The Maine Public Utilities Commission wants Maine consumers to know that the lights will stay on for those who make an honest effort to pay their electricity and gas bills. Maine’s winter electricity and gas disconnection rules begin November 15th.

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Maine’s natural resources are being utilized in a sustainable ways to produce clean energy – from wood, waves, wind and even grass pellets. Maine is a leader in the innovative, clean energy economy with research conducted at the University of Maine. Companies have embraced Pine Tree Zone tax incentives and have grown jobs. Bonds have helped transportation projects lowering the cost of doing business, and Maine’s workforce continues to shine.

MAINE’S INNOVATION ECONOMY PROGRESS—

• Exclusive interview with Governor John Baldacci on what he has done to improve the business climate for job growth, educational opportunities, manufacturing, and building Maine’s innovation economy.

• $7.25 million Maine technology grants will stimulate innovative economy

• MPRP—The largest transmission investment in New England history

• Integrated remote-control technology to be manufactured in Maine

• Maine’s first Deepwater Offshore Wind Conference

• Gov. Baldacci spends a fall day reviewing rail projects

• State to Purchase Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway

• Ocean Gateway II Megaberth gets underway

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES—

• InternHelpME.com — a new Web site to connect Maine students to workplace opportunities

• Sen. Justin Alfond’s plans for Education in Maine

• UMaine- Growing the next generation of scientists and engineers

• U.S. Sec. of Education Arne Duncan praises King Middle School’s Expeditionary Learning model

COMMUNITY NEWS—

• Dirigo Health now accepting new applications

• Bangor’s art walk — part of the city’s downtown renaissance

• A new beginning for Malaga Island—

OPINIONS—


• EDITORIAL: Innovation—key to grow the economy on a foundation that has been built over eight years

• Commentary by Rep. Seth Berry: Energy policies good for economy, good for environment

A recent Forbes article ranked Maine last on the list of states for business. Is this a fair assessment?

“We wanted to know what they based their rating on; they didn’t want to disclose their methodology. So, we contacted one of their sources — economy.com. We asked why did they rate New Jersey with a better quality of life? They said that they took the average temperature in Maine versus the average temperature in New Jersey.

“The same magazine last year named our largest city, Portland, as the most livable city in America. In their survey it outpaced Manchester, NH, and Boston, Massachusetts, both in the cost of starting up a business and in the cost of doing business.

“This is more of a subjective analysis by Forbes.

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In Aroostook County, fallow farmland is in abundance. But that may soon change, as grasslands take over. It’s not an attempt to return the land to Mother Nature — it is a groundbreaking initiative to farm grass, to be transformed into pellets, to burn for heat.

“This renewable resource could change agriculture in Maine,” said Professor Hemant Pendse of the UMaine, who will be working on the grass-energy crop development, pellet and boiler efficiency testing. “It’s great for the farming community and businesses that are ready to take the technology and deploy it to the north, and eventually all over the state.”

The UMaine project was given a boost in October when it received a Maine Technology Asset Fund (MTAF) grant close to $1.7 million.

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In November, doctors at Brunswick’s Mid Coast Hospital will be able to transmit CT scans to neurologists at Maine Medical Center in Portland and follow up with consultations over a secure network called Telestroke.

This is an example of the communication benefits expected to come from the Three Ring Binder, a super-highway of high-speed Internet lines. The Three Ring Binder will provide 1,100 miles of high capacity “dark fiber” high-speed Internet infrastructure within more than 100 Maine communities representing 110,000 households, 600 anchor community institutions, and 38 government facilities.

The first 5 miles of the fiber-optic network are now live along Route 1 in Brunswick, and Mid Coast Hospital is the first anchor institution to hook up.

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“The investments being made in rail infrastructure are critical to strengthening our entire economy,” said Governor Baldacci.

Improving Maine’s railway systems has always been a priority of the governor’s. In October he was able to view improvements by train, which are underway as the result of railway owners working with State officials and the federal government.

“Rail is good for the economy and good for the environment,” said Dave Fink, president of Pan Am Railways.

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On a warm evening last September, downtown Bangor was bustling with people, map in hand, going from location to location. No, Halloween hadn’t come early, but the anticipation in the eyes of people strolling the streets was reminiscent of kids trick-or-treating. Not knowing what is behind a gallery door can be an exciting quest. For businesses that stayed opened during the official downtown Art Walk, the continual foot traffic increased sales. For restaurants, new customers were enthusiastically welcomed.

“People live in Bangor all their lives, but they never really get a chance to explore it,” said Cara Oleksyk of Metropolitan Soul,

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This election season has elicited many ideas around improving Maine’s educational system from pre-kindergarten through college . As Senate chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, it gives me faith that so many people care about our educational system. I applaud the interest and input by parents, teachers, administrators, legislators, candidates for governor, and advocates.

Maine’s educational system has a strong foundation. We fund K-12 education at an impressive level; we have a culture of producing solid results (better than the national average in most categories), and we have incredible teachers and administrators in our schools. That being said, Maine’s education system is at a crossroads.

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Malaga Island is a 42-acre densely wooded island — a welcoming place to relax and enjoy nature. But this picturesque Maine island has a troubled history. In 1912 the State evicted a mixed-race community of 48 people, ripped up 17 graves, and institutionalized some residents. For many who visited Malaga on September 12, 2010, a flood of emotions overwhelmed them as they reflected on that past, which prompted an official State apology.

“Let me just say that, I’m sorry — I’m sorry for what was done,” said Governor John Baldacci, who traveled to the island nature preserve, where he met with nearly 30 of the islanders’ descendants during a ceremony to commemorate the island as part of the Maine Freedom Trail network.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited Maine last September to praise King Middle School’s Expeditionary Learning model. Duncan’s visit was the final stop on a four-day Courage in the Classroom bus tour through eight states and thirteen cities.

“This school’s reputation and this state’s reputation is known nationally,” said Duncan. “I have yet to go to a great school that doesn’t have great principals. We can’t do enough to spotlight excellence.”

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