By Michael Kelley, Staff Writer | Scarborough Leader Online | July 21, 2017
Three environmentally-focused groups are coming together to connect with strollers, bicyclists and runners on the Eastern Trail to gauge what the trail, and the Scarborough Marsh, which the trail cuts through in Scarborough, means to them and educate passersby about the value of the marsh.
By Sally McMurdo | The Conway Daily Sun | June 2, 2017
This spring, Peter and I explored the southern Maine coast from Cape Elizabeth to Cape Neddick. After our daily weekday trips from Conway to Scarborough for medical treatments, we picked places to go afterwards, depending on the weather and our energy. Sometimes, we chose a beach day at Higgins, Ferry, Wells, Crescent Beach or Kettle Cove, where we’d bird watch, sea glass hunt or just walk.
On foul weather days, we might head inland to explore. But the one place we visited the most was the Eastern Trail in Southern Maine. We especially liked the section from Black Point Road in Scarborough to Pine Point Road. There was something about walking out this rail trail across the marsh that called to us. Maybe it was the ease of the walk and later the ride, maybe it was the abundant bird life we saw or maybe it was just the constant flowing and ebbing of the tide that calmed and renewed our spirits.
12 noon – 3 pm, 32 LITTLE DOLPHIN DRIVE SCARBOROUGH.
Town & Country Federal Credit Union invites you to celebrate National Trails Day while spending time on the beautiful Eastern Trail.
Whether you frequently enjoy the Eastern Trail to bike, jog, walk the dog, or will experience it for the first time, this event will offer something for every outdoor enthusiast.
This family-friendly event is free and open to all.
Local vendors including The Eastern Trail Alliance, Fleet Feet Sports and Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland will be on hand to share information about the many ways to use the trail.
There will be a free shuttle from the Town & Country Operations Center to the Portland Farms Road trailhead for bikers, runners or walkers to explore the trail. Visitors will also have a chance to learn more about the Eastern Trail Alliance and its Close the Gap project. Plus, there will be food, games, prizes and more.
On May 20th, we held the inaugural John Andrews Memorial 5K Walk/Run sponsored by O’Reilly’s Cure Restaurant and Bar. This event was held to honor John Andrews, Eastern Trail founder, mentor and friend, who passed away in February 2017. Over 100 people came out to run, walk, volunteer, cheer and otherwise support the event and honor John’s memory. We were especially honored to have members of John’s family be with us.
A big shout out THANK YOU to Patrick and Sue O’Reilly and O’Reilly’s Cure for sponsoring the first annual John Andrews Memorial 5K! The event was a huge success thanks to the O’Reilly’s, our sponsors and generous donors, the 110 participants and all our amazing volunteers.
Check out the O’Reilly’s Cure FaceBook page – https://www.facebook.com/OReillysCure/
Also take a look at:
We’ll be posting more on our own FaceBook page and this web site during the week – stay tuned! Thank you all for making this a memorable, successful event.
Proceeds from this event benefited the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 65-mile transportation and recreation greenway from Kittery to South Portland, Maine and went directly to support the Close the Gap Campaign.
The children of Dr. Philip Thompson made the contribution to the Eastern Trail Alliance to celebrate his 100th birthday.
By Kelley Bouchard | Staff Writer | Published in the Portland Press Herald 5/17/2017
The children of Dr. Philip Thompson, a retired rheumatologist who celebrated his 100th birthday last weekend, have donated $25,000 in his honor to the “Close the Gap” campaign of the Eastern Trail Alliance. The alliance is raising $3.8 million to complete a 1.6-mile, off-road section of the recreational trail in Scarborough, including bridges over the Nonesuch River near Eastern Road and railroad tracks near Pleasant Hill Road.
Thompson, who lived in South Portland for many years before returning to his native Portland, is a charter member of Portland Trails and a longtime supporter of recreational trail development. He said his family’s decision to support the “Close the Gap” campaign reflects his belief that increasing outdoor recreational opportunities can save lives.
“Exercise improves your health and extends your life,” Thompson said. “It’s life-saving.”
The Eastern Trail is a 65-mile on- and off-road recreational trail that runs from South Portland to Kittery. It’s part of a larger effort to establish a 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway from Calais to Key West, Florida.
The alliance has raised $3.25 million through the “Close the Gap” campaign and plans to complete the project in 2018, said Executive Director Carole Brush. Then, trail users will have access to 16 contiguous, off-road miles from downtown Saco to Bug Light Park in South Portland.
The children of Dr. Philip Thompson made the contribution to the Eastern Trail Alliance to celebrate his 100th birthday.
By Kelley Bouchard | Staff Writer | Published in the Portland Press Herald 5/17/2017
The children of Dr. Philip Thompson, a retired rheumatologist who celebrated his 100th birthday last weekend, have donated $25,000 in his honor to the “Close the Gap” campaign of the Eastern Trail Alliance. The alliance is raising $3.8 million to complete a 1.6-mile, off-road section of the recreational trail in Scarborough, including bridges over the Nonesuch River near Eastern Road and railroad tracks near Pleasant Hill Road.
By Melanie Sochan on May 11, 2017 SCARBOROUGH
What’s an appropriate gift for a beloved father’s 100th birthday? For one family, it was the decision to donate $25,000 to the Eastern Trail Alliance’s Close the Gap Project.
Philip Thompson, a retired physician who now resides in Portland but was a resident of South Portland for more than 40 years, will celebrate his 100th birthday on May 11.
Thompson’s six children donated the $25,000 on their father’s behalf. Meanwhile, The John Andrews Memorial Eastern Trail 5K will be held on May 20 at 9 a.m.
Sponsored by O’Reilly’s Cure, the run honors John Andrews, the founder of the Eastern Trail, who died Feb. 20. “Without John there wouldn’t be an Eastern Trail today,” said Carole Brush, executive director of the Eastern Trail Alliance. “His vision and untiring spirit gave us the enthusiasm to keep going.” Andrews will be honored at the alliance’s May 11 annual meeting in Wells. Registration fees for the 5K are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event. One beer is included for those 21 years of age or older. Participants can register online here. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance and go directly to the Close the Gap campaign.
The Eastern Trail Alliance is now just under $550,000 away from starting its 1.6-mile Close the Gap project.
The alliance has already raised more than $3.25 million towards the $3.8 million project, closing in on the funding needed to make the proposal a reality. The funding must be in place before construction can begin, most likely in 2018, according to Alliance representatives.
The Close the Gap project would connect the trail in South Portland to Scarborough. Bridging the area would create a 16-mile continuous off-road trail from Bug Light in South Portland to downtown Saco.
The 1.6 miles would link the Wainwright Recreation Complex in South Portland and a section of trail in Scarborough that ends at the Nonesuch River, near Eastern Road.
Cyclists and pedestrians now have to traverse the streets of Gary Marietta Way, Highland Avenue, Black Point Road and Eastern Road to continue on the trail.
Thompson, a family physician who practiced in Portland and specialized in rheumatoid arthritis into his 70s, was an advocate of trails and exercise.
Read the entire article online here.
Do you enjoy being out on the Eastern Trail? Meeting people? Learning about the History of the area and sharing what you’ve learned?
Perhaps looking for an activity to do with your children, spouse or best buddy? Want to become more involved with the Eastern Trail and your community?
Then we invite you to become an Eastern Trail Ambassador!
The first Ambassador Program training event was hel by the Eastern Trail’s Board and Staff on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. More details on the program will be coming soon!
For more information email nancy@easterntrail.org
Read more: Details flyer and Poster.
Please join us for our inaugural John Andrews Memorial 5K Walk/Run, May 20th – 9:00 AM sponsored by O’Reilly’s Cure Restaurant and Bar. This event is in honor of John Andrews, Eastern Trail founder, mentor and friend. Register now – Online registration ends Friday, 5/19 at 7 pm!
Proceeds from this event benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 65-mile transportation and recreation greenway from Kittery to South Portland, Maine and will go directly to support the Close the Gap Campaign.
Race/walk begins 9 am (On site registration and checkin at 7:30 am).
Order the “Good for a Cause Burger” and 25% will be donated to the Eastern Trail during the month of April. View flyer here.
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