Down East couple creates calendar
7/3/09 | 12 comments

Down East couple creates calendar


Region’s coastal scenes and ‘real,’ ‘unspoiled’ beauty on display
By Sharon Kiley Mack
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY SHARON KILEY MACK
Alan and Brenda Jepson of the Mooseneck section of Addison stand in front of Little Dyer’s Island in Cape Split Harbor, one of the places Brenda photographed for their new Down East calendar. “This end of the coast is unspoiled and real,” Alan said. “You get a real sense of the authentic Down East.” It is the second calendar for the couple, whose previous work focused on Aroostook County. “I hope to do Piscataquis County next,” Brenda said. Buy Photo

ADDISON, Maine — Looking out the Jepsons’ dining room window Thursday morning, it is easy to see why this couple recognizes and celebrates the beauty of Down East Maine.

Beyond a wild profusion of rugosa roses, past the tender fronds of asparagus, down a blue road made of crushed mussel shells is Cape Split Harbor, a working fishing port filled with lobster boats and dinghies. An evergreen-topped island sits solidly in the center. Fog slides by and red-winged blackbirds sit sentry.

This view, and 11 others like it, grace a 2010 calendar created by Alan and Brenda Jepson — a potato farmer and a filmmaker.

Each scene shows the real coastal beauty of Down East, not the tourist sights or the common postcard shots.

“These are the local places, the familiar scenes,” Alan Jepson said. “You don’t always get that on a calendar.

“This end of the coast is unspoiled and real.”

The Jepsons said for the local folks, the scenes will be recognizable — Fox Pond in Blacks Woods, Lubec in winter, Eastport, Bad Little Falls in Machias, Bucks Harbor, Cutler in the snow.

And for the “people from away,” the scenes will provide them with a real sense of the true Down East.

“They are also timeless,” Brenda Jepson said. All of the photos were taken by Jepson or Alana Ranney, a Cutler photographer.

“When Brenda Jepson contacted me about the calendar project, I was excited to find that our area was being featured,” Ranney said. “I was also a bit flattered that from the quality work of many fine local artists, my photos found their way to the project. I feel that Brenda made a great selection from the photos I presented to her. They represent the true face of Down East — the sites that the locals live and interact with, but which visitors seldom get more than a glance of.”

Selecting the photographs from hundreds of possibilities is like putting together a puzzle, Brenda Jepson said. “I need to strive for balance, both in the style as well as the geography.

The calendar is the Jepsons’ second. Their first reflected Aroostook County and they hope to start a third one of Piscataquis County.

“I love calendars,” said Brenda Jepson. “I have one in every room. I think it is the passing of time I’m obsessed with.”

The Jepsons’ calendar is available at many small stores and outlets along the Down East coast.

bdnpittsfield@myfairpoint.net

487-3187

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Comments
12 comments on this item
On 7/3/09 at 6:58 AM, wonderingaboutthings wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hmm, this couple is from where? The last article I read about the Jepsons they said they were from Madawaska Lake in Aroostook County. Alan is a potato farmer? Sounds to me like this story is full of manure.

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On 7/3/09 at 7:54 AM, viper13 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

wonderingabouthings -- not a controversial article, so you thot you'd stir things up? It's just a nice human interest piece. Leave it alone. Some of us enjoy these articles from time to time. Everything doesn't have to be a pissing match.

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On 7/3/09 at 9:28 AM, bigjohn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

THERE IS NO SUCH PLACE AS CAPE SPLIT HARBOR!!!!!! THE NAME OF THE HARBOR IS EASTERN HARBOR , BUT I GUESS THAT DOES NOT SOUND RICH ENOUGH FOR THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND SUMMER FOLKS FROM THE CAPE SIDE OF THE HARBOR. EASTERN HARBOR!!!!!

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On 7/3/09 at 12:19 PM, wonderingaboutthings wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 7/3/09 at 2:01 PM, mmacpuguy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The article says they are potato farmers as well. I have heard of people having two homes. But I'm glad you are "on the case" and making sure that we aren't being duped by these people and the BDN

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On 7/3/09 at 2:13 PM, bigjohn wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Just stating facts. If someone tries to sail to Cape Split Harbor they will not find it on official navigation charts is all. The Jepsons are nice people who see the natural tresures of Down East Maine that most of us are too busy making a living to see.

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On 7/3/09 at 9:14 PM, Kevin_of_Bangor wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

People still use real life calendars that hang on their walls?

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On 7/3/09 at 9:29 PM, PabMainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kevin_of_Bangor I still have a "Snap_On" calendar from1985 on the wall in my shop...can't tell you the accurate date but enjoy looking at the hardware!

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On 7/3/09 at 10:16 PM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yes, many of us still have calendars that hang on a wall! Love the photographs and just great to look at in the house. Not everything has to be on the computer! I have not seen them yet, but imagine these calendars created by the Jepsons are a visual delight.

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On 7/5/09 at 9:36 PM, SharonKileyMack wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On an antique map from the 1800s that the Jepson family owns and displayed, the bay is labeled '"Eastern or Cape Split Harbor.'' They commented on the controversy over the name....I checked my Delorme and it is listed there as Cape Split Harbor. I Googled it and it was again listed as Cape Split Harbor. I did not use a navigational map as we were standing on terra firma. And yes, the Jepsons spend summers in South Addison and winters in Aroostook County where Mr. Jepson raises potatoes and peas and Mrs. Jepson teaches in a vocational high school. Hope that clears things up a bit! Sharon

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On 7/8/09 at 7:41 PM, wonderingaboutthings wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

My mistake, I didn't realize you could grow potatoes and peas in Aroostook County during the winter months. Must be pretty warm up there !!

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On 7/9/09 at 6:11 AM, maineboy wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If you are a local person its eastern harbor, if you are a flat lander its cape split harbor.

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