Lincolnville is getting a belated Christmas present this year. After eight years of re-writing, remixing, remeasuring, reblending and generally retweaking his recipes, former resident Landis Hewett has published "Country Cooking from Scratch ... Good Luck." Many of it was written while he lived among us. But Hewett gave this neighborhood more than just a good meal.
"People are like candles," Landis told me once. "No two burn down at the same speed. That's why they make sympathy cards."
For a diminutive person, Hewett makes a big impression.
He perceived that our community needed a group that could -- in a positive way -- have a negative impact on crime and renewal of civic pride in our more productive citizens.
So he founded a Neighborhood Watch. During his tenure as president of the group, he was dearth to classify this person as irrevocably evil, this one as constantly good. When someone was hungry, they needed to be fed, period.
As a result, people followed him, whichever direction he took.
Nor were the animals in the neighborhood forgotten. Anytime I visited, a caterwauling would set off from somewhere deep inside the three-story Victorian as the sundry set of strange dogs Hewett was constantly rescuing "announced" me.
Steve Sims, Landis' best friend from childhood, would go "settle the mutts" while Landis filled me in on his latest project.
"Holly," he would say, watching the children play, "these kids need something to do."
So he set up the Junior Neighborhood Watch; they held elections for officers and commandeered a room for meetings just down the hall in the United Way building where the "big people" held their meetings. Still not satisfied, Steve and Landis formed a yearly talent show in the local plaza to coincide with National Night Out.
The children would sing and dance their little hearts out.
Steve would man the grill and Hewett would introduce the acts and hand out the awards.
Landis and Steve have since moved to a house on top of a mountain in West Virginia, where the only kids they see are their own grandchildren, who are drawn to Landis' kitchen by the sweet smells emitting from the oven.
Combine all ingredients. Chill overnight in a covered bowl. Form into a log and roll in chopped parsley. Serve as a dip, with crackers or chips, or as a spread.