On the way home from a trip downstate in Maine, as a kid I remember in the winter when we were driving a little slower during falling snow stories about my dad's service in World War Two.

     It was not that Dad did not talk about the war...it just seemed the stories were told more while driving back from some where to pass the time or on porches on summer evenings, depending on the audience.

     My Dad served in the 15th Army - Air Force as it was called at the time. In the 882nd bombardment wing and his job? He wanted to be a pilot of a bomber but they had plenty of those so due to being pretty wiry and skinny, he was able to squeeze into the rear of a B-24 bomber to run the two rear 50mm machine guns. Think of sitting, jammed in the rear of a four engine noisy plane, that smelled like a latrine, without a pressurized cabin, wearing an oxygen mask in sub zero winter weather approaching the enemy target you were briefed on before the sun came up this morning. Not knowing if the mission would happen or not due to the weather patterns as you tried to sleep the night before.

Thinking of his girlfriend, my mom back home that he wrote to every day. (It's fun to read the letters now between the two and realize mom and dad had another name...John and Marylou. )

Serving in the war effort with ten other 19, 20 year olds and being superstitious to keep your flight crew in tact. Sleeping together in a tent with a gas heater in a field back in Italy. Playing cards, talking about home. A curvy not over clothed young lady painted on the nose of that bomber you flew in the back of. You got pretty close to the others you depended on to make the bomb run, and to high tail it out of harms way in a sky filled with the smell of cordite from shells exploding at your altitude.That's if the German 88 anti aircraft gun operators were doing their job with the help of radar. To mess up that radar, my Dad has a small chute to stuff tinsel, small metal strips into the air space behind him, beneath the Liberator plane they flew in. It confused, jammed that radar and bought them time to open the bomb bay doors to drop the 500, 1000 pound incendiary or percussion or whatever bomb type was needed for this mission. Bombs that had the pins to make them live pulled a few minutes before being over the target. The bombardier having a new Norden bomb sight that made more precision, accurate bombing possible later in the war.

     You had P-47, P-51 "little friends" Dad called them fighter planes to escort you like a date to the prom around the flying formations of B-17 and B-24 American bombers. But they bugged out close to the IP zone and are helpful to rid you of the raiding German ME 109's or whatever other planes the German's were putting in to production at the time. But you suddenly were by yourself without the fighter plane protection with enemy planes trying their best to blow you out of the sky before you dropped your present, the payload. The whole country in America, England and the free world were behind the war effort after Pearl Harbor's fleet sinking. They grew victory gardens, recycled copper for bullet casings, rationed gas, watched news reels about "Loose Lips Sink Ships" back home. In Houlton Maine, the local potato farmers benefited from German prisoner of war spud pickers at the local airbase where there were rows and rows of barracks.

    My Dad said the chatter on the intercom stopped as the target, a ball bearing factory or oil refinery outside Germany, the target of choice n today's war menu approached. Secondary targets in mind and planned on depending on cloud cover that might roll in. And the most dangerous place in the plane? The ball turret operator underneath in a plexiglass bubble. He had two 50 mm guns too that hopefully did not jam and that bubble swiveled to track fighter planes. But it was not a good place to be when hydraulics were shot out and the lift mechanism stopped working. Getting that crew member out of there if he was still alive was one of the biggest concerns as a crippled plane on less than the four engines hobbled back to the friendly Italian airfield that it had taken off from earlier that day. One or both landing gears not operational and that ball turret operator bleeding, not talking as the pilot, co pilot discussed how to land on the belly of that plane but where the can opener was to get a valuable, injured crew member out of that hole before running out of fuel and that ditched, forced belly landing. 

     Dad said  every 55 minutes the Ford plant in Detroit rolled another Vulcan B-24 off the assembly line when production of cars shifted to airplanes. I have a 1941 Cadillac that a fellow stores winters at a farm I own. He told me that car his grandfather bought after the war and it was the last Cadillac rolled off the assembly line when production shifted to making tanks out of that GM facility. So on veterans day, I think of my Dad in a rattling plane, in an electric flight suit and with a survival kit for a crash landing or parachute jump in hostile lands. That kit having an ampule of morphine, some silk thread, a chocolate bar, a map of the area for that mission on that day. And silver certificate currency in case the Germans, or whatever country folks worried if the money was any good or not. I am sure a bible verse was in there to remind you to stay strong, to fear not that God was protecting you (Isaiah 41:10) in the fight for freedom and the American way of life. Have two brothers too that were Vietnam era Amy soliders...but one was in intelligence in Germany, the other in the corp of engineers in California toward the tail end of the war as it wound down. They were lucky to have missed the recon walks thru a rice paddy with a gun over their head to keep it dry and all the worries of being "out of country" at a time when their efforts were not nearly as popular state side as the attitude during world war two my dad enjoyed.

     Thank a veteran, say a prayer for those in harms way around the country now. Men and woman, parents of children, sons and daughters of other veterans, civillians that know the risks. That are in danger and need our thoughts, prayers, support every day. Not just on Veterans Day.

    

It's no secret that for a smaller Northern Maine school, Houlton Maine's jr and sr high schools excel statewide in music.

Over 64% of the Houlton Maine junior high school students are active in 12 music ensembles. Over 42% of the high school student enrollment make the music program state reknown.  Houlton Maine is the home of five state championship high school show choirs and has hosted several state music competitions. The Houlton Maine junior high show choir is a two time state champion and award winning bands, choruses, jazz bands, jazz choirs perform year round in local presentations, state level programs and in out of state music festivals.

     Currently, a new Houlton Community Arts Center is being built and the Houlton Maine jr / sr high school auditorium is being totally renovated, expanded. Balcony seating, new lighting, new sound..stage, the works. The local Houlton Maine taxpayers approved a bond to get the project rolling and local citizens have put their shoulder in to the project.

Currently, sale of new seating in honor of your class, a departed love one, or your tax deductible business contribution is gaining momentum.

The Houlton Maine music program has out grown the number and size of musical productions. The new facility will also be used by dance groups and other cultural opportunities with traveling productions. If you would like to be part of the exciting project, contact 207.532.6551, ext 22. Also, it's hoped the new auditorium will be fully operational for the opening of the this year's musical "Damn Yankees" November 20,21,22. In the mean time, McGill's Band in Houlton Maine practices year round, has over 100 members that perform in parades, in the Houlton Amphitheatre behind Cary Library in Memorial Park. Watch the video of one of their performances.

This Houlton Maine music image says it all.

    

As a kid, Maine Halloween trick or treating, what a concept I thought with glee.

Going up to total strangers houses with your cousins, ringing the bell after hopping up the front porch stairs and the light comes on. An older lady or gentlemen look a fake surprise or fright and everyone screams "Trick or Treat"! Other goblins up and down the street are moving like the plague from house to house as most front porch lights are on. As an adult, can still remember the houses where the best treats were. And before the Facebook, Myspace, Twitter social networking, word spread on which home owners took this Halloween concept seriously and went all out. Kids spread the word on homes, neighbors to put on the must visit list before curfew and the ones not worth door knocking, that ate in to house to house production, collection. It was more than candy quantity...it was quality of treats, the experience you went thru to get something plopped worth keeping in to the open sack.

     Had a fellow in from Arkansas that remembers a local home town home owner giving out silver dollars..and this was in the late 1960's when silver dollars would buy more than a happy meal. I remember the Chamberlain sisters who would invite you in to their big federal style Court Street, Houlton ME home and fresh, hot donuts..usually chocolate and molasses were waiting with hot cider.

That stop was a highlight of the door to door candy or cavity campaign but getting out of the place took some effort as everyone had to remove their masks, let the ladies know who your dad and mom were and socialize a little before eating, drinking and running to the next neighborhood home.

That stop did eat into production but the donuts were addictive. The home was a definite must stop and on the top three of places to visit. I knew of some kids carrying another mask, disguise that would double back and try to hit the same candy bank again.

     I remember a stop with my own 4 kids on Commonwealth Ave Houlton Maine, where three families joined forces and dooryards. It was like Disney land in Southern Aroostook County. A big Army tent was set up with blacklights, and zombies roaming the premises, in jerky motions indicated they may have been to the other side and come back for unfinished business, to haunt little kids with costumes, pillow cases full of various forms of sugar. There was a fellow in an open coffin, and a BOO hollers as the kids got closer to see if that was a real, sleeping or dead person in that final resting place. Snakes hooked to a pulley with piano wire or fishing line danced in the trees operated by an old geezer with a chain saw in his lap on the front porch. Lots to see and everyone pretty quiet as the kids went thru the "stations" weaving in to get a glimpse, grab a treat and then pick up production in the door to door frenzy.

Another neighborhood with a kid in a tuxedo, white gloves, spats and a nylon over his head making mime like robot, Michael Jackson moon walk motions. Saying nothing and just in the neighborhood we were marauding. Getting curious, who is this guy glances as kids steered a wide path around, not sure how to take his presence and out of place attire, look. He has since gone on to work in a circus, juggling, high wire acts, and carnival like with his skills honed with the Halloween opportunity to entertain, amuse in Houlton Maine. Another home owner worked at Nabisco and that home's candy bowl had oversized treats like you get in the movie theatre. There was always a line, take a number, have a seat or stand in line reaching in for a treat from the treasure chest to sample, munch on to keep your energy up.

     I personally like the home where there was a small orange, black and white bag with the blackened witch on a broom outline in the moon lit sky that was filled with a variety of treats. My personal favorite in the trading the next day in someones living room with other short door bell ringers? Paydays. I was not a sweet tooth or obsessed with candy as a kid because of the sound of a high speed dentist drill in the back of my head, a fear from my mom who like most folks, was not sending the dentist a Christmas card or looking forward to the six month check up. But paydays, Nestle Crunch that were a close top three treats and enjoyed in the potato field breaks each fall were always involved in a trade. The peanut butter chocolate anything rounded out the top three and the first treats to download, cast off and just be rid of? The popcorn balls that were dryer than a desert, maybe left over from a decade before that got tossed into the bag but almost rejected by this goblin.

Small, tiny apples that were brown from bruises, or early frost and had black blight spots were not traded..they were tossed immediately. I remember one drunk apartment owner who called my trick or treat posse into the home and in to the kitchen, opening up the cupboards and saying help yourself...forgot to buy candy. Somehow reaching for a can of Dinty Moore beef stew or baked beans seemed not right. Giving him, Mr Hammered from a thirty pack some popcorn balls, apples if they had not already been jettisoned to "re-gift" or "re-treat" seemed appropriate and Robin Hood like. Kids have a sense of honor, rules of the game and fairness at the earlier age. when they are under 44 inches tall and can not go on all of life's rides.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine, It's Safe To Trick Or Treat Here, Live Here.

 

    

Activerain's Bob Stewart threw down the challenge gauntlet searcing for examples of how we use the treasure chest of blog posts to do further good in our day to day real estate operation.

There are many ways we take the trip back in to the blog post inventory and assemble a series of them to ricochet email correspondence back to the sender. We have a connection with a past client and these "what is going on in the area newsy blog posts" bee-lined to their inbox help us stay connected. For past happy buyers who decide to sell, or have friends to refer. For sellers to keep us in their mind. We start a relationship that eventually with these emails with blog attachments push them off the fence, eventually.

     But probably the two top ways we use the AR library is targeted at relocation and retirement prospective buyers. They are folks that many have never been to this area of Northern Maine before so they have questions. Lots. Just like you would if you were considering a life changing move to a place eight states away that you had no previous experience. We get a visit, get their email and then start slowly launching old blog posts about the topics they need answers on. To get them to move, buy, relocate here. These blog posts help us deepen the relationship. We give them something other than just real estate information. Local information they are starved, thirsty for. It's the connection these past and current blog posts help us maintain with a mailing list to share them without being a pest, not too frequently sent. Slow drip. Careful email mortaring...with the blogs attached to the emails that hit the areas they are most interested in..the schools, health care, crime, etc. That's why you need to know your customer..what they want, what they are worried about and give them what they ask for. Hit those areas with blog posts about those areas. Written especially for them (but used with others like them). Think of a blog post that you send out to hundreds of folks from your email end of the chain. Not just readers, followers from finding it on line on their own.

     For starters most real estate websites are set up, and then dust mounts. Oh sure, they have an idx/mls stream for new listings, price changes and the office staff tinkers on the real estate listing section.

But other then a Happy Halloween or a opening image change once in awhile, the site is cold, static, and not up to the minute. Blog posts are real time, like Twitter tweets. Right now, or at least what it is like in your area today, or this season.

So we do new round up new, crank out these type of current today local blog posts where we attach them to a new, never been here before emailer or calls that we ping information to so they become acclimated, knowledgeable about our home town. You'll see this blog post has video embed of a local activity..Maine youth picking potatoes to earn their winter coat, their ipods. Southern Maine real estate brokers along the coast could have the same kids learn work ethic video piece with blueberry raking, fishing for lobster, digging for clams to taylor make the presentation to their area of the state. Not cookie cutter fit the entire state but localism, tons of good stuff..the copy, images, video of the local area you crafted. And no mention of selling real estate, just the tag on the end that this guy or gal is a real estate broker for future reference.

     So when we get asked the number one question, what is your weather like in winter or the other three seasons, we start out the intial response email with the polite thank you for contacting our office and your interest in Maine. And we send property attachments loaded with more details than they see on the idx or realtor.com, plus indicate all four seasons are fun for recreation, etc. And we also send a teaser line with in winter if that was there big concern, worry that we ski, snowsled, play hockey with our kids at an arena or on a frozen lake under the bright sunshine and we do not hibernate in the winter. And to read more here with a link insertion. Or sometimes, we know the other end of the fiber optics cables has been bombarded with real estate images..the inside, outside and lots of copy, video, images of the property. But what about the area...is there away to just slide in some local Maine eye candy..nothing heavy, just a ten second eyeball scan to reinforce they are going to like it here?

     This blog post is one of many we draw from that is a simple extra from 2008 to drop in the real estate bag before it gets taken out to the customer's car so to speak. Like a grocery store stuffs a flyer in the bag to get them to come back. To be different than other stores. To build a connection, a relationship, reaching out with something extra. You got the customer considering your area in to the AR site. And low and behold, they can search other Maine topics and bump in to you again from other posts. They find you have already been there for them, crafting and hammering out other informative blog posts on the area you serve. When you have approaching 1200 blog posts, there should be lots to draw from. You write many knowing where you chamber of commerce "holes" are and beef up the shelves by writing, posting, stocking those shelves.

     We have blog posts to send along to real estate sellers sitting on the fence about listing. We have a slow drip campaign to nudge this audience and creative, simple blog posts like this and get them reading, keeping you in their thoughts to turn to as the agent / broker to pick. This post and a slew of others with the same "bent" or slant get tucked in to an email about "Mr Seller, have you thought any more about listing your waterfront cottage that is not getting much use anymore...we are here to help.

     Short and sweet and with this type of blog post to get them in to the blog to see you use this vehicle a lot to hit new relocating, retiring propsects. To educate folks about the area, to find buyers, to market property.

     Other examples of using blog posts to reinforce your emails, to post on your site as a reference resource are ones we write with helpful links to Houlton Maine area schools, events their kids will enjoy (this one is a good follow up for someone that was here months ago, but as an easy watch this easy video. You hope they can see themselves, their families living here, doing this or that activity.) During the intial visit of someone toying with the idea of relocation, retirement here, we follow up later with an email that could have a few new listings like they wanted, and if you noted they are a rotarian, tack this along as what they will be doing for service club work in retirement here. Make them feel like they already live here. Show them what they don't see because they don't live here now..the stuff CNN, ESPN don't cover but you do on the local level. Hometown, simple, down to earth.

     And lastly, this is my favorite way to "show" the new real estate buyer who is a stranger to these parts what the area is like. Instead of making him read and a few images of the area, a few helpful links, video gets rolled in. Embed many local community videos, something for everyone in a buffet fashion and all they do on the other end is push play, sit back and they hear, see, get a feel for what the local Houlton Maine area is all about. Who is the person selling the real estate, reporting and keeping the prospect up to day with emails with attachments to these helpful blog posts..do a three minute video to tell them in your own words, so they can meet you. They want to know about churches, local banks, Maine moose season , the new Maine co2, smoke fire detector law beef up, which school system will my kids go to, so give it to them with a blog attachement of the videos in your emails. You don't have to rewrite these same FAQ answers over and over, attach the well written, link, image, video laddened blog posts to do it for you and save boat loads of time. You write them to reuse them and that drives lots of traffic to the Activerain blog beehive.

Maine, It's Just More Fun Here.

In Maine, we are very fortunate to have super medical facilities in place, staffed by folks who want a friendly, crime free, pollution free area to raise a famly in.

So unless you need a brain transplant, or plan to upgrade all your major organs with loaners, Maine health care in the Houlton Maine area is superb. The same goes with local Houlton ME banking, financing institutions. So we don't have to scramble out of town to catch an attractive loan program, or a local professional that understands the ins and outs, the mechanics.

I just got back from a Maine Association of REALTOR state convention at the Samoset in Rockland ME.

The many southern Maine loan orginators and mortgage brokers who have hospitality suites after classes wonder how to get more of Northern Maine's bank buying customers. Have to smile, remind them we have some pretty sharp financing individuals in place.

Six local Houlton Maine banking outlets and with land loans, waterfront real estate, many many owner financing loans. No bank, Custom made and remember our prices are so much lower, so is the loan. It all boils down to well made local loans using all the financing VA, HUD, Rural Development, SBA loan programs. Plus the smaller local Maine banks have a custom made portfolio loan that is flexible, driven by the old days of not just credit score or years on job. It looks at the person, the property and considers all the aspects of the borrower and property. Not jammed into a cookie cutter loan situation where appraiser's stratch their head. Or where underwriters try to make comparable sales / listings what they are not. Watch the local Houlton ME banking video options and jot down some names, telephone numbers to contact.

Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers - Maine, Well Worth The Trip, Our Location Protects Us From Noisy Cities.