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 Local news and information covering Blue Hill, Brooksville, Brooklin, Castine, Deer Isle, Isle au Haut, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Stonington and Surry, Maine. |
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News Feature
Winter. Some years it’s bitterly cold, some years throwing out your back shoveling is almost a given. Other years it’s soggy and mild, or a monotonous gray. Whatever the weather, winter in this part of the world can be long, and definitely dark—which is why it’s important to keep busy, keep healthy and stay happy. Some people eagerly await the months of snow, excited to ski, snowboard and ice skate. Whether you are a winter outdoor enthusiast or not, everyone can appreciate the beauty of fresh-fallen snow—even if it’s quickly followed by grumbling about having to drive in it. Take the time to enjoy those moments. Take advantage of sun when it’s out, and keep your spirits up and your body moving. Failing that, there’s always a cup of hot chocolate and a warm couch. Exclusive to this issue is our all-new Healthy Living Guide. It is an extensive guide for area resources to live a healthier life—everything from yoga to counseling, massage to obstetrics. Take care of yourself—mind and body. Wonder who’s open in the winter? Check out the Restaurant Guide, a comprehensive listing of area eateries. Indulge in some visual or performing arts detailed in our Arts Guide, which also includes a listing of area venues and galleries. Learn about winter trails including the Holbrook Island Sanctuary in our Outdoor Handbook. Find out more about events highlighted here or other fantastic community offerings in our Community Calendar in this booklet or in any one of our three community newspapers: Castine Patriot, Island Ad-Vantages and The Weekly Packet. A fully searchable calendar is also located at penobscotbaypress.com. Snowflakes keep falling Everyone learns in elementary school that no two snowflakes are alike. But after years of shoveling, trudging and playing, we all know there’s more to snow than unique flakes. Here are a few facts about snow, courtesy of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. Why is snow white? Visible sunlight is white. Most natural materials absorb some sunlight which gives them their color. Snow, however, reflects most of the sunlight. The structure of snow results in countless tiny surfaces from which visible light is efficiently reflected. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed uniformly over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance. Is it ever too cold to snow? No, it can snow even at incredibly cold temperatures as long as there is some source of moisture and some way to lift or cool the air. It is true, however, that most heavy snowfalls occur with relatively warm air temperatures near the ground, since air can hold more water vapor at warmer temperatures. Is it true that there is one inch of water in every 10 inches of snow? The simple answer is no. The amount of water in snow varies greatly depending on the kind of snow (heavy and wet, light and powdery). Ten inches of fresh snow can contain as little as a tenth of an inch of water, or as much as four inches. Why is snow a good insulator? Fresh, undisturbed snow is composed of a high percentage of air trapped among the structure of the accumulated snow crystals. Since the air can barely move, heat transfer is reduced. Fresh, uncompacted snow typically is 90-95 percent trapped air. Why does it seem so quiet after a heavy snow? When the ground has a thick layer of fresh, fluffy snow, sound waves are absorbed near the snow. That said, once snow hardens and becomes smooth, the surface can help reflect sound. In terms of the “crunch” of walking on snow, the colder the snow, the louder the crunch. Keep that fish on ice! Ice fishing is loved by many hardy Mainers, who revel in drilling holes in the ice and dropping lines for brook trout, togue and bass (among others). The most important thing to remember when ice fishing is to stay safe on the ice. According to Maine Warden Service guidelines posted online, new, clear ice should be at least four inches thick to guarantee safety on foot. Five inches usually allows for snowmobile or ATV travel, and a foot of new, clear ice is recommended to hold a car or a medium-sized pickup. Keep in mind these guidelines are only for new, clear ice, not for ice that has thawed and refrozen (also known as “white ice.”) As the warden service notes, “Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.” Another key thing to keep in mind is that ice seldom freezes uniformly, and can be thick in one spot and thin in another. According to state law, ice fishing rules and regulations vary from county to county and even pond to pond. For instance, First Pond in Blue Hill (also known as Billings Pond) is closed to ice fishing until January 1, has a daily bag limit of two trout, and each must be more than 12 inches, with only one exceeding 14 inches. The Lily Pond in Deer Isle is closed to ice fishing altogether, while Stonington’s Burntland Pond has no limit on bass. Walker Pond in Brooksville and Sedgwick is open for fishing, except for alewives. To download a complete guide to fishing in Hancock County—or anywhere else in the state—visit Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Service’s fishing Web site, maine.gov/ifw/fishing. Just because a pond is open to ice fishing does not mean there is guaranteed public access to the pond for vehicles or even foot traffic—check with the local municipality and/or landowners before crossing private property. Slim’s Fishing Derby, which raises money for scholarships, will be held on February 18 on Toddy Pond in Orland and Surry. Other fishing derbies around the state are listed on the IFWS Web site. |
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