Poltrack Blog

It was heart-breaking to visit the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown. On display is the skeletal remains of "Spinnaker" who died as the result of complications caused by entanglement with fishing gear. The Center works to free sea animals from entanglements and studies other problems caused by human activity such as plastic garbage. Anyone who goes on a whale watch should spend some time here to get a sense of the size of these magnificent animals.  Hump pback whale “Spinnaker”, disentangled by CCS on May 14, has been found dead off Maine by our colleagues at the  College of the Atlantic . “We have been studying “Spinnaker” since her year of birth (2004) as part of our Gulf of Maine population research, and have also been part of three separate events to disentangle her from fishing gear” said Jooke Robbins, PhD, Director of the Center’s Humpback Whale Studies program. “Her death comes as difficult news, particularly after our latest disentanglement effort, bu...

Did you ever wonder about what the Smithville branch of the Souhegan River looked like before Flood Control Dam was built? These photos from 2006 show that it was a forested field. The stumps have held up well underwater. I'm not sure why they drained the dam this year. John Weber, Butch Cottery & Bud the dog on our morning walk in 2006 Drained, see the stumps More stumps (location nearest the parking area) Drained and dry I have not seen the reservoir look like this since 2006   www.poltrack.net

The New Ipswich NH Rec Dept held their annual Autumn Festival at Memorial Field on October 14, 2017. They have posted a number of photos on their Facebook Page . These are a few of my photos. Cow Pie Bingo, for the longest time, the cow did not participate. Someone suggested more fiber. This is an interesting costume, apparently it is some TV character but I thought it was a Lego guy. Mason Brook had a variety of harvest items in a colorful display Mike Ordway (Mason Brook Nursery) coaches pumpkin bowling The two Heathers The Festival Troubadour The Rec Department served food at the Festival I didn't see any cider being pressed, but all the parts were there I saw some great facepainting Elsie the six day old calf. So cute. It wouldn't be Autumn event without a hayride   www.poltrack.net

I visited the Barre Cross in Barre, MA without knowing what it looked like from the air. It has an interesting story. Farmer John Harty died on August 20, 2017. It would have been nice to have met him. This was a work of love and faith. This is a part of the obituary: In 1989, John received a loud firm message from God that instructed him to build a cross 200 ft long 25 ft wide, painted with The Ten Commandments in the middle of the field. Followed by creating a message to all that could be seen from 1,000 feet in the air, God's Wisdom, made with trees and crushed marble. Throughout the years many people have visited his home and he was able to share his love of Jesus and to reconnect people with The Ten Commandments. Weddings, baptisms, healings, and many more memorable events have taken place on the farm. John was always thankful to everyone who donated their time and energy to The Cross. He was a faithful servant and pursued God's will for his property. "Grandpa John...

The annual  Fall Foliage Art Tou r is held on  Indigenous People's Day  Weekend in the MonadnockRegion. This year two New Ipswich art galleries participated in the tour. Roland Coates wrote "Over the past couple of years I have moved away from using watercolors to focusing on colored pencils. I am a realist and am fascinated with what I can do with them. The colors blend beautifully and more realistically than watercolors. I experience the subject coming alive at some point during my composition, which is very exciting.". Roland works from photographs and many of his pieces feature recognizable locations such as this drawing of Barrett House on Main Street I love the light in this drawing Waterloom Pond in New Ipswich Roland did this drawing from a photograph provided by Danielle Le Bris This was a popular piece, Roland explained that he sold one of these at a show in Jaffrey Translucent Roland joked that he was a "Buddha-p...

The annual Fall Foliage Art Tou r is held on Indigenous People's Day Weekend in the Monadnock Region. This year two New Ipswich art galleries participated in the tour. Artists Danielle Le Bris & Gerry Friedman have coffee on their patio at the Torch & Palette Studio in New Ipswich work of Danielle Encaustic Painting Stop by and have a cookie, register for a raffle - Open Oct 7th - 9th from 10AM till 5PM Danielle likes to work with large canvases A monotype hand pulled print, only one can be printed. Ask about the process when you visit I forgot to ask about these two paintings, but something is going on So many questions Detail of a very large self portrait   www.poltrack.net