Stuff about me
My name is Keith Michaud and this is “Letters From Away,” a blog written by a Mainer living outside the comfortable and sane confines of New England. The blog is intended for Mainers, whether they live in the Pine Tree State or beyond, and for anyone who has loved ’em, been baffled by ’em or both. Ayuh, I am “from away.” Worse still, I live on the Left Coast – in California. Enjoy! Or not. Your choice.
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Daily Archives: July 24, 2010
VA patients to be allowed to use medical marijuana in 14 states, including Maine | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Posted in Law and Order, Maine, Politics and government
Tagged medical marijuana, pain medication, pot, veterans, Veterans Affairs, vets
Downeast Scenic Railroad makes inaugural run | Bangor Daily News
ELLSWORTH, Maine — As conductor Gary Briggs yelled “all aboard” and passengers began to fill the cars, the train’s engine chugged to life, followed by a plume of gray smoke billowing from the locomotive stack.
The Downeast Scenic Railroad, a four-year labor of love for dozens of rail enthusiasts, made its inaugural run Saturday for volunteers and other guests who helped see the project through.
Tom Testa, president of the board of directors and the driving force behind bringing an excursion train to Hancock County, could not contain his enthusiasm. He talked passionately about the history of rails in eastern Maine and how trains brought that part of the state to the world. And he praised the collaboration of many public and private entities that made the Downeast Scenic Railroad go from dream to reality. More than 75 volunteers logged 37,000 hours clearing the abandoned tracks, repairing the rail bed and restoring old cars.
“No one person should take credit. We’ve all made this happen,” Testa said.
Click for the rest of this story by Eric Russell in the Bangor Daily News.
Tickets can be purchased at Cadillac Mountain Sports on High Street in Ellsworth or by calling 1-866-449-7345. For information about the Downeast Scenic Railroad, visit www.downeastscenicrail.org.
Posted in Entertainment, Maine
Tagged abandoned tracks, Downeast Scenic Railroad, Hancock County, locomotive, Maine, rail, rail bed
Maine’s ‘superfruit’ — blueberries — making strides in frozen food market | Bangor Daily News
JONESPORT, Maine — This year’s wild blueberry harvest has begun and as sweet and wonderful as the little round berries taste fresh from the fields, producers are banking on capturing the frozen fruit market.
Till explained that because the berries do not get mushy or lose their flavor or healthful benefits, they have an edge over cultivated berries when frozen.
Of last year’s 88 million pounds of wild blueberries, only 600,000 pounds were sold fresh.
The remaining 87.4 million pounds were processed: sold as ingredients in muffins, ice cream and other foods.
But a new marketing campaign launched a year ago is reaping rewards, Sue Till of the Swardlick Marketing Group told more than 100 wild blueberry producers gathered this week at Blueberry Hill in Jonesboro, the University of Maine’s blueberry experimental farm.
Rather than attempt to capture the fresh market — which is already in the hands of cultivated blueberry producers in Michigan, California, New Jersey, Oregon, and a handful of other states — Maine’s wild blueberry producers are promoting frozen berries.
Click on the link for the rest of this story by Sharon Kiley Mack in the Bangor Daily News.
Letters From Away 