Last visit!

May came to a close with a visit to Union #47. This includes the towns of West Bath, Phippsburg, Woolwich, Arrowsic and Georgetown. Earlier in the year I had come to do the Year 1 work with the district, but with the impending merger with the Bath School Department, there was motivation to get the work done and be ready to move forward. Despite the many changes looming, the district has continued to stay focused on the great work they are doing.

No pictures for this trip....it had a feeling of sadness to it. As much as I love this work, my heart is ready to go back to Westbrook and to continue my work with the wonderful people I have the pleasure to work with. This visit triggered many memories of where I started my teaching career and commitment to students with disabilities (Brunswick..1975!)

As I have driven up and down Rte 1 since my start in Brunswick, I often think about a particular student, Lori ,who lived right on the Brunswick/West Bath town line along the New Meadows River. Lori had a degenerative condition that put her in a wheelchair while she was in my classroom. Watching her older sister, Rosie, with the same condition deteriorate in front of her eyes, Lori and I spent much time talking about life as she struggled with coming to terms with what was to happen to her.

On my last morning in Union #47, with some free time on my hands, I decided to do what I had entertained for years....to see if Lori's family still lived on the New Meadows.

Amazingly I knew it as soon as I passed it and quickly turned around and headed down the long driveway. I couldn't help but think, what a crazy thing this was to do.......30+years later, who knew whose house I was intruding upon, but something told me it was the right thing to do.

The ramp was still on the house to accommodate the wheelchair access. An unfamiliar man answered the door and when I explained that I was looking for Lori's mom, a petite woman peeked around the corner. Tears came to my eyes as I explained who I was, and Lori's mom reached out for a hug as she responded, "Of course I remember you!" Lo and behold, the man who answered the door was a beloved school bus driver who was now suffering with emphysema, who also remembered me! The 3 of us chatted, reminisced, shared memories and pictures as we discussed vignettes from the past. Roy(the bus driver) was excited to hear that I have been married to Alan, a passenger on his bus many years ago!

Lori passed away a couple of years ago. I was able to catch up with her life activities after I knew her, and most importantly was able to share with her mother what a profound impact she had on me as I started my career in education. After hugs all around, I headed back to business in West Bath.

I can't think of a better way to end this year of the DE.......

Back to Ellsworth

It is ironic that my first overnight trip we stayed in Ellsworth to do the training in Stonington-Deer Isle and here I am again for my last overnight. This time I am heading up a 3 day Year 2 review in the Ellsworth Schools. It is easy to think of Ellsworth as just the Rte 1 strip that is full of traffic lights, fast food restaurants and shopping plazas, but when I parked my car and started walking I found inklings of what was a great little town:


Hopeful signs that new energy is going into the town to bring it back some of the architectural details of the past.....


Look up, look up! It is always surprising what you can see!


Still showing movies!



A great city hall tucked a block off Rte 1


As I headed south, I reflected on the great travels I have had this year and the wonderful opportunities to see things I never would have seen otherwise.....one more visit a short distance from home, and the year is quickly coming to a close......

Where's Dedham?

I was so surprised when I pulled up Mapquest to find out where Dedham, ME is! It is one of those places I have driven through many, many times en route to Bar Harbor. Between Bangor and Ellsworth, one tends to focus more on the busy road than the town signs. After having made reservations in Bangor for my visit, I was thrilled to see that the Lucerne Inn is right smack in the middle of Dedham, so with a quick change of plans here is were I arrived for my 2 night stay:

The room was wonderful! With my very own fireplace I was able to make the space quite cozy in the evening---very conducive to reviewing my presentation for the following day!

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This was the view from my window--more spectacular in real life......

Dedhman School is a sweet building tucked up on a rise to separate it from the busy road. I spent a day with the Special Education Director (also director in Brewer) and 3 teachers reviewing their Year One work ahead.

My drive will never be quite the same when I travel to Bar Harbor!