An article in today's New York Times discusses a new report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston which found that Maine has a strong tourist economy but a relatively weak yearlong economy in the wake of our dissolving manufacturing base. Hardly breaking news.

But the extent of the trouble is: According to the Reserve, Maine is one of only two states in the country to suffer economic decline in 2005. The other state is Louisiana.

Officials cited in the Times article blame our shoddy showing on business and residents' fears during contract renewal for Bath Iron Works, the closing of the Brunswick Naval Air Station, and Bank of America buying MBNA.

According to the Times, some in Maine say the state needs to cut taxes and train workers more effectively:

Dr. John Fitzsimmons, president of the Maine Community College System, said that about 4,200 technical jobs in health care, manufacturing and construction went begging or were filled by people from out-of-state because of a shortage of slots in Maine's associate degree programs.

"What you have is a local work force not being upgraded for job opportunities that already exist in the home state," Dr. Fitzsimmons said.

To read the report in the current issue of the Reserve's Indicators magazine, click here.

6/29/2006 4:12:31 PM by Sara Donnelly | Comments [0] |  

The Natural Resources Council of Maine will host a screening of Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" on Thursday, July 6, at 7 pm. 

"Truth" opens this Wednesday at the Movies On Exchange in Portland. It runs from June 28 through July 25. NRCM staff will introduce the movie at their event next week by talking about global warming, its effect on Maine, and what we can do about it. Tickets cost $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and students, and $5 for children.

Anyway, the movie, if you haven't already heard this a hundred times by now, is about Al Gore's number one issue these days - global warming.

Al Gore is good and pissed about global warming (as evidenced below). Find out why this weekend.

 

6/26/2006 6:00:45 PM by Sara Donnelly | Comments [0] |  

UPDATED June 22, 2:15 pm.
I just talked to the company president, Jon Cadoux, who explained how this all came about. Apparently, the company sent out a sample to another media outlet a week or so ago, in packaging that they thought was more restrained and more environmentally aware, and got a call from an irate reporter, who had opened the box to broken glass and a sopping-wet press kit, because the bottle had broken during shipment.

So this time they went the other direction, overpackaging and hoping for success. Cadoux said he appreciated my feedback, and said he would look into finding other ways to ship samples. I suggested to him that they do it the way Sam Adams ships beer samples - in a 12-pack box, with the 12-pack dividers in place. Two sample bottles are wrapped in bubble wrap (they're not marketing themselves as organic; I suggested Cadoux use corrugated cardboard or cellulose "peanuts" instead), and put in the middle two slots, the only two spaces in the carton that do not directly contact the outside of the box. That gives the bottles plenty of cushioning, and there's room for press materials. Plus, the whole thing (except the bubble wrap) is recyclable.

He said he'd look into that, as well as finding other ideas for how to ship beer without breaking. All told, he was a pretty nice guy, and recognized the faux pas. Apparently, he just can't win, yet. But he's trying hard, so we'll give him credit for effort. Look for an update when the next Peak Brewing package comes in to the Phoenix office!


---Previous posting---

A new beer company, brewing its wares in Portland, has sent a sample of its product to our office.

Opening the box, from Peak Organics, a company whose board chairman is Gary Hirshberg, organic-foods guru and head of Stonyfield Farm Yogurt, revealed a bottle of beer in a Ziploc-style plastic bag, surrounded by bubble wrap, and packed into a needlessly large box with Styrofoam peanuts. (See picture.)

The marketing material touts the fact that the beer is made "without toxic and persistent pesticides and chemical fertilizers," saying that is "more enjoyable, both for consumers and for the planet."

"The company is a strong supporter of the environment," said Sue McGovern, the company's PR consultant, when I called to ask "what gives?" with the packaging that is as environmentally insensitive as it gets.

"Organic is a system of agriculture," she said, "not a lifestyle statement." But surely she can't believe that.

Anecdotes from consumers - who, in a cool twist, can win contests and have their names, photos, and quotes appear on bottles of the beer - were included in the press kit as well as on the company's Web site. They described "peak experiences" with nature and the outdoors, clearly marketing the product at people who value the Earth.

The sample beer was, the company said, brewed in Portland. The package was postmarked in Burlington, Massachusetts, where the company also has an office, meaning a beer made in Portland was sent to Massachusetts to be packaged up and sent back to Portland. Is this efficient, either?

McGovern said the company, and many who support organics and environmentally responsible actions, is "looking for progress, not perfection."

She asked me how I would have shipped a liquid beverage in a glass bottle. Apart from the fact that it's a needless marketing ploy that cost $5 to mail, I suggested wrapping it in corrugated-cardboard wrapping and cushioning it with crushed paper or recycled-paper "peanuts." (I'm still not sure whether the plastic bag was necessary, though if the bottle did break, that would be a nice touch.)

McGovern also noted that the company president, Jon Cadoux, personally wrapped the beer in all that plastic for packaging. Apparently, Cadoux will be calling me sometime today or tomorrow to talk more about this.

What do you think? What should I tell Cadoux when he calls? I'll update this when he does.

6/22/2006 12:16:31 PM by Jeff Inglis | Comments [0] |  

Anti-war activists plan to gather in a peaceful demonstration in Tommy's Park in Portland on July 7 to read the names of the US dead in the Iraq War to date and an equal number of names of Iraqi dead. The gathering will begin at 11:30 am and the reading of the names will begin at 1:00 pm. According to figures released by the Pentagon last week, the number of US military killed in Iraq has reached 2500. Some tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, reports Reuters news service.

The reading is being organized by Maine Veterans for Peace. A related email sent by Jack Bussell, a MVP board member, predicts the reading will take at least six hours. He encourages participants to bring lawn chairs, umbrellas, and "drinks and snacks to share."

The rain date for the event is Friday, July 14 at the same time and place.

6/21/2006 4:15:09 PM by Sara Donnelly | Comments [0] |  

A moose found wandering in the East End was killed this morning. Portland police say one and possibly two moose came ashore on East End Beach this morning. One ended up in Back Cove, where it was scared off into woods near Payson Park by the sound of emergency vehicles' sirens, as well as some bean bags shot at it.

A short time later, another moose - or possibly the same one - was spotted back near Munjoy Hill, where it was hit by a tow truck and severely injured. Portland police say the moose was so badly injured that a state wildlife biologist and a state game warden agreed to "euthanize" the animal, by shooting it.

6/20/2006 4:46:27 PM by Jeff Inglis | Comments [0] |  

It's the day after the primary election and the two Dems vying for Senator Olympia Snowe's job have spent most of it not knowing which of them will get the party's nomination. With 94 percent of precincts reporting by mid-afternoon, Jean Hay Bright, of Dixmont, had 50.68% of the vote (that's 22,360 people) and Eric Mehnert, of Orono, had 49.32% (that's 21,760 people), according to the Bangor Daily News. That's a difference of 600 votes. Before the loser demands a recount, that is.

At 6 pm today, Hay Bright sent out a press release declaring victory. No word yet on a concession from Mehnert.

But at least some results are final, the Republican's candidate for governor has officially been selected - it's Chandler Woodcock by an appendage that has nothing to do with sex. Get your minds out of the gutter.

As I write this post, Woodcock leads the next most popular candidate, Peter Mills, by only three percentage points. Mills and Emery conceded defeat in a press conference earlier this afternoon. So, Woodcock it is. Sure, you might not have heard of him. And if you have, it's only because you happened to overhear some guy make fun of his last name after one too many at Brian Boru. But, look out, he might be our next governor! Here are a few things about him to whet your palate - he wears bowties, he lives in Farmington, he was a Maine senator, and he opposes abortion except in the case of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. Sounds exciting.

If this laundry list of random tidbits has not satisfied your lust for Woodcock, click here to get a nice hard dose of his full story.

If you're just curious to see what this Woodcock guy looks like, look no further:

That's Chandler there in the middle (note the bowtie, irreverantly askew) between Dave Emery on the left, who's probably laughing because he thinks he's going to win the primary, which he won't, and Peter Mills, who looks like he forsees, accurately, that he will lose.

Oh, and Governor Baldacci beat Chris Miller by a margin of 3-1 in the Democratic primary for governor. That one was pretty cut and dry and, sadly, did not involve bowties.

6/14/2006 5:26:35 PM by Sara Donnelly | Comments [0] |  

Portland city attorney Gary Wood issued a press release last night with the city's official response to the vote by Peaks Island residents that they wish to secede from the city of Portland and form their own community.

Interestingly, the press release included all of the changes made by city officials in the drafting of the response, which may offer clues to the city's possible response when the matter moves to the Legislature.

Among the deleted passages: "Peaks voters should be aware that in upcoming negotiations over the cost of secession and other issues, we have a duty to the rest of the city to negotiate and, if necessary, lobby in Augusta for the best terms for Portland's businesses and residents."

Another deleted portion suggests that the city will lobby in Augusta to outright oppose a secession bill in the Legislature.

The entire text of the release is below.

PRESS RELEASE/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                      June 13, 2006

RE:     Peaks Island Secession

Tentative results from the secession vote on Peaks Island show that secession is likely to prevail.  They show 352 voters voting in favor of secession and 259 voters voting in opposition.  City Clerk, Linda Cohen, said that there are not enough absentee ballots or challenged ballots to overturn these tentative results but in keeping with state law, results will not be final until tomorrow.

In response to those results, Mayor James Cohen issued the following statement:

Today is a sad day for the City of Portland. Peaks Island and the City of Portland have been together for over 200 years, and the City respects Peaks Island as an important and unique island community within the City of Portland.  Sadly, a majority of island residents voted today to begin the difficult process of separation from Portland. 

While the City respects the will of the voters on Peaks Island, it is my belief that secession ultimately will make residents of both the island and the mainland worse off.  Secession leads to duplication of services, and that hurts all of us.  Maine communities need to be coming together during times like these, not moving apart.

I do wish to acknowledge the hard work of city staff and island residents over the course of the last few months as the secession issue has been before us.  The issues have not been easy, but true to the community spirit of Portland, the participants treated each other with dignity and respect.  I expect no less as discussions continue regarding the future of the Island.  Despite the best and in my opinion significant efforts made by the City over the course of its 200-year history with Peaks Island, a majority of the voters on that island have today decided to proceed with the secession effort.  We don’t agree with the majority but we respect the process and accept the result.

We will now in good-faith engage in the mediation and arbitration required by the secession law.

Peaks voters should be aware thatAs far as where we go from here, in upcoming arbitration and mediation negotiations over the cost of secession,  and other issues, we the Portland City Council hashave a duty to the rest of the City to negotiate and, if necessary, lobby in Augusta for the best interests of the remaining residents and taxpayers in Portland.  terms for Portland’s businesses and residents.This may include opposing secession efforts within the Legislature, or advocating for a division of costs and responsibilities that protect other city residents from increased financial burdens related to secession.  In the meantime, the City of Portland is committed to maintaining City services on Peaks Island as the secession process moves forward.   

Mediation and arbitration will need to resolve a number of significant issues in a way that does not pass any tax burden resulting from secession onto the other city residents and property owners.  From my point of view as Mayor and as the District 5 Councilor, we should also oppose passage of any secession legislation for the same reasons that we opposed secession to begin with: it is far better for all elements of a community to work together to seek compromise than to separate, because separation is not only an expression of failure but is also something counter to fundamental governmental principles including the need to regionalize government services whenever possible to save taxpayer dollars.

 During the difficult period before the issue goes to the Legislature next year, we are committed to maintaining City services on Peaks Island. 

6/14/2006 8:49:55 AM by Jeff Inglis | Comments [0] |  

Here's a sign of the times: today, the Bangor Daily News reported that an Aroostook arts organization has taken refuge inside the Aroostook Centre Mall. The Aroostook Arts and Education Centre, which teaches kids and adults about creative and dramatic arts, will move into a 1385-square-foot space next to Sears as early as this fall. The Mall donated the space free to the arts organization until March 2007 but has made it clear the Centre can rent thereafter.

The BDN reports that "organizers initially looked into partnering with the local historical society, but when they realized that their concept wouldn't fit there, they went to see the possibilities at the mall."

To read the entire article go here.

To shop for the latest sassy outfits go here.

To see classic art in mall lingerie, stay right here:

6/8/2006 4:06:16 PM by Sara Donnelly | Comments [1] |  

Boaters in southern Maine can breathe a little easier now that the Strout's Point Wharf Company, a marina in Freeport, is offering biodiesel fuel. The marina announced the new fuel in a press release this week. 

Biodiesel is made from renewable resources like soybeans or vegetable oil and marketed versions usually are mixed with petroleum. Diesel engines can process the fuel with few to no modifications. The owner of Strout's Point, Ted Wengren, said in the press release that he has used biodiesel to fuel his boat and it "ran cleaner, with a reduction of odor and soot out over the transom.”

In its pure form, biodiesel is nontoxic and biodegradable. Strout's Point is billing itself as the first marina in the state to jump on the biodiesel bandwagon.

Giddyup.

6/7/2006 3:08:18 PM by Sara Donnelly | Comments [0] |  

An announcement by the Maine Global Action Network (MeGAN), went statewide last night, marked "urgent," and saying "please broadcast."

So we hope you'll forgive us for being surprised at the tone of this morning's retraction, which also went to the group's entire e-mail list, including media outlets like the Phoenix, which called the previous announcement a "press release," but then went on to say, "Unfortunately, the press has gotten ahold of it and that is very embarrassing."

The subject of the announcement is LD 1789, the anti-environmental-terrorism bill gutted by lawmakers and then passed into law. The group claimed that the law was part of a series of actions by state government "that deter the basic constitutional rights of free speech and political dissent." So it's not at all surprising that even those on the e-mail list who are not themselves affiliated with media outlets might have passed them on right away to any contacts they had.

The error is embarrassing, but the fact that the press has "gotten ahold of" a widely distributed e-mail some consider a "press release," is hardly the problem.


The retraction, and then the release, follow:

Please note that the press release that includes comments on LD 1789
was released in error - it was a draft, for discussion purposes only,
and should not have been posted to this list.  Nor has it been adopted
by the Maine Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.   It contained
incorrect information and is being rewritten.  Please do not distribute
any further.  Unfortunately, the press has gotten ahold of it and that
is very embarrassing.
Lynne Williams

------

---

_______________________________________________
Megan mailing list
Megan@lists.maineindymedia.org
http://lists.maineindymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/megan

6/6/2006 10:47:00 AM by Jeff Inglis | Comments [0] |  

Appearing tonight at the South Portland Marriott with Governor John Baldacci is former president Bill Clinton. Why the Dems have flown in their biggest asset to boost a governor whose approval ratings are right up there with Dubya is an interesting point.

Clinton, who apparently can draw $500 a plate in Maine (and much, much more elsewhere), will attempt to lift the reelection odds of Baldacci, who faces not only a runoff in his own party (admittedly against a dark horse), but the winner of an impressive three-man Republican primary field, and a Green Independent candidate.

The national Dems are no doubt concerned about keeping hold of a vulnerable Democratic governorship in the year they are trying to retake the US House of Representatives. But with a visit from Arizona senator John McCain boosting Republican David Emery, Baldacci may be feeling the heat.

His poll numbers, according to a statewide study released last week by Critical Insights, are in the toilet, with an approval rating of 47 percent, but only 30 percent having a "favorable opinion" of him. And it is a dead heat whether Baldacci deserves to be reelected, as the difference between the number of those who say yes and those who say no is within the study's margin of error.

If Clinton says Baldacci should be reelected, though, maybe those numbers will jump. And just maybe, they'll stay high enough through the fall to keep the guy in office.

(Look for more details on the gov's primary - and the Democratic primary for the privilege of challenging Olympia Snowe - in this week's issue of the Phoenix.)

6/5/2006 2:14:00 PM by Jeff Inglis | Comments [0] |