5574-R5_ML&P_LSLA_2018_Web_SummerNewsletter_Web

Ice Cream Boats and Little Sebago Lake: An Illustrious History

had been working at the Gelato Fiasco in Brunswick, Maine and had been selling their Gelato out of his dorm room at Bates College when he wasn’t working in the Gelato Fiasco store. He was looking for a new avenue to sell his dorm-room gelato supply over the summer and thought up a brand new idea – a gelato boat. While he may be the genius in the family, at the time, I was the do-er. After it was obvious he had no intention of pursuing the gelato boat himself, I figured I wouldn’t find a better summer job anywhere else, so why not.

whistles to the ice cream boat experience. For anyone interested, and I’ll try to keep the plug short, I can take all major credit cards, and you can track me anywhere on the lake on my website! Feel more than welcome to check it out at goodshipgelato.com . Plus, if you demonstrate safe boating procedures, the Little Sebago Lake Safety Patrol may just give you a Good Ship Gelato gift certificate! Phew, that wasn’t so bad, right?

As I’m sure you’re thinking, the life of an ice cream boat-preneur sounds pretty good, and it is! Not only does it pay well and I get to be on the water all day, but what has really kept me coming back every year are the relationships I’ve built on the lake. You all know who you are, and I am extremely grateful for your friendship and patronage. There are even some of you that I’ve never sold to, but propel me forward nonetheless. In particular, one couple on the western side of the middle bay, while they’ve never so much as purchased a popsicle, ceaselessly offer a friendly wave and a neighborly smile every

My parents were gracious enough to donate their old, crusty pontoon boat to the cause (3-for-3 on generous parents!) and I kicked into high gear. I was fortunate enough to have many friends pitch in with the deep-cleaning, re-painting and servicing of the old barge, and, within a month or so the Good Ship was nearly ready to go. However, just as the Hayes’ gave Jake their old sign to help him get off the ground, Jake was instrumental in helping me achieve ice cream boat success.

Apart from the incessant encouragement, Jake also talked me through the state licensing process and gave me many helpful tips and tricks - from menu selection to lake navigation. I took what Jake gave me, and I was off and running -- and it’s taken me further than I ever expected! In an interview Jake gave in 2016 (to News Center Maine about his new sharing economy gear rental business -- Jake on the Lake -- look it up!), Jake gave me a friendly shout out, “If I were the flip phone of ice cream boats, he’s the iPhone 6” -- a bit of an exaggeration to be sure, but I’ll take it! Apart from adding gelato to the menu of ice cream novelties, I’ve added a few other bells and

time I pass. A sort of unspoken appreciation passes between us that assures me of belonging in the lake community. And what an assorted community it is! From summertime transplants to year round residents, day boaters to islanders, young families with children, to people who have been on the lake for nearly 90 years! This last category has at least one outstanding representative that I have met during my time on the Good Ship that I would be remiss to not mention. Doris Barnes, 92, purchased a red popsicle from me last summer off of the dock of her camp that her husband built in 1947. However, she’s been coming to the lake since early childhood. Of everyone I’ve met thus far, she’s been on the lake longer than any of us, and we Continued on Page 27

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