SCHOONER ESTATES ~ EST. 1989 OUR COMMUNITY IS YOUR COMMUNITY
Writers: Your Schooner Family | Editor: Theresa Nardone
🗓️ In This Issue:
- BBQ Season
- Pet Profile by Nina Benning
- Word Search
- New Arrivals
- “What I’m Reading”
- Art Scavenger Hunt Answers
- Desert of Maine
🍖 Schooner Summer BBQs
As we are near the end of another season of temperamental spring weather, summer is on our minds and will soon be on the horizon! And speaking of summer, the plans for our popular summer BBQs are put in place. Below are the scheduled dates and themes to help you plan:
- June 10th | Hawaiian Luau
- July 8th | Americana Red, White, and Blue
- August 12th | Seafood Outing
- September 9th | Oktoberfest
Save the dates and make sure you don’t miss out on one of these highlighted events. Before you know it, summer will be knocking at our door, letting us know that it’s time to take the party outside! Our first outdoor get-together of the season, the Hawaiian Luau barbeque, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th, and is just around the corner.
We look forward to seeing you at the Luau, dressed in bright, colorful Hawaiian attire!
🐱 Pet Profile
Pickles the Guinea Pig
Hi, my name is Pickles. In life, I was an emotional support guinea pig. I went with my best friend to get her very first COVID vaccine. She was so scared, and I helped calm her down. I also made the nurses smile!
🧩 Word Search
Word List: BEACH, CAMPING, CANCER, FATHER’S DAY, FLAG DAY, GEMINI, GRADUATION, JUNETEENTH, PEARL, ROSE, SIXTH, SOLSTICE, STRAWBERRY MOON, SUMMER, TRIP, WEDDING, WIMBLEDON, WORLDCUP.
(A table grid of letters follows this list in the original newsletter.)
🙂 Schooner Tenant Profiles
- Roberta T. comes to Schooner from Massachusetts. She enjoys golf, reading, Rummikub, and bird watching. Roberta is teaching herself to play the keyboard. She has traveled extensively—going to Florida, Barbados, Puerto Rico, and Michigan.
- Mary P. is a Monmouth native who had a career with the state of Maine. She says that she has lived all over. She and her husband traveled to all of the US states, except Hawaii. Mary has served with the fireman’s auxiliary and as secretary of the Monmouth fair. Photography, flowers, camping, and gardens are some of the things that Mary enjoys. She also likes walking for exercise.
- Pamela K. has traveled and lived in many locales: Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Canada, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Charleston. Pamela has a love for communication and skiing.
- Norman, “Brad”, M. comes to us from Florida, after living there for a few years. He had a fulfilling career in the US Air Force, where he piloted C-130s and C-141s. Later, he made welding his occupation. Brad loves painting, and he also enjoys games and puzzles.
- Judy C. is a former activities director. She has enjoyed extensive traveling— from cruises, visiting Las Vegas, and Alaska. She enjoys socializing, walking, and playing tennis. After living in Florida for some time, Judy is happy to be back in Maine near her family.
📖 What I’m Reading
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
This beautifully written historical novel follows the complicated but loving friendship that began in the 1950s childhood of two brave and strong Iranian women. The political climate is the backdrop for this captivating story of a rich culture, the country’s turbulent history, and the women’s
own personal trials.
Resident Joan P. says, “This book will touch your heart! I love this book—especially in light of our current situation, and I highly recommend it!”
🖼️ Art Scavenger Hunt
May art scavenger hunt answers:
- Apartment 436
- Apartment 525
- Apartment 324
- Apartment 331
- Apartment 204
🌵 Desert of Maine
Located at 95 Desert Road, Freeport, Maine, the Desert of Maine is a 40-acre geological anomaly. Despite its name, the site is not a true desert; it receives less than 50 inches of annual rainfall, far exceeding the 10-inch threshold for arid climates. It is a vast expanse of glacial silt surrounded by a lush forest.
Purchased by Henry Goldrup in 1925, the site was turned into a tourist attraction. By the time the Dobson family acquired it, the only historic landmark that remained was the 1797 Tuttle Farm Barn Museum. The site stands as a reminder of how humans can dramatically reshape the natural environment.
Reminiscing on the past …
Our own Carolyn Dobson remembers when she and her family owned the Desert of Maine:
“My 20 years at the Desert of Maine were a joy, and I learned something new every day. I had to master the history and geology of this unique site and then teach it to every new employee. The experience went beyond the desert tour; it also included sand designing, museum equipment, and how the barn was built. All of it was part of a visit to the Desert of Maine.
Most of my employees were ‘work-camper’ couples because they could stay for the full season (mid-May through October 15). I tried to hire high school and college students, but they had to leave in mid-August. The work campers’ maturity was a real benefit—they were always ready to help in any way needed.
I met visitors from all over the United States. Tourism in the 1980s and 1990s was strong, and I enjoyed greeting everyone with a smile, learning where they were from, and recommending places to visit in Maine. My favorite times of year were late May to mid-June and early September, when buses of kindergarteners through third graders arrived full of laughter and excitement. They were in for a treat: a tram ride through the desert, a stop to watch the sand-design artist, a visit to the barn museum to see how farming was done without tractors, and then back to the desert to hunt for gemstones. (We seeded the desert each morning with small gemstones purchased from a dealer.) Each child could keep three favorites.
As the children’s day at the Desert of Maine came to a close, there was one last stop: lunch in the picnic area to eat, relax, and play a few games. Then, the buses headed back to the schools. All available employees stood in the parking lot to wave goodbye.
This was a full life for Sid, me, and our daughter Debi, who moved back to Maine in the 1990s and joined us as a partner in this adventure.”
-Carolyn Dobson