Brunswick, Maine: Cornerstones of Science, the national science literacy initiative based in Brunswick, is the recipient of a $5,000 grant to recognize the 50 th anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, heralded as one of the most significant books of the 20th century and the beginning of the environmental movement.

To mark the occasion, Cornerstones of Science is partnering with the Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) in Blue Hill to sponsor MERI’s 2012 Rachel Carson Lectures, a monthly series that increases public awareness and understanding of critical ocean issues. In addition to Dr. Susan Shaw, director of MERI and leading marine toxicologist, the series will bring other national and international scientists to speak on current topics from aquaculture to climate change to science communication and microplastics. The lectures will be recorded for online viewing and will be part of Cornerstone of Science’s year-long program, Silent Spring Revisited: Rachel Carson’s Legacy and Ocean Health Today.

MERI’s first 2012 Rachel Carson Lecture is on January 26, 2012, with University of Maine professor Dr. Stephen Coghlan. He will speak on:
The Penobscot Undammed: Restoring the River: A thousand square miles of river habitat will open up when the Veazie and Great Works dams on the Penobscot River come down. With the construction of a fish bypass on a third dam, 11 species of sea-run fish will be able to return to their historic spawning grounds. This is a significant step in addressing more than 100 years of damage to the river’s fragile ecosystem. Dr. Steve Coghlan from the University of Maine’s Department of Wildlife Ecology will discuss the impacts of dam removal and answer the question: Can we restore the Penobscot to its historic natural state?

Location: MERI Center for Marine Studies, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, Maine from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. A reception honoring the speaker begins at 6:00 p.m. Seating is limited, so please arrive early. For information, call (207) 374-2135 or email info@meriresearch.org . For directions and more information, please visit MERI’s website: www.meriresearch.org

Funding for this program is in part from the New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC) and the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence – Ocean Systems (COSEE-OS).

In addition to MERI’s 2012 Rachel Carson lecture series, the statewide celebration will include the following:
• Cornerstones of Science will host book clubs, and science café-style book discussions at local libraries throughout the state. Upcoming lectures and activities throughout 2012 can be found at the Cornerstone of Science website, www.cornerstonesofscience.org .
• Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI) Director Dr. Susan Shaw will be a featured speaker at World Ocean Day, a Rachel Carson celebration on June 8 at the Portland Art Museum, sponsored by the Maine Coastal Program. The event features three women leaders in ocean sciences: Dr. Shaw, marine toxicologist, explorer and doctor of Public Health; Nancy Knowlton, world-renowned coral reef scientist; and Anne Doubilet, hall-of-fame diver, oceanographer and explorer.
• Portland Public Library and Cornerstones of Science will host an end-of year celebration featuring a panel discussion and film screening of A Sense of Wonder, the award-winning play based on Rachel Carson’s final months at her home in Maine, performed by Kaiulani Lee (Details TBA).

Other events and activities will be announced throughout the year.

Contact: Cynthia Randall, Director, cynthia.randall @ cornerstonesofscience.com
Susan Ryan, Associate Director, susan.ryan @ cornerstonesofscience.com
Rebecca Carino, Marine Environmental Research Institute, communications @ meriresearch.org

Cornerstones of Science, 14 Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine 04011,
207-208-8975
MERI Center for Marine Studies, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, Maine 04614,
207-374-2135

Adding Fitness to Your Thanksgiving Festivities

(Scarborough, ME – November 18, 2011) The average person consumes 3,000 calories during their Thanksgiving dinner. That is 20-40% more than the recommended daily calorie requirements for an adult. A 160 lb. person would have to run at a moderate pace for four hours, swim for five hours, or walk 30 miles to burn off a 3,000-calorie Thanksgiving Day meal, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

Zone 3 Fitness, a new fitness and personal training center in Scarborough, wants to help people burn off the extra calories they consume at Thanksgiving. And since extraordinary meals call for extraordinary measures, they are hosting the 1st Annual Turkey Burn on Friday, November 25th at 9am at their training facility at 71 US Route One in Scarborough.

Participants will complete a specially designed training circuit of more than 15 stations that will burn calories and challenge the major muscle groups. The workout will start with a thorough warm up and finish with an all-over body stretch. This program is open to everyone 16 years or older and is good for all fitness levels. Each station can easily be modified to fit specific fitness levels and limitations.

Free for members and only $5 for guests. Zone 3 Fitness encourages anyone looking to burn off many of the calories from their thanksgiving feast to join them, bring their friends and neighbors and out-of-town guests. Participants should dress for an indoor workout, including the proper athletic footwear, and bring a water bottle. Shower and locker room facilities will be available before and after the event. Registration starts at 8:30am and workout starts at 9:00am sharp.

About Zone3Fitness

Zone 3 Fitness opened in October 2011 to help busy people stay on track to achieve their personal fitness goals. Based on the philosophy of the three components of a healthy fit body being strength, balance and endurance, the Scarborough facility applies the science of body mechanics to maximize your workout. There is cutting edge equipment, group classes and personal training tailored to a client’s physical ability and desired achievement to motivate active people to achieve their fitness goals. Massage is offered by expert licensed therapists in a private suite to complement strenuous workouts. The clean professional training center provides amenities rarely found in the industry. Check out Zone 3 Fitness on Facebook. For more information visit www.zone3fitness.biz
###

SAVE OVER $1,000 by shopping downtown merchants this Black Friday Weekend with special coupons from over 65 local downtown Portland businesses!

A very special BLACK FRIDAY COUPON BOOK will be handed out this Friday, November 18th from 11-1 p.m. in Monument Square in Downtown Portland.

These exclusive coupon books are FREE and limited to the first 500 people who show up during this special promotion!

Look for the Local Thunder SANTAS — they will be handing them out!

The Black Friday Coupon Book contains amazing deals from downtown merchants that will be valid only Black Friday, Nov 25th, through Cyber Monday, Nov 28th.

See additional coupons, and discounted gift certificates from downtown merchants and restaurants at www.PortlandMaine.com.

Brought to you by Local Thunder, Portland’s Downtown District, and 94.9 WHOM.

FMI, contact Anton Kaufer at Local Thunder 207.347.4810.

A community windjammer party also needs entertainment, and the Camden Windjammer Festival is pleased to announce that the line-up for the Labor Day celebration promises thrills, spills, music, and laughter for all the family.

On Friday September 2nd as the windjammers finish tying up there will be a free public contradance with caller Chrissy Fowler of Belfast (www.chrissyfowler.com) and the band Crowfoot (www.crowfootmusic.com) ongoing on Camden’s Public Landing from 3:30-5pm. Friday fun continues with the Schooner Passenger & Crew Talent Show in Harbor Park. The Schooner Passenger & Crew Talent Show will feature acts funny, fantastic and fabulous from the decks of the windjammer fleet. Friday evening concludes with a fireworks display over Camden harbor, presented by Down East magazine.

Saturday night’s entertainment menu offers two options. At 7:30pm the Camden Public Library will be showing the 1937 Spencer Tracy version of the movie “Captains Courageous” in the Amphitheatre on Atlantic Avenue. Meanwhile at the Camden Opera House, the wonderful Maine humorist Tim Sample will be performing an all-ages show also at 7:30pm.

Born in northern Aroostook County and raised on the Maine coast, Tim Sample is widely recognized as Maine’s premier native humorist. Tim released his first album of “down east” humor in the summer of 1980. Since then he has recorded nine more albums, four of which were released on the Bert and I label, and written and/or illustrated several books including the regional best-sellers Saturday Night at Moody’s Diner and How to Talk Yankee. Author Stephen King has compared Sample’s work to that of Mark Twain and Charles Kuralt referred to him as “Maine’s humorist laureate “ .

Tim’s show at The Camden Opera House will feature new material from his latest album “ Live at Stone Mountain Arts “ which was released in January of 2011. As with all Tim Sample performances the Camden Opera House show will be “profanity free” and suitable for all audiences. For information on tickets call the Chamber at 236-4404 or visit the Opera House online at http://www.camdenoperahouse.com/events.cfm
On Sunday evening (September 4th), the festival closes out with a free performance by the Dave Rowe Trio with special guest Denny Breau courtesy of Maine Today Media. Guitarist Breau is a triple threat: a consummate picker, evocative songwriter, and a singer with a voice that is warm and inviting but completely unpretentious. Hairy-chested, fiddle-driven nautical songs, rollicking bluegrass and Appalachian tunes, old-timey instrumental masterpieces, broad-shouldered Celtic classics, captivating originals, and Downeast wit pepper every show by Maine’s own Dave Rowe. His group’s inventive use of instrumentation on guitar, fiddle, electric bass, and tin whistles along with strong vocal harmonies which hearken back to the great folk bands of the 1960s creates an unique musical tapestry rarely heard in the contemporary folk landscape. The concert, scheduled to start at 7:30pm, will take place under the stars in Camden’s Harbor Park, with Maine’s prettiest harbor providing both a backdrop and inspiration.

The full schedule of events can be found at www.camdenwindjammerfestival.com, but suffice to say the weekend offers something for everyone. From sailing aficionados and blueberry pancake and clam chowder enthusiasts to aspirant crate-racers and boat builders, the weekend is looking mighty ship-shape.

The Camden Windjammer Festival is sponsored by Down East Magazine, Maine Today Media, Wayfarer Marine, Camden Harbour Inn, The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, Allen Insurance & Financial, Cellardoor Winery, the Hartstone Inn, and Point Lookout.

Also providing valuable support are The First, Camden National Bank, the Camden Downtown Business Group, the Camden Public Library, EBS, Elm Street Printing & Graphics, Eric Hopkins, Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League, The Maine Windjammer Association, the Town of Camden, Art Tibbetts Marine Contractors, Sikaflex, West Bay Rotary, and the Camden Rotary Club.

The Camden Windjammer Festival is a community led celebration of Camden’s maritime heritage and living traditions. For regular updates on the Camden Windjammer Festival and for more information on any aspect of the weekend, visit www.camdenwindjammerfestival.com or www.visitcamden.com, or call the Chamber of Commerce at 207-236-4404 or 1-800-223-5459.

Mark and Jennifer have been the owners and innkeepers of Clark Point Inn for the past four years. What prompted the giveaway? They say, “We’ve had a successful four years and have met some wonderful people. We just believe in paying it forward”.

Mark and Jennifer explain, with excitement, how the giveaway will work. “At the beginning of each month, we’ll make a special request. For example, we might ask about a favorite chocolate dessert, a special memory or a favorite vacation. For the month of April, we want to know about your favorite April Fool’s joke. On the fifteenth of each month, we’ll randomly choose a winner!”

If you want to have a chance at winning, become a fan of Clark Point Inn by visiting their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ClarkPointInn1883 or visit the inns website at www.clarkpointinn.com . Good Luck!

The Work Ready ™ credential makes sense for employees who want to acquire the necessary skills that will help them get and keep a well paying job. Trainees learn to improve attitudes, attire, ambition, team work, and problem solving skills, as well as the basics of getting a job, such as where to find openings, how to write stellar cover letters, impressive resumes, and how to make the most of an interview.

Whether you are at the beginning of your career path or making a change, Work Ready ™ provides invaluable information about the opportunities and skills needed in your area. This fall’s training will run from November 1^st to the 19^th Monday through Friday from 8:00- 12:00. If you are interested please contact Wiscasset Adult & Community Education at 882-9710.

These workshops are being sponsored in part by a grant from Betterment Fund and USDA Rural Development along with our partners; MaineStream Finance, Maine Woods Consortium, Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative, Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce, Penquis, Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, and the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council

These workshops are being sponsored in part by a grant from Betterment Fund and USDA Rural Development along with our partners; MaineStream Finance, Maine Woods Consortium, Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative, Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce, Penquis, Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, and the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council

“On the footsteps of celebrating our tenth anniversary and changing our name and tagline to better reflect our proximity to the Maine Coast, our commitment to the arts, and our natural setting, we look forward to an outstanding season,” said Pavilion Ministries Director Cheryl Poulopoulos. “Every year, we achieve a new level of excellence, offering outstanding programming and reaching more and more people, and will uphold this in 2010.”

Tucked among tall pines in a beautiful natural setting, Seaside Pavilion offers a state-of-the-art, intimate, and family-friendly experience. It’s the kind of place that once people discover it, they come back time and time again.

This year’s diverse line up is another reason for coming. Just a few of the highlight performances:

• A great evening of New England humor and music featuring Tim Sample, David Mallet, and The Shaw Brothers on Friday, July 16, 2010.

• 2010 Dove Award nominees for Southern Gospel Song of the Year and Southern gospel Album of the Year, The Perrys will uplift the audience on Friday, July 23, 2010

• Rooted in the tuneful sensibilities of singers like James Taylor and John Mayer,
Bebo Norman will touch people’s gut and soul on Friday, August 13, 2010.

The Salvation Army built Seaside Pavilion in 1998 as a place for its camp meetings and as a gift to the community to enrich lives, lift spirits, and build community through the performing arts. Dedicated by President and Mrs. George Bush, Seaside Pavilion offers a state-of-the-art sound system and 1,400 stadium style seats with views of the professional stage and breath-taking natural setting. For a full listing of events, visit www.seasidepavilion.org.

—30—