Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) Analysis of DEP Documents Related to the 2012 Report, “Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine” Yields Industry Paper Trail

Today, the Natural Resources Council of Maine released an analysis of documents that reveal how a recent Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report was substantially influenced by representatives of out-of-state companies that opposed enactment of Maine’s product stewardship laws[1] in the first place, are working to defeat similar laws in other states, and who received easy and preferential access to top DEP officials in the new LePage Administration. The NRCM analysis is based on documents acquired under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) law.

The DEP report Implementing Product Stewardship in Maine, released in late December for public comment, addressed five product stewardship programs administered by the state that have reduced mercury and lead pollution to Maine’s environment, diverted millions of pounds of waste from Maine’s landfills and incinerators, and saved money for taxpayers and municipalities. The five product stewardship programs^[2]were adopted with overwhelming bi-partisan support.

But rather than focusing on the benefits of these programs to Maine people and the environment, DEP’s Product Stewardship report presents a surprising assault on the product stewardship programs, including a recommendation to consider their termination. NRCM reviewed hundreds of internal DEP emails, memos, and documents related to preparation of the Implementing Product Stewardship report.

“Our review shows that senior DEP officials have maintained an open door policy for out-of-state manufacturers interested in undermining Maine’s product stewardship programs and a closed door policy to all other stakeholders—including interested lawmakers, internal DEP staff who manage the programs, municipalities, and public interest organizations,” said Abby King, NRCM Product Stewardship Advocate.

“Industry representatives have been gunning to weaken product stewardship programs here in Maine so that they don’t face similar programs in other states,” added King. Findings from the NRCM analysis include the following:

·Senior DEP officials met with representatives of the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) at least 10 times over the past year. TRC is comprised of Honeywell, GE, and Westinghouse, and they have long opposed Maine’s thermostat recycling program—even as Maine’s program has proven to be one of the most successful of its kind in the nation.

·In a response letter to State Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes (D-Yarmouth), then Acting DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho committed to supporting a “robust” stakeholder process on product stewardship—but no effort has been made by DEP to initiate such a process. Quite the contrary, the letter to Rep. Innes was sent two days after Aho met with TRC, and DEP held multiple additional meetings with TRC over the past seven months. No effort has been made to engage other stakeholders in a meaningful way.

·TRC recommended in February 2012 that DEP conduct a “review” of Maine’s thermostat recycling program. DEP launched such a review, receiving input through private channels from TRC throughout this review period. And when the review was complete, with a recommendation to possibly terminate some product stewardship programs (including possibly the thermostat program), TRC “fully supports” the effort to sunset the program.

·Senior DEP officials delegated the role of “reviewing” Maine’s product stewardship programs to a newly reassigned staff member, Kerri Malinowski, who was not previously familiar with the programs. DEP staff members who manage Maine’s product stewardship programs were deliberately excluded from providing information.

·DEP’s review of Maine’s product stewardship programs resulted in a seriously flawed report that is rife with inaccurate, unsubstantiated, inconsistent, and incomplete information, as demonstrated by the strong concerns voiced in public comments. More than 308 individuals and 34 organizations submitted comments in opposition to DEP’s report, compared with only seven letters of support—six of which were from out-of-state manufacturers.

Maine is not the only target of concerted attacks on product stewardship programs designed to shift some taxpayer-funded recycling costs to the manufacturers that produced the products.  Indeed, many of the very individuals who have been frequenting the offices of DEP this year have been traveling through the halls of state government elsewhere.

In California, for example, the Thermostat Recycling Corporation (TRC) is fighting regulations that would impose collection rate standards on that state’s thermostat recycling program. “Policy-makers in California are looking to Maine’s thermostat program as a guideline for ways to improve our program,” says Annie Pham of Sierra Club California. “But TRC is working hard against us, even as their voluntary thermostat collection program shows a pitiful first-year collection rate of 3.2%.”

Similarly, in New York, the thermostat industry has spent $90,000 in the past two years lobbying to block passage of an effective thermostat collection program. “The pattern of the thermostat industry in New York is to cover up the success of Maine’s collection program and tout their voluntary collection program instead,” said Laura Haight, senior environmental associate with the New York Public Interest Research Group.

In 2008, according to TRC’s collection data, Maine’s per capita thermostat collection rate was the highest in the nation, and more than 20 times higher than New York’s. After 2008, TRC stopped making its data available to the public.

NRCM carefully reviewed public comments submitted to DEP by the January 16 deadline, and from that analysis created a long list of errors, omissions, and inconsistencies in DEP’s report. (Appendix D of the report)

“Although we’re not particularly surprised by the extent to which out-of-state lobbyists have been pounding down the doors at DEP, we are troubled to see how eager DEP has been to assist industry in trying to undo programs that are working well for Maine people,” said King.

“DEP’s product stewardship report presents such a flawed, incomplete, and biased view of Maine’s product stewardship programs that the report should be retracted,” said NRCM Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim. “The report’s content and conclusions are so obviously indefensible that the report’s continued appearance on the DEP website reflects poorly on the credibility of the DEP.”

1.Maine’s product stewardship programs, passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support, are focused on toxic and troublesome products in the waste stream and require manufacturers to establish collection systems to recycle or properly dispose of them.

2.The programs addressed:  mercury-added lamps; mercury switches in motor vehicle components; mercury-added thermostats; electronic waste (e-waste), and dry cell mercuric oxide and rechargeable batteries.

Judy Berk * Natural Resources Council of Maine * 3 Wade Street Augusta, ME 04330 * judy@nrcm.org * (207) 430-0103 * mobile (207) 462-2192 * 1(800) 287-2345 ext 203 * fax (207) 622-4343 * www.nrcm.org

[1] Maine’s product stewardship programs, passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support, are focused on toxic and troublesome products in the waste stream and require manufacturers to establish collection systems to recycle or properly dispose of them.

[2] The programs addressed:  mercury-added lamps; mercury switches in motor vehicle components; mercury-added thermostats; electronic waste (e-waste), and dry cell mercuric oxide and rechargeable batteries.

“I was presented a plan last Thursday. I told the Appropriations Chairs that I would not sign nor veto that proposal. However, their plan has drastically changed since then. The latest proposal eliminates nearly all of the structural changes that are necessary to make our welfare system affordable and sustainable.

The latest plan is full of gimmicks and built on false savings. It continues to cannibalize state government to support an out-of-control welfare program. If the approach taken by the Committee is allowed to move forward, we will be back here in a few months dealing with another large shortfall in the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Committee is no longer considering eliminating all coverage for childless adults. They are taking a half-measure that doesn’t fix the real problem. The ironic part of their proposal is that they are booking savings that are dependent on federal approval. My plan has been criticized for the exact same thing.

Quite frankly, I believe this represents an abdication of their responsibility to the Maine people. This is the exact same approach the Legislature has taken for the past 40 years and it hasn’t worked yet. They are kicking the can down the road and Maine people deserve better.”

Cost for each 2-day camp session is $75/pp and includes the use of all equipment along with afternoon cocoa and snack.  Early registration is highly recommended as space is limited to just 14 campers per session!

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.watershedfriends.com.  FMI, contact Tamara Whitmore, Education Director at 621-4100 or tamara@watershedfriends.com

Tamara Whitmore
Education Director
Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed
P.O.Box 5003
Augusta,ME04332-5003

207-621-4100
Email: tamara@watershedfriends.com

Open Tar Sand Mine in Alberta Canada

Greetings,

I hope you can join us in Portland Thursday February 9, 7:00 p.m. to learn about this major emerging environmental threat to the greater Portland area. Please do let me know if you think you may be there to report on this, and if you have questions or need more information. Thank you.

Best wishes,

Judy

Free public talk in Portland Thursday February 9, 7:00 p.m.

CONTACT:  Emmie Theberge, emmie@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0105, Glen Brand, glen.brand@sierraclub.org or(207) 749-3896

News Release and Calendar Listing below

Calendar Listing:

Stop Dirty Tar Sands Oil from Coming Through Maine

Have you heard about the proposal to pump tar sands oil in a pipeline from Ontario across Canada and past Sebago Lake to South Portland, Maine from where it would be shipped elsewhere? Come learn about this harmful proposal that puts the lake and Casco Bay at risk, along with our fishing and lobster industries at a public talk:Stop Dirty Tar Sands Oil from Coming Through Maine, Thursday, February 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the Glickman Library at USM, University Events Room on the 5th floor, refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so please RSVP to emmie@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0105. Co-sponsored by Sierra Club Maine and Natural Resources Council of Maine.

News Release:

Stop Dirty Tar Sands Oil from Coming Through Maine

I bet you’ve heard about the disastrous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline proposed for the middle of the country and recently rejected by President Obama, but have you heard about the proposal to bring tar sands oil from Ontario to Portland, Maine, from where it would be shipped elsewhere? Come learn about the environmental and safety risks of this proposed project from people in the know, and learn about the effort to prevent Portland from becoming the tar sands capital of the eastern United States.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine and Sierra Club Maine have teamed up to bring national experts to Portland to discuss the environmental and safety risks of this proposed project, which would reverse the flow of existing pipelines to bring dangerous tar sands crude through our state.

The talk, Stop Dirty Tar Sands Oil from Coming Through Maine, will be held Thursday, February 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the Glickman Library at USM, University Events Room on the 5th floor.  Refreshments will be served.

The Canadian oil and gas giant Enbridge is proposing to pump dirty tar sands oil from Ontario to South Portland, Maine where it would be shipped by tanker to refineries along the East Coast or Gulf of Mexico.

The pipeline passes next to Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for Greater Portland –more than 15% of Maine people – and could endanger Casco Bay and Maine’s fishing and lobster industries. A pipeline leak in the Sebago watershed would be a nightmare. A single tanker accident in Casco Bay could devastate Maine’s fishing and lobster industries.

National experts from the National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council will present the facts and lead a discussion about preventing this risky project.

Jim Murphy from the National Wildlife Federation and Kate Colarulli from the Sierra Club will describe Alberta tar sands oil production—probably the dirtiest energy project on Earth—and its potential impact on Maine. They will share the story of tar sands oil, the environmental and global climate impacts, and how Maine is poised to become part of the larger battle by oil companies to bring tar sands crude to global markets via the Portland-Montreal pipeline and Portland Harbor.

Danielle Droitsch from the Natural Resources Defense Council will focus on tar sands oil pipeline safety issues, and reasons Maine people should be worried if this proposal goes forward.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so please RSVP to emmie@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0105.

If you haven’t done so yet, please take a moment and “Like” The Valley Voice on Facebook. Thank You!

Photo of Rabid Dog

AUGUSTA – With the addition of two foxes in the same York County neighborhood testing positive for rabies, the increased number of rabies cases in the first month of 2012 has prompted the Maine Center for Disease Control and the Maine Department of Agriculture to remind people to be cautious around wild animals and to vaccinate their pets.

In January 2012, 11 cases of rabies have been confirmed, while in 2011, only one animal tested positive for the virus. Rabid animals have been reported in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford and York counties.

“The uncharacteristically warm winter weather that we’ve been experiencing and the lack of significant snowfall may be contributing to the increase by enabling wild animals to roam more freely,” said Dr. Don Hoenig, State Veterinarian with the Maine Department of Agriculture. The rabies virus is spread when infected animals bite or scratch a person or another animal. The virus can also be spread if saliva or tissue from the brain or spinal cord touches broken skin or gets into the mouth, nose or eyes, Hoenig said. The most common wild animals to carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes.

Domestic mammals can also get rabies. Dr. Stephen Sears, State Epidemiologist from Maine CDC, reminds Mainers to avoid contact with wild animals, to keep their pets close to home and to make sure all pets are up to date on rabies vaccination. “By avoiding contact with wild animals and maintaining pet’s vaccination, we can prevent the spread of rabies,” said Dr. Sears. Rabies in humans is preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. It is important to report possible exposures right away to ensure appropriate follow up.

For more information, please contact your local animal control officer or the Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821.

The central and western Maine store certifications make Hannaford the leading green grocer in the state, with 12 of the 23 DEP certified stores

AUGUSTA – Hannaford is being recognized by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for its voluntary efforts to reduce the environmental impact of nine of the company’s supermarkets in central and western Maine.

This month, stores in Farmington, Gardiner, Jay, Madison, Rumford, Skowhegan, Waterville (Elm City Plaza and JFK Plaza) and Winthrop were certified by the department as Environmental Leaders, joining Hannaford’s two already certified stores in Augusta and one in South Portland to make the company the leading green grocer in Maine with 12 of the state’s 23 certified stores.

Their common green practices include selling a percentage of locally grown and produced food items that are highlighted with "Close to Home" signage and Gulf of Maine Research Institute verified sustainable seafood; using energy-efficient store lighting, water conserving fixtures in restrooms, heat recovery from refrigeration systems and environmentally preferable cleaning products; donating food to local food banks or pantries; recycling of paper, cardboard and plastic waste as well as composting of organic waste; and the adoption of a written stormwater management policy for parking lots.

The certified stores also maintain environmental information that educates customers and staff on the company’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact and have an environmental team of staff at each store that meets at least quarterly.

In 2009, Hannaford opened the first supermarket certified at the platinum LEED level by the U.S. Green Building Council. That store on Whitten Road in Augusta served as a learning laboratory for Hannaford’s sustainability activities and the Environmental Leader initiative furthered that effort, says Bernie Ouellette, a district manager for Hannaford in the Augusta-Waterville area

"We saw Environmental Leader certification as a way to increase focus on our sustainability work at a store level, while also engaging our associates," explained Ouellette. "Associates in these stores worked really hard to distinguish Hannaford, and themselves, as leaders in the area of sustainability."

As an example, the typical Hannaford store keeps 61 percent of its waste from going to a landfill – compared to around 45 percent for the industry. Hannaford stores participating in DEP’s Environmental Leader program averaged 78.7 percent.

The Environmental Leader program is a self-guided process offered by the department as part of its pollution prevention efforts that encourages lodging facilities, restaurants, and grocers to implement selected improvement initiatives from those offered in the department-developed workbook to achieve points towards certification. Businesses submit their completed workbook to DEP for review and certification approval, and must increase their point total to be recertified after two years.

As businesses work through the process, DEP’s regional directors and staff from its Office of Assistance provide free technical assistance to help participants implement sustainable practices, save money and reduce their environmental impact.

In addition to considerable cost savings, businesses are also incentivized to participate by recognition within store signage and marketing materials and by research that shows environmental designations are attractive to customers.

"Environmental Leader certification recognizes that our practices are good both for business success and Maine’s environment," said George Parmenter, manager of sustainability for Hannaford. "We encourage more grocery stores and other Maine businesses to take advantage of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s voluntary program encouraging sustainable business practices."

DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho says the Environmental Leader program shows that what is good for Maine’s environment is also good for the economy.

"We are so proud of our Environmental Leader program because it engages businesses in DEP’s core priority of protecting our natural resources while ensuring a vibrant and sustainable economy," Aho said. "Grocers who participate are seeing significant energy cost savings that are leading to increased profitably, allowing them to invest in infrastructure improvements and expansion of their workforce. And by selling locally-sourced food, they are also helping to grow the businesses of those local producers too."

For more information about the Environmental Leader certification program and a complete list of participants, go to http://www.maine.gov/dep/assistance or contact the Office of Assistance at 1-800-789-9802. For more information about the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, visit http://www.maine.gov/dep.

Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, operates 179 stores and employs more than 27,000 associates in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. The company’s Whitten Road store in Augusta was the world’s first supermarket to achieve LEED Platinum certification. For more information, visit http://www.hannaford.com

Concerned that the insect is spreading Down East, the Maine Forest Service (MFS) staff will look for evidence of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) on roadside hemlock trees particularly in the villages of Pretty Marsh and Seal Harbor, in the town of Mount Desert, according to MFS officials.

The crew also will work with national park and U.S. Forest Service staff to survey in Acadia National Park before moving on to other areas of the island and coastal Waldo, Hancock and Washington counties, said Allison Kanoti, MFS forest entomologist.

The invasive insect was reported last year at two sites on the island, as well as at a new site in January in Alfred, suggesting that the insect population is moving both inland and up Maine’s coast, Kanoti said.

“It’s another significant jump in the spread of this insect,” Kanoti said about the discovery on Mount Desert Island. “It brings it closer to another hemlock-rich area of Maine, the whole Down East area. There is a high concentration of hemlocks there.”

Hemlock woolly adelgid is a small, aphid-like insect that is covered with white, waxy wool-like material. This wool-like covering makes the insect resemble miniature cotton balls. It is most visible from late-October through July, with woolly masses located on the undersides of the twigs at the bases of the needles. The insect begins its egg-laying in March.

The insect, which came from Japan in the 1950s, causes infested trees to have off-color needles, often with a grayish cast, premature needle drop and twig dieback, and eventually, mortality.

Hemlock trees are a significant Maine tree species, Kanoti said. Often found near water bodies, hemlocks contribute to the state’s forest ecosystem by protecting water bodies, as well as the forest floor from erosion. Hemlocks buffer stream temperatures which can affect such species as brook trout. The trees, which are a favored landscape tree, also are important in deer wintering areas and contribute to the state’s forest products sector.

HWA has been found in at least 16 states. In Maine, it was first discovered in the forest in Kittery in 2003 and now has spread up the coast. The invasive insect has been found at three state parks, Ferry Beach State Park in 2008, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport in 2010, and Vaughan Woods State Park in South Berwick, also in 2010.

HWA populations can be reduced by clipping infested branches or hosing them off with water periodically from April through July; through biological control using predator beetles, as has been done in Maine state parks; and through chemical control with the application of pesticide consistent with label directions. Chemical control is generally necessary to maintain the appearance and health of infested ornamental hemlocks.

The Mount Desert detections of HWA were found by tree care professionals who discovered the insect on landscape stock that has been planted for more than 10 years, Kanoti said. It is unknown how the insect may have infested the trees.

“The question is whether they were infested when they were planted — it’s hard to know,” Kanoti said. “Or is there something in the forest around them? That’s what we’re trying to find out. That will determine our course of action.”

At the same time of the Mount Desert Island survey, MFS staff will conduct an annual survey of towns bordering known, infested communities, Kanoti said. Infested hemlocks in forested settings already have been found in 31 towns in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc and Lincoln counties.

The Alfred infestation is a “light infestation” found around a vernal pool in the southern part of town, the MFS forest entomologist said. It is the furthest inland natural-forest infestation in the state, she noted. Because the area has a high concentration of hemlocks and is near a lake, “it is conceivable that more will be found,” Kanoti said.

Following the Mount Desert Island survey, the MFS crew will begin examination of hemlock in the three eastern coastal counties.

“We have not surveyed these areas in several years,” Kanoti said, “and they are vulnerable because their somewhat more mild winter temperatures, exposure to migrating birds and also late winter-early spring storms that can carry the adelgid along the coast.”

The MFS entomologist said that this time of year is a good time for landowners to check their hemlock trees. The HWA masses are easy to see, and upper tree-canopy samples clipped by squirrels and porcupines may be found on the snow.

Maine residents who think they have found evidence of hemlock woolly adelgid can call or email the Maine Forest Service at: (207) 287-3147 or forestinfo@maine.gov

A new report on hemlock woolly adelgid management in northern New England is available at:

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/documents/HWA_S-T-S_FinalReport.pdf

Maine residents also can take the challenge on the Gulf of Maine Research Institutes Vital Signs Website:http://vitalsignsme.org/mission-hemlock-woolly-adelgid

For more information about the Maine Forest Service and hemlock woolly adelgid, go to:

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/index.shtml

and

http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/HemlockWoollyAdelgid.htm

Dear Friend,

On behalf of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, I am sending you this email today to inform you of an exciting new endeavor the Department has undertaken with the Wildlife Research Foundation.

We urge you to visit the Foundation’s new website by clicking here. A camera has been placed in a bear den in northern Maine, providing 24/7 streaming of one of our radio collared bears, “Lugnut” who birthed two cubs on January 16. This is the first time a live streaming video has been placed in a wild Maine Black Bear den.

The website provides us with an opportunity to share Lugnut’s world and watch her as she raises her cubs. You will also see videos of our bears “Spunky” and “Nell” and as the project develops, we will follow those bears and others.

There are videos that tell the story of the north Maine woods, its habitat, including how the camera was installed in the den. Fascinating stuff.

The video in Lugnut’s den provides not only a unique visual, but audio as well; the two cubs (yet un-named) often squeal and protest quite loudly as they adjust to life in the den.

The Foundation’s mission statement states their goal is to provide funds and support to the scientific community and wildlife managers to enhance wildlife and habitat research and inform and educate the general public concerning the value and necessity of wildlife research.

The bear cam allows us to do that in a fun and exciting way!

The Foundation approached the Department with this unique opportunity and we are pleased to work with them to educate the public on Maine’s Black Bear population and urge donations to the Department’s wildlife research projects. Maine is fortunate to have two of the most well respected bear biologists in the nation, Randy Cross and Jen Vashon, and I know the website will be an effective and exciting tool to educate people around the world about Maine’s Black Bears.

The website has become popular right out of the gate. It has been live for just two weeks, and has had over 15,000 visitors.

We encourage you to share this email and the link to the website with your family, friends and colleagues, urging them to follow the story of Lugnut and her cubs and to also support the work of the Foundation and Maine’s wildlife research projects.

Thank you very much and I hope you will follow Lugnut’s journey as I will on a daily basis!

Sincerely,

Chandler E. Woodcock
Commissioner
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Spectrum Generations will be closed on Monday, February 20, 2012 for Presidents Day

Cancellations and Delays

In the event of bad weather, call 626-7777 before heading to the Cohen Center. If no answer, please call 1-800-639-1553 to see if there is a recorded message for agency closings. Closings are posted on TV channel 6 & 8 and on WABK & 92 Moose radio.

February Events at Spectrum Generations’ Cohen Community Center

Please Pre-Register for Events

Many of the activities and events we offer have minimum participant requirements. Without a proper headcount we may have to cancel the program without notice. Thank you for registering early so that we can plan accordingly. 

Wear Red Day

On Fri., Feb. 3 wear red to show your support for women’s heart health. Show off your favorite red dress, hat, shirt, red tie…to raise awareness that heart disease—the #1 killer of women, is largely preventable. National Wear Red Day promotes the symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone—men and women alike—to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by wearing anything and everything red!

Local Author and Columnist, Katy Perry Offers Book Reading

Join the great Katy Perry at the Cohen Center on Fri., Feb. 10 at 12:30 as she reads exerts from some of the nine books she has had published.  Katy will discuss her books and answer audience questions.  Cost for this event is $3.00 per person and benefits the Cohen Center. Please pre-register at 626-7777.

Veteran’s Advocate Services

Conrad Edwards is available to answer questions pertaining to veteran’s services and benefits you may be entitled to, call 626-7777 to schedule your appointment for Mon., Feb. 13, 10:00 to 1:30.  Please bring your DD-214.

AARP Safe Driving Course

This program is a refresher course for drivers age 55 and older and will be offered at the Cohen Center on Mon., Feb. 13 (snow date Fri., Feb 17) from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.  The cost is $14.00 for AARP members and $16.00non-members. Lunch is $4 for over age 60 and $6 under age 60.  Minimum of 10 people is required. Pre-registration is required by calling 626-7777 or stop by the Cohen Center.

Caregiver Support Group

The support group meets on Tues., Feb. 14, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. All are welcome. Call Becca at 1-800-282-0764 Ext. 127 for more information.

Valentines Day Lunch & Dance

Celebrate with the Cohen Center on Tues., February 14, from 11:00 to 2:00. Enjoy Chef Carved Ham and Vegetable Stir Fry (full menu inside) from 11:00 to 12:30 and then let thedancing begin from 12:30ish to 2:00 with theSwingtime Band. Lunch is $5.00 for age 60+ and disabled and $7.00 for under age 60. Entry into the dance is $1.00 per person.  All proceeds benefit the Cohen Community Center.

Celebrate Senior Independence

February is National Senior Independence Month and a time for seniors to evaluate their lifestyles.

Spectrum Generations is here to help you keep your independence as much as possible by offering a number of programs and services that may assist you in living a happy enriched life. Come see what we have to offer on Wed., Feb. 15, at 9:30 with several guest speakers scheduled to discuss independent lifestyle options including health and wellness activities, nutrition, Bridges Care at Home, Matter of Balance, Adult DayBreak, Family

Caregiver, Case Management, volunteer opportunities and more. This is FREE and donations are always accepted and appreciated.

Bridges Help at Home ~ When Home is Where You Want to Be!

Is that vacuum getting heavy? Has preparing meals become an exhausting chore?  Bridges help at home provides caregivers to help you stay independent at home.  For more information, visit with Rachel McAllian and Jen Boynton on Tues., Feb 28, from 10:30 to 1:00 or call anytime at

623-0761. Remember Bridges – for the Best in Help at Home.

Herb-Roasted Pork Loin Smitane

Chef Bradford Slye of Cohen on the Meadows Catering will prepare a scrumptious plated and served meal on Tues., Feb. 28, from 11:00AM to 12:30PM. The cost for this meal is $8.95 per person and includes salad, main entrée, champagne braised cabbage, potato pancakes and Crème Caramel for dessert.  Reservations accepted and walk-ins are welcome. See menu inside.

AARP  Tax Aide Assistance

AARP is offering FREE (donations  to Cohen always accepted and appreciated) assistance with preparation of your State and Federal income tax returns beginning Tues., Feb. 2 and each Tues. and Thurs. until Tues., April 12, from 11:30-2:30PM, at the Cohen Center. This service is for taxpayers with middle and low income, with special attention to those age 60 and older.  Help for the homebound is available upon request. A list of documents needed will be provided when you call. Please call 626-7777 for an appointment. Walk in appointments are not available. 

Customized Computer Lessons

Bring your own laptop or use ours for private one-on-one computer lessons customized to your needs. Lessons are one and a half hours each Wed. at 12:00 or 1:45 based on availability. Cost is $10 each. Call 626-7777 to schedule your appointment and come learn with Les. 

Consumer Information Services Offers Information & Referrals

Consumer Information Specialist, Lynn is available several days each week at the Cohen Center to help you obtain information on health insurance, prescription drugs, energy assistance, Medicare, and other state, local and federal programs. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 626-7777 or 1-800-639-1553.

Free Notary Public Services

Notary Public, David Alexander, will be available each Fri., 11:30 to 1:00 offering free Notary services by appointment. Please call David at 272-6884 or call us at the Cohen Center at 626-7777 to schedule your appointment.

Good Shepherd Food Bank Challenge Fundraisers

Between Jan. 1, and March 31, we will raise $1,000.00 for the Good Shepherd Challenge Matching Grant.  Fundraisers for this event may include special lunches where we ask for an extra $1.00 per person or raffles. 100% of funds raised will be matched by the Good Shepherd Grant.  Personal donations are also greatly appreciated! Donations from you make it possible for us to continue our Nutrition & Meals on Wheels Programs. Please clip the coupon on the back page to send in your donation. Thank You!

On Going Events at Spectrum Generations’ Cohen Center

NOTE: Starting January 2, 2012 prices will increase by $1.00

for regular scheduled activities listed below 

Wood Carving

Each Mon. with Master Carver, Rene Pomerleau. 12:45 to 2:45. Cost is $3. From the novice to the expert carver…all are welcome.

Cribbage Games

Partner Cribbage each Mon., 1:00 to 3:45.  Cost: $3. NOTE: Cribbage will be played on Fri., Feb. 24. We will be closed on Mon., Feb. 20.

Mahjong: Watch and Learn Mondays & Wednesdays

Play each Mon. & Wed. at 1:00 or watch and learn how to play. Cost: $3.

Gentle Yoga for Age 50 and Over ~ Classes Suspended Until April

Yoga will resume each Tues. & Thurs. in April 2012.

Knitting/Crocheting Group

Needlecraft each Tues., from 1:00 to 3:00. Cost: $3.

Foot Clinic

1st and 3rd Wed. of each month from 8:00 to 11:30 by appointment with Linda Thompson, RN. $20 per person or $35 per couple. 

FREE Blood Pressure Clinic

1st and 3rd Wed., 12:15 to 1:00 with Linda Thompson, RN.

Game Day

Each Wed. 1:00 to 4:00. Bridge, Mahjong & Cribbage or organize your own team for other card or board games. Cost: $3.

Bridge Club

Each Thurs. 1:00 to 4:00. Cost: $3. Call Fran at 495-3490 FMI.

Book Discussion Group

Share your love of books on Fri., Feb. 3 & 17, at 12:30. “Sarah’s Key” by Tatiana De Rosnay will be discussed on Feb. 3. Several copies of this book are on loan to our book club from the Gardiner Public Library. Free

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)

Fridays., 8:00 to 9:00. Weekly fees are $3. Yearly dues to TOPS is $26. First TOPS visit at the Cohen Center is free. 

Upcoming Events in March 2012

Beginner Bridge Lessons

Learn how to play Bridge with Joan and Jerry Sandidge at the Cohen Center each Mon. & Thurs. morning beginning March 26 at 9:00. Cost is $36 for all 6 classes. Full details available at the Center. Must register.

Lunch Menu at Spectrum Generations’ Cohen Center

Public Lunch is Mon. – Fri. (unless otherwise posted) 11:00AM to 12:30PM. The suggested donation for age 60+ or disabled is $4.00 Under age 60 the cost is $6.00 unless otherwise stated.

Age 3 and under is free,age 4 to 12 is $4.00.

Lunch Menu

Wednesday, February 1  Sweet & Sour Chicken Entertainment: Dave McInnis

Thursday, February 2 Veal Parmesan

Friday, February 3  Ham & Potato Casserole Entertainment: Alton Penny

Monday, February 6  Chicken Florentine

Tuesday, February 7  Turkey Franks

Wednesday, February 8 American Chop Suey Entertainment: Ray Gaignard

Thursday, February 9 Chicken Pot Pie

Friday, February 10  **Good Shepherd Fundraiser ** Extra $1.00

Turkey  w/ Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Squash, Homemade Soup, Rolls, Salad & Create Your Own Sundaes  Entertainment: The Swingtime Trio

Monday, February 13 Sweet & Sour Pork

Tuesday, February 14 **Valentine’s Day Luncheon** Extra $1.00
Chef Carved Ham, Vegetable Stir Fry, Homemade Soup, Mashed Potatoes, Rice, Peas & Carrots, Garden Salad, Rolls & Strawberry Crisp

Wednesday, February 15  
Shepherds Pie Entertainment: Norm & Elaine

Thursday, February 16 
Cheese Manicotti

Friday, February 17  
Lemon Butter Fish Entertainment: Olde Tymers Band

Monday, February 20 
Center Closed – Presidents Day

Tuesday, February 21 
Sesame Meatballs Entertainment: Joyce Fessenden

Wednesday, February 22  
Chicken Divan Entertainment: Over the Hill Gang

Thursday, February 23 
Beef Stew Entertainment: Pineland Suzuki Fiddlers

Friday, February 24  
Roast Beef w/ Gravy Entertainment: Dave McInnis
Lunch will be served downstairs today.

Monday, February 27 
Beef Ravioli

Tuesday, February 28 Cohen on the Meadows **Special Feature Luncheon**
Roasted Pork Loin Smitane  (onions & mushrooms in a sour cream sauce) Champagne Braised Cabbage, Potato pancakes and more. Cost is $8.95

Wednesday, February 29  
Chicken w/ Country Gravy Entertainment: Dave Fisher

Menu subject to change

Johnson Hall
(downtown on Water Street)

PARTICIPATING FARMERS & PRODUCERS

Balfour Farm
Borealis Breads
Bridge Farm
Dragonfly Cove Farm
Emery Farm
Geroux’s Café Mixes
Longmeadow Farm
Oaklands Farm
Paula C’s
Pretzel Logic
Roseberry Farm
Snafu Acres Farm
Wholesome Holmstead

(To read more about your farmers & producers, click on the VENDORS page)
Website: http://gardinerfarmersmarket.org/

_______________________________________________

EBT CARDS & WIC ACCEPTED

The Gardiner Farmers’ Market is thrilled to be outfitted with one of the first market-wide EBT machines in the state of Maine. The card is swiped through the machine in exchange for tokens which can be used at any of the vendor tables.

Some of the vendors also accept WIC.

Bring any questions to the information table at Wednesday’s market.

____________________________________________

FOOD DONATIONS

BRING CANNED GOODS FROM HOME  or  BUY A LITTLE EXTRA AT THE MARKET & PASS IT ALONG

Every week, vendors pass along unsold products to people who might not otherwise have easy access to fresh and local foods.

We will also gladly accept any food donations you choose to leave.

Just look for the plastic deposit bin.  ALL DONATIONS GO TO THE FAITH CHRISTIAN FOOD PANTRY

THANK YOU!

Making sensible choices on what's best for Maine people.

Should we cut health care services for more than a hundred thousand Mainers, including seniors, the poor, people with disabilities and children?

Or, should we cancel the new tax cuts for the rich, make sure the 1% pay their fair share and invest in quality care that will cost us less and keep Maine healthier?

More than 1,800 of you have already spoken out, asking the legislature to do the right thing and reject Governor LePage’s extreme health care cuts.

Now, the Maine People’s Alliance, the Maine Medical Association, the Catholic Church, the Maine Small Business Coalition and others have come together to offer a specific alternative – a responsible solution for a moral budget. See the details here.

If you haven’t yet sent a message to the legislature asking them to make the right choice, you can do so right now, right here.

The Maine legislature will soon decide whether to cut care for people who need help or cancel tax breaks for those who don’t.

Please make sure they do the right thing.

Thank you.

Ben Chin

Maine People’s Alliance Political Engagement Director

ben@mainepeoplesalliance.org

Note: If you are reading this on The Valley Voice, please take a moment to “Like” us on Facebook.

City of Belfast: $40,000 for a conceptual design and engineering plan that identifies the feasibility of constructing 2.15 miles of a multi-use, pedestrian and bicycle path within the railroad right-of-way located adjacent to the Passagassawakeag River.

Midcoast Council of Governments: $47,500 for work to study and potentially open closed clam flats in collaboration with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Department of Environmental Protection , shellfish conservation committees of Woolwich, Phippsburg, West Bath, and Georgetown, and the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District.

Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission: $29,400 to implement water quality improvement recommendations from the Piscataqua Region Estuary Plan in Kittery, York, and South Berwick. SMRPC will work with each community on specific strategies that will support improved water quality.

Town of Topsham: $40,000 to hold public planning meetings for a Lower Village waterfront park and to develop, based on the public input received, a final design for the park. The town of Topsham has worked toward this goal since at least the early 1990′s as part of the town’s comprehensive plans, (1992 and 2005), 1996 Maine Street Plan, and 2008 Main Street Village Plan.

Hancock County Planning Commission: $35,000 for a Blue Hill Bay watershed needs assessment. Hancock County Planning Commission will work with the Friends of Blue Hill Bay and the towns of Trenton, Ellsworth, Mount Desert, Bar Harbor, Tremont, Surry, Blue Hill and Brooklin to engage communities, businesses, residents and local organizations in a program to assess the resources and threats to Blue Hill Bay. The goal of the project is to bring the partners together to develop a shared vision of the needs and potential solutions to challenges confronting the region.

City of Portland: $39,200 to develop an education campaign on stormwater management and stormwater infrastructure. The City of Portland, in partnership with the Casco Bay Estuary Project, will engage businesses, community leaders and residents in a discussion of the need for infrastructure maintenance and improvement and will work toward developing a funding mechanism to meet that need.

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission: $35,040 to evaluate the risks to infrastructure and the natural environment resulting from increasingly severe and more frequent coastal storms. LCPRC will work in partnership with Lincoln County, Maine Geologic Survey, and the 16 communities within Lincoln County.

Town of Wells: 25,000 to undertake a feasibility study, obtain public input, and design a pedestrian bridge to connect the eastern and western shores within the harbor and beach areas. This work responds to the town’s 2005 comprehensive plan which calls for an updated harbor plan and development of eco-tourism programs and facilities to enhance the town’s tourism economy.

The grants are made possible from Maine’s federal coastal management award from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). All of the projects include collaboration among partnerships and each grantee will provide a minimum of 25% in matching funds or services.

By Matthew LaRoche,

Nestled on the northeast shore of Chamberlain Lake is a historic dam that changed the course of water that originally flowed down the Allagash and into the St. John River; this water now flows south down the East Branch of the Penobscot.

In the early years ofMaine’s statehood, the Maine Legislature was strapped for money. The state had millions of acres of public land in northernMainethat was considered “forested wasteland” at that time. The state sold the land to speculators for pennies an acre to balance the budget. One speculator named David Pingree purchased several townships encompassing the headwater lakes of what is now the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW).

Pingree hired an engineer named Eben Coe to survey the property and report back on his findings. What Coe found was a vast wilderness area with great pine resources. The problem was how to get the pine logs to the profitableBangorlumber market. Eben Coe and David Pingree became partners in the business venture and proceeded to explore the possibility of changing the direction of the water flow fromChamberlainLake.

(courtesy of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands) (Drawing of dam and canoeists)This drawing shows how Lock Dam looked from 1920 through the 1940s.

HenceChamberlainLakeDam was built in 1841, now called Lock Dam, at the natural outlet of the lake, and a second dam was built on the south end ofTelosLake. A short channel, called “Telos Cut,” had to be dug at the Telos Dam site, and with the raising of the waters, the task of changing the flow of water from north to south was accomplished. Allagash pine could now be driven to the lucrative lumber market inBangor!

In the 1850s, Eben Coe redesigned the dam to include a series of locks used to float groups of logs fromEagleLaketoChamberlainLake. From there, they could be driven south to theBangorsaw mills. The lock process was slow and was abandoned in the early 1900s in favor of the steam-powered tramway located at the northeast end ofChamberlainLake.

Bangor Hydroelectric Co. eventually gained control of the dams at Telos and Chamberlain and managed the water resources of the lakes for down-stream power generation. In 1962, they buried the wooden structure, faced the now-earthen dam with wooden timbers for protection from ice movement in the winter and waves in the summer. They also installed a 3-foot diameter, gated culvert to provide water for canoeists traveling toEagleLakeand eventually down theAllagashRiver. In the year 2000, Bangor Hydro donated Lock and Telos dams to the State ofMaine.

In the spring of 2009, it was clear that time had taken its toll, and due to deterioration, some of the wooden facing detached and floated away; ice damage occurred, and the dam was in danger of breeching. A group of concerned citizens formed a nonprofit volunteer organization. The group raised cash and secured donations, including two dump trucks and fuel, for the repair of Lock Dam.

The Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands (BPL) contributed funds from the AWW capital improvement account. BPL personnel and volunteers worked together to implement a plan for repair of the dam using an amended design already on file with BPL. Permits were obtained from LURC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The winter road to the dam was brushed back and repaired, and as soon as the winter road was frozen enough to support construction equipment, work began on the 248-foot-long earthen dam. The wood facing and sheet metal were removed, large rip-rap topped with smaller ledge was placed on the lake side, and the top was built up to the original height.

Lock Dam is one of several culturally important historical sites in the AWW. It is important to canoeists and sportsmen who use the AWW. It maintains water levels that provide for a deep-water channel between Telos and Chamberlain lakes; water frontage for campsites and Nugent’s sporting camps on Chamberlain Lake; a barrier to non-native fish species should they become established above Allagash Falls; and it enhances the fisheries in the East Branch of the Penobscot drainage.

Lock Dam is a popular camping location for canoeists paddling the famous Allagash Wilderness Waterway. The dam keeper’s house where Milford Kidney and his wife, Maine author Dorothy Boone Kidney, lived for many summers is still used by waterway personnel for overnight accommodations when needed.

Telos and Lock Dams are managed by the AWW for recreational and fisheries management purposes. For information on the AWW please call 207-941-4014, email heidi.j.johnson@maine.gov. or write Bureau of Parks & Lands,106 Hogan Road,Bangor,ME04401.

If you haven’t done so yet, please take a few seconds and “Like” The Valley Voice on Facebook.

(left to right): Hope Elementary School teacher, Eric Wade, receives the 2012 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from Maine Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb, on January 11, at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show.*

AUGUSTA-Erik Wade, Hope Elementary School science and mathematics teacher, has been named the 2012 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Teacher of the Year. The award was presented to Wade by Maine Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb, on January 11 at the 71st Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta.

Wade, a firm believer in learning through doing, received the award for his work with students in developing a school-wide composting program and integrating a garden and greenhouse into the school curriculum. As part of the garden project, his students designed a greenhouse and raised beds, and then planted a variety of vegetables and flowers. In conjunction with this project, the entire school studied various aspects of agriculture, including pollination, plant systems, botany, and the water cycle. Parents were also involved, to provide support for the program.

In June, Wade will be honored at the National AITC Conference in Loveland, Colorado, with award-winners from other states. For more information on Wade, the award, and MAITC go to http://www.maineagintheclassroom.org/.

*Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC), located in the Maine Department of Agriculture, is a grassroots program coordinated by the US Department of Agriculture. MAITC’s mission is to promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public.*

The Hope School Garden Committee working at the Hope Elementary School greenhouse and community garden.

AUGUSTA

“Regularly scheduled Pap tests are critical in preventing cervical cancer,” said Dr. Sheila Pinette, Director of the MeCDC. “With the holiday rush over, now may be the perfect time to schedule a test.”

Cervical cancer is usually slow-growing and produces few symptoms. Going for a routine Pap test can make all the difference by helping medical staff spot potentially cancerous cells growing on the cervix, or neck of the womb, before it’s too late, said Dr. Pinette.

Women should check with their doctor to find out if they need a Pap test or other cancer screenings including a mammogram a FIT test (Fecal Immunochemical Test) or a colonoscopy.
For more information about breast, cervical or colorectal cancer or to learn if you qualify for free screening, women should call 1-800-350-5180 and press 1.

Largest Corporate Dairy, Biotech Firm and USDA Accused of
Conspiring to Corrupt Rulemaking and Pollute Organics

The Cornucopia Institute has formally requested that the USDA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigate corruption at its National Organic Program resulting in the use of illegal synthetics in organic food and then allowing powerful corporations to “game the system” for approval “after the fact.”

The controversy surrounds synthetic products—genetically modified soil fungus and algae—developed by Martek Biosciences Corporation (part of a $12 billion Dutch-based conglomerate) as nutritional supplements in organic food including milk, infant formula, and other foods. Martek’s formulated oils are processed with synthetic petrochemical solvents in a blend containing a myriad of other synthetic chemicals. Supplements derived from these oils, commonly marketed as DHA and ARA, are being added to milk, infant formula and other organic foods by such companies as Dean Foods (Horizon), Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Nurture, Inc. (Happy Baby).

Cornucopia’s research has linked Martek’s supplements to serious illness in some infants. To view the full news release, click here.

Monsanto Seeks to Squelch Patent Lawsuit

Image creator Grant Cochrane

Monsanto has moved to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its patent rights on genetically modified seeds. The Cornucopia Institute is among the 83 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations represented by the Public Patent Foundation in the lawsuit. The matter will be heard in a Manhattan courtroom in New York City on Tuesday, January 31.

“We are putting Monsanto on notice,” said Jim Gerritsen, a Maine family farmer and President of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. “Americans have the right to choice in the marketplace – to decide what kind of food they will feed their families – and we are taking this action on their behalf to protect that right to choose.”

Monsanto contends the lawsuit is a trivial publicity stunt. Supporters of the lawsuit are urged to attend the hearing to make a positive impression on presiding judge Naomi Buchwald concerning the seriousness of the matter. If you can travel to and attend this important hearing, in NYC, (farmers are especially encouraged) and would like more details, pleasecontact us.

“Family-scale farmers desperately need the judiciary branch of our government to balance the power Monsanto wields in the marketplace and through their legislative lobbyists,” notes Cornucopia’s Mark Kastel. “Farmers have saved seeds since the beginning of agriculture. It is outrageous that one corporate entity, through the trespass of what they refer to as their ‘technology,’ can intimidate and run roughshod over family farmers in this country.”

Office of Inspector General Investigating Management of
National Organic Dairy Program

The internal legal arm of the USDA is investigating the management and oversight of the nation’s organic dairy program by the National Organic Program (NOP). The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is expected to release a report early in 2012 regarding its preliminary investigation.

This report, according to Miles McEvoy, the director of the NOP, is the first stage of the organic dairy investigation. For the rest of 2012, the OIG expects to dig further into the matter, including site visits to organic dairies around the U.S.

Cornucopia welcomes this long needed investigation. Our research and onsite visits have documented numerous suspect management practices at factory-scale dairies with thousands of cows. The NOP has been slow to investigate the formal complaints filed by Cornucopia. Ethical family-scale farmers have been economically injured by factory farm scofflaws and consumers fooled by pretty images on cartons containing their faux organic milk. Cornucopia’s organic dairy scorecard provides guidance on brands sourcing milk from farmers with the best organic practices.

Say No to Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered Soy
Send Your Comment to the USDA

By deregulating one GMO after another (Round Up Ready alfalfa, “drought-resistant corn, etc.), President Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack have made it clear to the American public that they do not care about our concerns with genetically engineered food and its questionable safety, adverse environmental impacts, and detrimental effects on farmers, especially organic farmers.

We must keep the pressure on! Let’s continue to flood the USDA with public comments opposing their misguided and dangerous policy of indiscriminately releasing GMOs into America’s farm fields and food supply. Cornucopia already urged farmers and consumers to commenton Dow Agrosciences’ petition to deregulate corn that is resistant to the herbicide 2,4-D. Please also send comments opposing the petition by Monsanto for its soybeans that are high in stearidonic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that does not naturally occur in soybeans.

While an omega-3-rich soybean may appear beneficial to public health, the truth is that genetically engineering a ubiquitous monoculture crop to contain higher levels of just one particular nutrient will not solve our public health crisis, and might even exacerbate it. A healthy diet is about much more than simply increasing the levels of one particular omega-3 fatty acid. “Monsanto’s stearidonic acid soybeans is another band-aid solution that will do little to address the root of the problem with our nation’s ‘nutrition’ problem, which is people eating too many processed foods containing corn and soybean derivatives, and not eating a varied diet of nutrient-rich wholesome foods,” said Charlotte Vallaeys, Cornucopia’s Director of Farm and Food Policy.

Citizens can comment on the proposed approval of Monsanto’s stearidonic acid soybeans until February 27, 2012.

Enforcement Hammer Falls on Shamrock Dairy

Shamrock organic cows in feedlot

An industrial-scale organic dairy, located south of Phoenix in the desert Southwest, is poised to lose its USDA organic certification. The enforcement action at Shamrock Farmsfollows a USDA investigation into the dairy triggered by aformal legal complaint in 2008 from The Cornucopia Institute.

Shamrock operates a massive dairy that was milking approximately 16,000 cows at the time of Cornucopia’s visit. Between 700 and 1,100 of the cows at the split operation were in the organic milk herd; the remainder were part of a conventional dairy operated at the same sprawling complex.

“We found inadequate, overgrazed pasture adjacent to their milking facility, and we were told by Shamrock employees that the confined cows had not been out in weeks,” said Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for Cornucopia.

“At a time when conventional and organic dairy producers are all being squeezed by extraordinarily high feed prices, there is no doubt that large corporate-owned, vertically-integrated operations like Shamrock put downward pressure on farm gate prices,” said Will Fantle, Cornucopia’s Research Director. “If this dairy was indeed violating the law, they have taken profits out of the pockets of hard-working ethical family farmers.”

Support The Cornucopia Institute

The Cornucopia Institute is a non-profit group based in Wisconsin and working on food and farm policy issues concerning sustainable and organic agriculture. We depend upon our members and readers like you for support. Please visit our website at http://www.cornucopia.org/for more details about our activities and how you can become involved or email us at cultivate@cornucopia.org.

cultivate@cornucopia.org P.O. Box 126 Cornucopia, WI 54827 608-625-2042 2011

**Crystal

GRAY, Maine – Following the recommendations of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock, the Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby Board of Directors has decided to postpone the Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby and Kid’s Derby on Saturday January 28, 2012 to the date of Saturday, February 25, 2012. The event is postponed due to concerns for the public’s safety regarding ice conditions.

The annual Crystal Lake Ice Fishing Derby was expected to attract over 6,000 anglers. Benefits from the derby support Maine military families, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Hooked On Fishing program, and local community schools.

(woman with ash strips) Jennifer Neptune of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance displays strips of brown ash used to create her miniature baskets. The invasive insect, emerald ash borer, destroys ash trees, which are essential to the American Indian traditional craft.

AUGUSTA,Maine– There were 52 logs; 40 volunteers; eight trees from eight different sites; seven landowners; two workshops; and best of all, no emerald ash borer.

The Maine Forest Service, under the Maine Department of Conservation, this week finished up its bark-peeling project to look for evidence of the highly dangerous invasive insect, emerald ash borer (EAB). The results were just what MFS entomologists were hoping for.

After participating in two workshops on Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 and peeling 52 logs down to the cambium, or living layer, the volunteers found no tell-tale signs of the harmful EAB that is threateningMaine’s forests, MFS officials said.

“Although I am heartened by these results that mirror those of various previous surveys, they are not a basis for complacency,” Dave Struble,Maine state entomologist, said. “EAB is established just outside the borders ofNew England and is knocking at our door.  Now is not the time to drop our guard.”

Seven landowners from central Maine, who earlier this year created tree traps to look for emerald ash borer (EAB), brought wood samples to the two workshops to be peeled by volunteers and examined for signs of the dangerous insect, said Colleen Teerling, Maine Forest Service entomologist.

Earlier this year, the Maine Forest Service had asked land owners to volunteer to make tree traps for EAB by girdling a tree, or stripping bark from around an ash tree. Girdling the tree causes the tree to become stressed and release chemicals attractive to the EAB.

(photos courtesy of the Maine Department of Conservation) (man peeling wood) Tom Fox, consulting forester from Orland, peels a piece of ash from his woodlot during a recent Maine Forest Service workshop. Peeling off bark is a way to look for the invasive species, emerald ash borer, which kills ash trees.

“People were enthusiastic, they were happy to talk to each other and share their knowledge,” Teerling said about the bark-peeling sessions. “That cross pollination was a good thing.”

The MFS entomologist pointed out that the volunteers “started to own the whole process” of looking for EAB evidence. “It renewed the importance of looking for invasive insects,” she said.

The tree-girdling project grew out of the efforts of the Black Ash Task Force, a collaboration of the Maine Forest Service (MFS),University of Maine,MaineIndian BasketmakersAllianceand the U.S. Forest Service, Teerling said. The 40 volunteers who took part in the two workshops included the landowners, MFS foresters, members of the Penobscot Nation, and other task force representatives, she said.

EAB, which has not been found inMaine, has killed millions of ash trees across the nation and threatens all ofMaine’s ash resource, from individual ash shade trees in yards and lining town streets to stands of white, green and black ash in the forests. The invasive insect has been found inNew York,Pennsylvania,Michigan,Maryland, and the Canadian provinces ofQuebecandOntario.

Some treatment is possible to prolong the life of affected trees, but in general, after a tree is infested by the beetle, it dies. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 25 million trees in theU.S.have been affected by the emerald ash borer.

Tom Fox, a consulting forester from Orland, girdled four trees and brought in the bolts, or logs, for the Jan. 24 workshop held at the MFS headquarters at Bolton Hill. Fox said he had the opportunity to see the devastation caused by EAB during a recent forestry tour atKingston,New York.

“I saw a lot of residential trees that were dead and where emerald ash borer had taken living ash,” as well as dead trees in woodlands, he said. Noting thatMaineresidents and foresters can learn from other states, Fox said the tour “raised my concern about in how the state ofMainewe have the opportunity to develop our own program.

“It’s important that we work to get together and form a response team when it happens inMaine,” he said.

Jennifer Neptune of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, who has been making baskets for about 20 years using brown ash, also attended the Jan. 24 workshop and observed the bark-peeling process.

Neptune, who specializes in miniature baskets, commented on the significance of looking for EAB inMaineash as a way to preserve a unique American Indian craft.

“It’s really important, because if something happens to the ash,” she said, “it could be the end of our tradition which has been going on for thousands of years. It’s part of our creation story, and part of who we are.”

For the past three years, the Maine Forest Service has been using sophisticated detection methods to surveyMaine’s ash resource for the possible presence of EAB. Bio-surveillance – monitoring the nests of predatory wasps that eat EAB – has gone on at 18 sites around the state, and this summer, some 955 distinctive purple traps will be placed at key locales.

Tree girdling is the most sensitive way to monitor for EAB because it draws more beetles, Teerling noted. That method and bio-surveillance, however, also are very labor intensive.

Nonetheless, this year’s bark-peeling efforts “worked really well,” Teerling said. “We certainly will consider doing this again next year.”

For a video of the Jan. 24 bark-peeling workshop, go to: www.maine.gov/doc/MFS_bark_peeling.wmv

For more information about EAB, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/InvasiveThreats.htm

For more information about the Maine Forest Service, go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/index.shtml

Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in favor of LD 1437, “An Act to Implement the Recommendations of Reinventing Maine Government”

Senator Rector, Representative Prescott, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development; My name is Nancy Smith, I live in Monmouth, and I am the Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine. As many of you know from our previous interactions with the committee, GrowSmart Maine is the only statewide non-profit organization working at the intersection of our communities, the economy and the environment.

As a part of our commitment to strengthening Maine’s economy, GrowSmart Maine is particularly enthusiastic about well grounded, thoughtful and creative proposals which seek to grow the economy in a sustainable manner while at the same time preserving our state’s unique character. We believe this bill fits that description, and I’m eager to engage in the conversations today and afterwards, as we all seek to measure the impact related to the various reports highlighted in the bill summary.

I’d like to share with you my connection with these reports:

Charting Maine’s Future; GrowSmart Maine brought the Brookings Institution to Maine and was a key partner throughout the research process and in distributing the final report. We now focus on implementation of key action plan steps.

Time for Change, the Final Report of the Joint Select Committee on Future Maine Prosperity; I served on this committee as House Chair of BRED.

Measures of Growth in Focus, by the Maine Economic Growth Council of MDF; I served on the Council for the 2010 and 2011 reports and also made a point to highlight these benchmarks as the committee evaluated various bills.

(I still have a poster of the 2010 benchmarks, now in the GSM offices.)

Reinventing Maine Government by Envision Maine, was commissioned by GrowSmart Maine because more effective government on all levels will make available private and public resources for the investments recommended in the original report, Charting Maine’s Future.

Although I can claim no connection the now 3-part series on Making Maine Work by the Maine Development Foundation and Maine State Chamber of Commerce, I am a strong supporter of this effort for bringing essential attention to the issues outlined in the reports.

I’m very pleased that Sen. Woodbury is drawing attention to the incredible potential held in these reports. I’d also like to recommend inclusion of another report in the process being proposed through this legislation, “The 2010 Maine Science and Technology Plan, A Bold Approach to Stimulate Maine’s Economy”, created by the Office of Innovation, within the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. http://www.maine.gov/decd/innovation/reports_and_publications/index.shtml

I’d like to provide a brief summary of our efforts in the coming year, as Sen. Woodbury mentioned in his opening remarks. I believe our work will be quite compatible with what is proposed in LD 1437. GrowSmart Maine continues its ongoing efforts in advocacy, and community planning projects such as our current effort, ReEnvisioning the Highway Strip, and the network weaving that is core to our work, as we bring the right people together to take on issues that matter most to Maine.

In addition, this year we are developing Charting Maine’s Future 2020: Results. Impact. Action. This is not a new report; far from it! It is an assessment of actions to date, highlighting good work going on across the state.

On the attached handout, “An Action Plan for Promoting Sustainable Prosperity in Maine” you will see the key recommendations of Charting Maine’s Future. Real progress has occurred in many of these areas, although I found this is seldom reflected in conversations around the state. We created a scorecard to document the results, and that step is easy enough, although in need of regular updates. In the coming year, we’ll be highlighting the IMPACT of those results on communities and businesses; on Mainers across the state. In addition, we will update the action plan to reflect Maine’s current opportunities. As we gather the facts, figures, and dollar values tied to each strategy, we will share the stories that tell the true impact on Maine.

This process will likely lead us to, and provide the agenda for, a GrowSmart Maine Summit in October, where Mainers will come together to share what they’ve accomplished, learn from each other, and leave newly empowered to continue good work in their own communities and businesses.

I’ve selected a few action plan strategies to highlight, as you’ll see in the notes attached to my testimony. I encourage you all to connect with us at our website, www.growsmartmaine.org, where we’ll be reaching out for these stories, and will keep you posted on these efforts.

I see the concept recommended by Senator Woodbury in this bill as being essential, and highly compatible with the efforts of GrowSmart Maine and the others gathered here. While we focus on a broad range of strategies, this singular focus on required legislative efforts is needed for Maine to achieve its full potential; that of creating a strong and sustainable economy in a way that strengthens our people and our incredible natural and built quality places.

I look forward to working with the LCRED committee, the bill sponsor, and all engaged Mainers. Thank you for the opportunity to present these remarks.

Charting Maine’s Future 2020

A Few Results to Date

Invest in a Place-based and Innovation-focused Economy

Community for Maine’s Future bond passed in June 2010, $3.5MM disbursed to 11 towns across the state in late 2011.

Land for Maine’s Future continues to enjoy broad support across the state. Although the Fund is currently empty, there have been numerous bonds to support working and natural land conservation, working waterfront, and state parks.

Maine Technology Asset Fund, administered through Maine Technology Institute. As with LMF, the MTAF has enjoyed several successful bond issues focused on research and development. In addition, last October MTI received a $3MM gift from Blackstone Charitable Foundation to enhance entrepreneurship and innovation in Maine.

Support Revitalization of Maine’s Towns & Cities while Channeling Growth

New Model Building and Rehabilitation Codes: Maine currently has in place the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code, which includes a code for existing buildings. MUBEC is in effect for communities with populations above 4,000 as well as those smaller communities that choose to adopt it.

Maine Downtown Center funding, as supported by this committee, has enabled the MDC to expand its outreach to even more communities.

Model codes and ordinances: The town of Standish adopted form-based codes for its Standish Village in 2011. In addition, Cultivating Maine’s Agricultural Future: New Guide for Towns Looking to Encourage Local Farming was released by Maine Farmland Trust in 2011, and includes numerous model ordinances to support farming throughout Maine.

Maine’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit was greatly improved in 2008, and last year the sunset provision was extended to 2023. An economic impact report produced last year demonstrates the success of this effort. In just two years, this tax credit resulted in 22 projects in 14 communities across seven counties. $125 million has been invested here in Maine, creating 700 construction jobs and 200 long term jobs.

Trim Government to Invest in Maine’s Economy & to Finance Tax Reform

Income tax reduction passed as part of Tax Reform in the 124^th Legislature, and was then overturned in voter referendum June 2010. It passed as component of state budget in 2011, to be effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Property taxes were addressed in 2005, through LD 1, although the goal of state general fund paying 55% funding of education has yet to be achieved.

Charting Maine’s Future recommended creation of a BRAC-like Maine Government Efficiency Commission to locate program savings. Maine now has in place the Office of Program Evaluation & Government Accountability (OPEGA). ReInventing Maine Government was published in the fall of 2010 to further such efforts.

This is just a short list of documented results tying back to Charting Maine’s Future.

What will follow is a measure of the impact these investments and policy changes have had throughout Maine, one community, one business at a time.

In Charting Maine’s Future 2020, GrowSmart Maine will look beyond the data, and capture the impact of these changes across Maine. We will ensure that updated strategies reflect Maine today, and empower people across the state to continue that work that is resulting in real change in their communities.

We’ll be working to highlight the successes since 2006, adjust the action plan to reflect today’s challenges and strategies, and continue to bring the right people together to take on the issues that matter most for Maine.

GrowSmart Maine
309 Cumberland Ave, Suite #202
Portland, ME 04101
207.699.4330 x 3

Join us in building a more sustainable, prosperous future for Maine

www.growsmartmaine.org
www.maine.gov/doc/hfs/projectcanopy

WHAT

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands reservation system will be open for Sebago Lake State Park campground reservations only on Feb. 1, and for all state park campgrounds at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, according to BPL officials.

Online-reservation start days once again are being split, with reservations being taken for the very popular Sebago Lake camp sites only starting on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to reduce wait times.

As of opening reservation day, there will be no fee increase for sites at the state park campgrounds. Fees, however, do vary from campground to campground, with the highest fees for non-residents who want sites with water and electricity hookups.

Campers can make reservations at Maine state campgrounds in four ways:

• Online at www.campwithme.com
• By calling 9 a.m.-4 p.m. business days, in state at 800-332-1501; or out-of-state at 207-624-9950
• By mailing reservations to: Bureau of Parks and Lands, ATTN.: Reservations, 22 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333. Mailed reservation requests must not be postmarked before Feb. 1, 2012.
• By dropping off completed reservation forms, which will be processed during business hours at the Augusta office.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Sebago Lake reservations will be accepted for a four-night minimum stay only. This is being done because Sebago tends to average longer stays than other campgrounds.

For more information and complete registration details, as well as a “New for 2012″ tutorial to make an online reservation, go to: http://www.campwithme.com