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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
‘Oprah’ to feature Maine’s Frenchboro
Bangor Daily News 4/28/09
FRENCHBORO, Maine — Only a few dozen people call this remote offshore island home, but for a few minutes this week it is going to be the center of the universe.
The center of the Oprah universe, that is.
Frenchboro, which is seven miles offshore from Mount Desert Island and has only about 40 year-round residents, is going to be profiled Wednesday, April 29, on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
...A production crew from the show traveled to the island last month on St. Patrick’s Day, Finn said, and learned about the island’s school, its lobstering industry and its history, among other things. A few days later, about 30 island residents gathered at the school to be interviewed... “She asked questions about our one-room schoolhouse, how we cope without having a store or anything like that. It was fairly quick.”
He said that if nothing else the show could help boost tourism to the island, which has about 150 residents during the summer.
“Overall, I think it was a positive experience,” Finn said of talking to Winfrey. “A majority of the people were pretty open and inviting.”
The show is expected to air at 4 p.m. Wednesday (April 29, 2009) on WABI-TV Channel 5.
FMI
Jim's Comment: 7.3 million Viewers will watch Oprah interview Maine.
FRENCHBORO, Maine — Only a few dozen people call this remote offshore island home, but for a few minutes this week it is going to be the center of the universe.
The center of the Oprah universe, that is.
Frenchboro, which is seven miles offshore from Mount Desert Island and has only about 40 year-round residents, is going to be profiled Wednesday, April 29, on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
...A production crew from the show traveled to the island last month on St. Patrick’s Day, Finn said, and learned about the island’s school, its lobstering industry and its history, among other things. A few days later, about 30 island residents gathered at the school to be interviewed... “She asked questions about our one-room schoolhouse, how we cope without having a store or anything like that. It was fairly quick.”
He said that if nothing else the show could help boost tourism to the island, which has about 150 residents during the summer.
“Overall, I think it was a positive experience,” Finn said of talking to Winfrey. “A majority of the people were pretty open and inviting.”
The show is expected to air at 4 p.m. Wednesday (April 29, 2009) on WABI-TV Channel 5.
FMI
Jim's Comment: 7.3 million Viewers will watch Oprah interview Maine.
Monday, April 27, 2009
New England A Hot Spot For International Visitors
WCHS 4/27/09
NEWRY (NEWS CENTER) -- Tour operators from around the World are at Sunday River this week learning about New England.
This week is the 14th Annual Discover New England Summit. The event brings together tourism experts from throughout New England and tour operators from around the world.
Last year 4 million people from the United Kingdom visited New England. In the same year almost 2 million people from Germany took a trip here.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Trio of Royal Caribbean Ships to Sail from Four Northeast U.S. Ports
Trio of Royal Caribbean Ships to Sail from Four Northeast U.S. Ports in 2010
About.com: Cruises Saturday April 25, 2009
The ship also will offer more family-friendly onboard amenities...
Royal Caribbean also will return to Canada and New England in autumn 2010 with convenient sailings from Baltimore, Boston, and Cape Liberty, offering 14 itineraries ranging from seven to nine nights, including ports of call at Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine... Enchantment of the Seas also will offer a special eight-night roundtrip itinerary on June 18, which will add extended port time in Halifax and Bar Harbor.
Guests will have a multitude of shore excursion options designed to provide guests one-of-kind experiences. ...During a call in Bar Harbor, guests can embark on a bike tour that crisscrosses some of the most scenic areas of Acadia National Park.
FMI
About.com: Cruises Saturday April 25, 2009
The ship also will offer more family-friendly onboard amenities...
Royal Caribbean also will return to Canada and New England in autumn 2010 with convenient sailings from Baltimore, Boston, and Cape Liberty, offering 14 itineraries ranging from seven to nine nights, including ports of call at Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine... Enchantment of the Seas also will offer a special eight-night roundtrip itinerary on June 18, which will add extended port time in Halifax and Bar Harbor.
Guests will have a multitude of shore excursion options designed to provide guests one-of-kind experiences. ...During a call in Bar Harbor, guests can embark on a bike tour that crisscrosses some of the most scenic areas of Acadia National Park.
FMI
Saturday, April 25, 2009
“Black Liquor" Tax Credit ??
Bangor Daily News 4/45/09
...In an unexpected twist, paper companies realized they could take advantage of the credit — by mixing diesel fuel into the biomass they were already burning to power their operations, thereby increasing their use of fossil fuel. For decades some paper mills have burned “black liquor,” which is a byproduct of the pulping process, to run their machines.
These companies should not be penalized for using alternative energy, but allowing them to claim billions of dollars worth of tax credits to basically keep operating the way they have for decades perverts the intent of the credits. Worse, adding fossil fuel to biofuel to gain the credit is completely counter to the intent of the legislation....
“Bad economic times are no excuse to cheat,” Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said in a statement.
FMI
Jim's comment -Darn, didn't have to save my Allen's Coffee Brandy receipts after all...
...In an unexpected twist, paper companies realized they could take advantage of the credit — by mixing diesel fuel into the biomass they were already burning to power their operations, thereby increasing their use of fossil fuel. For decades some paper mills have burned “black liquor,” which is a byproduct of the pulping process, to run their machines.
These companies should not be penalized for using alternative energy, but allowing them to claim billions of dollars worth of tax credits to basically keep operating the way they have for decades perverts the intent of the credits. Worse, adding fossil fuel to biofuel to gain the credit is completely counter to the intent of the legislation....
“Bad economic times are no excuse to cheat,” Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said in a statement.
FMI
Jim's comment -Darn, didn't have to save my Allen's Coffee Brandy receipts after all...
We Mainers Don't Get To The Big City Much
Flight From Maine Disrupts Congress
Pilot Identified As Casco Businessman
WMTW 4/24/09
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A small plane that flew out of Turner caused some anxious moments when it strayed into restricted air space near the U.S. Capitol, forcing officials to place the White House in temporary lock down.
The episode was over within minutes as F-16 fighter jets and Coast Guard helicopters were dispatched to intercept the Cessna 180 and escort it to an airport in Maryland.
The owner of Indian Head Airport cited a technology problem that led to a navigation error.
He was en route with his wife to visit their daughter in North Carolina.
The owner of Twitchell's Airport in Turner said Wales usually flies his Cessna to and from his lakeside camp in northern Maine. Dale Twitchell said Wales is a good, experienced pilot but hasn't done much of his flying in big cities.
FMI
Pilot Identified As Casco Businessman
WMTW 4/24/09
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A small plane that flew out of Turner caused some anxious moments when it strayed into restricted air space near the U.S. Capitol, forcing officials to place the White House in temporary lock down.
The episode was over within minutes as F-16 fighter jets and Coast Guard helicopters were dispatched to intercept the Cessna 180 and escort it to an airport in Maryland.
The owner of Indian Head Airport cited a technology problem that led to a navigation error.
He was en route with his wife to visit their daughter in North Carolina.
The owner of Twitchell's Airport in Turner said Wales usually flies his Cessna to and from his lakeside camp in northern Maine. Dale Twitchell said Wales is a good, experienced pilot but hasn't done much of his flying in big cities.
FMI
Friday, April 24, 2009
Maine, Solid as a Rock
Maine granite graces Yankee Stadium
Working Waterfront 4/24/2009
Granite from Crotch Island was used in the Babe Ruth plaza.
With all the hoopla surrounding the opening of the new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, most media have overlooked one irony: as fans stream through the massive gates, they walk right by Deer Isle granite, quarried by die-hard Red Sox fans.
FMI
Working Waterfront 4/24/2009
Granite from Crotch Island was used in the Babe Ruth plaza.
With all the hoopla surrounding the opening of the new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, most media have overlooked one irony: as fans stream through the massive gates, they walk right by Deer Isle granite, quarried by die-hard Red Sox fans.
Third-generation stone setter Bill Pues, of Conventional Stone and Masonry in Mineola, New York, set the Deer Isle granite, as well as Indiana limestone, in Yankee Stadium.
It was on his recommendation that the New York Yankees chose to use Deer Isle granite. "There is nothing better that can replicate a landmark than those (Maine) stones," Pues said. Planter boxes were also made of the Maine stone.
...In fact Maine granite can be found coast to coast, from the Security Trust and Savings Bank in Los Angeles, to the breakwater in New Orleans, to the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to Yankee Stadium, Maine granite can be found throughout the New York metropolitan area, from the foundations for the Manhattan and George Washington Bridges, to the New York Custom House, the New York County Courthouse, the Isaiah Wall at the United Nations and the Statue of Liberty, among many other buildings...FMI
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Early Start to the Summer?
Patti & I are delivering RideMaine & CruiseMaine to the Downeast region this week. Some comments to share:
Chuck of Twilite Motel, "We were full last weekend and had to call Eagles Lodge for the overflow!"
Alvion of Orland House, "I had guests from Germany come up the drive while we prepping our gardens, so we opened early for them."
Stan of GRC, "The motorcyclists are out early. I've been busy since January."
Dave of Seawall Motel, "We're getting earlier guests this year, much earlier than last year."
Bruce of the SWHarbor Chamber, "Cottages are filling up. People love a value."
Bob of National Park Kayak Tours, "I got calls this week to rent kayaks. We're not even open!"
Denise of Ollie's Trolley, "Last year was excellent and this year's advance bookings are even stronger."
Chuck of Twilite Motel, "We were full last weekend and had to call Eagles Lodge for the overflow!"
Alvion of Orland House, "I had guests from Germany come up the drive while we prepping our gardens, so we opened early for them."
Stan of GRC, "The motorcyclists are out early. I've been busy since January."
Dave of Seawall Motel, "We're getting earlier guests this year, much earlier than last year."
Bruce of the SWHarbor Chamber, "Cottages are filling up. People love a value."
Bob of National Park Kayak Tours, "I got calls this week to rent kayaks. We're not even open!"
Denise of Ollie's Trolley, "Last year was excellent and this year's advance bookings are even stronger."
Whoopieee !!! Are Whoopie Pies on Your Menu?
Whoopie pies break out
By Michelene Maynard, New York Times 04/21/2009
For generations, vacationers in Maine and visitors to Pennsylvania's Amish country have found a simple black-and-white snack in restaurants and convenience shops and on nearly every gas station counter: the whoopie pie.
...But in the past few years, whoopie pies have migrated across the country, often appearing in the same specialty shops and grocery aisles that recently made room for cupcakes. Last fall, they cracked the lineup at Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan, which helped turn cupcakes into a national craze...
...Nobody can pinpoint the reason the whoopie pie finally broke into the national consciousness. But the snacks evoke a more homespun era that seems to provide some comfort. "Pure edible nostalgia," the Williams-Sonoma catalog calls them...
...The whoopie pie would probably be Maine's state dessert, if the state had one. How the cookie traveled to Maine is a mystery, however. One theory holds that it was brought north through the Yummy Book, a recipe pamphlet first published in 1930 by Durkee-Mower, the Massachusetts company that makes Marshmallow Fluff.
But Don Durkee, whose father co-founded the firm, said the earliest appearance of whoopie pies in the pamphlets was during the 1970s. "I'm baffled," he said.
No matter how they arrived, they have been eaten by Maine residents for at least eight decades, said Oliver, who publishes Food History News, a monthly newsletter. Labadie's Bakery, in Lewiston, Maine, which sells whoopie pies as big as 16 inches across, claims to have sold them since 1925.
FMI
By Michelene Maynard, New York Times 04/21/2009
For generations, vacationers in Maine and visitors to Pennsylvania's Amish country have found a simple black-and-white snack in restaurants and convenience shops and on nearly every gas station counter: the whoopie pie.
...But in the past few years, whoopie pies have migrated across the country, often appearing in the same specialty shops and grocery aisles that recently made room for cupcakes. Last fall, they cracked the lineup at Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan, which helped turn cupcakes into a national craze...
...Nobody can pinpoint the reason the whoopie pie finally broke into the national consciousness. But the snacks evoke a more homespun era that seems to provide some comfort. "Pure edible nostalgia," the Williams-Sonoma catalog calls them...
...The whoopie pie would probably be Maine's state dessert, if the state had one. How the cookie traveled to Maine is a mystery, however. One theory holds that it was brought north through the Yummy Book, a recipe pamphlet first published in 1930 by Durkee-Mower, the Massachusetts company that makes Marshmallow Fluff.
But Don Durkee, whose father co-founded the firm, said the earliest appearance of whoopie pies in the pamphlets was during the 1970s. "I'm baffled," he said.
No matter how they arrived, they have been eaten by Maine residents for at least eight decades, said Oliver, who publishes Food History News, a monthly newsletter. Labadie's Bakery, in Lewiston, Maine, which sells whoopie pies as big as 16 inches across, claims to have sold them since 1925.
FMI
Monday, April 20, 2009
9 Deals to Get You Face-to-Face with Nature
Time Magazine Apr. 20, 2009
Travel news, updates and deals for the week of April 20, 2009
...Cheap Fares on AirTran. Budget carrier AirTran has flights from Atlanta to Portland, Maine, starting at $89...
FMI
Travel news, updates and deals for the week of April 20, 2009
...Cheap Fares on AirTran. Budget carrier AirTran has flights from Atlanta to Portland, Maine, starting at $89...
FMI
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Getting on the Map, GPS Map that is
Jim's Comment: I've updated some info from the Maine Innkeepers Association. I've tried the links and they all work! So you do need to invest some effort, then you can be on the GPS's like the big guys!
Tele Atlas delivers the digital maps and dynamic content that power some of the world’s most essential navigation and location-based services. The information is the foundation for a wide range of personal and in-car navigation systems and mobile and Internet map applications that help users find the people, places, and services they need, wherever they are.
Update your info at:
http://mapinsight.teleatlas.com/mapfeedback/index.php
NAVTEQ digital map data offers accuracy, detail, reliability, and flexibility. Continuously updated to maintain its freshness and precision, NAVTEQ digital map data not only enables door-to-door routing throughout Europe and North America, it contains millions of Points of Interest (POIs), making it easy to locate everything from restaurants to hospitals and gas stations. You’ll find NAVTEQ data onboard most navigation-enabled vehicles produced in North America and Europe and on all the top Internet navigation sites.
Update your info at:
http://mapreporter.navteq.com
Garmin’s goal, as it was then, remains simple: To create navigation and communication devices that can enrich our customers’ lives. Our innovative products span various areas of interest, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications.
Update your info at:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/errorForm.jsp
Since 1856 Rand McNally has offered the most trusted tools to discover, map and navigate your world. The company leads the way with innovative products and services for the consumer, business, education, government and commercial transportation markets.
Update your info at:
http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/company/cmpContactUs2.jsp?dept=site_feedback&cmty=0
Google Maps finds local businesses, view maps and get driving directions.
Update your info at:
http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter?gl=us&hl=en-US
MapQuest, Inc. offers Internet, wireless and business mapping applications that help people find places and get there.
Update your info at:
http://help.mapquest.com/jive/mqdataerror.jspa
Tele Atlas delivers the digital maps and dynamic content that power some of the world’s most essential navigation and location-based services. The information is the foundation for a wide range of personal and in-car navigation systems and mobile and Internet map applications that help users find the people, places, and services they need, wherever they are.
Update your info at:
http://mapinsight.teleatlas.com/mapfeedback/index.php
NAVTEQ digital map data offers accuracy, detail, reliability, and flexibility. Continuously updated to maintain its freshness and precision, NAVTEQ digital map data not only enables door-to-door routing throughout Europe and North America, it contains millions of Points of Interest (POIs), making it easy to locate everything from restaurants to hospitals and gas stations. You’ll find NAVTEQ data onboard most navigation-enabled vehicles produced in North America and Europe and on all the top Internet navigation sites.
Update your info at:
http://mapreporter.navteq.com
Garmin’s goal, as it was then, remains simple: To create navigation and communication devices that can enrich our customers’ lives. Our innovative products span various areas of interest, including automotive, aviation, marine, fitness, outdoor recreation and wireless applications.
Update your info at:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/errorForm.jsp
Since 1856 Rand McNally has offered the most trusted tools to discover, map and navigate your world. The company leads the way with innovative products and services for the consumer, business, education, government and commercial transportation markets.
Update your info at:
http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/company/cmpContactUs2.jsp?dept=site_feedback&cmty=0
Google Maps finds local businesses, view maps and get driving directions.
Update your info at:
http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter?gl=us&hl=en-US
MapQuest, Inc. offers Internet, wireless and business mapping applications that help people find places and get there.
Update your info at:
http://help.mapquest.com/jive/mqdataerror.jspa
Cruising Out Of New York Or Boston Can Be Affordable (to Maine)
Courant.com April 19, 2009 Hartford, Conn.
Want to cruise out of New York or Boston this year for a reasonable rate? It can be done...
...The somewhat more upscale Caribbean Princess follows a similar route, adding Bar Harbor, Maine, on seven-day voyages in the late summer and autumn...
...Holland America's Maasdam is doing a seven-day one-way trip from Boston to Montreal, with port calls in Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City, departing May 30. The price is $660 or $94 a day...
FMI
Want to cruise out of New York or Boston this year for a reasonable rate? It can be done...
...The somewhat more upscale Caribbean Princess follows a similar route, adding Bar Harbor, Maine, on seven-day voyages in the late summer and autumn...
...Holland America's Maasdam is doing a seven-day one-way trip from Boston to Montreal, with port calls in Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Prince Edward Island and Quebec City, departing May 30. The price is $660 or $94 a day...
FMI
Saturday, April 18, 2009
How About A Little Optimism?
Dow ends best 6 weeks since 1938 on econ hopes
Washington Post 4/17/09
Stocks rose on Friday, with the Dow scoring its biggest six-week gain since July 1938. The Dow is up 22.7 percent over the past six weeks, making this the largest six-week gain since July 29, 1938.
FMI
Jim's comment: So you're thinking of vacation plans from the megalopolis... does this plant a seed of optimism? Come to Maine and eat a big lobster!
Washington Post 4/17/09
Stocks rose on Friday, with the Dow scoring its biggest six-week gain since July 1938. The Dow is up 22.7 percent over the past six weeks, making this the largest six-week gain since July 29, 1938.
FMI
Jim's comment: So you're thinking of vacation plans from the megalopolis... does this plant a seed of optimism? Come to Maine and eat a big lobster!
Best city cruises
Fancy boats you can take from downtown
Canoe.ca 4/18/09
(Canoe.ca is a leading local and national interactive media provider of news, entertainment and services, helping to inform and connect Canadians.)
...Lobster, not beer, is the lure to Maine’s Portland. The coastal community is situated on scenic Casco Bay, which is filled with fishing vessels and numerous islands, ranging from the Diamond Cove resort community (the former site of Fort McKinley) to beachy Long Island, which seceded from Portland in 1993. You can reach these islands via the workmanlike Casco Bay Lines service. The ferry boats—equipped with decks, where you can savor a BYOB beer and superb views—run daily, with special charter trips including a New England-style lobster bake (complete with steamed clams and corn on the cob) at a restored summer playhouse on Peaks Island...
FMI
Canoe.ca 4/18/09
(Canoe.ca is a leading local and national interactive media provider of news, entertainment and services, helping to inform and connect Canadians.)
...Lobster, not beer, is the lure to Maine’s Portland. The coastal community is situated on scenic Casco Bay, which is filled with fishing vessels and numerous islands, ranging from the Diamond Cove resort community (the former site of Fort McKinley) to beachy Long Island, which seceded from Portland in 1993. You can reach these islands via the workmanlike Casco Bay Lines service. The ferry boats—equipped with decks, where you can savor a BYOB beer and superb views—run daily, with special charter trips including a New England-style lobster bake (complete with steamed clams and corn on the cob) at a restored summer playhouse on Peaks Island...
FMI
Two Crystal Balls
Our first wizard from Falmouth sees this:
New Private Residence Club Takes Shape in Pristine Lakefront Maine Setting
(FALMOUTH, ME) -- The private residence club concept is coming to New England thanks to local Perry and Melinda Williams. Eager to share their enthusiasm for Maine lakefront living with other families, the Williams family recently announced the creation of a new private residence club that will debut this summer in the Sebago Lakes Region.
The Maine Lakefront Club, comprising a collection of existing, estate-style homes with an average price of $1.5 million, will offer deeded, shared ownership in the PRC for $275,000. The Williams are in the process of closing on the first home, and will add more properties to the club's portfolio as demand dictates. The club's hassle-free ownership and affordable luxury will provide a highly desirable vacation home alternative for frequent visitors.
"All of our properties will feature private lake frontage and docks, complemented by exquisite furnishings and design," says Perry Williams. "The lack of new construction makes Maine Lakefront Club an environmentally friendly project, and the use of existing homes means we'll have some of the most desirable locations available in the Sebago Lakes Region."
FMI
Our second wizard from the Portland Press Herald sees this:
Recession chills market for Vacationland rentals
Portland Press Herald 4/16/09
Agencies and property owners find summer visitors are booking later and seeking lower prices.
Rental agents and property owners in Maine tourist towns are finding the recession has visitors booking later, regulars returning at lower rates and bargain hunters more aggressively seeking discounts. At the same time, more houses are being offered for rent by owners who are unable to sell in a slow real estate market.
FMI
Jim's comment: Gentlemen & Ladies: Memorial Day is a month away, place your bets, let the games begin!
New Private Residence Club Takes Shape in Pristine Lakefront Maine Setting
(FALMOUTH, ME) -- The private residence club concept is coming to New England thanks to local Perry and Melinda Williams. Eager to share their enthusiasm for Maine lakefront living with other families, the Williams family recently announced the creation of a new private residence club that will debut this summer in the Sebago Lakes Region.
The Maine Lakefront Club, comprising a collection of existing, estate-style homes with an average price of $1.5 million, will offer deeded, shared ownership in the PRC for $275,000. The Williams are in the process of closing on the first home, and will add more properties to the club's portfolio as demand dictates. The club's hassle-free ownership and affordable luxury will provide a highly desirable vacation home alternative for frequent visitors.
FMI
Our second wizard from the Portland Press Herald sees this:
Recession chills market for Vacationland rentals
Portland Press Herald 4/16/09
Agencies and property owners find summer visitors are booking later and seeking lower prices.
Rental agents and property owners in Maine tourist towns are finding the recession has visitors booking later, regulars returning at lower rates and bargain hunters more aggressively seeking discounts. At the same time, more houses are being offered for rent by owners who are unable to sell in a slow real estate market.
FMI
Jim's comment: Gentlemen & Ladies: Memorial Day is a month away, place your bets, let the games begin!
Unofficial Welcome Session
Patti & I encountered our buddy Charlie, the Real Estate Man, in front of the former Jed's restaurant. Seem's the recently acquired property will open this summer.
So while the three of us are chatting, a car pulled up, with a couple from "away" asking "is this a good place to eat?" Patti entered her Welcome Center mode, told them this place wasn't open yet and directed them to another local spot.
Minutes later, another car, another couple, same request.
In less than 5 minutes, an indication that travelers are out and looking for local business!
We will be welcoming many guests this summer at the Maine Coast Welcome Center!
So while the three of us are chatting, a car pulled up, with a couple from "away" asking "is this a good place to eat?" Patti entered her Welcome Center mode, told them this place wasn't open yet and directed them to another local spot.
Minutes later, another car, another couple, same request.
In less than 5 minutes, an indication that travelers are out and looking for local business!
We will be welcoming many guests this summer at the Maine Coast Welcome Center!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Focus Shifts Overseas as Economic News Recedes
Journalism.org, Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, 4/14/09
After weeks of being fixated on grim economic news, the mainstream media narrative shifted dramatically last week to a mix of dramatic international events.
Coverage of the economic meltdown fell to 15% of the news hole the week of April 6-12, according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. That is the lowest level of attention to that subject since the week of President Obama’s inauguration.
...So does this dramatic pivot in coverage suggest a significant shift in attention away from the grim economy— the story that has overwhelmed the national narrative since Obama took office?...
...it may signal something that the economy was not pushed aside by a single overarching story but a series of them, and stories that earlier in the year might have generated less attention.
And in one a sure sign there was no major economic news last week, some coverage of the financial situation was the man-bites-dog variety—a few rays of hopeful news.
The Economic Crisis: Glimmers of Sunshine
...One twist to the narrative last week included some bright spots, or at least brighter ones, in a situation that has frequently invited comparisons with the Great Depression.
On the April 9 newscast, CBS anchor Katie Couric reported that better-than-expected profits for Wells Fargo helped drive the Dow Jones up nearly 250 points. “So are banks back?” she asked correspondent Anthony Mason.
...Relatively speaking, that’s a burst of optimism.
Another theme last week highlighted pockets of good news in a hard-hit economy. There were stories about California wines doing pretty well, the success of the romance novel genre, and how the consumption of candy and sweets had grown. (Perhaps the lesson here is that that people turn to basic comforts in tough times.)
An April 8 Wall Street Journal story featured a North Carolina furniture company called Craftmaster that found success amid the economic turmoil. “When businesses flame out, there are often others on the sidelines, like Craftmaster, ready to pick up the pieces,” the article noted. “At Craftmaster, which assembles upholstered sofas and chairs that sell in stores for less than $1000, revenues rose 4% last year and have grown 5% since January…”
FMI
Jim's comment: Our summer season may well be our "Glimmer of Sunshine"
After weeks of being fixated on grim economic news, the mainstream media narrative shifted dramatically last week to a mix of dramatic international events.
Coverage of the economic meltdown fell to 15% of the news hole the week of April 6-12, according to the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. That is the lowest level of attention to that subject since the week of President Obama’s inauguration.
...So does this dramatic pivot in coverage suggest a significant shift in attention away from the grim economy— the story that has overwhelmed the national narrative since Obama took office?...
...it may signal something that the economy was not pushed aside by a single overarching story but a series of them, and stories that earlier in the year might have generated less attention.
And in one a sure sign there was no major economic news last week, some coverage of the financial situation was the man-bites-dog variety—a few rays of hopeful news.
The Economic Crisis: Glimmers of Sunshine
...One twist to the narrative last week included some bright spots, or at least brighter ones, in a situation that has frequently invited comparisons with the Great Depression.
On the April 9 newscast, CBS anchor Katie Couric reported that better-than-expected profits for Wells Fargo helped drive the Dow Jones up nearly 250 points. “So are banks back?” she asked correspondent Anthony Mason.
...Relatively speaking, that’s a burst of optimism.
Another theme last week highlighted pockets of good news in a hard-hit economy. There were stories about California wines doing pretty well, the success of the romance novel genre, and how the consumption of candy and sweets had grown. (Perhaps the lesson here is that that people turn to basic comforts in tough times.)
An April 8 Wall Street Journal story featured a North Carolina furniture company called Craftmaster that found success amid the economic turmoil. “When businesses flame out, there are often others on the sidelines, like Craftmaster, ready to pick up the pieces,” the article noted. “At Craftmaster, which assembles upholstered sofas and chairs that sell in stores for less than $1000, revenues rose 4% last year and have grown 5% since January…”
FMI
Jim's comment: Our summer season may well be our "Glimmer of Sunshine"
10 Best Coastal Eco-Resorts
Coastal Living Magazine, April 09
10 Best Coastal Eco-Resorts
From open-air tropical bungalows to luxe tree houses, let these idyllic hideaways decrease your carbon footprint as they expand your horizons
The Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine
Although nearly a century old, this New England classic can teach eco-upstarts a thing or two. Guests drawn by sweeping Atlantic views, the heated saltwater pool, and a private beach also get organic foods and a nature education program.
Eco cred: The Colony composts waste and has banned plastic foam containers, aerosol sprays, and plastic bin liners. Trash baskets in each room have four compartments, allowing guests to sort recyclables.
Insider’s tip: Pick up a recycled souvenir. The hotel turns worn bedspreads and linens into handcrafted dog blankets.
FMI
10 Best Coastal Eco-Resorts
From open-air tropical bungalows to luxe tree houses, let these idyllic hideaways decrease your carbon footprint as they expand your horizons
The Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine
Although nearly a century old, this New England classic can teach eco-upstarts a thing or two. Guests drawn by sweeping Atlantic views, the heated saltwater pool, and a private beach also get organic foods and a nature education program.
Eco cred: The Colony composts waste and has banned plastic foam containers, aerosol sprays, and plastic bin liners. Trash baskets in each room have four compartments, allowing guests to sort recyclables.
Insider’s tip: Pick up a recycled souvenir. The hotel turns worn bedspreads and linens into handcrafted dog blankets.
FMI
Monday, April 13, 2009
Maine Top Awards
Bar Harbor Motel makes top ten list
WABI · Apr 13th 2009 ·
At a time when many folks are starting to make plans for summer vacations, there's a new list out of the top ten most family friendly hotels in the U.S.
A motel in Bar Harbor is on that list.
"We're the world's largest travel community. We have more than 25 million monthly visitors to Trip Advisor, and we feature more than 23 million reviews."
"Saving money is top of everyone's mind now, and Trip Advisor identified great family friendly motels for less than 150 dollars pre night. Bar Harbor's Bar Harbor Motel made number 3 of the top 10 in the United States."
FMI
Magazine Rates Allagash Among Nation's Top Five Adventure Destinations -
MPBN 4/13/09
"Outside" magazine rates Maine's Allagash Wilderness Waterway as one of the nation's five top "man vs. wild" adventure trips. The magazine is a national publication that reaches more than 2 million outdoor readers each month, according to Maine's Department of Conservation.
FMI
WABI · Apr 13th 2009 ·
At a time when many folks are starting to make plans for summer vacations, there's a new list out of the top ten most family friendly hotels in the U.S.
A motel in Bar Harbor is on that list.
"We're the world's largest travel community. We have more than 25 million monthly visitors to Trip Advisor, and we feature more than 23 million reviews."
"Saving money is top of everyone's mind now, and Trip Advisor identified great family friendly motels for less than 150 dollars pre night. Bar Harbor's Bar Harbor Motel made number 3 of the top 10 in the United States."
FMI
Magazine Rates Allagash Among Nation's Top Five Adventure Destinations -
MPBN 4/13/09
"Outside" magazine rates Maine's Allagash Wilderness Waterway as one of the nation's five top "man vs. wild" adventure trips. The magazine is a national publication that reaches more than 2 million outdoor readers each month, according to Maine's Department of Conservation.
FMI
Maine Business Goes Beyond Lobster
Elmet wins trade award
Monday, April 13, 2009 LEWISTON - The Maine International Trade Center announces the winners of the 2009 Maine International Trade and Investment Awards.
Winning the 2009 Exporter of the Year award is Elmet Technologies Inc. of Lewiston. A manufacturer of specialized refractory metal products, Elmet has recently begun a focused and disciplined approach to exporting - and has been rewarded with an expanding overseas customer base, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Elmet Technologies is an 80-year-old company with more than 200 employees. Its products are used in a number of high-technology industries, including electronics, nuclear, medical, lighting, semiconductor, furnace, energy and aerospace.
FMI
Jim's comment: Congrats to Elmet for seeking new markets!
So I wondered... what products are in this "Exporter of the Year" consideration? Here are the top 10.
Take a look at the % Change number.... exports were UP for 2008 over 2007? Never saw this in the paper. I guess I don't understand what is Newsworthy.
FMI
Monday, April 13, 2009 LEWISTON - The Maine International Trade Center announces the winners of the 2009 Maine International Trade and Investment Awards.
Winning the 2009 Exporter of the Year award is Elmet Technologies Inc. of Lewiston. A manufacturer of specialized refractory metal products, Elmet has recently begun a focused and disciplined approach to exporting - and has been rewarded with an expanding overseas customer base, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Elmet Technologies is an 80-year-old company with more than 200 employees. Its products are used in a number of high-technology industries, including electronics, nuclear, medical, lighting, semiconductor, furnace, energy and aerospace.
FMI
Jim's comment: Congrats to Elmet for seeking new markets!
So I wondered... what products are in this "Exporter of the Year" consideration? Here are the top 10.
Take a look at the % Change number.... exports were UP for 2008 over 2007? Never saw this in the paper. I guess I don't understand what is Newsworthy.FMI
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Maine Brand
As summer approaches, restaurants across the country are revising their menus for the new season. Countless restaurants market the "Maine" brand to entice customers. Here's an example from Sedona, Arizona a popular Southwestern tourist area. (Patti & I have been here ourselves)
Sedona dining, from casual to fancy
AZ Central.com
4/10/09
Sedona has more than its share of excellent restaurants. And contrary to the red-rock community's health-crazed image, it's as easy to find foie gras and French wine as vegan stir-fries and green tea...
...Fine dining ...
Gallery on Oak Creek: Views are jaw-dropping from this elegant dining room in Amara Creekside Resort. At lunch, the applewood-smoked bacon sandwich with sweet-and-sour pear tomatoes redefines the BLT. For dinner, try the butter-poached Maine lobster with seared Maine diver scallops. Much of the produce comes from the restaurant's organic gardens.
Jim: So here we are in Maine, getting nice exposure from Sedona, AZ and other locations. From a marketing perspective, this is priceless.
Sedona dining, from casual to fancy
AZ Central.com
4/10/09
Sedona has more than its share of excellent restaurants. And contrary to the red-rock community's health-crazed image, it's as easy to find foie gras and French wine as vegan stir-fries and green tea...
...Fine dining ...
Gallery on Oak Creek: Views are jaw-dropping from this elegant dining room in Amara Creekside Resort. At lunch, the applewood-smoked bacon sandwich with sweet-and-sour pear tomatoes redefines the BLT. For dinner, try the butter-poached Maine lobster with seared Maine diver scallops. Much of the produce comes from the restaurant's organic gardens.
Jim: So here we are in Maine, getting nice exposure from Sedona, AZ and other locations. From a marketing perspective, this is priceless.
The importance of community vision
Planning Resource
UK 4/10/09
Urban Land Institute planner Edward T McMahon tells Katie Daubney of the importance of community vision in creating places that preserve vital assets and improve quality of life.
...He has written extensively on chain stores and franchises. He relates McDonald's first dealings with historic buildings. In 1980 the company planned to tear down a classic New England courthouse in Freeport, Maine, and put up a typical suburban replacement. The town asked it to restore the building instead.
McDonald's sued and lost twice. Yet within three years a picture of its Freeport outlet in the restored courthouse appeared in its annual report as an example of good community stewardship. Nowadays, this is a model for McDonald's all over the world - but only in communities that are smart enough to reject the off-the-shelf model and demand something that fits with their town...
FMI
UK 4/10/09
Urban Land Institute planner Edward T McMahon tells Katie Daubney of the importance of community vision in creating places that preserve vital assets and improve quality of life.
...He has written extensively on chain stores and franchises. He relates McDonald's first dealings with historic buildings. In 1980 the company planned to tear down a classic New England courthouse in Freeport, Maine, and put up a typical suburban replacement. The town asked it to restore the building instead.
McDonald's sued and lost twice. Yet within three years a picture of its Freeport outlet in the restored courthouse appeared in its annual report as an example of good community stewardship. Nowadays, this is a model for McDonald's all over the world - but only in communities that are smart enough to reject the off-the-shelf model and demand something that fits with their town...
FMI
‘We Get By’ with a little help from our friends
Premiere of troop greeter film a hit
BDN 4/10/09
...The movie, filmed over a four-year period beginning in December 2004, has been shown and widely praised at film festivals across the country. On Thursday, the final version of the film was unveiled for the first time to a Maine audience of invited guests at the University of Maine’s Collins Center...
...The movie has touched audiences and critics at various film festivals, scoring a Special Jury Award at the prestigious South by Southwest Film Festival last month in Austin, Texas. It also beat out 28 films at the Cleveland Film Festival to take the Greg Gund Memorial Film Competition, which recognizes films for their social conscience...
...Asked what message he hopes people get from “The Way We Get By,” Gaudet said: “I hope it inspires people to get involved in their community.”...
FMI
Jim comment: I'm proud to be a "Mainer"
BDN 4/10/09
...The movie, filmed over a four-year period beginning in December 2004, has been shown and widely praised at film festivals across the country. On Thursday, the final version of the film was unveiled for the first time to a Maine audience of invited guests at the University of Maine’s Collins Center...
...The movie has touched audiences and critics at various film festivals, scoring a Special Jury Award at the prestigious South by Southwest Film Festival last month in Austin, Texas. It also beat out 28 films at the Cleveland Film Festival to take the Greg Gund Memorial Film Competition, which recognizes films for their social conscience...
...Asked what message he hopes people get from “The Way We Get By,” Gaudet said: “I hope it inspires people to get involved in their community.”...
FMI
Jim comment: I'm proud to be a "Mainer"
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Belfast on EarthCam's Top 10
I missed this one in February. The Comfort Inn's Belfast webcam made the top 10 at EarthCam.To show your friends across the internet what's happening in Belfast, Maine send them to the Belfast WEBCAM.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sugarloaf’s reggae festival is April 16-19
BDN April 8, 2009
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — Sugarloaf’s Bud Light Reggae Festival, the annual spring party that brings thousands of visitors to the mountains of Maine, returns April 16-19 with 11 different bands...
The annual springtime festival got its start at Sugarloaf in 1988 as a way to celebrate the changing of seasons and enjoy the deep snow, warm sun, and spring skiing. Since that time the festival has grown into one of the most popular spring parties in ski country, drawing 10,000 or more reggae and spring skiing fans each year.
Ski-and-stay packages are still available for Reggae Weekend starting as low as $99 per person per night and include lodging, lift ticket and access to the Sugarloaf Sports and Fitness Center.
FMI
Jim comment: Promotion, packages, drawing 10,000 or more! This is Good Business.
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine — Sugarloaf’s Bud Light Reggae Festival, the annual spring party that brings thousands of visitors to the mountains of Maine, returns April 16-19 with 11 different bands...
The annual springtime festival got its start at Sugarloaf in 1988 as a way to celebrate the changing of seasons and enjoy the deep snow, warm sun, and spring skiing. Since that time the festival has grown into one of the most popular spring parties in ski country, drawing 10,000 or more reggae and spring skiing fans each year.
Ski-and-stay packages are still available for Reggae Weekend starting as low as $99 per person per night and include lodging, lift ticket and access to the Sugarloaf Sports and Fitness Center.
FMI
Jim comment: Promotion, packages, drawing 10,000 or more! This is Good Business.
Troop greeters film to make Maine debut in Orono
BDN April 8, 2009
It has been all over the country, from Texas to Cleveland to Philadelphia to Florida.
Now the completed version of an award-winning documentary film about the troop greeters at Bangor International Airport will be shown in Maine for the first time.
“The Way We Get By,” which was directed by Old Town native Aron Gaudet, will debut Thursday night at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine in Orono.
There will be four showings. The first, an invitation-only event for Maine Army National Guardsmen, their families, troop greeters and sponsors, will start at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Public showings will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
FMI
It has been all over the country, from Texas to Cleveland to Philadelphia to Florida.
Now the completed version of an award-winning documentary film about the troop greeters at Bangor International Airport will be shown in Maine for the first time.
“The Way We Get By,” which was directed by Old Town native Aron Gaudet, will debut Thursday night at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine in Orono.
There will be four showings. The first, an invitation-only event for Maine Army National Guardsmen, their families, troop greeters and sponsors, will start at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Public showings will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
FMI
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Three Tourism Twitter Accounts We Don't Want To Shake Our Fist At
Jaunted April 6, 2009
When Travel Portland launched its associated Twitter account, it added a little something longer than 140 characters -- a mission statement:
If what you’re doing is planning a trip to Portland — or just looking for cool places and happenings around town — you should follow Travel Portland. We share tips on making the most of this city we love, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro.
In an ideal world, all tweeters would have to justify their existence. Oh, if only it were that easy! But since we're all about separating signals from noise: here are three travel-related Twitter accounts who know what they're into.
Best on Message: VisitMaine -- No Follow Fridays, no snark about how Britney has more followers than Barack. This account's last 20 updates are all about Maine. We admire that discipline!
FMI
Jim's comment: I'm not a Twitterer, however I recognize publicity is good, so whatever works... I applaud the Maine Office of Tourism for reaching out to new mediums.
When Travel Portland launched its associated Twitter account, it added a little something longer than 140 characters -- a mission statement:
If what you’re doing is planning a trip to Portland — or just looking for cool places and happenings around town — you should follow Travel Portland. We share tips on making the most of this city we love, and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro.
In an ideal world, all tweeters would have to justify their existence. Oh, if only it were that easy! But since we're all about separating signals from noise: here are three travel-related Twitter accounts who know what they're into.
Best on Message: VisitMaine -- No Follow Fridays, no snark about how Britney has more followers than Barack. This account's last 20 updates are all about Maine. We admire that discipline!
FMI
Jim's comment: I'm not a Twitterer, however I recognize publicity is good, so whatever works... I applaud the Maine Office of Tourism for reaching out to new mediums.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Boston Globe Loves ME
Maine gets a two-fer today, thanks to the Boston Globe:
The art of being small gives Belfast a new frame
A town working at diversifying
By David Lyon, Globe Correspondent | April 5, 2009
BELFAST - Some things, fortunately, never change. You can still get a dynamite cinnamon bun at Weaver's Bakery, where my best friend and I sometimes helped his father make doughnuts in the predawn chill before we went out on our paper routes. The sun still rises over the harbor, lighting up the dew on the town's lush lawns. And the rocking ocean still sets the hardware clanging on the boats at anchor.
Of course, when I was growing up here in the '60s, no one called Belfast one of America's "10 Coolest Small Towns" (as Budget Travel magazine did last year). Like many small Maine towns of that era, Belfast was a place where some kids were so eager to leave that they enlisted in the armed services at the height of the Vietnam War.
Now Belfast is a magnet, especially for people with a bit of imagination.
FMI
AND:
Pearls on the coast at down-to-earth rates
By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent | April 5, 2009
Cheap sleeps on the coast of Maine? Amid the luxury hotels, fancy inns, and white-bread chains there are reasonably placed accommodations that include no-frills motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and intriguing options such as a former monastery and a lodge built by Civil War veterans.
These possibilities, listed from south to north, are convenient to coastal locations; a few are waterfront. Each has peak-season rooms for less than $100 per night. Travel spring or fall and reap even better rewards.
FMI
Jim's comment: I'm grateful for the free press our Great State of Maine receives from the rest of the country. I may have to come up with friendly nickname for our Massachusetts guests.
The art of being small gives Belfast a new frame
A town working at diversifying
By David Lyon, Globe Correspondent | April 5, 2009
BELFAST - Some things, fortunately, never change. You can still get a dynamite cinnamon bun at Weaver's Bakery, where my best friend and I sometimes helped his father make doughnuts in the predawn chill before we went out on our paper routes. The sun still rises over the harbor, lighting up the dew on the town's lush lawns. And the rocking ocean still sets the hardware clanging on the boats at anchor.
Of course, when I was growing up here in the '60s, no one called Belfast one of America's "10 Coolest Small Towns" (as Budget Travel magazine did last year). Like many small Maine towns of that era, Belfast was a place where some kids were so eager to leave that they enlisted in the armed services at the height of the Vietnam War.
Now Belfast is a magnet, especially for people with a bit of imagination.
FMI
AND:
Pearls on the coast at down-to-earth rates
By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent | April 5, 2009
Cheap sleeps on the coast of Maine? Amid the luxury hotels, fancy inns, and white-bread chains there are reasonably placed accommodations that include no-frills motels, bed-and-breakfasts, and intriguing options such as a former monastery and a lodge built by Civil War veterans.
These possibilities, listed from south to north, are convenient to coastal locations; a few are waterfront. Each has peak-season rooms for less than $100 per night. Travel spring or fall and reap even better rewards.
FMI
Jim's comment: I'm grateful for the free press our Great State of Maine receives from the rest of the country. I may have to come up with friendly nickname for our Massachusetts guests.
Winter gives tourism a lift
Ski areas, snowmobile dealers and the lodging industry have a good year.
By ANN S. KIM, Maine Sunday Telegram April 5, 2009
The recession had Terry MacGillivray, who rents snowmobiles, concerned about business this winter. The snowmobiling season got off to a slow start but ended strong for his business – probably about as well as last winter's record year.
"I was nervous at first because of talk of the economy and yada, yada, yada," said MacGillivray, the owner of Fryeburg Snowmobile Rentals.
The combination of abundant snow and bargain-hunters determined to enjoy themselves despite the economy seemed to be a winning one for MacGillivray and many others who work in winter tourism. The snowmobiling and skiing industries enjoyed strong turnout, and businesses that catered to those winter sports enthusiasts and other wintertime travelers also may have fared well.
"Everybody had a good season this year," said Greg Sweetser, executive director of the Ski Maine Association.
Community-oriented ski areas benefited from skiers who opted to stay close to home this winter, Sweetser said. Skiers who might otherwise have gone West, meanwhile, gave a boost to the larger ski areas, he said.
Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley saw a 24 percent increase in ticket sales and a 23 percent increase in season pass sales, said JoAnne Taylor, the resort's marketing director. Prices have not changed, she said, but skiers this winter were more interested in deals.
"This year, the message really resonated with people because people were looking for good value," she said.
Sunday River also had a strong season and was on pace to meet its recording-setting performance last year, said Darcy Liberty, a spokeswoman.
There's anecdotal evidence that suggests that the situation for Maine's lodging industry is improving, too...
Lodging businesses around ski areas fared well. Said Greg Dugal, executive director of the Maine Innkeepers Association, "I've had some people tell me they've had their best winter." Dugal said there's a chance that the lodging industry may meet the performance of last year, when revenues were up five-eighths of a percent.
The Chapman Inn in Bethel did about the same or maybe even a little better this season than last, said Sandra Frye, the innkeeper."We had a good winter, surprisingly so," she said. "I think people are traveling more local rather than flying off."
Business at Town and Lake Motel and Cottages in Rangeley was a bit slow in January but booming in February and March, said Joey Morton, the owner. "Business was good. That was all that really mattered," he said.
Patterns in snowmobile registrations indicate that people were being more careful with their money. Sales of nonresident season passes were down, but nonresident 10-day and three-day passes were up significantly, said Bob Meyers, executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association.
"Clearly, one way or another, they were still going to go. It's just how they went and where they went kind of moderated this year," he said.
MacGillivray, the Fryeburg rental shop owner, said more people were asking about discounts this season...
While the season was shorter this year, the business increased the number of sleds in its fleet and added incentives to encourage midweek rentals. Those factors helped business reach the levels it did.
"We had a really good year," MacGillivray said.
FMI
Jim's comment: Winters tourists are watching their spending and winter businesses adjusted. Expect similar patterns for the SUMMER.
By ANN S. KIM, Maine Sunday Telegram April 5, 2009
The recession had Terry MacGillivray, who rents snowmobiles, concerned about business this winter. The snowmobiling season got off to a slow start but ended strong for his business – probably about as well as last winter's record year.
"I was nervous at first because of talk of the economy and yada, yada, yada," said MacGillivray, the owner of Fryeburg Snowmobile Rentals.
The combination of abundant snow and bargain-hunters determined to enjoy themselves despite the economy seemed to be a winning one for MacGillivray and many others who work in winter tourism. The snowmobiling and skiing industries enjoyed strong turnout, and businesses that catered to those winter sports enthusiasts and other wintertime travelers also may have fared well.
"Everybody had a good season this year," said Greg Sweetser, executive director of the Ski Maine Association.
Community-oriented ski areas benefited from skiers who opted to stay close to home this winter, Sweetser said. Skiers who might otherwise have gone West, meanwhile, gave a boost to the larger ski areas, he said.
Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley saw a 24 percent increase in ticket sales and a 23 percent increase in season pass sales, said JoAnne Taylor, the resort's marketing director. Prices have not changed, she said, but skiers this winter were more interested in deals.
"This year, the message really resonated with people because people were looking for good value," she said.
Sunday River also had a strong season and was on pace to meet its recording-setting performance last year, said Darcy Liberty, a spokeswoman.
There's anecdotal evidence that suggests that the situation for Maine's lodging industry is improving, too...
Lodging businesses around ski areas fared well. Said Greg Dugal, executive director of the Maine Innkeepers Association, "I've had some people tell me they've had their best winter." Dugal said there's a chance that the lodging industry may meet the performance of last year, when revenues were up five-eighths of a percent.
The Chapman Inn in Bethel did about the same or maybe even a little better this season than last, said Sandra Frye, the innkeeper."We had a good winter, surprisingly so," she said. "I think people are traveling more local rather than flying off."
Business at Town and Lake Motel and Cottages in Rangeley was a bit slow in January but booming in February and March, said Joey Morton, the owner. "Business was good. That was all that really mattered," he said.
Patterns in snowmobile registrations indicate that people were being more careful with their money. Sales of nonresident season passes were down, but nonresident 10-day and three-day passes were up significantly, said Bob Meyers, executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association.
"Clearly, one way or another, they were still going to go. It's just how they went and where they went kind of moderated this year," he said.
MacGillivray, the Fryeburg rental shop owner, said more people were asking about discounts this season...
While the season was shorter this year, the business increased the number of sleds in its fleet and added incentives to encourage midweek rentals. Those factors helped business reach the levels it did.
"We had a really good year," MacGillivray said.
FMI
Jim's comment: Winters tourists are watching their spending and winter businesses adjusted. Expect similar patterns for the SUMMER.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Bean plans growth for lobstering community
The Herald Gazette
PORT CLYDE (April 5): Linda Bean is a Portland native and has lived on the St. George Peninsula since 1990. In February 2007, after she had moved from Tenants Harbor to Port Clyde, she bought the Bay Lobster Company from the Albano family, changed the name to Port Clyde Lobster Company, and launched a new brand and a new way of marketing Maine's signature crustacean.
Bean has also made some innovations in marketing. She said most retailers and restaurants are interested in the tail of the lobster, and she is committed to creating a market for the knuckle and claw. One new product, a shrimp pie garnished with a lobster claw, is being sold across the United States in the same markets that sell live lobster.
This summer she plans to expand the Port Clyde General Store by opening part of the upstairs as a chandlery, apothecary and dry goods market. Bean said customers will also be able to find toys, kitchenware and books in the new space.
Tags like these, identifying the wharves where lobsters are landed, are put on every lobster Linda Bean sells.
She is also working to establish a strong regional brand, tagging each of her lobsters with a hanging label that identifies the product as either a Port Clyde, Tenants Harbor or Vinalhaven lobster, depending on the wharf where it was landed.
"If we can find creative new markets we should do well," she said, adding that her goal is to bring more money to the coastal and island communities of Knox County.
"The ones who succeed in this big sea change are the ones who are willing to do extra," she said of those at all levels of the lobster industry.
FMI
Dick Martin's Great Outdoors: Battle boredom by planning vacation now
Mansfield News Journal, OHIO 4/5/09
The next month or so is going to be tough for local outdoorsmen. There will be rain and snow, blustery winds, bitter cold days with little to do but look out the window and wish spring was really here.
Advertisement
There's one thing you can do during the coming days, and that's plan for a spring or summer vacation. I've traveled a good bit, and I'd like to make some suggestions.
Do I have a favorite spot?
....Maine has a lot going for it, especially the sea coast. I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Freeport, partly to visit the huge L.L. Bean outdoor store there, but did some bottom fishing, too. The B & B owner had lobster pots, which we pulled, and I was delighted to find them filled with colorful crabs, starfish, bright snails and lobsters. You can spend days here driving down little roads to small, picturesque towns on the coast, eating fresh sea food and wading tide pools seeking small creatures among the kelp....
FMI
The next month or so is going to be tough for local outdoorsmen. There will be rain and snow, blustery winds, bitter cold days with little to do but look out the window and wish spring was really here.
Advertisement
There's one thing you can do during the coming days, and that's plan for a spring or summer vacation. I've traveled a good bit, and I'd like to make some suggestions.
Do I have a favorite spot?
....Maine has a lot going for it, especially the sea coast. I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Freeport, partly to visit the huge L.L. Bean outdoor store there, but did some bottom fishing, too. The B & B owner had lobster pots, which we pulled, and I was delighted to find them filled with colorful crabs, starfish, bright snails and lobsters. You can spend days here driving down little roads to small, picturesque towns on the coast, eating fresh sea food and wading tide pools seeking small creatures among the kelp....
FMI
What it takes to float their boats
Bath Iron Works and Maine Maritime Museum showcase the state's seaside history and industry
Boston Globe April 5, 2009
BATH, Maine -- Boat building, sailmaking, fishing, and global trade are among the marine industries driving this state's economy and shaping its character. And nowhere is the land-sea connection more apparent than at Maine Maritime Museum and its neighbor, Bath Iron Works, where ships have been built for the US Navy since 1893.
A trolley tour of General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works is not to be missed. The one-hour guided tour begins at the museum, which this year increased the schedule to five times per week. Last year most tours sold out.
"After 9/11 we stopped all visits other than those directly related to our business with the US Navy, even veterans groups," Jim DeMartini, the communications manager, said later. "But it didn't feel good. A lot of us are Navy veterans and reservists and we're all proud of what we do. When the museum came to us about reinstating the tours, we agreed. . . . It gives us the opportunity to show the public what we do and how proud we are of the tremendous skill it takes to build a Navy warship."
FMI
Jim's comment: A fine blend of Maine tourism & industry! This should be a real summer draw.
Boston Globe April 5, 2009
BATH, Maine -- Boat building, sailmaking, fishing, and global trade are among the marine industries driving this state's economy and shaping its character. And nowhere is the land-sea connection more apparent than at Maine Maritime Museum and its neighbor, Bath Iron Works, where ships have been built for the US Navy since 1893.
A trolley tour of General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works is not to be missed. The one-hour guided tour begins at the museum, which this year increased the schedule to five times per week. Last year most tours sold out.
"After 9/11 we stopped all visits other than those directly related to our business with the US Navy, even veterans groups," Jim DeMartini, the communications manager, said later. "But it didn't feel good. A lot of us are Navy veterans and reservists and we're all proud of what we do. When the museum came to us about reinstating the tours, we agreed. . . . It gives us the opportunity to show the public what we do and how proud we are of the tremendous skill it takes to build a Navy warship."
FMI
Jim's comment: A fine blend of Maine tourism & industry! This should be a real summer draw.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Responsible Tourism Awards: Paul Theroux on why the awards matter and notes Maine Lobstering
Telegraph Com United Kingdom, April 2, 2009
Nominations are now open for this year’s Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Virgin Holidays and organised by responsibletravel.com. Paul Theroux, the veteran travel writer, explains why the awards matter, and singles out some countries that deserve to be among the winners
Why are you supporting The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards?
In the past, awards were given for Best Meal, Best View, Most Grovelling Staff, Biggest Ballroom, or whatever. It's encouraging that someone is being rewarded for doing something that is ethically right or supporting a position that will help the planet. That's the greatest lesson of travel: it is a very small and easily bruised planet.
Of all the places you have been, which stand out for you as having maintained a strong sense of place – a distinctive local character as opposed to an identity assigned to them for tourism purposes?
I would single out Bali, the people of the Trobriand Islands, many of the villages in Vanuatu (New Hebrides), the remoter parts of Scotland and the lobstering communities on the coast of Maine. People who are proud of their traditions, who have faith, and who have retained their language and their special skills – agricultural or nautical, or artistic skills – survive as happy people and tend not to envy what others possess. I would say also that these people tend to be the most responsible in environmental terms.
FMI
Nominations are now open for this year’s Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Virgin Holidays and organised by responsibletravel.com. Paul Theroux, the veteran travel writer, explains why the awards matter, and singles out some countries that deserve to be among the winners
Why are you supporting The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards?
In the past, awards were given for Best Meal, Best View, Most Grovelling Staff, Biggest Ballroom, or whatever. It's encouraging that someone is being rewarded for doing something that is ethically right or supporting a position that will help the planet. That's the greatest lesson of travel: it is a very small and easily bruised planet.
Of all the places you have been, which stand out for you as having maintained a strong sense of place – a distinctive local character as opposed to an identity assigned to them for tourism purposes?
I would single out Bali, the people of the Trobriand Islands, many of the villages in Vanuatu (New Hebrides), the remoter parts of Scotland and the lobstering communities on the coast of Maine. People who are proud of their traditions, who have faith, and who have retained their language and their special skills – agricultural or nautical, or artistic skills – survive as happy people and tend not to envy what others possess. I would say also that these people tend to be the most responsible in environmental terms.
FMI
Thursday, April 2, 2009
America's Most Livable Cities-Portland Maine
Forbes Magazine 4/1/09
Looking to for a better way of life? Start your search with these places.
Thanks to high marks in five key quality of life metrics, Portland tops this year's list of America's Most Livable Cities...
We eliminated areas with populations smaller than 500,000 and assigned points to the remaining metro regions across five data sets: Five-year income growth per household and cost of living from Moody's Economy.com, crime data and leisure index from Sperling's Best Places, and annual unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"There are less jobs to go around, but our main industry of tourism hasn't been affected much," says Perrin. "People are still coming to Portland."
FMI
Looking to for a better way of life? Start your search with these places.
Thanks to high marks in five key quality of life metrics, Portland tops this year's list of America's Most Livable Cities...
We eliminated areas with populations smaller than 500,000 and assigned points to the remaining metro regions across five data sets: Five-year income growth per household and cost of living from Moody's Economy.com, crime data and leisure index from Sperling's Best Places, and annual unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"There are less jobs to go around, but our main industry of tourism hasn't been affected much," says Perrin. "People are still coming to Portland."
FMI
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