VOLUME 13, ISSUE 37 PO Box 75, North Waterboro, ME 04061 • 247-1033 • [email protected] FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 FREE www.waterbororeporter.com LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED Little Ossipee Lake drawdown Oct. 1 BY BRIGIT MCCALLUM gins earlier than most other years, [email protected] when the drawdown begins on Oct. 15. “I just want everyone Little Ossipee Lake home- to be aware so they can get their owner Don Holden wants to alert preparations made in time so they all lakefront residents that he will don’t go away for a week and begin drawing down the level of come back to find their boat on the lake on Thursday, Oct. 1. This the rocks.” is an annual event, where the two This annual activity is gov- gates on the dam at the intersec- erned by the Ossipee lake Water tion of Chadbourne Ridge and Level Policy, enacted by select- Webber Roads that controls the men Bob Fay, Dennis Abbott and flow of Little Ossipee Lake into Dale Witman on Sept. 1, 1996. Lake Arrowhead are lowered, to Holden recalls that in summer increase the flow of water out of 1995, hearing so many years of Maize in Maine the lake, thereby dropping the wa- complaints about the level of the ter level for the winter. lake. “You’d have people in the Holden is particularly con- coves saying the lake’s too low, cerned that residents be aware and people on the main body of Local corn producers of the timing, because this year the lake saying it was too high.” is one where the drawdown be- (Continued on page 12) weigh-in on one of The Maine’s favorite crops Dam BY SHELLEY BURBANK that, according to the University to list,” said Jeannette of the vari- [email protected] of Utah’s Genetic Science Learn- eties grown. “But the local favor- Man ing Center, was domesticated by ite is one we call ‘Steve.’” This Corn. Come mid-July, it begins farmers in what is now Mexico popular variety is a favorite, she to show up everywhere, tempting about 10,000 years ago. Missis- said, because it is super sweet, is buyers from roadside stands, farm- sippi State University cites three ready early- to mid-August, cooks er’s market stalls, local grocery broad groups of sweet corn (the up picture-perfect, and has a good stores and supermarket produce kind to eat off the cob as opposed crunch when you bite into it. bins. Straight through until the end to silage or popcorn): normal The Farmer’s Daughters stand of September, appreciative Mainers sweets, sugary enhanced sweets, is owned by Anderson Farms can grill, steam, boil – or in some and super sweets. Sweet corns which also operates two other cases eat raw off the cob – the are also categorized according to stands in Old Orchard Beach and many varieties of delicious sweet rates of maturity. Local farmers Dayton. In addition to their three corn produced by local farmers. don’t grow just one variety. They farm stands, Anderson Farms Corn isn’t just for eating, ei- grow several, and some seem to sells their corn to Hannaford in ther. Silage corn is harvested be more popular than others. Waterboro. Store manager, Dave and used to feed livestock over Anderson Farms in Dayton Ham, said that working with local the long, Maine winter. Decora- grows around 20 varieties of farmers is very important to the tive corn, with its distinctive red, sweet corn in a season, said farm- company. “We really seek to sup- brown, deep yellow and black ker- stand worker, Jodi Jeannette, who port local farmers. They are great nels, plus rustling shocks of dried was waiting on customers at the folks,” Ham said. “We absolute- corn stalks, are gathered and used Farmer’s Daughters Farm Stand ly do the best we personally can to create fall displays at homes in Waterboro one fine early-Sep- to source as locally as possible.” and businesses throughout the tember day. “There are too many (Continued on page 2) Don Holden making adjustments at the dam between Lake Arrowhead and Little community. Children run through Ossipee Lake on Chadbourne Ridge Road. PHOTO BY BRIGIT MCCALLUM elaborate corn labyrinths or shoot corncobs from “cannons” while trying to hit targets set up just for that activity during open farm day Alfred buys a beach events. BY ALLISON WILLIAMS acres includes 4,324 feet on Shak- Rows of corn fields and har- [email protected] er Pond, most of which is in re- vesting operations provide icon- source protection. The only land ic rural Maine landscapes as the Alfred residents voted 346 to which could be used as a house summer winds down. The sight of 221 in favor of purchasing the lot fronts Route 202 where there a harvester machine moving slow- Brothers Beach on Shaker Pond is 4,134 feet of frontage. ly through a stretch of cornfield at a referendum vote on Sept. 22. (Continued on page 4) planted in a low, flat valley below Sunday, Sept. 20 was a beau- rolling, green hills is not uncom- tiful day to view a beach, espe- mon this time of year. cially one which was up for sale. The three selectmen, John Sylves- THIS WEEK Many varieties, many ter, George Donovan and Glenn Dochtermann were on hand to Sports................ 8-9 markets ............... This is the Maine corn sea- answer questions about the beach Opinion 11 Obituaries .............13 son, and locally there are many The Limerick Fire Department Auxiliary hosted over 350 cyclists for lunch which the town was considering options for aficionados of a crop during Bike Maine 2015 on Sept. 18. See story on page 6. COURTESY PHOTO buying for $75,000. The 33.6 Classifieds .............14 PAGE 2 Friday, September 25, 2015 REPORTER MAIZE IN MAINE can be affected. Another chal- and dead-ends. This year’s theme (Continued from page 1) lenge to growing corn is equip- is Northwoods Law. The farm also ment breakdowns. A new harvest- offers a “corn cannon” that visitors He also explained that the history er can cost upwards of $90,000, can shoot and try to hit a target. and culture of Hannaford Broth- Carroll said. A tractor is even They also sell their own popped ers was tied-in closely with local more expensive at $100,000. Oth- kettle corn, and there are farmyard produce as the company started er costs are insurance, seed, pesti- animals to visit. out selling vegetables from cart cides and fertilizer--and all that is Local farmers collaborate as in Portland. Ham said corn is before the costs of harvesting. “It well as diversify. Though Giles definitely one of the best-sellers costs about $500 per acre to raise Family Farm in Alfred concen- and one of the most popular pro- the crop,” Carroll explained. trates on growing apples and duce items at the Waterboro store. producing cider, owner Frank “Each store has a relationship Diversification is key Boucher said that they sell lots with the farmers closest to them. The Carrolls try to diversify of corn at their market on Rt 202. We try to buy everything they their farming operation as part He buys his corn from Ander- grow. It’s a great relationship. It of their business strategy. Not son Farms and says all the local helps protect working farms, and only do they sell the silage corn farmers are friends and support we do it exceptionally well.” to dairy and livestock farmers each other. “We have carried Some local producers sell their in Maine and New Hampshire, corn from Andersons for 10 to 12 corn right at the source – the farm. but they also raise young cattle years,” Boucher said. “We’ve be- Andrew, left, and Charlie Carroll help grandmother, Vickie, create a fall display Tony and Aaron Carroll of Alder- come friends just from farming.” of corn stalks, hay, pumpkins and mums at Vickie’s Olde School Gift Shoppe stock, grow hay, and sell harvest on the family farm. PHOTO BY SHELLEY BURBANK wood Farms in Limerick grow firewood. “We try to have oth- In addition to eating corn, Giles three acres of sweet corn in a field er sources of farm income,” said sells decorative shocks of dried in a tub of water, and then throws located just steps from Vickie’s corn stalks at the store as well as Any way you cook it Vicki. “We diversify.” There are many ways to pre- them onto the grill. “Grill it un- Olde School Gift Shoppe. The multicolored, decorative Indian Another way that farmers can pare corn to eat, and everyone has til it is burnt on top, turn it over, shop is run by Tony’s wife, Vick- corn for fall displays now that diversify is to offer activities and their favorite method. Jodi Jean- and grill it until the other side is ie Carroll, and the sweet corn is the sweet corn season is dying open farm days to the public. nette said that she even enjoys burnt,” he said, cautioning that sold along with the many arts and down and apple season is gearing Pumpkin Valley Farm in Dayton eating it raw off the cob and Jona- this is very hot and to be careful. crafts items as well as Vickie’s up. “We have corn for sale here offers many agritourism activities than Tibbett’s agrees: “If you hav- No matter how you cook it-- homemade pies. Across the street through Labor Day,” Boucher at their working farm along the en’t tried eating corn raw, you are steaming, boiling, grilling, saute- behind the home, barn, and out- said.