114 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine House of the Month meaghan maurice cal and sweetly framed with its two gables. For security, there are two bulwarks against the waves. “The original seawall below is rectangular granite blocks,” Cronkite says. The stones are very old and pieced. “The wall on top is rip rap.” No fewer than five islands dance in- to view from here, including Wood Island, with its hypnotic white lighthouse. Barely a few surf casts away is “Basket Island, where novelist Anita Shreve is building a house.” At mid-tide, a lovely sandy causeway connects the mainland to Basket Island,but at high tide, the causeway disappears. Not long ago, “a young couple leased a brand new Chevy Suburban and drove out to Bas- ket Island,” but the rising tides followed, marooning them. When they tried to re- turn, “the tires just dug in halfway across.” The lady in the SUV “was in tears.” In the end, they had to abandon their vehicle to nature. “At high tide, you could just see the top of their car.” If it seems as if Cronkite is an acute lo- cal observer, he is. “I live next door.” Full disclosure, “I sold this house in 2008 to a urologist for $835,000. He loves this area so much he’s upsizing to a larger place nearby.” M ainers know Cronkite as the former owner of The Maine Aquarium in Saco. He grew up right here and has always had a yen for re- al estate. He points out the giant sweep of blue that engulfs “Two Lights in Cape Eliza- beth, Scarborough Beach, and Old Or- chard Beach.” He steps closer to the rail and points again. “Do you see those two squares on the distant peninsula?” It’s easy to make the large squares out, though they’re wavery and smoky in the distance. “Well, that’s Maine Medical Center on the West End in Portland.” In all, “you can see the shoreline of five towns. During the summertime every Thursday, you’re going to see fireworks.” Come winter, things quiet down. “Hills Beach is primarily retirement or vacation homes. It’s all but unheard to stay here all year round and raise children. But in the winter, the doctors from the university make good tenants.” It’s easy to miss this stunning, narrow, beachy peninsula that reaches to the inlet to Biddeford Pool, but Cronkite seems okay with that. Bufflehead’s bistro is steps away from 123 Hills Beach Road. The Sea Star Market is close by, too. If you’re wracking your brains and won- dering if you’ve ever been out here before, that’s understandable. Say you’re from Bos- ton or Portland–there’s always a reason not to go to Hills Beach. That’s why it’s re- mained one of the last unselfconscious stretches of sand along the coast of South- ern Maine. It’s the beach not taken. Put another way, this $669,000 list- ing has a ‘trillion-dollar view.’ The lot is .15 acres, with 70 feet of beach and ocean frontage. While this may be a bargain base- ment opportunity, don’t look for a base-