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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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- How Maine Became a Laboratory for the Future of Public Higher Ed | The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Angus King Urges Interior Department To Reconsider Offshore Drilling Proposal | Mainepublic.org
- Maine Voices: Higher education, employers must work together for bright future | Portland Press Herald
- Stunning reversal: McDaniels turns down Colts’ job to stay with Patriots | The Associated Press via the Portland Press Herald
- Kennebec River water levels could stay high into next week | Bangor Daily News
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Category Archives: Environment
Maine Gov. LePage: Loosen rules on environment | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
[This guy is getting scarier all the time. — KM]
Maine Gov. LePage: Loosen rules on environment | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.
Media mogul to buy huge swath of Maine forestland | Bangor Daily News
Posted in Environment, Maine, Outdoors
Show us your ice shack — it might be worth $1,000 | Bangor Daily News
[My Mom says she’s spotted a couple of ice shacks on the lake when she lives. It’s a very chilly spot. Brrr! — KM]
Show us your ice shack — it might be worth $1,000 | Bangor Daily News.
Maine digs out from blustery storm | Bangor Daily News
Maine digs out from blustery storm | Bangor Daily News.
Posted in Environment, Maine, Outdoors
Tagged blizzard, National Weather Service, Snow storm
TOURISM IN MAINE: Going beyond moose, lobster and lighthouses | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME
TOURISM IN MAINE: Going beyond moose, lobster and lighthouses | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME.
TOURISM IN MAINE
• The state’s tourism office is funded by 5 percent of the 7 percent tax imposed on meals and lodging.
• The office seeks at least a $2 return in tax revenue on every $1 invested in tourism.
• The average amount of annual paid vacation for international visitors is 4-6 weeks.
• VisitMaine.com, the state’s tourism website, lists top attractions of: dramatic coastline and sandy beaches; more than 3,000 lakes, ponds and rivers; 64 lighthouses; four national scenic byways; distinctive small towns; and the city of Portland as a “top 100 food destination.”
• Most of the tourism’s office’s international marketing is handled through a consortium of states called Discover New England.
• The top international markets for Maine, in order, are Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Source: Maine Office of Tourism
Posted in Economy, Environment, Food and Drink, Maine, Outdoors
Tagged lighthouses, lobster, Maine Central Institute, marketing, tourism
Video to help teach snowmobilers about safety on ice | Lewiston Sun Journal
Video to help teach snowmobilers about safety on ice | Lewiston Sun Journal
Ice safety: How thick is safe?
2 inches: one person on foot
3 inches: a group of people traveling single file
7.5 inches: supports a two-ton car
8 inches: supports up to a 2.5-ton light truck
10 inches: supports up to a 3.5-ton truck
12 inches: heavy truck 7 to 8 tons
15 inches: holds up to 10 tons
20 inches: holds up to 25 tons.
Source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Baldacci awards $100K to 4 storm-damaged counties | Bangor Daily News
Posted in Disaster, Economy, Environment, Outdoors, Politics and government
Upward Bound: Climbing a mountain on skis before descending — also known as randonnee skiing or Alpine touring — gains converts in Maine | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Upward Bound | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.
RANDONNEE SKIING
ALSO known as Alpine touring or back-country skiing, it requires the skier to ascend the mountain by climbing with “skins” on their skis and using a special binding that frees the heel.
SKINS, originally made of animal skins, are affixed to the skis with a sticky substance. The bottom of the skin has fibers that slide forward but hold the ski in place to keep it from sliding downward.
BEFORE the descent, the skins are taken off the skis.
MAINE’S RANDONNEE RACES
SUGARLOAF HILL CLIMB
WHERE: Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley
WHEN: 5 p.m. Jan. 16
HOW MUCH: $25 before Jan. 14; $30 the day of the event
LEARN MORE: Go to www.sugarloaf.com/EventsActivities or call 237-6884.
SADDLEBACK MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE
WHERE: Saddleback Mountain, Rangeley
WHEN: 2 p.m. Feb. 12
HOW MUCH: $25 before the event; $35 the day of the race
LEARN MORE: Go to www.saddlebackmaine.com or call 864-5671.
In Maine politics, that was the year that was | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Posted in Economy, Energy, Environment, Law and Order, Maine, Politics and government
Polar plungers enjoy New Year’s Eve beach day | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Posted in Environment, Outdoors
Tagged Casco Bay, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Polar Plunge, Portland, The Lobster Dip
For Colby, the future is powered by biomass | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Posted in Economy, Education and Schools, Environment, Outdoors
Tagged biomass plant, cogeneration, Colby College, Constellation Energy, Waterville
