News

"Believe in ME...Maine"
By Susan Austin

Representing portions of Gray, No.Yarmouth & Pownal, serving on the Business Research and Economic Development Committee I gain and gather "good news" just for you! The Second Special- Session is over now but there is still plenty of information coming across my screen.

Tourism: Two Maine events have been named on the American Business Association's annual list of events. The Fryeburg Fair and the Maine Lobster Festival are the two that will appear in ABA's Top 100 Events in North America. This information will appear in their monthly publication, Destinations, which has a circulation of more than 1,000 tour operators per month.

Due to the price of gasoline, we have all been forced to be more aware of the price per gallon each day. Did you ever stop to think of the number of convenience stores that sell gas in Maine? There are approximately 1400 across our state. These local operations sell an estimated three-quarters of all the gas that is sold. These stores range from the very small Mom & Pop's who sell a few products in addition to motor fuel to very large operations that carry a wide diversity of food, beverages and other convenience items.

In Maine about 5% of these facilities are owned and operated by major oil companies.

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund has awarded over $11 million in grants to over 446 conservation projects in Maine since 1996. The resource for these grants is the proceeds from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Lottery Ticket….the latest ticket is the "Lucky Duck" now being sold at your local retailers. On May 16th of this year here are a few of the grant recipient projects. 1) Outdoor Kids Website and Magazine $6000. Statewide. 2) Preservation of the Allagash River Ecosystem, $34,587.50. Location: Allagash Falls.

3) Puffin Place $12,000 Location: Rockland 4) Sandy River Dam Removal, Phase one: Design and Permitting $25,000. Location: Sandy River, Starks/Norridgewock.

Sue Austin is State Representative for District #109 consisting of portions of Gray, North Yarmouth and Pownal.