“The Secret: Dare to Dream” has lingered in prime real estate at the top of my On Demand system’s Movies section for over two months now. Other movies have come and gone, but apparently this one remains popular. I know the book “The Secret” was popular about ten years ago, but I thought its heyday […]
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Mahoosuc Bird Notes: Ruffed grouse
“Whump…..whump….whump…whump..whump, whump, whump, whump.” The first time I heard it was hiking in the Smokey Mountains. I was raised further south and had gone there to backpack. At first, I thought it was a helicopter somewhere in the distance. My backpacking buddy, who was from West Virginia, laughed at me. Of course, readers of […]
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Posted inThe Bethel Citizen
Backyard Reflections: Lichen land from Maine to New Mexico: part 2
As much as I love the gray green lichens my absolutely favorite lichen is orange. Sunburst lichens grow from the coast of Maine to New Mexico. When I lived on Monhegan island I was surrounded by these lichens which grow on rock outcroppings near the sea. I don’t recall where I have seen any sunburst […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, The Bethel Citizen, The Franklin Journal
Movie Review: Antebellum
Wannabe theatrical releases that go straight to On Demand in this era fall into one of three categories. There are movies that try to make a lateral move – they would have made good money in theaters, and hopefully they’ll make good money at home, too. “Trolls World Tour” and “Scoob!” are like this. Then […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, The Bethel Citizen
Energy Decisions: Cash-back carbon pricing?
Finding ways to solve the climate crisis facing humanity is quite vexing. The crisis involves physics, chemistry, ecology, biology, history, sociology, economics, human behavior – pretty much everything. So it is maddeningly complex. The physics and chemistry and history are clear: Since the industrial revolution, humanity has succeeded in stuffing the atmosphere with too many greenhouse […]
Posted inThe Bethel Citizen
Mahoosuc Bird Notes: Winter Wren
A frantic burst of bird song came from the tree line. The song jingled and twittered up and down the musical scale. I could picture the frantic singing from a spark plug of a bird known as the Winter Wren. (Photo by Paul Stein). This small bird is heard more often than seen. Its […]
Posted inThe Bethel Citizen
Education: Industrial (R)evolution(s)
History/social studies can seem very distant in time and space. In fact, it’s very much about what we are here and now. The ongoing industrial revolution shapes our lives: energy, goods, jobs… We say we live in rural Maine, but we’re no exception to the effects of big cities, factories, mill towns… Many of us […]
Posted inThe Bethel Citizen
Backyard Reflections: Lichen land from Maine to New Mexico – Part 1
A couple of weeks ago, I had to cut down a sixty seven year old White pine near my house. And yesterday I found the most beautiful lichen that must have fallen from that tree, something called Fringed Wrinkle lichen, a lichen that thrives in the uppermost branches of Eastern white pine and Hemlock trees. […]
Posted inThe Bethel Citizen
AFCI news
The Age-Friendly Community Initiative is developing ways to help our community members through our current COVID-19 crisis. Lonely or confused? If you’d just like to talk with a community member, you may call 824-4444 and leave a message. One of our AFCI team will call you back to simply touch base, have a laugh, share […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, The Bethel Citizen, The Franklin Journal
Movie Review: Bill & Ted Face the Music
NOTE: Starting this week, the column is back to On Demand releases for the foreseeable future. I watched the first two “Bill & Ted” movies to prepare for new installment “Face the Music,” and I have to say, they didn’t do much for me. I didn’t think they were painful or anything, but having grown […]