OCTOBER 2003 EASTERN TRAIL ALLIANCE NEWS

ETA's 2003 Pumpkin - A real treat, no trick!

October 2003 EASTERN TRAIL NEWS

+ MDOT Bond Question 6 includes ET support
+ Governor Baldacci’s ATV Task Force Sanford Presentation on Oct 30.
+ Eastern Trail-a-Thon Hugh Success
+ Scarborough Marsh Crossing Update
+ ETA is Moving
+ ETA Visitor from Port Angeles, Washington State.
+ Eastern Trail-a-Thon 2003 GREAT Success
+ Holiday Gift Problem? Try ETA Memberships
+ Cherie’s Restaurant offers ETA Fundraising
+ More stories, and
+ Outings

MDOT Bond Question 6 on November Ballot
As you are probably aware, the Transportation Bond is up to voters to approve this November 4th. The bond includes $1.25 million dollars for biking and walking
and this includes money allocated for the Mountain Division Trail, Eastern Trail, Kennebec River Rail Trail, Safe Routes to School programs, and projects in over
two dozen other communities across Maine. Together with the $1.25 million in state funds are to match federal funds for a total of $5 million in biking and walking
funds. See www.keepmainemoving.org for more information.

Question 6 - Do you favor a $63,450,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, state-owned ferry vessels and ferry and port facilities and port and harbor structures; development of rail corridors and improvements to railroad structures and intermodal facilities; investment in the statewide public transportation fleet and public park and ride and service facilities; statewide trail and pedestrian improvements; and expansion of the statewide air-medical response system through construction of hospital helipads, building additional refueling facilities, upgrading navigational systems and acquiring training equipment to improve access to health care that makes the State eligible for $217,000,000 in matching federal funds?

Governor's ATV Task Force schedules four public forums
Oct .30, 6-8 p.m., Memorial Gym, Sanford High School, 52 Sanford High School Blvd., Sanford Click here to see its ATV recommendations, as well as to read details about the ATV meetings in Auburn, Presque Isle, and Auburn.

To Sanford forum from the east: After the Biddeford (Exit 4) Turnpike toll plaza, turn RIGHT onto Rt. 111 toward Sanford. In Alfred, RT. 111 ends at a set of traffic lights. Proceed straight at the lights to follow Rt. 202 into Sanford. When Rt. 202 crosses Rt. 109, which is also Main St., turn RIGHT onto Rt. 109. Follow Rt. 109 for 1.1 miles to turn RIGHT onto Sanford HS Blvd.

To Sanford forum from the south: After the Wells (Exit 2) Turnpike toll plaza, turn RIGHT onto Rt. 109. Follow 109 into downtown Sanford. 1.1 miles after crossing Rt. 202, turn RIGHT onto Sanford HS Blvd.

Scarborough Marsh Project Status
The Management District is all set to go for bids once an agreement is signed with the gas company. MDOT will not release funds until the remaining agreement is signed with Granite State Gas Transmission, a NiSource utility that includes Maine’s local gas company Northern Utilities. The marsh is owned by the State of Maine, but for safety reasons, utilities must agree to support the project.

ETA’s New Office
ETA is moving to 110 Main St., Suite 1214, Saco as a guest of Diane Doyle & Doyle Enterprises. ETA’s phone, e-mail and post office box will be the same. To reach the new location, park at Saco Amtrak Station. Walk down hill on Main St. 200 feet to number 110 Main. Suite 1214 is on the 1st floor. The office is normally open from 9 am to 2 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thank you, Diane.

ETA’s New Outdoor Exhibits Shelter
Thanks to an anonymous donor, ETA now owns an outdoor shelter with banners to help ETA’s public outreach efforts. The first use: Saco’s Pumpkin Fest and Bob LaNigra’s Great Pumpkin Race. If you know of an event where folks might like to learn more about the ET, please contact the ETA office: 284-9260.

ETA Visitor from Port Angeles, Washington State.
Sharon Wagner, while planning a business trip to Boston, found the ETA’s Manchester-Newfields (NH) rail-to-trail ride on Larry Glantz’s award-winning ETA Web site. Trip leader Bruce Wakefield provided a mountain bike for her ride. Sharon is a hospital administrator at Jefferson General Hospital in Fort Townsend, Washington. Bruce describes the Manchester-Newfields Trail as what the ET will become. Thanks, Larry & Bruce.

Eastern Trail-a-Thon 2003 GREAT Success
A reporter & photographer biked the ET from Kittery to Casco Bay. Her reaction: "The On-Road Eastern Trail is so much fun, I thought I was at Disneyland."

A NH rider sent this e-mail: "…Great roads were selected, hardly any traffic, beautiful countryside - thank you to all of you for providing us with the incentive to explore the ET and be a quiet part of the trail a thon. ….."

Holiday Gift Problem? Try ETA Memberships
Here’s the holiday season gift for the person who has everything. Give a membership to the Eastern Trail Alliance. ETA’s envelop and letterhead will be enhanced with colorful holiday images. Just mail the membership fee with your address and the address of your recipient, and ETA will do the rest. For more information, or to order your gift membership, call the office at 284-9260.

Wayne Harper, Portland Natural Gas Transmission System, featured speaker at the 2003 ETA Annual meeting reports that PNGTS has modified its web page to highlight the environmental impacts of ATVs, as well as the educational efforts of the Responsible Riders Association. See http://www.pngts.com/atv.html

Eastern Trail Slide Shows
Would you like a lunch-and-learn Eastern Trail slide show where your work? Would you like to bring the ETA slide show to your club? Send e-mail to JAndrews@GWI.Net

ETA Outings & Events Calendar
ETA Full Moon Peaks Island Hike Thursday 6 November - Enjoy the moon shining on the Gulf of Maine along the backside of Peaks. Walk an easy 4 to 5 miles of paved road. Meet at Casco Bay Ferry Terminal at 5:20 PM for 5:35 boat. Optional visit to Flatbread when we return. Weather will NOT cancel. . No need to register; just show and go. FMI send e-mail to leader: JAndrews@GWI.Net.

Holiday Lights Walk in Portland Friday 5 December
ETA will lead its annual City Lights Walk that includes a visit to Portland Museum of Art for the cooper beech lighting. We will explore Portland Trails’s Back Cove and Eastern Prom Trails. We LEAVE the park between Casco Bay Ferry Terminal and Flatbreads Pub at 6 PM. Following the 6-mile walk, enjoy pizza and brew at Flatbread’s. No need to register; just show and go. FMI send e-mail to leader: JAndrews@GWI.Net.

Cherie’s Restaurant supports ETA Fundraising
On Wednesday January 14th Cherie’s Restaurant, 7 High St. in Kennebunk will donate a share of its profits from all meals sold that evening to the ETA.

ETA Full Moon X-Country ski weekend - Feb 6-8 2004
Ski from a hunting lodge. Hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails. Ski 10 to 15 scenic Ohh and Ahh miles Saturday. Ski Flagstaff Lake under the shadow of
Bigelow Mountain on Sunday. All meals included. Private rooms. Hot showers. Drive to door. $150 per person. Send e-mail to Jandrews@GWI.net for more information and to register. Open to ETA Members only until January, 2004.

Help Create the ET, Join ETA
Click here to complete the certified-secure membership application. Enjoy the newsletter and Alliance outings. Your membership can make a difference. If there are no ETA members, there will be no ET.

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

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