Jon Whitney

October 8-11, 9:00 a.m.-closing, 159th Annual Fryeburg Fair, Maine's Blue Ribbon Classic continues with harness racing, midway, food booths, the world's largest steer and oxen show, exhibits, energy row, Old McDonald's petting farm, agriculture, museums, demonstrations, entertainment, contests and more. $8/person except $10/person on Saturday, free/under age 12, $5/on site parking, Fryeburg Fairgrounds, Route 5, Fryeburg. FMI: 207.935.3268, www.fryeburgfair.com

October 8, 7:30 p.m. "Starr King's The White Hills and 19th Century White Mountain Tourism," free lecture presented by Randall H. Bennett, program marks the 150th anniversary of Reverend Thomas Starr King's seminal guidebook, "The White Mountains: Their Legends, Landscape and Poetry," (1859), Mason House Exhibit Hall, 10-14 Broad Street on the Common, Bethel. FMI: 207.824.2908 or 800.824.2910, www.bethelhistorical.org.

October 9, 8 p.m. Bob Marley, local comedian and national success, $25/person concert only, dinner is sold out (no credit cards accepted on site), Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road, Brownfield. FMI: 207.935.7292, www.stonemountainartscenter.com.

October 10, 10 a.m. 4th Annual Mountainview Woodies Fall Foliage Cruise, launch at Moose Landing Marina at 10, motor to Caswell House in Harrison for lunch and then back. Join the fun via boat, or enjoy the view from the shore of these classic wooden boats. Moose Landing Marina, Route 302, Naples. FMI: www.mountainviewwoodies.org.

October 10, 11 a.m. 10th Annual Fall Festival Weekend at Sunday River including the North American Wife Carrying Championships, 278-yard course, winner receives wife's weight in beer and wife's weight times 5 in cash, also Arts and Crafts Fair, free concert with Entrain and more, Sunday River Ski Resort, 15 South Ridge Road, Newry.
FMI: 207.824.3000, www.sundayriver.com.

October 10, 5 pm to finish. Annual Harrison Village Library Turkey Supper fundraiser. On the eastern shore of Long Lake at the Camp Newfound dining hall, off Rte. 35 in Harrison. The food is great, the price is right, and the venue can't be beat. Adults $8, children $4. FMI: 207-583-2970.

October 10, 5-7:00 p.m. 16th Annual Turkey Dinner with all the fixings, plus homemade pie, $7/adults, $4/children, free/under age 4, benefit church's Outreach Programs, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 42 Sweden Road, Bridgton. FMI: 207.647.8549, www.stpetersbridgton.org.

October 11, 11:30 a.m. 10th Annual Waterford 5K Fall Foliage and Fun Run Race, benefit the Tony Wadeier Scholarship Fund, 1-mile fun run for kids at 11:30, followed at noon by a scenic run beginning at the historic Waterford Commons and continuing beside Keoka Lake to Bear Mountain Inn and back, held in conjunction with the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce's Great Western Chili Cook Off, free chili samples to all race participants, Waterford Commons, Route 37, Waterford Flats. FMI: race-207.583.4611, chili cook off-207.647.3472, www.mainelakeschamber.com.

October 14, 11:30 a.m. The Rooster Review, variety show with Carol Noonan, Mike Miclon, Lisa Saffer, Tim Ostendorf, Katy Noonan, Julia Hendrickson and Sonny Barbato, $36 includes lunch, entertainment, gratuity and tax, (no credit cards accepted on site), Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road, Brownfield. FMI: 207.93.7292, www.stonemountainartscenter.com.

If you have an interest in lakefront real estate, why not check out the current local offerings by clicking on the boxes below:

Search for lakefront properties in the Sebago Lakes Region $150k to $300k

Search for lakefront properties in the Sebago Lakes Region $300k to $450k

Search for lakefront properties in the Sebago Lakes Region $450k to $700k

Search for lakefront properties in the Sebago Lakes Region over $700k

October 8, 7:30 p.m. "Rediscovering Champlain's Dream," by David Fischer, about the 17th Century explorer who brought French culture to Quebec and New England, $15/person, Deering Wing, Dyer Library, 371 Main Street, Saco. FMI: 207.283.3861, www.sacomuseum.org.

October 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. "Building a Resilient Coast," documentary film presented by the Sierra Club about coastal Maine towns and their struggles to prepare for climate changes, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 114 Main Street, Kennebunk.
FMI: 207.761.5616, www.maine.sierraclub.org.

October 9, 7:30 p.m. "Run for Your Ives . . . and friends," adult-themed comedy written by David Ives and directed by Christopher Price, presented by the Legacy Theater Company, language not suitable for children, $15/person plus bring a non-perishable food item to benefit Legacy's United We Weigh One-Ton of Food Raising Campaign for the Saco Food Pantry, Harry P. Garland II Auditorium, Thornton Academy, Route 1, Saco. FMI: 207.604.9448, www.legacytheatercompany.org.

October 10, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 6th Annual Coastal Kitchen Tour, visit kitchens in some of the loveliest homes in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, proceeds benefit the Senior Center at Lower Village, $15-$18/tickets in advance, $20/day of tour, Senior Center at Lower Village, 175 Port Road, Kennebunk. FMI: 207.967.8514, www.seniorcenterkennebunk.org.

October 10, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Octoberfest, silent auction, food items, children's activities and entertainment, free, William Fogg Library, 1 Old Road, Eliot. FMI: 207.438.9297, www.william-fogg.lib.me.us.

October 10, 7:30 p.m. "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," 1917 silent film starring the legendary Mary Pickford, taken from the novel and play by Hollis literary celebrity Kate Douglas Wiggin and named for famed Hollis Civil War nurse, Rebecca Usher, film with live music accompaniment by Doug Protsik and pre-film talk, $12/person, Saco River Grange Hall, 29 Salmon Falls Road, Bar Mills. FMI: 207.929.6472, www.sacorivergrangehall.org.

October 10, 8-11:30 p.m. Dance to all Request Music, featuring DJ Larry Thibodeau, cash bar, free popcorn, casual dress, $10/person, Nasson Community Center, 457 Main Street, Springvale. FMI: 207.324.5657, www.nassoncc.org.

October 11, 3:30 p.m. Trust in Art, a live fresh paint auction hosted by Heartwood College of Art and the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, earlier in the day Heartwood artists will paint on land and islands owned by the Trust, Appetizers and preview at 3:30 p.m., Auction begins at 5:30 p.m., Admission $20/person, Atlantic Hall, Cape Porpoise Library, 173 Main Street, Cape Porpoise. FMI: 207.985.0985 or 207.967.3465, www.heartwoodcollegeofart.org.

If you'd like to check out the current lakefront property for sale in this region of the state, just click on the boxes below:

Search for lakefront properties in the Sanford Lakes Region $150k to $300k

Search for lakefront properties in the Sanford Lakes Region $300K to $450k

Search for lakefront properties in the Sanford Lakes Region $450k to $700k

Search for lakefront properties in the Sanford Lakes Region over $700k

October 8, 7:00-8:00 p.m. "Precarious Balance," an interactive installation by Susan Bickford, a special collaborative performance with members of the Bates College Dance Community and musicians including Frank Mauceri of Bowdoin College, free, Charles Danforth Gallery, Jewett Hall, University of Maine at Augusta, 46 University Drive, Augusta. FMI: 207.621.3000, www.uma.edu/danforthgallery.html or web.me.com/susanbickford/site/home.html.

October 8, 7:30 p.m. Susan Tedeschi, live in concert, presented by Sweet People Productions, $37.50-$42.50, Skowhegan Opera House, 225 Water Street, Skowhegan.
FMI: 207.694.2524, www.skowhegan.org or www.sweetpeopleproductions.com.

October 9, 2 and 7 p.m. "Sea to Sea in a Model T," travelogue film narrated by Don Van Polen, Sawyer Memorial, 371 Sawyer Road, Greene. FMI: 207.946.5311, www.townofgreene.net.

October 10, 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Apple Pressing Day, press apples for fresh cider, pumpkin carving, face painting, refreshments and more, Rocky Hill Landscaping and Nursery, 55 Cemetery Road, Wilton. FMI: 207.645.5381, www.rockyhillinc.com.

October 10, 7:30 p.m. Blaggards, Stout Irish Rock Band, traditional Irish music mixed with rock ‘n roll, $15.00/person, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts, 42 Depot Street, Unity. FMI: 207.948.7469, www.unityme.org/theater/

October 12, 10:00 a.m. "Family Forest Exploration," includes a walk along forest trails where children will learn to look for signs of animals using binoculars, magnifying glasses and digging tools, plus a craft activity, $5/family, L.C. Bates Museum, Route 201, Hinckley. FMI: 207.238.4250, www.gwh.org/html/lcbatesmuseum.htm.

October 12, 8:15 p.m. Lynn Deeves and friends, Trina Hamlin and Colleen Sexton, dine from 5:30-8 or just come enjoy their music, $15/person for concert, Slates Restaurant and Bakery, 169 Water Street, Hallowell. FMI: 207.622.9575, www.slatesrestaurant.com or www.lynndeeves.com.

October 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. "Creating Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard," an introduction to local wildlife, learn ways to change habitat to provide food, water, cover and space in an increasingly less wildlife-friendly world, Penny Jessop, a UMaine Cooperative Extension-trained wildlife steward will help you examine your landscape from the point of view of wildlife, $5/person, Gardiner Area High School, 40 West Hill Road, Gardiner. FMI: 207.582.3774, www.umext.maine.edu.

You can connect with all of the current lakefront property for sale in the Belgrade Lakes Region by clicking on the boxes below:

Search for lakefront properties in the Belgrade Lakes Region $150k to $300k

Search for lakefront properties in the Belgrade Lakes Region $300k to $450k

Search for lakefront properties in the Belgrade Lakes Region $450k to $700k

Search for lakefront properties in the Belgrade Lakes Region over $700k

It's Fair Week in Fryeburg, Maine!

Known as Maine's Blue Ribbon Classic, the Fryeburg Fair is an 8-day agricultural fair held on 185 acres in the Saco River Valley.

Gates open at 7 a.m. and night shows begin at 8 p.m. This year's night entertainment includes NewFound Grass, Heartland, Kristy Lee Cook, The Kokomo Beach Show and Jamey Johnson.

The Fryeburg Fair has been a grand event for the last 159 years! It offers a piece of Americana that you shouldn't miss.

What's more fun than watching kids show their sheep, men exclaim over the latest in log splitting equipment and women compete in the skillet throw. Yes, the skillet throw. And one of the winners this year was . . . Kim Hanauer of Durham, N.C. It was Kim's first ever skillet throw and she tossed it 62-feet, 9-inches!! That's a long way to throw a heavy pan.

Roam the fairgrounds and you'll find games, rides, music, exhibits, pie contests, bright lights, brilliant colors and . . . fair food! Can't you just smell the popcorn, cotton candy and deep-fried oil? Or the Italian sausage sandwiches smothered in peppers and onions. My mouth waters for the Sunflower Farm pizza loaded with black olives and garlic. Oh, you can get pepperoni or plain, but trust me, the black olive and garlic is sooooooo good.

And the midway takes me back to my kid days. It's a wonderland of flashing lights, ringing bells and buzzing buzzers. Of course, no midway is complete without the "carnies" shouting, "Step right up. Everybody's a winner. Tons of prizes. Step right up."

Energy Row is back, adjacent to the Natural Resource Center, with renewable energy options on display including wind power, solar photoelectric panels, wood pellets and systems, outdoor wood and corn furnaces, generator power systems, geo-thermal power, gasification boilers and energy-efficient solar homes.

Parking is not an issue. You can either support local folks and organizations by parking on their lawns for a fee, or park at the fairgrounds for $5.

The Fryeburg Fair will run through Sunday, October 11th. Admission is $8 for adults, except $10 on Saturday and free for children under 12. So . . . this is your last chance to attend an agricultural fair in Maine this fair season.

Come roam the fairgrounds and eat some foods that you normally wouldn't eat. Visit the exhibit halls. Tour the museums. Marvel at the animals. Enjoy the people. Have fun.

FMI: 207.935.3268, www.fryeburgfair.com, camping: 207.935.2912.
www.newfoundgrass.com, www.heartlandband.com, www.kristyleecook.com, www.myspace.com/jameyjohnson.

If you're in the mood to visit some lakefront property currently for sale in the area, start the process by clicking on the box below:

Search for lakefront properties in Bridgton, Fryeburg, and Lovell

Tucked away only 30 minutes from Bridgton and about the same from North Conway, New Hampshire, is Keewaydin Lake in Stoneham.

The breathtaking scenery, mountain views, big sky and sparkling water make this 307 acre lake a gem to spend time on. Few large boats are found on the lake and jet skis are not allowed, adding to its tranquility.

During July and August, the water temperature averages around 75-82, just right for a refreshing dip. And a dip is the perfect way to end the day if you've been out on the lake.

Joan Lundin, a lakefront owner, loves to explore the Striped Ledge. According to the Maine Geological Survey the Striped Ledge is "an unusual bedrock outcrop . . . this ledge consists of metamorphic rock (gneiss) intruded by granite and granite pegmatite. The white pegmatite in turn is cut by a complex swarm of many narrow black basaltic dikes, giving the outcrop an unusual striped appearance."

Visitors can access the ledge to view the cross-cutting basalt dikes by pulling a boat up to it.

Joan says, "The best thing I like about the lake is the quietness. It is so peaceful, even on supposedly the busiest weekends of the year, i.e. July 4th, there might be only three boats on the water."

The day I visited, a loon was calling. Joan said there has always been a set of loons on the lake and some years she has seen a baby riding on its mother's back.

If fishing is your thing, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife stocks Keewaydin Lake with brook trout, landlocked salmon and splake.

Another quiet fishing spot is located less than a mile away on Virginia Lake. Because of its small size at only 145 acres, and maximum depth of 28 feet, Virginia Lake doesn't see much boat traffic. Bartlett Brook flows into Keewaydin Lake from Virginia Lake, but is not accessible via boat.

The White Mountain National Forest borders this area, so hiking trails are easily accessible.

From Keewaydin, you can hike through Albany Notch, the natural passage between Peter Mountain and Albany Mountain, to Crocker Pond Road. You'll also find yourself close to Evergreen Valley, Blueberry Mountain, and others hiking trails in Evans Notch.

"The trails go on forever!" says Joan.

If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to visit. Stoneham is a "small town overflowing with tradition."

And part of that tradition is located just up Route 5 from Keewaydin Lake. A.J.'s Everything is a mom and pop operation where you'll find canned goods, bread, milk, newspapers, video rentals and great food in their dining room. Just remember, they don't accept credit cards, but they do have an ATM machine.