Heralding the economic benefit of conserving Maine’s natural resources, citizens, fishermen, sportsmen, conservationists, and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle called on the Legislature to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program by supporting LD 852, a $5 million bond proposal designed to help fund working waterfronts, farmlands, and forests; wildlife habitat; and special recreation lands across the state. If passed, Maine voters will have the opportunity to vote on an LMF bond this November.

“Conserving Maine’s land and natural resources is an investment in today’s jobs and tomorrow’s prosperity for our children and grandchildren,” said Senator Roger Katz, a Republican from Augusta who sponsored the legislation. “Our natural resources are what set Maine apart – they are our biggest competitive advantage. Preserving and conserving them has got to be a top priority as we develop and grow. This is a value shared by families and businesses across the state.”

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Administrator Matsuda, Congresswoman Pingree and John Henshaw, Executive Director of Maine Port Authority

Two days after news broke that a container ship company servicing Portland had ceased operation, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree showed the top maritime official in the country around the International Marine Terminal in Portland and discussed ways to attract a new company to Maine to provide the service.

“We’ve proven that there is a customer base that wants to ship container cargo in and out of Portland,” Pingree said. “And with the big improvements that have already been made at the terminal, Portland is a prime candidate for a new company to set up container service.”

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95 million bond proposal will go to legislature in May photo of capitol by Ramona du Houx

“These public investments will create jobs now and grow good-paying jobs for the future,” said Rep. Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston, the lead House Democrat on the committee. “The state could afford to do even more to create jobs but there was little political will from our Republican colleagues to do so.”

The governor has said he won’t sign any bond proposals if he doesn’t get his proposed changes to the outstanding budget for the Department of Health and Human Services for 2013.

The five separate proposals include $51,000 million for transportation improvements; $7.9 million for water and wastewater treatment; $20 million for research and development grants; and $5 million for the land conservation.

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Today, the Portland Public Arts Committee (PPAC) announced the launch of Art in Our Front Yard: Portland’s Public Art Collection, a series highlighting the city’s public art collection. In conjunction with First Friday Art Walk, PPAC will feature one of Portland’s public art pieces every month for the next year. A committee member will present a brief talk about the piece, discussing the history of the art work, how it came to be a part of the city’s collection and its place in Portland’s art filled front yard. The discussion series will begin with May’s First Friday Art Walk, May 4th, at 5:30 PM with the Lillian M.N. Stevens Memorial Fountain or Temperance (The Little Water Girl) located in the Portland Public Library.

“Art can have a transformative effect in a community,” remarked City of Portland Mayor Michael Brennan. “It can connect us to the environment, to each other, to a sense of greater purpose. Portland’s public art collection brings this connection into our daily lives as we walk to work, drop our kids off at school or wait for the bus. Art in Our Front Yard gives us an opportunity to access the city’s art collection and develop a new appreciation and understanding of the important role art plays in our lives.”

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The National Endowment for the Arts announced grants totaling $886,900 for Maine arts organizations.Most of the funds, $746,900, goes to the Maine Arts Commission to support its grant-making activities.

Other organizations receiving money include: Bangor Folk Festival, $35,000; Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance of Old Town, $30,000; Cultural Resources Inc. of Rockport, $15,000; Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, $15,000.Figures of Speech Theatre of Freeport, $10,000; Penobscot Marine Museum of Searsport, $10,000; PORTopera, $15,000; and the Telling Room of Portland, $10,000

Jeffrey Young and Jonathan Beal, lawyers for the plaintiffs in the labor mural lawsuit plan to appeal the ruling of a federal judge who found that Gov. Paul LePage was within his government speech rights when he ordered the work removed from a state office building.

The plaintiffs contend that U.S. District Judge John Woodcock was wrong when he concluded in March that the mural was government speech rather than the speech of Judy Taylor, the mural’s artist commissioned by the state.

“When a simple, accurate portrayal of history is determined to be partisan speech and is removed, we are in dangerous territory. When a court bolsters this prejudice with its legal prestige, we are in worse trouble,”said Robert Shetterly, a Brooksville artist and one of the plaintiffs.

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A new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that current U. S. Department of Agriculture policy is encouraging large-scale farming at the expense of smaller, diversified farmers who raise a variety of crops and animals. The report, “Ensuring the Harvest: Crop Insurance and Credit for a Healthy Farm and Food Future,” recommends a number of reforms that are included in a bill written by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. The release of the report today comes as the Senate Agriculture Committee is taking up a new farm bill to set the nation’s food policy.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) will provide the City of Auburn and the Auburn Business Development Corp. $1.7 million for the construction of infrastructure necessary for the development of a new 119 acre technology focused industrial park. The City of Auburn projects that the new industrial park could create approximately 200 new jobs and attract $10 million in private investment.

“This EDA award is an investment in Auburn’s future,” said Congressman Mike Michaud, whose Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development oversees the EDA. “The city has one of the busiest ports in Maine and is an attractive place for businesses to locate. The construction of this infrastructure will create jobs immediately, but it’s the potential for future development that will really position the area for major growth. This is an exciting time for the region, and I look forward to following this project’s progress.”

Last year, 145 Republicans and 160 Democrats supported an amendment offered by Michaud to H.R.1 to restore funding for the EDA agency.

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Maine's electic customers can now choose alternative energy sources as their suppliers. graphic by Ramona du Houx

Today, the Maine Public Utilities Commission and 3Degrees, a leading renewable energy provider, announced Maine Green Power, a new, statewide green power program. This voluntary program gives Mainers the opportunity to purchase locally produced renewable energy.

“Maine has abundant hydro, wind, biomass and other renewable energy resources,” said Commission Chairman Thomas Welch. “Maine Green Power will enable our state’s residents and businesses to encourage further local development of these resources by choosing to power their homes and businesses with renewable energy generated in Maine.”

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The Telling Room, Portland’s community writing center, will hold its annual free conference May 4th at USM’s Abromson Center. The evening will feature the release of their sixth anthology of student writing and a live performance to showcase student writing, photography, and film created during the 2011-12 school year.

The theme of the event is ‘Searching for ME.’ Telling Room staff, community partners, teaching artists and volunteers will be on hand to run interactive writing, photography and printmaking activities for all ages. Performances begin at 8:00.

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