Linda Andrews is working on bringing a dog park to South Berwick

South Berwick has dogs and South Berwick has people who love their dogs but we don’t have a dog park. Linda Vaillancourt Andrews, a lifelong south Berwick resident and dog lover, didn’t even know such a thing as a dog park existed until she and her husband went on a work assignment to Washington state where they stayed in an apartment with their dogs. It was then that Linda discovered dog parks and realized how great they were for dogs and their companion people. Now she has made it her mission to bring a dog park to South Berwick.

Linda's dog, Achilles

LLL

Linda describes her vision of a dog park as a centrally located piece of land between 2 to 5 acres that would have some open field but also a tree line for shade and variable terrain to make it interesting. The area would be fenced in so dogs could be let off lead with no danger of them running off or getting into trouble. Linda sees the benefits as multiple. For dogs, it provides a place for safe vigorous exercise which results in better behavior and health. They also get to socialize with other dogs in a safe setting. For people it provides a safe place to exercise dogs and for getting to know other dog owners. She says dog parks can be especially helpful to those who live in apartments with no yard and for those who have difficulty walking, since a dog park means they can let their dog off lead for a good run without having to keep up with them.

Linda has done quite a bit of groundwork toward establishing a dog park in South Berwick. She is in the process of setting up an LLC, Dog Bone Central,  to manage the dog park and has gotten Animal Welfare Society of Kennebunk to sponsor the project so that she can accept tax deductible donations. Linda has visited area dog parks to learn about their layout, the rules, and how they are funded and governed. She has been before the South Berwick Town Council to present the idea, where she received a favorable although cautious response, the Council expressed support for the idea but reluctance for the Town to take any responsibility for a dog park.

Linda's dogs, Faelan, Jack, and Shadow poolside

The idea has generated enthusiasm among townspeople, especially dog owners who would love such a resource. Linda says occasionally someone questions why a dog park is important when we have so many open areas available for walking. Linda describes the dangers inherent in walking an unleashed dog in open areas. She says even well behaved dogs can be attracted by animals and end up running off. Off lead exercise is important particularly for large dogs who can’t run full out on a leash.

Other dog parks have established rules for clean up and behavior that result in places that are safe and pleasing for both dogs and people. Dog parks can help keep dogs out of places like cemeteries and school yards, where dogs are not always welcome.  One of Linda’s goals is to establish a Board of Directors to help with setting up the rules and governance and to help maintain the dog park. The Board will also need to raise money for fencing, materials and other costs for maintenance. Linda is now looking for volunteers who are interested in helping to make Dog Bone Central: South Berwick Dog Park a reality.

She lists her immediate needs:

1. Land—She is looking for a piece of land for the dog park. In some towns the Town has allowed dog parks on town owned land, in others the land has been leased from the town or individuals. Some dog parks are on land that individuals have donated. Linda is interested in looking at any option and urges those with ideas or land to contact her.
2. People for the Board of Directors and to volunteer. She needs help to bring the dog park to fruition and is looking for people interested in doing hands-on work of planning, finding land, and fundraising.
3. Donations – Funds are needed for all aspects of the dog park. Through Dog Bone Central alliance with Animal Welfare Society, all donations are tax deductible.

Linda urges anyone interested in helping or who has any ideas about potential land for a dog park to contact her. She can be reached by phone at 207-332-4565 or email at weluvmutts@yahoo.com. She can also be found at the Marshwood Holiday Bazaar on December 4 where she will have a table for information, donations and with doggy treats for sale.

Farmer and mariner Benjamin Gerrish, whose 1791 diary gives a vivid picture of survival on a South Berwick farm over two centuries ago, is the subject of a talk by museum curator Nina Maurer on Thursday evening, October 28, starting at 7:30 pm.
Sponsored by the Old Berwick Historical Society, the program will be held at Berwick Academy’s Jeppesen Science Center on Academy Street, and the public is invited. Refreshments will be served by volunteers.

The diary, the only one from 18th century South Berwick known to exist, is on view this month at the Counting House Museum, where it was loaned by the Maine Historical Society. The museum is open weekend afternoons from 1:00 to 4:00.

Maurer created the exhibit, titled “Village Voices,” and has been a consulting curator at the Counting House since 2007. She was director of Piscataqua region properties for Historic New England and a curator at the Connecticut River Museum and the Mercer Museum.

Her interest in collections began with a curiosity about what lay behind the attic door of her grandparents’ summer house in Wisconsin. She pursued material culture studies through graduate work in aesthetics at Temple University and a McNeil Fellowship in early American decorative arts at the Winterthur Museum.

In 2010 Maurer completed a survey of farm history in York County for the Maine Archives. This work prompted her investigation of the Gerrish diary.  Gerrish lived in a farmhouse that is still standing on Brattle Street.  Death, hardships and scarcity confronted him and his small family, who produced much of their own food and clothing on 40 acres of land along the Great Works River. Crops included apples, potatoes, barley, corn, flax, and hay.

But like other local farmers, Gerrish was also a mariner who supplemented his income by shipping out of Portsmouth on trading voyages to southern ports and the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean.

Gerrish’s diary, which ended in October, 1791, just before he went to sea, documents a life deeply rooted in a widespread network of exchange in goods, services, and labor, and Maurer calls it “a rare survival.”

“This is not at all the self-sufficient farm family we have come to expect as the model of early American rural life,” said Maurer, “but a household dependent on exchange with neighbors and a wider marketplace beyond the Piscataqua region. The document is a timeless and intimate account of life on the margins of the young Republic, and chronicles the capacity to adapt and the power to endure.”

More information on the Counting House Museum and all the Old Berwick Historical Society’s programs is available at oldberwick.org, or by calling (207) 384-0000.

Roger Morin is a watercolor artist, originally from Berwick but now living in South Berwick.  He and his wife live in the “Old Warren Schoolhouse” in the Dunnybrook area of Emery’s Bridge Road.  A few years ago they added on to the schoolhouse for a studio at home and now they are hoping neighbors will stop by for a cup of cider and a look around.

Anyone who has been to Spring Hill for dinner may recognize Roger’s work from the walls of the dining room, where his artwork is displayed year-round.

There will be a range of work available on Saturday – notecards, prints, calendars and reasonably priced originals.  Much of Roger’s work is of the local South Berwick and greater Maine area.  Balancing Rock, Orris Falls and the Hamilton House are all subjects of paintings there will be prints available for purchase.  Roger’s website is www.rlmorin.com

Berwick Academy Head of School Greg Schneider was the featured guest speaker at the first UNH CEO Forum for the 2009-2010 school year today. Greg’s presentation, “Educating Innovation,” addressed the ways in which the changing nature of our economy impacts education. His talk focused on innovation in education not just at Berwick Academy but also around the country.  What are the opportunities and obstacles in this changing culture?  What are the leadership challenges he and other educators are facing as they prepare students for jobs of the future?  What will those jobs be ten years from now?  How does education need to change?  Greg commented, “The skills that our students will need to be successful are changing, and we need to consider how we can best prepare them for their future.” 

Berwick Academy has embraced innovation both in and out of the classroom for several years. In 2006, the School moved to a 1-1 tablet program, requiring students from seventh grade on to have a tablet computer.  The program allows students to engage in learning, thinking, and creating with technology. Most classes integrate the program with educational applications, allowing teachers to differentiate instruction, and to solidify home-school connections.  The Upper School student-directed Robotics team works together to construct a new robot each year, with the goal of entering it into competition. Last year, the team earned the Event Finalist Alliance award at the FIRST Tech Challenge Regional Competition. The Middle School Rube Goldberg machine building club brings students together using a variety of tools, problem solving skills, and creative thinking to construct a complex series of simple machines to complete a given task. In recent years, the Upper School has approached the summer reading program in an innovative way by leading a theme based learning day about the required book at the start of the school year. The environment and the organic food movement have been explored through selections like Ishmael by Daniel Quinn and In Defense of Food by Daniel Pollan.  The new innovative study program, also known as BIC (Berwick Innovation Center,) allows students in the Middle and Upper School to pursue independent research projects. In the coming years, Berwick Academy hopes to assist students in conducting scientific research, composing poetry, prose, and music, or any other academic pursuit through this program.

Founded in 1791, Berwick Academy is an independent, coeducational country day school located in South Berwick, Maine.  For over 200 years, the Academy has pursued its mission through a purposeful blend of strong academics, arts, and athletics.  Berwick serves nearly 600 students in grades K-12 from the seacoast area of southern Maine, New Hampshire, and northeastern Massachusetts.

“It is always wonderful to be recognized by the press and your peers,” said Lawton, whose career began with cabinet making nearly 30 years ago. “I’ve grown a large design/build firm and won awards, but now from my home office in Maine I enjoy consulting and designing with homeowners who are looking for personal service, unique design ideas and a low-stress remodeling experience. It’s a calmer pace and I like giving each project my personal attention.”

Lawton’s Best of Accent design was the final transformation of a 1970s suburban remodel. The designer employed semi-custom cabinets (always looking for ways to maximize budget without sacrificing function and style), as well as his signature custom window, which faces the home’s backyard. Rich dark woods, granite countertops, a wet bar, and wine storage offer functionality and visual appeal. A bronze accented marble tile backsplash and marble tile flooring are luxurious finishing touches.

“My move to Maine has been wonderful,” he said. “While I still consult on commercial projects in cities including Boston and Miami, most of my work is with Merrimack Valley, Southern New Hampshire and Southern Maine homeowners. I love helping homeowners bring a residence or second home alive with new ideas.”

Lawton’s award-winning kitchen will be featured in the August issue of Accent Home & Garden magazine.

Based in South Berwick, Maine, with a studio in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Lawton serves homeowners throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine with his 30 years of experience in kitchen and bath design. http://www.peterlawtononline.com

The following students have been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2009 semester at the University of Vermont:
Olivia Bulger, of South Berwick, Maine, a first-year student Environmental Studies major in the Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources.
Leigh Mott, of South Berwick, Maine, a senior English major in the College of Arts & Sciences.

The following local residents earned their undergraduate degree at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine during Commencement exercises held on May 9:
Stephan Gorsun of South Berwick, Maine, graduated from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in May.
Elizabeth Jackson of South Berwick, Maine, graduated from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in May.

Kittery Point apprentice lobster man and sixth grade Berwick Academy student Mark Hoyt gives students from Louisville, KY a lesson on the business of lobstering.

Underprivileged Louisville Students Experience a New England Adventure

What started out as a pen pal program between Berwick Academy Upper School students and a group of underprivileged middle schoolers from Louisville, KY back in 2007, has since blossomed into an extraordinary exchange program between the two schools. Thirteen sixth grade students arrived in Maine this past Saturday with their teacher, Berwick alum, Rachel Davis. The students traveled from Louisville to South Berwick where they are staying for a week-long adventure. Berwick Academy Upper School students and Dean of Student Life, Jen Onken, have put together an incredible agenda for the children during their stay.

Students from Louisville, KY get their first taste of fresh lobster.

Among the activities planned for their stay was a visit to Pepperell Cove Wharf in Kittery Point, ME which took place yesterday, Monday, June 15.  Upper School math teacher Charlene Hoyt and her husband Scott graciously offered a tour of their lobster boat, SLOW MOCEAN, which was tied up to the wharf for the kids to explore.  Their son Mark, a sixth grade student at Berwick Academy, is an apprentice-licensed lobster man with 50 traps of his own, personal ID tags and buoy color. Mark, his brother Alex, a ninth grader at Berwick Academy, and their dad Scott explained all that is involved in the lobster fishing business to the kids, most of whom have never eaten lobster. Students then headed to the Hoyt’s home with 30 fresh lobsters to cook up and enjoy.  A traditional down east meal was the evening’s menu.

In addition to their lobstering adventure, Lassiter students will be surfing, kayaking, hiking, picnicking, swimming, camping throughout Maine and New Hampshire as well as visiting Boston this week. They will also spend much of their time right on campus at Berwick Academy.  For many of them, this will be their first time participating in these kinds of adventures, and for most it was their very first time on a plane. Berwick Academy is pleased to be able to provide such an enriching experience for this group of students.

The student’s trip to Maine was sponsored by many Louisville based and local businesses, along with Berwick Academy.

Berwick’s involvement with Lassiter began in 2007 when Berwick alum and sixth grade Lassiter teacher Rachel Davis ‘02, reached out to Berwick to “Please please please help my kids.” Heartbreaking stories of poverty-stricken and disability-laden students prompted Upper School faculty member, Dana Clinton, to get Berwick students involved.  Rachel’s initial request of a donation for her students turned into a year-long buddy program that included exchanging letters and postcards and four care packages sent from Berwick to Lassiter.

Last summer, ten Upper School students traveled to Louisville to meet their buddies for the first time. During their stay, Berwick students participated in an environmental camp with the Lassiter students. The purpose of the trip was to assist Lassiter’s students in improving their outdoor classroom, which includes a man-made pond, a compost pile, several gardens, and a greenhouse.
Berwick Academy Upper School students involved in the buddy program and the upcoming visit are Samantha Auty (Durham, NH), Mary  dePascale  (Eliot, ME), Win Hahn (Berwick, ME), David Horan (Kennebunk, ME), Eliza Jacobs (Shapleigh, ME), Hannah Katz-Barfield (Stratham, NH), Lathrop Kelly (Newfields, NH), Atik Khan (Seabrook, NH), Grant  Kokernak (North Hampton, NH), Derek Lavigne (Saco, ME), Ashley Leonard (Stratham, NH), Mareesa Miles (Acton, ME), Kevin Murphy (Portsmouth, NH), Clara Penati (Newmarket, NH), Cristina  Salvador, Mollie Stolzer (Portsmouth, NH),  John Tackeff  (Rye Beach, NH), Abby Thayer (Rollinsford, NH), Halley Tower (Ogunquit, ME), Kristen van Dissel (Eliot, ME), Ryan Walters (Rye, NH),  Jamie Wilson, Alanna Wittet (York, ME),  Ian Wright (North Berwick, ME), and Alex Zannos (Rye, NH).
The buddy program will continue next year.

Founded in 1791, Berwick Academy is an independent, coeducational country day school located in South Berwick, Maine. For over 200 years, the Academy has pursued its mission through a purposeful blend of strong academics, arts, and athletics. Berwick serves over 600 students in grades K-12 from the seacoast area of southern Maine and New Hampshire.

Volunteers strategize about how to team up to clean up Route 236.

The amount of debris along Route 236 was truly amazing, from the thousands of cigarette butts, hundreds of plastic bags, to household furniture.  Volunteers worked for nearly four hours and bagged loads and loads of trash.

We brought trash by the truckload to the transfer station.

Many truckloads.

and carloads.

Although trash was concentrated along the side of the road, a short walk away from the road shows how plastic bags and bits of litter make their way to wetlands.

The Earth Day dumpster at the transfer station: Left: by noon on Saturday. Right: by the end of the day. Thanks to all the volunteers all over town who took all this trash off our roadsides and to the Town's Conservation Commission for organizing the clean up effort.

At Old Fields Burying Ground, another team of volunteers, led by Bruce Whitney, was attacking another major challenge.  A hardy group, many of whom are members of Old Berwick Historical Society, worked on leaves, tree debris, tree cutting and walking bridge rehab at the Burying Ground.

Bruce Whitney organizes the volunteers.

Volunteers of all ages helped clean up this beautiful site.

Lots and lots of leaves had to be raked.

The group filled a giant dumpster with debris.

Another load into the dumpster.

This was no small job. Thanks to all the volunteers for helping to maintain this historic site and peaceful park-like place.

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!

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.

South Berwick, Maine is the quintessential place to place to plant your roots.  I have three children ages 14, 7, and 2.   My oldest will be starting high school next year.  He has been playing on a sports team since he started school here which he loves.  He is an honor roll student and will be able to take advantage of the many great classes offered to him that let him stretch out of his comfort zone.  He loves South Berwick and especially Main Street.  He was sad when Flynn’s closed but loves to be able to hop on his bike with his friends and ride to the fields or grab ice cream at Aggies.   My 7 year old loves walking to school.  She loves to wave to the crossing guards, and picking up chestnuts that have fallen from the trees.  Her favorite activities are soccer, piano, and cheering on at team that is known for bringing home national championships.  Most of all she loves playing with her friends.  My 2 year old’s most favorite thing to do is walking around the block through Main Street with her Dad and then going to the playground near the fire station.

We live in a town where the Principal of our elementary school quietly and with dedication works to make sure all of our children’s needs are met.  One of her first acts was to put up a fence around the school yard.  We live in a town where countless parents and residents volunteer endless hours, money, and sweat to make sure that each child has a team to play on if they choose.  We live in a town where retired people give endless hours to volunteer in school to help children outside of the classroom and we live in a town where parents are more than willing to offer a hand with car pooling and making time for neighbors when they need help.

One of the reasons Strawberry Festival is so successful is that people visiting our town on that very special day get a glimpse of the character, altruism, and good will that our community seems to have in abundance.  South Berwick is a great town and seems to bring out the very best in people and I’m very proud to be living here with my family.

–Jen Houghton