Casco, ME

June 25, 9 a.m. Native Plant Walk, led by Colin Holme, LEA Field Services Director, introduction to native plants to help inspire natural landscaping for water quality production and habitat enhancement, easy terrain, $5/non-members, free/members, meet to carpool at Lakes Environmental Association, 230 Maine Street, Bridgton. FMI: 207.647.8580, www.mainelakes.org.

June 25-26, 5 p.m. Friday - 8 p.m. Saturday, Standish Summer Spectacular, celebrating the 225th anniversary of Standish, live music and fireworks at Kiwanis Beach on Friday, community marketplace, "Spectacular" parade, musical show, bean supper and "Mr. Magic" on Saturday at various venues throughout the three villages, Route 25, Standish. FMI: 207.642.2875, www.standish.org.

June 26, 6:30 p.m. Strawberry Festival, preceded by historical talk, "What Everyday Life was Like in Raymond in the early 1800s," by John Manoush, strawberry shortcake served at 7 p.m, $5/adults, $3/ages 8 and under, Hawthorne House, Raymond Cape Road, South Casco. FMI: 207.655.7660, www.hawthorneassoc.com.

June 26, 7 p.m. African Drumming with Annegret Baier, Push Back the Stacks performance, free, Spaulding Memorial Library, 282 Sebago Road, Sebago. FMI: 207.787.2321, www.spaulding.lib.me.us.

June 26, 7:30 p.m. The Toughcats, band with an unusual sound, a blend of old-time bluegrass, thoughtful indie rock and classical pop, $10/person, Denmark Arts Center, 50 West Main Street, Denmark. FMI: 207.452.2412, www.toughcat.com.

June 26, 7:30 p.m. Matthew Savage, jazz pianist, performing since age 8, has performed with Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, Ben Vereen and more plus the Ellington All Stars and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, $10/adults, $7/seniors, $5/students, Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center, 745 Main Street, Fryeburg. FMI: 207.935.9232, www.fryeburgacademy.org.

June 27, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Car Show, sponsored by Harrison Lions Club, $5/registration fee for car and driver, register from 8-11 a.m., voting from 9-noon, awards at 2 p.m., free to public, donations accepted, benefits kids and community programs, Crystal Lake Park, Route 117, Harrison. FMI: 207.693.4051, www.mainemustang.com.

June 27, 2-3:30 p.m. Edible, Medicinal Plant ID Workshop taught by Rebecca Golden, an herbalist from Vermont, learn about these plants that grow in your backyard, Deerwood Farm and Gardens, 571 Norway Road (Route 118), Norway. FMI: 207.583.2412, www.deerwoodgarden.com.

June 27, 8 p.m. Kevin Barry and Consuelo Candelaria-Barry, stellar guitar player of the Stone Mountain Boys joined by his pianist wife, $10/person (plus $3 handling fee), dinner available before the show by reservation, cash or check only on night of show, Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695, Dugway Road, Brownfield. FMI: 207.935.7292, www.stonemountainartscenter.com.

June 30, 4 p.m. Pondicherry Park Walk, led by Mary Jewett, LEA Teacher/Naturalist, description of the natural and cultural features of the park, easy terrain, free, meet at Bridgton Public Library, 1 Church Street, Bridgton. FMI: 207.647.8580, www.mainelakes.org.

June 30, 6:30 p.m. West Side Story Champagne Gala and Opening Night Celebration, complimentary Hors d'oeuvres and Champagne served prior to the 7:30 p.m performance, desserts served at intermission, cash bar available for wine and beer, $30/person, reservations requested by June 25, proceeds benefit Schoolhouse Arts Center's Arts Education Program, School House Arts Center, 16 Richville Road, Standish. FMI: 207.642.3743, www.schoolhousearts.org.

Situated in the Sebago Lakes Region, Coffee Pond is located 20 miles northwest of Portland and only a couple of hours from Boston. It's easily accessible from Routes 11 and 121 to shops and activities in Freeport, the White Mountains and North Conway, NH.

At 137 acres, Coffee Pond is a quarter mile wide and a mile long. This spring-fed pond has a maximum depth of 70 feet.

Bill Mansfield, a Life Long Lake Monitor for the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitors Program these past ten years, conducts all the testing and Coffee Pond's water quality is absolutely EXCELLENT! This is one of the Sebago Lakes Region's most popular lakes because of its water quality.

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Anglers are delighted with Coffee Pond. It's managed for cold and warm water species. Brook trout are stocked annually. The pond holds 10 to 12-inch hatchery brookies from late April into June, when the water begins to warm. Small and largemouth bass plus pickerel are also caught here. The excellent smelt population provides forage for both the trout and bass. Special regulations do exist for the brook trout, bass and smelt. Fishermen should check the law books presented by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Sunapee Trout, named for Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire, were stocked in Coffee Pond from 1969 until at least 1974 as part of the management plan to increase the range of this species.

Great swimming, boating, kayaking and fishing are among the activities lakefront homeowners and vacationers will enjoy along the shores of Coffee Pond. The pond is small and peaceful, making it one of the areas most popular. Camp Cedar, a residential summer camp for boys, is nestled along the wooded shoreline.

If you are looking for a quiet location for a seasonal or year-round home, look no more. Let the pristine waters of Coffee Pond charm you.

Coffee Pond is closed to winter fishing. During the rest of the year, boaters and anglers should note that access is limited to canoes, kayaks and small boats at a small, unimproved landing adjacent to the outlet.

Point Sebago Resort on Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine will once again be the host for the 6th annual Lake Region Brewer's Festival this Saturday, September 26th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Do you like the idea of sampling dozens of finely-brewed beers, enjoying plenty of good food, listening to live music, all while gazing out over the blue expanse of Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine? Then you need to show up tomorrow, this Saturday, on the shores of Sebago Lake, plunk down your $25 and start having a good time.

Around here we just call this event the Brewfest. It has become so well-known and such a popular draw in such a short period of time because of the popularity of micro-brewed and handcrafted beers. Couple that with a gorgeous outdoor venue and the great volunteer effort by the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and you have a fun-filled day that now draws 2000 or more attendees.

Among the brewers participating this year are Allagash Brewing, Atlantic Brewing, Belfast Bay Brewing, Blacksmiths Winery, Boston Beer, Brays Brewing, Brooklyn Brewery, D.L. Geary Brewing, Dogfish Head, Great Beers/Wicked Wines, Green Mountain, Gritty McDuff's Brewery, Sebago Brewing, Kennebec River Brewery, Longtrail Brewing, Magic Hat Brewing, Harpoon Brewery, Oak Pond Brewery, Peak Organic Brewing, Redhook Ale Brewery, Run of the Mill, Sea Dog, Sebago Brewing, Sheepscot Brewing, Shipyard Brewing, Smuttynose Brewing, and Sunday River/Stonecoast Brewery.

In addition to the main attraction - gallons of handcrafted beers - there is also plenty of live entertainment, tons of great food, and a craft fair featuring dozens of area artisans.

So, if you're looking for something to do this Saturday, come to the Brewfest. The weather is going to be perfect, the beer will be cold, and for the $25 admission fee you'll be sure to walk away with a full belly and a smile on your face.

While you're here, you just might want to check out some lakefront property on Sebago Lake. You can preview all the Sebago Lake lakefront property currently on the market by clicking below:

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Need a break from shopping for the perfect lakefront property near Pleasant Lake in Casco? Then visit Mayberry Hill Preserve, a gem in the western Maine Lakes and Mountains Region.

Jon Evans, Stewardship and Volunteer Coordinator for Loon Echo Land Trust says of the Preserve, "The gentle terrain invites folks of all ages to a thirty minute vacation in the Maine woods."

He is absolutely right. Mayberry Hill Preserve presents visitors and residents with a pleasant stroll over a one-mile loop through a mixed forest.

"This carefully managed forest offers Red oak, White Oak, Pitch Pine, mixed Hardwoods and Maine's signature tree, the White Pine," says Jon.

Quintessential stone walls, a stone cairn, and a couple of stone benches await hikers, skiers and snowshoers on this 160-acre parcel which was donated to Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) in 1990.

Since 1987 LELT has lived by its motto: Saving Land for Future Generations. Their mission is to protect our most loved lands so that we and our grandchildren will always be proud to call this special place home.

Jon says, "The Mayberry Hill Preserve provides a variety of sensations, i.e. the songbirds that greet you upon entry, the magnificient stonewalls protecting delicate lady slippers, the rich smell of ferns and mosses along the way and in July, mouth-watering blueberries in the field. Winter provides ample tracking opportunities as you snowshoe along the one-mile loop."

So . . . the next time you need a quick pick-me-up or time to ponder lakefront properties, I suggest you head to Mayberry Hill Preserve on Mayberry Hill Road in Casco, where the air is always fresh and pine-scented.

FMI: 207.647.4352 or www.lelt.org

Check out the lakefront property currently available on Pleasant Lake in Casco by clicking below:

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Sometimes big things come in small packages in the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine. Such is the case with Baker's Dozen at 2 Lord Road in Casco, across from Pleasant Lake.

Two years ago, after retiring from a career in food service, Eunice Long opened Baker's Dozen with the help of her husband Mel, who serves as her gofer and right-hand man.

A recent customer comment sums up the new business: "This is the best thing that ever happened to Casco."

Eunice offers a selection of breads and rolls, cakes and sweet breads, 9-inch pies, cookies, filled donuts, Danish, candy and whoopie pies. And, in keeping with the name of the shop, if you purchase a dozen cookies, you get one extra-a baker's dozen.

She sells lots of cookies and says that nine out of ten youngsters choose chocolate chip for their free cookie. Mel's favorite is the oatmeal raisin, while Eunice prefers the molasses. I have to agree with her; it's soft and delicious.

Besides the tiny shop on their breezeway, Eunice fills special orders and sells to some area businesses, including the Naples Lobster Pound and Mr. Butcher.

She and Mel laugh as they recall one gentleman who dined at the Naples Lobster Pound last year. The next day he called to ask, "Are you the lady who makes blueberry pies?" He went on to explain that he'd had a slice for dessert and it was the most delicious piece of pie he'd ever eaten. So . . . he tried to buy the rest of the pie. J.R. Warren, owner of the Naples Lobster Pound, told him he'd need to call Eunice. He's now a regular customer.

What makes her pies so special? Just maybe it's the pie crusts, which are hand-rolled. Eunice says, "I don't use a mixer because that tends to toughen the pie crust."

It's the repeat customers who have become "like old friends," according to Eunice. "That's what I like about it. We both like meeting people, talking to them, finding out where they're from."

And part of the charm for customers is watching Eunice in the kitchen. Mel says people come in to make a purchase and end up stopping to watch and chat.

Normally open 10-4 Thursdays thru Saturdays from spring through autumn, Eunice says, "If anyone calls they can get anything on order any day of the week all year long." Her phone number is 207.627.4755.

Naples Lobster Pound, Route 302, Naples, 207.693.6580

Mr. Butcher is adjacent to the Freedom Café and Pub at 923 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302), Naples, FMI: 207.693.3701.

If you're interested in lakefront property on Pleasant Lake look no further than the box below. Just click and go!

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