Pine Tree Society

Pine Tree Society Blog

Santa Claus visits the Early Learning Center

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The children of the Early Learning Center recently had a very exciting visitor! Santa Claus and his favorite elf made their way from the North Pole to visit with the children and read them a story! Santa read My Twelve Maine Christmas Days  to the preschoolers and One Green Tree, Ten Chickadees to the younger children.

Both books were written by Wendy Ulmer with artwork by Sandy Crabtree. The books were donated by Ms. Crabtree which is extra special because she was also a featured artist for Pine Tree Society’s 2017 Holiday Cards!  Santa provided each child with a new pair of warm mittens and a new book to take home. After cookies and milk, Santa and his elf were on their way. Special thanks to Sandy Crabtree for the book donation and to Brian Soucy and Joanne Dupuis for bringing so much joy into our classrooms!

 

Pine Tree Society announces Christmas Sweeps winner

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Congratulations to Carleton Cameron Jr. from Smyrna Mills!  He was the winner of the Christmas Sweeps drawing at Pine Tree Society. The Pine Tree Society Sweepstakes raises money to help Pine Tree Society transform lives. For information about the sweepstakes, call us at (207) 386-5912.

Amy shares Hanukkah traditions with the Early Learning Center

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The Early Learning Center was blessed yet again this year, to celebrate Hanukkah with our dear friend Amy Nussinow. Amy is a Speech Language Pathologist from Sandcastle and she provides all the Speech Therapy to the children at ELC.

Amy read us some stories about Hanukkah and shared some of her family treasures, like a menorah and her dreidels. We learned about the dreidel game, winning Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins), and lighting a candle each night with the helper candle, known as the Shamash Candle. Amy shared potato latkes sour cream and applesauce and jelly donuts too!

We had a wonderful time experiencing and celebrating the joy of Hanukkah with Amy. Thank you Amy!

Dawn has two goals

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“I’ve been at the beginning.  I’ve been at the end.  But I’ve never seen the in-between part.”

Dawn Willard-Robinson is the director of Pine Tree Camp and has attended the Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-in for years, but has never actually seen the trail the Q106.5 Egg Riders take.

Snowmobile Ride-in to benefit Pine Tree Camp

Dawn stuffs the shirt of the youngest Egg Rider while a camera team looks on.

“I’ve only ever loaded eggs at the Hungry Hollow 76ers Clubhouse in Levant before the ride.”

At the clubhouse, Egg Riders put a t-shirt over the top of their snowsuits.  Volunteers then stuff as many eggs as possible into their shirts.  Each egg represents a $50 pledge from Q106.5 listeners.

“Dozens and dozens of eggs go in.  It’s amazing how many go in there!  People have different methods and sometimes smash them on the person’s back to get more eggs in.  The eggs always break.”

After everyone is egged up, Dawn usually drives her car to Newport to cheer on the sleds as they come into town.

But this year is different.  This year, Dawn will don her snowmobile suit as a celebrity rider in the Q106.5 Egg Ride and get to see the trail.

“I haven’t ridden a snowmobile since I was a kid.  I’ll have to practice a little here at camp!”

Dawn has two goals.  The first is deciding what to wear.

“I’m going to wear a tutu or something and bring some of the fun of Camp into the mix.  I’m up for suggestions for how I can dress.”

Her second and most important goal is to reach out to Pine Tree Camp alumni so they can virtually take part in her ride by following on-line, coming to the event, or making a donation.

“Our alumni live all over the world.  The Ride-in is a great way to pull everybody together.”

Support Dawn’ Egg Ride at https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/dawn-willard-robinson-1/q1065-celebrity-egg-ride-to-benefit-pine-tree-camp.

40 years go by and so many things stay the same

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It’s so fun to look back in the scrapbook and see this newsletter article about Pine Tree Society holiday cards from 1977. We see that the postcard option was popular because people were concerned about the price of postage going up. In those days, you could send a postcard for 9 cents instead of the 13 cents needed to send a folding card. Here we are 40 years later and most of us wouldn’t blink at spending 34 cents on a stamp for a postcard or 46 cents for a folding card, considering the fact that we spend over $100 a month for our phone and internet service. What we consider expensive has certainly changed but when it comes to Pine Tree Society holiday cards, many things have stayed the same.
Pine Tree Society newsletter photo
We still offer two card designs, featuring the artwork of  Maine artists. Our card designs still come in a folding card option (with 3 choices for inside messaging) or postcards. People still love to receive cards in the mail and display them in their home during the holiday season. Most importantly, Pine Tree Society holiday cards are still a great way to spread joy while supporting the full range of Pine Tree Society services for Maine people with disabilities.
To view complete details for this year’s holiday card designs and to place your order securely online, click here.
You may also stop at our 149 Front Street location in Bath, Monday through Friday, to see the full selection and purchase your cards in person.
You may also call (207) 443-3341 to purchase your cards by phone.  Orders will be shipped and you will receive them within a few business days.

Renovations to The Shack have begun

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Renovation of the Frances Smith Cabin – better known as The Shack – has begun at Pine Tree Camp.

“We’ve started some of the ripping and tearing,” said Alan Farmer, Facilities Manager. “We’re getting everything out so construction can start.”

The plan is to do the renovations this fall and winter so campers can enjoy the revamped lodging this spring.

“It will look like a completely new building with all the amenities our other cabins have,” said Alan. “Heat and air conditioning are very important for a person with a disability. Some of our campers couldn’t come to camp at all if we didn’t have air conditioning.”

Another change Alan is really looking forward to is replacing the wooden ramp with landscaping that is graded for wheelchairs. With a gradual, graded landscape, a lot of people can get in and out of the cabin without help.

“That independence makes a big difference for people,” he said.

During the demolition phase, the crew discovered that the building was fairly well insulated so there will be less wallboard to take down than they originally thought.

The goal right now is to get all the new windows and doors in before the snow falls.

“There’s a lot we can do this winter, then in the spring we’ll replace the roof, deck and siding,” he said.

Once it’s complete, The Shack will be given a number like all the other cabins and, although it may still sentimentally be called The Shack, we’re guessing it won’t take long before people can’t recall why it was ever named that in the first place.

Holiday card season is in full swing

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December is here and the time to get your holiday cards is now!  You have probably already seen this year’s two featured designs, featuring the work of renowned Maine artists, Carlton Plummer and Sandy Crabtree.

Did you know that each design comes in a choice of folded cards with envelopes or postcards?  Additionally, each design’s folded card selection has three different message options on the inside:

Option #1: May the joy of Christmas be with you now and always

Option #2: Warm wishes for peace and happiness

Option #3: Blank with no message

Cards are packaged flat so you can run them through your printer at home to add a personalized message, if you wish.

For over 50 years, Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards have featured quintessential Maine art showcasing the beauty of winter.  What a difference a card makes!  Three million dollars in card sales has had a tremendous impact and transformed the lives of people with disabilities. All proceeds from card sales go to support the programs of Pine Tree Society.

Order your 2017 Pine Tree Society Holiday Cards now.

Pine Tree Society’s holiday cards are the perfect way to wish customers, vendors, family members and friends a happy holiday season while impacting Maine people with disabilities.

Click here to order online today. Cards will ship First Class upon receipt, so you will receive your order within a couple of business days.

The full selection of cards and postcards are available for purchase at the 149 Front Street office in Bath during normal business hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30-5:00.

You may also call (207) 386-5912 for more information or to place an order by phone.

Judson to ride in the Q106.5 Egg Ride to benefit Pine Tree Camp

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Amy Judson has been participating in the Dysart’s Snowmobile Ride-in to benefit Pine Tree Camp for over 15 years.  This February 3, for the very first time, she’ll be a celebrity rider in the Q106.5 Egg Ride.

When asked how being a celebrity rider will make the Ride-in different for her, she said, “Well, for one, I’m going to be messy!  I won’t be standing on the sidelines laughing at everyone else getting eggy.  This time, it will be me!”

Her son Bradley will be there. Amy said, “He will enjoy smushing eggs on me!”

For Amy and her whole family, it’s a feel good day and one that they look forward to all year.

Bradley has attended Pine Tree Camp for over 15 years and they got involved with the Ride-in after the first year he went to camp.

“Bradley really enjoys supporting Pine Tree Camp and I’m really proud of him for that,” she said. “It means a lot to him.”

For Amy, the Ride-in is also about community and giving back.

“We really, truly believe in the spirit of Pine Tree Camp,” she said. “The Ride-in is a community event and Newport and the surrounding area really embrace it.  It’s always nice to see what everybody else has done.  So many good people step up and support it.”

Support Amy’s Egg Ride at https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/amy-judson/q1065-celebrity-egg-ride-to-benefit-pine-tree-camp.

Maine Artists Helping Maine People

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Carlton Plummer grew up on a farm in Maine before serving as a war combat artist in Vietnam and becoming a university professor.

Sandy Crabtree married a Mainer and taught art at Morse High School for 30 years.

What they both share in common is their artwork has helped raise more than $3 million dollars to support Maine people with disabilities through Pine Tree Society’s annual holiday card campaign.

Plummer already has seven paintings featured on Pine Tree Society holiday cards. This year, at 88 years old, he’s added an eighth. His painting “Homeward Bound” has been selected as a design for this year’s card.

Crabtree’s painting “Squirrel Point” was selected as well, marking her tenth time being featured in this annual tradition.

“Pine Tree Society’s art collection is wonderful and I love being a part of it,” said Crabtree. “You never know how it strikes people’s hearts. The holiday cards evoke feelings of nostalgia for Maine as a place where you grew up or visited.”

Plummer’s watercolor scene titled “Homeward Bound” features a man making his way home after harvesting the perfect Christmas tree. He moves through the rugged landscape of the snow-covered forest on his way to the quaint town in the clearing where his family eagerly awaits his arrival.

When asked what inspired him to paint this scene, he said, “That’s me.”

This painting harkens back to a childhood memory on his grandparents’ farm.

“That’s me. When I was 8 years old, I took a hatchet and went into the pasture to take down a fir tree. No one knew what I was doing, but I did a good job with it and they let me do it every year after that.”

Crabtree’s “Squirrel Point” is a captivating watercolor of a beloved Maine lighthouse.  On a clear, brisk day on the Kennebec River, Squirrel Point Lighthouse is festively adorned with a wreath, a Christmas tree, and a jolly snowman waving from the hill.

Crabtree loves lighthouses. She also loves tree houses.

“The tree house at Pine Tree Camp is what first inspired me to want to support the organization. I think it’s a wonderful idea for kids to be able to go up in the air like that.”

Crabtree hopes the holiday cards help raise awareness about the importance of saving things that matter, like Squirrel Point Lighthouse and like the tree house at Pine Tree Camp.

Plummer recalled that he first year his artwork was selected, he had submitted a painting because he thought the whole concept was a good idea.

“I’m an illustrator and this was something I could do to help Pine Tree Society.  After my first design was chosen, I got hooked. And I’m glad I did.”

It all began with a knock on the door.

In the 1960s, Pine Tree Society staff had the idea that a Maine-themed holiday card could be the perfect fundraiser. Maine artist Richard Hasenfus lived nearby the office, so they knocked on his door and asked if he would donate a piece.

More than fifty years later, the tradition is still going strong.

Every June, Pine Tree Society’s office is flooded with paintings depicting Maine’s beautiful landscape. This annual holiday tradition draws work from artists from around the state competing for a chance to be featured in Pine Tree Society’s expansive collection of Maine art representing all aspects of Maine in the winter — from country scenes, to woods and fields to the rockbound Maine coast.

Pine Tree Society helps Maine people with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives and all proceeds from the sales of these holiday cards support its programs. For more information or to purchase cards, please call 207-443-3341 or visit this link: https://app.etapestry.com/cart/PineTreeSociety/default/index.php