Norway, ME

April 8, 7 p.m. Viva Quetzal live, exuberant group reflects the rhythms and melodies of the Andean region of Bolivia, Venezuelan Golpe Tucuyano and Ecuadorian Sanjuanito beats, $10/adults, $6/ages 11 and under, Bingham Hall, Gould Academy, Church Street, Bethel. FMI: 207.824.7700, www.gouldacademy.org.

April 8-11, 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, "Grease The Musical" presented by the Lake Region High School Drama Club, advance tix $8/adults, $6/students, $10 and $8 at the door, Lake Region High School Auditorium, 1877 Roosevelt Trail, Naples. FMI: 207.627.8070, www.sad61.k12.me.us.

April 9-11, all day and evening, Parrot Head Festival Weekend, Jimmy Buffett cover bands, contests, prizes, parties, pond skimming and more, all proceeds benefit Make-a-Wish Foundation, Sunday River Ski Resort, 15 South Ridge Road, Newry. FMI: 207.824.3000, www.sundayriver.com.

April 9, 5:30-7 p.m. Spaghetti Supper sponsored by the Oriental Order of the Masons, to benefit Lake Region High School's Project Graduation celebration, $6/adults, $4/kids, $20/family, Masonic Lodge, Route 117, Bridgton. FMI: 207.693.6643, www.sad61.k12.me.us.

April 9, 2010, 6-8 p.m. Let the Dough Fly, pasta dinner to benefit 2010 Norway Arts Festival and Sidewalk Art Show, pasta, baby greens, local foccacia, and yummy desserts, music, $10/adults, free/ages 9 and under, First Universalist Church, 479 Main Street, Norway. FMI: 207.890.0545, www.norwayartsfestival.org.

April 11, 8 p.m. Ruthie Foster Trio, featuring Ruthie Foster, Tanya Richardson and Samantha Banks, "somewhere between folk, blues and soul," $30/concert only, check Web site for dinner reservations at 6 p.m., Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road, Brownfield. FMI: 207.935.7292, www.stonemountainartscenter.com.

April 12, 7:30 p.m. "Laugh Out Loud" featuring Birdie Googins, a.k.a. "The Marden's Lady," sponsored by the Friends of Bridgton Public Library, $12/person, includes an invitation to "Meet and Greet Birdie," Magic Lantern Theater, 69 Main Street, Bridgton. FMI: 207.647.2477, www.bridgton.lib.me.us.

April 13, 6 p.m. Brad "Squintwood" Hooper, performing traditional folk and blues with real soul, Fare Share Market, 443 Main Street, Norway. FMI: 207.743.9044, www.faresharecoop.org.

April 14, 6-7:30 p.m. Bedtime Stories Program: Earth Day and Weather, children from area schools, grades k-4, welcome to wear their pajamas and enjoy listening to a story, along with fun activities and snacks, First floor lounge, Alfond Center, St. Joseph's College, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish. FMI: 207.893.7723, www.sjcme.edu.

Four beautiful bodies of water in the western mountains and Lakes Region provide bountiful recreation opportunities and settings for vacation homes, camps and cottages in Norway, Maine. Norway is located 2 ½ hours from Boston, one hour from Portland, and 20 minutes from Shawnee Peak or Mt Abram Ski Resorts and 30 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort.

The four lakes, Lake Pennesseewassee, a.k.a. Norway Lake, Sand Pond, Hobbs Pond, a.k.a. Little Penn and North Pond are all protected by the Lakes Association of Norway (LAON), which is led by President Bruce Cook. Since 1971, LAON has been dedicated to collecting data and informing the public about issues affecting the lakes of Norway. As their Web site states, "We're about clean waters."

Lake monitoring takes place from May through September, when the lake and ponds are the most biologically productive and water quality problems are most likely to occur. Based on reports from 2008, when we had heavy snowfall and rain, similar to 2009, Norway Lake was slightly less clear, when compared to the historical average. Sand Pond was slightly above average; Hobbs Pond had an above average report; and North Pond was average with relatively good water clarity.

Swimming, boating, fishing and water sports occur here in the summer, while snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating and cross country skiing happen all winter on the Norway Lakes. In fact, on January 30 and 31, the annual Snow Fest, sponsored by the Norway Trackers Snowmobile Club will take place on Norway Lake. You'll be able to enjoy drag racing, radar runs, an antique snowmobile show, and a Chowder Fest. All proceeds go to the trail grooming and maintenance of the Norway Snowmobile Trail System. For more information, contact Richard at 207.527.2175.

Norway Lake, the biggest of the four, covers 922 acres just west of the town of Norway. Its maximum depth is 48 feet. At five miles long and about a half mile wide, this lake is accessed from Route 117.

At the western end of the lake, you'll find Pennesseewassee Park, with a boat launch, picnic area and thanks to a generous grant from New Balance, a recently upgraded playground. Lovely sunsets are enjoyed from the eastern shore. Many folks enjoy kayaking at sunset while watching the loons.

Each July the Western Foothills Land Trust hosts the Norway Triathlon. This is an exciting and fun sprint triathlon on and around Norway Lake. Its purpose is to promote healthy active lifestyles, to conserve natural resources and to help local businesses and the economy. The Land Trust owns Roberts Farm and Preserve, a 150-acre former dairy farm on the shores of the lake.

Sand Pond covers 141 acres and has an average depth of 56 feet. It provides excellent habitat for coldwater fish including brook trout, an occasional larger trout plus smallmouth bass. The inlet stream is a popular smelt dipping location in the spring. There is no public access to the pond.

Hobbs Pond, at 96 acres with a maximum depth of 31 feet is accessed from a carry-in boat launch on Route 118. Motorboats with more than 10 horsepower are prohibited. This small pond has a predominantly rocky shoreline and is quite popular among local anglers. Brook trout and brown trout are stocked annually.

North Pond is the most wild and spectacular of the four ponds. If you are hoping for a moose sighting, this might be the place to go. Spanning 175 acres, the maximum depth is only 10 feet. A small dam maintains a constant water level. Boating is restricted to small fishing boats and canoes. A shallow channel leads from the boat launch through a marshy are to the main portion of the pond. Small and large-mouth bass, white perch, brown trout and pickerel are caught in this very productive pond.

Michael Perry, former Director of Outdoor Discovery Schools at LL Bean writes, "One of the most beautiful ponds in the area is North Pond. Think of it as being shaped like a skinny hourglass. While the southern half has many log cabins tucked into the forest shadows, the northern end is wild and untouched . . . civilization seems far removed. Plan three to four hours for a circuit of the whole pond, or two hours, if you plan to stay on the north end of the pond."

Though we still need colder temperatures for the water to freeze for ice fishing, all four ponds are open from January 1 through March 31. On Little Penn, there is no size or bag limit on bass. For more information, check the following Web site: www.state.me.us/ifw/laws_rules/fishing/icefishing/oxford.htm.

To learn more about the lakes of Norway, Maine, take a look at www.norwaylake.com.

To see all the lakefront property in the Norway Lakes area currently for sale just click on the box below:

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Norway Lake Marina (doing business as Keller's Place) sits on the shores of Lake Penneseewassee, whose common name is Norway Lake.

Norway Lake is about five miles long and a half-mile wide with a maximum depth of 48 feet. The marina is easily accessible at 295 Lake Road, across from the junction of Routes 117 and 118. In its second year of operation, Miles Millett runs Keller's Place for owner Bobby Lehmkuhl.

Miles told me that they offer new and used South Bay pontoon boats, Old Town canoes and kayaks, boat gear such as tubes and other recreational items, boat rentals, slip and mooring rentals, dockside fuel, shrink wrapping, winterization plus indoor and outdoor storage. Currently all 30 boat slips are filled.

Right now the marina is open Monday thru Friday from 9-5:30 and 10-3 on Saturdays during the season. Since the snowmobile trail runs across the property, Miles says they are considering taking advantage of the winter snowmobiling and ice fishing crowd. Stay tuned.

For more information: 207.744.0200 or www.norwaylakemarina.com

If you're in the mood to look at Lake Penneseewassee lakefront property just click below:

Search for lakefront properties in Norway, Maine

Traveling the back roads of the Oxford Hills area to search for lakefront properties around Sand Pond and Lake Pennesseewassee one discovers many treasures. One such treasure is tucked away on Pikes Hill in Norway, just up the road from Lake Penneesseewassee - Frost Farm Gallery.

The gallery is located in the historic David Weston Frost farmhouse at 272 Pikes Hill. Bruce and Adrienne Little opened the gallery and shop ten years ago. They offer custom framing, digital restoration, vintage and antique prints, jewelry, linen and postcards plus collectibles and gifts.

In talking with Bruce, his eyes lit up when he described the "First Friday" receptions. On the first Friday of each month seven galleries in Norway hold "meet and greet the artist" receptions.

Bruce was just getting ready to set up works of this month's featured artist, Pam Morra, when I arrived. "Eclectic Palette: Original Works by Pam Morra" will be displayed through August 29th.

"First Friday" receptions are free and open to the public. Hors d'oeuvres are served and Brad Hooper, an acoustic musician who has just released his first solo album, "Midnight at the Hilltop Hotel," provides live background music at the farm gallery.

Bruce said, "With the seven galleries open the first Friday of each month, you can make an evening of it."

Frost Farm Gallery is open year-round, Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. and noon to 8 on Saturdays and Sundays. You may contact them at 207.743.8041 or check their Web site for the upcoming exhibition schedule.

Six other galleries that offer "First Friday" receptions:

Matolcsy Art Center (The MAC), 480 Main Street, Norway, 207.739.6161, www.theWMAG.org

Cafe Nomad Community Gallery, 450 Main Street, Norway, 207.739.2249

Commons Art Collective, 443 Main Street, Norway, 207.743.9579, www.faresharecoop.org/cac.html

Norway Memorial Library, 258 Main Street, Norway, 207.743.5309, www.norway.lib.me.us

McLaughlin Garden, 97 Main Street, South Paris, 207.743.8820, www.mclaughlingarden.org

Painted Mermaid Gallery, 6 Briggs Avenue, South Paris, 207.743.7744, www.paintedmermaid.com

To see all the current lakefront property listings in Norway just click below:

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When thoughts of "a vacation camp in Maine" come to mind, the vision conjured up is often one that is typified by Maine's own L.C. Andrew cedar log home.

Since the 1920s, L.C. Andrew has provided the quintessential example of Maine lakefront, cedar-sided cabin and cottage aesthetics with their locally grown and built homes. Constructed only with Northern White Cedar from Maine, these homes have been a staple in lakefront design and simplicity for generations.

Thuja occidentalis (Eastern Arborvitae, Northern White cedar) is among the most long lived trees in North America. There are living specimens that are dated at over 1000 years old.

This fact isn't lost on the discriminating home builder whose needs include a camp or cottage that compliments its surroundings, while being easy to maintain. Northern White Cedar is naturally insect and rot-resistant while providing superior insulating properties, as well.

For those interested in a classic example of Maine lakefront design that is efficient and easy to maintain look no further than the classic L.C. Andrews cabin.

As a matter of fact, we happen to have a current listing that is a fine example of the authentic L.C. Andrew home. It's located on Sand Pond in Norway and dates from the 1960s. Click here to have a look!