Happy Groundhog Day! - 6 More Weeks of Winter?!
Seems at though Puxatawny Phil has seen his shadow this year and we are supposedly in for another 6 weeks of wintery weather. Groundhog Day usually signals the halfway point from the winter solstice to the spring equinox, and we all know that old man winter saves his biggest surprises for late winter and early spring. So whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, here in Maine, we know it will be at LEAST 6 more weeks of winter.
Things on the pond have been relatively quiet this year, only a few ice houses, a few snowmobiles zipping across the pond, and not alot of snow. We'll see how long it lasts. Until then, we just throw another log on the fire and wait for the arrival of the spring birds that you hear in the background.
Hi-Speed Internet on Notch Road?
Presentation on the Lack of Broadband Internet
The Sacopee Community Forum has organized a meeting at Sacopee Valley High School on February 11, 2010 at 6:00 PM to address concerns. Panelists Phil Lindley, of the state authority Connect ME, Fletcher Kittredge of GWI and Dwight Allison of Maine Fiber will speak about efforts to provide broadband Internet to underserved rural areas.
Press Release submitted to Portland Press Herald:
Sacopee Valley Forum on High-speed Internet: Can’t get there from here?
Rural Sacopee Valley residents are worried about being left in the breakdown lane on the digital superhighway. A public meeting will be held February 11, 2010 in the Sacopee Valley area of Maine to discuss the keen need for broadband Internet access in the southwestern foothills and to press for inclusion in high-speed Internet expansion efforts.
Currently, many areas in Maine have Internet access only through telephone dial-up, which is generally ten or more times slower than broadband. The limited Internet options for rural areas puts local businesses and telecommuting workers at a competitive disadvantage. It also contributes to economic, social, and educational disparity between rural and urban areas of Maine.
In response to this problem, the state authority ConnectME endorsed the application by telecommunications company GWI for federal stimulus money. The receipt of this federal money for GWI’s Three Ring Binder project will enable the installation of high capacity fiber cable to provide broadband internet access to many currently underserved rural areas of Maine.
Not all rural areas, however, may benefit from the project. Residents of the Sacopee Valley are concerned that large portions of their community are not included in the Three Ring Binder project. The Sacopee Valley includes Baldwin, Brownfield, Cornish, Denmark, Hiram, Kezar Falls, Limerick, Limington, Newfield, Parsonsfield, Porter, and nearby areas. All residents who are interested in establishing broadband access throughout the area are urged to come express their views and ask questions. The Sacopee Valley High School is located at 115 South Hiram Rd , Hiram. The event is free, and refreshments will be served.
The Winter Season
As President Richard Hunt has said, it is the "sleepy" time of the year around Clemons Pond except for the full time residents. We hope to keep you informed of the 'state of the pond' throughout the winter months, but feel free to check with some of the links on the Utilities page for power outages and weather conditions at the pond. And as always, we will try to keep the photo gallery updated with some of the most beautiful images of our pond in the winter season. Remember, the days start getting longer on December 21, so "THINK WARM"!