Eastern Trail
News

MAY 2003 EASTERN TRAIL NEWS

"Taking the Message to Washington" - Help the ETA and the East Coast Greenway Alliance bike letters to Washington.  We need to continue winning federal trail support. Please write President Bush asking him to support the East Coast Greenway.  Your letter need not be long.  Simply ask the President to support the East Coast Greenway.  Tell why this trail is important to your community (community connections, transportation, health, safe routes to schools.).  Write a letter on behalf of your town, city or club.  Ask students to write a letter.  Samples and examples can be copied at www.greenway.org/inaugural.htm but keep it personal"

The inside address should be to President Bush, White House, Washington, DC.  Mail your letter to:  Eastern Trail Alliance, POB 250, Saco, Maine 04072.  ETA will collect your letters and to be biked to Washington.  The East Coast Greenway Alliance will present your letters to President Bush at a ceremony on the Washington Mall on June 5.  Mail your letter this week, by next Monday, May 12 at the latest. 

See also the article "Cyclist to pedal to D.C. to boost East Coast trail" - Leonard Jahnke, 65, of Friendship, leaves May 12 from Calais on a marathon bike ride that finishes in Washington, D.C. The ride promotes the completion of the East Coast Greenway, which will include 327 miles in Maine, and including the Eastern Trail.  about 29 of which have been completed in Calais, Augusta, Hallowell, Brunswick, Yarmouth, Portland, South Portland and Saco.

Eliot and Wells Vote to Continue ETMD Support - Both Eliot and Wells Town Meetings voted to pay their 2004 dues to the Eastern Trail Management District.  Unfortunately, North Berwick Town Meeting voted not to continue funding the Management District.  Ask your councilors if they plan to support their 2004 ETMD dues. The Management District is needed to manage ET construction funds.

Maine DOT Grant for 2004-2005 ET Construction - Maine Department of Transportation announced it allocated $960,000 in state and federal funds for ET construction to connect Biddeford to West Kennebunk during 2004-2005. 

National Trail Day on the Eastern Trail Saturday June 7 - South Portland will dedicate major extensions of its Greenbelt at 10:30  on Saturday June 7^th.  See www.southportland.org  for more details.  Old Orchard Beach will start its celebration starting at 9 a.m. at Memorial Park across from the Amtrak Station.  OOB will have with a bike rodeo, bike safety demonstration, bike races, bike decorating competitions and more.  Rides will be led both locally and a longer bike rides to South Portland for experienced riders.  Awards will given to the OOB students who wrote the best letter to President Bush. For more details see www.EasternTrail.Org, or Scott Bourcier ScottB@cldengineers.com.

Spring 2003 On-Road ET Trail Guide - The new ET Trail Guide includes information to help plan an Amtrak-ET loop ride and revised information about the water taxi between Bug Light and Casco Bay Ferry Terminal.  With South Portland's Greenbelt progress, expect a later revision before summer.

Next ETA Trustees Meeting - Second Monday of each month at 146 Main St., Saco, second floor conference room.  There's an elevator.  You are always welcome.  Meetings begin at 7 P.M.  We plan to end by 8:30 P.M.  Check the Web page for possible schedule changes.  We welcome and congratulate three new ETA Trustees:  Bob Bowker,  Scarborough; Kevin Dawson, S. Berwick; and Beth Jordan, N. Berwick. 

A highway takes your car to the country, a greenway your mind. 
- Charles Little

Call us (207.284.9260) or e-mail the ETA office