One of the best things about moving to Maine three years ago has been the opportunity to share the area's sandy beaches with my dogs. Jack and Rose are the most joyful when they are running on the beach. No other activity makes them as happy and there is no place they would rather be than at their favorite place, Goose Rocks Beach (GRB).

Unfortunately, several home owners have sued the Town of Kennebunkport to prevent public access to the vast majority of Goose Rocks Beach. This turn of events is distressing to me on so many levels.

As a resident of Kennebunkport the thought of losing access to one of the town's best assets makes me question whether I would want to continue to live here. I also nervously wonder what will happen to my home's value and appeal should I decide to move.

As a shop owner in Kennebunkport, I think about all of the visitors who flock to Southern Maine in large part because of the beautiful beaches. If these people are not allowed to enjoy GRB as they have for so many years in the past, they will find other destinations for their family vacations and romantic getaways. If these visitors don't come, what will become of our hotels, restaurants and shops and the people who work in them?

As a dog owner, it makes me really sad to think Jack, Rose and I would never be welcome again to take a long walk on Goose Rocks Beach. Our GRB adventures would just be memories of eight paws and ten toes in the sand.

As a resident, shop owner and dog owner, I support the Save Our Beaches organization and its efforts. Save Our Beaches is a group of concerned citizens whose goal is to maintain the long established history of public access and use of Goose Rocks Beach for recreation and enjoyment.

This issue impacts not only local residents but residents in coastal communities throughout the country as well as anyone who enjoys visiting our country's beautiful beach towns. If this happens here, it can happen (and has happened already) in other coastal communities.

Don't bury your head in the sand! Lend your support by visiting the Save Our Beaches, website at http://www.save-our-beaches.org and Facebook page.

It's hard for me to believe it has been almost 40 years since the first Earth Day, especially since I recall the first one in 1970. Of course I was very, very (emphasis on very) young back then so I have to believe the only reason I remember this day at all is because I was in New York City at the time. Our annual mother-daughters trip to the "big city" happen to coincide with history in the making.

Every year, my mother would take my sister and me, to NYC along with her friend and daughter to stay at the Waldorf Astoria (I'm still living down stories of playing hopscotch on the marble floors in the lobby) and to enjoy some "culture." These excursions always included a Broadway show or two, shopping at FAO Schwartz and dinner at Mama Leone's (we were fascinated with their year-round Christmas decorations almost as mush as we were with the waiters who never smiled but who were so tolerant of our childish antics). Sometimes we would go to a museum (boring!) or would venture downtown to people-watch in Greenwich Village or Little Italy (no SoHo back then). Our NYC trips were always major adventures. It was the one time of the year we could see, smell, hear, and touch a world so unlike our own small hometown in Northwestern Connecticut.

In 1970 our trip to NYC was especially memorable because it was the first time we had ever seen "demonstrators." Our mom held our hands a little tighter during this trip and we were ushered away from "those radicals." Who knew the first Earth Day would lead to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts? Who knew it would become the largest secular civic event in the world with over 1 billion people participating in events in over 174 countries? We certainly didn't. We just knew we had to get to the matinee box office by 1pm.

Politics aside, Earth Day is a good reminder to all of us to be kind to Mother Earth. A reminder which can hopefully keep us committed to taking steps year-round toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

This year I will be celebrating April 22nd in Maine. I'm sure I will spend part of the day enjoying the outdoors with Jack and Rose and part of the day remembering my Earth Day lasagna at Mama Leone's back in 1970.

Do you remember where you were on Earth Day 1970? Add a comment to this blog. We'd love to hear your story.

To find out more about Earth Day, visit: http://www.earthday.net/. Be sure to check your local papers and websites for Earth Day happenings in your area.

Well, we waited and waited and finally, Spring has arrived...sort of. It's technically Spring but around Kennebunkport there are still a few remnants of winter... sandy piles of snow, a random wreath or two still hanging on to Prelude memories...but that's okay! The days are longer, the sun is warm (relatively speaking) and there is a general sense of hope and excitement around town as the season approaches. Over the next few weeks things will really come alive as more and more shops open with refreshed inventories and restaurants welcome visitors and locals back to toast the arrival of sunnier days, literally and figuratively. Welcome back Spring and welcome back "from away friends"...we can't wait to see you and to catch up with you and your pups!

Just a shout out to everyone who has stopped by Scalawags this holiday season so far! We had an awesome turnout last weekend, the first weekend of Kennebunkport's 27th (yup 27th) annual Christmas Prelude celebration. The weather was nippy on Saturday but the town was full of silly-hat wearin' folks having a silly time. There was so much going on...lots of art and craft shows (at least 6), a hat parade, lobster bake, tree lightings (at least 3), historic tours and trolley rides, holiday shopping at Scalawags...and so much more. We won't name names, but we know of a few Scalawaggers who started a new "Prelude pub-crawl" tradition. Cheers to the gals of GRB!

On Sunday we woke up to the light dusting of snow we had been wishing for before the BIG weekend. It looked sooooo beautiful and was the icing on the cake so to speak to a perfect Prelude weekend. (For a complete schedule of this year's festivities, visit http://www.christmasprelude.com/.)

In case you didn't hear, Kennebunkport ranked #2 in HGTV's Top 10 Christmas Towns program which is airing throughout this month.  We even beat out the North Pole.  Kudos  to the local KBA group for creating Christmas Prelude and keeping it alive all of these years.  If you want to see clips of the special, go to HGTV.com and you'll get a good taste of Christmas in Kennebunkport. Of course the best way to experience it, is to come next year. Book your hotel reservations NOW because this was an extremely popular event even before the HGTV program. Christmas Prelude 2009 falls on December 4-13th (always the first two weekends of December).

For those of you here this weekend, you get extra credit for ruffin' it with the ice storm. Most of the Kennebunkport shops and hotels were without power on Friday. Many of us in the area are still without power in our homes but shopping resumed on Saturday with most of the shops having electricity restored.

WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE our from away friends' and local friends' patronage this holiday season. It's been a tough year all around and it is very heart-warming to see so many familiar faces stop by. Thank you and we wish you a happy, healthy, treat-filled 2009!

We went to a farm today where they have a whole bunch of good-smellin' trees.  It was really big and it smelled really good. We walked around a lot and got to sniff a bunch of trees. Then we had to sit near a tree to have our picture taken but we're not quite sure why. Then Daddy cut down the tree and put it in his truck. Then we went to the barn and Mommy went inside and was in there a long time (probably shopping) and then she came out with a round tree. Daddy brought the tree in the house when we got home and Mommy said, "see our new tree?" We're so confused.

I love Halloween especially since living in The Kennebunks. Wow, people here are so creative and really go all out to decorate their homes. Summer Street in Kennebunk is a popular area to visit but there are lots of great decorations throughout the area. Here are just a few haunted homes we spotted....enjoy!

STEP 1: Scout location                                   STEP 2: Dive head first into smelliest area
                                                                           you can find

STEP 3: Look up to make sure everyone   STEP 4: Roll from side to side to cover entire
is watching                                                      body in sand 

STEP 5: Look extremely satisfied with yourself
while onlookers shake heads in disbelief

 
Fig Newton and Devil Dog

On a recent morning, I was "forced" to walk to work (car in shop). It didn't take me long to realize this was a good thing and I should do it more often. 

In the short 15 minutes it took me to get to Scalawags, I got up close and personal with a classic Maine signpost, walked enviously passed the spectacular show of morning glories in front of the Captain Jeffereds Inn, and stopped for a brief chat with some locals, Fig Newton and Devil Dog.

It was a nice way to start the day and I vow to do it more often (and share more pictures).

Jack, Rose and I took a walk down Ocean Ave. earlier in the week and saw this beautiful sunset.  Of course Jack and Rose were more interested in the passersby and the low-tide smells but we all enjoyed some much needed fresh air and exercise.

 
Murray and his dad hoping to
catch the big one

I'm embarrassed to say I've lived here a year and a half and until recently hadn't been to Drake's Island in Wells. What a great discovery! My sister, niece and friend were visiting and on our way south we decided to drive around DI a bit. It was a gorgeous day with breathtaking views. We saw many dogs enjoying the scenery too including Murray who was playing with rocks while waiting for a fish to bite. It was a quick visit but we'll definitely be going back. Can't wait to take Jack and Rose for a walk on the beach!