, but this was the most controversial discussion of the evening.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Farmington voters defeat cluster-style zoning amendment
By SAMANTHA DEPOY
Correspondent Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, March 14, 2007
FARMINGTON -- An attempt to stop sprawl before it starts has failed in Farmington.
At Monday night's town meeting, an amendment to the town's zoning ordinance that would require developers seeking to develop subdivisions to file a secondary cluster-style plan, was defeated by a 41-33 margin.
Had it been adopted, the Open Space Residential Development amendment would have applied to subdivisions of more than eight homes on 10 acres. It would have demanded developers file a plan with the Farmington Planning Board that would preserve a minimum of 45 percent of the property.
Instead of having homes spread out throughout the parcel, the secondary plan would set homes closer together while conserving a larger, common space.
The article featuring the amendment, which was drafted in response to a development that divided the historic Osborne Farm, generated more discussion than any other at the three-hour meeting.
Challengers contended the amendment would be too restrictive and repel investment in Farmington.
Local representative Janet Mills was concerned about the landscaping and home color and style standards the amendment would mandate.
"This proposal goes too far. It doesn't sound like Farmington to me," she said.
Others pointed out that by shoving houses shoulder-to-shoulder, sprawl would be stimulated.
"Doesn't this do exactly what we don't want it to do? Doesn't this create sprawl?" questioned newly-elected Selectman Jon Bubier.
Local Realtor Carol Hatch agreed, saying she gets inquiries daily from people looking to move out of cluster-style subdivisions.
"They don't want to live in that and that's why they are coming here," she explained. "We are rural Maine and I'd like to see it stay that way."
While all three incumbent selectmen supported the article, multiple members of the planning board, including chair Bussie York, did not.
Even those who spoke against it said they supported open spaces, but thought the amendment needed alterations and encouraged it be brought back before voters at next year's town meeting or at a special meeting later this year.
Following the failed vote, residents unanimously approved the enactment of the town of Farmington Right to Farm Ordinance, which was proposed by York, also a local farmer.
The ordinance, he said, shows that the town is supportive of Farmington farmers and reads, "...it is in the public interest to enhance and encourage farms, farm operations and locally grown farm products within the town."
Samantha DePoy -- 778-3949
samdepoy@verizon.net
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Farmington voters defeat cluster-style zoning amendment
By SAMANTHA DEPOY
Correspondent Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Wednesday, March 14, 2007
FARMINGTON -- An attempt to stop sprawl before it starts has failed in Farmington.
At Monday night's town meeting, an amendment to the town's zoning ordinance that would require developers seeking to develop subdivisions to file a secondary cluster-style plan, was defeated by a 41-33 margin.
Had it been adopted, the Open Space Residential Development amendment would have applied to subdivisions of more than eight homes on 10 acres. It would have demanded developers file a plan with the Farmington Planning Board that would preserve a minimum of 45 percent of the property.
Instead of having homes spread out throughout the parcel, the secondary plan would set homes closer together while conserving a larger, common space.
The article featuring the amendment, which was drafted in response to a development that divided the historic Osborne Farm, generated more discussion than any other at the three-hour meeting.
Challengers contended the amendment would be too restrictive and repel investment in Farmington.
Local representative Janet Mills was concerned about the landscaping and home color and style standards the amendment would mandate.
"This proposal goes too far. It doesn't sound like Farmington to me," she said.
Others pointed out that by shoving houses shoulder-to-shoulder, sprawl would be stimulated.
"Doesn't this do exactly what we don't want it to do? Doesn't this create sprawl?" questioned newly-elected Selectman Jon Bubier.
Local Realtor Carol Hatch agreed, saying she gets inquiries daily from people looking to move out of cluster-style subdivisions.
"They don't want to live in that and that's why they are coming here," she explained. "We are rural Maine and I'd like to see it stay that way."
While all three incumbent selectmen supported the article, multiple members of the planning board, including chair Bussie York, did not.
Even those who spoke against it said they supported open spaces, but thought the amendment needed alterations and encouraged it be brought back before voters at next year's town meeting or at a special meeting later this year.
Following the failed vote, residents unanimously approved the enactment of the town of Farmington Right to Farm Ordinance, which was proposed by York, also a local farmer.
The ordinance, he said, shows that the town is supportive of Farmington farmers and reads, "...it is in the public interest to enhance and encourage farms, farm operations and locally grown farm products within the town."
Samantha DePoy -- 778-3949
samdepoy@verizon.net
Monday, March 12, 2007
March 9, 2007: Red Carpet Judge
UMF premiered a new musical this weekend called Route 66. Faculty were invited to be "Red Carpet Judges" and when I wrote and told them that I had season tickets to Musical Theatre Southwest, I was immediately sent a personalized invitation. (Okay, I think any faculty that wrote in were sent personalized invitations but that's beside the point.) And the invitation was good for 2 tickets so I took MRM.
There was a problem with seating and it was 40 minutes before we were seated and the play was over 45 minutes late starting. We were in folding chairs behind a funny banister, but it was worth it. We ran into Alison who is also a new faculty (though she came in the fall). I had met her before but didn't remember it. Fortunately, she did. When the long waiting line twisted around like the lines at Six Flags, we ended up next to her and she struck up the conversation. She's a blast! So she double checked with everyone who was behind us and in front of her and no one had a problem with her "cutting into line" and she joined us. The three of us sat together (she was a Red Carpet Judge as well).
My favorite part was that the character that all 3 of us thought was the best character and had the best actor portraying that character was being played by one of my students!! I didn't even know he was in it so it was a big surprise to look out there and say, "You know, that character looks a little like Tim in my EDU 101 class. WAIT! It IS Tim in my EDU 101 class!" His onstage character was the total opposite of the Tim that participates in my class so I know he really is a great actor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's more info on the play (and the fact that UMF premiered the play) from my favorite newspaper:
New musical 'Route 66' to premiere at UMF
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Monday, March 05, 2007
FARMINGTON -- University of Maine at Farmington theater students will have the chance to stage the premiere performance of a new musical this week and in the process, learn about the creative process with its seasoned playwright and composer.
Theatre UMF will present "Route 66," a love story put to music that unfolds on the well-known highway that stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. Performance dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at UMF's Alumni Theater.
"Premieres are always an event. Audiences enjoy being in on something new and it makes the whole thing a lot more fun for everyone," said the musical's co-author, William Squier, in an interview from his Connecticut home.
Squire and lyricist Jerold Goldstein will be in Farmington this week to watch the rehearsals, work with the cast and to sit in the audience for the debut of their latest work.
Directed by UMF's Andrea Southard, with musical direction by Patricia Hayden and choreography by Lauryn Thomas, "Route 66" tells the story of journalist Liz Mitchell, who is hired by a chic magazine to write an article for a photo essay about this historic American highway.
Frustrated with her stalled writing career, she jumps at the chance, even though it means spending a week on the road with a complete stranger -- Arizona photographer Andrew "Drew" Garrett.
"It is a story that celebrates rural America and is one that people in Maine can relate to," Southard said. "The highway is a metaphor for a journey of self-discovery. It's about finding yourself and accepting that what you originally may have thought might indeed turn out to be something quite different. It's about finding a highway home."
"It is very exciting, especially for the students," said Hayden. "It is a great experience to work with professional composers and lyricists but it is also a bit scary that we will be the first ones to interpret what the writers envisioned."
Squier and Goldstein together and separately have written dozens of musicals that have been performed around the country and off-Broadway. The composer is Fred Stark, a top New York recording studio singer. Opening night will represent a culmination of a six-month collaboration between Southard, Hayden and the producers.
"When I first heard about this musical at a workshop last summer, I just knew UMF had to launch it," Southard said. "After I approached the producers, we successfully worked together -- they even wrote a new song for the show."
Squier said there is a growing trend on college campuses to stage new works.
"Universities have discovered that theater departments are very popular and are revenue producers for the college," he said. "For them to be competitive with other programs, they have to come up with interesting and different things to offer students.
"For us, we like academic settings for these productions because they have a decent budget and you can continue working and developing it while it is being produced," he said. "And it gives students a chance to work on something that is still changing."
Goldstein and Squier will present a talk about the creation and theatrical debut of "Route 66" at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in UMF's Thomas Auditorium, located in Preble and Ricker Halls.
Tickets are free for UMF students with a student ID, $8 for adults, $6 for other students, and $4.50 for senior citizens and children under 13. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Theatre UMF box office at 778-7465.
Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991
bjespersen@centralmaine.com
There was a problem with seating and it was 40 minutes before we were seated and the play was over 45 minutes late starting. We were in folding chairs behind a funny banister, but it was worth it. We ran into Alison who is also a new faculty (though she came in the fall). I had met her before but didn't remember it. Fortunately, she did. When the long waiting line twisted around like the lines at Six Flags, we ended up next to her and she struck up the conversation. She's a blast! So she double checked with everyone who was behind us and in front of her and no one had a problem with her "cutting into line" and she joined us. The three of us sat together (she was a Red Carpet Judge as well).
My favorite part was that the character that all 3 of us thought was the best character and had the best actor portraying that character was being played by one of my students!! I didn't even know he was in it so it was a big surprise to look out there and say, "You know, that character looks a little like Tim in my EDU 101 class. WAIT! It IS Tim in my EDU 101 class!" His onstage character was the total opposite of the Tim that participates in my class so I know he really is a great actor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's more info on the play (and the fact that UMF premiered the play) from my favorite newspaper:
New musical 'Route 66' to premiere at UMF
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Monday, March 05, 2007
FARMINGTON -- University of Maine at Farmington theater students will have the chance to stage the premiere performance of a new musical this week and in the process, learn about the creative process with its seasoned playwright and composer.
Theatre UMF will present "Route 66," a love story put to music that unfolds on the well-known highway that stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. Performance dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at UMF's Alumni Theater.
"Premieres are always an event. Audiences enjoy being in on something new and it makes the whole thing a lot more fun for everyone," said the musical's co-author, William Squier, in an interview from his Connecticut home.
Squire and lyricist Jerold Goldstein will be in Farmington this week to watch the rehearsals, work with the cast and to sit in the audience for the debut of their latest work.
Directed by UMF's Andrea Southard, with musical direction by Patricia Hayden and choreography by Lauryn Thomas, "Route 66" tells the story of journalist Liz Mitchell, who is hired by a chic magazine to write an article for a photo essay about this historic American highway.
Frustrated with her stalled writing career, she jumps at the chance, even though it means spending a week on the road with a complete stranger -- Arizona photographer Andrew "Drew" Garrett.
"It is a story that celebrates rural America and is one that people in Maine can relate to," Southard said. "The highway is a metaphor for a journey of self-discovery. It's about finding yourself and accepting that what you originally may have thought might indeed turn out to be something quite different. It's about finding a highway home."
"It is very exciting, especially for the students," said Hayden. "It is a great experience to work with professional composers and lyricists but it is also a bit scary that we will be the first ones to interpret what the writers envisioned."
Squier and Goldstein together and separately have written dozens of musicals that have been performed around the country and off-Broadway. The composer is Fred Stark, a top New York recording studio singer. Opening night will represent a culmination of a six-month collaboration between Southard, Hayden and the producers.
"When I first heard about this musical at a workshop last summer, I just knew UMF had to launch it," Southard said. "After I approached the producers, we successfully worked together -- they even wrote a new song for the show."
Squier said there is a growing trend on college campuses to stage new works.
"Universities have discovered that theater departments are very popular and are revenue producers for the college," he said. "For them to be competitive with other programs, they have to come up with interesting and different things to offer students.
"For us, we like academic settings for these productions because they have a decent budget and you can continue working and developing it while it is being produced," he said. "And it gives students a chance to work on something that is still changing."
Goldstein and Squier will present a talk about the creation and theatrical debut of "Route 66" at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in UMF's Thomas Auditorium, located in Preble and Ricker Halls.
Tickets are free for UMF students with a student ID, $8 for adults, $6 for other students, and $4.50 for senior citizens and children under 13. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Theatre UMF box office at 778-7465.
Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991
bjespersen@centralmaine.com
March 12, 2007: The Purest Form of Democracy
I went to my first Town Meeting tonight. It was great. There's a whole vocabulary and culture involved in them. I've been reading newspaper articles about the moderator and how s/he is selected and how s/he can run the meeting (by Robert's Rules of Order or by a set of guidelines developed by the state). There's a good website by the Maine Municipal Association the answers some questions about them.
http://www.memun.org/Public/local_govt/town_meeting.htm
I sat behind an older couple (most people there were probably in their 60's or older with a good representation of folks in their 40's and a crowd of volunteer fire fighters in their 20's and 30's) who knew what was going on. I had a chance to chat with Nancy afterwards. She was delightful and very helpful. She had a wonderful Maine accent . . . the gentle kind, not the harsh one.
There were only two items on the 46 item warrant that really got the crowd riled up in big discussion. There were a few that warranted explanation and some discussion. There were 2 people who proposed alternative amounts of money on some items in an effort to keep taxes down. Most items passed without any discussion. It lasted 3 hours (well, 2 hours and 55 minutes to be exact) which is apparently pretty short for a town meeting.
My favorite part was when there was a whole bunch of beeping, almost siren-like sounds in the balcony (right next to me) and immediately about 12 men stood up. It was all the volunteer fire department folks' beepers/pagers/radios going off. Apparently, there was a traffic accident with at least one injury. They all exited quickly, the moderator wished them godspeed and we continued on.
There was a moment of silence in the opening moments, before the Pledge of Allegiance, for a woman who had passed away a few weeks earlier. She was VERY active in Farmington politics and policies. There were many articles in the paper about her when she passed away. One of the discussion items was about a dam that needed repair on a local pond and one person suggested that at a future town meeting a proposal be made to rename that pond in honor of that woman. Lots of people seemed to like that idea and the Selectmen chimed in that studying appropriate ways to honor that woman were on their to-do list (well, that wasn't their vocabulary for it, but that was the idea).
One item of interest was that a local agency called Work Force Inc. had requested $1,000 and the budget committee and the Select Board had both recommended that that group be given $0. The citizens were really rallying that the Town should show support for this fine organization that was doing great things and was very helpful to the community. Then it was explained that the group had been granted tax exempt status on their property and that was about a $10,000 in-kind donation to the group. The item passed at $0.
The moderator was most impressive in that he knew almost everyone present by name. He introduced every one on the Select Board and the Budget Committee by name and called on most everyone who had a question or comment by name when he gave them the floor. He had great poise and used a little bit of humor when necessary. He knew exactly when to explain stuff or ask for clarification without bringing any personal bias to any of the issues.
Except for the fact that I couldn't count myself among one of the younger people who was taking an interest in their government (how did I get to be so old??), I was really glad that I went. It really was what our civics books taught us . . . that the New England Town Meeting is the purest form of democracy. Nobody was there to represent anybody else except themselves and their one vote.
http://www.memun.org/Public/local_govt/town_meeting.htm
I sat behind an older couple (most people there were probably in their 60's or older with a good representation of folks in their 40's and a crowd of volunteer fire fighters in their 20's and 30's) who knew what was going on. I had a chance to chat with Nancy afterwards. She was delightful and very helpful. She had a wonderful Maine accent . . . the gentle kind, not the harsh one.
There were only two items on the 46 item warrant that really got the crowd riled up in big discussion. There were a few that warranted explanation and some discussion. There were 2 people who proposed alternative amounts of money on some items in an effort to keep taxes down. Most items passed without any discussion. It lasted 3 hours (well, 2 hours and 55 minutes to be exact) which is apparently pretty short for a town meeting.
My favorite part was when there was a whole bunch of beeping, almost siren-like sounds in the balcony (right next to me) and immediately about 12 men stood up. It was all the volunteer fire department folks' beepers/pagers/radios going off. Apparently, there was a traffic accident with at least one injury. They all exited quickly, the moderator wished them godspeed and we continued on.
There was a moment of silence in the opening moments, before the Pledge of Allegiance, for a woman who had passed away a few weeks earlier. She was VERY active in Farmington politics and policies. There were many articles in the paper about her when she passed away. One of the discussion items was about a dam that needed repair on a local pond and one person suggested that at a future town meeting a proposal be made to rename that pond in honor of that woman. Lots of people seemed to like that idea and the Selectmen chimed in that studying appropriate ways to honor that woman were on their to-do list (well, that wasn't their vocabulary for it, but that was the idea).
One item of interest was that a local agency called Work Force Inc. had requested $1,000 and the budget committee and the Select Board had both recommended that that group be given $0. The citizens were really rallying that the Town should show support for this fine organization that was doing great things and was very helpful to the community. Then it was explained that the group had been granted tax exempt status on their property and that was about a $10,000 in-kind donation to the group. The item passed at $0.
The moderator was most impressive in that he knew almost everyone present by name. He introduced every one on the Select Board and the Budget Committee by name and called on most everyone who had a question or comment by name when he gave them the floor. He had great poise and used a little bit of humor when necessary. He knew exactly when to explain stuff or ask for clarification without bringing any personal bias to any of the issues.
Except for the fact that I couldn't count myself among one of the younger people who was taking an interest in their government (how did I get to be so old??), I was really glad that I went. It really was what our civics books taught us . . . that the New England Town Meeting is the purest form of democracy. Nobody was there to represent anybody else except themselves and their one vote.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Record Low High
I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but when you look at all the high temperatures on this date over the years, some are higher than others and some are lower than others. For the past few days we've been breaking (actually shattering) those records for the lowest high temperature. I need to look up the exact numbers, but on the TV weather Tuesday, they said we broke the record by 12 degrees. BRRRRR!!
We were having decent maple syrup weather. Apparently you want the temperature during the day to go over freezing but the temperature at night to go below freezing. We did that for a couple of days, but then it's all been below freezing. And the wind's been blowing which doesn't have any effect on maple syrup but oh my, wind chill is REALLY cold when it's already REALLY cold. It's going to stay below freezing through Saturday and then Sunday it will go back over freezing.
I better hurry up and go ice fishing and/or smelting because soon the ice will start thawing.
We were having decent maple syrup weather. Apparently you want the temperature during the day to go over freezing but the temperature at night to go below freezing. We did that for a couple of days, but then it's all been below freezing. And the wind's been blowing which doesn't have any effect on maple syrup but oh my, wind chill is REALLY cold when it's already REALLY cold. It's going to stay below freezing through Saturday and then Sunday it will go back over freezing.
I better hurry up and go ice fishing and/or smelting because soon the ice will start thawing.
March 8, 2007: Half Way Day
I came to Maine on January 8, 2007 and I have to head back to Dallas on May 8, 2007. That makes today, March 8, the halfway point of my 4 months in Maine. I can't believe it's half over. Didn't I just arrive?? And if these 2 months have whipped by so quickly, I don't even want to think about how fast the next 2 months will zip by. Wow.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Moxie and Red Hot Dogs
Lauren and Lindsay (I call them L1 and L2) work in the computer lab. I get to see one or both of them most days when my class is over in that lab . . . they come in right after our class. We were talking about differences between Maine and Texas one day and I was telling them that even little things like food are very different. They couldn't believe that ginger ale wasn't readily available in soft drink machines or convenience store refrigerators in Texas. "What do you drink when you're sick?" Well, some of us were raised on ginger ale but that's because our parents bought it on the aisle with the mixers (club soda and tonic water) not the soft drinks.
They then told me about Red Hot Dogs and Moxie. They don't have to be consumed together, but they are each a Maine tradition. The red hot dogs are really red. I think they must be leftover from red dye #2 days. They don't look natural at all. I bought one at the deli in the grocery store and asked the deli worker how to cook it. She said to boil it (and gave me a look like, "How else would you cook a hot dog?!"). It took me a few days to get up the courage to eat it, but I finally did. It tastes like a hot dog on the inside but the skin is a little thicker than today's hot dog. The skin had a little more flavor to it than "regular" hot dogs. But it wasn't bad. I won't go out of my way to eat another one, but if they're available, I'll gladly eat one again.
I asked MRM and RBF about Moxie. They laughed. They described it as an acquired taste. I kept an eye out for individual bottles (I wasn't going to buy a 6-pack, in case I didn't like it). Then Maggy asked what she could bring to the Texas Independence Day party and we said drinks. Tada! She brought several 2-liter bottles of beverages including one of Moxie! Now's my chance.
I tried it. It wasn't bad. It tasted a little like soda fountain root beer with a punch. Unfortunately, it has caffeine in it and I could taste the caffeine, so I'm not sure if the aftertaste that it had was the Moxie or the caffeine. I think it was the caffeine. I need to see if they make a decaffeinated version, though usually, when they take the caffeine out, they put in an artificial caffeine flavor and it's the flavor of caffeine that I don't like. But again, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink another one, but if someone offered me a Moxie, I'd drink it.
They then told me about Red Hot Dogs and Moxie. They don't have to be consumed together, but they are each a Maine tradition. The red hot dogs are really red. I think they must be leftover from red dye #2 days. They don't look natural at all. I bought one at the deli in the grocery store and asked the deli worker how to cook it. She said to boil it (and gave me a look like, "How else would you cook a hot dog?!"). It took me a few days to get up the courage to eat it, but I finally did. It tastes like a hot dog on the inside but the skin is a little thicker than today's hot dog. The skin had a little more flavor to it than "regular" hot dogs. But it wasn't bad. I won't go out of my way to eat another one, but if they're available, I'll gladly eat one again.
I asked MRM and RBF about Moxie. They laughed. They described it as an acquired taste. I kept an eye out for individual bottles (I wasn't going to buy a 6-pack, in case I didn't like it). Then Maggy asked what she could bring to the Texas Independence Day party and we said drinks. Tada! She brought several 2-liter bottles of beverages including one of Moxie! Now's my chance.
I tried it. It wasn't bad. It tasted a little like soda fountain root beer with a punch. Unfortunately, it has caffeine in it and I could taste the caffeine, so I'm not sure if the aftertaste that it had was the Moxie or the caffeine. I think it was the caffeine. I need to see if they make a decaffeinated version, though usually, when they take the caffeine out, they put in an artificial caffeine flavor and it's the flavor of caffeine that I don't like. But again, I wouldn't go out of my way to drink another one, but if someone offered me a Moxie, I'd drink it.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Donkey issue continues
There are 2 sides to every story. Here are the reader comments on the donkey story as of March 3, 2007:
Cindy Ross of Bowdoin, ME
Mar 3, 2007 5:44 PM
It's hard to believe this circus continues. I think I will let my MULE loose, chase it for a few weeks, then get people to donate money to put up some fencing for me.
I guess I do things the hard way. I decided what kind of animals I want on my farm. Then, I spend my own hard earned mony to put up appropriate fencing to keep them safely contained. Then I spend time to learn about the animals I am going to own so I at least know that I own a MULE and won't go around calling it a donkey. And then I make sure to only have animal that I have the skills to handle. I don't expect others to pick up the tab for my irresponsibility.
Jenny the MULE needs be with people that have the experience, skills, and facilities to handle a young, scared mule. I think it would be great for Jenny and Isabella to be reunited. But absolutely NOT with Mary and Joe. I think it also reflect poorly on Karina Lewis that she is helping to perpetuate this circus. But, I guess it's hard to turn down this kind of media attention and free advertising regardless of what is best for Jenny.....the MULE.
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society of Dudley, MA
Mar 2, 2007 8:28 AM
This is a plea to the media establishment. PLEASE do some research!!
These people may have good intentions for this longeared equine but here are a few flags that concern me about this little animal's welfare.
A) First of all they purchased an animal thinking it was an entirely different species! She is most definitely either a mule or a hinny. In fact, the chances of her beign a hinny are rather small as well, since the odds of a female donkey carrying a horse stallion's foal full term are less than 20%. Mules are much more prevalent than hinnies. There currently is no way of determining what her mother was scientfically. Not even a DNA test.
B) Not having done any research, they bring home an animal that they don't have adequate fencing for.
C) Their original purpose was to use the "donkey" for herd protection. Unfortunately, mules are not the animal of choice and neither is a donkey if it hasn't been raised properly for such a purpose. Having purchased the animal at an auction, chances are it's background and handling is unknown. Plus there are many people who believe a miniature donkey (standing 36 inches at their shoulder) may not be able to ward off attacks from predators like a coyote for example.
D) The final point that needs to be addressed is the issue of Isabella's owner. The mule's current owner is now and has been for many years, an upstanding, caring and knowledgeable member of the donkey and mule world. Her animals are well housed, fenced and recieve extraordinary care. She does her research through PROFESSIONAL DONKEY & MULE people. And is very willing to help others in need.
She also is involved in bettering the area's understanding of donkeys and mules by participating in educational demonstrations and shows.
So I beg of this paper to contact those who have a background in such dealings. Donkeys, mules and hinnies are an oddity and need to be handled in their own manner.
Debra Kovac
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society
Leslie Heulitt of Rock Cave, WV
Mar 1, 2007 9:43 PM
If folks want to send money to these irresponsible people to fund their fencing, well, we all know there�s one born every minute. But to dupe people into sending money to purchase Isabella is pretty incredible. Has anyone bothered to ask if she is even for sale? Because she is not. It would be irresponsible for the rescue organization that has Isabella to adopt her out to such a home. These people don�t even know they have a mule. Maybe Jenny�s owners never asked if Isabella is for sale because they didn�t want to hear the answer. People might stop sending them money.
D. G. of Keene, NH
Mar 1, 2007 7:30 PM
It would be good for you at the paper to follow up on the other side of this story. Isabella very much needs her companion, but since the woman caring for her is a close friend of mine, I know that the rescue she works for hasn't even been contacted about the issues of who gets to take over the care and training of both of these animals. It is ASSUMED by Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio that rescue will just give Isabella to them. But both of these animals need a lot of work to get them to trust humans again, and the rescue is the best place for that, since they have a lot of experience working with donkeys and mules. Isabella has come a long way since being with rescue, but it has taken a lot of time on the part of my friend. I hope that Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio will make a CALL to Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and have a real conversation about where these two will recieve the care they need.
Willie of Belgrade, ME
Mar 1, 2007 2:21 PM
how can you ask people to donate money for a fence and shelter. All you are doing trying to make money on this event. Hope the IRS looks in to this. if you want aminals build your own fence like i did and many more animal lovers do. shame on you. $10.00 a picture come on in IRS
mulewrangler of Casper, WY
Mar 1, 2007 2:11 PM
I am glad Jenny was caught, however it is clear that her owners have no knowledge of longears and their behavior. This is not a guard animal in any way. Perhaps they will consider the donations as payment to allow her to go to the same place as Isabella where she will be trained and understood in the appropriate manner. It takes a long time for a true bonding process with a longear and a new owner, and Isabella is clearly beginning bonding and responding, while Jenny is so upset & unhappy that she ran away and had to be coerced back over a long period of time. Horses and longears are very different and Jenny needs the correct process and sure, steady, slow training to be given a fair shot at a good life. Do what is right for her instead of hoping for monetary gain thru her ownership.
Eliza Williams of Waterville, ME
Mar 1, 2007 11:55 AM
Happy to read that the story isn't over! It's wonderful to see that someone cares enough to try to please this hinny/donkey. Hopefully, she will be 'herself' once again, after she's reunited with her 'sibling.'
I, too, believe she's lonely alone.
A heartwarming story, and please keep us up to date on any progress.
Cindy Ross of Bowdoin, ME
Mar 3, 2007 5:44 PM
It's hard to believe this circus continues. I think I will let my MULE loose, chase it for a few weeks, then get people to donate money to put up some fencing for me.
I guess I do things the hard way. I decided what kind of animals I want on my farm. Then, I spend my own hard earned mony to put up appropriate fencing to keep them safely contained. Then I spend time to learn about the animals I am going to own so I at least know that I own a MULE and won't go around calling it a donkey. And then I make sure to only have animal that I have the skills to handle. I don't expect others to pick up the tab for my irresponsibility.
Jenny the MULE needs be with people that have the experience, skills, and facilities to handle a young, scared mule. I think it would be great for Jenny and Isabella to be reunited. But absolutely NOT with Mary and Joe. I think it also reflect poorly on Karina Lewis that she is helping to perpetuate this circus. But, I guess it's hard to turn down this kind of media attention and free advertising regardless of what is best for Jenny.....the MULE.
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society of Dudley, MA
Mar 2, 2007 8:28 AM
This is a plea to the media establishment. PLEASE do some research!!
These people may have good intentions for this longeared equine but here are a few flags that concern me about this little animal's welfare.
A) First of all they purchased an animal thinking it was an entirely different species! She is most definitely either a mule or a hinny. In fact, the chances of her beign a hinny are rather small as well, since the odds of a female donkey carrying a horse stallion's foal full term are less than 20%. Mules are much more prevalent than hinnies. There currently is no way of determining what her mother was scientfically. Not even a DNA test.
B) Not having done any research, they bring home an animal that they don't have adequate fencing for.
C) Their original purpose was to use the "donkey" for herd protection. Unfortunately, mules are not the animal of choice and neither is a donkey if it hasn't been raised properly for such a purpose. Having purchased the animal at an auction, chances are it's background and handling is unknown. Plus there are many people who believe a miniature donkey (standing 36 inches at their shoulder) may not be able to ward off attacks from predators like a coyote for example.
D) The final point that needs to be addressed is the issue of Isabella's owner. The mule's current owner is now and has been for many years, an upstanding, caring and knowledgeable member of the donkey and mule world. Her animals are well housed, fenced and recieve extraordinary care. She does her research through PROFESSIONAL DONKEY & MULE people. And is very willing to help others in need.
She also is involved in bettering the area's understanding of donkeys and mules by participating in educational demonstrations and shows.
So I beg of this paper to contact those who have a background in such dealings. Donkeys, mules and hinnies are an oddity and need to be handled in their own manner.
Debra Kovac
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society
Leslie Heulitt of Rock Cave, WV
Mar 1, 2007 9:43 PM
If folks want to send money to these irresponsible people to fund their fencing, well, we all know there�s one born every minute. But to dupe people into sending money to purchase Isabella is pretty incredible. Has anyone bothered to ask if she is even for sale? Because she is not. It would be irresponsible for the rescue organization that has Isabella to adopt her out to such a home. These people don�t even know they have a mule. Maybe Jenny�s owners never asked if Isabella is for sale because they didn�t want to hear the answer. People might stop sending them money.
D. G. of Keene, NH
Mar 1, 2007 7:30 PM
It would be good for you at the paper to follow up on the other side of this story. Isabella very much needs her companion, but since the woman caring for her is a close friend of mine, I know that the rescue she works for hasn't even been contacted about the issues of who gets to take over the care and training of both of these animals. It is ASSUMED by Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio that rescue will just give Isabella to them. But both of these animals need a lot of work to get them to trust humans again, and the rescue is the best place for that, since they have a lot of experience working with donkeys and mules. Isabella has come a long way since being with rescue, but it has taken a lot of time on the part of my friend. I hope that Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio will make a CALL to Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and have a real conversation about where these two will recieve the care they need.
Willie of Belgrade, ME
Mar 1, 2007 2:21 PM
how can you ask people to donate money for a fence and shelter. All you are doing trying to make money on this event. Hope the IRS looks in to this. if you want aminals build your own fence like i did and many more animal lovers do. shame on you. $10.00 a picture come on in IRS
mulewrangler of Casper, WY
Mar 1, 2007 2:11 PM
I am glad Jenny was caught, however it is clear that her owners have no knowledge of longears and their behavior. This is not a guard animal in any way. Perhaps they will consider the donations as payment to allow her to go to the same place as Isabella where she will be trained and understood in the appropriate manner. It takes a long time for a true bonding process with a longear and a new owner, and Isabella is clearly beginning bonding and responding, while Jenny is so upset & unhappy that she ran away and had to be coerced back over a long period of time. Horses and longears are very different and Jenny needs the correct process and sure, steady, slow training to be given a fair shot at a good life. Do what is right for her instead of hoping for monetary gain thru her ownership.
Eliza Williams of Waterville, ME
Mar 1, 2007 11:55 AM
Happy to read that the story isn't over! It's wonderful to see that someone cares enough to try to please this hinny/donkey. Hopefully, she will be 'herself' once again, after she's reunited with her 'sibling.'
I, too, believe she's lonely alone.
A heartwarming story, and please keep us up to date on any progress.
March 2, 2007: Happy Texas Independence Day
I get to celebrate with another snow day! I stayed up until 3am last night/this morning making chili for the Texas Independence Day party on Saturday. There was no snow when I went to bed. I woke up a little after 6 and there was lots of snow. But was it enough? I tried looking it up online but didn't see it posted. I tried calling the information line but got someone's cell number. I obviously misremembered the information phone number. ooops. I turned on my radio that plays the television stations but obviously I can't see the closings scrolling on the bottom of the screen. So I go downstairs and watch TV. Channel 13 lists the closings by category...all the services, all the schools, the universities are all lumped together. They listed a lot of universities but not UMF. I switched to another channel that lists the closings by county but no UMF on that list. Finally, I switched to another channel and there it was. Aaaah. UMF is closed. Then I double checked online and found it. I'm not sure if it wasn't posted earlier or if I just didn't see it the first time I looked.
I went back to sleep until 10. :-)
MRM had to go in to work (she closed the library but she had to turn in her budget to the Town Manager and the Town offices weren't closed). RBF went with her. I had an hour and a half phone call with UNT (they weren't having a snow day with their 70 degree weather) and made a second batch of chili along with corn bread. I tried my hand at pinto beans, Texas Trash (basically a spicy Chex Mix) and jello molds in the shape of Texas and stars. The pinto beans were pretty yummy and I was very pleased with how the Texas Trash turned out (especially considering I had to substitute on some of the spices). But the jello molds weren't very successful. I had too much water in the first batch. It took a while to finally get the jello out of the molds and when it finally did come out, it looked like a star or the outline of the state for a while and then quickly started losing its shape. Oh well.
More details on the party later. But I loved having a snow day today, even though it puts me behind in both of the classes I teach. I did sent out an email on what our modified schedule is going to look like. So who loves snow days more . . . students or teachers??
I went back to sleep until 10. :-)
MRM had to go in to work (she closed the library but she had to turn in her budget to the Town Manager and the Town offices weren't closed). RBF went with her. I had an hour and a half phone call with UNT (they weren't having a snow day with their 70 degree weather) and made a second batch of chili along with corn bread. I tried my hand at pinto beans, Texas Trash (basically a spicy Chex Mix) and jello molds in the shape of Texas and stars. The pinto beans were pretty yummy and I was very pleased with how the Texas Trash turned out (especially considering I had to substitute on some of the spices). But the jello molds weren't very successful. I had too much water in the first batch. It took a while to finally get the jello out of the molds and when it finally did come out, it looked like a star or the outline of the state for a while and then quickly started losing its shape. Oh well.
More details on the party later. But I loved having a snow day today, even though it puts me behind in both of the classes I teach. I did sent out an email on what our modified schedule is going to look like. So who loves snow days more . . . students or teachers??
March 1, 2007: Donkey odyssey inspires donations
Yes, the donkey is still in the news. But this time it's not because she's still on the lam. Now that she's "fenced in" people want to help pay for a new fence and for a reunion.
Donkey odyssey inspires donations
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, March 01, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Mary Gaeta sat at her computer desk Wednesday gently pulling letters and cards from envelopes that had arrived from across the country.
With each note, her determination to fulfill the writers' wishes grew.
"They're all saying the same thing," Gaeta said. "They all want to see Jenny and Isabella reunited."
Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, the Higgins Road farm Gaeta owns with her partner, Joe Varricchio, on Jan. 18.
The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run until last week despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.
Equine expert Karina Lewis spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral.
Lewis believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.
That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, an informal donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.
A plot that captured attention for its intrigue and rescue has morphed into a love story, and those involved are determined to create a happy ending.
"When we bring Isabella home, she's going to be ecstatic," Lewis said. "That's going to change that little donkey's life, no question about it."
Jenny has already changed the lives of those around her. Just a week after her capture, donations to build Jenny a new fence and reunite her with Isabella have arrived from around the country.
"We're getting donations from all over," said Gaeta, listing gifts from Florida, New Jersey and Maine. "It's unbelievable. And it's not little amounts. This one's 50 bucks."
Gaeta intends to answer every letter she receives and will include a picture of Jenny.
"People are writing lovely letters," she said. "I wish I knew how to make up a Web site because then I could keep everybody posted."
Gaeta attached photos of Jenny to card stock, each signed by Gaeta and Varricchio, that are being sold for $10 apiece at the online auction site, eBay. Gaeta intends to sell the photos -- buyers can pick one of three poses -- at fairs this summer. All of the money will go toward fencing in the couple's 18 acres and purchasing Isabella.
Any remaining money will be donated to an animal shelter, Gaeta said.
Lewis hopes the fenced-in area will include the woods in which Jenny spent much of her time while on the lam.
"She wants it so they can run in the woods and do whatever they want to do," Varricchio said. "She'll be free as a bird."
The couple still gets calls from magazines that are writing stories on the donkey. Varricchio's nephew is even writing a children's book based on Jenny's adventure.
"I was telling someone I wouldn't be surprised if they make a movie," Varricchio said. "Nothing is impossible."
He is anxious for the spring when he hopes children and their parents will come to see Jenny.
"I'm going to buy a buggy," Varricchio said. "That way when the kids come up they can ride. I think the kids would enjoy that."
Considering the progress she has made, Jenny may be able to star in the movie some day.
The donkey is already accepting a bridle and on Wednesday Lewis loaded Jenny into a horse trailer and took her for a ride around the neighborhood.
"She's doing really well," Lewis said. "She's still fairly unsure what's expected of her. We're working through that. Her trust is building every day."
The trailer ride was designed to prepare Jenny for a trip to the Northeast Equestrian Exhibition, which is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Treasure Equestrian Center in Manchester.
Lewis has planned a 30-minute presentation on Saturday during which she will talk about her business, The Mirror Effect, which works to solve behavioral problems with horses and their owners. Gaeta, Varricchio and Jenny will take part in the presentation in hopes of generating money for the fundraiser.
"We thought this would be an opportunity for people to meet Jenny," Lewis said. "She's been an inspiration to so many people."
Lewis is working on arranging a visit between Jenny and Isabella or, ideally, bringing the two together permanently.
"We're going to use (the expo) as an opportunity to continue the cause we see here," Lewis said. "In my mind, the story isn't over. She's lonely. She's missing her friend."
retrieved from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3667753.html
Donkey odyssey inspires donations
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, March 01, 2007
PITTSFIELD -- Mary Gaeta sat at her computer desk Wednesday gently pulling letters and cards from envelopes that had arrived from across the country.
With each note, her determination to fulfill the writers' wishes grew.
"They're all saying the same thing," Gaeta said. "They all want to see Jenny and Isabella reunited."
Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, the Higgins Road farm Gaeta owns with her partner, Joe Varricchio, on Jan. 18.
The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run until last week despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.
Equine expert Karina Lewis spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral.
Lewis believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.
That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, an informal donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.
A plot that captured attention for its intrigue and rescue has morphed into a love story, and those involved are determined to create a happy ending.
"When we bring Isabella home, she's going to be ecstatic," Lewis said. "That's going to change that little donkey's life, no question about it."
Jenny has already changed the lives of those around her. Just a week after her capture, donations to build Jenny a new fence and reunite her with Isabella have arrived from around the country.
"We're getting donations from all over," said Gaeta, listing gifts from Florida, New Jersey and Maine. "It's unbelievable. And it's not little amounts. This one's 50 bucks."
Gaeta intends to answer every letter she receives and will include a picture of Jenny.
"People are writing lovely letters," she said. "I wish I knew how to make up a Web site because then I could keep everybody posted."
Gaeta attached photos of Jenny to card stock, each signed by Gaeta and Varricchio, that are being sold for $10 apiece at the online auction site, eBay. Gaeta intends to sell the photos -- buyers can pick one of three poses -- at fairs this summer. All of the money will go toward fencing in the couple's 18 acres and purchasing Isabella.
Any remaining money will be donated to an animal shelter, Gaeta said.
Lewis hopes the fenced-in area will include the woods in which Jenny spent much of her time while on the lam.
"She wants it so they can run in the woods and do whatever they want to do," Varricchio said. "She'll be free as a bird."
The couple still gets calls from magazines that are writing stories on the donkey. Varricchio's nephew is even writing a children's book based on Jenny's adventure.
"I was telling someone I wouldn't be surprised if they make a movie," Varricchio said. "Nothing is impossible."
He is anxious for the spring when he hopes children and their parents will come to see Jenny.
"I'm going to buy a buggy," Varricchio said. "That way when the kids come up they can ride. I think the kids would enjoy that."
Considering the progress she has made, Jenny may be able to star in the movie some day.
The donkey is already accepting a bridle and on Wednesday Lewis loaded Jenny into a horse trailer and took her for a ride around the neighborhood.
"She's doing really well," Lewis said. "She's still fairly unsure what's expected of her. We're working through that. Her trust is building every day."
The trailer ride was designed to prepare Jenny for a trip to the Northeast Equestrian Exhibition, which is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Treasure Equestrian Center in Manchester.
Lewis has planned a 30-minute presentation on Saturday during which she will talk about her business, The Mirror Effect, which works to solve behavioral problems with horses and their owners. Gaeta, Varricchio and Jenny will take part in the presentation in hopes of generating money for the fundraiser.
"We thought this would be an opportunity for people to meet Jenny," Lewis said. "She's been an inspiration to so many people."
Lewis is working on arranging a visit between Jenny and Isabella or, ideally, bringing the two together permanently.
"We're going to use (the expo) as an opportunity to continue the cause we see here," Lewis said. "In my mind, the story isn't over. She's lonely. She's missing her friend."
retrieved from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3667753.html
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