Around the horn …

Does this happen only in Maine? A few nights ago, I was walking our family dog, Rosie, a weight-challenged chocolate Lab who actually does get regular exercise, when the unmistakable scent of a wood-burning stove wafted out of a neighbor’s chimney.

It felt more like a night around Thanksgiving rather than Easter.

Then, just two days later, I was hit with the other unmistakable scent of something burning. This time it was a neighbor’s dead grass – a sure sign that spring really is here.

Another sure sign of spring is one I observed while making a last-minute store run for Easter candy – kids throwing a ball around, some baseballs, some softballs, with their parents out in the yard.

It’s great to see parents taking some time to play pass with their kids. A half-hour here and there can make a big difference in children developing their fundamentals – and what better way to spend time with your child than a game of pass.

In Greater Bangor, we’re fortunate to have some outstanding parks and recreation departments. They offer fine programs and are run by conscientious and caring people. However, a child will always remember those days of pass with a parent.

Sports basics are best taught at home and then can be nurtured by professionals. Children benefit greatly when taught the basics of reading and writing at home. The same can be said for throwing and catching a ball.

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Take me out to the ballgame!

With the start of warm weather comes the opportunity to go out and watch some local baseball and softball games. There’s some high-caliber baseball and softball being played up in Orono by our UMaine teams – I’m an alum so I can say “our” – and it’s beneficial in lots of ways to take in a ballgame.

The games are entertaining, and it brings a sense of pride to watch our young men and women perform at a high athletic level while representing our State U.

More than once, I’ve come away from games at UMaine with more of an appreciation of the skill level of these Division I athletes. The commitment and work these athletes pour into their respective sports are evident.

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The current negotiations between the Maine Principals’ Association and Maine PBS for a two-year contract to keep the Class A high school basketball tourney on public TV rekindled some good memories of another tourney etched in the history books (sports pages). It was refreshing to be able to listen to Ernie Clark again ably providing color commentary for the boys basketball games.

OK, I’ll admit it, I’m biased. Ernie is an old college buddy, and is one of the key contributors to our newspaper as an editor on an unsung but very valuable part of our staff – the copy desk.

However, even an unbiased observer would admit that Ernie shows off his versatility as a journalist each time he puts on a headset for Maine PBS. He’s knowledgeable about the sport, does his homework and then translates what’s happening on the court into a language the everyday viewer can understand.

It’s not surprising coming from a Foxcroft Academy and UMaine alum, but is appreciated by viewers, including one over in south Brewer.

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While on the subject of versatile journalists, I also was impressed by the job turned in by colleague Larry Mahoney as the color commentator for UMaine hockey games broadcast by Bangor radio station WZON (620 AM) this past season.

Larry provided concise, objective comments, and his enthusiasm for the sport emanated throughout the airwaves during every game. Larry has a true passion for sports, especially hockey, and it shows through his broadcasts when he consistently delivered valuable insights and lots of interesting tidbits of information.