Ford Reiche’s passion for Maine and its history stems from his family’s many generations in the state. A self-made historian, he has acquired and restored several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including houses, a railroad station, and most notably, Halfway
Rock Lighthouse—a complex, hands-on, extensively researched undertaking. Maine Preservation Association recognized the project with its 2016 Preservation Award, and the American Lighthouse Foundation presented Reiche its 2017 “Keeper of the Light” award honoring his “contribution to the preservation of America’s lighthouses and their rich tradition.”
Perched on a barren ledge of two acres at the mouth of Casco Bay, Halfway Rock Light Station is a remote, wave-swept beacon, nearly inaccessible and totally exposed to the ravages of Mother Nature. The lighthouse’s 76-foot-tall granite tower and the attached two-story wood structure built of huge frame timbers present a striking image on the water.
Halfway Rock was a fully staffed lighthouse of the federal government from 1871 until 1976, when it was automated and essentially abandoned. The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, but its deteriorating condition soon earned it recognition on lists of endangered and “doomsday” lighthouses. In 2014, it was deemed surplus federal property and auctioned. Ford Reiche, the winning bidder, acquired the light in 2015.
Reiche has devoted significant energy and resources to preserving Halfway Rock Light Station in what Lighthouse Digest has described as “a miracle restoration in Casco Bay, Maine.”
A former attorney and entrepreneur, Reiche’s background includes founding Safe Handling, a firm that reduced the cost of moving certain goods by eliminating their water so they could be shipped in a dry state to their point of use. He was named a business leader of the year in 2008 by Mainebiz.
A graduate of the University of Maine, Orono, with a JD from the University of Maine School of Law, Ford lives in Freeport with his “quite patient” wife, Karen.
Rusty Atwood introduced Lee Urban. Lee was formerly in two Law Firms, then Portland’s Economic Development director. After that he enrolled in an extended teacher program, and then gravitated to the ukulele.
Lee started by telling us that the power of the ukulele is that it is OK to smile, laugh and giggle. That is what the ukulele is all about. The ukulele brings to mind Tiny Tim, Arthur Godfrey,and silly shirts. It is small and has a very easy learning curve.
The ukulele was brought to Honolulu from Madeira 8/23/1879, on the British ship Raven’s Craig. Both the King and Queen of Hawaii fell in love with it. There are two ways to pronounce it, and either is OK. The name can be translated to mean Leaping Flea, Jumping Flea, or Gift from Afar. In 1915, Hawaii introduced the ukulele to the world at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. It was introduced again to rest of USA, in 1949, when the first plastic UK was created. Authur Godfrey sold 350,000, for $2 each, in a year. He sold millions over the next few years. Rock and Roll killed the uke for a while, but in the 1980s, Independent bands picked it back up. Now ukesters are taking over in the elementary school. There was a old out concert Thursday night, at the Merrrill. Hundreds came to the uke festival last year and thousands are expected this summer.
Studies show: The ukulele breeds group cooperation and teamwork. The Ike has been shown to help students achieve because it is fun to learn. Ukuleles heal the world. After a four day class, one nine year old girl said “It is going to be a better world if people teach other people to play the UK.” Powerofuke.com is a commercial enterprise which says they unleashes the power of business, through the ukulele. Neurologist have said that bringing one to the hospital helps to eliminate fears. The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital just got 20, and will give them away. The Survivor Girl Ukulele Band assists girls to escape prostitution in Calcutta.
Learning to play it is easy. You never have to practice. All playing is fun. Find a song you like, and then you play it. It is far more important to make music than to be good at making music. Lee proceeded to teach 13 Rotarians, who had never picked up a Ukulele before, to play. He taught the basics: Singing, Strumming, and Fretting in less than 10 minutes. While learning the basics, the group serenaded us with Row, Row, Row Your Boat, in three versions, first with the chords C6, then the chord C, and finally with the the chord C7. After that, he spent another three minutes teaching the orchestra Down in the Valley! They received a standing ovations, from two people!!!! Selfies and autographs were gladly offered after this premier concert.
PLEASE EXCUSE THE BREVITY OF THIS REPORT, BUT WE WERE MISSING A BITS & PIECES REPORTER.
President Don Zillman opened the meeting, John Houghton led pledge, and Kathy Grammer led patriotic song.
Past President Laura Young nominated and elected a new Sergeant-at-Arms, Dave Putnam. Our current Sergeant-at-Arms has work conflicts and felt it necessary to to relinquish the position.
Don talked about the Pyramid of Peace application and the number of hours of service.
Checks were presented to "Honor Flight" and the "Ross House" from the Veterans' Recognition programs.
Past President Jim Willey introduced our newest club member: Kim D'Amaro, of the Salvation Army.
The Maine Outdoor Challenge – Members were asked for teams and donations. “If you are going out to a restaurant, after paying the bill, ask for a donation for the silent auction.
Portland Rotarians will be working at the University Hospital Clinic in Prishtina, Kosovo the last week of April. John Curran will be setting up a prosthetic hands clinic while Liz and Roger Fagan set up an audiology clinic.
Invocation: Russ Burleigh Program Reporter: Julie L'Heureux Bits & Pieces Reporter: Ben Lowry Registration/Greeter: Bruce Jones Sell Meal Tickets: Terri St. Angelo Raffle: Katie Brown Collect Meal Tickets: Tiel Duncan Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Scott Blakeslee Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Mac Collins
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting where we will collect and distribute them to the appropriate projects.
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa.
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.