The Belgrade Lakes Region has long been a summer haven for out-of-staters an area in northwestern Kennebec County dotted by quaint postcard-cute New England towns surrounded by dozens of lakes.
So it s no surprise that the area, like much of Maine, is in the midst of a residential real estate frenzy. The draw of the lakes and small towns has always been a lure, but now the market for both second homes and primary ones has exploded, driven by urban pandemic flight.
While the lakes look as placid as ever, with loons skimming effortlessly across the water, underneath the surface there is a home-buying feeding frenzy.
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The new culvert installed on the Sandy River Road in Chesterville last fall will reduce runoff and improve water quality.
Submitted photo
CHESTERVILLE The Sandy River Road project is complete and has been recognized as the biggest of its kind in the state.
The culvert replacement project on the Sandy River Road at the outlet of David Pond where it flows into Parker Pond was completed in November, according to Lidie Robbins, executive director of 30 Mile River Watershed Association.
Because of COVID-19, new Chesterville selectpersons were not elected until June 2020.
“The previous board worked with The Thirty Mile River Watershed Association to secure grants to replace the David Pond Outlet Culvert,” Linda Bauer, one of the new board members wrote in the town’s annual report. “During their extended time as our select board, they voted to move forward with the grant and to hire Main-Land Development Consultants to design the culvert. Thus, the David Pond
George Smith: Thanks to conservationists, so much land, so little time
Central Maine is lucky to have people so committed to protecting its natural assets.
By George Smith
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Longtime columnist George Smith, whose work filled this space every Wednesday for three decades, died Feb. 12. For the next several weeks, we will reprint some of George’s best columns. Here’s one from Sept. 13, 2017.
As a kid growing up in Winthrop, I would sometimes hike all the way from our house on Lambert Street to the top of Mount Pisgah a long hike that took me through wonderful forests, with only a single road crossing about halfway there.
Fayette officials unveil draft of town’s updated comprehensive plan
The plan still has to be vetted by the state and approved by voters at the Town Meeting, which was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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FAYETTE Officials in Fayette are hopeful their new comprehensive plan would increase outdoor recreation opportunities and keep young families in town.
A draft of the plan, created by the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments and a 13-person local committee led by Kristie Ludwig, has been completed after nearly two years. Ludwig said the committee began work on the 120-page document in April 2019.
New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report – January 14, 2021
Warm water species such as bass are the primary target until the larger lakes cap over.
In lockstep with waxing of winter, more ice fishing options are becoming available. Big water for the most part is still a work in progress but with the plethora of smaller places all capped over, many figure that the larger water bodies can wait.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
“Slow and steady” is the best way to describe the way the ice is progressing on Winnipesaukee according to Jim from
AJs Bait in Meredith. In addition to Pier 19 and Pier 20, Gilford Beach is holding ice anglers and willing rainbows. Some have been out on 4” of ice on Winter Harbor but a better bet is to wait until after this weekend when the weather forecast is more friendly towards making ice there. Newfound Lake is purported to have open water while ice reports are good at Little Squam and Winnisquam.