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Friday, April 19, 2024 Volume 20 • Issue No. 16
Launch of the Harbormaster Vessel, Boat Naming KITTERY The Town of Kittery invites the public to join them as they celebrate the naming and launch of the Harbormaster vessel, in honor of Hazel Sinclair. The event will take place Thursday, April 25 at 4:15 p.m. at the Safe Harbor Marina, 48 Bowen Road, in Kittery Point. The event will include a short speaking program, followed by the official naming of the vessel and its launch into the water. Limited parking for the event will be available on-site, in addition to street parking. Hazel Sinclair, along with her
husband Clayton, opened their home as a guest house, “Rock Rest,” in 1946. From the 1940s through the 1970s, Rock Rest offered a rare place of comfort for Black travelers to feel welcome while traveling through Maine. Rock Rest operated in an era when it was common practice to prohibit Black travelers from staying in hotels, being served in restaurants, or otherwise accessing public accommodations in the seacoast area. The Harbormaster provides marine law enforcement, rescue, and education services to boaters within
the tidal waters of Kittery. With an extensive working waterfront that includes not only boat and ship traffic, but also a vibrant mix of commercial operations and recreational destinations on the wharves and piers, the Harbormaster frequently responds to emergency situations. Some of the vessel’s safety features include: a 360 degree rotating high intensity searchlight; a 100-watt siren/public announcement speaker, multi-functional emergency lights See BOAT on page 6 . . .
Eastern Trail Feasibility Study, Public Meeting YORK COUNTY The municipalities of Kittery, Eliot, York, South Berwick, and North Berwick, in collaboration with the Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA), the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC), and the MaineDOT are overseeing the Eastern Trail (ET) Connectivity Study. Led by the planning/engineering firm VHB, the study evaluates various alternatives, costs, potential impacts, and constraints associated with the project. VHB is also seeking public input to recommend locations for future segments of the ET between the Route 1 Bridge (Memorial Bridge) in Kittery and North Berwick. While the ultimate goal is to recommend a route for a continuous off-road trail, the alternatives include a variety of po-
Local Average Tide Chart Date High Low am pm
Sat 20 9:56 10:18 Sun 21 10:38 10:54 Mon 22 11:17 11:28 Tue 23 11:54 Wed 24 12:01 12:30 Thu 25 12:35 1:07 Fri 26 1:09 1:45 Sat 27 1:47 2:25
am pm
3:42 4:25 5:03 5:39 6:14 6:48 7:25 8:04
4:03 4:40 5:14 5:47 6:19 6:53 7:28 8:08
Sun Rise Sun Set Sat 20 Sun 21 Mon 22 Tue 23 Wed 24 Thu 25 Fri 26 Sat 27
5:49 7:33 5:47 7:34 5:45 7:35 5:44 7:36 5:42 7:37 5:41 7:38 5:39 7:40 5:38 7:41
tential configurations, including modifications to on-road facilities. Potential route options may include: Shared-use paths along utility corridors; shared use path alongside a public road; boardwalk segments over wetlands and small streams; striped bike lanes or wide shoulders on roadways; travel lane shared by all users on rural roads with low traffic volumes and/or speeds The 18-month study began in late 2023 and is expected to finish in early 2025. From there, the Eastern Trail Alliance, SMPDC, and individual municipalities will seek funding through grants and other sources
Bohemian Waxwings Spotted at York Chamber YORK Bohemian waxwings have been spotted recently around York County, most notably near the York Chamber of Commerce. Named after their “bohemian,” or unconventional and seemingly carefree lifestyle, Bohemian waxwings are typically seen throughout Alaska and Western Canada during the summer months, where the birds may be seen perching on spruce tops and flying out to catch insects in midair. In winter, the bird becomes somewhat of a “social nomad,” with large f locks wandering across Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest in search of berries. Although not a common sight in Maine, waxwings have been spotted here more frequent-
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to implement the priority recommendations from the study. For more information, see “Eastern Trail Connectivity Feasibility Study” on www.arcgis.com. The in-person meeting will be held Tuesday, April 30, 6 p.m. at Eliot Town Hall, 1333 State Road, Eliot. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will also be livestreamed at the same time via Zoom. For more information, v i sit tow nof nor t hbe r w ick. org/home/news/eastern-trailconnectivity-study-communityworkshop. To link to the Zoom meeting, follow the link at the bottom of the website’s page.
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ly in recent winters, with birders across the state reporting numerous sightings of these cheerful little birds this past winter. Not only is it the idea of the waxwings’ sporadic visits to Maine that makes them a species worth chasing and observing, but their
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exceptionally beautiful plumage is also a draw for any bird enthusiast. Like their smaller cousins, the Cedar waxwing, which occur in Maine year-round, Bohemians are so smooth and perfectly coifed that they look like they have been dipped in wax. The “waxwing” part of the name comes from the fact that the tips of their wings have colored waxy tips. The birds are marked with a dazzling combination of browns, creams, and grays, with burnt orange markings on the face and underneath the tail, and a striking black face mask. Their white and yellow wing patches are easily spotted while the bird is perching. When Bohemian waxwings are in the area, they are hard to miss. They are highly social and move together in tight formation
as they come and go from tree to tree, an impressive sight to see. Flocks of several hundred have been reported throughout much of the state, from Cumberland to Brewer, and Rockport to Waterville. Although a bird of open coniferous forests in the breeding season, during their winter wanderings, they alight in fruit trees without preference to habitat. A flock that has been hanging around Gardiner has been enjoying the offerings of the ornamental fruits trees downtown, while a large flock in Cumberland can be found in a local orchard. Flocks have been spotted throughout the Biddeford area as well. Bohemian waxwings have no true song – since they do not See WINGS on page 6 . . .
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