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By Diana Bowley, Of the NEWS Staff - GREENVILLE - Even though Ellen Poole, 77, has lived in the Moosehead Lake region for much of her life, she is still discovering how diverse it is.That comes partly from her participation in the annual Forest Heritage Days bus tours offered to the public each August by the Natural Resource Education Center. "I just learn so much every year. It's such a great experience," Poole said Wednesday. The educational tours focus on the forest but include tidbits on other natural assets in the region. Participants in this year's land and water tour, titled "Yesterday and Today: From the Woods and the Water," will hear a history of the log drive, will see a processor at work and will learn about conservation easements and the development of wood stands. Those participating in the tour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, will be split into two groups. One will depart by bus and the other by the steamship Katahdin. Both groups will meet for lunch followed by a switch in transportation for the return to Greenville. In addition to the tour, there will be a public supper from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Ready Workers Community House and a "Music in the Gazebo" concert at 7 p.m. Saturday's activities will include a lumberjack breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. at the community house, the annual C.A. Dean Auxiliary Fair in the Louis Oakes Gymnasium and logging games from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Greenville High School campus. The latter event, a skilled competition among Certified Logging Professional Level 4 loggers, is the culmination of a four-day training program where the best of the best compete for a share of the $7,000 purse. The events include saw chain filing, speed cut, bore cut, precision stump, spring pole and precision felling. Participants also will have an opportunity to view "Finding a Middle Ground for Maine's Woods," a traveling multimedia exhibit that encourages a courteous exchange of opinions by illustrating the problems in finding a balance between society's need for commercial "woods" and environmental "woods" in the Maine forests. The exhibit will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Nickerson School. "It's a great way to learn and expand on what's available in the region," Poole said. Her husband, Wayne, 79, agrees. "I think it brings a tremendous opportunity for people who spend time here to learn about the economy and the occupations of some of the people who live here," he said. For information about Forest Heritage Days contact Susan at 997-3706 or e-mail susancrippen@gwi.net. To register for the bus and boat tour, contact Debbie at 695-2125 The cost of the tour is $20 per person and includes lunch. |