July 2023 Newsletter

122 CORSON

Early Summer Newsletter                              HAPPY 4^TH OF JULY

Okay, the forest is happy!  The rain is nourishing the woods which is all important, BUT for the rest of us poor souls and perhaps the birds, we really would like to see some honest to goodness sunshine.

So, no complaints, last Saturday night at 122 Corson the clouds lifted for us to see the mountains without a shroud of fog or rain.  Mother Nature blessed us and as usual, we had a crowd of really nice people which is why we like this business.

For folks looking to entertain visiting friends and family, we are hosting 2 special events this summer; first, a cooking class on Sunday, July 16^th and there are 2 spaces still open for the Sicilian Lasagna class presented by Sara Ottaviano Richard, a Sicilian native, who will be sharing her family traditional recipe.  In August on the 13^th, we are offering a wine & food pairing presented by Ileshesa Stowe, a wine and food expert.  This is the first promotion for this class, so plenty of room for a limit of 16.   Ileshesa was for many years a representative for NAPPI Wine Distributors, and prior to that, she has been immersed in the restaurant industry within a family business.  No one could be more qualified and inspirational.

Both events are on Sunday’s between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.  The Lasagna class will be hands on from pasta making to final product, ending with a shared sit-down light meal and complementary glass of wine: $80 pp.

Wine & Food Pairing will include 4 small plates each paired with a wine that accentuates the flavor of the food.  $100 pp

Registration and pre-payment is recommended.

We’re looking forward to sharing both these experiences with you, and in the meantime, there are nights at 122 Corson that are still available.  The rest of August, all of September, and October menus will be posted this week.

Enjoy the summer regardless of the rain.  Hey, we’re not shoveling snow! 😊

Mary & Bob

From Bob:

Independence Day has always been an important day on my calendar. Let me state upfront that I am not a super, flag waving patriot. But I do love this country and I am proud to be an American citizen. Perhaps it all started when I was growing up in Eastport. Independence Day has special meaning in Eastport going back centuries. You might remember that Eastport was occupied by the British Royal Navy during the War of 1812. Their occupation lasted from July 11, 1814 to July 21, 1818 (four years after the war officially had ended since Canada disputed the international boundary line). The occupation was relatively benign, but all inhabitants were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the crown or leave the island. This was a bitter pill to swallow as the Declaration of Independence from Britain had been signed only 38 years before. After the boundary line was agreed, leaving Moose Island (Eastport) in the U.S., life returned to normal. Every year since then, Eastport has celebrated our independence, and even today Eastport’s 4^th of July celebration is one of the best in the state.

So this leads to why I so value my U.S. citizenship and it includes a story about Mary. As most of you know, Mary was born in Australia and has deep family roots there going back generations. When we were married she decided that she would retain her Australian citizenship as she was proud of her country and family history. I understood. But in the late 1980’s she had strong feelings about federal, state, and local politics and desperately wanted to vote and make her views known. She decided to become a U.S. citizen. The path to citizenship was not easy or quick back then. You had to apply with documentation (green card, photos, marriage certificate, etc.), complete an interview, and take a test on the history and government of the United States. I majored in U.S. history and government at Bowdoin College and I can tell you it was a hard test (Quick: who were the three authors of The Federalist Papers?*). Mary completed the paper work and passed the test with flying colors. Then comes the Oath of Allegiance as the final step to citizenship. The ceremony took place at the Bangor High School auditorium. The speaker was none other than Caspar Weinberger, Ronald Reagan’s Defense Secretary. He gave a wonderful speech outlining the benefits and responsibilities of citizenship. Now if you have never been to one of these ceremonies you should go. It is emotional. It is life changing for many. It is a happy day for all. And then comes The Oath of Allegiance:

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; …that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; …that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; …that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; …that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;

So, through tears, I watched Mary renounce her Australian citizenship so she could vote.

I value my citizenship which came to me at birth. No test, no paperwork, no swearing in ceremony.  I vote, I believe in the Constitution, I value the words and intent of the Declaration of Independence. I am happy to be free and live in this country. I hope you are too.

 

Happy Independence Day.

 

*Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay