August 2008

By Carol McCracken

Tied up to a dock at Portland Yacht Services for most of the past month or so has been the magnificant 126 ft. schooner Virginia. From this port, she has been carrying passengers up and down the New England coast – from Gloucester, Massachusetts to Nova Scotia for a price. The Virginia’s home port is Norfolk, Virginia where she was built and launched in 2004. Virginia left “PYS’ earlier this week to slowly make her way back to her home port of Norfolk for the winter.

This Virginia is a replica of the original vessel of the same name which is considered the last sailing vessel built for the Chesapeake Bay between 1917 to 1926. The original blueprints were used to built this replica. The reason given to MHN for her Portland summer port by one of her deck hands, Autumn Taphorn, is that there is not “a lot of wind this time of the year in the Cheaspeake.” The coast of Maine is well-known for its scenery and strong winds east of Portland.

The success of the Norfolk Virginia as an educational schooner reminded me of the Maine’s First Ship, the Virginia, built in 1607. Our Virginia was the most significant accomplishment to come from the failed Popham Colony located at the head of the Kennebec River. Built at Popham Beach by English colonists, she generally is considered to be the forerummer of the extensive shipbuilding industry in Maine. She was named Virginia because that is the name the English gave to the area between Maine and North Carolina. About one half of the initial $900,000 needed prior to construction had been raised when active fund-raising slowed down. Organizers of the effort had hoped that our Virginia would likewise become an educational “pinnace” that would draw attention to Maine’s history as a boatbuilder that has largely been ignored outside the State of Maine. Organizers are in the process of regrouping and may have additional news in the next several months or so.

Although the outcome of efforts to build a replica of Maine’s First Ship contrasts sharply to date with the Norfolk, Virginia schooner, it’s a story that is not yet finished. After all there’s still plenty of wind and scenery to accommodate the two Virginias – maybe the money will still follow.

www.schoonervirginia.org
www.mainesfirstship.org

By Carol McCracken
There sat Chris Reiling – in the leather easy chair by the window staring into the screen of his laptop. When asked if he were rich, important or famous, this young man looked MHN straight in the eye and with conviction said, “I hope someday to be famous.” There was MHN’s next interview at the ever so popular hang-out Hilltop Coffee Shop.

MHN eased into the large easy couch almost opposite Chris before he could change his mind about granting me an interview with him. Originally from Philadelphia, his family moved to Topsham when he was about 6 years old. When he was 9, he joined the school glee club. From there he transitioned into school plays – where he worked his way up from the bottom of the ladder to starring roles in school plays.

Fast forward and Chris is now 27 years old. The end of October he co-stars in a Good Theater production of the award winning“Stones in His Pocket.” It’s a challenging role because he and his co-star (Brian Chamberlain) play sixteen different characters between the two of them. The changes are all done on stage with no costume changes – the different personalities come about through attitude and physical changes said director Stephen Underwood. In preparation for the many roles, Underwood has his co-stars immerse themselves in improv exerercies on the stage of the St. Lawrence Arts & Cultural Center on Munjoy Hill where the play will be presented. The play won the Olivier Award in 2001 for best comedy. It’s a comedy with a dark side to contemplate.

Director Underwood, himself a critically acclaimed comedy actor was enthusiastic about Chris’ comedic skills. “He’s a natural comedic actor. Chris has good instincts,” said Underwood, in a recent telephone conversation from his home in Scarborough. Chris played a comedy role in the Good Theater’s production of “Prelude to a Kiss” last season.

Probably dating back to his glee club days, Chris has always loved music as well. He’s a singer and a songwriter who accompanies himself and others on the guitar. As much as he loves acting, he also loves music. In the short term, his many fans can hear him sing and play his guitar at the North Star Café on Congress Street on Thursday, August 28th at 8:45 p.m. He will be singing with and accompanying Bethany Moran.

Currently, Chris works at the Front Room Restaurant on the Hill not far from his apartment and across Congress Street from the Good Theater. www.goodtheater.com at the St. Lawrence. Next spring Chris will appear in “A Funny Thing Happened ..” with Kelly Caulfield – which he is looking forward to – again at the St. Lawrence.

As to his future, Chris plans to move to New York City within the next year or so to pursue his acting career. Perhaps after that he will return to college to study acting – complimenting the degree he’s already earned from the University of Southern Maine in general science. And he says he will always pursue his musical career as well.

If MHN were a betting blog, it would bet its social security check on the career of Chris Reiling because he’s one full package!

SUPPORT THE ST. LAWRENCE !
76 Conrgess Street – on Munjoy Hill

DIEDRE‘S TREASURE SALE – Saturday, August 23 & Sunday,
August 24 – 10:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Check out the items that Diedre Nice, executive director of the St. Lawrence Arts and Cultural Center, (and others) have been saving up for a long time for this special end of he summer yard sale..all proceeds benefit the St. Lawrence and its programs.

TO DONATE ITEMS TO THE YARD SALE, PLEASE CALL 775-5568, X 102.

This weekend is also an opportunity to learn more about your local theater center and all that it has to offer you – from its frequent top quality performances to the critically acclaimed Good Theater (directed by Brian Allen).

Ask Liz, theater manager, about the volunteer opportunities at the St. Lawrence – Take this opportunity to check out the landscaper’s recently completed drawing of how the planned garden could look in the future. The planned garden is the site where the sanctuary was dismantled earlier this summer for safety reasons. The construction stones for the sanctuary are buried in a deep hole beneath the ground in the now fenced in area. This is a good chance to learn more about the “planned garden” and possibly how you can help see this come to fruition!

SUPPORT THE ST. LAWRENCE!

By Carol McCracken

The community development committee postponed any consideration of the matter of the former Mirada Adams Community School until Wednesday, September 24^th. To be considered is whether or not another RFP will be issued since only one developer, Avesta Housing, responded to the original RFP issued by the city.

Rather, the community development committee began consideration of options to pursue regarding the separation of the building of a megaberth from the redevelopment of the Maine State Pier. Chairwoman Cheryl Leeman instructed the staff on information and research needed to accomplish this directive from the city council on Monday, August 18^th.