Last week I had the opportunity to get out and about and see what South Berwick residents are up to.  I got to witness the community spirit that makes this a great town and I got to spend time with great people.

First stop was the August meeting of South Berwick Networking (SBN).  SBN is an informal network of South Berwick area business owners that meets monthly.  This month SBN met at Dogs XO, just over the town line in Berwick on Rt. 236.  Owner, Eve Baltzell gave an overview of her business, a dog day camp that provides a safe stimulating environment for dogs during the work week.

Patti Fousek owner of CreativeMind Search Marketing, a search engine marketing company located in South Berwick, also gave an overview of her search engine optimization business.  As always, there was time for informal networking.  What a great way to meet other business owners in South Berwick and learn about all the entrepreneurial endeavors springing up around us.  Visit the South Berwick Networking web site to find out how you can get involved.

Next stop was GreenUp! South Berwick, a grassroots group of folks interested in creating a more sustainable community.  The group has been meeting for a few months brainstorming, learning from each other, and planning how to build a culture of sustainability.  Their first public effort will be a sustainability forum about how to save energy and money.  They will host a panel discussion that will provide information on insulation, home energy saving measures, energy audits, and more.  The forum will be held September 25 at South Berwick Town Hall.  Check out GreenUp! South Berwick’s blog for more information about the group.

Last stop was the Great Works Regional Land Trust Art for Land Auction.  Supporters of the Land Trust’s work to conserve important resources gathered to bid on art, donated by artists who also support the Land Trust’s work.  The festivities began with music, food, and drink but the real business of the night was the art.  The crowd engaged in spirited bidding, acquiring lots of great art during the course of the evening.  I learned this is no place for a timid bidder, I will have to practice for next year!

Recently South Berwick resident Jennifer Houghton, owner of Little Hat Company and parent of three, mentioned to me how great it is to be raising children in South Berwick.  She agreed to share her thoughts here at the 236 Diner.

In a world that seems to be spinning faster, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring up a family in a town that allows you to walk not run.   I remember coming home from a business trip to N.Y.C. and literally thanking God that we don’t have even one single stop light in our town.  I had spent two days in a cab trying to get to three scheduled appointments in an absolute scramble for time.  Traffic, crowds, impatience, and smog seemed to be the daily theme and it was hard to catch your breath walking down the streets filled with people, vendors, and construction barriers.  Don’t get me wrong.  The city can be an explosive energy and catalyst for getting major things accomplished.  When the sun goes down and the lights turn on there is something so magical that you feel like a child right before opening a present.

When I would come home to South Berwick I would always let out a sigh of relief knowing that I could just slow down and enjoy each and every moment without someone behind me needing to get somewhere.  One of the main reasons coming home would be so satisfying was knowing that I was raising my children in a small town community surrounded by endless opportunities. (more…)

Poolyle Productions, the artistic collaboration of South Berwick residents Susan Poulin and Gordon Carlisle is in high gear.  They have some upcoming performances in Portsmouth:

August 13, 14, 20 & 27, 2 & 8 pm
Ida: Woman Who Runs With The Moose!
ACT ONE Festival of Fun, West End Studio Theater (WEST),Portsmouth, NH
603-300-2986  http://www.actoneonline.blogspot.com

August 21 & 28, 2 & 8 pm
Spousal Deafness and Other Bones Of Contention
ACT ONE Festival of Fun, West End Studio Theater (WEST), Portsmouth, NH, 603-300-2986
http://www.actoneonline.blogspot.com

Mark you calendars for some future performances:
Shutting Up Peggy Lee! will return to WEST Oct. 17-19 & 24-26.
PREMIERE! A Very Ida Christmas at WEST, December 19-21, Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday @2:00pm & 7:30pm

Gordon Carlisle has been at work on a public mural in Somersworth.  You can see the mural in progress at Gordon’s web site.

When we discuss economic development in South Berwick we often focus on new businesses.  However we owe much of our town’s vitality to the businesses that have been thriving and growing here for generations.  P. Gagnon and Son is one such business.  Since 1904 P. Gagnon & Son has been owned by the Gagnon family of South Berwick.  I recently met with Mark Gagnon, great grandson of the founder of P. Gagnon & Son.  Hanging above Mark’s desk is a photograph of his father, who passed away in 1991, when Mark stepped in as head of the company.

Uppermost on Mark’s mind these days is the high cost of fuel.  Last winter was a tough one for P. Gagnon’s customers, but it was no less difficult for P. Gagnon & Son.  Fuel deliveries to the company come in 10,000 gallon lots, so last winter meant a delivery cost of $30,000 and who knows what it will cost next winter.  Mark explained that higher fuel prices don’t translate into higher profits for a local distributor.  He also stresses that this is a very tough time for customers and says P. Gagnon is willing to work out solutions with those who are having a hard time paying for fuel.

Dominating Mark’s desk is a computer monitor open to live information on fuel trading which shows the price for oil fluctuating every few seconds.  “It can make you crazy” says Mark, “I shouldn’t keep looking at it, but I can’t help it.”  His advice to homeowners is that the biggest opportunity right now is in conservation.  (more…)

South Berwick resident Mary Lou Bagley is a woman of many talents: visual artist, writer, storyteller and actress. This summer she is busy with at least two of her talents.

She is in rehearsal as the Reverend Mother, Mary Regina, for Nunsense, the premiere show of the inaugural season of the Vacationland Theater Co. in Sanford/Springvale, ME. They’ve gathered a fine professional cast and it runs from July 4th (with a free opening night performance) through July 26, 2008. Details at www.vacationlandtheater.com or call 1-866-584-0770. There is reserved seating and air conditioning.

Mary Lou will also be part of a group show at the Haley Art Gallery in Kittery called “Beyond the Ordinary” from June 21 through August. She will be showing 3 art quilts and 2 assemblage pieces in the show.

You may know Andrew Mendola in his role as Stocking and Checkout Specialist at Nature’s Way Market. He is the person who keeps the shelves stocked and knows where everything is at the market. He has worked there since it opened in November 2007. At the beginning he spent a lot of time in the cellar trying to work out the logistics of storage, stock rotation, and fitting everything into the store. Now you are more likely to see him upstairs helping to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be and helping customers find what they need.

What you may not know about Andrew is that he is a musician who plays lead guitar in the jam band Superfrog. Andrew has been playing guitar for a while but became more serious and focused about his music after attending a week long seminar at Berklee College of Music. Superfrog has had a busy calendar this spring playing shows all over New England, including at Bourbon’s and the Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth and the Brick House in Dover. You can find out more about the band at www.superfrogmusic.com and hear music from the band. (I’m listening to the band while I write this–they are very talented)

At nineteen, Andrew has lived in South Berwick his whole life. He likes his job at Nature’s Way Market and plans to continue pursuing his career in music. This summer he will participate in a five-week program at Berklee College of music where he will be immersed in all aspects of performance. From there he’s ready to see where his music takes him.

Superfrog will be doing an acoustic show at the Blue Mermaid in Portsmouth on May 9. Check out their website for all the details. I also heard a rumor that Superfrog may be performing in South Berwick during the Strawberry Festival.

There is magic in the air in South Berwick and writer Victoria Kent and illustrator James Vaughn have teamed up to capture it in their new children’s book, The Magic of Mrs. Magee. The two have brought their unique talent and world view to collaborate on a story about fanciful creatures and their magical gifts.

Victoria Kent, who goes by V.E. Kent discovered or, depending on how you look at it, was discovered by the book’s main character, Mrs. Magee, when V.E. offered to be the entertainment at a friend’s child’s birthday party. For the party she transformed into the Irish fortune teller Maggie Magee who told each child a fortune designed to help them value the special gift that they each possess. Not only did the children respond to the character of Maggie Magee, but adults were also intrigued. V.E. began making more appearances as Mrs. Magee and began to weave a story around the character. She also realized that her alter ego allowed her to speak to children in a direct and honest way that encourages self appreciation without being condescending.

The character of Mrs. Magee haunted V.E. and she began forming the story into a book. The collaboration with James Vaughn began when V.E. chanced upon one of his intricate pencil drawings that was displayed at SoBo Book & Bean. She bought the artwork and called James.

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From Portsmouth Herald, April 16, 2008

For over 35 years, Dennis was a devoted husband to his wife, Terry, and a doting father to his two children. He took pride in his family and basked in their company. He spent many happy hours maintaining and driving his Harley Davidson. He was an avid Red Sox fan and enjoyed annual trips to away games with family and friends. He was also a committed advocate for South Berwick and served on several committees and boards. Dennis loved his hometown and was the chairman of the South Berwick Planning Board for many years. His sense of humor, generosity and ability to take charge defined him. He was a man on which others could depend; many were proud to call him a friend. The family would like to thank everyone whose friendship and support surrounded Dennis during both his life and illness. He will be dearly missed.

SERVICES: An informal gathering to celebrate his life will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at The Links at Outlook Golf Course in South Berwick. Memorial donations can be sent to the VFW of South Berwick, Post 5744, 16 Butler St., South Berwick, ME, 03908, to support the troops.

Read full obituary…

Deb Knowlton has been promoted to Lead Designer & Production Manager for The Little Hat Company.

Just shy of her first anniversary of working with The Little Hat Company, Deb Knowlton South Berwick resident of twenty years was named Lead Designer & Production Manager. Deb began stitching for The Little Hat Company during the spring of 2007. She had first contacted Jennifer Houghton in January about sewing for the new company. The Little Hat Company was just not big enough yet to support an in house production team. Since then, demand for the made in Maine Stroller and Loope Lids has grown enough to support a team of 6 part-time stitchers. Deb is proud of her new recent designs that will launch on The Little Hat Company’s website next month: The Strawberry Patch Lid & My New Little Preemie Lid.

Deb recently left her full time position in order to pursue her life long dream of sewing for a living. The demand for Stroller Lids across the country has grown to a point that it has become her main focus outside of her family. In addition to coming up with new ideas for Lids, Deb heads up the production team in South Berwick. She works with women who have a wealth of sewing experience as well as first timers who have been welcomed to the team. The team is currently made up of all stay at home moms. It was a great opportunity for the moms to reenter the workplace while still being able to put their family’s schedules and needs first.
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South Berwick is home to artists, writers, and performers. Here are some news stories about some of them:

Susan Poulin:
Susan Poulin fights ennui in ‘Peggy Lee’
Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth,NH,USA
And as with any subject the South Berwick, Maine, resident turns her eye on — poignant, pop or both — it’s explored in a warm, amusing and empathetic manner …

VE Kent & Jim Vaughn:
Author visits Portsmouth toy store
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Author VE Kent of South Berwick, Maine, in disguise as Irish fortune teller Maggie Magee, looked closely at the open palm of …

Nicholson Baker:
‘Human Smoke’
New York Times
Nicholson Baker’s pacifist history of World War II is an eloquent and passionate assault on the idea that targeting civilians can ever be justified.

A Profile of Nicholson Baker
New York Times

Local author’s ‘Human Smoke’ offers new look at World War II
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Not everyone in this town knows Nicholson Baker.

Seacoast Entertainment: Controversial local author and national …
Portsmouth Herald
Nicholson Baker of South Berwick, Maine, recently released his latest book, “Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, The End of Civilization,” a …

Meet Mary Margaret Anthoine Ney, who goes by Mamie, the new Director of South Berwick Library. A Kennebunk resident, Mamie comes to us after working for the last year and a half as the Assistant Director of the Kennebunk Library. Mamie’s path to becoming a librarian is not the usual one, and as a result she brings a unique blend of skills and perspectives to the library. She will graduate from the University of Southern Carolina with a Master of Library Information Studies in May. Prior to pursuing her career as a librarian, she was a tax attorney and holds both a law degree and an MBA.

Her enthusiasm for her new job came through as I spoke to her about this article. She has been busy getting out to meet all the merchants downtown, attending meetings of local groups, and getting to know the library. She is pleased with the strong base of programs the library offers and thankful to Annmarie Townsend, Children’s Librarian and Kim Myers, Library Assistant for how helpful they have been in helping her understand South Berwick’s library. Her priorities in her new job are working on getting a new space for the library and adding to the programs that the library offers the community.

Stop in and introduce yourself to Mamie and welcome to her to South Berwick. By the way, she is currently reading The Cleft by Doris Lessing, March by Geraldine Brooks, and The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket.

Like the waterways that have defined South Berwick since it was first settled, the stream of creative people who have lived here have shaped the unique character of our little town. South Berwick is now home base to nationally recognized singer - songwriter Jenn Adams. Kansas born, Jenn lived in Montana and then Nashville before making her way to South Berwick last fall.

Jenn’s music is a fine blend of folk, jazz, and blues that combines her notable talent as a guitarist, her clear expressive voice, and lyrics that tell poetic stories of home, travel, and relationships. Jenn will be sharing the stage at the Elysium Folk Club in Rollinsford this Saturday night with Dan Walker and Charlie Strater in a Songwriter in the Round performance.
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