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The Androscoggin Bike Path, which
runs along the Androscoggin River, offers scenic views and
is popular with locals for hiking, biking and roller blading.
Nearby Potsam Beach and Bowdin's college sports also
contribute to Brunswick's well-rounded appeal.
Mid Coast Hospital (207-729-0181)
is the primary medical facility in Brunswick and opened in
2001. The staff includes 130 primary care physicians
representing 30 primary care and specialty areas such as in- and
out-patient surgery, advanced diagnostics, radiology, acute care,
cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. There is also a sleep
lab, a wound care center and a 24-hour emergency services
department.
And Mid Coast Senior Health Center, a part of Mid
Coast Hospital, is the only facility in the mid-coast Maine area
that offers a full continuum of healthcare and wellness services
for seniors under one roof. These include nursing and
rehabilitation services, assisted living and Lifeline, a 24-hour
personal emergency response system. So health care for
retirees in Brunswick is quite good. The hospital also has a
number of volunteer positions available.
Brunswick does not have a public transportation
system (except for Bowdin students), but it is a very
bicycle friendly town, and there are buses to Portland and to
other destinations up and down the coast. And along the
coast are roadside apple cider stands, farmers' markets, blueberry
stands, antique marts and genuine old-fashioned diners. They
should not be missed!
The Evergreen Senior Center, offering meals and
social activities, is a friendly place for those 55 and above, and
Brunswick's numerous churches are also a good way to find new
friends. For intellectual pursuits, the Mid Coast
Senior College, part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and
in association with the University of Southern Maine, offers
stimulating non-credit courses to anyone age 50 or better.
Costs are $25 per year, plus $55 per class, and most courses are
held in nearby Bath (but some are held in Brunswick) The
College also sponsors other activities including end-of-semester
luncheons, a winter lecture series and summer excursions to places
of interest such as the Farnsworth Museum, Olson House,and
the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake.
Brunswick's weather is, let's say, stimulating. The average annual precipitation is 37 inches,
which can manifest itself as up to 18 inches of snow per month
from December to March. Humidity does not fluctuate much,
averaging about 70%. Summer temperatures are delightful with
daily highs in the mid-70s. Winters get cold, though, with
lows in the teens and highs in the 20s. There are 200 days
per year of sunshine to help offset the winter chill, and Maine
autumns are breathtaking.
There is, however, a potential drawback to
retirement in Brunswick. The town has been home to the Naval
Air Station, a large military installation, for years, but the
base is in the process of closing and will be gone by 2011.
There is no doubt that this will have an impact on the local
economy, but Brunswick has had three years to this point to start
planning for redevelopment of the soon-to-be-available empty land. The Midcoast
Regional Redevelopment Authority was commissioned to determine new
uses and is planning, in conjunction
with state and military officials, to build a "variety of
corporate, business, residential, academic, recreational, and
community services," all based on smart-growth
principles.
While the base closing is not good news,
Brunswick has been thriving for nearly 400 years, and local town
leaders are confident that it will continue to prosper with new
businesses and residential development in the place where the navy
base once stood.
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