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Daily: April 23, 2014

Archived News
April 23, 20140

Biddeford bike center moving to larger space

 

After raising $320,000, the nonprofit is gearing up to keep even more of the city’s youths involved.

By Gillian Graham ggraham@pressherald.com Staff Writer

Andrew Burnell works on a bike at the Community Bicycle Center on Hill Street in BiddefordBIDDEFORD — Students and volunteers were just starting to trickle into the Community Bicycle Center to work on their bikes after school, but already the workshop felt cramped.

With four bikes on racks and kids and volunteers moving back and forth to pick out tools, there was little room for Andy Greif to thread his way through the room.

“We’ve got so much jammed into this small space,” said Greif, executive director of the nonprofit drop-in workshop for Biddeford area youths. “We’re always in each other’s space.”

That problem is about to be eliminated as the unusual and popular program moves from a donated workshop to a building with four times as much space to work on and store bicycles and six acres adjacent to a large city park – lots of room for kids to ride. This week Greif expects to complete the purchase of the 4,200-square-foot building at 45 Granite St. for $249,900.

Andy Greif, executive director of the Community Bicycle Center in BiddefordFor the past eight years, the Community Bicycle Center has operated out of a 1,125-square-foot city-owned garage space on Hill Street. But as more kids find their way into the center and as its staff expands programming, the need for more space has become more pronounced.

“Sometimes you have to suck in your gut to let people by,” Cameron Roy, 12, said of a narrow hallway lined on one side with a workbench and on the other with hooks for jackets and backpacks.

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ETA Press Releases
April 23, 20140

The Eastern Trail Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of Scarborough Marsh Groundbreaking!

Press ReleaseETA ogo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (207) 284-9260
eta@EasternTrail.org

May 19, 2014 (Scarborough, Maine) – The Eastern Trail Alliance this week celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the groundbreaking ceremony that kicked off construction of the now well-known off-road section that runs through the Scarborough Marsh.

On May 19, 2004, work began on the Scarborough Marsh section of the Eastern Trail under the direction of the 12-town Eastern Trail Management District (ETMD), in partnership with many organizations including the Town of Scarborough. That section — still immensely popular with commuters, walkers, cyclists and birders — soon demonstrated amazing public support for the Eastern Trail.

“Could anyone with their groundbreaking shovels in hand have imagined what would be accomplished in the following ten years?” said John Andrews, president emeritus of the ETA, and one of its founders. “Many thanks to the thousands who believed in and supported the Eastern Trail vision, and have worked so hard to continue building the first 21 miles of our off-road trail.”

Andrews was joined for an informal ceremony on Monday, May 19 by fellow ETA founder and former trustee Tom Daley, who received a plaque for his and his wife Anita’s many years of service to the ETA. They were also joined by ETA Vice President & Secretary Bob LaNigra, ETA Vice President Bob Bowker, and Bruce Gullifer, Scarborough Community Services director and an ETMD founder, who facilitated the 2004 project.

When completed, the Eastern Trail will connect the Piscataqua River in Kittery with Bug Light on Casco Bay in South Portland with a 65-mile, mostly off-road greenway. The Eastern Trail follows the route of the historic Eastern Railroad, the first rail line connecting Boston and the Portland area. It extends through 12 communities in York and Cumberland counties. The Eastern Trail is the Southern Maine portion of the 2,900 mile East Coast Greenway, which stretches from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine.

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ETA Press Releases
April 23, 20140

Eastern Trail Alliance Holds Annual Meeting Featuring Carl Knoch of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

 

Press ReleaseETA ogo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (207) 284-9260
eta@EasternTrail.org

 

April 23, 2014 (Wells, Maine) – The Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization committed to the creation of a trail stretching from Kittery to South Portland, will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 15, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Old Marsh Country Club in Wells, Maine.

This year’s meeting will feature guest speaker Carl Knoch, Northeast Trail Development Manager for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. In Maine, Carl has shared his expertise with advocates for the Eastern Trail, the Mountain Division Trail, and especially the Down East Sunrise Trail. Most recently, he provided guidance to the ETA as it developed its 2014 Economic Impact Study. Carl is personally leading the development of the Heritage Rail Trail in York County, Pennsylvania.Carl’s talk, True Confessions of a Trail Builder, will be followed by a question and answer session.

The Annual Meeting of the ETA is an opportunity for members of the community to meet our speaker and the officers and trustees of the ETA and the Eastern Trail Management District. Attendees can expect to learn more about the mission of the ETA while enjoying complimentary light refreshments. Following the meeting, all attendees are invited to join us for a select dinner of varied choices, all at very reasonable prices.

All are welcomed to join us. To RSVP, please contact the ETA at eta@easterntrail.org or 207-284-9260.

When completed, the Eastern Trail will connect the Piscataqua River in Kittery with Bug Light on Casco Bay in South Portland with a 65-mile, mostly off-road greenway. The Eastern Trail follows the route of the historic Eastern Railroad, the first rail line connecting Boston and the Portland area. It extends through 12 communities in York and Cumberland counties. The Eastern Trail is the Southern Maine portion of the 2,900 mile East Coast Greenway, which stretches from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine.

The Alliance welcomes opportunities to tell groups about its dream. To schedule a no-cost Eastern Trail slide show, send an e-mail to eta@easterntrail.org or call the ETA’s office at (207) 284-9260. For more information about the Eastern Trail check www.easterntrail.org.

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https://www.easterntrail.org/