Bunnies and Beavers

It’s a busy week in Bridgton, and the advent of April gives us all reason to celebrate. These early days of spring have historically celebrated rebirth and renewal, and, of course, the excessive eating of chocolate. So a Blessed Passover and Happy Easter to all, and may your eggs be filled with gold coins, or at least high-quality candy.

The Easter Bunny is hopping through Bridgton this weekend, starting with a visit to the Community Center on Saturday, April 7. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Peter Rabbit will help you decorate Easter eggs and cookies, then lead the kids in an Easter egg hunt. Lunch is at noon, and while the bunny will probably just eat a big bowl of carrots there will be other goodies for everyone else. This event is a fundraiser for the Laurie Bergen Memorial Fund and benefits the BRAG fields; it is open to kids of all ages, and a $5 donation is suggested. Call 647-3116 for more info.

Then he’s back for the big day, and throwing a big bunny bash at the Magic Lantern on Sunday. This popular annual event begins at noon and everyone is invited to join in the Easter egg hunt and fill their baskets full of candy. After the cutthroat competition – I mean, friendly egg hunt – the theater will show kid-friendly movies. Check out www.magiclanternmovies.com or call 647-9326 for more information.

Bridgton is a great walking town, with well-maintained sidewalks along Main Street and wide, clear trails through Pondicherry Park. One of my favorite loops is through town to the Highland Lake Beach and Shorey Park, where the lake meets Stevens Brook and ducks congregate all winter. This year they have company, as a family of beavers have been busily building a house in the small pond below the footbridge. They have also been doing some significant landscaping and re-decorating, taking down big and small trees along the walkway. You can often see them swimming around, with just their fat tails and big goofy faces above the water, happily co-existing with the ducks and probably plotting their expansion plans.

Family Trees

We may be currently living in Bridgton, Maine, but in the big scheme of things we all came from somewhere else. It’s fascinating to learn about your roots, and the exalted and illustrious ancestors who came before us. Some of my colorful predecessors include the eccentric heiress Doris Duke, the President of the Southern Confederacy Jefferson Davis and the heroic savior of the Scots (to hear my uncle tell it), William Wallace.

Illuminate your past with a Genealogy Workshop at the Bridgton Historical Society on Saturday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where an expert genealogist will show you how to access records and find information in unexpected places. To register and for more information call Kathleen at 329-8250 or email shakentrees@gmail.com.

Fun With Flies

The ice has melted and the fish are stirring from their winter depths, hungry for food. Apparently a fly is the fish equivalent of dangling a cupcake in front of me…they just can’t resist jumping at it. Join science teacher Mark O’Conner for a fly fishing workshop and see how fun it is to lead the fish to flies.

Sponsored by the Lakes Environmental Association, O’Conner will be joined by staff naturalist Mary Jewett on Thursday, April 19, for a morning of fishing fun. They will be offering demonstrations and techniques of proper casting style and types of flies to use. The good news is that fly fishing doesn’t use real flies but rather replicas of insects, each of which tempt different fish to bite. You will learn about how to design irresistible flies and explore what the natural prey of our native fish is and where to find them. Meet at Highland Lake Beach from 9 a.m. until noon, and let them know if you need to borrow a rod and supplies. Call 647-8580 for more info and check out www.mainelakes.org for details and a calendar of all their upcoming events.

Tax Man Cometh

Tax time is looming, and the Bridgton Community Center can help. The BCC is offering free tax preparations, courtesy of retired volunteers from AARP. If you need help muddling through all your receipts, deductions and W-2’s, bring your paperwork and the certified accountants will do the work for you.

This service is free for low-income and retired residents, but an appointment is required. Call Lorraine Goldrup at 647-3116 to set up a time; available schedules are Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday, April 13, is the last date to do it, so call now.

Roast Beast

If you like slow-roasted, hand-carved beef with all the fixings, mark your calendar. The First Congregational Church is hosting a Community Feast on Saturday, April 28 at 6 p.m., and tickets are available now for $20.

The “roast beast” dinner has been a popular fundraiser for the church for many years. While the “steamship round” roast beef is the star attraction, sides include organizer Price Hutchins’ “liquid love” gravy, scalloped potatoes, assorted vegetables and breads, and a full salad bar. Coffee, tea and homemade desserts are also on offer.

Space is limited to 125 people and tickets always sell out, so get yours early. Proceeds of the dinner will benefit church programs including community outreach programs like Jeanette’s Closet, a program that offers free clothing to families in need.

Call your friends and family and reserve an entire table. Tickets can be reserved and purchased by calling Jeffrey Frey at 671-2678 or the church office at 647-3936.