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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Category Archives: Maine
Maine singer’s Valentine’s video to benefit Haiti
Tagged aid, donation, earthquake, Haiti, Haitian, relief, Valentine's Day, YouTube
Church congregation assembles hygiene kits for Haitians
Tagged aid, church, earthquake, Haiti, Haitians, hygiene kits, relief
Panel votes to reject most human service budget cuts | Portland Press Herald
Posted in Maine
Tagged budget cuts, Health and Human Services Committee, human services, John Baldacci
Decommissioned aircraft carrier Portland bound?
Maine group advances
in the Navy competition
as it attempts to bring
the USS JFK as a museum
Two Maine groups have passed the first test in its effort to bring the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy to Portland Harbor as a museum.
Three groups submitted initial applications, according to the Navy, and two advanced to the second phase of the process.
One is Maine-based JFK for ME, which has formed a nonprofit organization called the USS John F. Kennedy Museum to pursue the carrier. The identity and location of the second group are unknown, and the Navy is not releasing any information, citing the competitive process.
The initial application, about 25 pages long, addressed the Navy’s questions and concerns, said Dana Slipp, one of the Maine group’s founders. It included a letter of support from the city of Portland, drafted after a 9-0 City Council vote.
“They know we understand the complexity and enormity of bringing a ship like this to Portland,” Slipp said.
The group has until next February to complete its proposal, which will have to include many more details, including a business plan that addresses marketing, income sources, museum plans, waterfront facilities and environmental considerations.
Click on the link for the rest of today’s story by Matt Wickenheiser of the Portland Press Herald.
Design unveiled for new Veterans Bridge | Portland Press Herald
(It is good news that this project will create up to 1,700 jobs. I am concerned, however, that the 18-month project will take 24 months. Bridge construction seems to take much longer than planned and usually can cost much more that first budgeted. It is the nature of things. — KM)
Design unveiled for new Veterans Bridge | Portland Press Herald.
Calais surgeon offers services in Haiti
CALAIS, Maine — Dr. Robert Chagrasulis, a trauma surgeon in Calais, was in the first wave of international health clinicians to make their way to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince after the devastating earthquake of Jan. 12.
In a recent telephone interview, Chagrasulis recalled the five days he spent with a clinical team treating dazed survivors of the quake at an open-air clinic on a soccer field in the ruined city.
“We set up under some trees,” he said. Survivors came in droves, seeking help for untreated fractures, festering infections, respiratory complaints, and aches and pains related to injuries they had suffered in the collapse of the city. Many people also had psychological symptoms — fear, grief, sleeplessness.
Click this link to the rest of today’s story by Meg Haskell of the Bangor Daily News.
Food bank’s customers double in number
Posted in Economy, Food and Drink, Maine
Tagged food bank, food pantry, Good Sheperd Food Bank, Hunger in America 2010, hunger-relief, hungry, soup kitchen
Thrills, chills and a near spill in the Valley – Bangor Daily News
Posted in Economy, Maine, Outdoors
Tagged Fort Kent Maine, snow, snowmobiliers, snowmobiling
Schools get grim figures on state aid for 2010-11 | Portland Press Herald
Portlander Anna Kendrick nominated for Oscar | Portland Press Herald
Posted in Maine
Tagged "Up in the Air", Academy Award, Deering High School, Oscars, Portland, Portlander
Paper mill calls back employees, No. 10 machine to restart
RUMFORD — By the end of the week, all hourly employees who were laid off during 2009 who want to return to their jobs will be back to work at NewPage Corp. And by mid-February, the No. 10 paper machine will be up and running.
Janet Hall, spokeswoman for the mill, declined to reveal the number of employees who are affected.
In January, the mill announced that about 100 hourly employees would lose their jobs due to poor market conditions. That number was never reached, however.
Matt Bean, president of Local 900, estimated that about 100 men and women would be back on the job by Friday.
Most of the returning employees will work on the No. 10 paper machine, which has been down since September, or in supporting positions for the machine. These include such jobs as work in the finishing room and the rewinder.
With the No. 10 machine coming back online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the local mill’s three paper machines will be operating full time.
Hall declined to speculate on whether the moves are an indication of an improving economy.
Click on the link to read the rest of today’s story by Eileen M. Adams in the Lewiston Sun Journal.
Bennett takes Presque Isle job
Former Lewiston City Administrator Jim Bennett will relocate his family north, taking the permanent job as City Manager for Presque Isle.
Bennett said he and the Presque Isle City Council reached an agreement Monday and announced the hiring at a specially-called 4 p.m. meeting and again at the council’s 6 p.m. meeting.
Bennett officially begins working March 1. His family will follow this summer, selling their Lewiston home once the school year has ended.
“It’s an interesting community,” Bennett said. “It’s the commuter center for all of Aroostook County, and any shopping or anything else needs to be done there. So, they’re very interested in economic development and returning jobs to the community — typically the things I’ve done at the last few places I’ve worked.”
Bennett will replace17-year veteran City Manager Tom Steven, who was let go last November. Bennett was released from his job as Lewiston City Administrator in July 2009, after councilors said they wanted to seek a new direction. Bennett’s replacement, former Bangor City Manager Ed Barrett, began his job in Lewiston last month.
Click on the link to read the rest of today’s story by Scott Taylor in the Lewiston Sun Journal.
Models brave cold for calendar shoot
(This is not the way I remember snowmobiling, but … — KM)
Tagged bikinis, calendar shoot, modles, snow, snowmobiles, snowmobiling
Children welcomed home
PITTSFIELD — “I love that everybody loves them so much already.”
Amanda Logiodice said this Sunday afternoon as she and her husband, Jediah, marveled at the scene inside the local Elks Lodge: About 50 people came together with food, gifts and well wishes for the Logiodices’ two newest family members.
David, 1, and Christella, 5, came from the His Home for Children orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and are now the family’s adopted children. They join the Logiodices’ three biological children: Donavan, 8, Braeden, 5, and Bella, 4.
In the aftermath of the massive earthquake there, the Logiodices were able to secure an emergency evacuation of the two children to the U.S., flying down to Miami a little over a week ago and returning home here on Wednesday. They had started the adoption process more than a year ago.
Sunday’s public celebration was organized by members of the First Baptist Church, of which the Logiodices are members, and the Elks donated their space for the occasion. Church member Liana Walker, of Troy, said the event was meant to show support and to welcome to two Haitian children into the community.
Walker said it’s remarkable the adoption worked out as it did, given the chaotic aftermath of the earthquake. Church families had already rallied community support for the Logiodices, sending them supplies and assistance so they could make the trip to Miami.
“It’s awesome; it’s truly a miracle they could get the children out,” Walker said.
Click on the link to the rest of today’s story by Scott Monroe in the Kennebec Journal.
Letters From Away 