January 2007

• If you are curious to learn more about the ET spur trail being developed by South Portland Land Trust to connect the ET with Maine Mall, you are invited to attend a workshop that will play a critical role in identifying and prioritizing possibilities for future pedestrian trails, sidewalks and bike lanes for connecting neighborhoods and providing recreational opportunities for South Portland residents and visitors alike. When: Sunday, January 7, from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (We will end in time for you to make the kickoff for an anticipated Patriots’ playoff game!), Where: Maine Mall, in the former Filene’s Home Store. (Enter from the parking lot next to the Sports Authority store, near the Food Court). Refreshments will be provided courtesy of General Growth Properties/Maine Mall. Please RSVP at this e-mail address. Click here for more details on a PDF document.  Julie Isbell, the presenter, works with Burnham Martin in Maine's National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance office. Julie has provided support to many Maine trail organizations including: the Sunrise Down East Trail Coalition, the Kennebec-Messalonskee Trails, and the Kennebec River Rail-Trail. 

• Recent ETA news is summarized in the December 2007 news bulletin - click here to read

September 2006

• The Final Engineering Report for the Scarborough to South Portland Connector for the Eastern Trail is out . Click here to go to the page describing the various sections of the report that are available for downloading and reading.
• We had a great turnout for the third annual Eastern Trail 8-Lighthouse Bike Ride on September 16, 2006. About 132 riders joined us for our three bicycling options - a 10-mile family ride on the South Portland Greenbelt, a 40-mile intermediate loop through Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth, and an inaugural 100-mile century ride that took riders to Kennebunkport and Biddeford Pool. Click here to view some early pictures from that ride
• Hot off the presses - the updated 2nd edition of the Pocket-Sized Guide to the whole Eastern Trail is now available !  A bargain at $10/copy - Click here to get more information.  Features of this great guide:

• Two important route updates included in the 2nd edition of the Trail Guide are available for download if you have the 1st Edition of the Guide. These are:
  • Improved Eastern Trail to Portland Amtrak Spur Trail
  • Desfosses Eastern Trail Side Trip in Scarborough
• Recent ETA news is summarized in the September 2006 news bulletin - click here to read

April 2006 News

• The new ET section north of the Scarborough Marsh and Black Point Road (Route 207) is taking shape.  Click here to see some slides (a large file in PowerPoint format) of this important new part of the Eastern Trail.
• Have you yet seen our ET Spot-ME on-line form to report issues, problems, and other trail features that need attention?  Click here to visit this new form!
• Long ago, the issue of crime on the ET arose at public meetings, most likely during the engineering feasibility public meetings in the late 1990's. This concern was recently brought up again, so it's time to dust off a handout that we published and posted on this website - click here to view this file 
• Other April 2006 news is summarized in the April  2006 news bulletin - click here to read

January/February/March 2006 News

• A Great Article entitled "Eastern Trail’s success starts in Scarborough" appeared in the Current in December 2005.  Click here to view this article
• Much happening recently in terms of building the Eastern Trail:
  • An Engineering Feasibility Study Public Meeting was held November 21 for the South Portland Greenbelt-Scarborough ET Connection. The Eastern Trail Management District and Wilbur Smith Associates got many suggestions for  possible routes, and design features, for this connection.  More information from this meeting will be pasted on these pages very soon.
  • A great article in the Portland Press Herald on this South Portland-Scarborough ET connection work, which appeared November 15, 2005. Click here to read "Trail's planners look at key link"
• A range of good news for the ETA is summarized in the March 2005 E-mail news bulletin - click here to read
• Hot off the presses - a Pocket-Sized Guide to the whole Eastern Trail !  A bargain at $10/copy - Click here to get more information.  Features of this great guide:

Pocket size with spiral wire binding for easy on-trail use.  17 newly redrawn maps  Shows historic Eastern Railroad corridor, the proposed Greenway from South Portland to Kittery  Maps show optional scenic byways  Maps include two 50-mile loop rides:  Amtrak-Eastern Trail loop trip, Portland to Wells by Amtrak. Bike back 50 miles on Eastern Trail Bike Wells to Saco River on ET. Bike back to Wells along shore. A 50-mile loop ride.

November 2005 News

• A range of good news for the ETA is summarized in the August 2005 E-mail news bulletin - click here to read
• Hot off the presses - a Pocket-Sized Guide to the whole Eastern Trail !  A bargain at $10/copy - Click here to get more information.  Features of this great guide:

• Also new is our ET Spot-ME on-line form to report issues, problems, and other trail features that need attention.  Click here to visit this new form!

October 2005 News

• We had a very successful Eastern Trail-a-Thon 8-Lighthouse Ride on September 17. 114 riders pre-registered, and we had riders do all three bicycling options - a 12-mile family ride on the South Portland Greenbelt, a 35-mile intermediate loop through Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth, and a 75-mile ride that took riders around Biddeford Pool. Pictures will be coming soon!  More information on our special 8-Lighthouse Ride for 2005 page. 

August 2005 News

• We had a great time July 30th enjoying Maine’s Renowned Jupiter Blues & Lower East Side Band -  plus we raised some much-needed money for the ETA!  Thanks to ETA Trustees Bruce Wakefield, bass player extraordinaire, his band, and also Bob Bowker for a wonderful evening.  We hope to do it again next year!!
• Other August 2005 news is summarized in the August 2005 E-mail news bulletin - click here to read

May/June 2005 News

• The Eastern Trail Alliance's Annual Meeting was held Thursday, May 26 in Kennebunk at Christ Church Hall. We heard a GREAT presentation from Craig Della Penna, a true friend of the ETA and a well-respected author and lecturer on rail trails in New England. Click here to view the flyer with more information on the meeting and on Mr. Della Penna.

• Check out our new web page highlighting the many corporate sponsors that are supporting the Eastern Trail Alliance.  Your company or organization can be added to this list of elite groups - contact us to join!

• May 2005 news is summarized in the May 2005 E-mail news bulletin - click here to read