August 21, 2010

Dear Greater Pretty Marsh Community Members,

Another summer has come to Pretty Marsh! And what a great year it has been! The rotted back wall of the Schoolhouse Building, our emergency priority of last year, has had lifesaving work done thanks to the generosity of all who responded. A contractor living in Pretty Marsh, Todd Holbrook, removed the rot, and installed new primed cedar clapboard. This cost $4000, which came in under our estimate of $4500.

We have now established a Schoolhouse Money Market Endowment Account with Bar Harbor Bank and Trust. The amount contributed to this fundraising effort last year totaled $8494. So we are proud to report that $4494 now sits in our new account.

Our pressing needs now are as follows, with new estimates:

• Painting of the exterior, includes scraping, a rough sand, and solid stain- $3960. Note: As of April 22 the E.P.A. has new laws concerning lead paint. Our painter will need to test for lead before starting work and may need to adjust costs accordingly.
• Restore 8 original windows- To be determined (bids still out)
• Electrical overhaul--Install new 100 amp electrical service, rewire adding fixtures and outlets to updated code requirements- $6000

Our goal is to raise enough funds to cover the completion of these projects this year. Beyond that, our goal is to raise $150,000, an amount that ties in with the 150th anniversary of this building, and which would guarantee its longevity for our community. This will comfortably cover currently needed repairs as well as establish a modest endowment against future needs.

Future maintenance projects include:

• New wood screen exterior door
• New wood inside door. The one we have is split.
• Insulation for attic. The winter get togethers are always wonderful community events but the building is quite chilly then even with the good wood stove.
• Investigate rot –if we do discover some, we will need to cope with that.
• Work to stabilize the foundation
• Refurbishing the “soft” section of the entryway
• Interior wall and ceiling repair
• Revitalize original kitchen area

We know this is not an easy time financially for many. THANK YOU!!! to everyone who has contributed thus far!
We are making good progress!

With great hope and many thanks,

At our August BBQ held on Saturday the 21st, PMCC members were invited to search Pretty Marsh for 5 locations that were identified only by a set of clues provided in advance. Those finding and returning stamps from all locations were entered in a drawing for a special award. Here are the five clues, followed by the correct locations:

CLUES

1. Do you want a private picnic by the water? This spot is not owned by the National Park Service. It is owned by the Pretty Marsh Community Corporation so that means YOU! It is between 800 and 1000 on the Indian Point Road.

2. This is the heart of Greater Downtown Pretty Marsh. Stop (don’t roll) and check it out!

3. This is a bog which is high, where no bog would normally be. You can see it from the road between Pond’s End and Pretty Marsh. You can hear it in the springtime from everywhere!

4. Known as MDI’s best kayaking launch. Make sure to wave to David!

5. On this road, your mode of transport changes with the season. You can snowshoe, walk, cross country ski, stargaze, and snowmobile. If you miss the turn, you are officially in Lunt’s Hollow. But don’t panic- you can keep going and find the other end of the road connected to the main road too, further down in Center!

ANSWERS

1. Our own private PMCC picnic spot.

2. The center of Pretty Marsh, by the stop sign.

3. The "Frog Pond" at the height of land before coming into Pretty Marsh.
The answer box had this taped to the top:
Edgar Foote quarried granite from this location between 1910-1920. Since this is a large hole dug into bedrock, it holds water despite being at a local height of land. Normally bogs, like ponds, are down at the base of hills and collect runoff, not at the top.
Vernal pools like this (which dry up partway through the summer) are fairly common in wetlands here and are key to the flourishing of many local plants and animals. This is a particularly unusual one in that this section near the road is deep enough to have permanent water and does NOT dry up- thus this actually comprises several ecosystems. Steve Ressel from College of the Atlantic has observed and/or heard Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica), Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum), Eastern Red-spotted Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens), Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), Green Frogs (Rana clamitans), Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), and Pickerel Frogs (Rana palustris) at this site. He and his students come every spring to study the diversity and quantity of wildlife here. This area (about 30 acres total) will be protected for our Pretty Marsh future generations through Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

4. The kayak launch area at Bartlett Landing.

5. The Acadia National Park Fire Road.

The Grand Prize (a $25 gift certificate to Under the Dogwood Tree in Southwest Harbor) was won by Inge and Lester's grandson Bradley.