Terry Driscoll Realtor Mid-Coast Maine Residential Real Estate

What is the 3/50 project? It's a simple idea to support independently owned local businesses and boost our economy at the same time.

Decide on 3 local businesses that you would miss if they shut down (Yes, this is happening). Make it a point to spend $50 each month at these 3 businesses. The money you spend at independently owned local operations stays in town much longer than if you spend it at a national chain.

Local retailer, Gayle Hunt, owner of Ornament at 11 Centre Street, explained the 3/50 project in a recent letter to the Times Record.

Be sure to make some time to visit your favorite locally-owned shops in Downtown Bath. I look forward to seeing you out and about!

UPDATE: I went to the Friday night performance of the JUBILEE and it was a hoot! It was just about a full house and I sat and laughed and smiled for 2 hours. There are still performances tonite and tomorrow - - get tix if you can. The standout of the evening for me was Lauren Crosby singing her original song, "Just Want to Say" accompanied on guitar by Brian Dowd. Lauren has a beautiful, contemporary, clear-as-a-bell voice - - you can just hear the joy and see it in her sparkiling eyes, too - unbelievably talented. The other really special moment was late in Act II, Bath's own Codes Enforcement Officer, Scott Davis stepped out of the "Pit Band" and up on stage with his trumpet to croon "It's a Chocolate World", a parody of "It's A Wonderful World" - we've all known that Scot leads a double life, and this was a heartwarming performance. And then the Tambo Line, made up of local dignitaries, including City Council, Police Chief, A State Senator, a State Representative, and ex-BIW president, did a fine job with "Yankee Doodle Dandy." And I love Dr. Anglim as the MC - - his humor - - you just have to be there. AND IT ALL BENEFITS THE ARTS CENTER!

The Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath is once again hosting its "HOT CHOCOLATE JUBILEE" to benefit the Arts Center. Performances continue through Sunday, March 29th. The theme of this year's community variety show is "Around the World in 80 Ways." Local dentist, Tom Anglim will again be the Master of Ceremonies for the performances this weekend. This is a truly fun show not to be missed - - our area has a wealth of talent, and performers this year range in age from 12 to 82! Get tickets and more information now!

For more community information, always feel free to contact me!

After so much cold and snow this long winter, I am so looking forward to Spring - I think we forget that it brings the mud or we wouldn't be so happy about it. Now, the calendar may say that Spring arrived last week, however, the weatherman must not have received the memo!

We had a cold snap yesterday and temps were back down in the 20's with winds making it feel like it's in the teens - - this is some SPRING we are having!

Anyway, I'm in the process of listing several building lots with some really sweet common area water frontage in West Bath - Obviously, we were all fooled by a bit of warmer weather and thought it was time to do this. It was a little warmer today so I thought I'd go get some photos of the properties. Now, this is an area for nature lovers - - If you want paved roads, you should go somewhere else - - that's where the mud comes in - - my poor car.

But I have to tell you, if you are buying land, now is the time of year to go look at it and walk it - yes, you must WALK IT - - you need to find the survey pins and/or boundary markers. Bring boots, of course, because we still have a few inches of snow on the ground in the shady spots (yes, that includes the woods) but you can see the special features (rock outcroppings and stone walls) so much better right now without all the undergrowth and foliage that will come later in the spring. And with snow still covering the ground, the mud is confined to the roadways!

Walking around this beautiful place, I took more pictures than I normally would - I climbed to the top of one lot where there is a better elevated westerly water view than I would have imagined had I not taken the time to go up there - I could just picture the sunsets you could see from your deck up there. On another lot, I walked alongside the now frozen pond that is part of that parcel, imagining the sound of the "peepers" come summer. Another lot featured a beautiful rock outcropping that gives natural privacy from the road that runs behind it. I went down to the edge of the New Meadows River where they are going to put a dock in later this spring. One of the residents had stacked his lobster traps by the shore - - picturesque Maine. I made my job into a nature walk around the property and, at the same time, I got some really great marketing photos and a good sense of who might want to live here. All in all, a fine morning on the job.

EVERYONE'S IRISH ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Bath, Maine - Saturday, March 14, 2009

Bath’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held under clear, sunny skies this past Saturday – the kind of gorgeous day that reassured us all that spring really would come this year. The parade was organized by Main Street Bath, and sponsored by one of Bath’s most Irish, Joe Byrnes, Owner of Byrnes Irish Pub on Centre Street. Joe had a huge hand in planning and organizing this parade, the first of what will surely become a much-anticipated annual event.

Everyone came, decked out in their green, to watch the parade led by a sole piper. Other parade entrants included color guards, the “Pub Scout” Band, kazoo players led by Joe himself, green vehicles of all sorts, and fire departments from Bath and neighboring towns. The parade was followed by the singing of songs and an Irish blessing at the Library Park gazebo, followed by plenty of fun and refreshment at the Pub where the Public Safety Pipe & Drum Corps regaled the packed house with Irish music and song as a few pints were downed.

Byrnes’ Pub opened in Bath on March 17, 2008 – it became a popular spot for locals to gather the day the doors opened. With pub atmosphere and pub grub – it’s a great place to stop for a sandwich at lunch, to wet your whistle on the way home from work, or hang out and listen to live music (Thursdays and Saturdays). You can also stop for Sunday Brunch! And, don’t leave without trying the Bailey’s Irish Crème cheesecake – to die for - - seriously! When you see Joe’s wife, Pam, behind the bar looking for the Bailey’s bottles you know the fresh cheesecake is not far behind.

The parade kicks off a four-day celebration of the Pub’s first anniversary. When we told Joe what a great job he did with the festivities, he replied, “Wait 'til next year!"

This is the kind of fun that really makes Bath and its surrounding towns great places to live. If you’d like more information about the area or relocating to Maine, just let me know!

Because I am a shameless promoter of “All Things Maine,” I want to share some home-grown talent with you:

Gypsy Tailwind, a talented new band from Portland, Maine, will be appearing at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas later this month. For all you rock-country-soul music fans who appreciate outstanding male/female vocal pairings, this is truly a cool breeze coming your way from north by northeast of your fair city!

Gypsy Tailwind has 2 performances scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 7:00 pm (Showcase @ The Paradise 401 E. 6th Street) and 10:00 pm (Showcase @ The Vintage Lounge, 504 Trinity Street). Check out their debut CD, The Halo Sessions, featuring the hit single, “So Lonely” on myspace !