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The Spring 2014 ETA Newsletter can be viewed in several ways.

Click here to view to entire newsletter as a pdf document.

You can also view individual articles in the newsletter – click any title link listed below:

2014 Maine Lighthouse Ride Filling up Fast! – By Bob Bowker, MLR Chairman

With six months still to go until the 2014 Maine Lighthouse Ride, the popularity of the ride is obvious — about 400 riders already pre-registered for the September 6 event. Riders represent over 20 states, including South Dakota, California, Colorado, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, and Michigan. This year we also have riders from the United Kingdom and Canada. And let’s not forget our local folks, with strong contingents from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We plan to continue to build on the success of last years’ 10^th anniversary ride, which sold out at 1,000 riders three weeks before ride day. In response to the continuing surge in demand, we are increasing our rider limit to 1,200 riders this year. Anyone want to wager when the sellout date will fall?….Read the entire “Filling Up Fast” article here.

President’s Letter – By Bob Hamblen

Volunteers Needed!

If there’s one thing that’s been constant since I attended my first Eastern Trail Alliance meeting, it’s been the M&Ms. Oh, no I guess that’s not true – there was quite a lapse for a time, now that I think about it. Fortunately, however, volunteers have not lapsed, and a couple of handfuls of these energetic, inspired folks continue to work at making the ET what it is and what it will become. Tom Daley, Maggie Warren, Mac Sexton, Larry Glantz –when the ETA Vol Hall of Fame is called to order, these are but a few of the many who will be in attendance. And I’ll bet, if asked, every one of them would agree that the experience was an enriching one. “We volunteered, we spent time with equally motivated people with common interests, we achieved, we made things happen.”…Read the entire “President’s Letter” article here.

Leave it to the Beavers – By Joe Yuhas

Prior to and on October 13, 2013 (a Friday!) heavy rains covered over half a mile of the Biddeford section of the Eastern Trail with impassable flood waters. Reluctantly, we closed the trail, an unprecedented action. The ET website and ET Facebook page immediately relayed to trail users that we had informed Unitil and Biddeford’s department of public works and city manager that the section of the trail would be closed until further notice.

As a further complication, an event had been scheduled on that section of the trail for the following day. As you might imagine there was concern about how long the trail would be closed. But even more perplexing, was the question of how and why the flooding occurred. The trail had been open for over three years and had not flooded after many periods of prolonged heavy rains. What had changed?…Read the entire “Leave it to the Beavers” article here.

10th Anniversary Scarborough Marsh Groundbreaking –

By John Andrews

Do any of you remember the old waste water pipe bridge over the Dunstan River that meanders through the marsh? I’m sure you remember its replacement, the Eastern Trail Bridge that carries trail traffic while supporting both that pipe and the Granite State Gas Pipeline. I doesn’t seem possible, but ten years have already passed since the May 19, 2004 groundbreaking ceremony took place a few weeks after the accompanying photo was taken….Read the entire “Scarborough Marsh Groundbreaking Anniversary” article here.

What’s the Economic Impact of the Eastern Trail? – By John Andrews

Who uses the ET? Where do users come from? What does the average visitor spend on ice cream? Boots? Bicycles? Lodging? Beyond a little casual knowledge— I’ve met cyclists on the ET who came from Vermont, New York and Quebec just to bike the ET— we have no measured data. We intuit that these users must benefit local economies, but we haven’t yet quantified those benefits. How can we measure them? What have others done?

Carl Knoch, Northeast Trails Development Manager for the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC), wanted to answer these questions for a Pennsylvania trail. He electronically counted users and asked hundreds of Pennsylvania trail users to answer self-mailing questionnaires. With the results, he began to measure the trail’s economic impact, learning how many people….Read the entire “Economic Impact” article here.

Joe Yuhas – By Brenda Edmands

The ET provides a space for recreation, transportation and socialization for all users. And sometimes it provides a lift when your life has hit some rough patches.

When Joe Yuhas’ wife Delpha was going through some intense stages of her illness, she and others urged Joe, her primary caregiver, to take a break each day. Her doctor’s office was on Route 1, near Scarborough Marsh. So, as Joe explains, “I would throw my bike in my truck, go to the doctor’s to pick up her prescriptions, then ride the trail for an hour or so,”

The exercise, the beauty of nature and the change always helped him find a path back to at least a small sense of balance. Shortly after his wife’s death, the dedication of the KAB section of the ET close to his home only reinforced the positive feelings he had about the trail….Read the entire “Joe Yuhas” article here.

SETA is Alive and Thriving! – By Joe Yuhas

The Southern ETA group has gained gratifying strength and numbers since last summer’s community displays and presentations. Those activities were designed to spread the word of the Eastern Trail and increase support at the grass roots level. Our awareness program showcased the far reaching benefits of the existing trail, as well as the benefits that will follow as the off road trail is extended to and through Wells, the Berwicks, Eliot and Kittery to connect with NH at the Memorial Bridge.

Since fall, SETA members have been meeting on a regular basis to explore and increase the effectiveness of our awareness program. Many new faces have been added to the group, increasing the pool of talent and imaginative ideas to accomplish our goals….Read the entire “SETA” article here.

Brief Calendar of Trail-Related Events

Spring is finally here! Mark your calendars for the following Eastern Trail happenings and other running, walking and cycling events.

Find out more at the websites listed below;

Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA)     www.easterntrail.org
Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM)     www.bikemaine.org.

In addition to events listed below, several groups are holding events on the Eastern Trail. For more information on these and how to apply to host an event on the trail, visit the Trail Events tab on the ETA website.

Ongoing:     ETA volunteers lead monthly moonlight walks. Check website for details.

2nd Thursdays: Monthly ETA meeting – time and location posted on website.

May 15:        ETA Annual Meeting at Old Marsh Country Club, Wells, ME

May 15:        Walk for Wishes at Thornton Academy, Saco, ME

May 21:        VA2K Walk & Roll, Saco, ME….Read the entire “Brief Calendar of Trail-Related Events” article here.

Wells Seeks Funding for Design of Trail – By Marianne Goodine, Treasurer, ETMD

As we spring ahead and look forward to warmer weather, the Town of Wells is working together with the Town of Kennebunk to continue the trail southward through Wells to the North Berwick Town Line. Wells is currently putting the finishing touches on its Fiscal 2015 budget and will present to the Wells voters at the Annual Town Meeting on June 10 a funding article to “Undertake with the Town of Kennebunk preliminary design of the Eastern Trail through Wells and Kennebunk along the Granite State Gas Pipeline Transmission corridor.”….Read the entire “Wells Seeks Funding” article here.

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The Late Fall 2013 ETA Newsletter can be viewed in several ways.

Click here to view to entire newsletter as a pdf document.

You can also view individual articles in the newsletter – click any title link listed below:

Sell-Out Crowd for 10th Anniversary Maine Lighthouse Ride

After ten years, the word is out— the Maine Lighthouse Ride is one of the most popular bicycle rides in New England! Of course it’s hard to argue with miles of beautiful Maine coastline, great weather, and plenty of friendly volunteers. Having capped the ride at 1,000 riders due to concerns from our host communities, the Maine Lighthouse Ride was a complete sell-out three weeks before the ride. Yes, we must be doing something right!

This year, we were ready for the crowds with a tent at Southern Maine Community College to accommodate the overflow….Read the entire “Sell-Out Crowd” article here.

Maine Lighthouse Ride Kitchen Volunteers

This is the thing about a good meal: it’s like a play. If it’s done right, there’s an enormous amount of hustle and bustle behind the scenes, but all the audience usually sees—and enjoys–is the wonderfulness of the end product. As a result, those behind-the-scenes workers, whether they are costume designers or cooks, don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

So let’s hear it for the “lunch ladies” of the ETA’s Maine Lighthouse Ride!— as they jokingly refer to themselves….Read the entire “MLR Kitchen Volunteers” article here.

Spreading the Word about the Eastern Trail by ETA President Bob Hamblen

In the next to last week of October I hit the jackpot. No trip to Foxwoods, or Oxford for that matter, involved. And I haven’t bought a Powerball ticket … uh, ever. Instead, I had the opportunity to chat about the Eastern Trail at three separate events, and this wasn’t a case of the ETA begging for a chance to set up a table so we could try to sell folks on the Trail.

Nope, the ETA was actually invited to attend three meetings and participate in panel discussions; these groups really wanted to hear about the Trail….Read the entire “Spreading the Word” article here.

Bringing the Trail South by Marianne Goodine, Treasurer, Eastern Trail Management District

With the Eastern Trail making its way southward, a very energetic group of trail enthusiasts has been meeting monthly in Wells to collaborate on ways to continue the trail. This group represents the Southern Eastern Trail Alliance (SETA) and consists of representatives from Wells, North Berwick, York, Kittery, and South Berwick.

The group is focused on ideas for fundraising and getting more exposure for the trail….Read the entire “Bringing the Trail South” article here.

Memorial Bridge Opening by Judy Haley

If you build it, they will come! And so they did … by the thousands in Kittery and Portsmouth on August 8, 2013, to participate in the opening of the new Memorial Bridge! Although the morning was overcast with bad weather threatening, spirits were not dampened! Motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, boaters, kayakers — they all began arriving before 7:00 AM. Flags were raised, banners were flying, and excited chatter was deafening; until, that is, the band started to play and the parade of dignitaries, began to march from the Kittery side of the bridge to Portsmouth, where the ribbon cutting ceremony was to be held…..Read the entire “Memorial Bridge Opening” article here.

What’s All That Construction? by Bob LaNigra

What is all that construction going on in Scarborough??

You may have noticed considerable evidence of construction at the Pine Point Road and Black Point Road intersections with the ET. I talked with the Scarborough Town Planner, Dan Bacon, and learned that the town has funded upwards of $400,000 for construction at those crucial points to improve traffic flow and, more important, to ensure the safety of pedestrians and bikers using the Eastern Trail…..Read the entire “What’s All That Construction?” article here.

SMMC’s use of the Eastern Trail by Joe Yuhas

According to Peggy Belanger RN, who is Cancer Care Coordinator and Oncology Nurse Navigator at Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC), access to the Eastern Trail contributes greatly to the programs that she administers. The mere fact that the trail is in such close proximity to the medical center campus encourages creativity and innovation in programing for patients.

Peggy described “Walk Away From Cancer,” which utilizes the trail for the exercise component of the program. This program was specifically designed….Read the entire “SMMC’s Use of the Eastern Trail” article here.

Biddeford Savings Puts ET on the Map(s) by Scott Marcoux

An off-road greenway is of little use to travelers without a way for them to navigate it, right? The ETA is continuously looking to disprove the local adage that “you can’t get there from here” [add appropriate downeast accent] with additional tools to show trail users where they are, and where they are going.

In addition to various resources available on our website, and our popular full-color Trail Guides, the ETA this year introduced a quick trifold map that outlines all the completed off-road sections of the ET. Better still, it is free because it is fully funded by Biddeford Savings Bank….Read the entire “Biddeford Savings Trail” article here.

Kennebunk Elementary School Biking Program by Diane I. Dyer

For the third straight year approximately 120 third-grade students at Kennebunk Elementary School (KES) are riding bicycles during October physical education classes. Students are assessed the first week of biking as they ride the 1/2 loop around the school; only then can it be determined if the class is ready for the Eastern Trail. the program started at the beginning of the month there were 10 non-riders. Currently there are only four. The program will resume in May.

Thanks to private donations and to grants from Safe Routes To School, Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition, The Education Foundation of the Kennebunks and Arundel… Read the entire “Kennebunk Elementary School Biking” article here.

The Happiest Bridges in Maine? by John Andrews

On September 28, 2011, Maine Turnpike Authority dedicated its Eastern Trail bridge, which it had built to close the most challenging gap in the Eastern Trail, a bridge that would allow the ET to connect the southern York County towns of Kennebunk, Wells, North Berwick, South Berwick Eliot and Kittery with the northern towns of Arundel, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough and South Portland.

It’s also the happiest ET bridge, one of smiles and blasts— as you can see in these photos of two Kennebunk boys as they welcome truckers who often cause ecstatic joy with their friendly horn blasts…. Read the entire “Happiest Bridges in Maine” article here.

SETA Progress by Judy Haley

The summer of 2013 was a busy one for members of SETA, a subcommittee of ETA! Their enthusiasm and dedication were boundless, as the volunteers set up displays and presentations to spread the word of the Eastern Trail and build support at many seasonal outside events and celebrations, emphasizing that the ETA is now concentrating on bringing the trail to and through their towns and villages. Without exception, these York County missionaries reported successes and are eager to continue the efforts for better trail awareness moving south.

They are also proposing more ways to bring the ET experience to new people and communities, for example by organizing outings for youth groups, schools, and interested adults— cycling, cross-country skiing, evening walks… Read the entire “SETA Progress” article here.

Event Organizers Having a Field Day on the ET by Scott Marcoux

The Eastern Trail began with a simple idea: to create a green transportation route for non-motorized travel through southern Maine. But for the growing number of activity groups and organizations now using the trail for a variety of events, the trail’s off-road sections are now, in themselves, also a regular destination.

Once again in 2013, the number of fundraising events hosted on at least part of the ET grew, totaling 15 this year. Returning events from last year included Southern Maine Medical’s Be Healthy 5K, the Rev3 Triathlon in Old Orchard Beach, and the Snowy Egret 5K Run/Walk… Read the entire “Event Organizers” article here.

Cyclist Stages Comeback at 2013 MLR

No doubt most athletic fundraisers have their hidden stories of triumph over adversity, of difficult goals quietly reached. Certainly, those of us who plan and run the Maine Lighthouse Ride have heard or overheard a few of these stories over the years. We are grateful to be able to share one such story with you. Patrick Joyce, who rode the century in the 2013 MLR, found himself facing surgery that might have discouraged others from riding again. Patrick had another plan. Here, in his words, is his story:

I had ridden in the MLR in 2012 and 2011, but my story is a about how the 2013 ride became so important to me….Read the entire “Cyclist Stages Comeback” article here.

Letter to 2013 MLR Sponsors

Dear 2013 Maine Lighthouse Ride Sponsor,

The Eastern Trail Alliance is pleased to convey its thanks— and the thanks of 1,000 bicycling participants— to the partners who co-sponsored the 10th annual Maine Lighthouse Ride. Let us do a little scene-setting for you:

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in southern Maine, the first Saturday after Labor Day. In the early morning, hundreds of vehicles…. Read the entire “Letter to MLR Sponsors ” article here.

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Dear 2015 Maine Lighthouse Ride Sponsor,

The Eastern Trail Alliance is pleased to convey its thanks— and the thanks of 1,200 bicycling participants— to the partners who co-sponsored the 12th annual Maine Lighthouse Ride. Let us do a little scene-setting for you:

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in southern Maine, the first Saturday after Labor Day. In the early morning, hundreds of vehicles loaded with bicycles converge on Southern Maine Community College’s beautiful seaside campus – the starting point of the MLR. Beginning at 7 a.m., a spectacular Casco Bay sunrise dazzles the cyclists who have chosen the 100-mile ride as they head out for a world-class day of coastal touring. They will follow a pre-determined course as far south as Kennebunkport, enjoying views of no fewer than eight classic Maine lighthouses along the way, their travels enhanced by dozens of volunteers who provide staffed rest stops and, when needed, help with minor repairs. Upon their return to South Portland the cyclists sit down to hot food and salad in an SMCC dining room – or outside under a tent — overlooking Casco Bay. Life, as they say, is good!

That day happened in September 2014, as it did for the ten years prior to that, in large part thanks to the support of sponsors like you. In turn, the MLR’s success will provide support for the continued development of the Eastern Trail: a 65-mile recreation/ transportation greenway connecting Casco Bay with Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and, in an equally true and larger sense, Maine with Florida via the East Coast Greenway. Thousands of users enjoy this “linear park“ for non-motorized commuting and recreational walking & biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, birding, nature study and many other human-powered, healthy activities. With its newest sections and highly visible bridges crossing Route 1 (Saco) and the Maine Turnpike (Kennebunk), the trail serves as a beacon to all that southern Maine has to offer (“Let’s go see where that bridge leads to, George!”).

“Continued development” is a key phrase here: about 21 miles of the eventual 65 mile trail are complete. An interim on-road ET exists from Kennebunk to Kittery, and those 40+ miles are the current goal. This vision of a completely off-road Eastern Trail will impact our communities in several ways: safer walking and biking for local families and tourists; reduced carbon emissions; increased real estate values; and spending by active outdoor participants.

Thanks again – you help make this all possible. And please consider signing up for continued duty as a Maine Lighthouse Ride sponsor – we’ll be happy to share that news with all our trail users and supporters! Happy Trails! (all photos by Jim Bucar)

Sincerely,

Bob Hamblen, ETA President