Isabelle Birdsall Schweitzer
76 Autumn Ridge Circle
Ithaca, NY 14850
schweitzer53@yahoo.com
facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1975/
Beautiful summer weather here now. Our family news is that we just returned from a 10-day trip to Alaska. Incredible experience. We were able to visit Cordova, Denali National Park, and Seward, and loved every minute of it. I hope to return and see more of the state in the future.
In June there was a small reunion of some past Kennebec Hall residents. We were all drawn to Portland because of a 40th celebration of the Portland, ME Alpha Omicron Pi alumni chapter. Hard to believe so many years have passed. Past Kennebec residents included Marty Lambert Jordan ‘73, Barbara Koertz Wentworth, Mary Reynolds, Jane Romain LeBrun, Mimi Cleary Colwell ’76, myself, and Nancy Pistaki Chard. We had a wonderful time catching up at Marty and Rick’s home.
Other news of the Class of ’75:
The Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, WI, named Cindy House as its 2018 Master Artist, the museum’s 37th Master Artist. Cindy, who was a wildlife major at UMaine, has developed a unique pastel style that makes her landscapes with birds appear to be oil paintings. Since 1981 she has been included in the museum’s annual Birds in Art exhibit 26 times. If you are near Wausau September 8 through November 25, you will have an opportunity to see her work.
Donovan Todd has been named the new executive director of the United Farmer Veterans of Maine, a statewide nonprofit organization that works to transition veterans to work in agriculture. They have organized the MaineGrown by Vets branding, community breakfasts, Pets for Vets and training, and set up the MaineFirst Co-op for services and products produced in Maine.
The Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area has been set up on land donated to the Kennebec Land Trust by George ’70 and Linda Hillier Smith, in honor of George’s father. The property will be used to demonstrate sustainable forestry practices, to teach kids about wildlife and wildlife habitat, and for outdoor recreation.
David Yarborough, UMaine’s Cooperative Extension’s wild blueberry specialist, will be retiring in 2019. Wild blueberries are one of Maine’s biggest agriculture products. David will transition to retirement while working closely with his replacement. David has worked at the University of Maine for 37 years.
Please send some news — your classmates want to hear from you!