When you own lakefront property in the Lakes Regions of Maine it's not unusual to spot wildlife. But sometimes you spot unusual wildlife! Dr. Michael Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Central Maine Orthopedics was fishing with a friend on Long Pond in the Belgrade Lakes Region last weekend, when two huge birds flew over their boat. "It was a pretty amazing sight," said Dr. Cox. "The south end of Long Pond is very wild. There's a huge freshwater marsh. We see all kinds of wildlife there," explained Dr. Cox.  But this is the first time he's ever seen Sandhill Cranes in the marsh. "They're quite a beast." This stately bird is long-legged with gray plumage, which looks more ochre during breeding season, a red forehead, white cheeks and a long, dark and sharp bill. Adults can stand up to 5 fee... 05/25/2010

February 11, 6-8 p.m. Get Up Downtown, chocolate tasting and live music, Maynard's Chocolates, Hathaway Creative Center, 10 Water Street, Waterville. FMI: 207.660.6093, www.hathawaycreativecenter.com. February 11, 7:30 p.m. Award-winning poet Chad Davidson, read and sign works, free and open to the public, The Landing, Olsen Student Center, UMF, Farmington. FMI: 207.778.7454, www.umf.maine.edu. February 11, 8 p.m. "Dark Days, Bright Nights: From Black Power to Barack Obama," lecture by author Peniel Joseph of Tufts University, Ostrove Auditorium, Diamond Building, Colby College, Waterville. FMI: 2207.859.4000, www.colby.edu. February 12, 8:30 p.m. Arthur Webster and the Holy Mackerels, Higher Grounds Coffee House, 119 Water Street, Hallowell, FMI: www.webtonemusic.50megs.com. February 1... 03/31/2010

January 29, 5-7 p.m. "Pixels," Opening Reception featuring imagery including but not limited to the digital world, L/A Arts Gallery 5, Lyceum Hall, 49 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.782.7228, www.laarts.org. January 29, 7 p.m. The Androscoggin Valley Community Orchestra Winter Concert, led by Paul Ross, Franco-American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.783.1585, www.francoamericanheritage.org. January 29-31, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, "Visiting Mr. Green," prices vary, check Web site for free parking, Public Theatre, 31 Maple Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207.782.3200, www.thepublictheatre.org. January 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Indoor Yard Sale, benefits 7th grade girls' basketball team's quest to purchase warm-up jackets, Mt. Blue Middle School, Outer Middle Stre... 02/04/2010

Long Pond, in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Central Maine, is a prime location for a lakefront home or vacation getaway. Located just 1 hour north of Portland, 1 hour south of Bangor, 3 hours north of Boston and twenty minutes or less from the capital city of Augusta, lakefront properties on Long Pond are easily accessible, yet feel like they are a million miles from civilization. At twelve miles long, it's situated in the towns of Mount Vernon, Rome and Belgrade. This serene waterway of 2,714 acres is surrounded by majestic pines leading up to The Mountain, French's Mountain, and Blueberry Hill. The pond is divided by a narrows into two distinct basins. The southern or lower basin is the deepest with a maximum depth of 106 feet. It provides a perfect habitat for supporting cold and warm... 01/21/2010

Great Pond in Maine, situated primarily in the town of Belgrade and less so in Rome, is among the largest bodies of water in the world called a "Pond". Great Pond measures roughly seven miles north to south by 4 miles east to west. It has a surface area of 8239 acres, has a maximum depth of 69 feet and a mean depth of 21 feet, and its shore length is over 46 miles. This large body of water has been a destination of boaters, fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts for many, many years. Great Pond is blessed with above average water quality and its cleanliness and clarity have been monitored and protected by a very active lake association, The Belgrade Lake Association. Salmon fishing used to be a big draw here, but the salmon have "left" and the attraction now is fishing for northern pike. (W... 05/31/2009