Thursday, September 30, 2010

X marks the spot, but it has nothing to do with pirates

X marks the spot.
In ancient tales of pirates and their bold deeds, the ribbon of the stories’ plots with few exceptions twirled their way to one common element – booty.

No, not that “booty.”

Treasure, buried or otherwise – that’s the booty.

And with few exceptions, a map to the booty included an X to mark the location where the booty – the treasure – could be found. X marks the spot, the saying goes.

Inevitably, the map was either faked, or the X really didn’t mark the actual location of the treasure or mutiny and treachery prevented story stakeholders from learning the final disposition of the buried booty.

Or there was no treasure in the first place.

Of course, in most cases X didn’t actually mark the spot. Instead, it symbolized other things – greed mostly, but also dreams, aspirations, hope, and, since we are talking pirates, lots and lots of grog.

For me, however, an X this week meant a completely different thing.

It means that thread-worn safety net called unemployment insurance – simply UI for those of us unfortunate to have needed it – is coming to an end. Without further congressional action, many of the 15 million Americans out of work will also be out of luck.

You see, there is a box on the front of unemployment insurance continued claim form, under question No. 3, to be precise – that until this point had gone unfilled. The unemployment rate had been so high, the extensions coming, and other factors, that people legitimately out of work did not see the X in the box.

The X means someone on UI must turn over the form and fill in the information on the companies at which the claimant has applied for work. Seeking employment is a requirement of continued UI, but without the X to mark the spot, a claimant needed only answer “yes” to the question “Did you look for work?”

The X – along with the additional eligibility requirements for Federal-State Extended Duration Benefits, or Fed-Ed extension – means a claimant must provide the following information for potential employers contacted each week:
  • Date applied
  • Company name
  • Company address (Internet address is acceptable.)
  • Person contacted 
  • Type of work applied
  • Results of the contact

The EDD knows that looking for work does not always mean an opportunity to fill out an application. But the requirements are what the requirements are and it means added anxiety and pressure to find at least three jobs each week for the form.

 I wish there was buried booty where X marks the spot, but there is not. Where the X marks the spot are renewed feelings of failure, demoralization and concern for what the future may bring. It brings crashing down the house of cards that is the UI stopgap measure.

EDD outsourcing their replies?

Here’s a sidebar to this whole thing. My latest continued claim form arrived last week, which was followed earlier this week by a form letter informing me of the number of employer contacts I needed to make each week – three.

The problem: The second form arrived too late for me to make adjustments for the first week, a week in which I applied for one job, but had a couple of phone interviews. The “three employer contact” rule seems reasonable – my personal goal each week was to apply for at least five jobs – but out of fairness to the claimant, the information should come along with the continued claim form.

I tried calling EDD to address my concerns, but calling the toll-free number led to a recorded message that provided another toll-free number, which led to another recorded message, that provided the first toll-free number. That, my friends, is a bureaucratic merry-go-round. There were no obvious options to be directed to a live person – although I since have been told that I should have dialed the first number and punched in 0 for an operator – so I went to the EDD website and used their online “Contact EDD” form.

I’m not sure, but EDD may have outsourced their reply services because the reply I received the next day was very nearly nonsensical. I asked several specific questions and received in reply: “Your feded [sic] claim was filed effective 09-XX-10 employers: on newpapers [sic], word of mouth, net working [sic], t.v., radio from friends and relatives maybe some of the source Good luck Thank you kindly.”

The reply – who in this country uses “thank you kindly” – failed to answer any of the questions I poised in my email to EDD. I suppose I’ll do the best I can to fill out the form this time around and pray that I am not determined ineligible. If I am determined ineligible, I suppose I could always search for buried treasure. … Now, where did I put that eye patch.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Haiti suffers as U.S. delays rebuilding aid | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Haiti suffers as U.S. delays rebuilding aid The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Man sets himself on fire in Portland square | Bangor Daily News

Man sets himself on fire in Portland square | Bangor Daily News

Coffeehouse observation No. 208 – National Coffee Day! National Coffee Day!

I’m having computer problems today or I most definitely would have mentioned that today is National Coffee Day! Viva, National Coffee day!

Here are a couple of links to National Coffee Day info. I’m guessing American laborers will never get a day off for National Coffee Day, but perhaps one day it will gain the status of, say, Groundhog Day.

National Coffee Day | Punchbowl

National Coffee Day: Facts you didn't know about your cup of joe | ThirdAge

For National Coffee Day, Dunkin’ Donuts brews up its biggest coffee prize ever for the ‘Ultimate Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee Fan Contest’ | PRNewswire

National Coffee Day on Facebook

10 coffee facts for National Coffee Day | IndyPosted

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Coffeehouse observation No. 207

I’m not sure how this is all going to work out, but I’ve decided to go without coffee today. For those now concerned with their safety, I am currently at Troke Branch Library (Stockton) and will attempt to update my movements so that you all can take the appropriate precautions to avoid contact with a caffeine-free me.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases climate change plan | SustainableBusiness.com

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases climate change plan | SustainableBusiness.com

Monday, September 27, 2010

Nearly 4 tons of drugs collected in Maine | Bangor Daily News

Nearly 4 tons of drugs collected in Maine | Bangor Daily News

Maine lobstermen rescue pair trapped in SUV underwater | Bangor Daily News

SOUTH THOMASTON, Maine — Two lobstermen helped to rescue a man and woman Sunday afternoon after their SUV plunged into the water near the South Thomaston Public Landing.

“We were tying up our skiff and heard a horrendous crash,” said Rolf Winters of South Thomaston. “We looked up and saw the car flying through the air.”

According to Knox County sheriff’s Deputy Matt Elwell, Frank Rankin, 77, of Camden had been driving through South Thomaston with passenger Ruth Duff, 85, also of Camden, at about 1:45 p.m. when his foot went numb. Rankin pulled in to the town landing and tried to hit the brake, but accidentally hit the accelerator instead and plunged over the stone wall and into the Weskeag River.

Winters, a retired volunteer firefighter for South Thomaston, said that he and his son Kurt Winters, 31, were 15 feet or so away when the silver Dodge Durango hit the water nose-first.

“It was airborne right in front of our eyes,” he said. “It really went down fast.”
Click for the rest of the story by Abigail Curtis in the Bangor Daily News.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Mainers tapping the power of the sun | Lewiston Sun Journal

Mainers tapping the power of the sun | Lewiston Sun Journal

Next Maine Event: Woofminster a treat for dogs' festive friends | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Next Maine Event: Woofminster a treat for dogs' festive friends The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

WOOFMINSTER AMATEUR DOG SHOW

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 2, 1 to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Camp Ketcha, Scarborough

HOW MUCH: $10 adults, $5 kids and dogs

FOOD OPTIONS: Free dog treats. For humans there will be a homemade bake sale and drinks for sale.

PARKING: Camp Ketcha has ample free parking.

DON'T MISS: Doggie limbo

KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great. Color Me Mine will have a paint-your-own pottery area to create dog bowls and picture frames. Face painting and a coloring area will also be offered for little humans.

BENEFITS: Planet Dog Foundation, a (501)k nonprofit, sponsors this event to raise money for service dog programs in Maine.

IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Rain or shine

MORE INFO: http://www.planetdogfoundation.org/

Clinton rallies base for Mitchell | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Clinton rallies base for Mitchell The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

L.L. Bean chairman to receive The Bowdoin Prize | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

L.L. Bean chairman to receive The Bowdoin Prize The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Mainers offered chance to dump unwanted prescriptions | Bangor Daily News

Mainers offered chance to dump unwanted prescriptions | Bangor Daily News

Old Town Riverfest features events for the whole family | Bangor Daily News

Old Town Riverfest features events for the whole family Bangor Daily News

3,000 attend tractor-pulling event in Millinocket | Bangor Daily News

3,000 attend tractor-pulling event in Millinocket | Bangor Daily News

Celebrating Common Ground in photos | Bangor Daily News

Celebrating Common Ground in photos | Bangor Daily News

Friday, September 24, 2010

Lewiston couple to defend Wife Carrying Championship title | Lewiston Sun Journal



NEWRY — The Lewiston couple who won last fall’s North American Wife Carrying Championship will defend their title next month when Sunday River Ski Resort hosts the 11th annual event.

Held on Saturday, Oct. 9, the event marks the couple’s last chance to qualify for the World Wife Carrying Championship in Finland held in July of next year.

The Newry event touts a prize list including the wife's weight in beer, five times her weight in cash, and serious bragging rights, resort spokeswoman Darcy Morse said in a Thursday report.

With a time of 54.45 seconds last year, Dave and Lacey Castro of Lewiston beat a field of 46 couples coming from as far away as California.

“Last year’s champions, Dave and Lacey Castro, have already signed up and are definitely planning on defending their title,” Morse said.
Click for the video of last year’s event and the rest of the story by Terry Karkos in the Lewiston Sun Journal.


Registration for the event is available online and open until the day of the event, Morse said. Cost is $45 per team. For more information on the NAWCC or any of the events happening during this Fall Festival Weekend, visit http://www.sundayriver.com/.

Wounded Marine gets hero’s welcome | Bangor Daily News

Wounded Marine gets hero’s welcome | Bangor Daily News

Lobster prices hold as catch remains high | Bangor Daily News

Lobster prices hold as catch remains high | Bangor Daily News

This weekend, visit the Common Ground Fair or see Maine phenom Spose | Bangor Daily News

This weekend, visit the Common Ground Fair or see Maine phenom Spose | Bangor Daily News



Online information connected to some of the stories:
mofga.org

myspace.com/spizzyspose

Coffeehouse observation No. 206

I walked into Exotic Java today on a somewhat tight schedule and was disappointed to see four people in line in front of me. But they were served promptly and cleared away from the counter … where my drink was already waiting. Barista Andrew had spotted me through the drive-through window coming into the coffeehouse and had already started and finished making the drink before I arrived at the counter. I frequent empresso most often, followed by Exotic Java, with Starbucks and Peets a distant third and fourth. The baristas at both empresso and Exotic Java are excellent at what they do and are quite friendly. The owners of both coffeehouses should be proud, because often workers are a reflection of the work ethic of their bosses and a sign of the respect the hold for their bosses.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Deal saves the farm: Agriculture may resume on Fancy property under plan that protects it from development | Portland Press Herald

SCARBOROUGH – Margery and Leroy Fancy moved their family to Ash Swamp Road in the summer of 1954.
She had grown up on a farm on Payne Road, and he was a city boy who learned fast. They ran a “gentleman’s farm” on their property, with large gardens, some cows, and acres of hayfields around the 200-year-old farmhouse.

It has been about a decade since the property was last farmed, but it may be farmed again in the near future under an arrangement involving Margery Fancy and her family, the town and the Maine Farmland Trust.

The town has agreed to pay Margery Fancy $127,000 for the development rights to the land so an agricultural easement can be established. That means the 13-acre property will be valued at $138,000 – far more affordable for a potential buyer than the farm's $265,000 appraised value with development rights.

The Maine Farmland Trust facilitates such deals, holds the easements and monitors the properties.

Margery Fancy, now 93, lived on the property until she moved into a nursing home late last year, more than three decades after the death of her husband. Neither her son, John Fancy of Appleton, nor her daughter, Joan Sandidge of Wayne, wanted to see the land developed.

“It’s a good farming spot. It made sense to try to preserve it as a useful farm,” John Fancy said.

Click for the rest of the story by Ann S. Kim in the Portland Press Herald.

Finalists named for Maine Lobster Chef of the Year | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Finalists named for Maine Lobster Chef of the Year | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

IF YOU GO

What: Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Competition

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 22

Where: Ocean View Room at Ocean Gateway, Portland

How much: $55

More info: http://www.harvestontheharbor.com/

Portland chosen for anti-violence demonstration project | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland chosen for anti-violence demonstration project The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Jonesport, Lubec wind farm plans gain supporters | Bangor Daily News

Jonesport, Lubec wind farm plans gain supporters Bangor Daily News

Blacksmith fires up forge with UMaine students | Bangor Daily News

Metal began flaking off the glowing orange steel as it cooled. The student wrenched the bar sideways around a spiral jig until it faded to gray and creaked in protest.
“Cool,” said Hannah Grenier, 22, of Oxford Hills, as she walked back to the forge with a half-completed steel spiral.

“She thinks it’s cool,” said blacksmith Robert Adams, 75, of Winterport. “The end result will be cool. For now, it’s hot.”

University of Maine sculpture students and passersby gathered around a forge and three anvils Sept. 17 as guest artisan Adams led a blacksmith workshop on the creation of steel crosses and spirals he refers to as scrolls. They set up shop by the sculpture building in the Collins Center of the Arts parking lot.

As he instructed Grenier in completing her scroll, he asked for another volunteer to start heating metal in the forge.

“I like them to make stuff,” Adams said. “That’s how you remember.”

Click for the rest of the story by Aislinn Sarnacki in the Bangor Daily News.

Foliage Report for Sept. 22 | Maine.gov

Foliage Report for Sept. 22 | Maine.gov


Maine fall foliage map for Sept. 22.

Foliage Report for Sept. 22 | Maine.gov

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Coffeehouse observation No. 205

Went into Exotic Java earlier and one of the owners was on the phone with the manufacturer of the new espresso machine. Apparently, efforts to repair it have been thwarted because the manufacturer continues to send the wrong parts.

Me: “Well, do you have enough parts to make a new machine?”

Barista: “Almost.”

I still was able to receive my Red Eye so I was fine.

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Portland to host waterfront conference | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland to host waterfront conference The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine housing data: A tale of two markets | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine housing data: A tale of two markets The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Pieces of Maine will turn up just about anywhere

I’m sitting in the Troke Branch Library in Stockton, Calif., using the WiFi for the continuing job search. A guy and a woman just sat down at a nearby table and he is wearing a Bar Harbor sweatshirt. It makes me homesick. Pieces of home turn up just about anywhere.

If he and the woman weren’t in a rather involved conversation, I’d ask to take a photo and post it.

There was another time not long after I first moved to California that I was wearing a T-shirt from an ice cream shop – I forget the name but I believe it was in Saco and the shop was in a railroad Cushman car. The T-shirt had an image of the railroad car and I was wearing it while hiking with friends in the redwoods. A passing hiker said, “Hey, I’ve had ice cream there!”

See, pieces of home turn up just about anywhere.

Award-winning tourism photo | Bangor Daily News

Award-winning tourism photo | Bangor Daily News

Check out the winning photo for the Aroostook County Tourism summer photo contest. Follow this link to the Bangor Daily News or to the Aroostook County Tourism website. The photo is very nearly Rockwellesque.

The scenic views category winner took a shot of Portage Lake at sunset. It’s just as I remember it growing up. I’m guessing from the angle that it was shot from the south or southeast corner of the lake not too far from the public beach, but I could be wrong. It is unfortunate that the Aroostook County Tourism website does not allow for a larger version of the photos.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Baldacci a B+ on environment, group says - Bangor Daily News

Baldacci a B+ on environment, group says Bangor Daily News

Money stolen from island town in '88 returned | Bangor Daily News

Money stolen from island town in '88 returned Bangor Daily News

Thousands of toy cars yield thousands of kid smiles | Bangor Daily News

Most people’s basements are packed full. Old family photographs, records, furniture, you name it. But Tom Christensen’s basement is full of cars. Often as many as 5,000 at a time.

The handmade wooden cars Christensen assembles in his basement workshop are donated to children in hospitals and homeless shelters, or those with parents in the military or in prison.

“It’s all about making some kids happy,” Christensen says. “There are a lot of kids in tough situations that they didn’t cause. It gives them a time to step out of their problem for a while. Some kids just need to know somebody cares about them.”

The project began in 2007 when the University of Maine professor of electrical engineering technology saw an article in Workbench magazine. It was about the ToyMakers, a Florida organization that provides free wooden toys to children in need.

Christensen founded the ToyMakers of Bangor, and at first, he spent up to an hour and a half creating each car as a custom-painted work of art.
Click here for the rest of the story by Kathleen MacFarline in the Bangor Daily News.

Komen Race for the Cure draws 5,000 to Bangor | Bangor Daily News

Komen Race for the Cure draws 5,000 to Bangor | Bangor Daily News

Lady Gaga to speak, but not perform, at Portland rally | Bangor Daily News

Lady Gaga to speak, but not perform, at Portland rally | Bangor Daily News

Global 500 Report: Climate change climbs boardroom agenda | SustainableBusiness.com News

Climate Change Climbs Boardroom Agenda - Global 500 Report

Friday, September 17, 2010

The killer catch: Groundfishing in Atlantic the deadliest by far | Portland Press Herald

Study: Scalloping also more risky than fishing
for Alaskan king crab seen in television series

Fishing for scallops or groundfish in the Atlantic is more dangerous than fishing for king crabs off Alaska, says a new federal study.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found that the highest death rates for commercial fishermen – whose occupation is one of the most dangerous in the country – are among groundfishermen and scallopers.

With safety improvements made by Alaska's crab industry in recent decades, Alaskan crab is no longer the deadliest catch, despite the image conveyed by the “Deadliest Catch” cable TV reality series, which chronicles the working lives of Alaskan crab fishermen.

Click for the rest of the story by Beth Quimby in the Portland Press Herald.

After 98 years, an apology long overdue | Portland Press Herald

A copy of a photo by Frederick Thompson from Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, September 1882, shows residents on Malaga Island.
MALAGA ISLAND, Maine – It was, in all likelihood, a record crowd. Never before in its documented history had anywhere near 90 people gathered at the same time on this craggy, wooded island at the mouth of the New Meadows River

Yet here they stood Sunday afternoon – elected officials, archaeologists, journalists, human rights activists and, most notably, descendants of the mixed-race families who once called this 41-acre island home – all to hear two simple words.

“To the descendants of Benjamin Darling, let me just say that I’m sorry,” said Gov. John Baldacci as a late-summer breeze whispered through the spruce trees. “I’m sorry for what was done. It wasn’t right and we were raised better than that. We’re better people than that.”

Maybe you’ve heard the story of Malaga Island – and then again, maybe you haven’t.

It’s not pleasant.

Just a few hundred yards from Phippsburg’s western shoreline, Malaga Island was home in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to anywhere from 25 to 40 people who lived in dirt-floor, ramshackle homes and eked out a living fishing the tides in the New Meadows River and doing whatever menial work they could find on the mainland.

Most traced their lineage to Benjamin Darling, a black man who had bought and settled on a nearby island in 1794. Some were black, others were white, still others were a mixture of the two.

Click for the rest of the column by Bill Nemitz in the Portland Press Herald.

Bangor hits snag in manager search | Bangor Daily News

Bangor hits snag in manager search Bangor Daily News

5 things to do this weekend | Bangor Daily News

5 things to do this weekend Bangor Daily News

25 fun fall things to do in Maine | Bangor Daily News

Your alarm goes off in the morning. After coffee, a shower, reading the newspaper and getting dressed, you’re out the door — and that’s when it hits you.

There’s a slight chill in the air. A yellow leaf flutters gently to the ground. Your clothing isn’t warm enough. Autumn has arrived.

In between unpacking your sweaters and bringing in the patio furniture, the change of season means a renewed vigor for experiencing all that Maine has to offer. From leaf-peeping driving trips around the state to Halloween events, from apple picking to concert-going, the fall is the time when Mainers really get to bask in the glory.

The gold, red, orange and yellow that light up treetops lasts only about a month — so what are you waiting for? Get out and have fun, before you make that appointment to put on your snow tires.

Click for the rest of the story by Emily Burnham in the Bangor Daily News.

Coffeehouse observation No. 204

One of the Exotic Java baristas just accused me of having “spidy senses.” Cool! Very, very cool! … But now I will have the Spiderman theme song in my head for the rest of the day. … “Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can ….”

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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Coffeehouse observation No. 203

The ringtone on the cellphone of the guy sitting at the next table: “I’ve Got You, Babe.” Very, very manly!

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Honoring those who served in the American Revolution

OK, I didn’t know this trivia question on DownEast.com. It’s kind of interesting. I wish the answer had included when the monument was placed there. And it wouldn’t hurt if a photo had been included. Ah, well …

Where is the monument honoring Maine Indians who fought in the Revolutionary War?

Answer:

At the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation. It was placed there by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

It's official: Bill Clinton to visit Maine for Dem rally | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

It's official: Bill Clinton to visit Maine for Dem rally The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Where is Ram Island light?: Newly sold lighthouse to be added to the tax rolls of Cape Elizabeth or Portland | Portland Press Herald

Ramp Island Ledge Light
Ram Island Ledge Light will move onto the tax rolls because of its pending sale from the federal government to a doctor from Windham.
The question is, which tax rolls?
According to the online auction site set up by the U.S. General Services Administration, the lighthouse is at the entrance to Portland Harbor, off Cape Elizabeth.

The site says its street address is “Cumberland County,” and the city is Cape Elizabeth.

That’s news to Cape Elizabeth's town manager.

“We don’t believe it’s in Cape Elizabeth,” said Mike McGovern. “We believe it’s in the city of Portland.”

Portland’s tax assessor, Richard Blackburn, said McGovern is probably right.

“There have been some questions” about which municipality the lighthouse is in, Blackburn said, and those questions have never been answered.
Click for the rest of this story by Edward D. Murphy in the Portland Press Herald.

Maine tax revenues higher than expected | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine tax revenues higher than expected The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Impression that Maine's summer tourist season was good, backed by revenue report | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Impression that Maine's summer tourist season was good, backed by revenue report The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Light show: Open Lighthouse Day offers rare chance to peek inside the towers, keepers’ houses at 25 of Maine’s lighthouses | Portland Press Herald

Living in Maine and never climbing a lighthouse is kind of like living in South Dakota and never seeing Mount Rushmore, or visiting Memphis and skipping the tour of Graceland.
You know you should do it, but somehow you just never get around to actually going.

Well, here’s your chance. On Saturday, 25 ocean, river and island lighthouses throughout Maine will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Some of these lighthouses aren’t normally open to the public, so this is a rare chance to peek inside their light towers and keepers’ houses.

Even if you've been to Portland Head Light a million times with visiting relatives, during Open Lighthouse Day, you’ll be able to climb the tower, which is usually closed.

“At the 25 sites that are going to be open, there will be people there staffing, and many of them will have guided tours,” said Bob Trapani Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation in Rockland, which is sponsoring the day along with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Maine Office of Tourism. “It’s an educational opportunity, not just a chance to climb.”

Click here for the rest of the story by Meredith Goad in the Portland Press Herald.

For more info and a complete list and map of lighthouses that will be open for Open Lighthouse Day, http://lighthousefoundation.org// or http://www.lighthouseday.com./

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Effort to bring USS JFK to Maine faces rough waters | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Effort to bring USS JFK to Maine faces rough waters The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine, NH delegations seek funds to replace Memorial Bridge | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine, NH delegations seek funds to replace Memorial Bridge The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Bill Clinton to visit Maine | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Bill Clinton to visit Maine The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Strout released from jail after bail lowered | Bangor Daily News

Strout released from jail after bail lowered | Bangor Daily News

Coffeehouse observation No. 202

I’m a little concerned I’m becoming too predictable. The baristas at the coffeehouses I frequent start my drinks even before I step up to the counter. I’m in that much of a rut or they are just that good.

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Coffeehouse observation No. 201

I was just sitting outside Exotic Java sipping a Red Eye and going through email when a lovely young woman walked by. She was trailed by a very lovely, pleasant scent. I’m not sure what it was, but it will linger in my mind for the rest of the day. And I won’t mind that at all.

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Saturday, September 11, 2010

Another generation will remember 9/11 | Kennebec Journal

St. Michael School honors
medical workers who rushed to help

AUGUSTA, Maine – It was Sept. 10, but a Sept. 11 commemoration was nonetheless in order.

Students at St. Michael’s School gathered around the school flagpole Friday morning for a patriotic tribute to the medical professionals who played a critical role in the response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

Firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel were the first to respond to those attacks. But medical professionals weren't far behind them in aiding victims, and the 270-student Catholic school recognized them in a ceremony Sept. 11 last year.

“These are the men and women who take care of our sick, our suffering and our infirm,” Principal Jon Caron told students and parents gathered outside the school before classes began.

Three fifth-grade students raised the flag, those in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and they ended the 20-minute ceremony with a rendition of “This Land is Your Land.”
Click here for the rest of the story by Matthew Stone in the Kennebec Journal.

Unsettled nation marks 9/11 with rituals of sorrow | Associated Press story on Portland Press website

Islam controversies cast shadow over 9/11 events | Associated Press story in the Portland Press Herald

As Sept. 11 dawns, political backdrop hard to ignore | Associated Press story in the Morning Sentinel

Auto Biographies: Participants in Bangor, Brewer car show talk about their passion for power and speed | Bangor Daily News

They say the clothes make the man. But sometimes, it’s the car that makes the man — or woman. Whether it’s a tricked-out 2006 Toyota, a biodiesel-powered 1980s Volkswagen, or a stately 1950s Chevrolet, there’s something elemental about putting the keys in the ignition and heading out for a drive in your car — your favorite, your indulgence, your baby.
Both Bangor and Brewer will play host to hundreds of car lovers this weekend, with the Wheels on the Waterfront Bangor Car Show on Saturday, and the Brewer Days Car Show on Sunday. Both events are free and open to the public for those interested in seeing some vintage vehicles and some seriously souped-up newer cars. In the spirit of the weekend, we’re celebrating cars and car owners by chatting with a few Maine motorheads about their passion for wheels.

Click here for the rest of the story by Emily Burnham in the Bangor Daily News.

Orient man arrested in connection with Amity triple homicide | Bangor Daily News

HOULTON, Maine — An Orient man who police say admitted helping conceal evidence in the killing of three people in the Aroostook County town of Amity in June was arrested early Friday evening and charged in connection with the triple homicide.
Robert Strout, 63, was arrested at his home just after 4 p.m., according to officials with the Attorney General’s Office and the Maine State Police.

The arrest by state police came after Strout was indicted Friday afternoon by the Aroostook County grand jury on a Class B charge of hindering apprehension and a Class A charge of arson. Both are felony offenses, with the Class B charge punishable by up to 10 years in jail and a $20,000 fine and the Class A charge punishable by up to 30 years in jail and a $50,000 fine.

Strout’s name and the charges against him were not released with the indictment list pending his arrest.

Assistant Attorney General Bill Stokes and state police Detective Sgt. John Cote confirmed the arrest after Strout was taken into custody Friday evening. Stokes also confirmed that the charges stemmed from the Amity triple homicide.

“He was arrested at his home and he was cooperative,” said Cote. “He was taken to the Aroostook County Jail.”

Click here for the rest of the story by Jen Lynds in the Bangor Daily News.

Bear hunting season a mixed bag | Bangor Daily News

Bear hunting season a mixed bag | Bangor Daily News

Friday, September 10, 2010

Portland joins list of top college cities | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland joins list of top college cities The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

THE TOP 20

Top 20 best small cities for college students to live:

1. Boulder, Colo.

2. Ann Arbor, Mich.

3. Bridgeport, Conn.

4. Trenton-Ewing, N.J.

5. Gainesville, Fla.

6. Madison, Wis.

7. Durham, N.C.

8. Santa Cruz, Calif.

9. Honolulu, Hawaii

10. Fort Collins, Colo.

11. Santa Barbara, Calif.

12. New Haven, Conn.

13. Lincoln, Neb.

14. Albany, N.Y.

15. San Luis Obispo, Calif.

16. Naples, Fla.

17. Manchester, N.H.

18. Oxnard, Calif.

19. Santa Rosa, Calif.

20. PORTLAND, MAINE

5 things to do this Sept. 10 weekend | Bangor Daily News

5 things to do this Sept. 10 weekend | Bangor Daily News

Coin flip ends lighthouse bidding war | Bangor Daily News

Coin flip ends lighthouse bidding war | Bangor Daily News

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Music and Nightlife: Mraz-matazz | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Music and Nightlife: Mraz-matazz The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

IF YOU GO

JASON MRAZ
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Bangor Waterfront Pavilion, 1 Railroad St., Bangor
HOW MUCH: $38.50 to $48.50
INFO: 783-2009, Ext. 208; waterfrontconcerts.com; thecolisee.com
WHAT ELSE: Mraz’s show is part of the new Hollywood Slots Waterfront Concert series in Bangor.
Other upcoming shows:
• Alan Jackson, 7 p.m. Friday. $31.50 to $81.50
• Miranda Lambert, 7 p.m. Oct. 2. $27.75 to $41.75
• Godsmack headlining Smackfest, 10 a.m. Oct. 10. $45.50

Outlaws member faces up to 20 years for retaliatory shooting | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Outlaws member faces up to 20 years for retaliatory shooting The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Two Maine schools get Blue Ribbon honors | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Two Maine schools get Blue Ribbon honors The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Poverty most prevalent in Maine’s rural ‘rim’ counties, study says | Bangor Daily News

Poverty most prevalent in Maine’s rural ‘rim’ counties, study says | Bangor Daily News

Maine tribes finish 100-mile Spiritual Run | Bangor Daily News

Maine tribes finish 100-mile Spiritual Run | Bangor Daily News

'Deadliest Catch Live' coming to Maine | Bangor Daily News

'Deadliest Catch Live' coming to Maine Bangor Daily News

Limited seating remains available for Deadliest Catch Live. For tickets, call the Merrill Auditorium box office at (207) 842-0800 or visit porttix.com.

Maine calls in immigration officials on $1.5M cash seizure | Bangor Daily News

Maine calls in immigration officials on $1.5M cash seizure Bangor Daily News

Cianbro contract to bring more than 100 new jobs to Brewer | Bangor Daily News

Cianbro contract to bring more than 100 new jobs to Brewer | Bangor Daily News

Coffeehouse observation No. 199

A little guy – maybe 3 or 4 – just crawled into my booth at Exotic Java for the second time in 30 minutes and started jabbering away like we have known each other for years. Cute kid. Momma had to start counting – “five, four …” – to get him out of the booth.

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Labor Day tourism takes a hit in Maine | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Labor Day tourism takes a hit in Maine The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Spreading the word about Lyme disease in Maine: New nonprofit wants to educate the public, help to prevent cases of Lyme disease in Maine | Portland Press Herald

With cases of Lyme disease on the rise in Maine, a new nonprofit organization has a mission to educate the public and raise awareness about the tick-borne health hazard.

MaineLyme was officially announced by its board of directors Sept. 1. Its mission is to decrease the prevalence of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses through awareness, prevention, education and advocacy.

In 2008, 908 cases of Lyme disease were reported, a 72 percent increase over 2007, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of cases rose again in 2009, with 929 reported, most of them in Cumberland and York counties. A fact sheet compiled by the Maine Lyme Working Group said these numbers may be underestimated by a factor of 10.

“We’ve been working hard in the past six months with that … in mind,” said board secretary Barb Maurais.

Click for the rest of the story by Emma Bouthillette in the Portland Press Herald.


Fighting Lyme Disease

Follow the organization on Facebook by searching “MaineLyme Nonprofit.” To donate to the educational efforts, mail checks to MaineLyme, P.O. Box 8533, Portland, ME, 04104-8533.

Where are ticks found?

In every county in Maine and both urban and rural communities. However, people should be especially careful when in the following areas:

• Wooded, forested sites.

• Wild, unmaintained landscapes with tall grass.

• Brush or leaf piles.

Portland chief wants tougher penalties for cocaine crime | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland chief wants tougher penalties for cocaine crime The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Baldacci names new top Maine environmental enforcer | Bangor Daily News

Baldacci names new top Maine environmental enforcer Bangor Daily News

Monday, September 6, 2010

Labor Day a holiday for nearly 15 million unemployed Americans?

Labor Day is set aside to honor the working men and women who built this country with their brains, their brawn, their ingenuity, and the sweat from their brow.

It is a time to recognize those workers and their accomplishments, grand and not so grand.

But I really don’t know how to feel about Labor Day.

The past few Labor Days have been different for me and many more Americans. There are 14.9 million Americans who are not working, who are not laborers. For the past 18 months I have been among the unemployed. Is Labor Day a holiday for those of us who have no work at which to labor?

Sadly and unfortunately, this day is not for them. The only thing a long weekend does for one of those 14.9 Americans is take away one more day for searching for a job.

I have written about my own personal struggle to find work since I was laid off 18 months ago – the frustration of few jobs and even fewer interviews, innumerable rejections, the agonizing struggle simply to pay the bills, the demoralization.

Those who know me have been kind and supportive. The reaction from others has been mixed. Some are going through the same struggles and have voiced support. Others take on a tone that much of my struggles are of my own doing.

I take comfort in the former because from the beginning of this journey I knew that I was not alone and that being laid off was not my fault. I ignore – mostly – the latter because they don’t know me and don’t know what I’ve done.

Like most American children of the time, there were chores at home and a first “job” mowing lawns. It wasn’t a big operation, mind you, just me and a lawnmower. No need for business cards.

A few years later – I must have been 16 or 17 at the time – I was hired to work at a local sawmill pulling green chain. Pulling green chain means pulling and sorting green lumber of all dimension and length as it is sent out of a sawmill on a chain conveyor system. Mind you, pulling green chain comes before the lumber has been dried in a kiln. The lumber contains a very high water content and is several times heavier than it will be once it has been dry kilned. It is hard work, trust me.

I was a carpenter’s assistant the summer before heading off to college. Once there, I sold athletic shoes part time and went to school full time.

The following year, I took on two more part-time jobs. I was working three part-time jobs and going to classes full time.

Later, after I had transferred to school in California, I worked part time busing tables for a time and at a fast-food restaurant. I also was a member of a firefighting crew for three summers rising from crew member/sawyer-swamper to crew leader by my third season. I also received a stipend for working as the editor of the campus newspaper.

In other words, I’m used to working.

There was about a month after graduation before I found my first professional journalism job – editor of a small weekly on California’s North Coast. For the next two decades I worked hard to do the best job possible and continued to advance my career.

Granted, it was a career in the newspaper business.

Unfortunately, newspaper executives failed to see soon enough the Internet for what it could be – a portal to vast profits and ever-expanding readership.

But that’s for another rant.

I continue to be hard working – from the beginning I made finding a job my job – and in the past 18 months have sent out hundreds of resume packages and filled out countless online applications. No one who has launched anonymous criticism of my past published commentary would have done more or done it better.

The problem, of course, is that my hard work is not being compensated. I am not receiving currency for my efforts. I am not receiving the satisfaction of a job well done and much appreciated.

I really don’t know how to feel about Labor Day.

But I know I will continue moving forward. Each day, another step forward; each day, a chance for a brighter future.

And by next Labor Day, I will be working again and looking forward to a three-day weekend to rest from the week’s labors. Next year Labor Day will be a holiday for me.

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Coffeehouse observation No. 198

I just overheard a guy talk to himself and another guy trying to join in the conversation. It's a little weird. It’s sort of like a three-way conference call.

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MaineBiz magazine recognizes geologist | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

MaineBiz magazine recognizes geologist The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Noted bicyclist to ride in Dempsey Challenge | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Noted bicyclist to ride in Dempsey Challenge The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland has 10th straight above-normal month | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland has 10th straight above-normal month The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine asks bids for offshore power | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine asks bids for offshore power The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Blue Hill Fair a family affair: 20-year veterans make drinks for visitors | Bangor Daily News

The Blue Hill Fair is full of traditions, some institutional, some personal and some that involve whole families.

That’s the case for the Lepper family, who for the past 20 years have been stationed at the end of the grandstand on the fair’s midway selling their Lime Fizz drinks to loyal customers, and this weekend was no exception at this year’s event, which runs through today and was interrupted only briefly by Tropical Storm Earl.

Boop’s Lime Fizz began in 1990, after the family, Jim and Nada Lepper and their two children, Jason and Betsy, took a trip to Washington, D.C., where they tasted a drink called a lime fizzie.

“We thought that maybe people would like it at the Blue Hill Fair,” Nada Lepper said Sunday while sorting limes at the booth. “It was a way for the family to be together at the fair and add to the fun we had at the fair. It was a family experiment.”
Click for more of this story by Rich Hewitt in the Bangor Daily News.

Three tons of lobster perish in Rockland fire | Bangor Daily News

Three tons of lobster perish in Rockland fire | Bangor Daily News

Future jobs will belong to the highly skilled | Bangor Daily News

Future jobs will belong to the highly skilled | Bangor Daily News

Saturday, September 4, 2010

The answer is plain – Blaine | DownEast.com

OK, I sort of guessed this DownEast.com trivia question, but I got it correct.

Who was one of Maine’s most influential nineteenth-century political figures?

Answer

James G. Blaine. From the mid-1860s to the end of the century, Blaine held the posts of speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. senator, and U.S. secretary of state. He was defeated in his quest for the presidency in 1884 by Grover Cleveland.

And, of course, The Blaine House, is the Maine governor’s residence.

Coffeehouse observation No. 197

It’s in the mid-90s outside and the woman sitting next to me is wearing a sweater, jeans, and riding boats. I feel so under dressed.

Go to Coffeehouse Observer for more coffeehouse observations.

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Mainers protest Senate inaction on climate bill | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Mainers protest Senate inaction on climate bill The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Camden Windjammer Festival off to affable start | Bangor Daily News

CAMDEN, Maine — The Camden Windjammer Festival, abbreviated by the threat of hurricane winds but promising two days of activities nonetheless, got off to a thunderous start Saturday with a bang of cannons and a bevy of maritime enthusiasts.

Gone were the threat of Hurricane Earl, the downpour and the oppressive heat as the clouds parted and a refreshing breeze tousled Camden Harbor, causing the flags atop several windjammers to flutter over the festivities.

“Everything is working out,” said Dan Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, one of the organizers of the 16th annual festival.

Under a nearby tent, former windjammer Capt. Jim Sharp made adjustments to a 1902 Fairbanks Bulldog engine, whose piston fired once for every four or five revolutions. The clunky old piece of iron — which he affectionately called “Bertha” — was once used by Sharp to haul anchors weighing as much as 1,500 pounds. On a true windjammer, explained Sharp, engines were for lifting anchors or turning bilge pumps, not propulsion. Today, very few vessels of any significant size run without engine power.

“An engine will forgive a lot of sin by a captain,” said Sharp.

Click for the rest of the story by Christopher Cousins in the Bangor Daily News.

A full schedule of events is available at the web site, http://www.camdenwindjammerfestival.com/.

Tropical storm Earl swipes Maine no more than a glancing blow | Bangor Daily News

Tropical storm Earl swipes Maine no more than a glancing blow | Bangor Daily News

Mainers to see insurance rate hike as Anthem granted increase | Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Superintendent of Insurance Mila Kofman this week ruled on a proposed increase in monthly health insurance premiums by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine, granting the Indiana-based company an average 14 percent increase for its nongroup individual policies. That’s lower than the 23 percent increase Anthem had requested for the period of July 1, 2010, to June 31, 2011.
An Anthem spokesman said Friday that the company, which could appeal the decision in court, is still reviewing the superintendent's findings.

The smaller increase will do little to relieve Mainers struggling to afford nongroup coverage. Under the 14 percent increase approved this week, for example, a single, 35-year-old adult with no children and a $2,250 annual deductible could pay as much as $509 a month for basic health care coverage. A married couple with two children could pay almost $1,300 a month for the same coverage plan.

The new rates will take effect Oct. 1 and be modified to reflect Anthem’s originally requested start date of July 1. About 11,000 Mainers will be affected by the rate increase.

Click for the rest of this story by Meg Haskell in the Bangor Daily News.

Maine troopers stop truck, find false logbook ... and $1M cash | Bangor Daily News

Maine troopers stop truck, find false logbook ... and $1M cash | Bangor Daily News

Friday, September 3, 2010

The Case Against the Case Against CSR | Business | GreenBiz.com

The Case Against the Case Against CSR Business GreenBiz.com

Libra purchases potato company in Mars Hill | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

[It's a small world, goes the cliche, but this story proves it once again. The Basic American Foods company that sold this to the local Maine investors was started in Vacaville, Calif., where I lived for about 13 years. It's a wonderful city with a small-town feel. It's situated on Interstate 80 between Sacramento and San Francisco. The Humes, who started Basic American Foods, did much to feed World War II servicemen with the techniques they developed. -- KM]

Libra purchases potato company in Mars Hill The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Mainers get ready for Earl: Local marinas pull vessels out of harm's way | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Mainers get ready for Earl: Local marinas pull vessels out of harm's way The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Camden's Windjammer Festival will get a late start, while high school sports officials reschedule games

From the Portland Press Herald coverage:

Keep track of Earl


Go to our special Hurricane Earl tracking map to see the storm's current position and predicted path up the East Coast.

STORM CANCELLATIONS

• Maine Eastern Railroad has canceled its rides between Brunswick and Rockland today through Sunday.

• Portland Discovery has canceled its cruise today to Eagle Island.

• Elsewhere in New England, the Steamship Authority said Thursday that ferry service from Hyannis to Nantucket is likely to be suspended before noon today. The agency said ferries between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard will continue to operate for as long as possible, but service is also likely to be suspended by early or midafternoon today.

Anonymous bidder raises stakes for lighthouse: Bid casts doubt on Maine-based organization’s effort to acquire Ram Island Ledge Light | Portland Press Herald

Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse

An anonymous bidder has raised the stakes in what appears to be a three-way struggle for ownership of a historic lighthouse off the coast of Cape Elizabeth.
The $35,000 bid, made online Thursday by a party known only as “tugdocto,” cast doubt on a Maine-based organization’s effort to acquire Ram Island Ledge Light.

Robert Muller of Brunswick, executive director of the Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse Community, said his group must somehow raise $5,000 to $10,000 in the next day or two “to stay in the game” and put the lighthouse under public, locally based ownership.

“I really need to make up the gap with some large pledges,” he said.

Under federal rules, bidders have until 3 p.m. today to outbid tugdocto. Bids must be made in increments of at least $5,000.

If someone does outbid tugdocto today, the online auction will continue on to the next regular business day – Tuesday.
Click for the rest of the story by Dennis Hoey in the Portland Press Herald.

Anyone who wants to get more information or make a contribution can go to http://www.ramislandlighthouse.com/, call (207) 956-0699 or e-mail Muller at bob@RamIslandLighthouse.com.

Sugarloaf zip lines a huge hit | Bangor Daily News

Sugarloaf zip lines a huge hit Bangor Daily News

Some Maine schools again dismissed due to heat | Bangor Daily News

Some Maine schools again dismissed due to heat | Bangor Daily News

Weakening Earl to make landfall in Nova Scotia | Bangor Daily News

Weakening Earl to make landfall in Nova Scotia | Bangor Daily News

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Nemitz: Revolutionary idea triumphs over skeptics | Portland Press Herald

The e-mail landed recently in the inbox of former Maine Gov. Angus King.

It came from Jeff Mao, the state’s director of learning technology policy. He wrote to tell King that two old computers from Maine’s school laptop program – an iBook G3 from 2002 and a G4 circa 2006 – had just been “enthusiastically” accepted by the Maine State Museum as part of its permanent collection.

“I think this means we've all officially made history!” wrote Mao.

Indeed.

Ten years ago at this time, a task force appointed by King had just begun to get its collective head around what was a radical concept in public education: Provide each student and teacher from seventh grade on up with their own laptop computer and – voila! – watch Maine's horizons expand.

Thanks to a $50 million surplus in the state's general fund, the money was there.

Still, it was by no means an easy sell. the time the dust settled, the Legislature agreed only to fund laptops for seventh- and eighth-graders and deal with the high schools another day.

“I remember one legislator telling me at the time, ‘In my district, I’ve never seen an issue that stirred up this much controversy – on both sides,’” King said with a chuckle last week. “He said this is abortion, gay rights and clear-cutting, all rolled into one.”

Click for the rest of this column by Bill Nemitz in the Portland Press Herald.

Coffeehouse observation No. 196

I just spotted a woman outside the coffeehouse put a plastic food cup thingy on the table on the patio -- across the sidewalk from a trashcan -- and walk away. Why did she not put it in the trashcan? What's wrong with people?

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