Where in Maine?
Your February mystery photograph shows gorgeous Sand Beach and little Newport Cove in the southeast corner of Acadia National Park. It is everyone’s dream of the New England coast: a quiet sandy beach looking out over truly blue water, embraced by spruce-covered hills that tumble right down to the shore, all on an intimate scale.
Looking down into the cove, one has the feeling of being its first discoverer. Not quite.
Newport Cove must have been chosen as a Cider House Rules site not only because of its obvious beauty, but also for its easy access from the park’s good roads. When my husband and I came across the filming session there one autumn afternoon, there was stuff everywhere: trucks, trailers, canteens, miles of wires on the ground (and above), light stanchions, a vintage convertible for the make-out scene mounted on rails instead of wheels, and cast and crew (indistinguishable from each other) standing around doing absolutely nothing for long periods of time, except to ask the few park visitors to please keep quiet. We felt a bit put out by their presence, and they definitely felt put upon by us. Newport Cove is one of the great places anywhere, all the more so because it has few peers, and because its timelessness is being protected.
—Catherine Sylvia Reiss
Vinalhaven, Maine
 
I practically grew up in Acadia, and spent some romantic moonlit nights on Sand Beach, near Thunder Hole, on what used to be called Ocean Drive but is now part of Loop Road. Sometimes the breaking waves were lit with phosphorescence — a summertime phenomenon. Sand Beach is largely a misnomer, for — as you point out — the sand is predominantly crumbled shells. You understand this when you try to wipe off the sand — it sticks to your skin due to the chemical composition of the seashells.
—Pete Hickey
 Winterville, North Carolina
 
Bait Battle
Though I don’t recall ever using baitfish and can, in fact, count on one hand the times I’ve fished in my forty-nine years, I found Ted Williams’ February article, “Battle of the Bait Buckets,” to be one of the best I’ve ever read in Down East. Thanks, Ted.
—Mike Federle
 Sleepy Hollow, New York
 
Photo Finish
Your January “What’s in a Picture?” historic feature certainly brought back memories for me. As a child I had heard the story from my father about the famous photograph that his father, James “Jimmy” Jones, had taken of the raising of the submarine Squalus. It was nice to learn more details about how my grandfather’s picture came to be taken. My wife and I recently moved back to Maine, and seeing this picture is yet another nice connection to the state. It’s great to be home again.

—Donald Jones
Harpswell, Maine
 
Pleasing Landscapes
Thank you for the article in your January issue on Ellen Louise Payson and her landscape designs. It pleases me that Payson and other women landscape architects from the Lowthorpe School are getting some much-deserved attention. However, it was the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture for Women (founded in 1901 originally as the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, and Gardening for Women), not the Cambridge School, which in 1945 became part of the Rhode Island School of Design to form the basis of the Lowthorpe Department of Landscape Architecture here.
—Baruch Kirschenbaum
Professor Emeritus of Art History
Rhode Island School of Design
 
Top Dog
While I was grocery shopping the other day, I happened to pass by the magazines, scanning the covers without really looking. Imagine my surprise when I spotted a long-haired Chihuahua on the cover of the February issue of Down East. I was so taken by this great photo that I just had to buy the magazine to read the article about this little guy, Napoleon. It’s a cute read and touches on the issues facing merle-patterned Chihuahuas.
—Carrissa Larsen
Westbrook, Maine
 
For many years, my wife and I have been Mainers at heart and spend many months coming to Maine to share the beauty, traditions, and so much more. One such attraction is the animals, particularly big, rugged dogs, their love of Maine weather, etc. We were shocked seeing that “pipsqueak” excuse for a dog you highlighted in your February issue as being “Maine’s Top Dog.” Sorry, but it ruined our expectations of ruggedness and what Maine should be displaying. Cute dog, but that’s about all.
—Robert Erickson
Flowery Branch, Georgia
 
There are dozens of animal shelters in Maine. In my many visits to them I don’t recall seeing any dog that is as sad-looking as your February cover. You probably have been flooded with photos of real dogs.
—Lyman Pope, Jr.
Jackson, New Hampshire

Editor’s Note: We believe this truth to be self-evident, that all dogs are created equal. But if you think your breed is Maine’s tops, tell us about it at DownEast.com