Back in 1930 the first railroad tracks were laid in Brunswick, at what is now Maine Street Station. Historians say the project helped boost the local economy out of the Great Depression. Eighty years later, new tracks are being laid, upgrading the old railroad lines from Brunswick to Freeport, which officials hope will boost the local economy out of the Great Recession. Once the upgrade is finished in 2012, the Amtrak Downeaster will add two daily round trips from Boston on up to Brunswick, with stops in Portland and Freeport.

To celebrate, hundreds of local residents and officials gathered on August 1, 2010, at the Maine Street Station in Brunswick. The excitement and magic that trains inspire was palpable.

Read more ›

A Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway at the Height of Land got underway with an official groundbreaking on August 14th. When Lady Bird Johnson visited the area 40 years ago, she saw the need to protect the view for future generations. The Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust made it happen.

“That view says Maine,” said Governor John Baldacci, looking out over the tops of trees at Mooselookmeguntic Lake and the Bemis Mountain Range. “It’s an inspiration to everyone who sees it, and now it’s going to be that way forever.”

Read more ›

Florence House gives 65 women nothing less than a second chance at life. Destitute and on the streets of Portland, sleeping in bus stations, cardboard boxes, or the park, these ladies had found their way to Preble Street Resource Center. There they found sympathy and food. They were given mattresses on the floor, six inches apart, to sleep on along with men.

Read more ›

At the Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference in Portland last August, energy issues were a hot topic.

Read more ›

Answering the invitation from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, John Fernandez, visited Maine today.

“It’s not just about recovery but it’s also about accelerating the transition to a 21st century economy. And it’s important for me to get out of Washington and see what’s happening on Main Street,” said Fernandez.

Read more ›

Like it’s namesake bird, the Kestrel JP-10 turboprop is highly maneuverable due to its streamlined, sleek design and lightweight yet strong composite body. It can land on grass or gravel with short runways and fly at high altitudes at maximum cruise speeds. And the company owners of Kestrel Aircraft chose Maine over anywhere else in the world to start to manufacture their new aircraft.

“Maine has exactly what we need; it’s where we want to be,” said Kestrel CEO Alan Klapmeier. “When it comes right down to it, it’s about productivity and expertise. With the training going on here in composites, we will have the workforce we’ve been looking for. And we believe that Maine people have an outstanding work ethic; that’s why we decided to locate here.”

Read more ›

On July 22, 2010 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke on the House floor about legislation she introduced this week to help schools provide healthier meals for their students while supporting local farmers.

“On average, an apple travels 1,500 miles from farm to school. This bill gives schools the freedom to buy apples from their neighbors and keep every dollar spent in the community instead of traveling across the country and back,” said Pingree.

Read more ›

President Barack Obama and family landed at the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton amid tight security to begin a weekend get-away on Mount Desert Island.Governor John Baldacci, his wife, Karen, and Congressman Mike Michaud welcomed the President and the first family on the tarmac. Baldacci let him know the best places to eat lobster, what to see, and invited him to play golf.

“He said that he was really looking forward to this,” said Governor Baldacci.

Read more ›

USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “I am extremely pleased that USDA Rural Development was able to provide the funding to assist the Northern Maine Development Commission to continue the important work of the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone, including strategic planning, community building, and economic and business development for this vital rural region of Maine.”

Congressman Mike Michaud has been a long time advocate of the Empowerment Zone.

Read more ›

During the 34th Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers being held in Lenox, Massachusetts on July 12-13, 2010 Governor John E. Baldacci signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham to establish a Maine-New Brunswick Cultural Initiative.

Read more ›