Farewell summer

With autumn officially upon us this week, I can reflect on the last three months and say that it truly was a glorious summer in Bridgton. We had long stretches of wonderful warm days, the rains came in well-timed intervals and usually at night, and the town bustled with lots of visitors “from away.”

The Village Folk Fest and the Pleasant Mountain Music Festival were both successful, bringing revelers from near and far, and the weekly Farmer’s Market was packed every Saturday morning. our community gardens at the BCC were filled with organic herbs, flowers and veggies, and the storefronts along Main Street reported increased business and steady sales.

On a personal note, I finally called Mo and Mike at Sebago Sailing and spent my Sundays hoisting the jib, raising the main and riding the wind – or something like that. There were a lot of terms I’m still a little unclear on. But it was fun, and a highlight of another stunning summer.

Pedal Power

September in Bridgton always brings sparkling sunny days, crisp nights and the annual Loon Echo Land Trust Trek at Shawnee Peak.

The official LELT Trek bicycle race is on Saturday, Sept. 20 and

offers three distances, from a 25-miler to the “toughest century in

Maine.” This 100-mile ride offers a challenging bike trek from

Bridgton to Bethel and through Evans Notch in the White Mountain National Forest. If a walk in the woods is more your thing, you can do a six-mile hike “taste trek” across the ridge of Pleasant Mountain with gourmet rest stops along the trail. After the race, participants are treated to free Allagash beer, massages by Freedom Day Spa and a BBQ at Blizzards Pub.

Loon Echo Land Trust protects more than 4,000 acres of land in the northern Sebago Lake region, and Executive Director Carrie Walia says she looks forward to the event every year.

“It’s wonderful to share such an amazing day outside with so many people who care about land conservation,” she says. “The Trek funds a significant portion of our annual operating budget, which allows us to steward lands under protection, like Pleasant Mountain, and act on new land projects such as the beloved Hacker’s Hill in Casco.”

For more info or to register visit www.loonechotrek.com. Volunteers are also needed and are encouraged to email [email protected] or call (207) 647-4352.

Rise up!

September is Hunger Action Month, and local activists continue to raise money for food-insecure families in our area. CrossWalk Community Outreach Director Joanna Moore and Rotary volunteers have hosted movie nights at the Magic Lantern, a fill-the-truck food drive at Hannaford, and an “empty bowl” supper. Events culminate next week with a walk through town.

Join the Bridgton Alliance Church for its annual “Rise Up and Walk For Hunger” fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 27. Starting at 8:30 a.m., this scenic six-mile walk starts and ends at the church, but you are not required to walk the entire distance. All money raised will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. Since every dollar donated equals $8 in food, you can help make a huge difference. For more information, please contact Nancy Grigg at 674-4459, or download a sponsor form from www.bridgtonalliancechurch.org.

Stocked shelves

Most of us take our daily meals for granted, and remain blissfully unaware of the struggles that surround us. Sadly, the Bridgton area has a high percentage of families who face food insecurity on a weekly basis.

Fortunately, there are several local food pantries here to help. Both the United Methodist Church on Main Street and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on South High Street host community outreach events. The Methodist Church distributes food from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday, and St. Joe’s runs their program every fourth Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to continue this month’s Hunger Action efforts on a personal basis, please consider donating to either of these great causes or volunteering your free time to help. No child should be hungry in America.

Porter soiree

Bridgton’s most famous itinerant painter, inventor and publisher, Rufus Porter might be best known for the stunning 19th century murals he painted on local homes, inns and taverns, but he had myriad other talents too. He founded the iconic Scientific American magazine, invented farm implements, and designed a revolving rifle cylinder that he sold to Samuel Colt, revolutionizing the munitions industry.

The Rufus Porter Museum restores and displays his murals, along with hosting annual Cultural Folk Art Trail events, classes and installations, including last summer’s nationally acclaimed Civil War exhibit. Join the Greater Bridgton-Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce for their next After Hours at the museum on Thursday, Sept. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. The museum is located at 67 North High St. until renovations are completed on the historic Webb House on Main Street, adjacent to the Bridgton Library.