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ETA Press Releases
April 29, 20120

Eastern Trail Alliance Holds Annual Meeting Featuring Keynote Speaker Eric Weis

Press ReleaseETA ogo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (207) 284-9260
eta@EasternTrail.org

April 25, 2012 (Wells, Maine) – The Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization committed to the creation of a trail spanning from Kittery to South Portland, will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 17, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Old Marsh Country Club in Wells, Maine.

The meeting will feature Eric Weis, trail coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance, a post he has held since 1998. In this capacity, Weis oversees the organization’s trail program, directly staffing the New England and South Atlantic regions. He also manages the organization’s wayfinding program (maps, cue sheets, GPS, etc.) and helps shape the route and route policy. Weis is also the founder and director of the New England Bike-Walk Summit and creator/director of the New England Builders Ball, an annual celebration of small regional hand-built bicycle companies.

The Annual Meeting of the ETA is an opportunity for members of the community to meet our speaker and the officers and trustees of the ETA and the Eastern Trail Management District, and to learn more about the mission of the ETA while enjoying snacks and beverages at America’s greenest railroad station. Following the meeting, all attendees are invited to join us for a no-host optional dinner at a nearby restaurant.

When completed, the Eastern Trail will connect the Piscataqua River in Kittery with Bug Light on Casco Bay in South Portland with a mostly off-road greenway. The Eastern Trail follows the route of the historic Eastern Railroad, the first rail line connecting Boston and the Portland area. It extends through 12 communities in York and Cumberland counties. The Eastern Trail is the Southern Maine portion of the 2,900 mile East Coast Greenway, which stretches from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine

The Alliance welcomes opportunities to tell groups about its dream. To schedule a no-cost Eastern Trail slide show, send an e-mail to eta@easterntrail.org or call the ETA’s office at 284-9260. For more information about the Eastern Trail check www.easterntrail.org.

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ETA Press Releases
April 29, 20120

Eastern Trail Holds Opening Ceremony for Saco-Old Orchard Beach Section and Route 1 Bridge

Press ReleaseETA ogo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (207) 284-9260
eta@easterntrail.org

April 25, 2012 (Saco, ME) – The Eastern Trail Alliance will hold an official Opening Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 16 for its newest section of trail, which stretches from Thornton Academy in Saco to Milliken Mills Road in Old Orchard Beach and includes a bridge that spans Route 1 in Saco just north of Ross Road. The ceremony will take place at the trailhead on the Thornton Academy campus in Saco.

The Saco-OOB section, completed in January 2012, has already greatly increased public interest in, and use of, the entire Eastern Trail, thanks to its high visibility from two areas of the busy Route 1, Saco corridor and I-195. The new section’s 4.4 miles provides another crucial link in the development of this 65-mile greenway in southern Maine.

“Fourteen years ago a small group of area residents said, ‘Let’s make this old rail line into a trail,’ and we are now reaping the benefits,” said Eastern Trail Alliance President Bob Hamblen. “A big ‘thank you’ is due the voters of Saco, who approved a $500,000 bond in 2008 that made this possible.”

The opening ceremony’s invited guests include representatives from Saco and Old Orchard Beach; Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt; Unitil, the New Hampshire gas company that owns most of the historic rail corridor; Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins; Congresswoman Chellie Pingree; section design firm Deluca-Hoffman Associates; and section building contractor Shaw Brothers Construction.

When completed, the Eastern Trail will connect the Piscataqua River in Kittery with Bug Light on Casco Bay in South Portland with a mostly off-road greenway. The Eastern Trail follows the route of the historic Eastern Railroad, the first rail line connecting Boston and the Portland area. It extends through 12 communities in York and Cumberland counties. The Eastern Trail is the Southern Maine portion of the 2,900 mile East Coast Greenway, which stretches from Key West, Florida to Calais, Maine.

The Eastern Trail Alliance welcomes opportunities to tell groups about its dream. To schedule a no-cost Eastern Trail slide show, send an e-mail to eta@easterntrail.org or call the ETA’s office at 284-9260. For more information about the Eastern Trail check www.easterntrail.org.

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Uncategorised
April 19, 20120

Loop and Lunch Ride June 9, 2018

Loop and Lunch Ride
June 9, 2018

 

The weather for our ET Loop and Lunch Ride, on June 9, 2018, was just perfect for the 14 riders that left the trail head, at the Mill Brook Industrial Park, in Saco. The 31 mile ride, to Bug Light, was mostly on the Eastern Trail, with only a few miles on road. Despite one flat tire, and a flying errant umbrella, at the Easy Time Restaurant along the trail, (that conked George –he was ok and received a complimentary meal) all made it back safely to the finish. A special treat at Bug Light was seeing all of the colorful kites flying in the park. Great ride with great riders.

The next ET Loop and Lunch Ride will be on August 11, 2018. More info forthcoming. Ride destination TBD.

Bob LaNigra

 

 Click on any of the images below to view a larger image

 

Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018
Uncategorised
April 12, 20120

New OOB Trail Press Release

THE TOWN OF OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                               April 11, 2012

A New Walking and Biking Trail for OOB

            The Old Orchard Beach Conservation Commission is pleased to announce that it is looking into the possibility of a new amenity for Old Orchard Beach.

            This would be a new cross-town hiking and biking trail to connect directly with the newly opened Saco- OOB – Scarborough segment of the Eastern Trail.

            The Eastern Trail is a hiking and biking, running and walking trail that will eventually run all the way from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. Right now, it provides a wonderful scenic opportunity to enjoy Maine’s beautiful landscape right in our own backyard.

            Also, going the other way, this new trail will connect outer parts of the town directly to Downtown Old Orchard Beach near the Downeaster Train Station, the Edith Belle Libby Library, and Veteran’s Memorial Park on First Street by an easy and relatively quiet trail restricted to walkers, runners and bicycles.

            Please see the attached map for the proposed route.

            All are invited to come to an open meeting at the Town Hall on April 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM to learn more about these plans and discuss them. With support and help, working together, Old Orchard Beach citizens will create trails that will enhance our community and neighborhoods.

            We hope to see you there.

The Old Orchard Beach Conservation Commission

FMI contact: GMcMullin@Maine.RR.com >

Archived News
April 4, 20120

March 2012 Eastern Trail News Tidbits

On this page you will find some shorter news items about the Eastern Trail that were filed in March 2012

 

  • The Sounds of the Eastern Trail

    • If you were out on the trail during the wonderful warm weather we had recently, you heard the magical sounds of spring in the air. If you missed it, click here to hear the sounds of the Eastern Trail (you’ll need a 3g sound player). Thanks to Don Cote for recording and sharing!!

  • Eastern Trail closes, and then reopens!

    • For the first time ever, the Eastern Trail was closed due to wet trail conditions. On March 14, the following notice was posted on the Eastern Trail web site and its Facebook page:

    “Please note that due to the wet spring weather, we are experiencing excessive wear and tear to the trail. We are posting the trail closed until trail and weather conditions improve. Any questions, please contact us at 207-284-9260 or eta@easterntrail.org.“

    A week later, after some warm and dry weather, this happy notice was posted:

    “Thanks to this amazing run of warm, dry weather, and thanks to so many of you respecting the trail closing this past week, we are re-opening all off-road sections of the trail. We can’t promise it’ll stay open straight through spring – there is rain in the forecast for this weekend – but we will post any changes here as well on on our Facebook page. Typically, trail closures might be expected annually for parts of spring.”

    We’ll say again: “Thanks to so many of you respecting the trail closing.”  We hope that this doesn’t happen often, and it will only be done to take the best care of this valuable greenway resource!

  • Coverage of the ET Walk during Great Maine Outdoor Weekend

    • A small but fun-seeking group walked the Eastern Trail during the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend March 3. The Scarborough Leader news report can be viewed here.

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Uncategorised
March 29, 20120

May 18 Ride – Frequently Asked Questions

“SPRING ON THE TRAIL” Ride – Friday, May 18, 2012

A 31 mile bicycle ride on the Eastern Trail

  1. 1. How do I register?

Registration is now closed. Please not that there is no on-site registration on May 18th.

  1. 2. Where and when do we meet?

may18flyerAll riders will meet at Bug Light Park in South Portland, Maine no later than 10:30 AM on Friday, May 18, 2012. Your bike will be loaded into a truck, and you will depart for Kennebunk by bus at 11:00 AM sharp. Click here for directions.

  1. 3. What kind of bike should I bring?

The ride is over 60% off-road on a hard-packed, fine gravel surface. A hybrid, mountain bike or touring road bike will do fine. Leave the $2,000 carbon fiber rig in the garage.

  1. 4. Are bikes available for rental?

Rental bikes will be available by advanced arrangement. Summerfeet, a Maine-based bicycle touring company, is making available their hybrid, trail/road-ready, bicycles for this event at a fee of $25.  The rented bike and helmet will be provided at the Kennebunk Elementary School start point — to be dropped off at the end ride at Bug Light park in South Portland.  E-mail your request for a bike rental, along with your height (how tall you are) to mainegreenways@comcast.net

  1. 5. What about food and drinks?

A bag lunch will be provided at the first rest stop in Saco, about 10 miles from the start. A veggie option will be available. Snacks and water will be provided at the end of the ride at Bug Light Park.

  1. 6. How long will the ride take and what is the level of difficulty?

We will begin our ride at noon at the Kennebunk Elementary School just off the new section of the Eastern Trail. With a lunch stop in Saco and a brief stop in Scarborough to see a “future” section of rail, we expect to return to Bug Light Park between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. The total ride distance is 31 miles. The trail is almost all flat, so the level of difficulty is easy to moderate. This is planned as a one-way ride.

  1. 7. Can I find my own transportation to Kennebunk and start there?

Unfortunately, there is limited parking at the school. If you want to find your own transportation to the school, and from Bug Light Park back home that’s fine, but please let us know.

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Uncategorised
March 27, 20120

May 18 Spring on the Trail Ride

eta-logoecganewSPRING ON THE TRAIL!

 Friday, May 18, 2012

A 31-mile bicycle adventure
on the off-road sections of the Eastern Trail

  • Riders will Meet at Bug Light Park in South Portland

may181• Bikes loaded at 10:30. Bikes and riders transported to the ride start in Kennebunk

• Leave at noon to bike back to South Portland on the Eastern Trail.

• Experience nearly 20 miles of off-road greenway – including two new bridges – and see the work that remains ahead

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  • Lunch is included
  • Advanced registration required (registration for this ride is now closed – please note that there is no on-site registration Friday)
  • Meet like-minded trail users
  • Click here for more information (FAQ sheet)
  • Click here for directions to Bug Light Park

    • May 18 ride image

Celebrate Spring on the East Coast Greenway!

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https://www.easterntrail.org/
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