Eastern Trail
News

++ OOB-Scarborough Grand Opening - A national trail event
++ ETA Outings
++ Maine Lighthouse Ride needs YOUR cooking help
++ More

OOB-Scarborough Grand Opening
On Tuesday morning July 1, another 1.6 miles of off-road Eastern Trail was dedicated.

Celeste Viger & Carol Hurley delivered greetings from Congressman Allen. Jamie Brennan congratulated us on behalf of Senator Collins. (Federal funds including a 2005 Earmark, helped pay for construction.) MaineDOT Commissioner David Cole reminded us that this is one his department's priority trails. Tony Barrett, Secretary and Vice President of the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) and an ETA Life Member, congratulated us on adding more off-road greenway to the ET. He also told us that in view of $4.00+ gasoline that we should think of the finished ET as the shortest route to Portland.

ECGA was heavily represented nationally including its Treasurer Dave Read, and Sue Ellen Bordwell, Past Maine Chair and Dave Wood who is documenting the entire Maine ECG. They made this a national event for a national trail.

ETA presented awards of appreciation to the towns of Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach for their long-time commitment to the Eastern Trail. Awards were also presented to two wonderful public utilities: to Paul Fecteau for Central Maine Power that owns much of the land where this section was built, and to Frank Callahan for Granite State Gas Transmission that operates a high-pressure gas transmission line in the corridor. Without the support of those two utilities, this section could not have been the success it is.

For a look at the opening ceremony visit a website provided by Old Orchard Beach volunteer photographer Gary Curtis who teamed up with OOB Associate Planner Jessica Wagner. Click here to see those pictures

Go here for the Portland Press Herald's Local News page 1 story.

Go here for the Journal Tribune's page one story.

Other great members of the press who covered the opening were:
- TV6 with a great story that evening,
- TV8 with another great video perspective that evening;
- Brunswick Times Record, and
- The Current

What's it like? Frank Callahan of GSGT commented that it's like visiting a national park!! And, he told us; the quality surface will make his job easier.

It was a great ET momentum builder. Thanks to all who attended and all who support the Eastern Trail.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Eastern Trail:

Are motorized vehicles such as ATVs allowed on the ET? No. Federal Transportation Enhancement Funds allocated by MaineDOT to build the ET cannot be used to constructed trails that allow motorized vehicles.

Will the ET be paved? No. With limited funds, no money is available to pave the ET. And, gas pipeline safety engineers do not favor impervious surfaces.

Maine Lighthouse Ride needs a volunteer lead chef for the cookout

To provide a top quality day for MLR participants, ETA could use another volunteer to make sure we get the cookout right. Have you ordered food by the hundred for cookouts? Have you counted the number of bottles of ketchup per hundred? Can you lead a team of learning cookout chefs? Do you even suspect that you have the skills needed to do it? If so, contact MLR Volunteer Coordinator Maggie Warren maggie_warren@verizon.netand or MLR Creator and Chair Bob
Bowker rbowker@bowkerandassoc.com.

Outings

Saturday, July 12 Scarborough's 350th Anniversary Parade. Meet Tom Daley and Bruce Wakefield at 8 AM behind Scarborough Town Hall to join other ETA members as we march and ride to celebrate Scarborough's 350th. Follow ETA banner and Bruce Wakefield who is forming the ETA marching band playing "Happy Trails." FMI: Tom Daley, ted434@localnet.com, 883-6183; Bruce Wakefield,
terrierg@maine.rr.com, 284-7656, cell 415-1452.

Monday, July 14th Explore the ET in Scarborough-OOB. Meet at Pine Point Road ET parking lot on Scarborough Marsh at 10 AM. Ride 13 miles on mostly off-road stone dust sections of the ET. We'll explore the ET from the Nonesuch River across Scarborough Marsh into Old Orchard. Just show and go. Weather will NOT cancel. Leader: John Andrews, JAndrews@GWI.Net, 207-282-1979.

Saturday, July 26 Scarborough Marsh 5-mile walk. Meet at 10 AM at the Pump Station parking lot on ET one-half mile south of Black Point Road, Scarborough. Leader: Tom Daley, ted434@localnet.com, 883-6183. Walk across the marsh to Pine Point Road and back.

Join ETA - NOW!
Become ETA's newest member! Member dues pay for more than 50% of ETA's operating costs. Join the campaign to complete the ET. Receive ETA's newsletter and discounts on ETA events. Create a legacy for future generations. Join at www.EasternTrail.Org.

“Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem.”
- Henry Kissinger

“In Maine, an overnight success takes 20 years.”
- Kathy Mazzuchelli, Caribou, Maine Parks and Rec Director

“The worst possible decision is to give up.”
- John Chatterton, SCUBA diver

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