Author: Charlie

Most of the time I go around oblivious to the appliances in my home. I’ve got better things to do, such as writing this blog! There is a lot to say about the great state of Maine and I should stick to what matters the most. However, I have been deterred by the sudden breakdown of my dishwasher and feel that I have to rant. I am lucky to have you as an audience. I thought it would last forever, as most appliances do, and it has failed me when I need it the most. I just had a party and the dishes were piled high on by the sink. I loaded the old faithful as usual, but it wouldn’t start. I tried a few more times before I accepted the reality of the situation. I would be washing dishes by hand tonight. I turned on my favorite music and grabbed an apron.

The party was fun, and the guests enjoyed the music and food. I thought I would have the cleanup wrapped up in an hour and off to bed. Not so! The emergency plumber who condescended to come over at this late hour, bribed with the promise of some delicious leftover dishes, said I needed a new part. He would order it in the morning. He advised me to take the dishes out, so they wouldn’t sit there with stuck-on remnants. I heartily agreed, paid him and set to my next task. The guests were gone so there was no immediate help. I was on my own. So was my overworked Aquasource faucet from Kitchen Faucet Depot. It survived the onslaught of dishes and barware and didn’t let me down. It was definitely up to the task. I am glad that I had the foresight to install a good brand years ago.

A friend called and heard the news. He was at my door in a flash. He grabbed the dishcloth and started wiping. Soon a couple of piles of bone china were on the dining room table. The glasses were spotless as well. What a relief. I offered him a beer, frosty cold from the fridge. He stood back and looked at the faucet. Cool, he uttered. He liked the arc of the spout and the one handle design. “Some of the new faucets are so high tech that they look out of place in a normal kitchen.” These were apt words. I am not a culinary wizard and don’t need the most expensive gadget in the world. My Aquasource is practical and well positioned to handle any chore. No problem if a big pot or pan comes its way. Now, who talks about their fixtures? Apparently, I do. It seemed like a simple no-brainer decision at the time. Here I am sitting on a stool in the kitchen holding a beer with a friend, praising my faucet to the skies. What is next, the toilet? Ha!

It seems that there are terrible storms everywhere these days from north to south wreaking havoc in their wake. It gets to the point where I just don’t want to watch the news. Maine is never the exception but it is normal for us to get snow storms and not hurricanes that are drenching our country. We get hit with power outages regularly in the winter time although they are short term. Most of us own home generators that takes care of the problem in no time flat. I had run out of fuel one day and had to empty the fridge before everything spoiled. I am usually mindful of the expiration dates on food so I don’t have to throw out basic products like mayonnaise, butter, catsup, mustard, and jam. They last forever so I often forget. When the power went out recently, I noticed a few lapses. I had forgotten about the yogurt and beer. I wasn’t about to eat anything past its prime, but I was at sea regarding beer. Can you drink it after its due date or will you get sick?

I have been known to eat items a week past their date, including canned goods. I have never had an issue. As for the beer, I was skeptical about it going bad and decided to try it after reading this blog: https://www.crackacoldone.net/happens-drink-expired-beer/. I opened one can and took a sip. It wasn’t flat. This was a sign from heaven that I could go on. I drank it down enjoying the fizzy goodness at every drop. The rest of the cans would stay in the fridge and regain their cold temperature as soon as the power went back on. I was so happy not to have to throw away a six-pack of good brew. It wasn’t as if I could run to the store amid the heavy snow banks.

I pride myself on being frugal and not wasting anything from water and energy to food and drink. It is not a matter of money but of principle. This is certainly true in the case of beer. I think it runs in my family because my parents raised me this way and my brother is just like me. It is that fine Maine upbringing that binds us all to our beliefs.

After my beer, I needed to warm up and decided to shovel the porch and sidewalk in front of the house. This job always gets the juices going and I start to perspire inside my down parka. It is an odd feeling that some skiers get if they are working hard to climb up the hill to the lift they just missed. Just working your way through line on a busy day will do it. Meanwhile I finish my task, remove the parka, wipe off my brow, and sit in front of a roaring fire. Such is the dichotomy of Maine living from warm to cold.

There is gold in them that hills! Remember those old westerns that showed miners past their prime wearing cumbersome boots and silly hats. They were shown with picks and shovels and maybe a donkey by their side. Did they expect to find so much precious metal that the animal had to carry it? Maybe because the prospectors looked to be a hundred years old. Take this idea into the present and picture me on the banks of the St. John’s River in my home state of Maine. I am sitting quietly staring at the water. A friend is next to me and he already has his metal detector going. He had this cockamamie idea of finding either gold or some items of historical significance that he could donate to a museum or sell. Now this is an odd way to pass the time, I thought.

I went on the trip anyway and dressed the part with hat, boots, and sturdy workpants. I didn’t know that I would be wading to my hips to retrieve things that set the metal detector off. I wanted my turn but didn’t know how to set the darn device. I had to disturb my friend to get some help. Once he took care of the preliminaries, I was off on my own. We agreed to meet and report what we had found at the end of the day.

As much as I mocked this activity, it was great to be outdoors in the fresh air. The scenery was picturesque and the weather balmy. It wasn’t such a bad idea after all. I was accumulating a few interesting pieces that I would show my friend for evaluation before I tossed anything back into the river. He had more than I did and it was an impressive display. He thought he had a few pieces of gold but said he would wait until he’d tested it to be sure. He’d found some ways to tell if gold is real or not on a site called Finding a Fortune. I wondered how these things got in the river in the first place. It was a popular area for fishing and camping and come summer, the water was inundated with rafters.

We didn’t want to get too excited until we had our loot inspected, but he assumed that at least a few items had some worth. I suspected that deep down he didn’t really care. He wanted the pleasure of the hunt and the idea of being a modern-day prospector. Why didn’t we just pan for gold? He liked the detector and wanted to see how it worked. Yes, it “caught” many metal fish, so to speak. One shiny object he dredged out of the river was a nice gold locket, the kind ladies used to wear to show the world their beloved. It is an out-of-date concept these days so the gem might have been lying at the bottom of the water for decades, or maybe a century or more. What fun to speculate about the owner.

I am enjoying soccer more and more as I have to play with friends. What is really a social occasion is a coed game at Barry’s Bay. It is a great scenic spot for an outdoor sport. Someone brings the portable goals and a good ball and all I have to do is show up. I have a team shirt, shorts, socks, and athletic shoes with cleats. I borrowed them and after the game—a good time was had by all—I noticed that they were a bit worn out and one or two spiky points were loose. I wouldn’t be borrowing them again and realized that I needed some gear of my own. I felt it was worth spending the time and effort, not to mention the money, since I planned to play indefinitely. I asked around and researched online and determined that a top choice would be the Adidas men’s Copa Mundial for about $200. They happened to be on special encouraging me to jump at the chance for the best cleat shoe available. If you are interested, here’s is what I found.

The imported leather shoe has a leather upper but a synthetic sole of course for good grip and durability, especially on firm, natural grounds. Inside is a synthetic lining that breaths. Adidas offers a die-cut special insole for lightweight and comfort. There is a lot to like. I don’t often fall for a blatant sales pitch, but I couldn’t resist the advertising verbiage. “High performance shoes more than worth the price.” “No question these are the best soccer cleats on the market.” “The shoe of choice of the pros.” “A real standout with a soft kangaroo upper—leather of course.” “No shoe holds up so well over time, plus a maximum of comfort and perfect support.”

You can’t beat this kind of praise. They had me with “you are paying for performance and the best quality materials. Remember, you get what you pay for!” Right then and there I plunked down my credit card and made the purchase for those cleats and what they said was the best soccer training equipment to improve my game. The Adidas Copa Mundial arrived in a few days. They fit like a glove. This blog is mean to praise them to the skies. Newbies listen up. I have tested advice. Next in line is the Nike men’s Mercurial Veloce II available for about $165 or less. If you want a run down, let me tell you that they are a fine choice made of a combination of synthetic and leather with a rubber sole. Nothing new there. The upper is lightweight as a result of the durable microfiber material. It is supposed to feel like a sock with great lockdown. The liner consists of a perforated cloth that mimics the shape of the food. It is all about comfort and cushioning. The cleats give you as much traction as you want—in all directions.

This, too, sounds like an ad, but it is the best way to describe my second option based on comfort, style, and support. It doesn’t miss a beat.

There is a story that regularly makes its rounds in my area. It could be an urban myth, but it could be true. It goes like this: there was an estranged couple contemplating divorce after years of a troubled marriage. They had to deal with the division of the property which included an enormous house, most people would term a “mansion.” It is worth a fortune. The house is in Maine, hence my interest in lore. You have to know about Maine winters and how freezing the temperature can be at certain times of the year. Resident know this schedule only too well. The husband in this scenario had many memories from his youth. His wife was from California. Need I say more?

As the divorce became imminent, the question of the house loomed large. The couple moved to their respective new dwellings. The couple met with their attorneys and a deal would be forthcoming. Meanwhile the wife packed her bags, turned off the lights, and closed the door. She forgot to leave some water running. You have to do this in places like Maine so that the pipes won’t freeze. The continual rush of water is a kind of prevention. The arguments over the house had been fierce for some time and a bone of contention in the divorce. The wife felt that she should get the entire property. The husband, of course, declined.

A few weeks into the negotiations, winter hit as bad as ever. It seemed like there were icicles hanging from the trees. The wife asked the husband to check out the house since she didn’t want anything to do with the weather. He agreed. He drove over one cold afternoon and felt an extra chill in the air. He found out why when he opened the door. Because his wife had not left some water running, the pipes had frozen. The top floor was flooded by a surprise freeze, causing considerable damage to the house. The icy runoff was everywhere. A big, wet surprise. The husband stopped in his tracks, thought a moment, took out his cell phone, and called his ex. “You can have the house,” he uttered. He thought he could see her smile.

I imagine this happening to me. I always fear that my pipes will break and damage my whole home water filtration system. I depend on it for clean water for drinking, cooking, making coffee, and bathing. I couldn’t live without it. If I have to buy a new one, I can’t imagine what kind. A lot has change in the technology these last few years. Clean water is a big issue as witnessed by the vast amount of bottled water they buy. No one wants mysterious particulates swimming around. The worst fear is, of course, the existence of lead. Any water filter must eliminate this element first and foremost. Then it can tackle chlorine and other unwanted chemicals. You might even get softer water in the bargain.

I love Maine: it is gorgeous in spring and summer and the outdoors beckon you to come and explore. Scenic trails abound with fabulous views to enjoy and photograph. Be sure to check out my Instagram account. I won’t have to convince you as you will see it all for yourself. However, when winter comes, the cold air is a huge deterrent. Visitors no longer arrive. We are used to it and wait for the first snow with anticipation. We love the white sprinkles on the leaves and strewn about the ground. Recreational possibilities are endless. You can stay active when it is even freezing outside, as it often is, but you may not be able to bicycle or hike.

I watch a lot of sports on TV and am particularly fond of basketball. The NCAA is a must. I get glued to the set. It is fun to invite friends and family for the playoffs. We enjoy beer, wine, and snacks. There are bowls of popcorn and pretzels everywhere. One day I started thinking about joining a local team or starting my own. We could play all year round if we found an available gym, but it is not always possible. Community events and youth programs dominate the calendar. On certain mild days, we can play outside. Most nearby parks have courts. In winter, they aren’t much in use.

If you play in old weather, take a tip from me. You can’t wear the usual attire: a basketball singlet and a pair of top rated basketball shorts. You may want to take a warmup shirt as well and leave it on until you are used to the temperature. In any case, it will be necessary to travel from the outdoor court or gym to the car. You don’t have to buy a suit designed for basketball players unless you want a certain team logo on it. You can use a jogging or gym workout version. Have a look in your closet. You may be pleasantly surprised. I, however, won’t mind getting a really warm one as I am so excited about starting a new sport.

I am thrilled that I took on a new pastime as are my friends. We all found a team with positions available. We sewed on patches for identification and bought warmups in the team colors. This makes you feel like part of a group. I see why people do it. Our suits are machine washable and easy care so they are always ready when we need them. In spite of the cold, we often sweat after a game. You would think looking at the suit that it was 100 degrees outside.

I wouldn’t recommend nylon or cotton warmups as they are best used in spring and summer. In Maine, it has to be fleece or lined. Puffy parkas are unwieldy but I wear them to walk around. Generally, I jog quickly to the car after basketball. I must find a closer parking space!

I don’t like to complain about Maine in any way lest readers misinterpret my words. I have nothing but positive things to say about my area as a rule. I hail from Madawaska. However, we do have icy cold winters and we don’t welcome them. You have to mentally get ready for the onslaught. Anyone who lives in a cold climate understands this only too well. But then, you await the glorious days of spring and summer. Winter unfortunately brings with it certain trials and tribulations that you can’t forget such as shoveling snow, losing plants, bare feet on cold floors, and covering your pool. For example, there are those cold showers when the hot water heater goes on the fritz, or just too many people are using the bathroom. You cry out, enough is enough. But I always remember the skiing, hiking in the snow, and scenic views.

Nevertheless, I get fed up with this situation year after year and I think that now I will finally do something about my wintertime pet peeve. It is about time, my family chimes in. Go for it! I have been browsing online and my attention has become riveted on the reading tankless water heater reviews. It is nothing new, frankly, but people don’t own them yet in great numbers unless they buy a new home. Their old units may still work and so why incur a large expense for no reason? You don’t need state of the art appliances just for fun. I have, however, talked myself into making a change because my water heater currently does not service the entire family. An upgrade will allow for more hot water on a daily basis and it won’t even raise our utility bills. These are reasons alone that should convince you to do the same. Especially if you want to free up some space in your attic or basement. The old models are pretty bulky. Catch a glance of the new tankless version and you will quickly see the advantage.

Reviews yield lots of valuable information. First of all, you see that you can get a free estimate with no obligation before you commit. You can discuss installation and costs with a qualified technician in your home. There are various options so he will help you find the right one for your needs that suits the layout of your space. As with the old units, the new ones can be repaired and serviced easily by the same people. Getting started is simple: online you can learn about various brands, warranties, and the amount of your investment. I have a little work cut out for me, but I am halfway there. In a week or two, I expect to see a big change in the family bathing practices. There will be more smiling and happy faces at breakfast. We will even have enough hot water left over from all the showers to wash the morning dishes.

If there’s one thing that the colonial Acadians had a lot of, it was pride. It enabled them to survive through some pretty awful situations. Being kicked out of your homeland, having to watch your home and your farm destroyed, and then your family torn apart and scattered possibly around the globe. Think about that for a moment. It’d be pretty hard to stomach, wouldn’t it? Despite that, despite famine and terrible winters, against all odds, the Acadian culture is still around.

I think that attitude lives on through the people of Madawaska.We have the ability to thrive in a small and close knit community in a world that values practically the opposite of everything that we hold to be true. Madawaska is a great place, one with tradition, family values, a cultural identity, pride in hard work, and a good relationship with our neighbors—both the people next door and those in places like Edmundston across the river.

As with many cultures, though, there is a struggle to keep it going. People assimilate or ‘marry out’ of their Acadian culture; people pass away or move away and lose touch with the things that made them part of something larger than themselves. All is not lost, however. There are so many great efforts to keep it alive. There’s the Acadian Cultural Festival, held every year right here in Madawaska. People from all over the world can come here to experience the traditions and culture of the Acadians, and there are many family reunions for those who do not live in the local area.

The language is passed down to children and spoken at home; as with any language, if it isn’t spoken for a good enough length of time, it can easily be forgotten. And since it is French but not French-from-France French, what we call “Valley French,” there is always a risk of it becoming a dead language. But if you walk around town at dinnertime, you’d likely hear a lot more French than English.

Another important aspect of preserving history is through family research. Genealogy work helps to connect people to their Acadian roots. The work being done online is incredible; there wasn’t always birth certificates and marriage licenses to look up. But the more in-depth family trees are, the more we can see how we are connected to others and it makes family reunions a lot more fun. One more project in a similar vein is documenting personal histories. There are no colonists left to ask our questions, but we do have ideas on what things were like based on letters, journals, and family stories. As we learn how valuable these accounts can be, we have started making more of an effort to keep our culture alive through the stories of our older relatives. Living histories are wonderful because they are documented information on events that maybe we wouldn’t have known about otherwise–there might have been a lack of, or damage to, any documentation.

I think with all the pride that Madawaska has in its history, we’re going to be fine for a long time to come.

If you spend any time in Madawaska, you’re going to hear about the Acadians. If you’re not familiar with the term, here’s a crash course:they are the descendants of French colonists who lived in an area called Acadia in the 17^th and 18^th century. They lived fairly independently from France itself, even avoiding France’s regulations on their language—to the point now where some of the elements of Acadian French are considered archaic by modern French speakers who live in France. What do they know, anyway?

At that time, Acadia was made up of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec in Canada; it also included part of Maine. The Acadians lived there for about 80 yearsalongside their indigenous neighbors, until the British invaded in 1710. The Acadians refused to be loyal to the British crown and were summarily kicked out of Acadia in a Great Expulsion. To make a very long and sad story shorter, times were difficult for them, and they were kicked around quite a bit. Some Acadians wound up back in France, others went south to Louisiana (where they were responsible for creating the Cajun culture), and still others were resettled in other places around New England. One of the places they wound up was…Madawaska. The Acadians refused to be assimilated and still consider themselves to be a separate nation—they have their own flag and anthem, speak their own language, and have their own folklore.

Homes and livelihoods were destroyed and families were torn apart during the Great Expulsion and its devastating aftermath. It is only because the Acadians back then were determined to remain true to themselves that the language and culture survive to this day. It becomes more and more important as time goes on to preserve this link to the past, and efforts continue to be made through genealogy, interviews with people to record their family stories, and the passing down and preservation of the language and culture.

To that end, Madawaska hosts an annual Acadian Festival. Held now for 40 years, it welcomes all remaining Acadian families (as well as the general public). They traditionally have an “honored family” for the festival, and people can host international reunions. Many of the events are at the Multi-Purpose Center and others are held around town. There are reenactments of the historical landing, church services, quilting shows, a Party du Main Street, and a poutine eating contest. There are games and races. I always enjoy the different musical performances and craft vendors. You’ll find your typical festival stuff like face painters and bounce houses for the kids, but we’ve also had BMX riders entertaining the crowds. There’s also a lot of food. I already mentioned the poutine eating contest (part of poutine palooza), but there’s also a seniors picnic, a dinner gala, and a farmer’s market. And what would a festival be without a parade?And to top it all off, there’s fireworks!

Most people in town are descendants of the Acadians, so feel free to ask questions and if I don’t know the answer, somebody around here will!

In the St. John Valley, the Tante Blanche museum is the very center of Acadian culture. The museum—the first in the valley–opened its doors in 1970 and is run by the Madawaska Historical Society.

The museum itself is a log building, so named in honor of Marguerite Blanche Thibodeau Cyr. TanteBlanche, or Aunt Blanche, as she was affectionately known, is considered the Aunt of Madawaska for her care and consideration of the Acadian people during the black famine in 1796. Flooding and a terrible winter had destroyed the crops that the Acadian colonists were depending on to survive. Many of the men left in search of game to hunt and those left behind were in danger of starving or freezing to death. TanteBlache singlehandedly kept the colony alive by going from house to house in that terrible winter to check on everyone. She found herself tending to the sick, finding food for the hungry, and giving clothes to those who were cold. Her “powers” became legend—she could simply wish for good luck and be granted it. When she died, she was buried in the churchyard at St. Basile in New Brunswick—which was unheard of at the time, and incredibly rare since.If you ever visit the Madawaska Historical Society, this cabin is the place to start. You’ll find ground guides, artifacts, and a knowledgeable and friendly local historian who will answer any questions you may have.

Behind the Tante Blanche museum, you’ll find the Madawaska School District #1 building. This schoolhouse, built 100 years before the museum, is the last remaining schoolhouse in the area from the 19^th century. The building structure is virtually the same as it was upon its opening. The interior has the original teacher’s chair and desk, as well as the original blackboard. It’s kind of fun, especially for young kids, to see what school would have looked like back then.

Nearby is the Albert House, built about 1840 and donated to the historical society in approximately 1970. The house was relocated to property near the Tante Blanche museum. A special cutaway into the wall helps visitors see what home construction looked like in the time period—including the attic, which is framed with inverted ship’s knees. You can also see classic period furniture like bedroom sets and cribs, kitchen implements, as well as tables and chairs. There’s also a toolshed on the grounds, containing colonial farming tools and other period items.

The Arcadian Cross Shrine is just down the road a bit from there. It commemorates the 1785 arrival of the Acadians. So happy that they had found a good location to live, they erected a wooden cross. After several replacements, the cross was made out of marble so that it would be more durable.

As you can see, there’s a lot to do at the Tante Blanche museum and the surrounding area. If you are interested in the colonial period or Acadian culture, this is a fantastic way to spend a day.

Ask any of the locals and they’ll tell you: Madawaska is a great place to visit any time of year. Some things are worthwhile no matter the season, like the Four Corners Park (especially if you are a motorcycle enthusiast), hanging out at Tim Horton’s, and the Tante Blanche Museum. However, one of the beautiful things about Maine, and Madawaska in particular, is that each of the different seasons brings their own great things to do along with them. Here is just a sample of what you can expect when you come:

In summer, it doesn’t get sweltering hot like so many other places. While we can get a 90-degree day or two, we average a very pleasant mid-60s during the summer. That means you don’t need to hide indoors.It also m meansyou’ve got your choice of activities around town.Spend some time on the river.Boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and canoeing are just some of the activities you will find to keep you busy. The Acadian Festival is also held in the summer. There’s also plenty of places to bike around or lounge outside on a warm day.

Fall is gorgeous in Maine, and Madawaska is no exception. The leaves on the trees changing colors with the backdrop of the St. John’s River is fantastic and well worth seeing. Bring your camera so you can take lots of pictures. There is the big potato harvest (kids even get time off from school). We’ve also got some deer hunting if you’re interested in that.

Maine is perfect for snow bunnies. Thanks to our “mild” temperatures, it can start snowing as early as mid to late fall, and Madawaska might stay white long into what many people would consider spring. This means there is ample timeto enjoy all kinds of winter sports. We’ve got skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding. And by sledding, I also mean dog sledding. If all of those sound like too much physical activity for you, there’s always ice fishing! The week of President’s Day is probably the busiest time of year, so if you are not a fan of crowds, come another time. In addition to snowboarding, my favorite winter activity is drinking hot chocolate by the fire and watching the snow fall. I certainly get to do enough of that here!

Spring is also a great time to be here. Everyone is in a good mood and enjoying the outdoors again after all our winter fun. You can go out on the water or enjoy the Botanical Gardens. Hiking and biking are great to do during the spring season here. It can be a quieter time to visit, after the winter sports crowds have gone but before the summer vacationers flock to the valley.

What’s your favorite time of year?

Madawaska is a postcard perfect little town along the St. John River. One of our big claims to fame is that we are the home to one of the largest working paper mills—in the state of Maine. We’re also “The Most Northeasternly Town in the U.S.”For such a small town, we’ve got a lot of history. Here are some of the highlights, where you’ll be introduced to some of the earliest people to live here:

In early colonial times, this area was a hunting and fishing location for a Native American tribe called the Walastaqiyik (also referred to as Maliseet) around the St. John River valley. At one time, their territory was fairly large.However, the Acadians, who were descendants of French Colonists who had relocated to Canada, came here to live in the northeastern U.S. to avoid deportation by the British. The Walastaqiyik granted the earliest settlers permission to stay as long as the newcomers promised to protect them from intruders. In the following years, however, there was an influx of European settlers.Some were fleeing the British, and others were in search of fertile lands to farm and plentiful game.Bit by bit, the Europeans displaced these indigenous people.

A settler named John Baker petitioned for Madawaska to be included in Maine. He had a party celebrating Independence Day on July 4^th, 1827 and they flew an American flag.The flag was removed by the local Magistrate. Baker’s wife, Sophie, got more material and simply made another flag. Baker was jailed by the British for two months and fined. This caused a bit of a stir between the Americans, who felt that Baker was an American citizen captured on American soil, and the British, who still considered the land their own. The King of the Netherlands was brought in to make an unbiased decision, which Maine rejected. The Aroostook (or, sometimes, the Pork and Beans) War followed. Calling it a war is a bit of a misnomer. There were militia units involved but there was no actual combat. A few people were arrested but there were no combat-relateddeaths. Diplomats met together in Washington and signed the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which peacefully settled the border dispute—essentially in Maine’s favor. If you learned about it at all in school (if you’re not from around here; anyone who is already knows this stuff), it was probably for one of two reasons: 1) afterwards, the government decided they were taking control of the military away from the states and making it a Federal responsibility; or 2) because it was the last ‘serious’ confrontation between the US and the UK.

Fast forward to modern times and we’re all citizens of the United States, can fly flags without being arrested, speak a lot of French, and enjoy a good relationship with our Canadian neighbors up in Edmundston. Pretty exciting for a little town, eh?