Aroostook Outdoor News: 9.29.16 edition
In this edition: 1) Awareness and
fundraising walks in #Caribou and #Houlton. 2) Stargazing in the #NewNationalMonument
in the #SouthernAroostook area. 3) A fun #CrossCountry run for all in
#PresqueIsle. Plus lots more! #offugo...
#AroostookThing of the week: the Katahdin
Woods and Waters Stars Over Katahdin Wilderness Stargazing event in the new KWW
National Monument, near Sherman.
Light Pollution: it’s something we don’t
think of often here in northern Maine, primarily because we don’t have much of
it. In fact, I bet most folks around here don’t even know what it is.
By
way of contrast, light pollution does not consist of finding a few fast food
wrappers alongside a highway. Light pollution is what happens when some volume
of nighttime light washes out the night sky.
In
a city, for example, there are endless sources of light at night that can make
it difficult to see celestial bodies above. Even in small towns, there can be
enough light pollution that those seeking a starry exhibition may miss things
that, in total darkness, may be seen with the naked eye.
In
northern Maine, there are few cities (two, actually), and a handful of small
towns; accessibility to low light pollution areas is immense. One of those
areas happens to be within the boundaries of Katahdin Woods and Waters National
Monument, just west of Sherman in southernmost Aroostook County.
KWW
is the newest national monument in the national park system – which is a great
reason to visit in and of itself.
Some
of the good folks in that area have organized a heavenly stargazing event this
Saturday, October 1. With some of the starriest skies east of the Mississippi,
there are few better places to view the night sky than along the national
monument Loop Road.
Organizers
have planned for a campfire complete with entertaining, informative chats. There
will be multiple telescopes available, and even some experienced astronomers on
hand to complement your cosmic curiosities. This event is great for families.
Reservations
are recommended. Contact Mark Adams (207-852-1291) or lunksoos@gmail.com FMI
#AroostookNote: Aroostook County is also
gaining notoriety of late for its brilliant Northern Lights displays, thanks to
local photographer Paul Cyr and others. If all this astronomic assimilation is
going over your head, but you are interested in learning more about what is
going on in the night sky, go to www.SkyMaps.com,
and for info about the Aurora Borealis, visit www.spaceweather.com.
Saturday, October 1
Cary Medical Center Ladies
Auxiliary Walk for Hope, Caribou. Get your pledge forms today at Cary, all
Pines Health Services locations, and local banks. Proceeds benefit “Brian’s
Ride” to assist Jefferson Cary Cancer Center patients. Registration: 9:00 a.m.
at Cary Medical Center. 2-mile walk start: 10:00 a.m. Light lunch provided. Contact
Cary Customer Service Desk (207-498-1380) or visit www.carymedicalcenter.org FMI
Saturday, October 1
Katahdin Woods & Waters
Stars Over Katahdin Wilderness Stargazing, Patten. With some of the
starriest skies east of the Mississippi, there are few better places to view
the night sky than the new KWW National Monument Loop Road. Campfire with
entertaining, informative chats, multiple telescopes available, stargazing with
experienced astronomers. Great for families; reservations recommended. Contact
Mark Adams (207-852-1291) or lunksoos@gmail.com FMI
Sunday, October 2
UMPI Alumni and All-Comers
XC Race, Presque Isle. Distance: 5k. Race start: 11:00 a.m. at UMPI’s Park
Family Field (soccer field complex). Contact Chris Smith (207-768-4972) or christopher.smith@umpi.edu FMI
*Sunday, October 2
St. Louis Church Community
Clean Up, Fort Kent. 1:00-3:00
p.m. Meet at St. Louis Church parking lots; rain or shine. Come help pick up
trash. Clean up your own neighborhood, or join others in cleaning up community
trails, roadways, common areas. Rubber gloves, garbage bags provided. Wear
appropriate clothing and prepare to get dirty! Refreshments served at 3:15 p.m.
Contact Leslie Kelly (207-834-5815) or lesliek@maine.edu FMI
Tuesday, October 4
Hope and Justice Project
Light It Up, Houlton! Walk, Houlton. 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Houlton Recreation
Department 128 Main St. Event to include a walk to end abuse, guest speakers,
remembrance ceremony. Participants encouraged to help us light up the night
with purple glow-sticks for domestic violence awareness. Free t-shirts
available. Visit www.hopeandjusticeproject.org FMI
Thursday, October
6-Saturday, October 8
Caribou Rec Xtreme Chimney
Pond Camping Trip & Mt. Katahdin Fall Summit, Caribou. What’s better than hiking
Mt. Katahdin in the summer? Hiking it in the fall! Never will you hike Mt.
Katahdin in the same conditions, that’s part of the beauty of being able to
experience Baxter State Park in different times of the year. For youth in grades
5-11 Cost: $120; includes meals, not snacks. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224)
or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Thursday, October 6
Hartland Recreation Nature
Walk & Picnic, Hartland, NB. 12:00-1:00 p.m. (Atlantic Time). Meet beside Hartland
Library at Charles Allen Park. Walk along the Saint John River toward Hugh John
Flemming Bridge. A representative from Nature NB will talk about interesting
facts along the way, with a stop for a sandwich and water (provided). Contact
Tanya Hawkes (506-375-4222) or tanyahawkes@nb.aibn.com FMI
Friday, October 7 &
Saturday, October 8
Central Aroostook Chamber
of Commerce Haunted Woods Walk, Presque Isle. Music, food and lots of scary fun! Location:
Nordic Heritage Center, 450 Fort Fairfield Rd. Rates open at 6:00 p.m. and
close at 9:00 p.m. each day. Bring flashlights! Trails not recommended for
children under 12. Cost: $5/person. Contact Central Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce (207-764-6561) or visit www.centralaroostookchamber.com FMI
Saturday, October 8
Strong Tower Orphanage Love
Run/Walk 5k, Houlton. Event designed for the whole family to help orphans
in Caracol, Haiti. Registration: 7:30 a.m. at Military Street Baptist Church.
Race start: 9:00 a.m. Cost: $20; includes bib, t-shirt guaranteed to those who
register by Sept. 11, light refreshments. Contact Military Street Baptist
Church (207-532-6614) or (207-532-2783) or visit www.houltonmsbc.org FMI
Saturday, October 8
The Dam Run, Perth-Andover,
NB.
10k, 5k, Kids’ 1k races. Registration: 10:00 a.m. at River Valley Civic Centre.
Kid’s 1k start: 10:30 a.m. 10k, 5k start: 11:00 a.m. (all times Atlantic). Run
along the beautiful St. John River; pre-register for "I ran the DAM
RUN" t-shirt. Cost: $30/adult, $20/student, $10/Kids’ 1k. Contact Tasha
Wright (506-273-4845) or tasha.wright@perth-andover.com FMI
*Saturday, October
8-Saturday, October 15
Friends of ANWR Wildlife
Refuge Week, Limestone. Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, 97 Refuge Rd. Oct.
8: guided nuclear weapons storage area tours; refreshments available. Oct. 9:
backpack activities, auto route tour, trail hiking. Oct. 10: backpack
activities. Oct. 11-14: educational backpacks available, pillowcase project. Oct.
15: pumpkin decorating, GPS, educaching; lunch, snacks available. Contact
Friends of ANWR (207-328-4634) or friendsofanwr@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, October 8
Aroostook Birders Goose
Lunch, Caribou. 11:00
a.m.-1:00 p.m. at
Collins Pond Picnic Pavilion, Roberts St. Canada Geese migrate through the
County each fall, stopping for short stays; a favorite stopover is Collins
Pond. We will also look for Greater White-fronted Geese or maybe even Pink-footed
Geese in an activity similar to "Where's Waldo." Spotting scopes available.
Light refreshments, drinks available. Contact Aroostook Birders thearoostookbirders@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, October 8
United Way of Aroostook
Book It for Reading 5k and Kids’ Fun Run, Presque Isle. Support for the United
Way of Aroostook, bring awareness to the importance of literacy. Registration 11:30 a.m. at Mantle Lake Park, 110 Pine St. Kids’ 1-mile Fun Run
start: 1:00 p.m. 5k Run/Walk start: 1:30
p.m. Cost: $10/Kids’ Fun Run, $25/5k
Run/Walk before Sept. 24, $30 after Sept. 23; first 50 registrants receive free
shirt. Visit www.runsignup.com/Race/ME/PresqueIsle/BookItForReading FMI
Monday, October 10
5th Annual ABM Domestic
& Sexual Violence Advocacy Center Walk to End Domestic Violence, Presque
Isle. 4:00-6:00
p.m. at Micmac Cultural, Community, and Educational Center, 7 Northern Rd.
Contact Aroostook Band of Micmacs (207-764-1972) FMI
Friday, October 14
3rd Annual Hope and Justice
Project Walk It Up, Presque Isle!, Presque Isle. Light walk to bring
awareness to domestic abuse and sexual violence. Registration and Story Time:
11:00 a.m. at Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, 39 2nd St. Walk start:
12:00 p.m. Free t-shirt and lunch to those who pre-register. Visit www.hopeandjusticeproject.org FMI
Friday, October 14
Friends of Baxter State Park
North Traveler Day Hike, Patten. North Traveler offers fascinating geology and
sweeping views over the northern portion of Baxter State Park and the East
Branch of the Penobscot. We’ll depart from South Branch Pond Campground. Advance
sign-up required; space is limited. Contact Sarah Holland admin@friendsofbaxter.org FMI
Saturday, October 15
Caribou Rec. Adult Take It
Outside Series Deboullie Day Hike, Caribou. Deboullie Public Reserved Land offers rugged
terrain, numerous ponds, spectacular views. Let us be your guide to what
Deboullie has to offer. Preregistration required; program restricted to those
in excellent shape. Cost: $20; bring bag lunch and additional money for a
potential stop at Dean’s Motor Lodge in Portage for dinner. Contact Neal
Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Saturday, October 15
Hollywood Pet Salon Strut
Your Mutt, Houlton.
Raising funds to
help finish a building for abandoned or injured animals. Route info: Hollywood Pet Salon to
Sanctuary grounds. Registration 9:00 a.m. at Hollywood Pet Salon, 70 Main St.
Walk start: 10:00 a.m. Contact Lorraine Monfils (207-532-7387) FMI
Saturday, October 15
MSAD 1 Adult &
Community Education Kitchen Aid 5k, Presque Isle. Help raise money for MSAD
1 Adult Ed's kitchen project. Registration: 10:00 a.m. at Presque Isle Middle
School. Kids’ Fun Run start: 10:30 a.m. on the PIMS track. Run start: 11:00
a.m. Cost: $15/person before October 1: $25/person after October 1. Contact
LeRae Kinney (207-764-4776) or lerae.kinney@sad1.org or visit www.msad1.coursestorm.com/course/kitchen-aid-5k FMI
Wednesday, October 19
Caribou Rec. Adult Take It
Outside Series Bradford Camps Trip, Caribou. For over a century, sportsmen and tourists
have traveled to North Maine Woods to embrace nature. Learn about the history
of the camps from the owners while being treated to lunch in a wilderness
lodge. Cost: $40. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Friday, October 21 &
Saturday, October 22
Presque Isle Historical
Society Haunted Lantern History Tours, Presque Isle. This “slightly scary and
kinda’ creepy” nighttime tour of downtown Presque Isle takes you through the
old jail (only opened each year for this tour) and thirteen sites where
interpreters relate the true history of that particular site by lantern light.
Tours begin at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. each night at Historic Fire Station, 11
Church St. Cost: $5. Contact Kim Smith (207-762-1151) or pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com FMI
Tuesday, October 25
Caribou Rec. Adult Take It
Outside Series North Maine Woods Trip, Caribou. Meet with NMW Director,
tour Maine Woods Company hardwood sawmill in Portage and MooseWood Millworks in
Ashland, swing through Portage Wood Products. Cost: $30; includes lunch.
Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Thursday, October 27
Woodstock Rec. Zombie 3k
Run, Woodstock, NB. Cross-country
run through Connell Park while being chased by Zombies, who will try to take
your 3 lives before you return to finish line. Prizes, awards following race. Registration:
5:00-6:00 p.m. at AYR Motor Centre, 105 Connell Park Rd. Zombies come out at
6:30 p.m. (all times Atlantic)! Cost: $10/adult; $5/student with ID. Zombies
needed. Contact Jill Dunnett jill.dunnett@town.woodstock.nb.ca
FMI
Friday, October 28 &
Saturday, October 29
Eagle Lake Haunted Forest,
Eagle Lake. Walk
through the scariest trail you will ever experience filled with monsters,
killers, and sadistic clowns. Come if you dare! 7:00-11:00 p.m. each night.
Contact Sandra L. Fournier (207-444-5511) FMI
Ongoing Programs:
County Strides Running
Group, Presque Isle. Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at various locations. Open to all
abilities; be ready for an easy run of 30-45 minutes, and bring friends! Visit County
Strides at www.facebook.com/groups/447181508818122 FMI
Francis
Malcolm Science Center Walk-in Tours, Easton. Weekdays; 9:00
a.m.-3:00 p.m. Experience our planetarium’s new, full-dome, digital projection
system, featuring a 30-minute activity; 15 minutes in the star theater, 15
minutes to visit the facility at large. Cost: $5/visitor;
reservations requested. Contact FMSC (207-488-5451) FMI
Sportsmen’s, Inc.
Meeting, Stockholm. First Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Axle Siding Clubhouse
(intersection of Lake Street/Rt. 161). Outdoors men and women promoting the
traditions of the outdoors. If you're interested in joining, you're welcome to
attend as a guest. Kids are welcome too! Visit www.facebook.com/Sportsmens-Inc-568794129811741 FMI
Friends of Aroostook
National Wildlife Refuge Meeting, Limestone. Second Monday of each month; 6:00
p.m. at ANWR headquarters and Visitor’s Center, 97 Refuge Rd. Founded in 1998, Friends
are involved in a number of volunteer projects on the ANWR in an effort to
balance the enhancing of habitat with the public access privilege to enjoy
wildlife in an unmolested environment. Contact Friends of ANWR (207-328-4634)
or friendsofanwr@gmail.com FMI
Nordic Heritage Sport
Club Meeting, Presque Isle. First Tuesday of each month; 6:00 p.m. at Nordic
Heritage Center, 450 Fort Fairfield Rd. The club promotes healthy outdoor
recreation, economic vitality in Central Aroostook County by providing
first-class facilities and programs to area residents, athletes, visitors.
Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI
Presque Isle Fish and
Game Club Meeting, Presque Isle. Last Tuesday of each month; 5:30 p.m. at PIFG
clubhouse, Parsons Road. Established in 1947 to help protect, conserve, maintain
and restore our natural resources as well as to protect and promote our outdoor
heritage. Meetings
include a delicious supper, cash bar, short business meeting. Visit www.pifg.org FMI
Four Seasons Trail
Association Meeting, Madawaska. First Wednesday of each month; 6:30
p.m. at Four Seasons Lodge, 425 Spring St. Non-profit organization dedicated to
promotion of healthier lifestyles for this community; participation open to
anyone interested. Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI
Fort Fairfield Frontier
Fish and Game Club, Fort Fairfield. Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (fourth Wednesdays during summer);
6:00 p.m. at FFFFG clubhouse on Monson Pond, 550 Dorsey Rd. Founded in 1958 to
help conserve, protect, maintain, and restore our natural resources and to
promote our outdoor heritage. Visit www.heyevent.com/venue/bmyulgbaawlhca FMI
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