26
Bling Fling rings in Cat thing
About 600 people were on board Wednesday evening for the inaugural (Portland) voyage of The Cat, Bay Ferries high-speed catamaran that will begin shuttling folks between Portland town and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
The sunset cruise was the site of the Portland Regional Chamber's Spring Fling and Auction. The word is that the event was a big success.
The Cat replaces the old Scotia Prince and with speeds of up to 40 knots will cut the Portland-Yarmouth travel time to 5 hours. That being the case, there are no overnight cabins on board.
Overheard: That means couples looking for a little privacy will have to resort to the back seat of their car below deck (remember that scene from Titanic?) Kind of makes you feel young again, like you're back in high school.
The Govnr and his staff are once again uploading photo ops to his Flickr site - this time w/a vengeance.
For your consideration, we have the Guv:
- Surveying recent flood damage in York County
- Picking up an endorsement in his reelection campaign
- At a speaking engagement with former VP candidate John Edwards and Maine author Stephen King
We don't know about the delegate count, but Baldacci is certainly way ahead of Peter Mills, David Emery, Pat LaMarche and other gubernatorial candidates in the photo count...
25
Midcoast Symphony Orchestra: Attendance was up 66% during the 2005-6 season. This year the Symphony performed the Maine premier of Joan Tower's Made in America (Made in America is being performed by one orchestra in each state - MSO was the Maine designate)
York County Flooding (YouTube.com):
24
Upward Bound Volunteers are looking for work
Need some cheap labor? Upward Bound @ the University of Southern Maine is looking for volunteer activities for teens enrolled in the program this summer.
UB seeks summer volunteer or paid opportunities for their students from June 26th until August 3rd and all transportation will be provided by USM. Students are available to work Monday through Thursday from 1:30-4:30p.m..
So, if you need a few good men (and women) you can find out more about this opportunity by contacting Jody Cote at 780-5203 or email cotej@usm.maine.edu
The students truly appreciate these experiences and will be available for interviews in early-mid June.
22
Heart of Advertising helps 19 non-profits
Each year the Ad Club of Maine and the Maine Public Relations Council organize the Heart of Advertising, in which local ad gurus and PR pros sit across the table from Portland non-profits and dispense that long sought-after commodity - free advice.
This year (the tenth running) was no exception. The event took place on Friday and an estimated $15,000 in billable time was donated.
By the numbers:
- Ad Club MPRC volunteers: 47
- Non-Profits helped: 19
- Total number of hours donated: 150
- Estimated value of hours donated: $15,000
- Estimate value of hours donated over the 10 year history of the Heart of Advertising: $150,000
Committee chairs: Thomas Hillman, Thomas Hillman Design, Kim Laramy, Ethos Marketing and Eileen Whynot, Maine Public Relations Council.
MJ Photography is open for business on the Foreside and environs. Photographer Michelle Josephson of Cumberland specializes in portraits of babies, children and teens.
ph: 207.829.6874
e: mjphotography@gmail.com
16
Just a little something we whipped up...
Clark Frasier & Mark Gaier from Arrows restaurant in Ogunquit, finalist for the title of Best Chef in the Northeast, were unable to claim that distinction from the James Beard Foundation earlier this month. The title went to Jean-Louis Gerin, of Jean-Louis in Greenwich, CT.
But being one of five nominees from among the many fine establishments in the northeast still sits well on the palate. Kudos, guys!
Once again today, the rain in Maine falls mainly on the...well, everything. Can the 10-day outlook for Foresider country to true? Lots of cloud icons for the next several days? Let's hope not. At least we haven't been bothered by the black flies - because we haven't been outdoors.
Oh well, let's not complain too much. Down the coast, they're in deeper.
11
From the Great Lost Bear:
- Allagash White Ale
- Geary's Summer Ale
- Shipyard Export Ale
- Geary's Pale Ale
- Sebago HefeWeizen
No word on whether they are tops in sales, or proprietor-personal-preference.
9
Strickland, Snow headline first-ever Maine Jazz Festival
Two of New England's best jazz acts - the Stan Strickland Quartet and Yarmouth's own Tom Snow - will headline the inaugural concert of the Maine Jazz Festival Series this Friday @ 7:30 p.m. The show will be held at the First Universalist Church on Main Street - [Google Dart ?]
The series is the brainchild of Tom Levin, a Freeport-based music producer and record company president. Tickets are $15. Profits will benefit local charities, including Safe Passage, Seeds of Peace and Friendship House.
Tickets can be had in Yarmouth at Handy Andy's, Books Etc. in Falmouth and Bookland in Brunswick.
The Foresider sees that Maine Model 2 is getting geared up and that the model photography is being handled by Stewart Smith. Not to knock Smith, we'd like to have seen Franklin McMahon involved - have you seen his Web site [FM Studio]?
8
Last week Idexx stock took back nearly all its gain since the wedding of founder David Shaw to movie star Glenn Close in early February.
We guess this means the honeymoon is over.
Idexx opens at $79.00 this morning....
Ad agency drops lawsuit against blogging gadfly
Warren Kremer Paino, ad agency for the Maine Office of Tourism, has withdrawn its 3-count lawsuit against Searsmont blogger Lance Dutson after just one week. The firm dropped the suit after a Maine legislator, Steven Bowen of Rockport, wrote a letter to the Jack Cashman (PDF), Commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, which oversees the MOT, calling for the suspension of WKP's contract.
Bringing the lawsuit in the first place may not have been the best move WKP could have made, regardless of its merits. It spurred discussion, most of it critical of the agency.
Anyhoo, now maybe folks can get back to the real "discussion": whether or not WKP is 'pissing away' (blogger Dutson's words) state money through its ad contract.
5
First Friday Art Walk - Cinco de Mayo edition
Looking out the window it's a little overcast right now, but even if you're within the shelter one of Portland's art galleries, it still should be a good time. No word on who is serving margueritas or sangria.
Update: Things certainly have brightened up outside - Ole!
Yesterday there was a signing ceremony with Governor Baldacci, marking the creation of the new town of Chebeague Island. About three dozen islanders made the trip to Augusta for the occasion, held in the Hall of Flags at the State Capitol. Baldacci officially signed bill LD1735 on April 5.
Another photosteam opportunity, Guvnr....
4
What has not been picked up - by either waste disposal engineers or trash pickers - during Bulky Waste Disposal
Week in Cumberland this week:
- Old tires (Main St.)
- Washing machine (Tuttle Rd.)
And the piece de resistance....
- Oil Tank (275 gal., Tuttle Rd.)
As wildly popular as it seems to be among Mainers (and those who just live in Maine),the Eagle Cam placed near a nest in Hancock County to follow the tale of sibling rivalry among three eagle chicks is apparently not the most-watched eagle cam online.
For eagle-watchers, must-see TV is apparently the cam a Canadian has set up after noticing that eagles had nested in his backyard (only in Canada, eh?).
A Vancouver-based firm helping webcast that nest says its site is getting 10 million hits per day.
When it comes to drama and intrigue though, the Maine site is far and away the most riveting. Its got touching moments (hatching chicks), struggle for the family fortunes (chicks fighting over regurgitated fish) and MURDER! (one of the three chicks has apparently been pecked to death).
You could say it's CSI meets Falcon Crest.
Maine Eaglets [BioDiversity Research Institute] ?
Eagle Eye [Canadian - Hancock Wildlife Channel] ?
Web users eye bald eagle nest [BBC] ?
The Foresider could only see the Maine video feed using Internet Explorer, so the BioDiversity Research Institute may be hurting its numbers through a lack of browser compatibility.
A rousing send-off will be given this evening for Toshi Shimada, out-going conductor of the Portland Symphony. A cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. will be followed by a gala dinner at 7:00 p.m., all at the Holiday Inn By the Bay. $150 a plate to get in; your black tie is optional.
Shimada capped a 20-year career when he played Maestro for the Symphony one last time on Tuesday evening, playing to a crowded house at the Merrill in what was described as a brilliant and poignant performance.
3
New Web sites for 2 gov candidates
Two candidates for governor have spruced up their Web presence in the past few weeks.
Republican Peter Mills seems to have applied a new header graphic and has made some minor adjustments to the look, and navigation, but content appears to be about the same.
Democrat Chris Miller has done a total rework (that's a good thing for him! - his previous "site" was bare bones) and has added many of the latest tools, including a blog.
One question about Miller - what's up with the goat logo?
2
No Flickr updates for the Guvnr
If today's press conference at the METRO bus headquarters wasn't a photo(stream)-op for Gov. Baldacci, we don't know what is.
Natural gas buses, free bus rides to mark the occassion, no clouds of exhaust, and Rep. Tom Allen. You would think it's tailor-made for the Guvnr's Flickr photostream - and it may yet be - but nothing so far.
Nothing from the Democratic canvas this weekend either (we're not sure if the Governor personally joined in).
No new photos have been posted for a month now, not since the First NextGen Baby and the maple syrup tapping at the Blaine House.
Bus service offers free rides as clean-burning buses join fleet [Boston Globe] ?
Claimed roadside in Cumberland by friend & neighbors during Bulky Waste Pickup in Cumberland this week:
- File cabinet
- Old gas grill (w/o the gas)
One thing not yet found: a vintage MiG fighter. (But you can find one on eBay)
1
Mug shots of Maine's toothy new fauna are online at Cryptomundo.
We hate to disappoint those who have an aversion to alligators, but this is apparently not the first time an Alligator mississippiensis has been found in Maine. According to published reports, another was found in Kennebunkport in 2000.
Actually, it's not all that surprising to see Florida residents in Maine this time of year. Heck! Like most, he was probably looking for a nice quiet seaside cottage to spend the summer.
29
Safe Passage 5k raises approximately $15k
Unofficial word from participants is that the 2nd Annual Safe Passage 5k Run & Walk has raised more than $15,000 for the organization's work in Guatemala. The event took place this morning at Greely High School in Cumberland and notable entrants included Joan Samuelson (she was the fastest woman).
Things that make you go "hmm":
Maine Ethics Commission fines 2002 Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Cianchette $12,000 for filing incomplete financial reports.
Hmm?
Cianchette recently adjusted those reports to reflect more than $68,000 in in-kind contributions from Cianbro, the family business.
Hmm....
One former Cianbro supervisor had testified that three company employees worked full-time on the campaign in the weeks leading up to the election.
Hmm?!
Cianchette amended his campaign finance reports only after a former Cianbro manager complained to the ethics commission.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......
Cianchette fined over fund reports [PPH] ?
- National Democrat canvas is today (no word on whether Gov. Baldacci's going door-to-door) [BLOGacci ?]
- Cumberland Community Nursery School (CCNS) Yard Sale in Cumberland Center [Google Dart ? ]
- Idexx [IDXX] posts 3.3% profit gain, but revenue misses expectations
- Teachers will get more moola [PPH ?]
- Clean Energy Fair tomorrow 2 - 5 p.m. @ St. Bart's in Yarmouth, featuring solar power, hybrid cars, more [Google Dart ?]
Valente was one strike away from no-hitter for Greely
Paul Valente, pitching for the Rangers, gave up a two-out, two-strike double in the seventh to just miss a no-hitter against Yarmouth Friday. Greely won 5-0.
Valente, who also plays catcher, said he hung a change-up over the plate and said his adrenaline was pumping.
Still, a one-hitter is nothing to sneeze at (kudos, Paul!), and someday the Foresider may tell you the story of the pitcher who threw a no-hitter - and lost.
28
Alligator found at Maine Audubon
Imagine the surprise a Foresider family experienced last Saturday when, while out on a nature walk at the Maine Audubon's Gilsland Farm grounds, they came nearly toe to tooth with a 3-foot long alligator!
Bill Hancock, Audubon's Director of Environmental Programs, verified the account. He said the unnamed family had a heck of a time getting staff to believe them when they came back to the Visitor's Center and said 'Um, there's an alligator in your lily pond'.
Yeah right.
Right. Hancock said because of cool water temperatures, the cold-blooded critter could barely move. Staff naturalist Judy Walker provided some "Gator-aid", lugging the creature home and keeping it in her bathtub last weekend.
On Monday, folks from the State Warden's office took the alligator to the York Animal Kingdom. No word yet on if he's still a resident there or if he's hitchhiked back to Miami.
So how did he get in the pond? Was he on a bender after a night in the Old Port (he was found on a Saturday morning, you know).
Hancock said the creature was probably abandoned after someone realized that alligators don't make good house pets in Foresider country. Let's repeat that: ALLIGATORS DON'T MAKE GOOD HOUSEPETS!!
27
Pesky blogger thumped with lawsuit
Lance Dutson, the blogger from Searsmont whose site, the Maine Web Report, has become a diatribe directed towards the Maine Office of Tourism, says he's been hit with a lawsuit.
In his latest posting, Dutson says Warren Kremer Paino, the MOT's advertising contractor, has filed a...
...3 count multi-million dollar federal lawsuit....claiming defamation, libel, and copyright infringement...
Dutson's postings on what he characterized as "complete mismanagement" of the MOT's Google AdWords campaign led to a public meeting of tourism officials at the end of March. Dutson came to that meeting but walked out shortly after it began. Folks who remained seemed generally satisfied with the approach the MOT was taking to Internet advertising.
Tourism dispute largely dissolves [PPH - 4/1/06] ?
Through the month of April Dutson has continued to criticize the MOT and its contractors, as well as Tux Turkel, author of the article linked above. Dutson posts that he'll be defended by a team specializing in the first amendment, technology and blogging.
The debate is shifting from the MOT's ad campaign to Dutson's approach to reporting the issue.
Mom was right - it's not what you say, but how you say it.
Read all about it: State Contractor Files Federal Lawsuit Against Me [Maine Web Report - 4/27/06] ?
Editor's Note: You know, on second thought - it is what you say about it... - 4/28/06
Did you know: When you type in "Meredith Burgess" (Portland Ad Exec, of Burgess Advertising & Associates) into Google (or any of your favorite search engines) this is what you get:
Idexx to release earnings report Friday
The Westbrook biotech concern will post its earnings report for the first quarter tomorrow and talk to analysts in a conference call. It's the first set of earnings numbers since the founder David Shaw and Glenn Close tied the knot in February.
We can imagine what analysts will ask:
So, how do you explain the fact that Mr. Shaw, who's in the veterinary products business, took a liking to a woman who played Cruella DeVil and wanted to drown puppies?
Idexx is up about $5 a share since the February "merger" of Shaw-Close, though it has languished in recent days after one brokerage house downgraded the stock to "sell".
IDEXX Laboratories to Release 2006 First Quarter Financial Results ?
That tempest in a blogspot, the Maine Web Report, continues to dog the Maine Office of Tourism. Posts have devolved from the issue of the MOT's pay-per-click program to reporting on various and sundry factoids about MOT and its contractors, for which there is apparently no love lost.
Among the startling revelations:
- It takes money to run an effective PR campaign
- PR agencies enter their Clients into awards contests and then talk about it when they win
Jaw-dropping news, indeed.
Maine Web Report ?
Bulky Waste Pickup begins soon in Foresider country, and we've spotted the first heaps of junk in Cumberland. The trash pickers - er, eBay entrepreneurs - won't be far behind.
We've heard stories of people who have found perfectly good bicycles out by the curb. So here's our first Contest: Best Trash Pile Treasure. Dig in!
26
Continuing with today's theme - confectionery - we give you Sweet Honey in the Rock. The Grammy Award-winning African American female a cappella ensemble brings their act to Portland tomorrow night at the Merrill. So where did that sweet name come from?:
From Psalm 81:16 comes the promise to a people of being fed by honey out of the rock. Honey ? an ancient substance, sweet and nurturing. Rock ? an elemental strength, enduring the winds of time. The metaphor of sweet honey in the rock captures completely these African American women whose repertoire is steeped in the sacred music of the Black church, the clarion calls of the civil rights movement, and songs of the struggle for justice everywhere.
Hopefully, the ladies will have a little more time to see the sights in Portland. Alas! On other occasions when they've come to Maine, it's been a blur.
We fear for the life of Lenny the Chocolate Moose, who lives at Len Libby Candies in Scarborough.
You haven't heard of Lenny? He's a life-size hunk o' chocolate junk.
Anyway, he got a mention on the Web site Neatorama - that's like a sex offender registry for chocolate lovers!
Foresider readers would not fall into that category.... would they? Oh no! What have we done??!
24
I feel like I'm floating... over Bowdoin...
Bowdoin College has created a Google Earth Map feature that allows you to virtually hover over the school and to locate building, landmark, but not college funding for your kids.
Google Earth Blog Blurb on the subject ?
Those aren't Jehovahs Witnesses, those are Democrats!
Actually, Jehovahs Witnesses wouldn't dress like this....
Democrats in Portland and around Maine will be taking part in a National Canvas this coming Saturday. Can't say you haven't been warned....
Steve Lechner and his group at the Lechner Law Office have moved the operation to 4 Bow Street in the heart of Freeport, from its former location near the FBI (Freeport Big Indian).
Lechner Law Office handles cases ranging from general small business representation to civil litigation (commercial disputes and personal injury law).
22
Happy Earth Day to you...Happy Earth Day to you...Happy Earth Day, Terra Firma... Happy Earth Day to you...
4 billion and one years old today - and you don't look a day over 3 billion (but you really should quit smoking!)
Green stuff:
- www.RenewMaine.org (clean energy technologies)
- Maine State Energy Program (MSEP - renewable energy projects)
- Maine Interfaith Power and Light (MeIPL - helped create Maine?s clean electricity market in 2003 by offering the first green power products)
- MECA student Green Group is visually depicting the amount of carbon the City of Portland is saving (10,000 pounds) when it recently purchased a week's worth of clean electricity. It's a sculpture of.... plastic bags. [Earth Day Installation - Maine College of Art ?]
- Americorps is still seeking things for 43 volunteers to do in Maine, starting this fall. If you think you know of some good works that will keep them busy, call Sarah Brady at 207-775-5891, ext. 448 or visit www.trcme.com/crc for more details. Deadline is May 5.
- Keep up w/happenings at libraries in Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Portland and the rest of the state with the Statewide Calendar at MaineLibraries.com.
- Yuhong Sun and her 5 classes of Web design students at Noble High School in North Berwick have broken a record and submitted more than 70 entries in the 2006 Maine Student Web Design Award Program. Surely one of them's got to win, right?
233 Grill - for the See-food diet
On Easter Sunday no one around the Foresider ranch felt like cooking, so inevitably someone exclaimed "I know! Let's go to the 233 Grill!". So with house guests in tow we headed to Yarmouth.
Not a bad idea, as it turned out. The restaurant, which normally draws a crowd, had a lighter turnout for the Holiday. Service was excellent and attentive.
The special was a seafood dish, scallops topped w/a breading of crabmeat and lobster. The Pinot Grigio - thinking of summer - complemented it nicely (what vintage, you say? Knew you were going to ask... apparently the alcohol dulled the short-term memory - we're not taking notes here).
To sum up: Food: 3 1/2 (red?) stars (out of 4), Service: 3 1/2, Atmosphere: 3 1/2.... as always, your mileage may vary.
20
Lower oil prices, but only if you're a Democrat
Republicans, Greens and Independents are left out in the cold with a new oil purchasing plan announced yesterday. Donkey Card, according to The West End News, was created to:
...help Democratic households sky rocketing heating bills through collective buying power...
Part of the $35 annual enrollment fee funds Dem Corps, a group that supports local Democrats. Chances are that won't give folks of other political persuasions the warm fuzzies.
So, you can get cheap heat, but only if you're cool....
Democratic Group Forms to Combat High Heating Prices [The West End News] ?
19
Has this been preying on your mind? Then wonder no more. According to the folks at The Cheese Iron, a new wine & cheese shop going in in Scarborough a little later this year, a cheese iron...
...takes a core sample of cheese [from the cheese cake]from the edge to the middle. The sample is a key indication to the degree of maturity through taste and smell...
The Cheese Iron will feature charcuterie, Italian deli meats, artisan breads, pastries, pantry provisions, bulk coffee, tea and confections.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Mills reportedly met the deadline for submitting the paperwork (and all those $5 checks) needed to qualify for Maine Clean Election funding, according to other news outlets.
No official word on Mills' Web site yet.
- When at Conundrum, get the martini ($14 for 2) not the Merlot ($17 for 2)
- Peter Mills' Web site is back up [Mills for Governor ?]
- Hanley Denning, Founding Director, Safe Passage, will address the Institute for Civic Leadership?s Breakfast Forum at the Mariner?s Church on Tuesday, May 2
- States of Vermont, New Hampshire are asked to take down sex offender registries by the ACLU, in response to the recent shooting in Maine [WCSH ? PPH ?]
18
Ogunquit Chefs nominated for Best Chef in the Northeast
Here's a little something we just whipped up: Chefs Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit have been nominated for the prestigious "Best Chef in the Northeast" award, being given by the James Beard Foundation.
The Beard awards are considered to be among the highest honors in culinary excellence. Past winners from Maine have included Sam Heyward of Fore Street in Portland and Melissa Kelly of Primo in Rockland (Kelly won before she moved to Maine).
The James Beard Foundation, based in New York, is a professional non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors and providing scholarships and educational opportunities to culinary students and other aspiring chefs.
Arrows Restaurant has been named one of the Top 50 restaurants in the country by Gourmet Magazine.
Winners will be announced in early May.
Sedgwick, Piers set pace @ Boston Marathon
Peter Sedgwick of South Portland and Sheri Piers of Falmouth were the first folks from Foresider country to cross the finish line at yesterday's 110th Boston Marathon. Sedgwick finished with a time of 2:45:19; Piers came in at 3:09:15.
Here are the top Maine finishers:
Men
- Evan Graves - Bar Harbor (2:30:15)
- Joel Anderson - Brunswick
- Luke Wood - Biddeford
- Mathew Frongillo - Bar Harbor
- Peter Sedgwick - South Portland
Women
- Emily Levan - Wiscasset (2:37:01)
- Christine Ganz - Mount Desert
- Sheri Piers - Falmouth
- Amy Chekos-Sedgwick - South Portland
- Julia Bensen - Newcastle
Search The Boston Athletic Association site for your favorite runner ?
For Peter Mills, the republican candidate for governor, today brings good news and bad news.
The good news is, his Webshots photos are still online (we especially like the heartwarming shot where he's toasting marshmallows with the kids - are they his grandkids?)
He must have seen Gov. Baldacci's photostream.
The bad news is that his campaign Web site is down :-(.
Who counts all those $5 checks?
Gubernatorial candidate Pat LaMarche (Green) has submitted the 2500 $5 checks to qualify for Clean Elections funding, her campaign reported over the weekend. Today is the deadline for candidates to file.
The folks over at The West End News have jumped the gun just a tad with their headline on the subject - the Maine State Ethics Commission still has to certify the submissions.
Speaking of which, how would you like to be the one who has to count all those tiny checks?
GOP hopeful Chandler Woodcock was the first candidate to submit his batch of checks. At last word, another Republican, Peter Mills, was hopeful his campaign would also meet the deadline.
17
In case you were wondering, this is someone's idea of how to celebrate Patriot's Day:
How to Celebrate Patriot's Day [eHow] ?
We are celebrating the fact that in Maine taxes are not due until tomorrow (and we hope you're not celebrating by doing your taxes).
