Hiker information
It was good to see Aislinn Sarnacki’s Nov. 27 BDN article on Caterpillar Hill. I’d like to add a couple of things hikers might like to know. One is that, following the melting of the last ice age glacier, heightened sea waters were lapping at a beach just a few feet below the scenic turnout. All the land you see between this spot and the Camden Hills was under water. Today, the ancient beach sand is being mined on the Cooper Farm.
The other thing is the rich Indian history of the area (totally ignored in the monuments at the scenic turnout). A village long predating the colonial era stood near the outlet of Walker’s Pond, visible from the hill. Here, sometime around 1660, its inhabitants fought to defend their homes from British attack. Relocated to the upper end of the pond, the village served as the headquarters of the great Wabanaki chief Madockawando, father-in-law of the Baron de Saint Castin. The location was a strategic one, at a portage from Eggemoggin Reach to the pond, and on down the Bagaduce River, a canoe route that was the Indian equivalent of a modern interstate highway. The village was still in existence when the first colonial settlers arrived in the late 1700s.
William A. Haviland
Deer Isle
Small business support
Support small business, not just this past Saturday, but always! Fifteen years ago, Orono citizens worked together to stop a plan to raze the city’s most historic commercial building to build a Rite Aid superstore with drive-through in the heart of the town center. The building sadly was destroyed in a fire, and the space is now filled with a much more appropriate home of the University Credit Union.
Once Rite Aid dropped the plan and decided to pull out of Orono altogether, Orono leader Ann Pilcher determined to find a pharmacist willing to operate a locally owned pharmacy in town. A nationwide search lead to one courageous applicant — Ali Aghamoosa, a Texas resident who earlier had enjoyed a taste of the good life in Maine. Now, 14 years after the grand opening of the Orono Pharmacy, Ali and Julie and their great family continue to provide excellent pharmacy services and to add to the richness of the Orono community.
Last week, I had to purchase an over-the-counter generic nighttime cold remedy at Orono Pharmacy. The price for 8 ounces: $4.69. A few days later, stranded in Waterville with a lingering cough, I purchased the equivalent product from the Waterville Rite Aid. The price, including the registered customer discount: $5.66 — nearly a dollar more! With its huge volume business, you’d think Rite Aid could do better by its customers. But I am just thankful that we have Orono Pharmacy in our small town.
Sharon Tisher
Orono
Department help
No one has to die for lack of a smoke alarm. Local fire departments welcome calls to ask for fire safety help, including smoke alarms. Most departments will provide batteries and help folks who cannot or don’t know how to install them. Firefighters want people to get out in time and will do whatever they can to save lives.
In addition to batteries, we need to replace smoke detectors when they get too old and start making little noises, both hardwired varieties and smaller, freestanding (or hanging) detectors. If your landlord won’t replace worn out detectors, report the problem to the town office or city hall. In your own house, just do it now.
We can figure out ways to avoid having the alarm go off every time you cook.
Also, make sure you have at least two ways to get out of your house or apartment, and make sure everyone who sleeps there (even an occasional guest) knows how to escape.
If you cannot afford batteries, cannot reach the detector, don’t have a ladder long enough, please call a tall friend or your fire department for help.
Sharon Bray
Orland