The Maine Department of Transportation is planning how to make traffic (car, bike, and foot, presumably) flow more safely and smoothly at Exit 7, off 295. But several groups, including the League of Young Voters, the Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation, and the Franklin Reclamation Authority, are expressing disappointment that the most recent MDOT plan does not include a scheme to connect Franklin with Back Cove for pedestrians.

What isn't happening tomorrow?

-- From 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Local Sprouts Community Kitchen will host an open house in its new Public Market House digs.

-- At 2 p.m., outside of the Kennebunk Water District office, a coalition of water-rights activists will hold a rally and press conference to protest the proposed Nestle contract there

In front of a youngish crowd dressed as lobsters, Environment Maine and several public officials (including city councilors Jim Cohen and Nick Mavodones, and David Littell, the state's environmental commissioner) touted a new report this morning, full of practical ways to curb global warming. The report, "Global Warming Solutions That Work: Cutting-Edge Efforts to Curb Global Warming Pollution and the Lessons They Hold for America," includes case studies of successful strategies worldwide, such as transit-oriented development in Arlington, Virginia; pro-bike programs in Portland, Oregon; development of the renewable-energy industry in Spain; and widespread implementation of solar water heaters in Israel

New site, created to call out "projects that obviously were not vetted by the Maine Sensible Transportation Act...[which was] created to keep MDOT from completely paving over Maine, after Mainers were worn down and relented to allow the widening of Rt 95 south of Portland," according to an email sent out by webmaster Tim Sullivan.

US Senator Susan Collins, who is running for re-election this fall, voted today to continue massive subsidies for oil corporations, and in opposition to taxing those companies' windfall profits. The vote was technically on a measure to end debate and proceed to a vote on the matter, but her vote to keep debate going ensured there would be no up-or-down vote on the proposal, which would have taken $17 billion in tax breaks over the next 10 years away from oil companies and given it to renewable-energy firms.

There are plenty of interesting things to do here in Portland to observe National Trails Day tomorrow, including hiking 10 miles through the Forest City on a guided walk with Portland Trails.

But really the big thing you should do, if in any way you can, is to head up to near Greenville to walk among some of the oldest trees in Maine.

In April, I suggested that Portland look into starting a bike-share program like the one recently launched in Washington, DC. And like magic, it's happening! (To be fair, I think the idea was on the radar long before I stuck my nose into the matter.)

Starting on Monday, June 9, Portlanders will be able to unlock white bikes around the city (using the White Bike code, which you can find at the group's website), ride them -- for free -- and then relock them for the next user.

Some of the fiddleheads around are actually starting to open, but there are still plenty to be found. It's a great wild, local, organic food. Pickled fiddleheads are my faves, but boiled and steamed are OK. (If they have to be hot, I'll take steamed, thank you.)

Here are a couple places you can get recipes on preparing fiddleheads: The Heart of New England, and Wild Harvest Gourmet

The well-known environmental Web site Grist.org has crowned Maine's College of the Atlantic, located in Bar Harbor, the greenest college or university in the world. COA held the first-known zero-waste graduation in 2005, according to a press release sent out by the school.

Here's the accolade from Grist:

"College of the Atlantic

Late last week, the US Senate passed its version of a federal energy bill, which included crucial increases in the nation’s fuel-efficiency standards (although one wonders whether 10 miles per gallon over the next 10 years is really the fastest progress we can make).

Tucked into the bill is a $60 billion allocation for ‘abrupt climate change’ – and according to the Portland Press Herald, “the University of Maine…is involved in that research.