Fryeburg Water District

11/11/2025

In Norway, researchers are testing eco-friendly fencing filled with straw or hay to trap insulating snow around buildings. The simple, sustainable design cuts winter heating costs and, come spring, the biodegradable material is composted — creating a zero-waste insulation system straight from nature.

11/11/2025

Kind inspiring.

It survives the Arctic cold by producing natural antifreeze, enduring temperatures near −71°C.

After more than a decade of frozen cycles, it thaws one final spring, transforms, and lives only days as a moth.

11/09/2025

Howard Dearborn, an engineer and respected local businessman, passed away in 2013 after being tricked by Hugh Hastings into giving him an easement that allowed FWC to dig another well and turn over the town's water to the extraction crowd. But before he passed, he had written 8 issues of his Water Waves newsletter (Susan Meeker-Lowery, Edy Kizaki, Sherri Billings and Nora Swartz later made 8 more issues, primarily during the TIF battle) which are short, interesting, and full of facts FWC would rather forget. Here's Issue #1 of the original Water Waves Newsletter by Howard Dearborn. Here is the link to a folder with all the issues in it.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/145HH_kS_bDxG_rrgBjQteg3jQl2ef1HY?usp=share_link

10/28/2025

Deer activity on local roads is about to pick up significantly.

Over the next month and a half, you’ll likely notice more deer moving around—especially during the early morning, at dusk, and late at night. These are their most active times of day.

As bucks begin searching for does and hunting season gets underway, overall deer movement will rise even more. Unfortunately, that also means a higher risk of deer-vehicle collisions.

Stay cautious while driving, and remember: if one deer crosses the road, others are probably close behind.

10/28/2025

I still circle above your fields, but the ecological pyramid beneath me has crumbled.

The Science of Silence:
- 3 billion birds lost in North America since 1970 (29% decline)
- Insect populations down 75% in past 50 years
- Songbird breeding success dropped 40% due to insect scarcity
- Raptors like me require 2-3 small birds daily to survive
- One treated lawn eliminates 80% of insects within 48 hours

My Role in Your Ecosystem:
I'm a red-tailed hawk—an apex predator and biological indicator. I control rodent populations (preventing crop damage worth $10+ billion annually). I hunt sparrows, mice, voles, and starlings. But my prey depends on insects: a single chickadee needs 6,000-9,000 caterpillars to raise one brood.

The Chain Breaks:
Neonicotinoid pesticides → insect death → songbird starvation → raptor decline

Your lawn chemicals kill soil invertebrates. Invertebrates feed songbirds. Songbirds feed me. When you spray, you're not just killing "pests"—you're dismantling the entire food web from bottom to top.

What I Actually See Below:
Monoculture grass = biological desert
Native meadow = 100+ insect species = 20+ bird species = sustainable hunting ground

I don't fear humans. I fear the silence you've created. Empty skies mean failed ecosystems.

How to Rebuild What Broke:
- Plant native wildflowers (support 4x more insect biomass than non-natives)
- Leave 30% of yard unmowed (ground-nesting bee habitat)
- Ban neonicotinoid pesticides (persist in soil 3+ years)
- Install bird-safe windows (prevent 1 billion annual collision deaths)
- Create insect corridors connecting wild spaces

When insects return, songbirds return. When songbirds return, raptors survive.

The food chain starts in your yard. Fix the foundation, and the pyramid rebuilds itself.

Let the earth sing again—so I have something to hunt. 🦅

10/26/2025

Some good news! We now have this hour and a half meeting with Dave Bernier in 2022 transcribed. We’re checking the auto transcription for spelling etc. and will post it so that people can read it. We also can connect you to the video. Stay tuned.

FRYEBURG, Maine — About two dozen people concerned about reports of contamination at a local well on Monday attended a talk by former North Conway Water Precinct Superintendent David Bernier,

10/21/2025

We’re having so much fun and saying hi to a lot of Fryeburg Water District supporters.

10/18/2025

🌾 Winter might look quiet… but your garden is still alive.
Inside every hollow stem, tiny pollinators are sleeping — waiting for spring warmth to wake them.

So this season, let the wild edges stay.
Every stalk left standing is a promise of life returning. 💛

10/18/2025

Researchers at Stanford University have designed solar panels that produce electricity even after sunset by capturing the Earth’s infrared radiation as it cools. This “anti-solar” technology works in reverse to traditional photovoltaic cells — generating a small but steady current during nighttime hours.
By using thermo-radiative materials, the panels emit infrared light into space and convert that energy differential into usable electricity. Although output is modest (around 50 milliwatts per square meter), it’s enough to power low-energy devices and sensors through the night.
This innovation could stabilize renewable energy grids by providing continuous power and reducing reliance on batteries or fossil fuel backup systems.
Experts call it a step toward 24-hour solar power, making renewable energy truly round-the-clock.

10/18/2025

Norway just made history as the first country to officially ban deforestation. It’s a bold move showing that profit doesn’t have to come before the planet. Forests are the lungs of the Earth—protecting them means protecting ourselves. Here’s hoping more nations follow their lead. 🌍💚

10/18/2025

It hunts through cracks and corners at night, feeding on termites and other hidden pests.

A quiet guardian of the home, it keeps balance where light and footsteps rarely reach.