by Roland D. Hallee It’s official. Today, on the first day of spring, reports are out that black bears are awakening from their winter hibernation. The American black bear, Ursus americanus, is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent’s smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bears are omnivores, […]
by Roland D. Hallee In March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state of the United States. Last Sunday was Maine’s 200th anniversary of admission to the union. HOW MAINE GOT ITS NAME There is no definitive explanation for the origin of the name “Maine,” but the most likely origin is that the name was […]
by Roland D. Hallee What a beautiful sight! On my way to work last week I spotted a small flock of red-winged blackbirds. A sure sign of spring. They are probably the first migrating birds to arrive back from their southern winter homes. The red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, is found in most of North America […]
by Roland D. Hallee I’m going to try to spare you from having to listen to old people talk about their aches and pains. But, I have to explain something first. While in the early stages of my seventh decade, like everyone else of my generation, we have aches and pains that appear from time […]
by Roland D. Hallee The Maine Department of Transportation has announced plans for road improvements in the China – Vassalboro – Winslow area, in 2020-2021. For 2020, the work will include Rte. 137, from China to Winslow, with the work to begin at Rte. 202 and extending west 6.14 miles to Rte. 137B, then extend […]
by Roland D. Hallee I remember as a youngster growing up in a family of Canadian heritage, how we used to make annual pilgrimages to the land of our ancestors in Canada. My dad was born in Canada, and came to the United States at the age of three years, with his adopted parents. So, […]
by Roland D. Hallee While I sit here at my computer, trying to figure out what to write about this week, I am watching several house finches at my feeders – (light bulb comes on over my head). Oh, why not do an article about house finches? The house finch, Haemorhous mexicanus, is a bird […]
by Roland D. Hallee Just the other day a friend told me she thought robins went south for the winter. That is the common thought. The American robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory songbird. While robins occasionally overwinter in the northern United States and southern Canada, most migrate to Florida and the Gulf Coast to […]
by Roland D. Hallee Maine’s famous great black hawk was back in the news last week when it was announced that the raptor, which succumbed to its wounds last year, was going on display at the Maine State Museum, in Augusta, following its preparation by taxidermist, Tom Berube, of Poland. The mount of the rarely […]
by Roland D. Hallee Huhhhh! It’s time again to bundle up and make my trek through the snow fields of center Vassalboro in search of my old friend, Woodrow Charles. As folklore goes, Woody is a weather prognosticating groundhog. With Groundhog Day coming on February 2, I always visit him a little early to give […]