Communicado! - Nancy McGinnis

01/25/2024

In the decades I've spent as a librarian and as a freelance photojournalist, I've been blessed over and over with the opportunity to learn about, and then share, ideas and information that matter. Here's the latest instance... today's feature story on Dolly Parton's Imagination Library global literacy initiative and the impact it has already had, and could potentially have, on the youngest Mainers. Published in print and online in the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Sentinel.

Central Maine Special Sections - 01/25/2024

06/11/2023

Nancy McGinnis of Hallowell shared this majestic sunset with us. "Sunset or UFO?" she said jokingly.

05/28/2023

Another memory, that has become a tradition. This year's Hall-Dale High School Music band will offer another stirring performance at the Memorial Day observances at the Hallowell, Maine Cemetery, beginning at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Memorial Day 2016 in Hallowell, Maine.
Quoting my earlier post, "What a moving and joyful experience it was to witness students lining up to shake hands in turn with every member of the Goodrich-Caldwell American Legion Post 6, who hosted the observances in the Hallowell Maine cemetery on Memorial Day. Kudos to their band director Deb Large for teaching her students far more than how to play music. May they always remember this moment. I am certain that our Hallowell veterans will."
Deb Large is now retired, but new H-D music teacher and band director David Morris has continued this tradition!

This may have been the best moment of the entire morning, at the conclusion of the observances at the cemetery, when each student lined up to greet and thank the veterans, one by one.

05/28/2023

Sharing a memory from a few years back, with gratitude to Gary Crocker, famed Maine humorist less known for his military service, who donned his uniform to march in the parade and to speak at our Memorial Day ceremony a few years ago. There will be no parade this year in Hallowell, Maine but there will be a gathering with speakers, music, and a wreath laying at the Hallowell Cemetery tomorrow, May 29 at 10am.

After marching in the parade from the Post 6 Home to the Hallowell Cemetery, featured speaker Gary Crocker, who served in the US Navy on the USS Boston, spoke eloquently and from the heart to the assembled crowd about the true meaning of Memorial Day.

05/28/2023

Reason to pause and ponder, on Memorial Day. Twenty-five years ago, the members of our Hallowell American Legion post made the decision to formally request to "adopt" the six "unclaimed" servicemen lost at sea after the sinking of the Battleship USS Maine. Though the hometowns of the 261 others were identified, these six are now mourned and remembered as honorary Hallowellians, thanks to the generosity of spirit of our Legion. May they, and all those who lost their lives while serving our country, rest in peace.

All are welcome to attend the Memorial Day observances hosted by the Hallowell Goodrich-Caldwell Post 6 at 10am tomorrow, Memorial Day, at the Hallowell Cemetery.

05/10/2023

I recently learned -- or was reminded of -- the beauty and power of simply slowing down to appreciate the universe around you, every day. A small burst of color caught my eye as I exited the temporary current home of the Maine State Library in Augusta. (While renovations are in full gear at the State Cultural Complex, the Library has relocated to what many of us remember as the nondescript building where we stood in line at the old Motor Vehicle office.) Intrigued, I made my way up the scruffy grass to discover two GORGEOUS tulips, all the more striking against the backdrop of a crumbling cement wall, enhanced by the delicate shadows of branches of a nearby tree in blossom.
I'm delighted to share my visual journey with you here, and wishing you a joyful discovery or two of your own today.

05/03/2023

Good morning, Hallowellians! Earlybird Granite City Park status update: As of 4:30am today, the boardwalk is still submerged but the Adirondack chairs, now lawn chairs, remain safe and sound! And several hefty tree trunks have washed ashore in the parking lot, which is covered with a thick layer of silt after the high tide overnight. The tidal Kennebec waters crested just below Jon Doody’s sturgeon sculpture. All was quiet just before sunrise, except for the quacks of a trio of ducks hitching a ride on a log headed downriver. Flood warning remains in place till tomorrow morning. Weekend sunshine ahead!

04/20/2023

How lucky I am to have the opportunity to sit down and get to know wonderful Central Maine women such as Christine Little and her dancers at the River Studio? ...and then to share the joy with you! Read all about this remarkable woman and the Earth Day Dance Along the Kennebec with The Spiral Dance Collective in the 'Women's Quarterly' - a Special Section in print copies of the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Sentinel. You can also find it online by following the link below.

Central Maine Special Sections - 04/20/2023

07/25/2022

Finally, my feature story on Wendy Larson and her award-winning Slates restaurant is available online. For those of you who missed the print version, or would like to share it virtually with friends far and wide, please see the link in the first comment below. Again, well-deserved congrats to Wendy and everyone at Slates!

07/21/2022

In case you missed it, here’s what I wrote for the Old Hallowell Day 2022 program booklet. The Old Hallowell Day committee *invented* a brand new award in order to recognize Wendy AND Slates!

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The Old Hallowell Day Committee is pleased to announce a brand-new recognition this year: the Economic Engine Award. It is being presented to entrepreneur, artist and chef Wendy Larson, AND to her small business, Slates Restaurant & Bakery, for over four decades of contributions to the quality of life in Hallowell. Under Wendy's leadership, Slates has earned a reputation for being open and welcoming as a workplace and as a gathering place for generations of patrons. Slates mirrors Hallowell itself, with a lively, colorful atmosphere that includes beautiful art, music, flowers, and food.

Wendy was humbled and honored to learn of this award, quickly noting that “neither Slates nor I would be here if not for all the people who have come with me and supported me all along!"

Since 1979, Wendy has not only served up memorable food and drink, but has also infused her artful energy into Slates restaurant, bar, bakery, and catering. Not many employers anywhere in Maine or elsewhere have servers and kitchen staff who are still working in the same establishment 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years later! Many of her dedicated longtime employees will join Wendy in the Old Hallowell Day parade, to share the spotlight and the celebration.

Slates has become a Hallowell institution and a downtown destination for travelers from afar as well as for local regulars. Wendy has provided a venue and appreciative audiences for hundreds of established and emerging musicians and artists; and hosted hundreds of community fundraiser events. Wendy and/or her staff have participated in the Old Hallowell Day parade, created whimsical sidewalk Fall Festival scarecrows, and bundled up to go caroling around town during the Christmas in Old Hallowell festivities.

Wendy and Slates have always generously supported community causes and initiatives - often collaborating with Hallowell nonprofits such as the Harlow Gallery, the Board of Trade, Old Hallowell Day, and many more.

Slates Restaurant, like Hallowell itself, managed to survive the 1987 flood; but then when a devastating fire broke out at Slates during a Sunday brunch seating in February of 2007, Wendy found it was almost too much to bear. In that dark moment as the reality and extent of the loss sank in, and for the days, weeks and months that followed, offers of help poured in. Wendy reflects now, with profound gratitude, "Hallowell lifted me up."

The feeling is mutual. For so many years, in so many ways, Slates has been a unique driver of our local Hallowell economy. What goes around comes around… congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Wendy Larson and her Slates “family”!

Send a message to learn more

07/21/2022

Why are these people smiling? Because they are part of the award winning Slates Hallowell! It makes me smile, too, that Slates has always been a part of the Hallowell that I know and love. Our realtor took us to lunch there to celebrate when we closed on our house in 1986!
I was delighted to interview Slates proprietor Wendy Larson (she’s the one wearing the Economic Engine Award medal in the photo!) and share the amazing story in the latest Women’s Quarterly special section, published today in the Kennebec Journal and the Waterville Sentinel.

04/28/2022

So pleased to share the honest, heartfelt and heartwarming story of Jessica Moreau-Berry in my latest feature profile, published in today's Central Maine Newspapers Women's Quarterly special section. Her hard-earned life philosophy: “Don't give up on yourself and your dreams. Failure is a lesson, not a curse. If you keep trying, the right people and situations will come your way. Recognize this, and be ready to take a chance.”

Read the story in today's Kennebec Journal or Morning Sentinel, or find it posted online in the near future.

04/10/2022

Here's the best part of one of my recent freelance projects... I had the pleasure of meeting these wonderful young neighbors and capturing this photo for a feature story I pitched for the Central Maine newspapers' Spring Home & Garden section.
The story, which ran on 4/7, offers alternatives to commercial pesticides and compelling reasons to consider them. Freelancing gives me the chance to learn new things, and to share this knowledge. For instance, did you know that the EPA allows toxic pesticide components to be listed as "inert" if they are proprietary trade secrets?! (see citation in comments). Our kids and pets, like the Pleasant Street gang, deserve better.