A Bee Shines in Portland

Zzzzzz goes springtime into early summer. A floating bee works away in full bloom.

Amazing Tale of Man & Koala in Australia

There is hope for harmony on earth, and this instance on February 9, 2009, in Australia where a koala willingly accepts the assistance of a firefighter during a forest blaze is an amazing and touching example of man and nature at peace.

I hope this makes all of us become more compassionate and aware that all forms of life on this planet are dependent upon one another in so many ways not often displayed as overtly as this particular incident. We are all creatures of varying levels, forms of life that emanate from the one source, and science today has shown that the DNA blueprint of all earthly creatures is more alike than it is diverse, and that we all share the common oneness of life at this wavelength of existence.

Change Rings Loud At Bioneers Conference

PORTLAND, Maine - Sunday, October 19, 2008 - Native American elder and teacher, gkidedanamoogk, of the Wampanoag tribe, speaks at the University of Southern Maine's Hannaford Hall during the state's first Bioneers Conference hosted by Kindle Maine and the Northern New England Bioneers. Speaking of great changes to come as we witness the breakdown of societal and economic systems, his lecture concluded the three-day conference with a message of hope that people from all backgrounds can heal together along with the native tribes. "Either with you, or without you, we will heal," he proclaimed.

He recounted an incredible story about his lakeside visit earlier in the morning on Sebago Lake, and of the mist rising off the water with wisps appearing as spirits on the surface. He offered a prayer of thanks to the lake, for all it has done to support the life of the people in the region, for all the abuse and pollution it has endured and healed from. And an eagle appeared in response to his expression of gratitude.

A Pumpkin Patch of Light Shines for Sunshine

Short of the world record but tall on hope, Camp Sunshine's Maine Pumpkin festival produced an impressive number of lit jack-o'-lanterns - over 23,000 - in a "brilliant" effort to raise funds and awareness of the vacation camp for families of critically ill children on the shores of Sebago Lake in Casco.

Local Vigil: Universal Effect

An unarmed security guard is shot and killed in a hospital parking lot in Portland, giving the local community a close-up glimpse of the violence going on all around the world on a daily basis. But the people attending a community vigil for James Angelo shined a brighter beam and example of how peace can prevail, and the overwhelming positive effect of the support they provided will reach further and remain long after the sadness of the moment dissipates.

Happy Trails have no tar on them

John Andrews, Eastern Trail Alliance president, masters the July 1 ceremony in Old Orchard Beach.

A new trail section was dedicated yesterday linking Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach, yet another section of the East Coast Greenway that aims to connect Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, with an alternative off-road bike/pedestrian throughway.

Nice to see that this new section is tarmac-free and has been designed as a hard-packed dirt path about the width of a large SUV (not that there will be any allowed on there!). This new section runs through the woods along the straightaway that consists of Portland Avenue and Milliken Mills Road, connecting at Old Blue Point Road to an existing Eastern Trail section that traverses Scarborough Marsh, jumps back to the road for a bit, and then continues into South Portland behind the Fickett Fields off Highland Avenue to Broadway, where the route ties together with the SP bike path and goes all the way to Spring Point. Another along-the-road section brings you across the Casco Bay Bridge to the "trail" head (it's mostly tar) at the end of Commercial Street in Portland, which is now partially a new road and cruise ship facility along the Eastern Promenade.

This section has for decades been used by snowmobilers and dirt bikers and was known for its muddy conditions, rarely ever drying up over the hot summer months. Lots of landfill must have been added to the soggy area and it will be interesting what Mother nature has to say about the new trail construction over time.

This is a spectacular route and just an awesome way to get to Old Orchard Beach from Portland by bicycle. You will experience by cutting across the marshes of Scarborough and taking the off-road way, that the route is a lot shorter and faster than you would probably have imagined. I've made the trip in not much more than 30 minutes at a very good pace, by mountain bike, and I highly recommend you try this out as an alternative to driving to OOB for your annual Pier Fries and Bill's Pizza slices. Bring your shorts and towel for the beach: parking the bike in the front row, beach-side, is a nice amenity and will make you glad you didn't drive...

Will Portland's New Train Station Look Like This?